Cassina Elves Prepare for Christmas Tour & Market
The sign on the industrial door that says “Welcome to the Cassina Workshop” is nondescript, but don’t let that fool you; there’s magic taking place behind it! Club members in work aprons are busier than Santa’s elves with glue guns, shells, ribbons, paint, branches, pinecones, and other materials. These crafty women are creating planters, wreaths, garlands, and other items that will be sold at the Cassina Garden Club’s first Christmas Market to be held in conjunction with “Jingle Bells & Seashells,” the Club’s 30th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes.
In addition to new and recreated Christmas garlands, wreaths, and decorations, non-seasonal home décor items, like planters adorned with shells, all made by Cassina members, will be available for purchase. The Market will be held in the historic tabby cabins at Gascoigne Bluff from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tour Day, Saturday, December 6. The “Best Bake Sale in the Southeast” also takes place at the tabby cabins at that time. People come from far and wide to purchase the delicious homemade desserts and baked goodies of the Bake Sale, so be sure to stop by early to get the best selection. For the convenience of Tour attendees, Bake Sale and Market purchases will be held in Will Call while you enjoy visiting the homes on the Tour. Special gift packages of the Coastal Cookery cookbook tied with festive ribbon and Cassina Christmas ornaments will be on sale at the tabby cabins as well. The Market and Bake Sale will be open to the public and all proceeds benefit the restoration of the historic tabby cabins at Gascoigne Bluff.
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The preservation and restoration of these two authentic tabby cabins, built in the early 1800s to house slaves at Hamilton Plantation are the focus of a major capital campaign by Cassina. To date, the club has completed the early phases of this approximate $400,000 project to restore these valuable historic treasures. On Tour Day, visitors are invited to come to the cabins, view the progress, shop The Market and Bake Sale, and see the Christmas decorations and enjoy refreshments. The cabins are also Stop 1 on the Tour. Beginning at 10:00 a.m., buses from Gascoigne Bluff will take Tour attendees to the five private homes on Sea Island and special interest stop, The Cloister, that make up the remainder of the Tour.
The Sea Island portion of the Tour will take guests from a beautiful 1950s brick home with a beach view that celebrates family on 21st Street to an oceanfront home on 23rd Street designed by architect Les Cole that features special touches like a heart pine floor, the intersecting curves of a groin ceiling, and an oversized kitchen. Then on to 27th Street where an exotic oasis featuring fountains, a garden and private terrace, and a lagoon pool awaits. Fascinating family and historical items, antiques and art are the star attractions of the home on 20th Street, while a love of the ocean and a nautical theme, complete with weathered ships’ lanterns, ceiling fans with sail blades, stairwell banisters made of ship’s roping, and convex mirrors that resemble portholes, are the unique hallmarks of the Cottage on 8th Street. Each home will of course be festively decorated for the holidays and all are sure to impress.
Cassina is pleased that once again the exquisite Mediterranean-style gem of Sea Island, The Cloister, will be a special interest stop on The Tour. The main floor of The Cloister houses the Forbes Five-Star Georgian Room restaurant; the casual River Bar; rustic Italian restaurant, Tavola; The Cloister Wine Cellar, with its old-world charm and 10,000 bottles; the Summit Room, commemorating the 2004 G8 Summit hosted by President Bush; and the Spanish Lounge. Tour guests are invited to enjoy Breakfast or Lunch on Tour Day at The Cloister and the evening of the Tour, ticket holders will be admitted to Sea Island for dinner (reservations required) and special events planned for the holiday season. There are also special two-night accommodations packages available at The Cloister and The Inn at Sea Island that include Tour of Homes tickets for guests and a souvenir Christmas ornament.
Advance tickets for the December 6 Tour of Homes can be purchased for $45 at the following locations after November 15: ACE Garden Center, GJ Ford Bookshop, St. Simons Drug Co., Two Friends, Cunningham Jewelers, and Gentlemen’s Outfitters location at Glynn Place Mall, and on the Cassina Garden Club website at cassinagardenclub.org. On Tour Day, tickets will be available at the Tabby Cabins at Gascoigne Bluff for $50.
