Posted on by Camellia's Cottage

Movin’ On…

Bicycle to indicate 'Moving On'

Is there Anything that says, ‘Forward Motion’ like a Bicycle? I had one bicycle as a young girl, this one looks like it. I tried to back up that Bicycle.. let’s just say, it wasn’t pretty. I might have avoided wheelies and skinned knees, though my clean, almost new Tennis Shoes got scuffed, and the bike tipped over. Yes, with me on it.

I recall telling you that I am Uncoordinated, practically from birth. Okay, by first grade, it was obvious. Sadly, publicly obvious. So, just the Act of Moving can be dangerous for me. And..

I think I recall telling you about Pit Barbeque, though, did I mention Real Pit BBQ isn’t throwing something on the backyard grill? No, real pit BBQ is getting harder and harder to find. And, really: I think those places don’t want New Customers coming around. As a girl, riding in the backseat with the windows rolled down.. the scent of Loblolly Pines, the crunch of an old chert road.. I knew when the scent began to change.. I smelled it. That distinct Hickory Smoke… ‘It’s just on down the road..’ could mean Miles in Alabama. It’s true.

Though, here’s the thing. I’m not taking you on a bicycle ride to get Pit BBQ. I am not even suggesting we take a Car. For one thing, it’s dangerous. Those places are notoriously waay back in the woods.. and I will admit it, I could get us lost. I would have to think about it long and hard.. because learning how to Drive, practically made my driving instructor want to quit his job!

No, I’m movin’ on.

Wait, don’t call the Funeral Home yet! I’m just going to get historical on you, first.

For 10 years, I have been writing Camellia’s Cottage. First, under the pen name of Camellia. My hands literally shook before I hit ‘Publish’. Do you know that feeling?

Back in 2020, we had that pandemic. My voice, as Camellia , began to crack. Stuff wasn’t as funny to me as before. I was concerned about Small Shops and Small Business owners surviving. So, I shifted the Messages here, on Camellia’s Cottage, to Inspiration and Marketing, and there’s this: shhh… the po-lit-ical landscape for southerners was starting to be as hot as freshly poured asphalt.

That’s not my style- to get in heated conversations or into hot water for that matter. So, I kept Writing to You about Marketing- selling what you Do, Create or Offer. *I still do that Weekly in my Newsletter. The signup form is here: Brenda Wyatt.

Meanwhile, expect this here: I’m Movin’ On to a Shift here. I miss writing Southern Lifestyle, Southern Food and Southern Humor. It’s generally ‘bygone era’ stuff. Why? Well, I’m pretty ‘bygone’ myself and to be honest, that kind of writing is nostalgic and funnier.. I plan to write more of that.

I’ve already planned the Funeral. Wait! not my funeral.. I’m not going anywhere. I have more to say about ‘bygone era’ Funeral quirks and customs. It will be at least a 3 Part Series. Here’s a taste of what you will read, in the Funeral Series:

  • The Flowers. Don’t use Plastic. Do let the Garden Club ladies scour roadsides and gardens. Yard Flowers. Great on their own or as Fillers. Let Uncle Fred sit and fret over the exact shade of Pink Roses ‘she loved’.
  • The Food. We must talk about the Funeral Food. It’s an Encyclopedia Volume 1 and 2. Let me just say one word. Casseroles. ‘Really, Mabel who would’nt want Elbow Macaroni laid to rest in that egg and cheese custard? Though, don’t you dare add that Cayenne Pepper that Lucille insists on! It’s not fitting, to bring the heat on for the Bereaved, who Do Not, I repeat, Do Not want to even think about how hot the Devil’s Back Door Knob might be!’
  • The Restorative Cocktail. Now, don’t get up on your abstaining High Horse. I won’t elaborate on this just yet. Here’s the Thing. A discreet ‘after the funeral is over, Restorative Cocktail’, isn’t a Celebration for heaven’s sake! – it’s for Medicinal Purposes only. If St. Paul allowed for it, who are we to question Apostolic Advice? No, siree, we will not.

So, yes, I will be movin’ and backing up carefully towards Southern Lifestyle, Southern Food, Southern Humor. *again, the Inspiration and Marketing Advice will still be in my Weekly Newsletter!

Love y’all, Brenda aka Camellia

Don’t forget to sign up for that Marketing and Inspirational Newsletter!

And, if you’re interested in finding a Writing Community, here’s the one I created, it’s the Writing Sanctuary. I would love to have you!

Remember:

If you sign up- I will never sell your information, I will never talk about you behind your back, I won’t mention that weight you’ve gained over the summer, I won’t even get mad if you unsubscribe.. it would break my heart, though.

Posted on by Camellia's Cottage · 1 Comment

In the Age of AI, Your Voice is Your Legacy

Hi, I'm Brenda Wyatt Writer, Author, Blogger and Course Creator

To my Incredible community of writers and bloggers:

Thank you for being here. After over 500 posts, over a decade now- You have read my stories. I’m So grateful for the space you have given me, here. Today, I want to talk about the future of Words. We are living through a time, when a machine can generate content in mere seconds. The silent question we all share is:

Does my human voice still matter? Is pen to paper a Lost Art? The resounding answer is Yes. More than ever! Your unique human perspective is your greatest Asset in 2026. An interesting fact: Stationary Shops are having a big moment. Paper, Pens, Notebooks, Journals! Here’s Why your Voice, your genuine Words matter.

Human generated Words are Words written with a Purpose. AI is a Prompt that a Human has written.

My Journey:

I have always believed the my work should speak for itself. I focused on the craft of writing, words on a page. *Literally writing with a pen on paper before typing it here or as I wrote my book. I believed in the Integrity of the Stories. Even the humorous posts, came from ‘lived experiences’. The awards along the way were wonderful confirmations for me.

I need to clarify here: I wasn’t new to Marketing; I was new to Writing in a Public format. I had spent 30+ years in high end retail and also with visual display and branding. That experience is why I created my first online course: Be Unforgettable! A Guide to Visual Marketing.

Before that course, I had written a book, published in 2014, and struggled to Learn How to write a Blog in 2016. A few years ago, I realized something: It’s not enough to write a beautiful message if that message can’t find it’s readers. I had taken a wonderful Online Course for social media. I struggled with Social Media. I kept going. I had joined a few Challenges. I was building a community there.

The popular advice for writers was far too generic. The focus was rushed, focused on algorithm hacks over Authenticity. My motto became: ‘Become a Trusted Resource.’ Which I will always Believe. Now, we have been told the focus in 2026 is Authentic, Trustworthy, Real. That’s a Good Thing. Since Bots are showing up faster than even the best algorithms can keep up with or eradicate.

I decided we needed a better way for Writers, with Purpose. Apply Image Driven Words. We needed a place focused on legacy, not quick fixes or hacks. I created my second online course- ‘Writing Content with Confidence’. Born out of Years of Work and Writing. I knew I had Tools to Offer.

It’s a guided experience- more than a dozen ways to craft a message, plus Images drive the Written Content and Color starts Writing the Story before a word is written. It’s a blend of Writing and Marketing, authentically, in a Trustworthy way.

Writing now, as unsettling as it is, in the current environment of lots of noise, lots of hacks, lots of bots, lots of AI- our Perspective Shifts. Often, we are looking back with Nostalgia or adopting a forward-looking Mindset. We need both. We need Writers like you!

Perspective. Looking back? or Forward facing?

My Writing Course was soft launched in the Fall of 2025. I have had several beta testers going through along with some students. I realized something. Yes, it’s ‘go at your own pace, lifetime access’ and that’s great. And the introductory price is low at $47. Yet my intuition was telling me that Writers need a Sanctuary.

Are you asking: Why tell Bloggers, who are Writers about this? Well, even seasoned writers who have had a first look say, ‘Man, this has a Lot of Stuff in here!’ or that they never imagined it would also have Marketing Advice along with the Writing Content. *There is even a section on ‘Product Shots’ Yes, writers need solitude, yet they also need a safe space, with a community of other writers, who may also be artists and creatives too!

So, I am adding the Writing Sanctuary for the official relaunch February 10, 2026. I added a Private Chat Group for my first online course and most have told me that Private Group is worth the price of the course! With the new Writing Course, this private group will be called, the Writing Sanctuary, a quiet private space right inside Instagram. Find me @brendawyatt_

I plan to be in the Writing Sanctuary at least weekly, to have ‘Ask Me Anything’ or Encourage Writers to Write also offer prompts and more. In my other group, members follow each other and encourage one another, become friends, their most ardent cheerleaders.

I am opening the Doors to the Writing Sanctury:

The Doors are Open for the Writing Sanctuary

There will be a price adjustment from introductory $47 to $97 to reflect the added benefit on February 9. (There is Lifetime Access, the Course is completely open, no waiting for another lesson to drop, Go at your own pace. No zoom meetings.)

Founding Members will enjoy all of the benefits, including the Private Group at the Introductory Price. *of course, that also means extra support while it’s new.

The Doors are Open now, until February 10,2026. *To take advantage of the additional benefit of the Writing Sanctuary- Join us now, before the Rate Changes.

I am here to help you feel confident enough to share your Legacy. You’re writing one, you know you are.

Your Stories need to be Written. They need to be Shared. Even your Recipes! Those Stories may not even be in the genre you’re writing now! All the best in 2026!

Love y’all, Brenda aka ‘Camellia’ and yes, I still make cornbread!

REMINDER: Founding Rate: $47 USD *rate adjustment deadline is February 9. $97 USD. I hope You will join us! If you would like to receive my Newsletter: send me an email! brenda@brenda-wyatt.com

Find out more about the course here: Write Content with Confidence

And, if you’re on Instagram Find More @brendawyatt_

Posted on by Camellia's Cottage · 6 Comments

Unforgettable…

Hello There! Here I am in living color talking to you from my phone! If you’re new here, thank you for stopping by! I’ve added a little bit about myself, my blog and what I’ve been up to in the last few months! If you’ve been here awhile, thank you. I really do appreciate you. You’ve made blogging unforgettable for me!

The video explains a little bit about my journey in blogging and my brand new online course called- Be Unforgettable- Beginner’s Guide to Visual Marketing. It’s gleaned from 30 plus years in Retail. I was so fortunate to work with amazing visual stylists- what they taught me or showed me, was a tremendous help in developing my 9 Principles of Design which are included in this course.

There are 5 Main Things I think even folks who’ve been around a while should know about Marketing online.

1. Express your Values through Color. This is one way the big brands develop their logos and more!

2. Use the 9 Principles of Design for Styling. This is how You will be Unique.

3. Create, Choose and Use Compelling Images. This is how you Draw Folks into your sites.

4. Become a Storyteller. Make your Audience Feel Something. As Seth Godin said- ‘It’s not about the Stuff you Sell, it’s about the Stories you Tell.’

5. Create a Personalized Shopping Experience. This is the essence of Marketing 101.

All of this, including personalized Color Mapping, a 50+ downloadable workbook, the 9 Principles of Design, 20 pages of Props, Images and Styling Materials, 15 Writing Lessons to Create Content with Confidence, Marketing 101, Lifetime Access and more are included in my online course- Be Unforgettable- Beginner’s Guide to Visual Marketing.

https://camellia-s-cottage-blog.mykajabi.com/about-course

Because I’d rather serve the many, rather than the few- it’s very reasonably priced for 5 Mini Courses in 1 Program. I hope you’ll take a look at it. If it’s something that would help you grow your business, pursue your dream of owning a product or service-based business or add to what you already know, just click the link above, I’ll be glad to answer any questions you might have!

I’ll be back to my regularly scheduled program soon! Thanks for watching!

Love y’all, Brenda

Posted on by Camellia's Cottage · 2 Comments

Mushrooms- the Extraordinary Ordinary…

Why this talk of Mushrooms? Well, I love to take something ‘ordinary’ and make it extraordinary. It’s a fun way to write, design and add that extra special something. Here- mushrooms use my 9 Principles of Design. Texture and Mood, two of my favorite design principles. Mushrooms, lichen and moss see to add something mysterious and magical to a woodland walk. They add something special to a warm bowl of soup or a rustic tart.

And oh yes, there’s a natural artistic expression of the ‘ordinary’ mushroom. The underside folds or gills look at once ancient and modern, even when recreated in fabric stitchery definitely add that whimsical mood. The stuff that adds an extra dimension, especially this time of year.

Whether the mushrooms are a singular find on a damp forest floor or a basketful, we are enchanted by mushrooms. And when you consider that for a mushroom to grow, it requires almost perfect conditions. If you see mushrooms growing, that’s a sign of good rich soil. It’s incredible to me that mushrooms grow in dim light without any fanfare and yet are so unique.

Texture? Yes. Mood? Oh yes, we also love moody light and we must not forget to add Whimsy which is the subtle ‘mood lifter’ which is always welcome especially as the holidays draw near and ordinary day grow dimmer. I don’t know about you, yet I want a bit of the extraordinary ordinary. Mushrooms, anyone?

Love y’all, Brenda