The New Leaf
For a number of years I have made it a practice to go by myself on an Artist Date. I think I have mentioned that in past posts. This is a time for me to get out of the studio, to forget responsibilities and to observe, think about and be inspired by what I see on these outings.
Lately, however, I do not go alone on most of these excursions, my Mother joins me.
My Mother is eighty four years old and can no longer drive due to an eye problem. Now that my ninety three year old Father does not drive any longer either, the only time they go out of the house is when someone else drives.
Mother and I enjoy our outings, we love to go out for lunch at nearby tea rooms,or restaurants and to take a look in gift shop or two.
Last week we went to a tea room called The New Leaf in Riverton, NJ.
Our lunch was delicious and the surroundings elegant. We enjoyed looking around and doing a little shopping in the delightful gift shop attached to the tea room.
Phyllis Rodgers the owner of the shop gave me kind
permission to take pictures and to write about our experiences at The New Leaf.
Labels: Inspiration
Monday, July 23, 2007
Today Is My Birthday
Today is my Birthday. In true blogger kind of celebration, I looked up quotes from greater minds than mine.
I did lean a few things from these quotes.....but first read the clever quotes.....I will tell you my thoughts at the end of this post.
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.
Abraham Lincoln
A woman has the age she deserves. Coco Chanel
I'm not interested in age. People who tell me their age are silly. You're as old as you feel. Elizabeth Arden
None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm. Henry David Thoreau
First you are young; then you are middle-aged; then you are old; then you are wonderful.
Lady Diana Cooper
People like you and I, though mortal of course like everyone else, do not grow old no matter how long we live...[We] never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born. letter to Otto Juliusburger Albert Einstein
Enjoy Life.........Take care of yourself.....Numbers don’t matter.....Enjoy life with Enthusiasm.....I am not Wonderful yet.....OK!!! Maybe I am Wonderful after all...In closing do as Norman Vincent Peale said ...Live your life and forget your age.
Labels: Inspiration
Saturday, April 07, 2007
For the Senses
This week for my Artist Date I stayed here in Medford, NJ. After delivering the faces, see previous post, to the Knitting Room. I walked across the street to another favorite store For the Senses.
For the Senses specializes in Modern Fragrances, Antique Perfume Bottles, Candles and Gifts.
This store is one of the most Girly Girl stores I have ever been into.
Here are some photos to tickle your senses.
In this photo are some large bottles, that were used for perfume counter display.
Don’t you just love this cabinet?
Everywhere you look there are lovely vignettes.
I love these teas, the bags are pyramid shaped. I drink a lot of tea. I think I need a teacup that is as large as the one in this photo.
For the Senses specializes in Modern Fragrances, Antique Perfume Bottles, Candles and Gifts.
This store is one of the most Girly Girl stores I have ever been into.
Here are some photos to tickle your senses.
In this photo are some large bottles, that were used for perfume counter display.
Don’t you just love this cabinet?
Everywhere you look there are lovely vignettes.
I love these teas, the bags are pyramid shaped. I drink a lot of tea. I think I need a teacup that is as large as the one in this photo.
Labels: Inspiration
Monday, March 05, 2007
Artist Date
Lately I have been reading a lot of Mixed Media, Fashion and Life Style blogs. I am charmed by these blogs and have shown you quite a few of them here. One of my favorites is Ullabenulla. Ulla links to an amazing variety of web sites for one to visit and be inspired by.
Another new favorite is A Fanciful Twist. This blog belongs to....I quote her here from her about page, "I am a strange and curiously artistic woman from the 1800's trapped in the body of a thirty year old girl living in the year 2006 in a bizarre Arizona." Go ahead and read the rest of her bio....you will be glad you did :) I am enchanted by her art....her blog is full of her fancifull drawings....,energy and charm.
For years I have had an artist date....a day set aside for myself, to explore places where I can find inspiration for my art and lifestyle.
A few years before my knee replacement surgery, I would go out for perhaps an hour or two, and then come home more exhausted than inspired. Thankfully those days are behind me, now I come back inspired and in one case recently, with a big commission for my work.
A week ago I found myself in Collingswood, NJ and while there I visited a charming place called "The Painted Cottage".
Valerie Boothroyd, is an artist and the owner of "The Painted Cottage".
Here are some things I found in her store.
This is the furniture that Valerie has altered.
I fell for these bags.
More lovely bags.
Easter displays.
Now hop on over to "To Live A Creative Life" and see what I am showing over there :)
Another new favorite is A Fanciful Twist. This blog belongs to....I quote her here from her about page, "I am a strange and curiously artistic woman from the 1800's trapped in the body of a thirty year old girl living in the year 2006 in a bizarre Arizona." Go ahead and read the rest of her bio....you will be glad you did :) I am enchanted by her art....her blog is full of her fancifull drawings....,energy and charm.
For years I have had an artist date....a day set aside for myself, to explore places where I can find inspiration for my art and lifestyle.
A few years before my knee replacement surgery, I would go out for perhaps an hour or two, and then come home more exhausted than inspired. Thankfully those days are behind me, now I come back inspired and in one case recently, with a big commission for my work.
A week ago I found myself in Collingswood, NJ and while there I visited a charming place called "The Painted Cottage".
Valerie Boothroyd, is an artist and the owner of "The Painted Cottage".
Here are some things I found in her store.
This is the furniture that Valerie has altered.
I fell for these bags.
More lovely bags.
Easter displays.
Now hop on over to "To Live A Creative Life" and see what I am showing over there :)
Labels: Inspiration
Friday, February 02, 2007
The Adirondacks And A Tiny World
About fifteen years ago, when we lived in Saratoga Springs, NY, we used to like to go into the Adirondacks. We were charmed by the area, it’s natural beauty and the Adirondack Great Camps. We had the pleasure of staying in a couple of the camps over weekends. See here and
here, check out their movie. And here is the site for the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, NY.
We also fell in love with the Adirondack furniture styles, so much that we have a room in our home furnished in the Adirondack style blended with Navaho rugs, American Indian pottery and a few Icelandic treasures thrown into the mix.
I also found myself being attracted to diminutive furniture in the Adirondack style and collected a few pieces, that have survived three moves and a kitten......that in itself is miraculous.
Recently I was reading a blog called Beautiful Art, where I saw photos of tiny twig furniture that the Debbie makes. Her furniture was featured in Victoria Magazine in their February 1991 issue.
I had not unpacked my own twig furniture, that I had put away in the first place, because Brie, when she was a kitten, used to love to go and bat these little treasures about.....which did not sit well with me, as you can well imagine.
A week ago I made a little environment for my furniture. At the same time a little Tree Spirit by Rachael DiRenna arrived in the mail and she immediately flew into the middle of the little place, that is now fully furnished and lives on top of the piano in our family room. The little Tree Spirit kneels next to it, enchanted by and watches over this little world.
Labels: Inspiration
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Eye Candy and French
I am an eye candy junkie.....well at least that kind of candy doesn’t end up on the hips. Lately my new favorite blogs are mixed media artist blogs and French life style blogs. Here are some of the wonderful wondrous blogs, that I thought you might enjoy.
Unnabenulla is a blog by Ulla an artist and art teacher. She writes about and shows images from the most amazing web sites and stores. Many of these sites are sent to her by her friend Florizelle who lives in Paris. See here some of the Paris Discoveries.
After reading one series of posts, on Gypsy wagons, fashion and art I was ready to live in a Gypsy Wagon, wear Gypsy fashion and create gypsy art. Here Ulla shows some of her own wonderful art, now tell me what would you do with an ugly brown bug.
Another favorite blog is Paris Breakfast. Each day Carol Gillott does a watercolor of a favorite sweet, pastry, teacup, teapots, chocolate pots, her luminous watercolors are always sure to make me happy. Today she has an homage to the French Egg. Will you look at boiled eggs with a different eye, after seeing this post? I know that I will.
Is it just me or do French women have a special way, with not only how to tie a scarf, but also in how to design and photograph their surroundings. Take a look here and here and tell me if I am right.
And look here at L’Armoire de Suzanne how clever they are when it comes to finding that special something.
So yes, lately I have been possessed by the French blog. No, I don’t know French well enough to be able to read these blogs without help, so I go to AltaVista Babel Fish. Sometimes the translation is humorous, I love that.
I am inspired by the above, sites and you will notice that on my other blog To Live A Creative Life.
Unnabenulla is a blog by Ulla an artist and art teacher. She writes about and shows images from the most amazing web sites and stores. Many of these sites are sent to her by her friend Florizelle who lives in Paris. See here some of the Paris Discoveries.
After reading one series of posts, on Gypsy wagons, fashion and art I was ready to live in a Gypsy Wagon, wear Gypsy fashion and create gypsy art. Here Ulla shows some of her own wonderful art, now tell me what would you do with an ugly brown bug.
Another favorite blog is Paris Breakfast. Each day Carol Gillott does a watercolor of a favorite sweet, pastry, teacup, teapots, chocolate pots, her luminous watercolors are always sure to make me happy. Today she has an homage to the French Egg. Will you look at boiled eggs with a different eye, after seeing this post? I know that I will.
Is it just me or do French women have a special way, with not only how to tie a scarf, but also in how to design and photograph their surroundings. Take a look here and here and tell me if I am right.
And look here at L’Armoire de Suzanne how clever they are when it comes to finding that special something.So yes, lately I have been possessed by the French blog. No, I don’t know French well enough to be able to read these blogs without help, so I go to AltaVista Babel Fish. Sometimes the translation is humorous, I love that.
I am inspired by the above, sites and you will notice that on my other blog To Live A Creative Life.
Labels: Inspiration