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Archive for the ‘Serendipity’ Category

Meet The Studio’s Doorman

Posted in Serendipity, The Studio/Classes, tagged , , on June 2, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Doorman 1Doorman 2Last week I needed a little something new and fun to hang on the door at The Studio.  So I had a photo of a yard art tin can man that I had been wanting to make for my garden but decided he would look cool on the door too.

So here he is…my new doorman.    I just used a heavy gauge wire to string him together and adjust his limbs to look right.  If he were in the yard I would plant something in his head can but since he’s on the door I stuck silk flowers there.  Someone suggested that I put paint brushes in the head can.  Great idea.  That will be next!

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The Hot Tub Garden Layout

Posted in Serendipity, tagged , , on May 25, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Hot Tub Garden Layout

Hot Tub Garden Layout

I can’t believe all the interest in my “Hot Tub Garden”.  The question I got the most was about what I planted so here is the layout and the plants.  I will keep posting photos as it grows to show the progress.

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A Raised Garden

Posted in Serendipity, tagged , , , , , on May 24, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Gravel in bottom with some overturned buckets to fill space without all the weight

Gravel in bottom with some overturned buckets to fill space without all the weight

Gravel finished

Gravel finished

Fill dirt

Fill dirt

Garden soil and compost

Garden soil and compost

Planted

Planted

I haven’t planted a garden in years.  I think the last time I tried I ran into two problems:  1) red clay in my yard, and 2) a basset hound that like to dig.  But this year I decided to try again but this time I planted a raised garden.

For years I enjoyed a hot tub on my deck but over the last three or four years I never used it.  I tried many times to give it away to someone who would enjoy it but no takers and since it is soooo BIG and difficult to move I have “repurposed” it into my raised garden bed.

First Allen drilled a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage.  Then I layered gravel.  Next some fill dirt, followed by garden soil.  Then my plants.  Since I have never tried gardening in a small space I am not sure what to expect.  I planted several tomatoes, yellow squash and zucchini and several sweet peppers along with basil.  In the middle where it will be  harder to reach I threw in some zinnia seeds.

Can’t wait now to see what happens.

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More on Found Treasures…

Posted in Serendipity, tagged , , on May 1, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Crewel Found Treasure

Crewel Found Treasure

Treasures on wall

Treasures on wall

Earlier this week I wrote about the wonderful found treasure I got at a thrift shop – 50 states embroidered squares ready for quilting.  (See that here.)

Today I want to share the recent find I got at a Yard Sale just a couple of blocks from where I live.  This beautiful piece of crewel is framed and just delightful.  I brought it home cleaned the glass and hung it right by the needlepoint treasure I found a couple of years ago.

Crewel Detail

Crewel Detail

I love these handmade works of art.

Needlepoint Found Treasure - Detail

Needlepoint Found Treasure – Detail

Maybe it’s because I understand the time and effort it takes to create such lovely things.  But I really feel sad for the families that are not keeping these treasures made by their loved ones.  Sad.  I keep saying I am not adding anything else to my collection but when I see these extraordinary treasures I just have to save them.

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American Modernism, Part 2

Posted in Little Known Facts, Serendipity, Trivia, tagged , , , on March 18, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Guy Wiggins, Snow on Wall Street

Guy Wiggins, Snow on Wall Street

John Marin, Related to St Pauls

John Marin, Related to St Pauls

Last Tuesday evening I attended the first in a series of lectures at our library about American Modern Art.  (Read that here.)  Last night was the second lecture in the series.  The subject was “The Modern Metropolis” and the focus was New York City.  This very interesting series is an eye-opening for those of us attending about the drastic differences that emerged in the art world in the early 1900′.  It’s fascinating to see the same subject matter depicted by different artists of the same time.  Here is a great example:  one by Guy Wiggins  and the other by John Marin’s during the same time period and basically the same subject matter.  What a different view!  Art was taking a distinct turn!

 

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American Modernism 1900-1950

Posted in Little Known Facts, Serendipity, tagged , , on March 11, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Steerage, Alfred Stieflitz

Steerage, Alfred Stieflitz

Last night at Samuel’s Public Library in Front Royal I attended the first of several lectures on American Modernism by Ben Glenn II, an art historian and writer.  This is a four-part series and last night he discussed 1900-1917 and spoke about many artists of that time period including John Marin, Arthur Dove, Georgia O’Keeffe and Alfred Stieglitz.

We spent time looking at many pieces of art of that time period and he discussed the importance of Alfred Stieglitz and the gallery (291) that he helped establish.  It’s a fascinating time.  Read more about Stieglitz here.  

The next lecture is Tuesday, March 17th at 6:30.  Check out the series here.  

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New Discoveries at The Barnes

Posted in Serendipity, Travel, tagged , on March 10, 2015| 4 Comments »

Pierre Bonnard, "Woman and Dog at Table", oil on cardboard, 1908

Pierre Bonnard, “Woman and Dog at Table”, oil on cardboard, 1908

Yesterday I posted that we visited The Barnes Foundation on Sunday and each time I go I discover something new.  There is SO MUCH to see that I shouldn’t be surprised.  This time I saw this sweet little painting by Pierre Bonnard (French painter 1867-1947) that I love.  It is called “Woman and Dog at Table” and was painted in oil on cardboard in 1908.

Is it any surprise that I like it?  See more here.

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Old Flowers Hold Up Well

Posted in Flowers, Serendipity, tagged , , , on February 24, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Jean's FlowersThis photo was recently posted on Facebook by a dear friend in Nashville who has this little painting that I did when I first started painting.  I’m not sure if there is a date on it but I would guess it was in the early 1990’s.  I am delighted that Jean is still enjoying this little piece of art.  Thanks for sharing it with me Jean.  It made my day to see it.

 

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Happy Birthday Lincoln!

Posted in Dogs, Serendipity, tagged , on February 12, 2015| 4 Comments »

Copy of Lincoln playing with duck 1 Lincoln curious about fish 2 Lincoln in the snow

Stinkin' Lincoln

Stinkin’ Lincoln

Lincoln posing for new camera Lincoln's mess 2 Lincoln curious about tall grass 2

Lincoln looking handsome in a blue sweater

Lincoln looking handsome in a blue sweater

It’s Lincoln’s Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Stinkin’ Lincoln!!!

Six Years Old!!!!

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Happy Birthday Big Mama!

Posted in Recipes, Serendipity, Small Town Life, tagged , , on February 10, 2015| Leave a Comment »

Big Mama, Sister, Brother and me

Big Mama, Sister, Brother and me

Big Mama and Papa Honeymoon photo

Big Mama and Papa Honeymoon photo

One of my favorite photos of Big Mama with Morgan

One of my favorite photos of Big Mama with Morgan

Mama, me, Brother & Big Mama - 1961

Mama, me, Brother & Big Mama – 1961

Big Mama, me, Mama, and Sister -early 90's

Big Mama, me, Mama, and Sister -early 90’s

Big Mama

Big Mama

Anyone who has taken a crochet class (or almost any other type of class I teach) at The Studio has heard me talk about Big Mama and all that she taught me.

She was my maternal grandmother and a wonderful person who lived a good long life….almost 100 when she passed.  Today would have been her 107th birthday!  Everyone loved her.  Once I took some friends home to meet her and when they got back home to Kentucky they sent her a thank you note for the lovely lunch she made for us.  They didn’t know her name…only Big Mama.  So they mailed the envelope to “Big Mama, Offerman, Georgia”  and it was delivered without delay.  LOL

She taught me so many things….things I still use to this day and that I try to share as I teach.

I have written about Big Mama before to share some of her recipes…most recently when I made the Carrot Cake at Thanksgiving.  I also shared her recipe for Syrup Candy and talked about her in a Plum Jelly post.    I love her recipes and making anything that she used to make for us always brings back floods of memories.

Crocheting was the thing she taught me the most about.  She loved it and was almost always making something.  The amazing thing about her crochet was that she just kept patterns in her head.   When I would asked her to teach me to make a certain stitch or design she would just pick up a hook and start crocheting.  She would tell me what she was doing and I would write it down.  She didn’t use patterns very often.  I think that is where I get my “making up” patterns from.  I think she would like that!

So today I am so grateful that I got to know all four of my grandparents and am especially blessed that Big Mama played such a big role in my life.  I wouldn’t be enjoying this creative life I am living with having known her.  Happy Birthday Big Mama!

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