Sparks of Inspiration

I was lucky enough to go to an art viewing about a week ago and was quite inspired by all of the talented work that surrounded me.  Huge paintings, life size sculptures, and glass work that was brilliant.  It was an environment in which you didn’t want to move quickly or make any sharp moves for fear of knocking something over or worse yet breaking it.  So naturally, I took my kids to the event.  I always look for opportunities to expose them to various elements of culture and this was certainly one to explore.  The NO STROLLERS sign was probably translation for, “No one under 18″ -  but, oh well.  Surprisingly, they behaved and shocked many of the spectators (including myself).  Maybe they were speechless due to sensory overload.

I’ve been looking for time to do some art work (still figuring out a routine since the new job started).  Over the weekend, I finally got my wish and spent time whipping around some paint.  This is one of my finished projects…

For some reason, the colors just make me happy!  I would love to do something like this on a huge piece of canvas and hang it up.

Images:  House of Many Hues

Valentine’s Day is coming up fast!  You may remember me mentioning (here) that my husband and I don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day as many people do.  However, I’ve always loved the pink hues and chic/glam products that come out around this time of year.  Here are a few I came across:

1.  The Love Balloon’s Print – Judy Kaufmann 2.  Knit Hot Water Bottle Cover – LoftLines 3.  Felt Heart Garland -  BluBeau 4.  Vintage Typewriter – joevintage

There is nothing like receiving a typed letter.  I know that there are computer fonts that simulate this vintage machinery’s output, but it just can’t be replaced.  The imperfection of a typewriter is one of its appeals.  This reminds me, when is the last time you wrote a love letter to your significant other?  What a charming surprise that would be.  I haven’t written one in ages – I think I’ll get started on one to my husband and each of my daughters!

P.S.  I did think of something that I don’t like for Valentine’s Day – Sweetheart candy.  I know, I know.  But it’s always tasted like dried up dusty toothpaste to me.  Yuck!

Images:  See Links Above

Oh how I have missed you and writing the last few weeks!  Some of you have been inquiring as to where I’ve been and well, it’s about time I share the news with you.  For the last year or so, I’ve been rather unhappy at my job.  Actually, I take that back – I’ve been miserable!  While I don’t want to get into the nitty gritty details, I can tell you that after 15 years at the same company, I finally quit and started a new job just a few short weeks ago.  It’s going beautifully so far and I have no regrets about my decision.  My new job is significantly closer to home which leaves me a bit more time for something I love to do…. shopping!  (Of course, there are many things I love to do it’s just hard to pass up end of season sales on boots!).

With my new job, our entire family has been learning a new routine.  Through our trials of what works best, I hope to find the perfect time slot for my writing.  Thank you for all your support!

Images:  House of Many Hues

Oh it’s such a special day!  Today we celebrate our accomplishments achieved in 2011 and think about our new goals, dreams, and aspirations for 2012.  I’m looking forward to lots of changes that will be happening in 2012 (more to come on that note!).  However, I wasn’t always so upbeat about a new year coming mostly because I focused on all that I didn’t do.  I would get really down and set myself up for failure in the year to come.  So about 5 or 6 years ago I decided that this had to change.  How was I going to better work at fulfilling my ambitions and arriving at my desired destination?  I’m not sure where I heard it first, but somewhere someone said if you want to do something, write it down and review it throughout the year.  And so I did.  I personally like to use pretty notebooks to jot down goals, ideas, thoughts, whatever I like.  Then I keep the notebook handy and review it over and over again.  You’ll be surprised how often this works.  So I encourage you, grab a pen and paper and start writing!

Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year!  See you on the other side!

Images:  House of Many Hues

Good morning friends!  I am feeling a bit sore today as I’ve been taking the girls sledding for the past few days (in the little snow we have in our yard).  I guess all the pulling, pushing, and tumbling has finally caught up to me!

I’m thinking I need to invest in a pair of snow pants for myself – at least that’s what my cold legs and wet pants have said.  When I mentioned this to my husband, he started laughing almost immediately.  Hey – why is that funny?  Me in snow pants?  I don’t get it.

Anyway, I spent sometime catching up on a few sites I enjoy and happen to realize that I never shared with you the work of Danielle Thompson (see website here).  How have I not mentioned Danielle before?  She is a woman of with many hats and is simply amazing.  She’s a photographer, a graphic artist, a blogger, and runs an etsy shop.  Her one line bio reads, “A girl and the pursuit of all things cute, kitschy and crafty“.

What’s really cool about Danielle is her passion for everything vintage and retro (you will immediately notice this on her site).  She even carries this into the decor of her home.  Check it out…

I am seriously considering getting a smaller version of this Christmas tree!  I love how the colors from the ornaments just pop against the white.

Images:  Danielle Thompson

Images:

Oh my the holidays are almost here and I happen to find a fabulous gift – for our home!  I stopped at one of my favorite 2nd hand stores and by complete chance was captivated by a watercolor painting sitting on top of a huge pile of framed art.  Could it be an original?  I’ve almost been fooled before with watercolor replicas – but not this time.  Not only was this an original watercolor, but it so happen to have information on the back of the frame.

It was sold by the fine arts Birmingham Gallery by John McKinney in Michigan.  According to the handwritten portion, the artist was from Denmark and her name was Ulla Grau.  I was curious as to how old the piece was – my guess put it at either the 50’s or 60’s.  I wanted to know more but wasn’t sure if the art gallery was still around so I did a little research and got more than I was expecting.  The art gallery opened in 1968 and shut down in 1977 after owner John McKinney was violently murdered (case still remains unsolved – for news clippings see here).  As for information on the artist herself, I could find nothing which makes the art that much more mystifying!  The purchase price for this art with original frame – $7.99.

The colors are more vibrant than the picture shows – but it is a watercolor that is aging.  I hung it where there is no direct sunlight and hope it lasts!

Images:  House of Many Hues

A few weeks back, I was standing in my craft room making a mental note of all the felt sheets I have.  I wanted to do something with the remnant pieces (as they were adding up from previous craft projects) and cutting them up into Fall leaves seemed like a fun.  It took about 10 minutes to cut up different leaf shapes and another 15 minutes to sew a piece of yarn through all of them making it into a garland.

I hung the garland on one of our curtain rods near a heat register – the girls just love it when the heat turns on and the leaves “blow” around.

Images: House of Many Hues

Good morning peeps!  I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  This year we went to my mom’s house and as always she puts out a large spread.  The good thing about that is left overs – no one has to cook anything for days.

I did review in my mind all that I was thankful for – my family and friends (including our pets and the animals that visit us), our health, hot running water, our dishwasher that is used at least twice a day,  the variety of food that is available, the land we live on and all its wonders – I could go on and on.  But this isn’t something I review once a year on Thanksgiving.  In fact, I think about these things often and so I’m very familiar with my thankful “list”.  However, I find that if I wallow too much in what I’m thankful for, then I start to wonder ‘why’.  Why?  Yes, why.  Why was this life available to me and not others?

I decided to ask my oldest daughter who is 3 and a half what she was thankful for.  I wasn’t sure if she would understand the meaning of my question, but she surprised me – as she usually does.  Her answer was immediate, soft spoken, and simple, “Our home”.

I thought about which photo of our home to share and remembered that I never posted photos of our new patio that was installed this past summer.  The photo above was taken one early morning last week.

We bought the patio table and chairs are about 8 or 9 years old, but I think they still work.  This year I touched up the paint on the table and a few of the chairs – to my shock, I found a perfect paint match!  This means, I might be able to keep this set going for a little while longer.  I also love that the cushions fit under the table and that 2 of the chairs swivel.

The patio still needs lounge furniture to go around the firepit (where will I read my magazines and take my summer naps?).  We are continuing our search for a good deal although it’s becoming more difficult now that Winter is almost here – but there is always craigslist.  Also, lighting still needs to be installed on the corner brick walls.  We haven’t had good luck with Electricians lately and so I might reserve this project until the Spring.  Despite the details, I have enjoyed many a drinks this year on the patio and hope to do so throughout the winter.

P.S.  I asked my daughter should she have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus (say, at the local mall), what would she ask him for Christmas.  “Socks.  Flowery socks”.

Images:  House of Many Hues