Saturday, January 31, 2009

Pink Saturday With A Suitcase of Nostalgia

I'm excited to be joining another Pink Saturday. Beverly, over at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/myweblog/ is hosting another Saturday full of pink. Be sure to swing by there for a full list of participants. You can also click on my sidebar and it will take you right
there. :-)

This week I've filled another suitcase with a bit of pink and some vintage runners and doilies. A few years back I started collecting dolls of all kinds. The neighbors we lived next door to at the time found out about my latest obsession, and helped contribute to the cause. She surprised me with the gift of this sweet little doll. Not quite 12" long the perfect size for a little girl to play with. OK, so I wasn't so little but I sure enjoyed moving her around the pink and white bedroom. :-)


Isn't she just the sweetest thing you've ever laid eyes on? Bless her heart she almost looks like she's pouting.. maybe she's just shy with all the company today. :-) Aren't her dress and bonnet darling? Full of gathered lace. Underneath all her finery she has the sweetest pair of pantaloons on. No pictures of those girls, remember this is a family blog. l0l
I'm sure you remember a few posts back I spoke about all the counted cross stitch I've done over the years. This is one I did for my husband's birthday in 1984.
I fell in love with the phrase and thought it said how I felt about our love and marriage. Don't you love even the frame is in the shape of a heart?
Now, my little pouty baby can smile. I added a miniature tea set just for her. :-)
The small ballerina slippers are actually Christmas ornaments I used on the tree when I decorated with a Victorian theme. It would take some tiny feet to fill these up.

Beverly, thanks for hosting another fun-filled Saturday of pink. I'm off to see all the other beautiful pink, see you there.. hugs ~lynne~



Thursday, January 29, 2009

Refresh Your Home With a Touch of Spring

For those of you that don't know. I own and operate a gift shop as well as working part time in another gift shop. Yes, I get to play with fun things all day long. :-) I'm often told I have the best job in the world. Most days I would have to agree.. lol I've had a few emails requesting some pictures of the new Spring merchandise. So, how about a virtual shopping trip today?
I've been busy moving every display in the shop. Getting in new merchandise and trying to get it displayed. There's still lots coming in so you'll have another chance to take a peak at a later time.. But for now... here we go.
As you enter you'll find a table with a bouquet of green grasses banked with candlesticks on one side and a great glass dome on the other side. See even carpet balls here. :-) Some of the finer designers call these orbs. I think I still prefer calling them carpet balls. lol
Most everyone loves candles and I'm no exception. You can also see the great lights with the sleeves you can change out for the seasons. The bottom shelves house candle warmers for those of you that have small children and don't want to worry about flames. Slip your candle into the warmer and let it do the work for you.

The perfect sign for all of us.. Follow your Heart....

A table full of white for those of you who love the shabby chic look.

Isn't the white ceramic urn gorgeous? In front you'll find the metal urn. I think a great compliment for each other.


The metal pitcher is for decorative use only, sure wouldn't want to drink anything out of it. Isn't the white metal rooster just the cutest little thing? (You can click on the picture for a close up of the darling lamp and it's bling).

A set of 3 heavy metal candle holders. Don't you love the scroll work on them?
You can see here I chose to put a leaf ball on one of them to shake things up a bit. :-)
Another display of goodies..Ahhhhhh something for the rooster lovers. A close up of the rooster. Don't you love his colors and attitude? He's painted on a wooden tray . A multi-function tray. You could hang him or put him in a wonderful plate holder. I think he would make quite a statement in any one's home.
And for those bunnies lovers. :-)
Laugh blocks to help you remember to laugh each day. Wouldn't they be great in a baby's nursery?
How about an Italian urn full of forsythia and some whimsical foliage? You can even throw in some Pansy's for good measure.
Apothecary jars are the most wonderful things I've run across in along time. Great decorative basics for any room. I chose to fill these with eggs. But I can see a birds nest as well as many other things. What do you see inside yours?
Mr. Grasshopper is out of a series of bunnies I've decided to carry this year. Isn't he great? Doesn't necessarily say Easter.. to me, right now it says
Spring. :-)
Mrs. Purpee' is all decked out in her finest. I wonder where she might be going? Wouldn't this look great in a bookshelf or on a kitchen counter? I love the saying.
This cute little couple is Mr. and Mrs. Petal.
Can you guess what this little cutie is?
Here's a little closer shot.. do you have it figured out yet?
Yes.. you have it.. Place card holders! Wouldn't they be darling on a tablescape? I'm sure in the future you'll see some of them on one of my tablescapes. :-)
I hope you aren't too exhausted or bored. And I hope you found a bit of inspiration from your shopping trip today. I hope you enjoyed yourself today as much as I enjoyed having you... hugs ~lynne~




Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Julian Beever Chalk Art

I'm sure many of you have seen some of this great art before. I'm in awe of his talent, what he can do with chalk is amazing. If you have seen it before I apologize for the repeat, if you haven't I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

New chalk art from Julian Beever

I just love this guy's work! All of his art works are done on flat sidewalks, but he works with perspective and the art looks like it has depth. Amazing!! I've sent his work through before, but these are new. Gotta share it....-

Julian Beever

Pavement Picasso



Julian Beever is an English artist who's famous for his anamorphic art

on the pavements of England , France , Germany , USA , Australia and Belgium .


Beever gives an amazing illusion to his drawings, so that the objects appear

to be three dimensional rather than flat as they actually are.



Work in progress

Work completed



Hard to believe that the little boy is standing flat on the pavement!





Julian admits that some people see his work as graffiti,

and don't feel it has a place on public streets. Happily, he says,

he mostly receives a positive reaction and people like and enjoy his art.


Did you spot tiny Julian Beever on the Top of the Bottle?



The 3D aspect to his work came much later while he was working in Brussels ,

'I decided to get into 3D after seeing the effect of tiles being removed

from the street, and later trying to recreate the sense of depth in a drawing.'
People avoid the hole.


Hosing down the street
Everything is fake, even the hose and water!





Rafting
Watch out!



Land Use


There is no hole in this pavement.


'Today I'm drawing Felix the Cat gate-crashing the Chinese New Year
of the dog. He's popping put of the ground in a Chinese dragon costume.'
Chinese Dragon with Felix the Cat


Politicians get sucked into a pit. Who will save them?





Baby Food I'm not too crazy about this one.


Baby Food viewed from the opposite side


'Once I realised you could make things go down,

I realised you could make them appear to go up

and I began experimenting.'





Make Poverty History - side view - 40 ft long
Make Poverty History - front view
Amazing!

Art for the people.



'My art is for anybody, it's for people who wouldn't go into an art gallery.

It's art for the people.'



'Art shouldn't be locked away in galleries and libraries and books.

Art should be for everybody and not just art buffs, historians

and so-called experts.'

Julian works in chalk, so his art, which takes up to 3 days to complete,

is there only as long as the elements allow,

'If it rains it means I've done a lot of hard work for nothing,

but I usually manage to avoid that.'



Visit with Santa
The important thing for me is to get a photo of it at the end.

For me, I'm working towards building a photograph as my end result,

and if I get that I'm happy.'
'The secret is to set up a camera on a tripod and keep it in one spot

and check every mark you make. It's really just playing with perspective

to make it appear different to what it really is.'



Julian Beever - Self Portrait