ElainePenwell
Don't fail to visit her website. She.is.amazing!
Don't fail to visit her website. She.is.amazing!
Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Art. Show all posts
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Have a Great Weekend without Leaving Home :)
I'm still laughing over this hilarious drawing by Franco Matticchio. These guys would have a hard time making such a great swimming pool out of my bathtub because it has rounded sides. via Have a great fun weekend.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME
A few weeks ago I ordered this map from here....
It is 29" x 58" and the perfect size for over the couch in the den/office.
I've been researching different framing options and and quickly realized it will be a costly endeavor.
The map was only $32.99 so I was okay with spending a decent amount of money
having it framed properly.
However, last week, I popped into Hobby Lobby for a quick look around and out of habit, I made my way over to the 80% off clearance aisle. And what to my wondrous eye should appear?
Why a custom frame matching the dimensions of my map, oh dear!
Well, almost anyway. The frame was 33" x 59". Close enough for $20!
I am having a mat added, so the frame should work perfectly.
Here it is all empty and lonely....
And a close up....
I picked out this lovely linen like mat.
Adios to this big blank wall. Well, after March 23rd that is.
That's when I can pick up the framed map.
I seem to have maps on my radar lately.
What's on your radar right now?
Monday, February 27, 2012
ANTIQUE THERAPY
Last weekend, I took a little trip to Columbus, Ohio with three girlfriends.
We stopped and had BBQ for breakfast, yes, that's right BBQ for breakfast.
After a quick pit top at the Pottery Barn Outlet, we cruised on up the road another hour and hit the Scott's Antique Market in Columbus. I read about it on-line, but have never been so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Since I roped the other three into making the trip with me, I had high hopes.
We were all pleasantly surprised at the size and quality of the show.
We stopped and had BBQ for breakfast, yes, that's right BBQ for breakfast.
After a quick pit top at the Pottery Barn Outlet, we cruised on up the road another hour and hit the Scott's Antique Market in Columbus. I read about it on-line, but have never been so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Since I roped the other three into making the trip with me, I had high hopes.
We were all pleasantly surprised at the size and quality of the show.
I came home with three treasures.
First up, this eight foot long bench. Believe it or not, I have been searching for an eight foot long bench for this spot in my kitchen. The fact that it was already painted a blue/gray color was a bonus!
This little nook has sat empty since we moved in.
The bench is right at home here.
My next find was this antique map of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky streets.
I happened upon it early in the day so I stopped, admired and then kept walking.
Later in the day, I stopped admired some more and kept walking.
After dragging all three of my friends over to give an opinion,
I stopped, opened my wallet and closed the deal.
It was already framed and I hung it with three prints of landmarks in Germany
that I picked up at a local antique store a few months ago.
My last find was this vintage roll down map.
I have always thought these things are so cool and I was ecstatic to find one at a reasonable price.
My husband and I have differing opinions on what is a reasonable price, but believe me,
it was a reasonable price!
Of course finding these treasures made my day, but getting to spend time with
three girlfriends that share my passion for antiquing truly was just the kind of therapy I needed.
Can't wait to do it again!
Sharing with:
Elizabeth & Co.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Turning old instruments into art!
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| Brass pipe water feature at the Philadelphia Flower Show's 'Jazz Garden' 2008 . photo by Bérénice |
So this is a post that will strike different ‘chords' withdifferent people. For some this is art, but others may see this as decimation of abeautiful instrument. But before you begin to grieve for them, to my knowledge allthe instruments shown here were beyond repair.
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| Garden Piano at Hagal Farm |
The above picture is of the Garden Piano in the gardens of HagalFarm, my parents' holistic retreat in West Cork, Ireland. I have written aboutthis in a previous blog post which you can find here.
Recently I have become aware of a number of other gardenpianos. I like to think that after reading my garden piano post, readers ranoff to drag their old broken pianos out into their gardens, but I am sure thatthis is unlikely.
The Piano water feature below as well as the brass pipe water feature above were part of the 'Jazz Garden' at the 2008 Philadelphia Flower Show.
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| Piano water feature at thePhiladelphia Flower Show's 'Jazz Garden' 2008 . photo by Bérénice |
In recent years, with people becoming more environmentally friendlyand looking for green alternatives in the landscape, recycled or found objectart seems to be more popular than ever. With found object art, musical instrumentparts on occasion find their way into art pieces.
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| Artist Noel Brady at work in his bush studio near Emu Park, Queensland, Australia |
One artist that takes 'musical themed, found object art' toanother level is Capricorn Coast based artist Noel Brady.
Born in Ballarat, Victoria Noel completed his Diploma of Artsand Design at the Ballarat School of Mines and Industries Art School beforeembarking on a long career as a secondary school art teacher in both Victoriaand Queensland.
He retired to his Emu Park bush studio in 2004 toconcentrate on his own artwork with a particular focus on sculpture. Noel workslargely with recycled timber, clay and metal - but has a particular penchantfor reimagining old piano parts.
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| Convergence by Noel Brady |
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| Symphony under construction by Noel Brady |
Noel has had moderate success to date, exhibitingin Rockhampton, Gladstone, Yeppoon, Emu Park and Goombungee, and has sold worksinto private collections in San Diego, Sydney, Canberra, Griffith,Dandenong, Brisbane, Cairns, Rockhampton and Toowoomba.
Hepresently lives and works in his bush studio on a small acreage near Emu Parkon the Capricorn Coast, and regularly exhibits new work in a smallprivately-run gallery in the seaside town.
Lots more of Noel's artwork can be found through his website http://www.noelbrady.com.au be sure to check it out.
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| Lasseter's Legacy by Noel Brady |
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| An unrelated yet worth mentioning, Pool wall panel by Noel Brady |
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| Mosaic Guitar byMosaic Artist Lisa Calabro |
An artist who takes a very different approach to turningmusical instruments into art is American artist Lisa Calabro of Crooked MoonStudio in Warwick, Rhode Island. Lisa has transformed old instruments intoartworks by mosaicing them. See more of her lovely mosaics on her website http://crookedmoonstudio.com
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| Mosaic Violin by Mosaic Artist Lisa Calabro |
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| Mosaic Guitar by Mosaic Artist Lisa Calabro |
Thanks to both Noel and Lisa for allowing me to share their artwork. Thanks also to Bérénice for the use of her photographs of the Philadelphia Flower Show.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Seascape in Progress
How nice it would be to have talent and paint on site as you travel. via
It would be especially wonderful if you lived here and had artistic ability. ©Darien, CT waterfront home
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
The Real Sitters for Grant Wood's American Gothic
I love this photo of the couple who posed for Grant Wood's American Gothic. He looks exactly like the painting because of his bald head. Her curly hair style makes her a little bit harder to recognize but the face is the same. via
~~~Happy Valentine's Day~~~
~~~Happy Valentine's Day~~~
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Meet The REAL Jane Austen
I know that many of you reading this are fans so prepare to be amazed - as this portrait is said to be a recently discovered portrait of Jane Austen. I'm going to let Mary Jenkins from Wales tell you the rest of this fascinating story.
Read the Jane Austen scholar's story here as reported in The Guardian. She owns this portrait.
Read the Jane Austen scholar's story here as reported in The Guardian. She owns this portrait.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Ex-libris with Swans Circa 1907
From A collection of book plate designs by Louis Rhead, Boston, 1907. via
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Medieval Woman Feeding the Chickens
I love the woven chicken coop, don't you. I scanned this image from a datebook I no longer own. I keep discovering images I saved before I even had a blog.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Audubon's Birds of America - One Page Per Day
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – One of the world's rarest and most valuable books is out of the vault and on public view as part of an unusual daily ritual at the oldest natural history museum in the United States.
Every weekday at 3:15 p.m., a white-gloved staff member of the Academy of Natural Sciences lifts the locked protective cover from 19th century naturalist John James Audubon's influential book, The Birds of America, and turns a double elephant folio linen-backed page to reveal the bird of the day. More than 180 years after Audubon created the life-size illustrations that now link his name with ornithology, their vibrant watercolors and fine details are still remarkable.
Full article here. View the birds being unveiled day by day.
Full article here. View the birds being unveiled day by day.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Friday, January 6, 2012
Please Use A Bookmark
Folded over pages in books are another of my pet peeves.
WPA poster showing a boy ironing down the page of a book. Chicago, WPA art project circa 1936-40. Artist: Arlington Gregg. From the collection of The Library of Congress via
Bookcase with Dog Painting
I adore dog portraits and bookcases full of books. Do you personalize your home library shelves with other items too? via
Monday, January 2, 2012
Once upon a fairytale garden
So it is a new year, and for many people 2012 is looking pretty bleak indeed. That is why I am re-posting this old post I did last year. This story can help remind us that even from the ashes of devastation and despair, life and prosperity will once again flourish.
Wishing everyone a very happy new year, and I hope 2012 brings you all good health, wealth, and happiness.
Once upon a time in the hills of the great dividing range of Victoria on the edge of a town called Marysville there was a magical garden. In this magical garden mermaids rested on the sun baked rocks on the edge of cool stream’s while fairy’s and pixies danced in-between the trees as wise old men sat at the base of wise old trees.
Bruno's home and art gallery were unfortunately completely destroyed in the blaze. The main attraction, the sculpture garden, was also damaged, but around sixty percent of the sculptures have survived.
Bruno has chosen to stay in Marysville to rebuild his home and restore the gardens. His passion to share his love of art and the story of life with the world has not been damaged by the fires, in fact you would almost say it has been forged anew by the flames that nearly took it all away.
Bruno has been working tirelessly to restore the sculptures and the gardens to their former glory and after months of hard work he declared the gardens reopen on the 29th of November 2009.
Bruno's words: "The bushfires deeply touched us all in many ways. It allowed me to see that people had a heart for each other, that when things really got dark, the best in us comes out. We have lost a lot, but life also provides us opportunities to gain a new vision, lots of new friends and a blank canvas to play. In the meantime, nature is already regenerating itself. The green is slowly returning and the rivers are flowing, finding new ways".
All photos are from Bruno Torfs website
