A Trio of Kitties

As I gear up again for an art-filled Spring, and I wanted to share with you some ornaments I created before Christmas as gifts for my brother and sister-in-law. 

A trio of kitties - Jupiter, Julie and Tonsley - are their beloved pets, and I wanted to immortalize them some way. So this year, this was what I created for them. I was itching to post a photo of them before the holiday, but not wanting to spoil the surprise, I held off. And yes, Julie (in the middle) is a one-eyed kitty (only as of this past Autumn), but she is as cute as ever!

I create custom pet portrait ornaments as commissions as well; they make great gifts anytime of year and look great displayed on a wall or even framed.

Winter 2014

Winter 2014 in Connecticut

 This time of year, Winter starts to get old; after so many snowstorms and single-digit temperatures, it's tough to get up each day and face the cold once again.  But I really try not to let it get to me. I must remind myself each day to live in the moment (no matter how hard that might be). Winter affords us many wondrous moments if we really take the time to observe it's gifts.

Looking through my photos taken in the past few months, I've chosen a few above that really show the beauty of the season.  Sometimes we forget just how colorful nature in winter can be. Honestly, it even surprised me as I put this collage together. The reds, yellows and oranges are incredibly vibrant alongside the icy blues and bright whites we come to associate with winter. Maybe that's another reason why Valentine's Day is such a welcome holiday this time of year, with it's signature fiery red colors (thanks to Madison Avenue in some part) juxtaposed against the snow-covered scenery outside our windows. How can you not generate a little heat with that combination?

I hope you enjoy this little glimpse of February in the Northeast, and I hope it inspires you to venture out and take a look around your corner of the world to see what Winter has to offer you.

And Your Bird Can Sing . . .

It's hard to believe we are almost mid-way through January; after the "polar vortex" which swept the nation in the early part of the month, things have thankfully moderated here in Connecticut.  A balmy day in the 40s was on tap for today, and it was hard not to get lulled into thinking Spring was around the corner. Get over it - it isn't. 

Of course, that's what I tell myself, but I can't shake the wishful thinking of revving up the garden again, starting the first clean-up of the beds and searching for the first signs of crocus. But it's way too early for any of this. What's got me in this mind is no doubt the little jaunt we took today to the towns of Middlebury, Woodbury, Southbury among others - you know, all those quaint little "burys" in the middle of the state that are perfect for antiquing and just general perusing of wares on a Sunday afternoon.

What I'm searching for this time around is a vintage (and/or just plain old, but with character) chest of drawers, sideboard, or other similar piece of furniture that I can transform into a cool kitchen island. This is one of my New Year's resolutions, to re-purpose a find into a fabulous island, with plenty of storage (a must when you have a tiny kitchen) and maybe a nice marble top to boot.

I didn't find that special piece this time around (oh, it has to be inexpensive too, so that is adding to the difficulty, especially when the words "marble top" crop up), but what I do find is a couple of mid-century (1957 to be exact) Hull Pottery pink bird vases at a steal of a price at an adorable boutique having a clearance sale. These cheery birds immediately put me in the mind of springtime. I guess birds in general do that for me. One of my favorite quotes is from Dorothy Parker:

“Every year, back comes Spring, with nasty little birds yapping their fool heads off and the ground all mucked up with plants.” 

 That just about says it, right? I also picked up a couple of contemporary ceramic birds (too cute to pass up and also priced ridiculously low) to round out the collection.

One of the Hull vases at left; close up detail bottom-middle and contemporary birds top-middle and right

So along with some "birdy" napkin holders already in my collection, these new pieces should feel right at home. And (most importantly) when things are looking bleak weather-wise, I will just have to look at them over the next few months of blustery winter to be transported back to thoughts of Spring and the ground "all mucked up with plants" - ha! I can't wait.

Happy New Year 2014!

Plain Jane Wreath Transformed

Today I purchased my holiday wreath from our local animal rescue group S.T.A.R.S. http://www.stratfordanimalrescue.com which holds an annual wreath fundraiser, selling not only wreaths, but lots of other goodies for our furry friends in their holiday boutique, with proceeds going to benefit the shelter animals. It's a yearly tradition for me to get my wreath here at the animal shelter.

I like to buy the bare-bones, bow-only wreath and add my own decorations for a personal touch. Here's how you too can go about decorating a plain-jane wreath and making it something special:

the original wreath as purchased, bow-only

I ventured out in my yard, seeking interesting-looking natural materials to decorate my wreath. I settled on some dried hydrangeas, dark-blue berries, and rose hips. See what you find in your own yard; it may be pine cones, winterberry, and yarrow. Whatever catches your interest will probably look good on your wreath! Get creative.

Here's a close-up of my chosen decorative materials:

hydrangeas blooms, berries and rose hips

The only tools I needed were some scissors and very fine florist's wire:

The first additions were the dried hydrangea blooms, each wired carefully:

addition of the dried hydrangeas

Next came the berry sprigs, attached in the same fashion:

berries added

And finally the rose hips (also wired):

 

Here is the wreath, ready to go outside -

 And finally, the finished wreath on the front door!

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs . . .

  

I have of late become somewhat obsessed with chalk art. You can find me on any given day perusing the aisles of Whole Foods or Mrs. Green's, my attention glued to all the neat signage they employ to make their goods more enticing.  Half the time I forget what I went there to buy I'm so enthralled with all the pretty colors, the impeccably-rendered typefaces, and the shear excess of it all.

Chalk art is experiencing a boom right now; sometimes I wonder if it's somehow related to the popularity of tattoo art and all things hand-drawn, or a new appreciation of illustration art. Whatever it is, I'm liking it. 

So I've been trying my hand at this art form, and really enjoying it! I've always been a big fan of fonts (having cut my teeth in the printing business some years ago), and let me tell you - chalk art is full of fonts! The more the better . . .  mix and match, modern and vintage. Frilly flourishes and beautiful borders are another reason the signs seem so captivating.

I've been doing some sketching and practicing to hone my skills. With the holidays in full swing, they seem a natural subject (and of course, as usual my other two obsessions make it into the practice sessions):

So it must have been kismet today when Bill and I walked into our favorite local breakfast haunt, Mary & Beth's Metro Diner in Stratford Center, only to see a large, blank "Specials" Chalk Board staring me in the face. Itching to turn all that blank canvas into art, next thing you know,  I've got the gig!

The Finished "Specials" Sign At Metro Diner

I'm excited to see where my passion for chalk art takes me next; meanwhile, I'll keep an eye out for inspiration during the holidays (and if I accidentally ram you with my shopping cart, it's nothing personal. I probably was just mesmerized by some Trader Joe's sign tantalizing me from afar).

Clean Up on Aisle 2 . . .

Today was cleaning day in the garden; one of many to come in the next few weeks. The vegetable garden was priority number one. Out with the elderly tomato plants, shriveled cucumber vines and nasturtium plants, which succumbed to a couple of frosty nights this past week. Remaining in the beds are the original kale and collard plants, now tall but still viable. Also still growing are some younger kale plants (started in late September), beets, as well as a lone garlic chive plant, which has thus far survived the cold snaps just fine.

In addition to the veggie garden, it was also time to pull up the dahlia bulbs, which will be stored once again in my basement until Spring. This year, they will be stored in a bed of shredded paper in a cardboard box. I used the same arrangement last year, which worked just fine. Previously, I had just placed the clumps in a cardboard box. But I read about the addition of shredded paper, and it did seem to insulate them nicely and keep them plump throughout the months in storage last year. So in to their fluffy bed they go!

The rest of the garden is now showing it's past-peak color, but there are still plenty of sights to go around. The big Norway maple has blanketed the lawn with it's dirty-yellow leaves; next step will be to mow them, rather than rake (to provide added nourishment to the soil come spring). The Japanese maples are the among the last to shed their leaves; the leaves are still clinging on with their blood-red and deep purple hues, despite the 25 mph wind gusts which buffeted the garden this weekend.  There are still a few more days left to admire their beauty. The rose bushes are all but denuded, but their rose hips stand out brilliantly against the thorny branches.  A few chrysanthemums still appear sprightly; but they, too, will go into hibernation soon. And the ornamental grasses look regal as they sway in the wind. They will remain all winter, to provide added cover for birds and other small wildlife to weather the months ahead.

I just can't rid myself of the feeling that all of this Fall spectacle, this Autumn show of colors, is happening later and later each year. Whereas just over a decade ago, when we first moved to New England, raking leaves and snow flurries were taking place around the Columbus Day weekend in early October. As time has gone by, there is barely any color at all here at that time, and Thanksgiving weekend is still rife with Autumn clean-up activities in the garden. It's an uneasy feeling that something's definitely not quite right with the climate these days.