The Civil War Diary Quilt

The Civil War Diary Quilt

Primeros bloques de esta aventura.De momento he empezado con los bloques más sencillos para ir tomando un primer contacto.

Telas:Reproducciones de la Era de la Guerra Civil Americana
Medidas: Cuadrados de 6."x 6 " ( 15 cm x 15 cm )
Técnica: Paper piecing

John Morgan






Yankee Papers




Bombardment



Selling the livestock

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Rich Dunbrack -The Thieving Magpie

Rich Dunbrack -The Thieving Magpie

Many of you have emailed me for information about the whimsical clock I have in my kitchen. I thought it timely to share with you the work of Concord, Massachusetts Folk Artist, Rich Dunbrack.

I came upon his work quite unexpectedly at a Sunday morning flea market in Rowley, MA almost ten years ago. There he had stored in a barn, several pieces which were not for sale, but waiting to ship to lucky, new owners. I was immediately smitten with his work. Rich uses found objects and architectural antiques to create his one of kind pieces. Cupboards and clocks can contain fragments of old buildings, antique iron grates, bedposts, clock faces, old farm tools, eel spears, wooden paper mache molds and old barn siding. He meticulously blends these elements together and creates what he calls art that is "utilitarian with elements of vitality." You can"t help but smile when you see his work in person.

Here are a few of his pieces:

Happy Moon Cupboard

Includes building salvage from western Massachusetts, house and tobacco farm materials and an antique moon paper mache mold.

Head and Shoulders Above - Tall Clock

Fabricated from southern Vermont salvage, Victorian house fragments, a bronze doll's head and a period clock dial
Old Road to Nine Acre Corner - Column Cupboard

Built with period New Hampshire artifacts including a Federal house column, Victorian house fragments and iron fittings and hardware, Victrola tube and a mahogany, folk art carved figure.

This custom desk built for the owner of The Zoo Factory in Florida is only one of a few desks Dunbrack has ever fabricated. Another sits happily in Carly Simon's house in Martha's Vineyard. Simon was an early collector and supporter of Dunbrack's art.
Spying Moon - Cupboard / Pantry

Fabricated from Southern NH reclaim, 1800's Federal house materials, period folk art carving and cast stove fragments The 5 Hole - Cupboard

Fabricated from southern Vermont salvage, Brattleboro, VT Arts & Crafts period home, folk art carving, and an early eel spear.
If you continue to be intrigued, check out Rich's website at http://www.thethievingmagpie.com/.
I am sure it will bring a smile to your face!

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The Bachelorette Pad: It's Coming Together

The Bachelorette Pad: It's Coming Together

I spent most of yesterday and today at The Bachelorette Pad and we're definitely making progress. The bedroom is almost finished and is turning out to be my favorite room! The draperies have been hung and steamed and the headboard was attached so it's coming together. We just need to purchase the lamps for the bedside tables and finalize the art and then it will be done.

You can see better in this photo how the stripes of the draperies from Restoration Hardware pickup the colors of the rug from Pottery Barn. The Bachelorette said her friend thought the rug was custom and is excited that everyone does look custom even though so far, everything was purchased at retail stores or online. Some of the things that we have done would have been outrageously expensive if they had been custom so it is possible to get the look for less.

The Bachelorette has a very large family and I thought one of her nieces made the picture of the bunnies so I decided to hang it above the television. Not everything has to be serious when you decorate and The Bachelorette said that it makes her smile every time she looks at it, especially since she painted it when she was a child! So cute!

You can see in this before photo that the draperies really do make a difference and finish the design.

I just placed the embroidery that was made by her grandmother to see if it will work in the room. I will leave it up to The Bachelorette to decide if she would like it hung above the bed or in the living room. It would add some new colors to the room and I might think about adding a patterned boudoir pillow for a little more color. The lamps will also finish off the room.

I hung a few more pieces of artwork in the living room and sat her old mirror on top of the bookcase. Obviously, the wall is still unfinished. A reader suggested sconces which might be a good option or maybe there are some other artwork that could work on this wall. I also found some great fabric from Carelton V called Wykeham in Citrus (2800-14) that would make perfect throw pillows for the sofa.

I always joke that you need a degree in mathematics to hang artwork. Do you know why gallery walls of art are so popular? It's because you can hammer in a nail, hang up a painting and call it a day. No measuring is required for a gallery wall but you need to get out a pad of paper and pencil if you plan to hang art so it's evenly spaced and properly hung. (They look a little crooked here but it's because the photo is crooked. I need to invest in a tripod!) I think the middle two works might have to be moved up after depending on what lamp is chosen for the desk but for now they are staying put where they are. The desk also needs a few accessories so this area still needs a little work, as does the entry which is why there aren't any photos of it yet.

We are still discussing painting the kitchen in the darker color. The quote from the painter was a little high for such a small room so I offered to paint it myself but I'm not sure if that's such a great idea, especially if we decide to paint the ceiling. The kitchen is right off the entry and only has half walls to separate it so it might disappear more if it is dark. It's a tough call. It also needs a new light fixture which is on the list so don't worry. I wouldn't leave her with exposed light bulbs!

It's a nice feeling to see the place really coming together after so much planning and preparation. The Bachelorette is away until tomorrow on business and I know she is very excited to come home and see it. I would be excited to come home too if I had a bedroom that beautiful!

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My Kitchen Unveiled!

My Kitchen Unveiled!

When I bought my house I felt the kitchen needed some minor renovation. Here's what I liked: the layout and the windows across the entire back of the space,which gave it incredible light. I liked the white cabinets, and the recessed ceiling in the kitchen area. What I didn't like was the lack of a center island and the way the cabinets seemed cut the space in half. I disliked the backsplash, and the very badly scratched white Corian counters. I also disliked the lack of mouldings and details, that were so abundant in the other rooms of the house. These pictures were taken when the house was for sale and include the previous owners furniture and accessories.


The area above is also the family room space, though they had taken out the couch and love seat. I felt like the table was too close to the family room. An area needed to be added for the table to have its own space. During this renovation we designed and created a glass breakfast room for the table.

Here are some inspiration photos:

This is a Victoria Hagen kitchen. I loved the soapstone, subway tile and pendant lights. I also liked the beadboard ceiling, but perhaps a bit more scaled back.


These two kitchens are from the Swedish Company, Kvanum Kok. I love the hardwood floors, soapstone counters and glass cabinets. I especially fell in love with the X cabinets.

I loved this box out behind the stove for oils, peppermill, etc. I liked the different tiles with the white subway tile. But I preferred Calcutta marble in a herringbone pattern like this one below:





Here's my inspiration:Here is my box out behind my stove:

Here is the full view. I also added a marble shelf. It is a small feature but it adds so much!

Here is the before looking into the kitchen: (that is me holding my nephew while my sister takes the photos)

Here is the after:

We pulled out the small upper cabinets above the island and added pendant lights. We replaced the upper cabinets by the stove. Then we also pulled out four of the lower cabinets to create a center island. The new "island" has curved soapstone, which you can not see in this picture. Notice the beadboard in the recess of the ceiling and the pendant lights. Also look at the before picture and notice how the windows are lower than the doorways - this always annoyed me, but I was able to correct it during the process.Notice the plain ceilings in the before picture and the beadboard ceilings in the after. Also new sinks and faucets and moulding details. I also added ice box latches and bin pulls to the cabinets.Here is a great picture of the windows which have been raised up about 4 inches so the door and window moldings align.

Here is the TV area before: And after:

New gas fireplace and mantle. Notice the detail work; the moldings wrap the entire room and match the living room moldings which are original to the house.

Here is another view which peeks into the living room and dining room. (The clock is an art piece by a local artist who uses salvage materials to create new objects) Finally the kitchen looking toward the Butler's pantry. I think the gray walls of the kitchen with a touch of marble and beadboard ceiling, ties in nicely with the gray cabinets, marble and beadboard in the pantry.

As soon as my new furniture and chandelier arrive I will show you the lovely glass breakfast room with beadboard ceiling and adjacent family room area!

A little inspiration, finding the right quality cabinetmakers and lots of time helped bring my kitchen up to date and back to the original quality of the rest of the house. We are very happy with the result.

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Alfiletero crazy

Alfiletero crazy

A veces una no puede resistirse a intentar hacer cosas nuevas. Eso me ocurrió en cuanto , por fortuna, como ocurre muchas veces surfeando, te encuentras con preciosidades como ésta....... Un reto que además me parecía perfecto para regalarle a Rosa por su último cumpleaños.
Hace ya tiempo que llegó a sus manos y por falta de tiempo con las fotos, no he sacado el artículo antes.

Para daros una pista estos fueron los comienzos............Recuerdo que os dije que ya os mostraría cómo quedaría acabado.








Sólo fue cuestión de seguir los pasos indicados por Ivoryblushroses......... Realmente sus " crazys" son de lo más delicado y bonito que he visto.






Distintos puntos de vista........









Debajo añadí fieltro......




No será el último alfiletero.... seguro.... una vez que caes en la trampa .... es difícil salir .... y yo he sucumbido a " esta práctica ".


Ps. Gracias a las que me habéis preguntado por esta leve pausa. En cuanto mejore una contractura muscular os iré contando más.....

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The Paris Years

The Paris Years

One good thing to come out of my recent short lived romance with an artist was a trip to The Whitney Museum of American Art to see Alexander Calder: The Paris Years 1926-1933. I think most people are familiar with Calder through his mobiles but this exhibition brings a whole other side of Calder to light through his wonderfully creative wire caricature portraits, wire menagerie of animals, and his famous Circus. Around every corner is a new visual treat. I think this was of my favorite shows of all time and I hope everyone will try to see it before it closes on February 15th.

Alexander Calder, 'Dog', 1926-31. Wood, clothespin, and wire, Dog, 1926-31. Wood, clothespin, and wire.

Alexander Calder, Jimmy Durante, 1928. Iron wire and sculpture.

Alexander Calder, Goldfish Bowl, 1929. Wire.

Alexander Calder, Helen Wills, 1927. Wire and wood.

Alexander Calder, Untitled, 1932. Pen with ink on paper.

Alexander Calder, Equestrian Act from Calder’s Circus, 1926-31. Wire, wire, cloth, metal, wood, cardboard, rhinestones, thread, paint, rubber, cork, string.

Alexander Calder, Five suitcases in which Calder transported his Circus, 1926-31.

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