Happy Christmas by Beatrix Potter

Here's another original image I've never seen before by Beatrix Potter.

A Happy Christmas to You.

Watercolor over graphite pencil with touches of pen and black ink on light weight card stock.

Circa 1890

Museum of Fine Arts Boston -- click on this link to view the artwork full size. It's wonderful.

George Washington's Headquarters Morristown NJ

General George Washington’s headquarters was established here at the Ford Mansion in Morristown, New Jersey on December 1, 1779.

I went here with my mom for a program at Christmas time three years ago. Must go again this year to see it all decorated for Christmas. It's a gorgeous building with a great museum. via

Self Portrait Marie-Denise Villers 1801

This Marie-Denise Villers painting, which may be a self-portrait, was once attributed to Jacques-Louis David. Marie-Denise Villers (French, 1774–1821). Charlotte du Val d'Ognes (died 1868), 1801. She's lovely, isn't she? Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Blaise Hamlet Cottages - Antique Print

An antique 19th century lithograph showing the cottages of Blaise Hamlet. It is in a museum now. 

Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Madison NJ

I took these photos of this landmark building from my car with my iPhone on my way to Costco today.

 

 

 

Museum of Early Trades and Crafts ~ Madison NJ

The Museum of Early Trades and Crafts originally opened its doors as a library in 1900. The library is still housed upstairs in this beautifully restored building that features 56 stained glass windows, 8 chandeliers, 3 fireplaces and stenciled brick walls. Learn about New Jersey history and culture by visiting the museum on your own, or arrange for a guided tour conducted by the museum's friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Princess Elizabeth in Buckingham Palace 1945 by Cecil Beaton

Princess Elizabeth by Cecil Beaton, Gelatin silver print, Buckingham Palace, March 1945, Museum no. E.1361-2010 National Portrait Gallery. via She was born in April 21, 1926 so she was almost 19 in this loveliest of portraits. She's still beautiful at age 87 too. Long live the Queen.

Primrose and Robin.

John Wainwright - “Primrose and Robin” 1864. This painting is so very beautiful.

(c) Royal Albert Memorial Museum; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation via

Leaping Cottontail

Leaping Cottontail, 1924

Paul Bransom, American, 1885 - 1979
Gouache and Charcoal
The National Museum of Wildlife Art

Beatrix Potter Original Drawing: The Mice Hear Simpkin Outside

click image to enlarge

This delightful ink and watercolor on paper circa 1902 is in the Tate Gallery in London. Simpkin is the Tailer of Gloucester's cat. He rescued these mice from under a teacup where Simpkin had hidden them and out of gratitude they are helping him finish a waistcoat for the mayor's wedding on Christmas Day. Beatrix Potter based her story on a true happening in Gloucester...read more here.
The Tate has 22 of Beatrix Potter's illustrations from her second book which she declared was her favorite. They were presented to the museum in 1946 by the artist's executor .. read more here.
Read the entire book free online compliments of Project Gutenberg eBook

Perfect Chocolate Pot for The Season

This would be a great addition to any transferware collection, wouldn't it? Unfortunately, it's in the Smithsonian. via

Shorebird Weathervane circa 1880

I love the cutout heart within the banner. The shorebird motif is rare and the patina on this piece is wonderful. via

18thC. American House in Deerfield

Frary House Historic Deerfield Village Circa 1750. via

Miniature Portrait of A Dog

On display in the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. I'm not sure if it's a miniature on ivory or a micro mosaic. I want it....badly! via

Portrait of Queen Elizabeth by Pietro Annigoni

'Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Regent' by Pietro Annigoni, 1954-5.

Copyright The Fishmongers’ Co.

I love this portrait; she looks very Napoleonic, doesn't she?

"The Queen: Art and Image," organized by the National Portrait Gallery, comes to London following a highly successful tour to Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff.

“The Queen is the most represented individual in history, but she remains an enigma. All we really have are images. This exhibition explores the creation of the queen’s public persona and the way such images reveals a world of changing ideas and values,” said Paul Moorhouse, curator of "The Queen: Art and Image," and 20th-century curator at the National Portrait Gallery. Read more...

Natural History Museum - London

Wow. I wouldn't even care whether or not there was anything on exhibit. The architecture itself is enough for me. It's really a museum within a museum. image

Bracken House | Typical of Colonial Williamsburg

The main room in my cottage is one room deep. As I sit in my living room I can see views of both the front and back. It is so nice to be able to catch the breezes when the windows are open in nice weather. My kitchen is almost the same except for the small entrance vestibule. My front door is glazed at the top and there is a french door from the vestibule into the kitchen so I can still enjoy both exposures. Then I have a hallway off the living room that leads all the way back to my bedroom at the end of the house which is also one room wide. The bathroom is on one side of the hall and the guest room is on the other. I love the layout.

I have a center chimney with a fireplace in the living room. On the other chimney wall there are enclosed staircases going downstairs on one side and to the attic on the other.
The first two iPhone photos are from a book in my architectural library:

Colonial Williamsburg Its Buildings and Gardens
by A. Lawrece Kocher and Howard Dearstyne 1976

Read more here.

John Crump House - Williamsburg | Before and After Restoration

An 18th century house shown before the turn of the 20th century. I photographed this image from one of my books on Colonial Williamsburg.

The same house after restoration. You have to see the before picture to be able to fully appreciate the after photo, don't you? Such a labor of love.

Girl and her Friends Writing Letters

 

This letter seems to be a real group effort, doesn't it? The girl and her dolls, teddy bear, and pets are very deep in thought and are putting their best efforts into good penmanship.

Illustration for The Christmas Letter circa 1905-07 by Wuanita Smith, American, 1866–1959. Black chalk, red and black wash on illustration board. In the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. via from here

1664 Engraved Title Page by William Vaughan

A Booke Containing such Beasts as are most Usefull for such as practice Drawing, Graveing, Armes Painting, Chaseing, and for severall other occasions. 'Design'd by F: Barlow' and 'Ingraved by Wm. Vaugha[n] 1664'.
Engraved title page in the collection of the British Museum
Publication details at top: 'Sould by Iohn Overton at ye White Horse Without Newgate. where you may haue Severall Bookes for ye same uses'.

From The Hundred Acre Wood To Midtown – Winnie The Pooh at The New York Public Library

From The Hundred Acre Wood To Midtown – Winnie The Pooh Exhibit in New York Somehow it never occurred to me that the characters in Winnie The Pooh were real [stuffed] animals. They are in New York now. Have you seen them in their own little room?

The one and only original Winnie The Pooh

1950 - author A.A. Milne's son, Christopher Robin, sitting at home with his teddy bear. Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS

The original Piglet

The original Tigger 

The original Eeyore

The original Kanga

All of the Original Pooh Characters Together At Last in New York City in their permanent home at The New York Public Library. These are the very animals Christopher once played with in Ashdown Forest (inspiration for the Hundred Acre Wood), patches, rips, dirt, and all. Some characters, like Rabbit and Owl, were made up for the stories, while little Roo was lost long ago. Read more.