Wednesday, December 24, 2008

My tree is finally up | Merry Christmas . . .

I picked up a really pathetic looking artificial tree at a garage sale last week for $5.00. Now that all the branches have been re-bent and the ornaments are in place I find it to be quite pleasing. I have always had a real evergreen; remember my post about the 600 trees I planted? I just can't bring myself to buy anything but a Charlie Brown tree and the lot nearby that sold them for a reasonable price closed down last year. Now I am set forever.

I decided not to use any lights, just shiny Christmas balls. They reflect the glow from the lamps in the room very nicely. I have other ornaments that I didn't use. The tree looks very old fashioned so I am declaring it finished. Less is more, right?



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Christmas gift suggestions . . .


via kari-shma



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Merry Christmas to all travelers . . .

If you find youself away from home December 25th, try to capture the spirit of Christmas wherever you can find it.

It's out there in some of the most unexpected places!

Enjoy more vintage travel trailer art here.



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Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Today is FESTIVUS | Send your cards . . .

Today is FESTIVUS. The made-up holiday created by George Costanza on Seinfeld as an antidote for the commercialization of Christmas.

Read about the Festivus Display at the Illinois Capitol.

Don't forget to send your cards!




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Monday, December 22, 2008

M is for Manicure | Great Logo . . .

I think this letter M is such a clever design for a manicure cutlery company.

I got a vintage pair of pet nail clippers for Webster at at estate sale last week. The company is still in business using this logo. I wonder if MILLERS FORGE products are guaranteed perfect today?



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Saturday, December 20, 2008

Korean Jar sells for almost $4.2 Million at Auction . . .

WOW! No recession here!

San Francisco, California:
International interest pushed the price for a circa 1800 Korean jar to nearly $4.2 million at Bonhams & Butterfields on December 9, 2008 setting a new auction world record.

The rare Joseon dynasty Korean blue and white porcelain jar was sold over the telephone, to an unidentified Asian buyer after a hotly contested bidding war among more than 12 clients, bidding from the salesroom floor and via telephones.

The mid-Joseon dynasty jar was discovered by Asian art department director Dessa Goddard in a monthly appraisal event held at the company's Sunset Boulevard gallery in Los Angeles. The jar was formerly in the collection of Mrs. Fiske Warren of Boston, part of the Mount Vernon Street Warren family. It has been in a family member's Southern California home for decades.

The jar was part of a worldwide tour prior to the auction. Its pre-auction estimate was $200/300,000, and the final selling price, including buyer's premium, was $4,184,000.

"We recognized that the subject matter of the Warren jar is unique," said Goddard. "One other jar in the Osaka Museum has a depiction of San Shin [mountain spirit] and his tiger; the Warren jar shows a bearded San Shin in the act of pulling the tiger's tail while basking under a pine tree, sun and clouds. The subject of the vase, together with its masterfully executed brush work, makes the jar of great importance to collectors of Korean art."


"Take care of your antiques and they will take care of you."




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This Christmas Tree is To The Point . . .


There are so many clever people out there creating wonderful Christmas images from ordinary objects.

via poppypetunia (2nd photo)



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Friday, December 19, 2008

Charles Dickens Christmas Card | FREE DOWNLOAD . . .


A Merry Dickensian Christmas to You!


"PLEASE SIR, MAY WE HAVE LESS?"
This Oliver Twist parody says it all, doesn't it?

Print as many cards as you need.

FREE DOWNLOAD from THE GUARDIAN, UK




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Thursday, December 18, 2008

Does Santa do on-site carpentry? . . .

I wonder if Santa can find room for this in his sack? Will it fit down the chimney? Will it have to be built in place? Only Santa knows!

via flickr



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Grown-Up Christmas List by Michael Bublé (video) . . .



Grown-Up Christmas List by Michael Bublé

This is so moving. Please watch. You will be happy you did. Michael Bublé has the most beautiful voice I have ever heard.



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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Wonderful Shakespeare Holiday Card ~ A FREE DOWNLOAD . . .


This is my Christmas wish for you!

I made this Christmas card years ago and it is my all-time favorite. All you need is one sheet of card stock. After printing, fold in half and write your own personal message inside. You might want to turn the page around and run it through the printer again. When you cut the page in half you will have two large postcards or gift tags. It uses only black ink so it is very economical, yet stunning!

You can thank me by leaving a comment!

Click here for my free download.



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Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Monday, December 15, 2008

Antique Painted Floor with Dog | My favorite . . .

There is a long tradition of putting paint on floors and it's still fashionable. This is the best example of a painted floor surviving in Britain.

It's located in the Tyroconnel Room at Belton House in Lincolnshire. Its heraldic design and its use of only three primary colours is unusual by any standards, although the execution would still have been cheaper than marquetry, the other alternative for such decoration.

Incorporating the symbolic Belton greyhounds and the arms of the Brownlow family (former owners of the house) the floor is the subject of continuing controversy about the date of its paintwork. Some claim it as original to the 17th century; others believe the nature of its design places it in the 18th century. The present owners, The National Trust, do not believe it could have stayed intact for so long if it were the former. Since there is some evidence to support both of the claims, the longevity of the floor remains an enigma.

Here is a photograph of the entire floor.



The practice of painted floors was by no means limited to the United Kingdom. In early 19th century American colonial homes, they were as popular as painted walls and woodwork with many original examples remaining.

I only love the dog part of the design. Maybe one day I will duplicate it in my tiny hall that already has a painted floor in a solid color. I found this article in a very old Farrow & Ball Magazine and I ripped out this page so I don't know the exact date. I think it is probably around 8 to 10 years old in case you want to find a copy. This is an English paint company that sells paint with authentic colours from the National Trust and Archives. Did you notice that I used two different spellings for color? Color for America and colour for Britain.

I have wanted to post about this wonderful floor for quite a while but the top photo had printing on top of the image and it took me a while to clone it out with my photo editing software.

Please see one of my earlier posts on painted floors.

I hope you have enjoyed this article are now inspired to do something creative in your own home.

Belton House was completed in 1688 and has been used as the BBC's film location for Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice and Tom Jones. See National Trust information here. Delightful slide show here. This is a real destination for your next trip to England. Will you please take me with you?



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Sunday, December 14, 2008