HOME TOUR

On this grey, raining Saturday morning, I can think of nothing I'd rather do than take a home tour. I love looking around at model homes and getting ideas. Perhaps that is why I like magazines so much: they give me a chance to live vicariously through the images I see. So, today, I will share some of the photos I took with (sorry about the quality) my old camera since my newest one is in the shop being repaired (again). Is there a "Lemon Law" for cameras?

This is the living room. It's small but really, there are hardly ever any other people in here except B and myself. And, small can be good too. It was fun hanging my art in "new" places here.

This is the kitchen, which is open-concept to the living room and dining room. They are all connected to each other so you can be a part of what is going on in the living room while you are doing something in the kitchen. I love the skylights that let in so much light. Both the kitchen and the living room have skylights. We never have to turn on lights during the day...ever.

This is the plant window that you can see in the above picture. I showed this before but it has many more plants and things in it now. Like I said before, the more things change, the more they stay the same. There are just some things I cannot live without!

This is the dining room. It's small but cozy. I love how my art shows off the white walls. I did this wood-block print years ago and have always loved the red screen door. And since red is very prevalent in my house, the water-coloring that I painted of the hollyhocks looks really good there too. Below is a piece of art that I bought last year on my 60th birthday from an artist named Yarrow Summers titled "The Secret". I purchased it at Mendocino Art Center.

Here's another angle of the dining room. Remember when I painted that hutch? It was inspired by Tess Kincaid of Willow Manor when she painted her hutch. I love the play of the black against the white wall.

This is my office/sewing/library. It holds many, many things that I hold dear: books, art, my grandmother's old typewriters, etc. I have art in here by Jen Worden (assemblage), Seth Apter (paintings and sculpture) my granddaughter Natalie, and myself, among others. I love collecting art from all the talented people I see on-line.

Here's another view of the same room.

And yet another. This is the view I see when I sit at my table and work on my computer. It is like being in a tree house, high up in the air with a fantastic view of the meadows below.

This is the entrance to the bathroom off of the master bedroom. If you look close enough you can see the rose arbor that is covered with blossoms right now. Beyond the arbor is the vegetable garden which is having a hard time growing right now because of all the rain. Those tomatoes need some HEAT!

From the doorway, if you look straight ahead, you will see this display of art. You might remember Gilberto from a previous post that I purchased from Lynne Hoppe. I love Gilberto and I think he is really happy on this new blue wall. Above Gilberto is a piece that my friend Victoria gave to me from an artist she found while visiting New York. I love the colors, despite the fact that she is holding a cigarette in her hand! It is reminiscent of The Fauve's and the colors they used, of whom I have always been a fan. And to the right, an original piece (assemblage/mixed media) by yours truly. It's titled "About Face".

A far-away shot. On the right wall you can catch a glimpse of Natalie's masterpiece in water colors.

Here is a better shot of that piece. She does the most incredible things with those brushes and paints. They are worthy of hanging on any wall! You also can see a ceramic plate made the the artist Judy Miller. I purchased this plate years ago at a street fair in Mill Valley, California but I have seen her art displayed in galleries as far east as Asheville, North Carolina. Perfect for my bathroom with the claw foot tub and toilet depicted. And below that, a cross-stitch that my sister made for me years ago. It has lots of sentimental memories for me. And...she mounted it in a heart frame! What could be better?

These three pieces I purchased on-line from Gina who lives in Tasmania. If I remember correctly her Etsy place is FynArt. I love the whole story that I see in them. The one on the far left has the letters "A" and "K" in it. Both my twin daughters have those initials so these I had to have them. Gina is a very talented artist. Do you see the small watercolor below them? My sister painted a birthday card for me and I framed it. It is (from her memory) me sitting on the beach at Turlock Lake with my sand shovel and bucket and our ski boat in the water. The boat was known as "The Mighty Bee". Our maiden name started with the letter "B". And, she has written "Happy "B" Day" at the top but the letter "B" is actually a Bee! How clever is that!

Here is a little vignette of some of my favorite Mexican tin, one sent to me by Melanie of "Secret Notebooks--Wild Pages" blog. It couldn't have fit in better if it was planned.

Here is a little area next to the door of the bedroom where I have some very special art pieces. The piece that is most predominant was purchased by me from Katherine Treffinger. I love that piece! It is titled "Two Crows" and do you know that every morning there are two crows in my backyard cawing like crazy, trying to wake me up? The mannequin holds many family photos that are special to me.

Here's a close-up of "Two Crows".

Again...love this piece AND the colors!

The "spare" bedroom.

And a view toward the closet (hate those mirrored doors from the 90's. They will be changed some day) and a few of my pieces can be seen. The red "blocked" one has sewn stones, water color, and stitching and is titled "Crescent City". The other piece is a water color and is titled "Hanging the Quilt".

My closet (don't look at the mess) with the crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. My friend Arlene gave me the inspiration for this idea. Thanks Arlene! I didn't know where I was going to use this but could not leave it either. It came from my cousin's house in Beverly Hills years ago and has been with me since then.

And finally, the master bed. It still needs more on the wall but it is fine for now. A friend made me the willow headboard years ago per a special request and I have never been able to get rid of it. I love the heart shape and the rusticity of it. Gail did the most incredible willow furniture at that time.

I hope that all of you are having a really great weekend. It is a full day and weekend filled with new babies, baby showers, and rain showers. Isn't that great how all three words "connected" this weekend? There are no accidents in life!

"Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful".

William Morris

AND:

"Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you".

Lao Tse