Sponsor Welcome - The Pink Pagoda

I'm excited to share the gorgeous giclee prints from The Pink Pagoda shop. Who couldn't use a little colorful Chinoiserie in their lives? The Pink Pagoda has an adorable and affordable selection of asian inspired prints, which include depictions of chinese chippendale furniture, ming jars and more! Happy Shopping.

Quick Way to Freshen Up Your Space

I mentioned in a recent post that my new artwork by artist Ashley Terrell was not going to bd able to live above our fireplace any longer (click here for an explanation) - a little bittersweet.

So, I did a little musical chairs with my artwork.   It was a bit of a domino effect, but well worth the effort when I realized what the changes did for my spaces.  Here are the flip flops.

Dining Room Before . . . 

I found this painting in a junk shop in Asheville, N.C. for $75 (already framed).

 Now, understand, I was not unhappy with it in the dining room - I just needed a spot for my newest piece.  I say this because I find clients will often say, "I really lhke that piece there."  When in fact, they would love it in other spots too, if they would just give it a try.

 Here's the dining room after . . . (I also flip flopped the lamps from my guest bedroom).  Sorry for the poor lighting, really should have left the lamps off - remember, I'm not a photographer.

So where did the junk shop piece land?  It landed in the master bedroom above the bed.  Here is a before picture of the bedroom.

Here's the after . . .  (notice I moved the orange pillow to my guest bedroom since the painting was speaking more blues, and I switched out the bench (it's now in my dining room) with a settee I got from a sweet client.  There was no spot for it in her home (I promise I tried) so we bartered for it.  I gave her some consult time, and I got the settee.

When this artwork was in the dining room, I didn't notice all the blues in it.  But now that it's in the bedroom with all the greens and creams, the blue is really standing out.  Makes me think I need some new accent pillows in here with some blue.  The draperies came with the house.  Although they are not what I would choose, I think I can give them a more modern vibe with accent fabrics.  Looks like another project for 2012 - stay tuned!!

So, where did the small landscapes from above the bed end up? (see what I mean about the musical artwork!) They ended up on this small wall in the bedroom.

Here's a close up.

So, if you are looking for a free freshen up.  I would encourage you to take all your artwork off the walls and move it around a bit.  Remember it's not married to the wall it's currently on!! You may be surprised by how such a small change gives you big results in your spaces!  M. 

Eye on Art (and a shabby apple winner)

First up, we have a winner for the Shabby Apple dress!  Kelly of Coastal Cottage Dreams is the winner and how lucky was she on a Friday the 13th no less!  Thank you all who entered, and congratulations to Kelly who will be totally stylin' in her cute new dress.

Eye On Art
Not sure you've noticed, but I've had art on the brain lately.  So, I've decided to start a new series entitled "Eye on Art" where I'll be featuring artists who hopefully will be a new discovery for you.

 First up in the series, Allison Brown.  Last week, I got to visit with Allison here in Birmingham and see her amazing work.  Many of you in Birmingham may know Allison.  She and her husband, Mike, have known my husband for longer than I have!  As long as I can remember, she's always been incredibly creative; but took a break from painting to raise their four children.  Now they're all a bit older, and she's rediscovered her love for painting.

Since Allison grew up in Fairhope, AL (which is truly a mecca for great art and artists), her painting style reflects that South Alabama flavor.  Here are a few examples of her work.

This one is my favorite.  If you are interested in adding a hint of eclectic fun to a more traditional space, this is the perfect piece.

The inspiration for this abstract piece came from the family's new puppy, Colt. 

Here's a close up. Don't you love the effect the mixed medium adds - that's newspaper print!  

If I tried this, you would not be impressed.

Owls are a very hot trend right now (and not just for Chi Omegas)!

This piece would work on a small wall near a chair/side table vignette or tucked it into a bookshelf for a funky focal point.

This piece was created using wax (crayons, if you can believe it), and I just love the saturated color, sheen and depth the wax creates.  I did not know this; but, Allison mentioned wax was one of the first mediums used to create art.  Very cool.

If you've ever spent any time on the Gulf coast, this piece really reminds me of the style you often see in that area. 

We once stayed at Watercolor near Seaside and the fabulous place we rented was filled with this style of artwork. Notice the bottle caps!  So fun.

If you live in the Birmingham area and would like to see more examples of Allison's work, you can zip over to the Scribbler in Crestline Village (this is a cute shop with lots of great gift ideas and custom stationary).  

 For those of you not in Birmingham, you can contact Allison to learn more about pricing and availability by clicking here - Allison Brown Art.  M.

Artwork Love

Just wanted to show you my latest crush . . .
See that painting over my fireplace - suffice it to say I'm quite smitten.

I commissioned this piece from one of my favorite artists, Ashley Terrell.  

I was introduced to Ashley last Spring by one of my clients who hosted a party to show off this wonderfully talented lady's work.  She is a Mobile native, but has lots of ties to Birmingham and does come to visit quite often.  So, if you're looking for a way to freshen up and add some modern touches in your home, you really should consider Ashley's work.  

I think artwork is such a taste specific thing.  

You have to get what speaks to you.  

 This particular piece has pencil markings and touches of gold paint with an overall grey palette.  As most of you know, I like to change things up seasonally in my home.  So while I love the idea of artwork with bold specific colors, it just would not work for me.  It would simply tie me down to a color scheme.  

In this close up you can see some of the detail, but you are still not able to see the texture of the paint.  

OK, so now for some confession time.  I think it is very important to keep it real - no one has a perfect house with all the right accessories, furnishings, etc.  If you are thinking your house is not perfect, just remember you are the norm, not the exception!  

Here is a picture of this room without the new painting . . . .
Yes, that is a very large hole alcove with a very old vintage TV in it.   (btw, I took this picture awhile ago and so, I've moved some furniture around since then - always moving furniture around.  But, hopefully you get the idea). 

At the moment, the painting is simply hanging on nails in front of that alcove!  Yes, it is very inconvenient for my sweet husband to watch TV.  But the goal is to come up with a clever way to enjoy both the artwork and the TV.  After all, a room has to work and be beautiful, right?


So, I'm thinking about something that will allow you to slide the artwork to one side when you want to watch TV or maybe something that allows you to lift the painting up from the bottom?  I have an amazing handyman I am confident can figure it out for me.  In the meantime, I think this is such a nicer view!!

Also, I have one more little tidbit for you.
This stunning piece is sitting in my dining room as we speak . . .

The plan was to use it over a client's fireplace in her living room.  The colors were absolutely perfect, but it was just too small for her massive fireplace (the piece is 47"x 35" which is still a really large painting).  She is going to need a larger piece.  This just happens sometimes - part of the decorating process.


So, if you think you might have a spot for this beautiful piece, please contact me for pricing.

Otherwise, it will have to go back to Mobile and some other lucky girl will get to take it home!

 If you have solved a similar problem to my TV alcove dilemma, I would love to hear from you.  Please share your ideas - I'm confident I'm not the only person who could benefit from your thoughts!
See you tomorrow. M.  

Clever Art Installation

Recently, Teresa of Splendid Sass featured the beautiful work Jimmy Stanton.  The entire post was picture after picture of pure eye candy.

As I was looking at the images, one in particular caught my eye. . .
 
Look what this clever man did on this wall!

Could you tell what it was?  It's clip on drapery rings - go back and look!  He hung them on the wall and used the clip to hold images for an entire wall of artwork!

When I see ordinary items being used in creative ways, it just floors me.  I always think, "Why didn't I think of that!?!"  This little inexpensive trick could be used for so many different art installations to create some major impact.  Just think about it.  If you would like to see the entire post - go see Teresa at Splendid Sass.

Have a marvelous weekend!  See you Monday. M.