Peeking In

I feel like this bear. I love looking at everyone's blogs. Every blog has a different personality, reflecting the personality of its' owner. I love how people show me the things they love, whether it's in their homes, in a magazine or elsewhere. I especially love before and afters of little projects or huge home renovations and redecorations. Thank you for letting me in.

Since everyone has been so kind to let me into their home, I will let you into mine. Next week I will start posting some "befores and durings", and some possible "afters". I don't know if I really will ever have an "after", as I am always redecorating. It feels good knowing that I am in company with so many others out there!
I took this photo as my mother in law was driving the car. She stopped in the middle of the road so I could quickly jump out and take a snapshot. This piece is called "I See What You Mean" by artist Lawrence Argent. It is a 40 foot, 10,000 pound bear peering into the Colorado Convention Center. It is so whimsical. I love it.

Orchard Haze

This original painting is one I've posted previously on my blog. Here's the inspiration behind it: In college I knew a family who had a very small apple orchard. This older couple asked a few of us if we could help pick some of their apples and make some homemade apple juice with them. In turn, they treated us to the apple juice and homemade apple pie. I still remember that day; it was a nice autumn day, and the sun was bright. The light was filtering through the trees, like in the movies. I remember thinking I felt as if I were in another world, or in another era. It was one of the simple days; a day I don't think I'll ever forget. Orchard Haze is now on Etsy.

Beach Vacation

We just booked our beach cottage, and purchased airline tickets for our summer vacation! With it being so cold today, I am looking forward to the white sandy beaches of Florida's panhandle. The last time I was there, I lived in Panama City Beach for a summer with a group of other college students. This time, we are going with 2, maybe 3 other families to Carillon Beach, just minutes from Seaside and Rosemary Beach. Can't wait!
I am not much of a laying out in the sun kinda gal, so I am ready to explore the area! If anyone has any names of good places to shop, places to eat, things to do, please leave a comment! Are there any showhome tours nearby?

Copper Kettles

We didn't have much planned for this past Saturday, so we decided to visit the Miller Coors brewery in Golden, Co for a free tour. We're not really beer drinkers, but the tour is actually interesting. I should know, I worked there as a tour guide many, many, many summers ago during college. The kids actually enjoyed it too, as they learned about the ingredients, and saw each step of the beer making process. And, with free soda at the end of the tour, they did not complain! I won't bore you with the details of the brewing process, but here are a couple of pictures of the copper kettles used in brewing: Isn't the copper pretty?

Rose Gate

Our house is only 5 years old. The first things I planted after the grass went in our yard were roses. I love them. They are so easy to grow; they are the one thing that I don't kill in our landscape due to lack of maintenance.

Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island has glorious rose gardens. The entire place, in fact, takes my breath away. There is so much inspiration for painters there. I see how Monet drew so much inspiration from his own garden. Here is one painting I did that reflects one of the rose "rooms".



This one below is available on Etsy.

Here is the photo I took for inspiration:

Here is another variation I did of the above about a year ago. It is in warmer tones:

Cherry Blossoms

Yesterday was a 70 degree day. Today is predicted to be even a little warmer. January in Colorado from years of experience is usually mild. Usually that means there will be a blizzard here in the next few weeks. I'm exaggerting, of course, kinda.... In the meantime, I dream of Spring that will come sometime in the next few months - of looking out my laundry room window to see the cherry blossoms on my little cherry tree. I painted the above a few weeks ago when it was cold out. You probably recognize it, I posted it here on my blog right after it was done. It is called "Reach". Aren't we always reaching for something? Reaching for a goal, as these blossoms reach toward the sun? It is now on Etsy.

Paint Furniture....or Not?

I spent a couple of hours this weekend painting the frame of an old mirror for my daughter's room. It's something I had been meaning to do for several years. I finally got around to it, partially due to all the inspiration I had been getting reading my favorite blogs. I've painted several pieces of furniture in the past. All of these were pieces that many people would have discarded due to the dated wood stain.

I had for some time wanted to do something about our headboard and footboard in our bedroom. It is dark wood with ornate carvings that I feel is a bit too formal for me now. I love the look of painted ornate wood, but I fear painting something that was so pricey, and that I still like, (but not love anymore.) I'm thinking white. I like the juxtaposition of the casualness of white and the ornateness of the wood.

Olive Rue recently had a post showing some ornately carved painted headboards. I showed my husband, who I thought would argue with me about painting the headboard, but he simply said, "go ahead, that would look great!" So now, the decision is mine. And I need your opinion!

Here is my current headboard. I took all the pillows off so not to distract from the headboard.

With a little photoshop magic, here is what my headboard would be white.

But then the walls would have to be painted. (This color looks so different on my mac than it does on my pc!):

Then I would have to redo my pillows and add pictures:

Or maybe I should paint it black?

I would never do this, but what would it look like in yellow?

Or blue?

Pink?

What do you all think? Should I paint it white? Maybe I'll chicken out and just repaint the walls....

Poppies!

Poppies are one of my favorites. I keep coming back to paint them. They are such a delicate but hardy flower. They are so laid back and they go with the wind, and they seem so social. I called this painting "Social Club". It is now on Etsy.

Girlfriends

I painted this several years ago. It depicts four very close friends having a fun, casual lunch (barefeet), yet dressed so nicely. (Don't we try to dress cute for our friends?) I was inspired to post this on my blog after a girlfriend told me about this video on You-Tube.

Transcending Words on Women and Strength by Kelly Corrigan You may have already seen it. It is a woman making a touching speech about her friends...because we love our girlfriends!

One More

I wanted to award one more blogger the Proximidade award from my previous post. I figure I only gave away three, so it's not too late to give one more! She is Olive Rue . Please visit her. Her blog is new and beautifully designed. Her current posts and I am sure her future posts will be fabulous.

Picnic

We are quite spoiled here in Denver. It is not unusual for it to snow one day and have most of it melt the next day. We get about 300 days of sunshine a year, and our days are usually mild. It's easy in January to forget that March is our snowiest month. On days when we do have a snow storm, I look forward to the summer. The above painting is titled "picnic". It reminds me of summer. It is now on Etsy.

Bedrooms

One of the joys every summer for me is the anticipation of Denver's Parade of Homes. I get so excited for it! It is a showhome tour of newly built luxury homes that showcase various builders, designers, and craftsmen. Here are a few snapshots from this past year that I took of some bedrooms with a decidedly feminine flair:

I love the beams and the red rustic chandelier.

This is such a cozy room, despite its' large size.

I loved the chandelier. I loved the black and pink mix.

A sweet girl's room.

How would you like to wake up in a field of poppies?

Perfect for a teenager!

I love the softness of this bedding.

This was such a fun tour. This housing development has an old world European feel, which is a style I absolutely love. I have tons of photos. I will post some more from this home tour in some later posts.

Group Picture

This painting is titled "Group Picture". You know when you take a picture with a group of people, and everyone is squeezed together and you smile your best waiting for the photographer to be finished? There's always someone squeezed in on the side, taller people in the back.... I'm always in front. I'm short.

Anyway, this painting is my first original to be posted onto my etsy shop. It took me a while to get my originals together. (I was having varnishing issues - I ran out, and was having a hard time ordering more, then I had to wait for it to dry and cure....etc.) It is an 11x14 on a flat panel. It does need to be framed, or leaned against a wall, or set on a picture stand. Click here to see it in my shop.

My First Award

When I first entered into the blogging world almost two months ago, I had no idea what a close community it was! It is filled with kind, supportive people. I am humbled to be given the above award by Charmaine. Thanks Charmaine for all your kindness; you have no idea what it means to me. Please visit her - she truly has a beautiful site.

The award states " This Blog invests and believes the Proximity- nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming.. these kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self- aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award"

I chose three four:

Laura

Rhoda

Karen

Olive (I'm addidng this 1/15)

Park Hyatt

Here are some photos from the Park Hyatt at Beaver Creek ski resort. Outside there is a fire pit with everything one needs to make S'mores.



Inside, it is a buzz of activity. The lobby is filled with people relaxing after a day of skiing, and waiting for the New Years Eve festivities to begin. It was such great ambiance! Look at the antler chandelier!

New Years 2009

This is the Ritz Carlton at Bachelor's Gulch ski resort in Colorado. We skied here and Beaver Creek Resort a couple of days over New Years. We celebrated New Years Eve at Beaver Creek watching fireworks. It was all a beautiful and inspirational setting. It was so much fun, as my youngest child (5) was able to keep up very well on the slopes.