From the Bookshelf

Prepare for eye candy to the max and an uber interesting tale of Hollywood and New York high life in the 20th century.  Amazon says - American artist and design legend Tony Duquette (1914–1999) was known for his over-the-top style in interiors, jewelry, costumes, and set design. His clients included Elizabeth Arden, the Duchess of Windsor, and Herb Albert. 

The multi-talented Duquette designed sets for MGM musicals with Arthur Freed and Vincente Minnelli, and designed Tony Award–winning costumes for the original Broadway production of “Camelot.” Duquette was the first American to exhibit a one-man show at the Louvre in Paris. 

Tony Duquette is a lavishly illustrated book with many lost and never-before published photographs from the Duquette archives, including portraits and pictures taken by Man Ray, John Engstead, Fredrich Dapriche, Andre Ostier, George Platt Lynnes, as well as original sketches, designs, and texts by Duquette himself. With commentary, interviews, stories, and contributions from Liza Minnelli, Arlene Dahl, Steven Meisel, Bruce Weber, and others.

Over-sized and over-the-top, this is a delight to browse through, something for every taste and inspiration galore. Enjoy the ride!

Wonder Web Wednesday - The Society Inc.

Here's a fascinating website - The Society Inc. the brain child of Sibella Court.
 If you follow my blog you've read my reviews of several of her books.
She's the queen of lost and found decorating, of collection couture, and travel acquisitions.

 This is the brick and mortar shop in Australia, that houses all that amazing "stuff".  It changes seasonally with a different color palette several times a year.

The site has bios, portfolios, event and workshop listings, books, an online shop, wholesale info, a newsletter sign-up and as they say "so much more."

It's one of those you'll get lost in and
 wonder later where the time went.

So much yummy vintage-y goodness. 

Take a virtual trip to The Society Inc.

photos courtesy http://www.thesocietyinc.com.au/

Museum Monday - Philadelphia Art Museum

The Philadelphia Museum of Art, a wonderful place to spend a Sunday afternoon.  Climb the steps (made famous in the Rocky movies) and indulge in an art extravaganza that will leave your senses reeling. We went to the museum on a trip to visit our daughter Bronwyn when she was attending Philadelphia University.

Philadelphia celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, America's first World's Fair. Its art building, Memorial Hall, was intended to outlast the Exhibition and house a permanent museum. Following the example of London's South Kensington Museum, the new museum was to focus on applied art and science, and provide a school to train craftsmen in drawing, painting, modeling, and designing.

The Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art opened on May 10, 1877. Its permanent collection began with objects from the Exhibition and gifts from the public impressed with the Exhibition's ideals of good design and craftsmanship. European and Japanese fine and decorative art objects and books for the Museum's library were among the first donations.

In the early 1900s, the Museum started an education program for the general public, as well as a membership program. Fiske Kimball was the museum director during the rapid growth of the 1920s, which included one million visitors in the new building's first year. After World War II the collections grew with gifts, such as the John D. McIlhenny and George Grey Barnard collections. Early modern art dominated the growth of the collections in the 1950s. The gift of Philadelphian Grace Kelly's wedding dress is perhaps the best known gift of the 1950s.

Extensive renovation of the building lasted from the 1960s through 1976. In 1976 there were celebrations and special exhibitions for the centennial of the Museum and the bicentennial of the nation. During the last three decades major acquisitions have included After the Bath by Edgar Degas and Fifty Days at Iliam by Cy Twombly. ^{(Source Wikipedia)}

My favourite  piece at the museum -

 Monet's The Japanese Bridge and Water Lillies, 1899

 A sketch from my travel journal of the

 river side of the museum with the 

City Water Works below.

Suitcase Saturday Travel Score

image courtesy landrtravel

Ah, Venezia!  Once seen, never forgotten
and always a longing to return.

Our trip was in 2005 and the memories are ever fresh.

The shopping opportunities in Venice are amazing and varied - 

everything from glorious paper goods to exquisite glass.

This post will concentrate on the favourite of
all mixed media artists - paper! 

And the beautiful decorative items made from it.

  Above a wonderful accordion file I use for my smaller stencils

Marbled, printed, boxes (above), folders,
portfolios, pencils and bookmarks (below).

A feast for the eye and a delight to touch.

On another post we'll check out some of the glorious books I brought home. 

 

 With my love of journaling it was hard not to scoop up every blank book in the many shops we visited.
Many of the proprietors, upon finding out my interest in using paper in my art work, gave me samples, old catalogs and the like, Our mutual love of beautiful paper overcame my scant Italian.

Garage Sale @ Altered by the Sea Studio!

Don't we all love 'em?! This time though instead of going and finding delightful scores, we'll be hosting our own right here in Morro Bay.  We've been downsizing the last month or so and after putting a lot on eBay and Craig's List we still have a bunch of great stuff!

We'll be open for business this Saturday February 2nd starting at 8:00 am with all kinds of household items, art supplies (!!!), books and small furniture.

If you're anywhere in the San Luis Obispo area (email for directions) drop by.  We'd love to chat and see you go home with a fantastic score!

Cambria's Art & Wine Festival

This past weekend was the annual Art & Wine Festival - a three day extravaganza that involves merchants, wineries, artists and most of the town.

Wing  12x12"

One always popular  feature is a silent art auction. 

I had two pieces entered this year.

Egg  8x10"

 Since the event draws from all over the state and beyond,

 it's a great chance to have a new audience see one's art.

Life on the Coast

View through the Cayucos Pier on our weekend walk.

From the Bookshelf

A fascinating book!  Massive amounts of info and vintage photos.  A history of the trunk with pictures from the mid 1800's, through the beginnings of Vuitton and beyond. Schematic drawings of several models, pages of old travel labels and hardware.  Even includes price guides and what to look for when buying, Fun to peruse for anyone with an interest in the golden age of travel, steampunk and all things vintage. Out of print - look for a copy at your local library or if you're feeling flush there are a few pricey copies used on Amazon.

Wonder Web Wednesday

 There are so many truly lovely websites out there, I thought on Wednesdays we visit a different one that I've found and enjoyed. Let's start off with Rieke Studios, home to Gail and her husband Zachariah.

. Located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, their studios wander throughout their living space and utilize several rooms. Collage, assemblage, journals and photographs are all part of their portfolio.

 Extensive collections of ephemera and natural items fill dozens and dozens of flat files, suitcases and boxes - art pieces themselves.

The site features many different works of art, along with shots of the studios, biographies, and a workshop schedule.  Come and visit and lose yourself for a happy hour surrounded by the beautiful creations of Rieke Studios.

All photos courtesy riekestudios.com

Museum Monday - Boston MFA

A great museum in a beautiful city - Boston Museum of Fine Arts.

From their wesite: The original MFA opened its doors to the public on July 4, 1876, the nation's centennial. Built in Copley Square, the MFA was then home to 5,600 works of art. Over the next several years, the collection and number of visitors grew exponentially, and in 1909 the Museum moved to its current home on Huntington Avenue.

Today the MFA is one of the most comprehensive art museums in the world; the collection encompasses nearly 450,000 works of art. We welcome more than one million visitors each year to experience art from ancient Egyptian to contemporary, special exhibitions, and innovative educational programs.

November 2010 marks the opening of The New MFA. Designed by the world-renowned Foster and Partners architects, The New MFA comprises a new wing for Art of the Americas; renovated art of Europe galleries; improved conservation and education facilities;The Linde Family Wing devoted entirely to contemporary art; and a new, larger public space—the Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Family Courtyard.

Boston Commons at Twilight - Childe Hassam

My favourite piece on display at the MFA, above,

and here in the journal I kept on our Boston trip,
 along with the museum entrance badge.