Art wall

Among all the paintings and that wonderful mosaic floor, there was one wall that I admired and just had to take a photo of.

It was massive.

A truly lovely mural.

The National Gallery

While in England my husband and I, along with our daughter and grandson, visited The National Gallery.

It was a cool March day but there were lots of people about.

It was morning, just before lunch.

The entrance.

This is what I wanted to show you.

Beautiful mosaics.

I had to take photos of as much as I could.

Wonderful detail.

In corners.

Circular.

I do wonder now what the little tiles are made of.

Who designed these mosaic pictures?

One just has to stop and look.

You see? It was a mosaic floor. I'm sure thousands of people walk on them every day, every week, month after month. I had to take photos even though my husband and daughter kept walking. I'm glad that cameras were allowed.

Just for me

I don't often buy things for myself except perhaps the odd book or magazine but lately, that has been a rare occurrence. Last year, when I was in BC visiting my daughter and her family, we went to some craft fairs. One of the venues had a small art shop where you could purchase local artisans' works. I love art and I love to support the local art scene whenever I can. There is also a Station House Gallery in town where I have been known to spend a few dollars on Christmas or birthday presents. Anyway, getting back to the craft fairs, there are some really talented people in this world.

This little wall hanging caught my eye.

As you can see, it is hand made.

A local artisan.

I also purchased this scarf for myself. Blue is my favourite colour.

And look, it's by the same person.

I think it's time I took the tags off and used the scarf and hung up the bear. My walls need a change.

My baby girl is in town with her fiance. Unexpected and a wonderful surprise. They go back to the UK on Tuesday so there hasn't been much creative time. The twins will be having their first birthday party on Sunday and little Teemu is now 4 months old so Ayla and David have been busy with lots of family time.

Miscellaneous Stuff

"The 24th of May is the Queen's birthday and if you don't give us a holiday we'll run away and play." That's the little poem my dad taught me when I was little. It was something he learned as a little boy. Today is Victoria Day or, otherwise known as Firecracker Day. It's a holiday Monday and there are fireworks displays in a few places tonight at sundown. It's usually a coldish day and even though it may be 60F or 20C, it still feels cool outside. There is no sun right now and it may rain. Typical.

Prince Charles and Lady Camilla are visiting Canada (the Maritimes) for four days. Pop on over to Karen's blog to see photos.

Otherwise, I have been busy with odds and ends.

This is Midnight...

and this is Ben. They belong to my son Mark and his wife. They went away for the weekend and entrusted their care to me and my husband. We went over to feed them and to cuddle for a bit.

This was the sky earlier in the week. 

 It should have been April showers but it appears as if we are having May showers.

The backyard is greening up. I love my forsythia and my tulips but the squirrels seem to like my tulips too.

Here she is, my little Pixel with her yearly lion cut. Some people really get freaked out by it and others think it's cute.

I finished the challenge quilt I was working on. Here it is basted in preparation for hand quilting.

Here's another part of it. I'll show you the whole thing in a couple of days. It turned out quite different from how it started out in my head.

I'm working on baby things too but since it is supposed to be a secret, I can't show you. All in good time...

Just a few photos of some flowers I got for Mother's Day last weekend.

These were from my son Mark and his wife Kate.

I love the colours.

I love the variety too.

These were from my other son, Eric.

And this one lone white carnation I received when I went to the bank on Friday. 

I just happened to have my camera with me today.

These are the window displays at the Bata Shoe Museum. Colourful and very quilt-like.

Have a great week. I'm going to see what sewing I can accomplish today.

It's here

I love art and I have a yellow wall that I have been wanting to make some tile quilts for but things just haven't worked out so far. My daughter had a coupon for a canvas work of art. I didn't really have any suitable photos but my daughter sent me some of her photos that she thought would work. The first ones were taken when she visited Guanajuato, Mexico in 2009.

There was this colourful one and I really liked it.

This one had colourful doors and wall.

A nice evening shot.

My favourite colour blue.

The peeling wall.

And this tile water fountain of a site that she worked on when she was in California.

It takes 4 to 6 weeks to make the canvas and get it delivered and I have been anxiously waiting. Walmart has similar canvas photos that you can get done and I'm sure the timeline is less. I don't know what the quality would be though. My daughter has already had two done by this company so she knows the quality is good. 

Well, yesterday my daughter got an email to say that FedEx will deliver it today so I was waiting. Here it is.

My daughter photoshopped out the signs on the door and the wall.

And here it is being held up by me against the yellow wall which is actually a much richer yellow than how this photo shows it.

Thank you Maili. You take great photos.

Female Wall of Art

The wall is finished - according to my eldest son who told me not to add any more. I may add down the road but this is it right now.

The full view.

The full view from the other side.

No matter when or how I take a photo, there is always glare. Here's the first half.

And here's the second half.

The first picture is a silk painting of what looks like little girls playing ring around the rosie by Sarah Hale. Next, the yellow skirt and the peach skirt are prints by Janet Hill. I bought the pale pinky peach skirt print (Bows On Her Toes) first because she didn't have the yellow one available (She Liked To Call Them Her Canary Shoes.) I had recently painted my walls yellow and thought it would look really nice (I know it's a lame reason but there you have it.) When the yellow skirt became available once again, then I had to get it. The lady in black is not the whole painting - just the upper half. It is just a photocopy from a book about my favourite artist James Jacques Joseph Tissot's October. My daughter and I saw the real painting in Montreal. It is gorgeous and huge - about 7 feet in height. I love the way he used black. You can really see the detail in the fabric of the coat. I also love chestnut trees. (the link colours are not really true but close.)

 The small picture above, on the left, is another Janet Hill piece. It is a note card titled "Deck the Heels." I had to get it because it went with the skirts. The lady lounging in the conservatory is the first Tissot I fell in love with years ago as a teenager visiting the Art Gallery of Ontario. It was on loan to the gallery and I just stood and stared at the detail (again) of the painting - especially her long wavy hair and the gown that she is wearing. The original is not very big - perhaps 18" X 24" but it is simply wonderful. I remember it being titled "The Convalescent" but the book had stated two titles and I can't remember the other one. The next picture of a young girl was purchased at the Getty Museum gift shop. The artist is Fernand Khnopff  but I do not know the title of the piece. I saw the original while touring the Getty and was glad that I could buy the print. The next picture is of a print by Cathy of One Pink Goose. I won the Folk Angel in a giveaway that Cathy had last year and knew that it had to go on the wall with the other females. Go visit her blog to see more of her wonderful art and the other artists she features. The last picture is "After the Bath" by Paul Peel which I received as a gift from my youngest daughter's friend. She knew I liked it and bought it for me. My high school friend, the same one I went to the AGO with many years ago has a much bigger framed print over her fireplace (at least she did years ago.)

And now a few more images. Click on any of the photos to see close-ups. The glare is from the window which is on the opposite wall.