Sostenere Le Arti!

For two weeks, my city has had a wonderful arts festival that has offered live music, theater, and dance as well as the visual arts. Its a great time for locals and tourists alike to come out and get a good dose of culture.

Today, I listened to live bluegrass music while I perused the stalls of vendors selling items such as art, jewelry, handwoven dog leashes, and frozen lemonade. As an artist myself, I was particularly drawn to the variety of local art on display. Some of the pieces were so gorgeous they took my breath away. And some of it made me think I should paint a bit more if people less talented than me are able to charge hundreds of dollars for crappy paintings. I don't say this to be conceited because I know we have all seen bad art being sold at ridiculous prices. For example, I saw animal art being sold at an aquarium last weekend for $45 a painting. They were horrendous, but if that's being taken seriously, one of these days I'm going to go out and buy a cat, dip its feet in paint, and let it run around on a canvas to see what unfolds.

We all see evidence of our nation's lagging economy in job lay-offs and decreased spending. While I was at the festival today, I overheard one of the vendors on their cellphone saying that there were a lot of tourists walking around, but no one is buying anything. It is a sad fact that the arts are among the first to suffer when money is scarce because they are viewed by many as a luxury rather than a necessity. Personally, I saw many pieces of art that I would be thrilled to put up in my apartment, but I just can't afford it. Graduate school has a way of leeching money away at a scary rate. Although, I have a feeling that I will never be able to afford the $1,000 painting I was lusting after. It is upsetting because I know this annual festival is something that local artists count on to promote their work and make money. I could tell that people were really enjoying themselves and the atmosphere in the park, and I hope that their presence brings a boost to the city's economy that is primarily driven by tourism.

I acknowledge that the arts are not necessary for physical survival, but I encourage you to patron them in any way possible. Even if you can't spend a lot of money, go out to your local festivals, craft shows, concerts, theater productions, and art shows whenever possible. You'll be suprised at how much they will enrich your life and get your own creative juices flowing. I have a painting I've been working on for a while now, and the summer has given me some free time to finish it up. I am a notoriously slow artist, but seeing all the beautiful artwork today inspired me to make a goal of finishing it this summer. It is for my sister, so I know she will be glad to hear that. Take advantage of your community's cultural scene and support the arts!

Home Work

Over the last couple of weeks I have been doing a few little finishing touches at home. Last week I collected together some paintings I have and had them hung in a cluster on a wall in our kitchen. There are a couple of drawings Harry has done for me, a painting which I picked up down in Bangalow last weekend and a few other special things I have collected over the years. The trick with cluster walls is laying the paintings down on the floor in a layout you like first and then hanging them. I always have a professional picture hanger hang them for me, after I have laid out the design, as my husband is {unfortunately} hopeless with a hammer.

Sarah Jessica Parker & Matthew Broderick's Home in the Hamptons

Elle Decor published photos of Sarah Jessica Parker's house in Bridgehampton that she shares with husband Matthew Broderick and son James Wilke a couple years ago. I featured some of them on my other blog last month but thought you might enjoy them, too. Here are a couple that I didn't post before. Take a look!

For more photos and information, click here to see my original post about it at Hooked on Houses. If you're a fan of Matthew Broderick's 1986 movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," then check out my Movie Monday post today! One of the houses from the movie is on the market, and I found the real estate photos.

Sunday Lunch

I love the idea of a Sunday lunch like this with family and friends around a beautiful old table with lots of flowers, wine and great food. Now that Winter is almost here I think I need to plan a lunch like this out on the grass in our garden under our big old tree around our old French dining table.

Image - via Interior Divine Blog

A Bed for Ned

Ideally it would have been great to have had a bed built for Ned just like this one above when we were renovating last year however, we weren't considering a new puppy at that time. So, after all my thoughts of where or what Ned will sleep in it seems he has opted for the easiest option of all. He loves to sleep on a towel, albeit an Ralph Lauren towel, on the floor right next to my side of our bed....yes I know I am a softie letting him sleep inside but that's just the way I am. I couldn't sleep knowing he was outside all on his own. He has found his resting spot and I'm thrilled.

Image 1 - via Brabourne Farm Blog

Orania - Ons Ideaal snoer ons saam

We decided to go and have a look at the Controversial town of Orania as we were heading back from the Drakensberg to Cape Town

This town was formed in 1990 and was headed by Carl Boshoff for the purpose of creating a town where the preservation of the Afrikanerdom’s Cultural Heritage would be strictly observed and Afrikaner selfwerksaamheid (self-reliance) would be put into practice. Only white Afrikaners live in this town based in the Northern Cape next to the Orange River.

We arrived in Orania just before 5pm and caught the Museum open. Koki De Kock is the museum caretaker and tour guide and showed us around. All the controversial bronze statues of previous Apartheid leaders, old South African Flags and other Anglo Boer war artifacts are stored and looked after in this dark building. Koki took pride in the heritage preserved in the building. While we were given a lecture on guns (I hate Guns) I sneaked away to capture one photo in a museum where photo’s were prohibited.

It’s strange that the Museum is the only building in town with an alarm system. I assume they have crime under control or this could be all they have to look back on.

Koki told us that there are currently about 700 people living in Orania and that the School is active as well as the Church (almost all small towns have active Churches). People that live here are mainly pensioners. It is hard to make a sustainable income in such a small town and even though they strive to be self-reliant, they remain dependable on the outside. It’s possible to live here and have an internet based job, but the majority of the people are here because they are strong believers in an Afrikaner State or their car broke down from Danville to Reiterwaght. They even have their own currency that is linked to the Rand.

Through out the town you will find motivational billboards encouraging and reminding the people of their ideological believes. There was one positive ideological view that these people shared and that was recycling. Now that’s the only sign I witnessed of moving forward in a town that’s stuck in the past.

I feel sorry for the young people growing up here as they are being indoctrinated to follow an ideology that had ‘died’ years ago. I only saw two school girls puffing a cigarette behind the school building. I might start doing hard drugs if I lived here. The other people looked like they had never been out of the sun. Those ones that look like their wearing dust on their face for life. Some of them are more colored than the farm workers they dislike living on the platteland.

I found the visit to be interesting, but it is not for me. Living in a town separated from diversity would kill me. If all of South Africa could work together like the people in Orania we would have a bling tower of Babel, but we all differ and I prefer Chicken to Beef.

Friday Flowers & Ned

It's been kind of a crazy week in our household. Yesterday I went to the airport to pick up our new little family member, Ned an 8 week old Golden Retriever puppy. He is divine. I thought I would take a photo of him with my Friday Flowers. He really didn't want to sit on the chair, hence the not-so-great photo. I hope you have a great weekend wherever you are, whatever you do. See you next week!

Sara Tetley's Coastal-Inspired Watercolors

I just discovered the coastal-inspired artwork of Sara Tetley, and I think it's beautiful! So I'm adding this to the "Beautiful Life" party over at The Inspired Room today.

This one is called "Collections from the Sea:"


Thanks to Sara for letting me share some of her art with you. In an e-mail, she told me a little about herself: "I’m an architect who loves the coast and coastal interiors. I have a small place in Beaufort, SC. Each time I am in Beaufort or nearby Georgia, I paint watercolors of vintage coastal cottages."

Aren't they charming? To see more of her work, visit her Etsy shop!

Today it's another Hooked on Fridays blog party over at Hooked on Houses. That means we're all sharing something that makes us happy this week. Head over there to check out the entries from all the other bloggers who are participating, too!

Some Beach House Lighting for Lampapalooza

The Nester is having a "Lampapalooza" blog party today, and everyone is showing, well, lamps and lighting! Here are a few examples of pretty beach house lighting that caught my eye this week:

These two turquoise lamps from a room in Southern Accents really "pop," don't they? I think they pull the whole room together. Here's another pretty blue lamp in a bedroom featured on HGTV.com. Really like the beachy blues in this room, and how the lampshade kind of coordinates with the bedding:

Speaking of a lampshade that goes with the bedding--check out this cheery yellow and aqua bedroom from James Solomon's portfolio (which I originally found at House of Turquoise):


Head over to Nester's to see the lamps and lighting everyone else is showing today for Lampapalooza (do you know how many times I had to check to see if I was spelling that right?).

Oh, and I've got a post on my other blog I'm entering in the party, too--an example of what not to light an old French cottage with (click right here to see that).

More Pretty Vintage Style

Another great example of pretty vintage style above. So many lovely things in this photo. I adore the red and white stripe armchair with the floral cushions and the white cane table displaying lots of gorgeous things is divine.


Image - Country Homes & Interiors via Brambourne Farm

Yo-Yos

The days seem to be ticking by faster than I want them to, as I still feel like I have so much left to do for the Fair. This year is going to be very exciting, it sounds like there will be a very good crowd of people coming and an even more diverse range of stalls.

One of the projects I have been busy working away on involves making yo-yos. I was never a fan of them before but after seeing them in a magazine, they somehow began to grow on me. Now, I seem to notice them everywhere. The possibilities of what you can make with them are endless.

My mind has been buzzing non-stop with ideas which led to the creation of one of my main Fair projects; a collaborative concept formulated by my Mom and I. I had so many notions, some of which have come into being however some will just have to wait until the Christmas Fair.

Knowing that November seems forever away until the Christmas Fair, when we will all be together again, but this time, in the coziness of an inviting house, with a crackling fire, Christmas trees adorning every free space and a coming together of friends old and new to have fun and raise money for a worthwhile charity along the way.

Like the March girls we gather, shaking the snow off our boots and heading for the kitchen, where a kettle is always boiling on top of the Aga. We gather to share ideas, celebrate each others company, love and cozy warmth.

Pretty Vintage Style

I love this pretty vintage style room. It's amazing how inexpensive it is creating a room using vintage pieces. My friend Simone recently started a great blog called Beach Vintage where she shares her passion for vintage finds and how to create a great vintage look on a budget. I can't believe some of the gorgeous things she has collected and created and she always does it so inexpensively!!

Image 1 & 2 via House of Bliss

Pretty Beach Cottage in Pink

Welcome to Françoise O'Neill's little pink cottage, which she made into a sweet little haven for herself. She turned the enclosed front porch into a cozy home office:


And decorated her living room with thrift-store finds:

But my personal favorite is her white and pink kitchen:

To see the rest of the photos and read more about O'Neill's little pink cottage, visit Coastal Living.

P.S. If you love screened porches, check out the one I'm featuring over at Hooked on Houses today.

Today I Love...

Today I love this gorgeous clipping of a Tiffany & Co. advertisement which Emily posted last week. Some lovely reminders don't you think?! Click on image to supersize.

Painting Treasured Things

My mum's friend who has been painting some paintings for me at Black & Spiro has a very talented son. He is actually studying to be an Architect but thought he would pick up a brush and paint one of my vignettes. I love it so much I can't bear to sell it. Isn't he talented?! He obviously takes after his mother!! The crystal vase is one which my grandmother gave me and the colourful box is one I picked up a few years ago which continues to be one of my most favourite things. If anyone would like a painting done of their treasured things just let me know as Tom or Diana could certainly create something wonderful for you...

From The Files

I have had this house on file for quite sometime. I re-discovered it the other day when I was hunting for something to show a client in one of my many magazine tear out files. It belongs to Danish jewellery designer Marlene Juhl-Jorgensen. I adore her collections which she has featured against an all-white background. In my opinion this house seems so glamorous yet so simple and family friendly at the same time.

All images via - Interiors Magazine

An Easy, Breezy East Hampton Cottage

Here's where I wish I was hanging out over the Memorial Day weekend. I'm in desperate need of a vacation right now, so this cottage near the beach in East Hampton, New York, really appeals to me.


Linda at Lime in the Coconut got me hooked on designer Tom Scheerer's work, and I spent a lot of time oohing and ahhing over his portfolio yesterday (when I should've been working).

I like how relaxed and unpretentious this home appears. Like it's ready for me to move right in. First thing I'd do? Take a nap in this bed:



You can see the rest of the photos of this cottage on Tom Scheerer's website.

P.S. I hope all of my readers in the States are having a nice three-day weekend. As I was whining--er, explaining--on my Facebook page yesterday, I'm working all weekend to meet a project deadline. But I did manage to take some time off Sunday to go to a baseball game with my family, which was fun, and Monday we'll have lunch at my parents' place. What are you doing with your holiday?

Drakensberg Mountains - World Heritage Site

From Lesotho we headed down the infamous Sani Pass to spend a few more days in the Drakensberg World Heritage Site.
We stayed near Champagne Castle and used this as a base camp to see more of the Drakensberg.



We did quite a few hikes in and around the Drakensberg Mountain Range and were always treated with great panoramic views.