Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Summer Interlude

in.ter.lude  a short dramatic piece, an intervening episode or period.



Summer's here and what better time to take a break from the everyday routine and do something different? An early morning walk or bike ride,  a cold glass of lemonade in the garden,  a good light read . . .  anything to while away some part of each day in blissful relaxation.  If we all can't take just a bit of time to enjoy these long summer days, then summer becomes a bummer. Can't let that happen! 


If you can't make a long trip during the week,  there are some great spots locally to experience open sky, water views and gorgeous sunsets. 


One of my favorites is Piermont, NY, where the pace is slow, the shopping is unique and the outdoor cafes and markets offer something for everyone. 


Get an ice cream at the Flywheel Creamery, or have a picnic at the Harbor . . .


rent a bike at Piermont Bicycle Connection . . . or take the half mile walk to the end of the pier and you'll feel like you're ON the Hudson.    




Visit my all time favorite toy store, Buttercup & Friends, (I promise you'll feel like a kid again!), or stick around for an evening of some great music at The Turning Point on Main Street.  




If it's ART you're interested in, Piermont has a number of great little galleries which offer a range of work from the traditional to the contemporary & eclectic.  There's Piermont Fine Arts,  Happy Dog Gallery, Outside In,


and my own personal favorite (ahem), The Piermont Flywheel Gallery www.piermontflywheel.com. . . 






 . . . which was named for the original flywheel (still standing) that furnished the power for manufacturing in Piermont more than 100 years ago.  




 Hope you can take a step back in time soon to this artsy, relaxed, kid/dog friendly, Hudson River village where a day of simple pleasures can unfold.  A great choice for a close, affordable and low-key summer day.      






I was at the Flywheel this morning dropping off my work for the upcoming group show, SUMMER  INTERLUDE, and took a few shots of the show hanging in progress . . . 


Decisions, decisions . . . 



Howard hamming it up . . . :)




 Waiting for a good spot . . . Eileen & Serban. 



  Susan doing her placement thing with a fab painting by Arthur Bowden.



The Summer Interlude Opening Reception is on Sunday July 17th from 2-6.  Stop by.  Chat with the artists.  Have some wine & cheese.  Pick up a great piece of art.  We'd love to have you visit!




It's been said that art speaks to the soul . . . and, that the heart of an artist is in the work.  For decades, paintings, sculptures, collages and glassware have been used  to provide texture, color and warmth to interior spaces.


image from Foley & Cox
Here, a simple piece of art framed in white creates a restful, tranquil bedroom.



Image from Foley & Cox
 A framed photograph casually set upon a table suggests an elegant informality.




Image from Foley & Cox

A collection of similarly framed and matted art provides a beautiful backdrop for the simple sofa and geometric shape of the pillows.



image from Marcelle Guilbeau
On this wall a large painting anchors a small space.



image from Marcelle Guilbeau
Clean Black and White is so effective in this minimalist contemporary space.


image from Marcelle Guilbeau
The artwork in this area expands the eclectic space with a funky vibe.





We don't sell fine art at the shop, but we've got some  great antique and plein aire frames for your art & photos.    Some antique, some new, all beautiful and very well priced. 










Wishing you a creative and art-inspired day!


Thursday, July 7, 2011

A Fabulous 4th!




I know I'm WAY behind on posting lately, but just returned this afternoon from one of the best long weekends (week actually) I've had in a long time.  . . . so, I put the computer aside to just enjoy the long wonderful days of early summer. 






4th of July on the Cape is always amazing -  food, family, friends and incredible fireworks.  Celebrating the birthday of this country makes me feel good, and SO so blessed to call America home . . . . this year was no exception, thanks to some really special people who came to stay with us!   




Since I don't have much in the way of shop news this week, I thought I'd share some special moments from the weekend. 

Some of the girls enjoying sandbar olympics at low tide . . .






A little gymnastics . . . 




Some football . . .




Line up for the big race . . .





Back at the house, some Ladderball. . . 




And of course tug with Jackson.




Sunset on the Bay before the big event . . . 






















A Fabulous Light Show on the beach to celebrate our great nation's Birthday!  Special thanks to all who made that happen so beautifully.









I did manage to get a little work in for the shop on Saturday by dragging myself (lol) over to one of my favorite local outdoor markets. 



And came home with some great stuff for the shop . . .  as much as I could fit in the truck at one time.



Hope your day is wonderful.  See you soon!








Thursday, June 30, 2011

I'll Be Seeing You




  
I'm at my favorite getaway spot on the Cape for a few days,  hoping for a little bit of relaxation, but honestly feeling like the maintenaince man for the last three. 


Painting furniture AGAIN, (somehow not a day goes by without a paintbrush of some sort in my hands), general cleaning which feels like it's never done, washing 12 over 12 double hungs which have 10 months of salt spray blurring their panes,  calling for repairs on things I can't fix myself, etc, etc, etc.  I know I shouldn't complain, but . . . 


 Every year there's always one huge situation at the beginning of the season.  Our first season back in '91, it was the October No Name Storm . . . aka the Perfect Storm.  In addition to the horrible loss of the Gloucester fishing vessel and crew, it took out every last coastal dune shrub and beach grass clump we had planted and sent them all out to sea before we even got the bill.  Small change in comparison to the human devastation, but nevertheless it was a sign of things to come living in a coastal area.   Another year it was the oil tank leak.  Then another a well replacement.  Did I mention the electrical storm which shorted out the furnace, blew all our major appliances and froze the pipes which caused a major flood in the kitchen?



This year it's the irrigation system.



The landscapers inadvertently cut the line to the pump, so the lawn had been getting zero water for about a month before we found out about it.  Needless to say, the sight of the ugly brown 25 square feet or so of dead grass in the middle of the lawn was not making me feel relaxed, especially since a houseful of people were due to arrive in a few days.  



My biggest fear was that my best garden bud Jackson, who tears through the yard after rabbits at lightning speed, would make a pothole heaven anywhere there was bare dirt.  Which would NOT be a good thing for my Jack, who (all that b-ball has taken a toll) has ankles which turn over on a pebble.  This could be a nightmare.




Some would say I am a bit of a nut when it comes to the look of my garden anyway, and, since this could not have happened at a worse time, the sod has been called in.


.
The good news is that the guys doing the work are amazing, and almost finished . . .


  
thank you Rick & Rob . .  


so, I decided to take the rest of the day off, stop worrying about everybody and everthing, and do some relaxing work in the garden.
As I was moving some plants around,  




and deciding where to put these roses . . .




 I was thinking about moving some of the garden ornaments around as well.  Just to SWITCH things up.













 Then I got the call from the shop.  Bittersweet.
She's gone.  I knew we wouldn't have her for long.  And I never even got to say goodbye.


Our beautiful Greek Statue, yet unamed, was being carried out the door.  SOLD.  Just like that.  Somehow, I knew she wouldn't stay around too long.  But I'm just so happy that her lovely new owner, a gardener and an artist, will be placing her exactly where she belongs . . . outside in a gorgeous garden. 









 Things happen right?, but despite all the mini disasters that eventually resolve, I really LOVE this place and am SO grateful for it:)


I'll be coming home with some incredible things for the shop.  I just know it.  Stop in one of these days and say hi!



In the meantime, wishing you all a wonderful July 4th weekend!