Today is the day for Gothic Splendor, Dollhouses and Art by Children

In the search for inspiration, I came across something more like, looking in a pond and reflecting… (Pictures from a stroll I took through Gallery Row in Santa Fe.)

                

                            

In reflecting, I found myself sitting on the floor, surrounded by books and magazines,  old and new.  I found there are definitely specific styles I always fall in love with.  Although I enjoy light and bright colors and young sprite-ey flounciness…I truly find that my soul gravitates to a style that was almost precisely brought forth in the "House & Garden" November 2006 issue of "The Well Lived Life."  I took some photographs of those pages that I fell in love with…tattered as they are becoming from all the infatuated page turns they have been through.(devilishly grinning)

 

                      

I love Curiosities, strange unusual things, and what I would call Gothic Romance, but would agree wholeheartedly with the better title that "House & Garden" uses of "Gothic Splendor."  I find my townhouse looking like what visitors brought vividly to my attention several times as, "Oh my, Your house looks like a museum!"  But, I don’t care.  Call it clutter if you must, call it junk if you want, call it unusual.  I call it wondrous tragedy.  What will I ever do with it all, but cackling, I love it all too much to part with it!  Okay, my insane side is dabbling about, so away it goes for now…(I crazily always add more, which is why I can’t wait for my Magic Jelly prints to get here!!!Those will be in my loftish space, not at the townhouse. (Yippee). You can see snipettes of the chaos at home in "Paint everywhere."

Switching speeds…I adore dollhouses! My sister and I have always had them. My mother has filled our lives with life-like fairies, dollhouses and every other fairy-tale dream thing a girl could want…Sooo, I did it. I bought a three story electrified dollhouse.  I owe you pictures.  I had to put it away for a couple weeks while we prepare for guests…But then, today looking through the new Jan/Feb 2007 "Elle Decor" magazine I found huge inspiration and anxiousness to get my doll house renovated!!  I saw a teeny picture of a wonderful dollhouse on page 99.  I wish all mommies who have girly girls would do what mine did and fill their daughters lives with fantasy and sparkle. (I will keep you posted on my doll house) Please, if you have any dollhouse Stories, tell me about them!!!…

                           

In the same "Elle Decor" issue I cam across "kid art" in a kitchen vignette (pg 125). 

It reminded me of the most wonderful pieces of art I own.  Where did I get them??? Wellllll, I held my friends kids hostage and made them paint.."Paint Children, Paint!"  Okay, I am kidding, but they do love to make art, so, I let them ( The O’Brien children) do 6 pieces on beautiful canvas with my delicate brushes…And yes, I did keep the star item for myself.  I love it!!  I kind of commissioned my own piece… I drew a couple of the characters and gave them ideas of the other creatures I hoped to see… and they did the rest. here is the master-piece…Waiting to be framed.

                         

Well, I am heading off to do one client visit.. and then, to begin the process of lining drawers and cabinets with lovely gift wrapping paper I have aquired over the years (and recently).  The chandelier  paper is from "Old Navy" ( I had not even every really shopped in there, but spotted the paper and… PS: they had alot of fancy chandelier print things, I got Cinderella some of her own for X-mas) The Black and white, I know same design as the teal, is from "Borders" bookstore…The teal and gold and the fruits and cakes are from the shop I continuously rave about in Tucson, Bon.