Mabel Dodge Luhan house

Another highlight of the Cincinnati Art Academy Sketchbook trip was staying at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House.  If you love historic adobe architecture and you are visiting Taos then Mabel's is the place to stay.  The house is gorgeous with lots of quirky, wonderful details and the food is out of this world.  I love when food is both healthy and tasty, not to mention lots of local flair.

There is also quite a bit of interesting history regarding Mabel.  I am just now starting to read Edge of Taos Desert which is her autobiographical account of her move from New York to the Southwest in 1917.  She grew up as part of New York's avante-garde so it was quite a transition moving to Taos and falling in love with a native American of the Taos pueblo named Antonio Luhan (Tony). From what I know so far, she and Tony built the house and had quite a roller coaster relationship.  When I finish the book I will post more.

Below are a few photos of the rooms and the grounds.  The friend I traveled with was lucky enough to stay in Tony's room which has a wonderful balcony and a crazy bathroom painted by D.H. Lawrence.

Tony's room balcony

D. H. Lawrence bathroom

Gatehouse Entrance

Entry doors to Mabel's

Sitting Area off Lobby

Lobby

Mabel's room

Solarium

Earthships -Taos, NM

One of the more memorable places we visited in Taos was The Earthships. These structures are described on their website as "radically sustainable buildings made with recycled materials."  They use solar panels to generate electricity and rainwater for drinking water, sewage, and food production.  They are essentially designed to be self-containing units with the rare use of propane.

As you can see in the photos below the walls of The Earthships often incorporate either glass bottles or aluminum cans.  I loved the color in the glass and the repetition of all of them.  Oh, and FYI, I added a little lens flare to the photo above for dramatic effect.  I usually don't like to alter my photos like that, but I thought it added a little "alien flare."

When we were there you couldn't help but feel you were on a different planet.  And I don't know which came first, the earthships or Tatooine, but they certainly resemble each other.  I thought I might see C-3PO and R2-D2 around the corner at any minute.

The building below was a particularly fancy Earthship under construction.  I wonder how many crushed cans go into a building like this.  If you are ever in Taos, it is certainly worth the time to stop at the visitor center and watch the movie and to walk around the buildings.  But don't forget your hat and sunscreen (or your lightsaber!). 

San Francisco de Asis Church

I am finally getting around to posting some photos from my Cincinnati Art Academy sketchbook trip to Taos, NM.  One of my favorite places we went was San Francisco de Asis mission church in Rancho de Taos historic district.  The church was built between 1772 and 1816 and made famous by several Georgia O'Keefe paintings.  She made the back of this church as famous as the front.

We woke up at 5:30 so we could arrive at the church before sunrise.  I was excited to capture the sunrise on the beautiful odd-shaped adobe walls on the back of the church.  My favorite drawing in my sketchbook is of the back of this church.  I'll do a post later with some sketches from the trip.

I love this quote from George O'Keefe about this church:

"The Ranchos de Taos Church is one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards. Most artists who spend any time in Taos have to paint it, I suppose, just as they have to paint a self-portrait. I had to paint it—the back several times, the front once. I finally painted a part of the back thinking with that piece of the back I said all I needed to say about the church. I often painted fragments of things because it seemed to make my statement as well as or better than the whole could. And I long ago came to the conclusion that even if I could put down accurately the thing that I saw and enjoyed, it would not give the observer the kind of feeling it gave me. I had to create an equivalent for what I felt about what I was looking at—not copy it."

Scandinavian Napkins and Tablecloth

I bet you thought I was done with the whole red, white and blue theme, eh?  Well I couldn't resist posting these beauties.  I found both the napkins and the tablecloth at Punzel's in Michigan last year.  I already posted the beautiful red, white, and blue linen table runner I bought there last September and I have been itching to put these up ever since.  

According to Wikipedia, the horse you see here is called a "Dala" horse.  The Swedish started carving wooden horses long ago as toys that then became a popular item for trade. Different locations had differing styles, but the red horse with the detailed harness in white, green, yellow and blue became the most widespread and is now a popular symbol of Sweden.  

Originally the horses were just carved from wood and not painted.  According to legend a wandering painter came across a plain horse and painted it in the kurbits style.  What is kurbits you ask?  It is "an invented, fantastical symbol of vegetal fertility based on a gourd or pumpkin of biblical legend, principally used for ornamentation in Swedish folk art and on painted furniture and domestic objects."  I had to google it and it is totally awesome!  I am totally crazy over kurbits and I didn't even know it!  You must google image it!  When I bought these I knew none of this...I just thought they were super cute and beautiful.  Now I like them even more!

Vintage Tablecloth - Happy 4th of July!

I had such fun making the image above.  When I was looking through all my tablecloths I realized this one was perfect for making a nice square 4th of July card.  The tablecloth didn't really have that message in the middle (you can see it in full below), but I Photoshopped it in there.  Wouldn't it be awesome though to have a great big 4th of July party and to print your own tablecloths with that in the middle?  Maybe some day...but today I am content to put out all my red, white and blue tablecloths on the porch tables and sip lemonade.  Stay cool and HAPPY 4th of JULY!!!

Pennsylvania Dutch Pillow

This pillow is one of my favorite flea market finds of all time.  As soon as I saw it I knew it was coming home with me.  Of course I was drawn to the red, white, and blue, but just look at that cute lady churning butter! 

Honestly, I'm not quite sure if it is officially "Pennsylvania Dutch", but it had that air to it so I went with it.  If anyone out there knows more about this pillow please let me know.  Oh, and it appears to be made with high quality dyes because it is the only thing on the porch that has not faded from all this sun. 

Vintage Clothspin Bag

Last time I visited Gary Neltner at the Antiques Warehouse I was telling him that we have been hanging our laundry out to dry instead of using our dryer.  He responded that he had something I might like and voila!...look what he pulled out for me! 

Of course I loved it with it's awesome vintage illustration and typeface.  If you can't read it, it says, "The Champion, Stay Open, Clothespin Bag".  It reminded me of my childhood because my  mom always had a clothespin bag like this.  I don't know if it was a "Champion" but it had the same general bag-on-wire-frame appeal to it. 

Not only has it come in very handy when hanging out the laundry, but the color scheme fit perfectly into this week's theme.  Nothing says summertime like a vintage red, white and blue clothespin bag!

Mahonia Fireworks

I know I already posted about mahonia just this April, but when I was thinking about my red, white and blue theme of the week I just had to include this photo.  The color on these berries and their stems is so amazing...and what a difference from April!  We didn't get around to making jam with them but the mockingbirds were quite happy to scarf them all down.

Vintage Tablecloth

I bought this tablecloth a few years ago at the flea market in Burlington and it has been one of my all-time favorites.  I love the red scalloped edging and the painterly blue and red flowers...so vintage!  I think this tablecloth is the reason I keep collecting red, white, and blue linens...I just keep looking for more just like it.

So when your out at the flea market and you find a tablecloth with this color scheme I suggest you snatch it up and have a wonderful patriotic picnic.  Because if you don't, I will.

Vintage Flour Sack Cloth

Even though I just got back from Taos and I have a ton of great travel photos to share, I thought this week I would post things that are mostly red, white and blue.  Last year I had the idea to do it and time just got away from me.

It was funny because one day it dawned on me that most of the linens I collect are red, white and blue.  It wasn't a conscious decision, but when I look at my tablecloths the majority are in that color scheme.  The blue is often more of a sky blue than a flag blue, but blue nonetheless.

The fabric above is from a flour sack I bought at the flea market.  I am currently using it as a pillow case on our screen porch outside.  It is amazing how the sun has faded it but I kind of like it that way...  and the pattern is one of my favorites.  To me the design has a slightly Asian flair.  Gorgeous!  So check back because there will be lots of patriotic posting all week!

Father's Day Succulents

I know, I know, I am cactus crazy over here!  Last year I made my dad a succulent arrangement in this strawberry pot.  He gave it back to me so I am filling it up again this year for father's day.

I had so much fun choosing these plants.  I love the way the chubby soft fingers of the green succulent contrast with the sharp spines of the three cacti.  And just look at the nice blue, green and yellow in the photo above.  I am in love with cacti!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Roasted Summer Vegetables

This week we got lots of vegetables from our CSA (Hazelfield Farms).  George was cleaning them and they were so pretty he called me over to see them.  Of course I had to blog them because of their astounding beauty.  Just look at all those colors!

I have to admit I haven't been the best vegetable-eater my whole life,  which makes it all the more amazing that I just can't get enough of George's roasted veggies.  Whenever he makes them I just loooooooooove them.  So here is the recipe if you would like to try them.

George's Roasted Vegetable Recipe

Ingredients
Any summer veggie (zucchini, squash, potatoes, carrots, beets, whatever you like)
Olive oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Soy Sauce
Salt
Basil
Thyme
Cumin
Tony Chachere's Spice mix (optional)

Directions
Clean and slice vegetables (I like them thinly sliced).  Spread in roasting pan and drizzle with olive oil.  Add a little soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, then sprinkle with salt, basil, thyme, cumin, and spice mix (optional).  Stir to mix everything together and then roast for an 45 minutes to an hour at 325-375°.  Stir halfway through.  We let them coast in the oven after we turn the oven off for about a half an hour.  Serve warm and enjoy!

Last Peony of Spring

When I got back from my trip to Rochester I was so excited to look out the window and see one last peony still in bloom.  It was perfect timing too because I just bought this nice blue bottle at the Springfield Antique Show.  I also have to mention this was the first time I have ever used lamb's ear in a vase and I totally love it!  Its soft hue and texture were a perfect accent for the pale pink peony and it lasted a long time as a cut flower.  I guess you learn something new everyday! 

Homemade Sketchbook

This summer I am taking a sketchbook course from the Cincinnati Art Academy.  The course takes place in Taos, NM and is taught by Amy Bogard, artist extraordinaire (check out her website here).  Our class met once at the art store where we discussed sketchbook options and Amy mentioned that she could also show anyone who was interested how to make a homemade sketchbook.  She brought her own beautiful handmade sketchbook that was to-die-for so of course I had to try and make one.

Amy was nice enough to invite me over one day and I watched how she made one.  Many years ago I was into making books from scratch (buying the bookboard and covering it with bookcloth).  Although I loved the results, it was time-consuming and tedious.  So when she described her method of buying an old book and re-purposing it I loved it.  Basically you buy a used book (preferably with a good title if you are going to let it show), cut out the pages, reinforce the binding with paper (or bookcloth), and sew in new blank pages with the paper of your choice.

In her sketchbooks she left the title of the original book showing.  I liked the title of my book (Blessings by Belva Plain), but the title was so big my sewing would have to cover it to properly hold the pages.  I therefore decided to cover the title with bookcloth.  I ended up making this bookcloth because I found this beautiful southwestern-looking fabric that I thought was perfect for a "Taos" sketchbook.  To make your own bookcloth you just have to iron heat-n-bond onto your fabric and then iron tissue paper onto one side.  I learned this by watching this youtube video.  I also ended up doing a little sketch on the front and back in the style of my favorite New Mexican printmaker Willard Clark.  I think I am going to glue some of my favorite prints of his onto the inside covers for extra inspiration.  The course hasn't even technically started and I am already loving it!  Hopefully I will fill it with something blog-worthy.  Will keep you posted!
  

Mother's Day Succulent Arrangement

When I was a little girl my mom used to take me to Knollwood Garden Center and let me pick out a succulent.  I remember standing in the hot greenhouse with sweat trickling down my back, struggling to choose because I liked them all.  I don't know if that's when my fascination with succulents began, but I do so love their stout little bodies.  My favorite has always been the soft, chubby ones like the one in focus above.

In honor of that wonderful memory I decided to make a succulent arrangement for my Mom.  I bought this snail pot for her a few Mother's Days back at Home Emporium. This past summer she gave me a plant that was in it so I still had it.  I put calla lilies in it the first time around, so I wanted to do something different and the succulents were the perfect choice. And just standing in Lowe's today trying to figure out which cacti to buy put a smile on this girl's face.  Thanks Mom! 

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Flower Fabric

I created this sketch for another Spoonflower contest.  The theme was pen and ink colored with watercolors and the winner of the contest has a chance to start a new career as a fabric designer with Robert Kaufman.  The judges narrowed down the 750 entries to 100 and unfortunately I didn't make the cut (c'est la vie).  But you should still pop over to see all the great designs and vote for your favorite here.  Below you can see what my pattern looks like with a half-brick repeat.

Forget-me-nots & Heuchera

The other day my friend Annie hosted a get-together for the women of the neighborhood and I was struck by the simplicity and beauty of her flower arrangements.  She had Lily of the Valley and Forget-me-nots in mason jelly jars with just the donut outer lid screwed on so the flowers could come through.  The next day we were having a house guest (who happens to be a botanist) so I decided to make this little arrangement of  heuchera and Forget-me-nots for his room.  I love the color combination of lime green and purple-blue and the fact that it was so easy to make.  It may not be the world's best flower arrangement, but I love the idea that I can run outside with a pair of scissors and a jar of water and come back in less than five minutes with something that brings so much joy.