An Artist's Thank You

 About a month ago I resigned from a job I was doing for the art group and a few weeks ago the ladies of the Portland Art Collective presented me with a very unique thank you gift. One of the beauties of this group is over the years we have found each others weak spots. In my case I do a lot of assemblage and love the color of age. That includes the beautiful patina on a handle of an old tool, the color of rust only Oregon can produce and all the chipped odd bits you find in the very bottom of a wood box in the back of a garage. In the box they don't look like much but as you can see separated and organized the bits are very attractive. They call to me to use them as a leg, or hat or ???? the possibilities are endless.

Thank you ladies I love it all.

Calm, bright

from my home to yours...Happy Holidays!

********* The Christmas Branch**********

The Christmas Branch is up & hanging. In an effort to minimize clutter and keep floorspace, I purchase a 93 inch Aspen branch. Suspended from the ceiling and connected with white chain (little coffee hooks are in the branch!)
Draped with silver and whites for a crisp look, I must say I love it. Our 16 year old border collie, Domino appreciates one less thing to navigate around.

I love light up stars, so one is hanging near the branch.

Between them is my buffet, a simple vase of branches, and lights.

In my kitchen I have more of the red branches, rose hips and berries collected on walks, I like to see nature in my house.

On the island a couple of pomegranates pair nicely with air-plants and a fresh Rosemary bush. I'm still thinking about getting a Meyer lemon tree, I saw recently full of fruit, to keep me company this winter.

I love putting out little spreads of food, asparagus, cucumbers & olives, little heirloom tomatoes with decadent cheeses and chocolate to balance it all out, it is after all the holidays!

A close up of the Christmas branch, I'm thinking of keeping it up all year, and making it seasonal, next up hearts anyone?
Cheers for a wonderful holiday, no matter how you celebrate!
you can see more HERE on my blog

'Tis the Season

I've toned down my decorating over the years since the kids have left the house and we no longer gather at our home to celebrate Christmas (in fact, this is the year that my huge collection of Christmas ornaments are being divided among my three children). But I always decorate the mantle using white lights, red berries scattered in the bough, and a wonderful assortment of Margaret Furlong ornaments.


I put up a small tree in our upstairs living space, decorated simply with white lights, red berries, and 39 years of Wallace bells, a new one purchased every year.


Merry Christmas!

The tree is up.

 I will second that Lenall, Christmas is also up at my house. Like Lenall I love to decorate and with 5 grandchildren who will be coming for Christmas Eve it is a must.

The big tree is covered in silver and white. A few years ago I bought all of it to decorate the entrance for our Open Doors Show. Now we use other decorations so I thought it would be fun to use them in my house. The tree is pretty but it didn’t take long for me to decide I love color.

I used some silver pipe cleaners to make spirals, little cork screws coming out all over the tree. Next year they will be made from bright jewel tones.

This little owl is sitting in a real robin’s nest at the top of the tree.

I couldn’t take it I had to have a little corner with color.

Most of the decorations were made by the members of this group so it is a double pleasure to look at.

The tree is metal so I couldn’t resist magnetic jewel tone bugs.

Have a fun next few weeks. Merry Christmas!

Sigh! Christmas is up at my house!

Decorating at Christmas has always been an art form I have enjoyed.  I have a huge collection that I am always adding to just like my art supplies.  One can never have too much.  Do I really believe this?  YES!

I put up two trees that vary from year to year.  Above are this years' versions.  For more on my decorating go to my blog:  Plethora of Color at:  http://www.lenall.blogspot.com/

Lenall

A Magical Show and Sale

The Portland Art Collective hosted a magical Open Doors Show and Sale this past Friday and Saturday. Those who came to the show were enchanted by the setting and the art they got to see (and buy!). Here's a peek into the heart of the show through photos.





We had over twenty artists set up booths this year. Take a look at the beauty and variety we offered.


















Our journal table, where PAC artists share the visual journals they have created, always had several people sitting (and sometimes standing) looking at our journals.


There were so many wonderful shoppers and visitors. Here's a sampling.







Thank you to everyone who supported us by visiting our show and purchasing our art!