Serenity Sunday...week 13

It's Sunday and you know I always try to have a few words of wisdom for you. However, this Sunday I'd like to point you in the direction of Karen Valentine of My Desert Cottage and her 'Where Bloggers Create' online party. On the right sidebar of her blog is a list of well over 100 bloggers. All of those wonderful, creative bloggers have agreed to take us on a tour, complete with pictures, of their workspaces. Some are huge rooms, some are small spaces, however you can bet they are all creative and always in transition. I guarantee that once you tour these spaces, you will be inspired beyond belief! Afterwards, leave me a message and tell me which is your favorite. (I haven't even been able to check them all out yet, there are so many!) ENJOY!

Beautiful Saturday...at the Shop.........

(A sign I painted a couple of years ago.)

Today, I was working at the antique shop (The Colonial Housefitter). It's a beautiful day, unusual as of late, we've had so many days of rain and overcast skies in the northeast. In the Syracuse metro area there are so many "fests" going on this weekend, it's hard to count. There's the "Great American Antique Fest" at the Onondaga Lake Park, the "Ukrainian Fest" at Saint John's church, "Irish Fest" just to name a couple. It's also "Syracuse Arts Weekend" downtown. There are many, many skilled craftsman from all over the country, artists and food booths dotted along the streets. There's music and all kinds of entertainment going on downtown!

(A couple of my paintings...the one on the top sold today.)

That's OK, I'd rather be right here at the shop. I've had several regular customers come in, the breezes are blowing the curtains, the sun is shining, I have a cool drink and a good book and it's exactly what I need right now. I'm reading Tara Frey's book, "Blogging For Bliss" in between customers. I ordered it (and Sue Whitney's "Junk Beautiful-Outdoor Edition") from Amazon last Sunday and much to my surprise it came yesterday, a full week before it was scheduled to arrive! I've gotta tell you, Tara's book is so interesting! I am an avid follower of her blog and true to form, the book does not disappoint. Tips, profiles of bloggers (some of which I already read), everything from: why blog, how to blog, how to beauty up your blog, how to use it as a tool for business and just general blogging issues and fixes. I LOVE this book! Thank you Tara!

I also have to mention that I got my new issue of Romantic Homes this week. Among all the usual great reads, there's a couple of awesome articles on fellow blogger Debbie Dusenberry of "Curious Sofa" in Kansas City. There's an article about her home and another about her shop. There are plenty of wonderful pictures that illustrate her style.

So, I decided to snap a few pictures of the shop and show you what we have here. The shop is all country antiques, mostly country primitive, with enough wriggle-room for someone like me who's personal style is more country-vintage-farmhouse-cottage. Wow, that was a mouthful! All of our artful items are handcrafted by local artisans. I sell many of my works here, paintings, ornaments and other handcrafted items. Notice the mural I did (going up the stairs). I had a blast doing it and we're planning another for a wall upstairs. My friend, Chris is the owner and her taste and her displays are wonderful. Our favorite time of year in the shop is in the Fall and Winter. There's such a sense of coziness and peace. I know for a fact that because of that, people have been known to hang around just to rejuvenate and relax themselves! Enjoy the pics!

(Upstairs, isn't that cupboard awesome?)

(Front wall where the new mural is going.)

(Bed and bedding upstairs.)

(Another view of that great cupboard.)

(At the top of the stairs left.)

(The top of the stairs on the landing.)

(Blanket chest at the very top of the stairs.) (Antique feedsack tote bags.)

(First floor toward the back.) (Looking straight ahead as you walk in the door.)

(Looking to the right as you walk in the door.) (Straight ahead walking in the door.)

The following pictures are of a mural I did about 4-5 years

ago that goes up the stairway at the shop.

Serenity Sunday...Week 12

the invisible red thread
"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time,

place, or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break."

--An ancient Chinese belief

A few of my paintings....

I thought I would share a few paintings that I have done

in the past couple of years. I work mostly in acrylics.

(Mostly because I'm too impatient to wait for oils to dry.)

This wooden bowl with a folk art rooster, is one that I had entered

into an Art Show and it was chosen for an exhibit at the

Everson Museum of Art.

This is a painting I did for my sister's birthday a

couple of years ago. It's in her dining room.

I do a lot of folk art for the antique shop.

A farm.....

My Dad built these stools for me and I painted and sold them.

A real crowd pleaser as they didn't last long.

(check out the bumblebee flying above the coneflowers on this stool.)

I kind of like the shades of gray in this one.

I called this 'The Secret Garden'.

Who knows what's beyond the stone wall??

Cala Lilly

I antiqued this one before I sold it.

I hope you enjoyed this look at a few of my paintings.
We'll do it again sometime...

Serenity Sunday...Week 11

(photo courtesy of http://www.instructables.com/)

FIREFLIES

In the early hours of a summer's eve,

the dark is a-light with magic.

Children playing hide-and-seek,

illuminated by the light of a silvery moon.

The momentary pin-point of light,

breaks the darkness.

The children's interest is peaked,

as they run to find mason jars.

The fireflies are back!

Lighting the dark with magic!

copyright July 2008

Tamara Egan

Serenity Sunday...Week 10

Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.

~Sam Keen~

Happy Birthday America!

In light of the birthday of our great nation,

I wish you all, citizens of the

United States of America

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

How does your garden grow?

This is how my garden grew.


(above: Princess Spirea, Red Meidland Rose)

(above: Red Meidland Rose)

(above: Pink Tea Rose)

...small garden in front of the screen porch...

How did your garden grow??