It’s still a mom’s world

I so often remember my Mom and how she believed that good manners applied in any and every situation. “A bit old fashioned” you might say. Not at all.
It’s still important to clean the house, top to bottom, when guests are arriving to spend the night, or several nights. Clean the bath and shower, change the beds, vacuum the carpets. Dust the lamps and wood furnishings. Put on a clean tablecloth and go to the store to stock up on fruit, chips, dips, and a few breakfast and lunch items.
We usually go out to dinner when we have company, which is always fun…we get to visit our favorite eating-places. And, put a favorite movie on the TV cabinet in case we spend some time sitting around visiting and need a little entertainment.
This time of year, when the kids are spending Easter vacations traveling about and visiting relatives and friends, there are often loads of company or a bit of traveling on all our schedules. I always hanker to get on a plane and head off somewhere interesting. Itchy feet I guess.
Since I can no longer visit my mom, who passed away in 1975, I find another way to remember her on Mother’s Day. There are always flowers at the local Memorial Day Service, or just a blossom of her favorite flower set on the TV to remember her by.
She would always remind me, when I was a child, to greet any guests warmly and introduce anyone who was new to our circle. It was so important to remember names and she always gave us little secrets to doing that, little associations to help us remember someone’s name.
We were always reminded to take their coat and/or hat and hang it in the coat closet. It was nice to think about our guests and wonder if they were tired from traveling and would like a little time to freshen up and even to take a short snooze, or a shower. Depending on their mode of travel.
Mom always put out a plate of cookies and something in a pitcher for a drink. Usually there was a plan of action whenever anyone came to visit, from going to a concert at our local theater or to an Art Gallery, or even just to church on Sunday.
When it comes to Weddings, good manners are imperative. A whole different world comes to the fore, even in this day and age of casualness. There truly is an ART to putting together a memorable occasion for the couple in spite of all the fads and choices of settings. A good wedding coordinator is invaluable, usually through a church, in order to do what is right in regard to seating, greeting, music, flowers, food, etc. They can be a lot of help, especially to the bride’s mother.
After all, Life is an ART. Is it not?
Art photo at left is “Country Blue” (detail) by June Dudley.

‘A well-chosen piece of art can tie a whole room together’.

Art and Color will transform your home! Your Seasonal decorating provides great opportunities for trying some new things.

When the tree goes up it completely changes the color balance and the focus of a room.  The balance of the lighting also changes. If time allows before rearranging, paint a wall or the front door.This will add the drama of color and a fresh backdrop to your planned arrangements.
Read more

Art has influence!

From the cave paintings of Lescaux France… to the Sidewalks of New York today, artists have expressed their humanity, their culture. Artistic character, fear and passions can all be illustrated in mediums. From the graphic of a line drawing to the color and texture of a wall- size mural. Visual art can influence as well as decorate our environment and color and design can crystallize our emotions!

Artistic license has no boundaries other than those society sets for it, or imposes, given how threatened it feels.
Read more

Red

Red is a very popular color and has been treasured throughout the ages. Some might even say that RED is ON Target!!!
Read more

An American Artist Thrives

When I drive down Olympia way in the spring I am always reminded of the “grand” trees of the art of Maxfield Parrish. Our avenues most certainly would have inspired him. He once wrote ”grand trees do something to you.” But his trees are all his own. They remind you of grand Oaks, but their scale, color and details really exhibit artistic license rather than botanical accuracy!
Read more

Art World – July 2008

“The infusion of motion and life into huge bulks.” This is how writer Greighton Gilbert describes Michelangelo’s sculpture. Throughout history artists have attempted to meet this challenge; to create a lasting three-dimensional experience of motion and life, from huge bulks of clay, wax and stone and metal. Read more