Monday, June 30, 2008

VIGNETTES IN HIGH PLACES!

Having these high areas to decorate can be a challenge, not to mention they are high and can't be changed often which is something I like to do, but these areas are too high for that being nearly 12-15 feet off the floor! My DH is so helpful when it comes to giving these areas a dusting or redesign. I usually leave my displays alone for awhile before changes, so I thought I would share them before I get the bug to redo!!

The first one is my favorite, as it is so high you can see the second story rooftop of the neighbor's house through the window. It holds my grandmother's antique singer sewing machine, old school books of my mother's, old thread spools, greenery, old vases and urns, iron shutters, and a candle in the window that comes on every night and also a light on the machine that also is timed to shine each evening. Below this area is a closet which is at the bottom of the staircase. I am taking the picture from the top of the stairs. It is like a small sewing room. I have plans to add a small chair to one side to compliment the machine when I find the right one. These pictures are so dark and I am sorry for that. This area is very hard to get a good photo.



Also near this area, at the top of the stairs, is this window display with shutters. I placed a country path print behind an old window. In the window box I tried to fill with similar flower colors from the print.

This high display is in a living area and holds an old birdhouse with wreath, lilies, hydrangeas, an old metal pitcher and wooden bunny.

Next to this you can see the side of a very high wall sconce that lights and dims. The room has 4 of these lights at the top of the 12 foot ceiling, but on the window wall I have hand painted some wysteria hanging from these pots for interest. This picture is blurry, but you get the idea.

This next display is very close to my heart as it holds a pair of praying hands that my dear hubby made for my parents one Christmas when we were in college. I can still see him, walking to a local art shop to browse for ideas when he saw these precious hands. Even then, his Christian spirit and heart always showed through. My parents loved this handmade and painted gift and displayed it the rest of their lives. Now that they are in heaven, I have the hands and they are the first display I see when I walk out of the bedroom in the morning. I have teamed them with a musical birdhouse, a vine of yellow roses, old frame with bread bowl, pretty magnolia branch and a sweet red bird for color. This display sits high atop a corner cupboard.

In the master bedroom, this high shelf holds an old antique tray that I still have an idea to paint something on along with an old needlework magnolia, old candlesticks and an old framed painting of a young girl playing the piano. This display is high above a writing desk and just below the sky with clouds I have painted in the room.

The sky with clouds is the center of a raised ceiling area that is finished with crown molding to complete making this area perfect for painting the sky. I have taken this look over into the bathroom. The shelf area between the two rooms holds my wire bird cage collection with some ivy. The sky is wonderful to wake up to.

Sky from the bathroom side.

Furniture tops are the perfect high places to display collectibles. This photo shows an old hutch topped with my oil painting of old red roses, a large glass vase, grapes trailing across and a trio of bell domes at different heights showcasing a few of my old bell collection.

My high entry display brings the eye up to see an old roses painting with stack boxes, greenery, stone wall decor and stenciled flowers on the tile ledge.

Also on this ledge, at it's turn, is a needlework cottage of a Thomas Kinkade painting that I did years ago.

High places in the kitchen bring me to share this niche. It is the pass through between the dining room and kitchen. I have a sign that reads Home is where your story begins along with some Tuscan style collectibles.

This high kitchen shelf displays a thin shelf and home to a pear sign and rooster plates. The shelf tops a built in crystal hutch.

The last high place is another hutch top in my library/family room. It shows a wall accent, boxes, wire bird cage, and hydrangeas bringing out the colors in the room.

Thank you for stopping by and as I close I will share a few past works and painting studies.



Lastly, this is a large beach scene of Cottages on the Beach. I painted this many years ago from an art study. I still enjoy this piece as it hangs in a guestroom.


Well, I am off to paint and create. I hope you have a great week and till next time, Blessings and Blue Skies, Celestina

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