Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Rare Find Print and Beautiful 88's

Happy Wednesday Blog Friends,

Hope you are enjoying a good week.  I am busy here like most weeks  and beginning to enjoy much warmer days in the Lone Star State.  Temps are nearing the 90's but the ozone levels are high making it hazardous at times.  What to do when it gets like this? Well, stay in the studio and enjoy creating of course.

On my misson with home redos, we are making great progress and nearing the final updates. I am having so much fun and with the help of my dear guy, the work is moving right along. 

Last year I found this great print from Floral Artist, Paul de Longpre 1896. It is considered a yard long and fits perfectly above a sofa.  I have shared this treasure in the past when I first found it, but I gave the frame an update with cottage cream paint, a little light distress and re-hung over the sofa. 

When I spotted this rose beauty, in one of my favorite antique markets, it had a price tag of 10 dollars.  I couldn't believe it and asked one of the sales associates, if I was reading that right.  Certainly a few zeros were missing. No, the price is 10 dollars. WHAT!?!  I had that print in my hands so fast it would make your head spin.  What a rare find. Not a thing wrong with it either. No damage, just perfect under glass and perfect for my updated living room that I had been planning and gathering treasures for over the past year.

When I came home, I looked it up on the Internet and the same rose print was selling for 300 dollars. Score for sure. Even the matte was beautiful and included the gorgeous frame.
This week I worked to make another dream redo happen. My piano got a face lift.  Built in 1964, I can still remember my parents making a huge sacrifice for me to have this beauty.  I was just a little girl and after years of lessons and learning on an old upright, my parents purchased her new and gorgeous.   My mother played the piano too, so we would both enjoy this beautiful string instrument for now nearly 50 years.

Here she is in her original ( THE BEFORE) look. What you can not see from the pic is the wood stain had faded over the years and began to have a dull finish. In spite of my great care, age was beginning to show. We have moved many times and this piano has traveled with me to many a home.  The keys are still in excellent condition and the entire piano is created from wood. Today pianos are designed using particle board and do not have the pretty sound a solid wood piano has. 
Now (THE AFTER)  new look.  I just love it in a soft cottage cream and a very light distress.  She looks brand new and sounds better then ever.  We are really pleased with the way it adds to the room and brightened up the space.

The cottage cream just warms the room and what a difference it made. Maybe the next 50 years will be as pleasant for my treasure as the first 50.  I sure hope so.  I have a few more treasures to repurpose for the redo and then it will be time to enjoy the work and I will share the rest with you too. 

Thank you for stopping by for a visit. I enjoy each and every comment and look forward to visiting you back too. Have a great day and blessings always.

Hugs, Celestina Marie
p.s. I want to add how I struggled for months on painting my piano. It was difficult to make this decision. But in the end, I found it did not take away from the memories at all and I know my mother and dad would love it too.  I am happy and thankful for giving my treasure a new life.


26 comments:

Unknown said...

He is an amazing artist and one of my inspirations. A total Score! on that print!
Love the piano face lift but... what, no roses? I thought there would be at least a few cascading down the sides. Either way that fresh coat of paint really makes a difference.

Susan said...

Celestina, I have a reproduction of this same print. I think this is just gorgeous as well. I will post mine later. I am going to change the frame of mine, it is a ugly gold frame, and of course I plan to spray paint it ORB
Hugs my friend

BG said...

There was a time when we would only stay in doors because of the winter weather, how times have changed.

I love your roses print Celeste and your beautiful piano. I wish I had learned to play as I enjoy listening to the tinkle of the keys.

Sounds like you are really enjoying the redo, can't wait to see the final photos.
Hugs,
Sandi XXX

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

The roses are just gorgeous and look at how beautiful your piano is now! It really does look brand new! Hope you enjoy playing some pretty tunes!

Unknown said...

Ohhhhh! I LOVE that rose art, I'd have snapped it up also ... & the piano, what an exquisite change. You are so lucky.

Have a great eve ~
TTFN ~
Hugs,
Marydon

The Polka Dot Closet said...

I have looked forever for a mile long rose print...Wow. the piano, it looks amazing, that was a huge undertaking and fits in so well now...Job well done!

Carol

Ele at abitofpinkheaven said...

Looking good Celeste! I just love good deals, and you did score!

Unknown said...

Thank you for your sweet words of encouragement. Did you study under, P. Hauser?
I look at many decorative artists' roses and some are very similar to each other and I wonder if they all can trace their art lineage back to her in some way. She ahs been at it for quite a while and seems to have set a beautiful standard.

Ann said...

THe print looks really beautiful
and a fine addition to your home.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Love the rose picture and the piano looks beautiful. Looking forward to seeing the redo.

lilybets said...

The piano is so beautiful now that I have no words to write !Delicious!Also the frame and the roses!

EllenaElizabeth said...

I love Paul DeLongpre's work, what a marvellous find!!! I love it! I love the look of your piano too, however just know I could never paint my childhood piano....just in case I wanted it back to original stain one day. Enjoyed reading your post! Thanks for sharing.

Unknown said...

I love that print. It is amazing how differently people value art. I love finding amazing artwork in Antique books and restoring it. Lost treasures coming back to life.

I have seen you give rooms, and furniture facelifts, but this one was an amazing transformation. I would never even think that you could redo a piano. I love it so much better in the light.

Have a beautiful day.

Karen

Eileen said...

Dear Celestina,

How pretty your print looks with the new frame paint job. And just wanted to say your piano makeover is just beautiful. Almost reminds me of one of Liberace's white pianos.!! :-)

Have a wonderful weekend.
Eileen

Unknown said...

Dropped by from Marydon's place...love the rose print and the piano...have been a little scared to redo ours.

1CardCreator said...

Gorgeous rose print and I love the piano in white! Sure your parents would love it too!

il blog di lecoqchante said...

Beautiful!
Kiss, Lecoq

Red Rose Alley said...

Celestina,
I am so happy to hear that you play the piano. I took lessons when I was very young, and I never followed through. I could play by ear, and know only a couple of songs. I think the piano in the cream color is so pretty, and it looks a little vintage too. Isn't it great when we find items like the picture frame that you bought? It makes our shopping worthwhile. I'm glad I came over to say hello. I always enjoy myself when I visit your sweet blog.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley

Karen Valentine said...

Celeste the makeover is wonderful!!! She is still the same piano, she just has make-up on now!!! LOL.
xo,Karen

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Love the gorgeous yardlong, Celeste. And the piano turned out beautifully, too. I so know the agony you must have gone thru deciding whether or not to paint it. I did that to several of my fav pieces as I started my bedroom transformation a few years back. Once you decide, it is full steam ahead, tho, isn't it?!? Can't wait to see the rest.....

I'm having a really nice giveaway that I'd love for you to enter!

Love,
Stephanie

Mariette VandenMunckhof-Vedder said...

Dearest Celestina Marie,

Lovely rose print that you show here and your family heirloom, the piano has been revived in a beautiful way. So glad for you and your parents will be so pleased.
Just dropped in for a quick visit as we just today got back from Florida (7-hour journey, we got chauffeured though...) from Port Canaveral where our 5-day cruise to the Bahamas started and ended. Lovely days for relaxing and without any Internet.
Love to you,

Mariette

Kerri said...

Oh yes great job on the piano makeover! I love painting everything pink, or white. I have gotten so lazy painting that now I am stick-on roses. Easy and saves so much time. I put them on everything!

Enjoy your day my friend!

xoxo
Kerri

romance-of-roses said...

Celestina, your piano is a beauty alright. I too played the piano and learned on an upright, $50. was the price on it. Such memories of a little girl who was afraid of her piano teacher and never told mom. Know your mom and dad would love it as much as you do with it's new updo. Blessings, Lu
p.s. been sick all week w/tonsillitis

Ruth Welter said...

Hi Celeste,

I didn't know you played the piano, I love the new life you have breathed into this lovely instrument...great job. Cannot imagine how much work that was.

Also, love the rose print, that artist really did some beautiful work....one of my fav's.

Have a creative week.

Ruth

Rebecca Nelson said...

I LOVE THE PIANO WHITE! Oh my gosh! I soooo would have painted mine if I had kept it.

I also am screaming out loud over that $10 print. KILL ME why don't you!?

:) Happy for you.

:( Sad for me.

xoRebecca

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Celestina Marie,

I love your sweet rose painting and even better still, getting this at such a bargain, well done.
Also love your piano the way it has turned out - it is perfect and know your Mother and Dad would be happy, that you are happy with the new look.

Hugs
Carolyn

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Celestina Marie
Celestina Marie

Welcome To Rose Garden Market from Celestina Marie Design. It is so nice to meet you. My name is Celestina Marie named after my grandmother and my friends call me Celeste.My creative journey extends over 30 years enjoying the love of painting and redesigning vintage and new treasures. I love to go treasure hunting and the fun of finding great vintage pieces to redesign..