What are you doing this weekend?  My parents are coming to visit — cross your fingers that they are on one of the very flights to leave Denver today.  We will know in a couple hours.   Meanwhile….it remains unseasonably warm here….but I just can’t complain.   If you aren’t outside enjoying the weather, here a few interesting things…..

• The Plant Journal #2  – Exciting!! — See more here
• Quirky Garden shoes for the New England Prepster crowd?
• I can’t hardly believe that this is what it really is.
• Expecting guests? Thinking that this might be a nice way to make a first impression.
• Green and White …..L.O.V.E
• Wouldn’t it be great to install one of these right next to you garden spigot?
• Urban Growth Strategy 1, 2, and 4.  A totally cool set I think.

image from The Plant Journal.

Did you see the fantastic mural at a NYC nursery by street artist Roa over at Leaflets yesterday?   I am absolutely in love with this art — so much so that I am re-considering a plan I am about to put in place.

Have I mentioned that I am going to be commissioning a mural for the garden side of my barn?  I have a few ideas about what I might like as a backdrop for my garden and what I want to see when I look out my front door and take in the scene but I want to see what happens when I share my vision and then turn it over to another artistic mind.

My plan has been to (hopefully) find someone who is looking for a giant canvas through the magic of craigslist –  I think it would be wonderful to perhaps give an opportunity to a young artist – but now I am wondering if it might be a better idea to reach out to specific people whose work I like (though I just don’t know who they are)  - or maybe street artisits…. hmmmm.   What do you know about commisioning art? Working with muralists?  Finding street artists?

images from Unurth

This installation in Jaujac, France by french Artist gaëlle villedary, not only feeds my incessant yearning for French travel, but it also so beautifully illustrates the power of lines on the landscape.   A long grassy path leads visitors through the village to the heart of this beautiful place.   It weaves  through trees, and all manner of interesting places, and you can see by the pictures how natural it is for people to follow it.

I am struck by how powerful a line can be, how it leads us, draws us, and guides us.  And I am reminded to remember this in design work.

To see more of this landscape art, visit Tapis Rouge Gaelle Villedary

(images from Tapis Rouge Gaelle Villedary)

Oh Friends — this is going to be one of those heavy posting days…..where I have plans to share a thing or two with you and then something just comes and smacks me in the face…..and it must be shared immediately.  Like DanMala the flower mandalas that Kathy Klein creates.

Kathy creates the danmalas (defined in sanskrit as dān: the giver, mālā: garland of flowers, hence, the giving of flower circles) by first centering herself in a meditative devotional space.  She gathers flowers and natural objects while her mind is kept in mantra and her creations are reflections of the nature and the beauty  that she found in her surroundings.

To me they are like the wonderful feminine form of the Andy Goldsworthy style of art created by manipulated and gathered nature.

She also had a great poem on her site that I just love (and had to share) -

My mom carries an orb of light with her
wherever she goes.
She shows it to people sometimes,
and they laugh.
Sometimes it’s around her face
and her eyes glow like emeralds.
And when she is ready,
she sets it on the ground,
and flowers hover around it in perfect symmetry.

By Seffa Klein

Make sure to check out Kathy’s website where you can see a huge array of her amazing creations.

images from Trendtablet.

Perhaps the best trade show I have ever attended is Maison et Objet (which is currently underway in Paris).  There is just so many exciting new things to see there and I always wish I could make the trip.  So with much excitement I just read a round-up post over at Apartment Therapy by Ellie Tennent about the current show and some of her favorite picks.

Can we all nod our heads in agreement that these stack-able Matrioshka doll-like candle holders (that are perfectly misty/milky at the bottom) are just about amazing?   I’ll take 2….wait make that 10….

‘Bougies Russes’ candle holders designed by Stephan Lanez.

I continue with my lusty search for just the right neon sign to hang near my (hopefully completed this coming season) new deck and pergola.  So now that I have found 5 of them, I am not sure which to choose…..Artist and Designer Rory Dobner created all of these and he launched this collection at the show.  My rudimentary knowledge of the neon sign market makes me not even want to ask what it will cost me to actually own one of these charmers.

images from Apartment Therapy and Rory Dobner

With the impending holiday approaching, I’m pleased to have discovered  these valentine inspired botanical fine art prints by Due Alberi.    Due Alberi is a two person husband and wife team based in Rome.  Antonia and Fabio create images from flowers and nature and not only are the seasonal prints lovely, but I am also enjoying the more modern art prints that I put in the gallery.

(images from Due Alberi)