My Garden

Garden Room 

Why is it so hard to leave your garden behind when you move? Is it that a garden connects to you on a deeper level? Is it something that you create with the earth that helps ground you in hard times and brings joy to you and so many others? 

Lilies

Is it that it tells the story of who you are? As I wander through my garden I see my inner self, my view of movement in the way I have curved different areas of my garden.

Pink Hydrangea 

 My love of color in the well thought out color plan.

Flowers in my Garden

 My idea of nurturing in the way I have put plants that fruit all among-st my flowers.

Peaches

 I can share my love through my garden by sharing its beauty, its flowers and its fruit. My garden can be layed in and played in.

Grapes on the Vine

 My garden has places for tea and rooms to hide.

Tea under a Tree

 It has some structure and lots of whimsy. 

Artistic Cupid 

It has some English, some French, and some Italian design that represents my love of travel. 

LaVera's Garden 

It’s organic so animals and birds can live in it freely. It has plants for butterflies and Bees. My garden has statues of cupids and a fountain for sound.

Stone Wall in my Garden

  My garden is made for my family and for my piece of mind in a crazy life.

Pink Flowers

 So when you walk through someone’s garden look a little deeper into it and learn more about the person who took the time to make thousands of tiny decisions in order to make a special place for those she or he loves to spend time.

LaVera's Garden 

What The Old Master's Can Teach Us: Painting Jewels and Fur, Embroidery and Metal.

How Lace and Fur are painted

When I'm in museums as a painter I look closely at how the masters have made their paintings come to life. This time I focused on the fabrics and trims. I have taken pictures of the details I looked at such as embroidery, jewelry, pearls and many different fabrics. I am sharing them here with you. I hope that they will inspire you as they have me.

How Pearls and White on White Fabric are painted.

How Pearls and Black Velvet are painted.

How Organza and Jewelry are painted.

How Satin and Jewelry are painted.

How Black Velvet and Gold Metal are Painted.

How Black Embroidery is Painted.

How Gold Embroidery, Pearls and Fur are Painted.

The National Portrait Gallery, London, England

Living in Bellingham on the West Coast of the United States I don't often get to see old masterpieces. So when I travel to the great cities of the world I love to take some time and spend it in their museums.   

 London is no exception. One of my favorite museums in London is The National Portrait Gallery.

 This is a fun place to visit if you're into English history, or if you are a painter interested in learning more about painting. 

 Other great reasons to go to this museum are if you enjoy fashion history it's fun to look at the clothes through the ages.

  If you love a good story there are plenty of those. Where there's a great scandal there's a great portrait . Here are some of my favorites.

                 Here's the story behind this painting. What a brave soul in so many ways.

Born in France, The Chevalier Deon (Charles Genevieve Louise Auguste Andre Timothee Deo De Beaumont)  had a successful career as a soldier, diplomat and spy before publicly changing gender. He first came to London in 1763 to negotiate peace for France at the end of the Seven Year War. Ordered to return to France Deon refused and blackmailed the French court with his knowledge of secret invasion plans against England. Rumors spread that Deon was a woman in disguise. These rumors were encouraged by Deon and spread from 1771 on wards and were widely believed.  In 1777 the French offered Deon an income if he henceforth exclusively wore women's clothing. Dion accepted and returned home. He came back to England in 1785 and had a successful career as a celebrity female fencer.

Painting is by Thomas Stewart 

Harrods of London

 Harrods of London

 What can you say about Harrods?  It's like being a kid in a candy shop it's so much fun. 

The Candy and coffee Room, Harrods of London

 I can't really afford to shop there.  But boy! do I enjoy looking. 

The Candy and coffee Room, Harrods of London

The Candy and coffee Room, Harrods of London

 Besides having some of the most wonderful things for sale.

 It's an old-fashioned department store. 

Teapots on Display, Harrods of London

     It  has Egyptian styled escalators which are hilarious and beautiful at the same time.

Egyptian Style Escalators, Harrods of London

It also has ornately tiled rooms with different themes and beautiful 

chandeliers that carry the theme forward.

Seafood Area, Harrods of London

Fruits and Vegetables, Harrods of London

 The displays are quite spectacular.

Fun Displays, Harrods of London

The whole experience is just fun. 

Harrods of London

So if you've never seen Harrods the next time you're in London definitely take an hour to visit.

Historical Fashion at The Victoria and Albert Museum

In London I visited the Victoria and Albert Museum. I was lucky enough to see an exhibit that was showing on Wedding Gowns. I couldn't take any pictures. But you can see some of them on the Museums Blog:  http://www.vam.ac.uk/b/blog/here-come-brides

Corset, The Victoria and Albert Museum

 I did take some pictures of their permanent fashion exhibit which was also quite wonderful. Here's some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them.

The Victoria and Albert Museum

Men's over coat, The Victoria and Albert Museum

Shoes, The Victoria and Albert Museum

Lace Collar, The Victoria and Albert Museum

Lace Dress, The Victoria and Albert Museum

Flappers Dress, The Victoria and Albert Museum

Christian Dior, The Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum

Sixties Fashion, The Victoria and Albert Museum

Teatime in England

Me with my tea buddies

England is a country where teatime was developed. Teatime is credited to the 7th duchess of Bedford.  Her name was Anna. Anna would get a "sinking feeling in the afternoon".  In England at that time they only served breakfast and dinner. Dinner was usually around 8 o'clock at night. The duchess started having a light snack with a cup of tea in the afternoon.  She soon started inviting her friends for tea and a walk in the fields. It quickly picked up in practice and became respectable. Then it was moved from her boudoir into the drawing room. Before long fashionable Society was sipping tea and nibbling sandwiches in the middle of the afternoon.

I love the tradition of tea I find it very relaxing in the afternoon so I thought I would share some pictures of the teas I had along my journey. 

Ely, England

Even the most simple tea is time to sit and contemplate.

Anna's in Cambridge, England
  These were the best scones I've ever had.

Ely, England

Tea at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge

Tea in London