Ashmolean Museum of Art Archaeology

The new building consists of six floors — the new exhibition space, the new educational centre, studios for storage of artefacts and a terrace on a roof where it is located by cafe.

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology by Rick Mather Architects

The project combines two-level and one-storeyed exposition spaces which are connected by rulers of paths and two central ladders. Light a well are located along the edges of a building, allowing to use possibility of natural illumination.

Ashmolean Museum it is constructed in 1683 year and is the oldest museum in Britain. The project of expansion of a museum has been developed in 1999 year.

The new building is attached to the central case of a museum, work of architect Charles Robert Cockerell of 1895, initially intended for placing there university, but later, in 1894 year, given to a museum.

Enormous exhibition space

Total area of the new project — 10,000 sq. m. from which 4,000 sq. m. are an exhibition space. In the first week end, after complex opening, the museum was visited by 22,000 visitors.

Ashmolean Museum of Art Archaeology

The new building consists of six floors — the new exhibition space, the new educational centre, studios for storage of artefacts and a terrace on a roof where it is located by cafe.

Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology by Rick Mather Architects

The project combines two-level and one-storeyed exposition spaces which are connected by rulers of paths and two central ladders. Light a well are located along the edges of a building, allowing to use possibility of natural illumination.

Ashmolean Museum it is constructed in 1683 year and is the oldest museum in Britain. The project of expansion of a museum has been developed in 1999 year.

The new building is attached to the central case of a museum, work of architect Charles Robert Cockerell of 1895, initially intended for placing there university, but later, in 1894 year, given to a museum.

Enormous exhibition space

Total area of the new project — 10,000 sq. m. from which 4,000 sq. m. are an exhibition space. In the first week end, after complex opening, the museum was visited by 22,000 visitors.

Art pavilion from company Carmody Groarke

English architects of company Carmody Groarke have finished pavilion building in London.

Eight-metre light-emitting diode columns

The pavilion represents eight-metre columns with light-emitting diode lamps, with a steel three-metre plate on a top (!). The density of placing of columns is non-uniform, and in the centre they and at all are absent, opening the review on the sky.

Pavilion building in London

The idea of a construction was born in 2007 during carrying out of the competition organised by Fund of architecture in English capital. All design of pavilion is addition to the general design of a building to which a construction was an extension, and impracticality of construction gives to the project special utopianism.

Art pavilion from company Carmody Groarke

English architects of company Carmody Groarke have finished pavilion building in London.

Eight-metre light-emitting diode columns

The pavilion represents eight-metre columns with light-emitting diode lamps, with a steel three-metre plate on a top (!). The density of placing of columns is non-uniform, and in the centre they and at all are absent, opening the review on the sky.

Pavilion building in London

The idea of a construction was born in 2007 during carrying out of the competition organised by Fund of architecture in English capital. All design of pavilion is addition to the general design of a building to which a construction was an extension, and impracticality of construction gives to the project special utopianism.

$$$$ My Priceless "Art" Collection $$$$

As I have mentioned before, much of the "art" on my walls are family photos, especially those of my kids. I'm not a big fan of dime a dozen pictures you find in big-box stores or decor shops. I don't mean that in the snobby sense but I just don't believe in hanging a picture I don't really love just for the sake of filling a space. That's not to say I have much in the way of real art. Money and selection have always gotten in the way of me starting any kind of "collection". Instead, I have relied on art my kids have created and pieces I have picked up at fleamarkets and garage sales. Also, I would rather stare at a picture of one of my children as a baby or being natural, than just any old picture. Someday I will invest in art by real artists, but even then, it will likely be work from up and coming artists rather than anything that hints at too much formality.

My sister has some wonderful artwork. She has some very talented friends and also scours ebay and yard sales looking for a piece that "speaks" to her. Also, her kids have done some beautiful watercolours that I have been strongly hinting at acquiring for too many years (hopefully this hint will work). She has a knack for choosing just the right piece and her home reflects that. Art for art's sake as opposed to for pretension...

The stories behind the photos here are (in no particular order): my youngest son as a baby looking out the window at some birds. I love his sweet little profile and this picture will keep him forever as a baby in my memory; the framed top of a pillowcase done in redwork that says, "Sweet Dreams"...perfect; a picture of poppies on a stretcher frame that I got on my Mother's Day trip to the Christmas Tree Shop. I just loved the colours and the price; a portrait of my daughter that I took when she was four. I have it framed with two others like it (but with different natural expressions); a vintage picture of a boy scout and his dog I found at Value Village; a picture her brother coloured of them both in the tub; and a photo of my boys cuddled up on a chair...they have always been the closest of brothers.

So there you have it! Just a few of my favorites from my "collection". I hope I will always keep this unsophisticated approach to art as it is me. I like things to be relaxed, simple and pleasant to look at. I will never have to insure any of it, and most of it will remain on my walls somewhere for a very long time...and when the time comes when I can begin to make some real purchases, I will enjoy every minute of it!!

A wonderful artist...

These pictures are by Mindy Wilson, whose work I first saw on Chris' blog. I love her work as much of it, coincidentally, features my favorite subject of the moment, birds. She does beautiful work and you can check out her art at groovy inclinations and follow the link to her Etsy shop(if you haven't already discovered Etsy (www.etsy.com) , you are missing out!!) Have a look!!

**I am trying to decide which picture to purchase. Any suggestions?

Silhouettes...and Skippy!

I have long been a fan of silhouettes. I remember seeing them as a little girl and wondering who those lovely ladies were and what did they really look like. Fast forward a couple of decades and I finally found one of my very own. About a year ago, I was at our local fleamarket and finding very little I liked, was starting to head home. Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted it!! A lone little silhouette of a small boy and, inscribed in black ink, the name "Skippy". Skippy...I felt my breath catch...I have a "Skippy". Well, not actually a Skippy, but a "Skipper"!!

My eldest son was nicknamed "Skipper" by my husband when he was still an infant. Why, you might ask? I have no idea, but that is the name that he was dubbed at such a tender age. He is the only one to call him that, and he continues to call him Skipper when the mood strikes. Well... back at the flea market, I had to have that picture. I knew that silhouettes are very hard to come by in this neck of the woods, so I was prepared for the lady to quote me some over-inflated price. As prepared as I was to hear a ludicrous price, I was ill-prepared to buy it, as only a five-dollar bill was crumpled in my pocket. I held my breath as she replied, "Just give me a dollar." "A dollar", I repeated, trying to be nonchalant and sure she could see my hand tremble as I turned over the money. Finally I was having one of those treasure finding moments and it was only costing me a dollar!!!!!

This little silhouette of "Skippy" inspired me to start making my own silhouette pictures. My first creations were halloween related silhouettes- a witch on her broom, an owl, a black bird, etc. I am hooked! If I can't find any more vintage silhouettes, I am determined to make my own.

I have created some for client's spaces and for family and friends (I made a humble interpretation of my friend, pregnant). It just goes to show: if you can't find or afford what you want, try to make or recreate it yourself. You just might be surprised at your own talents!!!

For the love of cupcakes...

There is something about cupcakes. The obvious...they are delicious and the perfect size with a cup of tea. But I am referring to the simple beauty of a lone cupcake. I know I might seem strange, but I have lost sleep about one particular cupcake I spied this winter. Sophie attended a birthday party for a little playmate and I arrived early to pick her up and chat with the other mums. Lo and behold, in the family room of this lovely home was a huge oil painting of a cupcake done in pastel colours!! My jaw dropped and my heart raced...I had to have that painting. I nabbed the mother of the birthday girl and in a squeaky voice croaked, "Where did you get that?" She went on to tell me that she got it at a charity auction and that a student artist painted it. I was dying to know how much one had to pay for such a gem, but my manners kicked in.

Now I wonder in silence/envy/agony ((I'm a bit dramatic I know). I have been racking my brain as to where I can find my own amateur artist (as this is probably more in my budget) who will paint me such a treasure. I can see the finished product in my mind! Where I would hang such a painting, I do not know. Maybe in my dining area which is part of my pale blue kitchen. Perhaps visitors would find it ridiculous to see such an image, but for some reason that cupcake lives in my mind, taunting me. And no amount of indulging in the real deal will satisfy this sweet craving!!

Displaying family photography...gallery style!

I love to see pictures of people's families and friends on their walls. What is not so great is when they are displayed with little or no thought to presentation. I have a fair number of family shots on my own walls and I am always careful not to let the number or quality exceed good taste. When I say quality, I mean is the picture one you adore, is it artistic and/or does it reflect who you are as a family? Some of us have a lot of guilt when it comes to displaying family pics. We feel that every school, Christmas , or child-related photo must go on the wall ( or mantel) in order to honor the subject properly. I say no, with some guilt of course. We have all gone into someone's home where they have hung every school or family portrait ever taken on the living room wall. How distracting that can be!! Even worse if they are mixed in with a few circa 1970 shot of everyone in yellow or orange/brown polyester. Yikes! Add to that, mismatched picture frames hung too high, and no longer are the subjects honoured!!!

I am not too matchy-matchy, but I do like co-ordination and flow. The frames do not all have to match, but they should complement in style and colour. The pictures we display should make us smile when we look at them, not shudder. One of my favorite photos is one of my boys at 16 months of age. It is black and white and it is a profile shot of him looking out the window at birds. It is a perfect reminder of the perfection of babies and it will never look out of place. These are the type of pictures to display as "art"- not the wedding photo of Aunt Marion and her husband, dressed in a blue tuxedo. You can display that more quietly in a smaller frame in the basement family room!

If you have a large number of photos you want to display, try creating a gallery wall (see pictures above). Use co-ordinating frames and before you hang them, lay them out on the floor to test the arrangement and/or trace the pictures onto paper, cut out, and then "test hang" them on the wall to see the effect. This will keep you from having too many unnecessary nail holes! Have fun with it: hang what you love, stand back and give it a good once over and invite your friends and family to come see your "gallery." Don't forget to take "Aunt Marion" past her wedding photo in the basement... She will probably be thrilled to not be on display for all to see in her polyester wedding dress beside a blue tuxedo!!!