Memorial Day Weekend Antique EXTRAVAGANZA!!!

You must save some time for Rhinebeck Antiques Fair May 28 and 29 from Sat., 10-5; Sun., 11-4 @ the Duchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, NY. If you have never been there, it is a treat. They have another one in the Fall sometime in October when it is nice to go up there for apple picking season also. Put a reminder on your calendar!

Another event not to be missed, and I never do, is Lasdon Memorial Day Antiques Fair May 30th, Mon., 10-5 @ Lasdon Park Arboretum and Veterans' Memorial in Katonah, NY. This one is fun because it usually has delightful musical entertainment, a plant sale, food and kettle corn. The $7 admission fee benefits the Glass House Fund at Lasdon. Visit http://www.cordshows.com/ for directions and get $1 off admission when they email you an invitation.

What excitement and panache if an Allard like this one drove up with the 2 men you see dressed to suit it?
You can see everything and everyone, anytime!

See you there!!!

Fabulous Finds

I wanted to share with you one of those fabulous finds we sometimes stumble over in unlikely places, thrill to buy, then have your friends eschew you and ultimately, you come to appreciate it and adore it even more later on as they stare at it in wonderment and fascination. Do you know what I am saying here??? 

So here's the story. About 4 years ago, I went to my favorite July 4th outdoor antique show and sale in Salem, NY. I passed by a booth that spurred my interest with some Czech hand painted puzzles of lizards and geckos, and then saw a fabulous outsider art piece which was incongruous with the rest of the items. Sitting up on a table was a red painted chair made with soda bottle caps and tin can lids. The back of the chair was a painted canvas of an average older woman smiling. I fell in love with the bizarre art and found that the $$$ he asked for it was reasonable for my tastes, at the time. Of course, I did my norm and asked if that was his best price, and got an additional 20% off.

The chair is signed on the back- Jon Bok. When I got home and opened up the internet, I found other items he did that were also incredibly interesting- all recycled materials and globbed on. My style exactly! Apparently, Madonna and Andy Garcia and the late Dennis Hopper, agreed!
Anyway, he has done a shop in Los Angeles. You must visit the website to see how fab it is! Remix Vintage Shoes+ and all his furniture and paintings and furnishings denote the theatre and also decadence. My cup of tea. http://remixvintageshoes.com/index2.html

Tell me what you think!

Tax Week and Beyond

We are all feeling the pinch of the tax man this year (I know I don't speak only for myself here) but that doesn't mean we cannot appreciate the art around us and upcoming art and antique events!

My friend from Jamie's Antiques sent out a note about her take on what is happening in Europe, specifically, England, where, of course, all the buzz is ROYAL! She found some gorgeous antique silver heirlooms in Victorian lockets and "collars" and great Arts and Crafts pendants as well assembling a collection of Edwardian and Deco pieces. Be sure to visit her website at: www.rubylane.com/shops/jamiesantiques
and see her at the Morristown Armory April 30 and May 1, in Sturbridge, Mass. at the Antique Textiles and Vintage Fashions Show and Sale May 9, and lastly, at my favorite in Rhinebeck, NY at the Fairgrounds May 28 and May 29.

Locally, in CT, there are always "finds" at http://www.antiqueswoodbury.com/ where if you New Yorkers want a fun day trip, then you can visit more than 3 dozen or so Antique dealers in everything from Asian and European artifacts to Folk Art and Country furniture. Be sure to make a side trip on the winding roads to Carol Peck's restaurant somehow. You won't be disappointed.

Watch for my new posts in the next few weeks directing you to an additional and new blog/website for furniture and art consignment of designed pieces and accessories at values on the average of 70% below retail! My past clients have a few pieces they are recycling and my design resources are unloading custom items being held in their inventory. I will represent them to you and you can decide how "delicious" and irresistable they are.

See you soon!

Sunday's Mosaic Class @ Lakeside Pottery in Stamford, CT

I was a very busy girl this past weekend and attended a workshop in Mosaics at the Lakeside Pottery Studio. It was taught by a young ceramicist teacher from Rhode Island who was able to squeeze into a mere 8 hours to teach us to make a finished mosaic product for the 9 of us- all women.

Not to bore you with the details, and after all, a picture is worth a thousand words, I have set up a few photos of my ready to be grouted #8 plaque along with 3 other student's works.

After the pics, I grouted mine with grey and others used white. It dried quickly and by the time I arrived home, it was ready to hang!
You should check out their website- http://www.lakesidepottery.com/Pages/mosaic-classes-workshops.html
Visit often as they add classes as their popularity grows. Both of the owners are artists in their own right and Patty Storms is having a showing of her art in a show of Life Lines @ Rockwell Gallery and Framing in New Canaan, CT. on April 15th.

Please support her and all new artists like myself in their endeavor to share their unique and creative visions with the general public!

Saturday's Art Event@ Artifact Design

Just a note to say the art opening preview party @ Artifact Design on RT 7 in Wilton on Saturday night was well attended and the artists, including myself, were out in numbers! It was an animated group and swelled at one point to about 70 people walking through the design gallery of furniture, photography, construction art, decorative pieces, paintings, and small sculptures, standing and wall. Some of the known artists, Frank Foster Post, Greg Clark and kHyal!, had some of their pieces sell right off the floor/wall.

Visit when you can as the show will be up until May 31 and be sure to say I sent you!

Think Spring!

Mark your calendar for the next Vintage Clothing, Accessories, Textiles and Jewelry Show and Sale coming in 2 weeks @ the Police Activities League Building on April 9th and 10th @ 35 Hayestown Road, Danbury, CT from 10 am-5 pm with a $7 admission fee.
If you bring a copy of this posting you will get a $1 discount off! This show is such fun! There will be plenty of Easter bonnets and prom dresses, Victorian through 1980's clothing for men, women and children, linens and textiles, buttons and trims and many other accessories. Candlewood Lake is across the street for a walk or stroll if the weather cooperates. Any questions visit: http://cordshows.com/

                                                                     See you there?

The new face of Artist in Residents

Kudos to the help I received from Susan B. for the new and improved face of my blog.


For all of those who don't know her blog, which I think strikes just the right balance of antique and cozy atmosphere as is due the nature of her site, please visit her at http://www.tparty.typepad.com/



I know I have been very remiss about writing you on a more regular basis and I promise I will do better. Boy, how many times have I said that to myself and others?!


I am in preparation for an art event which I am participating in with 3 of my pieces. If I included pictures of them here now, it would spoil the show and also possibly your attendance. So, please look at www.artifactdesigngroup.com for an invitation which I extend to all who can come.



In April, I am planning on attending a workshop specializing in Mosaics at Lakeside Pottery in Stamford, CT. And also in April, I am considering doing a 2 day workshop utilizing prints in collage @ the Center for Contemporary Printmaking, Norwalk, CT (Note: I had done a 5 day Monotype workshop there in October,'10).
This all sounds like I am starting to focus my attention on creating my art and my art boundaries, don't you think? Well, indeed, I am going back to the roots of my obsession with artmaking and collecting and collage and decoupage and painting and mosaics with ceramics, plastics, metals, and found objects.


Look for more journaling my journey (haha) to and from art inside, outside, around and through 2 and 3 dimensions.

Anticipating another string of shows

Here is an email I just got from the Cord Shows Mgmt. you might enjoy:

Hello Antiques Enthusiast, On Sunday, March 6^th, the Cross River Winter Antiques Show will mark our informal start to Spring!  We’ll have approximately 40 booths at John Jay High School, 60 N. Salem Road (Rte. 121 N.), Cross River, NY (Westchester County), 4 miles east of Route 684 exit 6. Look for Ed’s yellow signs. Show hours are from 10 AM – 5 PM (the last admission is always ½ hour before closing).  Admission is $7 (under 13 free) but if you print this email the beneficiary, the PTO, will take off $1. We are happy to tell you that the Jenacks are returning to do appraising between 11 AM and 3 PM for $5 per item (3 items per turn). Bring in just about everything (with age) including jewelry and silver, art, carpets, furniture, glass, china...they seem to know it all!

Robert Gordon is an expert at chair caning. He will be demonstrating and if you like what you see, he’ll happily take your chair patients with him to Saratoga Springs and make them well. Samet Durmus of The Golden Horn, a fabulous big rug gallery in Port Chester, NY, will be demonstrating rug restoration.  See our website for more information at CordShows.com

This beautiful Victorian Mirror could be yours! Original paint and in mint condition. Inquiries to: Bkkart@aol.com

Another Show for this Weekend- Maybe your Valentine's gift is there?

Greetings everyone!!!

I want to tell you where you can visit this weekend for all sorts of vintage treasures and possibly the find for your love or someone else's?

White Plains Antiques Show, February 12 & 13 @ Westchester County Center, 198 Central Avenue, White Plains, NY- Sat. 10-6; Sun. 11-5 with admission @ $8.00. Treat your heart and true love to a stroll through quality furnishings and accessories. What could be better than to warm the very cockles of your heart in this cold and drab winter season?

See you there! I will try to take pics of very special items to share with you.

Show Updates and Schedules

Some of my favorite vintage/antique vendors have shared their personal schedules with me and I am posting them here for you if you think you can manage time to visit them on your own. I met a new vendor at the last Pier Show called Firehouse Antiques who are from Galena, MD and who had an eclectic gathering of items from old signs to furniture and paintings, which is where I found my new art deco shard table. See picture above. As I was happily walking out with it, a woman came up to me and asked to buy it from me right then and there. She has pursued it for a week but I am loving the table and not selling right now, although, with the caveat, that for the right price, I will sell anything!. I thanked Paul and Douglas for the purchase and they in turn sent me a note telling me the places that they would be showing. I will share that with you: March Pier Show in NYC and April in Chicago for Stella Mgt., Hertans during Brimfield in May and Sept., Nan Gurley's Deerfield in August, July and October in Rhinebeck, and November Pier Show in NYC.

Then, that brings me to Jamie Shenkman @ Jamie's Antiques who always sends me information and complimentary tickets for shows. Her specialties are varied but she always has her jewelry color coordinated so it is easy to find just the right necklace and bracelet and earrings and pins to go with an outfit. In the past, I have mostly zeroed in on her Miriam Haskell items. See some things below. Her next show schedule is:

Feb. 4 and 5 @ Manhattan Vintage Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 W. 18th ST, NYC -Hrs. Friday 1-8 and Sat. 11-6 Booth 56 with Admission $20. You can visit http://www.manhattanvintage.com/ for more information.

I will post her next show info for next week and the week after on my next posting.

New Orleans Glassworks

I almost forgot to share with you the purpose of/for this blog which is all about the discovery of new art and artists on my journeys through towns, cities, and states.

Here are just a few of which show just a little piece of all the art I stumbled on- from all different mediums to even insects. I saw so much but was not always allowed to take pictures in many of the places. Of course, I found an artist for myself to buy- Teri Walker- who does blown glass objects mostly using a skull like face as a centerpiece in all different colors and glittering metallics. Hers are the little trio of masks. I saw art in windows everywhere and I visited the Ogden Museum with their eclectic collection of old and new art/artists. Geez, I guess I will have to make many more trips down there to cover the entire City more equitably!

OMG! Has it been that long since I wrote????

Hi! I am back if you missed me. Over the holidays I went to New Orleans whilst you all were buried under mountains of snow. I returned to it here just the same and have been digging out ever since as well you know.

I do have some pics to share at the end of this which are just a small taste of the tastiest place I ever visited. It was small and beautiful in its Victorian profile and Americana roots. It had the most incredibly delicious food and interesting art and music in the streets. At night, it turned magical with its colored lights and almost Venetian atmosphere of walking along the narrow cobbled streets. You must visit if you haven't just to experience the essence of NOLA.

Changing the topic, this weekend I am excited to have tickets to the Pier Show in NYC which is specializing in Americana Antiques on Saturday and Sunday. There are gobs of vendors there with vintage jewelry and accessories with just a smattering of the Judith Leiber little jeweled bags that all the glamor girls at the Globes carried, but at least, half the price. There will be furniture and specialty items that are unimaginable. There will also be crowds if there isn't a snow emergency so get there early and buy, buy, buy, even the littlest of goodies. This show comes back around in the Spring- I believe March- so if you miss it this time, plan for it again. The vintage clothing is multitudinous as well as the characters that wear them.

Please enjoy a sampling of my pictures in a stroll through New Orleans (pron. "Oarlins")...

Upcoming trip

It's very exciting to be looking forward to a trip that combines music, art and food all rolled up in a package of great architecture, history, story, and warmer climes. I am going to New Orleans for Christmas for a short stint to discover new restaurants, new outsider art, be dazzled by history and Anne Rice stories, hear some off the cuff jazz and blues, see the swamps in an airboat, explore antiquities and discover the artists who do their work with their hearts and their eyes and then their hands. I hope to return with great pictures of places and new art from all sorts of artists to share with you.

I wish you all the best for the holidays ahead- with family and friends around you who make you forget the trivialities you seem to focus on and who will warm your souls with feelings that are the most important to better your health and well being. Enjoy!

Gift Giving and Shopping- Must be the Holiday Shows ahead

Hi Friends:

Well, if you have a passion for searching for the perfect gift that is not off the rack then visit the Wilton High School's Field House on Sunday, Dec. 5th for the Wilton Holiday Antiques Show from 10-4 with early buying @ 9:00 AM which will include a continental breakfast in the admission price. This is a fundraiser so check it out for a little special something for your tree, family, and friends.

Let's not forget that tonight is the first night of Chanukah. At my house, I make sure to do a meal of roasted chicken with latkes and applesauce which my family always looks forward to every year. Of course, when they were young, they looked forward more to the gifts they got every night, but now, as they are considerably older, they cherish the tradition of it and it holds a special place in all our hearts. Tonight is the first of the 8 nights so for safety's sake, please make sure you don't leave your candles unattended. We watch them burn down to the last flicker. Actually, by the end of the holiday I have had to clean the wax out of the candle holders at least a few times.

Now, on another note, a non-sequitur, and I know this is out of context (consider it a stream of consciousness), but I have to share with you (excited to do so) the fact that I am collecting more and more objets for my next project which is another outside piece, maybe another spectacular mailbox but could turn out to be a large birdhouse. I have been to a few shows, consignment shops and also stopped to shop a vintage toy resource online where I have accumulated a number of fabulous items; ie. vintage toy sail boats, nautically inspired jewelry-pins, necklaces, and rings, and ceramic dishes with sailing motifs. But the most fun I had was yesterday in SONO at Beadworks on Washington Street where I took a small tray and went through the myriads of beads and charms they have displayed and assorted by color and material, subsequently finding an unbelievable trove of beautiful pieces which I can use to combine with the tiles, ceramics, jewelry, vintage buttons, shells and sea glass I have amassed. So excited! Can't wait to update you!

All those out there reading this, if you see a small Neptune figure or even some plastic or metal lobsters and octopus, I am on it! I am still searching to buy small sea creatures. Comment below if you know where they could be hiding. I will make sure to stop at the Maritime Aquarium's gift shop to see if they have that little stuff to help me fill in the gaps.

For now, watch for additional posts about shows because as I get word of them, I will be sure to write it here.

Wednesday- Nov 17- A Look Ahead to the Weekend...

A favorite of mine, in terms of finding great buttons, vintage jewelry and clothing, is an event called
Vintage Clothing, Jewelry, Accessories and Textiles Show @ Danbury PAL Building located
at 25 Hayestown Road in Danbury,CT. It's hours: Friday night, 11/19, from 5PM-8PM, Saturday and Sunday, 11/20 and 11/21, from 10 AM-5PM with $6 Admission charge.

I have always looked forward to this event for lots of goodies and finds at good prices before the dealers get their hands on things and mark them up. The show is repeated in the Spring/Summer so I can rebuild my inventory in fabulous baubles and art when I find it dwindles down. If you are an avid follower and collector of antique jewelry and artifacts, this is a small show but with very selective wares packed into an easy venue. It is definitely worth the trip. Ask them for their best price and I bet you get it.
See you there!

Follow up on Mailbox pictures- Thursday- Veteran's Day

Hi everyone!
I did, indeed, take pictures of the new mailbox at the end of my driveway as promised.
Kathy came over today and secured all the pieces after that nasty weather from last week. Some of the flowers, birds and leaves can get "squooshy". She treats the creation like her "child" and I know will watch over it like a Mother Hen to make sure it stays as beautiful as it is right now. I really appreciate the attention.

Please enjoy the pictures above for the final result of all our labors.

Thank you, Susan @ T-Party for your today's post-Nov 10

Please visit http://tparty.typepad.com/the_tcozy/2010/11/barbaras-mosaic-mailbox-masterpiece.html#comments for a post about my new mailbox installation. The comments are lovely and the pictures divine. I am so pleased when the neighborhood appreciates my nod towards the special environment in which we live. I am needing to keep the new birdbox maintained throughout this weather and the upcoming winter. It will be a challenge but vigilance is the key.
Art for the eyes and soul is always a good thing. Please feel free to contact me if you can think of ways I could can help you realize your art visions for home projects!

Happy hunting!

Don't miss - THE PIER ANTIQUES SHOW!- 11/13-14- Pier 94, NYC

The biggest event in the Fall in NYC is the Pier show where 500+ dealers sell 17th-20th C. Art, Furniture, Jewelry and Objects plus Fashion Alley. Look on http://www.stellashows.com/ for more info. DO NOT MISS IT!
Their motto= Be Green-Buy Vintage! Antiques:Luxury Recycling. I believe in that 2. I have always found fabulous and unique "objets" for my clients and my own private cache. Visit my friend Jamie Shenkman and Marcia @ Cherished Treasures for the best vintage jewelry finds at great 2010 pricing. Use my name if it will help! Ask to see the Judith Leiber, from Marcia and my own personal fav, Miriam Haskell, items from both booths. There are collectibles galore- handbags and accessories- which finish the little black dress with your own "panache'. Go for it!

Sunday evening- Halloween- Oct 31

I am very excited to be announcing the installation of my new mailbox "art" this week. As you can see on my blog, there is the picture of the Mermaid mailbox on the right side which was my original one. I have had it for 7 years and over that period of time, it has become a local stop for dog walkers, neighbors, visitors, and spectators, even some who directly modeled their own boxes after it. But now, I will have the most unique pictorial postal piece, using birds and flight as indicative of the creek behind my home. I partnered with a local mosaic artist, Kathy L. who worked on it with me over the last 4 months. I found/discovered/purchased objects from a variety of antique fairs, flea markets, consignment shops, and small eclectic shops and designed a way to use them in a story about birds around my home.The front of the box spells out "PAR AVION" as a metaphor and literal reference. Kathy has been a "mosiacist" (new word) for a long time and has previously taught her craft when there were classes at Brookfield. She and I met, clicked immediately and found that my vision and her craft could be modeled together into this final beautiful piece. I plan to start a business from doing these boxes, with people coming to me to design their special boxes-  with them telling me their specific "loves" and my finding appropriate objects, colors and shapes and being the artist designing the entire theme. For example, I have a business friend contemplating a start up business specializing in dog grooming and doggie day/ pet care so I suggested making her a box centering around dogs- ceramic, glass, wood, plastic and other materials that would evoke her particular needs. Anyone could think about any subject, animals and birds as well as objects, like old cars and sports, and even ART objects. The mailbox conforms with U S Postal Service rules and could come in small, medium, and large. We have protected this particular box from the freezing temperatures by using material that will neither crack nor disintegrate in the weathers- from cold to hot. All the objects on it are one of a kind, as is the design. I am so excited to introduce it to decorative magazines as well as garden shows where people who live in places where their mailboxes are safe (from vandalism) and who want an expression of themselves and their lifestyle can contact me to develop new and wonderful ways of making Mailbox ART.
Please enjoy looking at the pictures of how it came to fruition, and after it is installed this week, I will post more pictures from its proper place at the end of my driveway.

I hope you can comment on my post so I can find out what you think!

Wednesday- Oct 27th- The beginnng of Printmaking

Hello Readers!
I am back from the Center for Contemporary Printmaking and am exhausted from the first day of my 4 consecutive day workshop with Ron Pokrasso, who is teaching 8 students different monotype styles and printmaking techniques. He lives in Santa Fe, NM when he is not traveling throughout the country, and I feel blessed to be able to share in his talent and techniques, and eat up every tasty morsel of his experience.
It goes from about 10 AM-4 PM respectively, except today it lasted until after 5:00 PM as Ron shared some of his own work in his portfolio as well as some very talented class members that he has tutored in the past.

The morning was spent with some simple and straightforward instruction and Ron's working a quick  monotype drawing/painting. Then he showed us the fundamentals and let us loose in the afternoon. I became frustrated with myself as I don't do well in an abstract art class, but I am looking forward to tomorrow when he lets us in on collage and chine collage as it mixes with printmaking and painting. That is more my milieu as an artist!
Please enjoy some pictures I took of the Center and Ron in his element.