By George, I Found It!

Lovely Lichen

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Fri, 06 Apr 2018 12:01:00 +0000

Lichen is Mother Nature's sculpture: organic shapes in an array of colors yielding depth and interest to the forest floor. Spring green is captured in many ways, but it's always present in the varied hues of lichen. When you're looking at the view, don't forget to take in the sculpture forming near your feet - lichen is lovely.

Spring Green Lichen

Shaker Simplicity

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 04:43:00 +0000

Two hundred years later Shaker furniture looks contemporary. The clean lines of the utilitarian pieces remain as relevant today as they did when the pieces were constructed two centuries ago. Maple and cherry woods were commonly used for Shaker furniture, and the patina of those pieces has warmed to a soft glow. Although many companies try to replicate Shaker pieces, it's the wood and the attention to scale, proportion, and line of the originals that makes them so special. For simplicity, seek Shaker.

Shaker cabinet in the Smithsonian Institution collection

Ethereal

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 03:15:00 +0000

Land, sea, or sky? It's impossible to tell in this photo. Actually, it appears to be a slight mountain range looming over the ocean with blue sky above. However, the reality is that it's all sky: those are layers of clouds. Sometimes we revert to that which is hard and definite and sleek in design; however, there are places and spaces in which ethereal is better. It's when things float; when they're light; peaceful, restful. For all of the hard days and hard edges in life, sometimes ethereal is refreshing.

Ethereal cloud layers

Glorious Glacier Bay

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 22:38:00 +0000

Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve is one of America's greatest natural wonders. Staggering scenery is as abundant as the wildlife teeming in the ocean and along the shores. Humpback whales, sea otters, and seals sail by while massive glaciers carve the landscapes. Sadly, too many of those glaciers are calving due to global warming, so it's best to go now to see this amazing landscape. Tour Glacier Bay by boat for the best experience, and a stay in bucolic Gustavus for a peaceful retreat.

Glorious Glacier Bay taken by Suzanna Hamilton

An Extraordinary Imagination and Phenomenal Talent

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 22:40:00 +0000

It is one thing to create art; it is all together a different thing to tell a story visually through a sequence of pieces. To do that while engaging young, curious minds who's attention spans might not be so lengthy is an amazing feat. To engage both children and adults in both story and illustration is nothing short of remarkable. Therefore, it is not surprising that illustrator David Weisner has won the Caldecott Medal three times, and the Quill Award. Weisner was educated at the prestigious Rhode Island School of Design, but it is his innate talent and extraordinary imagination that combine for truly incredible images. If you did not see his exhibit at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, make sure to catch his upcoming exhibitions. You really will believe that pigs can fly after seeing his pieces. https://www.sbma.net/exhibitions/wiesner

By David Weisner

Color Me Healthy!

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Wed, 12 Jul 2017 18:25:00 +0000

Summer is here, and with it are a plethora of beautiful fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The colors are as stunning as are the various types of produce. The bright fruits and vegetables are equally brilliant for your health, so in this warm summer, enjoy the abundance of colorful fresh foods!

Fresh Organic Summer Carrots in Brilliant Colors

Travel Tuesday: St. Helena

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 15:03:00 +0000

Charming is the first word that comes to mind when stepping onto Main Street in St. Helena, California. Cafes, wineries, and shops are interspersed around the St. Helena schools, post office, and original bungalow homes. However, upon closer inspection, St. Helena is a very sophisticated town. The clothing shops stock cutting edge European and Asian designers; the home shops feature an eclectic array of unusual and fabulously designed wares. Small, but beautiful architectural and garden details stand out. Of course, the food throughout the town is outstanding. There's much more than wine in St. Helena - just take the time to explore this Napa-area gem.

Marburger Madness

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 16:29:00 +0000

Twice each year Round Top turns into a vintage-lovers paradise when hordes descend upon the tiny Texas town. Marburger Farms has grown from a local shopping experience to a nationally recognized market for all sorts of decorative and vintage wares. From old watering cans to French gilt candlesticks, this market has it all. Go for the shopping, but don't forget to sample the best pimento cheese in the country over a leisurely lunch at a picnic table! http://www.roundtop-marburger.com

Vintage iron heart-shaped doormat makes a great wall hanging.

Beautiful Bamboo

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Wed, 22 Mar 2017 12:30:00 +0000

Tall Indonesian antique bamboo candlesticks are both a mystery and a wonder. Three feet tall with bronze cup holders, the bamboo sticks have a wonderful soft patina yet remain in mint condition. Doesn't it make you wonder where these stood for so long? Who used them? What hands touched them; prayed with them; meditated with them? Such is the enchantment of things from the past. From my shop.

Tall antique Indonesian bamboo candlesticks from
Suzanna Hamilton Antiques

http://www.hamiltonsltd.com

Magnificent Mesa Verde

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 22:47:00 +0000

Mesa Verde National Park is a World Heritage site filled with fascinating architectural, sociological, and natural history that includes the largest magnificently preserved cliff dwellings in North America. Paleo Native Americans inhabited the site as early as 7500 B.C. focusing on hunting, agriculture, and basketmaking. The Cliff Palace is still in existence, and massive dwellings fill the mesa and canyon. Just 30 minutes outside of Durango, Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park will fill you with awe and amazement at the ingenuity and courage of our Puebloan ancestors. https://www.nps.gov/meve/index.htm

Mesa Verde Cliff Dwelling, photo by Suzanna C. Hamilton

Mesa Verde Cliff Dwelling, photo by Suzanna C.Hamilton

Particular Pat McGann Gallery

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 20:49:00 +0000

With her particular eye for substance and style, Pat McGann injects her eponymous gallery with texture and soul. Nestled in the La Cienga Design Quarter that is laden with too much "new" that all looks the same, or too much "otherness" of questionable origin, McGann carefully curates her gallery with an eclectic array of textiles, decorative objects, and antiques while effortlessly mixing styles and periods for a layered look that translates substance and style. Funky, fun, and whimsical mix with pieces that are interesting, stunning, and historical while the price points vary from a few hundred dollars to many thousands. Even if you're not in the market to buy, stop in for a visit because Pat McGann Gallery is a real shop wherein the owner has spent decades mastering her market for which the shopper is the beneficiary. www.patmcganngallery.com or on https://www.1stdibs.com/dealers/pat-mcgann/

Pat McGann Gallery, 746 W. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles

Southern Sweetgrass Baskets: Eternity

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 21:11:00 +0000

I grew up taking a skiff to Daufuskie long before it was the resort it is today, when the Gullah were the primary residents of the island. We bought sweetgrass baskets throughout the Carolina Low Country creating an assembly of various shapes and sizes crafted by many hands. Although sweetgrass baskets have since become a tourist trade item on the busy streets of Charleston, they still remind me of home. MacArthur Foundation Award winner Mary Jackson created her largest basket for Nancy Braithwaite's low country home, and it graces the cover of Nancy's book, "Simplicity." Sweetgrass baskets are descended from ancient African techniques and the sense of history, continuity, and eternity is woven into the baskets as inherently as the grasses are physically woven. Southern Sweetgrass: Eternity.

Sweetgrass basket photo by Suzanna Cullen Hamilton

"Simplicity" by Nancy Braithwaite

Spirited Sedona

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Mon, 13 Mar 2017 20:48:00 +0000

The red rocks of Sedona, Arizona blaze against the clear cerulean-blue sky. Towering monoliths blanket the landscape. With each hour that the sun rises and then sets, the scene shifts from light oranges to deeper reds. Sedona has been occupied for millennia, and a wide array of people have touched this ground; however, the one thing that is constant is the magical kaleidoscope of colors that shift throughout the day. This photo has no filter; no enhancement. This is captivating, colorful Sedona through my camera lens.

Olympic Velodrome Cyclist Spins to New Heights

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 18:27:00 +0000

Gerald Agnew is one of L.A.'s top attorney's and an incredibly generous philanthropist. He also happens to hold multiple Olympic medals in velodrome cycling in the senior level while also being a committed husband, father, and grandfather. Gerry is an inspiration whose commitment to so many is amazing, yet he still finds time to train and compete. This is my article from Southbay HEALTH Magazine.

Westward, Whoa!

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Fri, 10 Mar 2017 23:34:00 +0000

I'm thrilled to announce that I'm now the Back Page Columnist for "Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles" magazine! My column "Westward, Whoa!" will run each month profiling a Southerner suddenly transplanted in Los Angeles. From the gracious sweeping lawns of my beloved South to the Astroturf carpets on Melrose, I'll share the secrets of this upending and constantly entertaining transition. Find this and more at Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles magazine!

Wisteria Dwells with Dignity

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 05:52:00 +0000

Two stellar entities have combined forces to change lives. Wisteria is a purveyor of dazzling home goods founded by the lovely and wonderful Newsom family who also founded the landmark publication Veranda magazine. Dwell with Dignity is a non-profit organization that designs and installs home interiors for families in need. Wisteria and Dwell with Dignity have created a multi-faceted approach that offers bloggers an opportunity to grow audiences and consider new product development while concurrently contributing a portion of the proceeds to furnish homes. Bloggers expand exposure; Wisteria reaches new clients and taps into into new talent; Dwell with Dignity increases visibility, but most importantly, families in need are provided beautiful new home interiors.

Wisteria, Dallas, Texas

Chic Chinoiserie

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 23:04:00 +0000

Chinoiserie became wildly popular in the 18th century when trade between China and the Western world. Fretwork, foliate, and exquisitely intricate details balanced by bold gilt were the overarching decorative elements. The trend has continued through the 21st century where interiors are impacted by elements as strong as stunning wallpaper or as delicate as a piece of porcelain or a gilt mirror. I love Chinoiserie in all it's forms and applications, and this is one design element that I hope remains even as we move through both minimal and maximal design trends.

Bronze Beauties

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 21:57:00 +0000

Life-sized horses graze in public parks, museums, and private gardens with elegance and grace. However, these horses are actually sculptures by internationally renowned American sculptor Deborah Butterfield. Originally crafted from sticks and mud, Butterfield now works in bronze that is cast to resemble patinated driftwood. Butterfield is represented by numerous American galleries, and her spectacular works can be found in the country's most prestigious museums including he Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Rockwell, and the Honolulu Museum of Art, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, as well as many others.

Modern West

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Wed, 22 Feb 2017 06:49:00 +0000

The internet has almost obliterated certain cultural aspects as people aspire to be more alike than different. The great American West has become far more melded with mainstream tastes and aesthetics, and that's forced some artists and companies out of business. However, for long-established and revered Burns Cowboy Shop, the 21st century is an opportunity to expand on what the company has been doing best for more than 140 years: making fine leather goods. Burns has created a line of boots, purses, and accessories crafted from the same high quality leathers and skins as their famous boots and belts, but with a contemporary edge that seamlessly works with high fashion. Bold alligator cuffs in marine blue and turquoise are the perfect accessories with the clean lines of their crisp black and white clutch and tote bags. Mobile phone cases by Otterbox are covered in sophisticated shagreen, melon alligator, or traditional tooled leather. The West was won through sheer determination and ingenuity, and it looks like Burns Cowboy Shop has figured out how to continue selling Western wear well into the 21st century.

Lilliputian

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Wed, 11 Jan 2017 03:44:00 +0000

Tromping through the Redwood Forests of America leaves one feeling Lilliputian. Giant sequoias and redwoods tower as high as 35 stories above the ground. Fallen tree bases become sheltered rooms as large as eight feet in diameter. Although the scale is massive, the sounds of the forest echo from the tiniest bugs to beautiful birds to tumbling streams. In a world too occupied with technology and the immediacy of social media, strolling through the forest lost in the majesty is a gift. Pull yourself away from the screens and venture deep into the forest. If you can head into the the Redwood Forest, you'll feel Lilliputian in size but gigantic in spirit.

Stellar Stella

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Thu, 08 Sep 2016 02:11:00 +0000

"What you see, is what you see," Frank Stella famously remarked in 1964. An incredibly prolific contemporary artist who pushed the boundaries of simplicity in his 1950's black line paintings, Stella has explored composition, color, and mediums throughout his almost-sixty year career. Stella is most frequently associated with his "Protractor" paintings of the 1960's and 70's where he meticulously laid out patterns related to a mathematics protractor, then infused the canvas with bold colors. Lesser known but equally powerful are Stella's massive mixed media sculptures that combine materials as disparate as aluminum, felt, and paint. The exceptional Whitney Museum of Art has partnered with the Museum of Modern Art of Fort Worth and the de Young Museum in San Francisco to present a powerhouse exhibit of Stella's work that spans every century of his career. Whether you're in a host city for this exhibit or if it requires a trip, it's worth it to go. Simply put: Stella is Stellar.

"Bright Lights, Big City," Austin-style

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 15:00:00 +0000

Jay McInerney captured a generation when he wrote "Bright Lights, Big City" about the heady 1980's in NYC. At that time, Austin was a funky Texas town known for the seamless blend of a huge, liberal state university with organic food and a broad range of music in the state's capital. The now-esteemed "Texas Monthly" magazine was just getting off the ground while super successful Whole Foods was founded in a tiny market in the Clarksville neighborhood. The 21st century has ushered in tremendous changes in Austin that include a soaring population that has more than doubled; headache-inducing traffic on clogged highways; and an influx of California techies and music-industry types that prefer sushi and ramen to bar-be-que and tacos. However, Austin remains one of the top places in the U.S. to live due to the laid-back lifestyle that includes a huge greenbelt with a plethora of year-round activities, an abundance of craft beer options, awesome breakfasts - including the renowned Magnolia Cafe - and it's one of the most dog-friendly cities in America. ...Well, that in addition to the abundance of intelligent, interesting, fun people and the publications they produce and the events they host, including SXSW and the Formula 1. New York City may have had the brightest light in the 1980's, but in the early 21st century, Austin is one of the brightest lights and an exploding big city.

Harlem Civil Rights-Era Paintings Resonate Today

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 14:00:00 +0000

Museums plan exhibits years in advance. Shipping, installation, descriptions, accompanying literary information, and exhibition layout are all very time consuming - in addition to the extraordinary curatorial work that goes into mounting an exhibit. It's unusual when a museum exhibit is so perfectly timed to resonate with real-time cultural events. However, "Procession: the Art of Norman Lewis" at the Amon Carter Museum in Fort Worth presents a stunning and staggering artistic interpretation of America's Civil Rights Movement with paintings incredibly similar to today's headlines. Incorporating a vast array of techniques and mediums, Lewis' paintings are both delicate and bold; realistic and ethereal. A Harlem artist, Lewis' paintings capture the issues and emotions of the 20th century African-American. This moving exhibit is as poignant, as relevant, and as important today as it was when he created these works a half century ago.

Red-Hot Ducati Style

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Fri, 12 Aug 2016 23:42:00 +0000

Irrespective of one's opinion about motorcycles, Ducati has always been enviable as the epitome of sophistication. Sleek and minimalist while constructed from the highest quality products, a Ducati motorcycle announces its presence with a powerful engine roar while the bright red color grips the eyes as commandingly as a runway model in Milan. Only two Ducati Falcon 3-wheel cycles with a cart exist, and one can be found puttering around Round Top, Texas. Recently parked next to a new Ducati Desmosedici RR - one of the most commanding race bikes in the world, the 1930's Falcon held her own. Bright red, regardless of age, is always in style.

Stardust from Willie

noreply@blogger.com (Suzanna Hamilton) — Mon, 02 May 2016 04:16:00 +0000

When I held Willie Nelson's hat while he sang "Georgia On My Mind," I thought he was singing only to me. Decades later, and I'm still smitten with The Redheaded Stranger, cowboys, renegades, Austin, and the ability to live life on one's own terms rather than by the expectations of others. With one of the most prolific libraries in music, Willie Nelson captivated us with songs such as "Crazy," "On the Road Again," "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain," "Always On My Mind," and too many others to list here. His poignant lyrics mixed with his unique timing and tone have left an indelible footprint on the music industry just as his renegade lifestyle has left us longing for his unique mix of religion, family, loyalty, with an ability to discount disapproving opinions. When you're ready to see life through the "Blue Skies" of this American icon, read Willie's new memoir: "It's A Long Story: My Life," by Willie Nelson with David Ritz.