Destination: Storm King Art Center

Right in our backyard, there is a very unique outdoor art center - Storm King.  Hallie had sent us a membership as a housewarming gift, and we have really enjoyed it.  It is basically an outdoor museum with hundreds of acres of land, surrounded by rolling mountains with beautiful, unique and intriguing sculptures scattered throughout the land.  It is a great place for kids to run, explore and learn more about sculpture.

It is free for military this summer, and I hope we will get many more trips in!

breathtaking scenery...

 My favorite installation are these coin chair and bench.  I want one of these for our house!

this was back in September when Hallie & Nora were visiting...

the house at Storm King.  Can you say, dream house?

Boston, re-done.

A while back, I posted about our Boston print by our friend, Ari Hauben.  We were excited to get it framed when we moved into our house.  I did have it framed, but it didn't turn out how I had seen it in my mind.

Ari had written us a message at the bottom, so we definitely wanted that to show (through this process I learned that artists always sign prints in pencil...I never knew that!).

The message...

 
However, I wanted a matching white border around the other three sides as well.

I had it framed at the craft store on post, and the manager could not have been more kind or accomodating.  She wanted to make sure I loved it.  I waited a long time (way too long) before bringing it back in.  I tried and tried to live with it, but I just couldn't.  It is that little tick inside me that needs symmetry...I just had to have it.  I got it back recently, and we are smitten.

Before: 

After:

I love how you can still see the 'depth' of the piece even though it is a print, not the original.

There is one small 'love' stencil on the print.  LOVE.  Can you imagine making all these stencils?  Ari made this piece with lots of layers...newspapers, paint, stencils - and probably lots of other things that I am not even aware of.

Thanks again, Ari.  We love it!

Clipboard Stairwell

So, the clipboard stairwell...we ended up deciding to go for it, and we couldn't be happier about that decision.  A cheap and fun way to fill up a big space.  I ended up ordering the clipboards from a different source as my first source charged for shipping on EACH clipboard...forget that.

Putting these up was pretty funny.  It was my not-so-brilliant idea to have Sean and I do this together...I would stand back with the laser level to ensure that the angle of the clipboards would follow the angle of the banister, and Sean could take a pencil and follow the laser line.  Then, I could just nail along that line.  Horrible idea.  I consider myself to have a decently steady hand, and even with what you think is a steady hand, you still are moving, even if a little bit.  Sean was beyond frustrated with my ridiculous method, but I was as stubborn as usual, so I made him attempt the line.  It pretty much looked like one of those monitors in the hospital when you have a contraction.  Wasn't going to work.  Sean again explained his method of measuring up from the stair and then over, the same distance, every time...I was still skeptical.

I finally caved and tried his method.  It was a little time consuming, but he was right.  I definitely had to eat my words.

Before...

After...

I still need to find some better treasures for many of the clipboards, but I just tried to get something up before the Baptism...

I adore this photo of my mom hugging her grandmother on my parent's wedding day...

I purchased this old book years ago on eBay, it was written for West Point girlfriends with tips for when you visit...too funny.

Tall Stairwell - Art

So, there is a huge empty wall on the stairway wall up to the second floor in our new place...the wall is 10+ feet tall.  I have been trying to figure out how to decorate this space on a budget...

My dream would be to have a huge wall of unique mirrors.  I have always wanted to have a mirror wall, and hopefully I will someday...just not sure it will be in this house.

image via Material Girls

My latest thought is to do some clipboard art...I saw this picture from Elle Decor this month, and I loved this idea.  I could leave the clipboards plain, or paint them if I felt so inspired.  It would also allow me to change out the artwork as I see fit (this is kind of funny that I would even act like I am going to constantly change these since I am the world's worst picture frame changer-outer EVER).

I just like the look and I think I have lots of random but meaningful things that would be fun to hang up see every time we hike the stairs.

image via Elle Decor

I think I prefer leaving the clipboards all natural, but it could also look interesting with a little color...

image via Martha Stewart Living

I have been looking for a cheap source...the best I have found is only .84 each.  Not bad!!

We are heading off for a getaway for a couple days - hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Beantown Art

I can't wait to get our Boston print from our super talented friend, Ari Hauben, framed for the new place.  There is a craft place here on post where you can do your own framing...I keep wondering if this would be too taxing on my lack of patience?

Now I just have to figure out where to put this one.  I wish you could see it up close - all the buildings and the bridge are made from newspaper clippings, many of which are specific to Boston.  Can you imagine crafting that skyline from little cut outs from the newspaper?  I love Ari's work!

My favorite spot in Boston...

Every time Sean and I check out a new site in Boston, I wonder if I am going to have a new favorite; however, the Isabella Stewart Gardner museum has maintained its position as numero uno.
We have decided that we want to model our dream house off of the museum (obviously on a much, MUCH smaller scale). Basically, she constructed a huge home with the middle of the house being a tranquil, lush courtyard and garden. Most rooms border and have gorgeous windows overlooking the oasis. How lovely would it be to wake up to something like this every morning?

from here, here, & Flickr

I wish I could bring all my friends here because the ISG Museum never fails to make me feel at peace, happy, inspired, and in awe.

Unfortunately, you can't take pictures inside :( In my opinion, the ISG Museum could stand to create a beautiful coffee table book with exquisite pictures...mostly of the courtyard.

Nursery Artwork

So, we have the two Ari Hauben pieces that will be fantastic for the nursery, and I have a few others that I am hoping to incorporate...

1. Burt Lake vintage map - my parents have had this old map of Burt Lake that I have loved. I have been on the lookout for one, but haven't been able to find one. I asked them if they would mind getting a color copy made for us. The copy turned out great, and I got a navy mat and Ikea frame, and we are ready to go. I love how it turned out.



2. Charley Harper father/son picture - I am going try to frame this one, I think it is perfect for the nursery.




3. 1956 New Yorker Cover with "Junior Cadets" - When we were on the Vineyard, Jeanine took us into this very cool store that was selling this cover which was framed and matted very nicely, for $250. We knew they looked like little West Point cadets, but weren't sure. I confirmed it when we got home, and I found a copy of that New Yorker on ebay for a steal, so I am hoping to recreate what they had for a fraction of that cost!



I am also addicted to a lot of typography art work, so I may put a couple of pieces like these on my wish list...ABCs and 123s...

I am hoping to make a wall with a nice collage of all these pieces, but I know I will make a disaster out of it. I might need to enlist some help for putting this idea together!

Ari Hauben original

Sean recently surprised me with a beautiful piece of artwork for the nursery. It is an Ari Hauben original. Ari is a friend of ours who is incredibly talented. We had our eyes on this piece, Let Go, for a while as we originally wanted it for our living room. This painting gives me such a good feeling, especially since I am a person who gets way too wrapped up and stressed about all the little details, I see this picture and I just want to let all the worries slip away. I can't think of a better piece of art for the nursery...

Well...maybe there is a tie. When Ari came over to see Let Go, he brought another piece that he ended up giving to us, and I love that one too. It is called Love Song. I adore how the little birds are making their little noises that create this Love Song together. It reminds me of how crazy I am about my husband and how excited I am to start a family with him.

I hope we will own more of Ari's work in the future...he is truly gifted.