Bead-less in Richmond

One of the things I miss most about my former life is my beading group. I joined Northern Virginia Bead Society several years ago and through that organization, and several classes at Star's Beads in Vienna, got hooked on beads, wire, silver, etc. I was also part of a group that got together on Fridays and we would help each other on projects, learn a new technique or go on a field trip. Lasting friendships came out of that group and I try like heck to keep them going. One of the highlights of the year in the Bead Society is the challenge bead project. The membership is given a bead or set of beads and the directive is to create something with them and show up at the Christmas party for a show and tell. It isn't a competition, just a fun show and tell.

This year we commissioned Lisa St. Martin to make a glass bead for each of us. This is what we all received: Photo courtesy of Anji Johnston

This year we arranged to have the pieces in a show at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center.

This is a wire bracelet that I created using the focal bead and other lamp work beads created by Lisa.

Susi DuPuis creates beautiful flowers with old plastic containers - recycle art!!
Beth Eltinge combines her talents with peyote, Russian spiral and brick stitches to create this lariat.
Alison Lovitt-Reinfeld creates amazing multiple strand necklaces.

Denise Rivers combined her talents in wirework, bead crochet and bead stringing to create this masterpiece.

A gorgeous creation by Janet Flynn

And last but not least, Raye Ann Fife combines bead embroidery with semi-precious stones - just incredible.

There are several more pieces not pictured here. The show is up until the end of January so if you find yourself on I-95 near the Lorton exit you should pull off and see the show and visit the other studios. What a great re-use of an old prison. If walls could talk!!!

Here are some of the talented crew - I miss you guys!!!

Thanks to Julie Glixon for letting me use her photos.

Is there a bead community lurking out there in RVA? There are a few great shops but they don't seem to offer the same caliber of classes that I had access to in the northern part of the state.

That's okay - I'm thoroughly ensconced in my acrylic painting class right now.
I think this painting is done - how does one know when to stop??

Painting Peonies

This morning the green fists of the peonies are getting ready
to break my heart

as the sun rises,
as the sun strokes them with his old, buttery fingers

and they open —
pools of lace,
white and pink —
and all day the black ants climb over them,

boring their deep and mysterious holes
into the curls,
craving the sweet sap,
taking it away

to their dark, underground cities —
and all day
under the shifty wind,
as in a dance to the great wedding,

the flowers bend their bright bodies,
and tip their fragrance to the air,
and rise,
their red stems holding

all that dampness and recklessness
gladly and lightly,
and there it is again —
beauty the brave, the exemplary,

blazing open.
Do you love this world?
Do you cherish your humble and silky life?
Do you adore the green grass, with its terror beneath?

Do you also hurry, half-dressed and barefoot, into the garden,
and softly,
and exclaiming of their dearness,
fill your arms with the white and pink flowers,

with their honeyed heaviness, their lush trembling,
their eagerness
to be wild and perfect for a moment, before they are
nothing, forever?

from New And Selected Poems by Mary Oliver

I know it is a strange time of year to be writing about peonies but I started a painting last week of a peony - my favorite flower. According to ancient folklore the moon goddess created this flower to reflect the moon’s beams during the night. Many artists before me have put brush to canvas in an attempt to capture the flower's allure.

For Christmas Harry gave me a subscription to The Artist's Magazine and on the cover is an oil painting of an arrangement of peonies. I thought, "hmm, I wonder if I could paint like that."

The medium I'm currently using is acrylics. So, last weekend I pulled out an old gessoed board and got to work. I did a rough sketch and then did the under painting and in class on Monday I started blocking in some true color.

I need to go back in and do some more drawing of pedals in the center.

I got some new brushes for Christmas. I'm stuck between not wanting to use them as they are so pretty and hovering over the paint with them!!

I also received a box of soft pastels. Watch out Wolf Kahn.

I'd love to stay home and paint today but I'm off to Charlottesville to meet some friends for lunch. I wish I could visit Monticello today as I just finished a great book Saving Monticello by Marc Leepson about the Levy family's involvement in the home. I highly recommend it. I think I'll go to Charlottesville again in the spring - it is way too cold today to venture up that mountain.

Have a great weekend wherever you are.

Baby it's Cold Outside

Radiators. Objects of art or things to hide? I grew up in an old Tudor outside of New York City that had radiators. I remember the oil man dragging his hose up to the house and pumping the tank full. And I can remember curling up on the bathroom rug in front of the radiator, trying to get as close as possible without burning skin on those frigid New York mornings.

Aside from their ability to gently and evenly heat a room, radiators can dry wet gloves,warm bath towels, and, topped with a pan of water, they can even humidify the air. Late Victorian–era ones with embossed scroll work and floral motifs are also a reminder of a time when even the most utilitarian fixtures featured high-style design and fine craftsmanship. I'm lucky enough to have a couple in Haven. The one pictured above in the entry is too pretty to hide and we need the full exposure to knock the cold back that comes through the front door. The poodle knows where to hang out.

Detail of Living Room radiator

The radiator pictured below, from the guest bath, for some reason, never was renovated. I'm hoping that there is someone in town that specializes in this as I do not want to paint this thing.

The one in the Dining Room had to be covered up as it was messing with my need for symmetry on that wall. I had a cover made and painted it the same shade as the walls.


I love the banging and hissing noises they make - signaling heat is on the way. That combined with the train whistles and sirens harmonize into a city symphony that we listen to when we're all tucked up in bed.


One of the first things we did when we started to renovate was install a heat pump system that also supplies central air conditioning. Heating specialists tried to convince us to lose the radiators. After much thought we've opted to stick with a dual system. The heat pump keeps us warm (and dried up) when the temperature isn't so bad out and the radiators kick in when the heat pumps can't keep up. Gas prices in Richmond, for some reason, are high compared to other places we've lived. We heard nightmare stories about $400 a month gas bills - the heat just goes right up to the high ceilings and out through the uninsulated windows.

I hope no matter where you are right now that you're as warm and toasty as I am.

Looking Forward and Back

I, for one, am glad it is over. I felt a bit melancholy this year - I guess because I'm in a new city and, although I loved all the Richmond festivities, I missed my old friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. I also lost a beloved uncle on Christmas Eve which, although not unexpected, still sent us all reeling and trying to figure out how to get to Erie, PA and then deciding not to go as they were having yet another snow storm thanks to that lake effect situation that they are always in at this time of year. I did snap out of it from time to time thanks to a visit to my older sister's house outside of Baltimore and a visit to the in-laws in Reading, PA. A stop in Reading is not complete without at least one pint of beer and a Reuben sandwich at the Ugly Oyster bar in downtown Reading and a visit to the Vanity Fair outlet for some new sneakers and the after Christmas wrap and card sale. After a stop in D.C. to get a few days of work in and a visit to my friend Loi and his new home, I was ready to come back to Richmond and put all of the Christmas decorations away.

I'm trying to look forward and not back so, although I don't make New Year's resolutions, I think this is a good time of the year and my life to make some lists.

1. Get out from behind the computer and get to know Richmond better.
2. Paint more often. I started an acrylic class last year and I am enjoying it and hope to make major strides this year with the help of my teacher, Adele Castillo. Credit goes to Anji Johnston for her suggestion that I pick up a paint brush. This blog is likely to become more of an art blog as decorating funds have dried up. This painting of pears is in progress.And here is an under painting of some peonies that I will take to class tomorrow. Depending on how it goes I'll post more photos of it Tuesday.
3. Jog the entire Ukrop's 10K. I haven't lived in Richmond long enough to have gotten attached to Ukrops grocery store but most long time Richmonders are in mourning after the sale of their beloved grocery to the same company that owns Giant (Washington, D.C.) However, I have lived here long enough to know the Ukrop's family is extremely generous to charities and the 10K is one example of that. The race goes down Monument avenue - a few blocks from Haven. Harry and I are in training.
4. Start doing the research into materials for renovating the Master Bath. Here is a before:

The space itself is quite large and it has a gorgeous Palladian window that lets in tons of natural light.Welshie soaking up the rays on a 20 degree day.

Lots of issues need to be resolved - like - lose the linen closet and install a shower? Heat the floors? Take the tile way up onto the 10' walls? Double vanity or single? I'm not sure when we'll get to this but hopefully in 2010. I can't stand the gray carpet much longer. Another "before" shot.

I could add a zillion more things but will spare you for now.

Happy 2010 from Haven on Hanover!!

On the Streets Where I Live

With the big "thank you party" to the contractors and neighbors behind me I feel like I finally can sit back and take in the sights, sounds and smells of the holidays as celebrated in my new city. With camera in tow I set out to report to the blogosphere about the unique way that Richmond decorates for Christmas. It is sort of a blending of Mardis Gras and Christmas - lots of pink, purple, feathers and huge ornaments. And the all of the lights make it so magical. Add to that a foot of snow and all we need is Currier and Ives to come down and do some paintings.Beautiful Monument Avenue lights.

Last Christmas Harry and I could barely bring ourselves to decorate. We knew we were moving and we were trying to minimize the amount of work that is involved in decorating so as not to offend any potential buyer. Turns out that we took it off the market anyway, for a few weeks, as selling a house and celebrating Christmas don't mix. But we still couldn't bring ourselves to put lights out front. The big challenge this year was finding all of the decorations. We stored some in the garage and some in the closets above the clothes closets that are impossible to get at. Lights were in one place, ornaments in another, a centerpiece that I had searched high and low for turned up under some draperies in a box marked "draperies". I wouldn't have found it except that I gave my sister my old Living Room drapes at Thanksgiving - they are too short for Haven't tall windows and I was going to put the box in deep dark storage!!

I felt a renewed urge to decorate the outside of Haven as I not only have a huge magnolia out front but several mature boxwoods in the back. In addition to that, most of the neighbors were out on Thanksgiving decorating the fronts of their homes. Peer pressure and keeping up with the Joneses in full force.

I was feeling especially crafty so I made a magnolia wreath. The waxy texture of the leaves is so different than any other greenery, and grouping them together, I feel, makes a pretty big design statement. However, after taking in what the rest of Richmond does, my wreath is looking pretty conservative and plain. Next year I'll know better.Haven's front door.

Trumpet vine gone wild.

You might find your lost hubcap here.

Typical of Monument Avenue Decorations

In the tradition of Williamsburg but taken to a new level
Photos don't do this house's decorations justice.

In addition to decorating the house, these Monument avenue residents park an old caddy out front with Santa in the driver's seat. There usually isn't enough snow in Richmond for Santa to use his sleigh so we get our presents delivered via Cadillac.

Those are my presents on top.

Who wouldn't want to ride along with this gang?

I've also made it a goal to get to hear as much free live Christmas music as I can this season. This is easy as there are a plethora of churches within walking distance of Haven and I think they are all secretly competing to see who has the best music. First was a visit to First Baptist at the corner of Monument and Boulevard. They had a 100 person choir in addition to a small orchestra, bell ringers and dancers. The music included pieces I had never heard and were beautifully performed.

Later that week I walked down to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart for a lunch time concert featuring local soloists. Divine. I'm not a big church goer but I could sit in this church and listen to the music forever. Except that the Catholics don't pad their pews like the Baptists and the Presbyterians do so I can't sit there too long.

Then on Sunday Harry and I went with some friends to a Carol service at the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church on Monument Avenue. The highlight for me were the children's choirs. All three of these churches are gorgeous on the inside and delight not only the ears but the eyes. I know there will be more this week - I'm on the prowl. Maybe the Lutherans will be next. Or the Methodists - not sure.

The only thing left on the "to do" list is to bake some cookies that the boys look forward to every Christmas and to make everyone take a walk after dark to see all of the lights. Oh, and I haven't even begun to wrap. I like to save that for Christmas eve.

Yesterday I purchased a big hunk of tenderloin at Belmont Butchery. Can I tell you how wonderful it is to have a butcher in the neighborhood? They are so nice in there and helpful and that little slab o' meat cost a small fortune but, hell, it is only once a year and every bite is worth the money spent. Besides, the red wine cuts the cholesterol down. (Hah! - just kidding - don't send the food police over here). Today, I went to Jean Jacques French Bakery in Carytown and purchased a Buche de Noel. It was pricey but I've made one of those before and it took me quite a while to recover. I hope it tastes as good as it looks.

If I don't blog again before Christmas, I hope you all have a peaceful and healthy celebration. Talk to you again, soon.

Merry Merry

Shades of Gray, or is it Grey?

It has been a while since I've added a post to the Haven blog. Life is crazy at this time of year!

So, to bring you up to date, the first phase of the renovation of Haven is complete. The floors in the Living Room and Dining Room were stripped of their lumber liquidator look and we sanded and sealed the original heart pine floors. They are a little rough due to all of the nail holes from the lumber liquidator mahagony but I prefer that to the slick dark floors that came with the house. Once the floor people were gone, we were able to move all of our family room furniture down stairs and place things back in the living room and dining rooms.

It took me a while to feel the inspiration of how to decorate the dining room. My parents gave me their dining room table and china cabinet when they retired to Florida but I couldn't decide how to treat the walls and ceiling. I bought a chandelier from Currey and Co. long ago but that is as far as I got. The room is dark - there is a set of French doors leading out to a dark space between my house and my neighbors and then a window which looks out at another dark part of the front yard. So, it finally came to me after hours of pondering -- why not just embrace the darkness - it will never be a light filled space so why try? In addition to being a dark space, the fireplace surround is a dark slate.

While browsing through the books at the Benjamin Moore store a few weeks ago, I came across a photo of a room by Samuel Botero (see 5th Avenue house in portfolio section). It has a very "barely there" damask stencil applied to the walls. Aha.

My good friend, Anji Johnston, who did my kitchen checkerboard, was enlisted to come back down to transform the room.

Dining Room "before"

First I got Harry to paint the ceiling Benjamin Moore Pearl Gray and the crown Benjamin Moore White Dove. While he was up on the ladder, I was working on the base for the walls - Benjamin Moore Stone Harbor.
Then Anji arrived with her bespoke stencils and we worked to get the right paint color for the image itself. I wanted it to be very muted so Anji took the base paint and added black artist acrylic to it. She also kept a bit of the ceiling color handy for some light contrast.

The first "test" of the stencil - perfecto!

I couldn't be more pleased with how it turned out. The next week I had 18 people for Thanksgiving dinner - we put the kitchen table at the end of this table . A couple of people at the end were in the hallway but it was so nice to not have to stick the children at a kid's table in another part of the house - it was so nice to be all together. Onward towards Christmas.

By the way, the radiator covers were made by Tim McCready of Bankston and Bailey and were painted by Anji and me the same color as the walls so that they would recede. The funky valances were done by previous owners - I believe as a way to hide some pipes as the ceiling is lowered behind them. The sisal followed us down here from northern Virginia and fits fine in its new home.

The last thing we were waiting for before we could call the project complete was the fireplace insert. I didn't have it in time for Thanksgiving but the week after Mike from the Victorian Fireplace shop came out to install the gas insert, mantel and hearth. We ran it all weekend as it was rainy and cold here in Richmond and we were out in it a lot as we went by foot to Fox Elementary to get our Christmas tree. The fireplace unit works by remote control - and although I love the smell and sound of a "real" fire - there is nothing like sitting back on your behind and pushing a button for some instant ambience and warmth. I had a party here on Saturday to thank the contractors and neighbors and worked like a fiend to find the Christmas decorations and get them up. The party was so much fun and so now I can sit back and enjoy my home and the moment I am in. Richmond has a special way of decorating for the holidays and I will try to capture the feeling in my next post. Best wishes to you and yours at this time of year.