Mud House Year

A Few of My Favorite Things - Part I

                                                  

I am so fortunate to have spent almost three wonderful weeks in Nashville!  As my visit comes to an end, I am thinking about a few of my favorite Nashville things.  Some I have already told you about, but I am including them again because I love them so much!

 

                                                             Vicki Sawyer                                                    
                                                    

First of all,  there is Vicky Sawyer and her amazing birds (and other animals).  If you haven't yet, please check out her website - so wonderful!

 

                                                                                     Davis Cookware "Well, Ma'am you can't sell from an empty cart."  Mr. Davis replied when I commented on how much there was to see in his store.  

Davis Cookware has been in Hillsboro Village for 43 years.  It is stuffed to the rafters with everything you could ever need for your kitchen.  It also carries over 50 types of coffee beans and I don't know how many types of loose tea.  They also sharpen knives and bill themselves as, "Home Of the Knife Whisperer."  Designed and staged - definitely not.  Original, charming, whimsical, complete, and reliable - yes.    If I lived in Nashville, this would be my "go-to" place for everything kitchen related and for the wisdom, history, and lore of Hillsboro Village. 

 

                                        Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company 

Voted America's Best Chocolate by Southern Living Magazine, Olive and Sinclair make small batch, slow roasted, and stone ground chocolate right here in Nashville.  These lovely bars are already packed and ready for the trip home to the Mud House where they will find themselves snuggled into a few lucky stockings on Christmas Eve.  Here is their website:  Olive and Sinclair.  

 

                                                                  Midtown Wine and Spirits
I love little bottles of anything.  I think little bottles of liquor are especially enticing, for obvious reasons.  I  also love how their shapes exactly mimic much larger bottles.  My first few days in Nashville I popped into a couple of grocery stores looking for a bottle of wine.  I found beer, but no wine.  I soon learned that Tennessee liquor laws vary by county and are complicated - wet counties, dry counties and everything in-between.  You can read more about it here, if you are interested.  Anyway, I discovered that in Nashville, liquor and wine are sold only in liquor stores.  Beer may be purchased in grocery stores.  Midtown Wine and Spirits not only has an amazing selection of everything you can imagine containing alcohol, they also have a wonderful selection of mini-bottles.  I bought some for a few of the adult stockings I will be stuffing. For more info please click here. 

 

                                                             Pralines by LeonNo visit to this part of the world is complete without sampling some pralines and Leon's is the place to try them.  Pralines by Leon is located in downtown Nashville on 2nd Avenue.  It has been in it's current location since 1994 but its history can be traced back to 1888 when Leon's Greek grandfather Constantine moved to New Orleans and began making candy.   You can read much more about Pralines by Leon and the other wonderful candy they make by checking out their website.  You can also order on-line.  If you are in Nashville it is absolutely worth a visit.

 

 ... Stay tuned for Part II of a Few of my Favorite Things...

 

 

Anything Whimsical, Anything Colorful, Nashville Edition

                                                 

Oh my goodness, oh my gracious.  I've found a new artist to love.  Anyone who knows me, knows I love birds.  And you know how much I love colorful, whimsical art.  I walked into this funky little place called Cake Vintage around the corner from my hotel and there, on a shelf above the register, were several mini portraits of the most fanciful, wise, and whimsical birds I have ever seen.  My jaw dropped and I just stared.  The gal behind the register told me that the artist firmly believes that if birds can make their own nests, well, then, they can certainly make their own hats. Sounds completely reasonable to me.  In fact, I can't think of anything more logical.  The longer I stared, the more I fell in love with these birds.  Each had its own hat, its own personality, and the expressions on their faces told me everything I needed to know. 


 The artist is Vicki Sawyer and she paints things other than birds.   

                

But the birds are my favorite.

Here are some of her comments, copied from her website:

"When I was a little girl, my grandfather taught me how to identify the plants on our walks in the woods. My mother’s childlike joy in even the simplest things taught me to be visually aware. From my dad I received my love for birds."

"Shortly after moving to Tennessee, I went for a walk and thought, 'If birds could build nests, then they could make hats.'  This whimsical notion has been the inspiration for many bird and animal portraits."

"I want my work to evoke feelings of peace, joy, and often humor." 

I was struck by how much Vicki's philosophy regarding art mirrors my own.  In my original "Anything Whimiscal, Anything Colorful" post I said this,  "I am inspired by art that supports a lighthearted, energetic, and carefree atmosphere... Their color and energy touch something deep inside of me, sparking joy and peace-of-mind."  I also said this about Chris Bubany, one of the local Arizona artists whose work I love, " Her designs are charming, colorful, and quaintly humorous. " 

Vicky Sawyer creates whimsical, colorful, joyful, peaceful, humorous, dignified, wondrous birds.  I love her birds. She is having a showing of her original work this weekend in Brentwood, TN.  I'm going.  

                                                                                       

                                           This one is called Armando.  Of course, I love his prickly pear hat.

I emailed Vicki and asked her if I could write about her and use some of her pictures.  She wrote back right away and gave me permission to use her art on this post.  Thank you, Vicki!  To learn more about Vicki and to see more of her remarkable art, please visit her website by clicking here.   You may also order many delightful items showcasing her art at zazzle.com/vickisawyer.

I've said it before but I will say it again.  I stand in awe of gifted artists who have the ability and talent to create such lovely images.  What an incredible gift to bring such joy, beauty, and humor to this world. 

 

 

Anything Whimsical, Anything Colorful

One of the first things I wrote when I created this blog was something about myself  for the "About" page.  This was tough because I couldn't think of anything special to say.  I am not particularly gifted or unique. I'm just kind of "regular."  I'm a wife, mom, sister, daughter.  I like to cook and garden.  I love my dogs.  Nothing too extraordinary.  Among other things, I described myself as loving "anything whimsical, anything colorful."  Nowhere is that characteristic more obvious than in the local artists whose works I love and keep in my home.   I am inspired by art that supports a lighthearted, energetic, and carefree atmosphere.   

I love being surrounded by warmth and color so you may have caught brief glimpses of works by Barbara Gurwitz, Chris Bubany, and Melissa Vinikoor in some of the photography I have included in my posts.  

 Barbara paints bright, colorful, contemporary landscapes inspired by the desert southwest.  The first time I saw one of her paintings I was struck by her daring use of color,  effortless whimsical style, and the sheer joy I felt just looking at her art.

 

Chris Bubany is a local  artist who designs and produces ceramic tableware.  Her designs are charming, colorful, and quaintly humorous.   I keep her lovely serving dishes displayed on my counter-top and use them for special occasions.

 

                                   
Melissa Vinikoor is a fairly new artist who paints bright, fanciful, floral motifs featuring an occasional sparkly bauble and whimsical creature.   Intense use of color and simple patterns bring Melissa's paintings to life.  

I am grateful to Melissa, Chris, and Barbara and I stand in awe of those who have the ability and confidence to create such lovely images. The beauty of this art enhances the natural warmth of our mud adobe walls, making this house a home.   Their color and energy touch something deep inside of me, sparking joy and peace-of-mind.