CHARLESTON , SC on a cool morning in February 2013

Here are a few pictures of a morning walk in downtown Charleston, SC on a cool February Sunday morning last week. Even with it being so cool, flowers are in many of the planters and window boxes on my way, oh ! and also I passed the carriage tours getting ready for a morning ride...

Here are some of the flowers along the way..

Our native pine cones were used to decorate the tops of the planters.

Instead of mulch, they added pine cones at the base of the plants.

 

 A lovely view in a bridal shop on Church St.Fluffy puffy.

Sidewalk gardens in planters.

Beautiful magnolia leaves and flowers wreath for the door. Here is a close-up...

True Southern charm. Gaslights are on both sides of the door, flickering even in the day.

 

Antique wrought iron gate with sunlight view. It was morning, not many people were out and about. Especially since it was February. In Spring and Summer it is packed in Charleston.

 Large Camilla bush coming through the fence.

Antique wrought iron gate with tree shadows.

Lush windowboxes, those tricky Charlestonian garden wizards.

A quick glimpse through a gate and I saw this for some lucky owner to put in their garden soon.

 

A polite home-made don't pee on my bushes for dogs( owners) sign. 

Pretty.

Great giant Schnauzer dog, who was only 17 months old, with his owner. We stopped and talked for awhile. My husband had gone on this long walk with me,a rarity as I am always by myself on these walks. He has bad knees, so harder for him( plus he gets bored I think). This dog was huge and cute.

He saw another dog , and posed.

Giant live oaks near the battery.

Birds in fountain for morning bath.

Typical sign warning all us tourists to keep out of their gardens, but in a polite Southern way.

 

Heading back to the hotel, Rainbow row, my husband took his jacket off, as I think it got to about 58-60 degrees or so.

Looking down deserted Sunday morning streets. we did see some church- goers, one young man about 14 was so handsome in his suit and tie. I wanted to take his picture, but he was rushing and we just exchanged smiles and good mornings.

Forgot this shot showing Broad street. Look at the old storefronts that are now mainly law offices, restaurants and real estate companies, and some art galleries. 

Back we go...

Great ice-cream shop, also breakfast and lunch I believe. It is on 159 Church Street, right near the market. Plus the very nicest owners are here...

This man is always smiling and pleasant, gives my son the biggest serving in his cone or cup of ice cream on those hot Summer visits. Please stop by and tell them you read about their shop, Wholly Cow, on my blog.

 

Okay, that's about it. Shown above the typical Charleston window shutters, cracked facade of building and ever-present front planters. We left Charleston and hit a few antique stores in Summerville on the way home.

I plan on going back in a few months, as the garden fever will hit there hard at that time.

Take care,

Gina

 

 

 





SECRET Garden Romantic Trip for Me~Small dream came true

Dock Street Theatre

I had a very romantic jaunt with my husband to my favorite city, Charleston, SC yesterday.It was romantic because we never, almost NEVER, go any where just by ourselves(not that I didn't miss our youngest son very much ). I had heard that a Secret Garden was being played at Dock Street Theatre,so for about 7 months..I have been pining to go. Then I bought us some tickets a few months ago, and we went yesterday, also antiquing a bit beforehand, and stayed at our favorite hotel, The Indigo Inn. That is us below, at St. Philips Church gate, ( running to the play), taken by a sweet passer-by who volunteered.

I have taken so many pictures at this gate, for so many years.Many of me and many of our children have been taken at this gate. We rushed off to the afternoon play...

I was very happy, as what can be more appropriate than seeing A Secret Garden, in the city of the most beautiful gardens in the country?

We had some balcony seats I picked out, but they were really too tight a fit, you couldn't stretch your legs out at all, so next time, we will get a larger area. I spotted the seats I wanted for next time around. It is a small theatre, which I liked, and the production was well done and just wonderful. We left there and headed back to the hotel for wine and dips and fruits and cheeses, and then out for a dinner at Mercato with live jazz music playing.

It was a chilly night, but nice. We walked everywhere we went.

 It is funny in life, how we all have little dreams and one of mine had been to finally go to a presentation here. Last time Sarah went with me to Charleston, I told her I would  bring her here for a play and dinner, but the time never came.

But I did get to go with my husband, and he enjoyed it very much too.

Back at the hotel, this fountain was directly outside our room, and I heard trickling water all night. You can see that people throw coins in to make wishes. My wish came true this weekend.

I bet yours will too.

take care,

Gina

P.S. I took some pics of Charleston in February, and I will add them in a few days.

Vintage Portrait Oil Paintings

Here are some recent vintage portrait paintings I have for sale. Circa 1930-70's time frame. The above are a set of hand-painted oils over photos, 1950's. They are being sold separately, and both have bids at present.

 Mr. Handsome cool guy was SOLD last week. Late 1930's.

 Retro 1980's small oil, will be put on my site soon.

Fab late 1930's oil of a too handsome man .

Beautiful nude 1940's portrait of confident nude blond woman.

Hobbyist oil portrait, late 1950's, of a woman with a sash on her dress.

Great vintage 1960's oil on board, Italian woman.

Wonderful Impressionist portrait of woman in white, circa 1940's.

 Another 1960's oil on board of woman in burgundy.

Witchy woman with cat, 1960's oil on board.

 1960's great Impressionist woman with large cross portrait.

 Retro , space age, futuristic vintage portrait of punk woman , circa 1960-80's time frame.

1960's hobbyist portrait of redhead, Impressionism oil on artist canvasboard.

Precious 1960's oil on canvas of brother and sister, looks like Dick and Jane from the primer books.

All and many more can be found here,  or here on etsy if they have not sold yet.
Thanks for looking,
Gina
AntiqueARTGarden

FLOWER LADY Widow LOVE Offering Request



Sometimes in blogland life, we bloggers( real people behind keyboard keys), get the opportunity to help in practical ways to someone in need . If we are very lucky, it is someone we truly care about. I am starting a Flowerlady Widow Love Offering, for a very sweet blogger many of you know and have grown to love, Flowerlady.

 Lorraine lost her husband not even a week ago, after 43 years of marriage. They had no children , and many in her following crowd, feel as if she is part of our family...in the blogsphere world. How this is going to work, is you can make a donation to my paypal account ( ginam617@yahoo.com), in any amount. You do this by logging into your account, and hitting the SEND Money Link at the top left of your account. Send it as a gift, otherwise paypal will deduct fees thinking I have sold an ebay item. In the field where it says note to seller or recipient, write for Flowerlady Lorraine Love Offering. Please include your name, your blog's name if you have one, and your blog name if it is different from your real name. I am going to give her a list of donors, unless you want yours to be private- just specify that in your notes, I am going to do this until Christmas Day( Dec. 25th), and then send her a email with the total amount that we have come up with to help her in her first year of being without her special DH. This will be our Christmas gift to her-from all of us. I will send her a check/money order with the FULL amounts donated as one larger amount by December 26th, 2012.

 If you would prefer sending me a check, please let me know and I can give you my address.You can make the check out to her or me. 
I understand this is hard at Christmas time, to give extra money, but I also know that each of us can waste money at Christmas time( really all year), on items we will soon forget or never use. You will not forget helping out Flowerlady in her time of need and sorrow. ANY Amount will be appreciated. I am starting this fund with 100.00. But every 5, 10, 20 dollar donation will add up, so please consider donating for her. Also please link this post in your blog, if you believe it may raise more funds for her . MAKE SURE WHEN YOU DONATE, TO INCLUDE THAT IT IS FOR LORRAINE FLOWERLADY LOVE OFFERING, AND DONATE AS A GIFT. I sell on ebay and need to see that it is a GIFT for her in your send money paypal donation.

I hope you all will consider this, if even just a few donations are sent in...it will be helpful and appreciated. If you are unable to do so, that is also ok. Sometimes we are unable to help financially ourselves, but do take a few moments to pray for her and her peace and well-being during this hard time . She needs our prayers just as much.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27

Thank you ,

Gina

AntiqueARTGarden

 

Send Prayers and LOVE to Flowerlady Please~

One of my favorite special blogger friends, Lorraine-Flowerlady, lost her husband to cancer last night. They were always a source of admiration( and envy ),for such love shown between the two, for me ,every time I read her posts. My heart breaks for her. Please pray for her, thank you, Gina

http://flowerladysmusings.blogspot.com/2012/12/hell-be-waiting-for-me-on-rainbow-bridge.html

ANTIQUE Victorian Oil Paintings on Paper Mache Flue Covers~

 

I love old antique Victorian paper mache paintings! Most were done on flue covers, and some were in the shape of flue covers, but larger and were more of a decorative accent back in the mid to late 1800's to very early 1900's time frame. People used to have a flue hole in their wall from a stove or heating system, and then when Summer came around they wanted to cover the ugly hole in the wall and put something over it. Most of the time it was a glass round picture or tin plate , or even a piece of wood. But every now and then you see a beautiful piece of art that was originally a flue cover. I have some for sale in my eBay store, I will show you a few. The large one above of spider mums and regular chrysanthemums, a whooping 17 3/4ths ins., is handpainted in oils and dated on the back 1880.

 

This one is a Hudson River school style with cows/cattle enjoying a river. It is the more typical size at 10 ins.Mid to late 1800's time frame.

 

 

Here is a precious little boy, in the snow, definite Victorian time frame, larger than most at 14 ins., and dated 1880 on the back. Close up of his face...

See how well done these are?

Here is one about 8 1/4 ins., mid to late 1800's forlorn romantic woman looking out to sea, clams or seashells on her back in the basket.

 

Another larger one at 15 ins. in diameter, a gorgeous Victorian hollyhocks painting on paper mache.

Here is one of my very favorite, a wonderful expertly painted oil on a little Victorian girl carrying wood.

 

The detail is superb. It is dated 1884, and is 10 ins.

if you collect these, know that since they are paper mache, they are very delicate, and will have evident edge wear and some minor chips to the surface. I would advise to buy then if you like them, but not if they have large broken pieces out of them or are reglued in multiple places. They are perfect for Victorian interiors and definitely add an authentic artistic element to an 1800's decor.  Many have old hangers on the back, but alot of buyers purchase easels to place them on.

You can find these paper mache paintings( if they have not sold), here.I have sold many of these over the years, and enjoy finding them to be able to sell them to Victorian art lovers.
take care everyone,

Gina