Latest ANTIQUE Paintings for Sale & a Angel Sighting

Long time no blogging here. Many reasons, will not bore you all with them. I wanted to show you a few antique paintings I bought to re-sale this weekend, and then tell you of a angel sighting my son and I had later. the painting above is a 1860-70's oil on canvas of a wealthy Southern widow. Love her jewelry. It is mourning jewelry from back then. all of these can be found on my ebay site here.

Nice antique landscape of birch trees and pond, circa late 1800's in shabby gesso frame.

Very cool antique folk art handmade American picture frame with star corners.

Hauntingly beautiful oil on wood French portrait of young girl with long hair. The dealer I bought this from said it came out of a home in Charleston, SC. It was supposed to have been included in the estate sale he was organizing there, but it was left behind in closet, so lucky me. Now it is for sale on eBay here.

Great one of two vintage oils I bought of attractive black women, circa late 1940's Jazzy Big band.

The larger of the two black women portraits, circa late 1940's, Big Band hairdo, outfit.

Antique Oil on board of man in boat on river, gold gilt frame. I will be  listing this

 soon.

Wonderful vintage oil of woman in soft pink dress and bonnet, circa 1940's time frame. She is listed on my etsy site here.

Now let me tell you what we saw/experienced at the antique show this weekend. My young son was with me, helping me and shopping a bit himself. I walked up to him after I had been paying for some artwork, and he had a small car in his hand. I asked him if he wanted to buy another car ? He says the man gave it to him. I fish around in my purse, looking for a dollar to give the dealer, as I turn around and look for him...I notice he is in a wheelchair.

He only has one leg.

He is overweight, and does not look in good health.

I offer him the dollar, handing it towards him.

He shakes his head , waves his hand no, and touches a button on his throat to speak. He raspily says ' No, he can have it, I have boxes of them."

I asked him if he was sure, he waves his hand again and tells me yes, and I smile at him, he smiles back.

I thank him, my son very quietly thanked him, and we walked off.

I told my son, " Can you believe that man, he has nothing much, missing a leg, can't speak without a special larynx box button, yet he was kind enough to give you something for free. Just for the pleasure of seeing you happy."

I then told my son, " Out of all the beautiful antiques and artwork we have seen out here, his actions, he himself was the most beautiful thing we experienced."

My son looks down walking, considering what I said.

I tell him ," He was like an angel."

Then we walk in another building and look for me more paintings.

My son and me outside of the famous Husk restaurant in Charleston, SC last month

He is my size now, we were eating lunch on a sweltering day in July at the famous Husk restaurant in Charleston in the above shot. Quick re-cap of what's what with me, my oldest daughter is having a baby this November( yeah!), and it is a very exciting time. Still working and selling online with my paintings and antiques, and also letting my hair grow in naturally, no more color. So a nice silver and dark brown showing up, seen a bit in the above shot. A big deal for a woman these days as women feel forced to color their hair until eternity in the hope of looking young forever. BTW-won't work. Now when I see women who color their hair that are my age, also  younger and older, the color always looks like it doesn't 'go' with their face( to me). The darker colors look too dark usually, the blonds looks too yellow. And now I notice the ' fake ' look to many colored hairdos. Though I realize it is too each person to decide whether they want to keep coloring or not. I decided to go against the flow of modern culture, and just be me. I hope I set an example for younger women( and my own age) I know, of allowing a woman to be attractive and gray/silver, and not try to look 25-35 forever. A losing battle from the get go.

I decided to get off that train( the hair color train), and be authentic , just as I am. It so far is not easy, but I am plugging away and not giving up.

So very slowly, ever soooooo sllllllooooowwwwly, you'll see me become a silver sista of sorts. Will be back with a garden entry next.

Many blessings,

Gina

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness. Proverbs 16:21

http://stores.ebay.com/Antique-ART-Garden

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