VT (for all of my design-obsessed peeps)

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: Th PEEPSHOW presents A SPRING AFFAIR, or, GREENING... : photoanildsud courtesyathoughtfuleye Peeps, If being able to experience flight, as today's visual treat so magnificently alludes, s...

photoanildsud courtesyathoughtfuleye Peeps, If being able to experience flight, as today's visual treat so magnificently alludes, sign me up for wings, ballooning, hang-gliding, or lucid dreams while curled up with my four pillows/two blankets/scented foot-lotion, and uninterrupted sleep.  The soft verdant hills beckon invitingly and suggest infinity, making the thought of leaving it all behind --as we all will--less alarming, mildly cautionary, and re-emphasizing the preciousness of it all, meaning our time here on this earth.  Today is not a time for being melancholy or maudlin, (and pathos serves no purpose), and during the morning's perfection, countless birds twitter and hop from branch to branch, leaves unfurl in accordance to an ancient rhythm, and little white clouds float breezily overhead. I must admit to experiencing pangs of jealousy at the superb specimens of container-pots featured in the gardening magazines, both at the gorgeous vessels utilized and

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents A SPRING AFFAIR, or, GREENIN... : photeriksunstrom Peeps, I'm sort of glad that cool nights and mild days are still with us; in some parts, the descent from the crisp ...

photeriksunstrom Peeps, I'm sort of glad that cool nights and mild days are still with us; in some parts, the descent from the crisp mornings of April and May to the horrors of 85 or 90+ comes quickly, and my memory of a blood-red sun hanging on the horizon with the promise of a pollen-laden, humid work-day amidst stricken plants under a breeze-less sky is best forgotten at this time.  Maybe, just maybe, a mild winter will in turn lead to a mild summer, or so we wish,  perhaps knowing quite well that the Farmer's Almanac predicts otherwise.  I frequently wonder at those who choose to live in states such as Nevada, Texas, and Arizona where rains are sparse, temperatures soar into the 100s, and daily life is limited to the confines of a cooled home, air-conditioned vehicle, or brief nocturnal jaunts in search of entertainment or distraction. Near the kitchen table in my childhood home, where most breakfasts and lunches were eaten, customarily hung a wall calendar featu

photomarkleong courtesyathoughtfuleye Peeps, If anyone doubts that global warning is real, a quick survey of gardens and groves around our area will substantiate any and all theories put forth by the scientific community that things are heating up, so much so that our growing area has been changed from 6b to 7a.  The cherry-blossoms of the famed trees which line the Tidal Basin are upon us now, to the delight of early tourists and plant-lovers who relish this seasonal display.  Quince, forsythia, and service-berry are similarly ecstatic.  The nation's capital is most wondrous at this time of the year, and all should embrace the wonder of our numerous green-spaces and public gardens. Lady's Emblom's garden seems illuminated at night by the white petals of Maureen tulips, abundant clumps of spring snowflakes { leucojum vernum }, and prancing bands of Daisy Miller which seems to have easily braved the mild winter.  In the morning, the full glory of her creativity is

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents A SPRING AFFAIR, or, GREENIN... : photomarkleong courtesyathoughtfuleye Peeps, If anyone doubts that global warning is real, a quick survey of gardens and parks around...

photosourceunknown Peeps, Just wanted to thank you all for all your emails this week.  It seems that many of our blog readers were quite perturbed about the killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida, and as protests mount all around the country, we too are doing our part by advocating for justice by calling on government officials and law enforcement personnel to do the the right thing by arresting Mr. Zimmerman and then presenting the case to a judge and jury of his peers.  I know that a mother's (and father's) heart has been broken with the death of their son, and we all offer our condolences to the Martin family. While it is easy to romanticize the past as we conjure images of landed gentry graciously stepping ashore from the Mayflower, younger voices within our society especially must be reminded that we are all the sons and daughters of immigrants, except for the original inhabitants of this great land -- the Native American Indians, whose views differ quite different

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEP-SHOW presents REINVENTING BEAUTY, CHAPTER... : photosourceunknown Peeps, Just wanted to thank you all for all your emails this week.  It seems that many of our blog readers were qu...

imagecourtesyvintage&chicblog Peeps, I rarely indulge in game-play that involves betting; my mother strongly believed that games such as blackjack, roulette, and baccarat would invariable lead to poker and craps and forfeiting one's allowance, to be quickly followed by the loss of morals and honor by way of theft.  In her mind she easily conjured her offspring sitting cozy in the nearby speakeasy, drinks at the ready and Lou Rawls endlessly crooning through sunrise.  An exception was made for Monopoly and Chinese checkers, yet still not encouraged in her absence.  Friends of mine gather without fail for bi-monthly bouts of extended bridge, and swear that any sea-voyage will be made more pleasant by engaging in this type of recreation, yet I still prefer the company of a good book or a foreign thriller.  And I remain immune to testimonials by 'professionals' who will delve all the secrets of winning for a small fee (shipping + handling extra).  As well as convi

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEP-SHOW presents REINVENTING BEAUTY CHAPTER ... : imagecourtesyvintage&chicblog Peeps, I rarely indulge in game-play that involves betting; my mother strongly believed that games s...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEPSHOW presents REINVENTING BEAUTY / Day 3... : imagecourtesyjohnmurphy viabijouxandboheme Peeps, I remember being immediately drawn to this particular image for the purity of col...

imagecourtesyjohnmurphy viabijouxandboheme I remember being immediately drawn to this particular image for the purity of colors found within the composition of sharp contrasts.  Blood- red + midnight-black + dove-white carefully and cleverly supported by twin tassels of Inca-gold made for a picture worthy of repeated viewing, and subsequent sharing (with all of you equally aesthetically inclined individuals).  Just to amuse myself, I imagine the model as a jet-black beauty juxtaposed on pearly-white backdrop of snow clutching golden petals, or a golden goddess posed against the infinity of cerise, arms laden with black roses; all possibilities equally compelling and capable of holding us visually captive.  Different groups appreciate colors quite differently based on their specific cultural context; in the East, white is associated with death, while in many countries of the Western world, white is associated with purity, innocence, cleanliness, illumination, and perfection.  

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEP-SHOW presents REINVENTING BEAUTY, CHAPTER... : imagecourtesyindigenousdialogue Peeps, Last week, the much anticipated new book from fellow-peep, namely Washington Post writer ...

imagecourtesyindigenousdialogue Peeps, Last week, the much anticipated new book from fellow-peep, namely Washington Post writer and author Liza Mundy, was released to critical acclaim.  Through long habit, I turned to the NPR's weekend magazine show (on Sunday), and was fortunate to hear Liza discuss The Richer Sex which focuses on the changing dynamic within households, both here and abroad, where women are, or will become in the very near future, the primary breadwinners of the family unit; this, a sharp contrast to commonly held assumptions about the roles of women within the family structure, and vis-a-vis society.   Amazon.com's review of The Richer Sex:  How the New Majority of Female Breadwinners is Transforming Sex, Love and Family ,  states that Ms Mundy ' goes deep inside the lives of the couples on this cutting edge to paint of picture of how dating, marriage, and home life are changing . . . In whose interest is it to delay commitment? Are men fo

imagecourtesyjjjjoundblog Peeps, With the advent of spring, the days are noticeably longer and brighter.  Now through uncovered windows and open doors, fresh air pours in to refresh and revive quarters formerly barricaded against the vagrancies of winter.  The emergence of green and color in the garden fills us all with new vigor and optimism.  Tasks such as sweeping away the cobwebs in the corners and dust bunnies upon the desk, tackling the stacks of books bound for the resale shop, transporting to the potting bench container-plants in need of transplant, tackling coats and sweaters in need of brushing or dry-cleaning, and so forth, are easily addressed in the crisp morning light after the first expresso and before the Diane Rehm show.  I plan to re-arrange the furniture and re-hang pictures with the intention of enjoying individual pieces formerly in storage.  Rob the framer has promised that everything (taken to his studio since last October) will be ready within a week or so

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEP-SHOW presents REINVENTING BEAUTY, CHAPTER... : imagecourtesyjjjjoundblog Peeps, With the advent of spring, the days are noticeably longer and brighter.  Now through uncovered window...

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEP-SHOW presents ' CAMERA-WORKS: The PHOTO... : annabeeke/untanglingthreads imagecourtesykantaracrafts.com * * * In Ait Hamza, a village in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco,  the...

annabeeke/untanglingthreads imagecourtesyantaracrafts.com * * * In Ait Hamza, a village in the Middle Atlas region of Morocco,  the women from the local weaving cooperative gather in the home of an artisan who has just given birth to a healthy baby boy. The mother and here newborn rest in the next room while the rest of the women enjoy kraskrout, a traditional afternoon 'snack' (typically consisting of mint tea and a variety of fresh bread with recently-pressed olive oil or jam) and that can happen spontaneously among several people or, as seen here, in celebration of a major event.  This photo was taken as part of the project entitled ' UNTANGLING THREADS: Female Artisans in Morocco's Rug Weaving Industry.'   In Morocco, where men are responsible for almost all of their country's artisanal production, women have maintained the age-old craft of indigenous weaving.   The project seeks to document the environment and culture of female workers who have r

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: ' CAMERA-WORKS: The PHOTO-SHOW!! ' / Day 6 -- P... : unarbol,paulgallegos courtesykiptonart.com,knewgallery.com * * *  I am an experimental fine-art photographer.  I also work in lifestyl...

unarbol,paulgallegos courtesykiptonart.com,knewgallery.com * * *  I am an experimental fine-art photographer.  I also work in lifestyle as well as fashion.  I enjoy experimenting with all the mediums of photograph, from a plastic lens to large-format work.  I have no preference to working in color or b/w.  I think the image and mood sets the tone for what may be color or black+white.  My photography is an exploration of life:  people, landscapes, or the way in which the two interact.  I enjoy it all.  I believe in forward thinking -- understand the traditional, yet push the limits and enjoy the journey.  {I} live and capture time-pieces of life.  {I} create imagery! Paul uses traditional methods of photography, however he prefers to be more experimental and edgy with his imagery. He continuously pushes himself to keep his work interesting. Paul has studied at the Corcoran, Brooks Institute of Photography and the Art Institute of Los Angeles. His studies in the related fields

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: ' CAMERA-WORKS: The Photo Show!! ' / Day 5 -- NA... : photonataliechenug courtesyofknewgallery/nataliecheungblogspot * * *  Natalie's artwork draws its momentum from the rich history of th...

photonataliechenug courtesyofknewgallery/nataliecheungblogspot * * *  Natalie's artwork draws its momentum from the rich history of the photographic medium. She approaches photography in an experimental fashion using camera-less photography. Her work focuses on chance happenings, fractal patterNs occurring in nature and the push and pull between micro and macro-chasm. Cheung is a graduate of the Corcoran and has exhibited widely. She earned an MFA with a concentration in Photography from the Tyler School at Temple University.

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: ' CAMERA-WORKS: The Photo Show!! ' / Day 4 -- TR... : Black Passion Flower Collage phototrishsimonite courtesyknewgallery.com * * * Trish Simonite's work merges traditional and digital...

Black Passion Flower Collage phototrishsimonite courtesyknewgallery.com * * * Trish Simonite's work merges traditional and digital photography and is primarily focused on still life and landscape.   Her recent work, includes a series of manipulated still lifes called  Heliconia and other Exotica,  which is similar to the Herbaria Series to which " Black Passion Flower Collage " belongs. Trish's  most recent exhibition was a group show at The Blue Coat Gallery in Liverpool, England where she completed a short residency and was commissioned to make a series of photographs in Texas and Liverpool for the exhibition 'Honky Tonk,' held in September 2011.  Her work has been published in books and magazines including "The Art of Photography" and "Art at Our Doorstep".  Collections that host her work include Yale University, the University of Texas and numerous private collections.    Originally from England, Trish is an Associate Profess

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: ' CAMERA-WORKS: The Photo Show ' / Day 3 -- MIL... : photomillicentwarnock Photography has been a hobby of mine off and on for the past 10 years.  Recently, after fully committing myself to...

photomillicentwarnock Photography has been a hobby of mine off and on for the past 10 years.  Recently, after fully committing myself to improving my photographic skills, it became a passion. What moves me to photograph is the beauty of the quotidian -- the small, familiar scenes that are accessible to everyone every day.  This image, ' From My Window,' was inspired by Andre Kertesz's quiet, somewhat melancholy photographs of Washington Square covered by snow, that he took from the window of his 12th floor apartment during the early 1950s.

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: ' CAMERA-WORKS: The Photo-Show!! ' / Day 2 -- B... : photobrunomahlman www.brunophoto.com Note:  The original image was taken with a Mamiya C45 DM 28 medium format digital camera with an ...

photobrunomahlman www.brunophoto.com Note:  The original image was taken with a Mamiya C45 DM 28 medium format digital camera with an 80mm lens.   It is from a series of images from Sedona and several other locations in Arizona. The image is of an unknown massive Red Rock formation from Sedona, Az.  If you ever have tried to photograph a rock and make it look interesting, then you know how difficult it is.  The shear size of the formation, the space and geometry it occupies relative the sky, land and trees is awe inspiring.  I pre-visualized the image in black and white with soft edges and significant detail in the rock itself.  I drove by this area under varying light conditions for many days.  I then hiked around the base of the rock for hours until  the image I visualized appeared before me.  Image composition is done in camera with minimal image manipulation in photoshop.  I try to capture images that have visual impact no mater the subject or object being photographe

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: ' CAMERA-WORKS: The Photo-Show!! ' / Day 1 -- G... : photogarnettennysonhadley www.wix.com/hadleyasoc/garnet-tennyson-hadley The photograph ‘Red Paint’ is from a 2010 book entitled “Views...

photogarnettennysonhadley www.wix.com/hadleyasoc/garnet-tennyson-hadley The photograph ‘Red Paint’ is from a 2010 book entitled “Views from the Road – Photographs Shot While Driving Dashiell 5,536 Miles, Arlington , VA – Jacksonville , NC . August through October 2007”. During this period my elderly mother was hospitalized in North Carolina and my attention was often needed.  So to make the drive, which at times was done twice in a week, more palatable, I would take side roads as much as possible and stop and photograph.  This made each road trip much longer but provided a bit of joy in an otherwise difficult situation.  I looked forward to being on the road and having the time to stop and photograph whenever and whatever struck my fancy. This particular photograph of a ranch house speaks to me not only because of its color but of the contrast with the red paint on the street.  I was walking in this neighborhood when I came upon it and in the scheme of things it might go u

(VISUAL TREATS) For All of My Design-Obsessed Peeps: The PEEP-SHOW presents WEEKEND VISUAL TREAT!! : imagecourtesyflickrfallingstar viaemmasblog.se Peeps, Spring is officially here, and it's a glorious event.  Daffodils, snow-drops a...

imagecourtesyflickrfallingstar viaemmasblog.se Peeps, Spring is officially here, and it's a glorious event.  Daffodils, snow-drops and crocuses proclaim victory against the trials of the past winter by unfurling colorful banners of yellow and white and mauve, which delight the eye and invigorate sagging spirits.  Another season past and a new year in sight; the garden beckons and with it comes the opportunity to replace, to refurbish, to regenerate and to reveal the wonder of nature;  luckily for the fortunate among us, we are presented with the possibility of hope.  Why hope?  For in the garden, the elements dictate, luck occasionally intervenes, dedication and commitment certainly helps, and the rest is out of our hands.  A swarm of locusts/an invasion of white-flies/prolonged rains and flooding/persistent heat-wave/a prolonged drought/a debilitating accident/the death of a loved one:  all these can effect both how we look at our garden, and how the garden looks to us.  R

photocourteskristianschuller ' CAMERA-WORKS:  The Photo Show!! ' premieres 12 March click, click . . .  are you ready?

photocourtesydeshow.net . . . You can look to the rhododendron for special interest in the tree form, bark colour and texture, leaf colour, form and texture, autumn foliage colouring, a flowering season spread over eight months of the year at least, flower colouring that excludes only the purest blue, flower size and shape and, last but not least, scent.  Several of these points of attractive interest are likely to be combined in the variety of your  choice . . .  Now to consider the conditions for woodland gardening with rhododendrons.  The wood in its own ceases to matter.  You can and will probably want to do without any of its natural contents except for the trees, which are allowed to stand in just the right numbers to provide enough but not too much shade.  The choicest rhododendrons need shade and shelter.  Shelter from wind, whatever the quarter of its origin, is essential . . . The soil must be acid and preferably light.  If peaty, so much the better, but full use m

photovincentboisot ' CAMERA-WORKS:  The Photo Show!! ' premieres 12 March click, click . . .  are you ready?

photomarktipple ' CAMERA-WORKS:  The Photo Show!! ' premieres 12 March click, click . . .  are you ready?