Latest art projects

Spent the weekend drawing  in charcoal, pastell & graphite.  First time to use them.  Had fun with the black paper.  First time for portrait type drawings.  I got out my book of Curtis indian pictures as inspiration. They don't photograph very well.  Practice makes perfect so I will continue to try this type of art for a while.

Salem Home & Garden Show

We just finished taking down our booth for the annual Salem Spring Garden & Home Show.  It is the first time in many years that we have participated in a trade show. Thought we would give it a try. We did a large corner booth that represented both Artisan Homes & Design (our home building & remodeling company) & Suzanne Marie's Interiors.  It was a really nice booth with 3 seperate monitors showcasing interiors, & custom window fashions as well as our new Structural Stone building system.  I hope those who visited our booth enjoyed our displays. Thank you to all those who stopped by and said hello.

New Art Projects by Suzanne

I have been having fun learning to paint.  I have been experimenting with lots of different ideas so thought I would share a few.  I hope to take some lessons sometime soon so this SHOULD get better. :>)

This was my very first painting I ever did. "Orcas"

"Mountains, Rivers & Snow".  It was a fun but time consuming piece.  Lots of taping off.

"Palm Trees at the Beach"

Experimenting with "Drips"

"Leaves on the Forest Floor"

"Blocks"

My fat cat "Muffin"

Experimenting with "Drips & Swirls"

Tissue Paper Garden

Crows I and II

Water color pencils

"Ice & Snow I"

Number II coming soon.

Water colors & ink

"Horses in a Storm"

Horses version II

Tableux Faux Iron for my current project.

"Faux Iron" panels are being used in my current project in Bend OR.

We want to create some interest in shelves in the living room that need some pazazz.
Watch for photos of the completed project.

What is Tableaux® Faux Wrought Iron?

Tableaux® faux wrought iron standard substrate (TableauxST) is composed of 100% post-industrial recycled and reclaimed wood fiber and formaldehyde-free resin and weighs 10% of conventional wrought iron or cast iron. Ideal for interior decorative applications sucha as window treatment, ceiling medallions, wall art, and many other.

Tableaux® decorative iron designs are also available in additional application specific treated materials.


TableauxEX for Exterior use when high humidity and rainy outdoor conditions demand a water, rot and termite resistant material. Ideal for outside application such as windows inserts, decorative iron brackets, decorative iron accents, patio lattices, etc.

TableauxFR, a Fire Retardant material with no added formaldehyde meets Class 1 (A) standards in commercial applications. Used decorative ironwork applications in hotels, hospitals, cruiseships, etc.

TableauxIG, a feather light closed cell polyurethane material engineered and tested to be used as Insulated Glass inserts without fogging. Ideal for retrofiting existing doors so to allow the exclusive look of a wrought iron door at a fraction of the cost of "real" wrought iron doors. Note that TableauxIG requires further work by a third party for its assembly into a sealed insulated glass (IG) unit.


Would Tableaux Faux Iron be a good choice for your next project?

Todos Santos Mexico for Art & Relaxation



Art in Todos Santos Mexico



I am leaving this week to go to Pescadaro and Todos Santos MX (north of Cabo San Lucas.)  I will be visiting my son & family who have built their personal home in Pescadaro just south of Todos Santos.  I blogged earlier in the year and posted pictures of the home in progress.  I am so anxious to see the finished project. My son has built it himself over a 4 year period. Lots of beautful hand work has gone into it.  I will be posting photos later this month when I get back.  The plan is to continue building some homes in the area so if you know anyone thinking about moving to Mexico be sure to give me a buzz. We are currently locating lots that we can build some nice "retirement" homes on. Between my son, my husband Don who is a  home builder and designer and myself to do interior design I think we can create some lovely vacation or retirement homes for a reasonable price.

Todos Santos is such a cute little town. I will be going to some galleries in Todos Santos where there is a nice art community.  I also plan to paint with my grandaughter while I am there.  I am a very new painter learning to paint in acrylics.  They have beautiful sunsets and; lots of ocean to see from the veranda so hoping to create something beautiful.

More people are realizing what a nice area it is, especially since Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo have become so crowded.  Now that the 4 lane hwy between Cabo & LaPaz in going through there is much easier access through the area.  I hope it won't grow too fast.  Already the Cerritos surfing beach that housed only an outside banos a couple of years ago has a bar, condos, a private high end housing development started & plans for lots more.  We have to keep going further away to find a private beach. I guess I better get my piece of land while I can still afford it. I like this one above.




Local Galleries

 

Beautiful art



beautiful beaches



Beautiful Sunsets

Lots of blue sky

And of course, the cutest grandkids in Mexico



Johnny Grey kitchen Island Design

I always love the  innovative designs from Johnny Grey, kitchen designer from England.  Here is a great example of something I just found on his web site.  This idea could easily be incorporated into a variety of styles. Finding your inspiration piece of wood (or other material) can set the tone for the whole kitchen or home design.
Notes from this post on Johnny Greys blog


Five Easy Pieces: The Cooking Island


Posted by charlotte on September 28th, 2010


When we found this piece of burr oak, it was clear that this should be the key feature for our evolved take on a cooking island. Our vision for the piece began as a series of wonky-edge planks with gaps as cladding. Imagine looking across a field at night and seeing an old barn with gaps between the boards and light peeping through. The mystery of what lies behind and the darkness all around provides a comforting feeling as well as a desire to know more. We tried to capture that quality in this design.
The glass panels behind the burr panels are hand-cast, which blurs the impact of the concealed LED lights and creates a texture like captured water. The natural concrete is the same composition as that used in garden sculpture and incorporates the colour variations and natural imperfections found in the mix.

Pictures of 2010 COBA tour home built by Artisan Homes and Design

The start of something great.

Finally got around to downloading photos of our Central Oregon Builders Assoc. tour home for this year.  Built from 100% concrete Structuralstone, it is maintenance free and highly energy efficient.  Lots of interest in this fabulous new building system.

 Fireplace BEFORE                                               

Fireplace AFTER

Reclaimed redwood from burned forest used for custom mantle

Best Kitchen, Best Master Suite, Best Landscaping & Best of Show in the $1,000,000.00 and up category.

 

Cherry cabinetry, concrete and granite counter tops

Fabulous custom front door.  Forged iron scene of Three Sisters, Aspen Lakes inset between the glass.

Dining room, Custom hutch

Custom draperies & forged iron pine cone  hardware

Entry from both sides.  Hickory floors and knotty cherry wood work

1000 bottle temp controled wine storage.

Aunt "Gertie" seems to show up at our tour homes every year.

All concrete structural stone exterior

1 acre of park-like landscaping

Getting ready for move-in.

Lots of bathrooms

Master bathroom inacludes soaking tub and oversize shower

Two Guest Suites