Creating a Home: Antique Markets

Hello, fellow bloggers!

How many times a day do you look at Pinterest and wish that your home could look like the pictures featured on the site? Well, it can with a little bit of bargaining and hunting.

This weekend is the best time to head to Dulles Expo Center's antique show that goes until the 5th of May. Of course, there is a small fee to get into the expo: $8.00.

What should you expect?

Zebra Skull from Africa!

• Great people
• Decent prices that are negotiable 
• Amazing finds
• The perfect pieces to fill the empty spaces in your home!

How to prepare:

• Grab a tote bag before you leave the house!
• Set up a budget! 
• My budget was $200 and I only spent $140.
• Have an idea of what you want.
• Eclectic pieces?
• Midcentury pieces?
• Girlie vases and dishes?
• Furniture
• Take a car that can hold furniture just incase you find that epic piece you can't leave without!

Great midcentury table!

What did I find?

B and I went today to search for great mid-century furniture and small, eclectic pieces for our home. I had a decent budget of $200 and left with extra money <-- so I did great, right?

The painting was sold already, but who says an artist like
myself can't paint something similar?!

I spent:

My finds :)

• $20 on a lion door knocker for my front door.
• $50 on a decent copy of Milton's Paradise Lost with illustrations by Gustave Dore.
• I can't believe I found a copy!
• $10 on Explorations and Adventures in the Wilds of Africa by Henry Stanley.
• Amazing illustrations!
• $24 on a Chrysanthemum stone
• $20 on a yellow finch figurine.
• $25 on a birdhouse for a Mother's Day gift <-- handmade!

*** All of the prices came down from the original.

What do I plan do do with them?

• The books will be used to decorate my travel bedroom for the lucky guests that stay the night with us.
• The door knocker is for our front door.
• The rock is a beautiful touch for the travel room.
• And the cute bird found a place on my plant shelf next to my orchid.

Perhaps one day I will show you the end result of my travel room!

Me exploring my new book!

Until then, enjoy hunting for treasures at antique markets!

Artomatic 2012!

Hello, fellow adventurers!

A wise man once said, "Art is a microscope, which the artist fixes on the secrets of his soul, and shows to people these secrets which are common to all."

*Warning, there is some nudity within this blog post. 

Your Mission:

Visit Artomatic.

Where:

1851 S. Bell Street, Arlington (Adjacent to the Crystal City Metrorail station)

When:

Now-June 23
Artomatic Event Schedule

Price:
Free

Description:

Artomatic is eleven floors worth of art (i.e. paintings, sculptures, photography, and musicians). Bring some cash with you because you are able to buy drinks and snacks (including alcohol).

Why:
Do you have empty walls in your loft? Well, this is the time and place to buy art to fill those empty walls. Or, maybe this is the place for you if you want to become more knowledgable in the art world. Whatever the reason, be sure to check it out!

Another talented artist creating a mural on the office building wall. 

A few of my favorite artists:

• Eye of Ra Photography: Rahul captures the beautiful essence of the human body.

• Duncan Guthery Legos: This lego art is done by a very talented 11-year-old boy!

• Melissa Burley: Melissa creates amazing showcases of technology and light.

• Jamie Downs: Jamie paints the beauty of nature.

**Artomatic was filled with plenty of artists that deserve recognition too, so maybe you can go and give them it! If you go, let me know what you liked! 

Artomatic

Have fun, fellow adventurers!

The Shadows Of The Past

Have you ever seen shadows lurking in the dark? Do these shadows scare or intrigue you?

Shadows

Andy Warhol has an exhibit that displays his artwork called Shadows. Of course, unlike the creepy shadow that you see on a dark night, the Shadows by Warhol are artistic. For the first time, all of the artwork is hung together at the Hirshhorn in Washington, D.C.  So, exactly how many Shadows are lurking around the Hirshhorn? There are 102 pieces or Shadows that are installed in the donut shaped museum until January 15, 2012.

B and I traveled to the gallery on Saturday to see the installation. B was not as impressed, but I found the two types of shadows that were repeatedly painted to be quite amazing. One word to describe it would be _______. How about you go see it yourself and fill in the blank for me!

What do you think of Warhol’s Shadows?