The Aesthete's Alphabet - J is for Jugs

 

I have long had an obsession with jugs. I have been collecting white and cream ones for many years but have now finally forced myself to stop. The withdrawal has been hard. I seem to be drawn to them, like a moth to a flame. If I came across a giant one like this one below, I know that I would fall off the wagon!

 

 

I justify it ....saying to myself, or anyone who cares to listen....that they have such varied uses...as vases for flowers, containers for cutlery on the table, as a holder for wooden spoons next to the stove, for watering pot plants, filling bird baths, I could go on and on. But if I am honest, mine are mostly decorative.

When I first started oil painting classes may years ago, my first paintings (see below) were of jugs. Anyone visiting our house would be instructed by my sweet husband to "come and see my wife's jugs" !?! I suspect the male visitors were always somewhat disappointed!

 

 



But enough of my prattle, I will let you enjoy these images quietly on your own...

 

I will end this post with a picture of a painting my favourite artist, art teacher and friend, Belinda Arde. See my sidebar for a link to her website.

 

Stay tuned for k is for......

 

Till next time

 

Sharon x

 

Image source: Image 2 Veranda Mag, Images 5, 10 25 & 32 Own pictures, Image 11 via Design Chic, Image 16 Tone on Tone, Image 37 Belinda Arde, all other images via pinterest and Tumblr

 





The Aesthete's Alphabet - I is for Ivy

 



I know many gardeners who are not that keen on ivy, finding it too invasive. Not being possessed of the greenest of fingers, I find ivy a very useful plant to have in my garden. Quick growing, evergreen and hardy, it can hide unsightly walls or fences in no time at all. It also works fantastically as a ground cover, requires very little maintenance and can be pruned and trained into whatever shape or form is required. Frank Lloyd Wright, architect and interior designer is attributed with saying "Doctors bury their mistakes, architects cover them with ivy". The picture below is of an area in my garden where I battled to get anything to grow very well because of the shade and bad soil. The ivy hides a horrible vibracrete wall and works as a ground cover between the pots.

 

 

Ivy can also be grown indoors as long as it is exposed to sufficient light. Planted in a beautiful urn or decorative pot with the stems trailing down, ivy makes a wonderful table decoration. Have a look at these images and see what a versatile plant ivy can be and maybe you too will be converted.

 









 



 

Stay tuned for J is for..............

 

Till next time.

 

Sharon x

 

All images via Tumblr and Pinterest

The Aesthete's Alphabet - H is for Hearth

 

 We have been in the grip of a heatwave here in Cape Town so a roaring fire hasn't been top of mind, but a combination of landing up with a bootload of firewood, a very welcome rainy day and reading about all the ice and snow in the northern hemisphere, somehow made it an appropriate choice.

 

 For centuries, the hearth was such an integral part of a home, usually its central and most important feature, so even though hearth is quite an old-fashioned word, the feelings it conjures up of cosiness, family, togetherness and comfort are all things we still strive for today.  Here are my favourite "hearth" images for you to enjoy....



So .....friends.....keep those home fires burning....

 

Till next time

 

Sharon x

 

Image Source: 1. Euro Antiques Market 2. Saladino 3. Via Splenderosa 4. via vanapers.be 5. via From Purdue to Provence 6. Charming Spaces 7.  Via Cote de Texas 8. via House to Home 9. via Latte Lisa (Photo Morton Germund) 10. Charming Spaces 11. via Splenderosa 12, 13 Tumblr 14. Casa Decorada 15. Via Doesn't Cost the Earth 16. Belgian Pearls 17. Cote de Sud via Linen and Lavender 18. Roses and Rust 19. Unknown 20 via Interior Designipedia