Friday, February 6, 2015

NaBloPoMo: Make ...Home Decor?



'Bearded Hillbilly'

Today's NaBloPoMo prompt is, "Do you tend to buy or make the decorative touches in your home?"

If you read my post a few days ago on crafts, i.e., paper trees, you will see that I rarely make my own. Frankly, I do not have the time, the energy, or the patience to make them, at least for the most part, though these trees were an exception!

Rather, I consider myself more of an artistic person, at least in terms of drawing. I didn't realize I had a talent for it until I came across some beautiful photos of orchids in a National Geographic magazine.

There were a number of them that I drew, one in particular for quite some time. In fact, one of my drawn pictures I later had framed, as I spent hours replicating the photo as best I could and felt it deserved some merit.

What fascinated me about these orchids were that some of them looked like they had human or non-human faces. Unfortunately, though I later purchased the magazine years later, it is currently in one of my storage boxes. Otherwise, I would feature the original and my version here. Never thought I'd be writing about it one day!

However, you can see the picture above of the detailed 'Bearded Hillbilly' as this particular flower was called. Rather appropriate a name, don't you think? ;)

"Desiderata" (meaning "desired things" in Latin) is a prose poem that hangs on a wall in my kitchen of all places. However, I didn't want it in my living room though I think it may be more suitable there or perhaps even in my bedroom. Read the piece and its history here.

Another favourite piece of decor as silly as this may sound is an attractive calendar - pardon the flash - this year's hanging perfectly on a narrow wall between my bathroom and the living room. My current one is called 'Treehuggers' which caught my attention immediately as (1) I love trees (2) I hug trees from time to time and (3) a social media name that I use has 'treehugger' as partof it. Thus, I thought it amusing that I discovered this "leftover" calendar on sale at Banyen Book's annual Groundhog Day (that lasts a weekend).

Over the years, I've had pieces of purchased artwork come and go like this one; it didn't seem to fit or suit anywhere in particular in my current home. I love gerberas, one of my favourite flowers (especially orange and yellow). And I love to dance and sing - the words are "dance" "sing" "love" "live" - so bought the picture and had it framed. Interestingly, the glass on this frame broke twice, once when I moved. I'm considering reframing it in plastic or perhaps just removing the frame and laminating it instead. That way it won't break!

I have a built-in shelf which I adore that lines one wall and part of another in my living room (and bedroom as well). On the longest side in my living room, I have a number of books displayed in various arrangements. 'The Ringing Cedars of Russia series' written by Vladimir Megre has such gorgeous book covers, that I think are meant to be displayed. This is why these books stand the way they do.

Though I used to have an altar, created spontaneously with various heart-shaped objects, some small crystals, cards, and the like, my place is too small to have one. Instead, I have a Burmese temple guardian made of limestone outside my door. It feels like the right spot for it as my place is too small and it doesn't feel like it belongs inside.

This 'artifact' (as I suspect it's machine made though who knows) is a story in itself. For another blog post perhaps? This one is getting too long, actually longer than I expected. I didn't know I had that much to say about this topic. ;)

What types of decor do you prefer and/or are most attracted to?

16 comments:

  1. Ah I love yellow gerberas too :) I'm a little fussy about my house decor. I enjoy collecting quirky artsy pieces that make interesting conversation. Although, I haven't been able to do anything new in my house for long due to other priorities.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I loved your decor pieces Elly. I end up buying lots of stuff and then the house gets all cluttered and then I throw it all out. That kind of goes on in a cycle!! I specially love traditional handicrafts.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love your book shelf. Looks neat and inviting ;) About home decor, I sometimes prefer hanging the artworks I made and sometimes, its the gifts I get. I am fine with both. No fussing :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. I loved the flower decor piece... so bright and beautiful. In my home I have some of my craft work as wall hangings. Love decorating the place with my works :P Narcissist I am :P

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the way you have decorated your home, Elly! The Ringing Cedars of Russia series and the Gerberas are cool! I am not artistic so all the artifacts in our home are bought from various places! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. You have some lovely, unique pieces there, Elly and I love bookcases. My home is filled with them. ☺ Alas, no talent or patience for making my own crafts.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I have some interesting home decor. A photo of the Cornell Clocktower at night, with the full moon rising behind it. a Native American sandpainting, a painting of my pet parakeets done many years ago by my friend. A hand painted saw blade. But none made by me.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Quirky art pieces sound appealing to me Vinnie! ;) <3

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks Tulika. It sure is easy to collect too much stuff, isn't it? ;) Hopefully you will be able to decorate with pieces you love, including traditional handicrafts. :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks Swathi, though that is a built-in shelf, just one and I love it too! I think it's great if you can make and display your artwork: that's great! :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks Raj. I think it's great, ideal and best if you can hang up your own craftwork! If I recall from your blog posts, they were wonderfully creative and colourful! :)<3

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks Shilpa, though I just do what I can and what feels right. There is also a beautiful big black-and white picture of arched trees in my kitchen area which ideally should go in the livingroom; however, since it is near my computer, I get to look at it often which I prefer! ;) There's nothing wrong with buying decorative pieces as not everyone is artistic and someone needs to buy artists' works! ;)<3

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks Debbie. I actually got rid of one or two bookcases and lots of books when I moved. I'm a bibliophile just like you! ;) And there's nothing wrong about NOT making crafts for display or otherwise! ;) <3

    ReplyDelete
  14. The Native American sandpainting sounds intriguing Alan. :) And no worries if none of your decor is made by you: nothing wrong with that! ;)<3

    ReplyDelete
  15. The built-in bookshelf looks very nice. And that gerbera artwork also is so cool and colourful. Though I am not really crafty as such but I love doing up my living spaces too with artwork and natural objects. But I have to practice restraint when doing so because as you know, spaces can soon get filled up :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's actually a built-in shelf (only one so not a bookshelf per se) though I made it into one! ;) I think artwork and natural objects makes for an ideal home environment Beloo! :) <3

    ReplyDelete