Beth Carver Art - Expressions of Joyful Living

Morning Kiss by Beth Carver

What do you look for in a work of art? I am drawn to works that stir the emotions in some way-- the reason I have always been drawn to Norman Rockwell's drawings and paintings. Much of his work makes you want to laugh or cry or think seriously. 

When I first saw Beth Carver's paintings, I was drawn to them in a similar way. They are free from any  element of superficiality: airbrushed bodies, retouched faces and plastic smiles. Beth's paintings strike a chord. At once you can feel that here is an artist who understands and is sympathetic toward the human plight. And it is no wonder. Beth says that the inspiration for her work and her ability to achieve the emotional impact that it generates are the result of an epiphany she had on the beach of Melbourne, Florida while thinking about the impending death of her father. She noticed a large, older woman playing in the surf with the exuberance of a child, and her joy lifted Beth's spirits. From that time on, Beth focused all her talent and skill on creating paintings centered on the precious joy of living, paintings that would make the "viewer feel the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the sea like the touch of a friend or relative bringing love and happiness."

A sampling of her work:

Pistachio

Dream Girls

Mud Flat

Beach Ball

Water Babes

Fun River

Ship Shape

Blue Cap Single Tube

Haba Haba

Snail Trails

Reel Women Fishing

To read more about the artist, go HERE. To view a gallery of original works, go HERE. For a gallery of available Giclee prints, go HERE.

Just so you know, I did not receive compensation of any kind for this post; I just like the art.

Happy Official First Day of Summer! And to my friends in the Southern hemisphere, I hope these images will bring a little touch of the summer to come to your part of the world! 

xo Keri

Hot Pink is a Neutral

"Hot pink is a neutral. Tell me one single color that doesn't look good with hot pink." --Designer Roman Alonso, when asked what working with Isaac Mizrahi has taught him. I couldn't agree more! Winter or summer, hot pink is the perfect color to bring cheer and freshness to a room. It's shades are as varied as the tastes of beholder; it is a foil for crisp whites in a bedroom; it is ultra-chic when mixed with black & white photography or drawings, and it can help create a space that never fails to bring a smile. Here are some great examples along with a few sources, just in case you suddenly have the need to create something pink.

Design collaboration Charlotte Moss & Jennifer Marsico; Bedding - Egyptian Cotton "Double Scallop", Casa Del Bianco; Wall paint (similar to shown) Glidden "Pink Tiger #81RR; Chair Fabric - F. Schumacher "Gordian Weave"
Published in Domino Magazine, April 2007

In this tiny and stylish space, the warmth of hot pink is juxtaposed against lots of cool, restful white. Photo via Luxitrend

via Inspired Design - Tumblr

Headboard and pillows in Bennison Roses in Lipstick Pink in bedroom of the lovely American Girl in Chelsea, design by T.Craig.

Bennison Roses in Lipstick Pink on Oyster linen.

Saying "Welcome Home" in a most unique and pretty way.

The beautiful Jackie Kennedy in pink, 1961.

via The French Tangerine Pink and golden yellow make a fantastic pair. 

Inspired Design - Tumblr



Forming a bond between red and deep pink is a beautiful antique textile via Trouvais.



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Painting - Tina Steele Lindsey Sorbet

In my front garden, a raspberry pink Knockout Rose standard, purchased at Home Depot still happy after a heavy rainstorm. This is the easiest rose to grow; you basically just sit back and enjoy the show.

Here's a little pink trivia: Pink has not always been identified with being "girly". In fact, not too long ago pink was considered suitable for boys only. A June 1918 article from trade publication Earnshaw's Infants Department said, "The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being more decided and stronger color, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl." -Smithsonian Mag Isn't it funny how times change? True to our modern sensibilities, we now regard pink however we choose, allowing it at times to be girly and at others completely "neutral".

Cheers!

Keri 

Ikea Snafu & "Hacks"

Ikea's Pax Bergsbo Wardrobe with Lucite Handles from The Paris Apartment. Photo of Ellie Somerville's New York apartment from Lonny Mag.

"Is Redalen a) a town in Norway b) a bed sold by Swedish furniture chain IKEA or c) something that sounds uncomfortably close to getting to third base in Thailand?" The answer is: all three, reports John Hookway of The Wall Street Journal. Oops!! What irony.

Ikea is known for its stylish, inexpensive, assemble-it-yourself furniture, its dedicated fan base and for the Swedish names that are occasionally a tongue-twisting pain to English speakers. But apparently in Thailand, those Swedish names have caused a problem of a different sort, making the reportedly conservative Thai consumer blush from furniture names that sound uncomfortably close to unappreciated crudeness. 



Max Wanger's red Ikea bookcase, packed full of treasures. Photo: Design Sponge.

Ikea's naming system was originally developed by its founder Ingvar Kamprad in the 1950s to help himself cope with dyslexia, by naming furnishings after Scandinavian places or using children's names rather than uninteresting and easily forgotten product codes. 

As the company continually expands (they currently do business in more than 40 countries and launched the fifth-largest superstore in Thailand last year) some of those Scandinavian names are getting a little customization. In Thailand for example, to avoid future misunderstandings Ikea has hired Thai speakers to help throw out or revamp anything that might cause ear-burning.

Are you an Ikea fan? Have you joined the ranks of Ikea "hackers"-- savvy consumers who use Ikea wares as an inexpensive base, then customize them for a completely new look? For those of us who love non-minimalist, traditional European leaning design, from the shelf Ikea can come off as a little too spare and modern. But with a little creativity and some "hacking" as needed, it is quite mixable with many design preferences. And the affordable prices on stylish pieces that made Ikea popular in Europe after World War II seem to never go out of style!



Ikea's 'Stenstorp' Kitchen Island Carts, $199 (above & below), 'Bekvam' stepstool, $14.99 (left) among many other Ikea wares in a colorful kitchen.

From ikeahackers.net, a kitchen custom-built with Ikea products: 'NUMERÄR' countertop, 'AKURUM' Wall, 'STÅT' drawer and doors. For details and the original article, visit Ikea Hackers HERE.

Here's another "hack" job from Ikea Hackers and Mini Manor Blog that is particularly clever. The homeowner wanted the look of built-ins without the cost, so she and her husband created them themselves starting with the simple and inexpensive half-height Billy bookcases in white priced at just 40 bucks.



Voila! For the tutorial, visit Mini Manor Blog HERE.



The super-popular Bemz Belgian linen slipcovers for Ikea seating takes them to new heights. And if you need more proof that you really can do something other than modern with Ikea furniture, this should do it:



Ikea's 3-seater Ektorp sofa in a Bemz Ruta-Eggshell Blue Ektorp slipcover. Photo Bemz blog.



While a stool covered in a printed cowhide takes center-stage, magazines stay organized in a simple wall unit. See Ikea's 'Expedit' shelving unit, $129. 

 Do tell-- have you braved the installation for some great Ikea deals? And if you've "hacked", please whisper your secrets in our ears.



Diamond Jubilee Weekend & Why Americans Love the British

Antique Sofa from Antique 2 Chic upholstered in a Union Jack pattern via Traditional Home 

Historically speaking, it does sound a bit odd, doesn't it-- Americans loving England. But it's true: once our disputes over independence were settled, the United States and England became allies, joining forces in major conflicts around the world. And American people grew fond of the charms of  England.

 I remember playing with my sister when we were children, speaking to each other in our most proper, fake English accents. It made us feel so posh. Americans love the  English accent--(I have heard Americans say that the English can curse and it sounds like poetry under that wonderful accent), the Royals, the tea-drinking, the double-decker buses, the red phone booths, the charming cottages and gorgeous gardens, the castles, the literature. Whether or not our perception of the country is accurate, we view England with nostalgia, a place and people who must (at least in our imaginations) lead genteel, quiet country lives, with old families living in gracious old properties. We are drawn to their wit; Americans love British television. And in the case of many of us design hounds, we are drawn to the design of their comfortable interiors. So in honor of The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, this very American girl gives a nod to the beauty and charm with which our friends across the pond inspire us.

via the decorista

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For more very British reading, check out the June 2012 issue of Traditional Home magazine, featuring British goods, homes and gardens.

Wishing you a Happy Weekend!