From the text in my title, it looks like I might need to return to grammar school, however, there is a method to this madness.
Saturday morning my husband and I were off to my newest home away from home, Lowes (some weekends it's Home Depot), when I looked up and realized what was on the flatbed truck in front of us on a highway in New Jersey.
Under a cloudless blue sky was a huge cow...well you can see it for yourself! As we pulled around to the side of the truck, I noticed that the cow was standing behind a gigantic ice cream container...you just never know what to expect when you go outside.
In the New York Times this week, I became mesmerized by an advertisement for a show opening at The American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan.
The museum is having a quilt show at the Armory called Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts. From the collection of Joanna S. Rose, they are showing 650 quilts from her collection.
Being a collector of things, I was gobsmacked by the specific nature and sheer abundance of her collection. This is just an amazing and stunning collection of history and art. I am beyond impressed!
Contemplating on the concept of limiting a collection to such a specific agenda, I wondered about my collection of vintage decorative aluminum. Hand made by mostly men and specific to the 1930's, 40's and 50's, could I hone my collection to just one idea...like maybe floral motifs? In the mosaic, there are gardenia's, roses, tiger lily's, apple blossoms made by two different artists, dog wood, chrysanthemum, poppies and Iris. Clearly these artists or artisans if you will had soul and talent. Perhaps one day I will become disciplined enough to work this collection around trays only, or vases, or, well it isn't likely that will happen.
On the home-front, the renovation work on the upstairs of our house is really starting to come along now. The bedroom/office that used to be yellow is now primer white and will be painted a pale gray/blue this week. A huge departure for me. I have never really painted a room blue on purpose before, but I am embracing a new aesthetic here. We ordered broadloom for the floor and that should hopefully be in by the end of the week. For the upstairs bedroom, I bought 2 new lamps...apparently I have been paying too much attention to those HGTV shows because when I found this lamp at Home Goods,
I told my husband that they would add just the right amount of bling to the room because it is a darker room. I believe I channeled Candice Olsen...time to finish the renovation and remember who I am. It would be wonderful to share some finished pictures with you next week!
This post is being linked to Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, Little Red House for Mosaic Monday, Smiling Sally's for Blue Monday, and It's a Cherry World for Rednesday.
♥, Susan
Holy Cow! what a sight. Loving your new lamp, it has an old Hollywood feel to it:) visiting from Between Naps on the Porch
Posted by: Dawn | March 27, 2011 at 05:43 PM
If I lived in NYC I'd be in line to see that quilt show - gorgeous!
Your re-do sounds lovely, and a big change in colour for you, so I look forward to seeing it.
Posted by: Pondside | March 27, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Great collection you have, love it! So funny you got to drive behind a cow. LOL, nice view?
Posted by: Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook | March 27, 2011 at 05:57 PM
I've seen that cow! Nice lamp, and that is just what Candice would say. I think I would never choose the same finishes and styles that she goes for, but I am always completely blown away by her reveals. As for the quilts, the first thing that came to my mind was, where does one store 650 quilts? Not something you can pile on the end of the bed.
Have a nice week!
Posted by: Tracy | March 27, 2011 at 05:59 PM
Great lamp, crazy cow trailer and what a huge collection of quilts...I've been to quilt shows and they should be called fabric art because they are truly "art"...
Have a beautiful week!!!
Posted by: Becky | March 27, 2011 at 06:08 PM
There's no way a blogger couldn't blog about seeing that cow. No way. And that quilt show...hope that you're going. Free admission? Now that's even better. It just looks amazing. Nice collection of printed aluminum. I've never seen a better one. And why limit yourself if it brings you joy. All the best with the renovations. We want to see that room with the bling added.
Posted by: Vee | March 27, 2011 at 06:30 PM
Oh wow, that is an amazing assortment of red and white quilts. I wonder how she stores them. Your aluminum collection is so pretty. I think the fact that it's printed aluminum should be specific enough....
Have a good week.
Posted by: ellen b | March 27, 2011 at 06:42 PM
Beautiful lamp! And I love the aluminums. They look like works of art...Christine
Posted by: Christine | March 27, 2011 at 06:58 PM
THat's a great lamp! And what a sight on the roads! Reminds me of the "jersey cow" that was by an ice cream place we used go to in NJ--maybe by that name!
Posted by: dotsie (aka podso) | March 27, 2011 at 07:00 PM
I think I may have seen that cow, too! I definitely saw that ad, and wowza -- what a collection! And your aluminum collection is wonderful.. maybe someday you will be in the American Folk Art Museum, too. :) Thanks for sharing, Susan. Hope to see your renovation soon!
Posted by: mary | March 27, 2011 at 08:29 PM
How funny to happen across a giant cow on the highway! I, to have a collection of hammered aluminum. When we moved from our home of seventeen years, I donated most of my collection to a charity auction, but kept some favorite Continental, Rodney Kent, and Arthur Wright pieces. I was going to donate it all, but I just couldn't -- it's just too beautiful!
Love the name of your blog!
~Amanda
Posted by: Amanda @ House Revivals | March 27, 2011 at 08:39 PM
The cow is such a fun sight to see ...lol...going for an outing in the back of a truck ;)
I'd LOVE to see that amazing red quilt collection but I doubt I'd be able to get to the Armory by the 30th. Are you going? Your aluminum collection is as equally as stunning.
It sounds like your renovations are almost over! I know you'll be so pleased with ti all, Susan,
Posted by: Pat | March 27, 2011 at 08:41 PM
Wow, the red and white quilts are all beautiful. It would be nice to walk around the American Folk Art museum.
Posted by: Eileen | March 28, 2011 at 02:05 AM
That cow came straight from Lancaster County! I recognized it right away!!
How out of placed it must have seemed to you....but around here we are used to it.
Funny.
Posted by: Becky K. | March 28, 2011 at 06:16 AM
Holy Moly - wonder what the destination for the cow was? Very cool ads and look forward to your room redo pics. Visted Home Goods myself Sunday;)
Posted by: Theresa | March 28, 2011 at 06:23 AM
Love the collection on red and white quilts, I have only one. Great lamps.
Posted by: A Garden of Threads | March 28, 2011 at 06:45 AM
That cow is something else! Thanks for sharing your blues.
Happy Blue Monday, Susan.
Posted by: Sally | March 28, 2011 at 08:03 AM
That cow must be visiting from Texas! Too funny! I love serendipitous blog fodder!
Happy Blue Monday!
Posted by: Lesa | March 28, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Hi Susan, a great title for a very interesting post. Love that huge cow. What a sight to be seen. Smile! The red and white quilts are unbelievable. I would really love to see them. There are lots of collectors out their for beautiful aluminum art work. A wonderful art with creative beauty. I so enjoyed your post today. Three in one wins me over.LOL.
Hugs, Jeanne
Posted by: Jeanne | March 28, 2011 at 03:55 PM
The quilts are wonderful...love your mosaics! So you got out...and saw a cow...I got out and saw a man swinging from a tree! heehee! Life is never dull...and aren't you glad we carry our cameras with us at ALL times! lol
Posted by: Lavender Dreams | March 28, 2011 at 04:56 PM
I would have fainted if I saw the quilts! Amazing. How did she not get bored and want to do blue? Your collection is so unusual. I love it. Great mosaic.
Posted by: MisforMaga | March 28, 2011 at 06:24 PM
A cute post. so many lovely mosaics. Happy Monday.
Posted by: Joyful | March 28, 2011 at 09:37 PM
Seeing that cow must have been surreal! Those red quilts are so beautiful displayed together like that. The aluminum decorations are neat. I've seen stuff like that. Now I'm curious on how its done.
Posted by: Suzy | March 28, 2011 at 10:52 PM
Those red geometric quilts are amazing! But oh my goodness, what really caught my eye was your hammered aluminum collection!! I collect that too. LOVE your pieces!!
Posted by: GardenOfDaisies | March 29, 2011 at 07:28 PM
I would LOVE to go to that quilt show, because red and white quilts are my favorite! And your new lamp is gorgeous. I love little touches of bling like that in a room!
Happy REDnesday,
Carol
Posted by: Carol @ Old Glory Cottage | March 30, 2011 at 07:10 AM
That cow is too much and you were at the wrong end of it :-). I'm looking forward to seeing your finished room. The lamps are lovely. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary
Posted by: Mary | March 30, 2011 at 09:04 AM
Those quilts are so beautiful..oh to have my house filled with them..
Posted by: Angela | March 30, 2011 at 11:01 AM
MOO!! Love that.
The quilt show makes me think..."road trip" lol
I will have to take pics of our hammered aluminum for you one day soon..I need a new camera. Happy soft rain day!!
Posted by: KateinNJ | March 31, 2011 at 05:10 AM
I guess that cow wasn't real,because it's too big and thy don't transport them like that. But anyway, great view, the back of a cow :)))
Posted by: Eye care | March 31, 2011 at 06:43 AM
Cows are sooo cute!
Posted by: Fifi Flowers | March 31, 2011 at 05:16 PM
I once went to that quilt show years ago. It was fabulous! Your floral aluminum mosaic is fabulous, too!
Posted by: Susan | April 04, 2011 at 02:36 PM
Loved the cow and those quilts are lovely. I thought I would quilt but realized...not....so I donated all the stuff I had collected to try it. That sure is a great lamp too.
Posted by: Donnie | April 06, 2011 at 10:18 AM
It is a pity, thawt now I can not express - there is no free time. But I will be released - I will necessarily write that I think on thjs question.
P.S. Please review 3D Glossy Icons from yourmailkept
Posted by: icons | September 21, 2012 at 09:54 AM