Here are a few homes that celebrate art. One on one. Consider bringing in just one piece of original art into your home. Have you ever thought about it? I know I never really did. I thought it was out of my reach. Now I realize that it isn't.

Long ago it used to be that even the poorest of homes had an original painting. It was thought that the art would inspire and elevate those in the home. It does. There's an energy that a painting brings with it. Look at the images of art in homes below.
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Image #1 • from Decorno
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Image #2 • from John Gruen Photography
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Image #3 • from Design Sponge
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Image #4 • from HARMONI OG KONTRAST
What feelings to you feel from the images? Does it inspire you? Do you think it would inspire your family to have art in your home? Tell us.
 
 
The Boyfriend and my 29th anniversary was a month or so ago. This invitation from Mod Memento, was the inspiration for my gift to him. 
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Image from Brianna @ Mod Memento
I decided to write our relationship in this storybook pattern. It's written third person and actually was quite easy to write. We have 29 years, with a lot of history, so it turned into 2 boards.  I loved doing it. Here is a copy of it.
Allen & Shannon's Love Story (unedited version)
File Size: 25 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

I also wanted to try this transfer method so I put the two together. It was a lot of work and wouldn't suggest it for a first timer. But, I do love the result. And he did too. Here it is hung in our home.
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The image is terribly shot but that's the only one I have right now. Sorry about that.
 Here is a slide show with a few instructions. The play button is in the top left hand corner.
 
 
Saw this website, Closet Visit, (via DesignMom.com) this morning and took a quick look-see. It's about seeing the clothing closets of the fashionably put-together. After looking at a few I noticed something. I noticed the art. 
Of course it was the art. 

This isn't a site about art, just celebrating style. But, in showing off the unique dressing choices of the women 
you catch a glimpse of their art choices. Oriental hangings, mobiles, handkerchiefs, skeletal prints, and paintings. Interestingly, most of these women had art, fine art, in their surroundings. 
Even though this wasn't about photographing their personal artistic galleries it still came through. 

The spirit of our the soul 
illustrates itself
in the chosen style of our surroundings.

It makes me think that often times the spirit of the soul illustrates itself in the chosen style of our surroundings. 
Our walls, floors, furnishings, closets, clothing, accessories and yes, art, expose us. 
Then I look around and ask what is the spirit of my soul saying in my surroundings?

 
 
This is one of the things I miss most about our house in Utah - the Zephirine Drouhin roses. There were several arches full of roses that smelled delicious. I loved going out and seeing those beauties and smelling that fragrance. It was so delightful. We've lived here for 3 1/2 years and I have planted zero roses. And after reading this post I know why it makes me sad every season when I realize that I haven't gotten around to doing it.
Shannon's Studio Utah patio garden
The peonies we planted next to the waterfall I built (which you can't see) and the stone walls and bench we built. It was a step down garden and we called it the "Pit O' Luv".
Shannon's Studio Utah patio garden
The wishing well my son (I think he was 12) and I built. My kids hand prints are in the bottom of it. I was very proud of that roof, thank you very much. There was also a fire pit below, next to the stairs (left), waterfall (right.) We laid the pavers and built the grape arbor too.
Shannon's Studio Utah patio garden
This was some of our beginning rock wall building. It's kinda scrappy. We got much better as we went.
You can see why I miss it. Well, the Boyfriend came through for me on Mother's day (with the help of the Lawyer.) He's out of the country but he had her get me my first Missouri roses. She got Don Juan's in his honor. I am a little giddy over it. I can hardly wait until they are as big as the roses we left. The boys doing the dirty work. 
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Happy Mother's Day to me. And I hope your's was as well.