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January 26, 2017

Ultra-Realistic Paper Sculptures by Calvin Nicholls



It's difficult to process that these amazing pieces of art
were created with untold quantities of tiny paper snippets!
Calvin Nicholls patiently constructed these paper sculptures
down to the very last feather or wisp of fur.
Immaculately detailed. So realistic.
Appreciating the uber talented Calvin Nicholls!












Also find Calvin's work here:
Website
Facebook



Images used with direct permission from Calvin Nicholls.

January 23, 2017

Spotting Random Street Art in Philly



I love art and those who create it.
As I traipsed along a sidewalk in the University City area of Philadelphia,
an unusual mass of plastic baubles caught my eye and drew me over.
What a find!
A real collection of miscellaneous plastic stuff.
I recognized it right away as a fun form of "street art" 
 and decided that it was worthy of a nod of appreciation.
I circled it a few times, snapping photos, marveling at the creative genius. 

Tiny trinkets were wired together around a sign post.
Such a conglomeration of odds & ends!
A suction cup dart. Donald Duck.
A toy firetruck. A crab.
Plastic beads.
An "UNO" playing card.
A Spider Man action figure leg.
A whistle. A kazoo.
Clifford the Big Red Dog.

It really reminded me of the phenomenon called yarn bombing-
on the order of graffiti with a crafty bent for the knit and crochet set.
(I did a blog post on yarn bombing a while back, which you can read here.)

Sad to say, this artist must go un-named,
but whomever it was, without a doubt, had a great time
creating this burst of self-expression!
I know you're out there somewhere,
and if you happen to see this humble blog post,
know that your artistry has not gone un-noticed & unappreciated!
You brought a smile to my day. Hats off to you!

I wonder if it's still there.  I hope so.



















January 19, 2017

Capogiro Gelato Artisans ~ Over-the-Top!



I am a true-blue ice cream lover. The word "fiend" may say it better.
Gelato, however, kicks it up to a whole new level.
In particular, Capogiro gelato is my favorite. It just doesn't get any better!

Sharing some photos of a Capogiro we frequent,
located at 119 South 13th Street in Philadelphia.




They are true gelato "artisans."
( made in a traditional or non-mechanized way using high-quality ingredients)



The decor is modern and trendy. 
Arched ceiling treatment, exposed brick, distressed wood floor.





Oh, the creamy, fluffy, velvety goodness!
Did I mention that I love gelato?



If you aren't sure what gelato is, you're not alone.
Read this description that I cut from the website of one of the few places outside of Philly that carries Capogiro gelato, Mon Aimee Chocolate, in Pittsburgh, PA:

What is Gelato? 
The word gelato simply means frozen in Italian. Making gelato is a true handcrafted form of art for the palate.
Gelato is a creamy low-fat ice cream style product. The United States Department of Agriculture requires frozen confections labeled “ice cream” to contain a minimum of 10% butterfat. Fat is what gives typical American ice cream its smooth texture. True gelato butterfat is 8%. Capogiro Gelato Artisans makes gelato with a butterfat content of only 6%-7%! Gelato offers a more intense flavor than typical ice cream because the flavor is not hidden by an overabundance of fat.
The reason gelato has such a silky texture without all of the butterfat is the way it is frozen. American ice cream typically has 50 to 100% air pumped into the liquid as its being frozen. Gelato overrun is 20%. This produces an incredibly unique smoothness and a truly creamy product.
Capogiro gelato combines the intensity of seasonal products and premium ingredients to offer the most robust, complex, and fresh flavor imaginable.




Don't you love these terrific cobalt blue pendant lamps?



Oops. We dove right in before pausing a sec for a photo.
I chose cioccolato and dulce de leche -a perfect combination.
Absolutely decadent!



Their coffee is also excellent.



The Capogiro website.



January 17, 2017

The Clever Illustrations of Jessica Roux



There's no denying that Jessica Roux's illustrations draw me in.
It's her subdued color scheme, the moody depth she creates with shading,
and her subject matter, which I find especially interesting.

 Her groupings of items into themed collages are my favorites.
Take time to notice her clever choices:
cone flowers, dainty teacups, a morel mushroom, ornate embroidery scissors.

Jessica's subject matter reflects her infatuation with nature. 
I feel instantly calmed as I look through the illustrations of this talented artist.
See if you do, too.































See more illustrations by Jessica Roux:




Images used with direct permission from Jessica Roux.

January 15, 2017

Martin Luther King, Jr. - Remembering His "Four Little Children"

mercurynews


"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they
will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."

The children of Coretta Scott King & Martin Luther King, Jr., 
l to r, Dexter, Yolanda, Bernice and Martin III.

This photo was taken in 1966, just 2 years before King was killed.
A very sad day in the history of our country.


January 13, 2017

2017 Pennsylvania Farm Show Fun



A day-trip to Harrisburg for the 101st annual Pennsylvania Farm Show!
Lots to see and do here while appreciating farmers across the state.
We love to see the animals, but there's so much more!
Enjoy my photos from this terrific event!
















Every year Land O' Lakes of Carlisle donates 1,000 pounds of butter that are 
used for the Farm Show's butter sculpture, a tradition that began in 1991.
This year, the  Farm Show's theme is “Culture of Stewardship,”
so the sculpture shows some of the innovative practices
that farmers use to enrich the soil and reduce storm water runoff.
The very talented sculptors are Jim Victor & Marie Pelton.






Can't beat the taste of those German Roasted NutsAnd the aroma is divine!






Fell in love with stroopies! Yummy caramel layered between cinnamon wafers!
Learn more about them in this post:
Those Heavenly Dutch Waffle Treats Called Stroopies




We love this maple syrup! Congrats, Hamilton's Maple Products!



Lunch in the Food Court is always a yummy adventure!



Apple cider slushies - a refreshing new addition this year.



Popular potato donuts.



Everybody loves the milk shakes!



Young girls ready to show their llamas.







The husband was wowed by this booth!



"I'm really rockin' these bangs, aren't I?"
We love the ultra soft alpacas!






A huge selection of cowboy hats!









Bobby Howard, our favorite driver for the horse pull event,
grooms one of his horses before it's time to head out to the Large Arena.



And here's Bobby doing what he does best.



It's always interesting to stop and watch the auction.



Didn't win at the auction?
Here's another way to take home a hog...
and a sheep, a horse, and a cow!



Want more? Take a look at my other posts:

Here's the Farm Show website.