PRAIRIE AVE HISTORIC DISTRICT

Chicago is such a fascinating city. I never really cared much about architecture until I moved here. The facades of some of the old buildings are a marvel to look at. It is a shame that so many of them have been razed over the years. Yesterday I took a walk through the Prairie Ave Historic District in the South Loop. Some of the wonderful houses that are in this area were home to many of Chicago's most prominent families. There is a walking tour and museum that you can visit the website is listed here. http://www.glessnerhouse.org/Neighborhood.htm


This is the Widow Clark's Greek Revival built in 1836. It is the oldest house in Chicago. There is a wonderful park surrounding it (Chicago Women's Park and Gardens). William Kimball House (of the piano maker), 1892, now home to the US Soccer Federation.
They just don't make them like this anymore!
Joseph G Coleman House, 1886, also home to the US Soccer Federation.
G. Keith House, 1870, above.
Marshall Field Jr House, 1887, below. It is now sectioned into 6 condos and one is for sale now for a cool 1.2 million if you need a whole lot of extra space.
Wheeler Kohn Mansion, 1870. Now a B&B.

FILE UNDER FISH

This is my ugly old filing cabinet. I decided it needed a little pizazz so I added some paint and a little wrapping paper. Much better!

THE BUGS AND THE LEAVES

If spring is the time of new awakenings, then fall is the time of business. Everywhere I looked this weekend I saw busy creatures preparing for the coming cold weather; and plants producing their last morsels to fatten up all of us preparing to hibernate.

Busy bees keep fall's color alive!
Hungry beetles
These mushrooms were so big a frog could take a bath in their puddles.
Spider spindling
Squash growing
This should be called the Pumpkin Iris!

ON THE WALLS

The instant gratification I get from creating beautiful walls is one of my favorite accomplishments. I also love to gather photos of other peoples "wall art." These are some of my favorite along with some that I created.Now I could really relax in that bath. (artist David Carter of London)
I think this wall is so beautiful. I found it on another blog and want to keep it as a reference.
These two photos were done by Meera Dabir. I would love to try something like this someday.

I love how this bathroom turned out for my client.

One of my favorite old world techniques. I used two coats of Marmorino and an over glaze to give it some depth.
The burnished plaster walls in my dinning room.
This is my fireplace. I used several colors of Marmorino plaster to achieve this rustic look.

GRANDMA'S QUILTS

This is my Grandma Bales. She has been making wonderful quilts for most of her life. So many, in fact, that her closets, cupboards and dressers are stuffed with quilts, quilt tops and fabric scraps. I, along with my siblings, parents, cousins and aunts and uncles are blessed to possess many of her creations. I can not even begin to predict the massive quantity of hand stitched quilts she has made in her life so far, probably thousands. She is an inspiration and I am beginning to learn her craft. Here are some pictures of her quilts and the beginning of my very first one as well.




This is a tag from an entry in a fair.
I just got this one. Judging from the yellowed coloring it is probably a very old one.
This was a Christmas gift one year.
Beautiful Double Wedding Ring quilt top that I can't wait to hand stitch. It will be wonderful to have a quilt that we both worked on to hand down to my kids someday.
The basket quilt is one that my great grandmother on my mom's side worked on with my grandma Bales from my dad's side. It is my oldest quilt and my very favorite!
Who knew pink and chocolate would be so popular together. Grandma made this one for Kevin and I when we got married.
My well loved baby blanket.
My brother, Joey's baby blanket.
I love the vintage fabrics in some of these quilts.
This is another very old quilt that I don't know very much about.
Royal blue was my high school's color. Grandma gave me this one when I graduated in 1989.
This one was made from place mats!
I remember using this one to cover up my baby dolls when I was a toddler.
Another Christmas gift.
An old quilt top waiting to be quilted. Below is the one she made me when I was four. I remember her asking me if I wanted one with little girls on it and I told her no, I wanted houses, so she made me houses!
Now, this is the one I am working on. It will probably be years before I finish it, as I am doing it entirely by hand. No sewing machine here.

FABULOUS FALL

Fall is here! The warm, brilliant colors of autumn always get my creative juices flowing.




This beautiful photo was taken in the Chicago area by Chuck Hagen from Oak Lawn. I found it on our local news channel. Who knew Illinois could look like a fall rainbow?!
This is a painting I did that was obviously inspired by the colors of fall!