Celebrating Etsy artists: Photography

The Web can be a great source of inspiration and when I am looking for ideas, nothing inspires me more than looking at other artists' works. 

I am often surprised at the quality of the artworks one can find on Etsy. Today for example, I stumbled upon these fantastic black and white photographs from artists I didn't know before - and I'm glad I found them! Their pictures are all available for sale in their Etsy shops:

Windows by Peraboom, $19.

Oak trees in California by AdamOttavi, $40.

Unknown Pub Manchester by Everythingok, $20.

Bird in flight by Handsartshop, $25.

Kitty by Valeriavacca, $50.

And while I am at it, here are a few pictures from artists I personally like (not on Etsy):

Ice Cubes by Pauline Prenat. More pictures on her page here (website in French).

 

The Necessary Distance (2009) by Morgane Demarchi. More of her artworks on her flickr page here.

 

Untitled (Basilica de Guadalupe, Mexico City) by Carlos A.Vargas Arteaga. You can see more of his works on his website, here.

What do you think about these pictures? And what about you - do you have a favourite photographer or is there a photograph out there that you're especially fond of? If so, please share in the comments below ;-)

New Facebook page!

Just a quick note to say that I opened a new Facebook page!

You can see it here.

Please like this page to get news about my shop, Etsy, this blog and Arts and Antiques in general!

Thanks and see you there!

Ally

Great Etsy treasury by Thelongacreflea: The 1885 Home

robinseggbleun... $78.00	TurtleHillShop $125.00	thelongacrefle... $180.00	EitherOrFinds $35.00
robinseggbleun... $298.00	marypearlsvint... $112.00	Dentwood $40.00	phunctum $10.00
MISSIONMOD $49.00	ohiopicker $24.00	marypearlsvint... $4.95	momentofnostal... $18.00
LizAArt $40.00	ourtimecapsule $45.00	RustAntiques $12.00	SusieQsVintage... $10.00

Just spotted this great Victorian treasury on Etsy: so many fantastic finds!
Congrats to Thelongacreflea :)

Bon appetit! Using still life pictures to decorate your kitchen

When I noticed that a neighbour was throwing away this vintage painting, I couldn't help but ask him if I could keep it. My lovely neighbour was happy with me taking it away and I was excited to have finally found THE picture I was looking for to decorate my kitchen!

Okay, the painting was in a grim frame and had a nice layer of dirt on it. However, it was worth spending time cleaning it as I love the idea of decorating kitchens with this kind of pictures. Here are some stylish kitchens with this type of vintage-style still lifes:

(Above the chopping boards, on the right) Katrin Arens's kitchen, photograph by Jordi Canosa.

Above the stove - from the CountryLiving website.

Susan Jenkins's colourful kitchen / art gallery

On Etsy, one can find any kind of still life pictures, vintage or not, often for a very reasonable price. Here are some of my favourites:

Pomegranate and Turnip, original oil painting by SuzannesStudio, $35.

 

Paint by numbers still lifes by Kitschcafe, $22.

Vintage still life oil on board by Vintagehomerecycled, $31.

 

Something a bit different: beaded still life by LoverlyVintage, $18.

Jalapeno and a Half by Polly Jones, original still life, $50 at PollyPainting.

 

What about you? Do you dream of a vintage kitchen? How would you decorate it? Please share your ideas in the comments below ;-)

Happy leap year day (or the day your girlfriend may propose)

Happy leap year day! 

According to an ancient British tradition, leap years are the only time when women are allowed to propose marriage to men. Some claim that this tradition dates back to the 5th century, when St Bridget of Kildare complained to Saint Patrick about women having to wait so long to get a proposal. Saint Patrick then decided that women would be allowed to propose marriage to men every leap years, thus balancing the relationships between genders in the same way that leap year day balances the calendar.

In 1288, Queen Margaret of Scotland passed a law forcing any man refusing a marriage proposal to offer the poor girl a kiss, £1 or a silk gown (which is quite cheap and insulting compared to the girl's disappointment, I think). In Denmark, he would have to offer twelve pairs of gloves (to cover her shame of not wearing an engagement ring) and in Finland, enough fabric for her to make a new skirt (I don't quite get what is the explanation or symbol behind this tradition, though).

Finally, the traditional way of dressing up for proposing on leap year was to wear breeches. However, probably because of the low success rate, breeches were replaced by a pretty red petticoat.

Personally, I don't give a Mason jar about leap year day. However, good luck to anybody who knows about this tradition and plans to propose today! If it is the case, you may be interested in these Etsy finds:

Pretty 1890s breeches by Greatestfriend, $380.

Red crinoline petticoat by Pistolpoppy, $28.

Vintage leap year comical postcard by Imagesofthepast, $6.

Victorian man wedding ring by AncientAdornment, $70.

And for more comical postcards about women proposing on leap year, take a look at this Slate magazine page.

Happy leap year day to all again!

Vintage love is in the air!

I'm in the mood for (vintage) love! Check out these beautiful and romantic finds on Etsy:

vintage lingerie / ... DearGolden $60.00	Victorian Valentine... LaMeowVintage $25.00	ANTIQUE VICTORIAN S... RobinsNestMidw... $90.00	Antique Lot of Love... reginasstudio $9.95
1823 Large 3-Page M... bananastrudel $90.00	Vintage Italian Mos... CatsEyeFinds $68.00	1960s lingerie / v... DearGolden $42.00	10K Gold Antique Ar... laurenrosedesi... $329.00
Vintage Amor Framed... JaanasVintage $25.00	1950s burlesque fre... laboheme $50.00	Vintage Victorian S... atticism $14.00	vintage victorian l... FrenchFrouFrou $9.95
Vintage Welsh Love ... BlueAngelJewel... $12.50	1900s Antique beade... KellettKreatio... $79.00	Antique French post... minouc $3.00	Silver Valentine Ar... SundayandSunda... $1495.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Are you planning a vintage Valentine too? If yes, let us know what you are doing in the comments below! :)