Stuff We Like

Alyne Harris

claudiaFebruary 10, 2010Inspiration, Stuff We Like

Alyne Harris is an artist worth knowing about. I first fell in love with her work when, many years ago, I found a small painting of a church in winter that had these two red cardinals in it. It was at the old Modern Primitive gallery in Atlanta and Ms. Harris was virtually unknown. I snatched up that church painting, framed it, and gave it to my best friend Catherine for her wedding. Later on, my sister Dolly and I were back at Modern Primitive and Dolly bought this incredible church choir scene by–you got it–Alyne Harris. (Still wishing I had been quicker to whip out my checkbook that day.) But recently, I found this piece of hers called “Ocala Horse Farm.” This one is coming home with us. http://tiny.cc/5qmnU.

Into the Light

Are you a two-sided southerner?

At Heart, A Rural Poet

New Discoveries

Riding My Bike

claudiaFebruary 1, 2010Inspiration, Stuff We Like

When I was little I had, like most kids, a bike I loved. Mine had a big banana seat covered in bright mod flowers, and a woven plastic basket up front with a fake flower. I put plenty of miles on that little bike–and got plenty of scuffed up knees wrecking it. The ’70s bike is long gone now, but Mike recently got me a spiffy new Diamondback so we can cycle the Chief Ladiga Trail together. Living in the city, we never ride. But that’s no excuse. Now, with 33 miles of bike trail near the farm and a connection to the Silver Comet, we’re going to get out there soon and start pedaling.

Riding My Bike

My wheels don’t seem to touch the road

As I fly through the wind.

When I look down,

The road flashes by.

When I look up,

The world is slow motion again,

And I swerve a corner,

Almost floating.

Written by Anna Williams at age 10

Barnstable, Mass.

Into the Light

Are you a two-sided southerner?

At Heart, A Rural Poet

New Discoveries

Antiquin’

claudiaJanuary 21, 2010On the Farm, Stuff We Like

Mike, Arielle and I have been hitting flea markets and antique stores lately and snagged the following:

1. Empire table (yep, that’s “Talladega Nights” playing on the TV, with Ricky Bobby & Jean Girard in a lip-lock).

2. Oak wash stand, circa 1910.

3. Something called a “dry sink” with this neat old copper liner. Mike has claimed this one for his bar.

4. For Arielle’s room, an 1880s humpback trunk/piece of luggage and a really cool primitive table (but I’m now wondering if that chipped paint has lead in it?).

one man’s trash

A new chapter

pickin’

today’s helpful hints

B. Brown ’91

claudiaJanuary 19, 2010Inspiration, On the Farm, Stuff We Like

Found this at OutsiderInside Art in Atlanta which, sadly, recently closed up shop. The painting is by Betty Brown and was done in 1991. Apparently, she was married to a well-known primitive artist who has since passed away…last name also Brown, but whose full name I can’t recall. (Where is folk art expert Randy Siegel when I need him?) Kathy, OutsiderInside’s owner/dealer who originally purchased this work, told me that as she tried to negotiate the price, Betty walked up to her painting, stood close and stared at it for a long time, then turned around to the dealer and said slowly, “Well, that cotton took me a long time to do.” Kathy relented. Ms. Brown, wherever you are, your sweet painting has found a permanent home at our farm.

Need a ‘Haycation’?

15 Years, 15 Blessings

Into the Light

Are you a two-sided southerner?

‘Bama Backroads

claudiaJanuary 3, 2010On the Road, Stuff We Like

One of Mike’s favorite things to do is to take lots of different routes to the farm. Armed with a map and a Magellan, we’ve been exploring small towns all along the way. Last weekend we traveled through Piedmont (http://tiny.cc/sPN5K) and then got lost in Nances Creek, a darling place nestled up next to the Talledega National Forest, where we saw farm after farm against the backdrop of the Appalachian foothills. I got so excited I forgot to take pictures! But here are a few shots of DT Piedmont.