Jeanne, sweet! I could look at pictures all night. Love to see all the neat things that come out here. Those are some old blocks huh? I know because I had some just like them years ago.... Love your wire cloche and I think your new material will look great with it. Such a nice choice. Sorry, but I laughed so hard when I read "white bunny from HL...already showed you but now it's been glued ... I knocked it off & broke it's ears that holds a placecard! If I could change the fact it broke I wouldn't of laughed but since I can't, I'm still laughing the way you stated it. I had such a long day at work and am probably just overly tired! However, I'm still thinking it's funny the way you put it. Oh, BOT, I love your pitcher and egg. Sweet that you still have the Easter card from DD last year to use. Thanks and sure glad your here all the time with a great sense of humor. Punk

Gave me quite a shock to see my name in a forum title! (WhewÂthe responsibilityÂ) I just got off the phone with my friend the photographer, Carol Robinson. She has her own website, www.carolrobinsonphotography.com , but does not sell directly from there. If someone sees an image they like there then they contact her for more information. It turns out the site she uses most is Art.com. I know a lot of 2D artists, both photographers, printmakers, and painters, and thatÂs where they sell as well. I donÂt know where you live, but if you cannot get to a "real live" art fair thatÂs probably the next best thing. Carol says that on Art.com you can choose your format, framing, etc., with almost infinite options. And you are still getting a limited edition piece, not something produced by the millions. I should say that I am an artist, though not 2D, and meet a lot of other artists at art fairs. In the off season we are chatting on our own art fair forums. Over the years I have bought from a lot of them, and most of my decorative accessories are from other artists. Many artists have pieces reasonably priced, especially since there is no middleman getting a cut. You can get something nice and get a nice warm glow from buying American. If you want to find an art fair near you there is a site called http://www.artfaircalendar.com/ There is also Guild.com, and The Artful Home, https://www.artfulhome.com/ both of which sell works of independent artists exclusively (as opposed to design firms or "brands"). Those 2 sell furniture, sculpture, lamps, jewelry, etc., not just wall art. Among most artists Etsy is considered the place where amateur hobbyists or beginners sell. Some of the stuff there is both cheap and cheap-looking, to my mind. I canÂt figure out how some of these folks are making any money on what they are selling. But IÂve only been there once. I checked it out when it was discussed on the artists forum when someone asked if it was a good place to sell. I didnÂt care for it, but I ran through pretty fast. There may be good stuff there but there is SO much that is bad, so how to tell? Look carefully before buying. And here comes my disclaimer: I personally have no affiliation with, or have work on any of these sites. Hope this is helpful!

I don't think the iron piece or the clock bring the color and softness to the fireplace that needs to be there to balance it with the rest of the room. I am pretty sure this was discussed before, but have you considered applying some type of conditioner or finish to the stone to warm it up? You can see from your pix that it reads very grey and cold compared to the rest of the space, and I think warming that stone up will go a long way toward integrating it better. In fact, if you did that, you wouldn't necessarily have to worry about colorful art. Second, I think you really need to consider painting the fireplace surround, either in a black or an aged bronze look. The brass really doesn't fit the feel of the warm and cozy space you have created. I agree with those who have suggested you need to group things more on the top of the ec. Rather than a line of items making essentially another row around the top, having a couple of more substantial groupings will carry the eye through the space with more interest. Use some stacks of books in a couple spots to elevate the various pieces and add more color. Add pillar candles to the candleholders in a rich red to bring some color in and increase the visual height impact. I would also take one of the smaller green plants and tuck in the bird cage, with the door open and the plant spilling out. I would also look for a tall floor plant to place at the end of the entertainment center, down by the console table, to break up that solid wood panel there. You could also hang three small art pieces, one in each panel, to help bring the eye into the space rather than have it stop dead when it hits that wooden wall on the end.

Oh AuntJen they're beautiful! Thank You! I'm so drawn to the moodiness int he pictures. I really like the Winter 2010 gallery of Wild Horses. Teacats - I found the print on art.com and 1 other large horizontal that I thought was in the same style as the one I posted. I want to counteract the 'formalness' of my gallery walls in the office by doing a picture ledge around the LR and casually leaning black and whites all around the room in one horizontal line.