~*VERTICAL GARDENS*~ by Patrick Blanc

Hello All.

I haven't been posting as frequently in the past few weeks
and for the I apologize.

I just had waaaay too much craziness going on!

As they say; when it rains, it pours.

My nephew was very sick and ended up in the hospital for a little over a week.
Then I got sick with the flu which was temporarily debilitating.
AND to end on a more positive note, I got a new job!

So starting this coming monday I will be teaching Art to kids aged 2-15! Yay :)


Now back to what I have recently been inspired by and that is the

VERTICAL GARDENS

I recently came across by

PATRICK BLANC

So the building that sparked my interest was the Qua Branly Museum in Paris (below).

I thought:
How did I not see this when I was in Paris???

France's Blanch creates living walls that are vertical arrangement of plants and other organisms that naturally removes toxins and unhealthy contaminants from the air that we breathe. Living walls can be complete ecosystems or simpler configurations of plants that thrive in and help to decontaminate urban environments.
Not only does the vegetation improve the appearance of the wall, it also improves air quality and energy consumption.(karimcintoshdesign)

QUAI BRANLY MUSEUM

Paris

Completed in 2005

Architect: Jean Nouvelle

"On a load-bearing wall or structure is placed a metal frame that supports a PVC plate 10 millimetres (0.39 in) thick, on which are stapled two layers of polyamide felt each 3 millimetres (0.12 in) thick. These layers mimic cliff-growing mossesand are support the roots of many plants. A network of pipes controlled by valves provides a nutrient solution containing dissolved minerals needed for plant growth. The felt is soaked by capillary action with this nutrient solution, which flows down the wall by gravity. The roots of the plants take up the nutrients they need, and excess water is collected at the bottom of the wall by a gutter before being re-injected into the network of pipes: the system works in a closed circuit. Plants are chosen for their ability to grow on this type of environment and depending on available light." -wikipedia

ATHENAEUM HOTEL
London

Completed in 2009

This is such an amazing idea.

CAIXA FORUM

Madrid

Completed in 2007

Architect: Herzog & de Meuron

PONT MAX JUVENAL
Aix en Provence

Completed in 2008

I'm always all for anything that brings some nature and whimsy into the city.

And on top of the fact that its functional, in that it helps to create better air quality within the city, it is also aesthetically very pleasing!

LE BLANC MESNIL - FORUM CULTUREL
Paris

Completed in 1999

PACHA, THE DRIVER

London

Completed in 2009

LES QUATRE TEMPS, PORTE DE PARIS, LE DEFENCE
Paris

I love the dimension in this wall.
It's as though Blanc took an exotic field and placed it vertically on the wall.

Completed in 2006

DOLCE VITA
Lisbon

Architect RTKL

There is an amazing sculptural and clean quality to this large installation.

Completed in 2009

CREDIT DU NORD, HEAD OFFICE

Paris

Architect: Dominique Marrec

Sooooo pretty.

Completed in 2010

PRIVATE HOUSE
Seoul

Blanc's Vertical Gardens really are popping up all over the world!

Completed in 2002

PRIVATE HOUSE

Brussels

 Architect: Philippe Samyn

Completed in 2005

I think that I would like to take a course to learn all about
succulent plants


THEN
I am going to try and create my own smaller version of a Vertical Garden!

I'll let you know how that goes ;)

I will have a PORCH.

I am forced to stay home from work today because of being sick.

So here I am in bed, dreaming of the house that we 

(my husband and I) are going to buy in the (hopefully) near future. 

I can't say what it's going to look like since we haven't even started looking yet 

BUT

What I do know is that one thing that I am really hoping it will have is a

PORCH.

(via push-pins)

Front, back, side, screened, covered, uncovered...

it doesn't really matter.

(via sunsurfer)

I say that because know that for your first house I can't be too picky.

(via momoy)

BUT 

(via myhomeideas)

When I do have enough $$$ to be picky, I would love it if my future porch could come even close to how amazing some of these are.

(via pinterest)

I love the idea of putting a bed (or three) out on a porch!

Of course that wouldn't really work in Ottawa...but I can dream right?

This black and white porch has such grandiose appeal.

(via inspiracionline)

But although grandiose is nice,

 I really love the cozy feeling of a more rustic porch.

(via newlyweddiaries)

And as I dream about porches and houses,

I can't help but dream about the even nearer future when the weather improves!

So come on Spring...lets go already.

My Never Ending Battle With My HAIR...

I have probably just spent an hour sitting here, browsing pictures on the internet, to try and figure out what to do with my hair.

If you are following this blog then you know that I had grown my 

DIRTY BLONDE HAIR 

(see below) out for my wedding last August...

me at our wedding

And then proceeded to dye it 

BRIGHT RED 

(see below)

me with my super bright hair

This was accomplished with a semi-permanent colour.  

(You can read about this here.)

It washed out waaaaaay too quickly so I decided to try and find a permanent red that would be vibrant and easier to maintain.

I soon found out that a 

RED thats easy to maintain 

does. 

not. 

exist.

However, if you're curious, the best brand and shade I found was 

L'Oreal Feria (Power Reds) in Ruby Rush (R68) 

I never really got an excellent picture of how vibrant it was RIGHT after dyeing.  It had kind of a pinkish tone to it.  So if you're looking for a natural look I would stay way from the Power Reds.

BUT 

  

I did take a picture after a handful of washes.

And just now....after a handful more.

Now I have been thinking of going lighter again.

I know, I know, never satisfied as my husband would say.

If it were up to him I would never have dyed my hair...ever.

But, although I love him and value his opinion, 

Its not really up to him ;)

I love to experiment with my hair colour.  

Most people upon finding out that my natural colour is 

BLONDE think that I'm crazy to dye it.

But there are lots of blonde people out there and I prefer to stand out.

HOWEVER 

In this case I think I am interested in going super blonde, which I have never attempted.

I usually go in the opposite direction.

To achieve this I am thinking I might need to take baby steps since going from a dark and bright red to a platinum blonde would probably make my hair fall out at this point.

SO what I was thinking of was going to a 

STRAWBERRY BLONDE first.

These were the closest pics to the colour I'm thinking of that I could find.

I think I would trim and layer my hair A LOT and maybe work on growing out my bangs so that I can achieve 

THIS CUT AND COLOUR.

I'm not sure why but this cut seems a little more "grown-up" to me.  

But its still fun and cute.

Plus I could wear it straight like this when I want to be more polished or let my naturally wavy hair do its thing when I want to be more casual.

 I think I could work it ;)

Thoughts?

~*LINDSEY CARR*~ Delicate and Natural.

I was browsing the internet the other day looking for some reference images of antique botanical drawings for a tattoo that I would like to draw up when I cam across an artist who's work stopped me in my tracks.

Her name is

Lindsey Carr

Her paintings have a very natural and antique feel to them while remaining fresh and interesting.

Of course I couldn't resist sharing!

NATURAL DARK

I have to say that sometimes it's nice to come across an artist who's work is sort of a throw back to a time when Art was a fine craft that took time and care. 

Don't get me wrong.  I love Modern Art.

But there is definitely always going to be a place in the world for more traditional forms of art like this.

I can really appreciate sticking to what you love and have always wanted to do as an Artist as apposed to jumping on the "Neon Sign Train"... so to speak.

HALCYON DAYS

GREAT HORNBILL

FLAMINGO

WHITE HERON

GARDEN

This (above) is my favourite.  

So pretty and feminine with a nice graphic quality to it.

OILED SCARLET IBIS

DUKKHA

THE SPOILS OF WAR

GENERATION OF VIPERS

THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF INTOXICATION

I'm also particularly fond of this one.

THE FOX CONFESSOR

To check out more of her work click on her name at the beginning of the post

AND

if you are interested in purchasing any of her prints, check out her Etsy Store here :)