A Lifetime of Roses


Today on this day of my seven year wedding anniversary, I thought I would write a bit about one of the most cherished flowers of our time ~ the rose.


My home is infused with these beauties ~



~ whether it be a tiny hand made porcelain rose from Germany I received as a gift when I was a teenager,



a vintage perfume bottle,



or a turn of the century antique compact from my Grandmother's bureau.





Details on lovely pieces of vintage furnishings I have collected,






decorative arts and remnants from wrought iron garden gates,



and those special pieces of furniture that I have hand painted.



Paper roses stashed up on a shelf in a rustic wrought iron basket,



fresh roses tucked in an old Victorian bird cage,




books about roses,





which have inspired me to paint...




...those plucked from our garden and placed in a simple silver cup,


or petite crystal vase.



Silk roses that adorn the back of my wedding dress I designed...seven years ago,



a funky silver rose ring my husband {and son} bought for me when we were in Cabo San Lucas,



and crystal baubles in the shape of rosettes dangling from this 1920's chandelier in our bedroom.



My comfy chair,





a fragile and favorite porcelain cup and saucer {too pretty to use},



and a pair of perfect porcelain angels holding rosebuds ~ keepsakes from my childhood bedroom.



{My mother had saved these for me all these years ~ we used to have them hanging on the wall in my hot pink bedroom with plastic flowers in them ~ that was a long time ago!}



Now they watch over me carefully perched on top of a dresser.


I once took a ceramics class and attempted to make a rose topiary tree...


...it was one of the most difficult projects I have ever undertaken! One of the roses fell off in the kiln and the instructor put it back on the tree...but not quite where I originally had it growing. Kudos to those talented ceramicists out there.


Roses embellish my environment so subtly every day, and yet without obvious intent seem to be an integral part of the design of things around here. I do not think of my home as frilly or overly feminine at all, but taking this closer look you would never know that I live here with a house full of males ~ husband, son, and now rabbit.

With all this chit chat about vases of roses in silver cups and crystal vases, tucked here and there you would think that we had the state botanical gardens in our back yard. Oh, so not so...we have only three rose bushes...



...which produce these pretty delicate white roses that are so precious and delightfully fragrant. {Growing roses in our climate and landscape is a bit tricky, but I have had success with this variety.}


So, last month we planted three new rose bushes in our back garden ~ tea roses by the name of Rosa Whisper. These I know will be stunning. Let's just hope the ladybugs keep the aphids away.



I know that roses are not a unique subject to photograph, paint, or draw, there are so many layers of each one to capture with the lens, brush, or pen ~ not to mention their classic beauty. But I love photographing, painting, and sketching these glorious flowers and creating art with them in some form or another.


I will show you soon some beautiful one of a kind booklets and paper gifts I have made that are now available in my Etsy shop and some fun products that I have created in my Zazzle gallery too.


Thanks so much for your visit.

Ciao amici,
Suzanne

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