Glass, glass everywhere. From simple drinking glasses to Chihuly chandeliers, the making of utilitarian as well as decorative objets d’art from glass dates back to the middle of third millennium B.C. in areas such as Syria, Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. The primary chemical compound comprising glass is silica, the same substance found in a grain […]
décor
Posted inThe Home
Kitchens Galore
With elements like Wi-Fi-connected appliances, intelligent food devices and new cooking methods, the kitchen has a lot of potential in the tech world. Even with all of the technology, a new kitchen still has to take into account the finishes and materials that will stay on trend for years to come. An Artisan Redesign Accommodates […]
Posted inThe Garden
Love of Flowers Travels from Holland to the Key Peninsula
From not being able to afford flowers when she moved to the United States to having a business designing gardens large and small, Patricia Ruff has traveled far. Her love of flowers and her need to create helped her begin digging in the dirt. In turn, her artistic aspirations using nature as her canvas brought […]
Posted inThe Home
Art in Residence
When it comes to interior design, Diana Bennett Wirtz Kingsley wrote the book. Really. An artist and holder of a master’s degree in interior design, Kingsley authored “Hand Drafting for Interior Design” during her years of teaching at the Art Institute of Seattle. The book is a popular text in a hundred colleges across the […]
Posted inThe Home
Cut and Dried — Lasting Flower Arrangements
Traditional dried-flower arranging is an art that seeks to capture the beauty, form and color of flowers in their peak of bloom and suspend it in time. This practice uses tools such as glycerin, silica gel, flower presses and microwaves to control the drying for realistic preservation. With these tools, flowers and foliage can last […]
Posted inThe Home
How Comfy is Your Comfort Zone?
A great deal has been written about mental comfort zones. The internet is full of Venn diagrams with a puny circle titled “your comfort zone” and a large circle with no overlap titled “this is where the magic happens” — implying that you must leave your comfort zone altogether to experience any magic. The notion […]
Posted inGardeners Corner
DIY Projects to Improve Your Outdoor Living Space
Are you taking advantage of your yard and maximizing its potential as a living space? All you need is a bit of time and energy to transform your yard into the perfect place to spend time with family and friends. “There are so many projects homeowners can do themselves to increase the appeal and usability […]
Posted inThe Garden
A Personal Retrospective on the Gig Harbor Garden Tour
This year, the Gig Harbor Garden Tour is celebrating its 20th anniversary. During the years of my involvement with this event, I have met many generous gardeners as well as volunteers who have dedicated many hours to the tour’s success. On one of my first garden tours, I remember introducing myself to Sue Goetz. It […]
Posted inPeople & Places
Where Does Art Go?
Disposing of art is a sensitive subject. Having too much “stuff” can be quite a dilemma — but having too much art, unwanted art or art that doesn’t fit the décor is really a dilemma, because just the word “art” connotes a certain reverence. The “Got Stuff” article in the last issue did not include […]