Sunday, February 22, 2009

Metamorphosis Monday

I used to really dislike Mondays, but not anymore thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch and her weekly Metamorphosis Monday event! Make sure to drop by Susan's blog at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ and see all of the incredible before and after posts.
And while you're there, stay awhile and enjoy a cool glass of lemonade on Susan's incredible porch, you'll feel like it's summertime again before you know it!

Today I am sharing a different kind of metamorphosis, the one that occurs in an artist's mind as he is painting. This idea actually originated with a phone call from my husband. Late Thursday afternoon the phone rang and it was DH, who was at Pier One. Now, first you have to understand that if I want to go to Pier One, I have to drag him kicking and screaming (or at least alot of frowning). So my curiosity was piqued, to say the least. He said he was looking for props for the gallery window. DH " Do we have a bottle of red wine that I can use" Yes, we did. "Do we have a wine glass that I can use" Yes, we did. "I'm looking for a bottle glass vase" - well you may have to go to Pottery Barn for that one. "Where can I find white linen napkins or tea towels?" At this point, I was thinking of all of my tablescaping buddies in blogland, so I told him to check TJ Maxx, Marshalls, etc. In the background I can hear him clinking and clanking through all of the glass ware and I got a fit of the giggles. I told some of my blogland buds that I can't do a tablescape to save my life, but my DH was doing one! Needless to say, he wasn't amused. So I asked what kind of display they were doing, and he said he wanted to mock up two of their still life pieces so people could see what the set up looked like, and how the artist actually saw it in the final painting. So I thought, hmmm . . . this could be a great idea for Met Monday. I'm out of projects around the house (actually I'm not out of projects, I just haven't started on any of them!) So this is what I came up with!



This is the basic mock up for a piece entitled Tropical Reflections.

"Tropical Reflections" by Kyle Polzin courtesy of Windberg Enterprises

Props used for a piece entitled Island Interlude. Notice the wine bottle - DH said ours had
the "wrong" type of label, so I was shopping Thursday night for a bottle of wine with the "right" kind of label! The clerk asked if I liked this particular wine, and I had to tell him I had no idea, it was being used in a window display. I think he may have wondered if I'd already sampled some!

"Island Interlude" by Kyle Polzin, courtesy of Windberg Enterprises


The window as it looks now. DH said that they have had more people stop to look at this vignette than any other display they have done. Here's hoping that we have done our part to stimulate the economy! (Excuse the reflection in the glass, I could NOT figure out how to get this shot without getting myself in it too)

Now swing by Susan's and see what everyone else has done for Metamorphosis Monday!

40 comments:

janet said...

oh my gosh i loved your story, im still chuckling as im picturing my husband calling me from Pier 1...lol the window looks absolutely stunning
hugs
janet

PAT said...

Absolutely brilliant!

Great post!

Pat@Back Porch Musings

Michelle, All Home and Love said...

What a wonderful idea for the window! I would be one to stop and see as well. It looks great. I can imagine how you giggled having him call you from Pier 1. If that were my husband calling, I would have thought he said Lowes and I just heard him wrong. lol
~Michelle

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Oh my word Kathy, your DH did the most amazing job. I think they are all just perfect. He got the books and the seashell and even the flowers and vase and everything down just so perfect. I think he ought to do a tablescape for you. I just about died laughing when you were telling about the phone call. I do hope this stimulates the economy, because he deserves the credit. Hugs, Marty

Robin said...

I LOVE THIS! If my hubby called me from Pier 1, I would think aliens had taken over his body!LOL! Everything looks fantastic....even if your wine label isn't right...lol!

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Oh Kathy! I love this!! Your DH did an amazing job! But his phone call is the best part!! lol Great post!!!hugs...Debbie

Candy said...

Great idea. Way to go hubby!
Maybe we can look forward to a table scape from him some day.?.
Candy

Tardevil said...

Call me impressed to have a DH that came up w/ all that. My husband would HAVE TO HAVE A HIGH FEVER to willingly be in Pier 1. Love the vignettes. They & the paintings look great!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I'd be laughing too if my husband called me from Pier 1! You described my husband perfectly when you were describing yours. The window turned out beautifully! Is he ready to start a blog about tablescaping? laurie

Anonymous said...

What a cute story!! I would be scratching my head if my hubby called me from Pier One!!
It looks fantastic!
Be a sweetie,
shelia :)

Karla said...

Great post! The window turned out perfectly! Too funny about your hubby! :)

Thanks so much for your kind comment on my Met Monday post!

~Karla

~CC Catherine said...

This is great Kathy! Totally awesome! ;) ~CC Catherine

xinex said...

That turned out really good, Kath! You should let your hubby do your tablescaping...LOL!...Christine

Blondie's Journal said...

Kathy,

This was such a cute story. I can just see DH standing in Pier I, wondering what the heck he's doing in there! But the trip was well worth it, the window display is a show~stopper!!

xoxo
Janie

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

Now that's a great story. Kudos to hubby for gathering the loot, and the displays were all lovely. Linda

Dawn Marie said...

I love that display..very eye catching. I also love the idea of the tropical one, that will get me every time.

Jewel Sauls said...

Your story made me chuckle! I am trying to picture how I would feel had my DH called me from Pier 1. The window display is amazing! I did 2 tablescapes in a Recipezaar challenge where we did a tablescape based on art, but that is great how they were able to reproduce the art itself! :D Jewel

Bo said...

Hi Kathy...Give your DH an A+ for his tablescaping efforts! The vignettes really do relate to the subject matter of the art so well.
;-) Bo

DesignTies said...

This is such a unique and interesting before & after!! It's fun to see how the artist interpreted the vignettes on canvas.

If my hubby ever called me from Pier 1 asking for decorating advice, I'd wonder who kidnapped my hubby and replaced him with this alien one!! ;-)

Thanks for sharing!!

Kelly @ DesignTies

Dixie said...

Kathy... great post... I like everyone else would be worried if Ricky called from Pier One... I'd be calling 9-1-1... LOL

So creative of your DH... where is the gallery. I saw you live in Georgetown. Is it there? Wouldn't that front door and columns look great painted BLUE! ;)

blessings for the week. Dixie

Chandy said...

Love that! Thanks for sharing!

Carolyn of What Now? Tablescapes

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

Girl if my Len called me from Pier 1 I would need a life alert button..now this window looks amazing...great use of stuff and I can see a tablescape here...Add some cheese and grapes and do a wine country theme..Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria

LaurenFaythe said...

Your sweet husband shopping at Pier 1!The window definitely would make me stop and take a look!

Sue

santamaker said...

What a great idea!
It really is a 3-D work of art that we create when we do our decorating and tablescaping!

Stacey said...

Neat!! Tell you husband he's really good. :)

LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tango said...

The window looks wonderful! I would say that is quite a change from the norm, your hubby calling from Pier 1! LOL! Fun story...thanks for sharing this post.

Anonymous said...

I am so proud of you.How wonderful.See all your talent is just jumping out....ann

Paula Bee said...

What a great story-and a great idea! Paula

Tracy said...

What a great post! I'm no longer married, but I don't think my ex would know a Pier 1 from a Studio 54. Nice job on the window.

Unknown said...

Fabulous post, thanks for sharing. I don't think my husband even knows what Pier One is... he'd just send me out for what he needed! :)

KBeau said...

My husband would not be caught dead shopping for any of that stuff except the wine. However, he does have an opinion about the dishes I buy.

Misti of Studio M Designs said...

What a funny story and stunning artwork! My husband called me FROM PEIR ONE the very first year we were married to tell me he had found the perfect topiary for a shelf in our bedroom. Talk about my jaw hitting the floor! Why he thought to find something for our shelf was beyond me. I am the definite shopper in the house. LOL! Thanks for the story and for sharing this beautiful artwork.
~Misti

Melissa Miller said...

This is sooo cool Kathy!
I love it!
Kudos to your hubby. ;)

nikkicrumpet said...

I can see how that would get people to stop....I know I was intrigued by the pictures you posted. And I got a giggle from the idea of your hubby shopping in all the chick stores!

Kathysue said...

Kat what a great idea DH had and it looks amazing.Maybe you will have to partner with him to do a TT in the future.He did two great vignettes, I am totally impressed.hugs Kathysue

Lori said...

What a great story!!! The window looks lovely.
Your husband did well...
Have a great day..

Jeanette said...

The way you tell the story about his phone call to you from Pier 1 is so funny. But the vignettes are beautiful. What a great idea to bring the paintings to reality. He did a wonderful job - every detail is just perfect.

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Kathy...

Just wanted to stop by to say thank you for visiting my little frenchy studio/office and thank you for your sweet comments!!!

Ohhh my, I just adored this Met Monday post of yours!!! How very interesting!!! And I got the biggest kick out of reading your story about Pier 1 and your honey...hehe!!! My friend, those paintings are absolutely gorgeous...and I think the idea of showcasing them with the "how a painting begins" vignette was genius!!! Congratulations to your honey for doing such a successful window vignette/display!

Thank you so much for sharing this, I really enjoyed it!
Warmest wishes,
Chari

Cyndi said...

Kat,he did do a great job,very impressed! Miss you,hope in the near future I have more time to "putz around" Have a great one!
((((hugs)))) Cyndi

lvroftiques said...

How cool is that!!! Ummm me thinks the hubbs needs to be doing tablescape Thursdays!! He would do a fabulous job! *winks* Vanna