Day Trip: Chihuly Collection in St. Petersburg, FL

A dear friend and I spent the day together driving over to St. Petersburg to see this lovely (but small) collection of Chihuly art glass.  The art glass was beautiful and the time together talking and having lunch was an added bonus.  It's a very small collection, so don't make a special trip, but if you are in the Tampa area, it would be a nice outing for an hour or so. There are other museums in the area for a field trip as well.

Here are a few photos...

Tonya Travelstead / Chihuly

Local event: Winter Park Autumn Art Festival 2013

I have not been to this in many years.  My husband and I spent the morning at this lovely show that features only Florida artisans.  It was excellent and and lovely fall day for it.

Winter Park Fall Art Festival 2013

Art in schools

We had breakfast with friends this morning and afterwards hit a fundraiser sale at a local private school (+ a couple of estate sales).  I love seeing creative artwork in the schools. I hope the public schools don't give up this important part of education.

Holiday Art Contest

Just in case you don't receive our local newspaper, there is a Holiday Art Contest coming up for children in kindergarten through 5th grade.  My own children entered this and received awards when they were younger.  For homeschoolers, it's a nice incentive to create some special Christmas artwork and share your faith at the same time.

Holiday Art Contest

The deadline for entries is Monday, December 3.

More details HERE.

Friday Nights at the Morse Museum in Winter Park FREE

My husband and I really enjoy visiting the Morse Museum in Winter Park every now and then.  I have a teacher membership there.  I just wanted to make sure that you mark your calendars for these FREE evenings of live music and art.  The first event is not tonight, but NEXT Friday, November 11.  Lovely date nights  during the holidays.  Take someone special, your well-mannered children and/or or just go yourself and be surrounded in beautiful music and art.  We have never done this but are planning on it this year.  Come join us.

November through April, the Museum provides free admission every Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with live music on the second Friday night of the month and every Friday evening throughout the holidays: November 26 through December 31. The schedule also includes occasional art demonstrations and family tours.

The first performance:

November 11, 2011  Beautiful Music  La Belle Musique Chamber Trio (cello, flute, violin)

HERE is the link to the complete schedule.

Orlando Gallery Hop Third Thursday of the Month

One of my artsier friends let me know about this monthly event  [the 3rd Thursday of each month] in downtown Orlando.  Sounds like fun.  Mark your calendar for  October 20 to check it out.

As far as I can tell from the site, it is a free event except for the cost of parking.

The third Thursday of every month, thousands of visitors converge in the core of the Downtown Arts District for the 3rd Thursday Gallery Hop. They come to celebrate art and partake in an evening of sights, sounds, food, shopping, and cosmopolitan fun. 

Though many shops are open earlier, the Gallery Hop officially starts at 6:00 p.m. and runs to 9:00 p.m. with restaurants and bars staying open considerably later.
On a typical Hop, series of galleries and non-traditional art venues (think restaurants, boutiques, and salons) spotlight the best of established and emerging Orlando-based artists as well as the works of nationally and internationally acclaimed artists. Street artists and performers settle into the many nooks of the District to entertain the throngs of Downtown fanatics. Up-and-coming bands, dance troupes, even mimes and stage characters add to the unforgettable experience. Expect the unexpected as each month is uniquely an experience in art and culture.

For more info, go to THIS LINK.

Homeschool Field Trips From Your Home : Art Museums Around the World

I have really got to sit down this summer and learn about all the new things Google is doing and has available.  I keep hearing about Google docs, Google earth, Google photos... they have it all covered.  You can check out the  many options available to you at THIS LINK.  I think the only one I have used is Google maps which shows our home almost TOO close for comfort. :)

Anyway, last weekend my husband and I had breakfast with a dear friend who told us about the Google Art Project.  Thanks, Dave.    This is a wonderful site to virtually visit art museums around the world.  It is especially nice because in many of them (some I have been to myself), photos are not allowed.  So sit back, grab a cup of coffee (also not generally  allowed in museums) and enjoy.  Go to THIS LINK to start your visit and have fun.

Some of the museums you can "tour" are:

• State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg
• Feer Gallery of Art, Washington, C
• Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Museo Reina Sofia, Madrid, Spain
• State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia
• Museum Kampa, Prague

The list goes on...

This is an excellent resource for homeschoolers as well as the public or private school classroom.

Albin Polasek Sculpture Museum Winter Park FREE through April 30, 2011

My friend Virginia, whose friend Emily, sent this to me yesterday. Sorry for the short notice since it's been free all week long.  I have never been to the Albin Polasek Museum but have passed it frequently ever since I have lived in the Winter Park area.  Check it out.  A great homeschool field trip or morning/afternoon date.  

             Monday April 25 to Friday April 29 — 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM

Saturday April 30 — 10:00 AM until 12:00 noon

Artists paint in the Polasek’s sculpture gardens and at other locations through­out Winter Park. Works will be on display and for sale as soon as they are completed and dropped off at the museum’s wet room. Stop by to see and pur­chase works produced during this year’s Winter Park Paint Out.

Details at THIS LINK.

Whimsy Art Mug

Just to make you smile today...

Morse Gallery / Laurelton Hall FREE through March 20, 2011

Posting this from my friend Virginia:

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Morse Museum Free Admission Now through March 20, and New Laurelton Hall Exhibit 

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The world's most comprehensive collection of works by Louis Comfort Tiffany (1848–1933) is housed at The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art. The Museum's Tiffany collection includes jewelry, pottery, paintings, art glass, leaded-glass windows and lamps, and the chapel interior the artist designed for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The Museum's holdings also include a major collection of American art pottery and representative collections of late 19th- and early 20th-century American painting, graphics, and decorative art.

The Morse Museum’s new galleries feature the recently restored Daffodil Terrace and 250 art and architectural objects from Louis Comfort Tiffany’s Long Island estate, Laurelton Hall. 

The Morse is offering free admission during regular hours (9:30 AM - 4 PM Tuesday - Saturday and 1 PM - 4 PM Sunday) now through March 20.   Admission is also free on Friday evenings (4 - 8 PM) now through the end of April. 

There is live music on the second Friday evening of each month.  On Friday, March 11 you can hear Celtic Crossings (Celtic harp, flute, and violin), and on Friday, April 8 will be Lynn Peghiny (piano).  More information at THIS LINK.

Morse Gallery Open House March 19-20, 2011 / Laurelton Hall OPENING

A fun outing for the family or date...

The Morse Museum’s new 12,000-square-foot wing on Park Avenue in Winter Park will provide, for the first time, long-term public access to its collection of art and architectural objects from Louis Comfort Tiffany’s celebrated Long Island home, Laurelton Hall.

Hugh F. and Jeannette G. McKean rescued works from Laurelton Hall after the mansion was destroyed by fire in 1957. Over the next three decades the couple went on to assemble extensive holdings of Tiffany objects for the Morse—what is today the world’s most comprehensive collection of the artist/designer’s work.

We hope to stop by this weekend.  

FREE admission March 19-20, 2011

More information  at THIS LINK.


UPDATE:  My  husband and I went on Saturday and the new Laurelton Hall wing is beautiful, as is the entire gallery.  What a talented craftsman Louis B. Tiffany was.  Be sure to save your brochure which you are given upon entering the gallery. There is a FREE pass for an entire family in each one with NO expiration date.

Mary Engelbreit

My husband is on vacation this week so I'm trying to stay off the computer for the most part...  just some fun art by my fave Mary Engelbreit...

Stay warm!  It's been in the 20s here in Florida!

And another piece that I saw in a gift shop...

Outings in Your Own Back Yard / Orange County Regional History Center

Sometimes there are fun things to do in your own back yard that get overlooked or just forgotten about.  Last Saturday I visited our local History Center.  I had not been there since our older son was about 12, so quite awhile ago.  It's in the downtown area, only about 25 minutes or so from our home.  A friend had downloaded two Smithsonian Free Museum Day tickets to tour the history center which expired  that day.

Here are the two  special exhibits currently at the History Center:

Against All Odds: The Art of the Highwaymen

What are highwaymen you wonder? Go HERE to find out.

There is an article in today's paper about the Highwaymen exhibit 

that a friend told me about. Thanks, Susan.

To read it, go to THIS LINK.

The Story of Harness Racing by Currier & Ives

This  one continues to be on Christmas cards every year.

There are also many other exhibits relating to the history of Orange County --World War II, slavery, NASA, Disney, oranges, etc.


Don't forget to check out the pretty gift shop at the entrance!  Here's me being silly...but, hey, these glasses go with my outfit, don't you think?

The History Center begins the celebration of its 10-year anniversary this weekend.  On Saturday, October 2, admission is reduced to half-price which is $7.00 for adults and $3.50 for ages 5-12.  There will be games and special activities from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. that day.  Check it out.


Note:  Keep in mind that the Grand Opening of the Amway Arena is Saturday also, so it may be a bit crowded downtown.   The opening is a TICKETED event and a sweet friend called today and gave us three tickets!  

FREE Date Day / Smithsonian Museum Day September 25, 2010

Again, thumbing through our newspaper I found this also.  

Saturday, September 25, is Smithsonian magazine's 6th annual Museum Day.   One ticket admits two for FREE at 1000+ museums around the country.   More information at THIS LINK.  Fill in the needed info and your ticket will be emailed to you.   Please note that for some museums, the ticket is valid on Sunday, September 26, instead of on Saturday.  

The list of museums in Florida is at THIS LINK.  There are quite a few including the more expensive ones that you might not otherwise visit.

A New Day / Back to Work

Mary Engelbreit,  as  I have mentioned before, is one of my favorite artists.  Her colorful artwork always makes me smile--cards, calendars, post-it notes, stationery, home decor items.  I have several of her pieces  scattered and there about our home for a touch of whimsy--a good contrast for someone like me who is pretty much "in the box" a good part of the time..  A friend who knows how much I enjoy her even gave me a framed and numbered piece of her artwork with my favorite word on it.  What a lovely surprise!

One of my treasured items is a set of miniature painted teapots that I keep on my kitchen windowsill and look at every day. Even though they've  got some war wounds (someone dropped them) they are so special to me because they were the first present  that one of my sons picked out and bought for me with his own money when he was very young, about 7 or 8 years of age. :)

I have a yearly calendar with one piece of her art  per page which I occasionally post on this blog and I love receiving books, cards, letters and emails with her fun illustrations and wise (generally) sayings.  Here's one I thought you might like for today--the day after Labor Day and the "start" of a new work week...It's sometimes difficult for us to go back to the normal routine after a three- or four-day weekend, myself included.

As always though, scripture says it even better...

Psalm 118:24 

This is the day which the LORD has made; 

Let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

 Have a great day.

Morse Museum Gallery Winter Park Florida Tiffany Glass

Every few weekends or so my husband and I drive down to our Park Avenue for an early breakfast at Panera and a stroll.  Sometimes we visit the Farmers' Market which I have blogged about previously but can't seem to find here in the archives.  :(    Sometimes we go into the Morse Museum  like we did last weekend.  Whenever we go there is rarely anyone in there so I thought I would mention it if you have not discovered this beautiful gift shop and art museum.    It's is directly across from St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church at the corner of Canton and Park Avenue.

The gift shop though at first glance quite expensive actually has some great sales occasionally.  Last weekend they had a  long table full of lovely items priced at 60-75% off.  I  bought this Austrian crystal bookmark while we were there for about $6.00.

We often buy Christmas or birthday gifts for close friends, each other and extended family there.  Very  unusual items, beautiful neckties, artwork, stained glass...  Here is a look at the inside.  You're not really supposed to take photos inside for some reason  but I sneaked a few to show you.

The art museum is in the process of expanding and charges a moderate fee but also has free admission periodically.  Annual memberships are reasonably priced (students and teachers only $5 each) and include 6 passes as well as 10-20% discounts in the Museum Shop.  Admission is also free every Friday from 4:00-8:00 p.m.   Some of the large stained glass pieces you may have seen at the annual Christmas in the Park display and concert held in December.  Attending this is one of our yearly Christmas  traditions.

Spend an afternoon at the museum.  It's a wonderful field trip for your children and a special end to a date night as well.  :)

Art, Engelbreit

Mary Engelbreit is my favorite whimsical artist. I love her cards, books and calendars. I can hardly resist either photographing her things when I see them or picking them up at yard sales either to keep or share with someone. People who know me well often give me small gifts that include her artwork. This was in a book I was looking through during my Monday reading hour while my son was in his Geometry class yesterday.