Art of the casa

Last week you got to see some unique features in my little casita. This week, it's art of the casa!

Ok, this isn't a painting but I love the scrollwork on this mirror which I got at my friendly neighborhood antique store called Resurrected Furniture. You can see the reflection of the sunflower painting and the man in the moon is a Christmas ornament from years past.

Graciella's Sunflower. This painting was given to me by a woman I would see in the alleyway every once in awhile on the weekends. She was collecting soda cans. Someone had given her this painting which she had in her cart and when I expressed how much I liked it she gave it to me! She was very sweet.

The Letter, by Renoir. I purchased this one at an impressionist exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art located in Balboa Park. I have been enamored of impressionism since high school and my favorite Renoir is The Luncheon of the Boating Party. For the longest time I thought it was housed at the Louvre but it is actually in a museum in Washington, DC. Meanwhile you can visit The Letter anytime at my casita!

I purchased these little dogs a Westie and a pug from Marshalls probably when I first moved here. They are adorable!

Bathroom art! I got this glamourous lady at Bed Bath & Beyond with one of the store's 20% off coupons. It is a 1957 Vogue cover by Henry Clarke titled Savoir Faire.


Prints and frames from Ikea in keeping with the Parisian theme.


Close up of the Arc de Triomphe, a pretty little replica I got at a thrift shop for $2.

My father was a pilot with Hawaiian Airlines and collected all kinds of airline memorabilia. Here are two posters probably from the late 80s/early 90s.

Ladies, roll your tongues back in!


This is a signed and dated painting that was given to me by someone I worked with. I am embarrassed to say that I am unsure who the artist is as I cannot read the signature but it is lovely and was painted in 1979.

Back home in the early 90s a friend of mine was moving state and knowing how much I always admired this poster she was kind enough to pass it on to me. I think about Marian every time I look at this picture.

I purchased the next two posters at a yard sale not so much because I have an afinity for Africa but because I thought I might want to collect some travel posters. These were professionally framed and when I first strolled by, this one, Africa by Air, sold for $25 and the Air Afrique sold for $75. He didn't want to go down in price so I said I might stop by later to see if it had sold or not. It didn't (!) and he dropped the price to $10 and $20 - SOLD!

I love this poster. It's like a picture within a picture.

Fruits! I got the pears from a thrift shop and the lemons from a shop that was going out of business. The double matted lemon print is by Shelley Hely an Australian artist. I bought a few things from this shop as everything was priced to go.

This adorable bunny was given to me by Kelly who at the time managed a hotel on San Diego Bay. He invited me and a few other friends to Easter Sunday Brunch and we each got a little painting. This is hanging in the doorway to my bedroom.

I think this scene is familiar to everyone! My sister got this for me for about $2 at a yard sale. It's an oil painting and the woman said she got it while she was in France. This is going in my bedroom once I get things rearranged.

The Madonna and child I got for a pittance at a neighborhood antique shop. It sits in the little telephone nook.

Even kitties need art! This is where my gato dines every day!

The background plaques were found at a yard sale and the little birdies were from a great fresh fruit and flower stand in La Costa. They also sell yummy gourmet items and have the best chips and fresh, fresh salsa and chocolate covered strawberries. Yum!

The casa art vault!

This is a poster of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel were I used to work. It is gorgeous and historical and has lots of stories to tell. However, it is a romanticized version as there are no buildings pictured in the background.

Hope you enjoyed your tour!

If you have a moment, stay a little longer and have some light refreshment.

I made the banana bread this morning. It's fresh from the oven!

Tea? Cream and sugar?

Have a great week!