Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Scenes from Life + New Prints

We've had rain for days, and I'm being unabashedly pouty about it. I know rain is necessary for plants or something, but I don't like it and I'm not apologizing. ;)

I've been editing recent photos from sunnier days and doing my best to drown out the incessant tap tapping on the window with music and off-key singing...which works, sort of. (There may have also been bad dancing combined with off-key singing once or twice, but there's no evidence and I'll deny it.)


Several of these photos are available as prints (and phone cases, pillows, greeting cards, etc.) in my society6 shop, and I'm offering free shipping (on anything they'll let me) till Sunday.

Also, I get asked a lot where my photos are taken; these were all taken in Alexandria, VA close to where I live. I've also been asked "What's the deal with the stars on the sides of buildings?" You see these stars a lot on row houses in older cities; they are end caps (sort of decorative washers) to tie rods that run crosswise through the building and provide structural support. The metal tie rods were used in masonry construction (i.e. brick row houses) to keep the walls from leaning or bowing out. Alexandria was founded in 1749, and most of these houses are really really old, so you still see odd architectural elements here and there.

Apparently, it is a trend today to buy these metal stars, which you can find at antique shops, or new stars made to look old, and use them as decorative elements. Sometimes, I think it's a little silly when people try to make new architecture look old...especially doing "faux" architectural elements. But at the same time, I guess there's something nice about preserving tradition and holding on to a bit of our past.

What do you think?

14 comments:

  1. I love seeing all those old buildings on your Instagram! They're perfect subjects.

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  2. Lovely pictures, I especially like the pastel coloured house. In my opinion, streets are in need of more colour.

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  3. Your photos look great as always. I really like the buildings. I've never been to Alexandria even though it's like 2.5hrs from me. I should visit one weekend.

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  4. Your photos are beautiful! Over here in Italy we have those kinds if end caps on some buildings too, but they look more like crosses.

    Love towns and places with lots of history, it's one if the reasons why I love Italy. Your town looks lovely!

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  5. Some beautiful photos, thanks for sharing!

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  6. Lovely photos! so cheerful!
    Jen
    http://fashionablyfestive.blogspot.com/

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  7. I love the purple and yellow houses! We walked Alexandria downtown one night when we visited DC and it looked like such a fun place.

    Feel free to send the rain our way. We haven't had much at all this spring, and we need it!

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  8. Beautiful photos! I never get sick of looking at flowers this time of year. We had ridiculous amounts of rain until very recently. I like rain for a day, and then I'm over it. Home the sunshine is a permanent fixture with you soon!

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  9. Ahh, I'll never get tired of seeing pictures of pretty flowers! And I love the stars on the side of the buildings- what a cool detail.

    star-crossed smile

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  10. Such beautiful flowery photos! Makes me wish we had some more good weather here at the moment, the lack of any sun has meant almost no flowers and proper green trees yet!

    Daisy Dayz

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  11. We've had lots of rain this week as well. It's so nice to see the flowers here on your blog.

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  12. What beautiful flowers!

    I'm not really into the faux architecture thing, either. I'd rather see people focus on the unique qualities of their building as-is.

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  13. I love discovering buildings with stars on the side... many people don't know the story behind them! For some reason, I enjoy the idea of stars holding up a house. :)

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  14. These photos will surely pull anyone out of the rut of rain that has been constant lately in my area too! I especially like the 1st photo as well as the one of the 2 homes, those colors are so peaceful.
    -Tiffany www.tiffanydoten.com

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