Outsider Art - Martin Sanchez

I am a huge fan of outsider art, I saw my first large installment in the Caribean on vacation. It was beautiful completely constructed of seashells, shards of mirror and white stucco. The artist had created benches, low walls and scupltures for her garden. We stumbled upon it while wandering off the beaten path - it was gorgeous.
Artist Martin Sanchez and his beautiful daughter Stephanie outside their restaurant that resides across the street from Martin's chapel.

Folk artist Martin Sanchez has transformed nearly an entire city block in Riverside, California into a chapel built from found materials, curiosities, and oddities. The photo above is a view of the exterior of the chapel, with beer and soda bottles serving as walls. The interior of the sanctuary illuminates the chapel with color from the bottles in the walls.

Some of the border walls surrounding various scupltures outside of the chapel feature some interesting materials like the Barbie doll and Gremlin toy.

Fresco featuring the sky, clouds the Holy Mother and cherubs floating overhead.

Restaurant-owner and folk artist Martin Sanchez has created an urban oasis, a garden of Eden, hidden behind shrubs, trees and a wrought-iron fence inside Martin’s Tio’s Tacos restaurant on Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside, California.

Another conglomeration sculpture by Martin at his restaurant with broken shards of statuary and figurines.

Relatively undiscovered, Mr. Sanchez has been working on his creation for almost 10 years. Patrons of the restaurant can walk underneath cooling streams of water flowing from a fountain garden made of broken pieces of clay and old pipes, discarded bicycles, dolls and other items.

One of the many mini shrines located inside the chapel featuring garage sale finds and imagery decoupaged on the window sill.

There is topiary wire filled with Barbie dolls, perfume bottles and pipe elbows. There’s an incredible path through an archway lined in tubing pumping water, creating an obstacle course of water, where one can walk without getting wet.

Sanchez came to the United States in 1984. He struggled at first, selling oranges in East Los Angeles, working in factories and making extra money by selling tacos. He became a legal resident during the 1986 federal amnesty.
In 1992, Sanchez quit factory work and persuaded the owner of a Mexican seafood restaurant to let him sell tacos out of a corner of the establishment. Eventually, he raised enough money to buy the place.
Now, he lives in the house next door with his wife, Concepcion Sanchez, 38, and three daughters: Stephanie, 16, Kimberly, 12, and Maiten, 1.

What's Blooming In My Garden This Morning

I felt the need to grab my camera and go into my garden this morning to see what was blooming and to capture the moment.  Spring blossoms fade so quickly and then they are gone until next Spring.

I was really excited to see the Clemantis in bloom, even more beautiful this year.  Gardeners say that the third year is the miracle year when adding perennials to the garden - in my experience that is true....so I can't wait until next Spring, my third year after planting. 

"I notice that it is only when my mother is working in her flowers that she is radiant; almost to the point of being invisible - except as Creator:  hand and eye.  She is involved in work her Soul must have.  Ordering the Universe in the image of her personal conception of Beauty." - Alice Walker, In Search of Our Mother's Gardens, 1983  

I planted his Peony last year and this will be the first year for blossoms.  I am so anxious to see this one bloom in a deep cherry red.   Peonies remind me of elementary school when it was okay to bring your teachers flowers from the family garden.  I would select each blossom with care, wrap the stems in a wet paper towel and hold the blossoms in my hands on my lap as we bumped along the country roads on the way to school in the old yellow bus.  

The smile on my teacher's face as she brought the blossoms to her noise to inhale the signature scent of the Peony was my reward.  It made me so happy to see the blossoms on her desk in a make shift vase throughout the school day.  I only wish we could have had blossoms at our desks as well.  

"Flowers...have a mysterious and subtle influence upon the feelings, not unlike strains of music.  They relax the tenseness of the mind.  They dissolve its vigor."  - Henry Ward Belcher, American clergyman, (1813-1887)

Snowball Hydrangea in it's fifth year of growth standing at 9 feet in height.  I love the chartreuse blossoms that fade into creamy white before blowing away in the breeze like snow flakes.  
Scourge of the lawn and garden - the dandelion.  Aren't they exquisite in design?  Brilliant yellow blossoms, edible salad greens loaded with antioxidants and magical snow white lacy heads that burst into the air when a child blows on the snowy orb.   Magic.

Another dreadful plant the creeping buttercup that threads runners just beneath the soil sprouting its' progeny prolifically.  My Grandmother always used this plant as a ground cover for waste areas of her garden.  My sister in law, Laurie recently purchased an older home that she is renovating - it's beautiful by the way - and she has an area that she would like to put groundcover.  This may be the old fashioned plant for her!  

Pink Dogwood is so beautiful in the Spring.  I was so happy that we did not have the late freeze this year that stole the joy of blossoms from us last year.

"The sun shone for nearly a week on the secret garden.  The Secret Garden was what Mary called it when she was thinking of it.  She like the name, and she liked the feeling that when its beautiful old walls shut her in no one knew where she was.  It seemed almost like being shut out of the world in some fairy place." - Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, 1911

Steve Hess Creations

I have been an avid fan of Steve Hess' work for years and have quite a collection of his garden art scattered throughout my gardens.  I love these garden angels dancing through my daylilies they seem to be chasing one another.  

Steve is an art educator, passionate gardener and sculptor living in the Kansas City area.  His work is in cement and handmade paper and his products and gardens have appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, PBS and HGTV.
Alot of his garden stakes are cast concrete on a rebar stake allowing the figures to be raised and lowered according to plant height and location.  

Steve has an annual show in his private gardens at his home in Overland Park on Memorial Day weekend - it's a must for anyone who appreciates gardening and garden art.  Visit his website link above for the exact dates and address of the event.  If you haven't attended - well, you are in for a treat.  His shows are rain or shine. 

This cat plaque reminds me of mosaics and I love the different textures Steve created in this piece especially the fish shape surrounding the eye of the kitty.  This plaque graces the front entrance into my home and is in honor of Moochie, my long lost kitty.

One of the things about Steve that has always inspired me as an artist is his dedication to being prolific.  He creates art everyday - diligently.  I have tried to follow his lead as I believe it is another reason for his success - the first of course is TALENT!

Being a dog lover, I had to have the Dog Angel for my garden - it is a stepping stone that is solid, heavy and durable.  Keep in mind that I have had these stepping stones for years and they are still in immaculate condition.
A Sunflower stepping stone in honor of my home state Kansas.
One of my very favorites - Chocolate Bunnies holding a carrot between them.  This is a wall plaque and usually graces my wooden fence in the garden.
A Star plaque with botanical shapes showcases Steve's whimsical nature in his designs.

Another Garden Angel on rebar stakes - this one welcomes visitors to my flower garden.

I love these birds on a long rebar stake that can serve as hose guards or to deter my terriers from newly planted annuals.
Another Garden Angel plaque or stepping stone.
Hope plaque for my garden fence.
This guy reminds me of an eskimo, but he brightens up my daylilies until they begin to bloom later in the Summer.
Bee Hive stepping stone with skep, honeybees, and potted plants on a little wooden bench.
Bird in a Teacup garden stake on rebar.
This Peace To You garden stake is at the front steps leading into my home.  I can't wait to see Steve's latest creations for this year at his show on Memorial Day.

My Favorite Things From the Holiday Season

One of my favorite garden art pieces is this concrete heart and dove "puddler" by Lisa Phelps.  It holds water when it rains - thus the name "puddler".  A shallow heart that fills when it rains.  I bring the heart in during the Winter months, but this photo is after an early frost.  The dove was sparkling in the morning sun.
Lights on my ornamental plum tree in my garden etched with frost - amazing.
Look closely at the tree branches decorated by Mother Nature after an ice storm. 
A photo of me and my oldest son, Chris.  He is tall and slim like his Grandad Joe.  Chris was born with a big smile on his face and is the light of my life.   Look at silly Molly who wants to be in the photo too!  
A photo of me and my giant husband, Dan.  We are quite a contrast with my dark hair and eyes and his light brown hair and blue eyes.  Polar opposites in practically every way.  I am cautious, he is the gambler - I am creative and he is an accountant.  But, we accomplish wonderful things together and make a great team.  I design things and he makes them for me - like the great tree corral below.....
I found images of a tree corral in a magazine from the late 60's featuring Czechoslavakian tree corrals and feather trees.  I had to have one - just in full scale for my Holiday tree.  I showed the corral to my talented husband and asked for one as a Christmas present.  Isn't it great?  It's my favorite decoration for the season.  
Another favorite that I pull out each year is my wire tree filled with glass pine cones on a glass top table.  I love the base that looks like tree roots.
A silver bowl filled with vintage glass door knobs.  When I was a little girl my bedroom door had a glass doorknob like these and I loved it.  So, hence my attraction to the glass doorknobs filling the basket.
A wrapped gift for my Grandma Hannah Mae who is an avid gardener.  I think she will like the blue flowers, handcrafted paper and the wooden butterfly that adorns the package.
This is a gift for my sister in law, Laurie who feeds the birds.  She has at least four feeding stations positioned in different areas of her garden.  Her favorite color is green so I know she will like the handcrafted paper, vintage bird card and stamped wooden clothes pin.
Christening gown hung on a branch  with a photo of my mother in law, Anne Marie as a baby hung on a velvet ribbon.  I think I will add a mother of pearl child's rosary and it will be perfect.   I also have a baby's ring and bracelet that might look nice hanging from the branches......hmmmm I'll have to give that some thought.

I hope you enjoy my Holiday images and favorite photos from the Christmas Season.  Happy Holidays and Blessings To All!  xox

Terrariums

Terrarium globe with tiny euchervia nestled inside is one of my favorites for the Holidays.  There's something about gazing inside a globe at a living thing that soothes the soul.  I keep mine on my desk and look inside the glass whenever I need a "nature" break.  I makes me happy - it's all about simple pleasures.
Another terrarium globe containing a fern like plant which gives the globes an entirely different look from the stark container above.  

Terrariums are so easy to care for - just keep them moderately warm, give them 6-8 hours of light each day and watch them thrive in the humid environment of the glass container.
Hoya looks so lovely inside a terrarium, but outgrow the container pretty quickly.  Careful pruning will keep the hoya at a desireable size for your container.  A few snips with a pair of scissors keeps the plant in check.
A few of the terrariums that have been purchased and settled into their new home away from the shoppe.

Another terrarium containing a variety of plants in a column glass container. 
A tiny village terrarium complete with dojo nestled among the moss and ferns.

Begonias love terrarium environments and thrive.  Careful pruning is required as they grow quickly under glass.
Another mixed plant container with moss covered soil in an egg shape glass vessel.  Beautiful for offices, waiting rooms, or your home.  Perfect in the dreary days of Winter in the Midwest.

Terrariums require little care and if they are in a moderately warm room and receive the necessary light requirement remain self sufficient and can be left unattended for weeks.  The perfect living plant for those who travel frequently or those who want living plants that take care of themselves.  A great alternative to a cactus.