Studio Voyeur

I know I am a voyeur - I.E. observer, investigator of - other artist STUDIOS. I confess I have studio -envy. In early July I got to visit the studio of LaVonne Tarbox-Crone,www.tarboxcrone.com.

I first met LaVonne in Guatemala. She and I worked as volunteers on the culinary crew of the Cascade Medical Team. That is we chopped and prepared dinners for the Medical team from primarily the Portland and Eugene, Oregon area. LaVonne is one terrific chopper. She also is an upbeat personality who is up for a a challenge. On those rare moments of time off at our Lake Atitlan location she could be found with sketchbook in hand creating quick water color sketches. If you would like to see her finished studio pieces definitely check out her website.  LaVonne is an accomplished water colorist and artist teacher. I got to check out  her home base as I said in July.

LaVonne says she lives "in a bouquet"! Indeed she does, she is an accomplished gardener as well as artist. Check it out!

The garden pulls you out into its center whether you are inside or out on the terrace. Her  studio/workshop/great room peers into her garden.

Take a trip to LaVonne's website and look at her art work it is a trip well worth taking.

Winter Surprises

Small delicate color has finally burst forth at my house. I  have owned an orchid plant for 6 years that has not put forth one flower. Finally this week with our topsy turvy Rocky Mountain spring weather ( 84 one day with snow and the 30's the nest day), inside my dry arid Colorado home beauty has arrived. 
I wonder if my shy Denver orchid knew the magnificent orchid cousins I had seen in Guatemala.

This jade colored orchid is one of the most amazing sights. When I first saw it in Antigua 2 years ago it was in a small boutique hotel.  It now resides at Las Escalonias a garden which has a small informal cafe on its grounds. Cafe de la Escalonia provides a wonderful place for a light lunch with fresh blended fruit juices and fine desserts under these hanging Thunbergia orchides.

I have seen these orchids in a number of home and restaurant gardens in Antigua. But thought you would enjoy being showered by raining orchids.