Winter Morning

'Winter Morning' blog post banner

detail of 'Winter Morning' print by Edward Ripley | H is for Home

We do love a crisp, sunny, winter dog walk. This picture, a 1960s Athena original print on board, really captures the scene & atmosphere.

It’s on its way to our antique centre pitch – one of those items that’s hard to part with, but we’ve had the pleasure of living with it for a long time. Having said that, it might never make it – it’s stalled near the front door as we give it admiring glances all over again.

back of 'Winter Morning' print by Edward Ripley showing its Athena label

It’s by artist Edward Ripley and is entitled Winter Morning. We’d really like to view the original oil – anyone of you out there own it?!

You can sense that there’s real texture to the paint, particularly in the snowy fields.

vintage print on board entitled 'Winter Morning' by Edward Ripley

The image is so strong though that it still makes a fabulous print!

Watercolours

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Collection of small watercolour paintings by J A Hurley | H is for Home

These were an interesting little purchase recently.

small watercolour painting entitled, "Dales Road" by J A Hurley

This collection of watercolours caught our eye as we passed a second-hand shop in Clitheroe.

small watercolour painting entitled, "Bent Trees, Mitton Flats, Clitheroe" by J A Hurley

They were housed in a mish-mash of quite horrible frames, but we could see that they were in fact, original watercolour sketches… and very well executed.

small watercolour painting entitled, "Pots & Pans, War Memorial, Saddleworth Moors" by J A Hurley

They really capture the essence of the Northern country landscape with which we’re so familiar…

triptych of small watercolours by J A Hurley depicting trees

…moorlands, fells, river valleys, lanes, dry stone walls, farms and fields.

pair of small watercolours depicting "Knowl Top Farm near Pots & Pans, Saddleworth" (top) and "Farm, Clitheroe - Mitton Road - Longridge Fell in background" (below)

The artist is J A Hurley – who actually lives & works in the Clitheroe area. We’ve seen prints of his work in art galleries, so it was a nice to find a bundle of originals. Especially as we paid a very reasonable £40.00 for a total of 11 small paintings.

small watercolour painting entitled "Houses at Mitton, Ribble Valley" by J A Hurley

We’re planning to re-frame them and put them up for sale in our pitch in Picture House Antiques… after snaffling a couple away for our own walls!

O is for… Orange

'O is for... Orange' blog post banner

Original ink & wash painting by Geoffrey Key entitled Welsh Valley

This week’s blog is a small homage to a glorious colour. O just had to be for orange.

Vintage orange Metamec wall clock | H is for Home detail from orange vintage pop art fabric | H is for Home

Vintage 'Dolly Days' porcelain coffee set designed by John Russell for Hostess Tableware in the 1960s | H is for Home

Vintage orange floral metal biscuit barrel | H is for Home Vintage orange & white 'Lotus' skillet produced by Cathrineholm | H is for Home

We are big fans, and judging by our popular photos on Flickr and items that always sell well on H is for Home, so are a lot of you out there.

Vintage orange & white daisy patterned enamel lidded saucepan | H is for Home Vintage teapot with tea cosy hand-knitted from vintage wool | H is for Home

Orange has the wonderful ability to look warm & cosy in the winter or lively & fresh in the summer.

Set of vintage 'Gaytime' drinking glasses | H is fo rHome Vintage orange plastic 'Party Set' snack dish | H is for Home

Orange objects really catch the eye. It enables them to shout loudly in a collection of other brightly coloured pieces.

Collection of vintage art glass vases | H is for Home

Alternatively, it’s perfect as a highlight colour within a muted décor or against natural materials.

We’ve given a few different chairs the orange treatment!

We did a G is for… Garden blog post a couple of months ago having just planted out some annuals. Our French marigolds are doing well with all the sunshine & showers we’ve been having.

French marigold flowers | H is for Home

Till next week! x