August Break, Day 26: More Feathers

Feathers: Sneak Peek

I'm taking a little break from my August Break today because I wanted to show you these... the start of a new series, "Feather".

August Break, Day 2: Make A Wish

Natural History Art in Awesome Interiors

Holly Becker of decor8 posted an exclusive first peek of HK Living this morning, and I was thrilled to see all of the natural history touches in the flat that was featured. As you probably know by now, natural history art is a huge part of what I do, and sometimes I like to think I helped start the trend (though more likely it was just a happy coincidence in timing).


image credit: HK Living

I just love the butterflies above the piano, especially since they remind me of these (Moth Wings and July Butterflies):



It feels good to know that something I'm so passionate about, and that I so enjoy doing, is actually relevant in design today. The fact that people are embracing natural science by bringing it into their homes is just wonderful. I think it's important that we remember the history of how humans have interacted with nature, and natural history art lets us do so in a beautiful way.

What do you think of the natural history trend? Would you incorporate "science" into your decor?

A Photographic Week

I'm quite happy that I was able to spend much of this final week of 2010 taking and editing new photographs. A very fulfilling way to end one year and start the next!

Cowlick


What Comes

Seaweed Fabric!

This past year, I had the opportunity to photograph some beautiful Victorian Era seaweed albums at a natural history museum. I made a repeating pattern from one of these images, originally just for my own personal use. I was so pleased with the fabric I ordered from Spoonflower that I decided to make the pattern publicly available. What do you think?



I'm also trying to decide what to do with the yardage I ordered for myself. I'm thinking something home decor-y, but can't decide if I should make a pillow, curtains, a tablecloth... any ideas?

Inspired by Early September

After taking the photo of various wildflowers in glass bottles at a natural history museum, I was inspired to arrange and photograph a few of my own little natural collections. I hope you enjoy them!

Goldenrod


Gifts


Faceted Feather


Do you collect anything from nature? How do you display your finds?

A Delicate Question

We spent a lovely weekend camping with friends in Vermont. On our way home, we stopped at a small natural history museum on Hogback Mountain. Here, I found this assortment of bottles stuffed with wildflowers and strewn across an old fireplace mantle.

Do You Know Me?


Can you guess the plant in the photograph labeled "Do You Know Me?"

A Foreign Adventure in Natural History

It will probably come as no surprise that, while in Dublin, I made a point to visit the natural history museum there. It is a gem of a place, still set up like a true Victorian museum. I highly recommend you visit it if you're ever in Ireland.



I was not able to schedule a full-blown photo shoot (we simply weren't there long enough), but I had a wonderful time there, and was able to take a few snapshots, at least!

Can you recommend a natural history museum in your town?

Thoughtful

Owlish Gaze


{Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Travelers

These two tiny shells in their green box made it to Rhode Island from their original home off the coast of northern Washington state, and they're still in good shape, many, many years later.

Astarte alaskensis




View Larger Map


{Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Sea Botany

These specimens were collected, pressed, and mounted between 1889 and 1891. It's amazing how well such delicate plants have made it through 120+ years.

Sea Feathers


Conanicut Park


Sea Mosses


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Swaying with the Waves

I love the sense of movement on this page from one of the Victorian Era seaweed albums. The pressed plants paired with that blue paper give me a sense of being rocked by waves.

Seaweed Patterns


{Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

A Somewhat Damp Hobby

About 150 years ago, someone created this mandala-like arrangement of seaweed, and preserved it in an album. A week and a half ago, I was privileged to see it. I can get lost in tracing those delicate fronds, can't you?

Sea Flower


From this website, I gleaned a quote regarding seaweed albums:

Seaweed Album Card - Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine, September 1865
"A card, unpolished surface, must be taken into the water, passed under the weed as it floats, selecting only very small pieces. As soon as the card touches it, the weed will unfold. Then it must be lifted instantly from the water. The air will cause it to adhere so closely as to form an almost flat surface. While yet damp, the card must be pressed between the leaves of a heavy book, to remove the wrinkles made by the water. When the seaweed is thus prepared, it is exquisitely beautiful, retaining all its minute fibres and delicacy, and its beautiful tints. Lady bathers will find a new interest in their seaside life, and enrich their albums with most beautiful mementos."

Ah, those lady bathers and their minute fibres! In all seriousness though, I'd love to try this.

On a slightly different note, I spent this morning at the semi-annual book sale put on by the Natural History Museum where the above photograph was taken. It was, hands down, the most fun I've ever had at a used book sale! Between my husband and myself we bought 13 natural history books for $12. Some just for the cover art, some for the illustrations inside, some for the literary content. I have a feeling we'll be going back to the next sale.

{Photograph taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Bold and Beaky

I couldn't resist posting one more tonight, from this morning's session...

Thrush


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

A Collection of Delicate Shells

As promised, I have many new shell photographs to share. I've posted my favorites from today below, and you can view more here, via Flickr.

Cowries


Strombus urceus


Nautilis



{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Passerine Portraiture

I have a TON of new shell photographs to share, but I couldn't resist posting this adorable titmouse first, to break things up a bit. Isn't he or she beautiful?

Tufted Titmouse



{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

More from the Museum

Two more from today...

Tormia variegata


Turritella communis


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

The Context of Beauty

One of the things I love most about Natural History is when I can see things in a historical context. There are drawers upon drawers of collections at the museum with shells still in their original vials and boxes. The patina of age, the imperfections in the glass and the corks... beautiful.

The Shell Collector


I love the handwriting and the careful notations of Latin name and location, all on aged, cream-colored paper.

Pleurocera elongatum


{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}

Ocean Life

My trip to the Natural History Museum this morning may be the closest I get to the beach today, but at least I was working in icy cold air conditioning. I had a marvelous time photographing shells and corals... and this beautifully displayed, 150-year old sea horse.

Caroline Islands Sea Horse


Sea Horse


Don't you love the way his tail curls?

{Photographs taken courtesy of the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium, Roger Williams Park, Providence, RI.}