Monday, July 19, 2010

Garden Treasures

 

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One of my favorite art/design/garden meccas is called Artefact Design and Salvage located in Cornerstone at Sonoma, California. Its an exciting gallery of found art, salvaged finds, garden objects and statuary, plants, books and awe inspiring displays…the entire gallery is a huge expanse of imagination and playful vignettes gone wild!

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This designed inspired gallery is visual delight filled with many assemblages and well crafted displays. I am always impressed with the combinations of old, found and new things that make a well crafted vignette…you just can’t stop spending your whole time just seeing all these amazing collections. This hand carved eagle is over ten feet in width alone (you’ll need a very large consol to hold this up)

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I can’t stop reaching and trying to touch every display filled with many tactile objects and such beautiful collections that make you ooh and aaaah at every display

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Its seems like the owners here have mastered the technique of display and creative vignettes that tell a story and draw you into this space and want you to take all these treasures home with you…here’s a well honed display of succulents in carved out stone containers, I love the organic touch.

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Outside the shop is a huge area of amazing salvaged finds from around the globe, varying from limestone statuary of goddesses to bronzed buddhas and wooden carved emperors, kings along with the ubiquitous lion head fountains.

 

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Back inside I discover this strange collection of headless cupie like dolls, very strange and yet appealing in the right element….I’m not sure if you can plant anything in the containers above the body…what do you think about a succulent?

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I find this collection of soup bowls, tea pots and a bulldog so whimsical, it just makes me smile.

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I’m very attracted to this buddha and the large petrified wood behind it….fortunately none of this will fit my suitcase or my pocket book for my trip back home!

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This place is a real find and design inspiration, I truly hope it makes it during these tough economic times even in fashionable Sonoma, where these unique galleries are disappearing very quickly.  I hope to keep visiting this area and still seeing this gallery operating.

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If your visiting Sonoma, come visit cornerstone and the Artefact Design and Salvage, I’m sure you will be inspired by this gallery, its a very special place.

 

To see other world views on tuesday go visit http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

21 comments:

Megan said...

Love that place!!!! We haven't taken a day trip up there for a REALLY long time.... might need to make a trip this weekend.

lotusleaf said...

Aloha! A very interesting collection, I liked the Buddha too.

Steve Asbell said...

What an amazing place to visit! I once sow a huge door from India that I wanted so bad... I still wish I had the extra hundred dollars for the ancient relic.

Jenn said...

This is so interesting! Having a big garden with those sculptures would really be nice.

Have a peek at My World HERE. Happy Tuesday!

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

Should be nice to visit such place... very stimulating! ~bangchik

Unknown said...

great stuff! those who love to accessorize their garden would be in heaven in this place.:p

Susan said...

love it!

Anonymous said...

Greetings Noel, What an abolutely fascinating place and such a treasure trove of beautiful objects. As you say, the stylish ways in which everything is displayed show some very creative minds at work there. Much inspiration here for both the house and the garden.

Meredith said...

How cool, Noel! I'd take that Buddha and petrified wood combo any day. For some soothing, shady nook, and nearby the sound of water falling. Ah...

You have great taste, obviously. ;)

Kimberly said...

Hi, Noel! You always find the most interesting places!! I like the carved out rock containers...very interesting! However, I don't like the headless containers...I'm very weirded out by this.
Do you ever sit at home and do nothing?! ;-)

Helen at summerhouse said...

So many wonderful things to tempt. You are quite right, this place should not be lost and hopefully, it'll be operating for many years to come especially these days when everyone is looking for something old and unique.

Ellada said...

Aloha,
I could spend hour in a place like that. Thank you for sharing those treasure.

Noelle Johnson said...

Hello Noel,

I can only imagine how some of this beautiful garden art would look in my garden :-)

Beth said...

Hi Noel, What great art and treasures you found. I love the dog statues. Did you take home some garden art? I have enjoyed seeing your trip photos. It looks like you've had a great time!
Beth

klaraau01 said...

What a magical place full of treasures! Thank you for sharing

Anonymous said...

Hi Noel, very inspiring, the dogs looked pretty impressive...

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What lovely treasures for the garden this place has. It would be a real treat to walk around looking for the right thing to suit our gardens. Thanks for sharing.

FlowerLady

teresa said...

Wow what an amazing place this is. No wonder you like it so much. Fun for photographing too.

Cindy, MCOK said...

Aloha, Noel! I just saw your comment on one of my posts from Buffa10 and wanted to return da kine favah, yeah? I spent two plus wonderful years on Oahu and not a day goes by that I don't wish I could be strolling a white sandy beach as I drink my Lion coffee. Instead I play a CD of Hawaiian artists and dream of my next visit. Mahalo nui loa for stopping by my corner of Katy!

lifeshighway said...

OH I want to go so badly to that place. Would you mind if I feature some of these photos and your blog in an up coming entry?

So many to choose from. Really excellent.

Unknown said...

What a great find. Even if you do not purchase anything, the photos are an easy memory to carry home. Besides you did a bit of advertising for them!

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