Friday, February 5, 2010

Umbrella Weather



This has been a week filled with umbrellas . . .
On Wednesday, I spotted the image above at Making it Lovely where Nicole shared it in a "favorite things" post. She borrowed it from ohbrooke who passed it along after finding it here.
Photographed by Jesus Manuel Nieto Bobadillo, this image of colorful umbrellas floating over a street in Spain is at once mysterious and enchanting, optimistic and ethereal. I love it so much,
it's my new spring screen saver.

Today, it's raining. Again.
The weather people say it's to be a short, less intense storm this time. But any rain is enough to require an umbrella. Where do you park yours when you arrive back home? Mine typically ends up on the bench on our porch. If I didn't have a porch, I suppose I would need one of these:
a wise and whimsical owl from homedecorators.com

contemporary chrome from target.com

a welcoming ceramic pineapple from gumps.com

simple and super affordable from ikea.com

a masculine leather cylinder from gumps.com

clean, classical iron from lampsplus.com

classic porcelain from overstock.com

a porcelain forest from venucci.com

hammered, aged copper from lampsplus.com

banana fiber woven over a wire frame from bellacor.com

antique silver over copper from lampsplus.com

imported Italian ceramic from bellacor.com

woven bamboo at jcpenney.com

glazed and baked terracotta rainboots from zgallerie.com

This one is my favorite. . .

the one I would buy for myself if I didn't have a porch for drippy umbrella drying . . .
the umbrella's umbrella from arcadianlighting.com

. . . not only because it's great looking but because it reminds me of this . . .

Mary Poppins!

I mentioned the movie in this previous post about some of my own favorite things. Now, it's a musical too. Currently touring the U.S. And I went to see it last weekend.

( click on this pic for a musical treat )

The players and musicians were wonderful. The story was virtually the same as the movie but with a few interesting exceptions and changes that added more music and action. Of course, I found the staging equally captivating : the sets, the backdrops, the lighting, the props; the costumes, the rooftops of London and the magical, transforming Banks house on Cherry Tree Lane.


Proper credit for this experience must be given to my very thoughtful husband who gifted me with tickets at Christmas. (thanks again honey!) The Ahmanson Theater at the Music Center in L.A. is a lovely, intimate setting that was filled to the brim with the fantastic, larger-than-life production... complete with Mary and her magic umbrella flying off the stage and out over the audience at the end!

Some of you may recall that my single, all-purpose New Year's resolution was to "lighten up", with have more fun falling under the umbrella of that intention. Seeing Mary Poppins on stage was a most supercalifragilistic step in that direction.


[Click on any of the umbrella stand images to go to their sources.]

17 comments:

Jennifer, Decorum said...

If it's any consolation, it's pouring here in Sydney too. I feel so sorry for those people that have tickets to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which is currently here at the Sydney Football Ground. There's been lightning bolts hitting buildings and flash floods all over the place.

I have tickets for Mary Poppins when it comes downunder later in the year. Thanks for your insight. I can't wait to see it and sing along at the top of my voice.

Stay dry.

Jennifer XX

The Simply Luxurious Life said...

I absolutely loved this post! I found myself smiling constantly as I kept scrolling down. The umbrella holders, what creativity. I would have to say I was partial to the white boots, the white owl and I can see why you liked the upside down umbrella. So glad you had a wonderful time at the musical and I'd say you're doing quite well in accomplishing your resolution. Bravo!!!!

Melanie said...

I never carry an umbrella. I like the last one like you. It is my favorite and would nice at my front door:)

Tish Jett said...

Oh, dee-vine. We have a lovely ancient brass holder near the door. The minute we put it there it changed everything. It "finishes" the space.

Is that your dog? I'm in love.

Warm regards,
Tish

Pamela Terry and Edward said...

One of my favourite things to do is walk under an umbrella in the rain.

ashlina {the decorista} said...

great post...i am so over the rain, my goodness...

just found your blog. LOVE IT! will be following you

:)
happy weekend.

ashlina

secretsofdomesticbliss.blogspot.com

Content in a Cottage said...

I'll take the hammered copper one. I don't have an umbrella stand. Sometimes I use my watering can. Nice post. Rosemary

Kathy said...

Oh my gosh, I got my daughter for Christmas the ceramic boot only they were "her colors" teal/lime, they were so cute, I thought she'd use them as a planter but they sit by her door with the umbrella. I got it in Montana of all places, I wonder if they were from zgalleries.com I will look into that, cause I would love one too. Beautiful post, coming from Seattle rain is "home".

Catherine said...

That owl umbrella stand is so sweet! We're having lots of rain too but I'm not complaining because it could be SNOW! I prefer the rain. And despite living in a state that gets a lot of rain, we never seem to use our umbrellas! ; ) Trina

Splenderosa said...

Love the umbrellas. The artist who created the umbrella installation in Alicante, Spain is called Ingo Maurer, who is well-known for this type of work. The artist, not the photographer, should be given credit...even though it's a great pic. As I'm an artist I know how it feels. To see more of this type of work go to www.crookedbrains.net
and look under "Umbrella Art" for more work & other artists. It could be worth a post. Kisses, Marsha

Tracy Watier said...

FROM C&L TO SPLENDEROSA:

Thanks for setting me straight, Marsha!
Honestly, it hadn't occurred to me that the artist and photographer were not one in the same. Next time, before I share something like this, I'll be sure to take that possibility into consideration. Promise.
- Tracy

Anonymous said...

I love that opening photo too. The whimsical owl and rainboots are my favorites out of the stands. Very fun! I'm not a big fan of rain, but at the moment I am looking forward to it because that will mean it's SPRING here! :-) Right now it's snowing :-(

Pauline Wiles said...

Awesome photo - really show-stopping, but in a totally beautiful, almost dreamlike way. I'm wondering if I could/should add it to my alarmingly large collection of "stuff I'd like to frame one day" !!

the gardener's cottage said...

Hi Tracy,

I love this post. The opening picture is just beautiful.

I have been looking for a vintage umberella stand. I really love the one from LampsPlus. Who knew? It doesn't rain often here but I just love the look. So Ralph Laureny.

~janet

Jessica @ Lavender and Lilies said...

I have always loved that owl umbrella stand. It's so cute. The umbrellas are my background too!

Jessica @ Lavender and Lilies said...

I have always loved that owl umbrella stand. It's so cute. The umbrellas are my background too!

Averill said...

Love the Zgallerie rainboots. Have the owl umbrella stand and it's very sharp in my entry.

And I'd love to see the new Mary Poppins musical.