ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE...

May 09, 2008

THE SKY ISN'T ALWAYS BLUE

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I grew up surrounded by art...

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I can never remember a time in my life when our home was not filled with sketch books, brushes, easels, watercolor paper, and the smell of oil paint on canvas.

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You see, my mother is a painter, a watercolorist...an artist.

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As a little girl, my mom was confined to her bed with a long illness.  In those days, what was a kid to do?  There were no videos, no X-boxes, barely TV! 

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Her love of drawing and art began with pencil and paper.

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I remember as a child proudly showing my mom a picture I had "colored" in school.  She was always encouraging to me, but also added, "Sharon, you know the sky can be yellow or pink or gray or even purple."

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"The sky isn't always blue."

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This statement expanded my world of creativity and opened my thought process to "think outside the box".

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I always knew my mom had a special talent.

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None of my friends' moms were featured at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, gallery openings, art exhibits in New York City or one-woman-shows.  Their moms didn't have piles of blue ribbons haphazardly pinned to a bulletin board shoved in the corner of an art studio.

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My mom's circle of friends included potters, abstract painters, metal sculptors, batik artists, oil painters, and other watercolorists.

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Today, new friends that have come into her life, all share the same passion for art.

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I am so fortunate to have a career where I continue to be surrounded by incredible art in a variety of forms.  American Harvest continues to search out new talented artists to showcase in our shop.

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At American Harvest, our "family" includes paper mache artists, doll artists, jewelry sculptors, mixed media and collage artists.

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Thanks Mom for opening my eyes to the world of art and for reminding me that the sky isn't limited to blue.  Happy Mother's Day!

(Please do not copy or reproduce any of the art work shown in this post.  All of my mother's paintings are copyrighted and cannot be used without her written permission.  Thank you.)

May 02, 2008

IN THE GARDEN

I love a beautiful yard, however I know nothing about gardening.  I really don't like to work in the yard either.  My father was a meticulous rose gardener.  So when Rodger and I moved to our present home, I decided that I wanted lots of roses.
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The pale pink climbing rose bush sat in a bucket for two years before I got Rodger to plant it.  The bush was almost dead, but this year it is alive and blooming profusely.  The ivy is planted on the other side of our back fence, and does a nice job of adding color and texture to our yard.  I love old garden ornaments and mossy statues that show their age.

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This rose is called a "Double Delight" and is by far the easiest rose to grow.  I can even grow it!!!  It blooms like crazy and the blooms are enormous. 

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This is perhaps my favorite rose, "Princess Diana".

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I am a pink girl.  I love everything pink including my front and back yards.  However, just to add a little spice and whimsy, I planted this delicate yellow rose.

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Not only do I love roses for their blooms, but I love their leaves.  This variety has pink edged leaves.  I cannot wait for the flowers to open.

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I took this picture in the early morning as the sun was just beginning to caress the roses.

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This white rose is lightly trimmed with pink.

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I really have no clue as to rose gardening.  When I prune, I can hear my father yelling from heaven, "Sharon, NOT LIKE THAT...You should have paid attention!"  He would be happy to see that I have his love for roses.

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Rodger and I grow other flowering plants too.  Just don't ask me for their names, I cannot remember!  This gorgeous plant climbs on the north fence in my yard.

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Bright pink flowers welcome spring.  (I think this bush is the culprit to my allergy problems.)

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This plant has the largest lavender flowers that I've seen.  Bumblebees love this one!  It blooms almost year round.

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This nice little ground cover has pin cushion like blooms.  Sadie, my English Springer Spaniel, loves this plant.  She doesn't eat it, but she does like to rub her face in the foliage.  She is such a "girlie" dog!

I am pleased that my garden blooms in spite of my lack of gardening abilities.

March 23, 2008

HAPPY EASTER

Happy Easter to All.....

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March 05, 2008

MEET THE BEATLES....MEET RINGO!

Meet The Beatles, I really mean to say Meet Ringo!!!!  We have a new member to the Mattern family....meet Ringo!  Our son, Noel and daughter-in-law, Sarah have added to their family.  Everyone is so thrilled, well almost everyone.  Stout and Porter, their black cats are not thrilled.  But the kittys are finally coming out of hiding to see the new baby.

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Note the rings around his eyes, hence the name "Ringo".

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His little ears are outlined with black.  Isn't he adorable?  He has four white socks too! So now you have met Ringo. 

It may be time for you to revisit an old friend, The Beatles.  I Want To Hold Your Hand Paw.

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I love this album, Meet The Beatles.  If you haven't listened to it lately, please do so.  It is just as good as it was back in 1964.  Trivia time, Meet The Beatles was not the first Beatles' album, the first Beatles album was released a year earlier, do you know the title of the first Beatles' album?

February 22, 2008

WINNERS OF DISNEY PINS ARE....

Thank you to all who took the time to enter our Disneyland Pin contest.  Three of you named all ten Disneyland rides correctly.  We took the three names and placed them in a hat and drew out the winner of the three pins.  That person is Pattie of Pleasanton!   Congratulations, Pattie.  You can pick up your three pins at the store next time you are in downtown Pleasanton.

Since only three of you guessed the rides correctly, we decided that there would be a second and third prize!  The second prize winner is Blaire of Dublin.  Blaire will get a Tinkerbell pin.  Finally the third prize winner is Michael of Atlanta.  Michael, we will be sending you a Mickey pin (Mickey dressed up as Sherlock Holmes).  Congratulations and thank you to all three of you!

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The Tinkerbell pin goes to Blaire.

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The Mickey pin goes to Michael.

The correct answers to the rides are:

1.  Matterhorn Bobsleds
2.  Space Mountain
3.  Pirates of the Caribbean
4.  Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
5.  Indiana Jones Adventure
6.  Mad Hatter's Tea Cups
7.  Grizzly River Run
8.  Haunted Mansion
9.  Astro Orbitor
10. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

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Bye for now, Walt and Mickey!

February 17, 2008

DISNEYLAND AT FULL THROTTLE !!!

How do Mattern's do Disneyland?  Well, this last time, it was at FULL THROTTLE!!!  Our son, Jeremy, joined us at the Magic Kingdom.  Being a running coach, he suggested that we could go on 20 different rides in just one day.  We are always up for a challenge, so the goal was set, and away we went!  By the end of the day we had been on 20 different rides, four of them twice, for a total of 24 rides!  So here's your challenge, look at the ten pictures below, guess which ten rides are represented by the pictures.  Email your answer to us by noon (PST) Friday, February 22, 2008.  Our email is info@americanharvestusa.com   Emails with the most correct answers will be placed in a drawing for three Disney collector pins.  Have FUN!

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Picture #1, shows Sharon and Jeremy entering the first ride of the day.

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Picture #2...it is dark inside this ride.

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Picture #3...You might just see Captain Jack here, Donna O.

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Picture #4...Jeremy is pictured with the namesake of this ride.

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Picture #5...this happens to be Sharon's favorite ride in Disneyland.

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Picture #6...it is so much fun when you spin out of control!

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Picture #7...this ride is in CA Adventure, and you might get a little wet.

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Picture #8...chilling statues are in the garden walkway to this ride.

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Picture #9...this ride is out of this world.

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Picture #10...wildest ride in the wilderness.

Finally, here is a picture of the three Disney Collector pins for the lucky winner of this challenge!!!

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By the way, if you think that all we did was go on 24 rides....you are so WRONG!!!  We ate our way through Disneyland and California Adventure, we visited with our friend, Laura, who was there with her Disney Pals, checked out all of the beautiful flower gardens, people watched, shopped for clothing, traded pins, saw several Disney characters, and finally watched the "magical" fireworks!!!!  Boy, are we exhausted!!!

February 06, 2008

SHARON'S WORLD OF PASSION

Hi everyone, yes it is me, Rodger, or as I am often called "the guy that is married to the red head at American Harvest".  I thought that I might give you a glimpse into Sharon's world at her home office and work space.  She has no idea that I am writing this, but I'm sure she'll find out soon enough.
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I peeked around the corner and snapped this picture without her knowledge.  Do you know that she creates many things for her store, American Harvest?  She had a full time crafting business for 18 years before she opened her store.
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She loves old frames and glass pedestal cake plates.

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Wendy Addison made the glittered key for Sharon a few years ago and now the key has been added this year to the Midwest line.  Sharon loves pretty things and she is crazy for pink.  Ulla made the candy container that hangs in the oval frame.

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Our friend Jan gave Sharon this beautiful egg made by Iva (I think).

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The Plan de Paris book is mine, but somehow ended up in Sharon's workroom.  Photo of our son's wedding is to the right.  Pictured below are old books and our eldest son's wedding picture.

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The little pink cupboard holds many supplies, including antique ribbons, tickets and glass beads.  The paper ribbon on the bottom shelf is from Switzerland, while many of the other ribbons are from France.

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Sharon's favorite word is passion.  If you don't have passion for life, people, places and ideas....just sit that one out!

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I found this quote amongst her supplies.  Sounds just like my dad, who is 90 years old....but I think that Sharon meant it for me!  I hope that you enjoyed this visit to Sharon's workroom and I hope that she doesn't get too mad at me for inviting you in.

December 25, 2007

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Sharon and Rodger at American Harvest!

December 06, 2007

THE SOFTER SIDE OF CHRISTMAS

I love pastel colors.  Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas for me without soft pinks, pale aquas and mossy greens.  Enjoy the pictures of my softer side of Christmas.
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Debbee Thibault Santas with pink vintage trees.  As you may have guessed, Santas and trees live everywhere in my house, even the guest powder room!

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This is a Trissy Crenshaw original Santa and a vintage corsage that sit on top of an old tin lunch box.

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Vintage trees made of glass balls come in all shapes and sizes.  My philosophy is "there's always room for one more tree!"

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My newest passion is antique tree toppers.  I have placed these in crystal candle holders.

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Wendy Addison's original "sugar dusted" fruit come complete with crinkled wire.

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Antique glass ornaments are so delicate and fragile.  The light makes each ornament shimmer.

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I have captured these ornaments in an old candy display container.  The metal door pulls down.  I wonder how many little hands reached into this container for sweet treats?

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Victorian tree lights give off a soft glow... a calming light at the end of the day.  My wish is that all of you will be able to experience the softer side of Christmas.

December 03, 2007

SANTAS, NEW AND OLD

The armoire in my entry is now filled with my Santa collection.  New or old, stern or happy, celluloid or fabric, each Santa is special to me.  This collection grows yearly, it will never be completed.
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Vintage Santas from Japan, circa 1940.

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1950's Santas, early plastics, pine cone and batting.  The yellow Santa was a great find!

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My small telephone booth is a great display for tiny Santas.

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Wonderful artist Santas complement my collection.

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An antique chair and vintage Christmas boxes make great display pieces.

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I use small  battery tea lights to illuminate my Santas.

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Three Cheerful Roly Poly Santas from the 1950's are fun additions to a Santa collection.

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Don't forget paper cutouts and candy containers when hunting for St. Nick treasures.  Please let me know if you are a Santa collector. I'd love to see the Santas that live in your home.