Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Love is a Rose


Love is a rose but you better not pick it.
It only grows when it's on the vine.
A handful of thorns and you'll know you've missed it,
You lose your love when you say the word "mine."
NEIL YOUNG

I have always loved roses; they are a central theme in our home and garden. Inside our house, roses are represented in our art, fabrics, wallpaper, rugs, chandeliers and decorative objects. Outside, white roses are growing in the garden and on arbors and fences.

I have collected these paintings over time, none of them by a famous artist, but by hobbyists who obviously loved roses like I do.

This painting is one of my favorites. I even made it my header! I cannot pass up any painting depicting a basket of flowers or fruit!

This amateur painting is so sweet. I love the bouquet of both white and red roses tied with a bow. It hangs in the stairwell.

Believe it or not, I found this painting on Ebay! I wouldn't recommend shopping for vintage oil paintings on Ebay though. You really have to be sure of what you are getting.

Case in point: this is another Ebay find. Turns out, it is a new painting, not an old one. I didn't read the description correctly because I was all excited that it was a basket of roses! Still, it's beautiful and it hangs separately from the vintage paintings.

But of course, this painting which hangs over the fireplace is my favorite!
It was a Valentine's Day gift from Mr. A and the first major piece of art we ever purchased.
Still, it is by an amateur artist.

This painting hangs in the living room. I love how it compliments the screen below.


The rose theme continues with fabrics, like these Irish Linen drapes in my living room. They were destined to be discarded by a homeowner, and I rescued them.

Moving outside to the garden....How sweet is this little Cecile Brunner rose? I captured this image in the late afternoon. Soon it will be joined by thousands more roses as they open in a few days. Known as the boutonniere rose, it is tiny and delicate.

My mom brought me this rose a few days ago. She is partial to red roses and is probably the reason I love roses so much. She had over 65 different varieties of roses in her backyard when I was growing up. I learned their names, which ones were prone to mildew, black spot and aphids! I remember her favorites were "Mr. Lincoln" and "Tropicana."

My favorite rose is "Iceburg." It really is the only rose I have growing besides the climbing Cecile Brunner on the arbors. It's not really white as it has tinges of pink. It smells divine!

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."
-Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

I'm joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for "Show and Tell Friday." Be sure to visit her beautiful blog!
I'm also joining Claudia at Dipity Road for "Friday--Finding Beauty!'
On Saturday, I'm linking up with Laurie at Bargain Hunting with Laurie for My Favorite Things.

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35 comments:

Low Tide High Style said...

Your rose paintings are all beautiful and that Iceburg rose...be still my heart! I would have those beautiful blossoms in every room of my home!

Kat :)

Fabulously French said...

Love your rose paintings, they are gorgeous and the iceberg is a favourite of mine as I had this in my garden when I lived in New Zealand.

Leeann x

Johanna Gehrlein said...

All your paintings looks gorgeously. Also the new one is very nice. I love this idea to decorated all with roses because I love roses so much. Do you have also flatware with rose decoration? Nice greetings from Germany, Johanna

Jules said...

The paintings are pure magic. The iceberg has always been a favourite of mine until I discovered the Pierre de Ronsard. A magic climbing rose that fills the house full of blooms all season long!

Lori E said...

I had planned to grow roses choosing the ones whose names relate to my family. Unfortunately I don't have enough sunny area left due to the greenbelt growth next to me.
I would have a Cecile Brunner for my mom, Cecile. A Carriere rose for other ancestors etc.
Maybe when I will have to do it with pictures instead.

Connie in Hartwood said...

I popped over here from Low Tide High Style when I saw the rose painting icon on her sidebar. What a wonderful collection of paintings you have! Roses are addictive, I can agree. I have them throughout my house, but mostly in the garden ... 800 of them and counting.
Connie

xinex said...

I love roses too, Delores. Your paintings of roses are gorgeous. What a great collection....Christine

Kathysue said...

Lovely lovely lovely, every single image. I think I could stay here all day and just gaze at these paintings and roses. I love roses and I buy them for fresh bouquets in my house. I only have two bushes I can only imagine how wonderful your yard looks with all the white roses and the bouquets you bring in your beautiful home. Love it!! Thank you for sharing, Delores, great post as always, Have a wonderful day!! Kathysue

Regina said...

Gorgeous painting and photos!

Kelley said...

I think that is such a great way to collect. Even though all of your paintings are very different they look perfect together. Really pretty Delores. I love Iceberg's too...one of my faves!

PS your photos are amazing!

kelley

helenabelle said...

I really love all your paintings! They are amazing. What a lovely collection.
Roses make me smile.:)

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Delores, those paintings are quite beautiful. You have some beauties outside, too.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

They are all beautiful Delores. I would have been bidding on that overturned basket of roses too. It's lovely, even if it is new. That drapery fabric is gorgeous. I can't believe someone was going to get rid of those - how smart of you to rescue them for your house. laurie

Brenda Pruitt said...

What lovely photos! I'm sure Cindy and her participants are enjoying them as much as I have!
Brenda

Sonia said...

What a beautiful post...love all the rose paintings, new and vintage are wonderful. That Irish linen is gorgeous...would love to rescue fabric like that!!

Miss Bloomers

The Tablescaper said...

Such a beautiful collection. Each are beautiful in their own way.

- The Tablescaper

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

Vintage or not, they are all GORGEOUS! I would love to have some of them...they are sooooo hard to find...maybe just here in Pennsylvania. You have a great eye!

Ebie said...

Everything looks in harmony! Love those beautiful rose paintings and the real ones are a great macros!

I am joining Claudia's Friday Finding Beauty.

Betty said...

Brenda from Cozy Little House sent me over. I'm so glad she did. What gorgeous, gorgeous paintings. I also love rose paintings. I have one over my mantel too. You have some of the prettiest I've seen.

The Little Red Shop said...

What a lovely collection! Did you see the special Audrey Hepburn did on roses...years ago. Ahhh...it was just divine!

: )

Julie M.

lady jicky said...

I love the painting of a basket of roses.
I have "fragrant cloud" a reddy orange rose in my garden and the perfume is wonderful.
Do you have that one too?

Alicia ~ time worn style said...

I collect rose paintings too, antique ones on cedar panels, used to be easy to find, not now so I feel lucky to have the ones I do. I'm following your blog!!
alicia :0)

Sandi~A Cottage Muse said...

What a lovely collection...thank you for sharing!

Hootin Anni said...

Roses!!!! I've always loved roses best. Your painting collection is stupendous.

Please, drop by my Show n Tell if you can find time. I'd love your company today.

It's HERE

LaurieAnna's Vintage Home said...

What a charming post.....beautiful photos and words! So glad I found you!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

You have some really nice paintings of roses. Iceberg is a beauty and fragrant as you've noted.

Claudia said...

Thanks you so very much for joining with us.

Todays post is Awesome -- Roses are beyond lovely.

Your blog itself is wonderful and look forward to visiting again and again.

Claudia

Tallulah's Antique Closet said...

You have a great collection of antique oils of roses. They are also my favorite. You should look at a older post we have a pose dressing screen on canvas. I also luv having a rose garden It washes away the bad engery I get from working with the public. It make me so much better when I work out in the rose garden..

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Hello, This really brightened up my day such lovely artwork. I love roses too and then peonys. Don't you just love their big full fluffy faces?
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

oh my gosh.. love all your photos.. captured the beauty of the roses! all so beautiful!..

thanks for sharing..

Kathleen said...

Beautiful, I love roses. So do the deer, they eat mine! :(

Glenda/MidSouth said...

You have some beautiful paintings. I also love roses, but have never had much luck in growing them.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Delores, thank you for linking this beautiful post to Favorite Things. laurie

Olivia said...

This is a beautiful blog! I love your rose art! If you get a chance check out my blog at http://shabbychictreasures.blogspot.com/ I am giving away a darling teapot for the month of April! Hugs, Olivia

Elsina said...

Wow what an awesome collection!!Beautiful!

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