A Tangled Mess of Forest They Call the Wilderness

This is a great antique window from a 105 year old house in Cincinnati. The saying is something I heard from a documentary on the historic American landscape. I found it captivating, imaginative... and though this neat window would be perfect. The lettering and ornament is similar to a turn of the century alphabet that was used often for signage.

A Tangled Mess of Forest They Call the Wilderness, 28x2x26 inches
$300
On Etsy

Circus, One of many to come

I have a deep love for vintage hand painted circus or sideshow banners. There is an antique warehouse that owns nearly 20 of them that hang in a gorgeous old warehouse. They are all quite large 10ft by 8ft or so. Some of my favorites include, Turtle Girl, The Fire Breather, Medusa, and Electra. Also of interest are circus prints from Barnum and Bailey's travelling circus. I've always wanted to own some of these posters but that day hasn't come yet. So, I decided to make some windows in the theme of the Circus. I hope to complete many more circus themed signs! Enjoy.

Circus Approx. 32wx28h in. For Sale $250

Photos in the Sun-Times

My booth had TWO photos featured in the Sun-Times..

http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=14998660

Take me out to Henry's Swing Club

     We gotta double trouble wind-ow right here. John Lee Hooker, a legendary blues singer-songwriter and guitarist. One of my favorites, and other folks' as well, is 'One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer.' Check out that tune riiight here.  (The video features Mr. John Lee seated in a lounge chair in an alley or side street in what looks like NYC. While seated, he signs and plays electric guitar to the song with sunglasses on)

     "Henry's Swing Club" is a tune he wrote back 'round 1948 or 1950. The track appears on the '92 compilation, Graveyard Blues. Listen to it here. 
  
     So what's so double trouble bout this one wind-ow, now? Well, I hear John Lee Hooker's singin' and pickin' and he makes me want to put on some dark glasses and sip on a bourbon. Well, when I hear "Henry's Swing Club" I want to listen to some Dixieland blues and kick my wingtips 'round. Man oh man. Double trouble.
      And that takes us to the wind-ow. The frame has been refinished: stripped, stained, and coated.

"Henry's Swing Club" 28.5 inches x 27 inches $215

 

So I watched Ken Burns' Documentary, Prohibition. And I feel my home resembles a Speakeasy.

I don't know if  a speakeasy is where I lay my head at night but what a neat 3 part documentary by Ken Burns. Never failing at creating an interesting and educational flick, Prohibition talked about some of my subjects: whiskey, speakeasies, jazz, and Cincinnati. Check it out.
Here we have a similar representation of fonts that were used in banks and government offices around the 1910s, 1920s. This is a great thick window that has a refinished frame.
Perfect for a bar, or above my front door.

Speakeasy Measures approx. 34in x 14in with a refinished wood frame SOLD