A Little Key West...

We vowed when we came down to Florida that our house would be decorated in a tropical style, and we have tried very hard to support local artists by buying only things that either come from art fairs or from consignment shops.

Yesterday we went downtown to the Farmer's Market because Rick wanted to buy some honey with which he can make some home-baked bread.  While we were down there (since we actually scored some FREE parking at Pioneer Park), we also took a stroll through the Art Fair that was setting up.

We found a glass artist that had some cute little copper fish on a stained-glass background.  We purchased one small panel of fish and brought them home, only to find that they were way too small for the intended wall above the toilet in the master bathroom.  We took the fish back and somehow were talked into ordering a much bigger piece for the wall.

On the second trip back to the Art Fair, Rick mentioned a fun watercolor that really caught his attention each time we walked past the booth.  (Truth be told, I really liked the same print.)  The print was framed, and the artist wanted $75 for it.  We found a similar print in his batch of prints for $35.  When he asked if I wanted to buy that print, I told him that I really wanted the print that was in the frame, but I did not want to buy the frame. (The frame was too wide and not well made.)  He said that he would "swap out" the print I wanted for the print I was holding, so we bought the colorful print of three houses that we wanted to put on our kitchen wall.

The fun, Key West bungalows add some color to our
large, blank kitchen wall.

Rick did some research and found that Michael's had frames for up to 70% off.  We went to Michael's and found the perfect white frame, normally $39.99, on sale for $12.00 + tax.  Such a deal!  We came home, framed the print, and it was hanging on the kitchen wall that night.

This morning we woke up and discussed the fact that neither of us thought that the copper and glass work that we ordered would be right for our master bathroom. I could not figure out yesterday why it bothered me, but last night I noticed that all of the fixtures in that room are brushed nickel, and I don't think that the copper would look right with it.

So this morning, before church, we went back to the Art Fair.  We purchased a second print of a bright pink house with a hammock and a flamingo from the same artist, and we tried to find the glass artist so we could cancel our order.  She was not there yet, and we had to get to church, so we left.

After church, we drove back to Michael's to buy another frame.  Of course, the 70% deal was off, and the same frame was now just 50% off.  We still got a good deal on the frame, so we took it.

When we returned home,  I e-mailed the glass artist, cancelling our order.  We are much happier with the two bright, new prints that we have.  They make me smile, and both prints and frames still cost us less money than the one copper piece would have in the end.

Our new print brings a bit of Key West
even into the master bathroom.

The art is fun, original, and funky. Gladys needed a little color in her life, and if something makes a person smile, then it is worth the time and effort to get it in the end.