Architectural Map-Drawings to Date: December 2013

Last Bits of Christmas: FREDERICK, Maryland

On a very cold and windy December 31, 2013 -

- Frederick's East 4th Street revealed Christmas dressings still mostly pristine on stately rowhouses.

The colors of Christmas and the colors of historic rowhouses complemented -

Red doors were inadvertently festive, as well as scalloped window shades.

A single red velvet bow askew made a sea green door a holiday portal.

Even a gated narrow passage between buildings which punctuates Frederick's streetscapes comes alive with a Christmas planter.

Celery is a perfect backdrop to delicate piney wreaths - 

- and brass bells watched over by a brass eagle on this blue double door, which must shine at night when those string lights turn on.

On Market Street, the shop windows are shifting from Christmas the the New Year, and we caught the wreaths on the front door of VOLT restaurant just as they were being taken down, at the end of their holiday lives.

Last-minute LOCAL Holiday Pop Up Shop: STAUNTON, Virginia

LAST-MINUTE. LOCAL. POP-UP SHOP. PHOTOGRAPHS & DRAWINGS. STAUNTON, VIRGINIA.

A balmy day in Staunton Virginia. December 21!  the doors of the old Historic Staunton Building are wide open for the first time in...years! Peter Aaslestad's studio is transformed into a Holiday Pop-Up Shop featuring many of Peter's famous Staunton photographs as well as architectural map-drawings by me, Kirsten Sparenborg / Turn-of-the-Centuries.

A sandwich board invites folks to come on down to the shop, by the train station, from Beverley Street.

Come in...

We mixed black and white photographs and ink and watercolor drawings on the gallery walls. Architecture, in subject and approach, is a strong underlying connection in the work.

This was the first time I've framed my Staunton drawings. It was nice to see a body of Virginia drawings - Virginia Tech, UVA, Front Royal and, of course, Staunton - all together.

Peter's curiosity xylophone served as a nice display for his photographs. 

Help yourself to "Swig" sugar cookies with sour cream frosting or ginger cookies with orange buttercream frosting or fresh, homemade gingerbread.  I gift-wrap, too!

The sun set on the longest night of the year and the shop glowed blue...

---while the gallery inside glowed warm and inviting.
It invited some of the most interesting and community-minded folks in town - including a new family here just a week, embarking upon a fixer-upper, armed with training and energy and a fantastic zest for life.

Prints and Postcards!  

Night fell and the crowd grew in this intimate space, still room for friendly dogs.

What a wonderful way to meet people and participate in the Local Economy!
The Holiday Pop-Up Shop was a Success!
THANK YOU to all the wonderful folks who stopped in - keep in touch,

HELD OVER to Monday, December 23 10am - 2pm. Come by!

Peter Aaslestad Studio.  120 South Augusta Street, by the Depot.

LTD 7: Cozy/Breezy Vintage in STAUNTON Virginia

For Those who Call the "Queen City" Home...

There's a great shop in Staunton called LTD 7 - on North Augusta.

Owner Lynne Breeden and her friendly crew know how to find and foster local artisans and put together a shabby-chic showroom which blends all good things - and smells nice, too!

My Staunton Prints and postcards have a nice little nook against the brick wall in the middle of the shop.

Lynne's breezy/cozy vintage style attracted us one night while out for a run. We stepped inside and I felt transported to Savannah Georgia, circa 2007. Lynne was friendly as a southern belle, too, and instantly gracious.

You can learn how to make things at LTD 7!  Like rosemary wreaths -

And don't forget to get yourself a SweetNanaCakes cupcake!

You got to love a place where the banjo feels at home,