In a vase on Monday: December with no flowers

I found this sweet little spotted vase at a new art gallery, Dillon, on Willy St. on Madison's east side. We wandered in on Gallery Night and I was instantly smitten. Not that I need another vase. But how could I resist one that looks perfect without any flowers in it to distract from its precise shape and pattern. Just the vase for after a snowstorm when the garden has mostly gone underground until Spring. The gallery is operated by local artist Pat Dillion and the vase is the work of Jennifer Darner Wolfe

When we got home from Gallery Night, I just plunked the vase in an empty spot on the living room mantle. When I stepped back I realized how well it fit into our new arrangement of mostly blue artwork . . .

especially how the dots on the vase echoed the motifs in Tom Sargent's beautiful painting.

A note to all you gardeners, paint the handles of your tools a bright color or tie ribbons on them so you can see them when you set them down and get distracted.  While working in the garden a couple of years ago I lost the pair of Japanese Ikebana clippers sitting behind the vase. I discovered them this fall as I was planting bulbs and hit something metallic buried in the dirt. I replaced them with a new pair of clippers which have hot pink plastic ribbon tied through the black leather fastener!

Be sure to stop by Rambling in the Garden to see what others are putting in a vase this Monday.

Comments

[Peter/Outlaw]

What a fun vase and you're right, it fits perfectly where you plunked it.

[Lisa at Greenbow]

This happens time and again when you see something you really like go ahead and purchase it because there will be a place for it.

[Rae]

Oh my. LOVE that vase. And I must get to Dillon. I've seen it and can walk there. We need an outing... but probably after the new year?

[Donna@Gardens Eye View]

What an adorable vase and it does fit perfectly....I really do need to do something to make it easier to find my tools....I am forever throwing them away in the compost pile.

[Loree / danger garden]

That vase was a great find, and of course you can always use another great vase - especially when it looks so at home with your artwork.

I have a small pair of Ikebana clippers that I've had for 13 years now. The only reason they've stayed with me this long? They have bright red handles.

[Kris P]

Ha! This is a first but I like it! It's a wonderful little vase and complements your mantle and the surrounding art well. Empty containers serve nicely in the garden as ornaments and the same goes for empty vases in the house.

[Cathy]

You have some lovely stylish things - and what a pretty vase this is. Probably a first too - a vase with no flowers! But why not? You would if you could, I am sure ;)

[Noelle]

A very stylish vase...and very beautiful snippers too. I so agree with you about bright tools...I try to put my tools in a central place...and have even been known to empty the green recycling bin to check that my cutters have not ended there. So please your snippers and you were reunited...I can just imagine the feeling you had.

[Cath from Absent Gardener]

Lovely vase, and a good idea about the pink ribbon. I will try it. Some of my favourite tools have plain wooden handles which I like, but as you say they blend in. That said I did manage to lose one of my wolfgarten handles which is bright red. :)

[Ann @ Ann Edwards Photography]

I love your new vase which matches your stunning interior perfectly. A great tip for tools too which I will pass on to my gardening friends!