A is for Auspicious, Appetizing & Amazing Apples

 APPLES!

Apples. 

They come in over 50 different varieties. Many of those are readily available in your local grocery store, or by mail order companies like Harry & David.

This chart just shows a few. Some I have never heard of! How many have you tried?

  Waechtersbach vintage mug

Autumn chills make me think of Fall things, and that includes apples, pumpkins and falling leaves swirling with color.

Found on Pinterest, no artist name

Browsing the internet, I found quite a few apple-themed items. Buildings, furniture, kitchen appliances, clothing, jewelry, accessories - the list goes on…

And on…

And on.

Cat bed and toy

Let’s have some apple-icious fun today.

(I have shared where you can find a few of the items, when I can find out information.)

Clock

Telephone, Poshmark

You an easily transform your kitchen into an apple orchard with the variety of apple-themed products out there. Let’s start with a simple but effective way to get started with the transition - door/cabinet knobs.

Another fairly inexpensive change is something we don’t think about often - light switch covers.

On a severe budget? Why not take plain covers and decoupage them with images of apples cut from magazines, napkins or stickers? Finish with a good coat of Mod Podge and they will wipe down easily

Stove top burner covers used to be so popular. They are still a great way to protect the top of your stove and add some color.

Of course you will need an apple pie plate to bake an apple pie in that oven -

Kaldun & Bogle; Wayfair

and apple measuring cups to make that apple pie -

The Design

and an apple utensil holder you need for the spoons and such to make that apple pie -

and an apple timer to know how long to bake that pie.

Hermosas

A nice lazy Susan (turntable) could be handy to hold napkins -

and some apple hooks to hang your apron on.

I found a ‘vintage’ 1960’s sewing pattern. You might need to wear this to serve your apple pie?

Fashion Frocks; 1960’s

While we’re getting ready, let’s comb our hair and put in a hair clip or two -

Oops! Need to sew on a missing button -

For that I need some light to see.

GoatapplianceGifts 

We can set the table with a vase of apple blossoms-

or sit in our favorite apple chair -

…and listen to some music, 

usb.brando.com

or perhaps watch a little television.

Hannspreetv

‘An apple a day

keeps anyone away

if you throw it hard enough!’

- unknown

How many of these have you tried?

My favorite is Gala for eating, although I also like Pink Lady and Fuji.

Apples seem to go just about anywhere in your home.

The bathroom -

The Craft Room (we all have one of those, right?) -

Knitting-bee.com

Found on Etsy

The bedroom -

monmaris

Jewelry keeper

Walmart

The music room -

solethings, a Korean web site

The office -

and the Den -

You can even travel with your apple luggage -

using the apple bus stop -

Bus stop, Japan

…to visit your favorite apple orchard information booth!

Meaford, Ontario, Canada 

Whew!

Who knew?

I have had fun finding all the apple items.

Why not try out a new-to-you variety from the store?

‘Til next time,

inkspired

 

Swan Dreams

 

Chris Baca posted on Pinterest

I have always loved swans. They just look so stately and elegant.

Found on Pinterest, no credit

Then I discovered some pretty cool things about them - like they mate for life;

and they are fiercely protective of their young.

Both parents care and protect their babies - who are called cygnets.

Georgeann Ward posted on Pinterest

Wild swans migrate for the winter, so you might see a group of them flying overhead. A group of swans is called a bevy. You would notice since they travel in groups of 100 or more!

Possibly Bewick’s Swans; David Asvitt posted on Pinterest

There are many different kinds of swans. The differences seem to be primarily in the color of the beak, or the feathers.

Black-necked swan

You can find swans in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Australia, Oceania and the Artic.

UK courtesy of Freepik 

Swans even have their own constellation! It’s named Cygnus and represents the mythical character Orpheus.

By Thysa Zevenbergen; Pinterest & Etsy

Here  are few more examples of swan paper cuttings -

Papercutting by inkspired

Found on Pinterest

The swan we are most familiar with in North America is the mute swan. It is actually an invasive fowl brought here from Europe.

Mute swan

Our native swan is the trumpeter swan. It almost became extinct in the 20th century, but through dedicated conservation it has rebounded.

Trumpeter Swan; Pinterest

The Trumpeter swan has an all black face mask and beak.

Photo credit: Robin Schmidt

Swans have been popular throughout history. As most things do, their popularity goes in and out of favor, but swans always seem to come back.  Here are some household items that feature swans.

Vintage Abbot teapot

Vintage table; Pinterest

1940’s swan chair

Circa 1806 cup

Vintage Haeger swan vase

We can also find swans in architecture.

Drumcliff, County Sligo, Ireland 

Posted aldabones on Pinterest

Art Nouveau style swans

Swan jewelry can be lovely-

Ochira pearls; Pinterest

Graff jewelry designs; Pinterest 

The elegant lines of a swan lend themselves to clothing fashion quite nicely. Here are some unique examples:

Hamada Al Fahim Spring/Summer 2017

George’s Hobeika Fall 2018 show

House of Aristocrat

We find artists throughout the ages fascinated with swans as subject matter.

Artist unknown

Folk Art by Skaska

Here are a few that have been featured on magazine covers -

Swans have also been popular in advertising.

Courtesy The Graphic Fairy

Here are some swans you can cut out and use as decorations. Make a garland to hang from a mantle, or across a doorway. Frame one and hang on the wall. You could Mod Podge one onto a gold charger plate, or a glass plate for a tabletop display. Pair it with glass swan figurines.

Freehand cut by inkspired

Backstreet Studio (out of print)

Swan dinner plates, BASH party supply

This next pattern could be cut from felt or paper-

Use these patterns for cross stitch, Diamond Dotz or beading-

Swan Pixel Art

Found on Pinterest

Here’s a wonderful pattern to make a pop-up card!

Kirigamiarts.blogspot.com

Soon you will have a bevy of swans!

Photo credit: Pascal Silvain Arabatzis

I cannot write a blog about swans without mentioning the beautiful ballet 

“Swan Lake”.

Anna Pavlova

Svetlana Zakharova

Jurgita Dronina, The Het Nationale Ballet (Netherlands)

Meaghan Grace Hinkis,, Royal Ballet at Athelhampton, England

Perhaps you would like to draw your own cob (male swan) or pen (female swan).

Posted by Art Projects for Kids, Pinterest

Posted by Art Projects for Kids on Pinterest

WeDrawAnimals.com

Swans can have a wing span of almost 10 feet and fly up to 50 mph.

Found on Pinterest

Wild swans live anywhere from 12 - 20 years.

Found on Pinterest

Look around and discover a few swans tucked into your world. Who knows where you might find a swan or two?

Kate Spade New York bag

Button Folk Art

World of Decor; Pinterest

Antique book cover

Yanina Couture Fall 2016

I have had so much fun finding swans for you! As always when I research for a blog, I have also learned new things. Thanks for coming along on the ride with me!

‘Til next time,

inkspired

KKloberdans on Pinterest

Antique French publication

A few of my resources:

Pinterest

The Graphic Fairy

Wikipedia.org

nwf.org

a-zanimals.com