This is my dream, my passion to recreate the more beautiful parts of Tolkien's world into my own...To merge what I see with what I do not see, to have a blending of his world with mine...To be able finally to walk in the land I have so longed dreamed of...Come walk with me as we make this journey together...

I aear can ven na mar....

I aear can ven na mar....
"The sea calls us home" -Elrond at Grey Havens

Lady Galadriel

Friday, August 28, 2015

Not yet but soon enough...

Well folks, alot has happened since last here and not all good, however good things do come to those who wait especially if they have a good heart... I think I qualify...hope I do.

Anyways soon I will be working on a new garden in a tropical location. That is exciting to me because not a fan of winter at all....and its hard to see the leaves and plants all dead looking. Spring is nice but doesn't make up for the winter for me.

The garden is not as large as I had hoped it would be BUT have decided to put alot of thought into this one, more perhaps than ever before. It will be a Lothlorien themed garden fixating on Galadriel's private garden. I am doing repeat research to get all the details I can and if anyone has any suggestions I am open to hearing them. The area does include a hill that slopes down to the left. Would like very much to have a set of white steps going down into the garden. Somewhere many years back I had posted a pic of such steps and now I can't find them. They were sooooo perfect! Going to see can do something similar from memory.It will have a water feature for sure and lots and lots of flowers. Here there is a fine bamboo that stays fairly small and delicate, was thinking it would make a good hedge for her garden. In the past I had used Canadian Hemlock, another good choice in the states...Lots of white flowers like crape myrtle and bougainvillea because its her color and it will show in the moonlight. There are lots of other lovely flowers to use here as well, it almost makes me feel like its the Undying Lands instead of just regular Lothlorien...Maybe it is, we did have to travel over the waters.... I will have to keep you posted.

We are having a small semi round house put up and this garden will surround it. It is a dream come true after many years of tears...Finally we will have a place that well will be a little more permanent and beautifully ours. We may not be able to stay here right now as much as we want but soon enough it will be our permanent location/home....I cannot wait to let you know all the wonderful details....with pic's of course!

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Website: Middle Earth News, Tracking All Things Middle Earth

Hobbits, Elves, Men all who love Middle Earth,

You really must look at this website!  A fellow Middle Earther had a post from them online with real rooms in real houses that were well INCREDIBLE. Some looked like they were right off a movie set!

There was a room that looked just like Elrond's Library and NO it wasn't from the set but it could have been. Talk about eye candy!

There was another that I truly loved and intend to bank away for my next real flet that allows me to do so.  It was a bath from Lothlorien... I had to look really hard and really closely to try to figure out HOW they did it... It was a wall mural that was so real looking you truly felt like you were in the woods with these bathroom fixtures just part of the trees and woods. I have never in all my elven years seen anything this side of Lothlorien like this. I was absolutely blown away and believe you will be too.

If anyone has issues locating this site please let me know and I'll see what I can do for you. Its a wonderful place of inspiration... Also enjoyed a link they had on site for the set of Hobbiton, some really cool pic's there too...

Enjoy!

GG

Thursday, January 8, 2015

LOR Wall Mural from Calendar



Just a thought...This is a shot of a a black and white calendar I had and wanted to frame but didn't get that far... I found some sticky stuff for hanging posters and just arranged them on the wall.  Each print is regular calendar size so not too small... It was a stunning display that brought me lots of compliments and comments on "oh you must be a Middle Earth fan!" Some were ignorant enough to ask if it was Harry Potter! Hummph....NOT!

Thought I'd share as inexpensive idea for wall decor...Enjoy!

GG

Hobbity Bath Anyone?

Well another bit of inspiration has struck...

Hobbits I know your out there...Here's a nice cosy bath scheme for you that will keep you toasty warm in winter and pleasantly happy in summer.

First off paint your walls in a nice deep warm yellow...Not too lemony, that's too bright. You want something more muted but deep like a warm mustard or even  a nice soft butterscotch... If these are too deep for you then go with a nice more brownish yellow on the lighter side...You don't want anything too bright yellow, you do want more deep, muted and soft...Hope that makes sense to you like it does to me.

Then you can accent with towels in either a nice sage green, hunter green, chocolate brown, or even a deep teal blue/green. You can also layer the towels with two of the colors together, will look rather fancy for a hobbit but then maybe your trying to impress in-laws or ? You can also add the wall color for the accent towel color. I do this sometimes.  When you purchase the towels in the store hold the two colors together and see if you like the combination before you buy. You can do the larger bath towels on the bottom layer then put smaller folded hand towels on top of those. If really fancy then you can add the folded wash clothes in the color of the bath towel on top of the hand towel.  Looks really nice! Then put a bath mat on floor in the color you chose as the bath towel.  Find a shower curtain with something to do with nature: a field of flowers, or just something floral, something in a solid color,or anything YOU find that says that's it! That's what I'm looking for!  BUT it also needs to have your colors in it or it will look HORRID!  Not what we want for you... For example if you choose the chocolate as your main towel color then why not a chocolate colored curtain? You could also if you can find it, find a shower curtain to match your walls. I have not seen any curtains with this color but you might.

You will also want to accessorize other things with your colors,  Toothbrush holder, soap dispenser, toilet bowl brush holder...Remember ONE color is your main color:either the bath towel color or your wall color.  I like to match the wall color for accessories but not always...Sometime the contrast is nice.  I really like this bath set up with either a white or beige sink/toilet/bathtub/shower.

Then finally you NEED some wall decor...This is the fun part for me as this really adds the final touch to the atmosphere...

I highly recommend you going to All Posters.com and looking for the perfect print.  In the bath here which is currently very hobbity I found a lovely framed print at a thrift shop that is a very enlarged photo of a marsh with wild flowers...Its perfect!  Look for something with a field of flowers or a meadow or a nice farm type scene perhaps.  See whats there that appeals to you.  It could be a print with photo of a large vase of summer flowers- like something you'd see on a farm kitchen table or such... Perhaps bit of sunflowers? Very hobbitty! If possible it looks nice to hang a large picture over the back of the toilet tank. Adds nice balance to room.  If space available hang another on opposite wall near shower/tub and over towel rack.  If no towel rack there then hang pic anyway, again for good balance in room.

I also added a clear, tall glass vase with a silk flower arrangement containing sunflowers and some deep almost navy smaller flowers between the larger golden sunflowers. I also added some small white almost like a baby's breath fill just to make it more attractive and full.  It sits on the back of the toilet tank under the framed marsh print, lovely.  If room it would also look lovely on the side of the sink- if you have room. I didn't in this new place. If you are going to do this look at a craft store to find what you need.  You could also add a small candle with the proper color and hopefully with a scent reminiscent of something you like perhaps sunflowers or something baked? Or something with a nature smell... just no SPA scents for the hobbits, thats for the elves-sorry!

Now if your a guy and don't want to do the flower thing... remember unless you want to stay solo the female hobbits would appreciate a little feminine touch now and then...BUT if your hardcore single male then here's something that may appeal to you instead. What about a wooden bowl of potpourri with a nice fall scent to it. Make sure the colors match though! Now a days they seem to dye the stuff all kinds of colors... You could also add a nice tall candle in a clear candle holder next to it with a metalic base. Get either a white or cream colored candle if you do. This is simple and yet still manly!

Ok can't think of anything else at the moment...Hope this helps someone out there in cyber world!

Happy decorating!

PS if you want you could also lay a folded in half hand towel across the back of toilet tank and put the decor on top of that. Just adds little more warmth and color. And if you also wanted too a small bowl of the "plastic/foam" fall veggies like small pumkins, squash, nuts or a bowl of apples, could be used instead of potpourri.  It will last year round cause its not real...Very Hobbity.

Another thing is to find some kind of air freshener thing that smells like something inviting. Nothing tropical ok? That's not going to match up and you and your guest will notice. Need something either cinnamon or apple or you get the idea. And they seem to sell those scents year round. Hide the airfreshner somewhere, behind the toilet, on top of the medicine cabinet...doesn't matter just don't leave it in plain view, you have the candle for visual.

GG









Tuesday, January 6, 2015

More Wall Pic Idea's for Lothlorien

Have so much in my head and don't always remember to actually put it here...sorry.

I had mentioned taupe walls for the elves...Works good for Rivendell too, it a grey taupe not pink taupe, it simulates old stone, old like elves... The taupe is a wonderful background color for all shades of greens (think trees) especially the grass greens and sage greens. BUT dark leafy plants really pop against this color also. And with white trim, wow!

I like to get large nature posters with green woods and water features either waterfalls, streams or you could do a quiet lake too. AllPosters.com  is one of my favorite sites ever! Then be sure to use a BLACK frame. It blends best with nature shots like this and compliments the taupe also.  The green in the scenes will really jump out at you against a taupe wall...Its incredible and wonderful.

White as in furniture also looks awesome against a nice taupe wall. Very classy and clean too. But then you must be able to maintain the "clean" if you use white. I will often use a throw over lighter furniture that is in my color scheme until company arrives and then we "unveil" the piece.

Another thing you can consider for wall pics for Lothlorien is black and white or sepia prints of nature shots. They also look good against the taupe walls and are very classy looking. I have two and always get compliments on them. Again All Posters. com has lots to choose from. If you don't like their prices get on their email lists because they are always having sales! That's when I order!

Remember WHAT the elves chose to live in, nature, beautiful nature.  Lothlorien with the stunning mallorns, waterfalls, rivers, gardens.  Rivendell with the beautiful mountains, waterfalls, gardens. Surround yourself with similar pic's.  Pic's help create atmosphere and that's what your looking for here...Even if you can't have your dream setting outside you CAN create it inside. Remember its all in the details, paint, wall pics, accessories!  Chose wisely and you will be happy for years to come. Remember too that elves have such exquisite things, timeless things, let that help guide you.  If you find something unique and elvish to you get it! You won't regret it,  at least don't think you will, I never have.

Peace,GG

Hope this helps out...Any questions feel free to ask.