Ireland 2013 (store fronts)

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Rob and I just returned from our trip to Ireland and we’ve been spending the weekend going through our hundreds of photographs. It was a great to return to Ireland (see last year’s photos here) and experience another area of the country. We traveled around the western coastal counties of Mayo, Galway, Sligo and Clare. The weather was characteristically cool and rainy with a chance of sun shine. We saw many beautiful and charming sights which I’ll be sharing over the next few weeks.

I’m organizing different categories of pictures to show, including Polly Doll’s adventures, which will come later. Let’s start with some of my favorite subjects: boldly painted store fronts.

Polly’s going on a trip

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Polly Doll is packed and ready to go on a trip to Ireland. She’s filled her carpet bag and basket with all of her necessities and is waiting to board the Peter Pan bus to Logan Airport. Polly missed the bus last year and she is so determined to go along this time that she will not move from her spot in front of the house. No sleeping, no bathroom breaks. And she insists on holding her carry-on luggage while she waits.

She’s hoping to show pictures of her travels on Facebook while she’s away, so check there from time to time to see where she’s been.

Boat trip to Cuttyhunk Is.

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Rob and I have been making an effort to go out in our boat as much as possible in these last days of summer. On a beautiful calm day last week, we motored down the chain of Elizabeth Islands to Cuttyhunk at the very end. We like to visit at least once a year and take in the island’s beauty, charm and character, which I tried to capture in these photographs. To see all of the posts about Cuttyhunk, go to the archives here.

Oak Bluffs cottages and The Moth

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Last Saturday, a friend and I took a boat over to Oak Bluffs. We had tickets to go to The Moth on Martha’s Vineyard, which I describe at the end of this post. Before the evening show, we walked around the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting neighborhood and I took some photos of the perfectly charming little cottages. See a post about last year’s visit here. The purpose of our visit to Oak Bluffs was to attend an evening of storytelling presented by The Moth radio program. If your local NPR station airs The Moth, you know how inspiring and moving the stories can be. Last summer, Martha’s Vineyard writer, Cynthia Riggs told a most compelling story that has by now been heard all over the world. It is worth hearing her tale, so click the link on her name. She returned this year and gave an update of her adventure to a cheering crowd of 1700. Here’s the inside of the Tabernacle while we were waiting for the storytelling performances to begin. It was quite an evening!

houses in California’s central coast

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Here’s a selection of houses we saw last month, while traveling around the rural back roads and towns of San Luis Obispo County, California.

all natural in California

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Here are photographs of some natural curves and textures that we saw in California.

California poppies and other icons

Posted on April 3, 2013 by Salley Mavor

I’m finally caught up with unfinished tasks and e-mails, so I went through last week’s pictures from our trip to California. I see this grouping as iconic images which represent the look and spirit of California. We came across this hillside full of California poppies while driving along the central coast. Rob took a picture of me taking the closeup photo. We’re calling it “Salley’s World” in reference to a certain famous 20th century American painting.

This couple’s color sense was irresistible.

The children playing, the beach umbrella and the VW van pictures were all taken at Hearst Beach.

This tile roof is inside the courtyard of the San Luis Obispo Mission.

And Tuesday is farmer’s market day in Paso Robles.

Polly’s trip to California

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Polly doll saw a lot of dry and wet places on her recent trip to California. Dry vineyards in Paso Robles.Green grass and railroad tracks somewhere between San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles.

Misty and moist Bridal veil falls in Yosemite.

Another magnificent waterfall in Yosemite.

And soft and furry sequoia trees in Yosemite!

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visit to Fresno

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Salley Mavor

We had a wonderful time doing book related business in Fresno, CA on Friday and Saturday. First there was the reception for the “Pocketful of Posies” exhibit, which is on display through May 24 at the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature, Henry Madden Library at Fresno State.

Jennifer Crow and her helper Mai Sou Lee did a beautiful job organizing and hanging the show.

On Saturday, I signed books at Petunia’s Place, a children’s bookstore in Fresno. 14 yr. old Sarah Riley came from a 3 hour distance to meet me. She started making fairies from Felt Wee Folk when she was 7. I’m impressed!

new born lambs

Posted on March 16, 2013 by Salley Mavor

Rob and I visited a friend’s farm a few days ago. We took photographs of the new born lambs and proud ewes, who were very willing subjects. As our camera clicked away, they provided us with the most pastoral maternal scene. The lambs were so beguiling! See sheep and lambs I’ve stitched from my Close-ups series here.