Viva Las Vegas!

In April 2011, Edward and I went to Las Vegas. 

While he has been there many times, this was my first visit. 

Since I don’t gamble there really didn’t seem much reason to go. 

But then they started building Epcot style theme hotels

and I saw some interesting Thomas Struth photos and decided that I might enjoy a visit.

I did get some terrific photos. 

In fact, thanks to my photographic skills the photos look better than the actual subjects. 

Somehow they add the texture that the originals lack,

because at the end of the day, they are faux buildings designed to look like the real thing,

but lacking the patina that comes with true age and hand craftsmanship.

Still I am glad that I had the chance to visit and check them out.

Ciao

PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Embroidery: Cherries

Of course, I couldn’t resist creating an embroidery featuring cherry blossoms. 

I mixed together a variety of species,

and did a bunch of pretty little watercolors. 

And here’s the final piece.

Ciao

PJ

© PJ Lehrer 2012

Cherry Blossoms

Spring has come early to New York City this year thanks to our warmest ever January/February/March.  It was so warm in fact that even I missed winter.  And, it made me realize that I do like living in a place that experiences all four seasons. 

But, it’s been a beautiful spring.  The magnolias have come and gone and now it’s cherry blossom time. 

The Brooklyn Botanical Gardens are famous for their cherries as their collection of 220 trees is the largest one in the world outside of Japan. 

They even have a Cherry Watch Map on their website, so you can see what’s blooming before you head over.

http://www.bbg.org/discover/cherries/

The weeping cherries that surround the lake bloom earliest. 

There are also several weeping trees in the Cherry Esplanade. 

Just when the weeping cherries wrap up, the other types spring into action. 

I still remember visiting the gardens with my grandparents Doris & Louis when I was a child.  Here I am with my brother Ken collecting cherry blossoms circa 1966.

But, Central Park is no slouch in the cherry department either.  The Pilgrim on 72^nd Street looks its prettiest when surrounded by blossoms.

And this cutie is next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art on 79^th. 

But I think the most beautiful cherries in Central Park are in the Conservatory Garden on 105^th Street.  They take my breath away.

Enjoy!

PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Embroidery: Daffodils

I used one of the photos from the last post, along with a drawing based on a different daffodil, to create this embroidered piece.  I shot the flowers with the sun behind them to create the translucent effect.  And, I limited the embroidery on the watercolor daffodil to the edges for a similar look.

Here’s what the watercolor looked like before I began.  I used a very textured paper because I wanted a variety of color tones.

Ciao
PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer

Daffodils

Another sure sign of spring is the arrival of the daffodils. 

This past fall we planted mini daffodils in the flower boxes of our tree beds. 

They bloomed in mid-March, several weeks early,

just like everything in NYC this year.  

We are all enjoying the cheerful note they bring to the building entrance. 

Both Central Park

and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden have both traditional daffodils

and exotic narcissus plantings

providing plenty of excellent photo opportunities. 

But many of the sidewalk tree pits delight as well.

Happy Spring!

PJ

© 2012 PJ Lehrer