Road Trip

I went up to SanFrancisco to visit family for a long weekend and one day, we did a self-guided walking tour in the inner Sunset district. The Golden Gate Heights area is hilly and from the top at Grandview Park, you get a 360 view of the city from the Pacific Ocean to downtown and the Golden Gate Bridge. One of the best parts of the walk are the Hidden Garden steps which go up16th Avenue between Kirkham and Lawton. The steps, which total 148, are covered in mosaics depicting all sorts of plants and insects. The colors are amazing as is the detail. Since this was a community project, many of the tiles have the names and inscriptions of donors to the project. The steps were completed in 2013 and were designed by by tile artists Colette Crutcher and Aileen Barr. Nearby is another one of their creations, the Moraga steps which are located on 16th Avenue between Moraga and Noriega Street. Both are a sight to see. If you want to get off the beaten path in San Francisco, this area is a great place to go - just make sure to have good walking shoes!

Portugal 2-Azulejo

Everywhere you look in Portugal, there is decorative tile (Azulejo in Portuguese). And I took pictures every chance I got.

Blue and white is popular but there are many different colors as well. Sometimes there will be just one kind of tile but other times there is pattern upon pattern. The doors, windows and balconies are often decorated with wrought iron as well so that every turn is a visual feast.

Door - Tomar

Window - Lisbon

Balcony - Lisbon

Windows - Lisbon

Balcony - Porto

Window - Lisbon

Church Window - Porto

Balcony - Porto

Window- Tomar

Train Station - Vila Franca de Xira

I spent an enjoyable morning at the National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) which was an easy 20 minute walk from the Santa Apolónia train station in Lisbon. The museum is located in the former Convent of Madre Deus, dating from 1509, so in addition to seeing all the tiles, the building itself is worth the visit. At the bookshop, I purchased a book called "Tiles in Lisbon" which is just photos of tiles (you can purchase the book on Amazon here). The book was shrink wrapped so I didn't open it until I returned home. In the back of the book was a whole pamphlet with self-guided walks around Lisbon to view the tiles. 
Something for next time!

Recent Acquisition

Sometimes I find something I want on Ebay and bid my max knowing I probably won't be the winning bid. And sometimes I get surprised! I was the lucky high bidder (there were only 2 bids) on this fabulous mid century tile by Swedish designer Lisa Larson.

I had admired this bird tile for ages - I believe it dates to the 1960's and each one is glazed a little differently. It is now hanging on the wall in my office where I can admire it every day.

Lisa Larson was born in 1931 and worked at the Gustavsberg (Sweden) porcelain factory from 1953 to 1980. While some of her designs are still being produced (you can buy them here), I like the older pieces such as the Lilla Zoo series from 1955 (I'm hoping to acquire a fox someday...).

One thing I have found about shopping on Ebay-if you get outbid, the item will usually turn up again. And if it's too high priced the first time (or second, or third...) be patient because eventually someone will post the item at a price you can afford. Happy bidding!