The Art of Rob Bartell - Brandon is Framed!

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It is confession time. I confess that I treated myself to the irresistible Brandon by Rob Bartell. I just got him back from the framers and look at how beautiful he is now! Of course I went with a bamboo frame to stay in keeping with his Hawaiian theme. He is just going to look great on the wall over my bed in my Asia room. Here are some other things that are in my room:

Tibetan tiger rugs. I have one hanging on the opposite wall from where Brandon will be. Tigers are the Tibetan symbol for power and protection. I need lots of that. I have three Tibetan tiger rugs in different styles.

Lord Shiva dances next to my small Ganesh on a side altar in my room that is actually a glass bookcase with my Asian book collection, Chinese clay yixing tea pots, and my maharajah silk bedspread.

Next to that I have a narrow, highboy dresser that is made out of mahogany inlaid with mother of pearl and across from that is a trunk made of the same materials (see photo above) that were made in Indonesia. I am just in awe of these pieces and it is just like a dream come true to own them.

I also have a hand carved teak chair and ottoman from Indonesia.

The room is painted "coconut milk", the doors are "bamboo" and the room has "antique gold" trim around the doors and windows. The rugs are all Tibetan. I have a large central rug that depicts Lord Yama, the Tibetan Lord of Death, holding the wheel of life (see below). My carpet is colorful, but more simplified than this picture and the wheel is squared off. It was custom made for others who ended up not buying it. The rug ties my room together.

I have bamboo blinds on the windows and a purple heart wood altar that I made myself and my Buddha and incense burner sit upon.

The photo above shows purple heart wood sitting in a mill. The second I laid eyes on the color I just had to have a scrap. I found one that was really thick and wide and screamed "I am an altar!" I finished it with a clear lacquer. The tiger rug that hangs above it has a mauve flower on it that brings out the purple just perfectly. The frame around the Yama rug is the same color.

My Buddha is hand carved in mahogany and about 50 years old. It stands 19 inches (48.3 cm) tall and was carved in Tibet. My Buddha's hands are in the teaching mudra because I have a lot to learn. The one above is in the ground touching mudra. The room is lit by two Moroccan lamps.

Brandon fits right in. I am going to enjoy seeing him as the last thing before I sleep at night and the first thing when I wake.

In my opinion, every adult woman should have her own room where she can do what ever she likes especially if she is married. Don't you agree?