Luna Parc, Montauge, NJ

I've been wanting to visit this house (Luna Parc) ever since I read about it in an issue of Weird NJ many years ago (still have the issue in our bathroom). Last night very randomly, someone sent me a notice that the owner, Ricky Boscarino, was having his open house this weekend! Cleared all my plans and set out on the 2 hour drive this morning. 

here is a brief description from the website Atlas Obscura: 

"Since 1989, when Ricky Boscarino stumbled upon the cabin in the woods and began transforming it into Luna Parc, it has been a massive work in progress.

Filled with mosaics influenced by Klimt, Gaudí and Hundertwasser, the house looks as if it had been plucked from some colorful dreamscape and deposited in the backwoods of New Jersey. Artist, designer and "King-o-Luna," Ricky Boscarino, has transformed the house both inside and out, with the interior of the house covered in his collections of homemade lamps, bottle caps, Buddhas, taxidermy, miniatures, stringed instruments, stained glass and religious icons. Currently Boscarino is collecting Mrs. Butterworth bottles and blue glass for new outdoor sculptures.

A skilled artist in many mediums, among other projects, Boscarino created a four panel stained-glass mural for his bathroom depicting the journey of life from spermatozoa to skeleton. When not working on his house, Boscarino makes and sells art and jewelry (much of it miniature versions of everyday objects, though you can get a miniature fetus and enema bag in gold and silver) and throws two large parties a year in fall and spring."

my review:

 So much beauty, art and creativity to behold. LOVE LOVE LOVE the bathroom. The clear banister upstairs housing NESTS was exquisite. Wanted to sit in the ballroom with a cool drink, some music and a book. By far, my fav was the chapel- hands down, so cool, peaceful and special. I appreciate the recycling, upcycling and Ricky's dedication to non mainstream traditional home decor. The influence from his travels is apparent and his lovely collections (Asian baby shoes- yum!). I hope to return to take a workshop

let my pictures tell the rest:

Beautiful Rhode Island

Zipped over to Rhode Island to visit my friend, Linda, for a week. She told me her husband was going out of town and did I want to come? Yeah, duh! We had a lot of fun together. We decided first off that we wanted to create Garden angels, which somehow we started calling our Garden Druids. Pretty much we worked on them almost the whole week (a little bit on them every day and then running out to shop, eat, beach it, etc. ) So it was a nice combo of doing a variety of things. We used a lot of organic items on them found at the beach or things we'd been saving "for just the right project". 

Here's mine at home in her new spot on the back porch: 

We hit the beach a few times looking for treasures, driftwood and taking pictures of the wildlife, rock stacking : 

Watched an Osprey momma feeding her crew

We also made our own upcycled dream catchers: 

and did some dyeing:

and lastly, you know i like my critters. they were to be seen everywhere!

we made the most of our time while enjoying art, friendship, cocktails, beautiful weather, nature and wildlife. couldn't have asked for a nicer more spontaneous vacation!

Journey Boy

He's a young boy living on his own, off the grid. He was raised in the wild and that's all he's knows. He's extremely earth friendly and is all about COEXISTing with his fellow creatures. 

His home is an cool old metal chair, that he ofound in a cave. He's  a treasure keeper and cherishes everything that he finds (shells, bones, old pottery, driftwood  and other such wonderful and amazing  things he finds along the way. Once he found a beautiful old glass sphere, covered in lichen covered rope. 

Recently he found a nest with 3 perfectly gorgeous robin eggs. The nest appeared to be abandoned, so he took it upon himself to love and cherish them; even if they never hatch. It's the family concept, you see. 

He wove a special nest holder, out of grapevine, to fit underneath his metal chair, so that he knew the eggs were safe and secure. Some of his most favorite finds are woven into the grapevine; the making of a warm and cozy home. 

Jewelry is very important to Journey. He collects treasures and then turns them into wearable pieces of art. Every milestones he creates a new piece. 

Equally, totems represent familiarity and establishes his clan. He loves to perform gravity glue with rocks and leaves his special art pieces where ever he can.

 

Mary's Place by the Sea

On Saturday May 9th, 1200 walkers turned out to raise funds for Mary's Place by the Sea, a house in Ocean Grove, NJ, dedicated to providing services for women with cancer. Team Michele, walked in honor of our dearly beloved and sorely missed friend, Michele Taylor Koehler. She passed away January 23rd, 2015. She raised funds herself for the home a few years ago, inviting all her friends and family to walk with her. It was a little sad to be walking without her, but nonetheless, we carried her in our hearts that day (and always).  I was proud to raise $2100 for the house through an art auction that I held online on facebook. The support was much appreciated. 

xoxo,

kecia