I've wanted to learn more about American architect Frank Lloyd Wright's designs for a while, but especially since reading Loving Frank, a novel about his flamboyant personal life and love affair(s) that our book club all enjoyed. My good college friend Jean from Pittsburgh had talked about Fallingwater, one of Wright's most famous houses and I'd read about it as well. We were on our way to meet the family for a long weekend ski vacation when I spotted the sign and suggested that we take a side trip. I was so glad that we did!
We were fortunate to be able to get in on a tour, and waited our turn in the welcome area which was an extension of Wright's visions of organic design with clean lines and openness to nature. The gift shop was tasteful as well, and I acquired two pieces of birch bark there for future craft projects yet unknown. The lush surroundings, well-preserved by the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, were beautiful in the snow.
It was a short walk through the woods back to the house which is built literally on top of a waterfall which was magnificent in it's partially-frozen state. The hillside was covered with ice formations as well.
Photography is not allowed inside, but I did buy a great little book to help me remember the wonderful feel of Fallingwater, and the artistic vision that Wright constructed in this beautiful spot. You can take a really nice virtual tour here, and included is the Wright-designed furniture as well as the phenomenal collection of paintings and sculpture in the home, which has been a museum since the 60's when it was donated to the public by the original owners, the Kauffman family.
Several scenes will be forever etched in my mind from 2010, and many are shared here with you on this site. The highlights include horseback expeditions with friends, our family's RV voyage to Utah, and this view of Fallingwater.
To thank you all for sharing it with me, I posted a giveaway in this post and now it's time to announce the winner of a pair of alpaca socks and 2 skeins of alpaca yarn. The winners are Andy and Deb from Ontario, Canada, who said, "I would have to say....SIMPLIFY. It covers so much of life....simplify my schedule to enjoy more time with my family, simplify my lifestyle so there is less stress.....etc. Here's to 2011...may it be all you want it to be! The giveaway sounds amazing!"
Please send me an email at alpacalindy@gmail.com with your address, Andy and Deb, and I'll get the prize right out to you! I hope that all of your wishes, words and resolutions come true for 2011!
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4 comments:
Wonderful post. Love seeing all of those beautiful pics. And DEB! YOU WON! Congratulations. Thanks Lindy for a fun give-away!
Wow! That last photo of the house with the frozen waterfall below and the smoke in the sky above. All I can say is WOW!
I spent some of my growing up years in Midland, MI, and an architect there, Alden Dow, was a student of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture and built several buildings in that town very similar. One was a house that was very, very similar to "Falling Waters." I truly didn't realize the connection till I was an adult, because it was such an accepted and fairly plentiful style there. What resulted in me was a love and appreciation for the creativity and creations of Frank Lloyd Wright. Nothing like them! :-)
WOW I can't believe I won!!
I can hardly wait to sit curled up with my family wearing those cozy socks...lol
Thank you so much Lindy!!
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