Dinos!

A few images from the ROM's Ultimate Dinosaurs exhibit.  It closed just yesterday, I was able to visit on March 8th, before the start of students' March Break.  :)

Insects

As you can tell, there's no shortage of cool things at the ROM!  Love the colours and patterns! 

Coming later in the week, pictures from the Royal Botanical Gardens.  :)

weevils

dragonflies

butterflies

birdwing butterflies

various, including wasps, weevils, latern bugs, millipede

Biodiversity Exhibits

prehistoric sea turtle fossil

dodo bird

great auk

seriously endangered species

Blog Feature

Morning all!  First, I want to let you know that this very blog has been featured!  Check it out ~ Be @ Home Best of the Web and scroll down to about the middle.  

Have a look at this awesome old glass!

Flagon, Palestine, AD 350-425.

Blue Glass, Syria or Palestine, AD 25-125. 

Mould cast 'millefiore' bowls, Syria, AD 1-50.

Egypt - more!

Egyptian, painting on textile. 

Egyptian, linen tunic.  c. 1150 BC.

Egyptian, linen tunic.  c.  1150 BC.

Egyptian Wrappings

Ancient Egypt has always been fascinating to me.  These beautiful mummified animals and the intricate linen wrappings are awesome.

intricate wrapping

animal mummies & sarcophagi

beautifully wrapped cat mummies

hawk mummies

crocodile mummy, c. AD 100

Birds

Sparrows

These are so lovely.   A little disturbing perhaps, but lovely too.  Have a look at the specimen labels, they're aged, the handwriting is beautiful... I noticed one date in particular - 1928! 

Sparrows, label closeup

Tanagers

Look at the colours!  I think there might be a future piece of work inspired by these... 

Tanagers, label closeup

Minerals

Minerals and stones are quite brilliant.  This first one, Smithsonite, is an example that varies in colour based on what impurities/traces are in the piece (like copper, cadmium, cobalt, etc.). 

Smithsonite

swallowtail gypsum

beryl

calcite

nephrite jade

Royal Ontario Museum - more!

murex snails

I learned a bit about natural dyes in college, so when I discovered these murex snails in a display drawer at the museum, I thought was pretty neat! 

Source: traditionsmexico.phanfare.com via Stevanie on Pinterest

mineral pigments

mineral pigments

 Mineral pigments like these have been used on ceramics, in paints, cosmetics, etc. 

Already August

The Royal Ontario Museum is one of my favourite places.  I spent several hours there Friday afternoon.

Brittle Star starfish fossils from England & France

Ammonites

Ammonite

Squid fossils.  Yes, squid.

ROM part 3

Mary Howard, Floral Pattern Quilt.  Toronto, c. 1940s.

"Busy Bee" signature quilt, 1924. 

Quilts are amazing.  Piecing, applique, embroidery, repurposing fabrics, documenting family history, function and decoration are all part of quilting.  It's even more interesting when you remember that all this stitching used to be completely done by hand.  It still can be of course, but alot is machine stitched today.

Signature quilts were often made as a fundraiser (ie. by the local Church women's group); each of the names shown would correspond to a donation made by that person, the larger the donation the larger their name would be stitched.

ROM visit part 2

Bottles commissioned by Enniskillen Wines (Niagara-on-the-Lake), inspired by ice sculptures.  Hand carved.  Middle: Brad Copping, 1994. 

Mallorytown Glass.  Made from common green window glass. 
Canada's earliest glass factory, at Mallorytown, was established in 1839.

Joseph Heath.  Staffordshire, England. 
Transfer printed earthenware platter.  c. 1850. 

Teapot.  Ironstone.  St. John's Stone Chinaware, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.
Clay imported from England.  c. 1880-1895.

Another ROM visit

I could add these into one long post, but I choose not.  So, part one in sharing my latest visit to the Royal Ontario Museum.  

The ceiling over what used to be the main entrance. 

Artwork for the cover of Canadian Home Journal
Left: Rex Woods, oil on canvas, 1937 (July)
Right: Rex Woods, oil and graphite on canvas, 1937 (April)

Woman's work table, where women would gather to sew, etc.

 

This beadwork is amazing. 
Small pouch, Iroquois, 19th century.
Wool, silk, glass beads. 

This First Nations clothing is not done justice by this photo.