“The purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love color the most.” –John Ruskin We’ve all heard the phrase “proud as a peacock” but these colorful birds are only displaying what nature has granted them. The males’ stunning jewel-toned feathers have long been admired in legend, myth and lore. The peacock is the oldest ornamental […]
Kitsch. We have all heard the word and probably used it, but what does it really mean? When kitsch was used for the first time in the art markets of Munich in the 1860s it was used to describe the popular, inexpensive and marketable paintings and sketches that were sold to tourists. The first mention […]
Accessorize your Design Toscano fountain by adding that special sculpture or piece of garden furniture that will make your garden and fountain outstanding.
People are always asking, “Where do we get our ideas?” Our Design Toscano buyers search all around the world discovering unique antiques and incredible artists with distinctive ideas and innovative sculptures. We at Design Toscano took some time to sit down with acclaimed dragon and gargoyle artist Gary Chang to find out more about the […]
Have you ever wondered how and why artists began to produce copies of figurines, wall sculptures and statues in three dimensions? Since ancient times plaster had been used to replicate art and sculptures to honor gods, study human and animal anatomy, and to produce masks, taken from the living and dead to capture the image […]
“Water is the driving force of all nature.”–Leonardo de Vinci Want to create a peaceful spot for meditation, add the lyrical sound of water music, and freshen up a pond, pool or water feature? Here are a few ideas that I hope will inspire you… Pond Spitters will fill the demand as they are available […]
Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? From a very young age, children seem to be fascinated by everything to do with these prehistoric beasts. During this time that children spend playing, they gain a better understanding of the natural world. This sense of wonder continues long after childhood, in fact some of these amateur paleontologists even grow up to become the experts who study them today!
“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.”–John Adams (In a letter to his wife regarding the 4th of July.) Hurray for the Red, White and Blue! While busy planning BBQ menus and parade float decorations to celebrate the Fourth of July, I wondered where […]
Welcome back to our Design Toscano fountain series; here is some practical information along with an introduction to Design Toscano’s Small Wonder fountain collection. To see the wide selection of other styles and sizes of garden décor try the Design Toscano website. So let’s splash right in! Quick Fact: Flowing water symbolizes cleansing, life and […]
“In every walk with nature, one receives more than he sees.” – John Muir I’m Sue Mell and I’ve been crazy about bears ever since childhood. As child I saw black bears up close and (almost) personal. My family took annual summer car trips and one year we were camping in the woods of Yellowstone […]
