I'm going to tell you something I've told very few people... I'm not crazy about Halloween. (There, I've said it!) There's no particular reason. I love decorating for Fall, but Halloween... I just never got into it that much. I have fond memories of Halloween from my own childhood -- especially the year I was Casper the Friendly Ghost! -- and when my daughters were young, I made a big deal of dressing them up and trick-or-treating at friends' houses. I put festive Halloween window clings on the windows and mirrors so they could enjoy them. We carved Jack-O-Lanterns. Beyond that -- not much. ... Well, that's not quite true. There was one other thing I did -- faithfully... ... Keep Reading...
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I Need a Metamorphosis! … Fairy Tale Ball Gown
Once upon a time, there was a couture wedding dress designer who made the most beautiful ball gown-style dress with a fabulous 7 1/2 foot-long cathedral train. That dress was ME! Um, it still is ... Hundreds of dollars were spent to purchase my yards and yards of champagne-colored silk. Then my lovely drop-waist style bodice and long lace sleeves were embellished with a stunning flower design made up of thousands of pearls. To show off my lovely designer's talent, I was worn in a few fashion shows. Quite honestly, those events had me whirling and twirling so much that I just don't remember how many ... As you can imagine, the fashion runway is a fast-paced ... Keep Reading...
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Mother in the Kitchen
Several weeks ago I wrote a post highlighting this vintage praying lady. You may have seen it... Click here to read the entire post. In response, I received a comment from Sandi who writes the delightful blog Small Town Living At Its Best. She told me that she has a set of these praying ladies that once belonged to her grandmother. That got my attention. An entire SET? I told Sandi I would love to feature her set here and asked if she would like to write a post for her blog that I could link to. I was so glad when she said "yes"! While Sandi prepared for her post, I decided to do a little research on the praying ladies. I came across an eBay Guide written by Judy (eBay seller sagalot) in which she gives lots of ... Keep Reading...
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Summer to Fall
The last time I was here, I showed you these tablecloths and invited you to come back to see what blue and yellow have to do with Fall decorating. You're back! I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit. Thank you! Now let's talk decorating ... Do you like to decorate with blue and yellow in the Summer? Have you ever extended that blue and yellow into the Fall? Let's try it and see what happens! Several weeks ago I was in Big Lots and saw this Fitz and Floyd piece for $30. I absolutely loved it, and it was calling my name -- but I walked away. Not much time to shop ... it was large and I wasn't sure where I would store it ... I didn't NEED it ... the lines were long ... I walked away. Last week ... Keep Reading...
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What has 12 arms and stands on 3 legs?
Do you know what this is? I picked it up at an auction. Maybe this will help ... Do you know yet? How about this? Almost there ... Do you have it figured out? How'd you do? Did you guess it? If you want to know what blue and yellow have to do with Fall decorating, stop back by on Thursday. I'll show you! I'm linking this post to these great blog parties: Blue Monday at Smiling Sally Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm >Vintage Thingie Thursday at Colorado Lady ... Keep Reading...
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The House with Nobody in It
I'm joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday ... When I was 10 years old, my Grandma gave me a book of poetry entitled All the Silver Pennies. I remembered it recently when my husband and I visited Half Moon Bay, CA. I looked out the window of our B&B and saw this ... The House with Nobody in It by Joyce Kilmer Whenever I walk to Suffern along the Erie track I go by a poor old farmhouse with its shingles broken and black. I suppose I've passed it a hundred times, but I always stop for a minute And look at the house, the tragic house, the house with nobody in it. I never have seen a haunted house, but I hear there are such things; That they hold the talk of spirits, their ... Keep Reading...
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Table for Two: quick & simple
I recently picked up an old round wicker table at auction and put it on my front porch. I've wanted a round wicker table on my front porch for a long time ... It needs to be painted, but I don't have a lot of time this week so all it got is a pretty tablecloth! It works for a quick and simple romantic table for two, don't you think? You may recognize these Dollar Tree ceramic pumpkins from last week's tablescape... Red glassware is a year-round favorite ... Dried beans surround the candle ... and are sprinkled like confetti across the tabletop A small doily and wooden napkin rings add texture ... Mikasa "Italian Countryside" dinner plate paired with an unmarked ... Keep Reading...
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Ironing Vintage Linens
I once received an email from a blog reader who asked this question: If I may ask, what iron do you use? My iron doesn't seem to work very well for getting the wrinkles out of linen. Maybe it doesn't get hot enough? When I'm ironing just a few small pieces at a time, I use a Rowenta PowerGlide2 steam iron that I've had for years. When I have a lot of ironing - or large tablecloths - I use a 1940s Ironrite ironer. Source I suspected, however, that the iron really wasn't my blog friend's problem. Let me show you the basic steps I take when ironing linens. Start with a clean iron! That may seem obvious, but you just might be surprised ... Your iron needs to be clean both inside and out. ... Keep Reading...
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Falling for Pottery: Autumn Tablescape Inspiration
If this is your first visit to my blog, WELCOME! I hope you will enjoy your time here -- and come back often. If you've been here before, THANK YOU for choosing to return! I hope you find encouragement, inspiration, and lots of tablescape ideas. For even more tablescape fun, I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for the 108th Tablescape Thursday. You won't want to miss it! * * * * * My last post showed the kinds of things I like to use to bring warmth and texture to my Fall decorating. Today's tablescape focuses on one of my "foundations" of Fall decorating: POTTERY. (I'm also including ceramics.) And if you saw my previous post, you may be surprised to see that there's not a bit of blue on this ... Keep Reading...
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Mood Swing
Days are getting a little cooler where I live, and I'm beginning to feel the mood swing coming on. My preference for all things cool, light, and airy in the Summertime ... is quickly being replaced by a preference for warmth and texture. LOTS of texture! The metamorphosis of seasons is upon us! At this time of year, some people like to decorate with the traditional: vibrant colors of red, orange, gold, and brown ... pumpkins, gourds, and colored leaves ... corn stalks, bales of hay, and chrysanthemums. While I occasionally do that, too, Fall decorating for me usually includes ... A PUNCH OF BLUES TEXTURED FABRICS (burlap, macrame, doilies, tapestries) WOOD (bowls, candle holders, napkin rings, wooden ... Keep Reading...
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Do You Pray? Where I Was On September 11, 2001
Early on the morning of September 11, 2001, I attended a Founders Day chapel service at the Christian liberal arts college where my husband was an administrator. It was while there that I learned of the terrorist attacks against my country -- and the incomprehensible loss of precious lives. I did what many of you did: I grieved ... and I prayed. In the evening, I returned to the church for an impromptu prayer service. Rather than cancel classes as did so many institutions of higher learning, I was proud that the administration and faculty understood that students needed them MOST at that time; not for teaching a curriculum, but for teaching Life. Their students were young and confused, hurting and angry. They needed help working through ... Keep Reading...
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Say Cheese!
Last week I had so much fun using sunflowers in my tablescape that I decided to strrrrretch out Summer one more week and use them again. Next week I'll turn my thoughts to Fall decorating, but for now, I hope you'll enjoy one final punch of summer color! These plates were my inspiration ... and these fabulous sunflowers and zinnias were blooming in the yard. So I pulled out a favorite heavy blue damask tablecloth and started playing -- and this is what happened ... I used items that are available in my Etsy and eBay shops -- a versatile set of creamy-white dishes, vintage cobalt glass salad plates, and the slightly smaller cheese plates. Then came my clear glasses with ... Keep Reading...
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Rest for the Weary: A Labor Day Thank You
To all men and women who labor to make our world a better place, Thank You! There is no job so small that, when done with charity and a smile, it cannot have a positive impact on others. Today I dedicate this post to my sweet husband whose life work brings much satisfaction ... and much stress. To clear his mind on the occasions when he finds himself at home, he heads outside to "play in the dirt." (I much prefer to play in the dishes and linens, but I love using his living treasures in my tablescapes!) As written by Elizabeth von Arnim in her 1898 book Elizabeth and her German Garden, "After all, if you work all day in God's sunshine, when evening comes you are pleasantly tired and ready for rest and not much inclined ... Keep Reading...
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Cobalt and Sunflowers
A Garden of Sunflowers (Author Unknown) A garden of Sunflowers beckoned to me - Come join us, my lady, and joyous you'll be! We're large ones and small ones, some dainty and fair, And even some delicate to wear in your hair. We follow the sun, swaying slowly without a care, We have a new dance that with you we will share. Gently hold onto our leaves, allow us to lead the way, To our Sunflower two-step, dancing throughout the day. I couldn't resist them, so dandy a sight! So off I did go in my Sunflower flight. What a glorious time, right up til twilight, And then I had to bid my Sunflowers good-night. So happy were we, a long day filled with fun, Upon leaving I kissed them, each and every ... Keep Reading...
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Red Dazzle
dazzle v.intr. to arouse admiration by an impressive display When is the last time you were *d*a*z*z*l*e*d by something? It happened to me recently when I put together this tablescape. Didn't expect it ... TOTAL surprise! Come with me, and I'll show you what happened -- and share some tablescaping tips along the way! I selected my dishes and layered them ... I cut beautiful flowers from the bounty my sweet husband grows for us to share and enjoy -- and placed them in a simple vase. Because I wanted some color at the base of the vase, I placed a dinner plate on top of a vintage cake plate -- then tried a couple of options. First I set the vase directly on the plate ... too "busy" ... should try ... Keep Reading...
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Auctions are STILL hard work!
A few weeks ago I did a post about the hard work involved in going to auction. Well, believe it or not, almost a month later, I'm still working through things from that auction. This time it was the linens ... Remember these? Piles of vintage linens ... Well, what I haven't told you is that I went to another auction the next weekend ... and bought MORE fabulous linens. Then, a sweet friend thought of me when she needed to declutter some things around her house -- and she gave me a box that included these wonderful vintage embroidered pieces ... I was really excited about these because I had very few beauties like this in my "stash" and needed to add some. Now I just have to decide which few I want to ... Keep Reading...
