Here's a shot of one of my favorite farm scenes. It usually hangs in the kitchen so I can glance over and see it while washing dishes. I love how the artist captured such great detail while retaining a dreamy quality. Let's zoom in...
Let's zoom in more...
Be sure to visit Faded Charm for more lovelies in white. Hope you all enjoyed the weekend!
I've always liked the dreamy quality of this late 19th century lithograph. From her white gown to the wild flowers beneath the tree, the artist, Philip Calderon, captured all the details perfectly.
Called Spring Time, she stays out all year. In fact, can you spot her in the Christmas photo in the blog post below?
I can't get enough millinery! This time of year, when the garden suffers from summer heat, paper and fabric flowers decorate the house as everlasting bouquets. Above is a group of vintage sprigs from Japan displayed in a footed cloisonne vase. The beach scene in the background is a painting from several Christmases ago; it's my absolute favorite place in town besides home.
Zooming in... made with meticulous attention to detail, these blossoms are nearly as good as the real thing!
They're also displayed in an antique sterling pitcher. I just love the handle featuring Mercury.
Be sure to visit Faded Charm for more pretties in white!
Over the years I've seen so many beautiful dishes that strike my fancy, it was inevitable I'd become a dedicated mix and matcher. These two are part of a small luncheon set I couldn't resist, made in Limoges, France by Haviland.
This turkey always makes his way into the rotation come fall.
And this cow! He's one of my very favorites -- I love the way he's curled his hoof under.
It's not uncommon at all for us to keep holiday pieces out all year, like the Victorian bunny nodder above. He makes his way around the house, mixing with other favorite items, but never finds his way into the closet to be put away. Currently, he's hanging out with a still bank and a Victorian yardlong of flowers and music. The kitty bank has been a favorite of mine since childhood.
Here's a close up. I love the little ribbon around his neck.
Can you ever have too many seashells? I think not! It's easy to find pretty ways to store them -- jars, bottles, boxes. Here are some of my all time favorites stored in a vintage seed box with tiny iron animals keeping watch.
Zooming in on the box, above and below.
Zooming in a bit more to see the shells.
It's easy to find ways to use my favorite cake stand even when I'm not baking. This one, from France, used to be my mom's. At Easter time I like to use it as a stand for an egg display. The rest of the year, I change it up for the seasons.
Here an old cast iron child's toy sheep stands next to a Victorian glass rose bowl filled with paper flowers. Below is a close up of the pretty white flowers from the painting in the background.
Seashells, wooden boxes, millinery flowers and embroidered runners - all mementos and projects that feather my nest and stir happy memories of days gone by...
I've filled this seashell box with old fashioned flocked paper forget me not millinery flowers.
At Christmas, the flowers will be replaced with greenery, berries and tinsel spikes with beads - an easy way to fit everyday items into the holiday decorating.
This is the time of year when we gear up for the next four months to get all of our ornaments made and ready by September. It's all glitter all the time around here!
Here's a few groups of them I like to display in vintage silver baby cups. They come in so many shades of white!
They also make gorgeous embellishments for festive napkin rings, everlasting headbands for flower girls and attendants in weddings, corsages for proms and are the perfect size for dolls and teddy bears. How would you use them?
