A Little Away Time….

 

We got away for a little while and had a vacation from our everyday chores and I got away from the computer for a few days. I did have it with me but no internet to speak of….I played with some of the programs like Virtual Painter and Photoscape.

 

I continued to declutter and organize and attacked Picasa with a vengeance. I labeled and combined folders in an effort to make more sense of of my files and to rid the files of poor pictures.

We like a cruise for several reasons. Jack and I don’t have to cook or clean up! We don’t have to grocery shop or even make the bed! The downside is that the food is too good….but the dishes are pretty. We are glad to be home and looking forward to getting back to our routine.

 

 

I am joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

The Lotus Blossom is collaged with a photo of a shipboard column and then with an orchid with the patterned rug as a background.

 

Be sure to visit Mary and see the other mosaics.

Have a wonderful week!

Memories on a Monday

I am joining my friend Donna at Brynwood Needleworks for Memory Lane Mondays. This event is held the last Monday of the month and is an opportunity to share a memory. My blog is about memories – those from the past and those I am creating.

My paternal grandmother was a major influence in my life. As a child, her love of her home and all things involved in homemaking entranced me. I have many of her possessions and many examples of her needlework.

While cleaning out a briefcase recently, I found some  treasures. One of them was an autograph album. I have sent this to my sister as there was a message from Gram to her written in 1958.

One of the wonderful things about looking through these albums are the verses and messages found inside.

I don’t know who these people are that signed her book.

My great-grandmother Maggie Little signed her album.

My grandmother wrote to my sister in this same book.

I hope everyone has a wonderful week.

Swapping and a little time off….

 

I am going to take a little time off from blogging. Company, paperwork and a few projects need to be completed. I will be back in a week and will catch up with everybody then. Have a great week!

My friend Donna of Brynwood Needleworks had a mug mat swap and I participated. Her swap was my first blog swap. Mug mats are too much fun and I ended up making more than one. Donna had a wonderful tutorial and I was assigned a swap partner. My partner Shirley C made me a gorgeous mug mat. She purchased a quilt square at an estate sale and used that along with some toile fabric that belonged to her mother. The other fabrics are Moda. I just love it. If you have a moment be sure to visit these two blogs.

 

Shirley also enclosed a pair of curved scissors. A girl can never have too many….

I had a lot of fun making mine for Shirley.

Thanks Donna!

While you are waiting…..

 

“Your table is not quite ready. Perhaps you would like to enjoy a beverage while you look at the menu for tonight’s dinner?”

While I have been cleaning and organizing cupboards and closets, I have come across many items I had forgotten about or forgotten that I had. This ice bucket was tucked in the back of a cupboard I rarely open.

The ice bucket with the bar tools that hook on to the bucket belonged to my parents and was a gift. They used it occasionally but I think my mother probably balked at keeping it polished.

The linen tablecloth was a find many years ago and I found it at the bottom of a trunk at the foot of our bed. This trunk has many treasures that I hope to share in the coming year.

I love the details on the various bar tools. The glasses are Waterford and my parents used them frequently for their cocktails! They survived and I have 4 of them.

 

 

 

The design on the tablecloth is pansies and shamrocks – an interesting combination. I scrunched the cloth on my coffee table.

I am joining Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday. Be sure to visit her and see all the lovely vignettes and tabletops.

Hard to Choose Just One…

 

 

I love kitchen gadgets and when Happier than a Pig in Mud decided to have this party, I knew I had to be there. Of course I love my mixer and my food processor and my blender (especially my immersion blender) but my favorite this week is my kitchen torch.

Crème  Brulee is about my favorite dessert. It is very easy to make and can be made ahead. Putting the ramekins under the broiler to caramelize the sugar was awkward and a tray of ramekins is heavy.

I played worked at a Williams-Sonoma store for a couple of years. I never technically brought a paycheck home.  Each Friday I came home with their signature bags full of their wonderful merchandise and food products. The training was wonderful and I learned a great deal about kitchen ware.

Some candied violas (edible flower) on top and dessert is ready.

I hope you join Lynn at Happier Than A Pig In Mud for I ♥ My Favorite Kitchen Gadget Party!

A Valentine

 

I love Valentine’s Day and I have since I was a child. At school there was always a beautiful mailbox decorated by the teacher and the valentines would be placed inside to be passed out at the party at the end of the day.

I don’t know if this is still done in school but it was a very special day for us. I wish I had saved some of them.

I received this valentine from my grandmother and grandfather when I was 3 and that was a long time ago! I have been decluttering and organizing and found this card in box of wonderful family photographs.

You can see more of my hearts here.

I am joining Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. Be sure to stop by and say hi.

An Early Valentine Table

 

We are going out tonight for an early Valentine’s Day dinner. However, I had to set the table as if we were celebrating at home. I was dismayed that the roses I usually buy at the market were more than double the price. I bought a hyacinth and the fragrance is delightful.

My hyacinth is a little top heavy but I sort of like the way it leans toward the plates.

I framed the lace hearts (made on my embroidery machine) in vintage metal frames I have picked up at various antique shops. I scattered some hearts as well.

The chargers are from Pottery Barn and the white dinner plates are Apilco from Williams-Sonoma. The white ironstone tureen was a happy purchase from Deb’s Flowerbed Farm in Bridgton, Maine this past summer. I have found many treasures there. I would love to find an ironstone ladle that would be compatible but have not found one yet.

The silver plate flatware pattern is Exquisite by Rogers and Bros. and dates to the mid 1950’s. I was lucky enough to find a service for 12 with extra pieces - all in practically brand new condition.

The glassware is American by Fostoria. This is the pattern that my grandmother had.  Eventually my mother got it and over the years it sort of just disappeared. I received these goblets as a most wonderful Christmas surprise present and have been picking up other pieces here and there. I found the salad plates and cups and saucers recently. Bill of Affordable Accoutrements gave some tips about collecting this glass which I greatly appreciated. The authentic pattern will have three mold lines. There are reproductions out there!

I am not using candles because I don’t have room! I will have the lights on low and candles around the room. My dining area is part of my living area and although I love the open concept, it is difficult to isolate the area when photographing.

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. There will be a lot of bloggers playing with dishes this week.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Not for the faint of heart….

 

If you are easily upset by confusion, read no further. If you think you can keep reading with out screaming, keep going. Remember we are friends!

I was looking for something and got carried away. And with my goal of accomplishment, the time had come. I needed to clean my sewing closet and my studio. When I clean, it gets really bad before it gets better. It is not to late to go back.

Are you still with me? To get on with the search, I needed all the available space in the guest bathroom.

Plus, I was embarrassed. Jack had friends come to visit and he showed them around the house and he showed them this closet and he turned the light on!!!!

So, what’s a girl to do. I had to tackle all parts of the room.

I sorted, I folded, I Goodwilled, I tossed, I packed a box for a friend up north, I arranged….You can get the idea. Every once and a while I would stop and visit a blog or two. I listened to music and my embroidery machine was working full time making lace hearts.

I never found what I was looking for but I did find some things I had forgotten about.

This was my mother’s sewing box. It was tucked away on a bottom shelf. I googled the label but there was not much to find out about the manufacturer. There were some wonderful items inside.

Now, I am supposed to be “working” but my mind is saying, “mosaic, mosiac…..”

However, I have been making progress.

I can actually work in the sewing corner now. I am participating in Donna’s Mug Mat swap. If you would like to see a beautiful blog, visit Donna at Brynwood Needleworks.

The banner is from Mary Hastings of Very Merry Vintage Style and was a fun project.

 

Now maybe Pottery Barn will let me back in the store!

The guest room is back. Of course today I will start sewing and playing again….I will make a real effort to be neat and organized. The bed folds back up into the wall and it will be back up there as soon as I start working on my projects.

I am joining Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday. Please stop by and visit these two blogs.

I hope you all have a great week.