common ground

Re "focus"

2025-05-12T08:30:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends, I've been absent from the blog for this last month after a back "situation" that has been with me for quite awhile worsened with a minor injury. I had lower back surgery in 2021, and even though I've recovered I still have lingering effects from not only that, but a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis in 2023.

MG is a neuromuscular autoimmune based disease that causes the nerve-muscle junction to be compromised which results in mobility issues, chronic pain, and a mixed bag of other fun symptoms. Because of drug allergies I'm limited to the basic meds, while treatments that can work wonders for many people aren't available to me.

After a lot of time and prayer I know that I need to step back from blogging. I love blogging and as many of your know, I've been at it for 16 years and through many health problems. If you blog, you know it's a lot of work. Not only physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. Over the last few years I've not been able to do much physically and since I focus on vintage décor, the constant change up for seasons and holidays has become difficult even with my wonderful husband doing the heavy work.

It's hard to "refocus" after this many years but it's become evident that I need to. I'll still be around to visit a bit but I need to take it easy and avoid any and all kinds of self imposed "stress". Isn't that the way it usually goes? We put more stress on ourselves than any thing else.

I could have just "not blogged" but many of you are real friends and I always want to be transparent, instead of you wondering why I dropped off the map. I've had to keep this short, otherwise I could write a book. I'm not 100% sure of what will come, but for the foreseeable future I'm going to take it easy and rest. Thankyou for being with me all this time. Love to all of you.

Vintage Milk Pitchers in Bloom

2025-04-16T05:55:00.230-05:00

Hi friends, so glad you're here today because it's time for another get together with the Lifestyle of Love group where we share and celebrate how we use specific vintage items in our décor. Today is all about how we use old pitchers in our everyday home décor. If you're coming from visiting Ann at Dabbling and Decorating, welcome, so glad you clicked over. And thankyou to Cindy from County Road 407 for getting us all together.

I have multiples of many vintage items. I don't really consider them "collections", because to me that sound like they might be "curated", where I just picked up pieces over the years because I loved them. One thing that I started grabbing early on were ironstone pieces that were affordable. Pitchers were easy to find and not near as pricey as they are now. These "middle size" pitchers also known as milk pitchers, were pretty common at flea markets and vintage markets.

I seem to have these out on display throughout the year. They work for each season and I usually display them as a group. This spring season I'm using them on my family sideboard across the back of the large mirror, and then another two are on the mantel. The larger ones are arranged with faux "real touch" tulips for lots of spring color and texture.

For a bonus my small collection of floral antique china creamers are lined up on the narrow upper shelf.

Several of my ironstone pitchers have a fair amount of crazing on them and I've thought about trying to remove it, but it's a lengthy process and I just haven't made an attempt. I like the "old" look of use and character that it brings them. A few of my vintage sheep are here for the Easter celebration, too.

On the mantel in the hearth room, two of my larger pitchers are filled with cream colored faux tulips. My sheep painting is propped in front of the mirror with my two antique concrete sheep on either side.

I have to admit this is my favorite (and easy) basic look for the mantel. I find these ironstone middle size pitchers with seasonal flowers work well with any season. Add a wreath or canvas and you have an instant display.

Here are a few more "Majolica" pitchers on the baker's rack for a spring and Easter display this season.

I put together another small display in the kitchen niche where the light is a little brighter. The large pitcher on the left is filled with bright and cheerful tulips, too. It's part of a "bowl and pitcher" body wash set.

No matter the season, ironstone pitchers work for a floral grouping. Summer finds Black-eyed Susan's and Daisies, fall, mums and leaves, and in the winter evergreen and holly show up.

A Vintage Painting and

Sunflowers on the Mantel

Fall Mantel and the

Cottage Hearth Room

It's In the Details

We hope you'll continue visiting the links and click over to see Rachel at The Ponds Farmhouse where she's sharing her tips on thrifting ironstone pitchers.

Thanks so much for coming by and I hope you all have a lovely Easter Week!

Vintage Metal Basket Garden Bunny Vignette

2025-04-08T05:55:00.000-05:00

Who needs a smile?

Anyone who has a retirement fund might need one right now.

Once the calendar changed to April the pastels and bunnies were let loose in the garden room. I brought out my "oh so springy" vintage tumbling block quilt and got busy on the farm table. My paper mache vintage rabbit hopped into a garden basket so I filled in with old garden tools, peat pots and my vintage Better Homes and Gardens Garden Encyclopedia.

I love using a metal basket because you can easily see inside, unlike a crate or wicker basket. And if it has chippy paint, then all the better...

This particular edition is from 1954. If you ever see one at a flea market or vintage market be sure and grab it because it's full of still relevant information and ideas for planting and landscaping.

This section is on flowering bulbs and spring flowers.

I found this adorable children's, book years ago. I thought it was interesting that it was titled Peter Rabbit, and from 1939, but not using the original Beatrix Potter illustrations.

Mini Easter Table scape

and Decoupaged Bottles

Using Vintage Linens for an Easter Vignette

Inspired Easter

I hope your weather is taking a turn for the good and out of the early spring storm mode. Have a great week.

Cottage Easter in the Cupboard

2025-04-03T05:55:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends, I hope you all are enjoying your early spring and the transition from frigid gloomy days to some sunshine and colorful trees and blooms. No matter the weather I always enjoy some color and seasonal cozy in the garden room. Of course every change in season and holiday is reflected in the re-styling of the Holiday Cupboard.

I brought out a few of my Peter Rabbit collection books from the 80's. Both my girls, especially my younger daughter had a real love for all the Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit characters. These smaller books make a sweet addition to my spring rabbit collection.

I've shared my white rabbit tureen many times and it's always out this time of year during spring and Easter. I made it during the late 80's when ceramics were such a fun personal trend. There was a small pottery shop where we went to paint our own pieces for several years. I really miss the fun of that, but made several holiday keepsakes during that time.

This cross with the Lord's Prayer is a special little piece from the 70's.

I've mentioned before that this cupboard is my "therapy spot". It's like a dollhouse for dishes and seasonal accents. I love playing in here mixing and matching dishes, color, and sweet vintage items that I've collected throughout the years.

I put together the "Bloomin' Brella" many years ago when I had a market space and made the rounds of flea markets weekly. I'll share those posts at the end of this one. One of the gals at the vintage market who had a large space collected old umbrellas and had them hanging from the ceiling for a fun seasonal display.

Oh, look who's here!

I made this colorful spring wreath several years ago featuring yellow forsythia, lavender lilacs and yellow/orange tulips. I know they don't all bloom at the same time, but the color combination is a riot of vibrant color.

Peter Rabbit and Friends in the Cupboard

Bloomin' Brella

Hop Into Easter

An oldie but goodie from the original Holiday Cupboard

Easter in the Holiday Cupboard

Spring is in the Air Cottage Home Tour

2025-03-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

Depending on where we live, we might be enjoying warm weather with tons of green grass and colorful blooms popping out... or we might still be dealing with snow storms, high winds and brown yards. And maybe since it's March... we can be doing both!

Hi Friends, today I'm joining with a fun group of gals who love celebrating seasonal décor and expressing ourselves with unique and personal home pieces and accessories. Thanks to our wonderful and one-of-a-kind hostess, Cindy from County Road 407! If you're coming from visiting Cecilia at My Thrift Store Addiction, Hello, I'm so glad you came by!

I think most of us have accessory pieces that we prefer using in certain rooms and with particular furniture. My dining room table and bulky chairs need a larger center grouping and centerpiece to be seen. My bigger lantern and tabletop "Frenchy Wagon" often show up in the dining room with seasonal accessories. This month with Spring the theme, I brought out a large black/white rabbit and a mossy basket filled with faux tulips.

Faux carrots and a decoupaged egg join the grouping. I started out with a brown floral table runner, but soon realized it was a bit too busy with the multicolored tulips and bunny. So I opted for a neutral toile linen runner that let me focus on the wagon and not get overwhelmed with pattern. A brown and white gingham check decorates the lantern without being too much.

On the buffet I have a few of my glass cloches with vintage pitchers and florals, an ironstone tureen and a printed grain sack linen sheep in a wooden frame.

My faux heart shaped ivy topiary is here and works with any season or holiday décor.

Moving over to the Entry I wanted to bring out my Spring Victorian Wreath here on the entry console and add in a few vintage postcards for some graphic interest.

I put this wreath/antique frame together a few years ago, but this is the first time I've added in old postcards. Over the last few years I've used it several different places throughout the house, but this is my favorite spot because it's a bit more formal.

A pottery vase filled with faux paperwhites and mossy sticks balances out the tall buffet lamp. Since March is my birthday month I'm displaying a framed antique birthday postcard with a rose bouquet.

My precious little Majolica rabbit on a cabbage plate is here each year.

Nature's Wild Victorian Wreath

Spring Dining Room Table and the French Wagon

More of my dining room inspiration through the last few years;

much of it includes the little tabletop French wagon.

Thanks so much for coming by to help us celebrate Spring and Easter. We hope you'll follow the Hop and stop by to visit Lynne at My Family Thyme, who is next on the list link. I know you'll enjoy all the beautiful ideas and inspiration.

Have a wonderful week and I hope you're enjoying some lovely early spring weather in your area.

Spring Tote for a Farm Table Vignette

2025-03-17T09:00:00.000-05:00

When I think about the color brown I usually envision fall décor or maybe after Christmas with some wooly blankets and needlepoint pillows to cuddle up with. But I have a couple of pieces that feature spring florals on a brown background and I love using them when early spring entices us outdoors and into digging in the garden.

So I brought out my early spring brown quilted throw that features pink roses and peonies. I filled up my wooden ice cream bucket with faux daffodils, narcissus and pussy willow branches. I grabbed one of my many vintage totes for a few springy ivy dishes and green transferware. The Ivy and Green Transferware are my go-to pieces for spring.

I started picking up vintage totes years ago when I was selling at vintage markets. They were everywhere and so versatile for not only décor, but they actually were functional pieces. Mine have all been painted white and sometimes I scratch my head and ask why I need so many, but I can't part with them. They're so handy for magazines, linens, towels, dishes and offer endless ideas for displaying goodies. This one is an old strawberry flat and is the perfect spot for dish stacks.

I have two of these moss covered shamrocks I found on Etsy a few years ago. One is hanging on the holiday cupboard with the St. Patty's green goodies. Now that they make sheet moss, these would be relatively easy to make, with a plywood or heavy cardboard form.

Add a few seasonal objects and vintage accessories and you have a fun and easy display for seasonal and holiday displays. Here my green dishes, the moss shamrock, an old pottery pitcher and vintage postcard make it an easy St. Patrick's Day vignette.

This was an easy and fast way to bring some sunshine and spring color to the Garden Room farmtable. I've mentioned before that flowers and bulbs don't last around here because we have an abundance of chewing critters and wildlife. So faux daffodils and narcissus in a large container really bring a smile and lift the weary mood from a long snowy winter.

One benefit of this kind of display is that with a few tweaks

it can make a quick turn toward spring bunnies and birds.

Here's a St. Patrick's farm table vignette from a few years ago, and a few more posts from early Spring to get you moving toward Easter.

St. Patrick's Day Farm Table Vignette

Sharin' O the Green

Seasonal Spring Paper Gift Tags With a Vintage Vibe

We had a bad Friday here in Missouri with strong thunderstorms and tornadoes. It's been a long weekend of cleanup for some. We were on the edge in SW Missouri, but it was definitely scary. Today the storms are ongoing in the south. Prayers for all those that have suffered with this weekend's bad storms.

Hope you have a fun St. Patrick's Day!

Cottage Majolica for Spring in the Garden Room

2025-03-10T10:30:00.000-05:00

Do you all have any green popping up where you live?

Not much going on here with green outdoors, but inside I've been bringing some green things together to celebrate the "early" start of the Spring Season. Hopefully the forsythia will be budding out within the next week. Time to cut a few branches to enjoy indoors.

I have a few vintage pitchers that are faux bois (fake wood) that are spring themed. Some have a bird and nest motif, others are florals like the dogwood blossoms. So they are not technically Majolica, but similar and affordable unlike the real deal.

The blue and gold pitcher below is very old and real Majolica, and the only way I could afford it was because it has a chip on the rim. I'm not a purist, so I painted the chip in a gold color that matched so it works for me. The brown wood look pitcher with the blue bird was the same. A little brown paint and some glass glaze made it not too noticeable.

A garden themed box, an antique green "Orchid" talc powder tin, and a sweet little vintage cauliflower teapot, gather in the old SEED box.

I have a couple of old British cottage prints from the 30's or 40's that I brought out to set the cottage mood.

My ceramic covered veggie or small soup tureen screams Spring Garden. The green depression glass measuring cup was my paternal grandmother's.

A moss ball in my vintage concrete planter brings in a little outdoorsy feel.

More green with a vignette on the coffee table/bench. I kept my neutral PB floral quilt, but changed up the pillow cover for a lamb from my Valentine lovebirds. One of my basket weave tins in green and my paperwhites in the olive bucket join in with a moss covered shamrock and vintage postcard.

My faux paperwhite woodsy look in the olive bucket is still here...

Faux daffodils make themselves at home in one of my faux bois pitchers.

I'm gearing up for Easter. This year we have a nice long time to celebrate, since it's mid April. Soon rabbits will appear and I'm looking forward to some sweet pastels.

Did you catch my last post on the Spring Green in the Holiday Cupboard?

Here are a few more Majolica stylings....

Spring Peach Blossoms and a Cover Up

Majolica and Crockery in the Holiday Cupboard

Spring Has Sprung on the Baker's Rack

Spring Green in the Cupboard

2025-03-03T09:00:00.000-06:00

I'm ready for some Spring Green to pop out and replace the blah brown in the landscape. How about you? We will still have some cold weather during the month of March, but I'm hoping we're finished with the subzero temps, foot of snow and biting cold we endured last month.

For my base in the cupboard I traded out the brown and red transferware from "Winter" and Valentines Day stylings for my green transferware, ivy pottery, and French Faience. I'm ready for those springy colors and blooms that get me in the mood for warmer weather and Easter. I wanted to concentrate on bringing some green elements together instead of just focusing on St. Patrick's Day. That will give me a good foundation for a change up to my Easter pieces which will show up in mid March.

I did add in some vintage St. Patrick's postcards for this next few weeks, but I'm also showing that they are an easy change up for basic Spring with a quick removal. I don't have any vintage St. Patty's pieces, so I depend on "color" for the basics. I brought out a few of my sheep, because when I think of Ireland, sheep are always grazing on those lush emerald hills.

An antique dark green transferware vegetable dish filled with moss provides a nest for a reproduction lamb butter dish.

Antique postcards are one of my favorite quick ways

to decorate for any holiday or season.

A few pieces of "cottage ware" and a pristine McCoy vase join in on the springy vibe.

My faience coffee and teapot always bring a garden bouquet to mind. And a few salt and pepper Hoosier pieces and green depression glass sugar and creamer bring an extra dose of green to the mix.

My spring green watering can filled with faux paperwhites and my lambie with a green polka dot scarf/ribbon on the the old step stool add in some color coordinating fun.

A moss covered shamrock (found mine on Etsy a few years ago) with added green ribbon and vintage postcard give a little extra oomph for a door hanger on the cupboard. Sometimes the doors are open and others they are closed. Having a little holiday "extra" on the closed door front brings more festive holiday attention.

More of my random collected ribbon scraps give a romantic touch to the hanger.

It's about that time when the rabbits and bunnies start to appear here in the decor. And our big/real bunnies are back in the backyard. I don't know where they've been all winter, but I haven't seen them since fall. We have several huge boxwoods and shrubs in the old landscaping areas and they are cover for so many small animals and birds. I imagine they have a burrow underneath. I'm hoping some babies will show up later this spring.

Here are a few more posts from early spring stylings in the holiday cupboard...

St. Patrick's Inspiration in the Cupboard

Bring on the Green in the Holiday Cupboard

Saint Patrick's Day Garden Room Vignette

St. Patrick's Day in the Holiday Cupboard

If you're craving some springy green, pick a shelf, a cabinet or even a basket for a smaller contained area and gather up some green items. Books, dishes, postcards, florals, linens and seasonal pieces can create a holiday or seasonal display without cost or much effort. Vintage spring and St. Patrick's Day graphics can be found on line to make your own prints or projects. Just have fun and enjoy an easy-does-it holiday vignette.

Hope your March is coming in like a lamb and ditching the lion!

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Vintage French Country Lamp in Décor

2025-02-20T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hi friends, today I'm joining in with my vintage loving pals for the Lifestyle of Love Group gathering where we share how we use vintage pieces in our décor. This month we're talking about vintage lamps and chandeliers and how they can mesmerize and wow us with their timeless charm and elevate the vintage decor style with drama or subtlety. They are a topic I love and have sought out, but now only have this one small lamp that I use in my décor.

Over the years of buying and selling antiques and vintage pieces, I've found my share of wonderful old chandeliers and lamps, but there has always been a major hindrance in actually using these beauties; the wiring is usually iffy and not up to code. Installing and using these pieces poses all kinds of possible problems, at least for me and my meager electrical skills. Who am I kidding... I have no skills; this is an area where I've always treaded lightly!

I've fallen in love with many a brilliant chandy and lamp, but have often had a pit hit my stomach when I've checked them out closely. I've witnessed sparks, smoke, and broken electrical circuits upon plugging these babies in!

I realized it was easier to concentrate on smaller table and accessory lamps that were easier to rewire. During the "shabby" period several years ago I found myself collecting figural lamps that were French or Italian inspired designs. I kept a few lovely ones, and this one I'm sharing today is my favorite piece, that my husband recently brought up to date with a quick rewire with parts from Lowes. It only took 13 or so years of asking to get it done.

I found this precious little lady about 17 years ago and bought her from a fellow dealer friend who loved the French Country/European vibe as much as I do. When I first found her she was painted in a terra cotta color that was original. These two images are from an Ebay listing of a Borghese Plaster Chalkware Lamp.

Borgehese was a company that first started making glass lighting and chandeliers in Europe in the early 1800's and opened stores here in the U.S. during the early and mid 1900's. I think this particular lamp was manufactured in the late 1940's.

I kept her in her original state until 2020 when she had suffered several mishaps at the hands (paws) of my late kitties. I have kept her on my baker's rack since finding her, but after a few spills and chips it was time to give her an update. I liked the terra cotta look, but thought a white remake would blend in with my other chippy shabby décor better.

Late afternoon shadows and twilight take on a new glow with my little vintage lamp on the baker's rack.

Here she is on her usual spot on the baker's rack, now in the Garden Room (sunroom) at his house. I love accessory lighting on counters, desks, shelves: really any nook or cranny where a touch of lighting brings warmth and charm to the room. When dusk falls I like to turn on small lamps to give the space a little coziness.

She didn't have a lampshade when I purchased her, but I needed one that allowed her to fit on the bottom shelf of the baker's rack with the shade sitting above the next shelf. The vintage one I'm using now is too small and doesn't really fit but allows me to sit her here and enjoy the evening glow.

Spring on the Baker's Rack

Here is a post from a few years ago with a springtime styling.

I imagine she was one partner in a pair of male/female figural lamps.

Here's a post from our previous home before her makeover, where the baker's rack was in the kitchen dining/sitting area.

Vintage French Country Styling

on the Baker's Rack

Here are some pics back from 2010 that show a few of my vintage lamps that I had at my vintage market booth back in my dealer days. Wish I had those smaller chandies back!

New Space at Spring Creek

Thanks so much for coming by. I hope you'll click over and visit Cindy and Lora.

Last Minute Vintage Valentine's Day

2025-02-14T08:30:00.000-06:00

Here it is the day before Valentine's Day and I'm sticking to my usual "M.O." by waiting to the last minute to share the rest of my holiday décor. I like to use the blog as a visual of my holiday decorating, so I had a few vignettes yet to share.

The farmtable in the Garden Room changes with the seasons and holidays, and I wanted to extend the pink, red, and whites of the Valentine color theme by using my red toile fabric runner on the table. I used it over Christmas on the sideboard and loved it and now as a Valentine element under the breadboard and centerpiece.

An antique wicker floral basket with mini evergreen tree, (aka a mini Christmas tree) pink floral plate, and vintage fabric stuffed heart sits next to rose nesting boxes and my ice cream bucket filled with what's still winter floral arrangement.

On the other side of the room in the sitting area I made a few quick changes with my Valentine lovebird pillow on the settee. The coffee table crate holds my pottery Valentine and a few more nesting boxes. Oh, and my sweet Lambie sports his red and white heart ribbon as a scarf. You can see that post with the Valentine Display in the Holiday Cupboard.

I love this "clump" of wild paperwhites in the mossy basket, that look like they were just recently dug up in the woods and hauled in the metal basket. It's a little hard to make out, but that is a crazy quilt scrap stuffed heart.

Below is an insert from an antique Valentine card. Over the years it was separated from it's graphic cover. but it's still a precious piece of ephemera from the early 1900's.

In the hearth room I filled another wicker floral basket with old candy boxes and a reproduction Valentine for a quick display. Apologies for the less than perfect photos. It was a dreary day and the light was really poor.

Here are a few more posts you might enjoy...

Rustic Tabletop Vignette

Valentine's Vignette in the Garden Room

Romantic Valentine Vignette

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day Weekend

with all your sweeties!

Vintage Valentine Assemblage Under Glass

2025-02-10T09:30:00.000-06:00

Scrolling through Pinterest is one of my bedtime rituals. It's relaxing to turn off my busy brain and just look at inspirational vintage décor pics. My home feed is great, but at times I like to do a search on a topic, which is usually some kind of seasonal/holiday specific décor and DIY. Since it's Valentine's Day month I wanted to check out small vintage vignettes and cloches with vintage ephemera.

I didn't do tons of Valentine decorating this year, but a fun place to start is in the Entry with a few pieces that are holiday "regulars" on the console. Last year I put together my large glass cloche with a Valentine theme. This year I wanted to assemble a few vintage pieces in one of my antique floral china creamers.

An assemblage is just a mini vignette in a small container. Often they are secured in place permanently with glue, but I like to keep the elements removable so I can use them in other ways. It's a fun way to use old cards and bits and pieces of vintage "fluff" that we collectors squirrel away over the years. I love china and transferware creamers, and floral pieces were my first theme in dishes. I shared my floral teapots that are in the Holiday Cupboard a week ago. This sweet little creamer is from Homer Laughlin in the "Marilyn Pink" pattern.

I started with some shredded paper strands in red that were stashed from a Christmas gift several years ago. I would have loved to have pink, but red was all I had so red it was. I chose vintage children cards as a backdrop and anchor to this piece, which also contained red hearts to coordinate. I found this little jointed porcelain doll many years ago in a box of vintage doll supplies.

A vintage silver baby spoon joined in for the children's theme.

I found a rosy teapot ornament to add along with millinery roses.

The Sheffield pendant watch below was a birthday gift to me from my parents when I was in my teens. I wore it for many years on dressy occasions and church. It's on a satin ribbon now, but I think I had a gold link chain back then. It's on a vintage embroidered heart edged hanky from the 50's. p.s. it still works but I'm sure needs to be cleaned.

Pink and white crinkle chiffon seam binding "ribbon" is tied around the dainty handle.

My other elements on the console are gathered together on a vintage silver serving tray. My vintage Lefton cherub candy dish, mercury glass votive and antique book stack with crown are a few of my favorite Valentine pieces.

I added in my antique cupid tray which often decorates this spot at Valentine's Day. Instead of a flower arrangement, I used one of my wooden Pottery Barn lanterns since the red faux silk rose wreath is pretty dramatic.

If you want to decorate with an easy piece, I encourage you to try to put together a small assemblage and place it in a cloche. You may be surprised at how many small bits and pieces with a common color and theme can be easily used together. It's a small piece with big impact and grabs attention in an otherwise neutral setting.

Here are a few other posts of the Valentine's Entry console and Valentine cloches.

Lovely Lacey Hanging Heart

Valentine's Entry

Share the Love

Valentine's Under Glass

Here are a few pics from my Pinterest pages Valentine's Day Decor and Hearts and Valentines. You can follow me on Pinterest Here and see new pins from new posts.

Vintage Valentine Art

Thanks for coming by. Hope you have a sweet Valentine's Week!

How to Make an Easy Faux Ivy Heart Topiary

2025-02-04T05:55:00.008-06:00

I love topiaries of all kinds and for all seasons. Real plants of course make beautiful décor accents, but for me can easily go "kaput". I try to keep several small ivy plants going throughout the year, but for some reason I didn't have any candidates this year suitable for an ivy topiary. You have to have a relatively full plant with longer tendrils, (which I didn't have) so I thought I'd try a faux ivy topiary using elements I had on hand.

1. A heavy wire heart shaped topiary form.

I've had this metal heart topiary form for years, and I think I originally purchased it with a live ivy or angel vine. I've reused it for "new" topiaries several times with various types of ivy and plants. I checked on Amazon and they sell ones like this. You can make your own out of a clothes hanger, but they're not nearly as sturdy.

2. Pottery vase, metal container, clay pot, or some sort of vessel that will anchor the form. I found these clay pots with a ceramic glaze at Hobby Lobby several years ago, and bought them in 3 different sizes. They are so versatile and I love the "Frenchy" look of them. Right now I'm using my large one for a grouping of faux paperwhites.

3. For a filler and base, you can use floral Styrofoam blocks, but I like to use paper or plastic bags to stuff in the bottom so you have a filler. Cover it with moss for a natural look.

4. Faux Ivy Plants You could use any kind of faux ivy, but I like these smaller fuller mini bushes like below. I took a photo of the one I used, but it didn't show the shape well. You can find these on Amazon also. They have a sturdy plastic "handle" where all the tendrils meet, sort of like a bouquet.

5. Insert the faux ivy into the moss and anchor it with the heart form. You may want to fill in the sparse areas with extra longer "tendrils" of ivy, wrapped around the wire form.

6. Adjust the ivy tendrils to fill in the sparse spaces, fluff individual leaves and add seasonal element if desired.

This topiary works throughout all the seasons, and you can use small seasonal elements to dress it up a bit. Small hearts nestled inside the heart make it Valentine's Day specific.

This size topiary makes a nice addition to the entry or kitchen where space is tight. And... it's virtually no maintenance or light needed. My kind of plant!!

Below I used a real ivy plant with the same metal heart shaped form.

Easy Ivy Topiary

Here's another of my Valentine's Day creations that I've been using for many years.

How to Make a Moss Covered Heart

Valentine Tabletop Vignette Tableau

Thanks for coming by, I hope you're having a wonderful week.

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Easy Boxwood and Ribbon Wreath and the Valentine's Cupboard

2025-01-31T09:30:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day is definitely one of those holiday themes that show up in the "Holiday Cupboard". I've loved antique and vintage paper goods and ephemera from the first time I saw a vintage school Valentine card and found a few pieces of my paternal grandfather's cards to my grandmother in their old attic. Old Valentine postcards are easy collectibles as so many of them were created in the early 1900's. School Valentine parties and sweetheart's notes were popular among young and old alike.

Just as I collect paper goods and holiday items, I'm also one to grab and stash away bits of ribbon and lace; old and new. I keep my paper pieces in vintage suitcases, so when I find color coordinated ribbons they get added to the holiday specific luggage. I've kept bits of ribbon from presents, gift bags, floral arrangements etc. so I put together a few pinks, reds, and creams to decorate my boxwood wreath for a Valentine's Day look.

For Christmas my sister gifted me with a Tartan Red Plaid wreath scarf and I loved it so much that I thought I'd try to replicate it for an easy Valentine look. I just grabbed the ribbon with a little ironing first and lined them up for a quick wrap and tie. I added an oh-so-sweet patchwork stuffed heart that I found last year on Etsy to the center.

On the inside I displayed some of my vintage and antique teapots along with a few pieces of my red transferware and ironstone. Plate stacks of old transferware and floral dishes are decorated with old Valentine's postcards.

I started collecting tea pots before I was even married. My parents loved to go antiquing on the weekends and that was when I fell in love with all thing vintage and antiques. My first love was floral pieces, then came transferware.

I made a few tweaks with a pillow on the wicker settee and a few color coordinated Valentine pieces on the coffee table/bench. You can see my January sitting area HERE.

This is a paper heart valentine I made back in my early blogging years along with several vintage Bingo cards. I made copies of old valentines then mod podged them on vintage book and magazine pages, I added wire, buttons and ribbons for a fun hanging Valentine greeting.

It's easy to decorate for Valentine's Day by adding a few hearts and cards with your regular winter décor. I concentrated on a few places and pieces of furniture. I love a little pink and red for the Valentine's holiday but don't want to go overboard. Next week I'll share a few ways to make a quick statement for Valentine's Day by making small vignettes.

Here are a few more Valentine ideas you might like...

Valentine's Day in the Holiday Cupboard

How to Make a Moss Covered Heart

Vintage Valentine Jewelry and Art

Thanks so much for coming by to visit.

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Vintage Cottage Weekend: Winter Sitting Area and the Baker's Rack

2025-01-27T09:30:00.000-06:00

Winter décor is a time for me to clean the slate from the saturated colors of fall and the Christmas season. I love color throughout the year and I'm always ready for a new seasonal color scheme and vintage pieces. I've always been one to get bored with color and pattern no matter how much I enjoy them, so it's a good thing that there are the 4 seasons and holidays throughout the year.

I'm always ready for lighter neutrals in January with accent colors of brown and darker neutrals. January is frequently my time to carry over a "woodsy" theme from fall and Christmas. I've said before that I tend to decorate my home by what I see outside. Right now it's sort of brown and gray with muted greens of the evergreen bushes, and tan and decorative grasses with cream stems and seed "fuzzies".(We've also seen a lot of the "white stuff" so far this winter.) Please don't confuse my décor color choices indoors for the state of my back porch which is covered in birdseed, leaves and chewed chair pillows.

I had an old acrylic/polyester/cheap blanket out on the wicker rocker from late fall when I was covering the last of the potted plants which the squirrels have adopted. I've watched several times as a squirrel maneuvers the blanket so they can crawl inside and nap. It's chewed and missing fabric where they have carted it off to nests for a warm layer of snuggle. Everyone needs a good blankie for those frigid nights in the teens.

The January baker's rack is decorated with more neutrals and a few vintage prints. I love the old church snow scenes from the 30's and 40's.

My preserved boxwood wreath was bare when these pics were taken, but this week I added some random ribbons in reds and pinks for a little eye-opening punch. I'll share that next week with some fun easy changes to add a bit of Valentine romance.

I found the large patchwork quilt about 4 years ago from a sale at Pottery Barn. It's perfect for winter and early spring, and I've used it during the early part of the year since then. It's muted neutral florals match several of my pillows, and is an easy transition into early spring weather and décor after Christmas.

The brown plaid pillow with a "hooked" sheep matches the creams and browns of the quilt perfectly.

I use an old wooden manufacturing crate as a tray here on the coffee table with a vintage D.E. McNichol (Liverpool) stag platter and my pear Majolica pitcher.

Faux paperwhites in a metal olive bucket...

Another muted grays and cream quilted lap blanket covers the wicker chair.

I love old recipe pamphlets and this Chocolate and Cocoa Recipes is an old favorite.

The January Cupboard was sort of hodge podge, but I have a new look for Valentine's Day that I've put together this week. I'll be sharing it soon!

My vintage metal garden basket is filled with vintage garden themed pieces just waiting for warm weather.

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Here are a few more posts from year's past Garden Room winter sitting room and baker's rack.

Warm Winter Scenes from the Garden Room

Winter Whites Tabletop Vignette

January Garden Room

Deer On the Winter's Baker's Rack

Love You More...

The Baker's Rack with a Woodsy Theme

Kitchen Sitting Area with a Cottage Feel

Vintage Cottage Weekend posts share a link with my good friend Amber. Be sure and click over to check out what she has going on this week in her gorgeous new kitchen.

Winter Kitchen French Farmhouse Styled Basket

Vintage Cottage Weekend: Layering Vintage Elements on the Antique Sideboard

2025-01-20T10:00:00.000-06:00

Even though I started packing away Christmas décor after the 1st, I finally got the last of it stored away. This could be called Part 2 of the Winter Hearth Room that I shared earlier this week. It's always a bit much photo wise to include the sideboard and cookbook cupboard in the same post as the mantel and rest of the hearth room.

I've always been the one to start putting the Christmas décor away the week after Christmas. By then I'm ready for a clean slate and need a bit of a visual decluttering. In January I like to go more toward a woodsy "winter" feel using neutrals and browns. But, I do tend to leave up my faux Christmas trees into mid-January. I pack away any Christmas ornaments and enjoy the bare lights, which go along with my woodsy January theme.

I fall into the easy decorating trap of doing the same thing with the same elements, but this season I purposefully looked for something "new" in my stash for a fresh look for winter on the sideboard. I have a few vintage silver trays and this one is particularly large and heavy, but it needed something layered in front for added interest.

This antique print is most probably from the mid-1800's and is original to the frame. The Adirondack walnut folk frame is a very old piece and not in good shape. It's corner carved leaf decoration is broken off, but it's so charming it still deserves to be displayed. I can just see it in a Victorian parlor. The "God Bless Our Home" print is from the same time period.

A few of my brown transferware gravy boats line the shelf and my large Aesthetic transferware soup tureen sits on a grain sack print short runner. I like using black as an accent as it offers interesting contrast and grounding, especially with a white and neutral space.

The Cookbook Cupboard top is pared down with one of my vintage calendar prints against my chalkboard with metal lunch hampers and a vintage demi-john.

A sugar and creamer in the Skandia brown transferware pattern are out front on an ironstone platter. My white wicker covered demi-john is one of the most versatile pieces I have. It travels around the house throughout the seasons.

I love using pears in décor from summer through winter. They're perfect for some earthy natural color in bowls, baskets, and tureens.

My woodsy cabin cookie jar and salt and pepper from Lennox are still here for the winter cupboard. (along with my other house shaped cookie jars) Here's how I used it in a Christmas tablescape last year. What is it about house-shaped anything?... I love them.

I shared the winter Hearth Room and Mantel earlier in the week with wool plaid blankets and quilts.

Here's a pic of the sideboard decorated for this last Christmas. You can see that post HERE, that also includes the Hearth Room and Cookbook Cupboard for Christmas.

We've had several snows since the first of the year. Here is a pic from the back porch, where the bird feeders stay busy. It's a bit messy looking but I put out bread and apple bites for the critters who greatly appreciate it in the very cold weather.

And from the front porch...

Since we live across the street from a school, we have the streets plowed early on.

Here are a few more "winter" posts you might enjoy.

Easy Winter Decor in the Entry

Winter Lambs in the Dining Room

January Musings

A few years ago Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home, and I used to do a post on the weekends where we would share our vintage cottage décor. So we thought we might try this again this weekend. So be sure and run by Amber's where she's sharing her beautiful dining room as she transitioned from Christmas to winter.

Thanks so much for coming by.

Stay warm and dry...

Have a great weekend!

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Cozy Winter Mantel and Hearth Room

2025-01-16T08:00:00.001-06:00

I spend a lot of time in the hearth room and whatever season it might be I look for it to be a cozy comfy space. But during the winter it becomes more of a priority for a warm inviting refuge.

The fireplace is the focal point, and a few minutes in front of the fire can cuddle you up like a warm hug. We find that we gravitate to the fire to sit and relax or talk.

During January and early winter I tend to gravitate toward neutrals and mix lights and darks with wool blankets and quilts. It's easy to grab a blanket for extra cuddle. Yesterday we had our forest of trees trimmed which required our electricity to be turned off for several hours in the morning. I had coffee on the sofa and really enjoyed my spot to relax.

You can see my coffee table/bench is a great place to put up your feet, and I often leave the white tray pushed to the side so it's easy to settle in.

After Christmas, I took down the gold "leafy" wreath and exchanged the grapevine cones for my evergreen topiaries wrapped in burlap. The reindeer are tucked away, although sometimes I leave them out for January. A sampler print takes center stage and my smaller white metal house lanterns sitting on vintage book stacks flank the sides.

Christmas 2024

I found this print about 35 years ago, and it always amazes me because it looks so realistic. It's a 3-D looking print from an original piece of needlework from 1836.

I left my white faux poinsettias in the basket since they were neutral.

I've shared this amazing iron piece before. It's a very heavy door to an antique wood burning stove. I fell in love with the raised decoration highlighted with the perfect rusty patina.

Needlepoint pillows with a floral design dot the sofa and chairs during the winter months. The post, Cozy Winter Wool Blankets, shares my purchase of the Burberry look-alike Scottish blanket.

Here are a few more winter posts you might enjoy...

Cozy Winter Mantel in the Hearth Room

Keeping It Cozy in My Winter Hearth Room

Cozy Winter Decor

Time for Toile

Thanks for coming over to visit. Come back on Saturday to see the sideboard and cookbook cupboard styled for winter with layered vintage pieces.

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January Cottage Cupboard and a Winter Lookback

2025-01-12T05:55:00.009-06:00

Hello friends and Happy Weekend! For a few weeks in January we have a small bit of time that's totally dedicated to warm, cozy, and comfy. After Christmas and before Valentines Day; it's a time to relax in front of the fire, read a good book, watch a movie, and curl up in a soft warm blanket... without a ton of shopping, big meals to cook or a deadline looming on the calendar.

Today I want to share a look at the January editions of the Holiday Cupboard since moving to this house. We bought the house in late Fall of 2018, but didn't get moved in until March of 2019 since we had a lot of décor updates like painting every room and new wood flooring and carpet in the bedrooms. We took our time and I had the ability to think about furniture function and placement.

I've had several renditions of "the Holiday Cupboard", but it's always been a Pie Safe or Hutch and base cabinet. Each month, holiday or season there's a fun theme to decorate around. Vintage transferware, ironstone, prints, figurines, and seasonal pieces find their way together. I've said several times that it's my "dollhouse for dishes", and a place for relaxation therapy. When I'm at loose ends, this is a great place to play and putter. I highly recommend a cabinet or shelf dedicated to displaying fun dishes and sentimental items in a seasonal way.

Cows in the January Cupboard from 2021 featured a few of my Staffordshire cow figurines, Cordon Bleu cow creamers and old nativity cows.

A Winter's Walk in the Holiday Cupboard

In January 2022 I included a few winter prints, evergreen mini trees and English cottages. That year I featured a few of my Aesthetic Brown Transferware pieces.

January Cupboard in Candlelight

And in January 2020 I decorated the cupboard with candlelight in mind. January is usually a cold and dreary month with little sunshine, but a lot of snow and gray. Nothing breaks the doldrums like a few candles in small vintage containers.

No matter the season or holiday,

you can always find a few sheep and birds in the seasonal mix.

I love to mix and match transferware. That's part of the fun; using different patterns and pieces.

I collect, brown, red, and green transferware so there are always a few vintage dishes and accessories that work for the theme. Ironstone tureens and pitchers also are a staple in the Holiday Cupboard. In January I usually use a mix of my brown pieces of transferware.

Old prints, postcards and books add a bit of interest among the dishes. And since I love old garden goods and clay pots, I usually have a few garden related and "nature" items around.

Here's a peek at the January Cupboard for this January. I kept the predominantly red transferware display but added a few pieces of brown transferware instead of changing it completely out for brown, which I usually do. I hope to spend a bit more time on the Valentine's Day rendition, so this is a bit of a compromise between Christmas and my normally "Winter" cupboard.

My vintage cardboard churches made in the UK often make an appearance in the January Cupboard. They've seen some wear and tear over the years, but they are two of my favorite "cottage" pieces.

Thanks for coming by.

Do you have a special cabinet or shelving where your imagination can play?

Did you catch my last post?

Winter Whites Tabletop Vignette

10 Favorite Vintage Décor Posts of 2024

2025-01-09T05:55:00.001-06:00

I'm always a little surprised to see which posts were your favorites at the end of each year. Here are the top 10 favorite reader posts of 2024. If you missed any of them I hope you'll click on the title to read further.

The first posts of each season usually grab more attention. People are always looking forward to Spring, so here was one of my early vignettes for the Spring season. Anything "Mossy" gets my attention, so a pair of Moss Bunnies stole the spotlight for Spring.

Moss Bunnies and the Spring Sideboard

In any given year, the Holiday Cupboard grabs many of the "top 10" spots. I try to decorate the old pie safe cupboard for each season or holiday. This year the St. Patrick's Day theme featured my green transferware and vintage postcards which have a "limited engagement" time.

St. Patrick's Inspiration in the Cupboard

My little collection of vintage chickens and roosters come out in the summer. When I think of farms and livestock I tend to think warm temps and summertime fun. The Holiday Cupboard gets decorated with my French faience with colorful handpainted florals and varied transferware. Added bits of Quimper ware, seed packets and old cottage pieces fill in between dish stacks.

Midsummer Roost in the Cupboard

Taking a que from Forrest Gump another of the Holiday Cupboard posts hits the top faves with a Valentines theme. A few vintage and antique chocolate boxes with red transferware, ironstone tureens, and postcards decorate the shelves.

Love Is Like a Box of Chocolates

I'm part of a small group of bloggers called Lifestyle of Love which shares and celebrates vintage topics and items bimonthly. We have a great time sharing how we use these items in our home décor. I always come away with amazing ideas and inspiration to try something new with vintage décor. Here is one post on using vintage buttons.

Vintage Button Bouquet and Button Art

Here's another styling in the Holiday Cupboard with a patriotic theme.

Hurray for the Red, White, and Blue in the Cupboard

My antique blue willow transferware tureen filled with a glass hurricane and candle and moss with ironstone and a flag display decorates the family sideboard in the hearth room.

Antique Sideboard with Blue Transferware

Here's another post from Lifestyle of Love group sharing our vintage baskets. I really had fun with this topic and didn't realize how many baskets I actually have and use in my décor.

Vintage Baskets for Every Season

The cookbook cupboard is another cabinet in the hearth room/kitchen area that holds kitchen related décor like my cookie jars, cookbooks and fun seasonal pieces. Here it is decorated for mid-fall and a super easy and colorful paper pumpkin garland.

The Cookbook Cupboard and a Paper Pumpkin

Garland

I went a little out-of-the-box with my dining room tabletop this last fall with a dramatic branch and leaf display in an iron basket urn. Here is my Autumn Home Tour.

Autumn Home Tour

Here is one of my own favorites from last Spring.

Easter Cloche on the Spring Entry

Thanks so much for coming by to visit, friends. I appreciate you all so much. I hope you're off to a great start of the New Year.

Here's last year's top 10 posts.

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My Tips to Transition from Christmas to Cozy Winter Decor

2025-01-04T09:30:00.001-06:00

I can't really say that this collection of tips are mine alone. Because all you have to do is take a look on Pinterest to see that there are a bunch of bloggers who follow these same tips to change up their Christmas décor to a cozy, comfy, feeling of winter.

So instead of reinventing the seasonal décor wheel I thought I'd share in pics how I do the same. I know some people are already firmly into January and are enjoying their clean "winter" home, but are you still sitting there with a houseful of Santas and Gingerbread houses wishing you had some motivation and a plan to get from A to B? Some people love to keep up their Christmas décor and trees till the end of January, but I've just never been one of that group. I usually can be found putting Christmas goodies away the week after Christmas. Although my dad dragged his feet till the needles from our live tree were a fire hazard and the cats had knocked off all the ornaments off the trees.

So, here we go with a few thoughts on the change up. Just having a plan helps me make decisions to get me moving.

1. Remove the obvious RED and all Christmas related items.

I know that sounds like a "duh" statement, but I've often felt sad at packing away all those cute Santas, elves, and Christmas snowmen. But no sooner did I leave them out and put boxes and tubs away, that I wished I had gone ahead and made the commitment to make a clean sweep of Christmas décor. By mid-January I'm ready to be back to normal decor. I often use red as an accent color, so I don't ditch it all. Just obvious Christmas red.

2.Remove all the real greenery and multitudes of red berries, then gather the faux greenery into groupings in boxes, baskets or vases. Take down the miscellaneous greenery, garlands, and floral picks (especially on the mantel) that are fussy and that scream Christmas. Keep out the bare greenery wreaths, and even your trees, but remove anything obvious, such as red ribbon, ornaments or accessories.

3. Bring in natural elements such as fresh evergreens, twigs, logs, pinecones, branches, winter fruit such as pears, pomegranates, etc. Pinecones make great bowl and vase fillers. Bare branches and sticks can add some texture to simple arrangements and a nature feel to your more pared down spaces. White flowers such as paperwhites, hydrangeas, and amaryllis, make a beautiful calm setting.

Paperwhites and amaryllis are a favorite faux flower to bring in the New Year and celebrate a cozy winter space.

A Fresh Look for January

4. Replace the traditional Christmas colors of red and green to more neutrals, earth tones, and whites. This is where I tread lightly because all white can often feel cold and clinical especially if you're going for a minimal clean look. Some people are experts, but I just end up having a house that looks like the inside of an igloo. Neutrals and lighter colors can be beautiful this time of year if you mix small patterns and vary your shades of white with warmer creams and grays.

5. Rely on fabrics for texture. Grab those wooly blankets, throws, fuzzy and furry pillows, and heavier linens. Especially if you're using neutrals, be sure and have varied and textured fabrics around. I love Scottish wool blankets and throws, but I put away the red Tartan until next year and just use other colors like the brown above and my Burberry plaid.

6. Cozy Mood Lighting and Candlelight will go a long way to warm up a room or area. Nothing like cozying up in a comfy chair with a book and lighting a candle with a warm glow to send those chilly vibes away! And be sure to keep up those twinkle lights for a warm, homey feel.

7. Choosing a new color accent for pillows and accessories works great to liven up your space and make you instantly feel optimistic and looking forward to Spring. Since I love using a woodsy, natural theme, I love to bring out my brown and black needlepoint pillows and mix browns and woodsy greens throughout my décor.

I love decorating for Christmas, but I also enjoy getting my house back to normal cozy winter décor. Right now we're having really cold temps and I'm in no man's land with boxes of Christmas décor yet to be stored in the basement. How are you all coming along? Some people are already talking Valentine's Day, but I'm still trying to get a handle on putting away Christmas...

Cozy Winter Decor

Vintage Elements on the January Baker's Rack

Winter Lambs in the Dining Room

Cozy Winter Home

Neutral Winter Home Decor

A Look at Winter Neutrals

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New Year Wishes and Family Celebrations

2025-01-02T10:00:00.001-06:00

Hi dear Friends. I wanted to wish you all a most Happy and Blessed New Year. You know I don't post family photos much. But I really wanted to share a few since it is the holidays and we have a lot to celebrate and look forward to in the coming year. I haven't shared a recent photo of our granddaughter, "Miss O" for over a year. She's quite the animated little character and brightens our whole family's lives. She's our only grand and most probably will be our only grand.

She just turned two and below I edited out the high chair, but she's waiting for more of her birthday cake. You know me, I love a Tartan headband for Christmas!

My sweet big girlies...

Above is Miss O's mommy (on the right) and Auntie on the left.

Another holiday celebration was our older daughter and her new husband at their wedding in the Cayman Islands right before Christmas. They made it a solo wedding; just the two of them, then combined it as their honeymoon.

They took their vows at Sunset on the white powder beach.

From My Heart...

I want to thank each of you who come by to visit and share my life and home. I've been blogging for over 15 years and I know my posting has been slowing down a bit. But thankyou for hanging in there with me. I still have things to share. Life is good, even though at times it seems a bit small in scope. My health keeps me home much of the time and things take me much longer to accomplish. But I hang in there and keep going because I love connecting with you and sharing my love of vintage is still there. I'm praying you each have a blessed and happy 2025. Love you all...

Christmas Scenes from the Garden Room

2024-12-29T09:00:00.001-06:00

Hopefully, even though it's after Christmas, you can still enjoy seeing a bit more Christmas around my house. Before Christmas we were unexpectedly hit with some emergency home maintenance situations that required several days away from my already packed schedule. We had a roof leak that all the sudden required attention and that meant traveling around our area to view homes with roof options. I've learned that it's important to look at roofing at multiple "real life" residences. I've seen some big mistakes in roofing choices so we made sure which would work best with our taupe brick ranch before signing on the dotted line. I'm looking forward to the update. Our current roof is blah, blah, blah brown and does nothing for curb appeal.

Anyway, it put me behind in sharing the rest of my Christmas décor. So I'm sharing one long picture heavy post with leftover vignettes and pieces, here in the Garden Room. I'll keep words to a minimum, since most of you are familiar with my Christmas décor from year's past.

Early in December I shared the Garden Room in White with the tabletop vignette in a garden tray. When I did that I reworked my white desk to coordinate with the white tabletop, so my Santa in the Seedbox needed to be reset in another place. Here are the pics from that early December Father Christmas Seed Box vignette. (unpublished)

The last few seasons I've used my antique Seed Box to create a vignette, so of course my Father Christmas needed to join in for a Holly Jolly Christmas rendition.

Here are the Seed Box versions from October and Thanksgiving.

The Baker's Rack in the White Wicker Sitting Area is decked out for Christmas with some fun vintage and seasonal pieces.

My old seed box is a favorite spot for small holiday pieces.

If you missed this post on the Holiday Cupboard you can see it HERE.

It's a White Christmas on the Farm Table

My very old church pew is dressed for Christmas

with Tartan plaid wool and toile pillows.

... and my Antique Rocking Horse.

Thanks for coming by to visit my last minute Christmas Home. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Celebration with family and friends. We've had a full week of fun!

Did you catch my last post in the Christmas Dining Room?

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Merry and Bright in the Christmas Dining Room

2024-12-22T10:00:00.002-06:00

This seems to be my favorite look for the Dining Room and easy to put together, since I've done some variation of this over the last 5 years that we've been at this house. It has my go-to elements like my Christmas plaid and burlap holly tablerunner combo, one of my lanterns, and my tried and true holly topiaries.

Here's my sweet little corner with my family washstand dressed for Christmas. No it's not your eyes, this mirror just will not hang straight. Not sure why, but we've worked on it multiple times and I straighten it whenever I walk by... it just has a mind of it's own. The wire hanger on the back is heavy and the original, so I hesitate to mess with it. Even to get it to behave.

My Moss Monogram "O" is adorned with a vintage angel ornament. Below is my French canvas framed Sheep is leaning against it. This was a very versatile piece that I bought a few years ago from an Etsy shop and that I've used in multiple different places, from Christmas through Easter.

I've told the story before, but this precious French bust is very old, but had been through hard times. There was an antique shop that we used to frequent when my husband and I were in the business; the owner was a grumpy, disagreeable old gentleman whose company I really didn't enjoy... but my husband found his shop and stories and merchandise irresistible. Every time I'd go in I'd find so many wonderful objects but his prices were crazy and I never wanted to negotiate with him. I don't know why he bothered, he probably didn't sell much. Maybe just an outlet for his irritating personality. Anyway, one time I spied this sweet girl laying covered with other detritus, but she spoke to me and I wasn't leaving without her. I paid more than I should have, but in the end I feel like I rescued her from the junk and gave her a prominent and adored spot in my heart and home.

As you can tell, her base was broken off so she had to go into this old chalk urn to be upright. The outer layer of the piece was broken, so she has cracks and divots, but I dressed her in a satin ribbon and old crucifix. My lamb tureen is nestled in a dough bowl, and surrounded with Winterberry vine.

Back to the table with mini lights surrounding the vines around the lantern.

I made these topiaries years and years ago. They migrated to the Wolff Pottery vases when I found them at Pottery Barn about 12 years ago. They had been in green painted clay flower pots, but these are so much classier and really elevates them.

This is my large PB lantern, and I have two smaller ones that I use here often. The candle is setting in a silver pedestal candy dish for some extra height.

I gave up on trying to get good pics of the buffet. Sitting under this window is a no-go most of the year. The light is glaring and way too bright. If you can see, I have my cloches with small Christmas florals inside.

My William Bouguereau Madonna print is one of my absolute favorites for Christmas.

Here are a few more looks at the Christmas dining room throughout the years.

And another view of this wonderful print.

French Country Lantern Centerpiece

French Country Dining Room Part 2

Christmas Dining Room Look-Back

Christmas Dining Room

Friends, thanks so much for coming by. I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas Week!

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The Garden Room Sitting Area and the Christmas Cupboard

2024-12-20T08:30:00.001-06:00

This may sound a bit odd, but after years of bringing out vintage seasonal and holiday decorations, there are pieces that feel like old friends. My Tartan tins and vintage wool throws, nativity sheep and enamelware kettles, red transferware and ironstone; these are all things that I've grown to love and are basics for my "celebrating" the joy of Christmas.

To some my decorating habits and style might seem boring or even stuck in a rut, but for me it's part of my love of "vintage". Believe me, I rotate some pieces, and when I go through all my tubs and boxes there are plenty of things I leave behind for another year. But all in all I seem to stick with a sort of theme. I've tried to not bring them out, and try different colors and themes, but most of the time I find myself going back to the things I love. I just love "vintage", and sometimes that includes a little "kitsch".

This year my few Santa mugs are joining the paper houses, teapots, and red transferware. I've said before, I could kick myself for selling all the vintage Santa mugs that I've come across over the years. What was wrong with me? It's not like vintage ones are a never ending supply. Shortsighted. I wish I had them all back as they make such a fun vintage display. I only have a few vintage ones, but I do have a set from Pottery Barn a few years ago. They are arranged on the milk glass cake pedestal on the bottom shelf.

The little houses have battery operated lights,

and make such a sweet nostalgic display at night.

Vintage ironstone tureens and covered vegetable dishes join a few teapots with a vintage cookie tin lid and one of my Currier and Ives metal trays,

Don't you just love the crooked little smile on the llama's sweet face?

Below is one of my favorite winter/Christmas quilted coverlets in a country Christmas snow scene. I bought this back in the 90's from Spiegel catalogue. Do you remember them? Tartan plaids and ticking stripe pillows make it comfy on the wicker settee.

A stack of Tartan tins with my vintage 50's plaid lunch bucket sit in my old white vintage crate. My little equestrian suited fox joins them.

Enamelware coffeepots form a grouping with my favorite sheep "guy.

My sister always knows the perfect Christmas gifts. She bought this wonderful Tartan wreath scarf for me this year. I used a vintage Christmas wreath brooch to secure it on the preserved boxwood wreath.

The Pie Safe Holiday Cupboard is a wonderful backdrop for wreaths in any season.

Here are a few posts from year's past sitting area

and Holiday Cupboard for Christmas.

Christmas Cheer in the Cupboard

Gathered for Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard

Christmas Plaid in the Garden Room

A Very Merry Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard

Vintage Greetings from the Sitting Room

Thanks so much for coming by. Hope you are having a wonderful week!

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It's in the Details: The Christmas Hearth Room

2024-12-16T08:30:00.000-06:00

Earlier this month I shared my hearth room and my white pieces that reside against the long wall, but didn't get the chance to share the details. There was a lot going on in this big space, so today I thought I'd come back and take a closer look at the sideboard, cookbook cupboard, and the little Christmas tree. If you missed that post you can click here.

I shared a passing glance at my sideboard. My white houses often show up here on the shelf of the mirror since it's the perfect place for Christmas displays. I thought I'd try a different "runner" for the top of the sideboard, and grabbed a red toile small luncheon cloth and folded it to fit.

A white antique ironstone tureen and dough bowl are filled with vintage ornaments and Shiny Brites in gold and silver. I've been collecting silver, white and gold vintage ornaments for years. Now, vintage ornaments cost a pretty penny/dollar! White ironstone pitchers and bottle brush trees with a vintage Currier and Ives Christmas tray line the back of the mirror.

This year I used Tartan wool and Pendleton camp blankets to cozy up the hearth room. Red and brown toile pillows along with my plaid ones add to the cozy, comfortable, "put your feet up" feel.

I have one Pottery Barn white lantern on the farmtable display, and my other lantern joins vintage Christmas and English Toffee tins and a metal plaid lunch basket in front of the large scrolly chalkboard on top of the Cookbook Cupboard.

A few jolly Santa mugs and a ceramic gingerbread house join in.

This year my Lenox Cabin Cookie jar and salt and pepper add to the other cottage cookie jars on the shelves. Two years ago I used it for my Christmas tablescape centerpiece with plaid.

Extra Shiny Brites fill a vintage crockery mixing bowl.

I usually put up this little tree in late fall and decorate with lights and a few leaves and seasonal faux berries. Then when it's time to decorate for Christmas it gets Winterberries and holly and a few rustic woodland ornaments. I love a big tree and all the trimmings, but since it's just little ol' me doing the decorating of it, I've tended to stick to smaller more compact trees that I can handle myself.

I used to frequent an antique market that had an outside "junk" corral. That's where I found my wonderful old picket fence gate and the metal gate in the garden room. I love the original weather worn natural patina of the wood.

I've had a bit of a Gingerbread thing going on for the last few years, so this large gift bag has become a decoration under the tree. My sister gave me this adorable reproduction Jolly Santa face for Christmas this year.

And I gifted myself this wonderful ceramic Gingerbread House candle from Pottery Barn this year "just because" I loved it!

Do you buy yourself presents for Christmas?

Here's where I am right now...

enjoying the fire.

But I'm about to fall asleep.

Here are a few more posts that you might enjoy...

Easy Woodblock Gingerbread Houses

Gathered for Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard

Did you catch my last post?

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A Very Merry Vintage Christmas Home Tour

2024-12-11T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hi Friends, thanks so much for coming by today, as I'm joining a group of friends who are sharing our Christmas Homes and décor with a Merry Christmas Home Tour. If you're coming from visiting Christy at Our Southern Home, I'm so glad you've hopped on over to join me. And a big thankyou to Amber from Follow the Yellow Brick Home for putting this group together!

The farm table in the Garden Room is usually one of the first places I decorate for any season or holiday. We only use it when family comes over, so it can sit undisturbed for awhile. That means I can do a little more "decorating" when it comes to the tabletop as I love creating a tableau or larger vignette in this easily seen space.

It's easy for me to fall into the habit of using the same elements on this table top. I have a wonderful old ice cream bucket that I most often use with a whitewashed breadboard, but this season I thought I'd start off with a reproduction vintage garden tray. I usually don't have a big plan, I just start pulling things together, then swapping them out until I can get a feel for what I want. My olive bucket with faux paperwhites hadn't been used for awhile, so they were the first to be placed.

I love using paperwhites throughout the winter and spring. I used to plant multitudes of them, but haven't for awhile. Our kitties would eat them and the "aroma" was questionable at best. I found faux ones several years ago and really love using them; much easier although I adore the look of real ones.

Next came one of my smaller Pottery Barn white wooden lanterns raised up on an old cigar box for height. Inside, I have a small iron urn in which a candle fits perfectly. My small concrete outdoor urn from the 30's holds a small evergreen tree in front of the lantern. A white metal house, other small evergreen trees, and my white "sitting Santa" fill in. Two of my paper mache Nordic white reindeer graze and nibble.

I have a red Tartan plaid tablecloth that I often use, but this year I went with an antique white vintage European grain sack tablerunner with burlap grain sacks on top. That gave me my unplanned "White Christmas" garden tray.

Because the farm table features white elements, the old white desk under the window needed to be decorated with white too. I don't use my big sculpted wood goose often, because he's reaaaallly big and doesn't fit most settings. But next to another larger iron urn with faux evergreen tree, he fit right in.

It's hard to imagine, but because of the warmer late fall we had, I was able to keep my plants outside sheltered under the roof of the porch until the beginning of December. I had to cover them with sheets and towels several times, but we didn't have a real "killing frost" until late November / early December.

The asparagus fern usually does well inside. Actually, it sends out long sprouts (that grab you as you walk by) I also brought in my mint and a few special pink geraniums that were in smaller pots. I've tried wintering ferns but they lose most of their leaves and make a huge mess.

Good thing for a tiled floor, it gets pretty messy in here with plant debris.

A white painted console table holds a galvanized plant tray for smaller houseplants, and underneath are my white vintage stacked suitcases from the 30's and 40's.

My very vintage rusty white metal fence gate is behind the white desk for a fun backdrop.

Here's a fun post that our group shared with our wheelbarrows, carts, and wagons from November. It's always filled with something fun and seasonal.

Here are a few looks from the last few years:

Christmas Centerpiece Basket with Guest

New and Old Finds for Christmas in the Garden Room

Christmas Farm Table Vignette

French Country Lantern Centerpiece

Thanks so much for coming by and I hope you'll follow the Linky List below and check out the other friends with their Christmas homes. Please be sure and visit Laura from Decor to Adore next with her wonderful kitchen décor this Christmas. I hope you're having a beautiful Christmas Season. Be sure and come back for more Christmas fun these next few weeks!

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