Friday, December 20, 2013

Big Christmas, Little Christmas

Oh my goodness, how time flies when you're busy! I have not had much time for blogging but I wanted to post this before Christmas. So here it is. I hope you enjoy seeing a little Christmas decorating in my house and in my dolls house.

We'll start with some tea. Except for there is no tea! I wanted to use the cup to hold the napkin ring and pretty napkin. I made the little petit fours, I always make dozens of these every year to give away. Pictured is my Johnson Bros. Friendly Village China, two ornaments that I got at a flea market for 25 cents, for the both of them! And my miniature tea cart with gingerbread men on the silver tray and Christmas candy in the candy jar. You'll see the teapot, cream and sugar in the background that matches the teacup on the cart.


The plates are actually salad plates but I like to use them as dessert plates. There are 6 of them with different scenes. (sorry, I'm only showing my favorite four)


After eating dessert off of those plates I'm always ready for a nap! No, I'm really not, I'm just kidding, I just wanted to show my son's bed decked out in holly. :)


Down in the parlor you'll find my feather tree on one end of the room and on the other end you'll find the family tree. I call it the family tree because we all decorate it with anything and everything but the feather tree is decorated how I want it only! Aren't I nice?


A close up of a section of the feather tree and the little nativity, you'll soon see that I have several different sized nativities and several different sized trees, and lots of angels hanging around.
The Nativity pictured below was just a cheapo from the dollar store, but I liked it because it was porcelain instead of plastic or resin.


As for the family tree, I didn't take a full shot of it but wanted to share a couple of ornament shots with you.


The house ornaments are the Hallmark Nostalgic Shops and Homes series and I have several of them. And below an ornament that I made, I found the cute little deer at Michael's and had the empty open glass ball so I just put it all together. I thought it turned out cute!


And then there's my heavenly host of angels around a nativity ornament that my son made at Church several years ago.  The white angels came from my friend Janice, over at Curtains in My Tree. I bought them from her garage sale.


And speaking of heavenly host, here are some more, and another Nativity. This one is Hallmark, the angels are vintage, made in Germany.


A close up of one end of the mantle. These are the pair of candlestick holders that I bought at an estate sale at a beautiful Victorian house. Click here to see that post, if you are interested.


And the clock in the center of the mantle and a little peek at the ceiling medallion reflecting in the mantle mirror.


Below is the tiniest Nativity I have. It is smaller then a dime. See it under the tree. This is a miniature decorated tree under a glass dome ( I took the dome off for the photo) I bought it and the egg and napkin ring at an estate sale a while back.


A nativity lace wall hanging in the dining room...


and the kerosene lamp, ready to light the way. Just like Jesus!


Some faux fruit on the stepback cupboard...


and more around the candle on the cake plate on the dining room table...


Okay, now guess what time it is?! Yeah, it's dollhouse time!! I had fun decorating it for Christmas.
Now don't forget, I will be painting the outside come this Spring! So ignore the stains please.
You can't see it real clear, but I have a pair of ice skates hanging from the mailbox.


It is Christmas morning in the dollhouse. We'll start with a peek in the kitchen. Can you believe it, the little girl FINALLY left the organ in the parlor?! She had been sitting at it every time I showed you that room. :)


In the dining room the table is set and the ham, bread, cranberries and Christmas pudding are on the sideboard ready to be served...


but the family (minus the girl, who is in the kitchen with the cook) is still hanging out in the parlor. The stockings are hung from the mantle, the Nativity graces the mantle, gingerbread cookies and tea are on the tea cart, the tree is decorated and Santa has left lots of toys in its branches and underneath.


Below is a closer view of the above tree but down on the table in my dining room where the lighting is better and you can see the detail a little more clearer. My favorite is the little birds nest with 3 little blue eggs in it, to our left from the angel tree topper. Isn't it darling? I used red beads for the garland, made all the little candles..


and filled the cornucopias with little balls for candy. I still need to find something for the little baskets though.
The tree itself is a little Hallmark tree that I bought at an estate sale for $2 a while back, I added all the decorations myself.


And here are the toys, AND baby Jesus.


By the looks of the kids' room, it doesn't look like they need anymore toys, does it?


But that's okay, Santa left the toys anyway and has taken off his suit to enjoy the family Christmas dinner.


And so...
From my front porch, 
to yours, 
have a very Merry Christmas!


For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. 
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6


I want to thank Kathy over at  A DELIGHTSOME LIFE for featuring my "Antique Finds and More" post as the top viewed thrift post at her HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY party.

I am linking up to the following parties...
PINK SATURDAY with Beverly
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
TEATIME TUESDAY with Sandi
INSPIRE ME TUESDAY with Marty
WE CALL IT OLDE with Dawn

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Latest Antique Finds and more!

Yes, I have been at it again! The lamp is not one of my latest antique finds but the blue hand painted globe is.
I had been on the look out for quite some time now and was thrilled when I saw this one at a local estate auction. It blends in perfectly with the blue in my ebonized frame...



and it goes so nicely with the blue sky of my ceiling mural.


                              

This is the not so pretty reproduction shade that used to be on the lamp.

                              

Below is what I bought from the miniature museum, a craft store down the road from it and a miniature shop that was going out of business.


Don't you just love the sideboard? I have not found a life sized one for my dining room yet but this one for the doll's house will do just fine for now! :)


And that is it for now. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit, I really appreciate it. Have a wonderful first week of December!

I have linked up to the following parties, please come and join in the fun.
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy at DWELLINGS
MONDAY MINI LINK  at JAZZI MINIS
INSPIRE ME TUESDAY with Marty at A STROLL THRU LIFE
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Paula at IVY AND ELEPHANTS
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena at OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME
WE CALL IT OLDE with Dawn at WE CALL IT JUNKIN
HOME with Sandi at ROSE CHINTZ COTTAGE
TREASURE HUNT THURSDAY with Pamela at FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy at A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy at MY ROMANTIC HOME
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry at THE CHARM OF HOME
PINK SATURDAY with Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Wishing you a "Berry" Blessed Thanksgiving Day!

I'm feeling a little bit like Strawberry Shortcake over here by sending you a "berry" greeting. It occurred to me as I was setting my Thanksgiving table that I had not shown my latest Thanksgiving postcards and I had been saving them for this very moment. So I quickly created a vignette to share with you.


And from the kitchen of my dollhouse...


have a wonderful day with your loved ones.

Thank you to Cindy over at Dwellings for featuring my Old House post at her Amaze Me Monday party and to Sandi over at Rose Chintz cottage for featuring it as the most viewed post at her HOME party.
Also to Kathy at HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY for featuring my antique oil painting.
Thank you ladies!

I am joining the following parties, please come and join in the fun...
HOME SWEET HOME  with Sherry at THE CHARM OF HOME
TREASURE HUNT THURSDAY with Pamela at FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy at  A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
HOME with Sandi at ROSE CHINTZ COTTAGE
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti at IVY AND ELEPHANTS
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy at MY ROMANTIC HOME
PINK SATURDAY with Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Projects and Antique Finds!

Hello blogger friends! I went to a few local antique malls recently and wanted to share my finds with you. And I have a few projects I wanted to share with you also.

Sometimes when I'm out looking for great finds I find NOTHING and then there are those times that I find some pretty exciting stuff.

Usually I save the best for last but this time I'm showing the best first, or at least I think it's the best.
I have always adored Victorian portrait oil paintings but usually can't afford one. Well I found one that made my heart skip a beat. But looking at it up close I saw that it had a few issues but for the low price of $70 I thought I had better go ahead and get her before someone else did!
So here she is!!


As you can see, the canvas has some tears in it and some time over the last 100 years or so someone placed something round on her neck and chin area! It does look as if some restoration or altering has been done too. But regardless I still think she is a beauty.
Here is a close up...


And here is her place of honor, or at least for now.


At the same mall I also found all of these antique trade cards and paper ephemera. 84 pieces for just $18! That makes each piece 21 cents! I can't wait to add them to my antique scrap book (the red one, the gray one is the cover of the book the ephemera came out of).



And I also got this small dome and heart porcelain dish.


The glass dome is a German piece, is 4" tall and has a wax figure of St. Maria in it. I paid $22 for her and for the oh so sweet little cherub painted heart dish I paid $2.50 for. It is such a delicate porcelain that I just couldn't resist! It will be perfect for a Valentine's Day vignette, don't you think?

And last of all, I have this project I will be starting on sometime soon, hopefully. Can you guess what I might be up to?


I'm not going to tell, you'll just have to wait and see! :-)  Thank you so much for visiting and have a great week!

I am joining the following parties, please come and join us.
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy at DWELLINGS
TUESDAY'S AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena at OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME
INSPIRE ME TUESDAY with Marty at  A STROLL THRU LIFE
WE CALL IT OLDE with Dawn at WE CALL IT JUNKIN
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti at IVY AND ELEPHANTS
HOME with Sandi at ROSE CHINTZ COTTAGE
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy at A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
TREASURE HUNT THURSDAY with Pamela at FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry at CHARM OF HOME
PINK SATURDAY with Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Old House

I have always had a fascination with old houses, especially abandoned ones. My heart always feels so heavy at the sight of each one I come across, seeing that there is usually no hope for it, always seeing the potential but knowing I would never have the funds to restore it (or the husband who would even be willing to live there, especially if the house is out in the middle of no where, like most of them are!).
So with that being said I would like to share a poem with you.
I hope you like it as much as I do.

I am going to share it with you twice, but with two different houses.



OLD HOUSE

I pass you by, Old House, each day,
With barely more than a glance your way.  (which we know is NOT true!)


But today, it seemed, you beckoned me,
Willing me to come and see,


In my mind's eye, the things you've been:
Shelter, Warmth, a home, a friend,
To families-how many?-who've left you here,
Beside the road, empty and bare.


What truths, Old House, would you have me know,
As down this road of life I go?
When I am old, with uses few,
Will I be loved, or left like you,


Beside the way, lonely, alone,
Just an Old House, no longer a home?


                                                                                                                              James D. Ritchie
                                                                                                                                  February 1975

The above house is located near Hermann, Missouri. And as you can see it is for sale...it may just have another chance after all.  Go ahead, make that call. :-)
__________________________________________________________

OLD HOUSE

I pass you by, Old House, each day,
With barely more than a glance your way.


But today, it seemed, you beckoned me,
Willing me to come and see,


In my mind's eye, the things you've been:
Shelter, Warmth, a home, a friend,
To families-how many?-who've left you here,
Beside the road, empty and bare.


What truths, Old House, would you have me know,
As down this road of life I go?


When I am old, with uses few,
Will I be loved, or left like you,
Beside the way, lonely, alone,
Just an Old House, no longer a home?


James D. Ritchie
February 1975

The above house in located in Marthasville, Missouri, a teeny tiny town near Washington, Missouri.

I don't want to leave you feeling down or hopeless so I will share a photo with you of a beautiful home that was not left beside the way, lonely and alone...
(the home is located in Augusta, Missouri)


and I want to share a few photos of the season's beauty with you. Enjoy and have a great day!



I am joining the following parties, please come join us...
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy at MY ROMANTIC HOME
PINK SATURDAY with Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy at DWELLINGS
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena at OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME
INSPIRE ME TUESDAY with Marty at A STROLL THRU LIFE
WE CALL IT OLDE with Dawn at  WE CALL IT JUNKIN
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti at IVY AND ELEPHANTS
HOME with Sandi at ROSE CHINTZ COTTAGE
TREASURE HUNT THURSDAY with Pamela at FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy at A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry at THE CHARM OF HOME