Saturday, January 30, 2016

Little Changes in the Master Bath

I have been wanting to change things up a bit in our master bath for quite some time now. In my last post I mentioned that I was, and have been, on the lookout for matching antique oval frames (for mirrors) to replace the current master bath mirror for quite some time now. I feel like I need these key elements before I want to buy new lighting and so on.

We'll take a peek in from out here in the bedroom first. Notice my little Lacey dog in the foreground. :)
Last year we replaced the carpet with marble tile, so that was a start but then nothing has happened since then because I am waiting on my frames.
Everything looks alright from out here right, but wait til we go in...


You see what I mean? That awful huge boring mirror and those hollywood lights are such an eyesore! I don't even use all the lightbulbs that it holds because it is so bright.
I thought about framing up the mirror but decided not too, to just wait for the oval frames. So that is what I am doing. For the moment at least.


So in the mean time I decided I would add some pretty stuff in there to help detract the eye from the mirror and lights. I went about the house looking for things that I had tucked away to use in this space and came up with a few things...


I started with this cute little guy that I bought for 80 cents, and placed him on this corner wall shelf that I bought for $10 at an antique mall. 


I wanted something long and skinny to go up over the towel rack and wanted to display some of my vintage hankies so I hung them from a braided cord inside this antique frame ($2).


Do you like my little gray haired lady with her purple shawl? I thought she was adorable, so she took center stage.


To fill in more wall pace I added two souvenir plates.The top one is the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair and the bottom one is Washington D.C.


I hung this brass wreath ($10) over the center of the mirror


with the reflection of framed antique lace and cherubs through the mirror...


and below the wreath on the vanity top I have this mirrored dresser tray and my small collection of antique perfume and cologne bottles, or at least that's what I think they are.


For a clearer look I'll move them over near the window...


and for a closer look at the detail of the painting and embossing of each piece. From left to right: 
bristol glass dresser bottle, blue art glass perfume, milk glass cologne, cranberry glass perfume, and satin glass cologne. But here is where I need your thoughts, are the milk glass and satin glass pieces cologne bottles, barber bottles, or decanters? And any other thoughts on the other pieces are greatly appreciated too. :)


And finally, here is the after picture of the little changes in the master bath. It's not exactly how I would want it but it will do for now. What do you think, did it help detract your eye from the mirror and lights?


Thank you so much for your visit and I would love to know what you think. 
Have a wonderful week ahead!

Thank you to Cindy over at AMAZE ME MONDAY for featuring my Civil War era oil portrait at her party this week.

This week I am linking up to the following parties...
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
BTTCG with Bernideen
NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Sandi
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jill
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann and gals
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
VINTAGE CHARM with Sharon
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry

Saturday, January 23, 2016

New Lady of the House

Hello everyone! A few weeks ago my mom and I took a trip to one of my favorite antique shops in Quincy, Illinois in search of matching antique oval frames for mirrors in my bathroom. I did not find those but found this instead and knew I had to have her! You know how that goes right, you go to get one thing and come home with something totally different. But one must remember, the time to buy an antique is when you see it!


The frame is so beautiful and I thought she was too, but my hubby informed me that she really wasn't. So I guess she won't be the new lady of the house after all. But in my minds eye she will be. :)


I think if she were smiling we would see the beauty instead of the harshness. But I think if you look closely you'll see a sense of gentleness about her, an "I want to smile but better not" look. I do think she is smiling with her eyes though.

(Back in the day one didn't smile while being photographed because of the length of time it took for the photo taking process and if they moved at all during this time their end result would be a photo that would look ghostly or streaked looking in the area that had  moved during the process.)



Just look at the detail, the lacy collar, the brooch, her gold dangly earrings and after some cleaning I discovered the red plush chair she is sitting in, her black buttons and the black shawl around her mid arm area. You have to look closely for that though.


I believe she is from the 1850's or 60's. I do not know anything about her or the life she lived. One can only imagine. Don't know if I'll name her or not, any suggestions? My friend Janice over at Curtains in my Tree suggested Cybil. Who do you think she looks like?


Since she is the new lady of the house, she has her place of honor right in the middle of the living room and parlor area, where I can sit next to her while in my recliner.


Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

I am joining the joining the following parties with this post...
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
BTTCG with Bernideen
NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Sandi
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jillian
VINTAGE CHARM with Sharon
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy

Monday, January 18, 2016

The Colors of Winter

We finally got snow! We actually got snow a week ago but it melted away and this morning I woke up to big wet fluffy snowflakes that once again covered the ground. To celebrate I created a centerpiece on my dining room table using my opalescent blue Jewel and Fan pattern bowl, made by the Jefferson Glass Company in the early 1900's, as the inspiration piece.


I bought the placemats at a garage sale a couple of years ago and thought they might fit in well, a little too off white but they'll work and they'll help keep the tablecloth clean so that's always a plus.


I used white candles to represent the white snow that covered the ground.



The glass prisms represent icicles and I used my glittery snowball ornaments once again. I made the paper snowflakes.


The bowl is not the original brides bowl that would have went with this silver plated holder, I just put the two together. And therefore I have made it a "married piece".


I love the way the blue looks with silver, and how the blue reflects in the plateau mirror




I recently bought these two napkin rings for $1 each. The one of the left has a fan on it and initials, the other one has Allie engraved on the underside.


Here is a glimpse looking outside the window, and a cute little snowman flag


and here is this cute snowman, my first snowman decoration, that I bought since my last post when I said I had none.


Thanks so much for visiting and have a wonderful week!

A special thanks to Sandi, over at NO PLACE LIKE HOME, for featuring my Fireside Tea post from last week.

This week I am linking up to the following parties...
NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Sandi
BTTCG with Bernideen
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jillian
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Fireside Tea and A Longing for Snow

My dear blogger friends, you will be shocked at what I am about to tell you, but I must. :)
After 5 Seasons of NOT watching Downton Abbey, I finally watched the 1st episode of the 6th season Sunday night!! I tried watching it before now, but just couldn't get into it. Well let me tell you, now I am hooked! So I went to the Public Library and checked out all 5 seasons and have spent a lot of my last 3 days watching it! I am off work until the end of January so I have a LOT of time to catch up.

While sitting inside watching these episodes, I got a fire going in the fireplace and couldn't help but long for some good old snow! Here in Missouri we have had but only one snow and that was in November and not a big one at that!

So I took a little break from Downton Abbey and quickly threw together this fireside snow post.


Many of you have such wonderful snowmen and snowflake decorations that inspire me, but I do not have much. So Frosty's hat and some sparkly ball ornaments that resemble snowballs will have to do.


Bellows are not really snow related but you know me and my ephemera so out of the Victorian Scrapbook came these two paper bellows. The larger one is a store advertisement. I thought it interesting that they both had a light blue bow on them.



In front of the warm fire is a great place for a good book or two.


This little"vest pocket book" was published in 1875 but copyright date is 1865.


It has charming illustrations, and with such charming illustrations as that, one must have a cup of tea


on the paper mache tilt top tea table for a little more comfort.




And now to the foyer where Frosty's hat and the snowballs will go.


I'll leave my scarf, gloves and earmuffs there so I can be ready for a snow, hopefully very soon.



And with that I must go watch more Downton Abbey, her Ladyship is expecting me. Thanks so much for joining me today and have a wonderful week!

Thank you to Jann over at SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY for featuring my New Year's post.

I am joining the following linky parties with this post...
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
FEATHERED NEST FRIDAY with Courtney
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
TUESDAY CUPPA TEA with Ruth
BERNIDEEN'S TEA TIME, COTTAGE AND GARDEN with Bernideen
NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Sandi
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jillian
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti