Saturday, June 25, 2016

Stars, Stripes, Feathers and Lace!

Hello everyone! I had the day off so had some time to do a Fourth of July post. I tried to make it different from last year, and I could do so because I have several new Estate Sale finds that I incorporated into it.

I created a tablescape here in the dining room rather then in the living room, so here is what I came up with. Pretty simple really, but I didn't want to put a lot of time into it. So, using an estate sale find lace cloth over a red cloth to set the stage...



for the centerpiece, 



which is also an estate sale find...



I used this beautiful glass compote nestled inside a heart shaped feather wreath and some stars and stripes for a little patriotic touch. And set the table with Staffordshire Ironstone Liberty Blue plates. 
The compote is really unique because of the 3 faces on the pedestal 



and on the lid. The piece dates to around 1890 to 1900.



I don't have any new Liberty Blue pieces for this year



but I did get this sweet little 8" plate since then. It is called "Cape Cod" by Wood's Burslem, England. I recently got the silhouette lady and thought she looked good centered on the plate.



The Cape Cod pattern looks good with the Liberty Blue pattern.



Speaking of blue, I got these two blue and white ironstone pitchers and are perfect for the 4th.



The spatterware pitcher I got from my great Aunt and had been in the family for quite some time. And the other one is my favorite... breaks, repairs and all!



And because I have it's story! I got it from my neighbor's mother's house and she had lots of things that had been in her family for YEARS!

This was written on paper and kept in the pitcher, and there it will stay. Here is what it says...

The pitcher of a full dinner set bought in New Orleans about 1840 by grandfather Stephens. This set and also a full set with a brown design he bought with money from 4 dozen chickens. Grandmother Stephens sent with him when he took a load of grain from Attica, Indiana on a "flat boat" to New Orleans. The chickens sold for $25. a dozen and she had said "getter china dishes" with the money he invested all of it. This was the first china they had used and prior to this time they had used pewter-ware. Chickens were very cheap in Indiana but she thought they would bring enough for a few china plates and cups and saucers.

Isn't that neat, I just love it!

Over on the stepback cupboard is my collection of antique 4th of July postcards



and "fireworks looking" arrangements in vases.



I have shown you all of these cards in the past



but not this cute little gal, I just got her this past year.



And I don't believe I have shown you this Scott's Emulsion tradecard either.



I'll end this post by sharing with you a few "Fourth of July" images from yesteryear with you from this neat book that I found last year. 
Published in 1975.






(The below ladies "starred" in a  special Fourth of July ball game at Black River Falls, Wisconsin.)



To my American friends, here's wishing you a glorious Fourth of July! And as always, thank you all so very much for visiting.

Thank you also to Jillian over at LET'S TALK VINTAGE for featuring my garden and front porch post.

I am joining the following linky parties for the week...
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Sandi
BTTCG with Bernideen
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jillian
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann
VINTAGE CHARM with Cecilia and the gals
SIMPLE AND SWEET FRIDAYS with Jody
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry

Saturday, June 11, 2016

A Room with a (Garden) View

Hello everyone! I have been really busy and missing you all. I have some time to do a quick post to let you know what I have been doing, besides working the estate sales that is. Bernideen kinda rubbed off on me, and you'll know what I mean if you have seen her backyard lately! That lady is one garden digging lady I'll tell you! Her gardens look amazing and she has inspired me, and I think her neighbors too, to expand our flower beds! Her gardens are even more beautiful in person!

So anyway she came over and gave me some suggestions. I have finished digging for now and it looks so much prettier, especially from my kitchen window.



Here is what it looks like when you step out the door onto the back patio.
The bricks with just one row of flowers I did when we first bought the house over 10 years ago. So it was time for a change.



These are the Hollyhocks I see from my kitchen window...





I bought all of these faux garden stones at a sale for $3, and the birdbath for $20.



I saw this fun looking terracotta fish at the Grocery Store and thought it would look nice in the birdbath. It's a very deep birdbath so I had to add the bricks, I didn't think the birdies would want to go diving!



Check out my Easter Lilies in June! Aren't they pretty?
Okay, I know you are wondering why I have a fence around my flower bed right?



Well it is because of the naughty little rabbits like Peter...



that just will not stay out! So what's a gardener to do but put up a fence?
I got the Wedgewood plate at a sale for $4. And the watering can for $5. 



I even got the fencing at a sale. Ignore the fact that it is for dogs! Working sales really comes in handy! :)


I got this wrought iron candle lantern at a sale for $6, 



and even the shepherd's hook, for $5.



Can you spot my sweet little wren on the shepherd's hook?  hint, 2nd window




There it is! Sweet little thing!



Waiting for that perfect "catch" to take back to the babies in their birdhouse...




I also expanded my garden back against the fence where I have some wrought iron chairs. 




I added this pretty blue hydrangea



and hung a few birdhouses that I have bought from estate sales.






And this cute little bird church, missing its cross, was just too cute to leave behind. I have it hanging over in a different bed. 



And around front, where the foxgloves are in bloom,



and the flags are hung for Flag Day,




the wicker chair is beckoning me to come sit and relax for a while, enjoy a glass of lemonade...



and catch up on my latest Victorian Trading Company catalog...



where, with a cover like that, my mind may wander back to yesteryear and a stroll along the seashore with parasol in hand, and seashells too, and a mermaid legend or two running through my mind.

Have a wonderful week and thanks so much for visiting!


Thank you to Sandi at NO PLACE LIKE HOME for featuring my Lily of the Valley Teacup for May.
And to Jillian at LET'S TALK VINTAGE for featuring my Lily of the Valley Victorian calling cards.
And to Cecilia at VINTAGE CHARM
and to Jody at SIMPLE AND SWEET FRIDAYS!

I am linking up to the following blog parties, please come and join in the fun!
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
NO PLACE LIKE HOME with Sandi
BTTCG with Bernideen
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jillian
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
SIMPLE AND SWEET FRIDAYS with Jody
VINTAGE CHARM with Sharon, Cecilia and the gals
GARDEN PARTY with Jann and the gals