A Decorated Home- Red, White, & Blue Dining

Hi everyone! Happy 4th of July to my friends in the States! I hope you all have a very special day planned filled with family, good friends, good food, and lots of celebration. This is the first 4th of July in 18 years that I have spent on the West Coast with my family, so I am feeling very lucky today. Really looking forward to watching fireworks from this side of the continent tonight. I’m sure they’re very different from the East Coast variety.

Even though I’m away, I do have my house all decked out for the holiday. So today I thought I would share a few more photos of my red, white, and blue home. I hope you enjoy! And Happy 4th of July, everyone!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

Happy Easter

Hiya Peeps! I wanted to make sure to pop in here today to wish you all a VERY joyous and blessed Easter holiday! And of course I have a few more photos of my spring and Easter decor to still share with you. Can’t let a holiday pass without my seasonal pretties. Because after all, you all KNOW I have a soft spot for the holidays.

From my home to yours

Happy Easter

Read Full Post »

Holiday House

Feels like I’ve been slow as molasses this year, but I think I’ve finally got my house almost, pretty much, close to, just about decorated for the holidays. And just in time, too. My favorite holiday visitors, my mom and dad, are here now for a 3 week visit, and of course everything needed to be perfectly festive for their arrival. For me, once my family is all together, that means that Christmas is truly here! Let the celebration begin!

Since I am finally just about ready, I wanted to share some holiday photos with you. One of my favorite spots to decorate in my house is the dining room. I’ve been collecting antique china and ironstone for quite some time, and my dining room is my favorite place to display my treasures. I try to change out my display for every holiday and season.  Feels a bit like playing dollhouse as an adult, and I just love that.

For Christmas this year, I wanted a crisp and calm look inspired by elements from nature. My faux tree stands in the corner, dressed only in its winter white lights.

My antique sideboard is filled with my favorite things. Crisp white ironstone and sparkly silver pressed aluminum, winter-print transferware, pine boughs, and my treasured Lori Mitchell holiday figures.

Glittered snowflakes and shiny silver ornaments. Chenille stem candy canes. Vintage pieces. Modern holiday decor. Homespun treasures.

I hope you enjoy!

Happy Holidays, everyone! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Read Full Post »

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving, from my house to yours.

May your day be filled

with family and friends

laughter and togetherness

and most of all

good eats!

Read Full Post »

Wilmington Revisited

Hello everyone! Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend. It’s been beautiful here these past two days, and nice and quiet, too. On a lovely day like today, I thought it would be nice to take you visiting with me again, to show you the second half of my girls’ weekend away to Wilmington last month.

As many of you know by now, I absolutely adore going antiquing, and Wilmington is a fantastic place for treasure seekers like me. Top on our priority list of places to visit was Castle Street, a quaint shopping district dedicated to antique and vintage thrift shops. In an area of about 2 square blocks, there are 9 stores to visit, and of course we hit them all.

One shop was even housed in an old church. I loved the wooden ceilings and the stained glass windows. Such a fun place.

After spending most of the day in the New Castle Antique District, we headed towards the riverfront area. And got a much needed pick-me-up at Port City Java, followed by more shopping along Front Street.

Afterward was a fabulous dinner at Fish Bites, Wilmington’s second-highest rated restaurant. The highest ranked restaurant we hit the night before.

What a wonderful time we had. If you are ever in North Carolina, I highly recommend a visit to Wilmington. And if you come, I’ll pop up and join you!

Thanks for visiting with me. It’s always more fun to have YOU along.

Read Full Post »

Spring Greetings

As is so often the case with me on the last day of each month, I find myself thinking and planning for the days ahead. Today, I’m starting to put away my Valentine’s decor and pack things up for a new season. Time to put away the red transferware, and think of something new……..perhaps brown instead? Maybe a hint of green? So many possibilities. So many dreams. I’m not sure which direction things will go yet, but I can say this. I predict many rabbits and sweet Easter things on the horizon.

As many of you know by now, I absolutely love a holiday. I don’t let many pass without bringing out my seasonal treasures and sprucing up the house with a little holiday spirit. Lately, I’ve been scouring the antiques stores for spring items, like this sweet trio of vintage figures. It may be just a tad early for Easter, but this ol’ gal is going to be ready.

The cute guy on the left is a hand-painted paper mache rabbit from the 20′s or 30′s that originally held candy in the basket on its back. The sweetie on the right is a cotton and pipe cleaner rabbit from Occupied Japan. It has a real feather for the greens of the carrot and ears made from paper. I love the hand-made delicate nature of them all, and adore the combination of textures mixed with the vintage crocheted hen.

Bringing out my Easter things has put me in the mood for a little spring crafting.

I found the most fabulous vintage image from the Graphics Fairy, and along with a bit of new paper to get me inspired, spent a fun morning in my scraproom, just creating for fun.

Paper is from the My Mind’s Eye 6×6 Fine & Dandy paper pad. I added a strip of blue paper from Cosmo Cricket’s Material Girl, a few pearls and photo corners and a sentiment banner printed from my computer.

The tag makes me happy. I recycled it from my vintage paper mache rabbit purchase and just flipped it to the back side. I’m always looking for ways to recycle, and smile knowing the details of my sweet rabbit are on the other side. Of course I had to dress the tag up with a few extra goodies. A chipboard flourish that I painted light blue. A satin ribbon recycled from an old package. The hemp string from the tag. A snippet of leftover Vintage Inspired Netting from Webster’s Pages. And a lovely Maya Road velvet flower from my stash.

Here’s wishing a little spring to come your way!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

{If you’re looking for my Monday Kraft Journal post, please scroll down}

Read Full Post »

Where Did They Go?

Could someone please tell me where the last couple of days went to? Feels like I just blinked for a minute, and somehow the time has slipped away from me. Last I checked, it was still Wednesday. I’m really not sure what happened. And I don’t have much to show for myself.  No sudden miraculous frenzy of accomplishment. No cures for disease. No solving of the world’s problems. I’m really rather boring today.

I have been doing a bit of scrapping, though.  And although I can’t share yet, here’s just a little sneakie peek of the project I’m working on for the March PageMaps. I do hope you’ll pop back on Tuesday for the full reveal.

I’ve also been working on my Etsy shop. The poor thing gets awfully neglected at times. I’ve decided to try a bit of a new venture by adding some vintage finds and antiques amidst my papercrafting goodies. It’s a bit of an eclectic mess…….but that works for me. Here’s a few of the items I’ve been working on. And if the poor darlings don’t sell, well they’ll just have to live with me.

But I’d have to say the highlight of the last few days has to be the field trip I was able to take with my daughter’s class today to the IMAX theater to see this.

The film was entertaining. The 3-D effects were well done. 9x World Champ surfer, Kelly Slater, was not too hard on the eyes. But the chance to chaperone a school trip with my kids getting older? Priceless.

Felt like old times.

So I guess these last few days haven’t been a total waste. Even though I still can’t figure out where they went.

Read Full Post »

A Visit to Wilmington

Over this past weekend, I had the good fortune to be able to slip off for a girls’ weekend to the beautiful town of Wilmington, NC. What fun it was to get away for a few days, to relax, have fun, take in the sights, and eat out at great restaurants. And did I mention shopping?  Well, let me tell you, we shopped and shopped and shopped, until we could shop no more. There was just no end of fabulous places to go. In fact, we ran out of time before we ran out of shops. Guess that just means I’ll have to go back soon.

Would you like to come visit with me?

All in all, Kathy and I managed to stop at 17 antiques and thrift stores in only one and a half days. Our first afternoon was spent on Market Street, with stop number one here at Cape Fear Antique Center.

I’ve got my game face on. Shall we go inside?

This place is big with over 12,000 sq. feet of floor space. If you’re looking for furniture, this is a great stop. I still managed to find a few smaller knick-knackies to bring home. Oh, you know I did.

My favorite shop of the day was the Ivy Cottage, an absolute bonanza of consignment treasures housed in 4 separate buildings. 4 separate buildings, I tell ya!

Dinner was along the Cape Fear Waterfront, at the  Caprice Bistro, Wilmington’s top rated restaurant.

I immediately fell in love with this place. The scenic riverfront location and the historic building with original paneling and pressed tin ceilings are gorgeous, and the food is magnificent. We were given the front table by the window, which was the best spot in the house.

Through the windows we could watch the horse-drawn carriages and steal peeks of the USS North Carolina battleship permanently docked across the river from downtown Wilmington.

I ordered the house special, a local catch called a Trigger fish. And boy, oh boy, was it out of this world good.

And dessert was cream puffs with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce.

Hope you enjoyed this small visit to Wilmington with me. I have more to share with you soon, but I’ll save that for another time……..

after I get something to eat!!

Darn pictures

Read Full Post »

Ironstone & Transferware Valentines

I’m so happy it’s Friday! That means it is my favorite day for decorating parties out there in blogland. And on a rainy, cold day like today, I can’t think of a more pleasant way to spend a few hours.

I have been a busy bee this week, packing away the snowmen and winter wonderland decor, and changing things out for a bit of a Valentine look.

And now my dining table is all set for a party, using my collection of vintage ironstone and red transferware. I’ve brought back my antique wooden tray and red tool tote from other parts of the house and filled them with my usual favorite decorating combination of antiques, family heirlooms, thrifted pieces, and everyday items.

Each item tells a little story of my life, from the Wedgewood teacup and dishes I bought at a thrift store while I was still in high school, to my wedding silver. Collections are like that. So rich in history. Perhaps not meaningful to anyone else, but the world to you.

The tool tote makes a great spot to tuck away dishes and silver.

This little guy is a recent thrift store purchase. He’s sitting on a piece of history in the red metal lunchbox that was in my father’s family. Love the chippy metal mixed with the shiny gloss of the angel.

The tablecloth came from my aunt, as did the white crocheted pot holder. The other pot holders were made by my grandmother. The Battenburg lace was a purchase I made in college. Each piece with its own little story.

And together they tell a little tale of Valentine’s.

Joining in on the fun at My Romantic Home’s Show & Tell Friday, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, and Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground.

Read Full Post »

Two Old Birds

It’s been quite some time since I’ve taken you on an adventure with me. On a quiet Sunday morning like today, with a cup of coffee at hand, an adventure from the comforts of my home sounds like just my speed at the moment. So won’t you come along with me to one of my favorite secret spots? We can have lots of fun there.

Here we are outside of Two Old Birds, located in the Vintage Village in Raleigh, NC. I love this sweet little shop. Every time I stop by, Debbie and Susan have added new goodies and re-arranged their displays, making the place look fresh and new for every visit. Seems like I always leave with a new treasure or two.

The outside looks like the most adorable farmhouse. The sisters have hung window frames around the doorway, adding to the homey feel, and lots of welcoming goodies around the doorway. Feels like you are just popping in to have a cup of tea with the neighbor.

There is even a patio area complete with table set and potted plants, along with a very unique lighting fixture made from a rusty bed spring and old bottles.

Are you ready to head inside?

Adorable, isn’t it? I love old things. And as a mid-century modern girl myself, I fit right in. I did find a couple of treasures that made their way home with me. You’ve seen this plate before in my winter wonderland sunroom…

And another winter treasure I brought home is this Currier & Ives print. A New England Farm Inn. Sure wish I was a guest there. But a girl can dream.

Ahh, a little morning adventure, and I’m still in my jammies. What a lovely start to the day. Hope YOU have a wonderful day, my friends. Thanks for joining me!

Read Full Post »