Collections, shelves and pumpkins!

 

I think I'm a pushover when it comes to open shelves. 

I have a lot of them and I really love them!

My biggest problem is that all are loaded with collections, and those items 

require constant TLC. Yes, vignettes and stacks are dust collectors, they do 

require dusting and frequent washing, but also bring happy moments and

memories.  

These are the shelves in the dining room on a Welsh dresser purchased

 30 years ago as bare wood. I've painted it in different finishes at least three times. 

This current antiqued/distressed blue-grey was done many years

 ago and will remain - no way can I paint anything of this size these days!

My collections of antique and vintage English and French china fit well here. 

I move items around some days, take a few away then add something new

 for the current season.

Small decor changes are now my norm. Over the top decorating is no longer

 an option as I try to downsize. 

I am finding I really like just a touch of something different for a few weeks. 

Currently it's just one natural papier-maché pumpkin - I have two more which

 will be placed elsewhere. I also added the fabulous pumpkin painting I found

 last year at SuzAnna's Antiques.

Speaking of pumpkins, we hope to make our annual visit to our favorite

 pumpkin farm soon - I still would like some real pumpkins for the front porch.

Days are a little cooler, I feel a chill in the air at night, so pumpkins will enjoy

 being outside now.

Are you decorating for this new season?

Do you buy real pumpkins?

Will you decorate for Halloween?

The twelfth anniversary!

As mentioned in a recent post, I'm trying to become more of a minimalist

in my home decorating efforts. Really I am trying! I've been through several
 styles of home decor since becoming a homemaker. After a lifetime of
 leaving for an office with the daily commute keeping me busy, retirement
 has seen me staying just as busy around the home.

 I am just an amateur interior decorator, wannabe designer etc. If younger, and I 
could start over, I would probably work in that field professionally as I do love
 the creativity decorating brings whether in house or garden.

My efforts at bringing aspects of shabby chic into my home about 14 years ago
 were fueled by several things happening in my life. Having more time on my hands,
 and a little cottage-style home crying out for style, my discovery of SuzAnna's
 Antiques here in, town became my place to hang out. Soon I became part of the
 always fun treasure hunting, antiquing, community. . . . . . . . and then
 I discovered blogging!

Yes, 12 years ago today I tiptoed quietly into blogland' when
 I wrote a post on my first blog, Across The Pond. 

A neophyte who was grateful for all the tips from that first group of vibrant gals
 who suddenly opened up the online world of creativity to me, they shared DIY
 projects we could understand and have fun with. 
Along with photographs and tutorials, we could make our own homes look like
 ones we'd only seen in those early days of HGTV, (those were the best days
 for that show as many of you will recall), and in home or garden magazines. 
We were on our way, supporting one another with cans of paint and brushes, 
'before and after' painted furniture photos, sewing antique French linen into
 pillows or recovering chairs, searching for chipped and cracked china and
 stoneware, silver plated trays and silverware, soup tureens, plates by the
 stack, wooden dough bowls, and making our gardens showplaces filled with
 urns, rusted gates, and vintage claw-footed bath tubs planted with flowers!
No, I did not drag a bath tub home, there were limits, such as never owning
 a pickup truck, but I found some awesome urns that were 
much easier to transport!

Vintage folding rulers - measuring life!

Later, people would actually stop me in stores, or when shopping at
SuzAnna's, recognize me from my blog and we would chat. Some would
email me and in one case, a young woman (who made me feel young too)
 would become one of my very best friends, dear and beautiful Vanessa. 
Eventually we shared a booth at SuzAnna's Antiques. There we had such
a great time together, spending weekly get togethers hunting for beautiful 
things to sell on to others who shared our love of old, often shabby,
 long ago treasures for house and home. We found so much we loved
 we then expanded and had our own adjoining booths for a while. 

My booth at SuzAnna's Antiques - 2011

Some things we never sold, instead taking them home because we loved them
 and couldn't let them go. The old French sideboard I still have and Vanessa painted 
it for me in Annie Sloane's chalk paint. It's a favorite piece with many memories.

I realized I was on a roll and I kept blogging, making a lot of

new local friends and acquaintances, as well as wonderful people around
 the world. . . . .many of you whom I've met in person which is the best part of
 blogging. This spring I am so looking forward meeting up with yet another long
 time blog friend in England - and will share that exciting occasion later of course.

So, along the way, through the years, changes have been made around this

 small cottage. Some things have moved on to other homes, others have stayed
 with perhaps a new paint finish, a little elbow grease to shine up the silver. . . but
 more often left to gather a patina, almost like me.

Our booths were closed when it became too much to handle with my hectic
 travel schedule, and then Vanessa moved away. We were still able to meet up
 now then, but now she has moved across the country so it will be harder. . . but
we'll work it out somehow because that's what blog friends do, right?

SuzAnna's Antiques has also moved to a new location north of the 
city due to their property being taken by the railroad. My granddaughter 
no longer works there as it's too far for her to commute, however she and I 
hope to take a trip there on a nice spring day to share the treasures we
know will be displayed. You can bet I'll take photos to share with you.

So, no more rambling for today.
I'm celebrating knowing each one of you, those of you who have 
followed me for years, and those who may be new visitors here.
I'll be traveling again this year and hope to have both old familiar
places to share again, like my home in England in springtime, along
 with exciting new places, including a familiar ship taking me to exotic
 far flung spots in faraway lands.

Thank you for being my wonderful and very special friends.
I have a lot to thank blogging for.
You make my life happy.

Remains of my Valentine flowers, still lovely.

Antique Wedgwood find. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

There are a lot of antiques shops in the sleepy river town of New Bern, NC.

Across from our hotel was also a large, very clean, well organized antiques

 and auction mall. Booths were loaded with everything from a stunning antique

 $7,000 Scottish grandfather clock, to this perfect, for me, $8.00 china beauty!

I almost missed it as it was on a plate hanger down low on the side of a display case.

I gently took it off the hook and turned it over before really even looking at the 

lovely transferware blue flowers. It's more of a shallow bowl (for soup I believe) than

 a plate and seeing the Wedgwood back stamp I knew it was old.

The crack doesn't bother me, I have a lot of well-worn, crazed, cracked and

 chipped, but much loved pieces of china. The flowers are beautiful and the blue

shades are perfection.

This Wedgwood pattern is 'LACE'  and the intricate lace design surrounds the bowl.

I brought it home and spent some time online trying to locate more of this 

china pattern, only coming up with one cup and saucer, described as 'rare',

 for sale on Etsy.

I have however been able to date my piece via a listing of Wedgwood marks.

It was made by Josiah Wedgwood in 1893 at the Etruria Ceramics Factory, 

Staffordshire, England. So it's definitely an 'antique' and I'm enjoying it here

on the Welsh dresser in the dining room.

Vintage Village in Raleigh. . . . . . . .

I've been away from the Vintage Village and SuzAnna's Antiques far too long. 

Last Saturday I did stop by as granddaughter was 'keeping shop' for another, 

'village' store owner. Jasmin still works at SuzAnna's Antiques but is also

 available to help out at other shops.

Needless to say I made a purchase from St. Clair's!

The blue and cream linen pillow - you know I have a hard time resisting

 anything with a birdie - came home with me.

Granddaughter Jasmin 'minding the store' - a really delightful little

 antiques/vintage shop named St. Clair's Décor in the village

 next door to SuzAnna's Antiques.

Upstairs there is a tiny space filled with some lovely small painted pieces. 

Have a wonderful weekend. Hope your weather is fine.

Anyone heading out to shop - antiques, vintage or new?

Ginger Jars. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Centuries of Chinese culture and history surround the ginger jar. 

The popular covered ginger jars originated in Imperial China in the Qin Dynasty

during which the Great Wall was built.

Shaped with a wide mouth, a domed lid, and the bulbous painted body, 

it comes in many styles and sizes, and is often painted in different colors.

  A true Chinese ginger jar is usually made of porcelain and hand painted.

These beautiful jars were originally used to store food supplies such as salt,

 herbs, oil and ginger which were exported to the West.

In the 19th century ginger jars became a fashionable item and were mass 

produced for export to the West where they were used as decorative elements

 rather than functional items.

The white ginger jar, such as these I found in a New Hampshire shop some

 years ago - no longer with their domed lids, but wish I had purchased -

 is the traditional Chinese wedding gift.  

I think they are are really beautiful.

Asheville - Flowers and Antiques ~

When visiting Asheville, North Carolina, about 4 hours from Raleigh,
 our favorite hotel is right in town. We can leave the car in the parking lot and 
walk to many interesting places, only having to drive if visiting Biltmore Estate
 and Village, or up a hillside to the fabulous historic Grove Park Inn, where we
 can enjoy a drink on the terrace with breathtaking views across the city toward the
 Blue Ridge Mountains.

This week we looked down from our window and directly below us found 

the historic Thomas Wolfe House, home of the American novelist. I told you more

 about this home in my post in the Fall of 2014 HERE.

Along the hotel's parking lot was a really wonderful mixed border of Summer

 blooming flowers. The coneflowers, grasses, and especially the tall pink

 Joe-pye weed caught my eye. . . . . .so of course you get photos here!

Attractive to butterflies, Joe-pye weed is a great addition to a wildflower

 or natural garden. Perhaps I will be able to tuck a few plants into my own

 wildlife habitat (yes, it's overgrown and in need of a serious makeover,

 but birds, butterflies, foxes and more love it!), in the coming season. 

This is a beautiful perennial with clouds of dusky pinkish-purple blooms,

the common one growing 5-7 feet which may require staking. There are however 

shorter, named varieties which I'll be looking for. They apparently prefer moist,

 well-drained soil in sun or with a bit of shade. These at the hotel were in full sun,

and seemed to be very healthy in the 95+ temperatures we had in Asheville.

It should be cut back to the base in Winter when it gets untidy.

Anyone ever grown this eye-catching plant with the odd name?

Never leave Asheville without a visit to my favorite antiques, vintage, book shop,

 home and garden venue, the ScreenDoor. 

Didn't make a purchase this time but took a few photos of items which caught my eye.

Didn't realize that dried magnolia sprigs could look so attractive with their

 two-colored leaves. My backyard neighbor's tree drops leaves on to my

 garden - perhaps I can sneak a few sprigs before they fall - they ARE hanging

 over the fence into my space!

Such unusual and charming handmade bird houses - I really wish I had

 brought one of these home with me. . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . .and I loved these illustrations with just one word. Kicking myself that

 I didn't buy one - but couldn't decide between RETURN or RESPOND.

 With such hot weather I think RETURN had the most cooling effect, but I love

RESPOND with the laundry drying in the fresh air too! 

Throwaway world. . . . . .

Staying home today and doing a little 'housekeeping' here on my MacBook. Have had several issues with the printers we use and a techie came by yesterday, braving the bad roads at the end of the ice storm, and worked on things for a while. We are useless when it comes to computer issues. I'm able to print again on both our b/w Laserjet and the 4-in-1 Photosmart, but for some reason we still cannot get the Scan feature to work which is most frustrating. The HP Photosmart is only about 18 months old and should last longer than that, but he thinks something could be broken and we may want to replace it as repairs would cost almost as much as a new model!

Electronics are apparently now classed as throwaways rather than repairable items - from computer to microwave oven to the lowly toaster. Thoughts of horrific mountains of household detritus covering the landscape, or simmering underground in coming centuries, scares the hell out of me!  That amazing book by Juman Malouf which I wrote about here - The Trilogy of Two - is set in a futuristic world which has been buried under trash, really makes one stop and ponder the horror we are producing in this now throwaway society.

So, this morning I took a lovely photo featuring old stuff. Roses made from old paper mixed with real roses I have dried. Vintage silver vessel. . . . . .I love it unpolished, taking on this dark mysterious shade of charcoal. Tiny French vintage glasses. China, always loved when crazed, chipped, stained, no matter - still pretty stacked or standing, usable, lovely to look at. To think all this could be in the landfill breaks my heart.

Meeting Loi at Tone on Tone. . . . . . . . .

I just don't know where to start with this post! 
So many beautiful things to show you.
Woods - natural and painted, leafy green topiaries, china, ironstone, glass, 
metal concrete, fabric. . . . . . . all the textures we love in our homes.

I do know however that meeting blog friends in person 

is one of the most fun things ever. . . . . .always!

Meeting Loi Thai from the outstanding blog
Tone on Tone 
made our weekend in Washington, D.C. a double celebration - 
our special anniversary plus an unforgettable visit to the most beautiful
 antiques shop imaginable.

I so enjoyed meeting Loi. He's funny. He's kind. He's one of those special people 
you feel you've known forever after the first hug.  He is an accomplished designer 
of interiors and gardens, as well as a 'shopkeeper'. 
(That's the Brit coming out in me, as Napoleon said, "the British are a 
nation of shopkeepers", not that Loi is British).
We really had fun chatting - I wished we'd had longer - and he kindly helped Bob 
feed those nasty Washington parking meters by digging up many quarters for us!  

Loi and partner Tom have gathered amazingly beautiful pieces of antique 
Swedish furniture, along with stunning European accessories, on their buying 
trips across the pond. 
They recently returned from one and I'm looking forward to see the contents of 
that container when it arrives. I wanted to steal Loi away, along with the entire 
contents of the shop, and bring the whole kit and caboodle back with 
me to North Carolina!

I think you will agree that everything on view in Tone on Tone is beautiful, whether 

or not your personal decor preferences encompass Scandinavian/European furnishings 

and accessories.  Loi and Tom have a vision which they obviously hold very dear and 

never shy away from, both for their shop and fabulous home. 
On visiting Loi's blog, Tone on Tone, you will also see their stunning Washington
house and garden, as well as their attractive vacation home in Maine.

Loi called me yesterday and, among other things, we 

discussed the excitement and upheaval at his home last week. . . . . go check his 
current blog post and read the exciting news about another magazine shoot! 

Tone on Tone sits on a brilliant sunny corner in bustling Bethesda, Maryland, just 

outside the District of Columbia. Everything is light and bright, clean and shiny.

It's many, many years since I lived not far from here. I can imagine how greatl it 

would have been if the shop had been there back then.

Just passing the sparkling clean windows, gazing through at all the wonderful things

for home and garden, is breathtaking . . . . . . then opening the door and walking inside,

only to fall in love with just about everything, is a very special feeling.

Topiaries grown and nurtured by Loi - Bob waiting to feed the meter again so I 

can have more time to look at everything and chat with Loi.

It's so nice to see antiques displayed the way Loi does it. Absolutely no clutter, 

definitely not a speck of dust, and all you might spy stacked up are a couple 

of precious antique vellum tomes from Loi's personal collection. . . . . which I wanted 

to buy and bring back to my cottage. The art of perfect display is at every turn here, 

nothing grimy, dusty and musty like so many antiques establishments.

Thank you Loi for making my visit so enjoyable - thank you Bob who is so good 

about taking me to meet blogging buddies, here, there and everywhere. 

I'm already looking forward to another visit here when in the area.

 Meanwhile, I hope other readers will have the chance to visit and shop here at 

Tone on Tone. . . . . . . tell Loi I sent you, but be prepared with quarters, 

those parking meters are ravenous in the nation's capital, and you'll want

plenty of time to look at everything, take my word for it.