"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly. "One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."



-Hans Christian Andersen

Sunday, April 29, 2012

When Violets Are Happy

They glow like silk.

So pretty and cheerful.  I'm happy when my African Violets thrive.  I've had this one for over a year and it's a prolific bloomer.  It sits here on my sideboard with my tea things for company.



Right outside my window there are a few more reminders that Spring is in full affect and "consistently" warm weather is on the way.

When Nelly is happy, she climbs and shows her stripes...


and offers light shade for Fern and Fairy.



When Rhody is happy, she proudly shows her true colours...



and tries to be the center of attention.


When Vi is happy, she makes lace...


and glows at sunset.


I love it when my garden wakes up and presents me with so many pretty blossoms and wonderful scents.  The peonies will be blooming soon...I have my vase ready :-)

Thanks for stopping by...Have a joyful day.

Monday, April 23, 2012

Mystery Novels and Tea

How was your weekend?  The weather here was chilly, wet, windy, and cloudy...Sigh!  Don't get me wrong, I'm one of those people who actually like the rain, a gentle rain that is.  The kind of rain that makes you want to curl up with a good book, or work on some needlework, or put on a delicious pot of soup.  This weekend, I indulged in at least one of the above.  I'm reading a book entitled A Killer Crop an orchard mystery series by Sheila Connolly.   This is the fourth book in the series and I've really enjoyed the first three.  I enjoy reading tea mysteries, needle work mysteries,  and my favorite Susan Wittig Albert, herb mysteries, but an orchard mystery...really?  I was pleasantly surprised.  When I picked up the first book and found myself looking forward to the second, I knew I would add this author to my list of favorites.  If you like mysteries and are looking to add to your lite reading, take a look at the orchard series.

While we're reading, we must have tea.


I love quilted table covers.  I made this one three years ago and it remains a favorite.  The embroidered napkins were gifted to me and were a thrift find.  The teapot is from Home Goods and goes great with the shelley teacup and saucer.  The tea today is a simple green.



Hope you enjoyed your tea time with me today.  Until next time.  Blessings to you.

I'm sharing with:

Tea Time Tuesday
A Return to Loveliness
Teacup Tuesday
Wow us Wednesday
Home Sweet Home

Thursday, April 19, 2012

I Wear Aprons

I grew up in a household with a mom who always put on an apron before she began to cook. My grandmother did the same, and I'm sure her mother had the same kitchen ritual...Aprons were a common piece of clothing during these times.  I wear aprons, but not everyday.  When I do put one on, it always makes me feel good in a feminine, comforting sort of way...Hard to explain.  Each time I put on an apron I ask myself why I don't wear them more often.  I enjoy cooking and baking so it's not for lack of time in my kitchen.  I think it's because the aprons that I choose are more pretty than they are utilitarian.  Like this new one I purchased a couple of weeks ago.


I love the colour, the embroidery, and the cotton lace trim.  How could I not purchase this?


Webster defines an apron as a garment used to protect clothing or adorn a costume.  This one is destined to protect and adorn my summer wear which is usually leggings or crop pants with summer knit tees.
If you'd like to read about all things apron, there's a periodical called Apron-ology by Stampington that will surely inspire you to give the apron another look or bring out your stash of aprons and start enjoying them.
 
In honour of  days gone by, here's a poem that speaks of the apron performing it's most recognizable and memorable duties.

"Grandma's Apron"

When I used to visit Grandma, I was very much impressed,
by her all-purpose apron, and the power it possessed.
For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.
The strings were tied and freshly washed and maybe even pressed.
The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;
the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.
She used it for a hot pad, to remove a steaming pan,
and when her brow was heated, she used it as a fan.
It dried our childish tears, when we'd scrape a knee and cry,
and made a hiding place when the little ones were shy.
Farm produce took in season, in the summer, spring, and fall,
found its way into the kitchen from Grandma's carry all.
When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.
I'm sure the apron she chose that day, was her Sunday Best.

(author unkown)

Thanks for visiting...Until next time, have a blessed and happy day.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Roses in my Room

When I decorate, I automatically include flowers..Do you do that?  I also gravitate toward the rose, second choice would be peony, and my third choice is the hydrangea.  I choose these as my "go to" flowers when decorating because these flowers tend to be the ones that are not only pretty when they're fresh, but also when created in silk.  They also dry beautifully.

I was enjoying a cup of tea one morning and as I looked around, I began to notice all the various forms of roses that I have in this one room.  I guess I never really thought about it before but I realize how key roses are to making this room feel the way that I want.  Pick up your cup of tea and take a stroll around the room with me.


A white ironstone vase filled with yellow roses sitting in a sunny window.

A grouping of containers with porcelain applique roses and summer flowers.


Stenciled roses on a vintage clock face.

Candlestick and tea tray mosaic roses.

A victorian tea-light candle holder with painted roses.

A decoupage rose clock and a few of my favorite needlework pieces.

Looking into the dining room, there's my favorite rose centerpiece.

I hope you're not on rose overload...I hope you enjoyed looking at all of the rosey loveliness.  When the weather is warm and the sun is shining, the rose bushes are just waiting to provide us with many beautiful blossoms to enjoy indoors and out.

Thanks for visiting me.  Until next time, have a joyful day.

I'm sharing with:

Monday, April 9, 2012

Chippy Paint Tea Table

I have been searching for a vintage style, chippy paint,  tea table for quite a while.  I finally found one this past weekend and I am just thrilled with it.

It looks great in this room.  It's taller than the accent table that I originally had in this corner, it's the perfect height for sitting and enjoying tea. (By the way, isn't that a great frame?  I haven't decided what I want to do with it yet.)

This table is also much wider than the other table, it accomodates any of my tea sets so I no longer have to set the teapot on a seperate table.  It's a relaxing day and I'm totally enjoying my tea this afternoon.

I just love the chippy paint and the raised lip scalloped edge.  This was such a great find.


I also found this wonderful coffee table, it had to come home with me.  Both tables are solid, sturdy and exactly what I've been looking for and I got them both for $60.  I might distress the coffee table a little more ( I love the chippy look) but for now, no work, just pure tea enjoyment.

Glad you stopped by to visit.  Come back soon.

Sharing with:
Tea Time Tuesday
Cozy Home Party
A Return To Loveliness
Show Off Your Cottage
Home Sweet Home
Inspiration Friday
Vintage Inspiration Friday

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Table's Ready!

It seems my kitchen table has been getting quite the workout these days.  It's all dressed up and ready for Sunday's Easter celebration.


It will be just the four of us so I decided to keep it light and casual rather than setting a more formal setting in the dining room.


I paired the new with the old.  Lennox Opal Innocence Carved and Spode's Billingsley Rose.  They both are heavily textured which gives that pretty lacey look that I love.


Add a little vintage white ironstone pitcher and fill it with lovely blossoms.



Serve the tea from a sweet little bunny teapot...


Serve the soup from a vintage tureen.


The table wouldn't be complete without a couple of vintage doilies.



We're ready to share the blessings of this Easter season.

Many blessings to you today and all the days to come.  Happy Easter!

Sharing with:

Tablescape Thursday
Home Sweet Home

Monday, April 2, 2012

A Sweet Tea

The sun is shining, it's a glorious day...Perfect time for a little impromptu afternoon tea for Krista and me.


I chose Laura Ashley's Hazelbury for our tea today.  The pattern is bright and cheery and perfect for our mom and daughter afternoon tea.  The Lily teapot is a favorite.  I have tried to find the cup and saucer to go with it but so far no luck.




I couldn't resist these lemon tea cookies.  the box is so pretty with its golden yellow ribbon and sweet little flower.  I placed a little Easter tree ornament on the top that looks like it was made for it.  I had planned to have some with our tea but then I remembered a new recipe that I had gotten from Sheri's blog.  It's a recipe for a mini lemon pound cake.  This was a perfect opportunity to try it.  I love lemon and this cake turned out to be the perfect complement to our tea.  It's a lighter version of a traditional lemon pound cake and it's very flavorful.  The tart lemon glaze that's brushed over the top enhances the tangy lemony goodness.



Krista had to rush off to work so we could not linger over our tea for very long but we thoroughly enjoyed this day and the time that we spent rejoicing in it in this way.

I hope you had a great day too.  Thanks so much for visiting.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Primitive Spring

The spruce up for Spring continues around here...I'm brightening up my family room.  If you've followed me for a while you know that this room is decorated in a slightly primitive style using the colours of the woodlands -- browns, blacks, and distressed patinas.  It's so easy to decorate this room in the Fall, not so much in springtime.  Never-the-less, I had to change things out so I began with my favorite area in the room, my old antique trunk.


I placed on top of it a few of my favorite things...Lace, old dried roses in a watering can, a little birdie, and my favorite prim clock.


I love embroidered linens and clothing, especially when the embroidery adorns a dress worn by my favorite prim doll.


She completes the look don't you think? This photo was taken in the evening, it looks a lot brighter when flooded with afternoon sunshine.  I'm really pleased with the way it turned out.  I have a few more things to change in this room and then it's on to the living room.

I'm glad you stopped by...Have a great week.

Sharing with:
Show off Your Cottage Monday
Cozy Home Scenes
Home Sweet Home

Strawberry Table Square

Here's a quick post to share my weekend project.  I'm stitching up a table square from a pattern and fabric that I'd purchased a couple of years ago from The Fatquarter Shop.  One of my resolutions this year is to stop adding to my fabric and pattern stash and actually make projects from the patterns I already have.  Since this one has been on my '"to do" list for a while, I decided to get it done.


The fabric on the bottom will be the center of the square. I've already cut it to size so it's ready to go. Thank goodness for the Accuquilt Go Cutter which enabled me to cut the 112  1.5 inch squares needed for the flying geese border in about 5 minutes.  The 5 inch charm squares will be pieced together to make the outer border.  I used my Sizzix Eclips to cut the strawberry applique rather than use the one from the pattern because I wanted a different leaf shape and a slightly larger strawberry.  Hopefully I'll have the finished topper to share next week. By the way, my sewing machine has been quiet for a while, feels good to be sewing again.

Thanks for stopping by...Happy Sunday!

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...