Sunny and Bright!

April's weather in my neck of the woods is proving to be a tad fickle.  A couple of warm days that make you think that Spring is in full force.  A few chilly, rainy days that remind you that it's not time to put the heavy quilt away just yet.  Then there's a day thrown in the mix that seems to catapult one right into Summer, and the mercury reaches 83 degrees...Can you feel that warm breeze wafting through the kitchen window?

It put me in the mood to set the kitchen table with a yellow colour scheme --

Not so much a bright primary yellow but a mustard yellow (dijon maybe)

I added hand painted stemware for a punch of bright colour and for the centerpiece, I kept the blue vase filled with the deeply coloured ranunculus and a few daffodils.

Mikasa's Rennaisance Pamela coordinates well with the tablecloth.  I love the basket weave texture on the rim...Speaks to the needleworker and weaver in me :-)

We can't have flowers without the bees.

Speaking of flowers, I found these napkin rings that echo the colours of the napkin beautifully.  I love the tiny little touch of blue in the center.

My table would not be complete without bunny and angel. They will be joining us for dinner.  May I present them to you?

Now to plan the menu.  That's always the most difficult part for me.  Something to satisfy a 21 year old young lady who counts every calorie, an 18 year old young man who's athletic and eats constantly, and then there's me and hubby who would be satisfied with soup and salad (and dessert).

Here are the particulars for this tablescape:

China -- Mikasa Rennaisance Pamela, thrifted

Flatware -- Napoleon Bee

Stemware -- Hand-painted, thrifted

Tablecloth/Napkins -- Williams-Sonoma

Napkin Rings -- Pier 1

Candle Holders -- Michaels Craft

Bunny and Angel -- thrifted (Angel is an August Moon figurine that reads "Welcome Friends")

Thanks for stopping by to spend time with me.  I appreciate your visits and your comments make my day.  I'm linking to the following blog parties:

Susan's Tablescape Thursday,

Kathy's , A Return to Loveliness,

Sherry's Home Sweet Home Friday

Please take a moment to visit these lovely ladies and all the amazingly creative people at their parties.

Mr. Bunny wishes you to have a great day.

Milk Glass and Sweet Embroideries

Before I share with you one of my favorite milk glass tea sets, allow me to indulge you for a moment and show the pretty ranunculus that I picked up at my local market.

so sweet in the pressed glass vase and the perfect opportunity to bring out a vintage embroidered table runner.  I adore embroidered linens and these cross-stitch napkins are especially nice with the milk glass tea set.

This inspired me to spend a little time at my sewing machine today.  I created a sweet little embroidered tea towel.

I chose a very delicate design which shows in stark contrast to the more heavily embroidered vintage table runner.

I chose flour sack cloth for the embroidery.  Although it's new, it has a vintage quality to it dont you think?  The less than perfect nature of the cotton lends itself well to delicate stitcheries.

Since I'm particularly fond of this tea set, I keep it displayed on my kitchen shelf along with a milk glass bud vase, two porcelain candle holders, and a blue and taupe set of  embroidered tea linens.

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I'm happy you stopped by and I hope you come again soon.

I am linking this post to Tea-time Tuesday , Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday, and A Return to Loveliness.  Many beautiful things to enjoy.

Celebrating Spring!

"And Spring arose on the garden fair,

Like the spirit of love felt everywhere;

And each flower and herb on  earth's dark breast

Rose from the dreams of it's wintry rest.

The snowdrop and then the violet,

Arose from the ground with warm rain wet;

And their breath was mixed with sweet odour sent

From the turf like the voice and the instrument." 

                                            Shelley



The days are longer and the birds are singing.  The trees are full of buds promising to amaze us with a splendid profusion of colour and fragrance.  It's Spring!  For me that means I'll make many visits to my local garden center--

That snail is so adorable.  I didn't purchase him then but I think

I might have to go back and scoop him up:-)

Spring reminds me to bring out some of  my Spring themed needlework and sometimes encourages me to

start another...

Or to take time to listen to the sound of shuttle and loom.

A time to plan for tea gatherings with friends--

A reason to change the kitchen cupboard...

And bring out the bunnies to welcome Easter--

Spring is such a special time of year.  A time to refresh and begin again.  I hope your Spring celebrations are joyful and long lasting, right into Summer :-)

Many thanks to Kathy for hosting Celebrate Spring with Victoria.  Please take a moment to visit her at A Delightsome Life for a wealth of Spring delight.

I'm also joining Wanda Lee's Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday ,House in the Roses Cottage Monday, and Romantic Home's Show and Tell Friday.

Pink, White, and a Little Bit-O-Green

I've set my kitchen table in anticipation of the first day of Spring and a lovely Spring luncheon/tea that I'm planning for the four of us.  I find such joy in getting things ready ahead of time because it allows me to look at it for a while, fuss with it, change it, you know how it goes...

The vase is one of my favorites, such a lovely shade of green, perfect for Saint Patrick's Day.

These tulips "sing Spring".  I will undoubtedly have to purchase more since these have decided to open so soon, I'm not complaining:-)

(edited)
The cup and saucer is marked Stadfordshire England, Mayfair.  I love the delicate floral pattern.  The pink glasses are from Anthropologie.  The pink candle holders are a find from one of my antiquing weekends.  The table cloth is an April Cornell print that I hesitated for a moment to purchase, I'm so accustomed to choosing solid colours or textures.  I'm glad I purchased it, this might be a new trend for me.

The simplicity of white china; a Home Goods purchase.

My dear friend Patricia, who by the way has an awesome china collection and welcomes every opportunity to use it.  Pat stopped by to add these sweet napkin rings to my setting.  She has such a knack for adding those special touches.

I could not resist adding this little milk glass hen dish to the table.  I have no idea what I'll place in the dish but it looks right at home there doesn't it?

I have a few more days to plan my menu and purchase more tulips but until then, I'll  light the candles...

and enjoy the view.

Thanks for taking the time to visit with me.  I'm joining Tablescape Thursday, and Show and Tell Friday.  I hope you'll take a moment to visit these beautiful blogs.

A Couple of Days...

I am taking a couple of days off from my normal blog posting.  My heart goes out to those affected by the tragedy in Japan. Many prayers for all.

An Accidental Centerpiece

You can probably tell by now that I love flowers.  I do not, however, love the price tag that accompany most professional arrangements that catch my eye.  So what's a girl to do?  Well, this is what I do...Fresh flowers, I buy those that are in season and on sale :-)  There will be lots of tulips,hyacinths, and daffodils around here in the upcoming weeks.  Silk flowers, again, I look for the sales, use the coupons, and don't worry about purchasing a huge amount to make an arrangement on the spot.  I'll buy one stem of something if I like it.  I keep a few baskets around where I literally just drop flowers into them as I collect them (like the one in my header).  I've ended up with some very pretty and inexpensive arrangements by doing this.  Granted they're not in the league of the professional florist's arrangements but they have a sweet quality about them that I love.  This is exactly how I ended up with this one

This little arrangement just sort of happened all on its own, just like with the basket, I put a few stems in the vase as I purchased them and then picked a few from my basket until the vase was full.  I shifted everything around, fluffed them up a bit, and there you have it, instant centerpiece.  This is the sitting area in my bedroom, I think it looks right at home here.

I love this area of our room but quite frankly I don't relax there often.  Lately my days have been filled with spring cleaning, you know the kind where everything is pulled out and you're so busy that you forget to take a break or stop to eat.  Last week I went from room to room and by the time Sunday rolled around I was exhausted.  So, I decided that I would treat myself to a little down time to enjoy this area of our room...

Have a cup of tea, and browse a few magazines, and nope, I didn't feel guilty :-)

Here's a sweet poem for you.

"The stormy March is come at last

With wind, and cloud, and changing skies;

I hear the rushing of the blast

That through the snowy valley flies.

Ah, passing few are they who speak

Wild stormy month in praise of thee;

Yet though thy winds are loud and bleak

Thou art a welcome month to me

For thou, to northern lands again

The glad and glorious sun dost bring

And thou hast joined the gentle train,

And wear'st the gentle name of Spring.

And in thy region of blast and storm

Smiles many a long, bright summer day

When the changed winds are soft and warm

And heaven puts on the blue of May."

                                                             Bryant.

I'm joining in the fun at Show and Tell Friday, there's lots of creativity there.  I hope you'll take a moment to visit.

Thanks for taking time to visit with me, I hope you come again.

Tea in the Parlor

Is it a parlor or is it a living room?  Webster defines parlor  as " a room used primarily for conversation or the reception of guests".  That's primarily what we use this room for, but in reverse.  When a guest arrives, we normally gather in the family room and the kitchen.  When our guests are leaving, we end up in the living room/parlor. Today however, there are no guests, only me, and I'm having tea in my parlor.

Nice sunshine today, perfect moment to take tea and slow things down a bit.  My table setting holds very sweet memories for me.  The lace is part of a set that was given to me by my mother-in-law; she passed away 8 years ago, we miss her.  The cut glass bowl was given to me by my mother-in-law's grandmother, she lived to be 102.  When she gave me the bowl she said to me that it was given to her when she was "young" by the elderly grandmother of a friend.  I can only imagine how old that cut glass bowl really is :-)  I cherish it.  The little silver teapot reminds me of a wonderful summer weekend spent with my sister.  I picked it up a little gift shop during our day of shopping, eating, and laughing at the silliest of things.  So much fun.

I hope the day allows you time to have tea in your parlor.

It's Teapot and Tea Things Tuesday and I'm linking with Wanda Lee., and  A Return to Loveliness
Enjoy your visits to all the wonderful ladies sharing some of their favorite things.

I enjoy your visits and your comments.  Thanks so much.