Through a Bug's Eyes

Can you identify this object? Is it the starship Enterprise, traveling at warp speed through the outer reaches of the universe, boldly going where no man has gone before? lol No? But you have to admit that it does look like it!! Perhaps the fact that I am joining Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday will give you a hint!

It is actually the inner workings of one of my purple wave petunias taken in digital macro! It was a very sunny morning, thus the light streaming in from behind in the first shot. Isn’t it amazing?? I am definitely exploring strange new worlds!

So I don’t guess that there’s any way I can convince you that this is some kind of alien space craft that has soft landed on the surface of a strange new purple planet?? No? lol It’s actually some sort of very fat moth/butterfly that was visiting my petunias! Isn’t it a beauty?? Do you see the insides of the petunia just beyond its head?

And I don’t guess you will believe me when I tell you that this is a rare new breed of man-eating orchid that has recently been discovered in the deepest, darkest jungles of Africa? Hmmmm…I didn’t think so.

Does this view help? I’ll give you a hint! Those of you who are cat fanciers and grow your own will know exactly what it is!!

It’s catnip in bloom! And here is Baby Kitty checking it out to see if it’s ready. Judging by the look on his face, I would say that it is! My staff loves to chew on this stuff!

Thanks for dropping by and playing my guessing game! I hope you enjoyed it! Please be sure to drop by Susan’s beautiful blog to see some wonderful outdoor shots and find out who else is playing along! I’ll see you next time! A la prochaine!

Mooove Over!...Making Room for My Vintage Cow Centerpiece!

 It’s been a while since I made any changes to the breakfast room centerpiece, sooo…inspired by my new favorite Goodwill hunting find…I shopped the house and created this one! Can you spot the inspiration piece?

No…it’s not Baby Kitty, although he is certainly an inspiration in his own right! Guess again…or did my title give it away? lol

Yes…it’s this terrific vintage style cow! Isn’t she fabulous? As soon as I saw her on the shelf, I snatched her right up! And…she was only $3.00! Woo hoo! She is actually appears to be a smaller relative of…

…my favorite sheep figurine that I recently shared in my Faudree inspired living room redo! So you know she had to come home with me!

I started with a wicker tray…a GW find from last year…and added my wicker wrapped bottle collection that I shared with you here…more GW finds!

Next, I layered in a few vintage favorites…

…including my vintage style cow tea towels…

…and some of my vintage silverplate meat forks…two of them in my favorite Rogers Brothers Vintage pattern. They were $5.00 each at an antiques fair! Woo hoo!  I love anything with grapes…my favorite motif!

I also added this wonderful vintage Depression glass butter dish in green…a gift from my mother.

And do you see the etching around the edge? The dish was used at a dinner during the Carter administration! Cool, huh?

Put it all together and…voilà!…a vintage-y centerpiece starring my favorite new cow! Not bad for a $3.00 investment, huh?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my vintage cow centerpiece! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday
Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up! on Tuesdays
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday   
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
2805 for Potpourri Friday
At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

A Family Heirloom and a Tiny French Antique

I have some beautiful little treasures to show you today! One is a wonderful handmade family heirloom and the other is a fabulous French antique!

And because this is such a special post, our seldom-seen CEO Ozzie is serving as our co-host today! We are very appreciative since, like Greta Garbo, she usually says I vant to be alone, dahling!

The first treasure I want to share is my mother’s baby bonnet. Yes…that’s a baby bonnet! It was made for her by my great-grandmother in 1921.

It was lovingly handmade of black silk and trimmed with little handmade pink silk rosettes. Aren’t they fabulous?

There is also a little matching coat with upturned sleeves…wonderful!

The color choice may have you puzzled, but I was told that black was a popular color for children in the early 1920s. I think it is interesting that my vintage French spools of thread (a treasured gift from my sweet friend Pat) are in the same colors…black and dusty rose! They must have been very popular in France, too!

And now for the French antique! I was very fortunate to have won a 25 euro gift certificate at Fleaing France! Simone combs the French countryside for brocantes …sort of a cross between an antique fair and a flea market…and finds fabulous little French treasures which she offers for sale at her online brocante! You should head over and have a peek! She frequently restocks, so there are new goodies all the time. Her next sale starts today!

And this is what I chose…a wonderful antique measuring tape dating from la Belle Époque…the late 1800s.  Isn’t it fabulous? Can see you what it’s shaped like? It’s an acorn! It is made of vegetable ivory…the tagua nut from the ivory-nut palm. It was a vey popular material during the Victorian era because it was as hard as ivory and could be polished to a lovely patina. It was also used to make buttons, umbrella handles and chess pieces. Good…because I am sure it saved quite a few elephants!

The measuring tape is housed in this intricately carved case and is wound around a bone spindle with a little bone pull.  The tape itself is marked in centimeters, although I have seen a nearly identical piece marked in inches. Isn’t it wonderful!  Merci, Simone! I am loving my petit trésor!

I have to admit that I am now smitten with antique sewing notions and I am on the hunt to add to my little collection! Help! Another addiction! But…at least these tiny treasures will not take up much space!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my vintage treasures! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Marty at A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Anita at Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up! on Tuesdays
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

Linen and Burlap...Vintage French Typewriter Pillow

I have been at it again…creating another pillow! The beginning of the school year is on my mind since my oldest grandson is starting middle school…sniff! And, as a retired teacher, I always feel a strange little tug to buy new pencils and start putting up posters around the beginning of August. Sooo…I decided to make one that I have had on the back burner for a long time that sports a vintage French typewriter graphic.

Just in case you are wondering about the whereabouts of my scheduled co-hostess Miss Isabella…she is busy going nose to nose with the neighbor’s cat through the back door...so I will be going it alone once again.

And here’s the graphic! I found it here at Marie Claire Idées and loved it! It features a typewriter with a typical French keyboard…not a QWERTY like ours. First, I tweaked it a little…making it black instead of turquoise. (If you prefer the turquoise, just click on Téléchargez le motif de machine à écrire at the bottom of Marie Claire's page.) Next, I flipped it and printed it on iron-on transfer paper…found at craft and office supply stores. I like Avery brand and usually use the one for light fabrics. My typewriter is a little fatter than the one above because I used the stretch setting on Photoscape when I printed it.

I followed the directions on the package and applied it to a scrap of linen fabric. A word of advice…iron, iron iron and when you think it’s enough, iron some more. Next, I cut around it, leaving the frayed edges, and stitched it to the front of my pillow cover. I used a charcoal grey linen remnant that I found for about $2.50 for a yard…woo hoo! The script on the graphic says It is a beautiful story… Love it!

I used a scrap of burlap from my stash for the back of the pillow cover. I have discovered that it is super easy to make envelope style closures (tutorial here) and they allow me to reuse my down pillow forms…all Goodwill find for under $3.00. And best of all…I don’t have a huge stack of pillows to store! I just put the covers in a drawer!

And here it is! I am going to enjoy this one! It just feels like fall and cooler weather are approaching! And I am ready for some cooler weather! How about you?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my vintage French typewriter pillow! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Anita at Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up! on Tuesdays
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

Faudree Inspired Living Room Redo

I’ve made a few changes in my living room today…shopping the house and pulling out more of my favorite blue and white and adding some pops of green because…when I came home yesterday Charles Faudree was waiting for me on my porch!

Or at least his latest book…Home. I am sooo excited! If you have followed my blog for very long, you know that I think he is the man…the font of all knowledge when it comes to Country French! And his latest book does not disappoint! It is filled with fabulous photographs of his amazing rooms…great mixes of fabrics, antique French furniture and marvelous collections of plates and more!  And best of all…lots of color!

I was so inspired by a blue and white arrangement that I found in one of the photos that I decided to give my living room a little makeover...starting with a coffee table revamp! I just used three big statement pieces…simple. I have to control myself because I like “little” and tend to use a lot of small things. I am trying to make myself use fewer and bigger pieces.

Our co-host Baby Kitty seems unconcerned since he knows I am using Charles Faudree as my example and I don’t need a lot of help from him today.

Here it is! I think I like the uncluttered look! I am really liking those green pears!

Here’s where they were before…and I liked them there, too. I may have to be on the hunt for more green! And…what do you think of my new lamp? I got it from my favorite flea/antique market with every intention of painting it a creamy white and then distressing it. I just plopped it down on the table and then realized that I love it green! Doesn’t it have a fabulous and unusual shape? I have a little "paint it white or leave it green" poll going on my Facebook page here if you'd like to voice your opinion. So far it looks like green is winning!

And on the mantel…more blue and white with pops of green! It’s an arrangement I have used before, but with a painting behind it. I think I like it better with the mirror. You can get a peek at more blue and white on my hutch in the reflection.

And at the center of it all…my favorite sheep! I walked past him and wanted him for two years before I finally gave in and bought him. Thank goodness he waited for me!

And there you have it…my Faudree inspired living room! Once again, my main man Charles Faudree has validated my idea of all that is Country French! And…I am happy because I shopped the house so my makeover was virtually free! And best of all...I have a whole new go-to book when I need some decorating ideas! Yaaay!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my Faudree inspired living room! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Anita at Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up! on Tuesdays
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!

A Fairy Ring

It has been years since I have seen one of these…an almost perfect fairy ring! To my neighbors’ delight, this ring of toadstools sprouted in their garden…evidence that fairies were dancing in a magical circle on their lawn last night! Did I happen to witness the moonlight ball? Sadly, no. I was a sleepyhead and missed the festivities!


But I know there was much whirling and twirling with gossamer gowns glistening and filmy wings shimmering in the moonlight!


Then just before dawn, the fairy promenade meandered merrily two by two toward my dewy lawn…


…leaving me one tiny parasol as a parting remembrance! Sigh!


I am waiting, dear little fairies! Please hurry back and visit my garden tonight!


Then head on over to visit our own Georgia girl, Susan at A Southern Daydreamer to see some wonderful scenery for Outdoor Wednesday! I’ll see you next time! A la prochaine!

The Thrill of the Hunt...Found At Last!

It took me two years, but I finally found it! Do you know what it is? It has an interesting Victorian-style handle featuring a long-eared squirrel…

…and a figural lid with a little vintage bird that, like the handle, has darkened with age. The age is OK with me. I just hope that I look this good when I am over 100 years old like this fellow!

There are twelve little sets of hooks that are intended to hold spoons. Can you guess now?

It’s a vintage demitasse sugar spooner! This one is from William Rogers and dates from the late 1800s. Sugar spooners are an American invention combining a sugar bowl with a spoon holder that were frequently included as a part of a tea set in the Victorian era. I wish I could show you the "before" and let you see how it looked when I found it, but I could not wait to start polishing it and remove all those years of grime!

I had been looking for one ever since I found this one almost exactly two years ago…which, sadly, had no lid.

Sooo…I decided to use it as a vase in my pink and green toile bedroom. You can read more about my first sugar spooner here.

And here they are side by side. The more recent find is on the right and it is a good bit smaller since it is meant to hold demitasse spoons. And…it has a lid!

I thought I would set up a little tea party to show off my new sugar spooner and some of my recent Goodwill hunting trophies…

…like this wonderful vintage Bristol silverplate creamer by Poole. I am a sucker for anything silver that is footed! But…since I don’t use cream in my tea, I decided to use it to pot a violet. It was a Goodwill find for only $6.00! Woo hoo!

I also found this pretty demitasse cup with a violet motif…my grandmother’s favorite flower. It was another $6.00 find.

The silverplate tray has a raised grape edge…my favorite motif…and was another $6.00 (my magic number) GW find from a while back. The pretty demitasse spoons sporting little grapes on the handle are a treasured gift from my friend Sarah at Hyacinths for the Soul. They are the perfect addition to my sugar spooner!

I am so excited about all of my finds…especially my sugar spooner…but our co-host Baby Kitty wants to know why I spent two years looking for it instead of finding one on the internet. Well…I told him…that’s kind of like cheating to me. Like shooting fish in a barrel…and what’s the fun in that?

I found this one in the dustiest corner of my favorite dark and dingy junk store hiding in a pile of…well…junk! It was in desperate need of a good polishing, but even through the tarnish, I could see that it was a little gem. I squealed and hugged it…Come to Mama! Now that’s what you call the thrill of victory…the thrill of the hunt! Can clicking on the “buy it now” button compare? Not for me. Not for this Goodwill trophy hunter. What about you?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed a little peek at my sugar spooner! Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Monday (first Monday of the month)
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Beth at The Stories of A2Z for Tutorials and Tips Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Anita at Cedar Hill Ranch for Cowgirl Up! on Tuesdays
Kristin at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday's Treasures
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
Judy at DIY by Design for Sizzle into Summer
Gina at The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for the Open House Party on Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Honey at 2805 for Potpourri Friday
Heather and Vanessa at At the Picket Fence for Inspiration Friday
Debra at Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
See you next time! A la prochaine!