...family, friends, home and other tidbits of a blessed life

Sunday, November 21, 2010

It's a pumpkin, no it's a turkey!!

Hello, my name is Tom. I'm having an identity crisis! Help me please. I thought I was a turkey, but then I look down and my midsection looks like a butterball. Oops shouldn't have said that!! No no. don't get any ideas now. I'm too pretty too look at.

I do have this weird growth on my back. Is there any cure for this? 


These are my feathers, and I'm prized for them. I do not shed.


I'm sitting quite regal-like on a tray softened with Spanish moss. 


So for today, I wish you well, I'm going to sit here and watch the funny people use contraptions to suck/move and bag up the leaves!

Note from the master leaf picker upper: Turkey parts purchased in El Paso at a store located within the Magic Pan restaurant. She does not have a website. I was told the pieces came from a company out of Houston, Texas. I was able to find a smaller version on-line, here or here.

Today I'm thankful for Sundays.

I'm linking up to Seasonal Sundays at the Tablescapers. Be sure to drop in on all the festivities.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Bows, Buttons and Pins, Vignette Friday


Welcome to the niche in our bathroom. Our home was built in 1961, has good bones, a back yard of my dreams and built-ins everywhere! Two wall of our bathroom are nothing but built-ins. This niche is over a stack of drawers. Although there is no socket (and I haven't looked into figuring out how to make this happen), I've "stored" my antique french lamp with it's original lampshades here. A propped up picture, a vanity tray and some antique linens and lace round out the accessories.
There's also an ornate metal piece and a hanging tassel on one wall.

L'air du temps by Nina Rici, some Romance by Ralph Lauren, body powder in a silver topped crystal bottle.

A crystal  canister filled with some very special dried roses. Our youngest son surprised me with these this last Valentine's day. It's a long story, but he surmounted the impossible and keeps bringing us much joy.

A poche filled with rose scented potpourri. A metal heart hangs from one arm of the chandelier.





 These shades are original to the lap and do need replacing, BUT, I keep wondering all the places they've illuminated and I can't yet bear to replace them. Also haven't found some I want!

This silk dupioni pieced confection was created for Sewing Savvy magazine, issue 4. Magazine is one of those who is now defunct. It's one of my favorite pieces. Taupe embroidery, twin needle embroidery, lace and vintage buttons provide a back drop for pins and necklace pieces that can be appreciated here even when not worn. Click the link HERE to read a brief description on how to create one of your own.

A special gift from a special friend. Charlotte made the porcelain headed confection with serger threads, beautiful laces and ribbons and pearl beads.  She holds a rose (minus a few petals) that our youngest son picked and brought me when he was ten (he's now 29). 


A silver bow, a gift from my husband is pinned above my monogram. See the embroidered ribbon? It was actually embroidered with a twin needle, the off-white and taupe threads were stitched simultaneously!

A Russian cloisonne brooch, the lizard - a special gift from my mom, and a Limoges porcelain pendant.

A favorite Bernina pin. 

A Swarovski butterfly (received after the Bernina 630 came out), a cat pin and a vintage button pendant.

A night light (sans light) sits atop a silk ribbon topper. The nightlight is made in Japan and belonged to husband's grandmother. 

I am so delighted with this piece. I've had it 35 years and who knows how long she had it, but not one petal, leaf or tendril is broken. I hope it stays this way.

This is one of my favorite scriptures. I love reading it every morning as I prepare for yet another day.

A vintage piece of hardanger embroidery.

And one of my favorite pieces of vintage lace drapes over the frame and around the nightlight.



Roses
~George Eliot

You love the roses - so do I. I wish
The sky would rain down roses, as they rain
From off the shaken bush. Why will it not?
Then all the valley would be pink and white
And soft to tread on. They would fall as light
As feathers, smelling sweet: and it would be
Like sleeping and yet waking, all at once.



My thankful thought for the day: I'm thankful for all the thorns in my life. Were they not there, the rose at the end of the stalk wound not be near as sweet. 


I'm linking up to Artie's Vignette Friday. Be sure to drop in and see all the lovelies on display. Thanks Artie for hosting this fun party!



Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Gilded Tapestry - a tablescape Tablescape

A gilded tapestry


It started with the tapestry. Made these to mimic some I saw in Santa Fe. Quite simple: Buy the fabric. Cut the fabric. Sew a tiny zigzag stitch around all sides about 1/4" inside the raw edge. Fray the edge.

First layer of gild: a charger backed in gold.

A white dinner plate.

The second layer of gild: a salad plate undercoated in gold.

A beautiful stack. Damask napkins in wooden napkin rings.

A crystal basket for the centerpiece.

Spider mums and some fitzer branches off of the shrubs outside.

A favorite that just seems to fit the season - rosewood handled brass flatware.

Mikasa water goblet with a golden hued wine goblet,
Create a gilded tapestry on which the setting sun works its magic.






















 Cast:
Large chargers - I've seen these at Pier One too, Tuesday Morning
Wedgwood Windsor dinner plate
Gold backed salad plates of unknown (can't remember) origin a decade ago
Rosewood handled brass flatware - gift from Mom
Mikasa Parklane water goblets
Golden water goblets - Stein Mart
Candlesticks - TJMaxx recent purchase
Damask napkins - family heirlooms
Tapestry fabric - Hobby Lobby
Wood and brass napkin rings - Stein Mart

I'm extremely thankful you dropping in today, I can't wait to read your comment.
I'm incredibly thankful for the sun that shines, for the rain that falls, for the snow that blankets, for the leaves that need to be raked!

I'm joining the hostess with the mostest - Susan and her eye-candy rich Tablescaping Thursday party. Be sure to take some time and go see all the beautiful table settings awaiting your perusal. See you there!!!


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