Finding Comfort in Collections

I just made the smallest shift in the arrangement on top of my dining room display shelf. For we compulsive arrangers it can be the best kind of therapy. But in truth, there is no stopping it anyway! We can't keep our hands off of things. And if we aren't arranging things physically, we are doing it in our heads.

Some people listen to music to soothe themselves. The shapes and patterns of my china and linens, and the rythm of my collections does it for me.

And entering the light-filled spaces of my rooms first thing in the morning just starts the day right! 

This little McCoy pottery hand tray is new to the rotation. Her reason for being is simply to look pretty while holding things; pins, earrings, coins. My mother had these little dishes all over the place full of the most unlikely stray objects that never seemed to find a proper place of their own. It drove me to distraction! Today she holds stray tallow berries.

I am also a creature of habit and tend to use the same favorite tablecloths over and over, so I went hunting for something different that I haven't put to use in a while. I can't seem to part with these gorgeous white on white embroidery cloths that are less practical for daily use. But just having them in a stack to admire for a change gives me a lift too.

A little lace peeking out can soften a day. . . .

And I will soon have a few white garden roses to add to this still-life!

This is the cloth I finally chose for the table. So perfect for spring with the lily pads and dragonflies. What a joy it must have been to make!

 I always layer smaller pieces over larger and plainer ones. I use these cotton drop cloths for millions of things.

I have admired this English ironstone creamer and sugar set by Meakin for years until I found a set of my own last year. Such a pretty little design.

Having a bit of Stafforshire here and there adds to the story.

The little berry creamer hasn't a maker's mark, but is probably English as well.

Finally, this sweet little tophy cup adds a little contrast to the group. It reads: "Best Hound, Cape County Fair Dog Show, 1925." Found for cheap at some long forgotton thrift store ages ago.

So that's the lineup for today!

How's your week going?

I hope you are surrounding yourself with a few happy things. . . .

So glad you stopped by!

'Til next time,

Jacqueline

Familiar Things For a Winter's Day

Hello Friends! It's almost Valentines Day and so I am sending you all the love!

It has been a long while since I checked in here, but as you will soon see, not much has changed.

I think I mentioned that I have a new camera, so this is a very experimental post. I always want things to be simpler than is possible, and I don't want to spend the time it takes to learn new gadgets. But things finally reached critical mass and I think I made a breakthrough!

I just started with what is right in front a me as a subject, but there are always one or two new things of course.

 I am so proud that after two years my Oxalis shamrock is still alive! It went completely dormant, wilted, and lost all it's growth just before Christmas. I panicked! But I read up and learned that due to conditions that this is kind of normal. I repotted, got it a sunny window, and you wouldn't believe how fast it all came back. I'm just so pleased!!

This little embroidered runner is new to me and makes me almost as happy as my resurrected plant.

I use my few seed sacks in a ton of different ways, and always have them ready nearby too.

And a couple of mustard pots still line the shelves.

And pitchers in a row. (I would need detailed instructions on how to live without those...)

There have been so many dark days that I decided to leave my lighted birch trees up a while longer. I brought them home from the shop and still couldn't find the heart to put them away. There have been so many houseguests of late that I find they are a lovely way to light the way in an unfamiliar place. A gentle night light emanating from the center of the whole house. 

There are only small changes to the top cupboard shelf. Sometimes I just want to look at something different!

These little brown baby boots are new here and cheery as all get out! And after a very long time of longing I managed to get a few sprigs of tallow berry to decorate with. They are not native here, but I love the way they look in vignettes.

The days whiz by. Folks come and go. Before we have a chance to look up we have turned another year older. I find that I don't change things up as often as I used to, and love the sameness of things more. At least in the wintertime. . . .

I hope that this finds you surrounded by all that you love too!

Cheery days ahead to you!

Love,

 Jacqueline

Join me at Shabby Art Boutique for the prettiest blog party!

Rainy Day and Monday

Monday is one of the calmer days in this household. Things settle down and get back to "normal." There's the big build up to the weekend, and then suddenly it's all over. But this is what it looks like here in Albuquerque as fall begins to show. Mostly green with a litter of cottonwood leaves starting to happen. That is chamisa turning to seed and looking a bit scruffy this time of year.

It rained overnight leaving things fresh and a few puddles in the road. The desert willow still green but minus the pale pink blossoms that stay all summer.

The ivy is just barely turning a few leaves to red before it abandons them altogether. And it has finally turned coolish, so Autumn has finally made a believer out of me.

I want to show you this cover small so that we aren't jumping the gun too much here. But I want you to know what to look for! This edition passed the page flip test and came home with me this weekend.

There is a gorgeous island of pages in the middle from House Of Harvest that gets me right where I live these days. Here's the link to their Instagram. I am showing less than half the images, and all askew so that no one will pin them, but they are a sample of an earthy simple style with great vintage ideas that I am loving to look at.

You might enjoy a whole look at the issue yourself.

It works for me for fall almost as much as for December!

The other fun thing for me is this transfer ware find posted on someone's Instagram. These are from Pier One. If you have trouble finding vintage brown transfer ware, you can just order these online! I was lucky to get them at my local store. They are smallish dinner size plates with no other pieces to match that I could see.

I don't put my vintage plates through too much because I take extra care with them, but I'm going to enjoy these without fuss all season long.

All the images just make me cozy and happy!

And I love all the details.

It's all fuzzy and overcast, but some Mondays are just like that!

 I hope it's the start of a great week for you though!

 Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jacqueline

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Shabby Art Boutique~ Create, Bake, Grow, and Gather Party

Farmhouse Inspirations

There are so many interpretations of farmhouse style that I can hardly choose one. Modern, which is more spare; country farmhouse, which is most traditional; and a romantic style which carries a more idealized tone, like the antique ruffled baby dress above.

My idea of romantic farmhouse decorating has more floral patterns and curves, and of course lots of airy white.

An old painted wooden door can be dressed up or down. Left plain, or used to showcase your leanings one way or another. An old chippy frame with sheet music is about as fussy as I want to go for now. 

My latest inspirations are a couple of recent design books. The one above by Tricia Foley is about as pared down as it is possible to get. She uses tons of white with a simple, serene environment. I have spent time in rooms like this, and far from being boring, they offer a freedom for engagement with people, or for creative energy. 

When you have a more open area, there is space available for change and variety in a room if you want it. I pulled a few things together in this corner for the light, for instance.

And I like the softness that just a bit of lace can give an otherwise plain room. A sheer curtain also softens the light if you need it.

City Farmhouse Style by Kim Leggett keeps things lighter and more open than a heavier traditional farmhouse style. The mode seems to really highlight collections in an appealing understated way yet still has lots of character and warmth.

But I am certainly no purist and can wander all over the place decoratively speaking!

I can't seem to stay away from beautiful vintage clothes! 

Probably close to a hundred years old, you can see a patch in this baby dress that was sewn in the skirt at the lower left.

Speaks volumes, and full of nostalgia. 

 This dainty style is always waiting in the wings for me when I want it, like this set of ironstone transferware pitchers. The pitchers have a dressier mood than my plain white ironstone.

Here's a last look at this frilly dress showing the detail on the back side. There is only a single mother-of-pearl button left holding it together.

I had the impulse to make a repair to that little tear, but it seems right to leave it to it's vintage honesty. Clean, unpressed, and carrying all the weight of history within its airy folds. 

Hope you're having fun no matter what your style!

So nice that you stopped by!

Jacqueline

Join me at

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

Between Naps on the Porch~Metamorphosis Monday