Still Fall

Hello friends! I haven't visited you here since summertime and I wanted to get in a fall post before everything turned into Christmas. Not quite everything has. 

My life has changed so much since I was a regular blogger. I'm not actively out buying for a shop these days, for one thing. I realize I always had something new to show you, and that makes a big difference.  

Now that I am passing on a lot of my own favorite possessions, it's more about rediscovering things and getting down to keeping only the most treasured. Old pitchers will always be on that list!

Old crocheted pieces continue to delight me too, especially if they feature unusual patterns. But let's face it. There are still millions of gorgeous works out there just waiting to be found. I love that little leaf pattern inside this one, for instance.

I am hoarding three of these.

I guess my bread board collection isn't big enough either because I still buy almost every single one I find!

This wonderful old towel just found it's way back to the top of one of the "save" baskets. It's a really large thick one. 

One of my more recent indulgences are tallow berries. I only have a few sprigs because they are priced so dear, and in addition we have to send away for them from here. They are a southern thing which I envied so much on all your Texas blogs when I started out!

They look good on everything!

I do have my sentimental favorites like this little leafy creamer for fall. It's on display all year, but is so cheery in November.

The berry details with the thorns enchant me like a fairytale.

So this is where I started out this morning. Sitting at my breakfast table, musing.

Flipping the pages of a new magazine, (Christmas, of course!) and feeling the old tug to share a few things.

After all, it is always time for being thankful, for spreading the bounty, for reaching deep into whatever it is that we have been holding on to, and sharing from the heart.

Thankful for your visits,

 and wishing you all the blessings of the season,

Jacqueline

Linked up at

Common Ground~All About Home

and Follow the Yellow Brick Home ~ All About Home

Once A Collector, Always A Collector

Sometimes I forget where I am and try to explain myself. I'm a collector, and anybody who visits me here after all this time needs no explanation.

I'm not strictly in the "business" anymore. Vintage, I mean. But who out there can just turn off the love? Am I right??

It's been more than a year since I visited any local markets until now. Some of the prices are unbelievable. You all know that I personally do not need one more ironstone pitcher, but look at this cutie! Fifteen bucks! What a lovely vessel with which to give away a bouquet of flowers.

Cut glass is another weakness of mine, and I look at this beautiful compote as another way to wrap up something (anything from cookies to soap) as a nice gift. Seven dollars.

This scrumptious old tea pot with the exquisite detail was ten dollars.

But it was finding this little set of Staffordshire dogs that keeps me driven to the hunt. I have been on the lookout for tiny figures for many, many years. I know you can buy the small ones for real money online any day of the week, but I would rather find a set for a tiny price to match. Wouldn't you?

I am showing them with the smallest dogs that I had collected so far. (Those are actually more common to find online.) How many ways are there to say "THRILLED"!? I don't think I have stopped squealing inside.

Here is the contrast with the bigger boys that are seven and a half inches tall.

And well, you all know of my linen obsession. I don't collect linen anymore. Except when I do. (Grinning here....) Few people want it or use it anymore. It is a lost art, so I treat it that way, often just hanging it around to be seen and appreciated. Mostly by me. It's one of my happy things to surround myself with.

I like to hang it like art.

What else can you do with a crocheted doily with an lovely linen insert in my favorite ivory color?

I do occasionally use this linen runner on a table or dresser.

The piece underneath is my most recent pillowcase find. A wonderful antique linen that shows better layered on the wall than on a bed. Though I will use it that way too.

This pair of napkins came from a thrift store jaunt with my granddaughter. (You KNOW she was raised right!)

I found the tablecloth at the fleamarket, and I'm actually pretty sure I sold this myself in a moment of weakness a couple of years ago! Glad to have it back. Looks like my sort of thing doesn't it?

This gorgeous all linen and lace runner is lovely, long, and oh so soft. Thrift store too.

This is a small crocheted curtain. Ready to hang or lay on a table.

This one found right beside it with a bit different detail. These are all over Europe hanging in cheery windows.

So I think I have scratched that itch for the next little while. It sure was fun!

I hope you are all finding your own cures for all the madness. We are having the most surprising mild summer, though a crazy hard rain flooded the kitchen and called for a new roof. I consider myself lucky.

Also, I am so glad to see that the sidebar thumbnail photos are back when you post! Bravo! I thought they were gone forever! Unless I learn a solution, your email notifications when I post are soon gone from your email though. (sad face)

 Take good care of yourselves out there!

Jacqueline

Join me at

 Follow the Yellow Brick Home ~ All About Home

Common Ground ~ All About Home

Pieces of Vintage Linen

Fall is always the beginning of linen season to me as the world turns inward. Summer is great for getting to markets and making fabulous finds, as I hope to do any time of year, but working with linens is another story. Nothing like a crisp day to cozy up and get in a little linen therapy at the ironing board!

It's been a long stretch since we had a good dose of linen love here on the blog, so I am including a few links that you vintage linen lovers in the audience will appreciate too.

One old post you might enjoy perusing again is Ironing Linen~Befores and Afters here.

But I have recently found one of the most remarkable blogs on Instagram that you may already know about by Yuka, In My Room. I promise you, if you don't already know this page you are in for a real treat! The vignettes of linens and lace are soulful and delicate and dreamy. I just can't get enough! I would show you a sample, but I don't want anyone pinning her wonderful work from here. Check it out at this link.

Finally, Back in the Linen Nursery, here, might give you another good session of linen love if you are needing any right now.

Sometimes when I iron, I leave my work out on display for a while just to appreciate the beauty as I pass through doing tasks throughout the day.

And other times looking back through old posts I have regrets for many of the gorgeous old pieces that have gone on to other lucky owners. It can be a little heartbreaking being in the vintage linen business! LOL! (not really kidding)

It's a little like finding a new owner for your old home, or a pet you have to give up. You want to find someone really worthy! But seriously, not everyone appreciates the value of beautiful old hand work.

It is my personal garden of delights.

I hope you are finding daily pleasures of your own to feed your soul this week.

Carry on. . . .

Jacqueline

Join me at

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

Shabby Art Boutique