An Autumn Urban Outing

I suppose like so many others I'm a creature of habit. I'm not a big shopper per se, but I do have my favorite haunts that are fortunately on sort of the same beaten path. Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma are next door to each other across from our favorite restaurant, so we have taken up the ritual of an after lunch coffee for Mr. Cottage at Starbucks, and a peek in the windows (or more) for me.

This time I discovered a new yummy pumpkin candle. There's something about the change in the weather that has me wanting a little candle glow and spicy scent going on in the evening.

The box is pretty enough to present as a hostess or birthday gift all on its own.

I have mine displayed with a little white pumpkin and a sparkly doily. You don't usually think of doilies as sparkly, but one of my favorites is a vintage one made by some clever person that has shiny beads sewn right in. I can't even imagine how this is done. It seems that the beads would be strung on the ball of thread first, and slid into place as the work progresses. This one is crocheted in a "pineapple" pattern.

I also have a nearly weekly stop at the bookstore for books and magazines, and where I picked up the new Rachel Ashwell, Couture PRAIRIE. It's shown here with an old classic by Tricia Foley that I have been spending a bit of time with in the evenings too. (Copyright 1997. I actually got my used copy at a flea market ages ago.)

From White Christmas by Tricia Foley

From White Christmas by Tricia Foley

Such a beautiful and inspirational style!

From Couture Prairie by Rachel Ashwell

Rachel's book is centered on her Texas inn, The Prairie, and her interpretation of Shabby Chic in a more rustic setting. Perhaps more suited for diehard fans (of which I'm definitely one!), Rachel brings out the more feminine side of farmhouse style. It's probably the closest thing I will get to an actual visit, and it appeals to my love of both cabins and cottages!

I wish I were out and about at one of the many fabulous vintage fairs going on across the country this weekend, but this will have to do for me! I hope you're having a fun fall weekend too! 

Jacqueline

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Common Ground~Be Inspired

Hunting Season

It's the time of year that I go rummaging around my cupboards for bits of china that feature game birds to use on my table. It's still a while yet before the Canadian Geese and Sandhill Cranes arrive in the fields, but a  few early stragglers have already gathered together in the dining room.  

I have plenty of white china patterns to unify everything. For some reason these majolica pear plates turn up more in my tablescapes of fall and winter.

Over the summer I found a new to me vintage cross-stitched tablecloth. It was only four or five dollars at the flea market, and I thought instantly of camping and fall picnics when I first saw it. In fact I did take it along with me on our last campout. It has been so well loved that it is worn to shreds in a couple of corners. But that just adds to the romance! I always layer my tablecloths anyway.

It seems that I'm always foraging about like an old pea hen for bits and pieces of fall themed china when I'm out and about in the field. A sturdy old ironstone teacup caught my fancy some time ago. It blends well with a few stray saucers that have turned up as well.

Both my grey and pumpkin colored linen napkins work well with this theme. I splurged and bought four of each last season. For a large group they can be mixed together with this cloth. The woodland ducks seem to like them a lot.

I was in the mood for a flirty little petticoat peeking out underneath. It feels like a nice country touch, but also softens the colors and tone. I might use my white ruffled linen napkins with this combination at some point too.

The underskirt is an adventurous twin size bed skirt. I'd love to get my hands on some ruffly linen version to layer on sometime too.

A small biscuit jar with songbirds fits right in. It would make a darling vessel for daisies or mums.

But all we have at the moment are a few onions and weeds. . . .

Turkey hens adorn the outside of these teacups, while a flying tom turkey shows off within. I pair them with English saucers with a geometric pattern.

A demitasse cup is just for show. I don't know how I would ever resist any other Furnivals Quail pattern pieces that might cross my path. (I have purposely not gone looking for those. Besides, I prefer the hunt and peck method.)

The cottonwood leaves have just begun turning to gold along the river. Like the corners of my cloth, the old season is in tatters at its edges. But the table is all ready for cozy weather to arrive.

I have a sudden urge to whip up a savory soup. Maybe pumpkin. Some flakey rolls would be perfect too. Shall I set a place for you? So glad you stopped by!

Jacqueline

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French Country Cottage~Autumn Abounds

Between Naps on the Porch~Tablescape Thursday

Common Ground~Be Inspired

My Romantic Home~Show & Tell

Portrait in Sepia

For me, the opposite of white is always the inescapable color sepia. We take a mini vacation from each other in the warm season. And I have reduced her claim of territory on the landscape of my interiors. But I know that my darling sepia will never abandon me.

We gave away our beautiful studded twin velvet chairs. Banished the tweed or covered it over. Even found a new family home for the deep oaky table that dominated the center of our lives. But she wouldn't keep silent. 

Sepia creeps back, veiled in a bridal white, perhaps. Or in elegant tracery the color of fallen leaves. She finds herself drawn home again at the first scent of autumn fires. . . .

And we are secretly glad. . . .

A lovely brown transferware pitcher is the most recent method sepia chose to sneak across the threshold this fall. Who would blame me for never resisting her charms?

“Each of us chooses the tone for telling his or her own story. I would like to choose the durable clarity of a platinum print, but nothing in my destiny possesses the luminosity. I live among diffuse shadings, veiled mysteries, uncertainties; the tone of telling my life is closer to that of a portrait in sepia.” 

― Isabel Allende, Portrait in Sepia

And thanks to you for coming back too!

I love it when you stop by!

Jacqueline

Join me at

Savvy Southern Style~Wow Us Wednesday

No Minimalist Here~Open House

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home~Home Sweet Home

Is This Old News?

Sometimes I'm late to the party. I drag my feet on deciding whether or not to buy something and I end up missing out.

That was the case on the Jeanne d'Arc Christmas book of a couple of years ago. Was I wrong in thinking it was said that it would not be reprinted? (I may be thinking of Vintage by Nina Christmas, by Nina Hartmann. I made the same mistake with that one!) At any rate, it was out of stock everywhere by the time I decided I had to have it. UNTIL NOW!!!!  I stumbled upon it at my local vintage shop. Don't you love second chances? There is no printing date on the issue so I don't know if it's been reprinted a while and I am only just now finding out. Whatever!

From CHRISTMAS by Jeanne d'Arc Living

Many of you already have a copy, so you know that the illustrations are mostly tight shots of beautiful vignettes with just a few long shots of whole rooms. But I love the tones, colors, and natural elements used for decorating in this style. I woke up dreaming about what I want to incorporate from it this year in my own rooms. No kidding!

From CHRISTMAS by Jeanne d'Arc Living

Thought some of you might like to know this go around!

Happy First Day of Fall!

(It's a fantastic day here in New Mexico . . . )

And a wonderful week to you too!

Jacqueline

*Heather at Vestiges has copies available at Vintage Market & Design. Call 505-299-7777 to order, or visit the website here. Heather also has copies in stock of the book French Finesse that I posted about here.