My First Haeger

I used to love thrifting.  Notice that I employed the past tense.  Thrifting meant retail therapy without the guilt.  But now thrifting seems an endeavour that is not for the faint of heart.  Let me back track a little.  Recently, I decided to indulge in a little "retail therapy" when I saw something on a shelf that made me gasp.  Do you ever see something and time just seems to stop?  I don't really remember walking over (or running to the shelf), just lifting it up and turning it over to check the bottom.  What was it?  It was this.

A Haeger console planter/vase!  Now Haeger pottery may be a commonplace find South of the border but up here in the Great White North, they are a rare find out in the wild.  I'd been keeping an eye out for Haeger pottery but had begun to think that they were an urban legend until now.

 

I think I had 5 seconds of dazed happiness staring at the backstamp when, all of a sudden, a screeching voice bellowed in my ear, "That's mine!  I saw it first!"  My daze of euphoria quickly turned into a daze of stupefaction.  All I could think to say was, "Ummmm....no???"  I'm guessing she saw the look of happy shock on my face, realized I'd scored a great find and decided to try her luck at bullying me into handing it over.  Unfortunately for her, my hands felt like they were now superglued to the planter.  And as you can see, it is now in my home.  Its entry into my life not only nipped off my growing thrifting obsession but precipitated an overhaul of the entry console table.  This is what it used to look like.

I had begun to realize that the various figurines on the bottom shelf had a tendency to draw the eye downwards.  The front entry doesn't have any windows so there is no source of natural light.  So the figurines blended into the shadows.  The bowl was used to hold keys but ended up holding clutter.  The box was used to hold mail but just encouraged more clutter accumulation.  Now the table looks like this.

Much better I think, don't you?  I really like the clean simple lines. 

But now I'm wondering if it's too simple and sparse.  Do you think I should add something to the bottom shelf like a flower arrangement?  Or a pair of lamps flanking the planter?  Any suggestions would be welcome!  Of course, if I decided to add more things, that would mean venturing back out into the now scary world of thrifting.  And I don't think I've recovered just yet...

I'm linking up to Southern Hospitality, A Stroll Thru Life,  Knick of Time, Thrifty Groove, My Romantic Home, Coastal Charm, The Charm of Home, Type A Decorating, Her Library Adventures.

Teddy Bear Love or How My Good Intentions Were Overcome

My last post, "Spring Fever" mentioned that I was on a mission to declutter and become more organized.  With great embarrassment, I have to admit that I fell off the proverbial wagon this weekend.  Let me explain.  I went to a church rummage sale which will give you a hint of how my good intentions began to unravel.  Now I have very fond memories of church rummage sales.  There was a time growing up when money was tight and my mother started shopping at church rummage sales.  I still remember the delight I felt at being able to buy a toy or trinket for only 25 cents.  Fast forward many years and here I was going to a church rummage sale again.  Due to a few wrong turns, I ended up at the sale a little late.  There wasn't much of interest left and on a whim, before leaving, I stopped at the toy table.  My hands seemed to reach out of their own volition and picked up a golden, honey coloured teddy bear.  And then I was lost.

I could tell right away that he was a "quality" bear.  He was made of real wool with jointed arms and legs.  I think he's stuffed with straw or wool as he feels surprisingly firm and is quite weighty.

He hadn't been played with very much as he was really clean with hardly any wear.  Usually I avoid looking at used toys as I can't help thinking of the years of childish spit and vomit that might have accumulated on them.  But, even though the ad for the church sale said that it was on until 2pm, at 12.30 the charity vans were already outside waiting to take away the leftovers and the volunteers were packing up.  I couldn't bear (yes, pun intended) the thought of Honey Bear going off to landfill.

Even worse was the thought that he had been loved and very carefully looked after for many a long year and now was about to be dumped unceremoniously into a garbage bag and thrown into the back of a truck.  So I asked, "How much?"  And I can report that inflation hasn't any meaning on hallowed ground because, even after so many years, the price was still 25 cents!  So you see, I didn't have any choice.

I think he makes a very good model, don't you?  With the recent demise of Kodak, I thought Honey Bear looked especially poignant with a few old Kodak film canisters, another relic of a bygone era.

 Besides, there isn't any doubt that, despite his age, Honey Bear is still extremely photogenic.  I think he's found his forever home with me.

I'm linking up with Apron Thrift Girl, Her Library Adventures, Southern Hospitality, Coastal Charm, Knick of Time, Thrifty Groove, A Stroll Thru Life.

Spring Fever

Do you find that as Spring begins to unfurl, that an irresistible urge to sweep, clean and organize likewise begins to unfurl within you?  I do and, lately, I have been on a mission.  Now, one thing that has long bothered me was the state of my kitchen drawers.  Cooking, a task that requires a great deal of fortitude on my part, meant a mad scramble for a spoon or a spatula.  Now, it came to me that I would very much like a vintage crock to hold my kitchen utensils.  But I have never seen one whilst out thrifting and the ones in Williams-Sonoma just looked too shiny, too bright, too...new.  Then what do I see in a junk shop?  A vintage crock!  And not just any crock but one that actually says, "Kitchen Utensils" on it!

Then, shortly thereafter, in a completely different thrift shop, in a faraway town, what do I come across but a matching tiny little crock for pork drippings.  The little crock has a more recent birthday than it's larger sibling but I don't mind.  I had heard of grease jars but had never come across a crock for pork drippings until now.   Of course, to get the pork drippings or bacon grease there has to be some cooking with said pork or bacon.  Not only was a kitchen utensil crock on my wish list but a cast iron fry pan.  And what do I spot on a shelf?  A cast iron fry pan all nicely seasoned.

I admit that this cast iron fry pan has been a revelation to me.  It has amazing heat retention and its non-stick qualities means I can avoid the dangerous siren call of Teflon.  Here it is with a pork roast surrounded by parsnips courtesy of Monsieur's culinary prowess.  It was all prepared in the one pan.

I admit that whenever I use this fry pan I want to sing "Home On The Range."  Life slows down, quiets down until all I hear is the soothing sizzle of food cooking and the beating of my heart.

I am linking up with Her Library Adventures, Apron Thrift Girl, Knick of Time, A Stroll Thru Life, Coastal Charm, My Romantic Home,  Thrifty Groove,.



Birthday Flowers & Milk Glass Vases

There is something so wonderfully Springtimey about tulips, don't you think?  Perhaps because the bulbs slumber in the cold ground through the winter and then burst forth as the earth begins to warm and awaken from its long sleep.  As yesterday was my birthday, Monsieur presented me with not one but two bunches of tulips. One bouquet was purple as, lately, I have been leaning towards that shade and the other one had orange petals rimmed in yellow as he cannot resist those colours especially when twinned together in a flower.  I do adore being presented with bouquets of flowers.  When I was asked what I wanted for my birthday, I found to my surprise that I couldn't think of a single thing.  All I could think was, "I want to be happy."  Does that sound childishly naive or boringly grownup?  But who can resist opening the door to a smiling face and bouquets of Spring tulips?

For some reason, the orange and the purple worked well together.  And as luck would have it, I had recently thrifted another vintage milk glass vase, this time a fluted one.  I had found my very first milk glass vase a little while ago (the one with the orange tulips) and fallen in love with it.  You can read about my adventure in acquiring it here. 

A milk glass vase is very forgiving as its opacity blocks from view ugly stems and one's laziness in trimming the aforesaid stems or diligently changing the water.  And it's always nice to have a pair.

And these vases are the perfect size and shape for tulips.  No fiddling or arranging or messing with flower frogs.  I am very grateful for tulips' easy beauty as they make me seem arty and clever without really being that at all.

Milk glass bud vases turn up with fair regularity in the thrifts but I was looking for one in a size that would complement the one I already had.  Plus the one vase was beginning to look a little lonely in its solitary glacial splendour.  You can imagine how thrilled I was to come across another one that fit the bill perfectly.

And of course, a birthday isn't a birthday without cake.

 

Tulips in pretty vintage vases and a decadent cake.  What more could a girl want?

I'm liking up with Apron Thrift Girl, A Stroll Thru Life, Knick of Time, My Romantic Home, French Country Cottage, Thrifty Groove. 

Simply Pretty Vintage Tea Towels & Creamware Mixing Bowls

I think I am on my way to a new collection or possibly a new addiction.  Let me explain.  I am the chief dish washer-upper and dish wiper in my household.  Monsieur bought me a pack of black and white tea towels for drying said dishes.  But I found that they left swathes of black lint all over the dishes which necessitated much more wiping to no avail.  It also meant that I had to rinse the dishes again which obviously made them wet again instead of what I wanted them to be which was dry.  As well, the idea began to germinate in my mind that I would like some really pretty tea towels to make the task of washing up and drying dishes more pleasant.  Sadly, nothing in the shops caught my fancy.  They all looked so banal, so prosaic, so....uninspiring much like the act of wiping dishes.  Thus began the search for vintage tea towels.  Then, while I was out thrifting, what do I see on the racks?  Lovely, pretty in pink vintage tea towels.  And not just one but a matching pair!

Not only were they ever so pretty but they were in unused, pristine condition which is a wonder to me as I very much doubted the likelihood of finding nice tea towels that weren't covered in stains.

I do so adore the look of them hanging casually over a chair or over a rack in the kitchen or just spilling out of a dresser drawer. 

Along with the idea of having pretty tea towels to inspire me while washing and drying, I had begun to think that I would very much like to have a vintage whiteware or creamware mixing bowl.  This new obsession began when I saw the modern reproductions at Williams Sonoma.  Sadly the price tag was quite out of reach for this girl.  Then, what do I see on a shelf while out thrifting?  A glorious creamware mixing bowl!  Truly, I think I stopped breathing for a split second.

 

There is something so very soothing and comforting about this bowl.  It's as if it's saying to me, "Yes, I have done my job for many a year and now I'm going to help you make delicious meals."  I am positive that with the help of this mixing bowl, my floating islands will float, my breads will rise, my cakes will not be leaden in the middle.

  
And after I am done cooking something delicious with my mixing bowl I will gladly and, oh so carefully, wash it and dry it.  The only problem is that my new tea towels are so pretty that I do not want to use them.  I just want to admire them. 

I'm linking up to  French Country Cottage, My Romantic Home, Thrifty Groove, Apron Thrift Girl, Knick of Time, A Stroll Thru Life.

Vintage Tablecloth Love

As ever I'm a bit late to the game but I have only recently fallen under the spell of vintage tablecloths.  I have an old hand-me-down table that seats four but, rather cunningly, has a hidden leaf that folds up and out so that the table can, quite magically, seat six.  This being an odd size makes table cloth buying a puzzle as most tablecloths that I find are far too large.  And not being inclined towards a great deal of frilliness and frou-frou, none of the colours and patterns ever really enticed me.  Then, while out thrifting, I saw this tablecloth peeking out at me from the rack.  The understated colours drew me in like a moth to the flame.

I unfolded it in a daze of anticipation and the weightiness of the linen was and is a wonder to me.  Heart in mouth, I inspected it carefully for holes and found none.  I debated buying it, worried that it wouldn't fit my oddly sized table.  But, as you can see, it did come home with me. And, yes, it was a perfect fit.

Many times, I have considered buying a brand new dining table but the thought of jettisoning my old, scratched, worn, vintage table that has served the family for many a long year and seen many a family meal filled me with guilt.  Repainting it and the four matching chairs seemed too arduous a task.  But now, I see that the tiny touches of blue in the flowers of this wondrous tablecloth match perfectly the faded blue of the chairs and table as if they were made for each other.

Afternoon tea and biscuits seem so more graceful and elegant served atop this lovely field of blossoms. There is something so soothing and meditative about sweeping the heavy linen folds over the table with the flick of a wrist and smoothing it down with one's hands.  The very act becomes imbued with thankfulness and gratitude.

At long last, the puzzle of transforming my old table into something a tad more refined has been solved with the help of this tablecloth.  I have only one puzzle left which is what are the blooms scattered across this field of linen?  Are the larger ones daffodils and the smaller little bells, lily of the valley?  If any of you are avid gardeners and recognize the blooms, please let me know!

I'm linking up with A Stroll Thru Life, French Country Cottage, Thrifty Groove, Type A Decorating, My Romantic Home, Knick of Time.

Valentine's Day In the Park with Pink Pyrex and Pink Shoes - Fashion Meets Housewares #2

Do you think that there is an age when pink is no longer appropriate?  I grew up with a bedroom decorated in pink as my mother thought that it was suitable for a girl.  Then, typically, I rebelled and cast aside pink for many a long year.  I longed for Ikea furnishings, loud music with tortured lyrics and black leather.  With Valentine's Day fast approaching I realized that pink has been steathily creeping back in to my life.  First, in the form of vintage pink Pyrex.  After all, who can resist vintage flamingo pink Pyrex?  And then, as luck would have it, I was out and about shopping with my mother when I spied these amazing Rupert Sanderson shoes in pink!  My mother was so very gracious as to give them to me as a gift. I suspect that she still believes that pink is suitable for a daughter, no matter that said daughter is a little girl in her eyes only.



Rupert Sanderson Shoes, Pink Daisy Pyrex Casserole Dish

It's not possible to get enough of vintage pink Pyrex mixing bowls especially when heaped with hydrangeas.  


Rupert Sanderson Shoes, Pink Gooseberry Pyrex

Even if you are many years beyond the age of five but are still young at heart, there is always a place in one's life for pink shoes.  And there is nothing saccharine or infantile about these shoes with the high slender heel and top stitching. 

And new shoes mean scrambling through my vintage dresser for that perfect outfit.  Yes, my taste has swung back from the new and the modern to the tried and the true, especially if it comes with Art Deco styling and old pulls that have that instantly recognizable, impossible to duplicate patina.

But, with the weather still inclement, what to do for Valentine's Day, especially something that involves pink shoes and when one is on a budget?  Nothing for it but to have a little picnic in the park at home.

Of course the wondrous shoes get kicked off but still kept close to hand so that they can be suitably admired by oneself and one's beloved.



And future outings are planned over a celebratory glass or two, all of which involve the wearing of pink shoes.

As the saying goes, I'm in the pink!

I've heard that Google Friend Connect will be disappearing soon for those who aren't on Blogger.  If you are on a different platform besides Blogger, you can still follow me through Networked Blogs.  The simplest route may be to suscribe through email.    More than anything, I want to remain in contact with all the lovely people I've met through L'Heure Bleue At Home so have finally caved and am on Facebook as well.

I'm linking up with A Stroll Thru Life, Knick of Time, Cozy Home Scenes, French Country Cottage, My Romantic Home and  Type A Decorating,

A Little Country in the City

Do you have a definite viewpoint when it comes to decor?  I'm a little embarassed to admit that I am too easily swayed.  I see the beautiful minimalist interiors of Scandinavian homes and think, "Oh I must be more tidy, streamlined, minimalist, I need more...more...more white!"  Then I see the rustic charm of a farmhouse and think, "Oh I need roosters and rust and chipped furniture!"  So I was out and about and saw a gigantic harvest basket sitting upside down on a pile of junk by the side of the road.  In a blink of an eye, I picked it up and quick marched it to the car.  Never mind that I live in the middle of a large, metropolitan city, I knew I wanted it.  Back home, I realized that it was the perfect storage for extra quilts and cushions.

Even better, it's the perfect repository for fluffy white towels.

 

It doesn't matter that I'm miles away from the nearest fruit orchard or farmhouse. Or that I'm surrounded by suave downtown hipsters.

I'm very happy to have a little country in the city.

I'm linking up with French Country Cottage, A Stroll Thru Life, Type A Decorating, My Romantic Home, Apron Thrift Girl, The Thrifty Groove, Coastal Charm, Cozy Home Scenes.

New Year, New Favourites

I adore making discoveries that become new favourites, don't you?  It's like stumbling upon a treasure when you were just ambling along without any thought of being on a treasure hunt.  I've been an appreciative fan of Duchy Originals food products for some time but it's only available here during the holiday season at a high end store in town.  I saw this jar of Damson Preserve whilst out Christmas shopping and decided to try it with only a vague idea of what a damson was.  All I knew was that it had a marvellously Victorian ring to it, so much more romantic than prosaic fruit jam.

Apparently, damsons are a type of plum.  And how wonderfully plummy it is.  Fruity with that right hint of tartness and without that cloying sweetness which is the pitfall of many a jam.  On a snowy day with an icy windy blowing, there is something deeply comforting about toasting up a slice of good bread and topping it off with your favourite whatever.



Did you treat yourself to any Boxing Day goodies?  I picked up this tea cozy at Chapters.  Just perfect for a pot of tea.

I adore the thick wool felt and cheerful simple red stitched stars.  Although, perhaps I just like saying "tea cozy."

What kitchen would be complete without a good knife set?  I was so very fortunate to receive a knife set for Christmas.  I had no idea how having really sharp knives would make such a difference with food preparation.  And, I am fascinated with how they are neatly displayed and organized.  As someone who was not born with the "neat and tidy" gene, something that comes to me inherently organized is a wondrous thing.

And, of course, I must mention my new wooden chopping board which is exceptionally large and exceptionally heavy.  It was a gift and an absolute delight.  Again I had no idea what a difference having a large work surface for food preparation would make in the kitchen.

New favourites, new discoveries.  I think I'm off to a good start.

I'm linking up with A Beach Cottage, A Stroll Thru Life, My Romantic Home, French Country Cottage, Type A Decorating.

New Year Intentions

Do you make New Year Resolutions?  I haven't done so in years as I find making them, let alone following through with them for 365 days, to be rather daunting.  Recently, I heard of substituting the word "Resolution" with "Intention" which is supposed to be a bit more approachable.  So this year, for the first time in many a long year, I came up with a few intentions.  The first is to take pleasure in the little things, to be more present in the moment.  It's a knack I once had but somehow lost along the way.  What could be more pleasurable than a cheerful bunch of gerbera daisies given to me by my nearest and dearest?

Next, is working on that ever fleeting sense of gratitude.  I started a gratitude journal and, like a long disused muscle, it's getting easier and easier to write in the pages.

 
I am embarrassed to admit that I'm not very crafty.  I'm embarrassed to admit as well that I'm not a naturally tidy and organized person.  Books, especially, are tricky to display with the myriad colours of their covers.  Then I discovered the wonderful idea of creating book bundles, tying them with ribbon and adding a handmade charm. 

What a perfect way to display books.  And, I get to exercise my smallish craft skills by indulging in my fascination for pretty beads and vintage buttons.



May your New Year be filled with wondrous possibilities!



I'm linking up with:
A Stroll Thru Life, French Country Cottage, My Romantic Home,  A Beach Cottage, Type A Decorating, Serenity Now.

Christmas Decorexis

Have you heard of Decorexis?  I hadn't until I was flipping through a magazine and happened upon an article about this new modern affliction.  Apparently, symptoms include obsessive foofing, insistence on achieving the perfect decor, and refusal to invite friends over because the throw pillows don't work on the dated, tired looking couch.  Oh no!   I think I have Decorexis!  As I was decorating the Christmas tree, I began to feel a tad embarassed at my motley collection of vintage ornaments.  I soon realized to my chagrin that it was simply not possible to achieve a chic, colour coordinated tree with ornaments gathered over time.  With greater and greater gloom, I looked at photographs of staggeringly beautiful Christmas trees and wondrously decorated homes and thought to myself that my tarnished vintage ornaments and other hand me down pieces could never hold up to such loveliness. 

 Never mind, I consoled myself.  Up onto the tree they go in all of their tarnished, mottled glory.

What matters is the memory of wrapping up warmly, going to the tree lot with a loved one, picking out the perfect one, all the while rubbing one's hands and stamping one's feet against the cold, the precarious, exciting ride home with the tree, and the careful setting up of the tree so that it stands up straight and proud while the room fills with the invigorating scent of pine.   Decorating it with old ornaments that only see the light of day once a year is like visiting with rarely seen good friends.

And, of course, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without jolly Santas.

Or, for that matter, angels, even if their wings are a bit askew and crumpled from being played with too many times.

Wishing all of my lovely readers and friends a Wonderful and Joyous Christmas!

I'm linking up to The Charm of Home, At the Picket Fence, Common Ground, Knick of Time, A Stroll Thru Life.