Tuesday Display Chain ~ You Light Up My Life~

Each Tuesday Misi, of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her "Tuesday Display Chain" by featuring items from their collections. The theme this week is "You Light Up My Life".

I took these photos in the early quiet of morning.

~An ironstone canning jar turned lamp atop the buttery~

 ~A star sconce reflects the light of a nubby candle in the living room~

~An old hymnal illuminated by candlelight~

~A redware lamp brightens up a corner in the living room~

~ Dinner by "Candlelight" in the kitchen~

~We'll keep the light on for you~

Until next time...

 1890gablehousemusings.blogspot.com

Ordinary Days

It's been a busy week. Between attending the Simple Goods show, hosting a group of homeschoolers, teaching a friend to sew, blog deadlines, surprise parties, and doctor appointments, I feel like I hit the ground running and haven't stopped. Tomorrow I will sit with a friend who has just had surgery and later in the week I will enjoy luncheon with a group of high school classmates. In between my daily chores I'll try to squeeze in a little stitching. These are the ordinary things that make up my days. As my Auntie used to say "It's better to wear out than to rust out."

I love Ohio...and Simple Goods was, as always, a primitive feast for the senses. Of course they don't allow photos to be taken inside, so you'll have to trust me when I say that it was wonderful. I saw some really beautiful old things and some new things made to look old. I talked with some talented and lovely people. I coveted a red wool petticoat that sold for $400...out of my budget for petticoats, but marvelous all the same. I didn't actually buy very much. My biggest purchase was some old striped floral fabric, perfect for making sewing rolls. 

I also bought this tiny grain painted box from Derek Schmidt of T.F.C. Folk Art.  I added the funny little strawberry on top. It's not attached, I just like the way it looks perched up there.

  One of the things that has kind of become a Simple Goods tradition is that Emily brings a fun and creative project to share with us. This year we spend the evening before the show playing with paper dolls. This project was so much fun that I think I might try it on my own sometime. Here's what I came up with.

~A masked mermaid and a Victorian dog/angel~

~Downtown Granville, Ohio~

Another tradition is a trip south to Granville, just a short drive from Mt. Vernon through the picturesque rolling, farmland of Ohio. Granville reminds me of the fictional town of Stars Hollow, and just might be the cutest place on earth. You won't find Luke's Diner, but you will find great coffee at The Village Coffee Company. In Granville the people are friendly, the shops are wonderful and the pie is homemade.

One of the main reasons for our pilgrimage to Granville is a visit to Green Velvet. 

The entrance hints at what you'll find inside.

Green Velvet is luxurious, and sparkly...a girlie girl's paradise.

The shop was all decked out for the holidays season.

~Spools of beautiful ribbon at Green Velvet~

~Pastel Vintage Glass Ornaments~

~Wonderful soaps and perfumes~

~More Sparkle~

We always try to stop in at some of the really great antique malls on route 70 near Springfield, Ohio on our way home.

Look at this great storefront seed display.

~A wonderful early basket~

 Doesn't this this old blue cupboard have a fabulous finish?

I found this small chest which will serve as a jewelry box after it's painted. It has two working drawers and the top opens to reveal a nice bit of storage. 

And suggestions on what color I should paint it?

 And last but not least...This little wooden tray once painted, will become a sewing caddy.

I have lots more to show you, but I'd like you to be awake for it.

Until next time... 

Simply Good Weekend

I'm one of the lucky ones. I'll be attending the Simple Goods primitive show this weekend with two of my dearest friends. I hope you'll stop by the Mercantile Gatherings Magazine table to say "Hello"...or just tug on my sleeve in the crowd and introduce yourself. See you there!

Until next time...

Peek-A-Boo~Tuesday Display Chain

Each Tuesday, Misi of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her 'Tuesday Display Chain' by featuring items from their collections. This week Robyn of PrimLish chose a theme in keeping with the Halloween Spirit. The theme this week is Peek-A-Boo.

Primitive lovers everywhere understand the need to hide away all those pesky modern conveniences that take away from the rustic ambiance of our homes. I admit, when we lived in the farmhouse, I camouflaged everything from the toaster to the cat inside of crocks and under wooden crates. These days my small appliances are tucked away in the "appliance shed" built specifically for that purpose. Now I'm more about finding attractive storage and hiding clutter.

The buttery measures 8' x 13.5' and basically covers the entire back wall of our kitchen. It provides great storage and also creates a fun space to display a multitude of goodies. On one side, decor items that are currently out of rotation are stored in the lower cabinet behind the curtain...and on the other; I keep lights and props for taking photos.

And in the middle section...

We keep the dog food out of sight, but still easily accessible. You can't fool Murray.

And speaking of Prim Dog Murray...

He hides his toys in an old firkin.

And situated conveniently next to the front door...

This little five drawer cabinet houses dog leashes, harnesses etc. (Sensing a trend yet?)

Paper clutter is one of my pet peeves. I detest "piles". Mr. Kattywhompus solved my problem with this Craiglist purchase last year at Mother's Day. My "vintage" Habersham Plantation secretary has drawers and cubbies aplenty. Now ya see it...

Now ya don't.

In the living room I hide books, magazines and rug hooking supplies in the dry sink next to the sofa.

 

Things I use are close at hand, but no piles!

 The little drawer is perfect for stowing hand sewing supplies.

This boxy stagecoach trunk is the perfect place to store my bulky rug hooking frame, along with bags of cut wool "worms".

Trust me...it's in there-under the linen background.

And last, but not least...nope, not a breadbox.

I no longer have to search for light bulbs, specialty nails or fasteners. I keep them at my fingertips...ready to hang a picture or change a bulb.

I hope you've enjoyed today's Display Chain. Hop on over to Robyn's blog  to see the other fabulous contributors! 

Until next time...

A Merry All Hallows Eve to You

Eye of newt, and toe of frog. Wool of bat, and tongue of dog.

Adder's fork, and blind-worm's sting.

Lizard's leg, and owlets wing.

For a charm of powerful trouble, like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

~From Shakespeare's Macbeth~

Heartfelt Thanks

Sometimes when you see wonderful handwork, you just instinctively know that the person behind it is every bit as beautiful as their work. That's Julie. Through blogs and email, Julie & I have become friends...she is one of those kindred souls that I wish lived next door. When I think that we may never have "met" if it weren't for the www, I'm thankful to live in the age we live in. 

Yesterday, a package arrived in my mailbox. Inside was the prize I won on Julie's very generous blog giveaway. Of course I was excited about winning...but I really had no idea HOW excited I was about to be! When I opened the package it smelled of cinnamon and spices...mmmm. When I carefully pulled back the paper I saw this...

Honestly, I wasn't prepared for just how wonderful Julie's work is. Her attention to detail is remarkable, and her stitching and finishing are meticulous. Add to that my love for sewing 'accoutrements' and that it's a make-do heart (one of my favorite things)...well, you can just imagine how pleased I was with my prize. So of course I took a few photos to show off Julie's work in it's new home.

My heartfelt thanks for your generous gift Julie. I'm thrilled to display something made by your hand in our home. It's my newest treasure.

Visit Julie online here: 

http://primitiveheartstrings.blogspot.com/  

OR here:

http://www.picturetrail.com/my.primitive.heart

 You'll be glad you did.

Until next time...

Tuesday Display Chain- Souvenir

Each Tuesday, Misi of Gable House Musings, chooses a theme and invites bloggers to play along with her 'Tuesday Display Chain' by featuring items from their collections. The theme this week is "Souvenir."

A souvenir, French for memory, describes a memento or keepsake brought back by a traveler for the memories associated with it.

The things I typically bring back from my travels (which are few, and not very glamorous) are bits of moss, rocks, leaves and flowers pressed into books. If I have a bit of spending money I will I treat myself to one beautiful thing to remember my adventures.

Pictured below is one of those things. This is a fraktur I purchased at the Simple Goods Primitive Show  the year before last. Painted on the cover of an ancient book, it has become one of my treasures.

 Here's a closer look. Aren't the colors lovely?

The next item is a souvenir from a trip to Walt Disney World when I was a girl. It's a jam jar. Tell me, what kind of a young girl brings THIS back from the land of Mickey Mouse? I was an odd kid.

In my early married days I collected Tea Cups & Saucers. I had shelves full of them. All but a few, that I feel especially sentimental about, have found new homes. This is a favorite, featuring scenes from Mackinac Island, in Michigan.

Arch Rock, The Grand Hotel, and The Old Block House encircle the sides of cup.

I think it's the lacy edge and cottage roses that endear it to me.

And this last souvenir is just for fun. Some of you may not know that Mr. Kattywhompus and I have been sweethearts since the 8th grade. I know...adorable, and a little disgusting. 

This is something he won at the county fair way back when. I'm sure my mother was thrilled when I displayed it in my bedroom. It still makes me laugh (as does Mr. Kattywhompus) when I see it among the pretties in my little studio.

I hope you've enjoyed today's Display Chain. Hop on over to Misi's blog to see the other fabulous contributors! Until next time...