Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts
Showing posts with label birds. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Vintage Bird Prints in a Spring Cupboard

I have several sets of vintage Bird Prints, but I love that there are four in this set, and they have plain, chippy black frames which make them perfect for a grouping in any room. I wanted to use them in my kitchen cupboard, but they didn't photograph well, so I temporarily hung them from the metal inserts on the front.





I hate to say it, but my "Holiday Cupboard" that I had downstairs at the other house had to be sold. It was part of a lot of my chippy whites that I knew I just wouldn't have room for in our next home. Surprisingly, this cupboard that I had been using in my studio at the other house (now in the kitchen sitting area) has stepped up to the plate to do double duty as an Ironstone and Transferware Cupboard and becoming a "seasonal" spot for display.


















I wanted some Springtime goodies to be displayed, so they are joining some of the Ironstone pieces, an old box with seed print graphics, bird nests, and my bovine beauties.






My two Staffordshire cow figurines and a figural jam pot lovely.




I permanently have stolen, stole, confiscated  borrowed these English crocks from my hubby, for this cupboard. I think he knows they are in there...hmmmm...he may come hunting for them later.





Lamby milkglass butter dish.





You can see that the bird prints are pretty well hidden in here, I may try to find a way to give them a little more height. And I have some vintage wallpaper that I'm itching to cover the backs of the cabinet in. soon I hope...




So this is the best of both worlds; a combined "Holiday Cupboard" AND a Transferware/Ironstone Cupboard. You know the old Certs Mints commercial... "two, two, two cupboards in one!"

I know...I'm crazy...



If you haven't been by The Marketplace lately 
then just CLICK HERE for some shopping fun.

joining in on these parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Swing into Spring at DIY By Design
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
The Scoop at Stone Gable
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life


xoxo,

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Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Studio Vignettes

When we moved over here to the smaller lease house I was really selective about what came with us. All my studio/office furniture came with me except for my big reading chair and ottoman, and my work desk. This "bedroom", is quite a bit smaller, and only necessary items made the cut. But I did need some fun decor to make it feel like home.


I've had several neutral suitcases strewn about the other house, so most of them landed in here. This is just one stack that's sitting on the old punched tin cupboard. My moss covered "O" that used to be on the Entry Hall mirror didn't work here at the new place so it's propped here against these old cases.



The bottom two cases are just a heavy cardboard with a celluloid handle, but their color is wonderful. I doubt that this kind of luggage lasted long back then. The gorilla from the old American Tourister luggage commercial would have destroyed it in one sitting. You have to be over 50 to remember this one...te he.





I still love this commercial after all these years, just brilliant.



Instead of the work table, my little Italianate desk from the Living Room is here. Just big enough for my birdcage, a plant and a few birdie books. We don't see many birdies, but I do hear a mourning dove "couple" each morning early. This room faces north so it has wonderful morning light.







So far, the kitty girls haven't realized there are delicious plants right here, 
I imagine it's just a matter of time.








I just recently found a new pair of wonderful chunky wooden lamps,
I'll share those soon.


This is the top of the tv armoire. More edible cat snacks up here, but it's kinda high, so they're too lazy to try to find a way up here.


I stashed my camera lens and books in the make-up case. I love these old "train cases", and have collected a few, this one has it's owner's initials in gold, "V.M.B."


Do you make up names for mysterious monogrammed items?
Victoria Mae Billingsly...
Veronica Marie Barnes...
Violet Mabel Barker...
Velma Martha Burgess...


I'll show you the rest of the room when it's presentable. Right now since I'm short on space, my ironing board is in here. Nothing like an ironing board to ruin a wonderful vintage sanctuary. 

I hate to iron...about as much as I hate to dust.


It's warm today, but back in the '40's tomorrow,
brrr...

sincerely,
Virginia Martinia Benedict
aka

joining in for these great parties:
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Inspiration Exchange at City Farmhoue
Share Your Cup with Mrs. Olson
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Sweet and Simple Friday at Rooted in Thyme
Shabbilicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique
Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life
The Scoop at Stone Gable
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life





Sunday, February 23, 2014

A little gift...

We spent yesterday over at the old house packing, like we have for the last several weekends, and I'm sure for the next few months... I have to say it's slow going. The house is a mess, we're working hard but the pace is just tedious. When it's quiet and I'm working by myself my mind starts to wander and I think about what was happening last year at this time. What was I doing, and what was I blogging about? What was taking up my focus, was I "happy" and appreciating each day? Did I realize that in just a few months I would be in the middle of this seeming chaos?



Today was a little sad for some reason, I took out bird seed for the locals, but there were only my two little cardinals that came down to feed. I miss the birds and even the rotten squirrels that hang around and gobble everything up. I miss my daily routine, I miss my view from the kitchen window, that kept me up on what was happening with the weather and who was hanging out at the feeder. Even though I'm looking forward to the good things that are coming, I'm realizing that it doesn't hurt to hold those things from the past close to your heart.

I looked back through my photo gallery and here are some pics from exactly a year ago today. Funny, I didn't show this little needlework piece at that time. It didn't seem all that interesting, just an unsigned little work that wasn't particularly artistic or "good". It has been hanging on my kitchen wall for at least 5 years, and I've read it many times, but today looking back and seeing it in a photo, it spoke to me in a more meaningful way.



 This is what was happening exactly a year ago, a terrible day of snow and sleet, and some hungry little critters.


See my little girl friend under the wagon?
It was really coming down and she was taking shelter from the storm.



Goldfinches, Purple finches, Wrens, and Bluebirds.
















One of my sweet girls enjoying the view with me.




Just wanted to share this day with you, just wanted to share that little thought with you; that each day is indeed a gift. We might not know the importance of it at the moment, but looking back with a different perspective, we see that it truly is a blessing. And maybe, hopefully, in a year from now, I will look back at yesterday and see that day for what it really was.

If you haven't entered the Give Away with French Bleu Vintage, then click here. Adrian has so many beautiful things in her store. She's giving away a $35.00 Gift Certificate and has a 25% sale going on storewide. Hope you'll run by for a vist.

 joining in on these great parties:

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings
Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Make it a special day,
xoxo,

Sunday, January 12, 2014

knowing the right time...

Just wanted to check in with everyone, since my last post was on Thursday morning. We picked up the keys to the new "little house" Friday afternoon. Funny that I'm calling it "the little house". When hubbs and I first were married we lived in a gardener's cottage on my parents property...we called it "the little house".  This would be a mansion in comparison to our tiny first house. Just one big room with a little bedroom that was heated with an old time gas heater. We were so happy: we didn't care where we lived.




We did a walk-thru Friday and realized that the carpets had not been cleaned so we spent most of the day Saturday over there doing that. I've said it before and I'll say it again, gotta have my Bissell Carpet Cleaner. It's saved the day on more than one occasion. We should have been here packing, but I have a pet peeve about dirty floors...'nough said.




I had to show these pics of one of my sweet birdies that I've been feeding during all the ice and snow of the last two weeks. I grabbed the camera and caught these. The setting is off, but I wanted to share them with you, anyway. The snow is almost melted and we're supposed to have a 60 degree afternoon...yay! Anyway, I kept seed out for the little guys (Juncos and Sparrows) and some ornery squirrels, it was grand central all day around the feeders. I'm going to miss these little guys, but then again, I'll be at this house a lot because we still have packing and sorting and getting ready for a sale to do. We'll be back and forth working at both houses. Our new house is a temporary one, we have a year's lease, but we hope to have some set plans by then. 




Do you ever have an understanding of God's timing? It's hard to put into words, but I know you know what I mean. By our own thinking this wouldn't be the right timing to take a big step. Hubbs had inner ear surgery for Meniere's Disease, (he's much much better) in April, and I've had several rounds in the hospital with blood clots in my arteries next to my heart (I'm better too)...not a good time to plan several moves. But we just knew that the timing was now to get started with this transition...moving into a smaller lease house, getting rid of some of the "stuff" that's been cluttering up our lives. We had a flea market business for about 8 years, and during those years too much "stuff" came home with us. We knew that now was the time to lighten up and get freed up of some things...for some new things. Not just material; but emotional, and spiritual baggage that has held us in one place for awhile. We're starting to feel like this little bird...

This is the scripture verse that has been the center of my thoughts this last week.


Version: RSV
Isaiah 40:28-31

28. Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary, his understanding is unsearchable. 29. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. 30. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; 31. but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.



...have a good Sunday.

Joining in here:

Inspire Me at A Stroll Thru Life
The Scoop at StoneGable



xoxo,

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