Pretty in Pink

Thanks to my sweet husband, my computer is up and running again. He's a "computer savvy guy", so he knows who to call when there's a problem. YAY!!

This post is long overdue, by about 2 weeks, actually, since that's been how long ago my Peonies were in bloom. I've waited for several years for them to mature and they rewarded me this year with some lovely fat, ruffled, oh-so-heavenly blooms. 

They needed a special vase,

 and I thought that this antique pink Depression Glass Biscuit Jar

 showed them off to perfection.

I'm not really a "pastel" person, but this wonderful soft pink had me thinking of ways to show them off. My one nod to pink in decor is in my love for rosy-posies patterned vintage china, so a little impromptu garden tote filled with my mismatched pieces was the answer.

A pink plaid vintage "luncheon cloth" was the foundation.

Over the years I've collected several different pink floral patterns

 of salad and dessert plates 

that I just keep stacked in the Dining Room. 

I also brought out two of my Heisey etched glassware goblets

 for a little more lacey feminine charm.

Vintage floral embroidered tea towels serve as napkins, 

with mismatched dessert silver.

In an update to the yard mess from the storm, we were able to get most of it cleaned up, but it took our Father's Day to get it all done. Lousy timing, but glad that we had that day to do it. At least I can look out on my deck now and not want to cry. I'm sure most everything will be back blooming in a week or two. Just seeing these photos makes me feel better...

I'll be joining in on these great weekly parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Homework Wednesday at The Everyday Home
DIY by Design
From My Front Porch to Yours
Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
No Minimalist Here
TTT at Stone Gable

xoxo,

Of Roses and Redoute...

Last weekend I shared some photos of the front yard, and a Knockout Rose bush that is blooming profusely this year. Our yard has two levels and this bush is nestled in a little grotto area that is shared by a much used bird bath and surrounded by Black-eyed Susans.

I thought I'd clip a few sprigs of blooms and bring them inside to enjoy up close.

I thought they'd feel at home in this petite Staffordshire Crown China teapot, trimmed out in a lacy pink pattern of flowers with gold trim.

I  also just recently found this little white chippy box and thought it might work for one of my "Vintage Seed Box" embellishments. Spring and Roses go together beautifully with one of my two vintage Redoute framed prints from the 40's, that I had on my baker's rack on the sunporch.

Below, I included some interesting information about Redoute. Knowing a little about the artist makes these beautiful prints all the more interesting.

 Pierre-Joseph Redouté (10 July 1759 in Saint-Hubert, Belgium – 19 June 1840 in Paris), was a Belgian painter and botanist, known for his watercolours of roses, lilies and other flowers at Malmaison. He was nicknamed "The Raphael of flowers".

He was an official court artist of Queen Marie Antoinette, and he continued painting through the French Revolution and Reign of Terror. Redouté survived the turbulent political upheaval to gain international recognition for his precise renderings of plants, which remain as fresh in the early 21st century as when first painted.

Paris was the cultural and scientific centre of Europe during an outstanding period in botanical illustration (1798 – 1837), one noted for the publication of several folio books with coloured plates. Enthusiastically, Redouté became an heir to the tradition of the Flemish and Dutch flower painters Brueghel, Ruysch, van Huysum and de Heem. Redouté contributed over 2,100 published plates depicting over 1,800 different species, many never rendered before.

 Marie Antoinette became his patron. Redouté received the title of Draughtsman and Painter to the Queen's Cabinet. In 1798, Empress Joséphine de Beauharnais, the first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, became his patron and, some years later, he was her official artist. 

What perfection is found within the bloom of a rose.

My heart is heavy with all the devastation in Oklahoma. We are in the same "tornado alley" as they are. Storms start in North Texas and then take the northeast route each Spring. Many of us here in Missouri have basements, but Oklahoma has so much bedrock that basements aren't incorporated into a home's structure; not much comfort, but a little. I'm praying for all those who have lost so much in these storms this week.

I'll be linking up to these parties this week:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Stone Gable
House Party at No Minimalist Here
Rooted in Thyme
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
Shabby Art Boutique
Jennifer Rizzo
Craftberry Bush

xoxo,

Sunporch switcheroo...

or...

I can't make up my mind.

but more on that momentarily.

First I want to show you a sweet pillow that my talented and creative friend Judy Clark sent me awhile back. Judy's blog is 20 North Ora and she has an Etsy Shop by the same name. I featured Judy's wonderful Mother's Day Memory Pillows yesterday at The Marketplace. If you haven't seen them you'll want to grab one for your mom or yourself. Each season I tuck in something that reflects the mood or holiday of the season. This month that cute little pocket is filled with vintage French seed labels, and sitting out here in the sunporch.

Don't tell anyone,

but I take out my frustrations on my sunporch decor.

That may sound a little weird, but when I need a change or to freshen things up, this is where I usually head. I've been fantasizing thinking of new sofas for the living room, but that's not a reality at this moment, so it's much easier and less expensive to come out here and change up the quilts.

The sunporch is my playroom.

My homemade vintage seed boxes are here on the baker's rack..

along with my only two pieces of Bluebird China;

Little cups sans saucers.

I found this little oval birdie tin a few years ago,

I think it might be a "See's Candy" promo candy tin.

one side...

then the other.

The weather has been so strange;

80's and sunny one day and snowing the next.

I think we have missed most of Spring and will now head right in to Summer.

I tried a few other quilts on the wicker settee, 

but they didn't stay long.

too much red for May...

maybe later in the season.

Love this Grandmother's Flower Garden Quilt from my m-i-l,

but I needed sunglasses.

but in the end they were too bright and summery for now.

so I opted for a feedsack quilt and my "go to" floral and ticking pillows.

There is a floral on the other side of this little quilted throw,

but I changed it our for the little geometric stripe instead.

My three little glass and iron nesting tables,

and my chalkware French Girl lamp.

I always have some Ivy "taking root" in this little English Cottage Teapot.

And this is the coffeetable as it looks this morning with the picnic tin and old tools...

OK, I'm feeling better...

do you have a spot that you wear out changing up?

therapy session now in progress...

I'm joining in for these great weekly parties:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Tidbits and Tips at Stone Gable

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
Blissful Whites at Timewashed
House Party at No Minimalist Here
TTT at Stone Gable
From My Front Porch to Yours
The Charm of Home
French Country Cottage
Jennifer Rizzo

Mod Mix Monday at Mod Vintage Life

xoxo,