Mid Summer Mantel

I know you all have been waiting for the next installment of 

"The Summer Mantel". 

Sort of like how we're waiting for the next season of Downton Abbey...right? (I hope you all know that I'm a "kidder" from waaaay back) I guess that it's safe to say that it's "mid" summer, now that we're into the middle of July. 

And once it's past the July 4th holiday, and those wonderful little Black-Eyed-Susans start blooming, then I have to hold myself back from going Sunflower crazy.

A few weeks ago, on the way back from St. Louis we stopped at one of our favorite Antique Malls, Artichoke Annie's in Columbia, Missouri. It's a real quality mall; big, and full of great antiques. No "garage sale" items here. I saw tons of things I loved but I'm really watching what I buy, so my only purchase was a piece of Majolica; a small dessert plate that would match the other few pieces that I have.

Once I had that new plate,

I had enough to put together a little grouping on the mantel.

I love the wonderful colors of Majolica, 

mine all have the gold and green in common.

Even with chips, it's still collectible and doesn't break the bank.

The colors of the pottery play off the silk Sunflower and Rudbeckia

(part of the Daisy family) that are now in the Wolff  Pottery vases.

A little English Cottage metal doorstop sits in the middle.

These sunny warm colors are my go-to colors of late Summer.

I'm lovin' this Summery display, so it just might stick around 

for the next episode; the "Late Summer" mantel...

And here are a few pics of what's happening in the rest of the Living Room.

And here's my little Italian desk in the corner.

It doesn't make an appearance very often.

Sunflowers have popped up in other places too,

so stay tuned for some changes in the Dining Room.

I'll be joining in for these parties this week:

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Tips and Tutorials at Stone Gable

Inspiration Gallery at Ella Claire

DIY by Design

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

From My Front Porch to Yours

The Charm of Home

French Country Cottage

Shabby Art Boutique

Jennifer Rizzo

Craftberry Bush

xoxo,

Patriotic Sunporch and a little Serendipity...

Happy Weekend Everyone!

This was a big week for the little sunporch, as Kim from Savvy Southern Style asked me to share "My Favorite Room" with her readers. (Thankyou, each and every one of you who left such sweet comments, they made my week!) I've mentioned before, that I use this blog as a sort of "photo diary" of what I've been doing, and decor around the house. Since I didn't post the sunporch photos here on my own blog, that's what this post is about...and a couple of funny "serendipitous" findings.

You all know that I love to keep things changed up out here on the porch, and most of that change comes from trading out quilts and pillows for the base of my color scheme. I get excited for each new Holiday and Season and the sunporch reflects those seasonal changes.

For this July 4th Holiday and the Summer Season, I knew I wanted to use different pillows for the little white wicker settee. I had it in my head that they needed to be a red floral. (are you like me, and get a mental picture in your noggin about what it needs to be, and then it's hard to do anything else?)

So my hunt for red floral pillows began; I spent hours on Etsy looking for red. floral. pillows. I finally found two that were wonderful, pretty much what I had been looking for, but with shipping they were going to cost over $80. OK, it's worth it to get the ones that will be "just right". I was about to hit the purchase button when I realized...good grief...they were almost identical to the red fruit and floral pillows I have in storage from "Big Red", the sofa downstairs. duh...so I hunted down the extra set and saved myself some money. I love mixing patterns, and my black ticking pillows match almost everything that I pair them with. Love the red floral and fruit with the ticking stripe. OK...done.

Last week I put a few of my blue transferware cups and saucers out as a little grouping in one of my strawberry totes. I just grabbed anything with blue on it. Around here, blue is in short supply. The 4th of July is the only time I use blue, so I don't have a lot. Anyhoo, I have stacks of mismatched dishes and I just went through them to pull out the ones for a little patriotic display here on the porch.

This set is "Mason's Fruit Basket" from England.

But look what else I found...

a little set of dessert dishes that I've never used.

and of all things...

They are "Martha Washington" from E.C. Company.

I bought them for the little dove design.

Patriotic indeed!

I recently brought out the old hooked floral rug from my studio. It has seen many better days and has a permanent crease/wrinkle problem that I may or may not have tripped over numerous times...so now it's out here and not a health hazard to anyone that might be slightly accident prone...just sayin'.

An old linen lunch hamper filled with my little French Girl lamp,

 an ivy, old gardening tools, a wire basket and a white tole tray.

...and the baker's rack with some summer goodies.

This Sunshine Biscuit Tin depicting "the first note of the Liberty Bell". 

and this old blue lunch box with some red transferware on top.

and an old birdhouse...

and in the other corner...

an old wicker rocker with my conservatory on top of a dresser

 that had been my Dad's as a little boy.

I've always loved this canvas piece. It's not old, and I think from Guild Masters about 13 years ago. It reminds me of toile and red transferware, and is entitled "The Aviary".

So that's a wrap on the Patriotic Sunporch for July 2013.

I'm already thinking about what's coming next...

The Patriotic Party is still going strong,

and I'll be picking some faves, so don't hesitate to add your links.

I'm known for choosing at least one of the features

 from the last few entries...

joining in for these parties:

Amaze Me Monday at Dwellings

Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House

The Scoop at Confessions of a Plate Addict

Met Monday on Between Naps on the Porch

Knick of Time Tuesday

Savvy Southern Style

DIY By Design

Hope you're having a sunny and warm weekend,

xoxo,

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,