Vintage Inspiration Friday # 9: Setting a Fall Table

I can't tell you how long I've wanted to do this,

and how badly I've wanted to share these photos

since the day I had this fun little outing.

Each year Country Living and Country Home Magazines

would put together these fantastic outdoor table settings for Fall;

those magical tables and settings

have been my inspiration for these photos.

Our subdivision is adjacent to a lovely large lake and park,

with many acres of picnic facilities, gorgeous landscaped hills,

dense forests full of deer, and bike and running paths...

The perfect place for an impromptu sunset dinner for two.

(notice the old ceiling tiles that I used for placemats?)

Thanks so much for sharing my fantasy...

You should have seen us rushing across the field

 trying to catch the last of the gorgeous light.

My husband with a dolly loaded with a table

 and my two newly painted chairs...

and a trash bag full of leaves

pilfered from our neighbor's gorgeous maple tree!

And me with the picnic basket and a load of other "junk"

under each arm.

We were quite the team. LOL!

When we got there we were both out of breath

and to my horror they had just mowed and mulched,

so not a leaf to be found.

That is why the leaves are only in front. ha ha!

right where we dumped them.

oh well,

we had a lot of fun!

Thanks so much for coming by,

hope you'll join in for

Vintage Inspiration Friday.

Any Inspiration is welcomed.

I'd love for you to grab the button and share with others

where to come for the vintage fun

 by linking up within your post. : )

Next week I'll announce the winner of the Necklace Give Away.

You're automatically entered if you are a participant in VIF.

Edited on October 6, 2011 to link with

So Thank You in advance for participating!!

love,

Debra

www.thriftydecorchick.com

Show and Tell Friday: Enchanted Gardens

Over the Christmas holidays I was introduced

to the miniature world of Enchanted Gardens.

 I was reminded of being newly married and

being mesmerized with constructing terrariums.

At that time a large antique glass bottle

 was my playground filled with small plants,

 rocks, and nature's tiny objects.

 My older daughter who has always

 loved miniatures of any kind; dollhouses, toys,

 ephemera, etc. found these at one of our favorite shops

 and proceeded to build herself

 a tiny paradise in a clay pot.

Me too, me too, I thought,

 I'd have some fun in those cold and dreary days of winter.

Angel vine is my plant of choice of late,

so angel vine it was.

A wire bench, clay pots, tiny watering can,

 birdhouse, and an urn.

They all came home with me.

Let us not forget the trellis which

completes itself with a fairy size chandelier.

Within days I had seen an article

in one of my favorite magazines,

"Midwest Living", that added to my inspiration.

So my clay pot found a home

 in one of my metal lunchboxes;

this one in a hexagonal design.

It's found a home in my kitchen,
out of the way of the gray fur babies reach.

My friend Debra Moore,

who owns Inspirational Home, here in Springfield,

 carries an extensive line of Fairy Garden elements.

Shhhhhh......it even includes the fairies.

I'm linking up with Inspirational Home's Shop Blog

so that you can see all the fun over there!

And if you haven't entered my

 Royal Treatment GiveAway,

there's still time!

Click Here

to join in the fun.

Today, I'm participating with Cindy from

 My Romantic Home

for

 Show and Tell Friday

And I'm also linking with Laurie for her

My Favorite Things Saturday

 

 

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Yard work and some flowers are on my agenda!

love,

Debra

The Magic of Paperwhites

A few years ago I discovered the beauty and magic of paperwhites. To me they epitomize the grace, tranquility, and delicacy, that says "Christmas".

Three years ago I started gathering vintage sugar bowls and creamers, pots and kitchen bowls, humble mismatched cups and vases; containers of every kind. I planted paperwhites and sold them at the store and gave them away to family and friends. I enjoyed it so much, they were great gifts, so this year I did the same.

These next two photos are of last year in my space at Leola's.

Milk glass and pottery and ironstone cups.

An old bread pan with checked ribbon, a little more primitive.

I think I had around thirty containers full.

This year I planted twelve bulbs in a green

transferware vegetable bowl for the Dining Room.

Christmas coffee mugs with a paperwhite bulb

I had four of these matching mugs,

 they went as small gifts.

I tied them with plaid ribbon

 and attached a "mitten" ornament and tag.

Old Staffordshire blue transferware soup tureen,

 missing it's lid, found for just a few dollars.

A little over a week ago...

And today.

Shabby china sugar bowl.

And old McCoy cream planter in the kitchen.

Paperwhite Narcissus are really easy to grow. Just find a container that doesn't drain, because they need to stay moist at all time. Place some pea gravel in the bottom, with about 2 inches of potting soil mix, then nestle the bulb, root down in the soil. Water and keep in a bright spot. You will be amazed at how fast they grow. Paperwhites bulbs don't keep well, so I just discard them after bloom time. Buy several bulbs and plant at alternating times. You can have them all winter long!

Are you finished with all your shopping?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Debra

Meet an Old Friend

I have an old friend that lives in my family room,

He's a quiet unassuming little fellow.

My parents bought him for me when I was just a baby,

as he had been gifted to others years and years before.

I brought him up to the Dining Room where the light is better. I'm so glad my parents didn't repaint him or change him. He was given to me again back in the early 80's. I didn't remember him, but he had been kept safe in the loft of my Dad's garage workshop. I'm so glad that we were reunited all those years ago. He has been a joy to have, and each time I see him I think who might have climbed upon his little sturdy body and ridden off into the world of their imagination.

May you remember lovely images

of your childhood Christmases,

 Debra