Christmas China Cabinet and a Winner!

When you go through a move you just have to expect that things will change. Room sizes, function, and wanting a different look all cause the upset of the proverbial apple cart...even down to kitchen cabinets, dishes, and how you display things. While we were at the lease house, I used my vintage pie safe in the kitchen to display some seasonal and holiday items along with a frequently changing array of transferware and ironstone. But I decided to use the pie safe downstairs for a kitchen grouping, and bring back my Antique White China Cabinet that matches the table and chairs.

The China Cabinet and table and chairs had been in storage this last year, so I was really glad to see them all again!

In the past I'd had my French Faience in this cabinet with my blue crystal and odds and ends of floral teapots, cups and saucers, and some Depression Glass. But when we moved and the "Holiday Cupboard" was sold (boo hoo) I needed a place to decorate seasonally with dishes and to enjoy my different sets of Transferware.

I put out my Brown Transferware when we first moved in this Fall. I kept thinking I'd change it out for the Red but time got away from me. So there are only a few red pieces on display. But I added some Christmas fun with vintage bottle brush trees and a few of my Putz Houses. My cows and creamers, and then lot's of vintage ornaments are making it a little more Christmas-y.

Doesn't everyone need a few "Christmas Cows"?

These two vintage egg cups are perfect bottle brush tree holders.

I mainly have bits and pieces, not full sets of my Transferware, but since I mix and match, it all gets stacked together.

More Christmas details from around the house, coming soon.

 If you missed my Christmas Home Tour, 

you can check it out here.

Time to announce the winner of the 

$100 Gift Certificate from Treetopia...

Congrats to Julie Marie from Idyllhours, 

She was one who guessed correctly,

 It was the Moonlight White Tree.

thanks to everyone who entered!!

Joining in at these party places:

Cedar Hill Farmhouse for The Scoop

A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday

Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday

Coastal Charm for Show and Share

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

Hope you're having a great week,

xoxo,

My New, Old Cupboard

I still have boxes sitting around, but last weekend I just had to unpack my ironstone and transferware. Each time I'd look at my cupboard in my new little sitting area, it called my name. So, the bathroom and office could wait. I needed to have some fun with dishes.

I debated on using my red transferware in the upper cabinet since it's close to Valentine's Day, but since I'd never styled my brown, the brown won out. As I've mentioned before, I don't have "sets" of any pattern, although the "Old Britain Castle" by Johnson Brothers is probably my favorite. Some of the plates have chips, but that wouldn't keep me from using them for display...just use a well placed sugar bowl or pitcher and no one's the wiser.

The ceilings here are high, so that gives more room for some displayed items on top... yay. One of my antique laundry baskets that received a whitewash last year is holding my boxwood wreath, an ironstone tureen, and some ironstone platters. I'm thinking "Spring" in here, so an old watering can, some clay pots, and a ivy topiary are squeezed in.

You might not be able to see her, 

but a little birdie is nesting in a clay flower pot.

I still have more brown at the other house that needs to be packed, but I only took what I hoped would fit in the cupboard. It's a little jammed in, but I wanted as much to enjoy as possible.

Some barnyard cows are here too, the brown and white one in the back is Meissen, very old, with a faint crossed swords mark and "Germany" engraved on his side. He/she has a horn busted and shows some wear, and I can't remember where I found it, but I knew he was valuable. He only cost a few dollars.

I'm not sure about the all white mamma and baby, but they are also bisque porcelain, although I can't find any markings. I don't know that I'd ever shown these, they were in my powder room at the other house. This is a Cordon Blue creamer, but an older and more detailed one than most.

No markings on this cutie.

I stole  permanently borrowed these cream and marmalade jars from my husband's crockery collection to include in the cupboard. He collects Civil War era pottery, crocks, and bottles, etc. Actually, he was collecting demi johns before they became so trendy. You'll see those too, soon...on the fireplace hearth, I think. 

So here's the bottom part of the cupboard; it's housing my red transferware for now and more misfit ironstone and brown transferware. I have to get the rest of it together and see how much I can fit in without totally breaking those shelves. I still have a load of green and a few pieces of blue. yikes. 

I don't have room to leave the doors open in here, but a few times a day I peek inside, and smile. I've wanted a dish display cupboard for ages. (Ever since I sold my first antique pie safe about 15 years ago.) Who knew moving to a smaller house would get me one?

Things are coming together over here. It's a little frustrating at times since there are some changes that I would like to make if this house was mine, but I'm having to do my best to camouflage them and work around them. 

I thought about starting off this post by saying how dang cold it is, but you all know that. Hope you're staying warm and inside with a fire and some hot tea or cocoa...I know I am.

joining in with these party people:

Savvy Southern Style

City Farmhouse

Timewashed

Mrs. Olson

From My Front Porch to Yours

Jennifer Rizzo

French Country Cottage

Shabby Art Boutique

The Charm of Home

Stone Gable

Cozy Little House

A Stroll Thru Life

Coastal Charm

love ya bunches,

Today's Sponsor

Bel Monili

Repurposing a Cupboard

We're down to the last few days of packing, and I've been trying to mentally place furniture at the new little house. I have a much larger eat-in kitchen area there than I have here, (but no Dining Room) so I'm going to use a few different pieces of furniture in there. I've had to rethink the furniture layout to use pieces that are good for storage. One piece that I want to use is this old pie safe that I had in my studio, that I used for craft supplies and storage. It will be holding my Ironstone and Transferware. I need a good cupboard that I can "play with".

The inside was dirty and stained so I gave it a few coats of off white paint to clean it up. It's hard to see but instead of glass it has what used to be gold grillwork. I just painted the metal white with a brush. In this photo my Brown Transferware tureen is auditioning for a spot.

Here are some examples of inspiration from my Pinterest Board, Cupboards.

You can find all the sources on that board.

I'm looking forward to having this to decorate seasonally. 

I already have ideas for Valentine's Day and Easter...

I'll be hosting Be Inspired this Thursday morning, hope to see you there. We'll be moving over the weekend, so I'll be out of Internet for a bit, but I'll hopefully be back by the end of next week. Say a prayer for us, we'll need lot's of help!

Joining in with wonderful parties:

Inspiration Exchange at City Farmhouse

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Blissful White Wednesday at Timewashed

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters

xoxo,

Just a Little Christmas on the Sideboard

Since I'm not hosting Thanksgiving Dinner this year, I caved to the pressure of starting my Christmas decorating early. (and I'm so glad I did) I think most of us have realized that to get to enjoy the Christmas Holiday Season it was going to require us to start before Thanksgiving. There...I admitted it. I just cannot get everything done that I want to do when it's only going to last a few weeks. I still have out my Turkey Platters and a few velvet pumpkins, but they are having to share the limelight with a more Christmas-y vibe.

Here are a few pics from the Hallway Sideboard. I'm not finished, but this is how I'm starting. Some Red Striped Grain Sack Ribbon on my Holly Topiaries with a little blinged out silver for good measure.

Now, since I hadn't had a chance to share Thanksgiving Sideboard with you, Here it is...these are for those photo archives I've been talking about. Each year I look back to see what I've done the year before.

I really love my big vintage window and Pier 1 Scrolly Chalkboard 

as a backdrop for my seasonal displays. It always makes things "pop".

Here's my preserved Boxwood Wreath, simply decorated for Thanksgiving.

I'm working now on changing it out for Christmas.

Say "Hello Handsome" to My Big Boy Tom Turkey 

that I painted white several years ago.

He's Large and in Charge!

I've enjoyed using this black wagon for the last few months of Fall,

but on to something new for the Christmas Season.

I know we're all super busy, but I'll still be doing the Be Inspired Party, just starting on Wednesday instead of Thursday morning. I'm not sure when I'll get the party linky up, but come by if you have a minute and join in, We're gearing up for Christmas! Christmas and Thanksgiving posts both are welcome!!

And for some Shopping fun,

 check out The Marketplace HERE.

The link party is up all week.

Enjoy your week with Family and Friends,

Love you all,

I have so much to be Thankful for,

xoxo

Joining in on these great parties:

DIY It's a Party

From My Front Porch to Yours

The Scoop

Rooted in Thyme

French Country Cottage

Daily Cup at Mrs. Olson's

Shabby Art Boutique

Today's Sponsor

Love Squared Designs