Black Tole Trays

I started collecting black tole trays about 12 years ago when my son-in-law brought me a large reproduction one back from England. He had found it in the gift shop at Buckingham Palace, and from then on I was smitten. Some can be pretty pricey, so I try to look for the bargains. My little collection has steadily grown, but this last few weeks I've been on a roll.

 I found this one on Etsy here at a great price, and was so happy to find it, despite the small areas of rust. It's a pretty good size, and if perfect, these can set you back a penney or two.

I'm sticking with hand-painted ones for now, even if they're a little rusty.

( a little rust never hurts anything anyway! right?)

It's now setting on my double ovens, making a pretty statement.

Before, this smaller one just didn't show up enough.

Then, this last week when Anne and I were out scouring the shops,  I found this one with pink flowers. It's in the Dining Room for now on an old black wooden folding luggage stand.

Then, in St. Louis I came across this one that had pink roses. 

I found a spot on the kitchen counter for this one.

And then a baby one from St. Louis too...

Anne put it here on top of the scales and I think it looks so sweet!

right behind one of my chalkware lambies.

I found this other smaller one a while back,

and it has made it's way to the countertop.

This was from last Fall,

love them lined up on the backsplash.

I've been tempted with other background colors, but there's something about the black ones that just grabs me. I think it's that they remind me of an English Country kitchen, and I love the contrast of the black with the antique white cabinets.

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

Thrifty Finds at Southern Hospitality

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Tuesday Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Cowgirl Up at Cedarhill Ranch

Knick of Time Tuesday

Ivy and Elephants

Primp

Very Merry Vintage Style

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

No Minimalist Here

Brambleberry Cottage

The Vintage Farmhouse

The Charm of Home

Sweet and Simple Friday at Rooted in Thyme

At the Picket Fence

French Country Cottage

2805

Stuff and Nonsense

And be sure and come back Tuesday afternoon for the Blogaversary Give Away. I'll be giving away 3 (yep, 3 of them) copies of Carolyn Westbrook's new book, Through the French Door. See you tomorrow for Monday Marketplace!

xoxo,

Last Weekend's Tips and Tidbits

(say that title fast 3 times)

Being with two professional photographers this last weekend was a little intimidating to say the least. I'm just a bumbler and fumbler in the photography department. Any photo that I get that's good is more of a "happy accident" than I can say that I have a plan and know what I'm doing. So Anne and Elizabeth were shooting away Sunday afternoon when we were wandering the streets of Historic Kimmswick, Missouri. Since it was Father's Day, an Antique and Street Car Show was in progress and I had to look like I was at least partly worthy of their company. I decided I'd take photos of them, instead of trying to compete in their class.

"Dueling Photographers", 

you know, instead of "Dueling Banjos"

For some great photos of these vintage cars from last weekend go by E's (now also known as "Bitsy") If you're squeamish about a bunch of loud mouth gals (no, I didn't say "broads", but I guess that works too) and some horrible pics of me, then don't go there...I've told Bitsy that Anne and I are looking for Payback! If you have a few minutes and don't mind blushing, Elizabeth has a hilarious and "insiders" version of the weekend highlights.

 And  Someone we know has been complaining that my other photograph of the three of us had her so washed out that she looked like a "ghostly apparition", I decided that I'd put a different one out here. Same pose, just a little less manipulation to take the focus off my wrinkles and saggy-baggy, slouchy topside. And hey, what can I say, I had self tanner in my suitcase and these pasty little blondies didn't!

Elizabeth took a few minutes to give me a mini lesson with my camera, and I learned more in 10 minutes than I'd been able to figure out on my own in the last two years. I have to admit, Anne has tried to help me, but she shoots with a Nikon, and I have a Canon. So when I realized that E had a Canon too (mine is not even in the same league as hers), I was excited to see what I could grasp in a short time.

Then when we were back here in Springfield, we ran to Barnes and Noble and I found this book, which Anne swears by, and said helped her figure it all out. Maybe there's hope for me yet. I'm going to put my nose to the grindstone to try to understand at least some of this mumbo jumbo!

Another little tip I wanted to pass on to you is something I think we've all had handed to us by "Blogger", but didn't know how to change. Remember how we used to be able to click on a photo in the blog posts and it would enlarge, and then with another click it would get even bigger? Big enough that we could study even the smallest item in a store display? wow, did I ever miss that and complain about the slide show that replaced it. Which didn't enlarge much of anything...

OK, so Anne told me how to get back to the "Bigify" mode. Go to your Dashboard, then to Settings. Then find the Heading of Posts and Comments. Click on that and go to "Showcase images with Lightbox".

Click on the box and say no, or unclick the box. That will take you back to the original way of viewing individual photographs on the blogs. Oh how I've missed not being able to see all the goodies in a distance or room shot. Thanks Anne!

Anne and James (the best houseguests ever!)

Let me just say something about blogging and friendships...don't ever let anyone tell you they aren't real or important. Meeting Anne after almost three years of phone calls has been nothing short of miraculous. And then to meet up again with Elizabeth after 4 years, and find a friendship, ...well...let's just say that God has plans that sometimes we just don't know exist.

xoxo,

p.s. who of you out there have had Bubble Tea? (an Annie favorite)

and have you choked on them on your maiden voyage?

(Thai concoction of flavored tea with milk and round balls of tapioca)

p.p.s. And if you haven't joined in for Vintage Inspiration Friday,

 it's still going strong, just scroll down to the next post.