Adding a Little Color to My Fall

Today I added a little color to my Fall.

I picked up the place mats at Dollar General.

They were more than flea market price, 

but less than Walmart, and the quality 

was very nice.

I couldn't find matching napkins 

but I found two tans and two fall greens.

They were 25 cents each. 

She said, "Just take 'em."

Yes, FREEBIES!!!

I work with small space.

The centerpiece is a compote and a pumpkin

between two small pumpkins on ironstone. 

I added a pop of color to the ordinarily white vignette.

Ugh..the flowers.

I paid $2 for the lantern.

I have since pulled the silk flowers.

I just can't handle fake in any form or fashion.

I added some burlap and an 

embellishment to a $1 candle. I made two.

I will use these to add some fall to my booth.  

I hung a fall canvas.  

This is the look from the den.

Ughhh. I really need to paint.

Maybe that will be the next project.

Can you tell what I did today?

Bonnie:)

Any Hoarders Out There?

I went pickin' at Cornerstone.

Cornerstone is the shop that I managed for two years. 

The owner left it as-is or was. 

We kinda just walked away from it. 

Done deal!  Out of Business! Just like that!

She's one of my best friends.

We tease her about being a hoarder.

She sold her house a few weeks ago.

She downsized and had major junk treasures

so she had a yard sale.

 Believe me, it looked like she sold the yard.

I found a few goodies.

Don't you love the little plates?

Only two, but a pretty add to my collection.

The silverware was NOT silver and NOT stainless
but certainly vintage.

My granny had odd pieces and so did we.

They may have come in bags of flour during 

the depression years or from the FIVE and TEN.

Probably not worth the 25 cents that I paid, 

but sure are sentimental to me. 

Come to think of it, 25 cents for all 25 pieces,

ain't too bad, huh?

 Of course, the best find was the pitcher.  

I have a similar one, but without the patina. 

This is now my favorite piece.

I sell everything but the kitchen sink, 

you know that. 

My daughter said, "Mama, don't you dare

get rid of the white stuff."

You needn't worry, my sweet.

How many hoarders do we have out there?

Fun! Fun!

Bonnie:)  

Move, Change, Rearrange

Reading blogs makes me want to

move, change, rearrange.

So, I stopped to shake things up a bit.

I knew it wasn't quite right.

It's amazing what just a lift will do.

Which do you like best?

I just love my soup tureen.

I've photographed it before.

This time I seemed to capture

the crackled, aged finish.

I'm off to peek in the windows of my blog buddies. 

Happy Weekend, 

Bonnie:)

I have enough ironstone now to set a table.

I'm looking for just the right tablecloth or place mats. 

I'm linking to http://www.town-n-country-living.com/autumn-abounds-link-party-260-cash-giveaway.html

What Will Fall Look Like

I'm not quite sure what Fall

will look like for me this year. 

I'm never quite sure until I begin.

I painted more jars and got the look I desired. 

I started with lots of foo-foo.

However, less is more for me,

so this

became this.

It still feels like summer here.

When the air becomes cooler and feels like Fall, 

I'll add some color, I'm sure maybe.

Bonnie:)

To share some news...

We have a name!

Harper Elizabeth Grant

Isn't that beautiful.

My heart overfloweth.

A Dried Hydrangea Wreath

Nothing inspiring, just playing around
with a few new and old finds.

I found the dried hydrangea wreath in Juliette for $2.
I use the white-washed wooden box often, and
you're more than likely to find a piece or
 two of ironstone in every room.

It's what I like about white.

The bird has been around for awhile.
He kinda flits from room to room.

Tonight he found a home in the work-in-progress room.

I'll be flitting around tomorrow
looking to find new adds for the white room.

Happy Hunting,

Bonnie:)

Ironstone and Primitives or Lace and Promises?

I hear the rumblings of rain.

Oh, how we need it.

I miss my children on Sunday nights 

more than any other time in the week.

So I blog and find connection.

It's here that I find the community 

that I so long for. 

I found this great book at Goodwill in Nashville.

Thumbing through the pages, I thought of Francine 

at Primitive Stars.

Meet Francine

The book is full of Primitives. 

I love ironstone and primitives and white lace and promise

so I flipped to my favorite pages. 

Yesterday I found this pretty ironstone platter 

in one of the shops.  Two platters for $4.

I love the scalloped edges. 

I recently added a stack of saucers to my collection 

of ironstone.  I will go back and pick up 

the stack of plates if they are still there this weekend. 

When the kids were little, mama always grilled hamburgers

 after church on Sunday nights.

When my parents became "little", I made

breakfast on Sunday nights. 

Feeling a bit melancholy tonight.

Blessings for a great week, 

Bonnie:)

Once I Saw a Little Bird

The other day I was walking 

the aisle of Hobby Lobby, 

when this little bird popped out at me.

It was marked down from $12.99 to $2.99, 

so you know I had to have it.

Just like it was yesterday, 

I could see my little boy flying like a bird

at his Pre-K graduation.

Once I saw a little bird

come hop, hop, hop. 

(These busy little 3 year olds are hopping up and down,)

And I cried, "Little bird, 

won't you stop, stop, stop.

(They are pointing their fingers to the tune of no, no, no.)

I went to the window to say

"How do you do?"

( They all bow.)

And he shook his little tail

(They turn around and shake their little be-hinds.)

And away he flew.

 ( They are spreading their wings and flying.)

My little blond haired, blue-green-eyed little boy

was the busiest.

Before the program he had pitched a fit over wearing his Nike's. 

They were supposed to wear dress shoes.

He won.

I think back now and smile. 

Who cares what kind of shoes he had on.

All I remember now is how adorable he was.

What is a sweet memory you have of your child?

I'm Smiling.

Bonnie:) 

Ironstone vs. Porcelain

Ironstone verses Porcelain.

Which is which?

Are they the same?

How can you tell the difference?

Some writers describe ironstone as merely 

white china.  

Ironstone was first produced in 1813 in

Staffordshire, England and exported 

to the US in the 1840's.

Some call it heavy porcelain.

Others say that it is not porcelain.

Older ironstone has a bluish cast to it 

and it later became creamy as you can tell

in comparing the two pieces above.

There are transfer-decorated pieces

including the Tea Leaf, Flow Blue,

The bowl above is a new piece that i got for $3 at the local flea market.

  

and the gold painted bowl, platter and creamer above.

Ironstone is safe for serving.

It can be cleaned with toothpaste, denture tablets, 

Calgon water softener, or hydrogen peroxide, 

BUT NO BLEACH.

My collection of old ironstone is used simply for display

or as a vase for flowers.

I use my newer pieces for serving at weddings and events. 

Does anyone know?

Is Ironstone and Porcelain the same?

Bonnie:)

Country Living Magazine and Gina at Random Thoughts are my Inspirations

The Country Living Magazine

has always been one of my favorites. 

The June issue popped out at me. 

Gina at Random Thoughts of an Incoherent Mind
has a great post with blue and green.
I decided to add some yellow.

http://randomthoughtsfromanincoherentmind.blogspot.com/2014/06/summer-mantel-2014.html

This was my inspiration.

I was immediately on the prowl for yellow and blue. 

I had been looking at this yellow pitcher 

even weeks before I saw this issue of CL.

I found a couple of turquoise bread and butter plates

and knew that I was on to something.

The yellow bowl feels more like pottery, 

very heavy and perfect for a few lemons and a lime. 

This is the ironstone bowl that I found at the yard sale. 

Do you like lemons in a jar?

I wanted to replace the hydrangeas with yellow tulips

but I couldn't find any.  I'll keep looking. 

This was a fun vignette.  

I'll not be posting tomorrow.  

Going to church out of town.

Have a Sabbath Day Rest, 

Bonnie:)

The Antique Boys Were Having a Yard Sale

My intentions were to go to South Carolina

for a BIG stretch Yard Sale.

I didn't think I could stretch that far.

Instead, I took the truck 

up the road.  

Yes, probably not a 1/2 mile,

the antique boys were having a yard sale.

Didn't much think I could afford anything.

Yes, $5!

This was a sample board of antique leather drawer knobs. 

Hobby Lobby sells one knob for $5.

I was super excited to have found the finishing piece for my project.

I paid $5 for the desk at a yard sale last Saturday.

It is solid oak, heeeeeeaaaaavy!

It is ready for the shop!

( The manager said I had $90 in sales yesterday! Yippee!)

The ironstone bowl was $5.  A great add to my collection.

It's a treasure. 

The bargain of the day was the blue jar for 50 cents. 

Can you believe it?

I'm screaming and jumping up and down on the inside

even with brain fog!

The others were priced at $3 each.

I asked if I could have both for $5!

Can you hear me singing?

I hope you can hear me smiling,

:)Bonnie:)

Stacks: When is Too Much, Too Much?

I like stacks...

stacks of books,

stacks of magazines,

stacks of baskets,

stacks of dishes.

When my children were small, 

we'd stack blocks.

We'd stack block 

   upon block

       upon block

            upon block

               until

                     they

                         all

                                  came

                                           crashing

                                                     down.....

It was a fun game.

My cupboard is much the same.

I squeeze as much in one place as I possibly can.

After all, I like to show off my wares.

Don't we all?

But sometimes more is too much,

and less is more. 

We stack and pray that the pieces don't topple.

I like activity, 

always did.

Shoot!  I even made a career out of it, 

Activity Director.

Before the children left home,
we rarely had an evening alone.

There was a men's softball game two nights a week, 

often followed by a youth game,

church league volleyball 

and recreation basketball,

 baseball practice and games, 

theatre practice and plays, 

youth choir practice and concerts,

vocal competitions and literary

Wednesday night youth meeting.

Those were the every week things

depending on the season, of course. 

Not to mention summer youth activities, 

children's camp, youth camp, Six Flags, Stone Mountain, 

Braves Game, Gross Food Night, Game Night, Fundraisers, and Retreats. 

Throw in teaching on Wednesday nights

and Sunday School, morning worship and

Sunday night service. 

We stack one activity on top of the other

on top of another, on top of another 

and there's no room to squeeze in one more thing

and wonder why we crash.

But, we like to show off our "wares."

We want perfect children who look smart and achieve much

 look good, and behave well.

When is too much, too much?

We fill our lives with so much 

and pray nothing falls apart. 

I wanted my children to have what I didn't have

encouragement, affirmation, goals and dreams.

However, in the process I wonder if I pushed too hard.

One Summer, I had a near breakdown.

I just couldn't do it anymore.

I was in major burn-out.

I quit my job, 

took a year off

to regroup and prioritize.

(Sometimes we can get too busy even in the church)

It was the best thing I ever did.

  

Martha and Mary were sisters. 

They had planned a dinner for Jesus.

Martha couldn't get Mary to do a thing.

Not to mention that she was sitting at the feet of Jesus.

"GET up and HELP me!"

"Lord, don't you care???"

"Martha, Martha, the Lord answered,

"you are worried and upset about many things, 

but only one thing is needed.

Mary has chosen what is better, and 

it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:41-42

I must confess, 

sometimes the clutter in my cupboard

and the magazines on the counter

and the books on the desk

becomes overwhelming.

And so does LIFE.

Is Your Much Too Much?

Brown Clover English Ironstone Adams by Wedgewood

I've been searching for brown transferware. 

I was so excited when I came across a box full,

$10.

Did you hear me scream?

TEN DOLLARS!

(5 dinner plates, 5 cup and saucers, 3 soup bowls, 2 bread and butters plates)

It is stamped, "ADAMS, Member of the Wedgewood Group."

Real English Ironstone

I've never seen this pattern before.

It's called Brown Clover. 

Although not a complete set, 

each piece was in perfect condition. 

I added the large restaurant ironstone plates

to serve as chargers. 

I can't hold beans with the big-time bloggers, 

but I sure do like to steal their ideas.  (Hee! Hee!)

I dropped the Tea Pot and broke the lid. 

I started to put it in my booth, 

but decided to use it as a vase.

Blogging early because I need my friends to pray.

Say a prayer for my daughter.  

She's feeling a little anxious today.

Pray for peace as she waits.

Bonnie:)