PANSY TABLE TIME

 

I am sure, just like you, I love the arrival

of pansies in the springtime.

I have collected pansy related china pieces

for years.  On the table are both English and

pieces from China.  

I so admire the old vintage embroidery and in

this case, the appliqued work.  I was never one

to do detail long term projects but I do  admire

them immensely.  This topper has little tea

napkins to match.

I have shared this cosy before that I made

from an old runner.

I clipped some pansy blooms from the garden.

We have enjoyed lovely weather this week.

I love the spring in Missouri.

I did not paint the metal holder but have

had it for many years.  Someone was sure

talented.

These dessert plates (above) were English

Crown Dorset from the 90's.

I am remembering all the snow we used to

get in Colorado in the month of April.  I feel

a little guilty sharing the flowers from our

garden but just remember if you are having

that snow now you will probably be enjoying 

cool evenings and afternoons this summer

and here in Missouri it will be high up in

the 90's with high humidity.  

TIME FOR VIOLETS

About the time the calendar said spring was here,

we got a freeze which really damaged my garden.  

The lilacs had started to have buds and leaves and

now those parts are quite brown so this year who

knows....we just take it as it comes.  In the meantime

we will cover the table with violets:

I have loved violets all my life.

Because I have such a fondness for old vintage linens I decided to set my table with an old

1950-60's violet tablecloth, an embroidered

topper, etc.

 

Someone very sweet must of made that

little violet doily above.  I love it.

I hope your springtime brings some violets!

BEATRIX POTTER FIGURINES

In the springtime I find myself always thinking

 about Beatrix Potter.  I loved that sweet movie

that came out years ago, "Miss Potter".  I

love so many different types of people from

the past:  Beatrix Potter, Tasha Tudor,

Jane Austen,  L. M. Montgomery, the

Bronte Sisters and Edith Holden.  It's not

 that I like every single thing about them but

 rather I choose to focus on the characteristics

I like best.  

We have been watching the Road to

Avonlea series recently and we just love it.

But we have our favorites episodes and our

 favorite characters.  I think what we love is

the idea of "community" - people who know

their neighbors and support one another.

Back to Beatrix Potter:

We have some daffodils and hellebores and

pussy willows so I did my first little bouquet.

I have been so excited to see some of the earliest

bulbs appear.  I do know that winter isn't over

 and tomorrow for example, is supposed to

 be ugly!

In Iowa maybe a blizzard - oh boy!

Doing this post,  I have pulled out these little

figurines which I collected many years ago.

This doll has stirred up memories for me

as I have a friend who is turning 80 years

old soon.  I met her when I was 17 and we

were both attending a small Iowa Bible

College.  During the 1980's she lived

in Toronto, Canada and we went for

several visits there to see her family and 

on one of the visits we went to a gal's

farmhouse who sold antiques and vintage

items and I 

purchased

this doll from her.

Beatrix Potter certainly left a wonderful

legacy which so many celebrate today.

I hope your springtime

comes very soon!

GREEN TRANSFERWARE FOR SPRING

 When March arrives we know that spring is soon

to arrive and we get so excited.  One of the things

I like about living in Missouri is that winter is

a brief season.  There are actually four different

seasons and spring is definitely a favorite one.

To me, this green transferware marks the

upcoming arrival of spring.

I recently had cataract surgery on both eyes so my

second surgery (they do one at a time with 2 weeks in

between) was this week.  I can already see so much better

so I am thrilled about that and looking forward to

seeing my garden come to life.

Over the years I have shared this green embroidered table-

cloth my Grandmother did for me when I got married.

It is a small topper and a tablecloth which I put

over an old Quaker lace larger tablecloth.  There

are napkins to match and I cut up one years back

to make a tea cosy.

Do you collect any English transferware?

This pattern is called "The Florentine" by Johnson

Brothers and is hard to find.  Many date it to around

1913 which means it is very old.  I have 5 saucers and I am

always looking for the needed 5 cups to finish

them as a set.  In the meantime, I have some mix and

match.

 How do you spell the word "cosy or cozy"?

I have recently started spelling it "cosy" because

Etsy seems to want me to spell it that way.  

As you can see there are other types of green

English transferware.  I love them all.

These dishes are brighter green but there is also quite

a lot of darker green and teal green to collect.  I

only collect the spring green.

I don't know if this has ever happened to you but

I was enfluenced many years ago as I saw Carolyn

Aiken share on her blog about her love for transferware. 

 You can find her on Instagram which by the way, I enjoy 

Instagram immensely.

SPRING TABLE, A CARROT CAKE AND BOUQUET

 I am sharing a perfect cake for Easter

and a springtime bouquet for

my table.

It is such a delight to finally have some blooms

to pick in the garden and know there will

be plenty for bouquets in the coming months.

I have been enjoying my pansy themed

English pieces and now adding some

purple Rural Scenes transferware.

We still have a few daffodils and jonquils

blooming around the yard and some

tulips still coming on.  It won't be long

and the irises will really show off for

a while.

And what would spring be without a Cream

Cheese Walnut Carrot Cake?

The recipe for this cake came from this

older favorite tea book which is now

out of print.   If you don't already know this,

older used books are inexpensive and available!

This is something wonderful and simple!