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.

ENJOYING FRIENDLY VILLAGE

 Like most, I am not blogging like I did years ago.  So many

just read other social media these days and especially

Instagram where things are incredibly interesting and

more effort is given to all the reels and videos.

Honestly, I go to Instagram and see such amazing homemakers

who are incredible bakers, chefs and seamstresses

  The young women in particular are so capable.  

Hardly a day goes by that I don't try one of the 

recipes I see and find often on their website or blog

so I can print it out.

We have been enjoying lots of soups this winter.

During retirement I have loved having the time to  

set our dining area table with various dishes

 throughout the different seasons.  As soon as Christmas

 was over I was ready to see my Friendly Village dishes.  I 

have shared this Tuscan Mondano filet lace tablecloth

before that I found in an antique mall.  It has a few

holes which I ignore.

  I only have enough luncheon size plates for the table

in the red schoolhouse design.  I have 2 more winter

ones that are the 10 1/2" but that's it.  I do have

quite a few of the larger (buffet size) 10 1/2" in

other seasons but only see them too expensive on Ebay that

I will just keep looking for better prices.  Maybe sometime.....

As you can see, this is just a luncheon size plate.  If

I had any advice about Ebay or Etsy....it would be that

you must always ask how many inches something is

because they often call a plate dinner size when it

really is not.

Today is the day the big cold front is supposed to arrive.

We love that Panera Bread Broccoli Cheese Soup

so last night I was going to make some.  My broccoli

was looking rather sad so I tossed it and used red

potatoes, peas and fried bacon instead along with the usual

carrots and other basic ingredients they give.  It was

really yummy!

These napkins are huge:

I hope your wintertime is going well.

CHRISTMAS DECORATING FOR 2025

 At the Thanksgiving table someone asked me if I plan

to put up a tree this year.  Often, when people get older

they "drop out of the decorating phase" in life and I do

understand.  As long as I am able, I do plan to keep finding

joy in holiday and seasonal decorations.

I took an existing tablecloth and cut a strip off the

longer sides.  Then I added a deeper ruffle in a different

toile fabric.  I am pleased with the way it turned out.

I have had this tea cosy for a long time.  It is

made with a tea towel piece on the front by

an artist who was big in the 90's.  You might remember Sandy

Clough who illustrated so many of Emelie Barnes 

earliest books.

My other Christmas tea cosy is from

a long time back too.  I love this older Anne

of Green Gables fabric.  I rarely can find this

fabric from the 90's.

I love angels that were designed by Nicol Sayre.

Mine are all from years ago including this

sweet Nativity:

And one last collage:

On Monday we got a little snow....not much but we love it!

NOVEMBER THANKSGIVING TABLESETTING

 I am sharing my Windsor Ware Harvest Fruit dishes by Johnson Brothers.  I started out years ago with some plates and

have added to my collection when I have seen them at a

decent price.  

Speaking of prices, I recently found a real bargain at

a local resale shop.  Last year Victoria Magazine featured

the most gorgeous cake dome and stand in the Christmas

issue.  I just looked and the replacement business that

everyone talks about had one for over $400.00 but I got

mine for $40.00.  I was so excited.

As you can see to the right, I do have a dome which

had no stand that  I purchased last year so now I have 

2 of those.  I also found some more of the

crystal etched glasses which I mix and match on my

table.  This one is called "June Night" and is beloved.

I broke at least 2 of these over the year so having

extras is a good plan - especially when I see

them at a good price.  They are from the 1930's-40's.  

And I say "oops" to that vacuum

 cleaner wand to the right!

I have been enjoying Instagram so much

and would encourage everyone to look

at it for "whatever" interests you.

The punch bowl above was purchased at the

Salvation Army resale store in Old Colorado City

many years ago.

I make the same comments every year:  I wish we celebrated Thanksgiving earlier so we had more time before Christmas.

HARVEST FRUIT WINDSOR WARE JOHNSON BROTHERS

 

When we move toward fall I enjoy changing

 my dining room table about 3 different

times with various fall toned transferware.

If you love table setting

like I do, you will understand

that this is a hobby.

This set pattern  is Johnson Brothers

 Harvest Fruit Windsor Ware.  

Over the years I have added to

my set but I rarely see the matching

teapot.

I love this tablecloth so much, I think I have been showing

it to you over and over.  It is a vintage alencon French 

lace and a favorite of mine.  The napkins are point

de Venice from Italy.

We have enjoyed such colorful zinnias

and they will last quite a while.

We had the 2nd dryst August on record and our

lawn turned brown.  I have been watering and

it is coming back a little better.

I have watered my garden quite a bit this

summer.  The hydrangeas must have water

to bloom and look revived.

I wish I had more of this velvet

 fabric but years ago

I found just a scrap.

I hope you have time to do some

fall decorating to enjoy!