CHANGING UP FOR CHRISTMAS

This Christmas, I thought I would use my Old Country Roses china to set the dining room table....but then I found this toile tablecloth in an antique mall so that changed everything.  I also found an extra piece of fabric to make a few pillows which I haven't gotten done yet.  I think Old Country Roses with all the gold on it has a rather Victorian look.  These days I am feeling a little more casual style is I am at.

 Last Wednesday I went antiquing for my shop.  I found seven dark red transferware cups and saucers in three different patterns for myself.

 One of the patterns was Mason's "Vista", another was Enoch Woods "English Scenery" and the other was Copeland's "Spode's Tower" .  

  I know some of you collect these and I have to admit you have influenced me!  I will be watching for more pieces and I especially love the Copeland's "Spode's Tower".

This year I unloaded all my bone china English cups and saucers to set up a Christmas display in the armoire.  Many years back my dear Mother In Law gave me this pre-Berlin wall nativity which came from her Adoptive German parents.  Can you see those paper palm trees - very fragile.  About 5 pieces are at the "doll hospital" to be reworked as their composition seems to be breaking down.  

I hope you have fun decorating at your house.

GETTING ON WITH CHRISTMAS

Hello dear blogging friends and I hope you week is filled with the blessing of decorating for Christmas. 

 Work?  Yes, but so wonderful!  Always a work in progress too!

In the kitchen, the buffet has been one of my first projects and today for I am sharing 3 Christmas cups and saucers and also a 3 tiered Afternoon Tea Tray my husband recently made for me.  These two are Japanese of course.  I never collected the Japanese before but last year found these:

My husband has been making these Afternoon Tea Trays for my store and it has been a challenge learning how to do it!  It seems the transferware plates are the easiest to drill.  Some of you will remember the center plate which I shared last Christmas.

This Christmastime, I have the chromo lithograph on the wall over the buffet.  We found it at a flea market last year and I just love how it takes us away to a former era.  

LOVING EVERY SEASON

When I think of how creative God was to design four totally unique seasons, I am just amazed.  I also know that we were created in His image and when I see how creative my blogging friends are with ideas and inspirations - I marvel!  Just about the time we start to get a little bored  with things - God moves us on to another season. 

 This week I was looking at my 1992 Victoria book "The Heart of Christmas".  This book would inspire your creativity for the holidays.

  I think I was ready for winter this week.  The last two nights it has been snowing  here in Colorado.  Fall is over.  Actually winter doesn't officially come until December 21st on the calendar but it is here in terms of the weather.

Please pour yourself a cup of tea in this Old Country Roses tea cup.  The chintz Old Colorado Roses pieces are items from the past and are English.  When this Victoria Book came out jewel tones and Victorian decorating were all the rage in the early 1990's.  Some of you will remember the way this buffet used to look before hubby painted it shabby chic Vintage White.

These past months, I have enjoyed my fall decorations but now it is time to pull things out for the Holidays!  Do you do the same thing every year or do you change things up a bit?  Don't you love it when you open some boxes of decorations and see something or several things that you found last year on sale and tucked there for this year?

I still remember the first time I opened

this book and was swept away in awe

of all the Victorian decorating.

TIME TO RELAX

A pile of magazines has been accumulating lately on a chair at the kitchen table.  Time just flies by, so this morning I thought I'd take a peek at some of them.  If you get English Home Magazine you know that at this time of the year they publish an extra Christmas "booklet" full of recipes and ideas for the Holidays.  This is my 5th year to receive the booklet which I just love and look forward to reading. Of course, it only comes at this time each year.

I have said this so much lately, I apologize but I wish our Thanksgiving was in October like the Canadians.  November 27 is just so late. 

 I purchased my turkey last night and have to decide what all I want to make but for sure Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans and Coconut on top.  Many Americans pull out their Christmas decorations on Thanksgiving Day afternoon.

Please pour yourself a cup of tea and let me show you some wonderful Holiday ideas in these publications.

LEAF RAKING TEA

You and I can take a break from

 all this work and have a lovely cup of hot tea!

Over the last year I have found a number of these old afghans at bargain prices and this one was calling my name.  I cut some of the ones I found up to make tote bags for my shop but this one was a keeper.

I am sharing a Colough and a Sampson Smith cup and saucer from England and some little French plates with roses:

Definitely very colorful and fallish.