Saturday, August 26, 2006

the view from here

Marion had asked to see a bit more of the little collage box that I showed yesterday. You can click the image to see it a smidge bigger. I bought it in March at a shop that was going out of business. It's signed by Cheryl Kuhn. I don't know Cheryl but when I did a search for her name, I found that she indeed has an Etsy shop...isn't that fun? Click here to visit.
I put this sweet Halloween girl out today. She was a gift from my friend Debbie. So cute! I think I'll add a few Halloween decorations here and there this week.
Last time I visited, my mother gave me a crocheted lace panel with a bird on it. When I told her today that I'd put it on the back of my sofa, she laughed and said that I was just like an old lady.
Maybe so...but I think it looks rather nice there. Who knows, I might cover the cushions with plastic, too.
I took everything out of my china cabinet today, windexed and polished the doors and shelves, and then restocked it. Here are some pictures of what's in it. The china is Haviland Limoges. I was really lucky to get it. When I'd first bought the cabinet 7 years ago, I didn't have any really pretty china. My mother asked a friend of hers, Delores, who owned an antique store, if she had anything that I might like. Well, Delores started pulling out these dishes...one after another after another.
It's 12 placesettings, plus dozens of serving pieces. And there are even a dozen little butterpats. When she said that she could give it all to me for $400, I had no idea what a bargain that was. Of course I bought it and was so excited to have so much of it at once. I found out soon after that the set is worth much, much more than I paid. I'm still on the lookout for a teapot, sugar and creamer. I will probably end up paying more for those 3 pieces than I did for the entire set!
What makes me happiest about it is to imagine the young bride who registered for the set back in 1905 or so and how she might have added to the set through the years. This set is definitely one of my favorite things.
I also added tiny little vignettes inside the cabinet. I have so many itty bitty treasures that I love. The caketopper was my parents'. They kept it under a little glass dome on a high shelf in the kitchen. I remember pulling a kitchen chair up to the shelf and carefully, forbiddenly, lifting the little dome and touching it. When I was planning my own wedding, my parents gave us the caketopper for us to use on our wedding cake. It too is one of my very favorite things.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great things! Thanks for sharing them. I've bought some lovely Halloween things (and Christmas and Easter) from your friend Debbie too! Love her shop! The china is amazing! I love old dishes and my mom collects butter pats and has many Haviland ones. Pretty stuff!

Mama Urchin said...

I have a very similar cake topper that graced my grandparent's wedding cake. It is one of my favorite things.

Anonymous said...

OMG! We had a crochet bird spread exactly like that one draped on the back of our couch when I was growing back. Talk about deja vu. Must say, it looks much better on your couch!

Anonymous said...

LOVE your Halloween cutie!

Anonymous said...

thanks for showing and telling.

Saucy said...

You are a lucky girl Amy. That cake topper is adorable and a classic. What a nice memory! That china makes me green with envy.

Tricia said...

Everything looks so lovely! And oh my goodness, that china!

Tongue in Cheek Antiques said...

The swan that leads the way to such romantic fairytales, and teh couple decked out for loving life together...what a sweet image to add at the end of this lovely post with.

Anonymous said...

I have to ask where you got the lamb with the party hat.

amy said...

Denise, my sister asked the same thing! My friend Debbie at BayberryCove.com used to sell that little treasure but I don't see it on there anymore. I think it was made by Cody Foster but be careful when you do a search for him...evidently there's a porn star with the same name! Ack! Who knows what might turn up if you did a search for his name and party hat!

Lena said...

It's all sweet and charming, just like you Amy! Love the china...and that Nicol Sayre Halloween doll is wonderful! Yikes, I've searched for Cody Foster's things before...thank goodness I didn't run into that other fellow!

createacraft said...

they are all.. beautiful..
violet..purple..are my favorite colours.. I loved those teacups..
but you reminded me..that I have to clean this dresser of mine..