Saturday, October 22, 2011

There's a Nip in the Air



The pumpkin folk have begun to gather.




In tux and top hat and elegant ball gown,

Monsieur and Madame invite you to meet a few of the clan.





Happy folk who like to spread Halloween joy.




Smiling Jacks




Ready to greet those who stop in to visit.




Cheerful




Merry




Jolly



Jovial



Engaging Folk




Ready for Halloween Fun




They Light the Way




With Their Crooked Toothy Smiles




Parade About on Halloween Night



When Strange Groups Begin To Gather



And Goblins Fill the Street



Door Bells Rings



One Hears the Familiar



Trick
or
Treat!

Hum, I do think there's an impostor in the group.



Happy Halloween!

Joining













Monday, October 17, 2011

Barnyard Bash ~ French Style

Paper Maché Figures from French Artist, Aude Goalet

Just back from a month in France and trying to readjust to life in Texas.

With hundreds of photos to edit and organize

it will be awhile before I can share my adventures in the French countryside.

Instead I hope you enjoy something I posted last year on the Quimper Club Blog

for Lynne's Barnyard Bash.


~ Barnyard Bash French Style ~


8.5" Unmarked Manor House Plate

It's early morning at le mas, a typical french farm house.


8.75" Unmarked Soleil Plate

Le soleil rises over the hillside and . . .


11.5" HB Quimper Charger

The sound of Le coq is heard as he

announces a beautiful new day at le ferme.


HB-Henriot Hen on Nest

Mme poule is on her nest

ready to provide fresh eggs for the day.


7.75" Unmarked Deep Dish Plate

One can hear the swishing sound of birds as they

fly above the nearby pond, the elegant

cygne noir gracefully glides across the still water.


Pair of Figurals Marked Rouen Decor Fait Main

Young Juliet and Jean Pierre are up early for

their morning chores before they head off to school.


12" Malicorne Charger,
Pre-Lawsuit Mark of Reversed P & B

Monsieur looks across his land

with great pride as another day dawns.


Pig Bank Marked HB Quimper

Le porc can be heard

snorting about the barnyard.


8.25" Plate Marked HB Quimper

While the spat of deux coqs

echos through the barnyard.


Horse Figural Marked Rouen Decor Fait Main

Frisky chevaux galop

across the pasture in the morning dew.


Unmarked Desvres 3-Sided Tea Caddy

All is right in the world on this fine day.


Oil and Vinegar Server, First Mark Porquier-Beau

There is much work to be done in the fields

and vegetables to be gathered from the garden.


Goat Figural Double Salt Marked Gaetan Level

La chèvre helps carry the

load from the fields back to the barn.


10.75" Malicorne Charger Marked PBx

There is the walk into the village for the

morning market to sell some chickens and fresh eggs.



Unmarked Desvres 3-Sided Tea Caddy

And many chores for the

lady of the house before days end.


Reverse Side of Oil and Vinegar Server,
First Mark Porquier-Beau

Fresh water for cooking and washing is gathered

from the well as Monsieur heads to the house at day's end.


Cat Figural Marked AG

Of course every ferme has un chat.


HR Quimper Jardiniere

And at the end of the week there is

much singing and dancing to celebrate with a

A Barnyard Bash ~ French Style


9.5" Malicorne Plate Marked PBx

It was indeed a joyful trip to the French countryside,

full of laughter and good times shared with friends.

And of course a few bits and pieces

of French faience acquired along the way.

Joining:









Monday, October 10, 2011

Slowly Falling Into The Season






Today is my first day back in the states after traveling around France for four weeks. It was a spectacular trip, and though I didn't want it to end, it always feels good to be back home. When I left, triple digits were the norm here in Texas, so it was indeed a pleasant surprise to be greeted with some cool, rainy weather upon arrival. Perhaps fall has arrived in central Texas.





Normally by early October there are pumpkins scattered about here at HFTS along with a few friendly witches, black cats, and crows. Fall is a favorite time of year for me, and though I've not been around to pull out the fall decor just yet, I've certainly been inspired by the many fun and creative ideas posted throughout Blogland. With nothing of my own to share just yet, I thought I'd take you to visit my friend, Susan's home. Susan loves holidays and parties, and her home is always a treat. There she is looking out the window to see who is here to visit today. Let's go on in.





The entry is always filled with

fun vignettes, warm and welcoming.





This cute little group of 

pumpkin people stand ready to greet you!





To the side is a silver tray filled with with 

orange glass ball ornaments mixed in 

among some of Susan's collection of silver baby cups. 

 Susan always thinks for some clever way 

to mix in this collection each holiday.




Susan likes to fill this entry hall bench

with loads of fun seasonal pillows and dolls.





Another silver tray holds glass Halloween ornaments 

and petite Limoges type boxes with a Halloween theme. 

 I like the way Susan mixed in the ornamental pumpkin 

looking pods with greens cut from her yard. 

 They really accent the blue and white vase.




Her mantel is ever changing with the seasons. 

 Here she uses her collection of antique majolica 

with little sprays of dried pods on the left side.





The right side is balanced with more of

her charming majolica and a wooden pumpkin.






The pine cupboard is full of beautiful blue and white china, 

but I focused on the whimsical vignette 

Susan arranged across the top.






The dining room chandelier is another feature 

that always figures into Susan's seasonal decorating. 

 This time she has strung it with 

ribbons, lanterns, and decorated cones.





The center piece 

features a pumpkin clown.




This colorful vignette sits 

in the corner on her kitchen counter.




The wooden witch is hand painted, 

and the witch and pumpkin in the vase are made of felt. 

 Clever use of these stick puppets.





Susan's collection of vintage Halloween containers 

flows onto the built-in shelving on a wall in her kitchen.




These darling tea towels were made from ticking and embellished with the a black cat and jack-o-lantern. What could be more perfect for Halloween?

I apologize for the quality of the these photos that were taken a few years ago, though I hope you enjoyed your visit to Susan's home. You can see some of Susan's home decorated for Easter here.

Click the links below to join in the following weekly parties: