Wednesday, October 14, 2015

V is for Velvet Pumpkins




V is for Velvet
~ Velvet Pumpkins ~

I succumbed to the spell 
of velvet pumpkins several years ago when
I purchased a group with the intention of using
them as the center piece down a long table
for a birthday luncheon I was hosting that October.

As it turned out,  there was not sufficient
space on the table for a gathering of velvet pumpkins.
Instead, I grouped them together on the mantel that fall.

I mixed in bittersweet, Mr. Pudge, and 
faux candles with a birch bark covering.

Since that first year, I've simplified the mantel display
using the antique French balance scale to hold
a few of the velvet pumpkins and touches of bittersweet.

I like to nestle the pumpkins into
a soft bed of Spanish moss.

Using less on the mantel allows me to use the velvets in other
ways, depending on what inspiration strikes my fancy.

Sometimes I tuck them into
flower arrangements.

Or gather them near a vase of 
fresh flowers for added interest.

Even one or two anchors a vase of
flowers with a touch of autumn.

One or two pumpkins can also add a festive 
touch for fall within vignettes.

This fall I added a few to the
shelves in the bamboo cabinet on the sun porch.

It's easy to tuck them in here and there among
the items already on the shelves in a cabinet or on bookshelves.

Velvet pumpkins are made with luscious colors
and real pumpkin stems that have been dried.
I like the natural element and the whimsey of the
shapes and textures of the real stems.

I'm always on the watch for fresh ideas.
This was a table from the Nashville Antique and Garden Show.
The dealer used varying heights of footed compotes or
cake stands to stack the velvet pumpkins for a centerpiece.

This store display offered a touch of whimsey
with this squirrel and velvet pumpkins made in leopard print.
Leopard isn't really my style, but
I was tempted to add one or two of these.

I have an entire Pinterest Board dedicated
to ideas of how others use their velvet pumpkins.
One of my favorite pins is this one from 
Edith and Evelyn Vintage.
It may not be all that practical, but 
I'm drawn to the contrast of the texture of the
luxe of the velvet pumpkins and the gold wash frame
against the rustic of the burlap on the chair.
You can see more beauty at Edith and Evelyn Vintage HERE.

My friend, Yvonne @ Stone Gable
shared five beautiful ways to style
velvet pumpkins HERE.

Velvet pumpkins offer an elegant 
understated touch of autumn.
Stop by my Pinterest Board to see more.



Joining

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

U is for Unique Tablescapes


Unique ~ 

being only one of its kind;

 unlike anything else




The Annual Fall Round Top Antiques Week

offers a unique opportunity to see

an interesting assortment of vintage and antique items.

Uncommon objects, if you will! 

I found myself snapping photos of the unique tablescapes

seen in many of the dealer booths this year at 

Marburger Farm Antique Show.






Obviously these tablescapes are not

ones created for actual meals, but rather ones styled

to show case items for sale and to draw

perspective buyers into the booths to shop,

though the inspiration gleaned is notable.

The large chicken feeder filled with natural

elements and used as a centerpiece could easily translate 

to one's own farm table as would the idea of

vintage bottles used as candlesticks.





Another dealer was selling these 

vintage metal gauge plates. 





As well as these interesting 

vintage blue glass bottles.





This table immediately caught my eye with

its pops of blue, the feathers, the brown transfer ware 

paired with white ironstone, wonderful old silver flatware, 

and the clever use of the gauge plates.





Then later, the table above must have sold,

so the dealer recreated the tablescape onto this chippy blue table.

Love the addition of the paper placemats.

Did you notice the clever use of the individual pages

from the 1800s hymnal?  





Simplicity here with the various wooden mallets

to accent the vintage white ironstone plates.





This glass top table setting incorporated rustic touches 

of vintage almanacs from the 1800s and

an assortment of vintage flatware 

presented in little burlap bags.





A touch of glamor with shabby chic 

for this table that featured

 a mix of seashells and shed antlers.

Notice the feather decor atop the white pumpkin.





Vintage hymnals with baby pumpkins

added a touch of seasonal color to this old farm table,

while the vintage wooden horse was the obvious focus.





How clever this display is!

The simplicity of the bare table and minimal

use of objects drew my attention to the old whisk brooms

with their garlands of dried seed pods.  

Love this idea for a centerpiece vignette for fall.





Yes, the creative talent of the dealers that show at

 Marburger Farm Antique Show never disappoints.  

The above table is one from years ago,

 but continues to remain one of my all time favorites.





Texas Antique Shows are

Uniquely Texas!

Joining
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Vintage Charm @ Charm Bracelet Diva

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

T is for Tray




T is for Tray 





Tole Trays




Silver Trays





Wooden Trays





Wicker Trays





Whimsical Mary Engelbreit Trays





Tea Time Trays





Breakfast in Bed Trays

Suffice it to say, we have a lot of trays.







When Miss Merri Mac and I spied this 

antique bamboo canterbury

at Marburger Farm Antique Show

Tuesday morning while shopping in Round Top,

I knew it was going home with me.

S O L D




It fits perfectly at one end of our 

compact galley kitchen.





A canterbury is an ornamental stand with

compartments or dividers to hold 

papers, magazines, books,

or, in our home ~ trays.





This one also has a shelf across the bottom.

It's the perfect place to hold 

our stack of antique bread boards.





I like the knobbly roots that

were used in the design for the feet.





I have to say, I think this find is 

T E R R I F I C!


Joining
Vintage Charm @ Charm Bracelet Diva



Wednesday, September 23, 2015

S is for Saluki




S is for Saluki


Salukis are considered the most ancient breed of domestic dogs.

Evidence of these dogs have been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.

A year ago August, I met a beautiful example of this breed.





Meet Wells!

I knew nothing of Salukis before I was introduced to this

beautiful Slauki rescue while visiting friends in Santa Fe.

Wells, gentle, reserved, and extremely sweet, 

immediately stole my heart.




The breed came to the Western world around 1900

and by 1928 was recognized by AKC.

Originally used by Arab nomads to hunt gazelles, foxes, and hares 

in the desert, the breed was considered "noble" and allowed

to live within the tents with their owners.

The Gazelle Hound is a common name for a Saluki.





Information from petfinder.com.  

Click here to discover more about this breed.




Of course, S is also for Sadie,

the sweetest girl ever and the one who

steals our hearts daily!

Happy First Day of Autumn!


Joining

Monday, September 14, 2015

Tales of the Traveling Tote #3 ~ Miss Merri Mac Goes to the Park or R is for Relaxing ~ Reading ~ Riding and a Give Away!

Tales of the Traveling Totes #3

Miss Merri Mac Goes

To The Park




We've been having some lovely

weather of late, so Miss Merri Mac and I

headed to the park for a Sunday afternoon.





~ Zilker Park ~

At over 351 acres in the heart of Austin,

there is something for everyone here.

Zilker is without doubt the most beloved park in the city.

The list above is only part of what this park has to offer.






One of the main attractions of Zilker is

Barton Springs Pool, the crown jewel of Austin.

Barton Springs Pool is in the channel of Barton Creek, 

but fed from underground springs.   

The temperature is a cool 60-70 degrees year round.  

Too cool for moi!





Home to the infamous and endangered

Barton Springs Salamanders and the Austin Blind Salamanders,

the pool is listed as a federally protected habitat.

Weekly methodical and vigorous cleaning is 

required to maintain the pool for both the human guests

and the wildlife that lives within the cool waters.





The serene setting and the grassy slopes

on either bank of the pool offer the perfect

venue for basking in the sun to relax with a good book.





That is just what I did!

MEMORY OF VIOLETS is a sweet read.


sent me this book knowing that,

like her, I appreciate history and flowers.

I recommend you read this poignant story.





Rules prohibit food and drinks within the pool area,

but there is a concession stand just outside the pool entrance.





Miss Merri Mac and I decided

the afternoon called for a little sweet treat.






Which I enjoyed while sitting here

waiting for the next train to arrive.

The Zilker Zephyr that is!





The Zilker Zephyr is a narrow-guage light-rail 

miniature train that takes its passengers along 

Barton Creek, Lady Bird Lake, and through Zilker Park

for a leisurely scenic ride.





Hop on and grab a seat!

I want to show you the beauty of our park.





Zilker Park ~ Lady Bird Hike and Bike Trail ~ Barton Springs

Austinites and out of town visitors alike

gravitate to these major sites in the heart of Austin.



Come visit sometime.

Miss Merri Mac and I think you'll like our city.




Don't miss out on this generous gift

from Linda @ More Fun Less Laundry.

Read all about Miss Rosie's park adventures

and enter to win this set of Courtly Check padded coat hangers.

Below are the links to more 
Park Adventures of the Traveling Totes
Join the fun!

Patti and Miss Kenzie @ Pandoras Box

Linda and Miss Posie @ More Fun Less Laundry

Debbie and Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Colleen and Miss MacKenzie Joy
Tami and Miss MC La Mer

Rita and Miss Luna C @ Panoply

Sammie and Miss Christabel @ Samantha Stone 




Look for more adventures with the Traveling Totes

on October 30th ~ The Golden Days of FAll.  


Joining