A Jane Austen Lady and an Antique Typewriter - New to My Shop!

A closer look at new items now in my shop.

 

A new Antique Typewriter print in a black frame:

 

 

 

 

Available in my shop.

 

So cute!  I love putting it on a wall or next to one of the real antique typewriters I have in my collection. 

A great gift for a writer or anyone that loves antiques or steampunk chic.

 

Also new to the shop:

 

 

A lovely lady silhouette - she's all dressed up for a fancy party or dance.  I love the little details like her hair and the rose on her dress. 

 

This picture shows the difference in size in both frame and silhouette compared to previous listings in my shop -

 

 

 

 

 

Silhouette available in my shop.

 

More on the way.

Vintage Keys and Locks of All Kinds...

Sharing my love for antique keys and pretty or funny locks...

 

 

Aren't these pretty??  Found here.

 

 

 

Cute and whimsical!

 

 

Photo by Typologist

(go see more collection photos for inspiration)

 

Found here

 

And then there is a new necklace in my shop...

 

 

I call it 'Keys to My Heart' - two different types of keys, a shift key and a skeleton key charm.  It's slightly larger than the letter and number keys so I needed a different setting to show it off.  The fancy prong setting really shows it off.

 

 

 

 

 

Note the fancy prongs or arms gripping the sides of the key...

 

 

 

I love the back of the setting, too.  Necklace available here.

 

Silhouette Saturday - A New Selection

Working on new items to come into my shop soon.  Here's a little preview...



As I said in my last post I will be adding more and more new silhouettes to the shop over the next few months.  Some needed larger frames than I had already so I had to get new ones, but they are the same style as the ones I already had in the shop.  The ones on the left and right are the larger silhouettes - you can compare them to the smaller ones in the middle.  I just love the variety it provides.  I am thinking of making a permanent silhouette wall in my own house - large and small silhouettes, oval and rectangle frames, music paper and french book paper backgrounds, etc.   The overall effect will be beautiful! 

I have to wait for better lighting before I can take proper pictures of my new items for the shop.  I also framed an antique typewriter print on french book paper - it is sooo cute I don't quite want to part with it, but I will.  I don't think I can bear to part with the newest antique silver colored frames I put my usual silhouettes in (the smaller ones towards the middle) - they are so pretty!!  I think I'll have to see if I can find some more frames like that to sell.  Just this once I think they need to stay with me.  ;)  I've been promising to keep one set for myself to hang up, but I can't seem to keep these in stock and I've sold off my own set at least 4 or 5 times now. 

Is anyone else having a problem with blogger and uploading pictures from their computer?  I can't get the upload button to stay on the screen - it blips in and out and then there is no way to upload.  It's been the root of my rare posting these days - can't post without pictures!  If you have this problem, too - there is one semi-solution I've found, if you post the picture anywhere else on the web and then copy and paste it directly into the post you can get your pics in.  I sometimes just copy and paste from my shop photos, but what about my personal or rather my non-shop photos?  I don't have photo bucket or anything else, but I guess I'll have to do that soon.  Blogger isn't being helpful about fixing this problem.

Oh well, have a Great Weekend!!

A New Year

and

New Silhouettes for the shop!!

 

 

I've added a few of the new silhouettes I'll be adding to the shop over the next few months.  Two ladies and a young boy.  All are Regency period like the other silhouettes I offer in my shop, but these are a bit larger and different profiles.  I will be adding more when I have some slightly bigger frames in stock as they are a bit larger.  I love having some more variety available!

Available in my shop.

First up, a boy who reminds me of a young Mr. Darcy or perhaps he is the son of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet? 

Available in my shop.

And this could be Miss Elizabeth herself, or Elinor or any of Miss Austen's characters, but I do like the fact that it looks remarkably like Miss Austen's own silhouette as seen in the National Portrait Gallery in London.  It's slightly different, but still evokes her spirit.  I think this is my favorite of the new silhouettes.

 

Available in my shop.

This one reminds me of Downton Abbey's Mrs. Bates for some reason.  Perhaps her proud bearing and elaborate hat.  I picture her sipping tea and listening to gossip while she waits for her husband to come to her. 

And speaking of Downton Abbey - how glad am I to have the new season finally here!  I love having the silhouettes about my house as they make me feel like a piece of Downton Abbey is in my own home, just think of Mrs. Hughes sitting room.

Many more new silhouettes to come - be sure to check my shop out for more coming up soon.  I also have a few items that are perfect for Valentine's Day. 

Have a great day!

Chantilly Raspberry Cookies Post, the 2nd

I complained a long time ago about the loss of the Chantilly Raspberry cookies that Pepperidge Farms stopped making for some reason.  I missed them dreadfully and my one attempt to make a linzer cookie similar came out too nutty and not at all like the smooth crisp white cookies I love so much. 

I have good news, though!  Right before Christmas I was in the Target holiday food aisle and found that Pepperidge Farms made a Linzer cookie!  It looked the same, but I've been fooled before by a softer cookie with a raspberry filling so I wasn't too sure.  I bought one package and low and behold!!!  It was the same cookie!!!  YUM!  I only saw them the once and they may only be at the holidays - it says Linzer cookies - not Chantilly.  Be sure to check your own local stores and see if they have them.  I'm hoping they stick around outside the holidays.  I so miss those crispy raspberry filled cookies.  My only complaint is they really skimped on the powdered sugar dusting(they don't look like the image on the front really), but I can always add a little extra myself.  ;)



Just wanted to share that bit of info with you for all the other people who have expressed their own disappointment in losing those cookies in my comments on my original post found HERE.  I really do think they are a seasonal cookie, but so long as they are available sometimes I'll be happy!

And here is where you can find them online!!

Country Christmas Decorations - My Living Room Decor

Just a few pics of my living room decorations...

 

 My Christmas tree - about 8 foot tall and loaded with our ornaments - musical, Santas, mercury glass, etc. 

 One of my smaller trees - loaded with bird houses and skis.

I love the Scandinavian look to them - the skis are my favorite! 

 

 

 

 

I always love a woodsy Santa - he has a Fox at his side. 

 

My newest ornaments - pretty little pine cones.  So cute!

 I love globes and ancient maps.  Also pomegranates

 

This woodsy Santa seems to have come by sled.

And back I go to working to get ready for the holidays!  So many cookies to bake!  ;)

O Christmas Tree - My Little White Christmas Tree...

 Every year I love to decorate a little white tree for my bedroom.  I put it on my dresser and enjoy it every evening as I read and get ready for bed - the soft light soothes me and I am able to put my own personal style on it so it truly reflects my aesthetic.  I love mercury glass, musical instruments, antique keys, fleur de lis and light shabby chic colors.

Each year is better than the year before as I find more ornaments for the tree...

 

 

Shop note - I sold the Paris sign seen here - we were sad to see it go, but we do need money so I'm glad to have made the sale along with the Paris typewriter key necklace/bracelet listing - guess someone loves Paris for Christmas as much as I do! 

 

The topper for my tree varies from year to year as I try to find just the right one - I used a new glittery sign that says 'Believe' this year.  I strung antique keys on ribbons, used tiny mercury glass ornaments I've collected and a few pastel round ornaments for color.  There are two different style violin ornaments on the tree, too.

 

 

This year I found some incredibly cute cupcake ornaments for just a dash of sweetness.  I got one green and one red.  They are SO cute!

 

 

I also added a large white fleur de lis ornament (subtle against the white tree) it had a tacky crystal on the bottom of it, but I cut it off.  I also added a glittery snowflake ornament - I love the antique pink glitter!!

 

And on my bedroom door is my antique white bottle brush wreathe I found last year at Joanne's!! Exactly the type of wreathe I was looking for and also my tiny metal sign that says 'Snow' - because that is what I always wish for on Christmas!!

 

More decorating posts to come as I make progress.  I'm going to get a tree this weekend and work on my new gingerbread house! 

 

Happy Holidays!!

 



Inspiration Wednesday - Making a Cloche Miniature House Christmas Display

I was at Target on Black Friday after Thanksgiving and I saw a rather cute bit of Christmas Home Decor - this cute miniature winter scene in a cloche:

 

I thought it was a cute idea, but a bit on the modern (and a bit cheap) side so I thought I'd go home and see what I could do with what I had...

 

I made these little old fashioned glitter houses a few years back and I took the smallest one and put it in my cake jar with some very cute antique white bottle brush trees I just bought.  I think it looks better than the one from Target. 

 

 

I found the antique white bottle brush trees at Michaels, FYI.  

Whew!  I've been trying to blog about this for over a week now.  Blogger seems to be having problem uploading pics, but tonight it finally worked!  Yay!  Be back with more very soon unless another blogger problem crops up.  I've decorated my bedroom white tree very cute this year and I'm working on the major Christmas decorating when I can.  I pulled something in my back over the Thanksgiving holiday and it has really held me back from doing too much, but I'm feeling a bit better now. 

 



Thanksgiving Tarts and Mincemeat Traditions

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving (if you celebrate it) and a great weekend.  I tried to post these pictures a few days ago, but had problems uploading them.  I just wanted to share some pics of my tarts.  I only just managed to take a picture of the last few before family members grabbed them up and finished them off!

 

 

I made my usual mincemeat tarts and then experimented with a few pecan tarts since I made extra pecan pie filling. They aren't quite as cute as the mincemeat ones, but they were really tasty!  Also, by making little tart versions we were able to eat one apiece the night before instead of staring longingly at our pecan pie and telling ourselves we had to wait.  Mmm!

 

Aren't the squirrel silhouettes cute??  They are my favorite little cookie cutters.  We also gave the traditional weaving top a try, but it was so much more effort we stopped after one.  LOL  Also used my acorn, maple leaf and turkey mini cookie cutters. 

 

The mincemeat tarts are a Thanksgiving Tradition in our house, I learned how to make them from my grandmother - if you are interested in trying an old fashioned (and VERY yummy) treat - just buy a jar of mincemeat at the grocery store - should be in the baking and/or holiay section - can be hard to find, but well worth the effort.  I then put it in a sauce pan and finely dice 1 or 2 apples and chop up about a half cup raisins and add to the mix, cook for about 15 min. or so, let cool slightly as you prepare crusts.  I just use ready made crusts normally and cut them to fit the little tart pans, then cut out fun shapes for the tops, brush with milk and sprinkle sugar (you can add some sugar to the mincemeat mixture, too, if you like it extra sweet), and bake at 350F until golden brown on top.  They are great as dessert or for breakfast! 

 

I also use mincemeat at Christmas, but as filled cookies!  I have a post somewhere in here with the cookie recipe - they are the sweetest, yummiest cookies ever and they go SUPER fast so I end up making tons so I can get a chance to eat one myself.  :)  Give it a try if you'd like to be a little Olde England this year.  I promise that these taste really good and not like meat at all.  I always find it funny when someone won't try it because of the name - they are so missing out on a good thing, but that's okay because it means More for Me!  LOL

 

If you have any questions about making mincemeat feel free to ask here.  I think it is a shame that it has fallen out of style and we need to fight to keep it in our Christmas tradition along with other older treats. 

 

Fun Fact - Puritans in England and the American colonies tried to outlaw mincemeat in the 1600's!  There were people called 'mince sniffers' whose job it was to patrol the town seeking out people who baked traditional mincemeat pies!  I'm glad they don't come around anymore - I'd be in trouble.  Check out more here. 

 

Back I go to Christmas decorating - I'm rather ambitious this year despite a really bad back and hip.  I'm not going to let it get me down!

Decorating for Fall and Halloween - Orange, Black and White with Gold Accents

Fall is finally here - Let the Decorating Begin!

Normally at this time I'm all excited for Halloween, but I'm feeling a bit low key about it.  I've only really decorated my mantle with Halloween decorations and kept the rest of the rooms simply Fall.  This corner table is an example:

I love this mercury glass lamp I found at TJ Maxx last year.  I decided to pair it with some gold accents - the picture frame (of my parents and I dressed up for the SCA) as well as a little pumpkin I found at Michaels a few months ago.  So cute!  I added some Antique books in gold and blue hues, tying the picture and pumpkin together - as well as some of our eclectic collection of pine cones/seeds from rare trees we've collected over the years.  And a few fake leaves, because...well, just because.  I'll put real leaves down when I find some good ones.

And then there is the Halloween mantle.  Last year I went all black and white, but this year I wanted a touch of color so I used shades of orange, too.  The skull is mercury glass (fake) from Target this year.  Cool find!

 Also, a crystal ball, mask, and some ravens.  Can't have Halloween without ravens!!

This mask is another cool find at Target this year - so Antique cool looking, but great bargain!  On top of black books, of course...

My 'Boo' and palm reading knick knacks...

And finally, another crow/raven on top of some more Antique black books.

Just a few tidbits from around my house.  I love Fall decorating, but Christmas is coming soon - can't wait for the real decorating to begin!!

Have a Great Weekend!!