Spring Inspiration - Need a Smile?

When you are stressed out, sick of winter and in need of inspiration - there's always Spring! It's just around the corner and it's so cheerful and full of hope - it makes me smile. So here's just a few pics of what made me smile and think of spring today...

On top of my armoire sits a beautiful birdcage...

It's a pretty shabby white metal. I love the details. Also you can see some of my favorite boxes with butterflies, fleur de lis, etc., an 'N' and a small Eiffel Tower. All of my favorite things.
Next up is Chloe - my maidenform. I've dressed her in my favorite jean vest and gave her some of my necklaces to wear...

I love pink with denim, don't you? And the flower necklace is my favorite to wear in the spring. Chloe can borrow it for a little while...

But I'll be wanting it back!

Hope they made you smile. I'm in desperate need of a pick me up after some rather bad news earlier. I'm feeling a tiny bit better, aren't you? ;)

Got a Hankie?

I do not by any means have the largest handkerchief collection. (Though I think my Fairy Vintage Godmother does...) I do, however, enjoy collecting them and have ever since high school. I have both modern and vintage - I thought I'd share a few pics of my favorites...

Modern -
some of these actually might better qualify as scarves, but are all square or rectangular and could be both.

First off, my absolute fave:

I love the shade of blue plus the beautiful designs on it - it's just perfect.

This one is actually kind of vintage - it was my mum's and I think maybe '70's?? It was big enough to tie up in my hair in a pony tail. Very cute.



This one is good for funerals...

And this one I can't believe I bought at Old Navy years ago. They don't carry too much 'pretty' stuff anymore - more trendy items these days.This is either Old Navy, or most likely Target. I love the tiny blue flowers.

Vintage -

These are genuine, bonafide hankies and a wide variety...

I love delicate borders like these and white on white embroidery. Subtle and pretty.

This one I found in St. Charles at an Antique shop on Mother's Day. Perfect timing since it has my mom's name on it...

A close up - can you believe the detailing?? I love this one! It's a delicate pink with white embroidery.
I love embroidered flowers...

A pretty border...

Some are more flamboyant...

And in desperate need of ironing...sorry.

And this is another favorite... Hope you enjoyed these.

Tuesday Giveaway - Danita

The talented Miss Danita is having a great giveaway on her blog - a wood mounted image of your choice. It's a tought choice as to what to pick - there are so many great ones to choose from! Her Frida ones are usually my favorite, but I also think her Angel of the Broken Hearts is great. I think I'd pick this one...

There's something about the shade of pink, the haunting eyes...the antiqued background...it's a fave. I also enjoy folk art angels a great deal. Winner will be announced Saturday so hurry up and comment on her blog for a chance to win.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sweets to the sweet!

A giant M&M cookie for you...

Wishing you all a great Valentine's Day filled with love and a sweet or two.

Inspiration Friday

I'm really loving this turn of the century advertisement...

I have it on my laptop as a tiled background - it's so pretty. And then I looked around my kitchen and saw one of the reasons I like it so much - I'm drawn to those colors frequently.

Such as some new bowls we picked up while Christmas shopping...

I really really didn't need more bowls, but they were so cute!! Who could resist?

And while I was at it we really needed somewhere to hang our aprons...

And this is the shelf just above my stove. Two well-loved cookbooks and an assortment of my prettiest groceries.

I love the Greek coffee canister and old fashioned labels on the cans.

Have a happy Friday, everyone!

Flea Market Style

A new Flea Market Style magazine is coming out and the cover, by the talented Heather Bullard looks gorgeous...

After weeks of snow and freezing temperatures I'm more than ready for spring and this cover just screams spring, doesn't it? The colors and the freshness is truly inspiring. I'm thinking of my garden and Easter and all the things we have to look forward to once Old Man Winter departs...

I love flea markets and finding new ways to use my vintage finds. I won the fantastic giveaway of a free copy and I'm looking forward to drooling over this - it looks amazing! Thanks Heather!

One of those days...

It's just one of those days...it's bitterly cold outside and I feel so crummy. A headache, tummy ache...just about everything-ache. I woke up and saw that Smokey was sleeping so soundly in his basket. He looks so peaceful and snuggly in his warm bed that I'm tempted to go back to my own bed and do the same.

It's the kind of day that makes you want to curl up with a good book.

My father built me this set of bookshelves above my desk. I have another bookcase in my bedroom, but this one is for my favorite books on my favorite subjects - history and art. They are mostly on my favorite period of all - the Tudor Age. I have just about every good book on Henry VIII and his wives. I study it constantly and am always looking for new books on them.

And old books on them. I collect vintage books in general, but I get really excited if they are on the Tudors. I got two 'new' vintage books on Henry VIII for Christmas. I then went out and bought a few more with my Christmas money.

You could say I'm a bit obsessed. I also have French history books, too. Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV are also interesting people and periods in history. I have a few knickknacks that go along with the theme. An iron Fleur de Lis I'm using as a bookend...

And a golden lion (ancient symbol of kings) as another bookend.

Little things like that make me happy. Now I need to pick a book to read and curl up in bed. ;)

A St. Louis Treat - Toasted Ravoli

In St. Louis we have a favorite appetizer called Toasted Ravioli. It's a breaded, deep fried ravioli (usually beef or veal, but sometimes cheese) served with marinara sauce and sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.

It's delicious! Just about all restaurants in St. Louis carry it as an appetizer and even McDonald's served it at one time. You can get it in a few other parts of the U.S., but nowhere near as much as here. Whenever my out of town relatives visit they usually want to treat themselves to some while visiting.

Just thought I'd share a tasty treat with you...hope you all have a good Monday.

Ice, Snow and Wind - Oh My!

Happy Groundhog Day. Enjoying the blizzard? I am. We got plenty of ice, but lucked out in the city with only a few inches of snow. Enough ice to cancel all schools and businesses around us, but not so much that we can't go out and enjoy the lovely snow and see the beautiful ice covered trees.

This is my Redbud tree - even the seedpods still left on it are encased in beautiful ice...

And my overturned pots awaiting spring look like little snow mushrooms, don't they?

And Fox enjoys playing in the snow...

Here he is after eating many homemade snow cones outside...

He says they taste great and he'd like you to see his dog house...

He's very glad he doesn't have to stay outside in it. Look at the icicles all along it!

There is nothing quite like a dog enjoying fresh fallen snow. Fox kept bugging me all night and today to go out and PLAY! He danced and cavorted with glee out in the falling snow, scooping up mouthfuls every few minutes. He was so happy to run around in it. It reminded me of how much fun I had as a kid playing in the snow and then coming in to thaw out and have a warm cup of cocoa...or in Fox's case a milkbone. ;)

Hope you all are safe and warm!

A Recommendation for Gosford Park Fans

Last Sunday I enjoyed the final episode of Downton Abbey's first season. However did I miss this the first time around? Just in case anyone else missed out I must recommend renting or buying the DVD of this fantastic new series. It begins just as word of the Titanic's sinking reaches England and the first season ends just as WWI breaks out. In between a great deal of interesting things happen at the breathtaking Downton Abbey, a manor home in danger of being lost from the family since there is no male heir to inherit it. Instead there are three daughters and a distant male cousin with little interest in inheriting the home and the responsibilities that come with it.

It's created and written by the same man who made Gosford Park so the dialogue and the mix of servants and family are perfectly portrayed. And even if you don't like the plot the fantastic setting and costumes are more than enough to sit and drool over...

And the cast is chock full of fantastic British actors.

The three sisters...So different in personalities and far different destinies await for them. I relished every moment of sibling rivalry. I can't wait to see what happens next season!

And Maggie Smith...no need to note how fantastic she is in her role, she steals every scene she's in.

Of course being made by the man that gave us Gosford Park there are LOTS of servant scenes and each character is unique and well formed with their own storyline.

Season 2 is filming right now and I can't wait for it to debut in the fall. Something to look forward to! If you love Gosford Park...you'll love this series!