Tweaking My China Cabinet...

After Christmas is one of my favorites times of year. I love putting all the Christmas away and cleaning everything up. It's a time to rearrange and decorate. I always feel like my house gets back to normal after three months of decorating, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year I changed up my kitchen/dining area beginning with my china cabinet.

This is my China Cabinet before filled with my Vintage Franciscan Ware.

 

Here is my china cabinet now filled with my vintage Johnson Brother's Friendly Village and other transfer ware patterns.

I found this vintage large platter at replacements.com. The price was right because of a few flea bites. It's vintage and hard to come by so I scooped it up for me for Christmas.

It was just meant to be in this space.

I also found this beautiful Johnson Brother's Old British Castle multi colored smaller platter. This was a true find since it was made in England 1930.  It's hard to come by the multi color. I'm always on the look out for this pattern.

This is the one other piece I have of the Old British Castle pattern in multi colored. This is a medium size serving bowl made in England 1930. My camera is not doing justice to the beauty

and vibrancy of the colors.

Johnson Brother's Friendly Village is a very popular pattern of English Transfer Ware. I have collected this pattern very carefully over the years, so as to make sure they were all back stamped Made in England and not the recently produced pattern which in my opinion isn't of the same quality as the original.

The detail is amazing to me. This sugar bowl is a great example of the quality of workmanship.

I am very pleased with the exchange I made in my china cabinet. I have moved my Franciscan Ware to my buffet which I will be sharing soon.

Partying with:

Tweak It Tuesday #25

 

Home Sweet Home #104

Glorious Paperwhites, So Easy, So Pretty!

This is the first time I have ever grown Paperwhites indoors or out.

I have always thought they were so pretty on display.

Thought I would give it a go this year.

I went on Youtube and watched a view videos on how to plant them. Youtube is wonderful! You can find out how to DIY just about anything. 

My friend gave me the perfect dish she got at a garage sale. I Ordered these bulbs off of Amazon. They came 10 in a pack. I also found some in the grocery outlet stores.

Got my soil out one Sunday afternoon right before Thanksgiving put the soil in the dish all the way to the top, 

set my 10 bulbs root side down on the surface, scattered some small rocks around and watered just up to the base of the bulbs. It was all right there in the package instructions.

Set the dish with the bulbs on my kitchen table where it could get sunlight. My kitchen windows are on the west side. The sun doesn't really come in until afternoon. South facing windows are probably the best. Nonetheless the little bulbs started sprouting what looked like claws and kept going. I carefully watered the roots once a week. 5 weeks later I had beautiful blooming flowers just in time for Christmas.

I did have them on display on my kitchen table. I no longer have a formal dining room. They looked beautiful there. After the 1st week they got so heavy they started to fall over. I have since tied them up with a ribbon and that has been just fine. I did have to move them off my table and into my entry foyer due to their scent. Unfortunately they really stink. They are very over powering with kind of a stinky sock smell. This was disappointing. I use my inside garage door to come in my home so I don't notice it too much. Coming in the front door is another story. They look beautiful and I do love them in my entry way so I plan on starting another batch in a different container this weekend, this batch will be passing on in another week or so. This has been a rewarding experience which I am very happy I tried.

Would love to hear your experiences with indoor bulb planting!

Partying With:

Weekend Wander #107 While He Was Napping.

Tweak It Tuesday #22

Queen Anne Bone China Lady Luck...

My mother passed away Christmas Eve 1994 at 73 years old. It will be 18 years this Christmas. I miss her terribly. Being the only daughter, she left all her personal belongings to me. My brother took her paintings and I packed away all the rest. She was a very organized and a no clutter woman. She only displayed and kept things she really loved. She was not a collector of anything. In fact it gave her the willies to go to my Aunt's home who collects Hummell's and plates. She just couldn't understand it. She was really a no nonsense type of gal. What she did keep were wonderful vintage pieces from my grandparents and gifts given to her. 

She was an avid bridge player for as long as I can remember. This cup was given to her by a dear friend. It has to be from the 1960's.

I found this while un-packing during our move. I just love it! Queen Anne Fine Bone China Lady Luck It's

so my mother. She really was Lady Luck at the bridge table and the Black Jack table.

This little Joker is on the inside of the cup.

Back side of the cup.

Bottom stamp

It's nearly in perfect condition in-spite of all the moves over the years. I love the color and details.

I'm so glad I found it! 

I will be sharing other lovely finds I have from her in time.

 

Share Your Cup Thursday #35

Look what the Stork Dropped in...

Meet Miss Lucy. She was born Nov. 25, 2012. 5lbs, 20" long.

She will never grow any larger and will always be asleep.

She will never talk back, need braces, or be a teenager.

She will always be available to cuddle and kiss.

She has lovely soft angora mohair for hair that is hand rooted into her scalp. She looks like a baby and smells like baby powder.

Her dress is so beautiful. A vintage batiste Christening dress

with a full batiste under slip.

For the cooler weather she wears her handmade from England

white and lavender sweater.

She just has the sweetest little feet and toes!

To learn more about Miss Lucy visit her page on Ebay

A CRY FOR HELP!!!

My blog has been hacked. I really need someone's help. Some porno site with a very innocent name has hacked into my reading list!!! Got on this morning and scrolling down 12 posts from this porno site has come up.

 I don't know how to get rid of them or how to delete. I have used the help section for blogger and nothing is working!!! I don't want to have to delete my blog but I will if this can't be fixed. Any advise would be so appreciated!! I'm just sick about this!

My Thanksgiving Table..

Simple and rustic that's me!! I love the earthy colors of  this time of year.

When we downsized to a single story recently we gave up our

formal dining room and now have an open kitchen dining area.

I love it.

We sold our formal dining table and kept our family dining table for 8. It fits my simple, earthy decor perfectly.

I set the table every year with my Vintage Franciscan

Apple pattern.

I really only use it at Thanksgiving. 

All my serving pieces are in my china cabinet.

I started collecting these plates for a few years now. I have always

loved this pattern. I remember it from childhood. My neighbors had this pattern. My mother collected Fiestaware which I have as well.

All of my collection is from the 1940's when they were hand painted.  The newer Franciscan Ware

is now made in England and it isn't nearly as nice. 

You can see the vibrant colors which are nearly 70 years old now. 

There are so may pieces that were issued in this pattern. 

Desert Rose was another famous pattern.

It has taken awhile but I now have a service for 12 people

which I need for my family.

 

Hard to get a descent picture of this centerpiece. Created it from stuff I had around the house.

The candle in the center is hazelnut scented which adds to the earthy theme.

Sharing with:

 

  

Share Your Cup Thursday

Vintage Inspiration #115 Being Thankful