Decorating with Artichokes

June 26, 2014


I have to be honest right off the bat and say that I've never even eaten an artichoke. 

Not to mention the fact that I think the word artichoke is one pretty weird word.

That being said, I DO like how artichokes look when used for home décor and entertaining.

 So much so that I recently created a Pinterest board dedicated to artichoke decorating! But rather than make you go over there to see my pins (although you're always welcome!)  I thought I'd share a few of them right here.

This one is a classic example of fresh artichokes used in place of flowers for a table centerpiece.

{I'm not sure how long they last in water, though. Anyone have any experience with this?}  
 
                    

Midwest Living

I've wanted to get one of these drink dispensers for a long time.
Z-Gallerie artichoke-beverage-dispenser
Z Gallerie

I think the artichoke is a fabulous table decoration, especially in the fall.  I've always wanted to use them on Thanksgiving. Here they're used in a simple, but pretty, table setting.

Beautiful Fall Table Decor Ideas

Shelterness

Below is one more example of a way to use artichokes at each place setting. You could even stick a place card into each one for a more personal touch. I also think they'd look fabulous running all the way down the center of the table, each one filled with flowers! Or maybe tea lights.  Hhmm, I think I'm onto something.....it appears that the possibilities are endless!artichoke as vase
Lana Austin's European Vintage

The idea for this post came about after I scored a white porcelain pitcher from
Goodwill for $2.99.  Here she is.


Isn't she lovely?


 Here she is up close.  Just a few small worn spots.  But that's how I like them, chippy and loved! 

It says "Made in Italy" on the bottom, which I think just adds to its value.

In addition to the pitcher I already had some silk artichokes displayed in my repurposed and French-i-fied tool box. You can see how I added the French graphics to the toolbox  here.


I really think the artichokes are perfect for it.


Here they are together.


You can find out all about my gilded chalkboard here.
And here are some of those lovely blooms.


You knew I couldn't help myself from talking about my hydrangeas, didn't you?


I can't believe how early they're blooming this year.

Not to mention how plentiful the blooms are.
Cue angelic chorus here.

Yes, I'm excited at the prospect of a summer full of hydrangeas.

What gets you excited about summer?


Do you use artichokes

in your décor

 or

for entertaining?
Let me know, I'd love to hear!


I hope you enjoyed reading about Decorating With Artichokes.
And thanks so much for spending time with me today!

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Scrumptious Madeleines: French Confections

June 23, 2014



Serendipity surely had a hand in the recent turn of events that led me to make madeleines for the very first time.  I recently came across a great recipe for madeleines over at one of my favorite blogs, The Charm of Home.  If you're not familiar with these pretty little French sponge cakes, Wikipedia has this to say about them:

The madeleine (French pronunciation: ​[mad.lɛn], English /ˈmædln/ or /ˌmædlˈn/[1]) or petite madeleine ([pə.tit mad.lɛn]) is a traditional small cake from Commercy and Liverdun, two communes of the Lorraine region in northeastern France.

Within a day of my finding Sherry's post about these delicious treats I actually found a madeleine tin mold for 99 cents at Goodwill, similar to the one pictured below. 

It was fate I tell you. 

 And if you know me at all you'll know that I love all things French, so these cakes have been on my to-do list for a long time. I also love the sea, so their seashell shape is another reason I've always been drawn to them.

Madeleine Tin Mold

I was pretty proud of myself with how they turned out.






I overfilled the molds on the first batch, and they did not look like the pretty cakes you see here!  But I was quick to figure that out and the next two batches came out just right!

I'm a tea drinker (Earl Grey and  Vanilla Caramel are my favorites) so I know I'll be having some of these cakes with my tea in the morning. I wanted to show you one of my many teacups that have been collected over the years, and I chose one in particular that has special meaning for me.


The cup and saucer was given to me by a dear friend who passed away a number of years ago. She knew how much I loved tea, and she actually shared with me a cup from her personal collection.  
 
The bottom reads:
Fine Bone China,
"Shelley"
England.
 
She had impeccable taste and really knew her china ~ she was from England after all! 
 I will always treasure it. 



And by the way, the large white plate was a Dollar Store purchase.  I know, it looks just like the Pottery Barn Emma dinnerware! I bought out the last of their dinner plates and was so happy since our everyday plates are also white. I just added them into the mix.  I love it when that happens!   
 
I'm going to leave you with a collage of my madeleine pictures. 
 
Aren't they incredibly photogenic?
 
 
 
 
And don't forget to stop by Sherry's blog The Charm of Home and get the recipe
 
You won't be disappointed!

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Retro Globe and Vintage SuitcaseTable (or How Old is Your Globe?)

June 18, 2014

Today I want to share with you two of my favorite things: vintage suitcases and retro globes. They just happen to be two of my latest thrifting finds.



I picked up this vintage 1950's Cygnet suitcase at Goodwill for $3.99. Did I need it? No.  Did I love it? Yes.  I loved it because of it's creamy color.  While I have a growing collection of vintage suitcases, they're all various shades of brown. This one is, I think, special for two reasons.  One reason is the color, and the other is that it's British!  Yes, Cygnet luggage is made in the U.K.  

{Cygnet means young swan.  Who knew?}


See the picture of the swan?  I found similar ones on Etsy and eBay for between $70 and $90.  Call me crazy but I think I got the good deal.

In the past I used another suitcase as an end table on this same base (an old piano bench which I repurposed here). I switched out the brown suitcase for this one and I really, really like it!

Now for the globe.


I'm not sure when my "collection" of globes really started, but suffice it to say that it did!  I had a globe very similar to this one when I was growing up.  I picked it up at an estate sale and couldn't have been happier.  I paid all of $7.00 for it. Not too long ago I was at a very popular antique and flea market when I saw a globe I liked.  The guy was asking $25-$35.  It was not in as good condition as this one and I hesitated to buy it. Now I'm glad I waited.


It's not too, too old ~ I've dated it to 1999 so it's 15 years old.  That must be why it's in such good shape.  It's made by the premiere globe maker, Replogle Globes.  If you go to their website they have a chart entitled "How Old is Your Globe?" which can help you pinpoint the age of your globe.  I thought it would be interesting to try to figure out how old all my other globes are. But that's for another day.

Here's another one from my collection.

 
You can read about the mission end table transformation here.
 
I do think the new addition to my globe collection and the suitcase side table make a good pair, don't you?




 
 
 
It's a bit less blurry when I size it a bit smaller, below.
 
 
I'm not sure where this vintage suitcase side table will go.  Unfortunately, I've been feeling very stifled creatively since the house is STILL for sale.  I'll probably have to wait for a later date before I actually get to use it somewhere around the house.
 
It still makes me smile, though.
 
Creamy white luggage from the U.K.
 
coupled with
 
a retro Replogle globe.
 
So,
 
how old is YOUR globe?
  
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Lilacs in Bloom

June 9, 2014

lilacs in bloom ironstone soup tureen patio table

We had huge lilac bushes in the back yard when I was growing up.  I remember their strong fragrance and how I loved to cut the flowers and bring them inside. I even remember bringing them to school for my teachers.

We now have huge lilac bushes on our property today, and I still love their fragrance and delicate blooms from spring into early summer.

large purple lilac bushes in bloom

They seem to go well with one of my ironstone soup tureens. 

What do you think?

lilacs in ironstone tureen on patio table

I played with some Picmonkey effects because my iPhone is not taking very good pictures since the iOS7 update.


Is there a flower that you associate with your childhood?



Lilac bushes are actually from the olive family, and they attract butterflies which I absolutely love about them.



 What are your favorite fresh cut flowers?
 
Well, that's it for today, friends!

I hope you've enjoyed reading about

Lilacs In Bloom

and that I've inspired you in some way. 

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