vintage

MY LATE SUMMER MUSINGS

There’s picture posts abound right now of dahlias in their glory.  After all, this is their time to reign, and what a show these tuberous beauties provide.  I still see the beauty in this dahlia bloom despite its withered appearance.  I see romance. Something ruffled, not crumpled.  Vintage.  Antique.   And what an exquisite color palette this photo provides to be inspired by, don’t you think?  I’m enjoying lots of windowsill bud vases as much as possible before the hard frost makes its visit to the east coast.

Another garden icon of late summer is the beloved sunflower.   This one’s towering face looking down upon me is almost confrontational and surreal in nature.  I was face to face with the one pictured below it; hence, the feeling I got was totally different.  Is that not just the happiest face you’ve ever seen?

Next year I may grow and extra crop of carrots just to let them go to flower, as I love these delicate, lacy darlings.  They last very well as a cut flower and have a slightly stronger stature than their relative, Queen Anne’s Lace.

It is the commencement of my favorite season of the year.  The still and snowy days of winter comes in second, though I’m in no rush for that quite yet.  The squirrels are shaking off acorns from the oak trees like mad.  Bright and colorful dahlias are a plenty.   Sunflowers are still smiling.  Evenings are cool and make for comfortable sleeping.  The days are shorter, signaling me to ease up on outdoor chores and focus on my home’s interior.  The cricket orchestra is providing free evening music.  Pumpkins, gourds and locally grown delicious root crops are coming into season.  It’s an absolutely divine time, it is.

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CHARMINGLY REPURPOSED GIFT GIVING

©linda nelson 2014

Have you acquired an abundance of mismatched vintage tableware, possibly too much for your cupboards to hold?  Repurpose and incorporate some pieces into sweet little hostess gifts.  Homemade jam, a teaspoon, doily and dessert plate, tied up with fabric ribbon, makes for a darling presentation.

©linda nelson 2014
Have a pair of teacups, saucers and spoons?  All that’s needed to complete this ensemble is some specialty tea bags and a pair of dessert napkins.
©linda nelson 2014

Do be mindful of and thoughtful with your intentions, though.  Your recipient may really love the idea and want to pay your gifted wares forward to another friend.  She may want to use the dish under one of her little potted plants.  A teacup may become the perfect (and adorable) catchall for buttons or stamps.  That’s okay.  It’s all about letting go and letting a new purpose be had for these items.  Who knows, as luck may have it you may one day be presented with a little treasure that you sent off years ago!

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SPRING TABLESCAPE: A ROLL OF INSPIRATION & REMEMBERING MY LATE AUNT

©linda nelson 2014
©linda nelson 2014
©linda nelson 2014

This past February I took on the bittersweet task of clearing out my late aunt’s summer cottage in time for the closing on its sale.  I have many fond memories of visiting her there, but rummaging through her personal belongings was not one of them.  I was tortured between feeling shame for delighting in the curious things I found and the feeling of solemnity with the responsibility of the task.  Truth be told, I am so grateful that my aunt upheld her old world Italian ways, and didn’t throw anything out.

Enter, my Spring tablescape…

It begins with the vintage aluminum edging roll found in my aunt’s shed.  Industrial.  The dishes go back as far as I can remember.  Vintage.  The ceramic planter (from Italy) is the perfect little cache for my African violet.  Nature.  The moss filled zinc ball jar covers will cozily nestle little egg shaped confections.  Repurposed.  The whisk broom, adorable.  Yittle bunny, a yittle splash of Lladro.

There you have it, an industrial, vintage, nature, repurposed, adorable, Aunt Rose inspired tablescape, with a yittle splash of Lladro.

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