Week 5 ~ My Collections

TEA CUPS and ways to display them!

Okay...before I get started I want to apologize.  I meant to continue this post on a weekly basis..alas, life gets in the way.  It always amazes me each year how the start of school seems to encroach upon my time and I forget about that.  My daughter is now in her Senior Year of  High School and has always been active in some type of sport year round.  This year she decided to play tennis...so that means many afternoons away from home.  And then my dear hubby is still looking for a job (continued prayers, please) and occupies my puters...so that's my story! lol

On to funner things...

In these next pictures I am featuring my Royal Blue Dining Room.  I have shared this room many times with you my viewers and to date, after 12 years of living with a room this color, it is a KEEPER.  It remains cozy and my collections just POP on the walls or I LOVE IT!!!

Okay...here's an overview of the entire room...it is off our main entry to your right.  My table has been set, lighting is set so off we go!

My China hutch holds the majority of my Johnson Brothers Rose Chintz, that my sweet mom helped me start.  I also have a few tea cups in my displays.

I am showing a closer view of my brassy chandy that I have camoflouged.  Don't be afraid to pick up a lone tea cup, see how I have wired these to my chandy?

Here are a few wall displays that I have purchased explicitly for my tea cups.  The one below was a $3 garage sale find.  In this one you can see I also have another collection of creamers...I'll do another collection blog on those down the road...stay tuned.

The NEXT 6 pictures are of the TEA CUPS I have on my dining room table.  What I have done is this...I have 2 sets of 6 white plates that I love to use for dress up.  They become my charger.  I have then paired my tea cups with a Bone China Plate (another collection).  Now here's the COOL part, I have without realizing it, collected plates that actually are so similar to my TEA CUPs that you would think I did it on purpose.  But as most collectors know, when you collect you will often gravitate to those things you love and often this will happen. Enjoy these sets!

Okay the next pictures will show...More FUN ways to display Tea Cups.

Another thrifting find for $5...see my demitasse cups? These are tinier but oh so lovely!

The set above was a gift for Christmas and one of my favorite patterns...I just had to group them together.

Even my piano has a couple of unique flower type tea cups.  These were gifts that had floral arrangments in them...how well my friends know me!

The top/bottom pictures are of my butler pantry pass through. I have used it to display my many cups and pots.  I just love these stacking displays....more bang for your buck that's for sure!

And...I kept my blue tea cups in the kitchen above my stove.

Okay..here's a couple of FYI ideas w/single tea cups.  This pretty tea cups plate got broken by me...sob...so I took a lemon and turned it into lemonade...or a fun way to display some pretty paper roses.  So simple, place a styrafoam ball into your cup and glue it in, add a lacy border, moss and glue on roses...and whalaaaa!

Another thing I have done and sold many of are mis-matched cups and saucers...by turning the cup upside down and gluing a similar sacuer on top...you now have a way to display candles or any item you may want to raise!

Well...there you have it!  Another blog on my collections.  I hope you LOVE what you see and will leave me comments! I REALLY LOVE HEARING from you! Don't be shy! And...I will try really hard to visit you as well, okay?

Wishing you Simply TEA Cups of Pleasure!

Lorena

CHRISTMAS is coming SOON!

Hey there friends...

Oh I know...that is kinda cruel huh? Well...this time of the year I am trying to gear up for Holiday sales in my esty shop. In between, errands, cleaning, traveling and watching my daughter play tennis, it CAN be very hard to squease in time. Creating has become a way for me to cope and get lost in my own little world and when that becomes difficult I can tell!!! lol

I hope you wont mind indulging me as I share with you some of my newest goodies I will be listing.  I get so giddy about sharing and showing off my latests creations...which just comes with the territory!

This sweet felt elf is helping good ole St Nick get gifts ready for the HOLIDAYS!  This collection of found treasures old and new have been sweetly arranged to create a one of a kind decoration piece for a tablescape.  This Santa container is quite large and I knew he'd be fine paired with this darling vintage felt elf.

Sweetest soft PINK Feather Wreath all done up pinks, whites and silver goodies is awaiting your Shabby Chic Home.  I have added some made and vintage oranments and bling for your shabby pleasure!  A very pink glittery heart helps finish this off. 

LASTLY, but certainly NOT least...are my newest TASSLE Line creations!!!  I just can't wait to make more of these adorable tassle/ornaments.   I have used vintage salt/pepper shakers as my base and then embellished these for a sweet overall look.

SO? Are ya intrigued?  I hope so.  I will hopefully be adding these today to my etsy store.  If you like what you see come on over and visit my ETSY shop to see what else I have to offer!

Have a GREAT day everyone!

Lorena

CLAY Pot Scarecrow ~ HOW TO Make Them

Hello friends!

Well, I decided to post a HOW TO on a project that I had made many years ago.  These darling clay pot scarecrows come out for my FALL spruce up.  So I was thinking just maybe this might be a fun family project for your kids, grandkids or you. What do you think?

I have shown a couple of pictures of these sweeties that I have grouped in my recent fall decor.  I am hoping that I just might inspire a few of you to join with me in creating something new for your fall home decor.

WHAT you will need:

5 clay pots (size is up to you)

Acrylic Paints

Glue, Alene's, or glue gun works okay if they are to be kept in doors

I have done these clay pot SCARECROWS in sizes ranging from 2 inches up to the largest which is 6 inch POTs.

DIRECTIONS:
paint 2 pots in either black or blue, for jeans
paint 1 pot in a red, yellow or orange, for shirt
paint 1 pot in a flesh or orange. for face
paint 1 pot in a brown or gold, for hand

OPTIONS: if you like a more shabby chic look you could do these in pinks and whites or any color combo of your choice.

Okay...now the fun begins.  You can add detailing like a place for the zipper and side seams on the blues.  Add a row of buttons or plaid stripe for the top.  In my pictures, I have then done a variety of differing faces keeping more of a scarecrow or pumpkin look for the face. Please feel free to copy my pictures for a reference help in the details. On the top pot I have painted a sunflower...you could glue a sunflower or any flower you'd like to embellish these.  I have even added straw hair and painted some on them as well.  It's really up to you and your imagination.

Once your details have been painted and dried you will then glue the pots together..starting with your bottom 2 blue/black, your shirt pot, your face pot and then your hat..which should be upside down. (See pictures)

Now, if you are adventurous, you could also cut out felt hands and arms to match and then glue on the sides.

If you do decided to try this...Please let me know.  I'd love to see how I have inspired you for FALL and creating these unique scarecrows for your home decor.

Fall Blessings!

Lorena

Vintage Halloween/Thanksgiving Images

Welcome blogging friends!

As I have done before, I love going through some of the Vintage Images that I am gathering and share them with you.  These amazingly beautiful images really speak to me. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!  I do have a website listed on my left hand sidebar that I find many of these images from.  They are free and if you love them please copy/paste them for your own usage.

Don't you agree that these are just charmingly sweet images?

Enjoy!

Lorena

Back from My SEATTLE Vacation

Well, my blogging friends, did ya miss me?

There is nothing like *Going Home*...do you know what I mean?  As many of you who read my blog know, my parents and sister gifted me with a ticket so I could come to for a visit.   A gift that means the world to me.  My family usually takes a yearly trek out to the state of my birth.  Yep, I was actually born at Providence Hospital in downtown Seattle, Washington...50 years ago.  I grew up in the berbs, or for those who might know where, Federal Way which is about 35 miles south of Seattle.  Over 10 years ago my parents sold the home I grew up in and bought a place even further south in Buckely.  Buckley, is actually a very old logging town, located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountain Range...a quaint town that has seen many years go by.  And the crowning glory of the range is Mt. Rainier...the highest peak in the contenental U.S.

The view as you approach my folks home are some of the most amazingly beautiful shots you could ever visually see of this majestic mountain.  Of course, I left my camera home!!! Man...what a goof I was for doing this.

This is a picture I found on the internet..which is a close representation of what you would see.  Amazing, huh?  At every twist and turn up the 410 highway you will see this mountain.  It NEVER ceases to *AWE* me of its beauty.  I miss it very much.

On Friday we did the PUYALLUP.  Anyone know what I am talking about?  Its the 10th largest STATE Fair in the country...and the best one I know of for sure.  I have many childhood memories of *Doing the Puyallup*.  And we did it up right, with warm weather, blue skies and we walked til we dropped!

If you go to the Puyallup fair you MUST have a scone!  These are the YUMMIEST goodies in the world!  Warm buttered biscuits with a huge dollup raspberry jam.  My mouth is just watering thinking about them.  Another fair special are the Krusty Pups..or in laymen terms, corn dogs...Oh my..a lil' mustard and its pure heaven on a stick!

My family also threw me a belated birthday party on Sunday and then on Monday my 2 sisters mom and I met up in downtown Seattle.

Along the Puget Sound, which Seattle rest upon, smack in the middle of town is the PIKE Place Market.  A feast for your eyes, ears and nose.  We wandered through many craftspeople, farmers, flower growers and YES those smelly ole fish shops.  The first opened STARBUCKS is also residence in the famous place.  The people come from all over the world to see the sights this unique marketplace has to offer.  If you ever plan a trip to Seattle, this is a MUST see!!!

I thought I'd throw in a few pictures I found on the internet of Seattle.  It really IS one of the prettiest cities I have ever been to.  Where in the United States can you see, ferries on the water, overlooking the Olympic Mountain to your west, a city rising out of the Puget sound, and to your South East look at the view of a Moutain rising as a majestic watch tower for all to see?

And...when in Seattle, do as the Seattleites do...DRINK coffeeeeeeee! Lotsa STARBUCKs coffee!!!

I truly had a wonderful, very quick trip.  And alas have memories to hopefully keep me going one more year before I may be able to trek across the miles to my *home* once again...thanks mom, dad, Marci and Paul!

Humbly Lorena

You Asked It ~ Now the Answers

I received such a wonderful response to my Q&A blog I did last week! I want to thank each and every one of you who took the time to leave me very thought provoking questions! I  had to dig deep to come up with an honest answer…so here goes.

I WILL be leaving Wednesday for a week of fun with my family.  So I decided I 'd better get this blog ready and out there so that you sweet gals who participated came come over and see my answers.

Rebecca of A Gathering of Thoughts asked: What is your GREATEST PASSION?

My greatest passion in life is to Follow the Path the Lord wants for me at all times. If I may add, I always wanted to be a mom and when God answered my prayer, being a Godly example to my daughter and responding to her as God would want me to was a deep passion I had and has always been upmost in my heart and mind. GOOD Question!

Holly of a Girl at Heart asked…Do you have a picture of yourself on your blog?

No, I don’t think I have a GOOD one but what girl ever thinks there's a good picture of her, huh?..if I do I can’t remember where…so I will pick a few I have taken recently and show you one of my favorite family pictures.  These were just pix I took goofing around with the camera..you know, like teenagers do? lol  Also, I scanned my favorite family picture taken about 8 or 9 years ago..so I was in my early 40's.

Marydon of Blushing Rose asked…What is your greatest joy in life other than children & marriage?

THIS IS easy! CREATING!!! As a child I was told I had a creative touch, but alas this was not nourished until in my 30’s. Then GOD took away any chances of my having more children and replaced that with a LOVE of painting, crafting, decorating or basically anything having to do with CREATING. I began to tap into a WELL of expression to the beauty I believe was hidden deep within, waiting for the right time. I have chosen to do this for my LORD first and foremost.

Connie of Living Beautifully asked..How big is your house? How many rooms? How much yard do you have to mow? And how far are you from shopping?

Well…my home on the main 2 floors is about 3000sq ft. We also have a finished basement with about another 1500 sq ft of living and storage space. Really too much room for the 3 of us…but we had bought it hoping for more children. We have a living room, den/office, family room, formal dining, eat-in kitchen, laundry/mud room off garage, 4 bedrooms upstairs, large recreation-room in the basement with a kitchenette area and 1 bedroom, 3 FULL bathroom, one powder room and 2 storage areas.

We are about 20 minute from downtown Ann Arbor or UofM, 5-10 minutes to Canton/Plymouth, malls, grocery stores favorite thrifting places are all within 15-30 minutes. MY sweet hubby mows a yard that is over 1/3 of an acre.

Judith from Australia asked:

My first question: "Would it be better for me to gather up 3-5 of the one type of thing then 3-5 of another type e.g. vintage vases and vintage doilies; rather than collect a mass of the one thing". If it is; how do you be selective..e.g. wait forever for the right thing to come along?,what is the best way to display small collections like vases and doilies as an example.

 #1: When I collect, I collect from my heart..or buy what I LOVE. I truly believe that a true collection will just happen. For instance, one of my first collections is English Bone China Tea Cups, I loved the rose patterns best and when I see one that is a good price I will snatch it right up. That collection of the years has grown well over 30. I do continue to add to this, but obviously am now more selective because I have so many. I have collections of varying sizes and they are all over my home.

For displaying smaller collectibles, use trays or smaller table tops.  I also love displaying in unusual shelving pieces that I pick up.  As for display, smaller collections are always better when you can group them together. When spread all over your home, they don’t have the same impact. Keeping what you collect is really up to the space you have and what you love. Garage sales and thrift stores  are where I have found inexpensive wall display shelving. Always think UP…on your walls, on top of cabinets and ledges, as your collections don’t have to just be on tables.


My second question is do you have any ideas for display of old postcards like the ones you have on your blog at the moment? I have some sitting around, but the breeze blows them everywhere and they also bend if you sit them on their edges.

#2: Displaying of Postcards. There are a number of ideas that I am thinking for display these vintage goodies. Find pretty frames and create groupings for your wall or create a collage of your favorite one in a larger frame. I have seen them decoupage to the bottom of a tray but I think I'd make copies of them and do this. Decoupage on a trunk, stool or even a pieces of furniture. Also, a great way to display is under glass on a coffee or side table, changing them out seasonally if you’d like.  These beauties are like pieces of art and I think if you look at them in that fashion ways to display them will abound.

Thirdly; are there collections you have that you wish you had not started. If yes...why?

#3: YES, as much as I hate to admit it I do have a collection of Precious Moments that I started well over 30 years ago, and as much as I love those sweet images I think I have outgrown them. I do have them waiting to be displayed in my downstairs bedroom…if I ever get to it. Also, my milk glass collection has grown too much. So I am starting to weed out pieces. I think that is what you must do. Selling them off or gifting them to others can be ways to keep space in your home if you need to.  I have found over time that my taste has changed.  There are some things I collect because of the artist in me..like handpainted floral plates.  They speak to me and thata's why I will probalby always collect...now I might find a few that are not my favorite and sell them so I can replace them. 

GOOD questions!

Bertie of Aunt May’s Cottage asked: how long have you been painting and what prompted you to start?

 As I mentioned earlier, I really believe GOD gifted me with this or at least I finally had the time to develop a love for painting when my daughter started 1st grade over 12 years ago. I started when my dear friend Susie was looking for a class item to be painted for our schools fund raiser. Sheepishly I said I thought I might be able to do this. I also began seeing Donna Dewberry on the selling channels and remembered my sister and another friend many years before showing me some simple stroke work. I began to practice, practice, practice and now have created my own one-stroke rose…that’s all my own! It was the right timing in my life, which GOD used to fill up those empty places. I really give HIM ALL the glory cause I am always amazed at times as to what I can create. Still!!!

Sandra of My Bella Vista asked:

What is your favorite color? I LOVE color..yes I really do..so its hard to pick one.  If I was backed into a corner I'd probably say blues.

What is your favorite season? SUMMER, I hate being cold!

What is your favorite food? Anything Italian ~ I am one of those people who could eat pizza any day of the week.

Favorite cake? Angle food, or Granny Cake (YUM,,,I’ll do a blog on this)

Are you a morning person or a night owl? NIGHT OWL…I don’t do morning til about 10ish, lol

Sherry of Edie Maries Attic asked: What’s your favorite verse in the Bible.

John 16:33

I have told you these things,

so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble.

But take heart! I have overcome the world

I love knowing that no matter where I am, what I am going through Jesus is with me all the way! He is my PEACE!

Katie of Rose Breeze Boutique asked: What moisturizer do I use? Lol

Well I have a very simple, no frills and cheap routine. I have always used an astringent to get off all the dirt, right now I use Clear and Clean astringent, face soap and moisturizer. I always BELIEVE drinking LOADS of water keeps my skin clean and fresh looking. I’m a 8-10 glass a day water drinker.  Also...good family genes!  I also wear a light translucent powder but use very little make up. Probably more than you wanted to know.

Again, This was such a fun blog to do.  Each questions was intriguing and very imformative. Thanks for asking and allowing me to share from my heart with you all!

Blessings...Lorena