If the shoe doesn't fit....alter it

I took that old wood shoe last home, remember? I loved that there was a long history behind it. Modern lasts are made of ugly plastic. I promised to make it pretty. Even the wood worms had given up on it. It didn't fit anyone.............even Cinderella would have had a problem with this one!

I painted it red...............I gilded it with gold leaf............I antiqued it with a glaze of Baroque bronze..............the insole became smooth under golden leaves...........the music asked "Will There Be Any Stars?".........................and a handmade pin with ladies bathing became a buckle.

I think it's pretty now. It sits alongside the glowing old gold and pewter leather dancing slippers.......waiting to go to the ball. Until then it may be a paperweight, or sit on a chair in a quiet corner. It will not be hidden away in a shoe box I can assure you.

Remembrance - September 11, 2001

Today, many people will do something special to remind themselves and their neighbors of the September 11 tragedy. We will burn candles this evening, placing them on our front porch and steps, lighting up the darkness a little as today's beautiful skies turn into night, thankful that we and our loved ones are safe. All those who are no longer with us because of that tragic day six years ago, their families, friends, co-workers and acquaintances, will remain in our memories always. September 11, 2001................we will not forget.

Words in Place

Those of you who have known me for a while will remember my penchant for the written word in all it's many forms and guises. My recent new blog friends are hereby informed that I really LOVE words, type, lettering, calligraphy, signage, and you may often find them displayed here as I add to my collection.

Today I've been busy so I'm just sharing some recent photos of words and signs that caught my eye during my Summer travels. It has been another scorcher - 96 degrees by noon - but I was chilled to the bone from 9 AM until 2 PM in the freezing cold county courthouse! This is the third month of my six month Grand Jury term and I have to serve two Mondays a month. In a way it's better than being stuck on a long drawn out case as a regular juror - one can plan life around these Mondays.

This was a window display in Asheville, NC. Such exquisite handcrafted vases.

Wonder if the local hot shots really hang out in this neighborhood eatery?

Yes, life is definitely worthwhile. Don't you just love it?

My dear friend Loretta doesn't own this little bakery but I loved seeing her name across the window. Yes, those are snowflake decorations - taken this Summer - guess they won't need to decorate for Christmas! And now I'm off to indulge myself - an early to bed night with my new book, Anne Patchett's award winning "Bel Canto" - because I had to get up extra early today to drive into town, find a free parking place (Grand Jury only pays $20 a day so don't want to spend half on parking), and then sip my morning wake up coffee at the Port City Java.Goodnight moon...........................................

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An English Day Out

No, I didn't actually get to England yesterday, but I did meet up with Jackie, a new English friend, who recently moved to North Carolina and found me via my blog. We are from the very same Devon town! Even though I'm older than she, we had so much to share about our home town, our childhood, school days, the quirky British folk and customs...................and how much we miss it all! Of course we both chose to marry Americans and moved to this great country, and I doubt either one of us would have it any other way, but you know how it is.........if we're honest with ourselves, there really is no place like home.

Jackie and I decided to meet in Hillsborough, NC, a quaint small town full of historic Southern plantation homes and cottages, and a main street lined with little shops and restaurants. Friends, Susie and Anna, at my local thrifting/vintage shop "SuzAnna's" told me about this wonderful shop named "FETCH" so we spent some time here before enjoying lunch together.

Karan, the shop owner has a great eye - her slip covered vintage furniture, farm tables, architectural windows and doors, lighting and mirrors, are all gorgeous. Tucked among these larger treasures one finds beautiful linens, aprons, framed rose paintings, delicate china, mercury glass, and crystal. The rear of the shop opens onto a small garden laden with wrought iron gates, iron urns, peeling porch posts, vintage garden chairs and tables - all covered with tumbling petunias, verbena and pots of hibiscus.

OK all you lovers of tureens, I know you're out there wishing this one was in your collection! Just look at the roses on the lid. I was sorely tempted but, as it's really old and in perfect condition, the price was a bit beyond my budget............................perhaps it could go on my upcoming Birthday or Christmas wish list though. "DH - you need to read my blog post today - you know how you never can decide what to buy me."

My dream bird cage - large in size but delicately scrolled into a perfect shape, and then suspended from it's own matching scrolled wall hanger - wish list just got longer!

Some of the elegant chandeliers overhead. Gorgeous old shabby door with an oval mirror inserted and reflecting another corner of the shop. This door is huge and has panels at the bottom - would look great just leaning against a wall and reflecting daily life in the cottage.

Pretty boudoir lamps on feminine dressers - the rack in back holds dozens of vintage aprons, candlewick bed covers and linens.

And.................. although I'm saving for my October trip to England, I just had to buy something to bring home. This little antique English chair caught my eye - looks like someone started to refinish it but stopped, and they had enough sense to leave the beautiful painted roses alone thank goodness. And what, you say, does she plan to do with the teeny tiny pink leather ballet slippers? Well who knows - but how could I resist footwear so pretty and dainty - and little KR, (the initials inside) whoever she was, may still be dancing somewhere in much bigger shoes now.

Jackie it was a fun time with you and I hope we can soon get together again to chat more about life "across the pond".

Happy weekend to all my blog friends, there are many new ones this week. Forgive me if it takes a while for me to get back to you - your kind comments are really appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed - thank you so much, and do visit me again soon.

Inspiration Friday - the Welsh touch

If you enjoy reading international magazines such as UK Country Living or, like most of us, anxiously await the return of Victoria which hopefully will have pages of British/European country style homes - you will be familiar with the Welsh Dresser. This sometimes built in, or otherwise free standing "hutch", was used in country kitchens before cabinetry was discovered. The daily china was stored on open shelves, cutlery in the drawers, food prepared on the wider shelf, and often cookware was kept on the "potboard" at the bottom.

These first two beauties are authentic antique free standing Welsh dressers.

This pine version was probably purpose built for this English kitchen and to house this fabulous china collection.

This one, also in an English kitchen, was obviously built-in to fit the available wall space. My sister-in-law had one similar to this in her Edwardian period London house. Longing to have a baby, she found a photo tucked in the back of one of the dresser's drawers. It showed a Mum holding her infant taken on the front steps of the house. Feeling this was a good omen, it was not surprising that she conceived a year or so later and presented me with a beautiful niece - who is now almost 16. They now live in the South of France - their fabulous kitchen there is a whole other story.

......................and here's my version, which some of you have viewed before, just right for my cottage dining room...............waiting for a good Fall spruce up, cleaning, and decorating with some white pumpkins, and perhaps my new Halloween witch a bit later.

Enjoy your Friday and be inspired to do something Fall-ish over the weekend.

Textured luxury

I need to add some color to life - my last two posts have been sombre looking! Remember my love for texture - in fabrics, on surfaces - here are a few favorite things in my bathroom.

Fig fragrance Italian bath salts - beautiful frosted bottle sealed with cord and a silver capped cork, elegant handwritten label - my repousse sterling silver lidded loose powder bowl from England.

A cracked rough wall hanging - faux but fabulous!

More beautiful frosted, silver topped Italian bottles with bathing products, Moss bath foam and Bergamot bubble bath. Needless to say I cannot bring myself to open and use these products because they are too lovely! The reproduction French sign is for lotion, Jasmin - spelt the French way like my granddaughter's name.

One of those filmy "zephyr" fabric tops with a purposely wrinkled silk skirt - a great hot night at the restaurant outfit - we've had so many this Summer. Matelasse shower curtain - love this textured fabric.Another bottle of bath salts in Moss fragrance - "shabby" wood waste basket with rose carving.