China is Home! (Part I)

Of course you know I'm not from China. I do however get excited when I see china and ironstone, those lovely dishes, jugs and tureens, made in the midlands of England - the area known for Wedgwood, Mason's, Royal Doulton, Royal Albert and many other famous companies of 'The Potteries' around Stoke-on-Trent in Staffordshire.

However, down in Devon, my home, there were also many potteries started around 1867 which lasted until the 1960's when, sadly, most closed for economic reasons. They were not famous for expensive bone china dinner services, or elegant decorative pieces, but they were kept busy using the area's red earth, terra cotta clay. They fashioned, by hand, everyday dishes used by farmers' wives in their thatched farmhouse cottages, and just ordinary country folk who needed inexpensive 'china' with a bit of primitive decoration. All artwork - illustrations of cottages, roosters, flowers etc., and the written quaint rhymes and proverbs, the 'mottos', were all done by hand, so nothing actually matches, each therefore becoming a piece of now collectible 'art pottery'. This pottery was named 'Devon Motto Ware' and several of the most famous potteries including Watcombe, Aller Vale and St. Marychurch, were just a few minutes drive from my home in Torquay.

Following WWII, when tourists started returning to Torquay, always known as 'Queen of the English Riviera', and the other South Devon seaside resorts, the potteries focused on providing motto ware as souvenirs to take home to London and the Northern counties. The mottos themselves began showing up written in the Devonshire dialect, and as holidaymakers wanted cheap, but pleasing small items to remind them of beautiful Devon, they found them perfect. As a child we would never have considered buying this type of china - it was considered cheap and a bit tacky, and just for 'the visitors' to our lovely town! Now however the pieces remaining are collectibles and reaching unbelievable prices. A lot seemed to go to Canada and has gradually made it's way south into the USA.

................and you say, why is she telling us about more 'china' when we're already collecting transferware, Old Country Roses, original dark blue Wedgwood, and Green Torquay etc. Well this weekend, when I didn't go looking for any china, I received a phone call and got all excited and homesick! If I've piqued your interest and you come back here tomorrow, I'll show you why.........................................

..............meanwhile, enjoy Spring viewing these Devon thatched cottages located in a little village called Cockington, just a 15 minute picturesque country walk from my childhood home.

Writing a Six Word Memoir

My sweet friend Pat at Back Porch Musings has tagged me to write a 'six word memoir' after she was tagged by kj .

I'm sharing a little bit of France through the ages ~ well not quite ancient history, but in my personal life it's history and I call it old! You know how your kids love to question you about "the olden days" and what you did back then...................well kids, here we were having fun in Paris, when I was a back-combed blonde and your dad had a bit more hair! Note, tourists 'dressed up' in those days. I made my two-piece knit suit, and know I was wearing heels, very high heels.............and carrying a stylish patent leather handbag with chain handles. And my goodness, dh is actually wearing a suit and what must have been the skinny tie style of the sixties! No sloppy jeans and tennis shoes for us.................or anyone else in Paris in those days!

Hope you laugh over this photo. You'd better because you don't know how long it took me to find it in the attic this morning, and get it unstuck from the old album with black paper pages!

I've returned to Paris between these two photos, it is the most beautiful city and one I could visit over and over again. I like this photo of us taken by our granddaughter on the top of the Arc de Triomphe - she managed to catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower in the background (the metal posts are part of the safety barrier now around the top of the arch). It was hotter than Hades that June day and I was wearing tourist clothes - crop pants, flip flops, a tee shirt and a backpack ~ and thank goodness Bob didn't bother to pack a suit.

Yes, life throws a lot of curves at us......and here's my six word memoir

What goes around ~ comes around, again.

I am supposed to tag 5 blog friends. The rules are:

1. Write your own six (6) word memoir.

2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration, if you like.

3. Link to the person that tagged you in your post and to the original post if possible, so we can track it as it travels through the blogosphere.

4. Tag five more blogs with links.

5. Remember to leave a comment on the tagged blogs with an invitation to play.

I tag - Heidi Julie Mandy Deb and anyone else who wants to join in!

Tops and Bottoms!

I found this little chest at SuzAnna's, with Linda's help of course. Those great gals allowed me to cart it home to see if it worked ~ it certainly did! With an interior shelf and divided into four cubbies for storage, it's the final piece I'm adding to the guest room. This useful chest stands beneath the mirror, a perfect fit..........tailor made for the space.

The paint finish requires no additional work which is great. Managed to find a key which fits the lock ~ must have something from which to dangle a tassel.

I brought this really old ~ weighs a ton ~ iron urn from the front porch, added the woven sea grass balls which had been in another urn on the dining room table, and placed all upon this frothy lace doily made by my cousin Sue in England. Love how these hard and soft textures all work together.

You know how plans change - well this is one of them. This very dark chocolate velvet fabric (which I really thought was black when I purchased it ~ shop lighting can be deceiving ~ but chocolate works better here, and of course we know how good it is for our health!!!), with great French style, was for the other chair. However, I decided to stay with the original choice for the white painted chair (show you that later). Instead I used this lovely fabric to make a squishy little cushion for the antique chair. Couldn't find a round pillow form so had a round of foam cut and covered it with poly batting to make it softer. To keep it looking informal I made the ties from old cotton tape which I aged by dipping in strong coffee.

Sitting comfortably at the desk now.

~~~~~~~~~~

Golden Surprise!

Last evening I went to Trader Joe's for a fresh baguette, goat milk brie, Greek yogurt and a few other food items I crave from that particular store. Inside the door, among the flower display, was a bucket of golden daffodils, mostly still in bud, and just $1.39 a bunch. I grabbed two bunches knowing I could add them to the ones picked from my own garden and fill a creamware jug. On reading the tag in the car - dh was driving - I screeched loudly proclaiming the origin of these lovely fresh flowers................they came from 'across the pond', from England, from HOME!!!! How amazing. I am now enjoying a breathe of English Spring right here in my North Carolina kitchen.

Life is good!

My Friend ~ The Decorating Diva

on't you just love gals who aren't shy when they come to your home? I've never used the services of a professional decorator/designer. However, I was a winner in the Valentine contest at SuzAnna's Antiques ~ my prize, one very special hour with Linda, their assistant at the shop and a decorator/organizer extraordinaire!! After showing this bundle of energy around the cottage last Friday, enjoying a cup of Earl Grey and a slice of French apple cake with a dollop of creme fraiche, we started playing house!

Linda removed her fabulous black suede MOD wedgie Maryjanes and proceeded to hop up on my bed. She removed the little carving I'd temporarily hung above this mirror, and placed this already painted and shabbied iron piece ~ the roses being the perfect grey blue of my wall paint and shabby shutters!

Voila, love at first sight ~ different, unique, brings the garden in!

Before reaching the French inspired guest room still languishing in makeover mode, Linda hauled this amazing old, heavy, slightly shabbied frame up the stairs. No place in the guest room but how about here, bringing a little life to another blank and boring attic storage space door at the top of the stairwell. It really looks wonderful as one glances up the stairs from the cottage entry and works well with the damask covered chair.

This European mirror with slightly marred glass, pretty etching and a graceful shape is another piece Linda brought along. The color and design is perfect with the hand painted chest I've had many years.
Moving into the guest room, Linda was excited to see many of the pieces she'd help me choose earlier from SuzAnna's ~ the secretary of course, along with picture frames, the bedside table and other small decorative pieces. We discussed the chair seats and she agreed with my decisions on these which I'll show later after the sewing part is completed. I did splurge on this beautiful trim for the little toile pillow on the chair next to the window - perfect color with the shutters and quite French looking with the generous ribbon loops.

Linda's decorating hour passed far too quickly ~ we had a lot of fun and she helped me no end when it came to taking things just a little over the top. Her eye sees quirky beauty in everything old and previously loved. She is never at a loss as to what something unusual, scuffed or chipped can be used for around the house or garden.............and she will paint anything that will stay still long enough to give it a new life!

Thanks so much Linda, it was great fun................and thanks again Susie and Anna for this wonderful prize.

I'm off to sew now ~ darkening storm clouds are gathering outside our windows and hopefully we'll get much needed rain this afternoon and evening.

Will you be my guest?

This little guest room makeover became more involved as time moved on! What was just going to be fresh paint and a few French inspired decorative items kept growing until I almost felt like it would never be completed.....................and it isn't, yet.

However, as I promised some photos I've decided to give you a glimpse as to what's been done so far.

My painter scraped off the ceiling texture, then painted it along with the walls giving me a blank canvas. I painted and distressed the pine bed, head and foot boards, also painted and hung the old wood shutters.

I added this small table with a drop down front, already painted and bit chipped - perfect in place of the cumbersome nightstand which was moved into the closet to be used for extra storage as it has two good sized drawers. I added the antique metal French styled bow.

For years I held on to this magazine page because I love the old French rope samples. I mounted it on a red and aqua scrapbook paper and stamped the mat with French words.

Some of the old books I purchased recently ~ the crystal, silver lidded powder bowl on the left was a 21st Birthday gift to my Mother (c. 1932), the other one a gift to me from a dear friend on a visit home to England.

The closet doors got their new painted finish ~ and yesterday I installed the wall writing.

Aimez, riez, revez ~~~ et allez dormir

(Love, laugh, dream ~~~ and go to sleep)

The pine armoire has not been revamped yet ~ a project for another time. This mirror is now crowned with a painted carving.

The French wire basket holds old books and rolled sheet music.
Another shot of the recently purchased secretary which took the place of the pine chest of drawers. This piece is certainly the biggest change in this room. The antique chair will soon have a new seat cushion.

The newly painted attic storage door on which I hung an old oval picture frame which I painted and glazed ~ it looks like molding and adds some decoration to an otherwise utilitarian door.



Above and below, my precious photos of my Mother and her siblings, and my Grandmother.

I'm now working on the items requiring fabric, trim, thread and the sewing machine........will show you these later. Last but by no means least, awaiting the chandelier...................that, I believe, will be the finishing touch for this room.

~ Shopping List ~

SuzAnna's Antiques, Raleigh, North Carolina
Shutters
Ballet slipper used as blind pull
Bedside table
French style metal bow
Vintage books
Oval wall mirror
French wire basket
Antique Secretary
Picture frames

Fetch Treasures for the Home, Hillsborough, North Carolina
Antique chair

Michael's
Small lamp on desk
French style glass bottles

Homegoods
Waste basket
Toile storage boxes on armoire

Home Depot
'Shabby Chic' style switchplate

Lowe's
All paints by Valspar
Wall color ~ Cincinnatian Hotel Hannaford
Doors and Bed - Lyndhurst Stone

Wisedecor Wall Lettering
Typeface 'Handwriting' ~ Color Tan

Weekend Break

No, not taking off anywhere, just taking off a couple of days to catch up with things around the house and garden while the weather is warm and sunny!

So I'm hanging up my blog on this pretty hanger seen at SuzAnna's ~ will be back soon with guest room makeover pics.

Meanwhile, some more lovely items from SuzAnna's Antiques. If you happen to be fortunate enough to live near, or drive close to Raleigh, North Carolina, this is a MUST stop. Susie and Anna, owners, their wonderful 'decorating diva in residence' Linda (more about Linda in an upcoming post - she was here at my house yesterday!), and the other great dealers, consignors, and assistants at the shop, are all fabulous. Then there are the kindred spirits one meets while treasure hunting there................artists, decorators, gardeners, realtors, vintage dressed gals, flight attendants, pretty children with their moms, grandmas, even cute guys!

Next to SuzAnna's is a great new spot, Sam's Country Porch. Sam's a real Southern gentleman and a bit shy, I only got a back view! He has great antique and vintage items too - I found some great old books there last week.

Sam's Country Porch Antiques

.........'til next time.............enjoy your weekend.