Weekend in Pennsylvania was fun. Visited with family here at my sister-in-law's beautiful home where the trees were changing rapidly, the leaves floating down in the sunshine.
When I started searching for a classical bust it was for here, the small table in the entryway. I painted the walls in hematite, the darkest gray before black, and hung the white chippy framed mirror. Because I couldn't hang a chandelier as in my inspiration image for this space, the little crystal candelabra from SuzAnna's Antiques was electrified and friend Sam gifted me with the perfect tiny shades ~ voila! glitter and glam French style.
Next time, Artemis' companion from the classic days of history, mythology, gods and relics. You didn't think I brought her home alone, did you?
Bet you remember my delight at locating this shop a couple of years back................the fabulous ScreenDoor in Asheville, North Carolina. Each time I head for the hills, those magnificent mountains making up the Blue Ridge and the Great Smokies, a stop (actually it was three this trip!) here for treasure hunting always tops my list.
There are some very nice people working here including Frances and Gail, two gals who are helpful and interesting to hang out with. They enjoyed looking at pics of how I decorate and immediately suggested books I'd enjoy, including A New Eighteenth Century Style: Rediscovering a French Decor. I was so impressed with Frances' own area at ScreenDoor - a huge building where dealers rent spaces - her eye and taste, exquisite, everything muted in neutral shades, the woods, metals, paper, glass, fabrics. I'll show some of her offerings later.
In my excitement at being back at the ScreenDoor, where I met Penny from The Comforts of Home and Lavender Hill Studio, such fun, and shopped for an hour or so during each visit, I forgot to get a pic of those real life ladies. Instead you get to see a few of the other lovelies around the shop.
A life size Madonna, French funeral baskets, Gothic window, angel wings = an almost religious experience! Lovely displays.
........and this, the classic French (oops, make that Greek!) lady I brought home! Later I'll show you where she's hanging out here in the cottage. 
My beautiful blank book with silk ribbon, now my decor 'wish list' book, from Penny.
In upcoming posts I'll share the treasures of Screendoor. I loved browsing through there with Penny.........she certainly understood my quirky cravings and shared the sighs when my eyes lit up at chipped paint finishes, French lighting, classic concrete busts, wire things with numbers, and anything with writing!
Prettiest license plate ever!
These delicate, really beautiful rose painted plates ~ inexpensive, but how many plates can I collect when storage is becoming a problem. So I left them just for you!
This unusual wicker chair with pink floral upholstery on seat and back ~ in Jeannie's Uniquitiques booth.
Back at Tracy's Little Shabby Shack, great painted pale pink furniture. Nice dresser with hutch ~ where the rose plates would look divine.......
...........table (on left) with drawer and lower shelf which would be useful just about anywhere. These pieces were a very wispy pink, so pretty. Then the deeper pink shutter on the wall.......love that one!
Now hop on over to How Sweet The Sound to visit with Beverly who has an ever growing list of Pink Saturday blog friends just waiting to share their pink finds. Have a great weekend.
I've crossed the pond numerous times during the years. I kissed my mother, father, brother, entire family, and a hoard of much loved friends, hello and goodbye over and over again. I kept coming back to my adopted country, my very special husband, my American family and friends. I could say I have no regrets but that might be stretching the truth a bit. There are always regrets, whether one moves just a few miles down the road, or a few thousand miles across an ocean, when it means leaving home and loved ones behind.
It's said "you can't go home again". I'm inclined to say, "home is where you make it". With modern transportation it's not so difficult to drive a smooth highway for a few hours, or settle down in a seat for a night flight across the water. Your loved ones are always waiting for you.........so go while you can.
................and what about that boyfriend you ask. We are still in touch. He's still the nicest guy, and we meet up now and then when I'm home, across the pond.
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While in the mountains today I'll be meeting a very special blog friend for the first time - more on that later.
I seem to be collecting stacks of things lately........not like in tons and big loads, just small things in multiples that become stacks.
The two small stacks of different shaped handled bowls were from Homegoods. These appealed to me for several reasons ~ they look French, they look old due to the slightly yellowed edges, they are cute shapes, and of course they were very inexpensive, as in cheap!
The lovely fluted latte bowls, at least that's what I use them for mostly, my morning coffee. As the mornings start off cooler I enjoy wrapping my hands around a bowl of hot coffee. They can also be useful for soup, cereal, fruit, ice cream, even storing leftovers. I waited for Anthropologie to open their first shop in this area (in Durham, NC) recently because I like their bowls which are made in Portugal. They come in a myriad of colors, are sturdy, and can go in the microwave. Of course mine are white and French blue..........and they stack up very nicely thank you.
My new stack of tiny butter pats ~ old, slightly worn on some edges, French style decoration in gold, perfect. My friend Vanessa spotted these when we were treasure hunting a couple of weeks ago. She always finds things I love......and doesn't try to sneak off with them to her house! You're the best friend ever Vanessa. The six were just $10.00, a real deal.
A sweet friend came to visit last week. She brought flowers from her garden. Just how I love them..........loose and unstructured, as if picked in the wild from a rolling field. Placed effortlessly in simple glass. Tied with perfect garden string. I could smell perfume mixed with green tones, ozone and earth. Mary Ann, you made me happy with the late season bounty from your beautiful garden. Thank you for being my friend.
Antique French books ~ Appley Hoare Antiques, London.Then taking a little afternoon time to sip a cup of tea and finish the last chapters of a good book ~ Gentlemen and Players by Joanne Harris who also wrote Chocolat and other great books full of surprises and twists.
Have you seen Martha Stewart's Halloween inspired stickers? I found some on sale at Michael's last week and scooped 'em up because they were really cute. Black, slightly glittered owls, ravens (crows?) bare branches, a couple of falling leaves and a feather-------two sheets in one package.
I think the stickers give a bit more dimension to the white pumpkins and gourds, plus they're not too cutesy or Halloweeny!!
Despite the ups and downs of her life, and whether you like her or not, Martha and her creative team of artists definitely know what it takes to create seasonal decorations with a bit of added elegance. I thank her for this.
My newest foot gear......have to admit I love different looking shoes/boots.
Wearing my new silver shoes out into the sunlight for their first visit to SuzAnna's antiques was a brave step. Paired with black ankle pants, a silver-grey sweater and a plum suede tote bag, they looked OK. For a moment I imagined I was back in Provence at the market as I looked through linens and lace.
I seemed to gravitate toward silver stuff on SuzAnna's tables and shelves. A vintage silver clutch purse, perhaps I should have bought that cutie.
Lovely decorative silver serving pieces at reasonable prices......if only I had room for more.
Loved this butter dish and the great old serving spoons
Jeannie of Uniquitiques displayed some vintage silver backed hair brushes ~ could see them in a tarnished silver bowl in a bathroom, perhaps with an old sepia toned photo of a lady with flowing hair.
Italian leather silver sneakers found online at fabulous Zappo's.
If you are in our area, do stop by and meet the great people here......and bring your shopping bag, or truck, to take home your new found treasures!-crop.JPG)
