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Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Color Yellow in the Home

In honor of spring Angela at Cottage Magpie did a roundup of posts last month about the color green in the home or garden. Along with many others, I participated in the challenge with a post on Mar. 23, "Color Green in Your Home." This month Angela is focussing on the color yellow.


Yellow is a color I love to wear and to see in nature. A quick tour revealed that yellow does not show up very much in my decor, but it is still a factor.

In the living room two of three botanical prints are of yellow flowers. They are on each side of the front window


On the dining room wall is one of my framed embroideries. The crewel work is on yellow fabric, surrounded by an oval fabric mat in green.


In the kitchen, a painting by one of my sisters has yellow flowers

The plate rack has yellow flowers, and the yellow lemon pitcher is handy for making lemonade, which both my mother and I love to drink.

In the nativity gallery, the only yellow figurine is this Nuovo Capodimonte Holy Family from Italy

In the bedroom two newly-bought thrift store scarves share yellow hues.

In the garden, my favorite colors are the whites, yellows, blues and pinks. Already blooming are the white and blue hyacinths. The yellow tulips haven’t bloomed yet, but the leaves are coming up. Besides yellow tulips one of my favorite spring flowers is forsythia. We are having quite abit of rain today. So here is the rainy-day view from the dining room across the deck to the back fence, where the neighbor’s forsythia bush drapes over to my yard.

Check Angela’s for a round-up of all the participating blogs.
Thank you for your visit; please comment if you wish, and do come again.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Friday Show and Tell – Vintage Stencil Print

Show and Tell
Show and tell Friday is hosted by Kelli at There is No Place Like Home.

Back in 1971 as I was in California doing graduate studies, I had college friends, a couple and their toddler, who were renting a partly furnished house. In the basement we found all sorts of neat items. At the end of the school year the owner donated the house and its contents to the couple. He had sold the land and the owner did not want any of the house’s contents. So I got a trestle table and a number of framed items.
I would like to share one of the pictures as my show and tell. It is a print which hangs in my study.

The print shows pansies in a basket.

The original frame was not in good shape, so I had it re-framed to coordinate with some other wall art. I had the frame shop use double mats, with the inner one matching the line around the print.

At this point I noticed the message on the back of the print:

No. 4225
GENUINE HAND STENCILED
FLORALS
These beautiful flower prints are reproduced
from the origianls by skilled craftsmen from
carefully prepared hand made stencils. All
the appeal of the original block prints is retained
by this painstaking process. Only in this unique
way is it possible to retain a freedom of style
uncommon to machine-made prints. All
subjects are available in pairs thoughtfully
selected by colors for that purpose.
RELIANCE PICTURE FRAME CO.
CHICAGO DOVER N.J.

A bit of research led to the fact that this stenciling process was called pochoir. Here is an explanation of the process:
"Pochoir Technique: The pochoir process is the hand-coloring of an individual black outline prints. The was done with the help of a thin zinc or copper cut-out stencil guide. Each color is applied separately brushed by hand on each print, one stencil for each color. The paint used was watercolor and gouache. The only difference being watercolor paints (aquarelles) are transparent and gouache paints are opaque.
The perfecting by illustrators of the pochoir printing techniquewas an important boost for the art of fashion illustration, and Poiret was one of the first to realize its possibilities."
http://www.art-deco-prints-and-posters.com/pochoir.asp

So I learned something about print-making techniques in the mid part of the 20th century. This made the print even more special to me. Now I need to seek the author and title of the work.
I hope you enjoyed my show and tell and learned something new in the world of art. To visit other Show and Tell posts, please go to Kelli’s.

Thank you for coming by. Please leave a comment and do come again soon.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Thankful Thursday - His Yoke


"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Matt. 11:28-30

How wonderful to consider and accept the invitation given by Jesus. In today’s world it is so easy to become overburdened by family concerns, work challenges social conflicts. Thankfully, Christ has the answer to all that might perplex and cause us to struggle.
I have found that one must be willing to surrender the compulsion to fret and worry over how to solve various problems that we face. We really have to let go of these troubles and let God reveal, in His own time, the solution to our stresses and pain.

Two songs come to mind that express the message of the scripture passage.

Take your burdens to the Lord and leave it there;
Leave it there, Leave it there
Take your burdens to the Lord and leave it there.

Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Calvary, Calvary…
Burdens are lifted at Calvary,
Jesus is very near.
  1. Today I am especially grateful for the flaming yellow forsythia that brightens the back yard and many front yards as I drive along the streets. Also, for the blossoming trees in pinks and whites.
  2. I’m also thankful for strength to get things done, despite being a bit under the weather this week.
  3. As to things which have me a bit worried, I look confidently to the Lord’s solutions.

    For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Iris here.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Friday Show and Tell – Everyday Dish Storage

Show and Tell
Show and Tell Friday is hosted by Kelli at There is No Place Like Home

Today I would like to share the items I use for holding my everyday dishes in the kitchen. The dinner plates and a serving bowl are right on the other side of the kitchen sink on a three-tiered stand.



















The pattern is an all-over floral pattern (or chintz) called "Bermuda Blue" and is by Churchill, made in England. I bought the serving bowl, four cereal bowls and dinner plates back in 1993 when I was attending a conference near London.
















This stand came from Marshalls. It is a dark green metal with twining leaves applied along both sides of the curved handle.




















At Christmas time it holds holiday dishes.

The everyday cereal bowls and rimmed soup bowls and dessert plates are kept in a vintage dish rack I found at a consignment shop in a nearby town. It is located on the other side of the sink.




















It is metal painted in blues, yellow, pink and white on black. The lower section holds one dozen plates vertically.















On the top are four cereal bowls which my mother and I use for breakfast most days.














Nearby on the counter is a mug rack which holds matching mugs. These are used for hot beverages such as hot chocolate or for Roma, a grain beverage from Switzerland.



















Having the day-to-day dishes all stored by the sink keeps them always accessible, and makes it easy to replace the dishes after washing and drying them. They also serve as displays to carry out the blue and white color theme.

To visit other Show and Tell posts, please go to Kelli’s.

Thank you for coming by. Please leave a comment and do come again soon.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Thankful Thursday - Thankful for TT


Expressing my gratitude on Thankful Thursday posts helps me to be always conscious of my blessings each day. It also helps to give perspective to difficulties when they arise.
The Scripture text on my mind at the moment is from Isaiah:

But they that wait upon the LORD
shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isa 40:31

Here are three things for which I am especially grateful right now:

I am rejoicing that the Lord is giving me the ability to do things which are difficult, and to do them with a measure of acceptance and contentment.

I am happy to have certain household tasks done this week which have been on hold for quite some time.

My mother is able to help with a few tasks in the kitchen. It is good to see her being more alert and clear than she has been the past few weeks.

For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Iris here.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Dressed-to-a-Tea


La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality is hosting a Tea Blog-a-Thon from March 16 until May 31. She has a different theme for each week and you may participate as much or as little as you like. The theme for the fifth week, April 13 - April 19, is Dressed-to-a-Tea: "Share ideas for dressing up for afternoon tea. Is your favorite tea-time outfit a silk caftan, flannel jammies, or a dress with proper hat and gloves? Do you enjoy wearing tea prints to tea? Or do you prefer something more elegant? Lace and ruffles? A feathered hat? Long pink gloves? Satins and silks? Cotton comfort? Jeans and a t-shirt you say? That's okay --- share it all here. Pictures of you in tea-time costume are welcome!"


Generally at home on a day by day basis, I drink tea in whatever I happen to be wearing at the time. For example, last Friday evening my mother and I had tea in the living room as we listened to music. I served it on a brass tray with a napkin in lovely Royal Worcester "Evesham" teacups and saucers. We were simply dressed in our normal at home wear, but the time spent was quite pleasant and lovely.

For the Dressed-to-a-Tea post I checked for things in my closet which I feel are suitable for a tea party -- clothes that are feminine, attractive and comfortable.

This spring-like two-piece outfit is one I’ve worn to luncheons and would wear to a tea as well.


The top is white with floral and ribbon design.



The matching floral skirt is a full circle with a gathered waist and is quite feminine. I always feel festive when I wear it.
Accessories would include a vintage floral handkerchief in colors to coordinate with the colors in the dress. My choice for a brooch -- a gilt spray with green stone to pick up the green in the fabric. A straw hat [with a long white scarf to cover the black ribbon], a straw purse and heeled sandals would complete the outfit.




A second outfit would pair a beige blouse with a black silk skirt. This might be for a late day or early evening tea. The sleeveless blouse has three sets of inverted pleats to the hem, which would be worn over the skirt.


The silk skirt is black covered in ivory bows.

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Accessories would include a lovely vintage handkerchief in a soft pastel with black embroidered birds. Two small brooches include a gilt romantic couple on a black ground, and an enameled Sarah Coventry heart pin. [I could not find it easily, but I would also wear a narrow black belt over the blouse.] This hat is in felt, but I like the cutout design which makes it feminine and elegant.


Black pumps and a small black bag would complete the outfit.


I feel that either of the two ensembles would be comfortable and suitable for a tea event.

Please visit La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality for links to other participants in the Tea Blog-a-Thon.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Friday Show and Tell – Mother’s Brooches

Show and Tell

Show and Tell Friday is hosted by Kelli at There is No Place Like Home

Today I wanted to share some costume jewelry my mother gave me last month. As we were sorting her clothing for items to donate to charity, we took off the jewelry from the dresses and suits. I can remember her dressing up for church or some other occasion – she always wore lovely clothing accessorized with hat, pocketbook and gloves. A brooch was also an important embellishment. I also wear brooches and so am glad to add several of hers to my own collection.
I’ve had quite a time photographing the brooches, so must apologize for the poor photos.

On my bureau, I have a mirrored jewelry box which was also given to me by my mother last year. She had received it as a gift. It has a drawer at the front in which jewelry is stored. Pictured below is the box with the brooches she has given me.



My two favorites are the bow pin and the floral spray pin.

Next is a circular coil pin and another with a red stone.

This circular pin has a dark stone and has rhinestones around the edge.

On the bedroom wall over the bed is a framed memorabilia arrangement which includes another favorite pin, which my mother gave me many years ago.

When I have a little more time, I need to do a better job photographing these items.
Thank you for stopping by and do come again. I would love to read a comment from you.

To visit other Show and Tell posts, please go to Kelli’s.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Thankful Thursday



I am so thankful that I was born to and raised by Christian parents who instilled values that have proven essential in this life, but which will carry over into life in God’s eternal kingdom.
Train up a child in the way he should go:
and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6


I thank the Lord for giving me continuing joy in beautiful Christian songs and hymns, which inspire me to live for Him.

"Turn eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow faintly dim
In the light of His glory and grace."

I praise the Lord for giving me strength to deal with daily challenges with a measure of calm and joy.

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
Isa 26:3

I am grateful that in perusing various blogs I find so many who express their love for Christ. Also, in comments many state their reliance on prayer both for themselves and on behalf of others.

For more Thankful Thursday posts, visit Iris here.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

Stitches-for-Tea



La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality is hosting a Tea Blog-a-Thon from March 16 until May 31. She has a different theme for each week and you may participate as much or as little as you like. The theme for the fourth week, April 6 - April 12 is Stitches-for-Tea: "Share ideas and pictures that involve stitching for the tea table. Any kind of stitches count: sewing, embroidery, knitting, crochet, tatting, quilting, etc. The work can be yours or of someone else, but should be homemade rather than done by factory machines. Ideas are napkins, tea cozies, table linens, and other creations made with tea themes."

Checking my tea linens I found this handmade item which I’d like to feature for this week’s Tea Blog-a-Thon: It is an apron made of white linen with embroidered design at the top of the bib and a teacup on the pocket.

It measures 41" long with an adjustable 34" waist. White buttons fasten the ties of the bib and of the waist ties.

The embroidered designs are in blue, yellow and cream with bows, and dots on the bib.



The pocket features a teacup in blue with white and yellow daises.

I hope you enjoyed my contribution this week to Stitches-for-Tea. Please visit La Tea Dah at Gracious Hospitality for links to other participants.