Playing Catch Up

Finally downloaded photos from my camera. Time is flying by so quick I can't keep up. Here are a few photos of our tree this year. I really like the way these photos turned out. Here are a few pics of some of my favorite ornaments.

This first one is actually a baby boot. I found just one at the flea market in a box lot and had to have it. I could not find the other but it turned out to be a beautiful addition to the tree. It has a leather bottom, soft pink silk and fur inside. I forgot I had this angel tree topper and found it among my things. I didn't realize how old it really is. Just love the little girl die cut. The clip on bird was another flea market find. Found a whole box of them! Could not believe it! The dog on a ball was part of a lot I purchased on ebay this year. I think it was over 100 ornaments. You can never have too many!!

The baby face was another ornament from the ebay lot. This is probably one of my favorites. Too bad the photo didn't turn out better.

Today Is My Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Me!!! Happy Birthday to Shar!! Happy Birthday to Me!!! I had a very nice birthday. My mother called me first thing this morning to say hello. Her calls are always a nice morning wake up call. I worked all day and ran errands at lunch. Just a normal work day. My husband and his family took me out to eat @ Olive Garden tonight. It was very nice. The food was great and the company was even better. Thank you so much for a wonderful birthday. I have some pics of the babies trying to get in the birthday cake but I'll have to load them tomorrow. I definitely need to do some updating and bring myself up to speed. Ta Ta For Now!!!

New addition to my doll collection

I just wanted to show you a few photos of my newest doll. I recieved her in the mail a couple of days ago and look what she came with...

.... a beautiful letter and a wax ornament.

My new dollie is by Rachael Kinnison of The Lady's Repository Museum and Diamond K Folk Art. She is a beautiful white witch kitty and has the most beautiful glass eyes. Thank you Rachael for such a wonderful treasure.

Blue Ribbon

I won a blue ribbon at the South Carolina State Fair!! It really has taken a little while to sink in. I had to go see it for myself to really believe it. I entered my first doll in the soft sculpture category and I got first place! I was really surprised. Here are a couple pictures of me and my doll. Please ignore my mismatched outfit (it was raining cats and dogs outside).

My Halloween Display

Here are my Christine Crocker - Deerfield Farmhouse dolls and a mourning doll by Julie Bailey. I love this time of the year. The nights are getting chilly and the leaves are getting ready to change colors. I have been putting my Halloween displays out. Here are a few photos from this morning. My terra cotta Jack O Lanterns waiting to be lit. Old maple syrup sap buckets that have been cut into JOLs.

Here is my cupboard with my Nicol Sayre dolls, one by Christine and a mummy by Kelly Bell Hartley, vintage paper mache JOL and cat lanterns, and vintage Beistle cutouts. My new Halloween items from Target. I love that store!! Skeleton candlesticks that I made. Art by Laurie Meseroll of Mudcakes and a Theatre Magique by Nicol Sayre.

Marie Antoinette Fan

Beautiful antique French fan painted in gauche with ornate embroidery. Embroidered with a cupid between two lovers. The lady has stolen the gentleman's sword leaving him totally disarmed. Could have been a personal possession of Marie Antoinette the Queen of France. This lovely piece came from the Mrs. Horace Dodge estate in Detroit Michigan. Here is an article about Mrs. Horace Dodge and her purchases with the art consultant Sir Joseph Duveen. The fan was sold by Frank Boos of the Antiques Roadshow. It was purchased in the 1970's at his shop in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Could this be the Queen of France Marie Antoinette and Count Axel von Fersen the Swedish ambassador ca 1784? Could this be a personal treasure of the Queen of France Marie Antoinette., the fan appears to be executed during her Private Village time frame approximately 1784.

Daily Inspiration -

I found this on ebay today and fell in love. It is the sweetest little bisque doll in a shoe ornament. Her shoe is made of compostion or wood with a mohair covering. The bisque doll is an early flat top type with jointed arms and bent knee legs, and is wearing a diaper. It dates to about 1880.

Daily Inspiration

I found these beakers on Ulla's blog today and instantly fell in love. They are by Anja Lubach.

Live your life with a purpose beyond yourself, and you'll find that the world is as bold and broad as the interests that brought you here today. Bryant Gumbel

Tiffany Blue Cake

Look @ this cake!! My dear friend Leslie is pregnant and this

is the cake that Melanie had made for her. Isn't it beautiful?

It tasted as good as it looked.

and here is a picture of Leslie's breakfast. Only a pregnant woman could eat a combination of marinated olives and orange juice.

To Have Principles First Have Courage

I found this quote in a Chinese Proverb book and really thought it had a lot of meaning. Here are a few more pictures from my summer flowers. Day and tiger lillies.

PUDDY

Meet the newest member of our family, Puddy. My DH found him in the middle of Broad River Rd while he was working Saturday night. He called me at 1:30 a.m. and said meet me outside. I really had no idea what he was going to bring home. DH said that he saw him fly out from under an SUV like a piece of paper. He wasn't sure what it was until he stopped and saw that it was a baby kitten. Isn't he cute?

He has made a fast recovery and goes for his first check-up in the morning.

Tasha Tudor

August 28, 1915 - June 18, 2008

Tasha Tudor was the one person that I always said I would want to be when I "grow up". She reminded me so much of my grandmother. I love the way she was able to live her life in such a simple manner with her garden, creations and pets. Just what I want to be. She will always be loved and remembered. I hope that we all can live just a little like she did.

Sunday's Tea Party

I had the privilege of hosting a wonderful tea party for my girlfriends this past weekend. No reason in particular, just a chance for women to "play tea party" with their friends. We dined on tea sandwiches made of cumcumber, chocolate hazelnut scones, cupcakes, and mini quiches. Of course we drank tea and enjoyed a couple cocktails. Here are a few photos of our wonderful afternoon.

Thank you to Leslie of Southern Stems for the beautiful centerpiece of pink peonies and to Melanie of By Invitation Only for making the cumcumber tea sandwiches and taking the beautiful photographs.

And thank you to all my girlfriends for a wonderful afternoon!

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Iris

"If you want to be happy, be." - Leo Tolstoy