advent

Every year at just this time,

In cold and dark December,

Families around the world

All gather to remember,

With presents and with parties,

With feasting and with fun,

Customs and traditions

for people old and young.

~  Helen H. Moore 

Good morning my friends.

Can you believe it's almost December? This morning on my doorstep, I found four German chocolate Advent calendars. A special friend of the family remembers them every year. It's funny how much that daily piece of chocolate means to the girls...

grace

Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. 

It's a way of living.

~Jacqueline Winspear

How are you today, my friends?

We had a lovely Thanksgiving at my little sister's house. I'm lucky to have lots of family nearby, who also love to cook. 

Now onto Christmas...

I hope your weekend is wonderful.

posy love

Ah, rain, hail, thunder and lightning...not my favorite combination on a Monday. Ideal, however, for some household tasks, like cleaning and re-arranging my little collection of posies.

Coalport, Denton, Royal Adderley, Wedgewood, and Aynsley are all represented. Each one is handmade and unique to the artist who painted  it. 

 Culled from a variety of vintage sources...

 Housed in this vintage glass cabinet,  with an assortment of gardening books. A little vintage color on a gloomy day...

It was a happy thought to bring

To the dark season's frost and rime

This painted memory of spring,

This dream of summertime.

~John Greenleaf Whittier, Flowers in Winter 

I hope you have a lovely holiday week, if you're in the states.

sparkle

Not on one strand are all life's jewels strung.

~William Morris

A pretty little vintage bracelet found this past weekend. The perfect combination of aurora borealis sparkle mixed with my favorite shade of blue. I've a bit of a thing for bracelets. More is more. Let's refer to it as my 'crow-like' affinity for shiny objects, shall we?

Speaking of wrists, one of my chicks broke hers in an accident last night. She caught her foot on her desk chair. There goes her basketball season...

a few finds

After reading in the paper that there was an Antique Market Sunday morning, I asked the girls if they were interested in going to look for some fun things. Daughters one and two shook their heads no, and said they'd rather do their homework...

Daughter number three said the only thing she wanted to find at the market was...'the exit sign'.

And my husband was more interested in the football game...not that I blame him. Of course, daughter number four being only three years old, isn't the best company when shopping for antiques and vintage goods. Patience isn't yet among her virtues.

I subtly convinced daughter number three to go...

by offering her pocket money.

I'm not above bribery...

Plus I took her out for a fun lunch.

We had the best time. Spotted the vintage wicker suitcase at one of the first booths.  We didn't even leave the booth, and people were asking us where we bought it...Hot House Market. 

 I've a thing for vintage crochet and embroidery. We found a set of eight linen placemats with floral appliques, matching napkins and a lovely runner in mint condition. Twin pillowcases in pristine condition, and embellished with blue and pink crocheted roses... the prices...crazy reasonable...

The jadeite refrigerator dish is in lovely shape. We're hosting our annual Mother & Daughter Christmas tea party next month. I think it would look sweet holding an assortment of teas.

Gracie found lots of Christmas items for her doll house. I'll have to post a pic when she has it kitted out. I loved every minute of spending the day with her.

the little house

There's nothing like staying at home for real comfort.

~ Jane Austen

Let's talk real estate, shall we? A favorite Christmas present from a few years past, this cozy little house sports a green roof, wooden shutters, and sweet yellow gingham curtains. 

 Home to a healthy variety of Calico Critters. Who've been carefully edited for your viewing pleasure by daughter number three.

Available for immediate occupancy...

must be quite diminutive in size.

Have the prettiest of Fridays, my friends.

I hope your weekend is perfectly relaxing.

dolled up

celeste
With Christmas only 45 days away, it's time to start 'gathering up the goods'. I'm thinking these dollies might qualify for the cutest blabla creations yet. That's saying something because they specialize in some of the loveliest handmade creatures on the planet. Designed by Florence Wetterwald, each doll is knitted by Peruvian artisans. 

trixie

sunday

Check out the sets of clothes made specifically for the dolls. They absolutely kill me with their sweetness. Which do you like better?

set a, blue

set b, green

set c, lavender

set d, pajamas

I wish I could pick all of it. But tough times, call for tough decisions. 

I'm eager to hear your opinion... 

(psst... blabla is offering free shipping, now through December 25, 2010

and  land of nod, too).

majolica

Did you have a nice weekend? Mine was lovely.

I thought you might like a peek at one of my latest estate sale finds. An assortment of majolica pitchers in some pretty soft colors. I especially like the little blue number on the right.

I'm fairly confident they're reproductions, based on the fact they were practically giving them away. Either way, I like them. 

on friendship

"I always felt that the great high privilege, relief and comfort of friendship was that one had to explain nothing." 

~Katherine Mansfield

Thinking about friendship today.

One of my girls is having a bit of 'mean girl' trouble. I think keeping in mind the phrase 'a friend is someone who likes you' might help. If a girl is truly your friend, you'll know... 

Happiest of Friday pretties to each of you, my friends.
I hope your weekend is a happy one.

by Mari Takabayashi

button by button

Progress is definitely being made on the white button wreath.

It's a lot of white. I felt compelled to switch it up with the thread color. I've limited the palette to pink, red, blue, and green. As much as I love white, I'm a girl who needs a little color in her life.

Do you know what eleven pounds of white buttons looks like?

 If you find yourself in want of a button wreath look what I spotted...

Find it at Ballard Designs.

I'm joining Faded Charm for White Wednesdays.

november

Good morning, my friends. 

I'm so glad November is finally here.

"November always seemed to me the Norway of the year."

-   Emily Dickinson