November

November is my most special month.  I have always loved Thanksgiving, and it was made even more special when my own little Butterball (Ginna) was born on that day (25th) in 1993, and again 2 years later when Callie was born on the 26th, a dear friend Carter on the 27th.  Then Bob and I were married and son Nathan's birthday is the 9th, grandkids Nick, the 19th, and Savannah, the 20th.  Makes for a very busy - but celebration filled month!

 My sideboard in the living room dressed for early November.  Just wait until the turkeys come out in a week or two.  The two pieces of stemware were purchased at a Pfaltzgraff sample sale when the company was still deeply entrenched in Pennsylvania. The lights on the side board once belonged to my Mom.  They were on her piano for years.  When she sold the piano to my cousins, the lights got packed away.  Some how the glass hurricanes disappeared.  I was fortunate to purchase a pair (matching the originals) enough years ago at a glass company in Star City, WV.

My pilgrims!  Love them!  They are Gurley candles from the 1950s.  Tiny turkey on the left is a Wade figurine from Red Rose Tea, the one in the middle???, and a little Shaker carrier from the Waterford Fair - from when I was juried in years ago.  The little marbled pink squirrel is from the Chicago World's Fair 1933, and is made of rubber with a painted surface.

 My tray that takes center stage is a 3 section antique box bought at an antique show when I was busy on that circuit.  It holds all of the tiny things I love with out having things look too cluttered.  The first section holds some antique marbles, a vintage flocked moose, some acorns, glazed greenware ears of corn, a hand carved mouse.

 Middle section  has some great artsy clothespins, a thimble with a hedgehog on it, handmade cinnamon pumpkin, a glittered acorn, a sweet pine cone, a pine cone weight from a cuckoo clock, a cute handmade chipmunk.

The end section has a bottle brush squirrel, a horse chestnut, another cinnamon pumpkin and glittered acorn, a huge hand turned acorn - with my favorite color as an accent! 

One of the finest forms in nature - the pine cone.  A vintage hand cut squirrel.  I think Fall brings out the best in natures 'ornaments'.  I love the way the side board looks lit up with the tiny candles. I hope you have enjoyed another of my collections!  Liz

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!  Sorry it's been a bit - I guess I needed a break.  

Since my last post I have:

visited my Mom on her birthday

painted some tin tiles

did some house cleaning

laundered my linen living room curtains, and kitchen curtains

rehung the kitchen curtains

hung some 'winter' drapes in the living room

hand washed some vintage wool sweaters that I had listed on Etsy

priced a ton of hand knit scarves, and other knitted items

displayed them up at It's Bazaar

cut hydrangeas off of one of my bushes because it was going to snow

played in the snow

I know...... SNOW!!!amazing huh?

The hydrangeas have gotten some beautiful color from the cool nights we've had - but I knew they wouldn't last through the predicted snow that we were going to have this past Saturday.  I picked enough to fill this antique wicker hanging basket.

Here's my antique sideboard with my Halloween display.

On the left - a stoneware squirrel feasting from an antique tart pan filled with tiny cinnamon hearts and pumpkins

On the right 2 Gurley items - a hollow wax pumpkin - I've never seen one of these before, a Gurley witch candle, and a new - but too cute crepe paper, accordion pleated pumpkin.

                                  A Henn Workshops pumpkin basket with a cloth black cat.

A Halloween from long ago "Little Rascals" style.  Ginna is 'Darla', with our former neighbors, the Knisley boys - Dylan is 'Spanky', Hunter 'Alfafa'.  They won an award at the Michael's Shopping Center in Leesburg for best costumes!

                                Another wonky cat - I believe made by Ann Vaughn, who use to have a business called Christmas Creations, and now co-owns The Cottage in Leesburg.

                                         A hand made wool mat with some scary pumpkins.

                                        Two more 'gourd' baskets by the Henn Workshops.  

                              The larger is a mustard color, the smallest is a dark mossy green.

Sally the snake.  Made by a WVU Math professor who was also a blacksmith as a hobby.  I watched him fashion her from a piece of rebar.  She has been with me since 1985.  He was demonstrating his craft at Friendship Hill - the residence of Albert Gallatin.  http://www.nps.gov/frhi/index.htm  I had to take her home with me - she had such a cute face - and I am not a snake person!

                                       So here is my total vignette, my tribute to Halloween!

                                                                 Cali says BOO!