Abundance

Bonjour, mes amis et heureux anee nouveau! (I'm not sure if that's grammatically correct in French, but you get the idea.)

My 2012 is off to a bang, with a large wholesale order and a gorgeous day spent at the flea market yesterday. As you will see from these photos, there was not a cloud in the northern California January sky, and a balmy 68 degrees.


It got me to thinking how lucky we are to live in among such abundance.


There is beauty all around if we just take a moment to notice and appreciate it. Whether in the form of grandma's fine silver...


or a tattered old prop once used for function,


why not be grateful for all that we have?




Perhaps I'm most grateful this week for this really beautiful antique brooch I got. I'm a nut for all things Marie Antoinette and this lovely piece is actually painted on ivory behind glass. It doesn't get much better than this!


Here are some other things I've made in the studio this week. Most of these have gone to the local retail market, but please keep checking my Etsy shoppe regularly since I will continue listing new items there as well. :)













What plans do you have for 2012? I'd love to hear about them! Thank you for stopping by! :)

A Timeless Classic

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love anything white! All shades of white. Cream, ivory, dove... it's so pure and fresh and classic. For as long as I can remember, I've loved my grandmother's collection of Red Cliff ironstone and was lucky enough to 'inherit' it from her several years ago when she downsized her home. Since her passing last October, these pieces have taken on even more special meaning to me and her full tea and coffee service and soup tureen stand proudly upon my coffee table and hutch. Here are just a couple of pieces from the set, along with some new necklaces I made this week using more classic elements like cameos, a watch face, and mother of pearl. (Maybe that should be 'grandmother of pearl'?)














Do you have any special family heirlooms that inspire your decor?

Garden Antiques

With summer in full swing, I was recently inspired to snap photos of some pretty garden-style displays at our local flea market. Whether you're an avid gardener or - like me - someone who just enjoys a seasonal prop or two indoors, I hope you'll find something here that makes you smile.

Before getting started, I just wanted to apologize for not responding to those of you who have been leaving such sweet comments. For some reason, I have not been able to leave comments on my own blog the past few weeks! Blogger doesn't seem to recognize my user name and takes me into an endless loop of trying to re-identify myself. Has anyone else ever had this challenge and do you know how to resolve it?








Not exactly for the garden, but how delicious is this pile of old linens? Juxtaposed with the ornate painting and chair, it is perfect faded grandeur.



Here's a snapshot of the canvas tote my good friend Carole gave me a while back. It has lots of room to pack my lunch and treasures I find along the way.


Luscious hotel silver and seashells glisten in the summer sunshine.



Other than flea marketing during my vacation week, I've been soaking up art inspiration and working busily in my studio creating jewelry. I'll show you what I've been up to next time! Thank you for stopping by. :)

Bleu, Part Deux

I recently posted a story about how the colour blue had influenced my jewelry designs. Well, it hasn't stopped there! As many of you know, I love to decorate as much as I enjoy making jewelry and putting outfits together, and the colour blue has now spilled over (all over!) into my apartment. Strangely, as much as I like to change my decor a few times each year, I've never really embraced this colour until now. Pink, yes. White and black, for sure. Even touches of bold red. But somehow blue always seemed a little too... well, traditional, boyish, preppy. Until now. I've somehow come to see certain shades (French blue, robin's egg blue, Tiffany box blue) as quite sophisticated, tranquil and neutral enough that I hopefully won't tire of it by the time this post gets published! Here are a few bleu touches I've added around my home this past week. Tres chic, n'est pas?

Soaps in the le bathroom.


A vintage nightgown that had been folded in a drawer.


Festooning draped over an ornate mirror. Instant party!


Guess where I bought this hat? Yup! Goodwill!


Faded denim is perhaps the most perfect blue.


Coco wears a blue crinoline.



A length of ribbon cheers up my grandmother's stonewear.


These tiny blue boxes hold the most lovely tarnished tinsel bow-shaped seals.


Millinery roses and crepe paper.


New curtains against a faded velvet chair.


The dining table where I spend about 80% of my time.


My sofa is now fit for Marie Antoinette with the addition of a new blue pillow.


In my studio where I spend the other 80% of my time. ;)


Are you doing any spring / summer decorating? Please share your ideas with me! I'd love to hear about them!