French Themed Napkins

Awhile back I did this post Pink Thrifting and told you that I would be doing a stamping project on those pretty little pink cocktail napkins .

Ta da!!!  I got them done and I think they turned out pretty cute!!!

 You can't get much more French than the bee, which is one of the emblems of Napoleon's court.

The Bee Symbol of immortality and resurrection, the bee was chosen so as to link the new dynasty to the very origins of France. Golden bees (in fact, cicadas) were discovered in 1653 in Tournai in the tomb of Childeric I, founder in 457 of the Merovingian dynasty and father of Clovis. They were considered as the oldest emblem of the sovereigns of France.

http://www.napoleon.org:81/en/essential_napoleon/symbols/index.asp

I love, love, love this stamp set by Darcie's. This company doesn't even know I exist. Last year when I was making my little heart pillows out of eyelet and muslin I used this set...it is just so sweet!  I use the "You and Me...meant to Bee" for little tags to price things for the shop.

 I absolutely find the lined/grid acrylic stamp block essential for optimum placement. I can line up the stamp on the block and I can see through to line up placement on fabric or paper.

I have two of this kind one in black and one in sepia.  It limits my color choices but it is very permanent and fades off only minimally.  I finish each stamping by using my iron to heat set.

A jam spreader and 5 o'clock spoon~~~

A sweet Violet's demitasse cup and saucer~~~

Silver plate pattern is Queen Bess, Tudor Plate, by Oneida~~~

The white under-plate is French Rose by Tabletops Unlimited. I only have a couple of pieces...always looking for more~~~

Thanks for Popping in~~~

Happy Hunting and Gathering!!! 

I'm partying over at PINK SATURDAY

Winter Sunlight

Wanted to share with you the new crochet table cloth I found while out junking. It was sealed in a plastic bag and labeled "72 x 72 inches, over 60 years old, and no stains or holes". So I doubled checked the stain/hole statement with the gal that checked me out, paid, and went my merry way.

I was thinking this would look awesome on my double bed...well think again, because the measurement was off, it was only 48" x 72".

 It works on my wood table but it definitely needs a larger white cloth underneath to show the color (ecru) and the swirl pattern off.  And I'm not going to use it for real...just for pretty! It's kind of difficult to find crochet table cloths that are in great condition around here.

So while I had the cloth on the table and the winter sunlight was coming in through my french doors I decided to work on my picture taking.

Three books that were published in the mid 1800's (one of my latest collecting must haves), a sterling candle holder and a very tall silver plate candle holder, with toile and script candles that I made.





Also, sitting on the books is a crown that I fashioned out of lamp parts. I have since given a coat of white gesso.







The big white cabinet in back is a great find from Elkton, Oregon...followed a garage sale sign one day when going through and this is what I found.  I keep table linens, my ironstone collection, and all my other pretties in there (or on top).






 A covered ironstone casserole (and a large soup tureen on top of the cabinet), gravy boat, and a squat pitcher. With a wonderful dappling and burst of winter sunlight!  This was during our cold snap, it was about 22 degrees outside....brrrr!

I have four of these porcelaine de Sologne plates they are 8 1/2" across and all feature a different fish. It's part of the cupboard stash.







Just a wee sampling of my silver and silver plate utensils. The spoon on the bottom is sterling and has beautiful pears at the top of the handle and "Ruth" engraved in the bowl and 1908 on the back of the handle.

Off to the left is a fish knife. I love how the handle is turned up from the blade.

From left to right; a meat fork with a pronged guard or rest (not sure), a beautiful serving fork in the grape pattern, next up is a wood handled fork,( I only have one wish I had more, it's one of my favorites) and on the very right an olive fork.
 

And two pretty floral creamers...

 As always~~~Happy Hunting and Gathering!!!

JUNKING FINDS

Precious Metals

Thought I would show you a small gathering of what I've found when out and about junking.

 I found three vintage potato mashers with wood handles and three pressure cooker weights (look for weights on ETSY)!!!






One of each of the following: A strainer with most of the red paint still on the wood handle, a pretty oval silver plate tray, a very ornate, footed, silver plate, oval bowl (just got in La Lavande soaps in my shop~~~they will look extra special displayed in this, they smell absolutely wonderful), a Graniteware pie pan, and an all metal oval basket with leaves around the middle (I'll be using this for fall displays).

It was a kind of weighty, mashed, strained, oval day, that just kept heating up.!!!
 

This cute stainless steel tea kettle, that has the nicest sounding whistle, got a special photo shoot all of her very own!

~~~Thanks for Popping in

HAPPY HUNTING AND GATHERING!!!