Vintage Tea Party Vignette

I have sweet memories of the times when my two girlies were young, that our church would host a Spring Tea Party or luncheon in honor of Mother's Day. Moms and daughters would dress up in their best Springtime dresses to come and celebrate with teas, cookies, cakes and tiny tea sandwiches. Surrounded with flowers, ferns and fun pastel accessories, antique tea sets and china were part of the festive decor.

Today, and Always...

Wishing you the most precious 

Mother's Day...

Make the most of each day with your children and family.

Create memories to carry them their lifetime.

xoxo,

Vintage Black Friday: Give Back Week and Black As an Accent Color

I'm so glad that Vintage Black Friday has returned. This is the 2nd installment of the monthly party to be found the first Friday of each month.

I'm not a decorator by trade, but I've learned a few things over the years about decorating. Having moved to several houses in my adult married life, I've learned that it's important to have furniture and accessories that are "mix and match". I call them "Garanimal Furniture". Going back to finding clothes for my girls as toddlers, there was a brand carried at Sears that was completely interchangeable. Each piece fit nicely with any other item in the line. That has been an idea that I have adapted to decorating. Keeping a few "colors" and accent pieces that are totally interchangeable. I get bored with my surroundings and like to change things up frequently. If I can't move or change out furniture, then I like to seasonally mix up accessories and vignettes.

Print and vintage frame found in the powder room,

but in the Dining room for better natural light.

I keep a color palette of varying hues of khaki, sage green, and gold, with hints of dark red. Gold or brass is my accent metal, and I also use black in healthy doses as an accent. Some of these items you've seen before, but today I'm using them to show how accent colors can unify and bring continuity to a home. I love white and neutrals and having white woodwork, I am bringing in more white painted furniture, but I also love color. I guess I would say I lean toward English and French Country. Vintage and antique pieces add to the foundation.

Lampshades and a clock on the Living Room mantel.

Decorative painted French box on my black writing desk

Old rustic church pew

Hat boxes in the Entry on a French gilt table.

Kitchen print with black frame

And a variety of black tole trays on the kitchen counter

A tiny print in the powder room

And a new black distressed clock

 that is usually found in the family room

These are just a few of the black accessories

 I have used in my home to help bring it all together.

Please run over to The French Cupboard

and check the McLinky to see the other

Vintage Black Friday participants.

If you haven't yet entered my

Celebration Give Back

please click and leave a comment

on the post from March 1.

Thank you for all the sweet and funny Birthday Wishes!

Each one warmed my heart,

 and so many made me laugh.

And thank you to all those

who posted about my Give Back

and joined as a follower.

I'll be over for a visit soon!

Have a wonderful Weekend!

Debra

Adieu, Vintage Black Friday

This is the last post for Vintage Black Friday. (sigh)

Jill from Gypsy Brocante has been a wonderful hostess,

for this exceptionally creative party.

The day after Thanksgiving is a busy one for all of us...

Family, friends, decorating for Christmas, and let's not forget...

SHOPPING!

So for this last opportunity, I wanted to share

a few photos of some of my vintage black

 from the Master Bedroom.

I believe this large men's hat box

 must have been for a "top hat".

And then there are black ladies hatboxes.

And a vintage Italian wall piece with decoupaged insets.

Hat box from my studio

Vintage Italian jewelry box on my dresser.

Small portraits of French ladies

Watercolor print of Windsor Castle

that Erin brought me back from England

And one of my favorites; a Ladies classic riding helmet.

Not too old, but I love the deep burgundy, almost black, velvet.

I can live out my fantasies in this.

(I recently confessed to my husband,

 that although I don't have many "fantasies",

that the Rolex commercial was one of them.
Oh, and I'll take the watch, too)

I couldn't find the women's commercial, this will have to do
.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!
Be sure to work off all those extra calories,
with some shopping calisthenics.

Blessings,

Debra