Mid-Summer Roost in the Cupboard

The end of July signals a change in the atmosphere for me. I'm one of those people that while I enjoy summer, I don't enjoy the heat and I have always looked forward to the slow slide to early fall. Don't get me wrong, summer has beautiful memories and moments, but the promise of more moderate temps of autumn pull me along. 

Floral and Ticking Summer Tablescape

My favorite print for all things summer is indigo ticking. I've said it before, dark blue ticking is like a "neutral", because it pairs with almost everything. 

You love florals? ...ticking pairs up. 

Paisley? ... ticking pairs up.

Plaids are your thing? ... ticking pairs up.

Summer Holiday Cupboard with Patriotic Flair

When June comes around I gather my vintage dishes and a few elements that are red/white/blue and restyle my old pie safe cupboard. A few pieces of red transferware mix it up with my French faience pottery dishes. Then when I start decorating for July 4th holiday I just add in some small memorial flags. Presto, instant Patriotic décor.

Patriotic Tablescape with Red and Blue Transferware

A few weeks ago I was on a mission to find white vintage swirl plates. My mom had had a set back in the 70's and I had an American knockoff version back in the 80's. Those were long gone by now, but I wanted a white plate that could be used for any season or holiday to set a family table. 

Summer Sideboard and Cookbook Cupboard With Patriotic Color

Hello there dear friends! I hope you all are having a wonderful Father's Day Weekend. I wanted to share part 2 of the Hearth Room patriotic decor, that I started earlier this week. The Hearth Room has a lot of fun spots to decorate seasonally, so I concentrated on the mantel and seating area in Part 1.

Cottage Review: Garden Wheelbarrow Tablescape

Hi Friends, with Mother's Day coming up next weekend, I know many of you will be hosting a Mother's Day brunch or luncheon. I was looking through some older magazines and came upon my inspiration for this post and thought how fun this would be to create the magazine inspiration below and surprise all the moms at your table. 

This original post was from about 10 years and two houses ago. It's just as much fun today and if you don't have a wheelbarrow, no problem. A basket, crate or doughbowl would be just as perfect for a garden display tablescape.

St. Patrick's Day Seed Box Vignette

Hi Friends, so glad you came by for some extra special St. Patrick's Day inspiration! Today I'm joining a super fun group of gals sharing some amazing Tablescapes, Vignettes, Crafts, and Irish Heritage posts celebrating "All things St. Patrick's Day." 

Bring on the Green in the Holiday Cupboard

March always sees the green transferware show up in the Holiday Cupboard, since St. Patrick's Day is my unofficial start to (early) Spring. And it's my birthday month too, so I make it a fresh start after a long cold and dreary winter. When I first started collecting green transferware I thought I'd be limited in displaying them. But now they come out in late February and stick around through Spring and early Summer until July 4th decorating.

Gathered For Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard

This has been such a busy month that Im running behind (what else is new?) But it's not every Christmas that your first grandbaby arrives! Christmas will be here in a few days and I have to start getting ready for overnight guests and bake a few desserts. 

Decking the Halls with My Christmas Collections

Mid-Summer Entry with Blue and White Transferware Tureen

Hi Friends, I know many of you are "Blue and White" collectors with gorgeous dishware, ginger jars, and amazing decorative Chinoiserie pieces. I admire it and love that elegant and traditional design "look", but I've just never started a collection of it. I think it's gorgeous in the summer when I love using Blue and White accessories. I've stuck to the Browns, Reds and Green patterns in transferware, but I do have one piece that I totally stumbled upon years ago at a flea market for just a few dollars. 

Mini Easter Brunch Tablescape and Vintage Decoupaged Bottles

Every once in a while the crafty bug bites me and I get the urge to create a little something fun, especially if it's for a  "holiday".  I really enjoy using decoupage with Mod Podge because it's such an easy method. Well, I say "easy" as a relative term, since it is a bit messy and imprecise. But since I love vintage goods, I've found using old bottles for decoupage to be a wonderful way create small gifts and holiday mementos.

Vintage Cottage Weekend: Blooming Seed Box Display

Hi Friends, thanks so much for coming by our (Amber and my) new weekend get together where we are sharing our thoughts, ideas and inspiration for vintage cottage living and decor. 

Romantic French Couples in the Holiday Cupboard

Love is in the air in the Holiday Cupboard!

In my meager quest for a bit of organization after Christmas, I went through a few more unopened  boxes in my storage room in the basement. One of them has been in plain view but haunting me for the last 3 years because I just didn't have a place for the contents. Two houses ago I had a curio cabinet in the dining room where I kept a few of my more delicate pieces of porcelain and china. During my "shabby" French-y phase I collected a few porcelain couple figurines... but they've been packed away for the last 9 years. It was time to open the box and enjoy them again. 

A Very Merry Christmas in the Holiday Cupboard

Hello there friends. I know you all are feeling it too, just one week till Christmas and it seems I don't have everything accomplished that I've wanted to do. I still have a few pics to share from around the house. Here we are in the Garden Room where the Holiday Cupboard is my fun spot to decorate. So I'm squeezing it in with a few more posts around the house next week. 

Cupboards and Cabinets in Decor

Hello Friends,

I'm so glad you're here, because today I'm joining a great group of bloggers as we share our love for all things vintage with the Lifestyle of Love Blog Hop, hosted by our wonderful friend Cindy from County Road 407. We were given the topic of "How we use Cabinets and Hutches in our decor". Well, let me tell you I was jumping for joy when I saw that I would get to share one of my favorite pieces of furniture. 

Yes, you guessed it.

The Holiday Cupboard!

Using Vintage Dishes in Seasonal Decorating Hop

Hello friends, I'm so happy you've come by today and I hope you'll be checking out the fun that we're having at this bi-monthly Hop, Lifestyle of Love. Cindy from County Road 407 is our hostess with these wonderful vintage themed Hops. If you hopped over from Amber's blog, Follow the Yellow Brick Home, I know you loved her wonderful collection of vintage ironstone, pottery and dishes.

This month our Hop theme is "dishes" if you haven't guessed already, and I can guarantee that you'll find tons of inspiration on using dishes in seasonal decor. Whether you're a die-hard tablescaper and dish collector, or someone like me who just loves using them in vignettes and vintage decor, I know you'll love all the ideas from our group. 

Springtime Holiday Cupboard with a Wee Bit O' Irish

St. Patrick's Day isn't a holiday that I go all out decorating for, but having said that I DO like to give a nod to my Irish, Scottish, and British ancestors. Since I've had the Holiday Cupboard back at this house, I've found that I can go a bit crazy with the holidays and seasons. Of course "dishes" and a few odds and ends are always the base for my decorating obsessions.

Valentine's Day in the Holiday Cupboard

Hi Friends, I cannot believe it's actually February

and in a little over a week it will be Valentine's Day...

So I wanted to do my monthly/seasonal "restyle" of the Holiday Cupboard.

I have so many little odds and ends that it's always fun

to give them all someplace to go hang out.

Cows in the January Cupboard

How do you feel about January?

Are you excited about a clean slate and look forward 

to putting together some fun fresh decor 

or does it take a while to get out of the post Holiday season blahs?

I guess I'm somewhere in the middle. 

I love the  excitement and cozy Christmas decor with lots of color and twinkle lights,

but I'm usually ready to put it all away and look forward to 

a more pared down and neutral look.