Marble Rolling Pin

Marble rolling pin acquired from the local thrift for $1!

Strawberry Mug

I recently found this cheery mug at the local thrift store for $2. More strawberry kitchen goodness!

To Mother With Love

I'm celebrating with flowers and photography and tea and my favourite female today!

Dish up the Mint

This sweet minty bowl was a gift from the mother! Look at those scallops! It reminds me of melting chocolate mint chip icecream. The bottom is marked with the maker's stamp RRP Co. Roseville, Ohio 308.

Spring Forward

Check out these fab repro retro clock timers! Oh how I love beautifully done repro items. I ordered the three colours for the store, but the mint green one may have followed me home...

My, how good it looks with Olive Cart!

Floral Dishes

I found this sweet set of floral dishes for $9 at Value Village. It's 4 round plates and an oval platter and dish; that tiny oval dish is particularly charming. The set is marked Myott and is from England circa 1930s-1940s. 

Cobalt Ceramics

Fig N°1: Traditional Mexican shot glass...which I plan to fill with flowers instead of Tequila
Fig N°2: Hand-painted Delft pill box from Holland
Fig N°3: Cobalt Fiestaware plate of my great grandma's wedding dish collection from 1938
Fig N°4: Folksy embellished octagonal container with lid made in Finland by Arabia--a $1 find

Keswick Trays

Here's a houseware that seems to pop up frequently at thrift stores: the Keswick Tray! They are printed cotton and fibre glass trays rimmed with gold or silver edges. The company started in the 1960s and is still producing products today. I'm not sure of the date of these two trays though! 

I love the cheery florals and the texture of the fabric through the fibre glass.

 It looks like they even take custom orders. Of course they are British made...see post below!

Japanese Bowl

This cheery Japanese bowl is a local thrift store find. I adore the grass green glaze with the calico border! 

Peach Deco

Swoon with me at the Art Deco glory of this peach canister set! They are ceramic with a glossy glaze, complete with swag details, salt and pepper shakers, and a napkin holder. It's hard to tell how old they actually are, likely mid-century items, but I love their 1920s styling and perfect condition.

Valentine Transferware

This fine collection of red and white Transferware includes a plate of particular interest...

Another Chatsworth House, a.k.a. Mr. Darcy's Pemberley, plate! The view is of the house in 1792. I love how this dish illustrates the house from the side, from the River Derwent, through the arches of the bridge (which pictures the statue that is no longer there), nestled in the foliage. The clouds look like pointillism. In 1792 I suppose Mr. Darcy would have been a boy playing in these grounds, or, you know...diving into the lake! (Hope that induced a Happy Valentine's swoon!)

More Tea Towels

Here are some more goodies from my tea towel making rampage! These were ordered as fat quarters of Linen Cotton Canvas Ultra from my shop, and then I finished the edges with mitered corners. The designs pictured are Pantone, Buttons, Greenery Machinery, Maritime Yarn, and Seamstress Fruit. These and several others are now available for sale at The Mississippi Valley Textile Museum!

Tea Towels

I've been on a tea towel making rampage! I ordered a bunch of fat quarters from my shop in Linen Cotton Canvas Ultra and then sewed the edges with mitered corners. The designs pictured are Fresh Berry, Cobalt Craze, Delft Tea, Union, Cabbage, Turkish Tile, and Bubblegum Calico. How perfect with these dishes!

Bakeware

I see festive potential in this pile of bakeware! The shine and patina of the silver starbursts, swirls, and scallops...think wreaths, reflectors, candle holders, and ornaments.  

Crown Jars

I love these crown jars, with their pressed glass crown logo and zinc patina lids. Hot chocolate mix, anyone?

Steadfast Thanksgiving

I'm off to a Thanksgiving meal and am so grateful for God's steadfastness! "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.'" --Lamentations 3: 22-24

Vintage Floral Apron

This sweet Value Village find is from the 1930s or '40s. I love the cheery checkered floral on the airy cotton.

McCoy Strawberry Cookie Jar

I found this 1950s McCoy strawberry cookie jar #263 for $15 at a local thrift store! It is 9" wide by 11" tall of glossy red cheer! Guess what's going to be in my kitchen forever?

4th Blogiversary!

Appliances, fruit, flowers, linen, and silk are 4th anniversary gifts, so here are two new surface pattern designs celebrating those items! They are available in my shop as fabric (linen and silk are options of course), wallpaper, gift wrap (party time), cut-and-sew patterns, and homewares. I give you Smeg

and Strawberry Blonde. Thanks a bunch for 4 years of readership, and here's to the next years of creativity!

Splatterware Pan

Take a look at the intricate swirls and spots on this Splatterware pan. It's hard to say how old this particular pan is, but I've seen very similar ones from the 1940s, so that's my estimate.

The pattern in the enamel is mesmerizing!