Blue and White

Have you been listening to the decor podcast, Decorating Tips and Tricks? Three well-known decorating bloggers started this interesting and entertaining podcast last year.  Kelly (My Soulful Home), Anita (Cedar Hill Farmhouse) and Yvonne (Stonegable) share lots of decorating advice and suggestions three times a week.  One of the topics last week was decorating with blue and white and I was so happy to hear it as I had just redecorating our great room with these two colors!!

I've kept things pretty simple but I like the end result.

We used family pieces along side newer acquisitions.  The ginger jars are from Marshall's but these pieces are family heirlooms -

an old pitcher from my husband's grandmother,

Wedgwood Countryside plate from my mother's dinnerware, and

a honey dish my husband found broken when he was a child.  His mother glued it back together and has used it to store various 'trinkets' and coins for years.

My new Kirkland's bowl holds blue and white ceramic balls.

Although these aren't in the great room, I thought I'd share some of J's Grandmother Lockie's dishes.  They, too, are white and blue. (The tea set I shared last week is above.)

My grandmother, Maggie, also had white dishes with small blue flowers.

The story goes she had her wedding china choice marked in a catalog but her brothers misread her notes and ordered a set with blue flowers.  She really wanted a set with pink flowers.  Returns weren't so easy in those days (she was married in 1905) and she ended up keeping and using those dishes.  I guess she was right on trend, even thought she may not have really appreciated it!  LOL!


Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful week!

                                                         Zenda

Antiquing For My Birthday

I recently celebrated my birthday and my wonderful husband took me to Hannibal, Missouri to eat and do a little antique shopping.  I really didn't have anything in mind.  It was just nice to spend a relaxing afternoon together looking through old shops and reminiscing.

We did find two little treasures we brought home.  The first I found at our first stop.  Five little cups and saucers in a bright blue and orange luster ware pattern were sitting right at the front of the shop.  These little gems caught my eye the moment I walked in the door!

It just so happens that many years ago, my mother was gifted a tea set very similar to these by two older friends of an aunt.  Mother never used them but they held a special place in her heart.  I've seen a few variations of this pattern over the years and when I came across these little cups and saucers, I couldn't resist.  (Plus they were half price!)

When I got home and compared them to the original set, I noticed there is a difference but think they go well together.  I also noticed I'm missing the sugar bowl and another cup.  Well, the search will continue!!

Here are some photos of the set in the kitchen and in their new home, Granny Clark's pie safe.  We've set it up in our bedroom and I enjoy seeing my family treasures there.

Mother's set has a teapot, creamer, six small plates, six saucers and five cups.  Each have blue exteriors and orange insides.  They are labeled "Made in Japan."

My new pieces have the same blue and orange colors but the exterior shows both colors while the interior is an iridescent white.

The second treasure we found was one we both loved the moment we saw it.  The proprietor said it was Phoenix Glass and probably made sometime in the 1980's.

It has a lovely iridescent sheen and I knew exactly where I'd like to display it.  We didn't buy it right then but came back later in the afternoon.  Nothing came close to it in our hearts.  It's so nice to choose something special together.  Not only do we have a beautiful piece of art glass for our home but we also have a special memory of our day together!

It sit on one of our shelves in the great room near my grandmother's molasses jar.  Two Peter's Pottery pitchers are displayed on the shelf below.  They were gifts last year from our two kids.  These pitchers are wonderful for keeping beverages cool!

We had a fun time antiquing together but an ice storm cut our celebrating a bit short.  After spending the day, we headed back home with our treasures and happy memories.

Thanks for stopping by!

                                       Zenda


Linking to: 
   Make It Pretty Monday
   Amaze Me Monday
  Tuesdays At Our Home
  Share Your Style
  Share Your Cup
  Dishing It and Digging It
  Sweet Inspirations Party