Podium to Beans

I bought this old podium years ago, and I painted it with touches of mauve against white, colors that already existed in our 1888 Italianate house. I have never wanted to change this color that to me is softly reminiscent of a more Gothic era. It is quiet and calming and exquisitely beautiful to me.

I strove to sell my podium at various venues, but never a taker, and  I have to say my price has always been quite low. I guess no one wants my podium. I cannot fathom one not wanting one! I've enjoyed podiums down through the years. Since it was my last one, and not moving at Monticello Market Place, I simply took it back today, and am so happy that I did. Here it stands proudly in a spare bedroom. Draped over it is my beautiful old piano scarf that also contains shades of the same mauve, although my photographic skills rendered it more of a pink. Alas, we do not have a piano. The antique and very beautiful, brown Bible is a German one. I know I picked it up at an estate sale for diddly squat. That is one of my favorite prices. I've actually gotten considerable use from my little podium. Now it serves only for beauty, for the time being. 

Beans? Oh yes. Gregory soaked overnight a bag of 15 beans, and upon rinsing and draining them, here is how pretty they looked in the morning. The soup is now made and it will be our dinner momentarily. Luscious ham and bean soup with lots of vegetables. No picture of that though. I have to admit that I am not a vegetarian, nor intend to become one, although I've dabbled in it from time-to-time. Nope, I like to eat meat. I bless my food and thank the animal for assisting my body in life, and take it from there. I know that the environment begs less meat eating, and I do bless our world for that sake too. I choose to eat only organically raised animals too. So there you have it!

I am no longer sharing my blog with my Facebook friends. It seems rather silly to do so. I am not really going to Facebook much anymore either. That may change all-in-due-course, but for now, I prefer to keep my world simple and quiet.

I wish, you my blog visitors, a peaceful and quiet time too.

Sending love to all of you.

Two of My Dolls

We just received our copy of the latest issue of Early American Life (EAL) magazine; that being the February, 2014 one. There is an article in it called Preserving Your Textile Treasures and right there in a picture are two of MY dolls! Years ago, I gifted these two to Tess, the owner of the magazine. Thank you Tess for sharing my all cloth poppet, and my Maché head, cloth bodied, Tess. Ironically, I had already named this doll Tess before I ever met Tess of EAL!

I sort of had Tess of the d'Urvervilles in mind, even though my Tess represents an 18th. century styled doll, and the story by Thomas Hardy actually took place in the 1800's and not the 1700's, and of course, Tess of the story had a tragic life, whereas my dolly has a very good life! I just like the name for this doll. It fits a young woman of pastoral England of the earlier days.

Tess is also pictured in my blog banner. The other pictured doll is my milliner's model, Emma.

Also, we have this magazine quite early, because my husband is a contributor to it and the contributors get their copies before they hit the news stands.

Gregory's Design

My husband, Gregory, has created a number of very interesting furniture designs of his own, and below I am sharing his very sweet small and narrow cupboard that can be hung on a wall, or can stand on a floor or a table. I commandeered this piece for our kitchen, and so he deemed it his prototype, because it has become mine. I love the color Gregory chose. It is Duck Egg by Annie Sloan, chalk paints.  You can find this paint at The Purple Pear in Portland, Oregon.

I store our wash cloths in there, as well as my chocolate candy bars. Why chocolate bars? Alas, I cannot abide caffeine other than in the form of chocolate, provided it is prior to 3:00 PM. Otherwise, I hyperventilate and awaken in the night with the desire to catch a deep breath. I always adored my caffeine, but due to having overly indulged in it down through the years, I developed a form of an allergy. Do not over do it on anything, friends! Moderation is a must.

I can have a little bit of chocolate each morning with my decaffeinated coffee. If ever I do happen to intake caffeine after 3:00 PM, my night's rest is negligible, unless I can take a wee bit of an anxiety drug. Mind you, I seldom do this, because I never want to have another addiction, and of course, my doctor would never allow it. Colas for me are completely out of the question, although I do drink a caffeine free one when I can find it.

Back to the wee cupboard that Gregory designed. I have to confess that even among all of my wonderful antiques, this piece is actually one of my very favorites. I treasure it for Gregory's design and execution. It is special to me. He's not yet made another either.

Here it is in all its glory. Note the black mark on the floor. This is left over from when the house experienced a fire long ago, when the kitchen stove was in this spot. No stove has been there in at least 75 years. So we do not take credit for that splotch of black. But I like that lovely little point of history.

And here is the very top of the sweet cupboard.

Advent

Having been raised a cradle Catholic, I cannot do Christmas without celebrating Advent.

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. 

From Wikipedia:

Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches 
as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning "coming".

Today I will create my Advent wreath and begin reliving my childhood joys of anticipating Christmas!

I'm sure that all of the many faiths for this beautiful season work just fine. This one is simply my upbringing.

                                                   Happy Season of Love to all of you!

Set Up is Done (for now)

Here is my little space, all set up, with more waiting in the "rig". Show begins Friday, November 22nd. at 8:00 AM. So much fun!

Show Announcement

Monticello Antique Marketplace

I am showing in this one for the five slated weeks. Showtime begins Friday, November 22nd at 8AM! I am so honored to have been one of the 16 vendors allowed in the showroom for their Christmas Show.

My spot is over by the big windows. Hope to see you!

I found this one on Facebook. I want to add it to my Pinterest, but you cannot pin directly from Facebook, and so, it is here, and I will pin it!

Christmas Creations by Brigitte Christine

Our dear daughter, Brigitte, has been working on her chalkware Santa line, and just texted this picture to me. I know the shot is a little blurry, and I did my best with it, but I still want to share it now!

Good work, Brigitte! These creations are soon to be found at Monticello Marketplace for the Christmas show that Brigitte, Gregory and I will be doing together. The show begins November 22nd. and runs through January 1st.

Brigitte also has a little space at a new shop in Lake Oswego, Oregon. Serendipity where more of her creations will be for sale.

Brigitte has an Etsy store, but I fear right now it is somewhat empty.

New Blog Design

I am so thrilled to announce that my new blog design was just completed today by the wonderful Karen Valentine of Valentine Design.

She is also noted at the very bottom as you scroll to the end.

Karen captured my love of the Gothic Victorian sense of mystery and beauty.

I hope you will enjoy my lovely new design, and trust that I eagerly look forward to adding more of my world on this blog.

Happily,

Eerie Ghost Ladies by Martha Kohley of Vintage Trifles at Deepwood Estate

Those of you who know me, are aware that I love Gothic and eerie. Last Saturday I went to a one woman show at the historic and gorgeous, Victorian Deepwood mansion in our state capital city of Salem, Oregon. It is now a museum, and Martha being a friend of Deepwood, is allowed to stage her art shows there.

Martha Kohley of Vintage Trifles had the most incredible Halloween display of her works, for she is an artist after my own heart. I so loved everything about her show from the spooky music to the beautiful, old carriage house where she artfully presented all. 

Here is a photo of Deepwood

I spotted the two lovely ghostie ladies immediately, and when Martha said "They're for sale." And I learned the extremely reasonable price, I simply said, "I'll take them!"

Here is one of the lovely sisters floating up to the ceiling in our entry hall. She is so lovely there. I may have to bring her out more often than just the Halloween Season.

Ghostie Lady two, eerily sways in the breeze from our balcony over the front porch.

(I was later delighted too to see our very amusing cat, Hal, perched above her as I took this shot. Hal meandered into our lives two years ago during Halloween week. I named him Halloween, but he is totally Hal now.)

Pardon the crumbs on the table cloth. But here is where I quickly shot a picture of Martha's darling wedding cake that she made of old books, folded, and topped with a very handsome bride and groom.

Yes, I love her work, and I certainly bought more of her creations, but am only sharing these, for now....

Email Subscription

Some time ago, I added the sign up link for those of you who would like to follow this blog via email notification. Well, I wondered why it seemed as though nothing ever came of that, and so, investigating, I learned that I had never finished the set up! It's now set up properly, and therefore, I hope you who did sign up will receive this apology for my ineptitude in things hi-tek.

I hope soon to do a few things different for this blog, like a new banner, since this one is beginning to bore me. Well, let's say although I will always love all things Currier & Ives, I simply do need a change.

I hope to be more diligent in tending to my blog, and I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you.

Thank you for visiting.

Very sincerely,

Christine

Coinkydink

My friend, Gretchen Nation, put the picture of a doll on her Facebook page as her avatar. I recognized that funny doll and couldn't remember where I'd seen it. I thought perhaps at an estate sale, or a flea market. On that very same day I saw her new avatar, as Brigitte (daughter) and I went to Monticello Antique Marketplace. Lo and behold, there was that doll in the space of friends and dealers, Terry and Sonia of Vintage Station and Monticello and Wade Creek. Such a coinkydink, er coincidence, I think! I had Brigitte take my picture so I could text it to Gretchen. So funny!

You may note that I have stopped having my hair colored. It's worn in a ponytail in this picture, and the first four inches are my natural white and a little of the dark still in there. The ponytail is still a yellowish blonde now, leftover from coloring. No more coloring!

Happy Autumn and Gypsy Decor.

Firstly, I am always in my best spirits during the fall season. Today is the official first day of autumn and I am in my own heaven.

Of late, along with my fun condition of horror vacui, I've discovered a decor that befits this love of beauty and design perfectly, and that is what I have discovered as Gypsy decor. I gleaned the following pictures from the Internet, and I do have these on my Pinterest under the title of Gypsy Decor. Of course, I realize that this look is probably a bit difficult to live with all the time, and so, I simply derive pleasure from viewing the collections of lush color and textiles from others. Although, my home is sort of getting there. 

Horror Vacui

I love Victorian treasures, from virtually the world over. Luckily, my dear husband, Gregory, does too, and he always finds my choices appealing. He and I will celebrate our 45th. year as husband and wife tomorrow, the 14th. of September! Our choice in celebrating will take us on a little antiques buying trip down to Coburg near Eugene. We'll stop in at shops along the way from our home in Oregon City, through historic Aurora and down through our lovely capitol of Salem, and on into Albany and so on. 

Of course, because we sell antiques, we must keep our eyes out for more and more wonderful treasures pretty much always!

Following are some of the items I have selected down through the years for our boudoir. But meanwhile, some of you may ask, what is horror vacui?

In visual art, horror vacui (/ˈhɔrər ˈvɑːkjuːaɪ/; from Latin "fear of empty space"), also cenophobia(/sɛnəˈfoʊbɪə/, from Greek "fear of the empty"),^[1] is the filling of the entire surface of a space or anartwork with detail.

Horror Vacui is a condition that I enjoy. But not as seriously as the actual definition indicates. Like the Victorians before me, I too, love filling my space with many wonderful treasures in which to feast my eyes on at every turn. Once in a while I go through a minimalist stage that lasts only a little while, and I pack up many of my treasures and march them off to sell or store them away until a rainy day.

We have many rainy days here in our corner of the world, and such a pleasure it is for me to find my treasures again and to bring them back out!

I Forgot!

I wondered why I received no comments on my last post. Then suddenly it hit me today that I have that thing set to where I must approve of the comments first. So, they're all on now, and I apologize for the long wait.

The convenience of an email to me is much nicer than having me forget all of the time. Once-in-a-blue I get someone who is not very nice. I can just delete those comments. So I will undo comment moderator.

Thank you to all of your dear ones who've left comments!

Christine

Oregon Pictures

I haven't posted since July, so I just decided to Google Image pictures of my beautiful home state, and here are a few I've chosen to share. I was delighted to see MY house among Oregon Victorian houses. It's the 9th one down.

Below is my house!