Jet Lag Post

Hello everyone.  We are back in Japan after spending two weeks in Kansas City with our family.  The 3:00 am wake up this morning is getting to me and it's only 9:00 am!  I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year.  We enjoyed being with our girls and parents.

One thing we ended up doing was going through my MIL's collections and splitting them up between the sons and their families.  She's been gone almost a year, which is so hard to believe.  She loved beautiful things and I thought I'd show you some of them.  None of these photos were taken with the blog in mind, so they are not the best, but they will give you an idea.

I really wanted this lovely portrait of her when she was four.  It is rather large and since we are not living in our home right now, my BIL took it.  He didn't know that the doll in the basket was still in her possession so we found it and he took it with him.  This was hanging on a large wall above the stairs, it is almost full size.  

I did however leave with this beautiful painting.  I believe it was painted by a cousin or Aunt. My daughter is willingly storing it while we are in Japan. It's such a sacrifice.

My MIL had a lovely collection of dolls and some half dolls.  I came home with the half dolls.  These photos are not inclusive.  I brought some of the little ones without their pincushions to Japan with me.

My MIL also had a lot of beautiful jewelry, mostly costume. This ring however, was promised to my husband from his Grandmother. My MIL wore it all the time. I believe she had it reset at some point, but the diamonds were her mother's wedding setting. We ended up with other jewelry, but I haven't taken more photos.  

Lesson learned, document everything!  Write names on photos.  Maybe I should say, print off the photos AND then write the names. Write down your stories. Tell your children where things came from and who gets them. Be specific. It was difficult not knowing what was real and what was costume jewelry.  Fortunately, we had no arguments between siblings regarding who wanted what.  Probably because it was all brothers. I didn't put up a stink about the portrait. Aren't you proud of me?

* Sorry, Melinda that I didn't get a chance to meet up with you.  Between the weather and a health scare, the time ran out.  

A Collected Christmas - Home Tour 2014

Welcome to our home!  I thought I'd join in with The Nester's Christmas home tour.  It's for home's that don't have to be perfect to be beautiful.  Come on in, I'll just let you have a look around.

Let's go into the family room where most of the "hanging out" happens. 

I was in a hurry to cover up the label on the poinsettia wrapper before my party last Monday.  I decided to grab a quick scarf and it worked perfectly.  This may happen every year. 

Pottery Barn plates, vintage collectables fill my antique cabinet. 

Thanks for visiting.  I have a little more to show in the next post.  Make sure you check out the other participants in the House Tour.  Merry Christmas!

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  

Isaiah 9:6  

Beachy Bedroom

There has been some fun antiquing going on recently.  First was the quarterly Vintage Marketplace event in Rainbow, CA.  We try to go every time.  I found this vintage tray with a cute pin-up girl inside. I thought she went well with my bathing beauty water bottle on the fireplace. 

I bought the bench on One Kings Lane and the linen curtains from Rough Linen. Which I LOVE.  This earlier post tells about the maps and photos we've collected over the years. 

 I bought this water bottle last year at Matilda's Mouse Barn Sale. I wrote about it on this post.  The big bottle is an antique as well as the little bottles and the float which I bought on eBay. 

 I found the huge rope at a local hardware store.  I think it does in the items on the mantle.

You can tell my bookshelves are not styled.  My husband refers to them as "working bookshelves".  Which means, keep your mitts off.  My next post will be more summer decorating with antiques and vintage items.  See ya then and stay cool!!

Vintage Marketplace

Life has been busy this Spring as I'm sure it has been for you. I haven't been able to go to our favorite antique sales as much, but was able to go to one last weekend. So did everyone else. The Vintage Marketplace in Rainbow, CA was bigger than ever and so was the crowd. The parking was crazy! I thought I'd show you a peek at the sale. It's a mixture of antiques, vintage and handmade goodness.  Enjoy.  

One of my favorite things are the display booths.  This one was gorgeous! They had obviously dyed several chenille bedspreads for the canopy. 

 Many used vintage lace bedspreads and tablecloths.

This is one of our favorite vendors.  I love the color combinations she uses in her jewelry. 

Displaying them on vintage scrapbooks is a lovely touch.

 Can you spot the tiny Dalmatian in this Fairy garden?

 If I was still a little girl, this is where you'd find me. All. Day. Long.

Luscious fringey banners.

 The colors of this one really caught my eye and look perfect with the dress form and turquoise jewelry.

 Someone trimmed their Pepperberry tree.  

Check out their website for more pictures of the fun.  Come back in a day or so and I'll show you want I bought and how I'm using them.