ROYAL TOUCH

Vintage Jewelry...Show & Tell Friday

2012-01-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

Time for Show & Tell Friday thanks to Cindy at

www.romantichome.blogspot.com be sure

and check out her wonderful blog and see who else

is showing and telling this week.

A couple weeks ago we had to head over the mountains of our state

for my husband's grandmother's funeral.

While there I had a chance to check in on my folks and while there my mother gave me some

treasures.

She still has a bunch of my great aunt's things and so she sent some home

with me.

Mostly vintage and antique jewelry or "bling".

There was this amazing rhinestone belt found a new home for now.

It actually looks cool worn as a necklace too.

Then a bunch of vintage rhinestone jewelry sets. Some gorgeous but unmarked and also

some vintage Phillip Trafari pieces.

This yellow gold rhinestone set is just amazing.

These necklaces are like choker length though, so I am going to try

and get extenders for them so I can actually wear them more comfortably.

And she gave me this antique gold ring with jet black face and a little

diamond in it.

It fit my right ring finger perfectly!

What girl doesn't like jewelry?!

And there is much much more to still be gone through, I am going

to help her liquidate and sell alot of her collection soon.

Show & Tell Friday...Tres Bon Print for the Master!

2012-01-06T19:42:00.000-08:00

Well hopefully with the New Year I can get in some new blogging, just been really busy busy with

our shop space, holidays , grandson and family coming for Christmas etc.

So thought I would join in on Show & Tell Friday with a very brand new find, in fact I found

it when out today, just hours ago.

This gorgeous framed mid century French print!

I found it at a great place, Poppyseeds in Stanwood WA.

The more I looked at it the more it called my name and I new the spot

for it too.

So home it came and above our master bed, where I had a mirror previously.

My photos don't do it justice either!

Looks better and bigger in here in person.

I am still looking at it up too before I decide whether I should paint the frame antique white

like our bedroom furniture in the room. I think it might update it nicely but

make the print stand out more.

Thanks to Cindy at www.romantichome.blogspot.com for hosting

this fun post on Fridays!

Grandson Rockin' in the New Year

2012-01-02T15:39:00.000-08:00

Dining and Living Room 2011

2011-12-17T19:25:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this video

Dancin' Landon 12-4-11

2011-12-06T23:48:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this video

The Dining Room Tree 2011

2011-12-03T20:04:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have been Blog neglectful but as everyone knows this

is the crazy holiday time of year, this year made doubly busy

because of our antique mall space.

Before I even began decorating the house for Christmas I was decorating there.

I truly need elves myself!!

But we are coming along, I only have the two big trees to decorate and the village to

put up this week and I am done.

About that time our Christmas cards I ordered will get here and be time to do that.

Then some baking will need to be done and we are having my parents over the mountains for

Christmas this year, so I need to get some of that done ahead of time.

So my request from Santa this year, sleep and energy!!

Photo Card

2011-12-03T11:27:00.001-08:00

Holly Dotty Christmas

Design photo Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

Joyworks Christmas Open House 2011

2011-11-12T10:49:00.001-08:00

Click here to view these pictures larger

Ron and I got some dinner out last night and then we had the pleasure of

going to the Christmas Open House event at Joyworks in Snohomish WA.

They never disappoint, look at how pretty it is right now with all their Christmas things to buy.

It is a favorite shop of mine!

And YES, I came home with some things and might have to go back soon for a couple others!

Getting all Christmasized at our Antique Mall Spaces...

2011-11-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

Today I fired myself so I can get some rest and healing time in.

Been doing to many things for to many days in a row and now

my fibromyalgia is telling me, STOP!

So I am but thought I would show you what I have been doing.

The owner of the antique mall where we had a space asked us to take a second space, so

we did.

It also happens to be one of the first spaces you see as you come in the mall.

So I have been a really busy Queen bee setting this up, with hubby's help.

Plus redoing our existing space and getting them all ready for Christmas.

We did a very Frenchy sort of thing on this front space.

Black, white, silver, chartreuse green etc. Alot of hand made ornaments

I made using graphics from www.GraphicsFairy.blogspot.com and

other things. Used french sayings on them also.

We do a mixer in our spaces of Antiques, vintage items, some new

gift ware and then things I make or paint. It works well for us.

I brought in this cute old twin bed that I painted out black, as well as several end or night

tables that could be used with it.

Some French print fabric pillows I made with old black glass buttons on them.

Then in our existing space I went blue for Christmas and more earthy tones too.

I had this gorgeous wicker table ( I hate to sell) to bring in.

And this darling antique oak painted robbin's egg blue shelf ( which came from an old

home in West Seattle) is another great piece of furniture I brought in to sell.

I still have some more work and more Christmas things to bring in for

our org. space but I needed a day off.

My boss aka me, was working me to hard!! lol

Big Announcement for our mall Space...

2011-11-04T12:44:00.001-07:00

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TIME!!! Drum role- We were asked to take a second space at Sasafrass & Company, so we did! Now we will have twice as many goodies to sell you, starting next week ( well as soon as I set up the space). Right next to our space we have and right as you come in the store . It is going to be Grand! And I am starting it off with a really good Christmas display, so be prepared!

A few things I like today...

2011-11-02T11:54:00.000-07:00

Our Frankenpunkenstien is all ready for the kids...

2011-10-31T15:33:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN YOU GOBBLINS

OF BLOGLAND!

Show & Tell Friday...Top it off with a Hat

2011-10-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

I recently found this Antique beaver top hat for a steal at a local

antique shop and I had been wanting one for a long time.

I also got an old canvas millinery head form from Etsy to put it on.

It is great and even is stamped from the company that made it inside on the fabric and came

from a manufacturer in London, fitting since I was born in England.

It is very fun to have in my home and will also look good

hanging on our antique hall tree as well.

I am joining in on Show & Tell Friday at www.romantichome.blogspot.com

Thanks to Cindy who hosts it each week.

Check out her wonderful blog and all those who are showing and telling this week!

And as an added bonus, our living room mantel all decked out for

Halloween.

I use some of my doll collection dressed up as little witchy poo girls too.

BOO!!

Tablescape Thursday...It is Halloween time! 2 for One

2011-10-28T23:44:00.000-07:00

Time for Tablescape Thursday, thanks to Susan at

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ for playing hostess.

Check out her blog and see who else is setting a great Table scape.

Since I have been so busy lately and haven't joined in Table Scape Thursday

for a while, thought I would give you two for one Tablescapes this week.

First I did the kitchen table in some fun colors for Fall and my always favorite RED.

With sort of a Rooster theme here with Fall pears, golds, reds and cream.

For the place setting I used our everyday dinnerware layered with some textural cream colored

salad plates. Used our red crystal stemware and our red handled flatware.

A really dear friend gave me the rooster tapestry place mats lately as a gift and previously the

napkins with the leaves on them, so I wanted to use them all in a table scape.

Thanks Marilyn!!

The rooster topiaries I have had for a long time, somethings I got at

Joyworks in Snohomish WA. a favorite gift shop of mine.

I placed some faux pears in like colors in an old glass compote for the

center of the table also.

Time to eat!

Table #2

The Dining Room done up for Halloween.

All things I had already I just maybe mixed and matched them in a different

way this time. Alot of black, some white, some sparkle, some glitter.

I like the glitter pumpkins alot, they add a touch of elegance.

We recently scraped the popcorn off our ceilings in these rooms, so we have been enjoying

them. And I can now show off our ceiling medallion with the chandelier also.

On the buffet or side board some more glitter things, little crows, big crow, pumpkins, leaves and nests.

I see now though that I needed to change the color of the candles in the girandoles though.

A closer look at the place setting; our everyday flatware, jewel edged chargers ( Michael's), Halloween plates ( Party City), little striped bowls and glitter pumpkins ( Michael's) and used black and cream napkins and black stemmed stemware we had.

Hard to see my centerpiece here; larger glitter pumpkins put at different heights in

different urns etc. and a glitter nest and a crown or two.

On the Etegere our punch server filled with glitter pumpkins and topped with a witches hat I made.

And then for just a change, this cute Halloween doll that just came today for my collection

( a previously ordered anniversary gift from hubby), so I tried her in the center of the table, pretty cute!

BOO

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Fun giveaway at French Country Cottage...

2011-10-27T18:46:00.001-07:00

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/2011/10/passion-for-interiors-giveaway.html

I want one! You might too, so enter her giveaway!

Enjoying the new ceiling...

2011-10-06T16:07:00.000-07:00

Last week was such a major operation around here, I am glad it is over.

I have been getting the Castle back together, so nice to enjoy it without the

all the mess.

In case you didn't know we were scraping , refinishing and painting our living and dining room

ceilings.

I really just can't stop looking "up" now, after 14 years of living with the icky popcorn

on the ceilings, very nice change.

Especially love the dining room with our vintage chandelier.

I found a large ceiling medallion just the right size at the thrift store for only $7 and

it is just what the chandelier and that room needed.

It is nice to have these rooms done and all freshened up with paint before

the holidays!

Now no major projects till later.

Just time to sit and enjoy our surroundings!!

Show & Tell Friday...Mirror Mirror on the wall!

2011-09-30T10:41:00.000-07:00

Time for Show and Tell Friday.

Thanks to Cindy at http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/

Be sure and check out her great blog and see what others are showing and telling.

This week I thought I would Show and Tell one of my thrift store finds.

My federal mirror we have hanging in the living room.

But first look at the same mirror at Pacific Galleries Antique Mall in Seattle, WA.

Theirs is $625.00 but hey when I took this they were having a sale.

And ours, same mirror, $25.00 at the thrift store.

Some one had done a bad crackle finish over the frame part, which I still want to restore

and try to get to look more like the one above but still for the price I paid, I love it!

Have a great Fall weekend everyone!

Under Construction...be back soon with more blogging!

2011-09-28T10:49:00.000-07:00

We have been soooo busy around the Castle Queen that I haven't gotten

back to my blogging or some other things.

But once we have some big projects off our list I will be back!

This week has been scrape popcorn ceiling week in the living

and dining rooms.

Ron took a whole weeks vacation to do it.

Me I am the prep, help paint etc. , cleanup and put back together girl.

So far is coming along nicely and going to look so much

better when done!

One of our recent day get aways was for our anniversary the first part of the month.

We spent the day shopping and antiquing in Bellingham WA.

It was fun, above are some of the treasures I found; French blue milk glass, metal Eiffel tower, some Art Nouveau jewelry caskets for my collection.

My favorite being the Girandoles though. I got them for alot less

because the dealer kept the prisms( they were not org. to them anyway) that were on them and I added my own old prisms from my

stash at home.

With crystal prisms added to the Girandoles they look great on our antique

side board in the dining room and look good with our chandelier in there too.

Hope all are having a good week in blog land.

Today I am watching the mall ( while the owner recoops) and working in my shop space.

Metamorphosis Monday...Halloween Candlesticks.

2011-09-19T13:22:00.000-07:00

Joining in on Metamorphosis Monday, been away for awhile, really been busy

around the old Castle. Thanks to Susan at

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

for being our hostess!

Ron and I doing alot of work on the house this year, then there have been family things and time working

, play time with Landon and more! Whew!

So I am going to work hard on getting back to my blogging this Fall.

This post inspired by some candle sticks I found in a Grandinroad.com

catalog.

The three candle sticks would be $120 plus shipping in the catalog.

I didn't like them that much.

AFTER; so when I was out shopping and thrifting, I found a set of three candles sticks

( sorry I can't find the Before shot of them, so imagine them sort of shiny gold and icky).

And with my trusty flat black spray paint I painted them all black.

I found all three for about $20.

Then added the glitter pumpkins sitting on top for $6 ( glitter pumpkins from Michael's craft stores).

I can use candles in them or on them also but right now I like them

with the pumpkins.

I took the photo of these in the kitchen but I actually have them on the living room mantel

now for Fall.

Happy Fall everyone!

The true Queen of our Castle...

2011-09-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

The true Queen of our Castle, my antique dress form.

Before we redid the master bedroom she use to wear my

wedding dress, back in the really fu fu pink etc. Victorian bedroom days.

That use to freak Ron out more, when she had a dress on, like a headless woman, lol!

So now she is more like an art piece but I love her!

I have always tended to collect things in before they were popular in

decorating or in design or in the collecting world.

Which in many ways is good, as then I got things for a really great price, like this gal!

A fun visit to Pacific Galleries Antique Mall, Seattle, WA...

2011-09-11T22:50:00.000-07:00

Never Forget...9/11!

2011-09-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

New pretty Antique tables...Show & Tell Friday.

2011-09-09T23:37:00.000-07:00

We just acquired a pair of these antique

black marble topped pedestal side tables.

I am so in love with them!

I am joining in to

Show & Tell Friday at

http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/

Thank you to Cindy there for being our hostess for this event

every Friday!

Slide show of Leigh Keno's Townhouse in New York

2011-09-09T21:23:00.001-07:00

http://realestate.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=13108505

Leigh Keno, one of the Antique Road Shows appraisers, slide show of his Townhouse in NY.
Fun to see.

Show & Tell Friday...A Grand Summer Lady!

2011-08-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

Joining in for Show & Tell Friday with Cindy and the others

at www.romantichome.blogspot.com

Be sure and check out her wonderful blog!

Years ago I use to join with a friend to do wonderful garage sales, that were more like shows than garage sales between her great things and mine to sell.

But she would always give me first dibbs on things she was selling.

One thing I purchased from her, since I like and collect old Victorian paper items is this framed lithograph.

I wish I could show the details better with my camera but it is a bit hard to take a photo when it is framed under glass.

It came in this old frame and I just love her.

I call her my Summer Lady.

She has such lovely colors. There are pictures of butterflies, flowers, she sets on swing in all her colorful splendor.

She now graces a wall in our guest bedroom and she is a lovely addition to that room.

Hope you are getting to enjoy your Summer where ever you are!

Happy Birthday to our son Kyle today....big 26 today!

2011-08-07T10:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to our son Kyle today, who turns

26.

He is the light of my life and the best early Birthday gift I have

ever received!!

We have lost a bunch of great soldiers...

2011-08-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

As we are going about our busy, Summertime American lives

please take some time this weekend, to light a candle, say a prayer for those soldiers and their families that were lost

in Afghanistan this week!

Poem

I do not know your name

I do not know your name, but I know you died

I do not know from where you came, but I know you died

Your uniform, branch of service, it matters not to me

Whether Volunteer or Conscript, or how it came to be

That politicians' failures, or some power-mad ambition

Brought you too soon to your death, in the name of any nation

You saw, you felt, you knew full well, as friend and foe were taken

By bloody death, that your life too, was forfeit and forsaken

Yet on you went and fought and died, in your close and private hell

For Mate or Pal or Regiment and memories never to tell

It was for each other, through shot and shell, the madness you endured

Side by side, through wound and pain, and comradeship assured

No family ties, or bloodline link, could match that bond of friend

Who shared the horror and kept on going, at last until the end

We cannot know, we were not there, it's beyond our comprehension

To know the toll that battle brings, of resolute intention

To carry on, day by day, for all you loved and hoped for

To live in peace a happy life, away from bloody war

For far too many, no long life ahead, free of struggle and pain and the gun

And we must remember the price that was paid, by each and every one

Regardless of views, opinions aside, no matter how each of us sees it

They were there and I cannot forget, even though I did not live it

I do not know your name, but I know you died

I do not know from where you came, but I know you died.

Kenny Martin

© 2003

A visit to Moon Rose Antiques...

2011-08-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Ron and I had a chance to get away on Saturday .

It was a nice day for a drive and stop for a good lunch.

One destination was La Conner, WA. , where I hadn't been for awhile.

I got to look in Moon Rose Antiques, which is just as pretty outside as the goodies for sale inside!

Take a look...

Show & Tell Friday...grand new chair.

2011-07-29T20:04:00.000-07:00

Well we have been busy around here at Castle Queen with my hubby having been off on vacation for 3 weeks. I wish it could have been 3 weeks in Italy or something fabulous like that, but alas it was stay at home and work vacation.

We have been getting rid of popcorn ceilings, painting, replacing deck boards, putting up molding and so on!

So today I had to get out of the house for a bit, take a break from the paint smell.

I went downtown to a local antique store where I always find treasures for cheap and love it!

So I am showing and telling the new chair I found for our bedroom.

It has great lions head details on the back and on the arms. Been sort of distressed already and I love it. Not sure about the upholstery but it will work.

And the chair I had moved from the living room and recovered for in here will go nicely or OK in the family room.

So again I played musical furniture.

But I got this beauty for $47.50!

What do you think?

I am going to see if I can clean up the Naugahyde even better, it is in good shape though. But I like the tealy greeny distressed paint, is sort of our accent color in this room, so it works. Plus the gold on it goes well with the gold accents in the room. Also it doesn't stick out so far for walking room etc. in here.

I think it is a keeper!

I am joining in on Show & Tell Friday with Cindy and everyone at

www.romantichome.blogspot.com

Be sure and check out her great blog and see who else is showing and telling this week!

Have a great weekend!

God paints well yet again, from our front porch tonight!

2011-07-24T21:26:00.000-07:00

Need I say more!

God always paints the best sunsets looking right across our front porch.

I've never seen sunsets this good, even when in Hawaii!

Show & Tell Friday...cute curio!

2011-07-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Time for Show & Tell Friday thanks to our hostess Cindy at

http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/.

Check out her wonderful blog and what others are showing and telling about this week.

I have had my hubby home on vacation, so it has thrown my blogging off a bit.

We are trying to get some house projects done this Summer, one being the scraping of popcorn ceilings, ick!

I am trying to just think about the end results, that the ceilings will look much better when all done!

This week I thought I would show off a cute little curio cabinet I found.

I had this old claw foot antique black and gold plant stand already.

Then one of the merchants in the antique mall where I have a space had this little etched glass and mirrored curio cabinet for sale.

So I bought it thinking it would probably fit just right on this plant stand.

And it did!

So now it fits nicely in a little corner of the dining room and houses my collection of green and gold Early American Patterned Glass souvenir pieces.

Also goes nicely with our black dining room furniture as well!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Tablescape Thursday...Summer green without the Summer!

2011-07-22T11:28:00.000-07:00

Joining in for Tablescape Thursday with

www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com and our great hostess Susan.

Be sure and stop by her great blog and see who is setting a wonderful table this week!

Even though we are not having weather that resembles Summer, I did a Summer like table anyway. I know many of you wish you weren't having the weather you are having, to hot! So take care of yourselves, stay cool!

We have been lucky to get up to 70 or 80 a few times lately, strange weather year!

I found this green and cream toile table cloth lately and so that inspired me to set the dining room table with those colors.

Everything else I had but the dinner plates are a new thrift store find too.

The place setting; layered the new old "Balmoral" patterned transfer ware

dinner plates with some cute green and cream roll plates and leaf bowls.

Used my grandparent's silver plate flatware, green napkins with bird napkin rings.

These dinner plates were a thrift store find and now I am loving this color and pattern, might be on the hunt for more pieces .

What can I say I am hooking on transfer ware now!

These little cross hatched patterned plates or some I found long time ago.

I sure love this shade of green, one of my favorites, seems like it will go, depending on what you put with it for just about every season of the year.

For the center piece I brought some garden like things together on a large silver plated serving tray. A green mercury glass finial and our same color mercury glass wine glasses ad some sparkle to it all.

Those ever cute bird Salt and Pepper shakers from Target and some bird napkin rings ( also a thrift store find) add some more garden elements to the whole thing.

View from the living room.

Let's Eat!!

Help me meet my goal!

2011-07-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

I am trying to get 152 LIKES on

my shop space Face book page by my birthday, August 8th when I turn

52!

So I need your help if you do face book.

Also that is where you can see more of what I do and see the items I sell in

my Antique Mall space.

So go to Royal Touch Art & Antiques and LIKE it, please! You can also get there by clicking on the link on my right side bar panel on this blog.

I am going to have a little give away too when I reach 152!

Thanks!

Tablescape Thursday...a few new serving pieces.

2011-07-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

I haven't had time lately to join in on Table scape Thursday, been to busy and

even this week , with Ron on vacation right now , we are busy doing projects etc.

But I did find some new items to use for tablescapes I thought I would share.

The cute square tid bit L'Amour plates I found recently at Marshall's, they go well with some I already have, like my Paris dessert or salad plates underneath.

These are so great when company comes for dinner, many uses.

Then at the thrift store I found these 4 clam shell with attached sauce dip dishes, brand new.

So of course one night for part of our dinner Ron and I had to try them out.

I love them, actually wouldn't mind finding more of these.

Another trip to the thrift store found this lovely fish shaped silver plated tray, wouldn't this be nice to serve from.

This piece is actually going to go in our shop space for sale but I thought it was neat! Never had seen one like it before.

And this pretty candelabra with center epergne for flowers etc. was another find.

How pretty would this be all done up with flowers candles etc. for a table center piece.

Not sure but probably will go in our shop space for sale too, I can't keep everything I find after all, lol!

I think these would be soooo pretty for a wedding on tables, yum!

I am joining in at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

thanks to Susan our hostess.

Stop and see her wonderful blog and all who do magic with a table scape!

Metamorphosis Monday...Blue Monday Bench!

2011-07-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting time to blog a bit, been a busy Summer so far and right now

my hubby is on 3 weeks vacation, so we are trying to do alot of home projects.

BEFORE-

This week I am showing the end of the bed bench I found at a local antique store.

It is metal framed and was newly upholstered but not my color so for only $49.50 for the bench I figured I could change that.

AFTER-

I had enough of the tealy blue fabric I had recovered a chair for this room in left over to do the bench too.

So that was great, didn't have to buy anything else or more fabric.

This was just wide enough and makes a great place to stack the extra bed pillows and decorative pillows at night time.

Plus I wanted something to set on when you need to put on your socks or shoes etc.

But it couldn't be to wide or deep a bench because of the size of our room.

Also on the opposite side or across from the bed is a dresser, my curio cabinet and things, so we still needed room to walk between etc.

This sweet old probably mid century bench was just the ticket.

But I am still trying to decide if I should paint the metal frame antique white, like all the furniture in the room.

What do you think?

We do have gold touches or accents; light fixtures , frames, candlesticks and the like.

I am joining up with Metamorphosis Monday at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ where Susan is an excellent hostess!!

The Beanstalk Chronicles: My Country Tis of Thee

2011-07-04T20:51:00.000-07:00

The Beanstalk Chronicles: My Country Tis of Thee: "'Ours is the only country deliberately founded on a good idea.' ~John Gunther Back in the days when people didn’t argue over saying the Pl..."

God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood (2008 Events)

2011-07-04T20:37:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July weekend to all my blogland friends...

2011-07-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has a safe and patriotic

4th of July weekend!

I was busy today at the shop space, putting up this display because

the Frenchy black and white desk sold.

So I brought in this cute old kitchen table I had painted black and red and

then topped it off with many things.

I think it turned out well and gives my space and the mall a splash

of Patriotism for this week!

Enjoy your time in the sun and fly your flag high!

Furniture pieces I love...

2011-06-29T00:10:00.001-07:00

Just dreamin' of beach houses...again!

2011-06-20T23:19:00.000-07:00

And if you want some beachy touches for your own home

here is a fun site to shop on,

http://www.seasideinspired.com/index.html

Metamorphosis Monday...chair change!

2011-06-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Hi, I am joining in on Metamorphosis Monday , thanks to our hostess Susan

at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/.

Be sure and stop by her great blog and see who else is transforming something!

Lately I have been very busy around Castle Queen but did manage to get in some time to work on some of my own projects for the Castle.

One being this old antique chair we have.

BEFORE- when I bought this chair in an antique store years ago it

had 1970's orange dotted upholstery on it.

I redid it back then in burgundy velvet to go with our more Victorian living room.

Lately we had gotten another chair and a settee that are old for the living room and so the living room was a big furniture heavy.

I decided we could use this chair in our master bedroom for a place to put the decorative pillows on when we are in the bed.

AFTER- so I redid the chair in some tealish faux swede ( our master accent color) fabric and some corded trim from JoAnn's.

Nice that the fabric was 50% off when I needed it too.

This color is also the faux silk drape color in this room or just a bit lighter.

The drapes I got at Target and love.

I know many would paint this chair off white but it is very old and really heavy old oak and really shouldn't be painted, so I didn't.

It actually is about the colors of our wood floors in this room, so it goes ok I think as I did it.

So now it is nice to have one of my own projects off my list as done.

I usually am redoing so much for the shop space where we sell.

I like getting a bit of time for my own things and sprucing up the

Castle!

Show & Tell Friday...collector's cabinet.

2011-06-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

Joining in for Show & Tell Friday!

Be sure and go to our hostess's blog at http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/

and see who else is showing and telling!

Gee I have been so busy lately ( but a good busy) that I have been away from my blog and haven't gotten to read many other blogs, which I enjoy so much.

I will try to do better!

Lately been on a curio or cabinet binge.

I got my large curio cabinet for the master bedroom and now I am redoing

the spare or guest room.

I have this wicker and wood thing happening in there.

I found this cute little hanging wall curio at a local antique mall and I knew just what I wanted to do with it in the guest room.

I wanted it to house some glass souvenir pieces I collect as well as some of

my grandmother's sea shells.

I like it on this wall above this wicker table with wood top.

I am still messing with this room but it is coming along.

I am actually digging out things that I love but had not used for awhile for this room and selling off other things.

Inner Queen Necklace from Zazzle.com

2011-06-07T12:37:00.000-07:00

Inner Queen Necklace from Zazzle.com

I just put this design on my charity site at Zazzle.com . so check it out.
Or see my side bar link to my other Zazzle products, all the commission I make off
these products is matched and the monies donated in my brother's name to his favorite charity.

Just in at our shop space...

2011-06-04T16:17:00.000-07:00

I just took in to sell at our mall space some cute black and white things.

I was redoing this little cupboard top , drop front desk for me for my upcoming craft room but then had a problem.

I had no one in the family who wanted my grandparents 1930's dresser and vanity with mirror and bench. So I am going to repurpose the vanity into my desk and the dresser into storage for fabric etc. both for my craft room.

So then I could sell this cute little desk.

It was sky blue and white before I redid it.

Here it is opened up and still at home when I was working on it.

I did the insides of the cupboard doors with chalkboard paint and lined the back of the shelves with black and white damask paper.

Here you can see inside our mall ( Sasafrass & Company in Marysville, WA.) from the front door. My space in the back ground.

The owners have been repainting old furniture like crazy lately, they barely get it in and done and it flies out the door!

Our Grandson Landon learning new words...so cute!

2011-06-02T16:49:00.000-07:00

Guest room getting a make over!

2011-06-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

I have slowly been working on your guest room redo.

The inspiration comes from this painting I love that use to hang above our master bed before we redid that room.

I bought it after my dear brother passed away 4 + years ago.

It reminds me of the Footprints poem, which is a favorite, and the East coast beaches!

I decided to pull out the greens , pinks and whites in the painting for bedding.

I am still looking for more bedding to layer with this green set.

But did find green drapes at Target to match.

This use to be our son's room and before this change it was very country and red, white and blue.

But it needed lightened up and less furniture etc.

I had my grandparents 1930's dresser and mirrored vanity in this room but they need redone and were really just taking up space.

I offered them to other family members but no one wants them, so they are going to get a make over for my craft room.

The vanity will get remade into my desk and the man's dresser into storage for fabrics etc.

The old wicker table with wood top is a new find. Came from The Spare Room on Camano Island, great shop.

But other things were brought in from around the house.

The stained glass lamp with its greens, whites and pink I had.

The old piece of tin ceiling that I bought from Debi Burton of Ormolulu blog fame ( see my side bar for her blog) is going to get a wood frame out .

I sort of like the contrast of the dark and lights, what do you think?

As I said still looking for some more linens to layer the bed with but I had this and another pillow that I kept to bring out the pinks in the painting with.

I am still thinking about the bed frame. Sort of a nice contrast, the dark wood but almost to dark.

But it is new and we had it already.

I have one thought of maybe painting the side posts and upholstering the centers.

Any ideas I would love to hear?!

A pretty little wood and wicker side table is by the bed, a find at a local antique store for $40. Really loving antique wicker pieces right now.

The German crystal and brass lamp was a thrift store find, I just found an off white linen like shade to put on it though.

The brass lamp base has sort of a seashell motif going on with it.

The framed art work pieces on the wall are some I have collected on trips of ours to favorite places.

They also bring out the pink accents.

The large milk glass poppy umbrella vase is one I have in my collection.

The old leather vanity or make up cases I inherited.

The glass apothecary jar with old shells was a find lately for $9.

So far I am liking how it is turning out, with more work to go.

Wondering if I should paint the walls a different really soft shade of something, what do you think?

And pondering the bed?

And a few other things, but so far I like, very restful and peaceful in here.

I am linking up to Show & Tell Fridays at http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/

with Cindy as our hostess.

Be sure and check out her great blog and see who else is showing and telling fun things!

Tablescape Thursday...thinking of Paris!

2011-05-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

Time for Tablescape Thursday, thanks to our hostess Susan

at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Be sure and check out her great blog and see who else is setting the table for you!

Recently I found some cute new dessert plates at the thrift store and then two more, for 6, at a store which inspired my Tablescape this week.

They have Paris on them with a fleur de lis.

So we had to go French here.

The sort of have a beige or taupe back ground with black detail, so we have silver, black, taupe and white for this table.

Another inspiration was this pretty linen and black printed table runner that is sort of new. I love the pattern on it.

I ran it in the center and across the table for my base.

I added a pedestal silver plated cake plate with a large nest, ceramic Fleur de Lis statue and my large cloche for the centerpiece.

I flanked this with my black and silver candlesticks that have some music paper wrapped candles in them. I added the paper

fleur de lis to each one.

For the place setting; I used my grandparents silver plated flatware that I inherited, miscellaneous round silver plated trays for chargers ( most found at the thrift store of about $3-4 each), used our black stemmed glassware...

...then layered that with my black and white china found at Marshall's, put two layered black and white napkins in some home made paper fleur de lis napkin rings...

...and topped all that with the Paris dessert plates and Voila, we are eating in Paris!

Closer look at my layered napkins and the napkin rings.

A view from the kitchen.

And on the dinning room sideboard I added some fleur de lis items I had mixed with with sort of French garden things, old urns , a lady statue on a silver plated tray and so on.

And I did change out the buffet lamp shades to my black ones as well as the chandelier shades to the black ones, just for a change and to coordinate better with the theme.

Show & Tell Friday...Curio Happy!

2011-05-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

Finally getting a chance even though late in the day, to join in on Show & Tell Friday.

Thanks to Cindy at www.romantichome.blogspot.com

for being our hostess each week.

Be sure and stop by her blog and see who else is showing and telling!

I am showing and telling about my new curiolicious curio cabinet.

I had seen it in a local shop before Christmas and had hinted at Ron about it for Christmas for me.

But alas he went with his own idea.

So recently I went back to that shop and it was still there.

I had also just sold one little thing on eBay that would pay for it, so I went for it.

And even better this time I could get 10% Off and no tax because I am a seller now too.

It is lighted inside and it wasn't to big and bulky.

It is more federal style than Frenchy but I figured I didn't care.

Nice that someone had already painted it off white for me too.

Came also with nice plate grooved glass shelves.

It fits nicely in our bedroom which is where I wanted it.

I still have to readjust pictures on the wall and finish recovering a chair that will go beside it.

I got the idea today to hang this little "Queen" picture plaque at the top to sort of French or European it up a bit.

It holds so much.

I have my art nouveau jewelry boxes and some other things in here.

Also my Antique milk glass dresser jars and perfume bottles.

My German and other cherub things.

And more Victorian items I adore.!

It holds alot, I probably could even add one more shelf if I would like.

So I am very Curio Happy right now!

Metamorphosis Monday...Table is Turned.

2011-05-16T12:15:00.000-07:00

I am finally back to getting some blog time.

Had that icky respiratory flu stuff for a couple weeks, so it slowed me up a bit.

So I am joining in on Metamorphosis Monday at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Thank you to Susan there for being our hostess with the mostest!

BEFORE-

Since I was down for a bit then I have been having to play catch up on projects both for home and for the shop space.

This is an oak colored coffee table I found at a thrift store and repainted antique white.

Then I did a faux distressed treatment on just the top panel and left the legs and under part antique white.

AFTER-

Then I stenciled antique white Fleur de Lis patterns on the top, for a Frenchy touch.

And here it is in our Shop space for sale!

I just found another coffee table yesterday to paint on, so it keeps me busy.

And I am moving some furniture around, redecorating a bit in the house, so I have a chair I am recovering .

Stay tuned for the next Met Mondays for some of those to be posted.

Have a good week everyone!

Cute Boots & Geraniums...

2011-05-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

Cute Boots & Geraniums...wouldn't that make a good name for a brand, book or blog!

Well happy belated Mother's Day to you all.

Hope all you mothers out there had a great day and were treated like royalty!

I am slowly getting better and almost over this respiratory flu stuff, so now going to play catch up with all I have to do for home and shop.

I had a lovely day on Mother's Day.

I did my usual babysitting of our darling grandson Landon until our son got home from work.

All three of them had made me a cute scrapbooky mother's day card.

Then Kyle gave me some chocolates and a pretty African Violet plant that I hope I can keep alive.

My husband Ron joined us, the guys got a nice simple dinner for all of us and we enjoyed more time with Grandson who as of last week is walking on his own some.

I also bought my own Mother's Day gift sort of.

New cute rain or muck boots as I call them.

I definitely need them for as rainy as it has been here this year.

Also before they are gone at Costco got me a tray of Geraniums to get my flower boxes planted, which I have been doing today.

I might go back and get another tray too they are so nice!

So at least the front porch and back porch will look good with geraniums

etc. even if the weather is icky!

God Bless America and all who serve our nation!

2011-05-02T13:33:00.000-07:00

God Bless our nation on this day and always!

Glad to know that justice has been served in one case, one more

evil has been eliminated.

God Bless our troops, those who serve and protect us and God

Bless our Pres. and those who do what they must do for

the good of us all!

Tablescape Thursday....The Young Victoria!

2011-04-28T17:54:00.000-07:00

In honor of Will & Kate's wedding tomorrow and the land of my birth, England, thought I would reshare a tablescape I did a year or so ago.
And I did see the movie after this post was done.
One of those weekends when Ron was gone for baseball I rented it, it was great!
I always save my "girly" movies for when he is gone and I want some ME time.

Time for the ever popular Tablescape Thursday.

Thank you to hostess Susan http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/04/styling-by-coty-farquhar-welcome-to.html, please check out her blog and the great tablescapes done by many in blogland, it is to fun to miss!

I am glad to be back and in getting the house back in order after the holidays, well it calls for some color and also a theme.

A bit to early to start my Valentines tablescapes I thought but still wanted some red!

I have not seen the movie The Young Victoria but I want to! I love history and period movies, do you? So my tablescape is centered around Queen Victoria.

( Click on any photo to enlarge and see closer)

Here she is in all her glory. I was born in England and have seen the crown jewels in the
Tower of London etc. So I had to use some of my own "jewels" to pull this tablescape off too.
It was also time to dust and tidy up after the holidays, so I cleaned and switched out our chandelier and buffet lamp shades from the black and gold back to the burgundy red.

The buffet or sideboard gets decorated too.
With a framed print of Victoria herself, a vintage Old Britains Castle plate, candelabra, crowns and candles and a Fleur De Lis figurine.

The table was covered with an off white damask weave table cloth that was a wedding gift and then layered with my new flocked damask red table runners criss crossed across the table.

I also used matching napkins.

The place setting is all our Old Britain Castles Johnson Bros. transfer ware dinnerware, Crown napkin rings, red pearl handled flatware, our red Long Champs crystal and Biltmore gold rimmed crystal.

And a variation on the Menu idea would be to print these prints out of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and either print or write the menu on the back side.

My first inspiration for this table was the crown on the left that I found at ROSS, the one with the gold jewels. I found it at Christmas and just had to buy it!

So the center piece is different levels of candle stands and a cake stand with my crown collection on them and votive candles inside them.

Plus a framed photo of Queen Victoria with her love Prince Albert.

Really pretty by candle light!!

A closer look at the dinnerware with a menu also.

I printed a fun Royal looking menu from the internet that was used on the ship Britannia in 1959, the year I was born.

I put one at each place setting with a little ribbon wrapped around them.

The menu reads in French;

Saumon Fume'

Selle d'Agneau Bouquetiere

Petits Pois au Beurre

Pommes Nouvelles

Salade Rafraichie

Bombe Comtesse Marie

Biscuits

Now I am going to have to go see this movie and then enjoy a dinner with friends at our

lovely Queen Victoria table!!

Tablescape Thursday....Easter Table and a Cozy Room Tea!

2011-04-28T17:38:00.000-07:00

Since I am fighting getting that icky respitory virus that has been going around.
Thought I would reshare an old Tablescape post for your viewing pleasure.
Have a good weekend everyone!

Time for our ever fun Tablescape Thursday!

Thank you to Susan for playing hostess at, http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Check out her blog and see who else is joining in with their wonderful tablescapes.

This week it was time to do the Easter table in the dining room. Rather than whimsical I went for

a botanical look.
I started with many faux "greens" on the sideboard.

( Click on any photo to enlarge and see closer)

Faux cabbage plants and colorful tulips in cream colored urns etc.

Plus a mossy bunny here and there make for a cute setting.

I even through in a milk glass crucifix candle stick.

A bunny under a wire cloche , a pretty birds nest and some more faux Spring flowers

set an Easterly Garden type feel.

Full view of the sideboard Easter display.

On to the table; keeping with the natural feel of the room I set a large
vase of white tulips in the center.
Can you tell these are not real?
They are the best darn faux tulips I have seen, got them at Michaels.
I decided on white because you can put any color of dinnerware etc. with them.

I placed the vase of flowers on top of my large Rabbit toile platter.
Then I put little bunnies, a vintage crucifix , cabbage candles and eggs scattered around it.
Flanked the platter on either side with a pair of milk glass candlesticks and pretty foil
green candles.

The place setting; Starts with our Marshalls light green place mats ( decided I wanted to see the wood of the table top), some vintage embroidered cream napkins, cream porcelain napkin rings a friend of my mother's made me, Queens Hookers Fruit patterned dinner plates because of their green patterned border edge, then covered that plate up with my Bunny cream and green toile salad plates, Gold banded Biltmore crystal wine glasses and a newer set of Green water goblets that were a thrift store find and used my green pearl handled flatware.
Topped it all of with cream and green egg cups to serve Easter eggs in.

The bunny is hiding out below the pretty tulips.

A full room view.

I love the pretty cut out and embroidered detail on these napkins I found, which were

a thrift store find last year.

I think we are ready for a fine Easter dinner at this pretty table!

May God Bless you and yours this Easter!

And just for fun this week another sort of table scape....

a little time for tea in the bedroom.

I love our master bedroom, it is a good escape and relax place for me.

Sometimes when Ron is gone or I have some alone time, I snuggle up in here for a whole day.

Do what I like; read, watch movies, have a ME day!

Sometimes I do it with a spot of tea.....

This time I happened to set it for Tea for Two but often it is just for me, myself and I

to enjoy.

A couple of my French milk glass pieces got used for the faux candle ( fire safety here) and to serve up the goodies in.

I started with some Rozanna mugs that sweet

Mishelle at http://www.thecrownedcasa.blogspot.com/

gave to me.

They are pale blue with brown designs on white.

Set them on a vintage gold mirrored tray I have.

I used my gold tea spoons too and our wedding napkins.

I have several lights I can dim in this room to make it rather romantic or cozy!

We are loving our chocolate brown walls, very warm!

The milk glass candle stick and compote are both Portieux French milk glass pieces.

I am still trying to find a mate for the candlestick, found this one alone at an antique shop years ago and it is rather rare to find.

It actually has in catalogs a milk glass hurricane piece that sets down in it on the top, this didn't come with that part but still a great piece to find. Is rare!

And you can never have to many pretty pillows in my estimation!

And if you need to clear the bed of the dishes there is always a pretty little bedroom

bench to put things on.

I think it is the perfect setting for a Queen in her own Castle, don't you?

Enjoy, remember to take a little time now and then, for you!

From Easter Sunday...

2011-04-26T20:48:00.000-07:00

Easter we spent at our son's house.

Our DIL had to work but Kyle and my hubby Ron had it off.

So we packed up the food to take there and cook there.

I cooked & played with Landon some, Gampa played with Landon alot as he doesn't get to see him as much as I do.

That way Kyle could work on his college homework too while we were

entertaining Landon.

Of course Gamma "had" to buy Landon a stuffed Easter bunny.

All my handsome men!!

Mr. "Cutestuff" Landon James,

he is so so fun and precious!!!

Back to blogging I hope...some wall redos.

2011-04-26T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well life seems to have been so so busy lately or this Spring ( well if you can call it that, we had a skiff of snow on the ground the other morning!).

Easter came fast and I wasn't even totally prepared for that.

Then there was dealing a bit with my parents, as my Dad had a small stroke etc.

So life is hectic sometimes!

I hope to get back to more faithful blogging though, I am working on it.

One thing I have been doing in my spare time was switching out the living and dining room walls.

I have a collection of art work I inherited and found that I wanted to put into a gallery wall. So I moved my big prints from the dining room wall to the living room and added my art work pieces to them.

Still have some work to do here, some of the nails need moved and frames changed out.

Then moved my collection of ornate antique frames with mirrors in them to the dining room wall.

Worried it would be sort of busy but then I am not a minimalist anyway and actually am liking it the more I look at it.

The mirrors make this room ( which is the wall we would like to knock out in the house anyway) seem bigger and also reflect the chandelier so nicely. Also it is nice to have them all together.

I actually had more to put up but didn't have the room on the wall in the living room to do it.

Below is the side board decorated for Spring and Easter.

Been so busy didn't even have time to get all my Easter things out.

So I kept it pretty simple.

The dining room with the chandy all lit up.

I love this chandy, was a mother's day gift from my hubby a couple years ago.

Still love it!

Rosie O'Donnell's old Nyack home for sale | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

2011-04-09T18:12:00.000-07:00

Rosie O'Donnell's old Nyack home for sale The Real Deal New York Real Estate News Former historic Helen Hayes estate also known as "Pretty Penny". If you had a pretty penny would you buy it? It is a grand old thing! I just love old architecture!

My new physical trainer....grandson Landon, Wed. night workouts!

2011-04-07T10:51:00.000-07:00

Our son is finishing his bachelors degree in Computer Management and Administration this year at Central WA. U. ( he should be done after Fall quarter).

So on Wed. nights when he has a class to go to Gamma is watching Landon for about 4 hours.

It sure is fun but a definite work out on this older bod!

Last night he thought Gamma was so funny , his laugh and giggles are the

best thing in the world I think!

Redid our Antique Mall Space today...Easter and Spring!

2011-04-05T20:10:00.000-07:00

We are Space 73 at Sasafrass & Company

at 1619 172nd St. NE Marysville, WA.

Lots of new things in for Easter and Spring ,

not to mention your decorating pleasure!

A visit to Pacific Galleries Antique Mall in Seattle...always eye candy!

2011-04-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

Fun finds from the weekend...

2011-04-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well it was a busy weekend around the old Castle Queen or should I say out of the Castle.

My prince Ron had some things to do in Seattle Friday for his baseball business but promised that before and after we would get in some date time.

So first we headed to Country Village in Millcreek. I got to visit

some antique stores I hadn't gone to in a while and shop for me a bit.

I am usually so busy buying or hunting for finds for our antique mall space that I don't always get to look for treasures for me!

Then we had lunch out, yum.

Then he dropped me off at Pacific Galleries Antique Mall in Seattle while he did some baseball lessons and before we had dinner in Seattle.

( I will do a separate post on the Pac Galleries photos).

So first I found ( see above photo) a large antique plateau mirror that was just the right size for my largest 14" cloche.

It was a great price too!

I also found this day a French Portieux milk glass perfume bottle, I have a piece that matches it.

It is getting harder to find French and English pieces, at least around here.

We had a yummy seafood feast at Fisherman's on the water in Seattle before heading home. Nice!

Then on Sat. I got to do some more fun things.

One being a visit to Ruffles & Rust Square in Snohomish for their

Grand Opening event, to fun! Saw some folks and fellow bloggers I know, so that was nice as well.

Then while in Snohomish have to visit Annie's and Faded Elegance and a few more places.

At Annie's I found this gorgeous candlestick, which I had seen before but this time it had to go home with me!!

Here is the candlestick grouped with my cloches and other old metal things etc.

on the sofa table.

And also in Seattle at Pac Galleries I found this toadstool or mushroom.

I know, you are saying "what the heck is that for?"

Well you see I am a doll collector and I have a large fairy doll. Right now she sits in a chair but I thought this would be a wonderful prop for her to sit on.

Plus some year at Christmas I want to use my fairy dolls etc. and do a fairy themed Christmas tree in one room.

So more in the next post with some fun photos.

I need a nap today after so much fun this weekend!

Happy Birthday to Doris Day!

2011-04-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

One of my all time fav actresses, Doris Day.

Partly because she sang, which I have always like actresses who always sing in roles too.

It is her birthday today.

Hope she has a great one!

I loved her in On Moonlight Bay and By the Light of the Silvery Moon with Gordon MacRae, two of my favs.

I even have those on tape, so I can watch them when ever I want.

But love alot of her work with Rock Hudson etc.

Who doesn't?!

Show & Tell Friday...mirror mirror on the wall!

2011-04-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

I've been playing at rearranging our living and dining room walls lately.

I had a mirror gallery on the living room wall and decided I had more space and wanted to try it on the dining room wall. The mirrors reflect the chandelier so nicely too. Plus I had more old mirrors or frames than I could fit on the living room wall.

Like the oval one at top that is getting dropped off today for mirror to be cut for it.

My favorite one is the gold leafed beauty I found on a trip with Ron to Port Angeles ,WA. In a vendors antique mall space, they didn't know what they had!

It is all plaster work on wood with an oval beveled mirror inside.

The center portion sticks out with all this leaf and fruits plaster work, just amazing.

But I especially love it because of the thistles in each of the four corners of the frame. I am Scottish, my mothers family the McLellans, so it has a nice reference for me.

Would you believe I only paid $25 for this gorgeous mirror!

Like I said, I don't think the dealer knew what they had.

I am taking part in Show & Tell Friday at

http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/

Thank you to Cindy our hostess there, be sure and see her wonderful blog and what others are showing and telling this week!

Have a great weekend everyone in blogland!!

Famed Pumpkin House

2011-03-31T21:56:00.000-07:00

HGTV Show Peeks Inside Washington Heights' Famed Pumpkin House - DNAinfo.com Reading up about the Pumpkin House since it is featured on HGTV tonight. Interesting, I sure love old architecture!

Tablescape Thursday...A wee spot O'Tea!

2011-03-31T10:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just need a quiet corner to go and relax in and have

a wee spot O'Tea.

At least I do sometimes!

So I set me up a space in a corner of the living room, with our new little antique settee and a little tea table I inherited.

I used a little one serving tea pot and matching cup set that my good friend Marilyn gave me, as well as the pretty place mat.

Old linen embroidered napkin found as a set at a thrift store , as well as the little squarish silver plated tray too.

Some good reading material is always a must for times like this.

I am really enjoying Barbra Streisand's design book that features her gorgeous home. It is really yummy eye candy!

Nice with the afternoon sun coming in through the front windows.

I added some faux tulips ( since it is tulip time of year around

our area) in a vintage Imperial Glass Co. sort of rare vase, one in my collection of milk glass.

I am enjoying my wee spot O'tea and some relaxing "ME" time.

Hope you have some soon too.

Enjoy!

I have joined in on Tablescape Thursday at

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Thank you to Susan, as she is our great hostess each week.

Be sure and check out her great blog and see who else is setting a table!

Elizabeth Taylor...may she rest in peace.

2011-03-23T10:30:00.000-07:00

I still love National Velvet as probably my favorite

movie of hers but she had many greats and I think put some of

her soul into her acting.

Despite the turmoil in her personal life she was always a class act

about talking about it, something I respected.

My mother would always say " I am the same age as Elizabeth Taylor ".

When I was about 4 my mother worked with a gal who was getting married who was stunningly beautiful like a young Elizabeth Taylor.

She didn't have anyone in her or the groom's family to be a flower girl, so she asked my mother for me to do it.

I was mostly thrilled with the 4 layer slip I got to wear under my pale pink dotted Swiss dress.

But I do remember how beautiful this lady was, just like Elizabeth Taylor!

May she rest in peace with no health issues now !

She was one of our great actresses!

If you want to help donate to Japan...

2011-03-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

Japan Benefit Red Cross T-Shirt

Saw this on our local news, a Seattle based business is doing this, thought it was good to pass on , so we can help the poor people of Japan!

Show & Tell Friday...I've been framed!

2011-03-17T22:44:00.000-07:00

I have been hit by the frame bug! So for Show & Tell Friday I thought I would show my collection of antique Victorian metal frames.

( Actually some of them are reproduction , about half and the others antique but they still all go together nicely.)

I am still working on finding old family photos to put in some of the recent ones.

This is one of my favs, due to the shape and also ( appropriate for this week) it has shamrocks all around the edge.

So I have been framed but in a good way.

I always love hunting for these beauties too in my antiquing

travels!

I am joining in on Show & Tell Friday event at

http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/ thanks to

Cindy our hostess.

Be sure and check out her fabulous blog and see who else is showing and telling this week!

Tablescape Thursday...Springing into Spring!

2011-03-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

It was time to start getting the house Springafied!

So I started with the kitchen table, giving it some freshness and spring colors.

So here it is Tablescape Thursday time again...

The centerpiece; An old silver plate legged tray makes for the centerpiece stand, topped with a few nests, a few birds , a cloche and a vase and moss ball for a topiary.

The place setting ; all things I had. In shades of Spring green, brown, white and a hint of brown.

The base for this table was these pretty dessert or salad plates by Royal Stafford with the pretty scroll pattern and peachy roses.

I just love them!

I used our peachy stemmed glassware and these cute bird napkin rings.

Another nice little accent was the ever cute Bird salt and pepper shakers from Target that so many of us have.

I stuck the two little birds with crowns ( from Michael's) in

a little nest, representative of Ron and I.

I love bringing out the freshness of Spring and hopefully all that is

Spring, including the sun and flowers will follow.

I am joining in on Tablescape Thursday at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ where Susan is our great hostess each week.

Be sure and check out her wonderful blog, always something fun to see or learn and see who else is doing a Tablescape this week!

Danny Boy Ireland

2011-03-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new followers...

2011-03-15T21:13:00.000-07:00

Hey, just a shout out and thank you to my new blog followers!

Very nice that you think my blog is worth checking out and following.

That makes me happy!

I am working on getting more time to blog, I am slow at times.

Lately been facing the low Vit. D and also menopause monsters and they both make me sooooo tired.

But I keep plugging along!

So I hope to have some fun future posts for you this Spring and Summer.

Enjoy and take care out in blogland!

I got my first Sid Dickens...

2011-03-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

I have admired the Sid Dickens plaques and those who arrange them so nicely

in their homes.

I love the texture and colors they are done in.

But I hadn't jumped into the Sid Dickens pool yet.

Until this week....

I found this beauty at ...the thrift store, for $4.

And with the crown, well it had to go home with this Queen.

It had some tiny booboos but I did some restorative work and I don't think you can even tell.

So it now graces the main bathroom wall, where I have

alot of Queen things.

Appropriate for the "thrown" room to have crowns, don't you think, LOL?!

Did you know...Royal Touch has a Facebook page?

2011-03-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Did you know...Royal Touch has a Facebook page.

It is called Royal Touch Art & Antiques there.

I list weekly photos of things I am selling in our Antique mall space and more information.

So if you do Facebook check it out.

Also I am the post master for the mall where I have my space which is

Sasafrass & Company, also on Facebook under that name.

Great shopping spot, we have some of the best prices around the Marysville, WA. area!

Metamorphosis Monday...future project!

2011-03-07T12:50:00.001-08:00

Time for Metamorphosis Monday...

my post this week is actually a future project.

I happened to stop by a church rummage sale this past weekend.

Found a couple goodies,

Including this doll house shelf I found for $10.

I remembered someones post about a cute idea for a doll house.

So this is the BEFORE...

How it opens up and what it looks like inside.

AFTER...

the cute idea they had for one. I think I could do the same sort of thing.

Will be cute to work on for some where. I am thinking for either my up coming craft room or enlarged laundry room.

We will see!

Joining in this week for Susan's Metamorphosis Monday post at

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Be sure and check out her great blog and see who else is transforming something this week!

Show & Tell Friday...a little Love token.

2011-03-04T11:59:00.000-08:00

This week for show & tell Friday I thought I would show this cute little ormolu love token , it is probably late 1800s to turn of the century.

I found it in a shop on a day I got to go antiquing recently. It is all metal with black paint and then gold metal adornments.

I had never seen something like this, thought it very sweet.

It reads; We Count Our Blessings then has little dial wheels in the back so you can change the numbers in the heart spaces.

The largest heart space reads; Wonderful Married Years.

The two smaller hearts read; Devoted Children and Precious Grandchildren.

It is a fun little find!

I am joining Show & Tell Friday at www.romantichome.blogspot.com

thanks to our hostess there, Cindy.

Check out her amazing blog and what others are showing and telling this week!

Tablescape Thursday...it's all about Love!

2011-03-04T11:45:00.000-08:00

Finally getting a chance to table scape again and so will show off

the Valentine's tables.

Time to move onto Springier decor but I sure did like having all the red out after Christmas was done, as I love Red!!

The center piece for the table consists of several things grouped on an old silver plate cake stand I found at the thrift store.

A rose topiary, a romantic ladies bust, an old garden urn planter with a red mercury ball in it and this sweet little sentimental Victorian piece I found in my antiquing travels.

It reads; We Count Our Blessings and has a place to dial and change the number of years married, number of children and number of grandchildren you have.

I thought it really unique and sweet.

I topped the table with a large piece of pretty old lace I have had for a long time.

It is very detailed and has little cherubs and things dancing on it.

It is a favorite piece to use at Valentines Day time of year.

The buffet or sideboard got decorated with many black, white and red things.

Several little German porcelain cherub figurines I have collected, some flowers in a Victorian milk glass vase , glass with red scatter hearts and more.

The place setting; I used our red chargers, black and white floral china layered with black and white cameo like dessert plates, black napkins with red jeweled napkin rings, our red handled flatware, black and red stemware.

And I topped the dessert plates with little metal glittered LOVE signs found at Michaels in the dollar isle.

It was fun to leave up the black Christmas tree in the corner and decorate it

for Valentines Day also. Also sets some romance with the sparkly white lights on the tree.

I think black, red and white always a classic.

Red being my favorite color I like this table scape alot!

I also added some red mercury glass votive holders to the table as well as some red heart candles as scatters ( a friend sent them to me in a gift).

I also had to do up the kitchen table, we used it for dessert or breakfast.

I found these pretty cutout felt place mats at Pier 1 this year. I like

how they show up on the white table.

Layered some textured cream plates under some cute "dessert" plates I found, that have a different dessert on each one.

It was fun and whimsical!!

Now onto March, Happy Spring everyone!

We are happy to be joining in on Tablescape Thursday at

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

thanks to our hostess there, Susan.

Check out the other great tables capes being shared this week!

Metamorphosis Monday...a bit of chicken wire!

2011-02-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

Metamorphosis Monday...I have been away for a bit from usual posts.Feb. is a tough month for our family, also been very busy and dealing with some extra health issues.

So life been slowing me up a bit on blog work and fun!

They found out I had almost no Vit. D in my body.

So we are treating that and will see how I do, hopefully better.

That might be my Metamorphosis for me , when some things feel better.

But now on to fun things.

BEFORE...

One corner of the kitchen with this little cabinet that I store a bunch of my milk glass collection in.

We still have some things to do in our kitchen, seems like there is always something to do , whether a new or old house!

AFTER...

Adding a little chicken wire!

Chicken wire seems to be an in thing everywhere.

Especially for decor items.

We have a local craft/gift ware store that I really like and they give coupons, so I had 40% off a single item.

So I went back and bought me these cute chicken wire shelf things I had seen and liked.

They have doors and open up so you can put some chotchkeys inside of them.

I think it adds a little something to this corner.

Maybe not for everyone but I like it.

And I happened to see that they have these for sale at

http://www.countrydoor.com/Set-Of-2-Decorative-Birdcages.pro?omSource=SLI , so if you want a set for you, there you go!

The color on the metal of these new shelves goes nice with the large rooster plaque I already had. Also goes nicely with the chandeliers we have in the room.

So not a big metamorphosis but just a bit of an addition to

the room .

I like it!

This blog, http://vignettedesign.blogspot.com/2011/02/tuesday-inspiration-chicken-wire.html , has a good post about chicken wire decor.

It was a fun one , check it out.

Thanks to Susan at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

for hosting us for Metamorphosis Monday.

Be sure and check out her great blog and see what other bloggers

are transforming this week!

Sometimes a photo is worth a thousand words...Happy Birthday Landon!

2011-02-27T12:21:00.000-08:00

Our wonderful Grandson Landon had his first birthday yesterday.

It was a great event and I was glad the weather ( which has been bad here lately) held long enough for me to get up and back from the party.

His momma did a great job with the decor, food etc.

It was a Cat in the Hat themed party with red velvet cake!

Royal Touch's Mall Space got some new merchandise in this week...

2011-02-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

Look at this yummy place to shop....

2011-02-14T19:52:00.001-08:00

http://www.serenitemaison.com/serenitemaison/Serenite_Maison_-_Welcome.html

Check out their gallery or slide show page, wow, what lovely things to buy. Sort of glad they are across the country, so I am less tempted.

Don't forget about Ruffles and Rust Spring Market show this week...

2011-02-14T12:22:00.001-08:00

For my brother Richard, I miss you so so much! Be safe in Gods arms!

2011-02-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

1/30/11

2011-01-31T20:10:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this video
Password to view is - Landon

Metamorphosis Monday...door to chalkboard transformation.

2011-01-24T14:52:00.000-08:00

Metamorphosis Monday time!

BEFORE...

I actually had time to do a project for me lately.

One of the vendors at the Antique Mall where I have a space had these great

old cabinet doors for sale.

One sold, so I thought I had better get one soon before the last one was gone.

Here it is taped off and ready to paint, with it's old ( not sure if it was lead paint or not, one reason I didn't sand it) dirty paint on it.

It cost me $20.

AFTER...

Here it is after I painted the center panel with chalkboard paint and sort of sponge painted the outer edge with the same off white paint as is in our kitchen, so it looks aged.

It came with it's old Fleur De Lis design hinges still on, so I left

them on as I like them.

Also came with an old Black glass knob too, so I left that as well,

that all adds character to me.

Now to shuffle in the kitchen, as I want to hang it in here somehow.

I added hanging hardware to the back of it.

I am linked up with http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

for Metamorphosis Monday, thanks to our hostess there, Susan.

Check out who else is transforming something this week!

Show and Tell Friday...some favorite things from around the house!

2011-01-21T23:07:00.000-08:00

A favorite Antique mirror reflects a vintage lamp and an old metal

crucifix under a cloche in the living room.

This little German made cherub with heart baskets was a favorite antique store find and he always starts to appear this time of year for Valentines Day.

A ceramic chicken and an old English tea pot that my brothers found in a junk pile when we lived in England adorn the top of the kitchen cupboard.

I have a think for metal, marble and prism candle sticks but they are great grouped together with this old Victorian lady pyrography plaque, she is a fav!

This pretty plaster "lovers" plaque inside this old ornate frame in our bedroom is a favorite as well.

The "Queen" of the house, my old antique dress form.

She is a lovely lady in all her finery , I won't part with her!

And recently I put a bunch of my favorite little antique and vintage mirrors around our vanity mirror in our master bath. I really like how it looks and with the reflection of the chandelier too.

My heart always beats a little fast when I see an old bird cage, not sure why but they are just so precious.

This old hand made one I found years ago at Larkspur Farms when they had their fabulous sales.

It hangs in the kitchen now.

And this rather tattered one was a find but I could tell it needed some love and a space to call it's own.

It always helps out the kitchen decor by resting atop the kitchen cupboard.

Thanks for dropping by my blog, hope you enjoyed something during your visit.

I am joining in on http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/

with hostess Cindy for Show & Tell Friday!

Stop by her wonderful blog for the other show and tell posters this week.

Please vote for our Grandson's photo...

2011-01-21T01:00:00.000-08:00

Check out this entry I found on Eye of the Beholder.

I entered this contest to try and win a trip.
Our son and dil never got to have a honeymoon and if I win, would like
to take them on the trip! Plus Ron and I could go again too, as it is where we had our honeymoon.
So I appreciate your vote, thanks!

Some of the things in at our mall space...

2011-01-20T21:21:00.000-08:00

We are Space 73 at Sasafrass & Company, an Antique and Giftware

Mall in an old 1905 Store Building at

1619 172nd St. N. E. Marysville, WA.

A very fun place, lots of treasures to be found!

Tablescape Thursday...Winter gets a touch of Red!

2011-01-20T21:04:00.000-08:00

Time for Tablescape Thursday...

Since all the Christmas things came down the house looks a little

bare. So I decided for now to leave up the dining room tree and transition

it into Winter and Valentine's Day decor.

For the place setting this week I used everything I already had except the linens are new ( bought on sale after Christmas at JoAnn's).

I used our black and cream transfer ware plates topped with some black and cream muffin or roll plates. All of these on top of our red chargers.

Also used our red handled flatware, red Longechamps crystal and Westmoreland Old Quilt wine glasses.

I folded the tablecloth, that is sort of a multicolored toile print, like a

runner and ran it across the table. The napkins got fan folded and tucked into the wine glasses.

The linens are in an old fashioned toile sleigh ride print, so appropriate for

Winter.

I scattered little red battery votives and red mercury glass candle holders on the table as well.

The center piece is a round mirror topped with a large cloche.

Inside an old metal bust, rustic little urn topped with a red mercury ball and

these two little crowned birds ( recently found at Michael's).

And this time on the sideboard or buffet I kept it pretty simple.

I always love how our Vintage chandelier reflects in this mirror.

The mirror was actually in a stack of old frames that Ron's grandmother gave

us and I put the mirror in it.

Here I used a pot of faux paper whites, another urn with a red mercury ball inside and a larger crowned bird figurine.

All of them setting on top of a long antique mirror I use like a table runner.

All lit up for a touch of Red in the Winter months.

The tree got decorated with some music paper birds that are black and white that I got at Target at Christmas time.

Some red fleur de lis ornaments I bought on sale after Christmas at Pier 1 and some red felt hearts that I bought at Christmas to use for Valentines Day at Target.

They all look pretty on the black tree I think!

Some of the details of this decor theme;

The linens and ornaments.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Our Tablescape Thursday posts are thanks to our hostess Susan at

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Be sure and check out her wonderful blog and see all the tablescapes this week, you will be inspired!

Listing on eBay again...some of my better finds...

2011-01-11T15:57:00.001-08:00

Check out my eBay listings through

my link on my side bar, My Regal eBay Store.

I am listing some of my better finds there rather than

put them in our mall space.

Got some great things, take a look!

Thanks, Linda

The chairs, they are growing on me...

2011-01-10T23:16:00.000-08:00

The chairs I just found are growing on me, I might have to keep them.

Above is the curly details on the kitchen chandelier .

The new old chairs sort of match this detail.

The curly details on the chairs.

I wonder if I could paint the chairs with sort of the same antique brown

finish as the chandelier and the table base also.

Here are all the chairs around the table I already have.

I think it would be good to use the new base with this table top though.

More of the chandelier details.

Like I said, would be sort of neat to match the new chairs and table base ( below) to the finish of the chandeliers in the kitchen.

Then put the distressed white wood top on the new base.

Plus recover the seats of course. They need all new foam and covering.

I could do them first with my toile.

But would be fun to do them in stenciled linen too.

What do all you decorating Divas think?

Metamorphosis Monday ...some post Christmas tips.

2011-01-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

This week for Metamorphosis Monday thought I would

back track a bit.

When decorating for Christmas I like to make alot of my ornaments, especially

if I can buy what I want or if I think they are to expensive.

This year I wanted to do an Asian tree.

I had many ornaments stashed away that I had bought at after Christmas sales etc. but needed a few more.

BEFORE...

So I bought these plain little red ball ornaments and strung them with black ribbon.

I like ribbon with ornaments, gives them a classier or more finished look sometimes.

AFTER...

Then I found the Chinese symbols for Peace and Love on the Internet.

I used a permanent felt marker and did those symbols on the ornaments.

Very simple.

I really loved the Asian tree this year in the dining room, was one of my favs this year!

Another Before and After...

I also will repurpose things found at the thrift store into Christmas items.

For our bedroom tree I found 3 bags full of clear acrylic prisms that I strung with shear brownish ribbon and I hung them all on our master bedroom tree for some sparkle.

Also found this cute Santos looking gal at the thrift store for like $2 ( forgot to take a before of her), she had berries or something on her metal cage bottom etc.

I took those all off and found these tiny feather angel wings at Pier 1 and fashioned them on her.

She made for a good Angel at the top of our master bedroom tree.

Metamorphosis Monday is thanks to our hostess Susan and

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Be sure and check out her great blog and see who else

is transforming things !

And for a future Met Monday post, these cute metal chairs and table base

I found while out junk hunting this weekend.

They were going to be for a resale in our mall space but they are growing on

me. I might sell what I have now in our kitchen and keep these and redo

for us!

Redoing our mall space after Christmas...

2011-01-06T14:43:00.000-08:00

It was time to redo the mall space yesterday, since Christmas was over ...

Put in some new gift ware, some great vintage things like;

Italian Marquetry Tray, Large large glass cloche, cute canvas and framed prints, lots of metal items.

There are several neat old beveled glass mirrors, nice Early American Patterned glass pieces and Heisey glass pieces.

Gift ware tea set too.

Cute Red mirror, a neat black framed one I had sold yesterday when I was

redoing the space.

Lots of things to see, if you are in the area stop on by and buy!

Here are some of the things I found when out picking for the mall space too, they will be going in soon, like maybe tomorrow.

Old glass cake stand, really cool metal and glass compote bowls, neat metal

key plaque and antique cat face ash tray ( ?) .

New things in our space usually weekly!

New Years old fashioned beliefs...

2011-01-01T16:44:00.001-08:00

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/newyears/beliefs.asp

This was pretty interesting to read.

Happy New Year Everyone!

Show & Tell Friday....Art Nouveau Jewelry Boxes.

2010-12-30T22:37:00.000-08:00

For Show & Tell Friday I thought I would show one of

my newest collections, my Art Nouveau Jewelry Caskets or Boxes.

I have 4 of them in my collection so far.

I love these little pieces of history, from another time, my old soul likes

that period and much of it's ornamentation.

I adopted a rule from another collector and so it makes the search fun for these, as I don't pay more than $25 a piece for them, which is really a good deal on one.

The smallest one I have so far which has most of it's silk lining inside and is about the size of a ring box. I only paid $15 for this one.

And my latest addition to the collection, found at Bayview Antiques in Everett, WA. I just had to have it when I found it, it was on sale!

I have them setting on the old French 2 drawer chest I inherited and now use

as my jewelry chest. When the collection grows I will have to think of a new way to display them.

Thanks to Cindy for hosting us again this week at http://www.romantichome.blogspot.com/

Be sure and check out her fabulous blog and see who else is showing and telling something fun!

Also linking up for the first ever Masterpiece Monday at http://www.boogieboardcottage.blogspot.com/

Fun new blog I just learned of, thanks to it's owner who was nice enough to visit my blog!!

Tablescape Thursday...all the Christmas tables.

2010-12-29T23:58:00.000-08:00

Merry after Christmas!

Thought I would catch up and show you our Christmas

tables.

First being the kitchen table.

I always decorate the kitchen in a gingerbread theme each year.

The only things new I used in this table scape are the cute

snow flake place mats ( Pier 1) I layered on top of red ones, and also the cute

gingerbread house as the centerpiece ( a piece I bought on sale after Christmas last year).

One of my fav Santas, the kitchen Santa who this year got a little

helper elf who is also gingerbread themed.

This year I wanted to do an Asian themed black tree in the dining room, so then I had to do the table themed that way as well.

I used gold rimmed dinner places I had on top of our red chargers, our red handled flatware, red crystal and gold rimmed crystal for stemware, gold patterned napkins folded like fans with red jeweled napkin rings.

All of those things I had , the only thing new in the place setting were the dessert plates which were a $4 for 4 find at the thrift store, they were new.

I used one of my Asian dolls, a fan and things under my large cloche on a mirror turned tray for the centerpiece.

On the buffet more Asian inspiration with a gold tree decorated with

paper birds, an antique bird cage, one of my dolls, some faux florals and an Asian inspired milk glass vase.

Close up of doll and birds on buffet.

Some of my Asian dolls around the tree.

The table with candle light.

The table with tree light and lights up.

Some of the other things I used for accessories on the table were;

some Asian candle sticks and Saki cups used as votive holders these all found at the thrift store for cheap.

I also put some of my little Asian dolls in wicker sleighs on the table.

Buffet close up.

Close up of Candle holders ( the little Saki cups did have black and red writing

on them also).

The dessert plates I found at the thrift store, close up.

Then the last change, before Christmas Eve dinner with our son and his family I changed out the dining table.

My good friend Marilyn from Calif. had sent me new Christmas linens and napkin rings and I wanted to use them for dinner with the kids.

Thanks to Susan at http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

for being our great hostess.

Be sure and visit her blog and see who else is showing their wonderful table scape this week.

Happy New Year to all, my God Bless you and yours in 2011!