Antiques and More Blog

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Romantic Settings~

I'm inspired this evening by all the blogs that are decorated for Valentine's Day. There are posts about vintage cake toppers, handmade wreaths, and scanned valentine's and sooooo much more that I felt like I wasn't doing my part. I just haven't had much time lately to be creative and make sweet gifts so I decided to put some romantic vignettes together for Valentine's Day.
Remember this was done like in one hours time. So please excuse that thrown together look.
Oh! If you want, you are welcomed to use some ideas for your own home.
It's always an honor to me when someone borrows or copies (whatever you want to call it) ideas.

I LOVE Red Amaryllis.....

Wouldn't this make a lovely invitation to a Valentine's Brunch?

Join me at my home for a Valentine Brunch~
Saturday, February 14th
at half past ten o'clock in the morning

And More Beautiful Red Amaryllis.....

OMG! Why I didn't think of this before...

My daughter will turn 13 on Valentine's Day. I think I'll host a Valentine Brunch for her and her friends.

It could also serve as an etiquette lesson in attending parties. Teenagers could use a lesson or two on how to conduct themselves at social functions.

If there was more time to prepare I would host a Valentine Brunch Blog-Style!

Enjoy and have yourself an evening full of LOVE~

Lisa

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Collections~

I have many collections, but the one that I am taking more of an interest in lately is my collection of bibles. I have recently started this collection so I don't have many but I love the ones that I do have and I wanted to share some with you.

My most favorite is this burgundy/red bible. It belonged to my mom and she gave it to me when I married. It's a Catholic bible from what she told me, my mother was a devout Catholic at the time she purchased it. I can remember this bible sitting on a small table for years in the dining room of our house. She's had this bible since the birth of my older brother and he is 54 years old. It's special to me because as a child I remember we could not go near the pretty bible full of pictures. It has so many beautiful pictures...Sorry, I know I'm bad...where are the pictures? The batteries in my camera died just as I finished taking this photo. I'll post some of the pictures later.

Another one of my favorites is this child's bible that I bought when I was in Austin at the City Wide Garage Sale. I fell in love with it the minute I saw it. It's worn and tattered around the edges. I love that it looks like it was well used.
The only markings I could find inside was a date 4-12-68 written in ink.

I wonder who this might have belonged to? Was it a little girl or boy? Did they take it to church every Sunday? Or maybe it sat in someone's home like ours did just for show.

I guess I'll never know the answers to my questions, but I can enjoy thinking about them.

The following verse was circled in pencil~

Our Father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into tempatation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and glory, for ever. A-men. Matthew 6:9-13

XOXO

~Lisa

Monday, February 09, 2009

Birdie, Birdie~

I was standing on the back patio last night waiting for my doggie to do his business and I looked up at the ceiling fan only to find a pigeon perched up on the fan blade. It was quite windy and a little chilly, so I don't know if he/she was trying to get out of the wind and cold or he/she was lost and couldn't find it's way because it was dark. I stood there for a good while watching it and it just sat there, it never moved.

So, I grabbed my camera and took a picture of this pigeon sitting on the fan blade. I even got up in the middle of the night to see if it still was there and guess what....it was! WEIRD!!! But in the morning it was gone. Bye Bye Birdie!!!

Blessings to all!

~Lisa

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Decorating Style~

I get most of my inspiration from magazines like Veranda, Southern Accents, Traditional Home, Southern Lady, Romantic Country, Romantic Homes and Victoria, just to name a few. I subscribe to most of them and I also purchase some at a local grocery store.

I have often wondered what my decorating style actually is? I consider my decorating style to be eclectic because I love to mix the old and the new, with an added twist here and there. But there are many styles that I like when it comes to decorating.

For instance, in the Winter months and Christmas I like to decorate my home in a Vintage Elegance style using vintage ornaments and accessories. In the Spring I lean more towards a Romantic Garden style to bring the outdoors in. In the Summer I gravitate to a crisp and cleaner White on White look. Then, for the Fall months things start to change and I prefer the darker colors and more of a Rustic Old World style.

I'm not sure why is it when the seasons change my style changes as well, or does it? When I get to feeling a certain way, I'll move things around to reflect that feeling at that time. I'm always moving the furniture around at least every two to three months. I can't stand to see things in the same spot for a long period of time. Does anyone else do this or am I the only odd one?

I remember when I was young my mother moved the furniture around the house often, you never knew where the sofa and TV were going to be when you got home from school.

Well, I've decided to take a poll to see how many of you actually do stay true to only one style of decorating or if you are like me "unfaithful" to one style.

What is your decorating style? You are welcome to send pictures, I'd love to see your style!

Thanks so much for taking my poll, I'll post the results next week.

Have a fabulous day!

~Lisa

Trash To Treasures~

The other day on my lunch hour I was running errands and what did I see! It was trash day in town and I spotted this rusty old tricycle that someone had on the side of the road for the trash men to pick up. Well, I beat them to it! This poor baby must have taken some abuse at it's previous owners house. Just look at the little wheel...looks like it might have gotten run over in the drive way. But I love it, crooked wheel and all. It's rusty and beat up, that's what I like about it.
Now it sits proudly on my back porch like a trophy!

So, I'm driving down the road and what do I see, another pile of junk. I spot these lamps that someone's throwing away. They're just sitting on top of the trash can covered in dirt and cobwebs saying "pleazzzzze rescue me". So I took them home, cleaned them up and I think they look pretty good! It looks like the base was brass at one time and the mid-section wood with the top of it in this lovely hobnail looking ball.... that's really what caught my eye! I'm thinking maybe I'll paint the wood piece or not. What do ya'll think? I'll take any and all suggestions. I'll have to come up with some shades too so if you have any ideas on that, please share!

I tell ya, this has got to be my luckiest day of all...two stops in one...unbelievable!

My family thinks I'm insane for digging in the trash, (that's part of the fun) but I love my treasures. Best of all...they're FREE!!!

Have a fun weekend!

~Lisa

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

In Bloom~

Spring is such a beautiful season. New growth is beginning to show up in places we haven't seen in a while. You can always tell that Spring is arriving soon because of all the blooming going on. For instance, plants that normally have leaves but pretty flowers pop out first. That's what our peach tree is doing, it's blooming...I didn't know it bloomed such pretty flowers first before it got it's leaves. Too bad it can't stay that way!

We've only been in this house since July and I haven't gotten acquainted with the plants in my backyard yet. What with the scorching hot sun in summer then the winter months being too cold...Oh! I'm not gonna lie to ya, I'm just not a gardening kinda gal! Don't get me wrong I love live plants...that's just it, I like them alive! I don't have much of a green thumb so I could use some pointers if anyone would like to give me any. Does anyone out there in blogland know of any plant that would be my kinda plant? You know...the kind that I won't kill!

Oh! And if anyone has a wonderful peach cobbler recipe, send it my way o.k....my husband "loves" to cook! BTW, I'm not a very good cook either.

Ya'll have a wonderful evening~

Lisa

Saturday, January 31, 2009

My First Swap~

In honor of my 25th post I thought I would write about my first blog swap. This was my very first swap, so I wasn't sure how swaps were to be done.

Heidi of Foxgloves, Fabric and Folly hosted a Very Vintage Valentine Swap. I was partnered with Kimberly of Seashells and Silver. Kimberly is a very sweet and talented young lady and I was very fortunate to have her as my swap partner. Poor Kimberly, little did she know that she would end up with a "rookie" in swapping. But being the sweet girl that Kimberly is, she made me feel good about all of it.

Thank you Kimberly you're too kind!

When I opened the box this is what I found...a box full of individually wrapped presents all pretty in pink and a lovely heart card saying "Open This Last"! Naturally, I wanted to take a peek but I didn't...good thing too I would have ruined the surprises that were waiting for me.

Oh! and what a clever idea to wrap each item separately...who thought of that?

Anyway, it was very exciting to open each box and find a wonderful gift inside just for me!

Thanks Kimberly for adding that special touch!

Well, just look at all the very vintage valentines that I received...

1. a valentine card with cupid (too cute!)

2. a red mercury glass candlestick with candle (romantic!)

3. a red heart picture frame (gorgeous!)

4. a red mercury glass votive holder with candle (lovely!)

5. a "LOVE" banner (Kimberly made this herself~love it!)

6. a red brooch (special!)

7. sweet angel wings (precious!)

8. a heart card with a sweet message from Kimberly and her list of items for me (so thoughtful!)

Everything was more than I had expected.

Wow! I had no idea that swapping would be this much fun!

Thanks again Kimberly and Heidi for making my first swap a memorable one!

"L" is for LOVE

"L" is for LISA

Hugs and Kisses~

Lisa

Friday, January 30, 2009

Old Hollywood Glam 2~

Yesterday on my post "Old Hollywood Glam" I wrote about a late great legend in Hollywood...Audrey Hepburn. The glitz and glam of Old Hollywood Style and Decor is glamorous to me just like the films that Ms. Hepburn and so many other film legends starred in. The mirrored accessories along with all the silver, cream and white create a romantic mood in any room. Elegance and glamour are why this style is popular not only in decorating homes, but proms and weddings are also being done in this style today.

This vignette consists of a venetian style mirror reflecting the silver and gold leaf on the candlesticks and table lamp. I layered the feather boa, ostrich feathers and a lovely lace runner to give it texture, a pearlized shell along with a beaded headpiece to give it that "glam" look.

Get a closer look....

A close-up of the mirror and candlesticks

My favorite...a beaded headpiece

Ostrich feathers

And the beautiful reflection of a pearlized shell

My version of Old Hollywood Glam~ was the inspiration for this post and vignette.

Have a glamorous weekend!

~Lisa

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Old Hollywood Glam~

For the past several days my computer has been on the "outs" and is finally working again. Since I was without a computer, I turned on the tube and watched one of my favorite classic movies, Breakfast at Tiffany's starring Audrey Hepburn. She portrays this wacky, carefree soul who can make a potato sack look good.

See what I mean...she looks fabulous!

My yard sale "find" from a few months ago, this Collector's Edition of LIFE magazine featuring Audrey Hepburn.

Born the daughter of a Dutch baroness and a British banker, Edda van Heemstra Hepburn-Ruston made a magical broadway debut in Gigi. At the age of 24, she won an Oscar for her first American movie, Roman Holiday. She went on to star in a number of classic films.

Audrey Hepburn died of cancer at the age of 63.

The glitz and glamour of old Hollywood style and decor are classic just like the films that we love. Stay tuned tomorrow for a continuation of Old Hollywood Style and Decor...

Blessings~ Lisa

Saturday, January 24, 2009

To Recognize or Not~

I Hope everyone is having a wonderful Saturday! My day started out with a lovely note from Renee at Cottage Lifestyle who has been so generous to award me with The Lemonade Award! It's such an honor to be recognized by such thoughtful individuals whom we may have not actually met in person, but the bond and friendship is still there. That is what's so special about blogging.