The T-Cozy

Royal-Tea

In honor of this morning's royal wedding across the pond, here is a lovely table setting from The Garden Center of New Canaan's Tablescapes show. It's titled "A Royal Country Tea" and it is set with William and Catherine in mind.

How fun to have breakfast this morning watching the royal wedding! I remember viewing Charles and Diana's wedding some thirty years ago. How I love the pomp and circumstance. Don't you?

I will share many more inspiring photos of the tablescapes show in my posts next week. I hope you will enjoy them — and enjoy your weekend, too!

Susan

Tablescapes & Tea — and Me!

This year, I am pleased to take part in the Garden Center of New Canaan's annual fundraiser called "Spring Fever." It is a tablescapes show taking place at Waveny House, a stately 1912 Tudor mansion that is now a municipal building for the town of New Canaan CT.

There are over 25 designers in the show creating inspiring table displays. Most of the contributors are area decorators, shop owners and florists who put together lavish place settings and flower arrangements. My spot is a built-in shelf unit along one wall, perfect to showcase some of my more humble and cottagey treasures. In fact, I am the only one at the show with a truly vintage-inspired display. 

To whet your appetite, here's a little peek at my contribution . . .

I "shopped" all around my house for the items in my display and I'm very happy with the result. But there is so much more to show you! I'll share more of my area, along with some of the other designer's tablescapes, later this week once the show is over.

The Garden Center of New Canaan is a group of volunteers whose mission is civic beautification. I'm honored to have been asked to be in this fund-raising show. If you are in the area, Tablescapes & Tea is open to the public on Thursday, April 28 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Waveny House. Tickets are $25 at the door.

I hope to see you there!

Susan

The Secret Life of Birds

I have had some lucky literary discoveries lately. My newest find is dedicated to the art of bird watching. This 1925 book, titled Bird-Life, was authored by Frank Chapman, the former Curator of Ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History. With 75 full-color bird drawings by the noted wildlife artist Ernest Thompson Seton, each plate is more beautiful than the next — definitely frame-worthy! 

I particularly like the cover with its tipped-on bird label.

This vintage book sold the moment I listed it in my Etsy Shop. Now it's heading off to Maine. However, I happen to have another copy of this gem and you can find it here.

I think this book would look great displayed alongside whimsical bird-themed collectibles, like the ones below.

A couple of days ago, I shared a little of The Home Educator book with you. (That one sold lickety-split, too!) Here are two bird-related pages from that lovely book. The first one shows eight different bird's nests.

Another page offers instructions on constructing a variety of bird houses, from simple to complex. 

I never knew you could make a bird house out of a tin can! 

Even though I'm not into ornithology, now that it is spring, I'm so happy to see birds back in my garden. And I especially love waking up to birdsong in the morning. Don't you?

Susan

Keeping the Kids Happy and Busy in 1924

In my travels, I came across a most charming book. Titled The Home Educator, this tome is brimming with comprehensive information about the education of children in the home. Filled with tips and advice for raising happy, creative children, it also is chock full of stunning illustrations and awesome low-tech art projects. 

Published in 1924 by W.F. Quarrie & Company of Chicago, this relic is divided into five sections: Foundation Stones, Infancy, Early Childhood, Later Childhood, and School Days. It has some lovely full-page color drawings, like the one above. 

Throughout its 384 pages are hundreds of beautiful black and white illustrations. In addition, this book has numerous diagrams for handmade toys and holiday-related art projects. Here is a sample project page, below.

Even though it is over 80 years old, I think this book could still be a useful resource for teachers or home-schooling moms. I wish I would have had it when my children were little. How handy it would have been when we needed something fun to do on a rainy day like today.

I am so fond of this book that I plan to share lots more of it with you in the coming months.

Have a nice holiday weekend!

Susan

Vintage Spring Flowers: Part 2

Just a few more flower-themed goods from my Etsy shop!

Susan

Vintage Spring Flowers: Part 1

I love spring! And I especially love my garden in the spring because most of my perennials are spring bloomers. But there aren't many blossoms in my garden just yet. So in the meantime, I've filled my Etsy shop with vintage finds that celebrate flowers. Here are a few of my floral selections . . .

Some of these items have recently sold, several can be found in my shop right now, and a few will be listed over the coming week. I'll share even more flowery finds in tomorrow's post.

Now I'm off to take my morning walk. Have a great day!

Susan

Librarian Chic and a Thank You to Glee

I found an item at an estate sale last Friday that reminds me of one of my favorite TV programs: Glee. Are you a Glee fan? I have become quite the "Gleek" lately. And one of my favorite characters on the show is the prim and proper guidance counselor, Emma Pillsbury.

Below is my estate sale find: a vintage sweater guard, just like the ones Ms. Pillbury wears.

Who else could pull off wearing sweater guard clips with such panache? And apparently they are not just for sweaters. Emma wears them on the collars of her blouses, too. I have memories of my elementary school's crusty and crotchety librarian wearing clips like these. Ms. Pillsbury definitely elevates them to a new level.

I discovered Glee last spring when its first season was just about over. What an entertaining show! And it was just what I needed during my health issue last year. You see, I underwent four surgeries. While I recuperated, day by day I methodically watched all of the Glee episodes on line. It really lifted my spirits during those trying days. I can honestly say that, along with my wonderful family and friends, Glee helped keep me happy and helped me heal quickly.

Thank you, Glee! You were just what the doctor ordered! 

Susan

Home Sweet Home Postcard Craftiness

Earlier this week, I was in the mood to get a little crafty. So I decided to see what I could come up with to make out of the stash of vintage lingerie trimmings from last month's over-the-top collector's estate sale. And once I found that darling Home Sweet Home postcard, I had some ideas.

This picnic tin is one of the many I use for storage in my studio. It's packed to the gills with yummy lace and trims. 

First I headed out to make some enlarged color copies of the postcard. Once I was back home, I began arranging a variety of trimmings around it to create a mixed-media fabric frame.

When I came up with an arrangement that pleased my eye, I used my sewing machine to stitch all of the elements together.

I think it turned out pretty sweet.

And I decided to make another one . . .

Different trims and colors, but just as darling.

I think these would make perfect gifts for Mother's Day, don't you? So I've decided to list them in my Etsy shop to see if anyone else thinks so, too!

Susan

There's No Place Like Home

Welcome to my studio! This is where you will usually find me most days. As I ponder what to write about on my blog, my eyes often travel to the wall above my desk.

Just like the charming postcard I shared with you in my previous post, the cottages on my wall embody all that is warm, cozy and welcoming about home, sweet home. 

I adore my wall of cottages. Whimsical and fun, my collection is varied: some are vintage prints, a few are embroidered or crewel pieces, and two are old hand-tinted photographs.

As you can see, I have eight cottage pieces so far. But there is plenty of wall left. So you never know — I may add more!

Susan

Be It Ever So Humble...

I love this vintage postcard. Isn't it the sweetest? It has a most charming image of a dad returning home from work being greeted by his daughter and the family dog. His wife and younger child wave to him from the front porch. What a perfect little cottage! Printed below the image are the lyrics to the 1822 song "Home, Sweet Home" written by John Howard Payne.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend in your home, sweet home —

Susan 

The Outdoor Living Room

With warmer weather fast approaching, I'm looking forward to setting up my screened porch. I usually devote a day in early May to washing the wainscoting and floor, unpacking boxes, and setting up my porch furniture. I enjoy the whole process — it really gets me in the mood for spring and summer. 

Aren't porches great? I love how they connect a house to the outside. And in nice weather, with the right furnishings they can become an outdoor living room.

Here are some photos I shot of Barbara's porch. Remember her? She's the talented interior designer who made those mosaic mailboxes.

Barbara's front porch is very inviting. She set it up just like she would a room inside her house. It has a rug, comfortable seating and whimsical decorative embellishments.

Barbara is lucky enough to have not one porch, but two! Her back porch overlooks a serene tidal inlet. Isn't it nice?

Recently Barbara asked me to give her blog a new look. Shown below, it's called Artist in Residents and it features inspired and unique artistic creations, some made by Barbara herself, others that she comes across in her travels. 

Her new blog banner shows a small portion of a fabulous mirror that she covered with vintage buttons. Wow! That's a lot of buttons!

I'm so glad Barbara is pleased with her blog's new look. And even though I don't do a lot of graphic design any more, I enjoyed revamping the blog for her.

Susan

Gray Houses on a Gray April Day

True to form, it's rainy on the first Monday of April here in my Connecticut town. On my walk this morning, the skies were dark and cloudy. However, I like gray, moody mornings. And with so many houses in my neighborhood sporting classic New England gray shingles, the gray on gray color palette was really quite lovely. 

Rain will be with us here for most of the week. But I actually don't mind, especially since I know that "April showers bring May flowers." And when the sun finally does come out and these gray houses are set against a brilliant blue sky, I'm sure to appreciate the spring sunshine that much more.

Susan

Threads of Inspiration

What is it about vintage spools of thread that I find so appealing? 

I suppose it's their textures and lovely colors that attracts me — so much so, that I choose to keep them on display.

In my studio's sewing corner, wooden spools of thread are gathered together in an old green mixing bowl. 

Other larger ones are lined up in a small drawer from a doll dresser. These spools belonged to my mother who was a talented seamstress. I like having them within view to remind me of her.

Wooden spools of thread — simple, humble and utilitarian — yet so pretty to look at.

Susan