19th Century Girl

Today I adopted a 5-year-old 19th century girl.

 She is a 5 year old with flair.   Not everyone can get away with green shoes.  

She might look sassy, but she is very agreeable to her new surroundings. I think she will fit in nicely!

Samplers and other Red and White Collections

Sometimes my collection isn't shaped by what I am looking for at the time.  It is dictated by what I happened to find that caught my eye.  Interpret that to mean "at a super price".

This weekend was a great antique fix for me.  I found 3 samplers at an estate sale.  I have a few samplers already, although I prefer to collect Berlin work, which tends to be wool on penelope canvas, although sometimes I find it on linen.  Samplers tend to be silk or cotton on linen.

There were so many motifs done here that I like, the prancing reindeer, the huge gates bottom right, the fountain with birds, the house!   

The next two samplers are red and white stitching.  I like the graphic look of just red and white. It doesn't have to be a sampler.  However, I was thrilled to find two red and white samplers.  I have another sampler packed away that I'll have to frame.  

Cute Red & White Cross Stitch Sampler.  It appears to be unfinished.   WXYZ should be on the bottom row.

Sampler #3 dated 1850

Tiny stitches look so elegant as script!

I have always been a fan of red and white damask.  You can easily find them on ebay, mostly towels.

Red and White Fringed Napkin

Below is a collection of red and white quilts. The collection is owned by one person, and her husband made arrangements to have them displayed so she could see them all.  Wow! My sampler obsession takes up a bit less wall space.

http://www.folkartmuseum.org/?p=folk&t=images&id=8664

The quilt show above must have been stunning to attend. It was called:  Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts,” presented by the American Folk Art Museum at the Park Avenue Armory March 25–30, 2011  

Here are some more photos of the exhibit:

https://plus.google.com/photos/110777728878149984081/albums/5589177617421449457/5589340794165456578?banner=pwa  

If you would like to read about collecting samplers - here are a few links:  

  http://www.go-star.com/antiquing/samplers.htm

  http://samplings.com/curator-archives/conversationwithantiquesamplers

I think about how someone designed a sampler and then spent countless hours stitching their creation.  The whimsy and "elegance" of the items they stitch, from a cat to an elaborate gate--makes me smile.

Does this make you want a sampler??!!!

Hanging Drapery...And An 18th Century German Clock!

I've been away from the computer, enjoying sun in Hawaii....so getting back into action has been tough.  

In previous blogs, I've talked about the casita we built for my 84-year-old parents.   The project is almost done.   We don't get down to California too often to work on it, so the project has taken over a year.   I am at the window-covering stage.  In fact, last week I worked to make the drapes.   I am a drapery-making fool according to my family.   I use interlining, blackout lining, and assemble them by hand.

This project was a dream to work on.  What's not to love about limestone floors, lots of windows, and beams making up the bones of the room.

The empty room.  

  I thought about several fabric options.


Some of my thoughts were - a check with woven shades underneath. (thank you photoshop!)

However, the family thought that was too strong.  The check fabric will be used on the kitchen chairs instead.     There was one fabric that looked really nice, and I actually ordered 60 yards of it.

Drapes tried out for color.  Defective fabric was returned.

Unfortunately, this fabric had serious flaws.  The design didn't line up across the fabric.  It was actually 2" difference between the left and right.  The flaw was obvious and had to be ditched.   Unfortunately I was 2 panels into it before I realized the problem.

Note the dark color on the edge.  That's the printed fabric running off the edge--no selvage, major matching problem!

I am including the above photo as a lesson.   I have sewn literally thousands of yards of drapery fabric and have RARELY had a defect problem.  This time I was in a hurry and didn't unroll it first.   Note the brown on the edge.  Then it goes back to white.    That should have been my first clue that I had a problem.

I re-ordered the run, and it was shipped short.   It was still off across the 54".   I really couldn't order any more fabric, it was obvious it was coming from the same machine and would have the same quality problem.  So I wound up going with Richloom "Darcy" in the Birch colorway.   It has a bit of a sage or olive green in it, which really looks good in the bright California sun.  The windows are argon filled, but the room still has alot of solar gain.  It was the most energy efficient that I could order.

The drapes look great with the floor and wood painted trim in the room.  The fireplace doesn't look too exciting in the photo (much better in person), but I think when I get the huge hewn mantle on there, it will look great.   I'd like to order some shades like I have in the sample photo, but haven't found a good cheap source.  The gorgeous Hunter Douglas blinds priced out at $6900, discounted!  (really? $6900 on a room and it's not even an antique?)

I went with some cheap rods from Lowes.  Cheap rods area always a pain because they "telescope" to the correct size.  However I didn't have time for mail-order rods.  If you actually want to open/close the drapes, they get stuck on the telescoping joint.  Wood rods tend to be able to get cut in the correct length which Lowes carries, but I wanted to skinny profile that these had given the beams in the room.  I had to drop the rods down below the beams instead of running it up to the ceiling.   I contemplated making valences but thought that would be too fussy and like the idea of the roman shades.  This of course, is totally stolen from Joni at Cote de Texas.   I had to giggle, I spent the last 2 days hanging these up, and she was writing on the subject of windows  here this week,  trying to keep us all from looking too tacky.   Thanks Joni!

I have a few other things to share.  My dad loves antiques.  I remember our first big antique purchase--see the fan backed chair below?  Well, my dad and I came home with it and my mom had a fit, didn't want that junk in the house.  It was about 1966-1970 and didn't fit her modern decor.   So we squirreled 2 chairs, a writing desk, a game table and a work table into my bedroom.  Wish I had photos of that room!

18th century German  tall case clock

The fan at the top of the chair has some green paint left on it.  Odd, but still charming.  The clock was a great find.  When my favorite french antique dealer said she had a German clock, I said I had to have it.  The face is charming, an old wood painted face with roses on it.

The clock works perfectly.   My dad will love this and my mom will be happy because she's come around to loving all these beautiful antiques.    Be kind about the rest of the room.  I had to put the tv above the fireplace because I didn't make room for it anywhere else.  I didn't do french doors, I was many, many thousands over budget on stuff like getting utilities to the house. Don't make fun of my fan, in 100 degree weather, it's a necessity!  When you're 84, you can request a recliner and your daughter will oblige.  (don't make it a rocking one, that is really bad for elderly who are unsteady on their feet.  It can cause a fall and a trip to the hospital.   I spent a week with mom at the hospital in March, this is important!)

I'm not done making drapes--you can see a panel is missing, but wanted to share what I am up to.   I said think faience would look good in here.  On my last day in Calif.,   I stopped by an antique shop Wednesday and found this 19" Italian platter.

It has as wonderful feel to it.  I love the rustic hand thrown qualities.   I would love to find a wall hanger for it.  It weighs alot, and didn't work with the hangers that I normally use for my papier mache trays.  It was the perfect reward for a busy couple of days making drapes!

The Easter Bunny is Coming and Other Musings

Easter has arrived in my kitchen.   

Unfortunately my camera didn't.  This is via cell phone.

These cute little German wood rabbit  figures are called Erzgebirge.  Yes, you can find Easter antiques....

Even my mom loves a chocolate bunny at 81!  Share one with a friend.  One of the highlights of my childhood was an easter basket that my Aunt put on our beds Easter Eve.  She told us she saw the easter bunny put it there, and if we went outside, we might see him running from house to house.  We were so excited, we all went outside to scout for the easter bunny.  A silly story, but it gave me a big thrill, I must have been 5 or 6.  The next day we had an easter egg hunt for his remaining "tricks".  One of 7 kids, that extra attention was so exciting.

Do something nice for someone this weekend! However, resist the urge to give a child a live rabbit.

They are so cute!

They grow up

Don't let one go in the wild once you've gotten one.  They won't survive.

Give the chocolate variety instead!

Run over to Williams Sonoma for this basket!

While you're there, maybe you'll be lucky enough to find this French Wire Egg Stand.  I got the last one in my store!

We have the jackrabbit variety visiting us daily.  There's at least a dozen on the property at any time.
Lettuce doesn't stand a chance!

Happy Easter, may it be a sunny day, somewhere.  (Rain forecasted for Portland, Oregon. Oh really, what a shock)   

Fabulous 18th Century Fabric

This week I am going through linens and fabric I am selling for a friend.  It turns out the stuff is from an estate of an antique dealer who passed away about 10 years ago, or more.   There was a huge series of estate sales (all of which I missed as I was on bleachers watching high school girls play volleyball, go, um, team name now forgotten...)   However, I did manage to pick the pickers--which is where I got the Fortuny fabric for pillows I blogged about.    Apparently it was quite the sale, no one wanted the Fortuny drapes.  On my, what a problem.  Anyway, there is a bunch of interesting lace and linens I am selling for my friend who inherited it, but I am having a hard time selling the fabric.  I want to keep it all to myself.

Here's why:

18th century fabric

This is not some machine brocade that is cranked out by a fabric mill.  This design is ENTIRELY HAND EMBROIDERED!!!

18th century fabric--entirely hand embroidered!  

Notice the amazingly tiny stitches.  They are uneven, all hand-done, not machine made!

18th century fabric

Back side of 18th century fabric - note all the hand stitching.

I know people make pillow fronts out of these scraps, but I hate to do that--it seems like it would all end with me, lost to history forever.

Bilston & Battersea Boxes

This weekend I went to a few estate sales.  Among my found treasures, I found some  little boxes.  Battersea boxes were made from 1753-1756 at York House in Battersea.  The village of Bilston took over making them after 1756.

They are fun to collect because of the sentimental sayings on the boxes.   As with most antiques, understanding the fine nuances of collecting these would fill a book or 2.   So lets just say I got myself an instant collection, and enjoy the patina and sentiment expressed on them!

They will look great in a vitrine table sitting in my garage.....hmmm, must move that inside!

Aren't they cute!

18th Century George III Wingback Project

I purchased a beautiful 18th century George III wingback last fall and wrote about it here.  I have been working on getting it recovered and it is finally done!   It took a while--I started using a new workroom, and we had problems getting them to understand that patterned fabric needs to be "matched" at the seams.  I purchased an extra 2 yards, but sadly didn't get a perfect matchup as they went around the outside of the chair!   I used Brunschwig fabric, and it wasn't inexpensive.   So what you see is "what I got".

18th century wingback in a Brunschwig & Fils  fabric

I agonized over the fabric choices if you read the previous post.  This fabric seemed like the perfect solution as I felt that an antique like this should be done in a silk damask, which would feel too formal for the project.  The fabric had to be knit-backed, as it was a linen.  That ran about $90, well worth the cost.

"Before"

I selected the fabric used in the valences over the windows.

The finished chair!

The finished chair!  I left the windows in the photo--yes, it is snowing on March 22 in Portland, Oregon.  The heat
 wave isn't all over the entire country.  It's pretty much rained or snowed every day since the first of Feb.

I had twill tape and nailheads added to the bottom to give the chair a more casual feel.  

I had an ottoman made to match.  The chair is comfortable, and the large "wings" keep you warm on a cold drafty day--just like 200 years ago!

I thought you would enjoy seeing the final product!  It is not in the intended room/house, but it does look nice with the area rug.

Wedding!

I have been absent from the blogging scene for a number of reasons.  Parents in their 80's who are have had surgeries, managing the chaotic schedule of my life, working on design projects, running out of fabric due to errors, getting 57 yards of fabric that is defective....and then there's a bright spot:   our lovely daughter is engaged!

So while all the other stuff in my life makes me so stressed out that I feel  my  pounding heart is going to jump out of my chest, I am taking tonight off to dream of weddings....pretty flowers and gardens.  The couple wants a small wedding, outdoors.  (How on earth do I do that?  I am one of 7 kids in my family, my mom is one of 6 kids, dad is one of 8 kids.  Do you know how many cousins I have?  Well, I don't even know.  However, after I pare the list down to my my siblings and their familes, that comes to 51 people!  That excludes two siblings who have chosen to drop out of the family scene!)  I have an additional 23 relatives that have made it to every party and event we have ever had...and I haven't added any family friends to the list.  

I understand that they want a small wedding, and each person won't know half the people at the wedding, but face it, marrying into my family is like marrying a village.  It's a German village,  not a beer drinking German village, but one that likes marzipan and accordion music. (my brother wore lederhosen growing up, hee hee)

I remember my daughter's high school graduation.  She called it "My Big Fat German Graduation".  It was a fantastic weekend!  Everyone came to Portland, Oregon, and we had a fabulous time doing fun things like hiking in the Columbia Gorge.  I have one nephew tell me he's never had so much fun in his entire life!   I think we'd like to capture that same spirit with this even more important event.

My very cute dad at a wedding age 15

The couple was pretty specific about wanting a small, intimate wedding before they even priced it out. (Dad  asked them to submit a budget for approval).   I think they were shocked at what everything costs.   It sort of feels decadent to put on such an elaborate event with kids pinching pennies, starting out in life.  Lucky for Dad there's only one daughter.  The apple of his eye.

The bigger problem in planning a wedding is:  Google!   So many options, what to do!  I wouldn't even know about some of these wonderful places.  What would you do?  I've had fun tonight looking things up.



#1  San Ysidro Ranch

Wow!  I almost wish I hadn't found this place.   It's sooo cute!   The history is filled with celebrities staying here:  John and Jacqueline Kennedy honeymooned here.  Lawrence Olivier and Vivien Leigh were married here.  (The kids probably don't know who that is...)

They have a wonderful little cottage called hydrangea cottage.  What a cute place for a reception!

© Michael + Anna Costa Photographers Ltd., La Fleur Weddings, San Ysidro Ranch

Jessica Claire has some wonderful photos which I didn't want to steal.   Anyway, it would fall in the "it's too far away" for most family members to travel to.  (Except the ones who fly their own airplanes, so they don't waste time, so they can put in more 18 hour days working...what a workaholic family...I digress...)

#2 Auberge Du Soleil, Napa Valley

Great view, known for great food, but this setting doesn't say romantic wedding to me.  Too many hard surfaces.

#3  Stone Pine Estate in Carmel Valley

What a house, nice cars too!

What a pretty setting!

The venue is very expensive, but they have a country wedding lawn that is cheaper to use.

#4.   Bernardus Lodge, Carmel Valley

I love the pretty garden

Throw in a few urns, Italian cypress, and I'm happy....

Other garden ideas not in California:

This is a place called Camp Korey (.org)   Of course it is in Washington State, hence the green garden...

Of course, we could always do the Columbia Gorge Hotel, since this is where she grew up!

What do the kids want to do?  They want to go to Hawaii.  That would  allow friends and cousins to do things together for at least a day or 2, instead of  all that travel for a couple of hours.   I guess it would be more in the spirit of  that big fat german graduation.   However it is not likely that my parents or my husband's parents would attend given their age.  They may not attend a local wedding either.  It's such an ordeal to get them into a car and go anywhere.  

#1  Oasis World Estates.  This is a Kathy Ireland venue.  It's a house, a nice oceanfront.

#2 Grand Hyatt Kaui

Hyatt, $5 plastic chairs, really?

#3 Hanalei Colony Resort

Doesn't this look romantic!

Crystal Chapel, Hilton

Oops, it's not outside.  I did really like the all white interior and wanted to share it.   It does overlook the ocean.

St. Regis Princeville, Kaui
I really love the pretty trees framing the ocean view, with the mountains in the distance. I really like this vignette.

I love the outdoor patio

Aulani Resort, a new Disney property

Oh oh, I think this place will be crawling with kids.

4 Seasons Lodge on Lanai

Isn't this pretty.  It's on Lanai which is remote and not easy to get to.  I'm not going to share which one they'd like to use at this point....I have been so involved with the stress of taking care of my dad's health issues, that I really haven't had alot of time to think about this or research any of the wedding sites.    Everyone knows I am not the best at multi-tasking, which is why I am still up at 4:11 AM.

I also have a niece getting married this summer, and have been trying to take care of tasks requested of me.... ( I am going to do the flower arrangements on the reception tables...using something antique to put them in...stay tuned til August for the reveal on that!)  Maybe that's why the my daughter doesn't want a big wedding, it's on the heels of another big family wedding.  It really shouldn't matter, right?

Some of the all inclusive resort weddings sound really great, but then I read reviews of disasters on the internet, mostly relating to planners that don't take care of the details as promised.  I don't like that.  I don't mind paying for someone to plan the whole thing, but I don't want it to go south.  I can do that all by myself.   Has anyone had an experience that they'd like to share?

So what are German wedding customs?

Sawing logs?  Really?    Read about customs  here!


A short note on wedding dresses:  they all seem pretty to me!   The only dress my daughter has ever seemed excited about is a Lauren Bush Lauren's dress featured in Dec 2011 Vogue

Click here to read about it in Vogue.  That lace!  As an antique textiles dealer, I'm totally in love with this lace!  I'm puzzled about the length of the groom's pants.  They seem short to me.  But I'm sure they're totally correct.    Don't you love the groom's velvet tails!

Isn't this a beautiful couple!   To die for dress, awesome site.  Lauren Ranch in Colorado.   Wow!

She nixed our back yard...because I haven't landscaped yet.   It's not the Lauren Ranch, but give me time!

Dress shopping will be fun.  Decisions will be difficult as my daughter would look great in anything.   I see we are in a phase of strapless wedding dresses, but given the recent royal wedding, I'm happy to see the return of sleeves.  There's nothing more awkward than a bride tugging at a strapless dress.  Below an Elie Saab dress in my 10 minute foray in to dresses:

Tell me about your favorite wedding!!! I'd love to hear about it!  Til next time....