Friday, January 6, 2012

Nesting


Winter seems to just make me want to nest and hibernate during the long months of cold and snow. When our boys were younger we skied all winter and I enjoyed the temps and cold sunshine, but as I get a little older I prefer indoor pursuits....


....the garden is dormant and I think I am half the time!  I want to just curl up with a good book, do some selective stitching or cook....
With our renovation looming ahead of me, I am rather grudgingly packing up and going through items to keep or discard....

While working on doing just that, I came across this little acorn soup tureen stashed in a cupboard in the laundry room...totally forgotten....




You can see the little acorns and oak leaves embossed in the porcelain and the lovely finial on top.....




Sometimes the potters insignia in these older china pieces were as lovely as the design itself.....

This tureen came with eight soup bowls, a ladle and a square saucer at its base.

I was so happy to find it, I decided to make some roasted squash soup for a light supper, since it is Friday, and we usually dine out....



It works up quickly because everything is roasted in a single pan, butternut squash, onions, and some herbs, tossed with some good quality olive oil and a dash of sea salt and freshly ground pepper.





I couldn't wait to see my forgotten little treasure in use, much to the amusement of my husband and son when the camera came out!!!





A little dollop of creme fraiche to mellow out all the flavours....




I needn't tell you what I endured from the aforementioned company when I embellished the place setting with a small,embossed card I found in Florence and inserted it in a small cast acorn!!!!!!

...however I am bigger than that, and after clearing away all my embellishments, my nesting instincts paid off...

The roasted squash soup was a hit!

If you are interested in the recipe, email me and I will be happy to share it!

N.xo 
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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Cozy

Brrrr.....winter has officially arrived here in Jordan, and after enjoying some balmy temperatures for the holidays, our woods are wearing their winter cloak.....


....in the minus temperatures today, and my thoughts are turning to snuggling up and getting cozy around the house....



Would just love to lie around in my bed today and snuggle up under some quilts and wool blankets which I can't seem to get enough of....




Quilts of all shapes and colours have found their way into my home....




....but over the last year I have been collecting pure wool blankets for their sheer coziness and texture.


I love the way they feel, soft and luxurious really, but I have been noticing how beautiful the tags sewn inside the borders are also....



When I come across one at auction or antique sales, I look at the tag, as well as the condition they are in, as the tag is always so telling and original...


....like this one from Germany....


...and this beautiful one from Vermont...


Quilts and pure wool blankets are the best combination for cuddling and snuggling when it gets chilly out there....


....still thinking about that bed....


I have used damaged quilts to upholster chairs and ottomans...here a blue ticking was employed for the piping in a vintage rocker and an old matelasse bedspread for the backing and cushion.


A beautiful red toile, in a large cushion for snuggling in my family room...

from Pottery Barn...


Here a foot stool is recovered in a red toile , and more coziness, layered with a quilt made of red ticking, one of my favourites.


Another vintage chair downstairs wears a lovely yellow quilt, pure coziness, to snuggle near the fire.




...more layering....


This red toile quilt is starting to show some signs of wear, we all use it to snuggle under in the family room.  I keep it there to counter the cool texture of a red leather couch...




This lovely toile quilt is in my bedroom, and I add layers with vintage bark cloth, chenille, and pieced work in the pillows...very cozy!







...a very unusual chenille bedspread with a pom pom fringe and a lovely blue colour...what a find this was for me.....




 



This throw is very special and was made for me by my maternal grandmother and sent to me from Italy as a wedding gift...look at the gorgeous fringe..it is made from silk threads....




More layers for warming up a cold winter day....








Even if it is blustery and cold outside, quilts and heirloom wool blankets offer a promise of old fashioned warmth and coziness for any home....

N.xo
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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Anticipation


...all God's creatures great and small.....


....anticipating promise, hope, love and health and happiness....



....to one and all.....for the coming New Year.

N.xo
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Rose's Exquisite Creations



I am very happy to have reconnected after some time, of course through blogging, with the artist of the lovely Father Christmas figures featured several posts ago. 




Many of you have inquired about them....her name is Rose Dolhanyk, a very well known and documented doll artist and miniturist.

After several years, I found Rose through Google and was happy to also find she has a blog,

rosedolhanyksantas.blogspot.com



You will be delighted with your visit......


 

I have cherished my collection for over twenty years, since I first found her...you may also email


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