Happy To Design: May 2011

5/31/2011

Lilacs in the Living Room

Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!

We have had a very cool spring here in Colorful Colorado and the lilacs were late to bloom. I'm always so anxious to clip a few blooms to bring into the house. This week the lilacs were finally ready and I made a large bouquet in one of my white pitchers. Thought I would share them with you for Marty's Table Top Tuesday party!

Here we are in my living room. This sofa table sits in front of a large window. This table top vignette can be seen from the front of our home so I always try to keep something pretty there!

A fresh bouquet of lilacs for the living room.
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At first I placed the pitcher full of lilacs on the small table that sits in the conversation area of my living room. Very pretty!

but then...

I moved the bouquet to the sofa table that sits in front of the large window. Much better!!!

Ahhh...lilacs!

One of my favorite flowers! I just swoon over the beautiful shades of purple and lavender...and ohhh...that heavenly scent...simply divine!!!*

And Voila...a fresh lilac bouquet for my living room! I hope you enjoyed!

*I am joining in with Table Top Tuesday today...*

Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.

Thank you, Marty...for hosting this fabulous party for us!

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Well my friends, I am still just as busy as ever but I thought I would do this quick little post today. My dearest friend Gloria from Happy To Be blog will be here this Thursday! Gloria and her sweet honey Len will be here for an entire week...I'm so excited! So I am taking a little blogging break but will be back soon!

Thank you so much for coming by...I always enjoy your visits!

Warmest Wishes!

5/28/2011

Sunday Favorites...No. 103

Welcome to the 103rd "Sunday Favorites"

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! For more information on how to republish a past post just click HERE.

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Hello my friends!!!

Welcome to the 103rd run of "Sunday Favorites"
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Happy Memorial Day!!!

I hope that you're having a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! I am so thankful for our great country! I am also very thankful for all the brave service men and women who serve and fight for this great country and for our freedom..for those who are presently serving...and for all who have served in times past! My oldest grandson Antonio Jr. is presently serving in the United States Air Force. I'm so very proud of him! Thank you, dear Grandson and God Bless America!!!
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Well my friends...I have been a busy little bee! My step-son and daughter have been here visiting. They are moving out of state very soon and this will probably be the last time that we will get to have them for this summer. I haven't really spent much time at the computer...we have just been enjoying the kids!
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and...
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Next week, my dearest friend Gloria (from Happy To Be blog) and her husband Len...will be flying out to see us! I'm soooo excited! Gloria and I first met at HGTV's Rate My Space...that was three years ago. Last April...Gloria, Len, Russ and I met up in Las Vegas for the "13th Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly weekend". We had a great time and I felt so very blessed to be able to meet my dear friend...in person! Gloria and Len will be spending an entire week with us. There are a few car shows (for the guys) on the agenda and a possible trip to up to the mountains. Gloria and I are just looking forward to being able to visit!
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Soooo...my dear friends, as you can see, I have been...and will be...very, very busy! In fact, I haven't even had the chance to visit everyone from the last Sunday Favorites party. I am sooo sorry! I decided to go forth with the Sunday Favorites party this week but
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I am going to cancel the Sunday Favorites party for June 5th.
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In the meantime, I hope that you will enjoy the post that I am revisiting for this week's Sunday Favorites party. I'm not sure if I will be able to get around to all of the fabulous posts that you will be sharing for the party this week or not. If not...please forgive me and know that it's because I am just crazy-busy!
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Take care, dear friends and I will see you soon!

Have a super Sunday!!!
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Just a little note: Sunday Favorites Criteria
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When I first started the Sunday Favorites meme, my initial thought was to offer a solution for getting a post out on the weekend without having to spend alot of time doing so...weekends are just a busy time for most of us! Copying and pasting a previous post is so quick and easy. Not only is this a quick and easy solution to the busy weekends, but it's also an opportunity to dig back into our blog archives and share a favorite "past" post once again! Many of us spend alot of time and effort creating a post and it just seems a shame that it is viewed only once and then forgotten about!
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I would like to reiterate that Sunday Favorites is a meme about sharing or revisiting a post from the PAST!
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Thank you!!!

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Instructions for Participating in Sunday Favorites

If you are participating in Sunday Favorites, please be sure to add your permalink and not your general blog address.

Please copy and paste the Sunday Favorites logo button to your Sunday Favorites post or your sidebar so your visitors will know that you are participating. Also...please link back to the host blog, Happy To Design. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful blogs that are participating.

Please do not add your link below, until your Sunday Favorites post is actually published to your blog.

Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

Sunday Favorites

My favorite post from: April 27, 2009

It's "2nd Time Around Tuesday"...

Hello my friends...welcome to "2nd Time Around Tuesday"!

This fun filled Tuesday event is hosted by our very own Diane over at A Picture Is Worth A 1000 Words. Why don't you go on over and see what Diane has for us today and while you're there...you can check out all of the other fabulous "2nd Time Around" treasures!!!

My "2nd Time Around" Treasure...

I may be stretching this post a bit today. The treasure that I would like to share with you wasn't found at a yard sale or bought at a thrift store, however this little treasure is certainly being enjoyed for the "2nd Time Around"!!! So I hope that counts!

The Calla Lily & The Stained Glass Window

Ahhh...my calla lily is blooming! In fact, I thought I better catch a photo before the bloom sees its better days. This little plant has three blooms on it right now, sorry...you can only see two in the photo!

As pretty as the calla lily is....this isn't my "2nd Time Around" treasure! Just look at the beautiful...colorful...background behind the calla lily! This is what I really wanted to share with you today!

The Stained Glass Window

This beautiful stained glass window was made by my husband's mother, Mary Alice, who has gone on to be with the Lord. Mary Alice was such a creative and talented lady! She enjoyed so many different arts & crafts. Mary decided to take a stained glass class...and during the last few years of her life she made many, many beautiful pieces of stained glass! She became so good at her craft that a few gift shops sold some of her pieces!

I just love the bright orange and green parrots!!! It's such a colorful piece!!! I decided to put this in the window of our office! It's simply magnificent to see the bright colors dance around the room as the sunlight shines through the window!!! I feel so blessed to have one of my mother-in-law's works of art! It is a "2nd Time Around" treasure that I absolutely cherish!!!
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A close-up of the calla lily...*

5/21/2011

Sunday Favorites...No. 102

Welcome to the 102nd "Sunday Favorites"

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! For more information on how to republish a past post just click HERE.

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Hello my friends!!!

Welcome to the 102nd run of "Sunday Favorites"

I hope that you're having a wonderful weekend! Honey and I are in Kansas attending a car show. We go to this specific car show every year...it's always a blast! Sooo...I am not at home but I have scheduled this week's Sunday Favorites post (written last Thursday)...hoping that all will go as planned without any glitches! I won't be able to check in till late Sunday night. I'm looking forward to visiting with all of you on Monday!
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For this week's Sunday Favorites party, I thought I would share a post from August of 2009. I hope that you enjoy!

Have a super Sunday!!!
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Just a little note: Sunday Favorites Criteria
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I would like to reiterate that Sunday Favorites is a meme about sharing or revisiting a post from the PAST!
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Thank you!!!

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Instructions for Participating in Sunday Favorites

If you are participating in Sunday Favorites, please be sure to add your permalink and not your general blog address.

Please do not add your link below, until your Sunday Favorites post is actually published to your blog.

Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

Sunday Favorites

My favorite post from: August 30, 2009

It's A Blue Mosaic Monday...
With an Update!

Hello my friends! It's time for Blue Monday with a blue mosaic! Blue Monday is hosted by our very own Sally over at Smiling Sally. Thank you, Sally for hosting Blue Monday! Please drop by Sally's and see the beautiful blue that she has for us today and while you're there...please visit the other Blue Monday participants!

For today's Blue Monday post...I created a mosaic so that I could join in the mosaic party hosted by Mary over at Little Red House. Mary, thank you so much for hosting Mosaic Monday...I've had so much fun making photos mosaics!!! You won't want to miss Mary's fabulous mosaics that she has created for us today...please pay her a visit and check out all of the other mosaics created by participating bloggers!

............Ahhhh....The Blues of Provence!!!

Ohhhh....those beautiful frenchy blues!!!

All of the photos in the mosiac that I created were taken in Provence, France (photos courtesy of the internet). Provence is a region of southeastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. I have had the privilege of traveling through this beautiful region...ohhhh so beautiful! When I think of Provence...I think of the famous European/French painters...like Paul Cézanne who was born in Aix-en Provence. Other well known artists...Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, and even Van Gogh spent time painting in Provence! And...what did so many of their famous works from this region...have in common?
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BLUE!!!...the soft baby blues of the sky...the aqua blues of the water...the vibrant blues of the provencal linens ...and the earthy blues of the grapes! * *
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Sooo many fabulous frenchy shades of blue!!!
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Isn't it funny...when I think of France...I think of blue....

and I think of the fleur de lis!!!*

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My New Frenchy Blue China

Lamberton Fine China
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Ohhhh...I am so excited to share with you today...my new fabulous frenchy find! This beautiful blue china was manufactured by Lamberton China USA and the pattern is called "Puritan".

Photo of the manufacturers mark...
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History of Lamberton Fine China

*I was really curious...I had never heard of this china manufacturer before so after doing a little research...this is what I found. Lamberton Works was founded in Trenton, New Jersey along the Delaware River in 1869. Later purchased by Maddock Pottery Company, and then by Scammel China Company in 1901. Scammel continued to use the Lamberton name on some of the pieces. Lamberton china is considered fine-grade semi-porcelain and avidly collected.

I was doing a little "window shopping" on ebay a couple of weeks ago and ran into this beautiful china. It was love at first sight!!! I love, love, LOVE the pretty fleur de lis and laurel garland....Ohhhh, and the beautiful shade of blue!!! To me...it just doesn't get more "frenchy" than this...blue and the fleur de lis!!! A fruit basket surrounded by laurel garland can be seen in the center of the plates. There is just a hint of yellow on the fruit and tips of the laurel.
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A close-up...
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I found six bread and butter plates for a total of $9.00.

and

six dinner plates for $8.00 ea.
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I thought this was an extremely great deal...considering the bread and butter plates sell for $9.99 ea. at China Replacements Ltd. The dinner plates sell for $29.99 ea. Now I'm looking for other pieces to complete this pattern! In the meantime, I can use them with my white ironstone.
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A couple of great books...especially if you like French Country decor.
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"Country French Living" by Charles Faudree.
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"Creating the French Look" by Annie Sloan.*
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...Now for the Update...
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A couple of weeks after I found the Lamberton "Puritan" china with the beautiful blue "fleur de lis" on them...I found another set of Lamberton China on ebay...and just had to have them!!! Ohhhh...they are soooo beautiful!!!
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*Up for auction was a set of six dinner plates...I only paid $15.00! I just couldn't believe my good fortune...just look at these beauties!!!

I just love the beautiful "french" blue banding...and ohhhh...look at the gorgeous gold gilding! I adore the frenchy scrolled pattern!!!

Close-up of the beautiful gilded scrolls!

The ebay listing mentioned that this was a very "rare" pattern. I'm wondering...I have searched and searched the internet (including China Replacements Ltd.) to no avail. I cannot find this pattern anywhere. If anyone knows anything about it...I sure would appreciate you letting me know!

This is the manufacturers mark on the back of the china...it is definitely Lamberton China but it doesn't have a pattern name???

Now...for the sweet reveal!!!

*The photo above pictures the new Lamberton china dinner plate with a bread and butter plate from the Lamberton "Puritan" pattern.

I just couldn't believe that they both had the exact same color of french blue banding...and if you look...you'll see that the Puritan "fleur de lis" pattern has the gold gilded bands around its edges!

These two patterns just look like they belong together...don't they?

I was so excited when I found this second set of dinner plates on ebay!!! Now I can mix and match them for a tablescape!!!
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Ahhhh...those frenchy provencal blues!!!

I just love it!!! I can't wait to set a french table with my new china!!!
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The two Lamberton China dinner plates...side by side!
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Well my friends...thank you so much for coming by and taking a peek at my newest "treasure find"...I was so excited to share them with you!!! Don't forget to go by Sally's place for Blue Monday and Mary's for Mosaic Monday!!!
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Love ya'll,
Chari

5/18/2011

Lilacs and Tea...

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a marvelous day!
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I'd love for you to join me for a little refreshment....
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Just taking a little time out of the day to relax...
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Ahhh...the scent of freshly cut lilacs...is there anything better?
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Hmmm...maybe sitting down for a cup of tea with the scent of lilacs filling the air? Yes...I'm thinking that it doesn't get any better than this!!!
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Today I have prepared tea in my french country dining room!

Lilacs...A Tea Table Centerpiece

A white ironstone pitcher filled with a large bouquet of freshly cut lilacs is elevated upon a pedestal cake plate that I covered with a lacy doily. On either side of the lilac bouquet, you will find a white pillar candle in a candleholder with pretty dangling crystals...they seem to fit perfectly with the lilacs! I have set my new cloche (a gift from my friend Gloria)...on a pretty lacy charger plate...for a little something "pretty" to look at while having tea! A stack of pretty teacups are peeking out at us from under the cloche!
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One white ironstone teacup along with two olive green transferware teacups are stacked so sweetly under the pretty cloche!
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My newest white teapot...elevated on a pretty pedestal cake plate!
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I love the shape of this pretty teapot...and ohhh, just look at the pretty scalloped edge at the top! I found this sweet little teapot at TJ Maxx for just $7.99! The pedestal cake plate with the reticulated edge also came from TJ Maxx. I love that store! Hehe! I wove two ribbons through the edges of the cake plate...a white organza ribbon and a thinner light green ribbon.
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A white ironstone sugar and creamer...I love my ironstone!!!
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Special Handcrafted "Just for Me" Teacups...

These teacups are very special to me...my mama made them for me many, many years ago! I thought the lavender colored grapes on the cups would look pretty with the bouquet of lilacs! There is a matching bowl as well...you can see it in the bottom right-hand side of the photo (there is a better pic of it down below). I just love the pretty ruffly edges on this bowl!
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Once again I have used one of my "Cluny Lace" charger plates as a tray for the teacups. They are sitting atop a new white linen napkin that has the prettiest little flowers embroidered on it!
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I love the pretty lavender colored grapes and green leaves...and ohhh, those beautiful grapevine handles!!! I also just adore the fluted lines on the feet of the teacups!
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Just a couple photos of the candleholders...I love how the dangling crystals are catching the sunlight! Sooo pretty with the lavender lilacs in the background...don't you think?
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Ahhh...here is the matching bowl to the teacups! Isn't it beautiful?
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New Linens...Floral Vine

I found these beautiful napkins at Bumble Bee Linens (online). They are actually little guest towels but I am using them for napkins today. I love, love, LOVE the gorgeous floral vine embroidery and elegant drawnwork of these linens!!!
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A close-up photo of the pretty "spring green" colored napkins.

My sweet Grandma made these beautiful embroidered napkins for me when I was just 17 yrs. old! They are one of my most precious treasures!!! I have had them out in my dining room since I used the "spring green" in my spring and summer decor this year!
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Ahhhh...lilacs!!!
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Well sweet friends...I'm sooo glad that you stayed for a little refreshment...thank you for coming by!!!
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**PS...This post is a reprise...first published in June of 2010. I thought I would share this with you today. My lilacs, presently, are just beginning to bloom. Spring has been unusually cold this year in Colorful Colorado...everything is blooming later than usual. Hopefully I can share this year's lilacs with you very soon!*

I am joining these fabulous parties...*