SEWING/PROJECT ROOM

  In 1961 when we first got out of college and had real jobs, I took part of my paycheck each month for a year and bought Ethan Allen furniture.  This was a great investment for our home -- over the years this modular furniture has been used in the living room, den, and while our son was growing up used in his bedroom.  When he left home 25 years ago, I claimed it as mine for my sewing/project room.  I've been fortunate that for most of my 53 years of marriage I have had a dedicated sewing/project room of my own.  Sometimes it has been as small as a closet, but for the last 32 years I've had a nice-sized bedroom to call the sewing room.

I thought that today we would take a tour of my sewing/project room to see what it looks like now and how it functions just for ME.

As you walk in the door, the first thing is my great-grandmother's desk.  I use it mostly for storage now, but the front folds down to use for extra table space when needed.

 As we move around the room, you start to see the Ethan Allen furniture.  It fills one full wall and wraps around the two adjoining walls -- bookcases and storage galore!  There are eight separate pieces bought one piece at a time.

 Continuing on around, the units wrap around to the third wall.  Over the years, I've added baskets to multiply the storage capacity.  That green mat is my rotary cutting area.

 Then, as we move around to the fourth wall you see my sewing machine corner.  I know it isn't a very big table, but I've sewn a million miles and made many, many quilts there.  I even wrote two quilting books by hand on it (before I  rewrote them on the computer).  The little red table beside my table was used by my grandchildren for their projects while I was busy sewing.  My 15-year-old granddaughter still likes to sit there to draw and talk to me.

 And yes, it always looks this picked up.  After every little project I clean it up, and put everything back in its place.  I've always worked best in this manner.  That is why storage is such an important part of my room.  Not all is neat and organized, however -- this is a basket full of trims.

 The drawers are organized, however.

 This bookcase holds my quilting books and some of my decorating books. The three little suitcases on top are from my childhood, and still hold my doll clothes.

 This bookcase is mostly full of cookbooks.  I don't like to cook and I'm not a creative cook -- I need all the help I can get!

 And, finally the closet -- this is where I store my quilting scraps and my notebooks and slides for all of the quilt classes I used to teach.  Someday, I need to get rid of a lot of this; but not yet.  Just hanging on to the past plus every once in awhile, I need a scrap of quilting fabric for a project!

I've always loved having a space of my own.  I realized recently how much -- the room was torn up for Bob to give it a new coat of paint and to add crown molding.  But, it's all back together now --  clean and ready for another project!


I'll be joining the following parties this week.  Check them out for a bunch of inspiration.
Northern Cottage for Partytime Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
No Minimalist Here for Thursday Open House
Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

A FAVORITE VIGNETTE

Alison at The Polohouse is having her monthly 'Favorites on the  First' party and the theme for March 1 is 'Our Favorite Vignette'.  I thought about this for awhile and realized that my favorite is really simple and meaningful.  

This is a fairly large toolbox that originally belonged to my grandfather, then my father.  It is full of dings and wonderful patina, so there is no problem putting our feet up on it!  We use it as a coffee table in the living room.  

I blogged here and here about this large brown transferware washbowl that came from my maternal great-grandparent's homestead.  The three candlesticks are really disc spacers from the farm equipment salvage yard - a reminder of growing up on a farm.

 During the various holidays, it is easy to add to this simple vignette.  Since Easter is coming up, I have added Victorian milk glass Easter eggs that belonged to my great-grandmother and an iron cross.

 Everything in this vignette is a reminder of those that came before me -- all pioneers on the prairies of Colorado.

I hope you check out The Polohouse for more favorite vignettes on Thursday, March l, plus I'll be joining these other great parties:
Very Merry Vintage Style for Share the Love Wednesday
No Minimalist Here for Thursday Open House
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
A Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

MORE A.M. BROWN TRANSFERWARE

Last week, I posted about my love affair with Aesthetic Movement brown transferware.  That post may be viewed here, if desired.  Continuing on with some more of my collection----
Below is a collage of a couple of pieces of Copeland transferware.  The piece on the upper left is a pedestal dish, and the one on the right is a soup bowl.  They have the same intricate border, but the inner transfers are different.  Just this past weekend at an antique mall in Denver, I saw another piece in this pattern with yet a third inner decoration.  It was $23 for a 5" plate, which is more than I like to pay for a little plate, so I walked away.   Regrets????  Maybe a little!!!

I've included this little bowl to show you one of the different shades of brown that was manufactured.

I would love to find more of this pattern called 'Stag' - it has it all:  Nature, 'Cookies', and great geometric patterns.  If you look at the top image of the collage, you will see the imperfection during the application of the transfer.

This cute little tureen must have been made for sauces, as it is only about 6" in size - pretty florals and details on the three handles.

It is really the details of the Aesthetic Movement that hold my attention.  Check out the pictures below for some of that amazing detail.

And, where do I keep all of this yummy deliciousness.  I have two plate racks.  This one is in the living room.

And, this one is in the dining room.

Plus, I have some bowls sitting around to just enjoy.  The rest of my collection is hidden away waiting for their time to come out and shine.  When they do, I'll continue this series. 

I'll be joining the following parties.  Please check these blogs out for lots of inspiration and to thank them for hosting.
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Very Merry Vintage Style for Share the Love Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesdays
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
White Ironstone Cottage for Treasure Chest Friday
2805 for Potpourri Friday

AESTHETIC MOVEMENT BROWN TRANSFERWARE

Yesterday I received an email from Debra at Common Ground. You all probably know Debra for her successful Friday vintage inspiration party and her wonderful blog.  She was wondering if I could come up with a post today about my collection of Aesthetic Movement brown transferware.  Over the years I've posted snippets of my collection as I've found pieces, but she thought a comprehensive look was in order.  

I thought I would start with my absolute favorite piece in my collection.  It is a favorite on so many levels.  First, it is just a wonderful example of the aesthetic movement (1870-1900).  It has Asian-influenced scenes with asymmetric geometric patterns plus a plethora of nature designs.  Second, this wash bowl is huge at 15" in diameter and makes quite a statement.  But, thirdly, this is a family piece that I waited through two, cold days to bid on when my great-grandparent's homestead was at auction.  I remember their farmhouse without indoor plumbing; so I know this wash bowl was used again and again.  The fact that it survived for me to bid on was special enough!!

  Below, is a collage of the details and the mark on the bottom of this wash bowl.

 My collection has been amassed over a period of 15 years, and most of the pieces were at bargain prices.  Among one of my first purchases was this Beatrice platter.  It is always fun to find a piece with the kite mark that you see in the upper right corner because it contains the date of manufacture in code.  

 Most of the pieces I have that I'm able to date are from the 1870s and 1880s and come from a variety of manufacturers.  The little scenes that are pictured with borders are sometimes referred to as 'cookies'.

 This pitcher is about 14" tall and I also bought this at my family's homestead auction.

 I love the eagle on this big platter.

 A covered tureen purchased in Texas.

 I have eight pieces of this pattern that I got in Albuquerque, New Mexico several years ago -- it was a good day at $30 for ALL eight pieces.

A soup bowl in the Formosa pattern. 

 Peacocks were often a symbol of the Aesthetic Movement.  This soup bowl has both a kite and an incised mark.

The Perak pattern is popular, and has great 'cookies' on it. 

 I saw this platter the same day that I bought the eight pieces in Albuquerque; but I had already spent my wad, so had to leave it there.  I went back one year later, and it was still there; so I bought it that time.

 I have several jugs - this large one was purchased in Colorado.

 And, the smaller one just like it was bought in Maine a couple of years later.

 This jug was purchased at Round Top, Texas in 2006.

 My collection includes everything from chamber pots to butter pats.

And gravy boats with scenes of nature.

That's PART of my collection.  I'll save the rest for another day.  Thanks to Debra for interest in my addiction.  Be sure to stop by her blog and enjoy Vintage Inspiration Friday.

THIS, THAT, AND THE OTHER

 It has been awhile since I posted about the activity in the Salmagundi workshop (Bob's garage!).  Above, is a picture of a clock given to us by good friends to either keep or sell.  It required a little cleanup in the workshop plus a trip to the clock repair shop for cleaning and adjustment of the clock workings.  It is over 100 years old and is from Germany, but has French workings.  The face and pendulum is beautiful copper and engraved with wonderful Art Nouveau designs; and it has the most mellow chime on the hour and half-hour.  Needless to say, it is a keeper and currently hanging in our living room.  Bob, also, restored an organ stool, a sewing table, and a mirror; then sold them for these friends.  Somehow, we missed photographing those items.  From the same friends came this oak hall beveled mirror.  It just needed some cleaning and the mirror secured.

 It has these great hooks, and is hanging in our guest room.

 I don't know if I have shown this hanger from Paris before, but it was a great find at an estate sale.  We haven't stayed at the Grand Hotel, but have stayed in the Saint Lazare area of Paris before.

Below is an Estey child's organ brought in by a woman wanting the case restored.  After doing some research, we found out that this black & gold finish was original, but beyond repair as shown in the first collage.

So, Bob was able to recreate the original finish and repair the pedals for her.

Last Fall, Bob found this set of original Thonet chairs at a yard sale.  He finally finished them up this past week after taking each one completely apart, regluing, and restoring the finish.

They are currently at the consignment shop for resale.

This was another Fall project -- an old record player cabinet.

And now, repurposed as a great storage piece.  We don't often choose to paint furniture.  It seems in our small rural and mountain community that natural wood sells better.  However, this piece sold right away, so we may try more painted finishes as we find some suitable projects.

A before shot of this cedar chest escaped us; but the chest finished up really nice as shown below and sold immediately.

And, FINALLY, Happy Valentine's Day to our favorite heart tuggers (AKA the grandchildren).  Caitlin & Wyatt, you make everyday special.

Also, Happy l0th Birthday, Wyatt.  You were the best Valentine present, EVER.

I'll be joining the following parties this week.  Please visit these blogs to check out all of the inspiration offered.

Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday

My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday Treasures

Restore Interiors for Restored it Wednesday

The Shabby Creek Cottage for Transformation Thursday

Miss Mustard Seed for Furniture Feature Friday