{GHP} A blue and white infusion

30 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Collections & Accessories, Misc, Trends

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I’m revisiting this post so I can join Pink Pagoda for her blue and white link party (originally published 2/9/12).

Since it’s raining here and since it’s only 5 days until St. Valentine’s Day when most of us will be thinking shades of pink and red, I thought I’d provide an infusion of blue and white.

Martha Stewart

What is it about the combination of blue and white that appeals to so many? Its classic—I mean it’s never experienced the phrase “So dated!” of say dusty rose and sage green (remember how we all admired that combination even if we didn’t use it?) of the eighties, or chocolate brown and white of the seventies (When I was first married everything had to be chocolate brown and white). Blue and white clearly knows a popularity that remains timeless.

French Kissed

I have a few touches of blue and white in my home and a guest room that is blue and white, but I’ve never been able to afford the complete switch. You know how it is, you get down a path with one color palate and to change would involve some pretty major discarding of items that no longer compliment the blue and white theme, I’ve never been able to convince myself that I want it that bad. And I don’t mean I have to have everything matchy-matchy, but I do like some cohesion where my color palate is concerned…is this just me?

Color Outside the Lines

Classic Casual Home

So, for now, I’ll dream in blue and white and delight in the images I find on the various blogs I enjoy reading each week. I hope you’ll indulge me and maybe get as much pleasure as I do from the clean, crisp look of blue and white in the home.

Lori Tippens Interiors

Tobi Fairley

Joe Minton Designs

Veranda

Ralph Lauren, Jamaica

Belclaire House

The Enchanted Home

Traditional Home, Joseph Minton

Do you long for a different color palate for your home?

I’m linking to The Pink Pagoda for her blue and white party…take a peek.

{GHP} Autumn favorites, II

25 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Fall Entertaining and Decorations, Halloween, Holidays, House and Home

≈ 30 Comments

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Autumn

Note of Appreciation: Some time ago my blog friend Leslie of Around the Table had a giveaway. Winner would receive one of the fabulous candle holders called Glassybaby. These beauties are made in Seattle and come in nearly every color under the sun. Well, imagine my delight and surprise, I won. {Thank you Leslie} If you’ve not already discovered Around the Table blog site, stop by. Leslie shares fabulous design ideas, great (and healthy) recipes and skin care information. Did I mention she has a degree in nutrition and is a licensed medical aesthetician. Most importantly, her posts are always useful and fun!

Glassybaby as displayed in Leslie’s kitchen.

→Hi Everyone. I feel so much better. Seriously, to those readers that host a blog, don’t you sometimes feel like you’ve run out of ideas for a new post…in fact, I sometimes think, “what frivolous topics I gab on about, what am I thinking?” That’s what vacations are for. The break brought home that the fun of this is the blog friends and readers that check in, even if they don’t comment, and the creative wheels that turn each time I work on a post. So, thank you for your interest, friendship (of an internet variety) and support. I so appreciate it.

Are we there yet…has autumn arrived? I don’t care if it is still warmer than ideal fall weather should be, I’m sharing my annual autumn favorites. [It reminds me of back-to-school, when the new sweater was worn that first week back because you loved it and didn’t care if it was 90 degrees outside]

If you missed my fall favorites last year, have a look. You’ll see I haven’t changed much of what appeals to me about the season, other than to add additional images. 10 photographs just wouldn’t allow me all that I love about this time of year.

I always pause before stating this is my favorite season because when spring comes around, I think this is my favorite season! But it’s September 25th and I’m looking forward to the short weeks from now when I can expect to wear turtleneck sweaters, put a fire in the fireplace, have a casserole in the oven and a hot beverage in my hand.

Enjoy!

Have you visited this shop yet? Check it out ~ terrain

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Sitting by a fire, what could be more cozy? Having reason to stay indoors and read a book or two, one more reason to love cooler weather.

{above 3 images :: tumblr}

I love turtleneck sweaters…this is definitely a reason to love autumn/winter.

Fall/Winter means comfort food for me. I use portion control to avoid winter waist expansion, but here are a couple of recipes that you might enjoy when it cools down…

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Maybe a ride in the convertible (that I don’t own) with Madison…

Finally, the promise of Christmas and…

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…on January 5th in the U.S, the return of Downton Abbey

Do you have a favorite season or a favorite thing about each season?

HAPPY AUTUMN

I’m joining in the fun: Savvy Southern Style, Wow us Wednesday and Stone Gable Tips and Tidbits

{GHP} Vintage essentials, typewriters, cameras…etc.

04 Wednesday Sep 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Antiques, Collections & Accessories

≈ 25 Comments

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vintage essentials

This post is dedicated to our oldest son, Kyle, our daughter-in-law, Jamie and our other daughter-in-law, Sarah…Happy Birthday all! It’s like Christmas in September for our family {September 1, 2, and 4}. ♥

What is it about old things for some of us?

Is it the history and/or story we conjure up in our imaginations? As far back as I can remember I have always liked vintage items. Sometimes the piece is something not made any more and that extra bit of rust feels like well-earned signs of survival to me.

I don’t have one of these (above) anymore, but I hear there is a resurgence of their use and as a result there are shops that service them. The older ones are popular when used as display, the lovely black keys and upright design is classic.

I confess, I love the ease of using a computer to compose letters or documents, but the appeal of an old typewriter stays with me.

We were given some old binoculars when my father-in-law passed away. He always maintained all of his essentials. The black leather binocular case is in excellent shape and the glasses themselves still work well. Yes, there are cool, high powered, compact and slick versions on the market, but there is something so dear to me about reusing something a family member treasured.

The small opera glasses, a gift from a friend of my mother’s, next to my father-in-laws case, are also treasured for their vintage look and the aging brass and black detailing.

Cameras, don’t get me started, digital is way better. That said, the 8mm movie camera used to document my childhood vacations and birthdays still conjures up lovely memories. Our oldest son keeps that camera on display in his office. *At this point, I’d like to point out how fortunate I feel by the fact that both of our sons and both daughters-in-law, have an abiding appreciation for antiques and family treasures.

You have to admit, while way too bulky for today’s streamlined style, some of the old cameras are so fascinating, with their extra dials, cranks and lenses.

So, to wrap up my wanderings down memory lane, I come to music. An essential to me. Does anyone remember this?

I loved my Sony Walkman. Now I use this, in fact this is an all-in-one essential for many of us.

I try to look forward, after all, that is the direction I’m headed, but I confess, sometimes it’s fun to stop and remember some of the past essentials, don’t you agree?

Do you have an essential you wish they still manufactured?

Perfect timing for my topic…Leslie over at Around the Table is offering a giveaway of a special candle made by a company called Glassybaby. (Candles are so classic and even though I wouldn’t give up electricity, there is a special light given off by candles) Drop by Around the Table and enter to win. You’ll love Leslie’s site, it always inspires me and she takes us on some of the best tours of Washington state.

I’m joining RJ over at Art@Home for her Happy Party and Savvy Southern Style for her Wow us Wednesdays with this post. Stop by for a visit.

Image sources: 1. tumblr 2/9,10. tumblr 3-5; 11, 12. tumblr 6. Bethany House/foyer 7. Beach Chic via Design Chic 8. tumblr 13. tumblr 14. tumblr 15. Patrick Ahearn Architect

As most of you know, summer isn’t my favorite season, it’s not even my second favorite. I’ve been fortunate this summer to experience cooler than usual summer weather for the most part and for that I am thankful. Typically, by the end of August I’m over sleeveless blouses and capri pants, and ready for a light weight sweater, jeans and even boots! So to avoid whining through most of September, when a hot, windy Santa Ana is blowing through, I’m taking a vacation. I’ll see you September 25 with my focus on AUTUMN…one of my favorite seasons. Back-to-school, the occasional crisp day, a casserole in the oven and maybe a fire in the fireplace, if I’m lucky.

Karen

{Party} Dishes, a passion or illness?

02 Monday Sep 2013

Posted by Karen B. in Entertaining

≈ 16 Comments

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Dinnerware

Note: In order to join Alison at The Polohouse for her Favorites on the First, what’s your favorite dish pattern, I had to dig into my archives. Please note that this was originally posted May 7, 2010.

I should have seen the signs—when my husband and I married, 37 years ago (by the way, I was a child bride {smile}) I registered for everyday dishes and for a pottery that would serve as my china. Both sets were Dansk patterns. Dansk designs were popular in the early seventies. The pattern Bistro reflected the earthy look that was popular during the day. It was a simple plate that was the color of chocolate chip ice cream and had a double band of chocolate brown on the outer edge of the plate. The china substitute was an all white pottery that I believe (my memory on this is a little fuzzy, probably because Dansk discontinued the pattern before I could amass more than 4 place settings) was called Basketweave for it’s basket weave white on white edge.

Grandma’s China

Bottom line, Dansk discontinued several items I had registered for, including my crystal and that’s my excuse for the dish addiction I am afflicted with—I hear there is no cure.

After being married a few years I decided that I had made an error in not registering for fine china—my husband worked for Xerox at the time and they had a sales contest where you could earn points that could be cashed in for goods. As a result I ended up with Lenox, Autumn for my china and Wallace Grand Baroque as my sterling silver flatware—all thanks to my husbands hard work and Xerox, thank you very much.

I eventually tired of the chocolate brown trimmed dishes, one of the symptoms of the dish disease, and stumbled upon Portmeirion, Botanic Garden. You will be surprised to learn that I used them for 20 years before deciding I really wanted the following patterns, not all at once but over a period of about 15 years: Villeroy & Boch patterns: Audun, Chambord (a very simple off-white) and Petite Fleur. Blue and white dishes came in the form of Churchill Blue Willow (a lucky find on eBay). I then inherited my grandmother’s china (shown above), imprinted with RC Made in Japan (if anyone knows more about this manufacturer I’d love to hear from you). Her pattern is lovely and is a white bone china with a gold band and tiny violets scattered on the plates.

By this time in the illness, I realized if I only bought dinner plates I would be happy and I could use white salad plates and accessories. Please understand, I didn’t want to part with any of the patterns when I set my sites on a new pattern. I truly enjoyed using each and every pattern for different seasons and celebrations.

Churchill Blue Willow