Tick Tock Goes The Clocks

"Hook" is one of my all time movies and I honestly cannot tell you how many times our family has watched it over the years. One of my favorite scenes is when Dustin Hoffman (Hook) enters a room of ticking clocks and his moustache twitches to each tick-tock of the clocks. Unfortunately, as most mean pirates do, he foolishly smashed the precious clocks. Now you won't find any pirate behavior here at my house with my little clocks!

There is something just sweet and nostalgic about old clocks. I have started a little collection of Lux and Lux Keebler clocks. These are tiny little clocks that were manufactured in the 1930's by Lux Clock, Co. The Lux Keebler clocks are smaller and were made for children's rooms.



The clock on the top left side is of Rudolph and the one below is of a bird.
The sizes range from 4 inches to about 6 inches. You have to visit this site (click on this) and it will take you to the largest Lux Clock collection I have ever seen. This couple has an amazing collection - probably every single design made! I have six clocks - soon to be seven as I won a cute one on eBay the other day. Below is one of my favorites with two Wheaten Scotties on each side and a black Scottie head that moves back and fourth.
Below a little bluebird moves towards her nest of little babies to feed them. (You can click on the picture to enlarge it for the details).
Another sweet piece that is simple but very detailed. Lux and Lux Keebler clocks can be found on eBay or Ruby Lane. Not all of my clocks work, however they are just so sweet to look at. When shopping for one, be sure to note any missing pieces. Sometimes the hands, pendulum or chains will be missing.
My hydrangeas are just about ready to cut back and I picked these the other day and added them to a little thrift store find - a sweet old pitcher with a dainty rose in muted shades of pinks and brown.

As a little reminder of our summer days gone by, this little cross stitch piece of bluebirds (Becca will like these) goes nicely with the pitcher. By-the-way, Miss Becca is having a sweet giveaway in celebration of her 400th post! Now that is a lot of postin'!! Stop by to see the sweet piece she made for her giveaway and be sure to enter you name to win!
I have been so busy lately and miss visiting all of you! Where do the days go? The other day I was digging through my stash of cross stitch projects that are - well on average - 5 years old. So I got out a Blackbird Design sampler and started on that. Lets just see how long it takes for me to get THAT done!

Anyone need a way to use up your summer tomatoes ('maters as us okies call them), then hop on over to Sandi's blog and jot down that Tomato Tart recipe! For those of you who have been so generous and kind with giving me awards as of late, I am working on a post to acknowledge them and to also thank a few sweet ladies for some awesome giveaways that I was lucky to win! BUT, in the meantime, enjoy your day - wherever you are in this big world of ours. Be safe and be happy! Hug your family, too!

Keeping Old Time

One of my favorite things to collect are vintage clocks - even if they don't work. I don't know why I am so attached to them, but there is just something about the shape, the colors, patina, the little bells at the top...just what is it that draws me in?

It could be my memory of my Nanny's mantel clock that she proudly displayed on her mantel. The faithful chiming on the quarter hour and then the proud dong - dong - dong - that echoed boldly within the wood vessel, letting you know what hour it was for that day.

It could also be that I loved my little plastic fru fru clock that sat on the night stand in my bedroom. White plastic with a dainty filigree edge that was painted gold. Little flower decals along the base made it even more girly. Each night I wound it up before tucking myself in. I'd fall asleep listening to the subtle tic-tick-tick-tick.

The clocks I do have now are mostly round faced - some gold, silver, black, with and without rhinestones. They do speak to me - even though they may be without a sound now.

The first three photos are of my collections. The last two are from June 2007's Decorting Flea Market Style. I found it quite interesting that the old clock was used as a ceiling medallion. What a wonderful to look UP time!

Layering With Reflections

As I shared in the last post, I love old mirrors and have fun adding them to places around my home.  When displaying my collections, I like to layer and stack and add a bit of the unexpected, such as the “496 CPC” pin that was hooked to the rim of the transferware bowl.

 

These are the mirrors that I had to work with, one plateau, one hand held mirror and one square mirror with a rustic wood frame.

 

The photo below is  what the little vignette looked like before the mirrors.  Though I like it, the pieces are on the same level.  Adding the plateau mirror (of which I found in the Pacific Grove Antiques store) brought the bowl up and the mirror adds a bit of reflection for light.  In addition to loving mirrors, I have a “thing” for metal, too.  Case in point….

….this vintage clock was a find when out junking last month.  These old pieces are just fun to have around the house and I really like the “salute” on the face.  The metal clock and the cast iron plateau mirror are a good contrast against all of the white that is in the cabinet.

The square mirror below was a $3.00 estate sale find.  The silvering is worn on the back which causes the striations in the glass.  Great patina, I must say! 

The placement of the mirror against the platter gives more dimension to the grouping and reflects the chandelier, too.

Even the little creamers sit at different heights by adding old butter pats underneath them.  They now can show off their cute little profiles without having to be clumped all together.  It kind of looks like they are giving us a little modeling pose and some attitude now.  :)

The photos below are other some ways that I have used mirrors in my decorating.  Layering mirrors against each other is a lot of fun.

Using large mirrors on walls can make a small space, like our foyer, appear larger.  And having a mirror in the foyer allows for those “last checks” before heading out the door.

Even putting a mirror behind something and partially covering it up is ok in my books, too.  It just adds one more layer of texture and light.

 

I’d love to hear how you like to use old mirrors, too!

Till next time…..

Layering – The Making Of A Coffee Table Vignette

Good Monday morning to you! During the Parade Of Homes tour several lovely readers emailed me and commented on some of the vignettes in our home – asking where I find things to put them together and how to layer. Today I will demonstrate how to put together a vignette and hopefully touch base on the questions asked.

As Duhgall looks on (wondering what I am doing), I will start from bottom to top in creating the little coffee table (an old trunk) vignette.

1. Start with a base – like a runner or piece of vintage linen. I am using a ruffled burlap runner that I made. The texture of the burlap compliments the nubby texture of the area rug under the trunk.

2. For balance, I stacked books on one side and placed an ironstone platter on the other end. I chose this ironstone platter because it has a great brown crazing to the glaze, which compliments the burlap runner and trunk.

3. Drape a little vintage doily over the edge of the platter. I chose this piece because it pulls together colors in the room and compliments the vintage floral pictures on the wall.

4. Place a flower arrangement on the platter. The old Majolica pitcher has a sunflower on the side and is the perfect match for the bouquet.

5. Stack some books on the platter. I like to use books to bring a vignette “up” for balance. This particular vignette has FIVE levels to it. I also like to choose books that either have a similar theme (hence the squirrels) and colors that will pull the vignette together. Try to have the covers of the books coordinate with all of the colors within the grouping.

6. Add a few playful squirrels to the top.

7. The old clock was added for yet another height and brings your eye downwards. I also love the parchment color of the clock face and the worn black patina of the metal body.

8. Add a small family photo and a little box to hold a remote control for the TV – and there you have it, a lovely layered vignette.

If you only do one thing to make a coffee table look beautiful, just add a bouquet of fresh flowers. Sunflowers make me happy and remind me of summertime and the works of the artist, Vincent van Gogh.

With just a few items from around the house, anyone can make a pretty grouping. Just have fun with it and enjoy the process!

To The Moon.......

...and OVER THE TOP FUN!! Like a kid in the candy store kind of fun!! Our friends, Barry and Tammy, had their Halloween and Fall open house yesterday and guess who brought their camera? Yup! You see, Barry and Tammy have a darling cottage home and this time each year they take down almost all of their collections and fill their home - to the brim I might add - with their vintage and antique Halloween collections. It is a feast for the eyes - and for the palate. Lots of delicious treats were available to satisfy even the sweetest of teeth.

Without further adieu, let me take you on a walk through this amazing Halloween home!! Grab a handful of candy corn and lets go!! Perhaps our walk will take you down memory lane, too.

This clock was specially made for Tammy. She had an old clock body and had a designer add all of the Halloween touches to it for her. It is absolutely fabulous! Check out the guy holding on to the pendulum!

Grab a cookie before they get all gobbled up!

On a little corner shelf in their kitchen sits a neon toaster light. It silhouettes the little ghost and goblin cookie jar.

What is kitchen without black and orange dishes at Halloween?

This metal jar top looks like a Jack-O-Lantern's hat....

...and inside is filled with plenty of sweeeet treats!

An adorable vintage match holder, one of my favorites.

Throughout the home are lovely display cabinets chocked full of vintage Halloween ephemera, die cuts, old metal toys....

...and these little vintage Japan chenille pipe cleaner cats and goblins.

Tammy loves owls and you will find them everywhere. This is an old German paper plate that has the cutest owl sitting on the moon. I love the sweetness and charm of the old artwork and graphics.

A little owl toothpick holder with little vintage toothpicks sticking out.

Tammy and Barry also have quite a few squirrel pieces here and there....yes....I am drooling! You know how much I love vintage squirrels.....

Their home is a 1930's cottage with all of the amenities and charm of homes from that time. This built-in china cabinet is filled with quite an assortment of treasures.

Cuteness in every turn of the head...

Oh look! You just never know how photos will turn out till they go to be edited! Look at the three pumpkin heads!!! teeee heeee! The glass in the cabinet caught onlookers reflections, including me on the left. I like my moon and house head!

I love the idea of framing old ephemera. These pumpkin guys are preserved behind glass for many years of enjoyment.

Lots of old candy jars are filled with sweets and so very colorful.

This is a wall and mantel in their formal living room. In this room are display cabinets filled with old paper mache lanterns and more old ephemera. Barry and Tammy really have a knack for displaying their collections and group like items together for more of an impact.

Lots of vintage plastic pull toys, nut cups...

..and a witch that ditched her broom for a scooter.

Thank you, Barry and Tammy, for sharing your amazing collections with us! I certainly am inspired to keep my eyes out for that special vintage Halloween treasure next time I am out and about shopping.

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This little note is to let you know that I am taking a bit of a blog break and will be back in mid November. We have family home for a visit and I have some serious sewing to get done. I will catch up with y'all later!!! And to my sweet SIL, Debbie, sorry for the lapse in posts. Snicker....snicker.....Tis been a busy week here at the homestead! Anyone try the pancakes yet?

xoxoxoxoxo