My Love Of The Sea

I love the ocean.

The movement of the waves.  The peace that comes with being near the sea with the fresh and salty air. The sounds of the birds over head.  All of it....Love.

Being near the water reaches into my soul. 

Because of my love of the sea, I bring a little of it into my home.  I dream of someday living near the ocean, in a quaint cottage that is within minutes of the sandy beach.  But for now, I collect things that remind me of my favorite place on earth.

I found this book, written in 1896, at an estate sale years ago.  It is filled with beautiful etchings of sea life and ships.  The cover is detailed as is the spine with a sea horse. It matches the tiny sea horse that I have propped up against a star fish..both casually leaning against an antique shaving mirror.

Inside the book is written this….

Captain Tony Perrich,

Morehead City, NC.

Who is Captain Tony Perrich of Morehead City, North Carolina?  Captain Tony Perrich, I have your book now and it is in safe keeping in my home. (Though I have to wonder if he is still alive.)  I will treasure it as long as I am alive on this earth of ours.  Thank you for your service on the seas and thank you for your lovely book that is filled with wonderful images of life on the vast blue waters.  I have to wonder how people captured in their minds such images and to spend hours carefully reproducing these images for all of the world to see in print.

I recently found the little bathing beauty plastic doll.  She is sporting a lovely green bathing suit and cap.  Next to her is a sweet fella adorned in his striped bathing shorts.  The look on his face is priceless, as though he could be saying, “Uh, I’m not going out of the house looking like this.  Are you seeerrrriiiousss?”

I have shared the whale toothpick holder before.  He is one of my favorite pieces and one that I shall never part with.

Not to worry, little green bathing suit girl, he is NOT a shark and he won't eat your lollipop!

Below is a shell creamer that is a souvenir piece from Florida and the photo below that is a flower frog of a star fish that belonged to my Great Aunt Nora and was given to me by my mother.

I found this beautiful painting of a lighthouse last week.  At first I bought it to resell, however.... once I got it home I decided to keep it.  It is lovely and I like the artist’s name…Studley.  ahem.

Till next time…ahoy, maties!

Tiny Bits

I love to collect small things and group them together on a plate or in a bowl.  It is a fun way of displaying those tiny collections and keeping them out in sight to enjoy. I use to carry the Guardian Angel piece in my car but decided that it would be pretty hanging out with the other smalls.

One of my favorites collections are old rosaries.  Though I am not Catholic, I love knowing that each one has been used for prayer and they have been handled with love and meaning.

Old keys rest atop brown transfer ware butter pats.

Everything is layered and stacked on top of a silver plate cake stand. 

I love the detail in the butter pat.  Look at the little people!  Just plain sweeeeet!

Simple. Casual. Gathered with care and love.  Tiny bits that make me smile.