rainbows around

:: a rainbow of colorful beads made into a water shaker

:: my collection of vintage glass beads. a favorite for my little one to play and sort

:: a rainbow telescope

:: a rainbow tree


:: paintings

:: fairy wands and found acorns on our nature table

:: found feathers

:: rainbows

:: found growing along a neighbor's yard. while we only picked one of each, i wish we hadn't picked them.

I was inspired by Waldorf Mama's postings during rainbow week.

amazing blues

I knew it was going to be a good day for me yesterday. I was going to be getting out of the house with the family. Most days, our time out is to get the basics done and at home we are trying to play catchup. But, yesterday we were bringing the dogs to the groomers and had some free time. I lower my expectations and had nothing planned. So, I dressed up as much as you could with 2 kids and dusted off some jewelry to wear. I picked out a volcanic blue larimar ring and this necklace I made years ago with vintage light blue glass beads. The color of blue just makes me smile.




Today, my little one utilized her sky & grass canopy playsilk to cover her cave. I love the vibrant colors in the design and the organic shaped clouds in the sky. I have always been drawn to the color blue from as long as I could remember. From the clearest blue sky to the sparkling blues of the ocean to the greenish blues of turquoise to the subtle blue of a robin's egg, I am always amazed at the colors of blue that nature creates.


:: Forget-me-nots in the garden

:: 'Endless Summer' hydrangea. While I wait for them to start blooming, I enjoy last years pictures here.


:: Found treasures from nature walks







Looking around the house, I notice more things inspired by my love of blue.

:: A ceramic sphere of the horizon, which reminds me of our vacation in Key West
:: A decorative nest with glass eggs
:: My great grandmother's Fire King charm azurite depression glass
:: My Mother's Day shell and sea glass wreath
:: A blue butterfly added to our seasonal nature table
:: A needle felted nest with wooden robin's eggs also on our nature table

Playstands made by Dad

Last Christmas, Dad built these wonderful set of playstands or as my little one says, "her workshop". This turned out to be an extensive project that was well worth it. Dad worked in 3 deep shelves, which is what our small space needed. 

The playstand's open shelves are wonderful for keeping everything organized and accessible. It seems we could never have enough baskets, pouches, and boxes for my little organizer. Our shelves are getting full and while we have an opportunity to rotate some seasonal toys, my little one likes access to all her toys. 

So these days, we really have to be selective in what we bring into the house, especially with a new baby coming. Trying to avoid small items and commercial plastic toys, while choosing natural, safer toys for our little one. 

I have a few thoughts for some wooden toys for this Christmas, (hint hint, Dad.) I have some wool goodies to felt and some orders have been placed for the holidays. I am also going to do a little thrift shopping. I love finding great deals on the most interesting of things. 

Mother of pearl serving sets

I have been gradually adding on to my basic dinnerware set and purchasing platters and serving bowls, mostly when I need them. I recently brought a pasta salad to a family picnic in a platinum rimmed china bowl, which was the only bowl that fit the pasta salad. So, the next day, I purchased a basic white mixing bowl set, which has come in handy. 

I have a few dinnerware sets, including my basic white everyday dishes, my Mikasa Cameo Platinum china that was a wonderful shower gift from my girlfriends, to my family Azurite Charm depression glass. For serving pieces, I have a variety of white platters and a number of shiny silver pieces, including a few Wilton Flutes & Pearls pieces that go right from the oven to the table. 

I do have a serving set to match my gifted flatware set, but I otherwise held off on serving sets, as I was looking for some sets to coordinate with my dinnerware and china as well as my depression glass. Well, this spring I discovered some mother of pearl pieces at Pottery Barn that I really loved. I think they really go great with all my sets, so I went ahead and purchased the serving spoon set, the spreaders, and a charger, to use as a platter. I also won an ebay auction for the PB serving spoon & fork set. The price could not be beat.

Recently, I came more pieces, a Pier 1 dessert serving set and cheese knife set and found some Towle pieces with mother of pearl. Some day, I'll have the house to actually entertain. For now, I guess we all need a thing or two to collect and I'll be collecting mother of pearl serving pieces.

Fire King Charm Azur-ite

My Fire King Azur-ite Depression glass is one of my favorite things, part of my Great Grandmother's collection, recently given to me by may aunt. The set is very special to me and I feel appreciative to be trusted with the set. The delicate pale blue glass is just stunningly beautiful. Blue is my favorite color, from the endless summer blues of hydrangeas, to the daydreaming blues of the sky, to the majestic blues of the ocean, to the softest iridescent blues that shimmer in mother of pearl, I just love blue. 

My father's family is crazy over antiques, collecting & selling and keeping the heirlooms within the family. We spent much cherished family time traveling to antique shops, auctions, and old barns through New England and Amish country. Those were the good old days before the internet and ebay. The days you just took off in the car in search of treasure and you never knew what you were going to find. For sure your hands were going to get dirty and at some point you might be holding your nose.

The quality and detail of antiques has a certain charm about them, while some have sentimental value, others invoke memories from childhood, and some you just fall love and have to have. Of course, if you purchase something you love then it is worth every penny.

Azurite includes a square pattern called "charm" produced from 1950-1956 and a "swirl" pattern produced from 1949-1962. From 1951-1960 markings would be Oven Fire Ware Made in the U.S.A. and from 1960- late 1960's the markings would be Anchor Hocking Oven Fire King Ware Made in U.S.A. From what I have learned without getting an actual Fire King guide book, is there are 11 pieces in the "charm" pattern, which are:
Dessert Bowl (4 3/4")
Soup Bowl (6")
Salad Bowl (7 3/8")
Sugar & Creamer
Cup & Saucer
Salad Plate (6 5/8")
Luncheon Plate (8 3/8")
Dinner Plate (9 1/4")
Platter (11' x 8") 

I envy my Mother's set of Fire King Jadite and Forest Green Depression glass and the endless amounts of coordinating pieces she's been able to collect from platters, mixing bowls, glass storage containers, vases, batter bowls, egg cups, candy dishes, salt and pepper shakers, etc. Lots of coordinating kitchen utensils as well.

The cups & saucers are in abundance and what I come across most often. I plan on adding to my set so that in the future I could use them for entertaining. The depression glass plates are much smaller than current day dinner plates, which makes them difficult to serve holiday meals on, but they would definitely be great for serving dessert. Do you have any family heirlooms that you treasure?