Downton Abbey Obessesion

Well hello there! Yes it’s me…I’m actually here! Baby is asleep so I snuck off to my office to work up a post that has been brewing in my head for quite some time now.

During my recovery from the c-section, my mom and I became completely hooked on Downton Abbey. My friends can attest to my obsession since I keep asking everyone “Oh my God have you seen Downton Abbey???” (It’s probably getting annoying)…and since I have no short term memory due to sleep deprivation, I’m pretty sure I keep asking the same people. Oops. Anyway, I’m enamored and it has affected my work. Although I adore French antiques, English inspired treasures have been catching me eye lately…I wonder why? Here are a few I have recently added to the shop.

Can’t you just see this gorgeous vintage, silverplate coffee ensemble on set?

And I do believe this lovely English tea cup would please even the rather uppity Dowager Countess…

I can just picture the lovely ladies of Downton spooning their soup from these old world English bowls…

and dear Sybil would pen letters using this lovely, antique crystal ink well…

This vintage sterling silver centerpiece is regal enough to grace the Duke’s table…

and this elegant, antique transferware gravy boat would be the perfect vessel for decadent sauces…served up by one of the good footmen, of course…

You just can’t help be swept up in the beautiful history of this era and it has influenced my treasure hunting for sure! I am on the look out for more stunning pieces from the Edwardian period.

So….have you seen Downton Abbey? :)

xo,

All Downton Abbey images via here.

Music-scape: Into the Light

I’m sick in bed…lame-o. my faithful laptop sits on top of my layer of quilts, keeping my legs toasty and a steaming cup of tea is keeping me company. what to do? listen to music, dive into blogland and create a post.

i don’t know if you are like me but when I listen to music i often see images in my mind. visions, dreams…pictures. they race around my head. creating a landscape for the lyrics and colors for the notes. a whirlwind of scenes. when I was a kid, i often imagined music videos, sketching them out roughly. i used to write to music a lot too. in sixth grade i wrote an entire (kid sized) novel listening to “A Brand New World” from the Aladdin soundtrack! ha. that’s embarrassing and funny now. but then, i was so serious, so focused.

anyway, today i am completely obsessed with Sara Bareilles‘ song – “The Light“.  so, i decided to make a little music-scape and share some images that i feel connected to the song.

instructions for your Music-Scape…

1. press play. wait 2 secs.

2. start the slide show from the beginning.

3. enjoy

To explore all the amazing photographers included in this slideshow go here to find all the links.

Have a wonderful weekend.

xo,

Canopies to adore

With summer approaching, I often think back to my childhood in Sydney, during the steamy hot months! We had no air conditioning and the nights could be rather uncomfortable to say the least. I remember laying perfectly still, sweat rolling down my forehead as the fan made a hypnotic whirring – its cool breeze, my only comfort. The cicadas would be singing a chorus and I would gaze up through the gauzy mist of the mosquito net that floated all around me. It looked so pretty in the moonlight.

Ever since then, I have a thing for canopies…they are a bit magical to me and my Grace has had one over her bed since the day she was born…see…

I thought I’d round up a few more canopied masterpieces to inspire you…

the perfect spot for tea and a good book…

I adore the peach tones in this room…lovely and ladylike.

shades of sky blue evoke such peace and calm…

this one is just plain dreamy…I would spend all day there.

and how simple is this? Pull the cushions off your outdoor lounge and make yourself a summer tent…yum.

Love this vintage lace curtain with tassels. So romantic…

Beds aren’t the only things that deserve the royal canopy treatment…what about your bath? Instant drama!

See why I love them so much…

Hope your week is going well.

xo,

Images via here.

Milk Glass obsession

Hello friends! I hope your Monday went smoothly. Mine was rather busy but very productive, which is always good. I also got to package up my first sale from my new Vintage Shoppe on Etsy – very exciting! Some lovely lady purchased a piece of vintage milk glass and I’m sure she will just love it. There is nothing better than discovering a beautiful object that has been discarded and finding someone new to adore it. It’s warm and fuzzy up-cycling and I’m totally digging it. So, today I thought I would show you just how GORGEOUS milk glass can look…

Like most collections, milk glass can make a stunning impact when grouped together. White on white is so very chic right now….

Filled with flowers – milk glass looks just divine…

Or how about some sweet succulents?

I love how flexible it is…it can be formal or casual. Romantic or sleek. Its style blends effortlessly with any decor…

It has a timeless beauty that is hard to ignore…so yes, I admit…I’m obsessed and I’m collecting like a mad woman…of course I can’t keep all my finds to myself…come take a peek at the pieces I have waiting for you…

What do you love to collect?

xo,

Images via here.

Travel Visions 2

I know you may have been expecting a Friday Escape…but while I’m doing my Unravelling class, I’ve decided that I need to focus on my writing and photo assignments….so I hope you will forgive me and still enjoy this little collection of travel inspired images. I promise we will jump back into our vicarious travel when I’ve completed the course…which, by the way, is AMAZING!

Have a beautiful and inspired weekend!

xo,

Images via here.

Sunlit

Hello dear friends!

I’m so sorry for my absence. My uncle passed suddenly and so I traveled to Florida for his memorial. It was a bittersweet trip…sadness and loss coupled with the heart warming sense of a family coming together and reconnecting. I saw cousins and aunts that I hadn’t seen in over a decade. We cried, we hugged and we laughed too. My uncle would have liked that. My hubby and dear Grace stayed behind and I missed them but of course leaving your home for a period makes you appreciate it that much more. I am glad to be home.

Going from the Florida sun to the Oregon rain was a tough downshift though, so I thought today I would share with you dreamy images filled with warm sunlight. A little eye candy to start your week off right…

Can’t you almost feel the warmth? Here in Portland, we live for the scattered sunbreaks that Spring delivers. We had one on Friday and I found myself driving down the road, sun roof open, windows down, radio up with a ridiculously huge grin on my face!

Although brief, it was magic.

Hope sunlight is flooding your day!

xo,

Images via 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.