Our Farmhouse Nest

 

nest (nst)

n.

1.

a. A container or shelter made by a bird out of twigs, grass, or other material to hold its eggs and young.

b. A place in which young are reared; a lair.

2.

A place affording snug refuge or lodging; a home.

 

This nest wasdangling from wild grape vines hanging from my giant red oak tree at the farm.  Having a weakness for birds and nests, I gently clipped the vines and nest from the tree and gathered them together with a bit of jute twine and it now hangs from a white cast iron bird hook in my dining room.

I have abandoned bird's nests scattered throughout the farmhouse sometimes nestled into a ironstone bowl, under a glass dome or in a vintage jar.  They are in every room of the house with the exception of the kitchen.

I think the nest and grapevines look great hanging from the bird hook against the white door.  The grapevine has dried blue grapes in clusters on the vines.

 

Ah yes, Life Is Beautiful, don't you think?  A new bracelet in French fresh from my studio that sums up those little nests...

 

Blessings My Friends,

 

Julie

Vintage Typewrister Photography and a Collection

While at the farm this weekend setting up a special pie safe cabinet that I began filling with my found objects gathered over the years I paused for a moment and gazed at the vintage typewriter I have in the foyer.  I kept sweeping past as I gathered objects from cabinets, drawers and shelves to add to the shelves of the pie safe upstairs.  Each time I would pass the typewriter I couldn't help but gaze at the keys as I swept past.  It's one one my favorite accessories.

The third time I passed the typewriter, I had to pause and grap my camera for a few quick shots as I knew that until I satisfied my visual self the work upstairs would be a distracted attempt at best.

I adore this old typewriter that I found in a junk haunt of mine several years ago.  I can't imagine life without it at this point.  It gives me pleasure every time I pass it in the hall as I go up or down the stairs.

Inspired by Sibella Court's book, ETCETERA where I fell in love with her cabinet filled with her personal collections of seashells, antlers, bugs, etc.  I have decided to gather my own personal collection together in one cabinet a vintage pie safe I purchased from my dear friend, Allene years ago.  It's the perfect size to hold my collection and it sets in the upstairs hallway of the farm.

I have these wonderfully personal things stuffed in drawers, cabinets, shelves tucked away out of sight as they really don't blend well with my usual decor.  But, they make me so happy when I open a drawer and find them inside.  Encourage by Sibella to live this these collections and share them with others I started gathering them together.  It will be a process as they are stashed away in boxes and containers virtually in every room of my house.  My little totems...

I added a tiny figurine of a dog with a ball which reminds me of my little Molly who lives to chase her ball.  A seed pod from my garden last year and a wooden printer's block of a W for my maiden name of Williams.  A bone china oval bowl holds more pods. an owl feather and a chandelier crystal.

This guy is one of my latest acquisitions a taxidermy aligator that I love is perfect for my shelves.  I plan to add my little wooden box of rattlesake rattles and a tortoise shell.  When I carried this little fellow up to the register to purchase him the owner of the show said, "NOOOO, you are not going to buy that!!!"  I laughed and told her that yes indeed I was going to do just that.  She couldn't imagine what on earth I would want with him, but I love it and felt it was a steal at $22.

A vintage glass bottle holds tiny glass buttons, a carved owl in white, a translucent marble bowl from Italy, a wasp nest, a vintage watering nozzle and large apothecary jars that shimmers in the light.

An old pulley wheel holds one of my autograph books from 1948 open with a dried zinnia bloom next to a silver tray holding vintage chandelier crystals and papery money plant pods.

Another pulley wheel, a tiny whisk broom with a green velvet top, a transfer ware pitcher in shades of the same hue of green, vintage bottles and a magnifying glass for up close viewing.

A watercolor of a farm scene behind the Last Supper souvenir from Italy that I love.  If you look closely you can see the windmill...it's painted in lovely hues of green and is very old and crumbly.

I will add more photos for you as my collection takes form in the pie safe over the next few months.  I plan to add more feathers, shells, antlers, apothecary bottles, magnifying glasses, fossils, vintage binoculars, a doll head I salvaged from a fire and a few botany books I have on hand.

My own personal eclectic collection of things I treasure and enjoy.  Thanks for the inspiration Sibella!

How do you live with your personal collections?  Are they trapped in boxes and drawers?  Are they spread out on a tabletop or showcase?  I'd love to hear about your collections and how you live with them.

Blessings - Julie



Fabulous Finds - Farm House

Photo: anitasljuvarum

One of my favorite design styles is Farm House which reminds me of being at my Grandmother's house when I was a little girl.  This week I have collected vintage finds from the Farm House collection...  I hope they remind you of Sunday afternoons at Grandma's house.

Cake Decorating Set - Purchase Here

Decorating cupcakes with Grandma would have included an extruder set like this one with lots of different tips for flowers, leaves, and fancy edgings.  Use in the kitchen or use them for assemblages, altered art and jewelry making.

A Song of a Single Note Vintage Book - Purchase Here

This is a lovely book with gold print, white flowers and a great cover in a beautiful shade of green that would look great on a shelf or perfect for use in an altered book project.

Photo:  anitasljuvarum

When I think of Farm House style, I think of a simple white table with white wooden chairs in a sunny kitchen. Beadboard walls and lovely wooden floors that creak in the most reassuring way when you

walk across them in your bare feet. 

Vintage Berry Boxes - Purchase Here

As children, we picked strawberries in little wooden boxes like these.  I think we ate as many strawberries as we brought back to the house so that they could be made into delicious strawberry jam, frozen for future strawberry shortcakes and jello salads.

Baker's Twine - Purchase Here

Baker's twine in red and white wound around and around vintage wooden pegs in 5 yard lengths are perfect for gift tags, ornament strings, and gift wrapping.

Photo:  anitasljuvarum

Vintage Buttons - Purchase Here

Into the sewing room to find wonderful old vintage buttons still on the cards in sherbert colors of lime, pineapple, raspberry and lemon.

Photo:  anitasljuvarum

Children's Angel Food Cake Pan - Purchase Here

Small angel food cake pan for afternoons in the kitchen cooking with Grandma baking one large angel food cake and one small one for the little baker.  Before Easy Bake ovens, Farm House kitchens had small versions of bake ware for the young cook.

This sweet little angel food cake pan would be perfect for the chef or cooking enthusiast's desk to hold paper clips, in the kitchen to hold your rings, or use the little pan to bake a cake with your little one.

Blessings - Julie