Time for a Tea Party!

Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful Autumn!  I know for some it is "Fall", but I've always preferred "Autumn".  And actually, BOTH are correct!  

I truly love each season, and find there is beauty to be found all year round. . .


Today, I would like to share some fun crafts I've been working on, and also the lovely gifts I received from taking part in a "tea cup exchange" through Stephanie at  The Enchanting Rose.   And since it's Autumn, I thought I set a table outdoors with a plaid throw and a few Fall like elements.

I so much enjoy crafting, and one of the projects I've been working on is this accordion album using Graphics 45 "Halloween in Wonderland" papers. . .

Instructions can be found through http://www.mycreativespirit.co.uk/halloween-in-wonderland-perpetual-pocket-album-844-p.asp

A link to the finished piece:  https://youtu.be/zdp7xBNV99E

I highly recommend following Clare's very detailed directions.  I do not consider myself to be an advanced papercrafter, and these instructions are quite easy to follow. . .

Now, on to the fun!

I drew Deborah's name for the cup I was to send.  Deborah blogs over at  The Beautiful Matters .

And, I was to expect a package from Janet at Rosemary & Thyme .  Janet has such a beautiful blog, and she is so extremely creative in her styling. . .And boy!  Did she nail it with this teacup:

A little detail

This gorgeous tea cup/saucer and plate are from the "Collection Sevres" (Andrea by Sadek) and inspired by 18th Century designs.  I have to tell you, this is as beautiful China as I've ever seen!

Do you agree?

Interior shot

The detail is so sublime in this china. . .the decoration of flowers, the beautiful blue, the gilt detail and the embossing. . .I am SO in LOVE with this!

And if that were not enough, Janet also sent along the most beautiful teas, treats and gifts:

The teas are wonderful!  Not just one, but 5!  And all are delicious. . .not to mention the Biscotti (keep your hands off, Carl!) and the Shortbread.  The candle has such a heavenly aroma, and we're already using it.  And the pretty note cards with the sweet sentiment "Flowers Of Kindness Never Fade". . .my favorite kind of flowers, indeed. . . Thank you so, so much, Janet!

A few props which give me a feel of Autumn. . .gourds, acorns, and an antique silver teapot (recently acquired), an old, old sewing basket which I picked up at a local antique gallery the day I shot this.  

The day was quite blustery, and I wasn't sure I could get the photographs I wanted .  The sun kept disappearing and re-appearing, and I'm sure you all know what a challenge it can be. . .especially if your "assistant" is somewhere else that day!

Relics and Artifacts piece

One of my favorite elements to work with:  Sandra Evertson Relics and Artifacts Mythos  If you are an artist or crafter, you'll want to work with these.  I have nearly all of the collections, and have used them in a variety of ways. . .

I've been recently constructing my family tree, and exploring my Celtic roots; English, Welsh and French.  Found out that I have ancestors who came to Canada from Ireland, which is quite exciting as I don't think we knew there was Irish blood, but lo and behold, a great great  great Grandfather and Grandmother (Patrick and Mary) came to Ontario in the 1830's from County Cork.  The others, I have verified as coming from England and France.  But, the "Welsh" ancestors may have been from Scotland, instead.  The one who called himself Welsh also claimed to have been born in Aberdeenshire (which is a County in Scotland). 


It's quite fascinating to unravel the past, and there is more out there than birth and death records to be found, if you are patient and persistent.  Census records I find to be extremely fascinating, as there is quite a bit of information contained.  I've even discovered newspaper articles about ancestors who were notable for various accomplishments. . .

I'd love to hear if you are doing genealogy research.  Have you discovered  anything interesting in your ancestry?

Thank you for checking out my little blog today,  and a BIG Thank You to Stephanie for hosting this great tea cup exchange.  I am so happy to have been a participant!

Until next time, 



Cynthia

Late Summer Dahlias

Sharing some Dahlias

Hope everyone is enjoying the transition from Summer to Autumn.  I am a Summer girl, and I really hate to see the days growing shorter, but I DO love the seasonal changes, too! 

This is the prime time for my Dahlias.  Every year, I plant the tubers in May, usually on Mother's Day.  And I patiently wait for mid-to-late August for the flowers to begin blooming.

These are not planted to be "landscape" plants, admired for the beauty they'd give to the overall look of the garden, but instead, I have a designated "cutting garden".  Unfortunately, until the flowers appear, it looks like a dirt garden.  But, it receives the prime amount of sunlight, and since we're not too close to the road, not really noticeable to the general public.

So, here's the show:

"Wannabee"

And the Bees really love them!

Touche'

These next two shots are the dahlia "Jaden Charles", and it is quite stunning as it's petals unfurl. . .Most of these shots were taken with my phone, so not necessarily the best quality. . .

Jaden Charles fully opened

The lovely thing about dahlias is that the tubers multiply, so when they're dug up and stored for next year's planting, you can end up with multiple plants!  However, I am not the best at labeling, thinking I'll "remember" what they are next year. . .uh, yeah. . .

Hence, there are a few that I'm not able to properly identify.  They're just "pretty flowers"!

The blooms on the one above and the one below are HUGE!!! About 8 - 10" across, and ONE blossom in a vase is good for a bouquet. 

Citron de Cap

Peaches and Cream

I love every color these amazing flowers come in.  And every size and type as well.

Bashful

Chloe Janae

Imperial Wine

Jason Matthews

Rebecca Lynn

This last flower is one of the newest planted this year, and is named "X-Factor".  Appropriate name, because it is GORGEOUS!

X-Factor

This was the first blossom on the plant, and got a little damaged in one of the storms we had, but the plant is now covered in buds, so I'm hoping to have a nice bouquet of these in the next week.

The plants I have right now should still produce flowers right through October.  Since we're so close to the lake, we generally don't get frost as early as if we were further inland.  At least, we're USUALLY safe. . .The rule of thumb is to dig and store the tubers after there's been a "killing" frost, but before the ground is hard.  For us, that could easily be up until mid-November.  

I am eagerly looking forward to the many  new dahlias for 2017, and plan to order early to be sure I get them!  

Almost as pretty as the sunsets this time of year:

Thank you for visiting my blog, and I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather and the gorgeous colors that Autumn brings.  

Linking up to these awesome parties:

Pink Saturday
Make It Pretty Monday

Cynthia

Paris dreams. . .

Bonjour, ces't  moi!

Hello, everyone!  I've been too long from blogging.  I hope there are still some of you who want to read this:

Like so many of you out there, I am enamored with all that has to do with anything French, and especially anything to do with the City of Lights: 

Paris 

Although I've not yet been to visit, I dream of the day that I'll be there to soak up the beauty and atmosphere. . .

Last year, I bought a very special folio of prints that were produced for a well known department store in Paris c. early 1900's:

This lovely album most likely gave someone before me a glimpse into a world they could only travel to in their dreams.  And now, I am the dreamer who is lucky to share this with you today. . .a hundred years later.

Please click on any of these pictures to enlarge

Galeries Lafayette Folio

This was a very exciting find for me, because it contained photographs from a time that I find to be very fascinating, the early part of the last Century.  I do believe that these were captured before the First World War (pre-1920), and show the every day goings about of the people who were living in and around a buzzing metropolis, one of the most important cities in the world at that time.

Early 20th Century Camera

Following are scans of the ones I found most intriguing:

Panoramic of Paris

Paris Stock Market

Paris Street Scene

I want to DIVE into these street scenes!  I want to be one of these people who are going about their business, maybe on their way to work, even!  This last one (above) has SO MUCH activity and bustle about it. . .young and old, women, men, children. . .day laborers, people of importance. . .in the left of this photograph are two women gossiping outside of a shop, on the right you see a boy with (most likely) his mother and father. . .but in the very center of this, running across the road is a young woman, dodging the horse carts and automobiles.  I wonder where she was going.  Was she running an errand?  Did she work at one of the shops on this boulevard?  Oh, the stories that could be dreamed up for each of these pedestrians. . .

The Paris Opera

And then there is this gloriously populated scene at the Paris Opera.  My guess is that it must be a very important opening for everyone looks to be well dressed for the occasion. .

Close up of The Paris Opera

I've enlarged this one to hone in on the gentlemen in the foreground because that brings me to a subject that I REALLY want to share with you.

Antique/Vintage Parasols and Umbrellas

One of my favorite collections consists of antique and vintage parasols and umbrellas.  I have been collecting these for several years, and am excited to share some of my favorites with you today.

The above photograph shows several men toting these utilitarian devices.

Collection of antique umbrellas

Close up of antique umbrella handles

Now, honestly!  Aren't these handles beautiful?  I just love the detail. . .the mother of pearl and gold and Bakelite that was used to distinguish one from another.  While the useful part (which kept the user protected from the elements) was everyday black, there was an individuality reserved for the portion that would have been held close to the owner.  This, to me, I find most desirable, and I cherish those I have.  In future posts I will share my parasol collection. . .

Detail of handle engravings

Frames Print from Paris folio

I removed a couple of the prints from this portfolio and matted/framed to display in one of my bedrooms.  Please don't judge too harshly on this matting job. . .our mat cutter wasn't working properly and it's kind of wonky.   I just wanted you to see what I was able to do with an inexpensive frame that I used chalk pain on. . .cost was less than $5.  I'll definitely be re-cutting that mat, though.

   Well, that's all for now, but I have more posts that will be coming shortly.  Besides the parasols, I have a serious obsession for ribbons. . .

The zinnias and snapdragons are from my garden, and I proudly grew these from seed this year.  Lavender grows profusely here.

I do hope you've enjoyed this post, and if, like me, you've never been to Paris. . .

Let's pretend we have!

Milleurs voeux!

Cynthia

I will be sharing this post with the following parties.  Please visit these hosts:

How Sweet The Sound Pink Saturday

Bella Rosa Antiques