this week’s vignette

This Week’s Vignette

March 16, 2017

this week's vignette

This week’s vignette or shall I say vignettes live atop my piano. I wrote about this piano a few years back and am happy to report I still love it here. I haven’t played as much as I would like to admit but it works beautifully as a place for vignettes. Because the piano is a centerpiece in our home I like to create little scenes on top that change throughout the seasons showcasing some of my favorite things that I have either foraged or collected over the years.

Sitting to the far left is an antique silver ice bucket etched with the letter B for Boston (my mother’s maiden name) that was given to me by my mom. It holds a Tradescantia pallida ‘Purpurea’ plant that I overwintered from my window boxes. Next to the ice bucket sits a stack of books (two of Chris’s favorites) paired with an antique lamb which I found this summer while away at the lake. Next to the lamb sits a thrifted tiny studio pottery bowl which I use as a votive holder.

To the far right sits my handmade ukulele made by Chris. Next to it sits a mercury pedestal holding a foraged bird nest and feathers with blown out quail eggs. In front of it sits an antique pewter handled vessel which I adore. It is adorned with tiny pewter flowers, bull heads and horns and reminds me so much of this favorite story of mine. Inside sits a handmade beeswax candle made by a friend.

A stack of antique dishes and bowls that get used daily at meals also sits on top along with two prints- a pointillism drawing made by my mom in college and a watercolor titled “The Humming River” gifted to me by my mom.

In tomorrow’s post I will talk more about lambs, the month of March and spring inspired decor.

This week’s vignette

February 23, 2017

vignette

A bookshelf is the ideal venue for a vignette . Each shelf acts as a little stage for props to be set up and designed on creating that perfect scene. It’s almost as if a little performance is about to begin at any moment!

This built-in lives in my kitchen and holds a variety of things, many of which get used daily. When creating your own vignettes I urge you not to shy away from things that get utilized on a regular basis. Little clusters or groupings of objects that are both beautiful and useful can make a room feel inviting and give purpose. Just grab what you need and after you are finished back into the vignette it goes!

The top shelf holds a basket of linen napkins that get used on special occasions. On each side of the basket sit an antique copper candlestick that gets used on my dining room table when we are seating a larger group and the leaf needs to be put in. A Tulip Poplar branch found on a hike sits on top of the basket.

The second shelf holds an array of well loved cookbooks. My Joy of Cooking, gifted to me by Chris on our first Christmas together as a married couple, is so ell loved it is held together by a rubber band. It’s my go to for baking. An antique English Adams farmer mug holding a cluster of wood handled steak knives acts as a book end. A white scalloped pedestal bowl holds apples. Leaning up against the books is an antique hay barn pulley and a little watercolor I painted.

On the third shelf sit more cook books, pottery and utensils. A ceramic serving tray acts as a backdrop.

The fourth shelf on the bottom holds even more cookbooks, a Tiviola radio, and a pottery pitcher and chicken tile. On top of the radio sits a hand carved grouping of mushrooms made by a woodcarver friend. A wooden hand painted, floral serving tray leans behind.

As I have mentioned before vignettes are not meant to be permanent. These shelves are in constant flux. As the seasons change along with my mood so do the vignettes that live here.

I’d love to hear from you my friends. Let me know if you are enjoying this series and what other types of series you might like to see!

This week’s vignette

February 15, 2017

This week’s vignette sits on our dining room table.

I am a true believer in keeping dining tables clean and clear of clutter and debris. Being able to sit down to do work, or set the table to eat a meal is so much nicer when there aren’t piles of stuff to move out of the way.

A vignette in the center of the table sets the tone of a sacred space. In places where you visit often, especially where you might work or eat meals, they create a sense of peace and calm.

This grouping sits upon a wooden lazy Susan. We like to spin it around to pass condiments, herbs and spices. A white dish with an antique vanity plateau mirror sits upon the lazy Susan to dress things up a bit. I love how the mirror reflects the candle light in the evenings.

I always have a fresh bouquet of flowers on the table. At this time of year I use mostly store bought but as the seasons change, posies made from my own garden begin to appear. This one is made up of store bought Anemones, Silver Bell Euculyptus pods (left over from Christmas decor) and some foraged Sensitive Fern seed heads.

The antique thrifted pewter pitcher sits upon a slice of wood to give height and some rustic flare.

Sitting atop another slice of wood lives a set of little pewter dishes holding a crystal salt cellar. A second cellar holds hot pepper flakes.

A small glass vase holds a votive candle. Lighting candles makes the ritual of meal time that more special.

This Week’s Vignette

February 9, 2017

This week’s vignette is one that lives inside one of my built-in bookcases. Since I am a bit of a vignette-aholic every shelf in the bookcase contains a vignette but I’ll focus on this little top nook for now.

Like I mentioned before a vignette can tell a story. This particular one tells a story of our love of nature with several bits of the natural world found on walks and hikes , antique gardening and nature books, pottery and photographs.

I have been collecting antique gardening books since back when I was in college studying horticulture. I loved to hunt through used books stores and library sales for both myself and my mom who has an impressive collection herself. The pictures and drawings are so beautiful and I am always drawn to a pretty cover.

A slice of black walnut adds texture against the books and can be used as a coaster.

The daffodil pottery bowl holds a wren’s nest that sits upon a group of foraged pine cones. I found that little nest walking Harry one morning. It was just sitting on the sidewalk. It has bits of sweater lint woven throughout.

One of my favorite photographs of Hannah and Norah from a past camping trip leans behind the bowl.

A little handmade pottery vase holding an assortment of found feathers (including some from our own hens) sits next to a little clay bear made by Hannah.

And an old black and white photograph of Pop when he was sixteen watches over the little scene.

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