Can't wait for next Thursday!

I'm so excited. I couldn't wait to tell you. I have been invited to participate in a wonderful showcase hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch

Every Thursday very talented ladies put together inspiring tabletop vignettes showcasing new and vintage dinner and serving ware with linens and accents creating very imaginative themes in sometimes very unique staging areas. One participant used her diving board and pool as a tabletop party for two. Susan's blog is no less inspiring as her own tabletops...you just need to pop over. And, don't forget to come back by on Thursday I should have my tabletop finished by then...if I start tonight....Jim'll have to get up the cupboards.........

It's Show-off Monday at Etsy Cottage

First I'd like to thank Marcella for hosting this get-together. I can't wait to see others projects and ideas! This is a great way to start off an otherwise mundane Monday.

I thought to kick off this Monday with a bit of a change of pace. You usually see my flowery stitches and fiber art, but today I'd like to show you what we create on a day to day basis at our floral design studio. As some of you know, and for those who don't, in every day life I am a Master Floral Designer. My family has owned A&J's Floral Boutique(R) in Cincinnati, Ohio since 1972. Over the years we have received national awards for our designs, service and quality in competitions and from wire services. We have also received numerous medals at the Cincinnati Flower Show, the only US flower show affiliated with the Royal Horticultural Society (Chelsea Flower Show) in England. We are very proud of achieving the Cincinnati Horticultural Society Gold Medal of Excellence for quality and design. At our shop we try to give clients more than they expect, whether it be in service or in designs. We have always mixed flowers with the unexpected to create one-of-a-kind designs. Be it for an everyday design or something special. We have filled bedpans for hospital designs, baby shoes for first grandchildren, we even used a whole switchboard system with flowers and foliages to create a permanent divider to be used on a half wall in a home for a retirement gift. Some of my Brown Gingham Creations are incorporated into our floral designs also. The totes I design are filled with hand-tied bouquets instead of being wrapped in just plain tissue. And, I also create custom wedding pillows for some of our brides using vintage textiles and flowers. One Monday I'll have to show those.
This is one of our exclusive designs, The A&J's Memories Box(C).
We use assorted botanicals....every day flowers to exotics..... design them in unique keepsake boxes and add accents that have meaning to the recipient. This particular order was a Sympathy Tribute for a Mother from her Son. She always had Hershey Kisses(R) in bowls in her nursing home room, which everyone would stop in for, and she loved pink roses. So, we took a satin floral motif shell, pearl, and sequin, mirrored keepsake box and filled it with fragrant pink long stem roses, snapdragons, and french carnations. We had to complete the design with babies breath for a lacy look, and, of course lots of Kisses paved at the bottom around the design.








We just loved the iridescent pinks of the shells and sequins that were brought out by the pink flowers.



This is a close-up of the paved french carnations and cluster of roses that are reflected in the mirror giving the almost 3' design even more dimension.















Each Memories Box and flower combo are different. No two are quite the same, and, they are done for any occasion. We even create them using the clients own vintage keepsakes like photos, teddy bears, figurines, hankies, jewelry,etc. Anything that has memories can go into the box and create tabletop or shelf vignettes. We use permanent botanicals, foliages, and dried flower as accents for those. They are our 'Treasures of the Past' Collection(C).

Well I hope you enjoyed seeing what I do in real life. I can truly say I love my work. Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you stop by again soon.
Melody

Hi! Thanks for stopping by today. Hope you enjoyed my last post about my treasures. Be sure to stop back tomorrow. Marcella at Etsy Cottage Style is hosting 'Show-Off Monday' and there are always some really wonderful designs and ideas from some extremely talented people. My newest item will be posted later tonite for tomorrows theme. Chat with you tomorrow!

Family Treasure

I was going through some boxes in my basement one day and I found a couple of my Grandma's tin's. Treasure boxes! She used them to store all kinds of things. Cookies to nails. This box was not too heavy, so it couldn't have been nails and junk. I remember this tin. She got it in the 60's. It was always hard to open.....the hinged lid stuck.

It's like a time capsule. Filled with unfinished projects she'd get back to later.

Unfinished dresser scarves.........

This dresser scarf is only done on one end. Look at all the tiny stitches...and perfect. The back looks as good as the front. I can still hear her telling me that the back of a piece needed to look as clean as the front. If her pieces didn't have tiny knots on the back, you'd think they were machined.

This next scarf clearly shows the makers stamp, Colonial Maid. I'd never heard of that company. If someone out there has can you let me know?


This kitchy wall piece must've been one she completed when they were redoing the kitchen in the early 70's. The colors match. I wonder why she never finished it? Or, maybe she had done it to give as part of a shower gift?...... I think this treasure will find it's way to my Mom's kitchen as a surprise.

This next tin is much older. Probably from the very early 40's maybe late 30's.


I love the old world look. The bottom has pink and gold coordinating stripes. Pure Shabby Chic for today.

OOHHHH, Grandma's embroidery thread and very utilitarian pincushion. Her oval embroidery hoop and two ready to be embroidered dresser scarves. She never even started them! One even has the original tag on it.
I think these will be finished and used as table runners..for myself.

I'm going to put these back in the treasure boxes and display them in what I hope will be my studio one day. I love finding family treasures.. I know these bits of thread, material, wood, and tin aren't worth a lot, but to me they are priceless stitches of love.

Now, I'm off to do some vintage hunting in my own basement. I have boxes and bags of stuff family and friends have given me over the past few years that they say they're not sure what's in them, but they're sure I can use it. I gladly take them, but then forget where I put them...or rather where Jim has moved them!! Don't you just love a helpful husband........