Poppin’ poppy quilt!

Isn’t this a beautiful piece of stitching ?

This stunning appliqué quilt  is a Marie Webster design. It was sold as a kit and was likely made in the 1930s.

Marie Webster was a fascinating woman. She was a quilt designer and a business woman and she wrote the first American book about quilting called “Quilts, Their Story and How to Make Them” first published in 1915.

According to the American Quilt Study Group, this Poppy pattern was first published in The Ladies Home Journal in the January 1912 issue.

Marie Webster was born in Wabash, Indiana. She was inducted into the Quilter’s Hall of Fame in 1991. Her residence in Marion, Indiana is now the home of the Quilter’s Hall of Fame and has been designated a National Historic Landmark.

Marie Webster died in 1956 at the age of 97.

Marie Webster designed Poppy appliqued quilt.  Excellent condition ($850) Fabulous teak sofa with original cushions ($900) pair of 1960s pink porcelain lamps with new shades made by Jane ($275/pair)

Marie Webster designed Poppy appliqued quilt.
Excellent condition (SOLD)
Fabulous teak sofa with original cushions SOLD
pair of 1960s pink porcelain lamps with new shades made by Jane SOLD

Butterscotch beauties!

What a fabulous look!

Hard to find pair of  “butterscotch”  Formica step-up sofa tables from the 1950s in extraordinary condition.

Don’t they look terrific with these wonderful 1950s ceramic lamps?

We love this creamy combination – so suitable for the modern home…

Buttersctoch step-up sofa tables in perfect condition. ($175 pair) Black and grey 1950s lamp pair. Rewired with new shades. ($225 pair)

Buttersctoch step-up sofa tables in perfect condition. ($175 pair)
Black and grey 1950s lamp pair. Rewired with new shades. ($225 pair)

Paint by Numbers

Jane and I are both fascinated by Paint by Numbers! Some are really beautifully done. Jane describes them as the democratization of art. Everyone could be painter and have a copy of a masterpiece hanging in their living room – that they created themselves !

One such Paint by Number we have in the store is a copy of the “Age of Innocence” – the famous painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. This kit of 40 oil colours from the 1960s was part of the Masterpiece Series. The person who painted it was so proud of her work that she signed it: M.Butler 1969. It’s our favourite right now.

Age of Innocence paint by number, 1969 ($75).

Age of Innocence paint by number in original frame, 1969 ($75).

And we have others in the store as well, including clowns…

Pair of clown paint by numbers called "Funny Fellows" in original frames  ($75 - pair)

Pair of clown paint by numbers called “Funny Fellows” in original frames
(SOLD)

and deer…

"Autumn Glen" 40 oil colours, original frame ($40)

“Autumn Glen” 40 oil colours, original frame (SOLD)

and ships…

"Sea breezes" and "Lookout Point" paint by number pair in original frames ($35).

“Sea breezes” and “Lookout Point” paint by number pair in original frames (SOLD).

Paint by number of a wharf. Part of a series called "Pounding surf" ($30).

Paint by number of a wharf. Part of a series called “Pounding surf” ($30).

And we are not alone in loving paint by numbers. There is actually a Paint by Number museum where you can research the names and years of the kits. You can check that out at <www.paintbynumbermuseum.com>

 

It’s about transformation

So, you don’t really need a vintage sewing basket , but you love the look of the woven wicker? Just think outside the box!

Many vintage items can be reworked in our homes to fit our modern lifestyles.

The old telephone table with lamp becomes a drop-off zone for keys and a place to change your shoes at your front door.

As for the sewing basket, our friend Gladys uses hers as a caddy in her guest bathroom. Why not ? It’s perfect for stacking toilet paper rolls on the bottom and for towels and small items in the top. Its size allows it to fit easily between a sink and a toilet in a small powder room or guest bath.

This is our transformation…

Vintage sewing box being used as a sewing box!

Vintage sewing box being used as a sewing box!

Vintage sewing basket transformed as a practical bathroom caddy ($175).

Vintage sewing basket transformed as a practical bathroom caddy ($175).

Glamourize your workspace!

Take a leaf out of Hollywood decorator Mary McDonald’s book “The Allure of Style”. We did!

On her office desk, Mary has used a vintage silver tea set to corral all her office supplies. At Mrs. Nicholson home, we have put our pens in the teapot, paperclips in the sugar bowl and our business cards in the creamer. You get the picture!

Glamourize your workspace!

Vintage tea set as a glamourous office set! ($65)

Vintage tea set as a glamourous office set! ($65)

Visitors from the past on First Friday

We had great fun at last night’s July First Friday in Annapolis Royal.

There was music and dancing on the streets and lots of people strolling the boardwalk enjoying the warm, sunny  evening.

We were lucky enough to be visited by the famous Town Crier and his escort and a very distinguished Victorian lady in her beautiful outfit.

So fitting for Canada’s First Town!

Distinguished Victorian Lady (Kamile Langstaff)

Distinguished Victorian Lady (Kamile Langstaff)

Town Crier and his lovely escort (Peter and Val Davies)

Town Crier and his lovely escort (Peter and Val Davies)

Summer is for sipping!

A lovely, hot weekend in Annapolis Royal inspired Jane and I to put out our stash of vintage juice pitchers and juice glasses!
It’s finally time to be sipping lemonade. Yeah!

Juice pitchers ($15-20) and glasses sets ($10-20)  Cake carrier ($20)

Juice pitchers ($15-20) and glasses sets ($10-20)
Cake carrier (SOLD)

First Friday! Tomorrow – July 5th

Tomorrow night is First Friday night in Annapolis Royal ! The first Friday of the month and we are celebrating the Festival of Roses.

There are lots of reasons to come to Town.

Stores will be open till 9 pm. There will be music on the street and at the Farmers’ Market. The Town Crier and his escort will be promenading downtown. You can hear the bagpipers, enjoy food tastings, sales and demos at participating shops and restaurants and wander the streets of historic Annapolis Royal.

You can enjoy the Wine and Roses event at the Historic Gardens from 5 to 7 pm (Tickets available at the Gardens), take a candlelight Graveyard Tour at 9:30 pm and stay overnight in one of our beautiful BandBs. That way, you can be here for our famous Saturday morning Farmers’ Market and also the annual House and Garden Tour taking place all day on Saturday.

The weather is gorgeous, the people are friendly and the Town welcomes you!

Musicians in front of MNH last month.

Musicians in front of MNH last month.

Val Davies, escort to the Town Crier, in front of Mrs. Nicholson Home last month

Val Davies, escort to the Town Crier, in front of Mrs. Nicholson Home last month

 

 

Mirror, mirror on the floor!

Glamour at the front door never looked so good!  Never mind that you don’t live in Hollywood….your umbrellas and walking sticks can!

This stunning 1950s umbrella stand was made of hundreds of tiny rectangles of mirror, likely by the Imperial Glass and Mirror Company out of Chicago, Illinois, who specialized in glass, but made decorative accessories as the whim struck.

This mid-century modern piece is in really excellent condition. It has one tiny corner of missing mirror, and surface rust on the inside bottom.  Twenty inches high, it stands on its original three little black plastic feet.

Such sparkly glamour!  How can you resist?

Hollywood Regency mirrored umbrella stand ($195)

Hollywood Regency mirrored umbrella stand (SOLD)