April Showers Bring May Flowers...

April is winding down and hopefully those April showers will dissipate to bring glorious warm May days... so looking forward to sunshine and warmth!

The showers are doing their part! Outside today surveying the garden, I was excited to see the willy nilly patches of grape hyacinths. These sweet little flowers are a delight and just the right size for a miniature vase!

Grape hyacinth, a spring bulb, genus Muscari, is derived from the Greek word for musk referencing the fragrant blooms.  Mine have a subtle scent.  Aren't they just so cute? I love the color, a purplish-blue hue and I think they look like tiny little fairy bells!

Another happy sign is the forsythia bush in bloom, hooray!  Not long before my fingers are going to digging in the dirt!  

What are your favorite flowers of spring?  

A spot of tea...

Tea time treats

Have you ever had the pleasure of afternoon tea? Dainty finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and clotted cream served on fine bone china... such a special treat!

Lovely blue tea cup

I have always had a fascination with tea time; adore the food, the charming setting as well as holding up my pinkie when I drink tea from the loveliest of cups!

Enchanting Shelley Freesia tea cup


My love of tea time naturally led to collecting vintage tea cups, china, napkins, place card holders, all things feminine and pretty and most necessary for tea!

Floral place card holders

When my daughter Natalie was little we had teddy bear and dolly teas with a mini tea set. Then years later when my beautiful Natalie was engaged, my dream came true hosting a bridal shower tea.

How much fun to use all those vintage tea lovelies I'd collected over time. It was a blessed day that will always hold a special place in  my heart!

Now, I must go whip up a batch of scones and reminisce with a cup of tea. xo

To view tea time items please visit my ETSY shop:   https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden/search?search_query=tea

The Golden Daffodil - Yes, it's Springtime!

A single daffodil, a wonderful symbol of springtime!

I opened a window to let in fresh air and spotted my happy daffodils in bloom .. I let out a squeal of delight! These charming flowers are a sure sign of warm weather! How can you not be filled with happiness at the sight of these sunny yellow flowers?  The daffodil or narcissus is a reminder of the resilience and beauty of nature.

I found this sweet poem:

"The Legend of the Daffodil"

Each time a Guardian Angel

sees a good deed being done--

A special springtime kindness,

or a prayer said for someone..

She plucks a star from heaven,

and it floats to earth until

it blooms in all its glory,

as a golden daffodil!

Author Unknown

Miniature daffodils- just the cutest thing ever!

Daffodils symbolize clarity, fertility and vitality.  With their sunny yellow trumpets, the daffodils are singing praises of joy!  I adore daffodils! xo

Narcissus/Daffodil Locket

For a selection of floral jewelry visit my shop on ETSY!https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden/search?search_query=flower

It's April...Happy Birthday to Me!

Delish birthday treat!

Yep, it's April, my beau likes to tease me and says I celebrate my birthday the entire month of April. And, I say,what is wrong with that? 

It's true I enjoy my birthday, it is a chance to celebrate another year of life! Age is just a number I do not really mind getting older, because in my head I am still feel 20 something! Woo hoo!

My daughter asked what my birthday treat request was, and I found a banana cupcake with dulce de leche frosting on Pinterest and sent it off to her. The cupcakes she produced were a labor of love with everything homemade and they were amazing. Kudos Natalie, she has become quite the baker! In her adulthood she has also become wonderful at finding just the right gifts for her mama, it is nice that she pays attention to my passions!

The April baby has a diamond birthstone! Diamonds are a girl's best friends and I love diamonds but overall I prefer costume jewelry!  Like this fascinating Art Deco crystal necklace:

Vintage Deco Crystal Necklace - Isn't it divine!

Diamonds’ sparkling fire has captivated for centuries, inspiring passionate myths of romance, intrigue and magic. Ancient Hindus, finding diamonds washed out of the ground after storms, believed they were created by bolts of lightning. The diamond is a symbol of enduring love.

My astrologic sign is Aries and some of the characteristics of the Ram are:
Enterprising, Incisive, Spontaneous, Daring, Active, Courageous and Energetic, Guileless and Optimistic to the fault. However, they also are Impatient, Reckless, Proud and Self Centered.

Hmmm.... I'd have to say most of those traits match my personality.  I try to keep upbeat and my friends often call me courageous.  I have bounds of energy and love spontaneity!  At my worst I am impatient!  

April has already been filled with birthday fun, friends, lunches, dinners, thoughtful gifts, beautiful cards and lots of love and good wishes. I am blessed and what more can a girl ask for? xo

To see a selection of birthday gifts please visit my ETSY shop:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden

The Victorian Butterfly .. Keepsakes of the Era

Victorian Sterling Butterfly Locket, Large Pendant

 Victorians loved nature motifs. Catching a butterfly and preserving it's beauty under glass  was a romantic theme of the era.

A glass locket was a presented as a token of affection to give to a beloved. The butterfly adorned with dried flowers on a bed of milk weed. These antique pendants are charming keepsakes of Victoriana. 

Victorian Sterling Butterfly Locket, Small Size

Another Victoria treasure was a wicker tray with butterflies under glass... so shabby chic and full of antique charm!
Imagine being served iced tea and cookies in days of old. The delightful tray can now house jewelry, perfume bottles or any trinket you wish.

Victorian Wicker Tray with Butterflies and Dried Flora

Ohhh, I love these Victorian friperies! xo

To view my ETSY shop and these treasures:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden/search?search_query=victorian+butterfly

Easter Greetings!

Look at the grass I grew... makes my basket so sweet!

When my kids were small, we used to grow grass for Easter baskets. It's been a while, but when I spotted the wheat grass seeds at the market, it brought back nostalgic memories and this became my Easter centerpiece this year.

I love it!

My daughter shared a story about a recent shopping trip for Easter with her sister-in-law who purchased new baskets for her children. Because she loved our traditions, she didn't care for the idea of new and related how much she enjoyed the vintage baskets used by her brother and herself. That makes me smile! Those baskets are saved in the attic, ready for the next generation! I'm sure she will carry on our cherished customs quite well when the time arrives!

Vintage sweetgrass and mineral dyed basket

At an estate sale, I discovered the charming soft pastel basket pictured above. What a wonderful Easter basket it would make!

Do you have any beloved traditions that have been shared and passed down in your family? I'd love to hear them! xo

To view Easter items in my ETSY shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden/search?search_query=easter

My Snowdrops Have Announced at Long Last... It's Spring!

Happy Spring Declare my Snowdrops!

Every spring these enchanting and hardy little flower bells pop up under my hedgerow. How they make me smile... because they are so sweet and more importantly Spring has Sprung!  Yippeeeee!

Whimsical Little Bells

The other day a few ladies at church were discussing how much they loved snowdrops! My goodness, how could I forget mine! As soon as I was home, I raced outside and there they were, just popping open their sleepy heads to greet Spring! My spirits soared! 

The snowdrop is a symbol of hope, purity and cleansing. They are first to appear in the garden and aren't afraid to burst forth covered with snow!  They are perennials and the scientific name for the snowdrop is Galanthus Nivalis. 

Snowdrop Fairy

This charming vintage picture was illustrated by artist Cicely Mary Barker. I love the magic of fairies ... and adore snowdrops!

Happy Spring! xo