Color me Happy!

When spring weather finally arrives it is so refreshing to be outdoors with the woodsy fresh scent of the air filling the senses. My spring flowers happily push their beautiful heads forth from the earth. This miniature spring bouquet fills my soul with delight.

The arrangement created in one of the vintage sugar bowls in my collection.. overflowing with blue scillia, blue grape hyacinth, light and dark purple hyacinth, maroon pasque flower and yellow daffodils. The aroma of the hyacinth fills the room with it's heady scent!

The perfect bouquet with a spot of tea and scone on mismatched china! Don't you think?

Your set awaits in my Etsy shop... xo

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden?ref=hdr_shop_menu&search_query=mismatched+china

It's craft day!

I am blessed to have two special friends in my life; one I met in forth grade when we were 9 and the second when we were 20! We are an awesome trio and generally share the same interests; clothing, jewelry, decorating our homes, eating chocolate and desserts as well as crafting! Once a month we try our hands at a project, some have flopped, which we laugh about, others are a complete success! 

Today was a fun day ... first we made Easter shadowboxes with scrapbook paper and embellished with a variety of findings!

Each of us brings out own style when we create.  I love vintage and my box is on the left, Mar loves lots of bling, her box in the center and Cher has a lots of patience and her creations are precise and very classy!

After project one, we had lunch followed by amazing homemade chocolate salted caramel cupcakes! Mmmmm, ao good!

For the second project we decoupaged paper mache eggs with word tissue paper. Mine is accented with old pearls, vintage lace and seam binding with millinery velvet flowers! I think it looks adorable in a vintage glass basket!

My house is festive with chicks, bunnies and eggs ready for spring and Easter!

xo

Check out my Etsy shop for some of my vintage Easter findings!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden/search?search_query=easter&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

64 Degrees in March, Now That's What I Call a "BONUS DAY"!

My facebook memories remind me that last year on this day, I was strolling the beach in sunny Sanibel and a few years before that I was skiing in Vermont, quite a dichotomy! But today there was no place I would rather be than home sweet home! 

I rook advantage of this unseasonably warm and sunny March day to get some fresh air and shake off cabin fever! Honestly, I cannot complain, this winter has been a picnic compared to the snow and arctic temperatures of last year. Nice days like this are unquestionably a bonus!

The first thing I encountered out on my walk were the snowdrops in my front yard! This is definitely an early sign that spring is on the way!! Hooray!

Walking around the neighborhood, I took a path that I normally do not and look what I found! How quaint is this? A little library! A small little house holds books that others have read and want to pass along! I love it! Inside, a found a romance novel, just exactly what I love to read (oh...romantic me). 

Coincidentally, earlier this morning, after my Zumba class, I headed to the library and renewed my  card. Bringing home a nice selection of books; several on vintage repurposing, a few cookbooks and an Adriana Trigiani novel. Since I am getting a workout for my body, I told myself to also exercise my mind! I am going to be busy .... finding new projects, new recipes to try and a getting lost in a good book! 

Today was a wonderful day! xo

The Vintage Vanity

One of my collecting interests over the years has been vintage perfume bottles and vanity items. Lately during my outings to estate sales and antique malls, my eye has been on the lookout for unique vanity treasures!  

I discovered this remarkable Art Deco piece of history, an Arden celluloid rouge box .Elizabeth Arden was an early pioneer in not only skin care but as a woman in business! 

Another thrilling find was this Victorian Larkin Company perfume bottle in original box. The Larkin  Soap Company played a major part in the history of Buffalo. The Frank Lloyd Wright designed Larkin building houses many businesses currently. The site is also a cool downtown gathering space for music, food and fun in the summer. So nice to have found this historical collectible.

How charming is this purse perfume vial in an ornate sterling holder by the Wells Company? Hard to resist this delightful perfume bottle!

The whimsical designs of the vintage French perfumes are also hard to resist and are very special collectibles!

There is something so enchanting about miniature perfume bottles! For example, Art deco molded bottles, cut glass or czech irice are such sweet keepsakes.

This photo shows a portion of my collection along with vintage bottles I have repurposed with lace.

The great part of a vintage perfume bottle is once the fragrance is gone, the bottle will still be enjoyed for years to come!

Please visit my Etsy Shop MiLady Linden for a collection of vintage vanity items for sale.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiladyLinden/search?search_query=vintage+perfume&order=date_desc&view_type=gallery&ref=shop_search

California Dreamin'

Recently, I was blessed to have the opportunity to vacation in San Diego. My dear friend had renteda cozy bungalow to be near her grandson to celebrate his first birthday... she was kind to allow me to "crash" on her couch!

For years, she had shared stories of shopping at an awesome store called Vignettes, located on Newport Avenue in Ocean Beach. Well... I FINALLY had the occasion to visit Vignettes! What a treat!

The store is a sensory delight, at every turn are romantic displays of vintage items, furniture, collectibles and repurposed items.

I love these vintage party dresses!

So many beautiful trinkets!

Vignettes is definitely inspiring and filled my heart with happiness. How fun to wander around and enjoy the gorgeous findings! Like the pretty angel wings pictured below.

Near the front of the store are display cases of vintage jewelry and much to my pleasure, I discovered some beautiful lockets and treasures to offer in my Etsy shop! Can't wait to repurpose and list them!

I'm sure thrilled to be able to experience Vignettes and am already looking forward to the next time!