Christmas Home Tablescape

I’m back after a long blogging break and I thought I would get back into the swing of things by sharing this simple table setting that I’ve created for our dinner tonight.

I found this gorgeous red velvety trimmed tablecloth at the thrift store last weekend and wanted to do a setting using it.  It has ribbon embroidered flowers and leaves on each corner.  It is huge! I haven’t added the leaf to my table yet and when I do, the tablecloth will be a much better fit.  But…I just couldn’t wait to do a setting using it on my round table.  So for now, the ends are just draped on the floor. 

It’s hard to tell from these two photos, but the tablecloth is a beautiful red color.  There is also a green ribbon border.

I used silver beaded chargers, cream dinner plates and “Christmas Home” salad plates by Royal Stafford. 

Closeup of the “Christmas Home” salad plates.

 

The lantern surrounded by greenery sits on a silver tray.

My Christmas Home tablesetting…

Thanks for visiting with me today!  I hope your Christmas is a magical one!

I’m joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Dreamgoddess

 

Please send some prayers and good vibes my way!

As I had mentioned before in posts, I lost my job in December 2009.  Other than a one month temporary job back in January, I’ve been unemployed since then.

I live in a small town and it’s been hit very hard by the economy.  We keep hearing that the economy is turning around, but there is zero evidence of that here where I am.  I’ve lost count of the businesses that have either closed altogether or have moved their operations other places in the last few years.  One more business closed last week and another is having a going out of business sale right now.  Competition for what few jobs become available here is unreal. 

Late yesterday afternoon I received a call to come in this morning for an interview.  The job is only part time for right now, but will possibly be full time in a few months.  The job would be perfect for me as I would be doing basically the same thing I did at my old job. 

Please , if you are a praying person, say one for me.  I need prayers, good thoughts, fingers crossed, anything!  I really, really need a job!

 

A Tale of Antique Love

There is a small antiques shop where I live that I love to browse around in and drool over all the gorgeous stuff.  Gorgeous as in ~make you want to cry~ beautiful stuff!

 

Early last year, I stopped in to look around and when I walked in the door…oh my gosh, I spotted her!  My eyes popped wide open and my jaw dropped…she was stunning!  I wanted to snatch her up and take her home with me.  Gold gilt over spelter, ruffled blue shading into pink cased glass, ornate base…it was love at first sight!

 

Unfortunately, I had been unemployed over a year at that time and after one look at the price tag, I knew there was no way.  Sadly, I would have to leave it in the shop…but, oh my, did I want it!  You know that feeling when something just screams your name!

It had been purchased in New Orleans many years ago by the owner of the shop and had graced her home since then.  Deciding the time had come to sell it, she brought it into the shop.  She knew how badly I wanted to buy it, but also knew I simply couldn’t afford to at the time.

 

For months, I would often stop by just to look at it and wish.  On one of my stops by the shop in late summer, the owner told me that she had a gentleman that wanted to buy it.  My heart dropped!  I was even more shocked when she told me that he offered her cash on the spot and she turned him down.  She said she knew how badly I wanted it and she just couldn’t sell it to him.  I was speechless…but still broke, if you know what I mean!

Now my mother often would go to the shop to browse also and one Saturday, a couple of weeks before Christmas, she asked me to go with her.  When we walked in the door, the owner had this big smile on her face when she saw us.  She told us to come with her and we walked to one of the back rooms of the shop.

There it was, sitting on a table.  My mother walked over and picked it up.  She turned to me and said “This is your combination birthday and Christmas present”.  I think I actually screamed!

I know I wanted to cry!  My mother said she didn’t want to try to wrap it because she was afraid it would get broken.  I don’t know which of the three of us ~my mother, the owner of the shop, or me~ was more excited!  We were all laughing and talking at the same time…I’m pretty sure at one point I probably did cry a little. 

My friend Richard at My Old Historic House told me that Victorian epergnes, or centerpieces as they were also called, were often used on tables in a hallway or parlor.  They were also used as the focal point for dining tables.  Depending on where they were used, epergnes could have held fruit or possibly even calling cards during the Victorian era.  I wish I knew how old she is!  

This is my third epergne, so officially I now have a collection, right?

 

By far, she is my favorite of the three!  Not only because I wished and hoped for her for so long, but also because my sweet mother gave her to me.

For a while, she sat in a cabinet in my living room.  Now though, she makes her home on my antique Victorian fern stand that I restored.  You can read about that here if you would like to. 

 

I’m linking up with Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. 

Thanks for stopping by to see me today!  Hope your weekend is pinkilicious! 

Dreamgoddess

The Splendor of English Roses

Which is loveliest in a rose? Its coy beauty when it's budding, or its splendour when it blows?
~George Barlow

The weather has been really nasty this morning with rain pouring down.  Since it’s too yucky to get out and all my cleaning is finished (yeah!), I decided to play around with a very simple table setting for tonight’s dinner.

It’s been a while since I’ve actually set the table and we ate in the dining area.  In fact, I think the last time was at Christmas!  My youngest daughter told me yesterday that we really need to start eating together at the table…so this setting is for her.  Dinner at the table tonight…she’ll be tickled, especially since we’ll be dining by candlelight (she loves that!).

Just a simple setting…I used a pink tablecloth layered with a white lace cloth.  I added pink napkins with silver napkin rings.

To anchor each setting, I used a pink charger.  The dinner and salad plates are one of my favorite sets.  The pattern is “English Rose” featuring delicate pink and red roses on a sagey green background.

The footed glasses are “Heritage” by Fostoria.

The silverware belonged to my grandmother.  I always loved this pattern when I was growing up.

For the centerpiece, I used a silver footed tray that I found a couple of weeks ago at the thrift store.  A few glass marbles, two crystal votive candholders and one pink mosaic candleholder (another thrift store find!)…and I called it finished!  

I’m joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

I always enjoy your visits, so thanks for stopping by!

Dreamgoddess  

Southern Lady Cake

Oh, I’m so glad you dropped by!  I’ve been baking and have a wonderful treat to share with you today.  I made a Southern Lady Cake and it’s one of my family’s favorite cakes.

 

I’ve been making this cake for several years now after finding the recipe in an issue of Southern Lady magazine.  The recipe was created as a tribute to the magazine by a lady in Atlanta known as the “Cake Lady”.  It’s moist, has a wonderful texture and is so delicious with a delicate orange flavor.  Don’t be tempted to skip adding the glaze…it puts this cake right over the top!

Psst…if you don’t tell anyone it’s made from a mix, they’ll never know it! 

1 box orange supreme cake mix

1/3 c sugar

2 T all purpose flour

1 c sour cream

2/3 c oil

1/2 t orange extract

4 eggs

11 oz can mandarin oranges, drained

2 T orange juice

1 c confectioner’s sugar

Grease and flour a tube cake pan.  Combine the cake mix, sugar and flour in a large bowl.  Add the sour cream, the oil and orange extract.  Mix at low speed with a mixer.  Add the eggs, one at a time.  Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes.  Add in the mandarin oranges and mix until all ingredients are well combined.  Pour the batter into the prepared tube pan.  Bake at 350°F for 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the cake comes out clean.  Let the cake cool in the pan for 15 minutes.  Combine the orange juice and confectioners sugar well.  Drizzle over the cake.

The original recipe called for baking 45-50 minutes, but it always takes longer to bake when I make this.  I usually end up having to bake it for about 1 hour before it’s done.

Thanks for visiting with me today!  I’m joining these parties…

Miz Helen’s Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday

Alison at Stuff and Nonsense for Fridays Unfolded

Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday

Sweet as Sugar Cookies for Sweets for a Saturday

Dreamgoddess

 

A Piece of Victoriana

A few weeks ago, I shared with you my Victorian fern stand that I found at the flea market in Mobile.  The seller actually had two of the fern stands and I’m still kicking myself for not buying both of them!  He had traveled to the flea market from Mississippi and told me he had bought the stands from an estate sale in an old Victorian home there.

The stand had lots of issues…the legs were badly tarnished and the cast iron top and middle section was covered in rust.  One of the legs was a little bent, so it leaned to one side instead of standing straight.  My husband suggested forgetting about trying to restore it and simply paint the stand.  Oh, the horror!  What was he thinking???  Personally, I think he was having a senior moment about that time!

The marble was in pretty rough shape also.

Cleaning this baby was A LOT of work!  It involved multiple cleanings and sandings to remove all the rust from the cast iron. 

The brass was so badly tarnished in places and none of the several brass cleaners I tried would remove all of the tarnish.  Finally an antiques dealer suggested I use Bar Keepers Friend.  I’m not affiliated with this company in any way, but if you’ve never tried it, I recommend buying some of it.  This stuff works miracles!  (See how one of the legs was bent??)

So, here it is in all its restored glory.  All the rust is gone and the brass has a beautiful glow now.  The iron pieces were probably originally painted to match the brass legs, but I’m really liking the way it looks now. 

I placed it in my living room and I’ve been having so much fun playing around with different items sitting on it.  I started out with this…

and then this…

…and ended up with this for now.  I love it!  My husband was even impressed and said maybe he was wrong about painting it.  In the back of my mind a little voice is saying, “ya think so???”   

I haven’t decided what will go on the bottom yet…still playing around with that.  I’m linking up with these parties…

Marty at a Stroll Thru Life for Table Top Tuesday

Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday (my first time joining this party!)

Bee at Beez Rental Designs for her very first Frugal Treasures Tuesday

Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday

Doni at Faith, Grace, Crafts for Pearls and Lace Thursday

Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Open House Party

Alison at Stuff and Nonsense for Fridays Unfolded

Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

Sherry at The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Redoux Friday Link Up Party #45

Thanks for dropping by and visiting with me today!  I hope to see you again soon!

Dreamgoddess

 

   

Death by Oreo Cupcakes

Just before Christmas, I came across a recipe here for Death by Oreo Cupcakes .  My family really wanted me to make them, but in all the Christmas rush, I simply didn’t have time then.  My daughter ever so sweetly reminded me last weekend that we STILL hadn’t tried the recipe, so off we went to the store to get the ingredients.

Oh my goodness, these cupcakes were so delicious…almost an Oreo overload!  An Oreo on the bottom, Oreos in the cake batter and the cream cheese frosting…then garnished with a mini Oreo. 

I did notice the mini Oreos were the tiniest bit soft where they sat in the frosting, so I would suggest not garnishing the cupcakes until right before serving them.

I’m joining Miz Helen’s Country Cottage for Full Plate Thursday.  I’m also joining Sweet as Sugar Cookies for Sweets For a Saturday.

Thanks for dropping by to visit!

Dreamgoddess

 

Better to Light a Candle…

than to curse the darkness. ~Chinese Proverb

I had the brilliant idea to stop by my favorite antique shop last week.  I only did it to kill time, you know, not really shopping or anything like that of course…but then, I walked in the door and I saw a glimmer of etched cranberry glass.  Well, of course I had to make a beeline for it.

Oh, it was love at first sight!  It’s heavy brass, which is in serious need of some polish, and there are four wonderful fish arcing down the base.

Hmmm…but what exactly is it?  It’s not a lamp and it didn’t look like any candleholder I had ever seen.  The central brass tube is made up of two pieces that lock together.

A spring slides down into the brass tube. 

A visit to an antiques board here on the web gave me an answer to the question of what exactly it was that I had found…it’s a spring loaded candle holder.  The candle goes down into the brass tube on top of the spring.  Then the top brass piece is put on and locked into place.  As the candle burns, the spring pushes the candle up to the top of the tube so it continues to burn.  Pretty cool, huh!

The most common ones made now are altar candle holders for churches.  I have no clue how old this one is…I just thought it was wonderful.  The best part???  I only paid $5.00 for it!  When I saw the price on it, I thought “Oh yeah baby! You are definitely going home with me!”

I’m hoping to have time to sit down this weekend and get it polished.  I can’t wait to see that brass glowing!

I’m joining Paula and Patti at Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday.

Thanks for visiting today!

DG

Smoking in the Salon

Dahling…sashay on into my salon and pull up a chair.  Cigarette?  No?  Well, hold on a minute while I light mine and then we’ll talk.  (Ok…imagine the sultry voice of Mae West here.  LOL!)

From the latter part of the 1800’s into the mid 1900’s, smoking was often considered to be glamorous and sophisticated.  Novels, and later, movies portraying the romantic and mysterious allure of smokers contributed to the huge demand for tobacciana items.   

One highly popular item around the turn of the century, especially in Europe, was the Parlor Smoking Set.  They were often made of majolica, porcelain or cast metal.  Smoking Sets can be found decorated with transfer scenes or handpainted florals.  The Set could consist of several pieces or one piece with various sections. 

This particular Smoking Set, made of porcelain and glazed a soft shade of green, was made sometime around 1900-1910 in Austria.  It’s decorated with handpainted pink flowers and gold trim .

There are three sections in the Smoking Set…one is used to hold matches…

The largest section is for the cigarettes…

And one section is for the spent matches.

On the back of the section for holding the matches are these handpainted letters – MOK.  Maybe the initials of the artist?  I have no idea.

Parlor Smoking Sets similar to mine can be difficult to find online…for the simple reason many people don’t realize exactly what they are. 

When I purchased this one, the seller had no idea what it was and had suggested perhaps it was made to use on the dining table to hold salt and pepper.  Hmmm, I suppose it could be used for that purpose if you really wanted to.

Thanks for dropping by my salon today!  I’m joining Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday and Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

DG