Panoply

Monday, March 12, 2018

Panoply Vintage Shopping, Finds 1Q18

When you're an antiques & vintage goods dealer and shopping opportunities arise, you're best to act upon each one, especially when it is winter. These opportunities are typically few and far between when most of the region is lying dormant. Most people are deep in the throes of the typical purging and organizing processes in January, February (more on that later), but some choose to have it done professionally. That makes for some great estate sales. My Panoply sisters and I have gone to a few sales, and made one trip during this seemingly short first quarter of 2018 (1Q18). Let's go armchair shopping!

First, I'll show you what I did NOT purchase. My sisters and I traveled to Lewisburg, WV to shop recently. It's very near where the Greenbrier Hotel is located. If you know me at all, you know I love beautiful dishware and table settings.

Both of these tables I'm showing caught my eye, as did the needlepoint pillows and other accessories. The pillows are made with Carleton Varney fabrics (Mr. Color, President of Dorothy Draper & Co, and the Greenbrier's decorator).

Now, onto the things I purchased during these last few months. The things I did buy during 1Q18 eventually take on themes, either coordinating with similar items my sisters purchase and we ultimately style together, or things I gravitate toward which personally appeal to me. These first items are things which personally appeal to me.

I love majolica, and the colors in these items just sing to me! They are varied in country of origin - Western Germany, Occupied Japan, Portugal, Italy - and from where they were sourced - various dealer friends and antique shops. Aquas/greens/yellows - all have a cottage vibe and shout spring to me!

More cottage looks in the pottery and glass are pictured above. Not one, but two bulb jugs/pitchers with ice lips. And, if you recall, I already had another one in my arsenal, as seen in my sunroom last summer into fall (here). I guess that makes another collection. The matte, greenish-aqua one (top L) is a Rum Rill - likely made by Shawnee Pottery in Zanesville, OH. The middle row are all flower vessels - Fire King jadeite, Empire Works (England), and possibly Shawnee (far rt, tulips). The items on the bottom just struck a chord - a lamb plate (chickens on the back side), an Art Deco Pierrot clown soap or trinket dish, and hobnail milk glass.

The items above are categories I like, but a few are random. I love metals for how easily they store - the greyhound dog by the fireplace, the bacon press, the pineapple napkin rings, bracelets (personal collection) and the bird bottle opener - all are metals. The tiny salt & peppers are Salty & Peppy, popular mid-century kitchen items. The random dog book is a 1946 edition and will sit nicely with a pair of Roseville dog bookends we have in the shop. The porcelain pair of greyhounds are Italian, and the detail was irresistible, plus they'll display nicely with the metal dog in our booth. The print in the bottom left corner is one I just adore. It is a lithograph of the painting by Paul Peel (1860-1892), "After the Bath". I have another, smaller version of this hanging in my office. The remaining finds pictured above are various linens bought for resale.

The last of the items I purchased will all be for resale - at least I think so. 😉 Mostly all of these I consider mantiques - the equestrian (trinket, cup, bookends, and shot glasses), hunt (Libbey fowl glasses), bottle capper with caps, and belt buckles - all are fun things to stock our mantiques booth. The center items - an aged pottery frog and glass fishing float - could work in a garden or coastal theme. The far right, middle and bottom, are more primitive in nature. The chopper handle had great patina, the wood stirrup was nice and grungy, and the donkey is an antique bottle opener. The pitcher (bottom R) is unique - a pewter metal vessel with a wood exterior and intricate metalwork trim.

Okay, let's talk about the proverbial elephant in the room. In January, I talked about my purge proposal, yet here I am buying more stuff. Well, I am sticking to my plan, I want you to know. Sometimes it's just about rotating things, making things fresh and new, right? Fostering, selling and keeping things for personal use....the lines are often blurred when I shop, but eventually I'm ready to let most things go, either by selling in our booths or yard sales, or in gifting.

Pictured above is what I am affectionately calling my purge patrol. I have purged that many packages since mid February, and I'm still working methodically. So, if we've communicated on the subject, I haven't forgotten you. I just haven't gotten to you, and I'm not about to stop until the project is complete in my mind! I've emptied at least three 16-gallon storage tubs, and several other nooks and crannies where things have been stored. Believe me when I say this process has truly been cathartic!

Speaking of rotating things, making things fresh and new, we've been doing a lot of moving and restyling in our booth spaces since the first of the year, too. I'll soon have a post highlighting some of those changes.

Thanks for coming along on this virtual shopping trip, and indulging me with my account of shopping finds. Did you see anything you liked? Have you found some fun finds lately? Feel free to leave your comments. It's always fun to hear what you like, and what seems to be trending in your region.

Rita C. at Panoply

Sharing: One More Time, Pieced Pastimes, Best of the Weekend, Anything Goes Pink Saturday, Amaze Me, DIDI, BNOTP, Show & Share, Inspire Me, Make it Pretty, The Scoop, Dagmar's Home, Celebrate Your Story,SYS, SYC, Delightsome Life H&G, Grace at Home, Vintage Charm

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Raining Cats and Dogs: Totes Tales #14, Giveaway!

Welcome back from a long winter's nap! It's time for another instalment of the Tales of the Traveling Totes - #14! Not familiar with the Traveling Totes? You can catch up by reading how it all started, here, and my personal tales with Miss Luna C and Miss Charley C here. Be sure to read to the end of this post for another great giveaway, this time a MacKenzie-Childs and Beekman Boys gift combo.

Since we last convened in December, our "winter" has been quite mild, other than the arctic blast much of the country experienced in early January. For the most part, though, instead of snow, we have had much rain this winter. February's totals alone have exceeded both December's and January's combined.

Apart from the purging and organization that takes place in my typical January, a couple of gal pals and I (along with Miss Charley C) did get out for Pier 1's "Besties and Blooms" in-store event. Let me just say any of my blogger friends and I could've put on better demonstrations for the retailer. 😏

It pretty much has been raining cats and dogs. Literally. My sister M and her husband drove to Lancaster, PA to pick up this little guy below. Meet Brinkley, a Havanese puppy - in classic Courtly Check, no less. He's nearly 13 weeks old in this photo below. Isn't he handsome?!

So far, Brinkley is quite skittish about wood floors, big bags (like Miss Luna C), and steps. He's already housebroken, will sit for treats, and loves the security of his crate. He takes frequent naps and sleeps all night long, settling into his crate each time. While Mr. P. would love to welcome a new puppy, Brinkley is my sister M's baby.

Miss Luna C, Miss Charley C and I are looking forward to the spring weather and getting out much more. Spring is already showing promise in my region and in my landscape. I hope you'll return on June 1, 2018 for another adventure recap.

NOW, ONTO THE GIVEAWAY!

The Traveling Tribe is offering another giveaway. Jenna @ The Painted Apron is our giveaway sponsor this time. One lucky reader who leaves a comment on Jenna's March 1 post will have their name thrown into the hat for an opportunity to win the following:

Where have all the other Traveling Tote tribe members been lately? Check them out at the links conveniently located below to see. We have two new members joining us, making us a dozen* now. Please welcome Ricki Jill of The Sketchy Reader and Lea of Cici's Corner, and show them some love. (*Katie with Miss Daisy @ Preppy Empty Nester will return to join us next time).

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
Jackie with Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home
Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron
Lia with Miss Scarlett @ Cici's Corner
Linda G with Miss Poppy @ More Fun Less Laundry
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Patti with Miss Kenzie and Miss Taylor @ Pandora's Box
Ricki Jill with Countess de Monet @ The Sketchy Reader
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply (you are here!)
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Thanks for traveling along on our adventures!

Rita C. at Panoply

Sharing: One More Time, Pieced Pastimes, Best of the Weekend, Amaze Me, DIDI, BNOTP, Show & Share, Inspire Me, Make it Pretty, The Scoop, Dagmar's Home, Celebrate Your Story,SYS, SYC, Delightsome Life H&G, Grace at Home, Vintage Charm,

Sunday, February 25, 2018

St. Patrick's Day Greenhouse Tablescape

This fun tablescape came together like a little puzzle recently. It's a nod to my Irish heritage, and it could easily host a casual meal for a few of my sisters or maybe just a few friends (sisters from different misters).

Y'all know how much I've enjoyed my little flock of sheep in my sunroom since the beginning of the new year. Then, instead of a bouquet for Valentine's Day, I told Mr. P. I wanted the hellebore plant you see below. The intention was to set a table with it (and not necessarily with the sheep).

The balmy weather this past week was beckoning me to come outside and plant that hellebore, so I did. It's a good thing too, because the plant was rootbound in its pot. It's much happier now.

Planting the hellebore took away from my centerpiece idea, so I decided the flock needed a shepherd of sorts - a lucky one - that I scored in December. That's when a St. Patrick's Day theme took hold.

I had picked up some cute little plates from Pier 1, knowing I'd use them at some point soon. I decided a simple table, using my everyday Pfaltzgraff with these new plates and the flock, would be timely for St. Patrick's Day. I added vintage bakelite flatware first seen in this post.

Some Williams Sonoma dish towels in a coordinating shade of green made great napkins. A good, simple tablescape was set.

I knew I had some green glassware in my inventory, but a trip to pick up a pizza led me on a detour to the Dollar Tree. I came home with green wine glasses and St. Patrick's Day scarves. And a pizza. 😉 I decided the scarves would be a cute and fun takeaway for the gals invited.

At this point I still hadn't dug out my green glassware. I did, however, pull out a few lucky coins for each place setting. These are Sacagawea dollar coins, 4 of 80 gifted to my mother in a little kettle pot (her pot of gold) on her 80th birthday celebration in early March, 2000.

I pulled the green glassware I originally intended to use, and the table was finally set.

I have only created one other tablescape on the theme of the March 17 holiday, and it was without your typical cheeky decor. Somehow, though, this one had me going. My entire family attended a high school whose team was the Fighting Irish, with a leprechaun as mascot, so it was always a fun holiday growing up. My mom, primarily Italian, always celebrated this holiday in a fun way too, but it was my dad's Irish ancestry that gave us all our pale-skin freckles and reddish undertones. A few of my siblings (and I) have green eyes. And when Irish eyes are smiling, sure, they'll steal your heart away....just ask Mr. P.

I hope you all have a Happy St. Patrick's Day! Don't forget to wear your green, or else be pinched!

Rita C. at Panoply

(A special thanks to Ginnie at My Little Home's Best of the Weekend Party #152 , to Kathryn from the Dedicated House: Make It Pretty Monday #245 and to Richella at Imparting Grace: Grace at Home #289 for featuring this post!)

Sharing: One More Time, Pieced Pastimes, Best of the Weekend, Amaze Me, DIDI, BNOTP, Show & Share, Inspire Me, Make it Pretty, The Scoop, Dagmar's Home, Celebrate Your Story,SYS, SYC, Delightsome Life H&G, Grace at Home, Vintage Charm,

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Sunshine is Great Inspiration; So is a Giveaway!

We have had so much rain lately, I almost forgot what it felt like to have sunshine. Today we had sunshine and warmer temps! To say I was inspired is an understatement. Out with the feathers and silver branch decor remains of winter, and in with the flora and fauna that signals spring!

Instead of flowers for Valentine's Day, I told Mr. P. I wanted a hellebore plant that caught my eye in the grocery store. It was perfect for Valentine's Day, which was also the first day of Lent. The hellebore is also known as a Lenten rose for its typical timing in bloom. I'll enjoy it indoors until it quits blooming, then plant it in the garden.

Bunnies are multiplying indoors, just as they are outdoors (I chase them out of my landscape all winter, where they seem to be quite comfortable).

I just replenished my Valentine candy with Easter candy. :) White chocolate M&Ms and jelly beans are within an arm's reach in strategic places on the first level of the house. MY chocolate is hidden, but I bought a clearance bag of kisses for the Mr.

Birds are waking me up in the early morning hours, certainly honing their mating and nesting instincts with their songs.

With a day of sunshine, I ventured out into the soggy landscape to see what's coming up.

Another couple days of the warming temps expected, and my daffodils may start blooming. Pansies will wake up again.

My hyacinths are pushing up dirt, too.

Can't see them? Look again.

Our forecast has no temperature falling below 32° in the foreseeable future. Rain will come again, but it looks like spring will come soon.

Here's something else that's coming soon.....a GIVEAWAY! Hurry over to my friend Patti's blog at Pandora's Box for a chance to win this fabulous MacKenzie-Childs courtyard tote. You must leave a comment before February 23rd on her blog to have a chance to win (sorry, tote contents not included)! I made it easy for you, just click on the link.

MacKenzie-Childs Courtyard Tote Giveaway at Pandora's Box Blog

Hey, it won't be long before we're packing our totes for warm weather fun! I'm inspired, are you?
Thanks for stopping by. I hope warm weather inspires you soon, too.

Rita C. at Panoply

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Celebrating Life and Love with Noritake Azalea

Signs of new life are already emerging in gardens a little further South. While waiting and watching for signs of my own garden awakening, I'm setting a table for two to celebrate both life and love. My vintage Noritake Azalea china was an intentional choice for this tablescape.

My tablescape today is just one of many coming to you this week, amid company of a great group of bloggers. The complete list of those participating (with links) is provided at the end of this post. Our gracious host is the very talented (and patient!) Chloe, from the blog Celebrate and Decorate. The table details are also provided below.

This delicate china dates from 1918, and was sourced from an estate in North Carolina.

Noritake Azalea was made for the export market in Japan, and features hand-painted, pink azalea blooms on a white base. It has a gold rim (timeworn and loved in places), with gray and green foliage extending from the blooms. I've stacked the dinner plate between a silver trimmed, glass charger and a frilly, pierced salad plate. Sterling flatware (Prelude) lends a formal touch, while coffee spoons with a heart motif keep the mood playful.

Crystal champagne glasses are intended for fruit service on the plate stack, and coordinating tumblers for cold dinner beverages. Napkins are a simple white cotton with scallop trim, dressed up a bit with a pearl and gold napkin ring.

The tablecloth is a favorite vintage piece, a white matelasse textile. Layered on the tablecloth and beneath the cake pedestal is a white rabbit fur pelt, found while antiquing a couple years ago.

The flower arrangement at the head of the table is simple: a glass hurricane on gold charger, with crystal beaded floral stem and strand of lights in center. A magnolia wreath (purchased in Amish country several years ago) rests on the charger, which is raised on the table with another cake pedestal. A pair of crystal candlesticks are placed just in front of the floral arrangement, on each side.

I'll be quick to note that love and/or admiration of another with thoughtful presentation of a meal together does not have to be limited to the conventional idea of a Valentine's Day romance. I actually prepared this table with two occasions in mind - life and love. Valentine's Day is approaching, yes, but it just so happens that Mr. P.'s birthday falls shortly before. I created this tablescape to first celebrate his life and special day.

There's no denying candlelight ups the romance factor on any table.

A spice cake with buttercream icing was made just for Mr. P., his favorite (recipe here). I also made strawberries dipped in white chocolate, and served those on a bed of whipping cream. The macaroons add a pretty touch, and are great with coffee or tea.

We do plan to share a meal together for Valentine's Day, but one thing we love to do, with every meal, is to enjoy a little dessert afterward. And life is short - sometimes you just need to eat dessert first!

Celebrating Life and Love with Noritake Azalea

Source List

Noritake Azalea China, Longchamps crystal sherbet/champagnes, candlesticks - estates

White rabbit pelt - antique mall
Prelude Sterling Flatware - auction

Towle heart demitasse spoons - Amazon

Crystal drink glasses - Mr. P. vintage

Glass cake stand - wedding gift

Lacy salad plates, silver edged glass chargers, napkins - Pier 1

Napkin rings - HomeGoods

A special thank you goes out to Chloe of Celebrate and Decorate, for organizing all the bloggers listed below, ensuring there'd be plenty of inspiration and ideas for you in celebrating romance.