Such Pretty Things

Pretty Collecting: Aprons (and a winner!)

It seems that I rarely have one of anything. As you know, I am a big shopper and treasure hunter by nature, so my "little" collections just seem to appear without much planning. :-)  My aprons are a great example...

I never really set out to "collect" them.  But, over the years, I seem to have amassed quite a few. My favorites are the vintage ones that I find at flea markets and on Etsy or eBay - I just love the gorgeous florals and all the little details - the sweet ruffles and pretty trims.

I have also found so many pretty aprons at my favorite shops. Cath Kidston, Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic, and Anthropologie all carry really nice vintage-style aprons in pretty, colorful prints.

Looking at them just makes me happy!

And finally, I just want to thank everyone who entered to win a copy of Selina Lake's beautiful new book Pretty Pastel Style!  I truly wish I had a copy for each and every one of you, but alas, there can only be one winner.  So...Pretty Pastel Style goes to Melissa B.!  Congratulations, Melissa, you are going to LOVE this book!

:-)

Jessica

Pretty Collecting: Easter Honeycomb Decorations

Vintage Easter decorations make wonderful collectibles. And these old, honeycomb decorations are especially beautiful...

Their soft, pastel colors and delicate, faded tissue paper make them completely irresistible.

These little baskets, eggs, and bunny are just so lovely.

I rarely find them in such good condition, as they are usually rumpled and crushed after so many years.

So very pretty.

XOXO

Jessica

Portobello Road Roses

Braving the crowds at the famous Portobello Road Antique Market in London can be somewhat daunting.

Come Saturday morning, the street is jam-packed with shoppers hunting for that very special item or simply taking in the sights and sounds. It's a lot of fun, but also a little bit crazy at times - as my husband and I often find ourselves literally grasping onto the girls for fear of losing them in that sea of people!

Finding a clear path and making your way into an actual shop can require some pretty fancy footwork, but it's all totally worth it just as long as you find these waiting for you inside...

Aren't they gorgeous! The most perfect, delicately frayed, vintage millinery roses. Who could resist those linen and velvet petals? And that pink!

They are from France circa the 1940's and are truly exquisite. Now, this slightly smooshed, faded pastel bouquet dates to a bit earlier (probably the 1930's) and it is the true definition of shabby chic...

So very beautiful with it's pale pink and blue velvet blossoms and trailing crumpled ribbons. The craftsmanship in those days was just incredible - I mean, just look at the tiny floral buds and those silk-wrapped stems...

Yes, definitely worth getting your feet stepped on a few times. :-)

XOXO

Jessica

Pretty London: VV Rouleaux

Sooooo, I apologize for the little blogging break, but I just got back from a week in London. The girls had a few extra days off surrounding the holiday weekend, so we figured we would get out of town for a bit. I am still fighting some serious jet-lag, but I wanted to show you some highlights from our trip. I've previously written about VV Rouleaux, but I never miss an opportunity to visit this gloriously beautiful haberdashery. The brainchild of Annabel Lewis, a former florist, VV Rouleaux is a ribbon and millinery lovers dream come true. The storefront window entices the eye like a candy shop.

Once inside, roll upon roll of pretty ribbon greets you...

There are antique crates filled with delicate millinery blossoms...

And even more crates...

Stunning hat-making supplies and feathers...

The shop comprises two levels...

The lower level is filled with tons of fancy trims, birds, butterflies, even more millinery flowers, etc...

Definitely a can't miss shop if you find yourself in London!

Back soon...

XOXO

Jessica

 

 

Pretty Collecting: Colored Glasses

I have people write to me all the time and ask me how I find my pretty collections of things. The truth is, I am always on the lookout for things that appeal to me. When I find something I absolutely love...that I am drawn to...I try to buy it. I don't always have a purpose for it in mind and, often, it does not yet belong to a particular "collection". For me, the best part about collecting is that it takes time. While I am not a super patient person by nature, I do love watching my collections grow and evolve over the years.  Take these colored glasses as an example....

I have loved colored glass ever since I was a little girl and admired my grandmother's beautiful glasses.  She kept them displayed on her window sills, so that the sunlight would pass through them and create a kaleidoscope of color throughout the room. It was mesmerizing. Later, I started collecting my own colored glass in college...both vintage and modern (like these). Whenever I found a style or color that I loved, I bought it. Now days, I may have a lot less cabinet space, but I also have a large collection of glasses that I just adore.

The tall pink goblets are from Laura Ashley (back when she had shops here in the U.S.). These aqua ones are my favorites (as is evidenced by my blog cover shot!).

They are from Anthropologie. I actually bought them many years ago, but they still carry the same ones today. These lavender ones are so, so pretty and such a hard-to-find color...

I purchased them from Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic store in Santa Monica (and sadly, they are no longer available). And I recently found these bright turquoise ones at Pottery Barn...

So, you see, a collection doesn't really happen overnight, so don't expect it to.  Enjoy the hunt...the search...and before you know it, you, too, will have a pretty collection of your own!

XOXO

Jessica

Pretty Organized: Pastel Polish

Between the two girls and Moi, there's a lot of nail polish around our house. I love all those little bottles of pretty pastel color.

So much so, that I like to keep them out on display on my bathroom vanity.

And a vintage floral china plate does such a nice job of organizing them...

XOXO

Jessica

My New Old Chandelier

A number of years ago, I bought this vintage tole chandelier at a flea market.

It was truly love at first sight - the creamy white paint, just the perfect amount of chippiness and those gorgeous pastel porcelain roses.

But it needed re-wiring and I had about a zillion other things going on at the time, so I put it up in our attic and promptly forgot all about it.  Recently, I decided that I wanted to get a new chandelier for our kitchen.  So, I started shopping around and I looked everywhere - and I mean, everywhere! From Restoration Hardware to antique shops to ebay.  With no luck.  Nothing was really fitting "my vision". So, one day I am up in the attic looking for something and I see my long-forgotten chandelier! And wouldn't you know it - it was absolutely perfect! Exactly what I had been searching for! Now it hangs prettily over my kitchen table...my new "old" chandelier.

:-)

Jessica

Pretty Organized: Vintage Tins

Vintage tins are such a great way to organize all your office and crafting supplies.

They come in so many wonderful colors and patterns and they seem to be one collectible that can still be had at fairly reasonable prices.  Etsy and ebay are wonderful sources, but so are your local flea markets and tag sales. I use them for storing just about anything...like my favorite markers (Copic)!

These two tins are my latest finds. I just couldn't resist the pretty colors...

...and sweet motifs.

Happy Weekend!

:-)

Jessica

Keeping Cozy

It's been soooo cold and dark here these last few weeks. I don't like it one little bit. I find I am already longing for spring and we still have a good three more months to go before it will truly warm up. So, in the meantime, I am taking daily refuge under my collection of pretty blankets and quilts and finding comfort in their bright, cheerful colors.

The latest addition to my collection is this gorgeous Cath Kidston fair isle blanket that the husband brought me back from his latest trip to the UK. So pretty...and cozy, too!

XOXO

Jessica

New Year, New Chair

Up until recently, my desk chair was of the purely practical variety. It was just your average, office-type desk chair - I think I bought it at Pottery Barn years ago and it was perfectly fine.  But it wasn't particularly pretty.  Now, given that "pretty" is the basic requirement of most items that make their way into my home, it's rather surprising that it lasted around here as long as it did. I had been looking for a replacement and when I found this shabby, french style armchair, I knew it would be perfect.  It came upholstered in a nice beige linen, but I wanted something slightly more colorful and special.

So, I decided to have it reupholstered in this gorgeous vintage fabric from the 1940's.

I had been saving it for years, as I usually just stash away my vintage fabrics for future projects that never seem to materialize.  Soooooo, since one of my New Year's resolutions is to actually start using more of my stuff - it seemed like the perfect choice.  Now I have a pretty new desk chair...and instead of my lovely fabric just hiding away, I get to enjoy it every day!

:-)

Jessica