EAB Designs

Velvet Pumpkins

 

Olive Juice & Co posted a picture of these adorable "Posh Squash" on her blog last week and I instantly fell in love with them.  The great news is, she is now offering them for sale as kits.  You can find them for sale in her on-line boutique.  I ordered the raisin, caramel and saffron colors and can't wait to get started on them.

If you haven't entered my "Blogiversary Giveaway" yet, it's not too late.  A winner will be drawn on Saturday morning.  Just click here to leave a comment to be entered.

French Wire & Iron Accessories

My love for finials is equally matched by my love for french wire and iron accessories.  It's rare if I come across a wire tiered stand that I don't want to cart home immediately.  I collect both antique and new pieces and often use them as display pieces during my holiday shows.  Here's just a few of my favorites.

This is actually a three tiered stand which measures about two feet high.  I love the curves down the center and its delicate sides.

I've owned these iron candle lamps for years and we light them every night before dinner.  During the holidays, I use raffia to tie sprigs of fresh boxwood to the columns.

I have many different sized wire baskets such as this one.  They're great for storing fruit or lining with a cloth napkin to use as a bread basket.  I often use this particular one to stack dishes in when I'm setting up a buffet. 

The current Pottery Barn catalog features a new French wire collection.  I have my eyes on these wire plate chargers and place card holders.

They won't be available until mid-October.  The place card holders would be perfect to display product information at my shows.  Something tells me I won't be able to wait until they go on sale.

Aurora Borealis

 

I love the brilliant sparkle of soft pastels from vintage Aurora Borealis rhinestones.  Depending on the light, the stones create a rainbow colored effect reminiscent of the Northern Lights.

    

A few new treasures...

 

Was out in Leesburg today with my girls for more college and back to school shopping, but did stop in to visit one shop, On a Whim, filled with charming vintage antiques and home decor.  I loved the patina on this glass door knob and knew I had to bring it home with me.  I also found a set of these Johnson Bros berry bowls in the "Elizabeth" pattern.  They have a bit of crazing on them which I think just adds to their charm.  Due to their petite size, I can use them around the house for a number of things.

Peony Blossoms

 

I was the lucky recipient of these beautiful peonies from a friend's garden.  Peonies have long been a favorite of mine for their countless petals with lovely shades of pinks and creamy whites.

 

The floral arrangements at our wedding featured peonies and the fabric we selected for our first couch was a Waverly pattern covered with peonies.  (Thankfully, my husband loves them as much as me!)

 

 

In love with the postman...

I have to admit, one of the highlights of my day is when the mail comes.  It's especially nice when there are packages just waiting to be opened.  Two arrived today.  The first contained  rhinestone findings which I plan to use for my urban vintage frames.  Too pretty!

   

The second was an assortment of fabrics from Anna Maria Horner's Good Folks line.  I just love the vibrant colors and can't wait to get sewing.  I found these at one of my favorite etsy stores, www.sewlovefabrics.etsy.com.  I can think of a hundred projects I'd love to start on at once!

An Unexpected Surprise

Yesterday I received an unexpected package from a dear cousin of mine.  He sent me a little toy trunk that belonged to our great grandfather who was born in 1860.  My great grandfather's daughter, our grandmother, gave this little trunk to my cousin almost twenty years ago.  I am so touched that he decided to pass it on to me.  Inside the trunk, my cousin included a little note with details about my great grandfather's birth and how the box was passed down to him.  I will treasure both the little trunk and the note.

 

My Vintage Christmas Carol Book

  

My mom (Birchie Faye Allard) received this Christmas Carol book in 1943 from her sister Harriet's sons - Douglas, David and Edwin.  She was 9 years old at the time.  Since I was little, my mom would place the book out on our table each Christmas.  I loved the beautiful illustrations and music and would sit by the tree and sing page after page of Christmas carols.  My mom has a beautiful voice and if I didn't know the tune of the song, I would ask her to sing it for me.  Years later, after my own daughters were born, my mom passed down this special book to me in 1995.  It's one of my most treasured possessions.  Below is a picture of the inscription page with my Aunt Harriet's entry and my mom's entry.  I plan one year to write my own inscription when I pass it down to one of my daughters.

Fall Into New Beginnings

Fall is absolutely my favorite season of the year.  I love the plans and excitement of my girls as they head back to school, the first chill in the air, the change in the leaves, hot apple cider, trick or treaters and planning for the upcoming holidays.  It's also a very busy time of the year, as I'm creating lots of new product for my holiday shows.  To me fall has always represented the beginning of a new year.  So it's the perfect time to start my blog.  I've been inspired by so many creative women and their beautiful blogs.  I'm thrilled to jump in at last.