My Magic Christmas

My most memorable Christmas was the one from the 1950s when I was six years old. My father announced to me on Christmas Eve that he and I were going for a drive to look for Santa Claus. My mother chose to stay home. We drove around, expectantly looking up into the beautiful December sky. The lovely moonlit photo entitled "Waiting for Santa" is from Etsy store Citygirltoo. The cute red coat like the one I wore is from Etsy store Poshcouture.

The night was crystal clear, and the stars twinkled in a wondrous way. My eyes eagerly searched for the image of a sleigh and eight reindeer flying across the moonlit sky. The vintage Santa in a sleigh from the 1950s is from Etsy store Bluebirdsales. The vintage "Here Comes Santa Claus" sheet music is from Etsy store TheIDconnection. As we drove for what seemed to be forever, my father urged me to keep watching and then emphatically announced, “Oh... listen….do you hear the sound of bells?” We actually heard the sleigh bells that night…they are forever etched in the deep chambers of my memory. Whether they were real or imaginary was not important at the time. The vintage sleigh bells are from Etsy store ImSoVintage.




When we returned home that night, Santa had visited our house and left a doll, doll bed, doll house, and a cowgirl outfit with boots. The vintage doll is from Etsy storeLollysCubbyhole. The vintage doll bed is from Etsy store NotYoMommasHandbag and the dollhouse is from Etsy store energyforthesoul.

This was my Magic Christmas, and one that I will cherish forever. My father has since passed away, but every year during the holidays, I think of that Magic Christmas ride with my Dad.

What Is Special About Vintage China?

What's so special about vintage china? It reminds me of days in the past, special times spent with family and friends around the table. This is a simple set of white china from RosemarysGarden.

During the 1950s we owned a set of Homer Laughlin "Virginia Rose" dinnerware with pink roses. There were also pink and green pottery bowls that held vegetables. In those days, we always sat down to a family meal, and the food was placed in serving bowls or platters and passed from left to right. I found a beautiful bowl in the "Virginia Rose" pattern pictured above at Vintagecottagegarden.

One of my aunts owned a set of Ballerina dinnerware, pictured above. I always loved dining at her house because I loved the colors of the dishes: a mix of chartreuse green, moss green, dove grey, and burgundy. I found a place setting of this lovely dinnerware at AndysAttic.

I remember the Ruby Red glassware from the 1950s that we used on holidays; plates holding tidbits, sandwiches, and homemade goodies. The cups held the aromas of coffee and spiced tea. I found Ruby Red glassware at AnniesVintageRedone.

There was a set of pink Melmac that my mother bought during the 1960s. It was the latest craze during that time, and it was used on a daily basis. It was great because it didn’t break. This dinnerware is featured in MKRetro.

My Mom also bought a set of Noritake fine china in the 1960s. We used it for special occasions like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and birthdays. The cups were small and delicate with saucers. The set has been passed down to me, and it is packed away for a future daughter-in-law or grand-daughter.

During the 1970s, everyone collected Pfaltzcraft china. My mother bought the “Village” pattern. I also bought my first set of china, a set of “Geranium” by
California Poppytrail. This china is pictured below and can be found at at TimeValley.

I continue to love using vintage china. I love drinking coffee or tea from the small cups with dainty saucers. They have an old-fashioned feel and bring back memories of days spent with familiar people who loved and laughed and spent time in long conversation at the dinner table.

"To Plant A Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow "

.....Audrey Hepburn

Find the seed at the bottom of your heart, and bring forth a flower……Shigenori Kameoka

Promises of Spring

Bethany Lowe’s Spring Collection really captured my heart this year….and I will be offering some of her products on my website. Spring bunnies, birds, eggs, lambs, chicks….all of these remind us of new life, Spring and the coming Easter Season.

“Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” ------Martin Luther, 1483-1586

Many have attributed the little creations of nature to pagan worship, and some have been used as such. But I think it is interesting that God chose even nature to reflect his promise of new life and resurrection from the dead of winter.

Please enjoy browsing on my websites to view the little symbols of Spring and new life.

THANKSGIVING MEMORIES

"Imagine a morning in late November. A coming of winter morning more than twenty years ago. Consider the kitchen of a spreading old house in a country town. A great black stove is its main feature; but there is also a big round table and a fireplace with two rocking chairs placed in front of it. Just today the fireplace commenced its seasonal roar." -----Truman Capote from A Christmas Memory.


As I was writing today, I tried to find the picture of a Thanksgiving kitchen bustling with activity so imprinted upon my memory. But it was not to be found--maybe some day I will find it, and be able to share with you. This picture, however, did remind me of the trip over the river and through the woods to my grandmother's house every Thanksgiving. My parents and I even sang the song as we traveled with excited anticipation of family, food, and togetherness. My grandmother could make a simple meal of garden vegetables into a luscious feast, and top it off with a chocolate pie made with homemade crust. Her dressing was made from the prized hen in the barnyard. All of this took place in that bustling Thanksgiving kitchen while the children played together, and the men discussed work and politics. Beautiful thanksgiving memories....live forever.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God." Psalm 95:1-3

Memories of Christmas

You are invited to visit me at the Delta Zeta Marketplace in Huntsville, Alabama, to be held next Friday--Sunday, November 20--22, at the Von Braun Civic Center. Hours are Friday-Saturday 9AM-6PM, Sunday noon-5 PM. Look for the Laurel Tree Booth, children's clothing boutique, and my sister's store in Huntsville.

These are just a few of the goodies that will be featured in my booth! They are reminicent of the 1950s and evoke memories of Christmas past. We appreciate your support, and hope to see you at the show! If you are not able to visit the show and are interested in any of the products, please visit the Rosemary's Garden website, or send me an e-mail.

A Sense of Time

In my study of the Jewish religion, and how it relates to the Christian faith, I am learning that there is a strong sense of historical time and recognition in the annual remembrances of Judaism. At specific times each year, historical events are not just commemorated but recreated. The chapter of Leviticus 23 explains the purpose of the Sabbath and goes on to summarize other appointed festivals of the Jewish calender. These festivals are appointed times or seasons, moments in time when the eternal, spiritual world can be glimpsed. The rituals and prayers associated with each festival, from biblical times until now, are a means to spiritual experience, ways of appropriating the significance of God's activity in the history of a people, and making it your own. The festivals also give the year a spiritual rhythm.

We are approaching the Fall Holy Days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah on September 18, the beginning of a new calender year.

A Season of Returning

Lead us back, our Father, to your Word; bring us near, our King to your service, and cause us to return in perfect repentance before you. Blessed are you, O Lord, who accepts repentance.---from the Amidah, prayers of the Jewish liturgy.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

We are entering into a season of Returning and Repentance.

The Hope in a Garden

Today while doing yard work, I noticed that a single rose had bloomed on one of my several neglected rose bushes. I have not fertilized, nurtured, or even watered the roses this year. They have been greatly abandoned by me. This has been a year when I wanted to give up gardening because everything I planted either died or withered away. A year of trying to make things happen, and they just didn't happen.

But today when I saw that rose, it reminded me that flowers still bloom when we least expect them. The promise inside a seed will produce a plant, a flower, a fruit sometimes--even when we least expect it. If a flower bloomed out of neglect and abandonment, how many more roses would my bush have produced if I had nurtured and given it lots of attention? I felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit say, "Don't give up. Continue to nurture you dreams. You never know when a beautiful rose will emerge and surprise you."

Southern Advocate

Yesterday I attended an Academic Honors Convocation at UAH in Huntsville, AL where my son Joseph received two awards--one was the Outstanding Classical Studies Award and the other was the Dr. John Rison Jones Ward in Southern History sponsored by the Huntsville Madison County Historical Society. Can you tell I'm a proud Mom? Joseph is a very gifted historian and writer, and will be giving a lecture on April 15 at the Huntsville Public Library on I.D.W. Cobb, a North Alabama Confederate soldier. You may visit his blog at Southern Advocate http://southernadvocate.blogspot.com/.

April Wedding

On Friday and Saturday, I had the privilege of helping to arrange flowers for a wedding for a girl in our church. It was held in a beautiful old historical building in our city, which is rented out for special occasions. The wedding was held on Saturday, April 4; it was held at 5:00 PM, and was a cool, lovely spring evening. Here are some pictures I took after the flowers were completed; I thought you might enjoy seeing them and thanks for stopping by.

Poodle Pink Pom Pom Paris Apartment Pincushions

Well it has been a while since my last post, but I thought you might be interested to see some of the things I've been working on. The latest pincushions were inspired by this 1950's poodle. They evolved into very girly frou-frou designs, and are accented with vintage brooches. These can be seen on the Etsy website. Did I get carried away with the pink and black fabrics? They just reminded me of the rockin 1950s! I need to stop so not to reveal anymore about eras that I remember.

The cat pincushion was for my niece's birthday, and seemed appropriate, since she is sometimes a little mischievous, but also a true girly girl!

Vintage Valentine Greetings

To wish you Happy Valentine's Day, I have posted a picture of a Vintage Valentine Doll, which I made several years ago. She is made of tea dyed cloth with a penciled face. Her dress is made of red gingham, and she wears an apron designed from a vintage valentine hankie. Her hair is lambswool, and her bonnet is made from vintage red felt. She holds a vintage valentine from the 1920's. While she is not for sale, I always welcome special doll orders. Vintage Valentine wishes you a multitude of valentine greetings and hopes you have a season filled with love and good wishes.

Winner of the Candy Cane Snowman

Today was the drawing for the winner of the Bethany Lowe Candy Cane Snowman box. I will be contacting the winner by e-mail. Thanks to everyone else who visited my website or blog and left messages. This was really fun and I hope to have another giveaway soon!

Happy Thanksgiving

Our mantle is looking very autumnal for the season.



And my turkey collection is ready for the big day! I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

Holiday Giveaway

For the month of November, anyone who visits my website at Rosemary's Garden and leaves an e-mail, your name will be placed in a drawing to receive this new vintage-inspired Bethany Lowe "Candy Cane Snowman Box." Just click on the "contact" tab at the website for my e-mail address. The drawing will be held on December 1, and I will contact the winner by e-mail. Also, if you are in the North Alabama area, and are interested in attending the Open House on November 14 or 15, please indicate in your e-mail. However, you do not have to be local to enter the drawing. Thanks to all of you who visit and leave comments.

Blessings, Rosemary

Autumn

"The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on."

---Emily Dickinson

This photograph from Stock Exchange reminded me of the above poem. You know how much I love Autumn, so I'm going to pay tribute as long as I can. I'm planning an open house at my shop/studio on November 14 and 15, so I've been busy preparing for that-- and busying myself with all the things one does for an open house, cleaning, displays, and baking a few goodies.

Although autumn officially arrived on September 22, we in the deep south have only begun to feel the effects. Yesterday was the first "cold snap" and this morning the temperature dipped to 45 degrees. Makes me want to think about the holidays, but there is so much beauty to enjoy from this season that I cannot let it pass without paying tribute to some of the sights, aromas, and delights that are part of fall. The picture of the leaf that I am sharing is from www.sxc.hu/ .

The cats in the basket are some that I made for fall decorating. They are available for purchase in my Etsy store.






The "Kiss of the Sun" Pincushion is also one of my creations for fall, and I borrowed the name from the poem, "The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth. One is nearer God's heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth." It was made from new and vintage fabrics, buttons and millinery ribbon with a little vintage figurine of two birds in autumn colors.



It is available on the www.rosemarysgarden.biz website. As an artist, I just enjoy the colors and fabric of fall, as you can see!

I will be sharing more about the season later; today is Saturday and I will be spending time with my family. Enjoy the fall--those leaves will soon turn and be gone! Capture your moment and seize the day with whatever God has given you to do!

Growing A Garden

If you have been following my blog, you know that my business has been in a process of development. I believe that we have all been given a garden--a special gift that we need to cultivate and grow--but we have to search within ourselves to find the seeds of that garden. I believe the dormant seeds have to be nurtured and cultivated in order to erupt into tiny seedlings, grow, and finally begin producing fruit. The dream of having a business has been in my heart for many years, but I went to college, got married, pursued a career,raised children, and did everything else. Somewhere in between I got a taste of doing something I love--being creative. It has taken time and experience, but the benefits of nurturing and cultivating my dream have finally begun to spring forth. The Rosemary's Garden website is finally open! Please visit www.rosemarysgarden.biz/.

It seems almost incredulous to be pursuing a business during crazy economic times, but I guess I am one of those people who looks at the manure and says "Where's the pony?" If we have been called to do something, we will face obstacles, but I would rather try to do what I'm called to do than never try at all. Of course sometimes we have to pursue multiple tasks in order to reach our dreams, and I have been doing this for many years and will continue. But at least now, a seedling has sprung forth, and I will continue to cultivate and fertilize my little garden. Please visit the website and tell me what you think. I am so very interested in your comments. Please note that you must log in to blogger or your comments will not show up. You may also go to the contacts page on my website and send me an e-mail.