Think & Thank

When I was in the UK in March, I spotted a beautiful memorial window at the Chester Cathedral. It was in the cloistered area of the church, which would not originally have had glass windows. But clearly, after the First World War, when so many young men in the UK were lost to war, families installed windows in memory of their loved ones.

This phrase really struck me, and I have been trying to live according to it: Think about others in what I do, and Thank those who do things for me. And, I might add, be thankful for all that I have. In comparison to some people, I don’t have much, but in comparison to many people I have very much.

So, I am thankful for all I have, my good life, great friends, a loving family, a safe place to live, a job that I love, volunteer work that keeps me fulfilled, a little dog who makes me laugh, interests that keep me busy and readers who follow my blog.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and those you love.

Figue-Stagram

So, I saw someone whose dog had more than 20,000 followers on Instagram, so I decided that I’d go for world domination and get Figue her own Instagram account: Figue_the_Pup!

As much as I loved Connor, Figue is entirely different. She’s funny and bouncy and has a ton of personality. The fact that she can come and curl up on my lap, or sit on my shoulder makes her a lot more cuddly than Connor. I hope you will follow along on her adventures! Click here to keep up to date with Figue!

Shameless Self Promotion: Tea Towels

I have had a lot of requests for my tea towels, especially since they make great presents for the holidays. But since the company that prints them is getting busy and the lead time is growing, I need to have any orders in by November 20th.

I have added a lot of new designs, and can do custom designs for you, as well. I have added the entire catalogue to Google Drive, where you can see it. Click here.(This towel is designed to hang over the oven handle)

All of the ordering information is in the catalogue, or you can check my Etsy page for some of the designs and lots of other great gift ideas. Thanks!

Instagram: Some Pretty Things

The past few days have been bruising to some of us, and overwhelming for many others. So, I thought I’d post some pretty things from a range of sources.

Who is leading whom? Figue is leading her cousin, Phoebe. Or is Phoebe walking Figue.

Jill Andrews designs and makes custom gowns. I had a chance to stop by her atelier recently.

The last of the dahlias. Gave this arrangement to a friend whose mother died.

I love the colour of this antique patchwork quilt.

The portico of one of my favourite Baltimore buildings, the McKim Free School.

I finally found a copy of the book, This Petty Pace, by Mary Petty. I adore her work.

As part of an auction lot, I got this huge bunch of pheasant feathers.

Figue wanted to let you know that she did her civic duty.

Take care!

The Kennedy Mystique Continues

Although it’s been nearly 60 years since John F. Kennedy died, and more than 20 years since Jackie Kennedy died, there’s still such a mystique about them and their lives.

Potomack Auctions, in Alexandria, Virginia is aucitoning some Kennedy pieces, complete with impeccable provenance, this weekend. Let’s take a look.

Set of two lanterns from the Kennedy’s Georgetown house on N Street. 

Deed to the house in Georgetown, signed by both Kennedys

Brass Chandelier/Hall Lantern from the Georgetown House.

Letter to the new owner of the house, asking for the return of the lantern.

Reply to the owner’s letter from JBKO

Garden fountain from the Georgetown House

Bottle of “Jacqueline” signature perfume, which JBKO thought was in bad taste.

French Provincial bedstand from Glen Ora, Virginia Kennedy retreat

Louis XV Commode from JBKO’s bedroom at Glen Ora

Napoleon III Ebonized and Brass Table from Glen Ora

Small French coffeepot, marked and with a turned wood handle, from Glen Ora

Three George III English silver pieces, from Glen Ora

For more details about the auction, or to place a bid, contact Potomack Auctions.

Marcia, The Friendly Ghost

Have I told you that we have a ghost in our offices? Her name is Marcia Crocker Noyes and she worked for us for 50 years and lived in a penthouse apartment in our building!

She was quite extraordinary, starting as our librarian in her early 20’s, and working for us until she died in her 70’s. Marcia took our medical library from a sloppy and outdated collection of about 5,000 books to a top medical library of 65,000 volumes of medical books and journals, including some of the most valuable anatomy books in existance.

Her influence is still felt today in the legacy she left as one of the four founders of the Medical Library Association, where the highest award is given in her name.

On Wednesday, November 2, which is All Soul’s Day, we’re giving a lecture on Marcia’s life, featuring the Academic, the Ethereal and the Artistic. You can get more details here.

American Patchwork Quilts

For years, I’ve had a minor interest in American Patchwork Quilts, since finding one bundled up in the back of an old barn sale. It was about $20, so I felt like I didn’t have much to lose if I bought it. When I got home, I consulted some of my old Martha Stewart Magazines (this was in the pre-Google days!) who had consulted specialist, Laura Fisher, to see how to wash it.

(Totally irrelevant, but you can see the detail of a quilt that Figgy’s on!)

The basic recommendation was to soak it in the bathtub to remove the surface dirt and continually change to water until it ran clean. I was then able to lay it in the back yard to begin the drying process, and after it was almost dry, I hung it on the clothes line. The quilt was white with huge green, orange and pink tulips on it. I loved it.

That was about 20+ years ago, and I find that I am still buying American quilts and use them in my everyday life, not, unfortunately, giving any thought to their value. The white star quilt that shaggy Figgy is sitting on is now her bed and she loves it. The stars were rather worn out, so I didn’t feel too bad about using it for her.

One of the first things I made when I taught myself to sew about six years ago, was a patchwork quilt in no discernable pattern. I figured it would help me learn to sew in straight lines. I backed the patchwork with a cozy fleece and still use it today, as evidenced by this image from a year ago, while I had Halas the Brown Dog, staying at my house.

I am pretty casual about chucking the quilts into the washing machine and then hanging them out to dry in the sun and the breeze. This weekend was a perfect time to do that, so out they went!

One of the things I love about these old quilts is how they change as you move closer to them, and then step back to get another perspective.

The perspective above looks totally different than the one below.

The workmanship is amazing, and since I got this one at an auction in Southern Pennsylvania, I have a suspicion that it was made by an Amish woman or girl.

I know that they’re not the rage like they were 25 years ago, when Ralph Lauren cornered the market on them, but they’re such an American icon.

I am in major de-accessioning mode and these and others (except my beginning sewing project) will be on my Etsy shop within the next week or so. Regardless of that, I have my eye on one at a local auction that just has me swooning! Killer shade of yellow!

Deconstructing the Tea Service

I frequent a lot of auctions, and at nearly every one of them, I find someone’s gorgeous old silver tea-service, which consists of a tea pot, a coffee pot, a creamer and a lidded sugar bowl, all on a footed and handled tray. Since many most none of us have the time to sit around drinking tea (with, or preferably without pinky finger extended), what happens to these tea services? My suggestion is that you start thinking of alternative uses for the pieces. Let’s deconstruct the service and see what you can do with each piece!

For me, I start by using the tea and coffee pots for vases. After all, they’re filled with water when in their original use, so why not fill them with flowers?

If you think that you’re never going to use the tea or coffee pot again in its original purpose, you can remove the lid by taking out the pin that holds the hinge. But be sure to save it!

One of the great things about the sugar bowl is that it usually comes with a lid! In my guest bathroom, I use a creamer to hold tooth-brushes and –paste, and the lidded sugar bowl to hold cotton balls. Clearly the image below isn’t from my house because I can’t stand tarnished silver. I know it’s horrifying, but if something is this tarnished, I use a tarnish remover like Hagerty's Silver Dipto take off the initial black layer and then polish it with silver polish.

If you can find a set with a monogram on it, all the better. And if the monogram is yours, that is the BEST! But if not, just invent an instant ancestor with that name and make up a fabulous story, or give it to a friend with that initial. They will love it!

Here are some other ideas of what you can do with old pieces of silver. Funnily, on my desk at the office, I have an old sugar bowl filled with pens, pencils, scissors and exacto knives! Honestly, it is such a shame that this great old silver is no longer appreciated.

I would love to hear what you do with your old silver and if you have any great ideas to share.