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Friday, May 10, 2013

Retro & Vintage Inspired Corner of my Home Linky


My Favourite Corner


Today I'm welcoming you into my home - its not the sort of post I would usually put together, but I decided it might be fun to join in a link-up (its my first!). This one is hosted by the lovely and ever stylish Kylie at Lucy Violet Vintage
Kylie hails from Perth in Western Australia and if you are not already a regular visitor of her blog please pop in an pay her a visit - you won't be disappointed.

Kylie is co-hosting the linky with Donna from Hung up on Retro
This is the first time I've had a chance to see Donna's blog and it was also a real treat. 




The idea of this link-up is to share some pics of our favourite vintage/retro inspired spaces in our homes.  At first I wasn't sure if I qualified - if my home is at all retro it is by accident rather than design.  Most of my possessions originally belonged to my mother or grandmother.  I surround myself with them because of the memories they hold and jumble up the good, bad and indifferent as their value to me has no correlation with any monetary worth.

The little tables (like the one with the vase of roses at the top) were made by my grandfather.  The tablecloth in the foreground of the photo above was embroidered many years ago by a relative - it has been lovingly and carefully patched over time - you can see the patches shining through in the sunlight.





I chose to photograph this vase as I knew Kylie would like it - and it was one of my mother's favourites.  I feel her presence with me whenever I walk past and look at it.  My father on the other hand hated it.  I can remember him saying that the colour always reminded him of the sign outside a police station.












I've included this second vase because I thought the colours and design fitted in quite well with the vintage / retro theme - although I think it is a bit older than the period we are celebrating here.  It comes from Gouda in Holland.













I've always loved this set - its quite a well known one called Gossamer by Royal Albert but my mom always called them her Harlequin cups.  They fascinated me when I was a child.  Today I'd never use them but keep them carefully put away in my china cabinet.





The last of my 'treasures' I thought I'd show you is this coffee set.  It was given to my grandmother as a present from my grandfather to celebrate my mother's birth in 1930.







This room is the original part of the house and started out as a forge 300 or so years ago.  (When it comes to retro and vintage I'm REALLY retro!)  I love it because it is full of character, solidly built and has this funny little staircase up the side that leads to what must have originally been a loft but is now a study.    

The only unusual thing about this room is that it is the first one I've inhabited that faces away from the hearth and fireplace.  (I couldn't take a pic of the hearth I liked - they were either too dark and blurry or the flash bounced off the mirror above it.)  Because we can't see the clock on the mantelpiece anymore we stuck the little cheap clock above the brass tray on the wall.




As all my blog friends already know we have only been in this house since March.  I'm still moving everything around to get the right balance.  The paintings in particular have all changed places since we first came here and I took the earlier pic of the room.

The pictures in the photo below are copies I painted many years ago of illustrations by two of my favourite artists.  The one on the left is taken from a Sleeping Beauty illustration by Maraja.  The painting on the right is based on one by Kay Nielsen although I changed it a bit by putting the girl next to the tree in the foreground.  The medieval looking picture in the second photo at the beginning of this post is a tapestry I made in 1980 from a small illustration in a Disney book of Sleeping Beauty.  When I went to buy the tapestry canvas and discovered how cheap blank canvas was at the time I got a bit carried away and bought a really BIG piece.      




Eagle eyed South Africans will have noticed the potjie pot (a three-legged cast iron pot).  Its used to make potjiekos - a type of stew cooked over an open fire.  There is an art to doing it well (my husband is the only expert in our house) and the results are delicious.

When we first moved into the house at the end of winter I posted some photos of the garden here (In the Realm of Faerie).  Now the garden is finally coming to life, the magnolia is in full bloom and the trees are soft and green.




In the earlier post I also included a pic of the river at the bottom of the garden.  Next to the river are the foundations of a long gone building and this big millstone.  My son calls it the Irish Round Table.




We are only supposed to post our link-ups on Saturday but because Kylie is in Australia and it will be Saturday there much earlier than here I've decided to publish mine tonight.  I think that matches the time requirement a little bit better.

Hope you enjoyed your short visit with me!





23 comments:

Unknown said...

Pretty! :D

GardenOfDaisies said...

Your new home is lovely. Love all the flowering shrubs and the sentimental items from your Grandmother. You are just like me.

Dana@Mid2Mod said...

Your home and the land around it is beautiful. I love the pieces that belonged to your family. I have some pieces from the 40s, 50s and 60s that belonged to my mother and grandmother too. They're very special.

A Treasured Past said...

Ooh, I love your home and all your treasures.Its so nice that many of your pieces are from your mother and Grandmother. I would love a millstone too!

Donna said...

Beautiful home! I really love the shot of your house nad garden with the tree in bloom - stunning. I also love the interior of your home - looks so warm and welcoming! The coffee set from 1930 is very sweet.
: )

Barbara said...

Hello Sharon, I loved visiting your home and seeing some of your treasures. I’m so impressed by your look-alike Kay Nielsen and Maraja paintings, my goodness Sharon you are incredibly talented. I already knew that, of course, but this just proves it! Mum used to have a set of cups and saucers like yours, but hers were all green. From memory, the china was really thin, almost translucent. I’m not sure if they were made by Royal Albert and have no idea where they are now, but I do remember thinking they were very pretty. Your magnolia is beautiful, and I love the idea of having a mill stone in the garden. Your son’s idea of calling it the Irish round table is wonderful. It would also make a great place for a doll's tea party. I'm pretty sure that’s what I would use it for if I were a little girl living in your gorgeous home.

earthen-magic said...

...way swell! ~ sO wonderful to meet thee in thine abode! ~ i can see many a kindred tale that could be shared around thine table by the hearth! ~ thankyoU for this awesome intimate share! ~ blessed be! ~ dear kindred heart!...(O:

Kylie said...

Hi Sharon, thank you for your lovely words about my blog and for joining in. I feel the same way about yours. I have been out all day, and am only now sitting down with a glass of wine to look at all the linkies. I would love to have a "round table" in my garden, but as W.A. was only settled in 1829, that's not likely to happen, right! It would be such a treat to sip tea out of your Mom's beautiful Gossamer tea cups (although I understand your reluctance to use them - they are very special and must be extremely delicate - you wouldn't want a clumsy clot like me anywhere near them, that's for sure!) I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I added a link to this post on my blog (as it wasn't up when you originally posted this) I hope that's okay with you...
Take care, and once again, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your home and lovely old family treasures with us x

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Good morning dear Sharon! How lovely to see your special nook where you enjoy dreaming, reading, connecting! Your garden as well is brimming with life, as ours is finally, after a long and harsh winter!

Thank you so very much for leaving a comment yesterday on my blog. You are SO WELCOMED to join and make a post. The party participants VARY in style, subject choice and it's all for fun. The last two years I did it, we had HUMORUS posts, recipes, travel photos, POETRY, gardening, many various posts. The idea is to create a post, leave it up for an entire week and visit other participants TO MAKE NEW CONNECTIONS and just be creative.

Think about it, let me know if you would like to be on my list of LINKS for next week and I can add you in the draw for the book! Anita

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Good morning sweet Sharon! I HAVE YOU ON MY LIST! And I have put your name in the pot for a chance of the book win! You will see your name on my current list and you will see it with your blog link next Friday for the party! You will be great. Everyone has a different style and perspective and THAT'S what it's all about.

CELEBRATE! Anita

CraveCute said...

Thanks for letting us have a glimpse inside your home. I love the teacups and the coffee set. Wonderful photos of your new place!

Victoria Stitch said...

How nice to see a snippet of your home! I love the round stone table/wheel in your garden too!

Unknown said...

I love the blue vase too. I have a real thing for exotic glass. Really pretty home.

Lea said...

I love the blue vase and the little story that goes with it. Those kind of family tresures are the very best kind I think. Your new home looks lovely.

The Faerie Factory said...

Hi skipping by from over at The Faeire Factory, thanks for popping over. You have a lovely home. Sarah

Stephanie@Fairday's Blog said...

What a lovely post. :) It was such a treat to visit your home. I know you have only lived there for a few months, but it looks like things are falling into place. I love the blue vase and the other treasures you shared.

I especially adore that stone round table outside. Wow! Beauty around each corner.

Thanks for sharing. :)

Donna Heber said...

Hi Sharon,

Your new home is so beautiful! It was fun to take a tour and see treasures created by your grandfather and your mother's favorite vase.

Unknown said...

Thank you for allowing me to tip toe through your home and view your treasures,truly lovely. great post, Agman

Allison said...

wow your magnolia is magnificent! thanks for sharing all your wonderful treasures x

Unknown said...

Such beautiful pictures. I esp loved the tea set, the coffee set, and the millstone.
I really enjoyed seeing pictures of your home.
You can truly make any place into a loving home.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Good morning Sharon! Are you going to join us for the party? It has started this morning! Please let me know if and when you post....there are so many links and I just want to make sure they are all participants! Anita

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh Sharon, I'm so sorry to hear that your computer is not cooperating! I really know you were wanting to add to the fun. THANK YOU for letting me know. Anita

Nita Jo said...

What a lovely home! The pieces that hold memories are what makes a home so special. I loved reading about each one. The magnolia is wonderful, and I really love the millstone!

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