Back to Dining

It is the last day of October Overhaul. I have been working very hard, but I have not gotten half-way through what I thought I would.  I am proud that the dining room is completed.  I am proud to say that every item I took from that room is filed in a drawer, stored in a bin, or thrown out.

Here is an after of the dining table.

The picture tonight are not only bad, but not in the order I wanted them.  They loaded themselves where they wanted to be.

So I will leave them in this order and keep the explaining to a minimum.  I know I talk too much, but I promise I will just show my lousy photos and write just a smidge.

 This is how it looked at the first of October.  Mounds of craft supplies everywhere.

Yes, I did know where everything was.

The dining room table is hiding under there somewhere.

The buffet loaded down with paper supplies.

Yes, that is one of my snow pictures that I forgot to put away in the spring.

I put it away for now, but after Thanksgiving all the snow pictures go back up.

In the South that is the only snow we see some winters.

From the living room view.

I could say I am proud that I never put anything in a bin under the table.

It would be wrong to boast about that.

The only reason is Willie and Scout would have eaten whatever I put there.

 My grandmother's console table with the exact same dresser scarf she used to cover it for Thanksgiving.

Would she have been appalled at what had been piled there?

No, my grandfather would sit here and repair antique clocks with all his tools spread out.  She would just cover it with a tablecloth if company came.

Yes, I see all that dust.

I moved everything out and mopped and waxed the floor.

 My grandmother's mirror hangs in the same place over the console table as it did in her house.

 Now for the pretty photos.

The dining room table with the console table behind it.

I have an oddly shaped dining room.

I see I have two entirely different sets of chairs in here.

There is not enough room for more than four people to eat at the table.  So I dump all the food on the table, everybody grabs some food and a chair, and they eat where they want to eat.

 The buffet all clean and now loaded down with part of my basket and gourd collection.

 The green lamp with the pink rose does not really "go" with everything else, but my father won that lamp for my mother at the fair on one of their first dates.  It is sentimental.

I do put baskets in the chairs, too.  Mostly to keep the cats from laying in them waiting to slap a puppy who wanders by.

You saw this corner in an earlier post, but here it is again.    Read here!

This is the corner I put that craft cabinet.  Yes, you have seen this before. Read here!

I do not know why the chair is turned at this angle.  I must have moved it to take a picture and forgot to put it back.

Or goblins did it.

The console table with gourds, baskets, and pine cones.

One last look at this dining room from the back side.

I can't believe I actually finished by the end of October.

Every single year I tell myself:  "Self, do not spread the craft supplies beyond the craft room." 

 And every single year I spread the craft supplies beyond the craft room.



I promise this room will stay this way until the Christmas decorations come out the day after Thanksgiving.  There will be no crafting or painting or distressing in this room.  I have actually barricaded it off so no one and no animal can enjoy it but ME!  I even lit a couple of candles for a warm glow.

See y'all!

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Decorating with Frozen Charlottes

You know how I love my Frozen Charlottes.  Well, last week I received a new shipment that contained Frozen Charlies!  I was so excited.  With Christmas coming, a million and one ideas started popping in my head. 

Now I know I am the one who said I would not rush Christmas before having the time to give thanks, but I am going to give a sneak peek at what is about to happen.

Plus Frozen Charlottes and Frozen Charlies fit in with everyday life.  They are welcomed anytime!

  The History of Frozen Charlottes and Frozen Charlies

Frozen Charlottes were produced in Thuringia, Germany from 1860 to 1900.  They were mostly used in dollhouses.  The name Frozen Charlotte (Frozen Charlies are rare) derives from the fact they did not have movable parts.  The dolls were made of glazed bisque.  If the doll passed inspection, it was hand-painted. They range in size from ½ inch to 4 ½ inches.  These are factory rejects that were thrown out because of flaws in the glazing or missing parts.  The rejects were thrown into ditches at the backs of the factories. Some years ago collectors were invited to come and dig for the rejected dolls.  These come from a collector in Germany who dug up a massive collection.  They are highly prized by jewelry makers and mixed media artists.  The discolorations and flaws make them desirable for various art projects.

 

Here they are in my display case at the antiques mall.  They look great displayed in silver compotes and dishes.  I have added skeleton keys to the mix.

 Miss Charlotte dressed in a ruffled tulle tutu ready for the Thanksgiving dinner.

She will have to put on some more clothes.  My brother brings his travel trailer to the lake and smokes Cornish hens for Thanksgiving.  

We sit outside by the fire and snack on roasted peanuts. 

We hike around the lake.

On second thought Miss Charlotte better stay at home.

Another way I display the Charlottes at home are in those tiny aluminum Jello molds.   They are so delighted when they are near lace.  Especially old, grungy lace.

If your lace is not grungy, just soak it in your husband's leftover coffee.

Make sure it is leftover and not a new pot.

I do not drink coffee and Chuck's smells so bad, I usually cannot tell!

Notice I have started wiring these for -

I am not telling yet!

 Part of the shipment of Charlies.  They come with the mud still on them because some collectors are particular about how they are cleaned.

I displayed them in a box with the German stamps from the package.  I also saved some of the German newspaper they were wrapped in.

These bad boys will get a bath.

Are you beginning to get ideas popping now?

The photo above and this one shows just how well they look with a red background.

Some may think they are a little macabre with their little missing limbs.  I also have some that are just torsos.

Just think Venus de Milo.  Everyone loves that chick!

One last look before I go.

The next time you see my Frozen Charlottes and Frozen Charlies, they will be different.

In case you want to try some, I do put some up for sale on eBay twice a month.  My seller name is zoeyfeb98.

I do not offer many - I am stingy with them!


 

See y'all!











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