After-class Homework

We had a great event/class tonight at the retail store with an over crowded room of Black-eyed Susan friends. Our subject was using plates as decor. I have had a long love of collectible plates, especially transferware, as well as anything monogrammed (of course!). Once you get the bug for collecting plates (and actually sets of plates), you could go on and on. I personally, have many sets of favorite plates. Each collection brings a certain joy when used or displayed. Oh yes, I love my plates!

I handed out color copies of my favorite inspiration pages using plates as art in unique and unusual placements. There were several examples I had meant to take from my home and left without this morning. So, here are the promised homework shots with brief explanations.

Dining room window with trio of monogrammed plates between drapery panels.

Close up of brown transferware collection in favorite cupboard.

Birdseye view of chocolate transferware collection at top of stairs!

Collaged collection of blue transferware collection and various objects. *Note the small card holder used to display butter pats!

This small bread and butter plate adds the perfect finishing touch and height to this grouping in the bedroom hall.

As discussed, the arch of the bed dictates the positioning of this plate collection. Symmetry and size are important. The shape of the headboard is repeated. Large art rests on either side of the bed. Plates in the bedroom, who knew?!

Vintage creme ware from Paris! (You'll recall this shot from the Bucks County Designer House.

One more shot from the Designer House. A wall collaged with plates, intaglios, and my framed button collection. Most of the plates I brought back from Paris. The square ones are from Black-eyed Susan! Yes, I still have several. I love square plates!

Okay, absolutely nothing to do with plates! At the end of our events, participants get to shop at a discount! Suzanne (a blog follower and kindred spirit), asked for some ideas to display under her new cloche. This one has a glass bottom, way cool! I came up with several ideas, but I have to say that this one was my favorite! Fabulous vintage books, small, narrow, and perfect fit.

It was a little crowded, and a bit hot. We found a chair for everyone to pull up and a good time was had by all. Next week: "Paint is my magic wand"! Come see the magic.

Sneak Peek

Unlike last night, when I began by telling you it the short, edited edition...and then posted umpteen photos, this one really is!

This is the vingette I created for the program booklet for the Designer House. It's almost one full month ahead of the D-day, so who knows if this is still what this great little chest will look like on opening day, but for now, I really like it!

I painted the chest the lighter color of the stripe, including the hardware. The platters are some that I found at the Paris flea market last spring while visiting my daughter. The books, also from the Paris flea market offered a wonderful surprise when a stack of 8 or 9 very old letters fell from the pages! The envelopes are smaller than an index card, with the most beautiful califgraphy-like penmenship/manuscripts in chocolate and eggplant inks. No one writes with that beauty anymore. Of course, the letters were in French, but they were still fun to cast my eyes upon. I'm thinking that they would make a wonderful framed piece of art for the room.

I'll let you know, but they are a real treasure.

I got the idea to tuck one of the new linens that just came in into the drawer. These are the vintage linens from France that are remade and collaged, some with monograms added. I told you about them during my buying trip in January. They didn't disappoint me! You must stop in and see the fabulous selection.

The lamp is interesting as well. The shade is a natural gray linen and has a manuscript faintly written on it. The manuscript is Italian wedding vows! Oh, my.

I got rave reviews from all around, and I think the room will be a hit. With the difficult work behind me, it will be exciting to put the whole room together in a few weeks. I'll keep you posted!

Closeup of part of the acccessories. *note the old postcard from France, which also fell out of my book! I'm hoping it's still there tomorrow when I stop by to clean up the photo shoot set-up. I neglected to tell you that the letters dated back to the early 1800's! Treasures, indeed.

The designer house is going to be a good one this year. There is the main manor house (the one we are doing the living room another Victorian house , and multiple outbuildings , boutiques and gardens. The cafe will be catered by Jamie Hollander, YUM! Save the date.

And don't forget that you can get your advanced tickets at Black-eyed Susan...a full $5.oo less than at the door!

Start counting. See you there!