More Teapots and Collections

I am participating in Kelli's of There's No Place Like Home Friday Show and Tell. {Click on this link to read more about it.}

Last week's teapots was just a small dent in my collection. I no longer know how many I have. Some are boxed up for seasons. Now every time I open a gift, it is usually a teapot. I love them so I do not mind. I have many Christmas ones and they are boxed up in the basement or attic and will come out in a few months. Looking at this photo at eye level, it is not displayed very well. I will have to work on that. I think you can click on this photo to enlarge it. To the left is a disney tea set from Beauty and the beast. It is for looks, not to use. DH and DD got it for me years ago. Clocksworth came to an untimely demise a few years ago on my terracotta floor. I do keep tea bags stored in the armoir in that is in the back. She is the tea caddy.

The blue set with the fall leaves is a set my mom got me several years ago. Next week it will be displayed for fall. I store it here the rest of the year. There are two milk glass candle stick holders that were my grandma's. The large milk crock in the center was one of my great grand mother's. It has a USA stamp on the bottom. Very heavy and probably 75-100 years old. I don't use it. Just wipe off the dust and leave it alone. I do not want it to come to any untimely demise on my terracotta floor. As you can see, I like blue and white. :-). And I am not a stranger to foux finishes.
The cabinet I bought at unfinished furniture and DH and I painted. I did the crackling. Did not turn out exactly like I wanted, but I still love it. I do want to tone it down some and thanks to all my new blogging friends, I now know how to do it. :-)
While the wall looks cream in this photo, it is several shades of yellow. I did a foux finish (dry brush glaze) that I just love. Several shades of yellow. However, under that particular wall of paint (ceiling paint and primer...) are several samples of foux finishes. Yep. I painted this room 2 times, did not like it. Had to prime it, found out some finishes... only ceiling paint will only cover up. (Yep ladies, when primer will not work, ceiling paint will always cover. So file that away for when you get in trouble. ) So, I got tons of samples of paints, mixed with glazes and put them in strips on that wall. That way, when the sun touched it at different times of day, I could see it and decided if I liked it or not. The combination I have now I liked the best. :-)

I also found a better photo of the chandelier I painted and DH installed for me last week.

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We have 4 little birds. 3 budgies. Here is the Daddy- Tweety on the left and Mama- Candie on the right:

And here is their son, who we hatched a couple of years ago, Elvis. He is a called a harlequin. A beautiful coloration.

And here is Zoey the Grey. (If I ever get another grey I am going to call it Gandolf.)

Right now, they are all molting. I have feathers everywhere. I am also very surprised that these little fella's are not totally nekkid! But they seem to be covered! But I have a lot of dusting and vacuuming to keep up with. Life of being a bird owner I guess.

Balanced Achieved!

I have achieved balance on my mantel and want to "show and tell" you about it! Since I want to start participating in Kelli's of There's No Place Like Home Friday Show and Tell. {Click on this link to read more about it.}
I thought I would tell you all about it and show you a photo. :-)

The mantel displays some of my teapot collection, photos I have taken and hand tinted of Mary Esther, some crochet doilies I have collected, (these may have come from Hobby Lobby or Michael's as I have tons from stores to eBay, from those family have made to some I have made.), candle sticks, snuffer and a clock. The clock was truly a bargain. I think it still has the tag on it. Hobby Lobby Clearance for $6.88 or something like that about 2 years ago.

I could not find black candle sticks like I wanted, so I went to Michael's and bought some wooden ones. Then I painted them...several times.... until I got the look I wanted. The cream coloured candle sticks were sitting on a clearance shelf at Hobby Lobby and were calling my name. I bought them. (I have another on the Piano, it is larger.) I think I paid 2 or 3 dollars apiece for them. The faux pewter candle stick is a Dirty Santa gift that I knew would be perfect for that spot and I waited.... and when I saw my chance, I stoled it when I knew it would be retired to me!

I am a professional photographer and the photos I took myself. (Sorry about the glare in the glass of the large photo, no time to photo shop!!!) The small one is of my DD in her Baby Dedication Gown. The larger one is DD in her Heirloom Party Dress. Both photos are hand tinted black and white photographs. To see more of my work, go to my website Images by "Missy"

The snuffer is from Wall*Mart and I paid waaaayyyy tooo much for it. But it worked and the only one I could find that was black.

Tea Pots (How I love tea pots and coffee pots....sigh) The one on the left is a gift from my In Laws and I think they got it at an antique shop in New England. The tea pot on the right is a gift from my sister in law and goes in any room (except DD's) in the house. And I just love it.

The ribbon is ribbon I buy by the rolls to decorate for Christmas and wrap Christmas packages with. I left it on the tea pot handles and candle sticks because it goes with my decor and I like it. I did take down my tree. ;-)

I am proud of the balanced achieved. It is difficult for me and I tend to fret over it. I can see it and photograph it instinctively. But designing it is a different altogether.... I guess that is why there is always a 'designer' assigned to a photographer. LOL!

Now to get busy! We have a birthday weekend for Mary Esther! She has two piano concerts as today is her last day of piano camp. (Hopefully will post photos.) She has a solo this afternoon and an ensaumble quartet tonight. It will be fun! Out of town company, a cookout..... We are going to have FUN!