When I posted about the new bookshelves, I mentioned the print that is on the wall and how much we love it. Trudy, a faithful reader, asked me if I’d told the picture’s story. Well, I have, but it was a while ago, so I’ll share it with you again.
There it is.
Several years ago, I was at an auction with my friend Heidi. This particular auction took place once a month and it inevitably went on to the wee hours because the man who ran the auction was the slowest auctioneer I’ve ever seen. I spotted this print as it leaned against a wall on the far side of the room. I fell in love with the flowers (love flower paintings) but I really fell in love with the frame. The scalloped edges of the wooden frame were so charming and, to me, cottage-like.
There’s a thin line of green paint along the edge. (I am crazy for this frame.)
Anyway, I waited and waited for this framed beauty to come up for auction. Ten o’clock. Eleven o’clock. Midnight. Nothing. And then the auctioneer decided to call it a night.
Oh no.
Several of us shouted out about various items – what about this? what about that?
It was very late and everyone was very tired. When I mentioned the print, he said, “Is anyone else interested in it?” No one was.
I got it for $15.
A steal. The piece is large and very heavy and that frame is worth much, much more than $15. I briefly considered hanging it over the piano, but it looked much better in the den. So there it stays. When designing the placement of the bookshelves, it was always a given that the print would remain where it was. The stain on the frame also matches the stain on the little shelf in the den that holds some of my egg cups. Meant to be.
A little package from Australia arrived in the mail yesterday. I ordered four things for the dollhouse from my favorite Etsy seller Carrie Lavender. It’s funny, but while you’re waiting for a package of minis to arrive, you keep thinking of the items and where you’ll put them and they almost become real-sized in your imagination. Then the package actually arrives and it’s tiny. And the items are tiny. And you remember – oh yeah, this is for my dollhouse!
The past couple of days have been dark and dreary, so photos are tricky.
This lovely Aubusson pillow is a new addition to the living room. It’s in a shade of coral that is picked up in the rug.
Two editions of Jane Austen.
New French-inspired house numbers.
And, though I love everything, my favorite:
This “vintage” French shoe store sign. I’ve wanted it for about a year now and I finally got around to ordering it. Don’s first response? “I want one for our house!” (We love signs here at MHC. So, apparently, does Caroline.)
Thank you, Carrie!
I’ll be reviewing The Burning Room by Michael Connelly on Just Let Me Finish This Page today. Stop by!
Happy Wednesday.
Great story about the framed print – such a great deal. The new items for the dollhouse are so cute – especially the sign.
That sign has won my heart, Gillian. If only there was real-sized version available!
Outside may be dark and dreary, but inside the cottage(s) is lovely!
You certainly have an astute eye for interior design, real life or mini. The frame is gorgeous and the house number on the dollhouse is just the perfect detail. Thank you for sharing!
You are most welcome! I think you should send me some photos of your dollhouse, Barbara….
The cottage print was meant to be yours and well worth the long wait that night. The colors and overall design remind me of my mother’s wedding china. Long story, but it ended up in my sister’s hands—never to be seen again. I figure our stories are similar regarding ‘lost’ items, as I remember just recently your mention of some favorite childhood books being lost to your sister. On a happier note, when I first saw that darling sign you found this summer—the hand with the pointing finger and the Beatles quote, “Life is very short…’ I was smitten. This weekend I found my own exact sign at a flea market and have the perfect spot selected for it—that is once the Christmas tree comes down. LOVE the minis for the dollhouse!!!!! I simply must visit her etsy shop!!!! Note to self!!!! You are a sweetheart for openly sharing information!!! So many folks are selfish and will not divulge any information. Sad but true–
Gosh, I can’t imagine NOT sharing the information!
Did you find the same sign with the Beatles quote, Jeannine? Or another one?
And yes, I will never see those books again. Or my sister. Or her children. Well, I’ll never say never, but she has managed to cut us all off for over 10 years now…so it doesn’t look good.
Yes, the exact same quote on the sign! :-) I happen to think the Beatles were brilliant and some of their lyrics touch my very soul…I have often thought about taking one wall of our house and devoting it to just an assortment of my very favorite lyrics and having it applied in some fashion. Am I ‘insane’? perhaps
Only someone who has gone through the ‘misery’ of losing a family member this way can understand…it is almost worse than an actual death! In my case, my sister has no children, so that makes it easier for me.
Not insane at all. That’s a great idea!
Sorry to interrupt, but I think a wall devoted to their quotes is one of the best ideas ever. Like I have told Claudia I am the Beatles best fan
It seems there are many of us that love the Beatles!
I can see why you love that frame (amazing) and the lovely print(love flowers). All your new mini’s are adorable but oh that French sign! I love Carrie’s items and when I got your egg cup tray I got some cute Paris plates and cups. Where did you put the tray?? curious me!
hugs,
Linda
I was going to take a picture of it, but it was too dark. I’ll update you very soon, Linda!
Some things are worth waiting for..Love the print and that sign is to die for…Have a wonderful day..
You too, Missy!
Thank you for retelling the picture story Claudia. I love the story! It a picture perfect story (giggle giggle),
I have visited the Etsy shops you mentioned in your Cottage Guide. I am having a hard time restraining myself. Lovely, lovely things!
I know. I could go crazy there!
$15…. another case of Serendipity!
The little dollhouse things are just precious. Do you have a bottle brush Christmas tree for the living room?? (Maybe one for the VW bus and one for the living room!!) :-)
I do, but it’s not tall enough. I’m thinking of buying one via miniatures. com….
Oh to be wealthy and to own a personal jet…of course, I would invite all those interested in painting the wall with quotes from the Beatles! The jet would pick you all up and what a party we would create :-) My husband owns quite the collection of Beatles t shirts and wears them out and about. Of course, people our ages comment, but we find even the youngest of teenagers smile and comment on the ‘cool’ shirts. Ok, back into the corner for me—sorry no intent of hijacking your lovely post for today :-)
We wear our Beatles T-shirts frequently, Jeannine! Did you know our friend is one of the guitarists who tours with Paul McCartney? Yes, indeed! And he got us free 6th row seats to see Paul a few years back.
Best concert ever.
Where do I begin? Scallops, green, signs, pillow, books….
****swooooon******’
I would LOVE a large French sign like that! (insert a *gasp* here!)
Your little doll house is just precious..each and every detail.
Delightful post, Claudia!
I think we should all have a real-life-sized sign like that one, Becky!
Love all the new items that have been arriving for the dollhouse. Ours is packed away for our move and I’m so itching to at least order things but then I’ll be sad to not place them right away. So I wait! But am vicariously living thru what you share here. Thank you!!
I bet it is hard to resist ordering something Chy! Hang in there.
OMgoodness!!! You two lucky ducks!!! Neither hubby nor I have ever seen any of the Beatles…I am a few years younger than he and I think my love of the Beatles when we first met gave me a leading edge over the other gals :-) We have a friend a few years younger than the both of us and he was able to see the Beatles in 1964 when they came to Dallas, TX. He STILL has that ticket stub!!!
I never got to see the Beatles live, and I don’t think Don did either. But he is, in my opinion, one of the biggest fans ever. There’s not much he doesn’t know about them. Two additions to our new bookshelves are books about the Beatles.
Wonderful story about the picture…some things are just meant to be. I love that sign too…it’s perfect for a cottage. Now, let the search begin…I’m sure you and Don will find one eventually! Or…since you two are so handy….you could attempt to make one? ;)
Hmmm. I don’t think we’re THAT handy, Donnamae!
House numbers..I never thought of that..they look great..I love the French sign too..
I had house numbers already – they were made of brass. But I like this look much more!
It’s funny the things we stumble upon. I had an occasion, some 35 years ago as a very young office worker, to be employed by a century-old ‘family’ company who kept on their long-time ‘secretary’ well into her 80s. She made her own decision as an aging widow with no kids to finally quit work and move into a graduated-care facility where she stayed active until death, singing in a choir, going on little tours with the group. I just loved her; she was such an optimistic and practical woman; no self-pity, ever, over her life’s circumstances; only immense gratitude. A joyful person. One who laughed a lot. When she went into the ‘facility,’ she decided to sell all of her belongings…well, most of her lifetime accumulations…and she set everything up in her small ‘mobile home’ for friends, neighbors, co-workers, fellow church members, offering up everything for sale because she needed the money for entry into the facility. I wanted to help her out as much as I could and Mother was right behind me, guiding me on what I should buy for my ‘hope chest,’ and this included a gorgeous set of silverplate knives, forks, spoons in a wood chest as well as a collection of a type of glass serve-wear/dessert plates I can’t recall the name of…it’s all stored away somewhere and I never used it; alas, I turned out to not be the formal entertainer in my home whereas this lady was as she was a participant in lots of charitable activities and church and women’s clubs. Anyway, one of the things which took my eye (besides a lovely handmade…by her husband…free-standing wood bookcase, which I bought and still have/use) was a large, framed print of a painting done by a well-known artist in our area (and beyond). When I took it to be reframed (had a non-distinct frame unlike yours) and appropriately matted, as it was from the 1940s and needed to be acid-free, I discovered it was a signed and numbered, very limited print and, well, the long story is that, in my locale, it’s totally sought after and worth something but I have it because I love it (a bird print, soft sages and palest pinks), and because it was hers. We all have our stories like this, don’t we. Love hearing of them!
I am completely nuts over your dollhouse. It is my next project. The only hindrance is that as I’ve aged, my hands are somewhat arthritic, so it’s hard to hold small things, and my vision isn’t what it once was, so sometimes I strain somewhat to see the tiny details. However, I am determined. Until then, I live vicariously through your amazing photos of this treasure. I can’t compliment you enough on it; it’s a labor of love and you have furnished it so exquisitely. I want to live in it! Be a wee person for a day just to experience it!
Yes, that print you bought is indeed a find, but it is precious because of the sentimental value – it belonged to a wonderful woman in your life.
I’d like to live in the dollhouse for a day, too! Sometimes I imagine I’m standing in the living room looking at the fireplace. A mini me. I’m excited that you are going to work on a dollhouse, Vicki. It can be tricky, working on that small scale. But you can do it There are days that my hands seem way too big for that little house and days where it all comes rather easily.
Claudia, I think Caroline needs a little chicken wire area for her dog or maybe a few chickens! Love the picture. Doris
She just might! But I don’t have room for it on the ground because the dollhouse is on a stand and it just fits there!
I don’t mean to hog the blog by making another reader entry but I went back to read comments and here is the subject once more about lost items in a family…it does smart, doesn’t it! Do you know, I realize it happens in many, many families where one or another gets possessive and won’t share. I actually had an uncle who would LIE that he did not have certain photos which we know he did have, which was proven when he passed away. Why? In my case, all i wanted to do was get them copied by a professional photographer back in the day before sophisticated printers, downloads, etc. I have a cousin who got half my grandma’s complete set of Depression glass (all in one pattern; gorgeous pink something-rose)…and she gave it away with no thought to its value sentiment-wise or otherwise. My mother just about died on the spot when she heard this, as it was the real-deal dishes she grew up with in the Great Depression and she would have loved to have even had just one piece of it…just one plate. She was able to find a dish or two over the years in thrift stores. But, conversely, she kinda did the same thing to me…my mom…and I can’t ever figure this out…but when I was in highschool, she sold all my Barbies including the 1960s-era dream house; my stack of 78 rpm nursery rhyme records from the early 1950s and a set of picture-dictionaries, 21 volumes that my grandmother had painstakingly amassed for me over a long period of time in a grocery store promotion where you got a book a week for pennies if you bought groceries. I knew a lot of those volumes by heart. Mother loved all things vintage so it’s a mystery and she could never actually tell me why she was purging the house in early days of this new thing called a ‘garage sale.” Something wild must have taken hold of her. Some kind of decluttering frenzy. She probably even asked me but as a teen, I’d outgrown those things and didn’t know of potential value; doesn’t seem I was much grown into my sentimental nature either. Anyway, over literally DECADES, I have duplicated all of my Barbies, mostly with reproductions which is a great thing Mattel has done over the past years; I have never been able to replace my little yellow playing records; I actually WAS able to duplicate my entire 21-volume dictionary set, mostly from the Amazon secondhand marketplace. But some of my books from young girlhood I’ve never been able to find, even in the old days with Bookfinders, pre-internet. Why do we do this? For me, it’s a comfort. They are my memories.
The print is perfect for your den, and there are no words for how charming the frame is.
I think Carrie Lavender might be my favorite as well. I always add way to much to my Etsy cart, then remove most of it, then remove even more when I feel flush enough to finally place an order! :) She has so much to choose from, and I seem to want most of it! Love the choices you made … I had never noticed that sign. You found the perfect spot for it!