Friday, July 16, 2010

Pink Hollyhocks and Other Old Fashioned Things



While I'm here at my parents home packing up some of my mothers things to drive north...I have been poking around and thought I would share a few pretty and well loved family antiques...

I have always loved this pretty hand painted sugar bowl that I first remember seeing in my Grandmother's china cupboard...She acquired it from her sisters in law...my three great aunts...Nani, Fifi and Mimi. They volunteered at a thrift store in White Plains, outside of New York City back in the 1940's and 50's and brought home many treasures back then that eventually became some of my grandmother's most prized possessions.



This mother of pearl and tortoise calling card case belonged to my great grandfather...
William B. Huff ...



The calligraphy was his own...



The base of this old kerosene lamp was in the farmhouse when my grandparents moved in as a young couple in 1924. The brass was refinished in the 60's and the globe was replaced.



And isn't this the sweetest little mustard pot with blue forget me nots?
Oh, how I remember loving to use this tiny porcelain pot as my Nana always set a pretty table.



This old wooden box was handmade by my Grandfather in 1910 when he was in high school in Brooklyn, NY. He hand carved the decoration on top and today, one hundred years later, it sits proudly on my Dad's dresser.
I just love that!



This metal pin was in my Mom's jewelry box...tiny pearls are wired on it.
I don't know where it came from and don't think it is particularly precious but...
... I like it.



And here are the pretty pink Hollyhocks as promised.
They were on the side of an old barn in the Adirondacks last week and I stopped to snap a picture or two.



My grandmothers both grew hollyhocks in their gardens...



So pretty! So old fashioned!

Still traveling ...
I have scheduled to link up to Pink Saturday this week...
To see more pink pretties visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!

Have a wonderful weekend!
:)

37 comments:

Campbell Jane said...

Beautiful treasures & gifts! Gifts being those gorgeous hollyhocks!

Julia said...

Gorgeous sugar bowl!!

Blondie's Journal said...

How wonderful that you have something to remember your Nana by! Love all of your treasures.

The hollyhocks are awesome. I am growing them next to my shed in white and pink. They are just getting ready to bloom!! :-)

xoxo
Janie

Ms Bingles Vintage Christmas said...

Oh, that sugarbowl and lamp are just beautiful!
Thank you for sharing!
Letici

Glenda/MidSouth said...

So many wonderful treasures Thanks for sharing them with us.
Enjoy your weekend.

My name WAS Female, I shit you not! said...

With each picture, my eyes lit up & my jaw hung open ( like in awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww)
Thanks for sharing. :0)

Gert said...

as always I love the hollyhocks..and all the different treasures:)

You are a blessing...
xoxo Gert

clustres said...

Wonderful pieces!

Lisa said...

Oh my how very lovely! Loads of treasures!
Hugs, Lisa

Carole said...

I guess it must run in the family the eye for beautiful objects.
I miss having hollyhocks in my garden.....years ago I used to have tons of them. I have two pots left, maybe I'll snag them for myself:))
xxx

Greatma said...

Love, love, love that sugar bowl and the pink holly-hocks are great!!
Antique Rose

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hello Laura, what wonderful family treasures. It's such a precious thing to have items that meant so much to a loved one. I also love that you call your Grandmother Nana...My Dad's parents were Nana and Grandpa and my Mum's parents were Dodie and Granddad. All were from England except my Dad's father who was from Canada. OH how I miss them. It's such a wonderful thing when you can pick an item up and recall precious memories of a loved one. Thank you for sharing your treasures with us and also showing us the photo's of the beautiful hollyhocks. My Nana grew them in her English garden. Have a wonderful weekend...Maura :)

Andrea said...

I just love hollyhocks!I can hardly wait till mine bloom!

bj said...

OH< MY....I am going to town tomorrow for holly hocks to plant in my garden. Those are sooo pretty.

Andi's English Attic said...

I think the sugar bowl is my favourite, but what a wonderful calling card case. How lucky you are to have so many wonderful things that bring the past alive. xx

Kateyed said...

Laura,
I love it all...the vase is really beautiful. Very unique pin. Wiring peals was not that common in that era (I think!). The hollyhocks bring back all kinds of memories. Did you ever make hollyhock dolls?
Hugs,
Suz

Jan said...

Things don't have to have a value to be treasures. Your family treasures are truely priceless!

Kay said...

the hollyhocks are beautiful....i planted some from seed this year and fingers crossed they may bloom soon...x

Susan Freeman said...

I do love those Hollyhocks .. just gorgeous!! What a charming sugar bowl and love that mustard pot too!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Anitra Cameron said...

What wonderful treasures! They're more than things; they're memories wrapped in beauty.

You bring back a treasured memory of my own with the hollyhocks. The bedroom I had as a young teen had a door to the outside. I could step out my door into the side yard, where hollyhocks bloomed all along the wall. It felt like my own private garden, and I loved it. Thank you for the smile!

Laurie said...

Thank you for posting your precious family things! They are treasures!

OhSoVintage said...

I love that sugar pot.

Unknown said...

G'morn, Laura ~
Oh, my golly Miss Molly! I love your beautiful treasures ... the sugar I'd give up anything for, it is awesome ... the Mother of Pearl card case is exquisite. Such beautiful memories with each beautiful item, for you to enjoy.

Happy PS ~
Have a lovely weekend ~
TTFN ~ Marydon

Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble Christmas said...

What beautiful treasures you have from your Grandmother!! How lucky you are!!

Gorgeous hollyhocks too!!

Debbie

Unknown said...

Happy Pink Saturday!

Unknown said...

what lovely items to treasure!love if you would consider participating in my BARN CHICK BLOG PARTY and show the great pics of the hollyhocks against the barn love!

Karen

Anonymous said...

so many pretties here today and I'm so glad you took the time to photograph the holly hocks. I love them! I have tried to grown them up at the old shed but no luck. Happy Pink Saturday. :)

Beadboard UpCountry said...

Laura,
you have some very special family heirlooms there! I love the box for the calling cards, and even the script on the cards themselves...Tha pin is lovely...As are the hollyhocks Maryanne xo

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Your family has some wonderful keepsakes, Laura! And the beautiful hollyhocks inspire me to plant some!

Jill said...

I MUST plant hollyhocks again--I've only had them once. They are beautiful!

Judy said...

I love your pretties!! Hollyhocks are beautiful! We can find them in the high country here in Arizona. My grandmother had plenty of hollyhocks in her garden.

Thanks for sharing!

Susan said...

Beautiful treasures, and I love the hollyhocks. I could never grow them here in the deep south..I think is is just too hot or maybe I just didn't have to green thumb..

Janet - Birdland Treasures said...

I just found your blog over the weekend and knew right away you are a kindred spirit because of this precious post, filled with family treasures! Of course I have many items as well handed down through the family and am only now trying to find ways to display them. I'm loving all the BLUE you've been sharing - thank you for such pretty and entertaining posts!

C.J. said...

I have holly hocks, larkspurs and mallows in my yard (as well as a gazillion other flowers!) lol but love old fashioned ones the best. Your Mother's treasures are lovely, enjoy!

Blooming Rose Musings said...

Lovely treasures and beautiful hollyhocks. Things to feed our heart and spirit.

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

CRRRRRRRazy about that sugar bowl in the top photo.... simply yummy.

Warm blessings,
Spencer

Sassy said...

The sugar bowl is beautiful I love it! My mother and both grandmothers grew holly hocks...I LOVED THEM....I would play with them as a little girl and pretend they were beautiful ladies with beautiful dresses......you have some precious treasures.....but I have to say what I LOVE MOST is the 3 names of your aunts.......Soooo stinking cute!!!!!