Still Floating

I am still floating after Will and Kate's beautiful fairytale wedding.

Sigh...

Even Mr. Flea indulged me and got up early to watch the spectacular event.

With my head in the clouds of romantic thoughts and the beautiful spring blossoms that are pulling me outside...

...well, let's just say...

...my mind isn't in the right place to be

 cleaning up and organizing my messy home today.

There must be a flea market somewhere!

Have a great Saturday!

:)

Royal Color

Congratulations to William and Kate

as they celebrate their wedding!

I will be getting up at 4 a.m. tomorrow to watch the royal wedding

as I did when Princess Diana was married.

Yes, I am a hopeless romantic.

Purple is the color of royals...

...so I pulled out my purple and lavender bottles.

Sweet violets are a symbol of love and faithfulness

 and are found in the countryside...

...for our English country bride.

William and Kate seem to be such good friends

 and in love!

I hope it is so!

Wishing William and Kate a long and happy marriage!

Will you join me? 

Will you be watching?

:)

Almost!

 

A few more days and our lilacs will be spectacular!

Our Japanese cherry tree will be in full bloom

 with hundreds of soft pink petals...

...and the white and pink dogwoods lining the driveway

 will be glorious!

Almost!

Don't you just love this time of year?

:)

Amy Love

A day or so after we returned from Florida I received an email from

Amy of Charlotte's Brocante...

asking for my mailing address as she had something to send me.

A few days later a package from Oregon arrived with a beautiful and compassionate note...as Amy knows I am grieving the loss of my Mom.

 

 Amy's words of support and encouragement and her joyful assurance of our faith touched my heart and did, indeed remind me that He is my strength.

And just look at what she sent!

A wonderful number 52 brass laundry tag,

 an antique French music card,

really fabulous old French documents,

 four tiny clay feves (love these!) 

and an old French needle packet.

If you don't know about Amy...

she travels to France to hunt the brocantes for special treasures that she brings back to sell in her Charlotte's Brocante.

And now you know the kind of person Miss Amy is.

 I  really am overwhelmed with her kindness and generosity.

And the thoughtfulness and loving support that Amy offered is indicative of why I love our blogging community.

Thank you Amy from the bottom of my heart.

And thanks to all of YOU

 for all the thoughtful and kind words...

...for all the things that you do to make our blogging world

 the sweet place that it is.

:)

Linking up to White Wednesday over at Faded Charm....

Happy Easter!

Alleluia!

Wishing you peace and joy this Easter. 

:)

Spring Green and Easter Blessings

While at my sister's home last weekend dog-sitting Gleason

...the longest dog in the world,

 I spied this wonderful green enamel bucket in the laundry room.

  Mr. Flea took Gleason outside for a romp

 and I took Green Bucket out for a photo shoot.

Isn't she pretty?

Mr. Flea's parents, my wonderful in-laws, are celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary tonight!

At ages 89 and 91 they are still devoted to each other.

:)

 Wishing you all a Happy Easter!

...and a wonderful weekend.

:)

Spring Cleaning Schedule

I have been home a week and a half...

 and so far we have only had a few non rainy days.

Which suits me fine because I have a miserable cold

 and am grateful for the excuse not to get going on our major

 spring cleanup and clean out!

Instead, I'm making plans for Easter...

...and enjoying the spring blossoms...

Do you have big plans for the weekend?

Are all your spring and Easter decorations up?

So much for the spring cleaning schedule.

It's on my to do list!

:)

Thank You Roseanna!

Way back in February I entered Roseanna's giveaway

 at her blog After I Finish This Row

at meli-melo-art.blogspot.com

Are you familiar with Roseanna's work?

 She is a mixed media artist and creates all sorts of wonderful things.

Well, anyways...

I won her give away and last week when I returned from Florida

 her box of treasures was waiting for me! 

Just look at this hand knit nest with 3 tiny quail eggs!

Also included were a vintage doily pin

 made with vintage velvet leaves and seam binding,

 a recycled crochet covered jar,

 a stuffed heart with a vintage button

tied on with baker's twine,

 a small garland made with French primer pages

and 2 sweet paper butterflies,

 two fabric printed vintage pictures of a little flower girl

 (who happens to be her Aunt Rose at three years old, c. 1923) 

and two fabric printed urns.

Wow! 

So many goodies and so much talent!

Thank you Roseanna!

If you would like to see more of Roseanna's creations you can visit

 her Etsy shop meli-melo-art  HERE

Just thought you would like to see!

Hope you are having a good week.

:)

The Rex and The Winner

A few weeks ago, while in Florida, Mr. Flea and Lynn

 took me to the Webster Flea for one last visit.

Loved this British white scale...

...minus it's weights.

...not even sure the enamel dish on top is the original

...or just another happy marriage...

In any case, The Rex came home with me.

Thank you Lynn for lending me the cash

 and Mr. Flea for lugging him to the car.

This photo shoot was done in my parents Florida kitchen
 with the help of some pretty blossoms in their yard.

I can't wait to play with Rex in my own kitchen

 with all my own toys and collectibles!

Everyone should have a Rex of their own.

Don't you think so Shelley? 

And so as not to torture you any further...

...the randomly chosen winner of this Give Back

 and a copy of Romantic Prairie Style is...
Gail from Adventures Of An Innkeeper

Congratulations!

Thanks to all of you for your comments and participation!

I have just found out...and am not surprised... 
that the book has been sold out!
Not to worry...
 a second printing, due out in June, will supply books
 to those who haven't obtained their copy yet. 


Hope we all have a great week
 with lots of goodness to come!
:)

Antique Blue Glass Jar, Yellow Forsythia and Romantic Homes Magazine

Loving the early morning light this time of year...

This antique blue glass jar came from

 the cellar of Mr. Flea's grandmother.

It's one of my favorite things...

...the blue color, the bubbles in the old glass, the two seams...

and of course...that it is a family piece.

Have you seen the new, May issue of Romantic Homes yet?

It is a particularly lovely issue...filled with lots of inspiration.

And it was so nice to see that 

Carol Spinski's shop Raised In Cotton

has an 8 page feature with wonderful and captivating photos.

 The article discusses how she and her two partners

 have managed to own a successful business together

 while remaining good friends.

Thank you to those who emailed me or left comments about

 Romantic Homes' little feature on 52 FLEA

...and to Rachel from French Farmhouse 425

for mentioning me on her post here.

I was delighted when asked if I would send a few photos for the May issue to be included in this section featuring various blogs.

Thank you Romantic Homes for thinking of me!

:)

Still time to sign up for my Give Away for the book

Romantic Prairie Style

Click HERE for a chance to win!

Romantic Prairie Style and A Give Back

 A  few weeks ago I was contacted by Sharon

 from Ryland Peters & Small - CICO Books,

 who asked if I was interested in doing a book review on

Romantic Prairie Style

by Fifi O'Neill.

 

Well, YES....I would be more than happy to look at this book that people have been talking about all over our blogging community.

 As you know, I have been a bit absent these last few months so I haven't had the chance to take a look at this new book before now.

The book, by the infamous designer and photo stylist Fifi O"Neill and with beautiful photographs by Mark Lohman turns out to be a winner...a must have...a new favorite among the stacks of decorating and home decor books in my collection.

Oh my goodness...

 Let me tell you why this girl who has only ever seen

 the prairies of the midwest once in her life...

...this girl who lives near the Big Apple and summers in the Adirondacks has an affinity for romantic prairie style.

It turns out that what Fifi calls romantic prairie style is all about simple living, contentment, seeing the beauty in everyday objects, family first and a respect for mother nature and history.

I love that the book demonstrates how using re-purposed finds,
 collected vintage treasures and family heirlooms rich with meaning
 can infuse a home with a sense of authenticity and personality.

Each home is very different...
but all are connected to their settings...
the land that surrounds them...
...all have ties to family traditions and lifestyles.
These homes are honest, unpretentious, comfortable
 and undeniably beautiful spaces.

As I turned the pages of this beautiful book

 and took in all the details of the gorgeous photographs,

 I realized that these are real people, real families

 and many of them are, in fact, bloggers who I have come to know through our blogging community.

  I was delighted to see more of their homes

 and learn a bit more about their lives and their families.

Romantic Prairie Style is not just a country style decorating book

 ... it is about an entire way of living.

 It demonstrates how appreciating and using what you have in creative new ways can be fulfilling.

The book encourages us to look closer at the beauty

 that surrounds us.

It edifies the honesty and simplicity of humble living,

 the importance of family

 and honoring the history of our ancestors.

I didn't expect that! 

I just love looking at the beautiful, unique and homey spaces

 that are included in

Romantic Prairie Style.

I find myself inspired anew each time I turn the page.

Here are some of the talented and lovely bloggers whose blogs I love to visit and whose homes were featured in the book:

Tracey Leber from French Larkspur

Carol Spinski from Raised in Cotton 

and her new site and blog Carol Spinski

Anne-Marie from Na-Da Farm Life

Joy Waltmire from Savvy City Farmer

Andrea Dickerson from Faded Plains

Angela Reed from Parisienne Farmgirl

Caroline Verschoor from Ekster Antiques

Maria Carr from Dreamy Whites

and of course...

Fifi O'Neill from Chez Fifi

There were other homes featured... equally as charming,

 unique and inspiring.  I thoroughly enjoyed them all.


So much creative talent!

A Give Back!

Well, if you think you would enjoy Romantic Prairie Style 

 and would like to have a copy of your own...

simply leave a comment on this post. 

For a second chance, please spread the word

 through your blog or Facebook or Twitter.

(Don't forget to let me know you have done so!)

Just so you know...
I was not asked by the author or any of the featured home owners to write about Romantic Prairie Style.

I was not compensated in any way for this review...other than a copy of the book to read and an opportunity to offer one to you in the form of a Give Away.  I have never personally met Fifi or any of the bloggers listed with the exception of Carol Spinski who I met in person at Silver Bella last year. (She was so friendly!)

Having said that...

I do feel a connection to these featured blogger buddies...

several who have commented on my past posts here at 52 Flea

 and many whose blogs I love to visit for inspiration.

 So, yes...I consider them my friends!

But I didn't even know that some of them were featured

 until I read the book!

What a delightful surprise!

I guess that shows you just how removed I have been these last four months!

And I truly love the book!

In the months ahead I have several big home projects planned... 

 ...including a re-do of the kitchen up at the lake house ...

...a re-do on a shoestring budget I might add...

I am sure that I will be referring to

Romantic Prairie Style for inspiration!

The winner of this Give Back will be randomly selected 

on Sunday, April 17th.

Good luck! 

:)

...and if the winner wants a signed copy...the word on the street is that Fifi 

will be at Anne Marie's  Na-Da Farm Sale the weekend of May 20th and 21st.

  Go, enjoy and bring your book!

:)