Summer 2020. The Dahlia's Story.

 

This is my home. It is a Pennsylvania German stone house and it was built in 1811.

I share it, as we all do with old houses, with the previous inhabitants who shaped it into what it is, and the family I call my own. Four cats, three dogs and two of us humans. The door is (almost) open and the house is always busy. The Summer is all about tomatoes, basil, and dahlias.

The flowers start on the back hill. High in the sunshine, and protected from the winds with cages to help stabilize. The garden is for the house to be decorated. Resplendent with blooms, buzzing with bees and jungle enraptured for the cats who guard it. 

Once the flower buckets are full the arranging happens at the potting cellar door. It is shaded, the vases are chosen and the best part unfolds.

The colors reflect the shades of the tides as the garden phases from early bloomers to humid tolerant varieties. All are fuel for the creations.

The house has rooms with intentions and some just to enjoy.

The den is dark brown wallpaper with parrots and dark crimson peonies. It is perfect to highlight the huge dinner plate varieties.

The dining room has a table made for vignettes, and, that's the place big blooms backdrop my other collections.

The kitchen is an 18th century log cabin. One long NC mercantile table, old chestnut floors, and early, safely restored sink, stove, and fridge.

My canine crew. Everyday off to the vet clinic together.

My Frippie who brings me a solitary random, never to be matched again sock. her version of breakfast in bed.

My dear friend Stan Lee. The girl who always wanted to be a veterinarian for the sake of her patients.

Valentines Day 2020

Happy Valentine’s Day! 

One of my favorite ways to celebrate the holidays is to decorate a small space with a few collectibles.

I typically start with the candy counter.. It’s an easy place to add color, whimsy and keep a house that four cats and three dogs don’t ruin.

Every Valentines Day my mom and sister and I get together so we can make homemade cards for each other..

I repurpose old Victorian heart motif jewelry for the loved ones in my life. Here is an old locket, heart shaped, and holding loved ones from today and those from many decades ago. I never remove the old photos,, it just seems to cruel to erase them, I just add the new ones on top and we share a place with each other.

I cherish this old garnet and “LOVE” locket. 

I also collect old Valentines. The fragile paper cut outs, the flowers, birds and butterflies. All usually mounted on thick embossed card stock,

My moms Valentine. Hand colored watercolor in new wood frame.

Found at a yard sale the figurines are sweet, charming and easy ornaments. This pair set me back 5 bucks.. They date from early 1900.

A well loved staffordshire cat. Once in the hundreds of dollars they are increasingly found under 10.

My Valentine of years ago. Layered paper, doily, ribbon and old scrapbook fragments.

Wishing you all a year of love and peace and joy. ❤️ Krista 

Fripp and Jitterbug 

My pups 

Charlie, Storm, Fripp

Sending many warm Spring days of flowers and new life to you all.

Love, Krista 

John Derian Meet The Gatchellville Store. Fall Winter 2019

I am in NYC, the mecca of all things wonderful and exorbitant. And yet I am still in search of the same old gems I seek in my little rural wooded home. Today it was John Derian. Three stores of blissful visual delight. 

While perusing through the artistic rainbow of candy colored ornaments and ornamentations you can find antiques, whimsical treasures and gifts for every taste, budget and age bracket. This place is the mecca of creative excellence and outletting. I love love love being here in Johns world.

While checking out we started swapping favorite find stops.. first on my list is The Gatchellville Store. So for John and Charles here is my last trip to my other favorite landing spot for best antiques and people.

Want to see more of the great stuff that makes this store so magical? Here is Linda's Etsy store.. the only way to access her goodies through the off season. 

Here is the Gatchellville Facebook page.

Other blogs on The Gatchellville Store here;

Spring Arrives.

Opening Day.