Chalkware Chick

I love the old chalkware pieces that I see at the antique shops.

I've seen so many of these little chicks lately since Easter is right around the corner.

Most of them have no beaks left, but recently I found one that was in perfect vintage condition.

It has a note on the bottom from someone named Granny Ruth, 1947.

To me that makes it even more charming.

Karen

Making Memories

Hi everyone!

As promised, I'd like to share some photos of my Tea Party from this past weekend.

It is a rare occasion that I get to spend a day with all 5 of my girls at once, so I planned this day especially for that reason.

I had so much fun decorating.

I made banners and a tower of tea cups.

There were vintage tea pots everywhere.

There was even one hanging from the chandelier.

Everyone brought some type of food.

I think the French Macaroons were our favorite.

We all exchanged handmade and vintage gifts.

There were paper dolls, vintage gloves and aprons for all.

Each of us wore vintage outfits and every one of us had some type of wardrobe malfunction.

There were fresh flowers for everyone to take home.

My husbands oldest daughter couldn't be here, but she joined us via iphone and I sent her a package of goodies to open at home.

We all had such a crazy good time.

We laughed so much our faces hurt and my husband did sneak home early from his fishing trip to have a peek at our silly little party. It was decided by all that we should do this again, so we are planning a garden party for sometime this summer.

Thank you so much for stopping in.

I wish every mother and daughter out there could experience a day like this.

It's one that I will never forget.

Karen

What? No Dish Washer?

After only 8 short years my dishwasher "shit the bed".

Have you ever heard that expression?

I heard one of the kids say it a few years ago about a car that gave up.

I swear, ( I do swear now and then) that I laugh every time I hear that.

I thought you might think it's funny as well.

I hope I didn't offend anyone by using the S word.

I suppose it won't kill me to wash a few dishes, in fact, I really don't mind at all.

I did notify Tommy, my husband, he's in charge of buildings and grounds, so I do believe this falls under the category of buildings. I'm house keeping and decorating, and I know it doesn't fall under one of those categories. He says he's looking, but I'm pretty sure he's "Gone Fishing" to avoid the upcoming, all girl, tea party that's coming up.

Speaking of grounds, I do care for certain portions of the yard as I believe they fall under the category of decorating. That being said...here's the first blooming plant for this year in the garden outside my kitschy kitchen window.

And these are the first seeds to grow this year.

Cat Grass.

It's like having a chunk of your lawn in a flower pot.

Thanks for stopping in.

Karen

Oink Oink Woof Babushka

Hello!

Hey, it's the weekend!

I'm busy getting ready for the tea party that my girls and I are having on Sunday.

There will be a lot of photos next week, so I wanted to take a minute today to introduce Oink 1 and 2, Woof and Babushka. Four kitschy wooden pieces that I've added to the kitschy corner of my kitchen.

This is OINK

and OINK,

WOOF

and BABUSHKA.

That's TRAINWRECK to the left of BABUSHKA.

He's shy.

I'm enjoying these more in my kitchen than I did tucked away downstairs in the Creating Room.

Someday I'll take them back there, but for now they are brightening up the kitchen.

Such a cute bunch, these reconsidered ones.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Check back next week for lots of tea party madness.

Karen

Kitsch In The Kitchen

I recently received a wonderful little book for my birthday.

"dottie angel"

"the peachy crafty world of tif fussell"

It was a gift from my daughter and was my favorite gift of all.

After reading it from cover to cover, I discovered that I am much like Tif in many ways.

She talks about the rescue of "forsaken souls on the shelves of despair".

I myself refer to this as the rescue of "reconsidered treasures".

Inspired by the beautiful photos in Tif's book, I put together a small display of a few of my "reconsidered treasures" in a corner of my kitchen.

Her book is filled with cute crafting ideas using repurposed items, which is something that I love to do as well. A few of my favorites are the bunting banners, aprons and crocheted pretties.

I do believe Tif uses recycled vintage fabric for her banners.

I constructed this one from a bundle of quilting fabric.

If you love everything vintage and thrifting is your thing, then I think you too will be inspired by this book.

You can find "dottie angel" at her blog and her Etsy shop.

I think you'll love her stories, photos and how to's.

I'd like to say thank you to Tif for sharing her world and thanks to all of you who stopped by my blog for a peek at my world.

As Tif would say "have a peachy day".

Karen

What Do You Do With Only One Shoe

What do you do with only one shoe?

I first learned of wooden shoes when I was about 7 or so.

I was in the 2nd grade and we were studying far off places.

I was fascinated by Holland with their windmills, tulips and wooden clogs.

So, when I saw this lonely old wooden shoe sitting on the shelf at the antique shop without a mate it made me sad. I had to rescue it and give it a purpose.

This particular shoe is 13 inches long and had been made for wearing.

It's new home is in my kitchen and it's new purpose is a planter.

I think it looks happy now.

Karen



Just Like Grandma

As each year passes I find myself longing more and more for a simple life.

Not an easy, lazy kind of life, but more of a handmade kind of life.

I find myself being drawn to things that I loved as a child.

Things that I remember from my Grandma's farm.

Like these old wooden shakers and egg holders.

I remember very similar ones in my Grandma's kitchen.

They add such a happy pop of color to my neutral colored kitchen and they remind me of my Grandmother who was such an influence on who I am today.

I miss my Grandmother. I spent a lot of time with her when I was growing up and I am very much like she was. Umelecky was chosen as my blog name in honor of Grandma. It is the Slovak term for artistic.

My plan for the months ahead is to be even more like Grandma. To garden, sew, crochet and to even have a clothesline for drying the laundry. I want to pick berries and make jam, plant flowers and fuss over them and learn to bake good bread and pies. I want to wear aprons and big straw hats.

Just like Grandma.

Just simple.

Happy.

Karen