Pretty things

Thank you for your sweet comments and support about the loss of Michelle.  I appreciate them more than you can know.  Remember to cherish your friends.  (I know you do.)

In an attempt to be cheery, I thought I would show you some pretty things.  First, a few more lovely birdsong tags:

This absolutely charming and sweet tag is by the lovely and talented Lisa Stanton.  I wish this photo had done it justice.  It is perfection.

Here's the front and back of this wonderful monochromatic tag by Terri Wilkerson.  I love all the details (like fringing that great toile fabric!)

Terri also sent this precious tag; the ribbon detail on the bottom makes me squeal...

and here's the back, with even more beautiful ribbon and lace detail!

I just love stuff like this!

I have finished my Grandma's Attic Matchbox swap and sent it off in the mail; as soon as my partner receives it I will show you.

And, here's a very special buy I made a couple of weeks ago at an auction.  Now that I've taken the plunge into the world of auctioning, I am hooked on the bargains available.  It's work, and it's time consuming, but sometimes you get stuff like this:

The china in this photo is called Turquoise Cameo, by Minton.  If you are a china lover like me, you might know that Minton is a fine English brand.

This china is has hand-painted, raised floral designs on each dish.  It is more aqua in real life than it appears in these photos.

I bought this whole set at auction for $55.  I almost got it for $10 because no one wanted it; then, another guy started bidding on it, but gave up at $50.

It includes 16 dinner plates, 11 cup/saucer sets, 4 more cups without a saucer, 12 bread plates, and 12 dessert plates.

Plus, this lovely large platter.

I researched its value online, and learned that the set I bought sells used for $1,984.  (That large platter alone is $200.)

I put some of the china out to admire it, setting the table with some of my finest antique table linens.

This is one of the pieces I took to Antiques Roadshow; the cloth and napkins were done by hand in Portugal near the beginning of the 20th century.

It was a gift from my elderly friend, who knew how much I loved antique linens.

I could look at it all day.