What a Dandy! (Lion)

This past weekend I was

helping my Mother go

through some things in

the attic.

 

While it was hot, it was

worthwhile...I came across

this sweet little plate

that was mine when I was

a little girl.

 

I recognized it right away.

 

She gave it to me to take

home and when I arrived

I pulled it out to show

Bebe and the Hubs.

 

Then as we are all

glancing at it, I notice

the tiny words typed

underneath the lion.

"DandyLion - Lenoxware"

Lenox Plastics Division

I had no idea Lenox had

made this plate...nor did

I realize they'd had a

plastics division.

So far after looking online,

I have read that there was

a factory in St. Louis, MO

and there is another style

called "Tony Pony."
Probably other animals
and styles too.

How fun!

 

Linking to What's It Wednesday with
Ivy and Elephants.

(Although I see it has some

damage to the middle...looks

like a plant was set on it

or it overheated in the attic?

Either way it doesn't

matter, I love it it still!)

The Come One Come ALL Linky Party! For Etsy Shops, Dealers, Crafters and More!

In my former career,

before play dates

and parks...peanut

butter and jelly

sandwiches....

 

I was a Producer for

local TV stations.

 

It was a fun job!

Gained a lot of

experience.

But I have to admit,

I love selling and

working from home

so I can be with my

sweet Bebe.

That is why I try not

to miss joining up

with Beverly over on

her blog for BLOG SHOP.

 

 

What a way to support

other stay at home moms,

crafters, lady entrepreneurs,
Etsy and eBay sellers.

 

So here's my plug!

My Christmas in July

sale is still going on

until Wednesday on
BellaRosaAntiques.com.

 

Great prices on

neat old vintage

Christmas décor!

PLUS

I offer 20% off for

Blog Shoppers when you

use this link.

Then there is my Etsy shop

for those who enjoy

perusing the shops

among the crafters

and very creative

people!

 

Enjoy the day and be sure to

check out what the other

blogs are sharing... your 

support really matters!

Pretty in Pinks

While my office may be

in transition... changing

of color schemes....

 

I still see pretty pinks

here and there

in my Bella Rosa Shop:

 

Like in this sweet teacup and saucer

 

Lovely hatbox with

vintage barkcloth

 style roses

And in my newest teapot!

 

 

 

Linking to Pink Saturday

at How Sweet the Sound

Movin' Right Along: A Sneak Peek of My Office Makeover

The office/studio/craft room (as I'm calling it) is moving along really well! Still not finished but I have a better idea of where it is headed.

Above are snippets ....a sneak peek as I like to say, of some of the areas I'm working on. (In between Mommy stuff: pool outings, play dates, and errands!)

On my radar:
* vintage buffet or sideboard
* painting the doors in the room
* painting my desk
* painting my file cabinet
* finding places for large items
* hanging wall art/shelves, etc
* chandy (possibly redo one we already have)

While I do not have a finished room, I am so excited about it and just LOVE being in here now.
The new paint color did wonders for inspiration. And Dear Hubby surprised me one day with a new area rug we saw at Home Goods, which so far, is my only big splurge!

I'll be back later on with more...hoping to list new arrivals early next week.

Enjoy the day,




Linking to Hope in Every Season
Homemaking Party
 

Art That Sparks Conversation

When I walk along

 the aisles of booths

at the antique mall

where we have a space

 

I realize that some

things just don't get

enough attention.

 

Like this painting below.

It is so unique I thought

it deserved some

discussion.

 

And, oddly enough

when a photo is taken

of this painting and there

is back light coming from

a smart phone or from

a computer screen,

it gives it a brand new

light and amazing

depth.

 

 

For the past year

I've been looking for

paintings of lakes

and lake houses.

 

This one is really special.

 

My interpretation is

that the boy is fishing

just like the days when

he used to fish with

his Grandfather.

Sadly his Grandpa has

passed but the elder

is still there with

him in spirit.

 

I've asked others to

tell me what they see

and there are some

variations as to

how/when/why but

usually it is a similar

theory about a boy

and his Grandfather

or the way the

old man used to sit

there when he was young.

 

What do you see?

 

Linking to Blue Monday

at Smiling Sally.

 

New Arrivals & A CHRISTMAS IN JULY SALE!

I've always loved Christmas

in July sales.

I don't know why...

Maybe it is like having

breakfast for dinner

or something.

Ever do that?

 

Either way, I love to

shop them and I love

to have them!

Check out this

week's price...

Get it all at 50% off here!

 

 

 

Makes room for "new"

Christmas goodies and

I get to pull all

of the vintage

holiday stuff out again.

Plus, I have new arrivals

to check out! A lady head vase,

a great garden flowers book,

a celluloid portrait,

teacups, apothecary jars

and more!

 

 

 

Like the aqua blue

lead crystal vase I posted

about yesterday.

All just listed tonight, here.

Morgantown Glassware: A Presidential History

 

Recently I found

this goblet style vase

and added it to my

Bella inventory.

The color is beautiful.

 

The original manufacturer's

sticker is still attached so

I knew this to be from Morgantown Glass in

West Virginia.

 

Here is some history pulled from
the Morgantown History Museum page, linked above:

This well-known Morgantown glass manufacturer began producing high-quality hand-blown glassware under the name Morgantown Glass Works at a location near the Seneca Glass Company in 1899. In the 1920s and 1930s, the company was famous for its Continental Line of glassware. After several previous name changes, beginning January, 1939, the company operated under the name Morgantown Glassware Guild Inc. In 1963, First Lady Jackie Kennedy ordered a line of lead crystal glassware for the White House from the Morgantown Glassware Guild. From then on, this line was called The President's House. In the spring of 1965, the plant was sold to the Moundsville-based Fostoria Glass Company and was eventually closed in April, 1971.

How neat this factory was chosen by Jackie herself. The fame did not last very long, however.

Sad to see that it had to close as did many of the old pottery and glass making factories.

But happy we still get to enjoy some of these vintage pieces. This was probably made in the sixties, not too long before they closed.

A beautiful piece with a lovely sound, made with great precision and care!

Cut some pretty flowers like hydrangeas or roses to grace the top...I'll be the color will pop.

You can find it here in my glassware category.

Linking to:

What's it Wednesday
at Ivy and Elephants!

The Makeover and A Linky Party!

I am still in the middle of

transforming my office into

a beautiful, multiple purpose

space.

 

Is there really such

a thing though?

 

I am working on areas that will

be the most effective. Since I

am an antique dealer I need

to have a place to photograph

items, store them, then

package and prepare

them for shipping.

On top of that I need a

 place to store all of

my creative stuff.

Scrapbooking, card and

jewelry making things.

I'm not even going to mention

that I have a sewing machine

that I use from time to time.

Whew!

It is a tall order and I am

no where near finished.

 

The above photo is just a

sneak peek at the color

paint I had chosen. 

This was taken

 while I was in

in the middle of it all!

 

The painting is done.
Next project: THE DESK.

 Not sure if I am going

to keep my current one. 

 

We looked all over

for new furniture (I really

like the Martha Stewart

craft room line) but no

one sells it in a physical

store, it has to be ordered

online. There was free

shipping so I may still order

something. For now I am

using what I have. Keep a

tight budget...plus vintage

is always better anyway,

RIGHT?

 

In the meantime I am joining

up with How Sweet the Sound's

BLOG SHOP because it

is about the only thing I can

do while my office is in

mid-makeover!

 

 

Hop on over and link up

if you sell stuff online!

 

And stay tuned for:

 * new listings

* a Christmas in July sale,

and maybe, just maybe,

* new pics of my room!

Stop. And Smell the... Hydrangeas!

The other day I noticed we had

some beautiful hydrangeas

blooming in our side yard.

 

 

 

So, I retrieved a pretty cobalt

glass vase and cut a nice

selection from the

hydrangea bush.

 

My husband wants to

know where his wife is.

 

I'm so not a green thumb.

I rarely notice garden

items or make time for them.

 

This weekend, even in the

middle of my office/studio/craft room

makeover, I stopped to smell

the ....well, the hydrangeas.

 

I'm so glad I did!

 

The whole thing makes

me giggle, especially since

the name of my shop is

Bella Rosa Antiques!

(I guess I have to

admit, I DO notice roses.)

 

_______________

 

Here is what I hope to accomplish

this week.... finish office. Send out

a email alert for Bella Rosa.

Do I smell a sale coming up?

(very possible!)

And take new photos

of the goodies we found

while at the lake.

 

Let's hope I can

take time to smell

the hydrangeas along the way!

 

How about you?

Make time this week

to slow down and

notice something new.

 

Linking to:

 

 Blue Monday.

 

Manic Monday

at Serendipity and Spice.

 

  and Junkin Joe Vintage Thrifty Finds at The Cottage Market   And Fishtail Cottage Garden Party    

I just decided it was time.

No, I'm not closing my shop.

 

And I'm not taking a break

 from blogging either.

(This is REALLY awful!)

I decided it was TIME to empty out my office area and give it a makeover!

If you knew how many things I store in here due to the Bella Rosa Shop, my crafting endeavors, and years of gathering ribbons and stuff, you'd have put it off just like I had.

But on Thursday, I decided I could not stand to be in it one minute more, until I had re-created my space.

My space where I run my website, create cards, wrap gifts, create layouts and designs for photography, digital scrapbooking, jewelry making supplies, you name it...it is in here.

Things are now ALL OVER THE PLACE.

Hopefully I can get everything back in within the next few days.

Although now, my Dear Hubby has come home with an injured back.

He is resting comfortably.

I will wait until he is better to mention to him that my desk needs to be carried down and outside for a nice coat of spray paint.

Yesterday I painted the walls..... in a desert/sand/taupe color. I can't even tell you the name of it because we decided to paint my office the same color as our hallway downstairs and my hubby took the outlet cover off of the wall and told me to hand it to the paint girl at Lowes.  (This was before he injured his back.)

She actually did a great job matching it.

So, I have no name for it.

But, I am very happy with the color.

 

Anyway, I am raiding other

rooms for shelves, crates

 and things to create storage.

Shopping my basement was

great fun. Who knew we

had all kinds of things

for a "studio?"

 

It helps when

keeping a tight budget.

Besides, isn't it more

fun to use vintage?

 

I will post updates and before / after

 photos as soon  as I get them. 

 

Linking to Etsy Cottage Style

Welcome to the Craft Room

 

Sneak Peek: Treasures in the Woods and All Around the Lake

Summer at the lake means

relaxing and enjoying the outdoors....

But it also means great

places to find new inventory

for my Bella Rosa and Etsy shop.

 

 

A quick peek:

a Lady head vase, rose hat box,

a PINK LuRay salad bowl,

condensed milk holder, a Jack

and Jill book.

 

But wait! There's more!

 

 

Six jadeite FIRE KING mugs...

 

These lovely apothecary

jars are from Wheaton

glass...which is right near

my old hometown!

 

Found them, ironically,

in this Dear Blogger's booth,

52 Flea.

 

Here is the sign

from her booth.

 

 

I'm like

"Hey, I recognize that sign

from the blog world!"

 

It was a weird moment,

in my real world

because they both

collided and it turns out

Laura stays not too far from

our lake house.

 

It got even funnier when

we realized we had been

standing across from each other

in the local fourth of July

parade and didn't even know it!

 How great is that?

What are the chances?

 

 

 

I spotted this vintage star

ornament and grabbed it

really FAST during this

year's crazy rummage sale.

 

I posted about it here,

last year. The sale was similar

to last summer, but maybe

the line was even longer

to get in!

 

Unfortunately we only

found a few vintage things

at this year's sale.

 

Okay, so I went off

track there...let's

get back on track:

 

 

 

A train will get me on track

as well as these other vintage toys...

 

Some vintage jewelry....

 

 

Pyrex mixing bowls!

The small pink one

is perfect all by itself.

 

 

An atomic / retro

alarm clock....and a

booklet about the new

baby prince!

 

Interesting to see the

family history now that

Kate and William are

having a baby.

 

And what a fun time

it was looking for

all of these vintage

pieces.

 

I found the clock and the jadeite

mugs here:

 

 

 A little thrift shop in the woods!

Bebe and I love going here.

She finds fun toys

(Old Polly Pockets are her

biggest thrill) and I

find vintage goodies!

 

 

Now for the hard part...

getting them listed.

 

Stay tuned!

 

Linking to:

Ivy andElephant's

 What's It Wednesday.

 

and

Pink Saturday

at How Sweet the Sound

 

 

 

A Summer Place at the Lake

Another summer at the lake

filled with good times

and lots of outdoor sunshine!
Now that we have most
of the renovations finished
it is time to enjoy the water
and surrounding area.
Yea!

 

While hubby was driving

the boat I was getting

creative with the camera lens...

 

I never thought I was

 the type to enjoy a

trip around the lake

in a canoe but you

know what...

I really like it!

 

And a Momma duck found

that our dock was a great

place for rest and relaxation.

Unfortunately they

also thought it was a

great place to do

their morning "business."

 

 

In comes the water

for a clean up!

(Notice my attempts at watermarks?)

 

Bebe enjoyed every minute

outside. From flowers

to fishing she just

soaked it all in.

 

Especially the boat rides.

Faster Daddy, Faster!

 

 

I couldn't resist this shot.

Father / Daughter fishing.

Too cute.

 

 

When did my Bebe get so big?

 

 

And when did she learn

how to fish! Go Bebe!

 

Maybe next year I'll

get brave and try

kayaking.... it looks

like such fun!

 

This is one of my favorite shots.

We had the mallard ducks

sitting on our dock

and this Mother duck

(A common Merganser)

would sometimes carry

all of her ducklings on

her back and wings.

It was a sight to see.

All right in front of our lake house.

We have been surely blessed.

Linking to:
What's It Wednesday

Outdoor Wednesday
at Southern Daydreamer

and Hope in Every Season
Homemaking Party.