Enchanting Fall!

 I had announced last night on social media that I will be taking a break from publishing. Since starting school this fall I was left with very little time to put out new publications. But I had worked on a fall dining shoot that I enjoyed working on so much, it would be pity not to share.

While puttering in the dining room Ariel decided to lounge in the chair and observe. Well, for a while anyway. The sun spilling in through the windows was warm and sweet classical music was playing so she dozed off... I would have too if I sat down!

The table is set with my favorite blue and white ware. I used candle sticks and holders to display mini pie pumpkins. My hearty pumpkin and squash soup is served in a white stoneware tureen!

Spiced apple cider and tea are fall favorites for me and the kiddos so they are certainly included, as well as bread puddings and pumpkin bread. 

Apples are a staple in my house, always have been. My three children enjoy their apples in packed school lunches and snacking on them through the day. So why not include them in my table center piece. 

I don't have a complete collection of blue and white tableware. All pieces are different, either special gifts or treasure finds from thrift and antique stores. But set all together they still pulled together a magnificent table. I certainly do love the elegance of blue and white while adding a few leaves and moss to add warmth.

As the sun was starting to set, the room shifted into a romantic mood from the glow of the candles but the primitive lanterns and candle holder also add nostalgia to the setting which is very enchanting to me. 

Photos such as these and more would have been included in my new publication but alas, I simply can't find the time. School work and studies do take up most of my time as well as raising my children, they do come first. But I am also a creative person wishing to at least be able to share few photos here on my blog  Instagram or Facebook. I hope you stick around and see what I'm up to.

Creating Vintage Charm magazine is full of inspiration and I feel that talent and creativity is never outdated so all past issues will remain available on sale through MagCloud. So if you ever feel like looking through a seasonal past issue, feel free to purchase HERE.

Thank you for coming by to visit my blog and wish you all a wonderful and cozy fall.

Sonia

A spot for my floral bounty.

Florals can change any drab spot into a delightful one. Two flowering pots my kids gifted me for mother's day and a jar of fresh cuts from the garden turned this window table into a beautiful sight. The fresh cuts include my FIRST EVER and only one pink Peony.

But hey! I'll take what I can get. I'll cherish the one flower just as much!

So I hope you have a wonderful Memorial weekend filled with the joy of family and friends!!

Our Favorite Outdoors Spot!

Do you have that favorite spot outdoors, at home that you go for as soon as warmer days finally arrive? I'm sure a lot of you do. That spot outdoors where you may hangout after dinner, until bedtime. 

Well here is ours! This spot is at the corner of my yard where we have this outdoors wood burning granite stove and oven that were built in the 40's along with the house which also has a granite exterior. Granite comes from right here in town, Mount Airy, North Carolina. The quarry here is the largest open face granite quarry in the world.

The first warm and sunny day in spring I hurry out there and clean up the stove top, ready for cooking out. Its April and we already have used it a couple of times.  

This is the spot where a lot of family spring/summer gatherings happen. Steaks never tasted better on any other grill, that's for sure! In two weeks the first birthday party will be here on this spot. So will any summer celebrations like 4th of July.

After finishing our meal, kids collect sticks and roast marshmallows for s'mores. Later in the summer, we may also bake a pie in the oven, on the left side of the stove. 

 This is my quiet time, early coffee or afternoon tea spot. Where I sit and look out at the garden and watch the birds come by to eat out of the bird feeder or splash in the bird bath.

What about you? Where is your favorite outdoor hangout spot on a warm and beautiful day?

Have a wonderful rest of the week!

XO Sonia

SPRING CHEER ON MY TABLE!

Its Spring break this week and kids are home and so am I. I had recently moved office to a space downtown so lately I'm not around much in the mornings until kids get off school. I do enjoy this arrangement though! My office is an interior design and decorating shop and I'm part of the team there. The ladies I work with are amazing and they feel more like a family to me then just friends. 

The sweetest thing happened last week when a lady walked into the shop with a box full of china and dishes she said she brought out for me when she cleared her attic. The box had a set of blue and white transferware plates and miscellaneous cups and saucers. I fell in love with the pink footed teacup with gold polka dots. So this week, since I'm home I decided I wanted to use these gifted treasures for a tablescape. Together they all make for a cheery, colorful table for spring. 

My IKEA pitcher is filled with white daisies, pink roses and tulips.

My darling pink footed teacup.

A caddy filled with pretty straws and napkins.

My new treasures: The blue and white plates.

By the window I have a wooden box stuffed with pretty plates. The box is one I made and tutorial can be found here: http://creatingvintagecharm.blogspot.com/2014/06/do-it-yourself-vintage-style-tool-box.html

I love my new treasures and I am very thankful for my new friend and for thinking of me. I will cherish these gifts for a long time.  

I hope you are enjoying this most beautiful season of Spring. I am patiently awaiting for my lilacs and peonies to bloom. 

Have a wonderful rest of the week!! xo

Sonia

Happy Mail: Cookies by Nicole Lee Confections

Friday was a very crazy day and I wasn't feeling all that great but a package arrived in the mail that really made my day.

Well boxed, protected and wrapped pretty in the box was this really beautiful cookie from Nicole Lee Confections.

The cookie is a gift from Lisa Childers, the owner and baker of Nicole Lee Confections featured in my current issue of Creating Vintage Charm. Her creation made especially for me is this heart shaped cookie decorated with florals and a cute silhouette of a little girl skipping rope. I LOVE IT! It is very nostalgic and dear. Lisa was right on the spot with this one.  I am also touched by the sweet note she included about her appreciation of collaborating with me and how proud her family is of her and her recent achievements. 

I think she deserves all the praise because these cookies are not just pretty to look at. After I was done swooning over the cookie with my camera I sat down to write this post and enjoy the cookie. The flavor is a perfect combination of vanilla cookie with almond icing and it is just delicious. 

Photo via http://www.nicoleleeconfections.com/

Lisa stays pretty busy all year round, {I can understand why!!} creating cookies for all occasions. Please drop by her online shop http://www.nicoleleeconfections.com/ and take a look at her deliciously decorated cookies. 

If you are in North Carolina then make sure to visit her at Mecklenburg County Market in Charlotte as well as her own shop in the town of Granite Falls! It's about halfway between Hickory and Lenoir on Hwy 321.  

Thank you for coming by!

Ciao cari amichi! xo

What's new, at home!

Progress in my small humble abode has been slow but steady. Kitchen was finished with cup pulls replacing old hardware, sometime in December. At this point I rest as I think any other little improvements I want to make are going to be some weekend project for later on.  

So now that Christmas decor is down, color and hints of Valentine inspired pretties are coming out. The mini winter tree was a Christmas clearance that I snatched at Target store then hung crochet hearts I found by the bag at Micheal's arts and crafts. 

Shelf is now showing pretty floral china, mugs, red kitchen accessories and other pretty finds. And I have to say, I am getting into gingham again. I have been included pops of it here and there. 

Something new (for me) came into my dining room this weekend after getting rid of a computer and desk that sat in the corner. I found the small vitrine at the antiques store. And after painting inside- behind the glass doors and giving it a good cleaning I filled it up with linens and other pretty things. I really love this piece of furniture. I have small rooms and low ceilings and this vitrine is small but great storage and love the showcasing top. 

Herbal fragrance fills the room after I got done with this simple rosemary heart wreath Now hanging on my china and pottery hutch. 

So this is what has been going on around here lately. Besides entertaining kids at home when school closes for cold weather. I hope you are all staying warm and have a great week ahead!

Ciao, ciao

Sonia