It's the small things

I've promised to post on details this year. It has fallen a bit wayside since we had some large things to take care of... but it always has a special place in my heart. 
This  Sunday is gray and cool and sprinkled with rain, it's the perfect time to muddle around the house and play with details...

I like to create small vignettes, they never last long but give me us pleasure for sometimes a day or two, sometimes for a few weeks. 
The rhododendron is starting to bloom, a time of year which I adore around the house and garden and today I snipped off a small branch and transferred it into a bud vase, filled with florist's foam and a little fresh moss from the garden. 

I soaked the foam for about 10 minutes and it holds enough water to sustain the branch for a day, then I fill in a little more water. I use the foam, because the single branch sits secure without tipping over or out!

On my window ledge I filled an up-cycled milk bottle (spray painted white last year) with all, what my garden has to offer right now: azaleas, honey suckle and lilac. One of the bows from my daughter's gifts for her birthday ended up around it and it resides in a small copper tray, which also holds some stone - a drill core from the works on our walk way a few weeks ago - perfectly round and smooth, two stone hearts given to me by my sisters and a broken cordial glass up side down, covering two turtle doves, old x-mas ornaments from a flea market....

There is also a lock, which I found in the woods and a small votive candle, we have had since I moved first to Manhattan 17 years ago!

All these pieces hold memories, it is that what makes vignettes meaningful. I can only encourage you to do this, your  history comes to live and I for once feel the love of my family and vice versa!
It's a great conversation starter as well...
Near my desk I have a shelf since a few weeks back, which holds my art/design books and my small, but treasured collection of Bjoern Wiinblad ceramics. They sit in perfect harmony with one of my paintings and every time I see it it gives me enormous pleasure. I love the colors and the shapes.

Not far away rests a mask, my youngest son made in fourth grade, I love these colors too! 

In the book shelves in the family room is always space for a small grouping of things from my collections: Small vintage vases and books.

 A tiny angel resting next to gold leaved antique books I found in Brooklyn last year...

And the wicker cloche, laced with tulle used outdoors to protect edible goods from insects rests atop our floor lamp....The rain would ruin it and people who know my house understand that there is little space elsewhere....

It's adorned with a small glass ornament, which I bought from a woman in Jamaica, VT.
She has the most amazing glass blowing shop there. 
Hot Glass Works! Stop by when you happen to find yourself nearby! It's close to Stratton,VT! A great ski resort!

I am sure when you look around your home, you will find many things worthy a little display spot for a while or your latest treasured finds from the garden, a walk in the woods, the flea market last Sunday or a gift to pretty to be stashed away!
There are so many possibilities: glass, drift wood, small collections of every possible things, costume jewelry, silver ware, miniature paintings, pictures or frames...
Fill in the blanks!
This is the sunshine from the inside out! It's all in the details....


Happy Sunday and a sunny week ahead!


xx
Victoria






All pictures by V.Zlotkowski.

Don't bug me!

Sometimes I stumble upon strange designs which reveal some relations to wildlife...

Looking at that chair I was uncomfortably reminded of a bug or perhaps a chair of medieval torture quality...

I hope you are all sitting comfortably!
Happy weekend!




XX
Victoria




Images as indicated and last one via google image.

The lion is smiling

True April weather has me in stitches... I don't mind a shower or two, but I miss a few degrees more!
Although a tour through the garden gave me hope!
Look at the lilac buds!

The forsythia almost out and the daffodils in full splendor! 

Then there are those little blue bells and I just can't wait to get it all out and blooming again!

The birds serenade every morning and in the early evening, so sweet the sounds!

Soon this nest will be disguised and all I will here are the peep sounds of the young!
And the rustling of Mama and Papa bird to feed the hungry brood! Just like home...


I hope its glorious sunshine in abundance were you are!


XX
Victoria



All Images by V.Zlotkowski  (copyright 2011)

Sitting pretty

Two weeks ago we attended an auction for garden furniture. Wonderful teak sets were
offered and after a little consideration about the state of affairs currently on our deck we decided it was time to raise a paddle.  The old table was too small and we have lost already two chairs to the years and the impact of the climate. And the climbing acrobatics of our children...We moved what is left of it to the side patio, for the teens to hang out a little away from prying parental eyes....


The old table, bench and chairs:

We were there early and lucky, the rain had kept a lot of potential buyers at home and we did get the set we had singled out before. For an incredible deal... $900! These go easily for $4,000 when new. Because these sets had stood through one winter season at the dealer's yard, they were incredibly reduced!
Table and chairs would have stayed out here as well, so it did not bother us the least! On the contrary, they had already acquired a lovely silver patina!
Yesterday it arrived on our deck. There is nothing more exciting then to drive a van with dad for a boy of a certain age...

The table seats eight easily, ten with a little tweaking and we are very happy. So many summers we have spend on this deck already, eating, drinking, talking and dreaming. Family and friends from near and far have graced us with their presence and now we have even more spots around the table!

It still looks a little gray out there! I will select cushions and pillows in the coming days. 

Image
It is such fun to anticipate the pleasures of the next season, where many hours of the day will be spend there!
Since we moved into our house 11 years ago, we have used this deck and garden as an additional outdoor room from April through October. My lovely father - in - law has maintained our deck and furniture since we moved in. With his help this table and chairs will look like new for many years to come! I am sure! : )))
For us the arrival of our new table has opened the spring season!
And although I often wish to be in...

For a long time now I will be happy to just travel to our back yard!
Last night my husband and I went outside late at night, admiring the beauty of it and thinking how fortunate we are and grateful for all we have achieved together! Like little children we danced around the table and had a little Thanksgiving in the beginning of April!


XX
Victoria




All images by V.Zlotkowski

Old and yet so now

What seems already so long ago - our winter break was spent in Woodstock, VT.
There is a wonderful place nearby: Billings Farm. It is a working museum farm, with livestock, gardens and a wonderful farmhouse museum, built for the farm manager and his family around the 1890's.
What was so interesting about the place is the fact that it was designed very forward thinking for the time, with central heating, with running warm and cold water, a airy basement and many of the luxuries of the time.

Walking through the rooms I felt they would easily satisfy residents today, give or take a few things. I was delighted to find beautiful wallpapers.

Just look at this place! It's wallpapers are absolutely now!

The bathroom, with a hand painted sink, very fancy!

Build-in china closet in the dining room.

 I love the pantry! Why don't they build houses today like this anymore?

Look at the incredible coffee storage and grinder!

I loved these rooms, the light and the thoughtful layout.
This is the dairy, they had the first mechanical butter maker in the country!

And transportation....

Enough land to go on a sleigh ride!

More then 120 years ago doesn't seem so old-fashioned at all! I was reminded of images I have seen only recently...

A happy weekend to you my friends!
xx
Victoria



Images above by V.Zlotkowski, Country Home magazine, Zoffany wallpaper and Tribal Home.