Sunday, March 3, 2024

Have a Lucky Day!

Welcome March, Welcome St. Patrick's Day, and Welcome longer days with nicer weather!


St Patricks Day Welcome
Image 1: St Patrick's Day Welcome

This year for St. Patrick's Day I created the sweet mosaic heart ornament featuring shamrocks.  

I upcycled a heart ornament which already had gold paint, and I used three small china plates for the mosaic section.  One plate had the gold border with tiny hearts, and I used two other miscellaneous plates that had shamrocks.  The larger shamrocks awkwardly surrounded the word DAD, so that plate was happy to be reused.  None of it cost much at the resale shop and I'm happy with the result.  


Mosaic heart with shamrocks by Jeanne Selep
Image 2: Mosaic Shamrock Heart ornament


The Welcome sign was a resale find as well, I've had it at least since 2011.  I was surprised at how nicely the sign blended with the red chalkboard key holder (that I also embellished with mosaics).  I usually hang a seasonal ornament on one of the pegs as the seasons change, and so I needed something for St. Patrick's Day.


St Patricks Day Welcome by Jeanne Selep
Image 3: White and Deep Pink Lotus Flowers and Pods

"HAVE A LUCKY DAY" - I planned on changing the chalkboard sign often, practicing and learning chalk board art.  Great idea, right?  But since I first hung the chalkboard it has only said "Have a Great Day".  This is the first time I have ever changed it, and it's sub-par chalkboard writing so far...  I guess I have lots of room for improvement.  (All those missed birthdays...)

Mathematicians favorite chalk Hagoromo
Image 4: My Daughter's Favorite Chalk

I couldn't even find chalk, but thankfully my daughter supplied her favorite chalk.  If I find green chalk I'll add shamrocks and color in "Lucky", but I instead find my self struggling to get good pictures in less than ideal light.  I finally managed to get an image that lets the gold look gold!  Do any of you other bloggers retake and retake images?  BTW, there is a fun story about Hagoromo chalk here.


Nelumbo Nucifera Lotus Flowers by Jeanne Selep
Image 5: St. Patrick's Day Chalkboard Vignette

I like the idea of saying 'Have a Lucky Day', so this sign may stay this way for months.  Is it better to have a Great Day or a Lucky Day?  Opinions?


Either Way, ....

 

"Have a Lucky Day!"   - Jeanne Selep




Click on the images to see them enlarged.

 

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I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon 364 (Entry x of 55x.)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 300 Mon 4a (Entry 43 of 201)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me 458 Mon 9a (Entry 15 of 82.)
My Random: Anything Goes 409 (Entry 4 of 56.)
Rachel Swirl: Sunday Snapshot (Entry 5 of 6.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 12 of 37)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 9x of 40x)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 517 Mon 1p (l Entry 4 of 76.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 11)
Keeping it Real: Party 404 (Entry 4)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry )
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 310 (m Entry 1 of 77)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 3p (l Entry --)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 20 of 33)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday (Entry na)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now 414 Wed (m Entry 21)
Master pieces of my life: Home Imagined Tue 6a (Entry )
Perfectly Imperfect: Happy Hearts and Homes Tue (Entry 33)
For the Love: Party Experience 300 (Entry 21)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 24r of 53r)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 567 (l Entry 12 of 21)
Stonecottageadventures: You're the star (l Entry )
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 579 5p Tues (l Entry x of 70x)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 1r)
Also Ducks n a Row: Wonderful Wed (m Entry 1r)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry
11)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home Wed 9a (Entry
9r)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry )
Simple Life Mom: Homestead Blog Hop 487 Wed (Entry 24)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 429 Wed (m Entry 22)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 390 Wed (m Entry 35)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry b)
Shelbeeontheedge: Spread kindness 694 (Entry 29)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 1 of 58)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 661 10a (Entry 41 of 138)
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry 41)
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 422 Th 4p (Entry 8)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 470 Fri (s Entry 7r)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry )
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 608 (L Entry 14 OF 97)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th 24 (Entry 6)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry --mar15)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 338 (Entry 47)
Fiesta Friday: Fiesta Fri 527 (Entry 22)
Skyley: Skywatch Fri (Entry na)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 181 (L Entry 28)
Shabby Art boutique: Create-gather 613 (L Entry x)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri (Entry 11)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 38)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri 717 (Entry 14 of 18.)
Pams Party: Dare to share (m Entry 9)
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry na)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best 368 (l Entry 8)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 7a (Entry )
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade Sun a (Entry )
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry )
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 3p (l Entry )
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 610 (l Entry 47)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry 51)
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 522 Sun a (Entry 7)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly-MISSING)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry 15 monthly)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 52)

622237


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Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Dreaming of Summer

Stunning Pink Lotus Flower Nelumbo Nucifera by Jeanne Selep
Image 1: Pink Lotus Flower

Sometimes in winter, after Christmas is past, I start to miss the colors of summer.  I love the change of four seasons in Wisconsin, and winter snow is beautiful, but climate change in Wisconsin has evaporated the snow this year, leaving a subdued palette of grays, browns, charcoals and blues.  After weeks and months of bare trees and bare ground, white (or gray) snow, and blue or gray sky, I start to long for the colors of spring and summer.


Nelumbo Nucifera Pink Lotus Flowers by Jeanne Selep
Image 2: Pink Lotus Flowers

So today I am sharing summer colors in the form of some spectacular lotus plants I saw in a garden pool at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, USA this summer.


Nelumbo Nucifera Lotus Flowers and Pods by Jeanne Selep
Image 3: White and Deep Pink Lotus Flowers and Pods

I know very little about lotus plants, (wiki informs me they are Asian water plants).  I have only seen lotus flowers in botanic gardens, and that very rarely.  I find lotus flowers exotic, although they are in some ways close to water lilies, which are common in parts of the Midwest USA.  Lotus pods look frankly alien.  Since I almost never see lotus flowers blooming, I stopped and studied (photographed!) these lotus plants when I saw them.


Nelumbo Nucifera Lotus Flowers by Jeanne Selep
Image 4: Deep Pink Lotus Flowers

Biltmore seemed to have three different flowering colors (types?) of the lotus plant: white, light pink, and the deep pink shown above and below.  The centers of the lotus plants (the future seed pods) are strange as well, although I wasn't close enough to get better photos.


Pink Lotus Flower Nelumbo Nucifera by Jeanne Selep
Image 5: Deep Pink Lotus Flower by Jeanne Selep

I researched the flowers a bit, how the pods form, but instead I'd rather just admire their form (pun!). 


Nelumbo Nucifera Lotus plant and Flower by Jeanne Selep
Image 6: White and Pink Lotus Flowers and Pods

The photo below has a reflection of the flowers.   The best angle to get the strong reflection wasn't the best for composition, but I include it here anyway.  Lotus plants frequently grow above the water, where water lilies frequently bloom at the water level.   


Nelumbo Nucifera Lotus flowers and plants with reflection
Image 7: Lotus plants and flowers with reflection

Biltmore has many other things to do, otherwise I would possibly have spent more time by this pool.  But I visited these lotus plants on two different days, and the lighting was different each time.


Pink Lotus Flower by Jeanne Selep
Image 8: Pink Lotus Flower by Jeanne Selep

Here is some info from research, and there are some relevant links below.  The plants are Nelumbo Nucifera, and the "obconical" center is the future seed pod.  Enjoy!



Pink Lotus Flower by Jeanne Selep
Image 9: Pink Lotus Flower

 

 

"The hardest thing to see 

is what is in front of your eyes."   - Goethe



Have a great Day! Stay Warm and think of summer colors!


Click on the images to see them enlarged.

 

 

Research readings:
Wiki Lotus Nelumbo Nucifera
Fun facts + meanings
Possibly invasive?
Growing lotus plants







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I am linking up to these parties:
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 298 Mon 4a (Entry 64 of 209.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me 456 Mon 9a (Entry 6 of 84.)
My Random: Anything Goes 407 (Entry 9 OF 53.)
Rachel Swirl: Sunday Snapshot (Entry 5 of 6.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 27 of 48.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 31 of 38.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 515 Mon 1p (l Entry 13 of 65.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 19 of 33.)
Keeping it Real: Party 402 (Entry 11 of 43.)
Mersad photography: Thru my Lens (Entry 10 of 20.)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 308 Mon (m Entry 12 of 91.)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me 719 3p (l Entry 51 of 125.)
Image-in-ing: Weekly link up (Entry 15 of 44.)
Nicholasjv: Travel Tuesday 432 (Entry 9 of 15.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now 413 Tues (m Entry 66 of 106.)
Perfectly Imperfect: Happy Hearts and Homes Tue (Entry 43 of 113.)
Peabea: Pictorial Tuesday (Entry 13 of 18.)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 72 (Entry 10)
My Wee Abode: Tuesday Turn About (s Entry 58r of 86r.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues 565 twist (l Entry 31 of 38.)
Floral Friday: Floral Friday (l Entry 9 of 9)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 577 5p Tues (l Entry x of 100x.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 6r of 140r.)
Ducks n a Row: Happiness is Homemade (m Entry 128 of 141.)
Artsy mama: Artsy Party Wed 10a (Entry 12 of --)
My world Thru My Lens: My Corner Wed (Entry 17r of 44r.)
Ridgehaven Homestead: Homestead Hop 484 (Entry miss)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 427 Wed (m Entry 11 of 103.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 388 Wed 4p (m Entry 41 or 77.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 6p (Entry errb)
Always Write: Wednesday Quotes (Entry 4 of 7.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 58 of 124.)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry 29 of 181.)
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry 29
of 181.)
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty 420 Th 4p (Entry 36 of 45.)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 468 Fri (s Entry 5r of 118r.)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 477 8p (i Entry 52 of 129.)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 607 (L Entry 100 of 106.)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th (Entry 2 of 12.)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry 6 of 34.)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 336 (Entry 30 of 126.)
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 179 (L Entry 24)
Shabby Art: Create-grow-gather 611 (L Entry 34x of 129x.)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri (Entry 29 of 45.)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 41 of 55.)
Rambling Woods2: Nature Notes Fri (Entry 3?)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged 716 Fri (Entry na)
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 29 of 102.)
Weekend Reflection: reflections (Entry 11 of 14.)
Nixpixmix: Sunday Best 366 (l Entry 7 of 7.)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 187 (Entry 24 of 100)
Life as Leo Wife: Happiness is Homemade 521 (Entry 23)
Jaipur Gardening: Garden Affair Sun (Entry 9 of --)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 3p (l Entry 80)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun 609 (l Entry 4 of 105)
A Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 520 (Entry 33)
Roentare: Water Thursday (Entry 4)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry 31 of 47.)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 53 March)

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Thursday, February 8, 2024

Valentine Day Hutch

Happy Valentine's Day!  Today I am sharing this year's Valentine's Day Hutch arrangement, made up almost entirely of estate sale and thrifted china.


Selep Valentine china cabinet hutch
Image 1: Valentine China Hutch display

I have always loved Valentine's Day - the colors, the images, the hearts and symbols.  Valentine's Day combines many loves - flowers, ribbons, lace, hearts, treats and chocolates.  The colors - crisp whites (or ivory) and pinks and reds make my heart sing.  


Valentine china cabinet hutch by Jeanne Selep
Image 2: White Mikasa "Love story" china in arrangement

I wanted to use my favorite Valentine themed china: "Love Story" by Mikasa, shown above.  The "Love Story" pattern has silver reflective ribbons forming hearts, and I only have 2 place settings.  As a main goal I wanted to use some 'new to me' rose edged floral plates I got in 2023, Royal Albert's "Serena" pattern, shown below.  Arranging started easily and then got complicated as I arranged and rearranged various dishes. 


Selep Valentine china cabinet hutch
Image 4: Royal Albert Valentine China Hutch Detail with Birds

Some of the pieces of Mikasa's "Love Story" had gotten separated and misplaced.  As I found the pieces, I came across some vintage Venetian red glass that I felt I had to use, and I ended up rearranging parts of my basement! 


Vintage Red Venetian Glassware
Image 5: Vintage Red Venetian Glass

I decided I would need to mix contemporary and classic china so that I could use the vintage "Serena" plates. 


Philippe Deshoulieres Ginko Dessert plate
Image 6: Philippe Deshoulieres Ginko Dessert plate

I like the juxtaposition of contemporary china with older vintage patterns, but I found it difficult to arrange.  As a quilter, I am comfortable having mismatched colors and patterns.  To me it adds an energy to an arrangement.  I added the Butterfly dessert plates shown above for spots of color.


Etruscan Horse Italian Souvenir
Image 6: Etruscan Horse Souvenir in front of Serena plate

I added fun accent pieces, like my Italian souvenir "Etruscan horse" that has it's own story and now lives in the hutch.  (She was not thrifted).


Valentine china cabinet hutch by Jeanne Selep
Image 7: Milk glass doves candy dish

I used this milk glass dove candy dish I bought several years ago specifically for Valentine's displays, and it joined the various little porcelain birds I frequently use in my hutch.


Jeanne Selep Valentine china cabinet hutch
Image 8: China Hutch Detail with Otagiri birds

It felt like a struggle, but eventually I came up with an arrangement I liked.  I hope you like it too.


Selep Valentine china cabinet hutch
Image 9: Valentine China Hutch display

It's been awhile since I shared a photography of the entire "Welsh Dresser" china hutch.  To get a full picture of the hutch I have to move the dinette table and chairs out of the way; and a light fixture is still in the way.  It doesn't result in the greatest photo, but I feel the Welsh dresser is a fantastic piece of furniture, with 10 usable drawers and lots of space to display china.  


Valentine china cabinet hutch by Jeanne Selep
Image 10: Valentine Arrangement in Welsh Dresser china hutch



Click on the images to see them enlarged.



I hope everyone has a great Valentines Day!


Thank you for visiting; 
leave a comment if you have time, and ... 

Happy Valentine's Day!

 
Here is a link to all my Hutch posts!

hutch display
My Collection of all Hutch Posts



























I am linking up to these parties:
Sum of their stories: Handmade Mon 361 (Entry 29x of 55x.)
Esmesalon: Salon Pit Stop 297 Mon 4a (Entry 73 of 218.)
Mostly blogging: Inspire me 455 Mon 9a (Entry 15 of 90.)
My Random: Anything Goes 406 (Entry 32 of 62.)
Good Random Fun: Good Fun Mon 4a (m Entry 36 of 37.)
*BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday 6a (s Entry 8x of 38x.)
Loulougirls: Fabulous-party 514 Mon 1p (l Entry 16 of 67.)
Holly pinklady: Hello Mon (l Entry 19 of 27.)
Keeping it Real: Party 402 (Entry 11 of 40--)
Kristin at Uncommon Slice: Inspire Me 307 (m Entry 12 of 94.)
* Marty at Stroll Life: Inspire Me Mon 717p (l Entry 1 of 124.)
My Slices of Life: Talk About It Tues (Entry 16 of 55.)
Jenerally informed: Happy-now Link-up 412 (m Entry 26 of 108.)
Master pieces of my life: Home Imagined 484 (Entry 16 of 55.)
Perfectly Imperfect: Happy Hearts + Homes 35 (Entry 17 of 108.)
Fifth Sparrow No More: Whimsy Home 69 (Entry 4r of 93r.)
Stonecottageadventures: Tues with a twist 563 (l Entry 16 of 31.)
Flusterbuster: Creative Muster 576 5p Tues (l Entry x of 115x.)
Eclectic Red Barn: Wonderful Wed (Entry 40r of 109r.)
Also Ducks n a Row: Wonderful Wed 112 (m Entry 40r
of 109r.)
Ridgehaven Homestead: Homestead Blog Hop 483 Wed (Entry 40 of 48.)
My Thrift Store Addiction: Vintage Charm 426 Wed (m Entry 9 of 62.)
Grandmas house: Grandmas house 387 Wed 4p (m Entry 34 of 67.)
French Ethereal: Share Your Style Wed 417 6p (Entry 53 of 88.)
Answer is choco: BFF open house Thur (Entry 66)
KatherinesCorner: Th Fav Things 10a (Entry 137)
Also Follow the yellow brick: TFT 10a (Entry )
Try It Like It: Creatively Crafty Th 418 4p (Entry 30)
Modern on Monticello: Home matters 466 Fri (s Entry 6r)
Coastal Bohemian: Funtastic Thur 8p (i Entry er)
Pieced Pastimes.gr: Saturday Sparks 604 Fr 8a (L Entry 88)
Its a small town life: Thankful Th (Entry 6)
Natalie: Coffee Share Th (Entry er)
Countyroad 407: Farmhouse Fri 325 (Entry 31)
Fiesta Friday: Fiesta Fri 523 (Entry 22)
Skyley: Skywatch Fri (Entry )
Cottagemarket: A morning cup of Joe 177 (L Entry 43)
Shabby Art boutique: Create-grow-gather 609 (L Entry X)
Crazy Little Love Birds: Link party Fri (Entry 6)
Momfessionals: Fri Favorites (Entry 58)
Funkyjunkinteriors: DIY Salvaged Fri (Entry )
Pams Party: Dare to share 456 Fri 11p (m Entry 3 of 35)
The house on Silverado: Sun on Silverado 184 7a (Entry 5 of 33)
Life and Linda: Dishing it Digging it Sun 3p (l Entry 30 of 86)
A pinch of joy: Busy Sun even (l Entry 91)
Sew can do: Craftastic Mon Su (Entry 4 of 40)
Labour of Love: Happiness is Homemade 518 Sun a (Entry 21 of 33)
Create with Joy: Inspire me Sun-Mon (monthly)
Lindas lunacy: Making-a-home Tue 9a (m Entry monthly)
April Harris: Hearth and Soul Sun 10p (Entry 142 monthly)

614220

Another Hutch  -  Painting  -  Val Inspire  -  Val Paint  -  Birch  -