Primrose Lane ~ A Sweet Vintage Haven both Inside & Out!

In a little piece of Heaven on Earth, you'll find Primrose Lane. She's a little Vintage Boutique in Franklin, NC. June is the owner of the boutique, and she's just as sweet as the shoppe's name!

I fell in love with this little Haven and just had to snap pics with June's approval to share with all my friends in Blogland. I have nothing to gain from sharing June's information, with the exception of a sense of hope that we will all keep her in business by visiting her if you're in the Franklin, NC area. I want her to never fade away, nor the boutique! ;)

Here you will find precious ornament chandeliers & floral umbrellas hanging from the lattice suspended from the ceiling... Parisian items for all us Francois lovers, chic hats for all occasions, shawls, teacups, and on an on and on! To the right of her entryway of the boutique you'll see a Bistro Tablescape all set up, as if to invite you in to sit and stay awhile! Tea anyone? ;)

The photo of the home outside is one taken nearby Primrose Lane that I couldn't resist sharing, somehow it made it's way into this post! ;)

And for the finale in the Primrose Lane post, you can finish the visit off in the nearby Coffee Haus & Pub if you've overspent your budget when you visit her in Franklin! ;) On the opposite side of this Coffee Haus is a great big Antique Barn that we enjoyed and it was "BIG"! ;)

Be sure to drop by the following blogs this week to enjoy all the other wonderful posts:

Outdoor Wednesday with Susan

Tablescape Thursday with Susan

Hope you've enjoyed your visit at Primrose Lane today! Give June a call if you've seen something you can't live without! I'm sure she'd be happy to ship something to your door, for sure! ;)

You can also email her at hjune2@gmail.com to let her know how much you enjoyed learning about her boutique in this post if you like! I'm sure she'd appreciate the hello and feedback on the items featured in this post.

~CC Catherine

In Tribute of Barney from a 2009 Post of The Nostalgic Tablescape!

This photo featured today was snapped during the afternoon Tea Party of Elouise and Barney's hands. Their hands were clasped like this on the table the entire time of my visit! How sweet this will always be to me, and now to Elouise and her family. I had just visited them the Saturday before Christmas a few weeks back and shared this framed print for their enjoyment. Little did I know it would become a precious heirloom and become such an impact to them and their family this week.

There are some things one never forgets, and for me...that will be the day of Feb 25th, 2009 when I visited a precious couple by the name of Elouise & Barney. They had recently celebrated 67 years of marriage prior to the time I visited them.

Elouise is an avid Writer friend of mine. During an earlier phone call we had in 2009, Elouise told me that she had both a son and husband that suffered with Alzheimer's. We chatted and prayed together that day. She for my son and a situation he was going through, and me for her son and husband for what was a daily ongoing situation for them and their loved ones.

While on that call with Elouise, I couldn't help but be inspired to plan that day to take a tea party to Elouise and the husband I'd always heard her speak so lovingly about. So on this date in February, the actual event unfolded and I spent the most lovely afternoon in my life watching the truest of all love stories.

Even though Barney suffered with Alzheimer's, he still was able to recall many pockets of earlier days with Elouise and how they'd met, what he'd both thought of and still thought of her. One thing for sure, he still felt she was the prettiest gal he'd ever set his eyes on.

This week, not only did my precious friend Elouise's husband Barney lose his fight to Alzheimer's, but so did her son Richard. Richard died on Monday, 1/11, and then on Tuesday evening the following day, Barney died. One certainly does wonder how Elouise and her family will ever get through this tremendous loss? But, I learned after meeting her family last night at Richard's viewing; the family is made out of the same character cloth their Mama is made out of. Both their Faith and Trust is firmly placed in the Lord.

If you didn't get to read my original post on Elouise and Barney's Tablescape Tea party, please do so now by clicking here. I post today in memory of Barney, and also in honor of their son, Richard.

I love you Sweet Precious friend Elouise!

To visit all other Tablescapes, please visit my friend Susan at "Between Naps On The Porch".

A Cinderella Tablescape to kick off the New Year of 2010! :)

It is "SOOOOO" great to be participating again in Tablescape Thursday today~ Thanks to Susan, my dear friend from "Between Naps On The Porch" for hosting this weekly gathering! Be sure once you visit me that you step on over to Susan's to see all the other lovely tablescapes and ideas.
Today I'm sharing another tablescape from the "Beautiful Event" held back in December of '09 where over 100 women were in attendance at my church. One of the focuses and fun events of the evening yearly are volunteer hostesses who each design and pull together a fantastic tablescape to share with the guests at their tables. They have full access to decorate in any manner and artistic style they desire. This tablescape theme reminds me of a "Cinderella Dream World". Come with me to see all the details of not only the table, but even the chairs. I'll begin with the chair below.

This hostess used two tone satin in the shades of the color palette that were used on her tablescape. You'll also notice she adds a flower on the one side that will tie in to the bouquet she designed and used on the table.

One of my favorite place card holders and cards were on this table. Each person had a personalized name card with a scripture of encouragement and adornment on it. The holder itself elevated the card up high so that the guest could see it easily when they sat at their place of seating. At the end of the evening they were able to take the card home with them.

A Close up of the porcelain doll used as the focal part of the centerpiece. This was moved during the sit down dinner, and the floral centerpiece remained. The thing I loved about her using this doll in a large event like this was that it drew the attention of people to step over to make sure they seen how she incorporated the doll into the scheme...but then she was able to remove it when the guests needed to have a more practical purpose to see each other during the dinner.

This table did not win the "Most Beautiful Tablescape" award, but I'm sure it was a close tie. It was really gorgeous!

Some unique shots of the details...

And one final thought from the Song of Solomon using Lois's hostess place card.

I hope you enjoyed this "Beautiful" tablescape from a friend of mine!

Happy New Year!
~CC Catherine

Puttin On The Ritz with a Classy "or" Vintage Tea Theme for a Holiday Luncheon!

I recently posted about an event called "Beautiful" held at my church here in GA. This was our second year for it and it's always so much fun. I wanted to feature two tables that were hosted that used a "Tea" theme. This first one was created by a lady named Bobbi, it's the "Classy" style theme. Notice how she used a jewelry hanger for her centerpiece that flowed with silver jewels? Her color palette consisted of silvers, white, black, mirrored items, and crystal. Just the right mix for a totally classy look~

I hope you can see these fabulous chargers underneath her china. They are the fanciest chargers I've ever seen and were oohed and awed over all evening.
The tea set was part of the decoration, not functionally used for the event. So, even though you may not drink tea yourself......grab up that silver teapot at the GW~It makes a lovely centerpiece... The name card holder below fit the bill....a glittering silver shoe.

Voila.....a totally Classy Tea Party theme for a perfectly divine Holiday luncheon! You'll also see in the pic below that she used white bridal netting and wrapped it around the top of the chairs for a special affect.

Now for the Vintage Tea Theme! I've showed a few pics here and there of this table, as it was hosted by "Moi". :) Back in early 2009, when I participated for the first time in Tablescape Thursday, I brainstormed on what napkin rings I could use because I didn't really have that many sets. Using the same idea with this Vintage Tea theme, I'll share with you how I created them. I rummaged through my brooches in my jewelry box and then purchased new white pony tail holders. I pinned the brooches to the pony tail holders and slid them up over the napkins. The idea was one of the "a`ha" moments of the evenings for using what you have instead of going out to buy new in economically tough times. The young lady that was my guest took this PARIS brooch home as a gift from moi to her.

The china I used was mismatched intentionally, as I wanted everyone there to see that I had used mostly "misfits" to pull together the Vintage look., but also for a deeper purpose. Early on when I came up with this theme, I felt it served a spiritual purpose for the evening. So many times our lives feel messed up, we feel like we're not good enough, used baggage...and maybe will never "fit in" to what society approves of. Sometimes "we've" been tossed by the wayside like a stray piece of china put in the GW box for delivery. Intentionally, I pulled this table of misfits together as a message to all that sat at my table. I told each of them that GOD sees us all totally beautiful, regardless of any mess ups we've made, regardless of anything that has defined us in our past. HE loves us unconditionally for "who we are", not for "what we've done".

My "Tea~mutts" (mismatched tea cups and saucers) were showcased at the event. Another example of taking what I've found here and there and saved it to make a grand entrance at a grand affair. Little did each of them know they'd one day be Puttin on the Ritz at an event like this one! :)

The beautiful gold baroque oval photo frame is used flat on the table to showcase the elevated Teapot and silver jingle bell garland. All the items were either purchased at GW or were hand me downs with the exception of the mercury glass item turned upside down to serve as a stand for the red bejeweled picture frame that I used to hold my table number.

The Wedgwood blue tea tins had been awaiting this event for a few years now. I purposefully had been saving them for such an event. The pansies were just the right posie to smile when the guests arrived at the table. I used a floral pick and attached a clear wrapped Tea Bag with a bible quote on it and then put the guests name on a white flower shaped cut out and taped to the wrapped tea bag.

A Vintage event wouldn't be complete without borrowing something. So...I borrowed the gold chargers and silver flatware from my sister Becky. There was a time in my life that I thought "I had to own it all". But, again, tough times helps us to make better choices... borrow versus spending makes $mart Cents! :) And, what a lovely way to say "Welcome" for any Holiday Tea Luncheon guests~

I hope you've enjoyed both the Classy & Vintage Tea Party Luncheon themes today. Now...don't forget...it's "who you are today" that counts, you are a treasure to behold! :)

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! And...be sure to drop by Susan's at "Between Naps On The Porch" to experience other wonderful Tablescape Ideas!

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah

~CC Catherine

Pizazz, Vintage,Creative,Passionate Blues, and Totally Beary Cute!

Okay...I love this pic I took at a recent gala event at my church. Notice how the table hostess decorated her bottle of bubbling apple cider? Is it not just too cool? It's got "just" the right amount of pizazz! Just so that she was voted the best set table! Stunning!

Is this not a beautiful vintage wedding dress? A lady loaned the dress for our scenery on the set of the gala event! She is celebrating her 50th anniversary this year... The dress was impeccable...and could have been worn that night it was in such great shape! Oooohhhh how I love vintage!
I hosted a table as well...and the theme of my table was "Using anything that someone else either threw away, or that I gave new life to". This is just one "sneak peek" of something that I'll share more in a future Tablescape Thursday post. I had been saving my Hedley Teabag cans for a special event. This night fit the bill and I gave six of them away after the event was over. I planted little pansies in the tins, tucked some Spanish moss in around the edges, put a floral pick in the plant, attached a "Spiritual tea bag" and doubled it as a place card by attaching the name of the person sitting at each seat. Everyone loved their take away gift that evening.

This pic has nothing to do with anything but the fact that I fell in "Love" with her blue eyes! She is a young huskie and her name is Arianna. Now, how could you resist these baby blues? She politely allowed me to snap her pic on a recent Outdoor Fall Fair we attended.

And last, but not least, my "Beary Cute" Claude.... Yes, I know...men don't wear jewelry... Well, Claude is secure in his masculinity and allowed me to use him as a prop when I recently kicked off my friend Vonnie's Silpada party at a weekend open house. We had a blast later hanging jewelry off my chandie, on the bear, anywhere I could get inspired to take pics! Thought you'd enjoy Claude.....I always do, even when he has no jewelry on! :)

Well...gotta run, hope to visit some of you real soon! I feel like Road Runner these days....I'll drop in, say "Beep, Beep"...and off I go again! ;) Life happens...and I'm just tryin to keep up with it all!

Love to all,

~CC Catherine

Capturing Old World Memories with an Italian Scape & Foodie Friday

I'll be sharing the spotlight today with Susan, my sweet friend from "Between Naps On The Porch" for Tablescape Thursday, and with Michael Lee, from "Designs by Gollum" for Foodie Friday!
To start the day off right...I'm sneaking a peak up!
First, the Old World Memories...

I have a second cousin by marriage that I created a Family Heirloom Recipe Book to give as her bridal shower gift this weekend. I used handwritten recipes that I copied from her Great Grandmother that she shared a birthday with, and was named after as well~ The buttons were put on the outside of the cover of the album to create dimension and interest...they also belonged to her Great Grandmother.

In memory of the Great Grandmother, my husband's maternal Grandmother, that has since departed us, the petals of this rose all represent the wonderful layers of her life that she shared with us...and all the wonderful Italian traditions, recipes, and holiday dinners that we experienced in her home. I still remember when she taught me how to make home made cavatelli's! The loving care she gave each family member while on earth remains with us today in a special time capsule that from time to time we open up when we see one of her recipes or something we have that used to belong to her.

For the first page in the book, I decided to create a Table of Contents that lists the recipes I included in the book, as well as some notes of interest personally to the Bride to be. All recipes were placed onto a marbled pink heavy hard stock paper and were slipped into high grade plastic sleeves.

Here is a look at how a few pages of the recipe book look...

One of my favorite recipes of hers is one used with Ricotta Cheese, every Italian's favorite staple for any baking or cooking is Ricotta Cheese! ;) This recipe can be used for filling between cake layers, used for cream puffs, or can be eaten as a dessert by itself.

For my scape for one today, you'll see traces of my Blue Italian Spode...it seemed perfect to share my Italian Spode on an Old World theme day showcasing this fabulous history of my husband's Grandmother.

And here is my place setting for one ~ Blue Italian Spode style~

Be sure to visit with other participating posts at Susan's today for tablescapes and Michael's on Foodie Friday!

~Ciao for now...

~CC Catherine

A Better Late Than Never Floral SCAPE in my Boudoir today!

A Better Late Than Never Floral Scape from my Boudoir today! Be sure to visit our FAB Hostess, Susan, from "Between Naps On The Porch" to see all the other scapes today!

I decided when I didn't get my scape pics done last evening, it's TIME for a Late Scape in my Boudoir! I really didn't feel like crawling out of bed today to go to work...but I managed it! But not before I created this quick and easy breakfast tray! An aerial view! For the summer I purchased this lovely Chenille spread with three shams & a toss pillow at my favorite Consignment Store, Emma's Attic, a few weeks ago. It's a bright and sunny yellow, made by "Mary Jane Home" and it's so cheery to wake up to. The pillow in the background is very special and I'll be sharing it in this upcoming Meta Monday post.

The floral tray is a favorite of mine from years back that I purchased at TJMaxx for only $12.99. It's huge and is perfect for a breakfast tray! A close up view of the Charger, import from Italy, Dark Blue rimmed Yellow dinner plate by Gibson, and the center French Floral plate by American Atelier @ Home. This little tea mug is a favorite of mine from GANZ, you'll have to double click on the pic to see if you can read "The Meanest Mother In The World" verse that's on it. I bought this for myself years ago while visiting Clemson, SC. Every mother should love her children so much to model this Mean Woman! ;) I believe it's still available in some gift shops! Announcing my Monthly GIVE AWAY posted on Monday, 5/11:

And, the winner is: Kim @ http://manningfamilytree.blogspot.com/

YEAAA Kim!

Kim won the lovely Cottage of Contentment Plate(See top right on my sidebar!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS ~ My next giveaway will be posted on June 8th! Come back and enter!

Have a LOVELY Day everyone!
~Au Revoir,

~CC Catherine