BLUE WILLOW WITH THE LEGENDARY SCENE

is as popular today as it was many years ago. I am referring to the Love Bird pattern on the pretty Blue Willow dishware. Beautiful blue and white with two Love Birds flying face to face at the top.

As the story goes, there once lived a monarch who kept his daughter captive in their home away from her love. Some how the couple managed to run away together and board a waiting boat that was to take them away to live happily ever after.


As they sailed away, a terrible storm happened at sea and the couple was never seen again. But high in the sky flew a pair of Love Birds thought to be the loving couple.

The pattern is the same on all the vintage to reproduction dishes, but how you can tell a repro from a vintage, is the birds. New plates have thin birds where as the vintage plates have plump full birds. The same is true for the additional pieces like cups, saucers, bowls and such.

I have a combination of two sets of these dishes handed down from my grandmother to my mother and then on to me. I had them stored away till recently when I decided to add them to my Tuscan kitchen. They look amazing and remind me of many wonderful memories and happy dinners through the years with family and friends.
Recently when I was antiquing, I can say that Blue Willow is still very collectible and sought after by collectors and dishaholics like me.



So glad you stopped by today, I hope you will visit again later this week as I have a special home tour planned with my dear friend Lorri. You will love visiting her home and the special touches she has added. It will be a treat for me to introduce her to you and share her many talents and love of home decor and decorative painting. Hope to see you soon. Till then, on our way to Lorri's. Blessings always, Celestina Marie

TAGS~FAVORITE THINGS~GARDEN PARTIES~OH MY!

This day finds me going in all directions with many Saturday projects to address. On my list, is to play catch up with my friends in blogland. This is a longer post, so if you have time to visit, I will try and catch up over the past week.

Amy of Bunny Rose Cottage and Stephanie from Angelic Accents tagged me with a few questions, so here goes!

1. Five things to do list?

1) Send out some cards to dear friends.
2) Work in my garden.
3) Paint a table, rocker and shelf.
4) Redo 2 window treatments in a guestroom.
5) RELAX!

2. Favorite snack?

I love to make a plate combo of mild chedder cheese slices, apple slices, and dry roasted peanuts. Very yummy combination!

3. Things I would do if I were a millionaire?
Give to my church, charites and help family and friends.

4. Five places I have lived?

1. Michigan
2. Texas
3. Indiana
4. Ohio
5. Texas twice~ and all in this order and here to stay!

5. Whst I was doing 10 years ago?

Exactly 10 years ago this very month of June 1998, I was designing 10 custom ornaments for the White House Blue Room Christmas Tree to be sent by August.

THE NEXT TAG!

Rhondi from Rose Colored Glasses tagged me to share favorite things/collectibles around my house. I have so many dear treasures, but here are a few. Be sure and stop over and see Rhondi for links to the others tagged.

Blue and white collection of plates and accessories. This is just one vignette in my cottage cupboard.

Needlework of a cozy cottage. This was found at a tag sale and the outer edge was not finished. I cut it down, had it framed and it hangs in our master bedroom.


This needlework is one I did many years ago for my mother. It is a large fabric and crewel work embellished scene of a sweet girl with her flower cart. All the flowers have lots of details and even the fringe on her shawl is embellished.


Lastly, my angel collections and wall crosses are also long time favorites.



I have lots more favorites, but I am sure that some time or another I will share them with you. I also have not tagged anyone else for these since they are long past and I am sure that many of you have participated already and I hope to see yours when I visit. Thanks for all the tags. As always they are fun and get us to thinking and sharing special treasures.

Cielo from The House in the Roses is also having a garden party to showcase our gardens or favorite features in our garden spaces in honor of the first day of summer June 21st. I also shared a large portion of my garden a couple posts ago, so I will not repeat that here, but scroll down to view if you have time. It will be fun and I look forward to visiting others. Be sure to visit over at Cielo's and join the fun. Her blog is such a delight.


Before I end for today I will share a few of the new designs I have been working on. These include new tray signs that have been requested from the past. The cupcake icing is highlighted with the softest sugar glitter. I will have these treasures and others available near the end of June and first of July in my ebay store and etsy boutique.







Included here are also some soft lavender items, wall plaques, and a few more signs, cake keeper in the prettest soft aqua, pink french bucket and my old silverplate tray with roses and hydrangea. The last picture is an old teapot and 4 layer rose petal cake with glass and bead style cake stand.










Now I will mark off another thing to do from my list for today. Thank you for stopping by and I hope to see you again soon. But before I end, I want to say HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all the dads out there. I hope whatever you have planned for the father, husband, friend, neighbor, uncle or special guy in your life, it is a perfect day and one to remember. I truly miss my father each and everyday, but remember him by honoring my hubby and the great dad that he is. Have a great weekend and till next time~~ Blessings and Blue Skies. Celestina