Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Frenchy Table & A Special Bowl Story


I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day! 
Mine was simple, sweet and relaxing...just what I needed!
I have a darling little Frenchy table makeover to share with you today, and a beautiful bowl with a story.  I didn't know that this bowl was going to tell it's story in this post until I started taking photos of the table and the bowl whispered to me.  It was just the accessory that the table needed for it's little photo shoot and it seemed the appropriate time to share it with you


I lost my dear grandpa in February of this year.  Without going into too much detail, it was very unexpected.  He was in great health and really not very old.  We are all still in shock.  This post has been difficult to write, but it felt like the right time.
Over the past few years, grandpa and I discovered that we shared a passion for treasure hunting.
 He lived a few hours away but came for frequent visits and we talked on the phone at least once a week.  He was usually calling me from an estate sale.  "I wish you were here.  You wouldn't believe all of the pretty dishes they have, and good prices too!" he would say.



The last conversation we had, he was holding a bowl in his hands and describing it to me.  "It's a large bowl, really pretty with little pink roses on it.  The bottom says Theodore Haviland, Limoges, France."  He knew my taste well enough to know that this bowl had my name written all over it!  I don't think he was really calling for my approval.  He was calling because he couldn't wait to tell me about it and wanted to hear the excitement in my response. 



I hadn't thought about that specific phone conversation or the bowl since Grandpa had passed.  Just last week, my Grandpa's dear companion stopped by for a visit on her way through town.  She brought with her a carefully wrapped package.  She said she had found it in Grandpa's closet and the moment she opened it, she knew it was something he had bought for me.

I have so many beautiful dishes, teacups, wonderful old books, and sweet little trinkets that Grandpa picked up for me on his shopping trips, and I treasure them all but this bowl is my favorite.  It was the last thing he had called to tell me about.  He didn't say he was going to buy it, so I am sure he was planning to surprise me with it...  He did, and I love it.


Thank you, Grandpa.


Thank you, dear blog friends for allowing me to share this story with you.



A  French style vintage thrifted end table gets beautified with two coats of Old White and clear and dark wax.


 I just love the little wire mesh sides on this piece.  They make it so very unique!



Pretty little legs...the carved details are accentuated with distressing and dark wax.




Here she is in the window display for the Mother's Day weekend event.  My mom and I put together several bouquets of lilacs for the sale.  Lilacs are one of my mom's favorite flowers.  As we arranged the fragrant blooms, we reminisced about Mother's Days passed when we were moving or building and there was no garden with lilacs to pick.  I can remember my mom driving by big, old lilac bushes in people's yards...tempted to knock on the door and ask to pick a few.  I also remember calling florists and asking if it was possible to buy a bouquet of lilacs for my mom.  They never seemed to have any for sale.  I guess they don't do well in cold storage.  And now mom's garden is so full of lilacs that we were able to make several bouquets to share...and the bushes are still full of blooms!

I hope you have a wonderful day!  Thank you so much for your sweet visit! 
Take a moment to stop and smell the lilacs today, whether they be in your yard or your neighbors!

Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda



Sharing this post with these fun link parties:
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Wow us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
Inspiration Friday at The Pickett Fence
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Home
Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Shabbylicious Friday at Shabby Art Boutique