Merry Christmas to All!

I can't believe that tomorrow is Christmas!

It's practically here!!

 

Truly, where does the year go?

 

We are enjoying beautiful snow on the ground here in northern Illinois -

truly a White Christmas!

My family and I are cozy & warm at home -

busy putting up a few more decorations,

wrapping a couple more presents for family,

getting ready to fire up the oven and make a couple batches of Chex Mix,

playing a few board games on the dining room table,

and planning to start up a movie to watch together as a family.

 

What a joy

to be with family

celebrating

and remembering the

reason for the season!

 

 

 

 

 

From our house to yours,

a Merry & Blessed

 Christmas!

 

                                       Graniteware Gal

 

 

 

 

 

Surgery Yesterday!

My sweet kitty underwent surgery yesterday!

I'm praying for a speedy recovery.

 

 



Where Has the Time Gone??

Hi Friends!!!

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted here. What a whirlwind summer and fall!!
Yet we all feel that way - so I'm no different.

Besides doing shows, I now have some of my things in a sweet shop in Rockton, IL, called

The Rustic Rooster Antiques!!

 

It's exciting!! I'm just getting to know some of the other great gals who also have spaces in the shop.

I just took some new things up to the shop this week.

 

I've added several of these old gals. I love their stern looks! And the owl is a hoot!

 (Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

 

I love these wonderful TRICK or TREAT signs

made from corrugated metal roofing!

My SWEET hubby made them for me!

 

(remember - you can double click on any of the smaller photos to make them bigger)

 

Anyone out there love chalk ware?

How about this black cat!

I also have several pieces of Tea Leaf china with copper luster designs -

BEAUTIFUL for the autumn holidays!

And I added a great line of 100% soy candles with the CUTEST labels!

 

 

And what's fall without CARAMEL APPLES?!?!

(even if they are fake!)

 

I hope you are enjoying the

BLESSINGS & BEAUTY

 of AUTUMN!!

(Can you believe we got our first snow today- flying through the air against the backdrop of colored leaves! WOW!)

 

                                              Graniteware Gal

 

 

 

 

Just a Few More Days!

Only a few more days before the Vintage Market sale and I'm busy, busy...

 trying to gather and tag lots of goodies to share with you vintage-lovers!!

 

VINTAGE IVORY and SOFT PASTELS

 

 

A BASKET-WEAVE TEAPOT

 

 

SOME FUNKY-CUTE TOTE BAGS

 

(be sure to click on the pictures for a close-up)

 

AN APPLE-BLOSSOM-ADORNED GRAVY BOAT

 

 

and a SOUP TUREEN, to name a few.

 

 

Soooo, if you live near Rockford, IL, come join us this weekend!

It's gonna be GREAAAAAAAATT!

 

 

 

Getting Ready for the Vintage Market Show

Outside the weather is gray and gloomy
            but inside I am having fun getting ready for
                              the upcoming Vintage Market show.

If you live near Rockford, IL, I hope you'll join us. Fifteen vendors in a vintage home!
I'm sorting through so many treasures - deciding what goodies to share with the buyers at this sale.

                                I'll start with some WEDDING WHITES and SOFT PINKS.

            This Fenton fluted milk glass cake stand would be perfect for a wedding cake or cupcakes!

                                 I'll also be bringing lots of ironstone and mix-and-match dishes.
                                                  CREAMY WHITES and AGED SILVER!
                                                         

                                               
    

 

 

I know the sale is going to be wonderful! Such a wonderful group of gals with fabulous things!

I'm thrilled to be a part of it.

Be sure to go on Facebook and check out "The Vintage Market".

Click on PHOTOS and scroll way down to see the indoor pictures of last spring's show.

 

                                                         More to come   ---   Graniteware Gal

 

 

                                            

Visit Post Road Vintage!

Is it still snowy where you live? Here in my neck of the woods we received another beautiful layer of the white stuff last night. *The big, fluffy, fairyland kind!* 

However...if your aching for some spring weather - aching to get outside and dig in the dirt - having spring fever and just needing a change - head over for a visit at Heather's blog.

She's hosting a give-away this week! Hold onto your hats...(drum roll)... she's giving away a chance to win a whole year's worth of her FABULOUS magazine!! Yes, you heard correctly! Her magazine is wonderful so don't miss out!

                                                      Just click on the link below.

                                                          

                                                                         Graniteware Gal   :  )

Found Goodies

Yes, the snow remains here in Northern IL. It's lovely to look at...from inside the cozy warmth of the house, but it does create a bit of cabin fever. So an outing was in order.

Here are the goodies that I picked up a few weeks ago with some of my Christmas money. It was such a treat to be out and about and spoil myself a little!

 a neat wire basket, 2 ricers - one for me and one for my etsy shop, a spool of twine with wonderful repro scissors, a wooden finial - that I plan to add to another project soon, a wire egg separator, some lovely faux greenery - just in time to give the house a spring sprucing, a wooden paddle mold - for sugar - I think, a beautiful piece of tin bake ware, a bail-handled graniteware pail (and a parrrr-tridge in a pear tree).

I need another graniteware pail like a hole in the head but then... I am Graniteware Gal.  :  )
                                                        Have a great day!!

Together At Last

Can't believe I forgot to post this awhile ago. For those who follow me on facebook you've seen this already but for the record....

A few years ago I purchased the wonderful George Washington sugar bowl,

that you see above in my blog header photo,

from my friend Vanessa at Mattie's Menagerie on etsy.

I hoped that somedayI might find his beloved sweetheart  - Martha.

Then one day a few months ago...

as I was clicking around on Etsy,

to my surprise(!!) there she was!

Perfect!

I wasted no time in purchasing her and welcoming her into her new home.

Now they sit...together at last.

They look so happy...don't you think?

Thank you RockinHeartJewelry (on Etsy)!

  Together they sit atop the jelly cupboard in our diningroom (yes, right there in the header photo -George is no longer alone!)

                       Have a great day!     
                                       Graniteware Gal





Is Spring on the Way??

Yes, I'm getting anxious for spring - although the 6 or so inch blanket of snow we got yesterday is truly beautiful!

    The thought of spring made me think of flowers...

and roses...

and vintage china...

 with flowers and roses.

 

 

And today, as hard as it is for me,

I'm making this sweet creamy ivory pitcher

available in my etsy shop

 

 

Think how this vintage beauty will look in a white kitchen or dining room

 as part of a pitcher collection!

(Many of these items are available as well.)

 

                                                    Graniteware Gal

Comfort Food

With the anticipation of a big snow storm heading our way, today seemed like the perfect time to make a big pot of beef noodle soup and some homemade bread!

Don't you just love the aroma of soup simmering on the stove? I know I do! And it's even better when I 'm using my grandma's old stove. It's certainly given years of faithful service - both to her and to me. I am blessed to have it. They sure don't make them like this anymore!

You can almost smell the bread baking! It was such a treat just to breathe it in on a cold winter's day.
And I was pretty excited about trying out my new marble pastry slab that I picked up at an estate sale a couple weeks ago. It worked wonderfully! Now I just have to find a place to store it.

As we hunker down and listen to the wind howling outside, I think of all our many blessings!

May you stay safe and warm this winter!

                                               Graniteware Gal

LOVE is in the Air

I hope each of you has someone to hold dear this Valentine's Day -- family, friends, a sweetheart.  The roses were from my sweet hubby. He's a gem!!

Moving from Christmas to Spring

Why does it seem so hard for me to leave Christmas behind and move ahead toward spring?

Every year I linger in the joys and coziness of the holiday, the warmth of Christmas. I suppose I linger longer than most. Most have long since cleared away all reminders of the season, crated the boxes and tubs of decorations back up to the attic, and moved on to the spare, clean look of spring...yet I linger.

 

I long to remain...sip another cup of coffee...bask in the joy of sitting alone, after all have gone to sleep, and gaze at the glow of the Christmas tree decked out in all its symbolism and finery. Enjoying the true meaning of the season.

I guess I have somewhat of an excuse. Since we host an annual After-the-Holiday Party for our church family each January, it gives me a reason to leave things up and enjoy them just a bit longer.

Yet, if it weren't for January birthdays and the need to decorate for those, I think I'd be secretly wishing to leave up the holiday things almost until the first fresh blade of grass peeked through.

Packing up all the things that remind me of Christmases long ago spent with those I love so dearly...is not so easy. So I linger a bit longer...pondering...relishing....

But now it is time to move ahead...knowing I will look forward to next year. I must move ahead to garden catalogues, spring cleaning, and thoughts of throwing open the windows and doors to hear the singing birds and to breathe in spring's freshness. Soon the snow will disappear and God's beautiful flowers will emerge. Welcome Spring!