Sunday, February 15, 2015

Victorian Shadow Boxes

Hello everyone! Friday I was off from work and it just so happened to be the day an antique auction was happening, so off to the auction I went.
And home with these shadow boxes I came!


All three shadow boxes are from the mid to late 1800's so they all needed a little TLC and that they received, and after trying to decide what will have to come down and what will need to go in order to have some where to hang these, here is where they hang.

The oval hair wreath went above the Library table where great grandma used to be (she will go in my bedroom now).


A closer look at the hair wreath, although it looks more like a hair posy!



And this seashell shadow box found its way on this wall, over the Victorian sofa, in the corner of the parlor across from the brides shadow box.


And I believe it is my favorite, I just love anything and everything with seashells. I like the way it looks in this corner too.





Here is a closer look at the top portion. Notice the two birds and there is even a butterfly in there, right above the flash reflection.


And upon a closer look at the bottom portion you'll see a very cute dragon fly in the left corner. And there are just so many different kinds of flowers, and everything is made out of seashells (and wire)!



Okay, now back to the other hair wreath. It is kind of interesting. If you look closely at the ladies hair you will see she has a braid fashioned in to a bun on her head, well I believe that is the same braid as the one laying on the bottom of the box! My daughter thinks it is quite gross and wants it out of the house.


So lucky for her I do think I am going to sell it off, it is not my favorite. Although if I don't find a buyer I will be stuck with it and I'll be sure and hang it in my daughter's bedroom!! lol



I have quite a thing for Victorian Shadow boxes and now I guess you could say I have a collection of them. Let me show you my other ones.

Below is a 5 x 7 size hair wreath that I got several years ago.


A wool flower wreath with a cross inside a church shape. This piece was found in my grandma's house after her death so I'm not sure it it was a family piece or something she bought at an auction. Yes, my grandma went to auctions too! :)



And the bridal shadow box ...


with a wax orange blossom head piece and the lace veil that the bride is wearing in the photo.


This one has a convex glass over the scene to hold the seashells and seaweed so I guess it could be called a shadow box too. This is from the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 and is the Manufacturers Liberal Arts Building.


AND, I even have shadow boxes in the doll's house! Two hair wreaths and a seashell beach scene.


Here's a closer look at the two I made.
                         


and in the miniature antique shop is this cute little wreath shadow box...


and I have these two bakeries hanging in the dining room.


and last of all, is this 1980's shadow box that I just recently bought at a flea market. I keep my favorite minis in here and I even have an empty spot just waiting for that perfect mini!


So that is it! I'm sure you are all shadow boxed out by now but thank you for hanging in there with me!
Have a wonderful week and thank you so much for visiting!

I am joining the following parties...
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
A RETURN TO LOVELINESS with Kathy
INSPIRE ME TUESDAY with Marty
TUESDAY'S AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jill
VINTAGE INSPIRATION PARTY with Betsy
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
SHARE YOUR CUP with Jann
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy

Friday, February 6, 2015

Love is in the Air!

Hello everyone, I have more romantic views to share with you this Valentine's week. Most of the photos are taken of  things around the house that are always there, not just seasonal.  As many of you know I am a true lover of Victoriana and it just happens to be so pretty and romantic that it is perfect for the occasion. Enjoy!

This is a corner of my foyer, photo taken from the stairs so you could see the antique cranberry glass hanging lamp. The natural lighting made the painted walls look two different colors when actually they are all taupe. The antique walnut hall stand dates to probably 1860's or so.


Here's a brighter picture with the lamp on...



To add a little romance, I added this hanging heart decoration that I bought at Michael's a few years ago.


and then I saw in my hallway this cross stitched piece that I stitched a long time ago...


and added it to the romance...


Moving on in to the parlor I found more Victorian romance to get you in the Valentine mood.
This is a little brass piece that was missing its clock and so I added this cranberry dish to it.
In the background is a putti statue...


and here she is up close in all of her sweetness...


up above her is this corner wall shelf that houses one of a pair of pink bristol glass vases...


and over to the left is more sweetness in the form of this early 1900's framed lithograph...


and still more sweetness, sitting on the little shelf of my pier mirror is this antique German porcelain shoe. (the poor little cherubs have lost their wings) The little hook that I have the heart hanging from is actually to hang a pocket watch from. I am still on the look out for one of those though. :)



Hanging from the Christmas stocking hook on the mantle, only for the occasion, is this heart beaded tassel. A Michael's purchase.


and on the mantle are more putti on this one of a pair of antique candle stick holders with more sweetness...



Below is my comfy chair that I sit in for my Bible reading and quiet time and when watching Road to Avonlea.


On the parlor table I added a velvet chocolate box, an antique postcard and an antique sailors Valentine box, the shell box stays on this table all the time. The little heart with the shredded silk used to be a pin cushion.



Okay back to the corner...



beyond the fringed lamp shade is a flower jardiniere on a plant stand behind the sofa, and on the wall hangs a shadow box with a wax orange blossoms bridal headpiece with the veil AND the wedding photo of the bride wearing it! How cool is that, right?


Above the sofa is another corner wall shelf with the other pink bristol glass vase on top shelf and the bottom shelf holds a satin glass ewer/pitcher with a hand painted bird on it.


while down on the sofa is this needlepoint rose pillow...



On another wall is an oil painting of this lovely lady with a reddish pink background perfect for Valentine's Day.



And down in the corner next to the pier table you'll find more roses on this jardiniere on its matching stand.



On the pier table, for Valentine's Day, I added the cherub rose scented candle tin and stand up Valentine card.



To the side of that is one of a pair of side chairs with a rose on its crest and a bell pull behind it.



On the library table is this small little heart candy tin and a sweet little baby from yesteryear.



Over on another stand is this beauty with a lovely little Valentine ornament...



that she swiped from this box of chocolates, oops I mean this box of ornaments. These are store bought ornaments that I added lace trim and embellishments too to make them prettier.



Okay, that is it for the parlor but I have a view to show you in the china cabinet in the dining room...



And in the seashell themed powder room I have framed four Valentine seashell related postcards that stay hanging up all year round,


and then over on this wall is a towel rack with vintage linens, and above that...


is this very romantic framed watercolor picture. This is a watercolor version of the early 1900's lithograph picture that is named "Anxious". I wonder which is the anxious one, him or her?



And last of all, I have a few  views to show you on my dresser's glove boxes.
On this side is a small oval frame with a picture of a lady painting a portrait of the other lady and a tussie mussie with dried flowers from yesteryear.



On the other glove box is this cranberry glass perfume bottle, a stick pin holder, a pin tray and a framed picture of my maternal great grandmother Lydia, who is my daughter's name sake.


And that is it! Wow, that was long wasn't it? Sorry about that. I do hope you enjoyed seeing more of my "stuff". Thanks so much for visiting and have a wonderful week!


I am joining these parties for the week...
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy
A RETURN TO LOVELINESS with Kathy
INSPIRE ME TUESDAY with Marty
TUESDAYS AT OUR HOME with Maria Elena
LET'S TALK VINTAGE with Jillian
VINTAGE INSPIRATION PARTY with Betsy
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Patti
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry
SHARE YOUR CUP THURSDAY with Jann