Antique Garden Catalogs

These beautiful catalogs is what the post man would have been delivering about a century ago to the Shabby Old House. Make sure you click on the picture as it is amazing.

I am sure that the ladies of the house would have been scouring the pages dreaming as I often do of the beautiful flower beds that could be created around this old Victorian home.
This is a wonderful collection of Joseph Freedman and this article was in an old May
1994 Victoria Magazine that I found.
What I love about the old Victoria magazines is the history that they wrote of which keeps the magazine as interesting today as it was in 1994.
I learned that a sum as small as a dollar was enough for a magnificent garden.
The seed companies hired top artists to draft horticulturally accurate flower illustration, which were reproduced as lithographs and accompanied by the proud words, "drawn from nature."



This catalog from 1925 portrayed the garden of George Washington's sister Betty.
Oh how pretty the Shabby Old House could be with flower beds and gardens surrounding her.

Any ideas from you girls that study those wonderful gardening books?

I am open for lots of comments. I have a dollar too! lol So

if you want to come bringing your gloves and shovels I'll be happy to name the garden after you.

The Cat's Meow

There is a beautiful shop in Venice FL called the Cat's Meow and it is owned by two equally beautiful people, Mark and Susie Holt. These two have been a source of inspiration for me and when I need a beauty boost in that direction I head south.

The store carries the most beautiful funishings, bedding, clothing and gifts that one could ever imagine and on this particular day I wanted to surround myself with those things. I love what being around such talented people does for my soul.

I come away energized with new vision. Inside of me there is a new creation just waiting to be birthed in the Shabby Old House and places like this just stir me to action. Now stick around for a few days as I show you what fabulous finds could be yours. I don't mean to tempt you but.....I'm just saying......

How could you not be tempted by this?

The Cat's Meow

213 W. Venice Ave

Venice Fl

941-445-5602

I Forgot My Camera

Oh the joys of packing! I actually don't mind it especially when I am heading to Eufaula. I look forward to placing all of my little collections in the Shabby Old House. So when we headed to Eufaula, I drove my SUV and Dave drove the truck and we had both loaded down with all the things that I have been gathering for the house. We have the house to the point that we actually had some overnight guest over Pilgrimage.

I forgot my camera and so my guests are going to share their pictures of Pilgrimage. We had a wonderful time touring all the old houses as well as hitting every antique shop around.

I picked up a disposable camera for these shots. Ya gotta love a Kodak.

This is a Vintage Pagent gown that I found this weekend. Now if I start dieting now perhaps I will be able to wear it for pilgrimage next year...

No doubt some pretty "little" southern belle wore this.

Have you visited Dream In Cream blog and seen her blog banner? There are the most beautiful pillows made by Felicia of Bountiful and they have been my inspiration for my next project. They even inspired the girls over at Antiques in Old Town.

Here is a sweet old vintage sofa that I have been dragging from room to room.

It is here in the Master Bedroom for now.

I love the carved wood but it gets lost on the floors so....

I painted it and now the detail pops off the floor.

I am on the hunt for the perfect rug.

I will be making lots of pillows. I was just playing with some that I had.

Can"t you see it loaded with lots of those pretty pillows?

As pretty as this wood is it is a toe breaker.

Perhaps now that it shows up on the floor I won't stub my toe and then have to repent.

Hope you will come back soon

I will be sharing with you my friends Susie and Mark's shop, The Cat's Meow.
You are going to love it.

It's another great place for inspiration.

Bye for now

Becky

It's So Much More

It's so much more than the Easter Bunny.
It's so much more than finding the right bonnet, dress and shoes.

It's so much more than just stepping inside the doors of a building called church.

Or wearing the perfect cross and having a Bible.

It's not Religion It's Relationship.

God Loves You

Plain and Simple.

I pray that the eyes of your understanding will be open to the revelation knowledge of who He is ....this Easter.

Happy Easter

Love

Becky

My Granny Collage

I think my Grandmother's picture would be happier here.

I pulled a few more of her things together.

Her Christening bonnet,

Small picture of her mother.

A sweet picture of her as a little girl.

And the gloves that I remember.

She would stroke my hand in church with them on.

I guess it took the wiggle out of a me.

An Old Photo of my Grandmother

I am looking forward to the Pilgrimage this weekend in Eufaula.

There will be ladies dressed in period fashions.

My friend Cory just did a wonderful post today regarding Victorian fashion.

If you love this kind of thing then make sure you go for a visit. Her blog is beautiful and filled with lots of pretty things. http://gingerbreadcrumbsandcompany.blogspot.com/

The picture above is my grandmother. She looked stunning in her beautiful outfit.

I wish it was one that she had saved.

I am grateful to have the picture.

A Cubby, An Old Dress and a Collection

There was a project that Dave tackled a few months ago that involved a little closet in the bathroom. It had been used for storage and what we found was a bag of old clothes. This dress was in the bag. It was in really rough shape and I threw it out. Then I decided to go dig it out of the trash because it was a piece of history of the family that lived in the house , The Bakers family.
My pictures are out of order. I wish I knew why they do this sometimes. Does anybody know how to fix this?


Back to the dress. The top of the dress was shot so I just played away with the old fabric. I took off collars and ruffles and created the top myself.

And for the rest of the collection. It waits in our garage in Tampa for its trip to Eufaula.

I found this sofa and chair and it just had to go to Eufaula.

Especially for the amazing price I paid.

Our next project will be on our most difficult room in the house.

I will need all the ideas I can get from you all.

This will be the bones of what I am going to work with.

I am loving the creams and browns and whites.

I am anxious to get busy on it next week.

That is if I don't play the whole time with friends that are coming for the Pilgrimage.

Hmmm work or play? What shall I do?

Garden Tours

This lovely garden will be one to be enjoyed by vistors to Eufaula for the Pilgrimage.

There are three more garden tours planned.

I will be posting all about it upon my return.

The azaelas will be in full bloom and this just adds to the charm.

The Eufaula Pilgimage is Coming

If you saw Sweet Home Alabama you saw this home.

Not only are all these homes on tour but there will be gardens and ghost walks.

And we are praying for beautiful weather.

I can't wait!

You'll experience Southern hospitality at its finest when you visit Eufaula, Alabama during its 44th Annual Pilgrimage on April 3, 4 and 5, 2009.
Beautiful historic homes, built in the days when "cotton was king", will be open to visitors during this nostalgic return to the Old South.Grand ante-bellum and Victorian mansions built by 19th century planters and merchants still house family heirlooms, the precious symbols of a bygone era.

Most of the homes are private residences, open only during the annual Pilgrimage. As you stroll from Greek Revival cottagesto Italianate showplaces, your path will be lined with colorful azaleas and dogwoods. Beautifully landscaped gardens and manicured parkways will entice you through the Seth Lore-Irwinton Historic District. Southern belles in hoops and bustles will grace the gardens and verandahs and greet you warmly as you pass.The Pilgrimage Queen and Princesses are joined by other senior high school girls to form the Pilgrimage Queen's Court.
Hundreds of local volunteers guide visitors on tours throughthe homes and churches during the pilgrimage.
Something for everyone can be found in Eufaula during the spring tour of homes. An open-air art exhibit, gardens, afternoon teas, candlelight tours, musical entertainment and more complement the Pilgrimage experience. A prestigious antique show will appeal to browsers and collectors. Buildings dating from the1800s await you in a revitalized downtown. Many of them are open to the public during the annual tour.

Touring Eufaula

The Shorter MansionThe Presbyterian Church

The Honan House

Foy-Beasley House

Fendall Hall