Anne of Green Gables

Few literary characters have stayed with me as long as Anne of Green Gables.  I saw the movie on PBS when I was a teen and she has been my kindred spirit ever since.

 

Victoria Magazine saw Anne's charm too and they featured her and her lovely island home more than once.  

 

I clipped and saved this feature Victoria printed on Prince Edward Island, Canada and L.M. Montgomery.  

L.M. Montgomery kept a journal about her beloved P.E.I.  The entry of August 16, 1907...All of my life it has been my aim to write a book-a "real live" book.  Two years earlier she had been looking over her journal in search of a suitable idea...and she found an entry from 10 years earlier:  Elderly couple apply to orphanage for a boy.  By mistake they were sent a girl instead.  She thought that might do....the result was Anne of Green Gables.

Pictured here is the Anne of Green Gables house on Prince Edward Island.  Lucy Maud Montgomery used her own childhood experiences and dreams to create Anne.  This home actually belonged to L.M. Montgomery's cousins.  She always dreamed of living here so she made this Anne's home.

The porch of Green Gables and scenes from P.E.I.

Today the home has been arranged as closely to the descriptions in L.M. Montgomery's book as possible.  The scenes above and below are Anne's room.

Here is a second Childrens Corner feature from Victoria where they have recreated scenes from Anne of Green Gables in which Anne is learning to cook and the famous scene where Diana drinks too much currant wine instead of raspberry cordial.

Here is a recreation of a tea from the book. 

I did my best to recreate Victoria's recreations with things I have around in the photos below.

 

I found this hat at the thrift store and as soon as I saw it I thought it looked just like a hat Anne might have worn. 

Here is another copy I have of Anne of Green Gables.

The novel was so popular the first edition went through 14 printings (in 16 months) from June 1908-Oct. 1909.   This edition I own is the 38th printing of that first edition.

The plate is Old British Castles by Johnson Brothers.

I put a modern teacup on a Limoges bread and butter plate.

Remember the scene where Anne forgot to put a doily over the sauce she and Marilla had made for dinner and a mouse got in it?  "It must have been a romantic way for a mouse to die," Anne said.

Zinnias from the garden.  

For all the young ladies out there that need a heroine, L.M. Montgomery created one in Anne.  A character I will carry in my heart always.  I notice she is a kindred spirit with many of you too.

I will link to all of these parties:

A Return to Loveliness Tuesday at A Delightsome Life.

Tea Party Tuesday at Lady Katherine Tea Party.

Tea Cup Tuesday at Martha's Favorites.

Tea Party Tuesday at The Rose Chintz Cottage.

Tea Cup Tuesday  at Artful Affrimations.

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday at A Breath of Fresh Air.

Tuesday Tea for Two at The Plumed Pen.

Tea Pot and Tea Things Tuesday at The Silken Purse.

Table Top Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pure Projects # 12

Good morning!  Ok, so like I mentionioned on Friday, I'm attempting to be back on track with the "Pure Organization" Projects Series!  (which I'm now calling "Pure Projects" because not all will be organization :)

{Just as a reminder, in case you're a new reader or forgot (it's been a few months! ;)  every Monday I'll be blogging about  a little project we can do to get organized, make things better, prettier or more fun.  It's my way of holding myself accountable (or attempting to) and I thought it might be fun for us to do this stuff together.  So, if you want to join in, I'm using Mr.Linky at the end of this post and you just have to click on the little link at the bottom of this post and link up to your actual post.) 

This week's project is to pick flowers and/ or greenery (either on a walk, or from your yard or from a nice neighbor's yard) and put them on your table to enjoy...  Just a little simple, free way to add a little beauty to your meals.  Here's a picture of some zinnias I plucked from our (very weed-infested) garden:

They just make me happy.  I love having a small arrangement on our kitchen table so we don't have to move it at meal times.  (When the table somehow always gets trashed...  Washing ours off after dinner yesterday it looked like a little food battle had taken place...)   Anyway, hope you had a great weekend & that you'll join us today with some hand-picked pretties!! 

If you're linking up, make sure to link it to your actual project post URL instead of just to your blog so that we can click over directly to your project. Also, please only link up if you're taking part in the project.  Thanks so much!!

Makeover for Your Pillow

This is a really simple makeover.  If you can sew a straight stitch on your sewing machine you can do this.   It is a really girly fun way to spruce up some personal space.

Here is the before.  I took my pillow right off of my bed to show you what it looks like.  I sleep with 400 count cotton sateen pillowcases.  Plain boring cream pillowcases.

I took another 100 % cotton white pillowcase and I added the lace.  It would be nicer to use 100% cotton lace.  What I used here were left over scraps and they were polyester.  I sewed the 3 inch lace on the seam of the pillowcases hem.  On top of that I sewed the ruffled lace in place with just a straight stitch.  Over that; to hide the top of the ruffled lace, I sewed a 1/4 inch white satin ribbon on the top and bottom.  Sewing the top and bottom will keep the ribbon from curling in the wash.  And that's it.  From boring to super girly in 30 minutes.  To be shabby chic use scraps on both of your pillows and they won't match.

Here the pillowcase is against a rustic quilt.  It looks good on any bed because it is all white.
I will join:
Susan for Metamorphosis Monday at her site Between Naps on the Porch.
Cielo for Show Off Your Cottage Monday at her site The House in the Roses.

Pure Organization- What???!!

Do you remember when I started "Pure Organization" this past January 2010and was all set to get organized?  Well, as you probably noticed, I totally slacked off on that front and we spent more of our time redoing rooms & on other projects that on actually organizing.  (Kids, work, life too, you know ;)

{Coat Closet Reorganization}

BUT, as the school year nears (noooooo!! ;)  it's time to get thinking about organization again & being productive.  But this time, since so many of our weekly projects are decorating-focused or food-focused, or whatever-focused, I'm renaming it "Pure Living 2010."  Mr.Linky will be back on Monday if anyone want to participate & I've decided that lots of the projects will just be fun, simple things that make us happy so that way we have some super-productive projects to get things done and then some fun ones to keep us going. 

{Paint Touch-up Jars Project #1}

This Monday's proejct (#12 I think??) will be to create a pretty simple, summer flower arrangement using flowers or herbs from your yard/ windowsill/ neighbor'd garden ( hee hee ;)  whatever.. but something that didn't cost you anything, and add it to your table for dinner and as many days as it will last.  I'm off Spring-Summer break and am ready to rock so I'll be back on Monday with pics of my flowers.  I am SO not slacking this time.  Ummm... and if I try to, can you convince me to stay strong?? :) 




ps- I just joined Twitter and am not quite sure how it works yet so we'll see how that goes!!  If you know how to find me on there, please do!

Munster Interiors Magazine!!

Thanks so much to Lorna of Garrendenny Lane who included me in her Munster Interiors Magazine (of Ireland)  Blogwatch article:

It's so fun to think that when we write blogs, people from all over the world are reading.  Here's the article: 

To read the full article, (which includes some of my favorite bloggers) go here.  Have a beautiful weekend!!!  We're "getting organized" - ha!

Open publication - Free publishing - More bloggers

Roosters and French Country

I am so excited to join Barb at Bella Vista  for the  Rooster Blog Party 2.  I actually had done this tablescape about a month ago but, when I noticed the Rooster Blog Party I decided to hold off posting this till the party.  Go over to Bella Vista  and view other participant's post.  The party will begin Thursday night.  

What would a little French Country table be without a rooster and hen strutting by.  French country style often includes a farm animal such as a rooster.

The rooster and hen came as a set that were given to me. 
French Provincial style pewter salt and pepper shakers by Wilton Armetale.

  The rooster themed pottery is by Danna Cullen Design the pattern is Chanticleer.

I love two handled soup bowls.

 The salad plate with it's rooster surrounded by strawberries.

The dinner plate.
The woven chargers from Pier 1.

Provincial French country tables often have pewter accessories, such as this goblet.

Pewter napkin rings with a jacquard patterned napkin on French Provincial style fabric turned into a tablecloth.  

I used this set of dishes to serve my strawberry soup.  You can view that recipe here.

Thank you for coming by for a little French Country table.  I have very few things in the French Country style so I had fun putting this table together.
I will join:
Susan's Tablescape Thursday at her site Beetween Naps on the Porch.
Cindy's Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.
Beverly's Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound.
Laurie's My Favorite Things at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie.