New Uses for Old Things

When I decided to sell my grandparent's dining room furniture, it was a tough decision.  I knew that it wasn't incredibly expensive antique furniture dating from the 1700s, but it was still beautiful furniture that had been in my family for over 70 years.

Before I listed the table, chairs, buffet, and tea cart on Craigslist, I decided I would keep the china cabinet.  That way I could pass it along to one of my children if they ever wanted to use it in their own homes.  I am happy to report that our old dining room table and chairs have found a very happy home.  The couple who bought them on Craisglist was kind enough to send me photos of the table and chairs in their dining room, and it looks amazing, so I know they will enjoy it for many years to come!

Because I had a new china cabinet on the way, which you can read about here, I knew the old one couldn't remain in the dining room.  So I started looking around our house to see where I could put our old china cabinet.

One day, while lying in bed, I realized that the wall between our closet and our bathroom was the perfect spot for it.  The more I thought about it, the more excited I got about moving it in to our bedroom.  I could use it to store linens, almost like a linen press, and some of the special things that had been shoved in our closet for too long, like a collection of scarves and gloves from my grandmother and mother.  Now, with easy access I would maybe wear some of these pretty pieces.


 

And I would simply relocate some of my Beatrix Potter collection so that I could enjoy them everyday when I get up each morning.

They seem pretty happy in their new location too.  Mrs. Rabbit is fixing something yummy for dinner, and I spy butter and a pitcher of milk being carried by a certain kitty cat in the background.

Having the china cabinet in our bedroom also allows me to display some vintage linens, like the crocheted popcorn bedspread that my grandmother or great grandmother made.  And while cleaning out my parent's house, I lucked in to an old Ivory Soap laundry sack that no one else wanted, so I've folded it and placed it on top of the bedspread.  I may eventually turn it into a table runner or a pillow, but for now it will live here in the cabinet.

I've also put some pretty soaps, lotions, and bath salts inside the cabinet and I really love how it gives me easy access to things while still looking pretty enough for display.

I'm really glad that I decided to keep this cabinet since it was something my grandparents purchased together and enjoyed for all of those years.  And I love that it provides me with some extra storage space in our bedroom, for free!

Have you repurposed a piece of furniture and turned it into something useful in your own home?

Beatrix Potter and Me

You may have noticed by my new springy header picture that I'm ready for Easter.  This year Easter is very late in coming but that won't stop me from enjoying all of the bunnies I have around my house.

Growing up, Easter always meant new shiny white shoes, a new dress, a hat, some gloves, and maybe even a matching white purse or sweater.  My mother loved Easter and she always made sure we were dressed to the nines.  

Born just outside Charlottesville, Virginia, my mother was a proud Virginian, so while many people had let go of the classic Easter attire by the late 1960's and early 70's, we still looked like we were ready to greet the Queen on Easter morning.

And I can remember the beautiful hats my mother and grandmother wore each year on Easter Sunday.  They were a cross between a frosted confection and a floral bouquet perched atop their heads.

When I had my own children, I carried on those same traditions, just minus the hats.  We have pictures of my daughter all dressed in pastel pink with ruffle topped socks and patent leather shoes clinging to an Easter basket nearly as big as she was.  And when our son came along, he got to sport little smocked outfits with bunnies and carrots, something Little Lord Fauntleroy would have been proud to wear!


 

There was always a big Easter dinner too, with corn pudding, fresh asparagus, Virginia ham (is there any other kind?) and homemade rolls just to name a few of the goodies.  And for dessert, you had to have fresh homemade coconut cake, along with something chocolate, and lemon chess pie.

There were Easter egg hunts, and we always brought a change of clothes for the children so that they could rip and race around the yard without ruining their spiffy new duds.  And the other tradition was to open the gift my mother and father gave the kids each year, a new Beatrix Potter figurine.

Each year my mother, who dearly loved Beatrix Potter, who find just the right figurine to give to each child.  Growing up, we each had a few figurines of our own, but she really began the tradition in earnest when my niece, the eldest grandchild, was born.

When the grandchildren would stay over with my mother and father, Nana (my mother) would read them Beatrix Potter books.  Those tiny books were full of wisdom and adventure, and the kids loved hearing the tales of Peter Rabbit, Jeremy Fisher, Jemima Puddleduck and the like.

Sometimes, there were life lessons in the stories, and sometimes my children were just plain confused, like when Peter's father spanked him, something we didn't do at our house. 

Beatrix Potter was a very interesting woman who purchased property in the Lake District of England to try and help preserve the rural landscape which she so loved.  And upon her death in 1943, she left most of her property to the National Trust.  She also had dogs who look a lot like mine, and because she was such an animal lover, I have always felt a sort of kinship with Ms. Potter.

My friend Dan used to tell me how much I would love the Lake District, and I hope to go there some day. 

After my mother died, we found meticulous notes on which figurines had been purchased for which child.  And even after her stroke, she still managed to give each of the kids their precious Easter gift.

Along with the figurines my mother and father gave to the grandchildren, there were plenty more to be found at her house.  She loved these sweet little porcelain creatures brought to life from the pages of books written so long ago, and she had amassed quite a collection over the years.  I even brought back several figurines to give to my mother as gifts when I visited England for the first time.

The one pictured above with Peter holding a bunch of daffodils was one of her favorites.  My sisters and I went through her collection after my father died, and my sister M brought out "the" list to make sure that we didn't duplicate what we already had.  We separated them into ones that no one had, and then ones that someone didn't have, etc. before dividing them among each of us.  We also saved some out for my brother to take.

 

The little bunny figurines I've shared with you today are just a few examples of the 50 Beatrix Potter Figurines I have in a cabinet in my house.  One day I hope to have grandchildren, and I will likely continue the tradition of giving each child a figurine for Easter.

For now though, they remind me of my mother, of Easter, and of those wonderful tales told as only Beatrix Potter could! 

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