Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Pussy Willow's



I just love pussy willow. I had to share with you these fun pussy willow dishes from W. S. George circa 1954. The W. S. George Pottery Company was a United States pottery manufacturer with facilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania between 1904 and 1960.






From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pussy willow is a name given to many of the smaller species of the genus Salix (willows and sallows) when their furry catkins are young in early spring. These species include (among many others):

•Goat willow or goat sallow (Salix caprea), a small tree native to northern Europe and northwest Asia.

•Grey willow or grey sallow (Salix cinerea), a small tree native to northern Europe.

•American pussy willow (Salix discolor), native to northern North America.

Before the male catkins of these species come into full flower they are covered in fine, greyish fur, leading to a fancied likeness to tiny cats, also known as "pussies". The catkins appear long before the leaves, and are one of the earliest signs of spring. At other times of year trees of most of these species are usually known by their ordinary names.

Did you know in The Sound of Music when Maria asks Marta what one of her favorite things are, she replies "pussy willow" (during the song "My Favorite Things") ?

Monday, April 13, 2009

My "Deer" it's finally spring.

A sure sign that the long Northern Michigan winter is finally ending is when the deer come out of the woods and into the open fields to graze upon the grass covered in snow for many months.


This was my inspiration for this centerpiece. I created this as a celebration of the new spring season using the following items.

The base for the centerpiece is a found piece of driftwood.
(I use this all the time and change with the seasons.)

The faux birch bark candle is from Target.

Deer moss for the forest floor,available at any craft store.

Several collected rocks from my daughters.

And a charming family of vintage celluloid deer I acquired from an antique auction.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Happy Easter from Antique Living

Just wanted to share with you some of my favorite Vintage Easter finds from the Elk Rapids Antique Warehouse.


A rusty iron basket with a folk art chick and a lovely Easter egg candy container from Western Germany.




A couple of charming Egg Cups.