A Violet Story, Antiques and Blanket Progress

Greetings from Oregon!  I have a story to tell you.  Gracie and I swim together and have made other friends with the regulars at the pool.  One guy is named David and he's a nice man.  While we were swimming and chatting I told him that I'd brought Gracie some Violets that Kristi dug for her that morning.  He told me that he had lots of wild Violets in his yard too, all colors of them he'd collected out in nature.  Then he told me of this neat little vase he'd found at a garage sale, made in England with a little violet painted on it.  I was intrigued.  Later he called across the water and told me he remembered it was Devonshire.  So.. naturally when I was home again I googled "Devonshire violet vase and found all sorts of them, one of which was on eBay and it was only $8, so I bought it!  It arrived very fast and yesterday Kristi and Caleb picked a little bouquet of the dark purple violets for me.  Isn't this sweet and wonderful?  It originally held Violet perfume!

It's really small, about 3 and a half inches tall.  Here is what is on the back.  It's quite vintage, red-ware pottery and has a crackled glaze.  I now have my little bit of English violet history!

My little Irish children with the violets - do you see that the little girl is holding a copper bucket this time?  I made that bucket using PMC (precious metal clay) and have worn it as a necklace with some tiny flowers in it.

Do you remember the little pink booties I made last for my niece's new baby daughter?  Well, I'm going to visit her tomorrow to see her and the baby and give her the booties.  And I thought.. hmm.. I think a little hat would be nice to go with the booties.. so yesterday I crocheted this little hat and flower.  :-)

And added a pink button from the gift of buttons Gracie gave me some time ago.  I hope it fits the little darling girl!

Last week at the Portland Women's Forum meeting our program was an antique appraiser and we also asked our members to bring in one of their antique items to show and tell about and they could also get them appraised.  This pair of moccasins were brought by my sister Roberta.  Our grandparents had them made for her when she was to ride a horse dressed as an Indian in a local parade.  They also sent her a beaded headband and necklace.  Aren't they neat?

I took in this inkwell made by Pairpoint.  I have a bit of an antique inkwell collection.  I should show you more of them sometime.

I love the fact that you can see how much this inkwell was used is by the underside of the brass lid.

The other thing I brought in to share was my antique oak wood writing box.  I got this many years ago at an antique booth at a fair.  I just love this old box, it has two old inkwells and I've added some sealing wax, wax stamps and two of my dip pens.  

In the tiny drawers are some sealing wax and pen nibs.

Hayden was in a similar program about bugs last week, I stayed home to take care of Dayle but asked my son to get a photo for me.  Isn't he growing up?

I added 6 more "Flowers" to my blanket project.  I think this is going to be a beloved blanket in our home.  

We watched the final episode of Downton Abbey last night.  I have loved this show for years now and I'm really sorry to see it end.  :-(  I'm going to pack my swim bag and head to the pool soon.  I sure hope some of the new people get tired of coming.. lol.  We always have a crowded pool now and lot's of splashy people.  Have a great week!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-)