The Sobbing Settee

A is for ...

2010-05-10T13:02:00.012-05:00

... Apron.

I just love my apron.

This one I made myself using an 1940's nurses apron as an example.

A is also for ...

Addiction

No need to explain why, do I ;-)

A is for ...

Appreciation

for not taking things for granted

for having two loving parents

for the air I breath

for friendship near and far

for waking up next to my love everyday day

for ...

Vintage Black Friday ...

2009-11-06T09:15:00.011-06:00

... Ooooh boy oooh boy ... Do you ever have the feeling that your life isn't your own to live? Ever since I started my new job it seems I have been working non-stop. Don't get me wrong ... I love my job but by the time I get back home I'm exhausted and ofcourse it is pitch dark outside which makes me just want to go to bed right away.

And another thing (still not complaining ofcourse) my social life is rapidly going down hill due to lack of time and most importantly my contribution to VBF has not been the same as well ...

Feeling very quilty ofcourse for not sharing any of my vintage black finds for almost 3 weeks now I decided to steal some inspirational pictures from one of my favourite decorators, the fabulous Debbie Dusenberry.

Have a lovely weekend!!!

Vintage Black Friday ...

2009-10-24T13:20:00.003-05:00

... and one day late!!! Very very sorry ... So what do I have to show you this time ...

My own lovely black baby shoes. I don't think I ever wore these much but I am happy my mom kept them.

One of my all time favourite flea market finds ... this beautiful copperplated print by Arthur Elsley. I'm not really sure this is showing his own family but a often painted these children and for a number of years. Great to see they grow and blossom into young adults.

And yet another great find ... meet Joan of Arc.

If you did not already do so please visit Gypsy Brocante for more beautiful vintage black contributions.

It's here again ...

2009-10-16T08:03:00.012-05:00

... Vintage Black Friday! Oh boy ... time does fly.

For this weeks contribution we have ...

A pretty little sandstone portrait of the virgin mary. I just love her tattered look.

Then my collection clothes brushes. I bought these all in one go

and up to now did not find any more. Maybe soon ... some day ...

And finally something very dear to me ... this very old and worn photo album.

All the photo's are still there ... even one original of Queen Victoria ... beat still my heart.

Please go visit Vintage Black Friday's host Jill at Gypsy Brocante for more black vintage beauty and a list of all participants.

Have a great weekend!

Oooohh boy ...

2009-10-15T13:21:00.006-05:00

... I got the job ... I GOT THE JOB!!!

In a record breaking 20 minutes full of fun and recognition the interview had finshed and I was the proud owner of a new job .... starting coming Monday. How crazy is that?!

Ps, pic: Sharon Montrose

Keep your ...

2009-10-14T12:52:00.005-05:00

... Fingers crossed ... I have a job interview early tomorrow morning.

Bbburrrrr

Qoute on Monday ...

2009-10-12T03:41:00.004-05:00

"It is good the have an end to journey towards; but it is the journey that matters in the end"

- Ursula LeGuin -

Happy Vintage Black Friday ...

2009-10-09T08:15:00.004-05:00

... Well, here is my first contribution to this wonderful blog party hosted by Jill over at Gypsy Brocante ...

Just love these little black dice ... I often hold them in my hands and just play with them. I just like the way they feel in my hand. As I'm writing this down it just sounds like a weird habbit to me. Do you think it's weird?

This beauty arrived just in time to join this party today. I just could have kissed the mailman yesterday morning ...come to think of it ... he is rather cute. Anyway, this black metal container was used in church to store candles in.

That's it for this Friday. Can't wait for next weeks party! Please go and check out Gypsy Brocante for more VBF contributions or even join in the fun!

Have a great weekend!

The sweatest thing ...

2009-10-08T14:32:00.006-05:00

... Today one of my dearest friends dropped the softest bomb on me. She's expecting her first baby. We never expected this to happen anymore ... what a wonderful gift.

This amazing news moved me to tears. Isn't life just fabulous!

The real thing ...

2009-10-07T13:33:00.004-05:00

... Once in a while I get the urge to clean every single drawer and cabinet in the house. It happened again yesterday. Everything went fine until I stumbled upon my magazine collection. I do love my magazines but really ... do you need to keep them for years and years!

Nope! So I made up a new rule. I will save any magazine for no longer then 3 months. When the 3 months have past I scan the contents and tear out the articles I want to save and through away what's left of the beautiful thick glossy paper.

So yesterday when I sat on the living room floor surrounded by tons of paper my eye spotted an article in which the writer wondered what ever happened to the charm of receiving handwritten postcards. Now I love the internet (way too much according to my dear husband to be) and I truly love receiving your comments and e-mails but ... I do really miss the excitement of running to the mailbox hoping to find a letter or postcard inside.

Now it so happened that the article mentioned a website where you can register, receive random addresses of people you do not know from all over the world to whom you can send a postcard to and better yet ... receive one (or two, or three or ...) as well. HHHhhmmm ... would that be something for me? There was only one way to find out. So I did register, requested some addresses (no more than 5 at one time ?!) and today send a postcard to India, France, Finland and the US.

Now the waiting begins ...

Qoute on Monday ...

2009-10-05T13:09:00.004-05:00

... Oooh dear! Where has September gone? Is it really October yet?! Okay ... 've been on holiday for a few weeks but really ... does time has to fly by soooooooo fast! I'm a bad bad blogger!!!

"Always remember you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else"

- Margaret Mead -

If only ...

2009-08-26T08:09:00.001-05:00

... I would be living in a house like this

With an interior which closely resembles something like this

I just know I would stay indoors forever!

Quote on Monday ...

2009-08-24T04:45:00.006-05:00

Pic: Mary Ellen Mark

"One should either be a work of art, or wear a work of art"

- Oscar Wilde -

1854-1900

Etsy splendor ...

2009-08-20T03:55:00.019-05:00

Pic: Dovegrey

Beautiful art prints and jewellery over at Dovegrey. She also keeps a great inspirational blog ... please pay her a visit ...

Pic: Mikel Robinson

My first ever buy on Etsy contained 2 digitally altered photographs by the very talented Mikel Robinson.

Even with the "Photoshop guide for Dummies' clutched on my lap I wouldn't even come close to what he can do with it.

Pic: HotDigitalDog

Don't you just sometimes wish you had come up with an idea like this?

Go check out the HotDigitalDog shop here .... it's too cute for words.

Quote on Monday ...

2009-08-04T15:19:00.004-05:00

... That's all I seem to do lately ... posting a quote on Monday. For three weeks in a row now.
What ever happened to my plan to post more often and more importantly in a divers variety! Time has not been my best friend a guess ... or better yet I just have to get my priorities sorted out (Ouch !!!)

I promisssssssss (really really really I do) that my next stream of words will be about somethingelse than a qoute ... Although I love them to bits !

Pic: Sharon Montrose

'You must be the change you want to see in the world'

- Mahatma Ghandi -
1869 - 1948

Back in Town ...

2009-07-27T15:07:00.004-05:00

... Have had a wonderful holiday. Many Lazy days, many sunny days, some cloudy days as well and best of all many happy days shared with friends. Where would we be without friends!?

Still have a lot of unpacking to do ... things to sort and have the washing machine work overtime.

So, for now I will leave you with a qoute for this weeks 'Qoute on Monday'.

See you soon!

Pic by Christine Rudolph

'Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies'

- Aristotles -

Qoute on Monday ...

2009-06-29T07:01:00.008-05:00

Eleanor Roosevelt

1884 - 1962

'It is not fair to ask of others what you are unwilling to do yourself'

Sneak peek ...

2009-06-23T14:13:00.017-05:00

Today, I finally made some time to take some new shots of some vintage nik-naks for the webshop. They turned out like this:

Although, I am a complete nitwit when it comes to photography and lighting ... Truly I am!!! ... I am quite satisfied with some of the end results. Sometimes it is abslutely frustrating when I have the composition & lighting in mind and it just turnes out ... well ... like shit really. It truly makes me wanna give-up and take-up knitting.

Like my dear husband to be says: 'All you need to do is practice, my dear. Just practice'. Yeah well ... I know! Try telling that to my very impatience me ;-)

So let me give you a behind the scenes sneek peak at how I challenge my patience :

Quote on Monday ...

2009-06-22T13:58:00.004-05:00

Pic by Me

'It's never too late to become what you might have been'

- George Elliot -

Bright lights ...

2009-06-17T16:22:00.004-05:00

... Are these lanterns not just the cutest things!

These will definately brighten up any party. And the best thing is that you can write a personal message on the edges and send it as a wish card ... Who wouldn't want to receive a bright light in dark times?!

Seeing grey ...

2009-06-16T14:39:00.017-05:00

by Rodney Smith

by Cecil Beaton

by Arthur Elgort

Gloria Swanson by Edward Steichen

Quote on Monday ...

2009-06-15T06:49:00.007-05:00

Mark Twain

1835 - 1910

'It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think your a fool than to open it and remove all doubt'

If there is one book that I read over and over again it is Mr. Twain's "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". He writes with such wit and satire that at times I can't help laughing out loud. Sometimes to great surprise to my fellow house mates (read: lovin' husband to be and our 3 cats) usually followed by utter annoyance from their side. Same thing happened when I read the above quote.

We were all sitting on our settee (the thing inspired me to name my blog the sobbing ... but more on that later) resp. silently reading, watching tv and sleeping. When I just burst out in laughter upon which my lovin' husband to be yelled out in pain ... It so happened my outburst woke up the cat who was sleeping on his legs and by hearing my spontaneous vocal spasm planted all nails in his skin and wouldn't let go.

Which ofcourse made me laugh even louder ...

Feeling gloomy ...

2009-06-11T14:29:00.012-05:00

It has been quite a depressing, dark & gloomy day today regarding the Dutch weather. Not much fun working in the garden now. So, enough time to do some of those odd house chores you have been ignoring I hear you say. Well, don't think so !!! Look what put a smile on my face while I was waisting my time surfing the net instead:

Digital illustrations at Art & Ghosts

I am such a huge fan of Lou's work. And yes, I just had to buy this one ;-)

Claw Magnifier at Mothology

Mistletoe lamp at Mothology

They sell sooooo many things I would love to own ... unfortunately, my wallet is still not bottomless

Magnolia Bugs by Kari Herer

Unknown ... sorry

How do people come up with these wonderfull ideas?!

Quote on Monday ...

2009-06-08T07:43:00.005-05:00

Pic: Paul Massey

“If you want a golden rule that will fit everything, this is it:

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”

- William Morris -

I love ...

2009-06-05T01:56:00.002-05:00

I happen to come across Anastasia’s 'I love' list and found it so wonderful to read and quite inspiring, I just had to create my own!

So my life’s simple pleasures ...

... Vintage paper bundles – Photoshop – Tea – Paper - Ribbons – Silence – Faded florals – Jane Austin –Doris Day – Garlic – Cook books - Figs – Linen – Birkenstock – Copenhagen - Postcards – England – Journals – Secrets – Storms – Edward Gorey - Tins – Peonies – Handmade – Body Balance – Words - Cooking – Laughter – Mascara – Vintage children’s books – Vintage wallpaper – Ghosts – Ideas - Handwritten letters – Cheese – Dragonflies - Flea markets – Softness - Vintage jewellery – Home – Camping - Impressionists - Antique lace - Mary Poppins aka Julie Andrews - Detectives– Line drawings – Rambling – Mum & Dad - Rain at night – Company – Fresh laundry - Mango – Photography - A*line skirts & Tank tops - Cats - Texture & detail – History - London – Tea cups & saucers – Faded watercolors – Freshly baked bread – Audrey Hepburn – Brocante - Custard – Inner beauty - Motown - Blogging – Laughing - Nigella Lawson – Cafes for Latte Macchiato & starring at people – Creativity - Car boot sales – Large tote bags – Botanical illustrations – Typography - Aged paper – Novastar - Antique Linen - Contrast - The stars on a clear night – Murder she wrote – Agatha Christie – Weekend getaway– Greeting cards – Fire places - Amusement parks and scary rides – My love - Day dreaming – Alan Rickman - Bookshops – Pale nail polish – Britain’s small country villages – Life –Victorian times – Pixies - Altered books – Bing Crosby – White antique buttons - Etsy – Ephemera – DIY – Boots – Mr. Darcy - Smell of old books – Almonds – Quotes – Lists – Magazines – The Woods – Travel – Notepads – Sleep – Nature – Antique photo’s – Pewter teapots – Anneke Bloemen books - Fabrics – Mixed Media – Gardening – BBC’s Costume drama’s – Castle’s & Mansions – The UK – Ceramics – William Morris – Early morning (coffee) – Sewing – Collecting – Inspirations – Used leather – Friends old & new …

Love to hear your loves & inspirations!!!

These are a few ...

2009-05-11T00:03:00.009-05:00

... of my favourite things!

I just love going to fleamarkets specially the ones in the South of Belgium and France.

Getting up really early ... usually not a problem cause I do not sleep a wink when I know I am going to one. And when you're finally there and you pick-up a few things like on the pictures below ... you just can't get the smile of my face!

Old chocolate container

Wooden lamp after a very good clean!

Ladies clogs

All pics: Mooi van Toen

Quote ...

2009-05-09T16:29:00.003-05:00

Twittering ...

2009-05-07T12:45:00.010-05:00

This dainty little blue bird was handcrafted by Cathy Nash of Tadpoles and Teacups and was her giveaway last month.

I was gobsmacked when I found out that I had won this cute little guy.

Upon his arrival he landed on my nightstand and has been twittering over there ever since. He puts a smile on my face everytime I wake up in the morning. Isn't that just the best start of any day!

Thanks a milllion Cathy!

Go check out her blog ... she makes the cutest papier mache/clay sculptures and her posts are a delight te read.

Snuggle up ...

2009-04-21T14:16:00.010-05:00

Can you imagine yourself crawling into one of these beds to spend a very lazy Sunday morning in them? I can!

Pics by: Bella Notte Linens

New resident ...

2009-03-15T15:04:00.005-05:00

* Tilly *

By: Louise / Art & Ghosts

Look who came over and decided to make our humble home her new residence.
She has a wonderful cheekiness about her and I just love her bunny like ears .

Tilly was brought to life by Louise Robinson of Art & Ghosts . Louise is sooooo incredibly talented. Go check out her blog ... it's artful, witty & quite inspirational.

Something to look forward to ...

2009-03-10T03:53:00.007-05:00

I'm not one to be rummaging around on the web looking for up coming movies but I just happen to come across something that made my heart skip a beat.

Being one for the obscure, haunted and all things animated Coraline fits those categories like a glove. Can't wait for it's release this coming May.

Go check-out the website ... it's a wonderful example of things to come on the big screen!

My first rammblings ...

2009-03-03T03:35:00.005-06:00

I would very much like to use this blog as a means of reflecting - to whom it may ever be reading - what gets me going, inspires me and what makes me cry, laugh and leaves me in awe.

So, what leaves me in awe - leaves me lost for words ... for one The Works of Tage Andersen.

Tage Andersen is a florist, sculptor, decorator and a genius most of all. When entering Tage's shop / gallery in Copenhagen, Denmark you believe to have fysically entered in a fairy tale story book. The color scheme, flower arrangements, sculptures and tropical birds in wire cages makes you leave this modern world and enter a mysterious dark baroque one. Even the appearance of the man himself - ever wearing his plus fours, woollen knee stockings, artistic beard and pony tale - is fairy tale like.

The artist himself writes: "For me, atmosphere is one of the most important things to achieve". He certainly succeeded to do so in my opinion.

Pics: http://www.tage-andersen.com