Thinking Ahead...

Brynwood Needleworks - Newest Cookie Cutters

I'm thinking ahead this year. I'm not sure my niece will host her annual Christmas Cookie Exchange as she's now the Director for a large nursing home facility. She instituted tighter Covid restrictions for the protection of her residents, and of course, holds herself to those restrictions as well. It's no wonder her residents love her.

I am attending a smaller Christmas party gathering on December 15th, and rather than having a gift exchange, we'll be sharing cookies instead. While I'm used to making six dozen cookies for my niece's party, we've only been asked to make three dozen for this exchange. Easy peasy!

The gathering is with friends who quilt and do wool applique', so I wanted to do some of the cookies in a sewing theme. I found a thread spool and knew it was one style I'd want to make. I'll do a dozen of those. As I looked through the Etsy shop (RikRakShack) and found a few others I wanted to add to my collection. They're high quality, and unbelievably affordable. 

 

***ATTENTION***Do you recognize the other shapes? Can you guess which other two cutters I'm going to use for the party? Tell me which ones. If you guess the right ones, I'll send you a dozen cookies when I make the rest for the party! I'm not going to mention this giveaway again. The first person to guess the right two cutters (aside from the spool cookies), will win a dozen of my handmade cookies in December.

Brynwood Needleworks - Hanging My Teacups

The other thing I did yesterday (in addition to removing the rest of the back hall tiles) was to add cup hooks to the shelf in our dining room china cabinet. Not only does this free up some space on the shelves below the hook, but I think there's really something lovely about hanging my tea cups.

The little bunny was hand carved by a dear friend who passed while we lived in Florida. It was one of the first things I ever purchased from him. Seeing this little guy makes me smile and think of our friend. I love that bunny now resides in our farmhouse china cabinet.

Blue and White Bliss...

After Thanksgiving, I gave you a little teaser about my latest acquisitions (here).
Although I promised more about it in that following week, I got a little sidetracked.
Better late(r) than never, right?

Just in time for my Birthday, I got a new set of Johnson Brothers china to add

to my collection of British transferware. I love this set which features castles!

It came with a lovely, little serving dish, too. If we're not using the American

"Memory Lane" everyday set, we'll be using these dishes. Any food looks good

on blue and white dishes...and blue and white fits perfectly with our decor.

I actually have another Johnson Brothers coordinating pattern for the soup and

fruit bowls, but just realized that I neglected to photograph them. I'll share those

in a random post in the future. I will say that they have acorns in the border!

I also found this antique British Staffordshire china covered serving dish. Whether 

using our blue and white Spode Wild Bird Hunt set or the blue and white Johnson 

Brothers set, this serving dish will be a standout complementary piece on our table.

The pattern on the inside of the dish also coordinates with our other patterns.

These pieces are all antiques that I've had for years (and the new

serving dish fits right in). They're on display shelves in our kitchen.

I love having them where I can see and enjoy them every day.

I was talking with Aunty Margaret recently and found out that we both

share a love for blue and white china. I never realized that, but was

happy to know. It seems the older I get, the more she and I have in 

common. The fact that we were both born in England was just the start.

It's time to say "goodbye" to all the Hull Brown Drip Ovenware

dishes and serving pieces I have. They're wonderful, and have been

a part of my life since I first moved out of the house at eighteen, 

but I'm looking forward to someone else enjoying them.

What's your favorite pattern or style?

I'd love to know!