Tea at the Ritz

There is one thing I simply must do that has been on my long list is have tea at the Ritz, the one in London, that is.  We did recently visit London, but the planning was rather last minute and I had many other cities to visit on our trip as well as London.  However, when we were there, I decided to poke my head in the door just to see what it was all about.

 First of all, I was dressed like a tourist with my jeans, T-shirt and sun hat.  All I hoped to do was get a tiny little peak.  The tea room was at the end of a long room on the other side of very gorgeous doors.  The staff, however, was ever so gracious as I explained my circumstances and told them I knew I was not dressed appropriately but I just thought I would see if I could get a glimpse.

 The concierge explained that a 12 to 14-week advance reservation is required in order to have tea there especially this year with the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics, but if I would check at the front desk of the hotel, I might be able to pick up some information.  So around the corner I went where I was met by another friendly face.  I asked if I could get some information for the tea room and he whipped out this beautiful little menu that was made up in honor of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.  I uttered my delight and thanked him profusely.

 Some day I will visit England, all of England.  I will tour the inside of Buckingham Palace, see the changing of the Guard, and, of course, have tea at the Ritz.  Next time I will make plans in advance.  Let's just call this last trip a teaser as we only had two days in London and by golly there is a lot to see and take in.

 In the meantime, I will treasure my beautiful menu and remember how gracious the staff greeted me.  I am not much for buying souvenirs when I travel.  My photographs are all I need to make me happy, but this little menu is something I will keep and treasure forever.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants
                                     Faded Charm Cottage       Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity   Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           My 1928 Charmer Sunday's Best

Butler's Chocolate Crate

I can't believe I'm actually going to sell this box, but I am.  I found it at one of those sponsored neighborhood real estate sales.  It's got a tool tray in it and it started out as a wood crate.  The details of the crate are wonderful, but there was a very large oil stain on the top that I feared would bleed through a simple stain and varnish.

My husband painted it with Rustoleum Canyon Black brush on paint and top coated it with the same color spray.  I gave him strict instructions not to do very much sanding because I wanted the old world feel to come through loud and clear.

I have no idea of the age of this crate, but it's been around the block, the tool shed, the garage, whatever you want to call it.  Nicely dinged and beaten up from years of use.

 For the gold design, I used a simple inexpensive stencil I found at Michael's.  I didn't join the lines to make it look hand painted because I wanted to keep the aged primitive feel going.  I used acrylic craft paint in antique gold and burnt umber.  I put them sided by side on my paint palette and dipped the stencil brush in the gold on one side and then the burnt umber on the other side.  This made for a very uneven coloration thus looking like some of the paint had been worn back with time.

 I wrapped the gold design around the sides of the box.  I used my script 3-inch alphabet stencils to do the lettering which was done with ivory acrylic paint.  I came back with burnt umber on my liner brush and did a little shading on the letters just to give them a bit of depth.  It's barely visible against the black background, but it did have a subtle effect.  When it was totally dry, I came back with lightweight steel wool and rubbed the whole piece to dim any harsh lines from the stenciling.  Then it got a clear sealer coat.

The next photo is the crate as I found it, dust, oil stain and all.

 I love this look with fall colors, and I think at Christmastime it will look amazing with the traditional greenery, but honestly, I love this look all year round.  The old world look is definitely my style.

Thanks for dropping by.  As always, thanks for visiting and I hope you take away some inspiration for your own style and projects.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants
                                     Faded Charm Cottage       Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity   Rooted in Thyme
                                     Shabbilicious Friday
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           My 1928 Charmer Sunday's Best

Chef Pierre

Let me introduce you to Chef Pierre.  I have had him for awhile and he came painted like a regular figurine that looked more like Chef Luigi.  I didn't like something about his skin coloring so I changed his whole look.  You can see Luigi at the end of the post.

 I've done this finish before, but this time I used a glaze to shade him instead of dark wax.  I think it worked just as well and I didn't have to get the gloves and the wax out.

 To start out, I sprayed Luigi with gray primer.  I came back and dry brushed some gesso on him.  The photo above is the primer with just the gesso.  Then I dry brushed him with Annie Sloan Duck Egg Blue chalk paint.  Just a light dry brushing.  By this time, he was clearly becoming Pierre.  Next I took some Americana Glazing Medium that I purchased at Jo-Ann's in the acrylic craft paint section.  I mixed three parts glaze, one part Burnt Umber acrylic craft paint and a couple drops of water.  If you are in doubt, follow the directions on the glazing medium.  In the creases of Pierre's hat and coat, etc., I used a little extra Burnt Umber in the mix and shaded in the crevices.  I'll finish him with a clear coat to seal him.

 In the above photo you can see the dry brushing of the Duck Egg Blue.

 Now he goes with a lighter decorating palette.  His pan was kind of a rusted metal so I gave that the same treatment.  The below pic is of Luigi as he started out.

Thanks so much for dropping by.  Have a great day.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants
                                     Faded Charm Cottage       Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity   Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           My 1928 Charmer Sunday's Best

Little Red Desk

I actually did this desk right before we went on vacation, but I'm just now getting around to doing a post on it.  I have used this wreath applique on red shutters before with a very dark stain and I liked the effect much better than the way the desk came out, but be that as it may, it is ready to go.  It's a simple drop leaf desk painted with Colonial Red by American Accents with an applique applied to the front of the desk to spruce it up a bit.  Then I applied special walnut stain.  For some reason the paint this time around was a little too shiny and my stain did not darken well which would have given it a more old world feel.

 To give the desk a little contrast, I had my husband paint the inside with Heirloom White also by American Accents.  It's a simple makeover, and now is the time to sell desks as the school year is starting so off to the shop it goes.

Just to add a post script, I have finally taken myself to the doctor like a big girl and have been diagnosed with whooping cough.  Apparently the illness is not as severe in adults because we all get vaccinated as children and if we contract the illness later in life the outcome is more mild.  All I can say is this "mild" case of whooping cough has certainly whooped me.  I am now on antibiotics to conquer this beast once and for all, and I am expecting a speedy full recovery in a matter of days.  Cough syrup should keep the residual cough at bay.  Thank you to everyone who emailed me.  The good news is that since I have felt so under the weather, I have only left the house minimally since we came home so I have basically kept my exposure to the outside world to a minimum.  Thanks to you all who wished me a speedy recovery!

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants
                                     Faded Charm Cottage       Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity   Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           My 1928 Charmer Sunday's Best

Signs of Paris

If you follow my blog at all, you may have noticed my absence since I returned from vacation.  When we first arrived home, I attributed my feelings to exhaustion from a very hectic itinerary on our cruise and then our weekend stay in London.  The truth is that two days before we disembarked from the ship, my husband and I both became ill with what we thought was the simple beginnings of a cold.  We persevered knowing that we had precious time to enjoy the sights of Paris and London and we didn't want to miss a thing.

 Here it is 12 days later and I am still in bed.  This is the first day I have felt there is light at the end of the tunnel.  That and the fact my daughter is threatening to take me to the doctor if I am not better today (I have not been to the doctor for illness in maybe 30 years?)  My husband is not far behind me either.  Our symptoms are simple ones such as my cough that is incessant and never seems to leave my side or my bronchi either.

I have heard that cruise ships can carry gnarly illnesses, but this being our 5th cruise, I thought we were immune.  Apparently not. 

 With unfinished projects laying about, I think it's time to get back to life as I know it albeit a little each day.  I have not even returned to the shop to work on my space for fear of contaminating the whole place.

 With all that said, I will just share a few pics I took in Paris.  You all know how I love lettering and typography. 

The sights of Paris did not disappoint me in the least.  I had not visited there since I was 18 which was many moons ago (okay, decades) and it was even better than I remembered.

 Would you believe every chocolate shop I passed by in Paris and London was closed?  What's up with that?  Maybe they heard I was coming and I would buy up all of their inventory.

 Here's to good health and not taking it for granted.  Had I been able to get my hands on some chocolate, maybe it would have boosted my immune system.  I have heard it's full of antioxidants.

I'm not sure what the above picture says, but I believe it to be a legislative building of some type.  Even it is incredibly beautiful.

 Thanks for staying tuned in.  I will be back in a jiff. 

I A Door Paris

Let's just say I have a fetish for old ornate carved doors and I do believe Paris has enough of them to write a whole book on.  Unfortunately I only had  a few hours to wander so I concentrated on the Opera District as I had read what a beautiful area it was.

 The Opera District is encompassed in the 9th arrondissment of Paris.  The word arrondissment translates to a municipal subdivision of a department in France.

 It is an "in between" section of the French capital comprised of the original opera house, the Grands Boulevards of shopping thoroughfares and department stores and many sidewalk cafes. 

 It seemed like everywhere I walked I came across these magnificent double doors surrounded by incredible stonework and iron balconies, and, of course, the beautiful enameled blue house numbers.

 Some of the doors were in the process of being refinished or maybe painted.

 I wish I could spend a month there just to experience the culture and the ambiance and to completely immerse myself in it.

 Paris is a city like no other.  It was my favorite stop followed very closely by London.  It is no mystery to me why people fall in love with these grand cities.

 I do have to say my husband was very put off by the unfriendliness of the French, but having visited there when I was 18, I knew what to expect.  Yes, I found arrogance, but I also found smiling faces willing to help me, or maybe they just found me amusing and wondered why I was snapping photos of the most mundane things.  Mundane to them, but pure eye candy for me.

I am pleased to say that yesterday, I actually started priming three projects to work on.  Maybe by next week I will have some new projects to share.  In the meantime, I will try to share some of my passion for this amazing city for which there is nothing like it.

I'm partying at...


Mondays          Le Chateau des Fleurs       The Graphics Fairy    
                                      Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis Monday
Tuesdays          Knick of Time       Tutus and Tea Parties       Coastal Charm  
                                      Boogie Board Cottage    A Stroll Thru Life   
                                     Cozy Little House Tweak it Tuesday
Wednesdays     Savvy Southern Style         Ivy and Elephants
                                     Faded Charm Cottage       Fine Craft Guild      
Thursdays        Embracing Change     The Shabby Creek Cottage    No Minimalist Here 
                                     Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday    Fishtail Cottage
                                     Rustic Restorations Homespun Happenings
Fridays            French Country Cottage       My Romantic Home        Miss Mustard Seed
                                    At the Picket Fence     Potpourri Friday     Common Ground
                                    The Charm of Home    Decorating Insanity   Rooted in Thyme
Saturdays        Funky Junk Interiors

Sundays           My 1928 Charmer Sunday's Best

Back from Vacation

Greetings.  We have returned from our very exciting vacation.  It was so exciting I am just about done in and it will take me a few days to get back to normal.  I would like to thank all of you who left comments on the few posts I managed to schedule before we left.  I will be checking emails and replying but it may take me awhile.

Our trip was beyond amazing and I am awestruck by our good fortune to be able to experience such a wonderful adventure (10 European cities in 15 days).  I will be back to posting very very soon.