Yesterday I decorated until I was blue in the face. This morning I decided it was time to do some shopping. As I said before, I tried.....
I came home with a glass sugar and creamer from the antique mall. That was for us. I have lots of dishes, etc. but not one matching sugar and cream set. I managed to spend $5.25 for both pieces. Oddly enough, it was just like a Fostoria set, that I had many years ago, that got lost in a move. I guess that I was meant to have it again.
When I got home, I was still not in much of a Christmas mood. Tessie caught me moping about and gave me a lecture. She said, "If you can't think of anything Christmas like to do, work on the tea shop. It will get your Christmas mojo working."
Where does she come up with the colorful language? I know that I never put the two words Christmas and mojo in the same sentence.....Then it dawned on me that she wasn't worried about my Christmas spirit. She was worried about her tea shop being neglected.
A couple of days ago, I found the two pieces that you see in the photo. I bought them both at a Sprouse-Ritz store back in the early eighties.
They are an early form of resin and very nicely detailed. I bought 4 or 5 pieces at the time because they were inexpensive. The finish on them left something to be desired, but they were workable.
Tessie likes them and they solve her missing counter problem in the tea shop. At least I think that they will.
Somewhere along the line, I had painted the wall shelf unit black for some unknown reason. That wouldn't do for the tea shop.
I decided to go with dark forest green for both to unify them.
After a couple of coats, they were looking more alike, but it took three coats to really cover all of that shiny finish. Sanding does help.
After I painted and painted and painted, Tessie took over. She found some Martha Stuart strips of paper lace with adhesive backing. She couldn't wait until I finished painting.
She stuck it to the front edges of the inside shelves.
I do believe she is onto something. It worked well. She is rushing things however. I am going to let the paint dry and put a varnish over it to keep it from chipping. I may do some form of trim on the outside of the pieces.
Again, I am not shooting for reality here. The pieces are resin. I get to play with them. I gave myself permission before I started.
I am going back to watching the paint dry for a while. Maybe, whilst I do, visions of sugarplums will start dancing in my head. I surely do hope so. Wish me luck!
See you tomorrow.
13 comments:
I have noticed in the local neighborhoods there are very few decorations around. Usually it is a gala of lights spread for miles.
Between the economy, high fuel prices and global warming reduction efforts it is a very low key year for celebrating the holidays. I might get around to stringing up the one strand of LED lights that go in my workshop window...or not.
I've been feeling the same over here Casey.... so I went online and bought 'Christmas with the Rat Pack' (thats the only music the hubs and I BOTH like). I'm hoping it gets here soon and strikes up a little Christmas spirit in someone! - ara
Karin and Ara, It's nice to know I'm not alone, but at the same time it's kind of sad. Tomorrow I am going to put up the Christmas tree and see if that does the trick.
I don't know, Casey. I've been working on the tree and all it does is aggravate me. I think I hate the "putting the lights on" part. Haven't felt all that CHritmasy myself yet but it's still early.
I like the table and cabinet combo. I think it looks nice stacked. Maybe not exactly what Tessie had in mind but it does look charming together. Can't even tell it's resin...and who cares anyway? Should we all have Aquisto silver filling up our tea shops? I can't..
Bah Humbug
Tabs
Tabs! Cut that out! You're not helping with the "Bah Humbug!"LOL
I almost ended the entry with that, but took it out at the last minute! Great minds think alike....?
I love the Martha lace stuff on the shelves, I've not seen anything similar overhere (I will have to look around), but it's just the right look...wonderful!
Michelle :o)
There are only 14 days to go Casey...
My tree isn't up yet either, no lights outside, no cookies in the oven and laundry everywhere. If you find some Christmas cheer, please send a little over here!
Michelle, I found the paper lace as a closeout. It evidently wasn't selling all that well. I said Martha Stuart. I could be wrong. It no longer has the label on it. It is definitely a scrapbooking item though.
Casey, Tessie's new teashop furniture looks great! I completely understand about the lack of Christmas spirit. My tree is up and almost completely decorated, but honestly that's only because 3 young boys deserve to have presents under a TREE! But there aren't any other decorations up. And I am noticing a trend in our neighborhood too...normally dozens of houses on our street have lights up...I've seen 1! (and our neighborhood even offers a $100 bets lights prize!) There seems to be a decided lack of spirit this season.
"Christmas mojo"! I think mine has rolled under the bed and got covered in dust, can't seem to find it... I don't even want to THINK about Christmas, too much mini stuff to do in a very short time before I go NZ and work on the 'real world' cottage renovations again for a few short weeks. Then it's back to Australia which means back to university and study, study, study so who's got time for Christmas??
Be careful about the 'bah humbug' tho ;) My brother has said it once to often so for Christmas he's getting a "Mars Bar" from my sister, and a bag of "Humbugs" from me AND THATS ALL! So my advice is fake a little cheer when those who will be giving you gifts are around :) LOL
I'm so jealous of the little things you seem to be able to just 'pick up' here and there in the US. Those little resin pieces look good, and that paper lace is really nice - self adhesive to boot!
I'm feeling it too. I think the "blah" feeling is contagious this year.
I'm hoping the Christmas luncheon with my mini group in St. Louis tomorrow kick starts me.
Once I get back I still heave to finish cleaning and then I can pull out the tree.
Family is the only way to get me into any spirit :):) and yea, my blog friends. Today, reading all your blogs got me thinking of Christmas alot :)! Merry Pre- Christmas, Casey :) By the way, I think I caught your flu. Did you also have a very bad cough?
The furniture looks great, I love the lace on the shelves. :)
Sometimes it helps to listen to Christmas music.
I haven't done anything Christmasy, guess I better get busy with something.
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