Ivy and Elephants: history

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Lady Sings the Blues Part I

Billie Holiday ~ Lady Sings the Blues

Patti and I not only love great jazz and blues artists such as our favorite Billie Holiday, but we have a passion, an obsession if you will, for blue and white porcelains and pottery. Wedgwood, Spode, Delft, Royal Doulton, Tarjay (Target), you name it we love it.

This little Delft blue basket from the Netherlands sits atop my mother's jewelry box she received when she was in junior high school. Don't you just love windmills?

Speaking of windmills, there are so many wonderful Delft blue windmills out there. They are so much fun to collect.

This Delft blue piece reminds me of my dad who always had mortars and pestles around the house. In fact, he still collects them.

This Italian tea for one is one of my favorites. It has the cutest butterfly perched right on the top of the lid.

One of my blue and white weaknesses is for Chinese porcelains. This vase sits on top of my dresser and adds such great color to the room and enhances the floral arrangement that is right beside it behind the clock.

In the window of the girl's bathroom, (ok my bathroom), is this porcelain piece with a very feminine shape. Do you remember that jewelry birdcage from Feeling Cagey Part I? If you missed it click here.

This miniature porcelain set sits below the jewelry birdcage

One of our favorite antique dealers was cleaning out her home and well let's just say this piece didn't make it in the store from her car.

Two things my husband loves this time of year. Mangoes and Bocce ball. These delicious mangoes came from my Dad's house and the decorative balls came from Home Goods. Hopefully hubby won't take them out to play with.

Since we are in the kitchen, let me just say blue and whites are every where. They grace the top of my cabinets, and counter tops.

These lovely mangoes came from Patti's house. She has a beautiful mango tree growing in her yard. When I was a little girl, I would stare at that Aunt Jemima napkin holder for the longest time. She just always looked so happy sitting in my grandmother's kitchen. Now she sits happily in mine keeping my pot holder handy for me.

This Wedgwood bread platter is also one of my favorite pieces. First of all because I got it for little of nothing on eBay and for some reason my garlic bread just taste so much better when I serve from it.

I was reading one of my Nell Hill's decorating books and I saw two beautiful candle holders with a decorative ball on top of each one and well you know what happened next. Voila!!!

Blue and white porcelains enhance any arrangement. In my living room they sit amongst pieces from Africa and South America. I placed this miniature Delft blue saucer in front of Bobo the Elephant from Thomas Blackshear's Ellie and Bobo of the Jamboree collection, you know in case he gets thirsty.

I absolutely love history. Having this Pullman Porter's cap is an absolutely honor, therefore it sits atop a beautiful Italian porcelain cake stand.

Well I hoped you enjoyed a taste of my blue and white collection. Tell us about your favorite piece of blue and white in your or a friend's collection?

Stay tuned for Lady Sings the Blues Part II.