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Saturday, January 9, 2010

The Vintage Table

Welcome. I am so happy that you stopped by. I recently received a phone call from Desiree Noriega who works in the advertising department of Romantic Homes - Cottages and Bungalows and Victorian Homes magazines asking me if I would be interested in contributing a raffle gift. The gift was for a tea sponsored by Paris in a Cup (a charming and delightful shop located in Old Town Orange, California featuring tea, gourmet chocolates and fabulous pastries) to meet the author of "A Vintage Table", Jacqueline de Montravel. The proceeds from the raffle gift would be donated to Casa Theresa, a local loving home for unwed mothers. I am a big fan of Casa Theresa and have donated art in the past to help raise funds for the home and was delighted to participate.



Please join me for a cup of hot tea and I will share with you the inspirations for the raffle gift basket I created. Since most of you are probably freezing, let's stay inside where it is warm to have our tea. Even Bentley seems to be content to stay inside.









My idea was to create a "vintage" inspired basket with lots of red to match the book cover. I immediately thought of painting a vintage red bicycle.





I love my new red tea set with the big white polka dots and found two adorable pitchers with the same polka dots - my next inspiration.



I found a black vintage style table cloth with red cherries - this would tie in the black and white check ribbon on the red bicycle. I decorated a birds nest and found a lovely silk red geranium to add to the vintage basket.








Since Valentines Day is right around the corner - the little hearts with old vintage keys and vintage fabric were the perfect addition.









The completed basket.









I delivered the two baskets to Paris in a Cup and noticed a flea market across the street. Let's walk across the street and see what we can find at the Vintage Flea Market. It seems appropriate that the market is featuring vintage kitchen items on the same day of the book signing for "The Vintage Table".






























Let's take a break while Bentley gets a drink of water.








Close up of the charming "dog water" bowl provided by the adorable shop - "The Victoria".


















Old Town Orange is a charming historic town dedicated to preserving the charming old cottages and homes - most of them are over 100 years old - as well as preserving the quaint little downtown. Let's take a quick look around at some of the old beauties .




























I will take you on a longer walking tour of Old Town Orange in the Spring when all of the flowers are in bloom.


Thank you for stopping by. I love hearing from you and sincerely appreciate all of you who have visited , left comments and follow my blog. If you would like to see me paint something special or have a question, please leave me a comment or send me an e-mail.



Have a lovely week. Blessings Erin

20 comments:

bj said...

O, Erin, what a beautiful post.
I love the baskets and for such a wonderful cause.
All the photos are wonderful..enjoyed going around to see all the great old homes there.
AND, I am totally in LOVE with your beautiful home!!
hugs, bj

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Your basket is just the perfect combination of lovely things! What a beautiful collection of treasures! I love the little pillows with the keys. I have been making little heart pillows so I'll have to expand my designs and add something extra. I love the wonderful store! The little red child's chair caught my eye right away! Thanks for sharing all of your photos! Have a good weekend!

Stacey said...

Erin, I'm so glad you have a blog. I just love to look at your paintings, your surroundings, and that sweet dog!

Why does it not surprise me that they asked for a donation from you? You seem to capture the essence of what many of us love in your work.

Kathi said...

What a pretty post! Love love love those bungalows! Especially the one with the pink door!
I would have done some real damage to my wallet at that first shop!!!
Just look at all of those yummy red and yellow kitchen things! Wow!
Thanks for taking us along!
Love your basket too!

Lisa said...

Thanks for the beautiful tour! Such cute shops and such lovely old homes! Thanks for letting us tag along. :)It was so good of you to donate your time and talent for a worthy cause. I know whoever wins your sweet basket is going to be beside themselves with joy!

Rhondi said...

Hi Erin
What a delightful basket for the raffle. I just love my welcome sign with the hydrangeas.
You have the most charming homes where you live. So much inspiration!
Warm hugs, Rhondi

Simply Debbie said...

HELLO MY PRECIOUS ERIN AND ADORABLE BENTLEY,
HOW LOVELY IT IS TO VISIT WITH THE TWO OF YOU AGAIN AND HERE YOU ARE, AS USUAL, GIVING A PIECE OF YOUR HEART AWAY. ALWAYS THERE TO HELP OUT WITH YOUR BEAUTIFUL GIFT TO CREATE AND PAINT. THAT IS ONE BEAUTIFUL BASKET RAFFLE YOU CAME UP WITH. THE RED BICYCLE WITH THAT PLAID RIBBON IS JUST BEAUTIFUL. RED AND BLACK ARE ALWAYS GORGEOUS TOGETHER. THSE HEARTS WITH THE KEYS ATTACHED ARE SO SWEET.
DID YOU RECEIVE A COPY OF THE SIGND BOOK...THAT IS WHAT I WOULD LOVE TO OWN IS A SIGNED COPY OF THE VINTAGE TABLE BOOK.
THANK YOU SOOOO VERY MUCH FOR THE TOUR OF THE HOUSES AND THE LITTLE SHOPS...I COULD LOOK AT THE PICTURES OF THE HOUSES YOU BRING TO US FOR DAYS. I KNOW EVERYTHING WILL BE GORGEOUS IN SPRING AS EVERYTHING WILL BE IN BLOOM.
I KNOW I SAY THIS A LOT BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THIS OVER AND OVER AGAIN AND I HAVE TOLD AND SHOWN MANY PEOPLE THE TWO PAINTINGS YOU SENT TO AMY.......THE PINK BICYCLE THAT WE TOOK A LOT OF IMAGINARY BIKE RIDES ON AND THEN THE BIG CANVAS OF AMY IN PARIS....YOU DON'T KNOW THE HOURS I HAVE SPENT GAZING AT THAT ELEGANT PAINTING...THE COLORS SO BRIGHT YOU WOULD THINK YOU WERE WALKING RIGHT THROUGH A PARISIAN FLOWER MARKET.....I WILL TREASURE IT FOREVER....BELIEVE ME NEXT TO MY HUSBAND AND PETS, IT WOULD BE THE FIRST THING SAVED IF WE EVER HAD TO EVACUATE OUR HOME AND I MIGHT GRAB IT OVER MY HUSBAND...LOL. LOVE...LOVE...LOVE IT, AND YOU AND BENTLEY. YOU OWN A PIECE OF MY HEART....ALWAYS. YOU ARE SUCH AN INSPIRATION.
I DON'T THINK I TOLD YOU BUT MAYBE....MY MIND IS A TAD WARPED BUT I STARTED ANOTHER BLOG ALSO, CALLED SIMPLY DEBBIE.IT WILL BE OF MY JOURNEY WITH AMY WATCHING OVER ME FROM HEAVEN AND FINDING OUT WHAT IT IS GOD HAS FOR ME TO DO.
ANGEL HUGS
LOVE
SIMPLY DEBBIE

La Petite Gallery said...

This is just Fabulous.
I like the welcome sign and am going to make the garden sign this winter. You really have the touch.
I'd like to be in Calif. today. More snow..

yvonne

Anonymous said...

Oh what a lovely post today. A great basket for the charity. I have the Better Homes and Gardens cook book pictured. We received it for a wedding gift 50 years ago. It is about to fall apart but I still use it occasionally. What a lovely town you live in. Thanks for the delicious tea.
QMM

Georgia Peachez said...

Erin, it's so pretty and WARM! I love your bicycle painting. I think I need a vacation to California. xo, suzy

Phyllis said...

Hey Erin,

What a sweet and generous basket you put together for the raffle.

OMG - I love those little shops and the houses are WONDERFUL!! Please show us more in the spring :)

Daisy Cottage said...

Hi Erin!

Happy New Year Dear One!!!

What a glorious post - filled with lovely images and sweet inspiration. I think I will treat myself this year to one of your bicycle paintings .. will be in touch with you about that soon. I love ALL of your work, your home, your sweet Bentley, and of course YOU.

xo,
Kim

Kelee Katillac said...

Hi Erin!

The basket is so charming--loves the hearts! I love the shot of your living room too....so cozy and bright.

What a neat walk..and the houses are my "cup of tea"!

Thank-you so much for your encouraging comments on the blog. It made my day to wake-up to positive words from you! You are very kind.

I appreciate you!

love, kelee

Simply Debbie said...

DEAR ERIN AND BENTLEY,
I POPPED IN TO TELL YOU I HAVE A SPECIAL AWARD FOR YOU ON MY BLOG.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE AN AWARD FREE BLOG AND IF YOU ARE I TRULY UNDERSTAND BUT PLEASE, PLEASE KNOW I REALLY, REALLY WANT YOU TO HAVE THIS AWARD.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
A GRACIE ANN PECK
SIMPLY DEBBIE

Julie said...

I loved the pictures of the old house and I can't wait for you to take us back! I love the basket and all the wonderful things you added.

Mary said...

Erin, what a fabulous area, the bungalows are precious - and to see people in shorts, wow!

We're freezing here in NC and have been for over a week, however with brilliant Carolina blue skies, no precipitation or wind, I have to admit I LOVE it! Just wish I had Bentley here to take 'walkies', but of course he'd need a jacket!!
Speaking of jackets, I'll be posting on the one Jasmin found at Anthropologie soon - thanks to you. She was so excited to have something from that shop at last!

Your gift baskets are a beautiful way to support that special place.

Lovely colorful post, it is a bright star during this time of sadness(losing a very dear friend).

Hugs - Mary ACROSS THE POND

Marilyn Miller said...

I love Paris in a Cup. There are so many fun shops in the neighborhood too.

Sandra Lee said...

That was so fun and your basket is beautiful and so cheery! I must take a little trip to Old Town Orange, it looks so inviting.

shabby*vintage*dreams said...

LOVE the basket!! Very pretty!!! What a great post all the images are stunning!!! I couls sit here all morning studying them all!!
Hoping your having a great week!

Anonymous said...

The basket you created was lovely and so inviting! I love all the photos of the old homes. I am going to have to get out one day and take some shots of the homes around town where I live. But for now...I'm staying inside where it is warm!