Tuesday 17 April 2012

Much Ado About Blue




I grew up surrounded by blue and white and not just a bit here and there.  I am the daughter of a serious blue and white addict.  She has it everywhere. 

When I was in my early twenties I vowed and declared I wouldn't do the blue and white thing like my mother.  I tried to escape it because I wanted to have my own thing.  I wanted to be me, not my mother.  But there seems to be this innate sense which I can't seem to escape.  No matter which way I turn I seem to include a little bit of blue and white.  It's almost like I feel instantly at home when I see it. But I do like to think that I do blue and white differently to my mother.  She's more of a classic blue and white girl whereas I tend to be more this and that and a bit of something else thrown in. 

Over the weekend I photographed this little collection of things which were sitting on my mother's dressing table.  That old blue and white picture frame which houses a photo of my Harry as a baby has been sitting on tables in her house my entire life.  And yet it's only now that I want to sneak it into my handbag whilst she's not looking!! 

Here are a few other blue and white things which caught my eye this week...



Whilst out and about the other day I came across this beautiful pair of antique blue and white garden stools.  I can't begin to tell you how divine they are but unfortunately they are completely out of my price range.



I also stumbled upon this beautiful Antique stool with it's old cornflower coloured upholstery.  I wouldn't change a thing about this beautiful thing.  It would slip into my house with it's age worn style so perfectly!!



And look at this fabulous set of blue and white vintage canisters which we currently have at Black & Spiro.  A perfect complement to any blue and white addicts kitchen!



Inky blue and white batik notebooks and ginger jar also at Black & Spiro.



Blue & white quilts just arrived in last week from our New York buying trip earlier in the year.



And last but certainly not least, these very beautiful hand-painted blue and white lamp bases are too beautiful for words and pictures.  You must come and see them...that's if you can beat my mother to them!!xx

xx
Anna

26 comments:

Faux Fuchsia said...

I luff your mother's home 9 million/10. Blue and white is always very soothing and comforting x

Sadie + Stella said...

I cannot get enough of blue! From ginger jars to just cobalt on its own. Love!

Kelly Green said...

Blue - so timeless and classic and I never tire of it. Those ceramaic stools are superb! i think we all like to imagine that we might be different from our mothers but the apple never really falls far from the tree! KG X

Jenny Beattie said...

Oooh, I love the quilt and the notebooks. Actually I love the ceramics too. Here in Thailand - my home for the moment - blue and white china is very popular. The Chinese made Bangkok their home before it became the Thai capital so their style is very mixed in with the Thai style.

Hannah said...

These pieces are so beautiful! I love how our mothers shape the things we thing are beautiful. My mother had given me a flair for taking a rusty old turkish coffee pot and making it into a vase. Taking trash to treasure is definitely an aesthetic that was in my veins from birth. That and a penchant for Italian leather shoes ;)

Ness Lockyer said...

Your Mum is a wise Woman. Blue and white are the best... especially in china! Love the lampshade!!
Ness xx
Marley & Lockyer

Paula said...

I just ADORE that antique footstool, and I'd have the batik notebooks in a jiffy. Your mother's dressing table looks so elegant and stylish - it's so interesting to see how a parents style can so often influence a child subconsciously. Thanks for sharing.

pve design said...

Anna,
I have a pile of blue and white inspiration to paint.
As always, I adore how you embraced collecting blue and white. I wish I could pop in your shop - I would be there often....googling all the beautiful blue and white.
pve

mrs. V | Chez V said...

Hello Anna! I am a longtime reader from the States. I absolutely adore everything you do, in fact, a good many of my pins consist of your vignettes or shots from your shop! This post really resonated with me - I did a similar post last week and included a picture/link of one of your pictures.

http://chezviviv.blogspot.com/2012/04/design-profile-blue-and-white-porcelain.html

You might enjoy the story as well...

All the best-Emily aka mrs. V

Sandy aka Doris the Great said...

I grew up in a house where my mother hated the color blue; but I am head over heels in love with the color. Most of my wardrobe is blue or shades of that lovely bluey-lavender color. However, because blue is a cool color (and I'm a hot woman!), I purposely leave it out of every room in my house except my own sanctuary.

Sometimes I dream of having a blue and white house, especially when I see others. But I doubt it will happen; I'll stick with hoarding the blue in my home for ME!

miss b said...

There is something about blue and white especially crockery - I love the vintage cannisters - they are gorgeous. I have some lovely vintage blue and white china from my husband's grandma.
http://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/

WorthyStyle said...

Oh those garden stools are so divine. Love them to pieces! The lamp bases and ginger jar are wonderful as well

WALTER G said...

What a mouth watering post! I am blue with envy!!! Thank you for making this terribly rainy Wednesday a whole lot sunnier!
xxx Genevieve, WALTER.G

Francesca said...

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stay in touch and stay awesome.

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Francesca

Cyndia said...

I had to laugh because I'm having the same realization! My mom has always loved blue and white, and I recently decorated her den walls with lots of blue & white plates she has collected for years.
The difference I see between her style and mine is that she is more classic country while mine is a bit more sophisticated.
If it's any consolation, my daughter, who I thought would never love antiquing as I do, has suddenly started frequenting antique shops and flea markets! And guess what? I spied a blue and white bowl in her home!

TINA KENT said...

That lamp is ace Anna! Maybe Harry could 'borrow' this beautiful frame for an indefinite time! I have a blue & white dinner set on my Wish List . . along with everything else! Happy Wednesday. lovT

Unknown said...

That's funny. I grew up similarly , my mother has a serious blue and white Meissen collection and my sisters and I all swore to do different things with our own china.
Now we all have again rather extensive blue and white collections! I love it!
Its a timeless classic combination! Not to feminine, just beautiful! It surely appeals to many!

Vintage Home said...

Too funny...I have had blue & white for over 40 years and now am collecting it again. Sometimes I put a bit of it away...but now I am leaving it out!
Your mothers dressing table is wonderful with all the sweet pieces on it!

Calico Child said...

Also such pretty items I was always funny about doing the blue & white but it is hard not to love some of it though!!! :)

Helen Hallows said...

I love this! Great writing and made me smile. x

Helen Hallows said...

I love this! Great writing and made me smile. x

Georgia said...

Hi Anna
I love love love blue and white as well, as does my mother. My mother collects mieson, blue onion, as did my grandmother. I have seen those stools as well at a store in Albion, can you believe that they are Spode? And so expensive. I thought that the store had closed. Is it under new management?
Georgia

Christina Perraki said...

Hello Anna!
Beautiful blues! One of my favorite combination of colors. See for your self in my last posting.
Christina
http://www.fauxbilicious.blogspot.com

Susannah {Letter Love Designs} said...

Thanks for writing this. I, too grew up with chinese blue and white antiques but only now realize how much I love them and the comfort they provide. Oh, that and seeing Mark D Sikes home!!!

Tessa White said...

Those lamp bases are stunning!! x

Jenny Rose-Innes said...

I just cannot get enough of Blue and White... Adore those vintage cannisters !! Thank you !! Jenny Rose-Innes