LA DOLFINA

Do you believe in ghosts?   History has numerous accounts of corpses coming back to life. In a variety of ways, (seizures, coma, narcolepsy, trance, electrocution, poisoning, etc.) a living body can give all appearances of being dead. The skin is unresponsive and pale, breathing and heartbeat are imperceptible, and the body is cold and rigid. Hopefully the misdiagnosis is discovered before the body is interred, but on many occasions, corpses have been exhumed, and scratches have been discovered inside the casket showing that the body was buried alive and had clawed the inside of the casket in a futile attempt to escape. To prevent this a body would lie in state in the person's home for several days while a family member would watch over him hoping that the body would awaken. Even today, the custom of viewing a dead body is still called a "wake".   Before the 20th Century, people of England had the idea that after a person died, his spirit might re-e...

I was immediately attracted to this when I spotted it at the flea market a few weeks ago. Upon closer inspection I saw that it was an old Elgin watch repair kit. Years ago my mom gifted me with her father's gold Elgin wrist watch which I've always cherished, so it came as no coincidence (I've never believed in coincidences) that this particular treasure was waiting for me to find it! Fortunately, the price was right and I snapped it up. EXTRA PARTS ELGIN 7 AND 15 JEWEL WRIST WATCH FIELD MAINTENANCE AND BASE SHOP ASSORTMENT FOR 250 WATCHES (1/4 SETS) I have been pondering the rows of tiny silver topped, numbered vials that once held tiny jewels, hands, bushings, bars, screws, pinions, levers and springs. And then it came to me! This would be the perfect box to house a collection of sand and shells from my favorite beaches! The bottom level has several numbered cardboard boxes that are the ...

I used to have the hardest time styling my fireplace especially during the Fall season.   Even though I love nature I am not particularly fond of using Fall colors in my home. Last year I scored a large pair of ginger jars which have a touch of Chinese red (burnt orange) in them. I have quite a bit of Asian influence throughout my home starting with my Chinoiserie fireplace that I found in Paris many years ago. Now I find myself attracted to Imari and Chinese red accessories. Recently I was able to acquire several lovely pieces of antique Imari from the estate of a gorgeous home in Piedmont. I've also recently become enamored with blue & white as well. It might have something to do with The Enchanted Home and Tina's influence.   This morning I started playing around with some of my newly acquired treasures to see what I could come up with. A friend of mine, Molly, who is...

I think it is time for another   Prop Shop Sale! (Several of my treasures were recently featured in a Fall themed photo shoot)   I've been collecting lots of wonderful things since my last sale and with the holidays fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to come and dig around my prop shop for seasonal decor, art, furniture, lighting, decorative accessories and unique treasures and gifts. What do you say...  will you come?  How does the second weekend in November sound?

Since I don't have a window above my kitchen sink, I am forever trying out new kitchen sink vignettes... I picked up this old mottled strip of brass ages ago at the salvage yard charmed by its worn appearance, but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I thought of using it as a back splash for my kitchen sink.   It took me a while to get used to it but now I find myself really loving how it looks but even more how it functions. The bead board was always getting wet and beginning to swell and peel so   my little experiment has become a life saver!   Plus I have fallen in love again with brass and this piece has acquired some of the best patina I've ever seen. I like to haunt our local boating consignment store looking for items to give our little kitchen some nautical flair.    I've been waiting for the perfect porthole but in the meantime found this antique wooden sifter ...

Halloween I picked up this box containing six bottles of vintage Primo Sepia Erasing Fluid at the flea market last weekend.   I was attracted to the colors and graphics on the cloudy, crusty old ink bottles thinking they would add just the right touch of "Halloween" to my design aesthetic.    They look pretty good in my  Cabinet of Curiousities.  I also think they would be fun as tiny vases to hold dead flowers for a Halloween themed dinner.