Perth, Ontario .

Vintage Garden in Full Bloom

The Garage Sale gods were with us, delivering a day without rain (except for the drizzle as we were setting up) despite the dire predictions of the weather bureau and the solid rainy track record we've had this April and May. The cooler weather made it much more comfortable to be standing around outside all day. There was a fabulous turnout, with everyone in good spirits chasing down treasures and negotiating bargains.

A big thank you to everyone who dropped by to have a look at Vintage Garden, who took the time to show me the amazing finds they had unearthed, and to everyone who found something of mine they had to bring home with them! I'm happy to report that all my topiaries were snapped up in one go, and my vintage aprons sold out, going to lovely women who felt as I did... that they were acquiring an artifact from days gone by.

Vintage Garden

Aprons ironed and folded neatly, flower brooches blooming nicely, everything priced and packed away to be transported for the Great Glebe Garage Sale tomorrow.

So, if you're in the vicinity, why not enjoy this once-a-year golden thrifting opportunity? Shopping, bargain hunting and strolling are the order of the day. Look for me on Third Avenue. I'll have my Vintage Garden sign up to welcome you. Selected treasures will be waiting for those who share my interest in objects of vintage or garden (or both) origin.

I'm all packed up and ready to go... hope to see you there!

Whimsy with Purpose

This wee blue chair, measuring only 5 1/2 inches wide by 12 inches tall, will be on sale at the Great Glebe Garage Sale on Saturday.

What a sweet perch it would make for a small potted plant or mini trellis for a plant to use for support in a garden pot. I made a little seat cushion for it that could be used to hold straight pins or as I've done here, brooches and jewelery pins. And surely, it is adorable enough to stand (oops... sit) all on its own.

Twisted Topiaries

I came across these brass candle holders for candelabras at a salvage store and re-purposed them as miniature urns with quirky topiary I fashioned for each one, some more twisted than others. The urns all measure 2 inches high (more or less). They are just some of the handcrafted items I'll be selling this year at the Great Glebe Garage Sale.

Wrapped in Nostalgia

These are a sampling of the vintage aprons I'm going to part with at this year's Great Glebe Garage Sale on Saturday. Maybe I'll change my mind about one or two and place them back in my collection but most of them, and others, will be there.

To me, these aprons are such a symbol of the housewives of days gone by. They make me think of all the baking and dinners that must have been prepared while they were worn. They are all shapes, colours and sizes, no two the same.

You can tell that many were handmade... some using left-over bits of fabric , no doubt from other sewing projects. Some aprons are plain and utilitarian, others are embellished with ruffles, rickrack, trim, eyelet lace and even embroidery. One of these aprons is reversible, with pockets on both sides. You really get a sense of the owner's style and personality by the little details they put into making them.

Often used as a teaching tool for learning to sew, these old aprons can exhibit all sorts of sewing techniques: smocking, embroidery, gathering for ruffles, fancy stitches and hemming. The levels of sewing skill, from the novice to the more experienced, are apparent on close examination.

A source of nostalgia, these aprons bring to mind a time when not only were all meals home-cooked, but the baking was too... they speak of time spent in the kitchen, hard work and loving duty to family.

For the retro-chic hostess to wear, or just to collect as an appreciation of what they represent, these aprons are a little piece of history to wrap yourself in.

Crab-apples at Dusk

Driving home from a friend's, I chanced to take the route home that takes me past the city's Experimental Farm gardens and what a sight the flowering crab-apple trees made. Ihad to turn in and park the car to take some photos. It was almost dusk and I hurried to grab these photos as the light faded. What a beautiful, but all too fleeting, display they offer but once a year.

Wild Violets

When I spotted this orphaned saucer, festooned with violets, I could already picture exactly what I would do with it once the violets were again in bloom.

Every spring we have wild violets that come up through our lawn. I don't yank them out, but instead leave them be... usually the grass does not need mowing until after their blossoms are spent. We both seem happy with this arrangement.

Violets are such dear wee flowers. They make me think of shy retiring souls who would rather hang back at the edges in a group than be the centre of attention. Gathering their short stems together, they create a tiny yet robust posy. There is safety in numbers so perhaps they do not feel so uneasy when they have each other for support.

I love how they look beside this English china saucer... they are not overshadowed in any way by their two-dimensional counterparts.

The miniscule bottle of scent came back with me from a trip to England 16 years ago. The scent of Devon violets is one that stirs many nostalgic memories that are as sweet as the scent itself. Interestingly, the tiny jug was made in Devon.

A Room with a View

With rain in the forecast for the overseeable future, isn't it nice to look out the window at magnolias in full bloom? This photo was taken through my son's bedroom window. I wonder whether most homeowners think about what they will see when they look out their windows? Does that figure into their gardening plans as they decide what to plant where? Perhaps every window should have some sort of flowering bush, vine or tree nearby to gaze upon in inclement weather.

Now there's an angle for a gardening book that might not have already been used. Gardening from the Inside Out: Creating Views from Your Windows.

Flower Brooches

Finally, a use for some of the vintage fabric I collect... flower brooches. They measure about 3 or so inches across and would look sweet on a jacket lapel or closing the neck of a blouse. They could also be used to add flourish to a hat, totebag, curtains, cushions or anything else your imagination can dream up.

They are something that I started playing with some months ago, when I was trying to decide what to sell at this year's Great Glebe Garage Sale. They take a fair amount of work to make and I'm not sure that they are the right match for the bargain hunters who turn out on mass for this annual sale. Perhaps they belong in a craft shop.

What do you think? Would you wear one?

Spotted Orchids

Spotted orchids from light and airy, to rather dark and somewhat scary!

Orchid Gold

More orchid beauty... in shades of yellow.