Jugs Two You

Just a little Saturday Jug Love

Another re-mix.. this time of my two favourite jugs.. My white vintage coffee pot and my lovely turquoise number acquired from Sharon's Online Brocante .. Although I've gotten a bit silly and added the image of I'm guessing a Mill House from the cameo painting above .. so it's a global mix today. To see the original and other beauties acquired from Sharon's shop.. check out this post [here]

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A bit of Saturday Blogger Love

Thanks to all you fabulous bloggers who left me kind comments on my 2nd anniversary post.. You're the best!!! You sure know how to keep a gal's spirits high!!..  Also .. I know some of you are wondering if I will be selling my photo-art. I've had a few requests over the last year.. and am currently looking into doing just that! .. just taking a wee bit longer than anticipated.. So.. whilst you wait I will be having that promised giveaway... soon!! Just need to decide which print.. 

Have a lovely weekend everyone

IMAGE SOURCE & CREDITS

All photography, text and artwork [beingRuby©]

Dolly was a giveaway win from my dear friend Ange [Signed by Ange]

PS  Thanks girls.. I did consider calling this post.. 

.. 'SEE MY PRETTY JUGS'..

I could say more on the subject but I will be good and let you rat bags [I mean commenters] provide the naughty fun.. that way if anyone is offended .. it's not my fault!! Right? 

Dear Santa: My French Country Brocante

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[photos by BeingRuby©]

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Turquoise Antiques

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As I mentioned in my last post.. arriving home from vacation, I was greeted at the doorstep with a package from France... A package filled with Turquoise loveliness all the way from Sharon's Online Brocante: My French Country Brocante. It was good timing and softened the blow of leaving Noosa behind. Noosa which is all turquoise and loveliness itself.. but that will come later.

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Right now I want to show you my latest brocante acquisitions which you can see in my shots above.. Five little rusty tins, each over 100 years old and in the delightful colours I am so fond of these days.. Their original use was for storing ammunition.. [that could come in handy for dealing with Mr Piano Accordion Man.. No only joking .. I think]... but I have yet to decide how I will use them . A myriad of uses really.. I'm constantly looking for bits and pieces and I think these would be perfect for organizing my home office, storing jewellery, or even just pure decoration purposes.. They quite like being photographed .. so they will add to my photo props and tie in nicely with my French Enamel Lunch Pail & Glass Sea Floats [see last post]. I also acquired this gorgeous enamel jug... Another item from the turn of last century and again in my favourite Turquoise... Another beautiful enamel piece to add to my collection. I can see I may end up with a Turquoise & White kitchen some day...

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So there you have it.. my latest acquisitions from My French Country Brocante .. No not MY French Country Brocante [I wish!!!].. but Sharon's 'My French Country Brocante'. I know many of you will be familiar with Sharon's blog 'My French Country Home' ... a lovely place to linger and dream of living in France.. Well now you can bring some of those delicious brocante pieces into your own home by way of Sharon's online Brocante.. Another wonderful place to while away the hours and find some perfect gifts for loved ones.. Or .. if you are like me.. for yourself!! haha.. Here are some more goodies from Sharon's Broncante that are definitely on my Dear Santa Wish List. Beautiful pieces rich in history and patina.. Personal pieces that have been pre-loved with long held secrets of life in a rural France.

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[shop photos by Sharon Santoni - My French Country Brocante]

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Some of these pieces can be found in Sharon's category 'Suitable For Framing'. Isn't that a terrific idea?? Especially the lovely script & ledgers above ... or even the delicate lace and linen pieces. I think they would make such a wonderful statement piece.. Preserving a piece of history and beautiful addition to decor at the same time.

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Another brilliant idea of Sharon's is a suggestion she might hold 'Brocante & Garden Tours of Normandy' next European summer. Long weekends in Normandy, filled with good food and great accommodation.. in Sharon's own guest house or grander B&B's belonging to her friends, and of course Brocante hunting. A chance to search out that special something yourself. Well I think it sounds perfect.. Especially as lately I have a keen desire to search out some other lifestyle.. You'll remember in my last post I mentioned grilling the Antique Store owner for details of her travels and life.. Well this sort of thing can't be created overnight, but we can all dream a little.. and I think dipping ones toes into this world would be a wonderful starting place.. or simply an exciting adventure .. What do you think? Would you find this a perfect way to spend a vacation? Being close to Paris it would be an easy side-trip. Well I am going to keep dreaming of a life other than my present one.. but I'd be keen to hear what you think also? Meeting up with Ange recently was such a wonderful experience .. Imagine meeting up with other bloggers on a Brocante & Gardening Tour of Normandy? .. Darn how am I going to settle back down with these ideas running round my head.

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I'll leave your with another image of my new 'old' jug

Dolly is hiding in the background.. I told her NO!! I told her to wear pants!!

But did she listen?

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Have A Lovely Weekend Everyone

I'll be making my list[s] for Santa

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IMAGE SOURCE & CREDITS:

Text by [Being Ruby©] - Images: 1-3 and 8 by [Being Ruby©]

Images: 4-7 by [My French Country Brocante©]

My French Country Brocante Button & Logo by [Being Ruby©]

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Dolly dressed by: Herself

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Antiquing in Noosa & Eumundi

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Shiny Pretty Things

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Antiques With A Nautical Theme

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Seems I can't stay away from the sea too long.. even when window shopping for antiques... The globes and nautical paraphernalia remind me of my grandfather and his adventurous youth at sea... My childhood memories of their home is one filled with English antiques... dark comforting timber and nautical artwork and paraphernalia.. so this antique shop in Noosa brought back many warm memories for me... I also seem to have an addiction to green and turquoise since visiting Noosa.. All my recent acquisitions seem to be in these soothing tones... I think again it is a sea theme... Although I didn't buy anything from the shop above.. I had some serious thoughts about buying a late 1800's Shell Frame with sweet ship painting inside. It took all my willpower .. plus a look at my bank balance to refrain!! Ditto for that fabulous mirror & globes.

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Eumundi

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Noosa Hinterland

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I did manage to buy some wonderful items from another antique store in Eumundi. Eumundi is a small friendly town that has proudly retained it's heritage buildings and old world atmosphere and is situated in the hinterlands above Noosa. Apparently.. our now ousted Prime Minister Kevin Rudd attended Eumundi Primary School, something the bus driver was keen to share, however it is it's bustling market day on Wednesdays and Saturdays that makes this town a must place to visit. I managed to visit on both.. and spent a large amount of time once again.. trawling the bookstores and local antique shops.. one shop in particular.. 'Continuum'.

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I loved this shop for it's diversity... Antiques, Vintage and Retro items fighting for my affection... But the winners were a French Enamel Lunchpail in soft aqua and some vintage Glass Sea Floats... something I have long long hoped to acquire... I bought three in varying sizes and shapes.. and love them to bits!!!... Another fabulous factor about this shop was the owner Debra and her husband Doug.. both graciously allowed me to ask them a million questions about their lifestyle, shopping trips to France twice a year and general questions about selling antiques. Perhaps I have a sudden urge to emulate this lifestyle. The difference though is Doug and Debra have over 20 years experience in antiques.. and me? I have about 20 minutes.!! Still.. we can dream. If you're ever in Eumundi.. make sure you visit their shop!! An absolute treasure trove!! Here are some shots of my purchases back home.

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Sea Green & Turquoise

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And Finally

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Signature on Hastings

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Another favourite shop.. although not antiques, I loved everything inside and out. Particularly their lovely window displays.. I bought myself some shells.. which I'm sure you'll see at some point.. but it is the artwork in the window [below] that really caught my eye.. such a lovely piece that which evokes soft and fuzzy warm feelings.. I can't remember the artist's name.. a testament to my bad memory these days.

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Now.. the Green & Turquoise acquisitions don't stop here.. Upon arrival home I was greeted with a package from France.. A package filled with Green & Turquoise antiques from our dear friend Sharon's new shop.. 'My French Country Brocante'.. I can't wait to show you these too.. but think it deserves a post of it's own.. Meanwhile you can always go and peruse her lovely antiques and brocante finds online [here] and snaffle a few pretties for yourself.. or a loved one for Christmas.

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I hope you've all been enjoying a wonderful week

Next Stop: Sharon's Online Brocante then back to the sea and Noosa

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IMAGE SOURCE:

Text & Photography by [Being Ruby©]

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Happy Mothers Day: Antiques & Giveaway Winner

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Happy Mother's Day

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To all our mothers around the world ...

Those we hold near to us each day ... and those we hold dear in our hearts and memories ...

And all the nurturers and sisters and daughters

May your days be filled with love, happiness and the comfort of family and friends

xx Julie

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It's also Silver Sunday and the long awaited Venice Giveaway winner[s]

- that's at the end of the post ...

[I can see you scrolling!!]

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French & Italian Antiques

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In honour of our mums.. I thought I'd bring you girls [sorry guys] a bit of culture to go with your silver fix.. Yes a little culture in the way of my male model here.. Brought to you all the way from Renaissance Italy and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.. My Italian boy dates from the 1500's .. but hey.... he hasn't lost his muscle tone.. It's all about the eye candy!!! I mean culture!! So here are some of some of my French and Italian antiques.. strategically modeled by Michelangelo's Ignudo ... I had more silver antiques to show you but they are currently held captive in my trial version of photoshop.. which conveniently expired this morning..!! So.. I just made the pics extra big and hope you don't notice. haha

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Michelangelo's Ignudi

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The splendid male model is courtesy of a postcard I bought in the Vatican Museum.. He is one of twenty Ignudi that Michelangelo painted in the four corners of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. I don't know if you have ever had the chance to see this miracle of art in real life.. but it is everything and more than you imagined.. Quite extraordinary.. I'll tell you more about that in a later travel post... and bring you the colour images then .. but now it's time for the giveaway winners..

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.. The Winners Are ..

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Yes winners plural! In appreciation of those bloggers who posted about my giveaway and all my lovely followers.. I drew two additional prizes

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Giveaway Winner

#134 - Monika from Splendid Willow

- wins the two Venice Prints

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Followers Prize

Rhonda from Shellbelle's Tiki Hut

- wins a square Venice print

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Prize for Posting my Giveaway

Roberta from Tresor Trouve

- wins a square Venice print

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If you are just tuning in my Venice Prints are these [here]

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Thank you everyone for your lovely comments.. not just on the giveaway post but each and every week. Your constant encouragement is the icing on the cake. Speaking of.. come back later in the week as I have a little celebrating to do.. which may include another giveaway!!!

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.. I'd also like to say a big warm welcome to my new followers and once again

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Happy Mother's Day

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Thanks to Beth of 'Gypsy Fish Journal' for hosting Silver Sunday. Pop over there and spread the Mothers Day love ....

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IMAGE SOURCE: ALL Photography, text and altered art by me - [Being Ruby]

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