Decorating with Collections ~ One Thing Leads to Another

It is true.
We decorate our homes with pieces that speak to us.

It was a bit of a surprise, discovering a collection of pups while straightening up some cupboards.
A fun surprise while doing early spring cleaning,
finding one here and another there,
to realize I had a collection of pups of many different types and styles.

Pieces found over time,
not intentional,
they had spoken to me and is how this collection came to be.

With my new found collection, I decided to use some of them.

The Staffordshire pitcher was added to the table by the couch here.

One thing always leads to another.
I brought this pothos plant in from the kitchen, moving it to the marble top table in the great room.
I love the vivid green in this blue and white transferware pitcher,
something bright and cheerful on these dreary days of winter.







I like using trivets under plants for a little extra protection and to add some height.




I found a few of these at an antique shop a while back.
Solid brass trivets,
Thomas Jefferson Cipher Monticello,
made by the Virginia Metalcrafters in 1951.

Wanting to know a little more about them I found this...

Virginia Metalcrafters traces its roots to the Waynesboro Stove Company, founded in 1890 by William Loth.  By 1938, it was selling, among other things, small metal gifts under the name of Virginia Metalcrafters.  The gift line endured.

When it was operating at a fast clip in 1999, Virginia Metalcrafters employed 170 people, and more than that in prior years.  The firm was sold in 2003 and began importing items, then assembling and finishing them at the Waynesboro facility on East Main Street.
source

It always makes me sad when American companies no longer manufacture products, but import instead.

Here are a few of the pups,
this one is from a pair of book ends.






The larger pup is also one from a pair of bookends,
the small one was found at an antique shop years ago...I just thought he was cute!






While I was moving things around, Bella settled in to keep an eye on what was happening.

I've had this early 1800's wooden salt box for many, many years.

The top lifts up and there is a drawer with brass pull on the bottom.
I love the inlaid wood in the drawer.

When using nice pieces as containers for plants that require watering I take a little extra care.

You can see the steps I take here, A Breath of Fresh Air.

Hope you are having a Happy Tuesday!

There's still time to check the GREAT features at this weeks party

and to share you've been up to!  Hop on over for AMAZE ME MONDAY!

Sharing with: Home and Garden Thursday, Home Sweet Home, Show and Share, Inspire Me Tuesday, Wow Us Wednesday