Thursday, August 21, 2008

Blues, books, bears and bunnies...

It is not easy for me to softly transition from summer to autumn. I love to just rush in headfirst to my favorite time of year. I am however working on some new vingettes around my living room to annouce the arrival of early autumn. My mind went to the color blue. I decided to use my blue vintage books instead of the normal red or green ones. Then I thought it would be cute to add a small bear to my table. I stacked the books to sit him upon and placed a piece of vintage lace, which was a gift from a dear friend in England, as a scarf. To me a teddy bear says 'cozy'. It shows the cool evenings have come and time to cuddle up. I finally found an apothecary jar which I had wanted for some time and filled it with sugared lemon slices.


It is the time for hydrangeas as the bushes are full of pretty blossoms. These are not real as I don't have any blue ones in my garden. I hope to find a real bouquet of them to dry if they are affordable.



Then I looked around for something to add to the coffee table and thought my new book would look fun there as it colors well with the pail of flowers. It is entitled "Beatrix Potter ~ A journal" and I am so glad I ordered it.


I thought it would be a nice book but was in for a big surprise when it arrived. It is just amazing. It has Miss Potter's handwriting throughout and many pages have fun items you can open or even remove to look at and read. Here you can see an envelope. It contains the letter written to Noel with the story of Peter Rabbit. There are many photographs and drawings she created.


When you arrive at the end of the book...


...you open the flap to discover a wonderful surprise!


A reproduction copy of the original black and white version of Peter Rabbit that Beatrix had printed herself.


20 comments:

Happy@Home said...

Hi Heidi,
Your home is looking very cozy. Makes me want to curl up with a good book and your Beatrix Potter books looks lovely ~ especially the surprise at the end.

Have a great day,
Kim

Anonymous said...

Fall is in the air here too, Heidi! I know how much you love autumn so I chuckled a bit at your impatience to decorate for the season. Enjoy these last few days of summer.
xo,
Lynda

Anonymous said...

Hallo Heidie,
Wat ziet het er alweer gezellig uit. Trouwens ik heb wel een blauwbloeiende hortensia...was Cranberry Cottage maar een beetje dichter bij dan bracht ik je een boeketje) Wat een prachtig boek over Beatrix Potter !!! Mag ik vragen waar je het besteld hebt ?
Groetjes en nog een gezellige avond,
Janneke.

PS. Heb je de film over Beatrix Potter met Renee Zellweger gezien?

Nancy said...

That book sure is allllll you. Perfect. Remember the Darling Buds of May, Perfeck, LOL. Carolyn Zeta Jones has come a long way since that show.
Your bear looks very cute.
I am now talking to Dagi on Skype asking him if he is going to be happy to get a sister. Only we would be having a cat talk from Holland to Ohio. Are we certifiable Heidi?
Love you, Mom

Nancy said...

Whoops, sorry, Catherine Zeta Jones.
Love again, Mom

Anonymous said...

Hallo again Heidie,
Wat een supersnelle reactie m.b.t. mijn vraag !
En weet je wat? Ik heb het boek ook al supersnel besteld ! Fantastisch, ben er nu al blij mee.
Ik heb ook al een boek: "At home with Beatrix Potter: the creator of Peter Rabbit" by Susan Denyer.
Ken je het ? Gaat onder meer over haar prachtige COTTAGE in the Lake District.En hoe zij daar dingen uit gebruikt voor haar tekeningen.
Ik zag het boek net nog op amazon staan :)
Nou wat weer een leuke belevenis vanavond !! Moet nog wel even geduld hebben want het boek komt pas rond half september.
Groetjes en dank je wel.
Janneke.
ps. heb de DVD ook !!

Carolien said...

Hi Heidi,

The bear is so sweet. Sofia mentioned it again in the car. And yes, it is a nice 'bridge' between summer and autumn ...
The girls loved that book and it looks great. The girl I will be 'nannying' has Beatrix Potter curtains, so sweet!

Have a nice weekend at CC, groetjes aan Jos en sterkte met de schilder! Hugs, Carolien

Andylynne said...

I love the new arrangements. I will have to look up the journal it looks like a must have. Your home looks wonderful as usual. I love using books. I found an entire set of nature books I love, written by Ernest Thompson Seton. I would love to put them out, but they are well, to put it kindly not attractive. So I love to find things like the Miss potters journal to make up for all the dusty, worn books I drag home. Oh and I wanted to let you know I ordered an Eva cassidy CD and will be buying more of what is available . I love your music you have playing and have enjoyed exploring hearing more of it.

Mandie said...

Hello Miss Heidi! Fall is also my favorite time of year! I love sweater season, and am sad that it is so short lived here in North Carolina. I guess I do miss Ohio after all. I never thought I would, but I grew used to the changing seasons over the 10 years I lived there. *sigh* Oh well, life goes on. That book is so cute!!!! And how neat that it has a reproduction of the original b/w Peter Rabbit! Her drawings are just adorable. I'm glad that you found it! Oh and we FINALLY got your package in the mail! I will be posting pictures soon.

Love you!!!
Mandie

Lawsy Mercy said...

Heidi,

Another sweet, comfy and cozy post! Thank you for sharing.

Please drop by my blog. I have an award for you :)

Vanessa

Elizabethd said...

I so love Beatrix Potter. Wonder if you have seen the film 'Miss Potter'?
Your arrangements look lovely.

Suzann said...

I love all the changes you've made. I am a huge fan of teddy bears, so I love that you used one in your decorating. That Beatrix Potter book is just lovely too.

Melissa said...

Heidi,

Your posts are all so lovely.

I received the gifts last night, thank you.

I will post about it soon.

Melissa

Barbara said...

Heidi, I love all your posts. I ordered the Beatrice Potter book yesterday. Your home sounds lovely, wish I lived closer so I could come visit.
Hugs,
Barbara/MO

Annemarie said...

WHat an amazing book, Heidi, and how wonderful it is to be allowed a look inside your home. Unfortunately, my son is always rushing around re-arranging everything, climbing on top of furniture and what have you, so I will just have to drool over other people's interiors for the time being :o)
I'm like you in that I can't wait for autumn. A leaf that changes colour in the height of summer is a sure sign for me that autumn is on its way!

Tracy said...

Hi, Heidi! What a lovely, inviting, cozy home you have! Your vingette is beautiful...I love the nostalgic flair all around. I like the idea of blue instead of the "usual" fall colors, reds, greens, etc. The B. Potter book is exquisite! Love B. Potter's art and tales. We've had such a glorious summer here in southern Norway, and still drinking in the last of the summer glory...For once I'm not resisting the arrival of autumn since we've had it so good for months now...I almost can't wait for cooler days, sweater-weather, more excues to make soups and cozy food--LOL! Happy weekend ((HUGS))

Nan said...

I'll have to get the Beatrix Potter journal. What a wonderful idea someone had to put that together. I love seeing all the interest in her.

Pondside said...

We're seeing signs of fall here too, Heidi. Fall is my very favorite season, even though we don't have the colourful change of foliage here in the Pacific Northwest that one has in the east. Your new teddy-bear vignette is very sweet!

the tattered nest said...

you lucky girl! what a treasure! happy autumn!

Linda said...

Heidi...I adore Beatrice Potter and just order this sweet little book....can hardly wait to get it....hugs, Linda

p.s. Did you see the movie? I love it!