A holiday gift to cherish...Romantic Country!

 

it started with a French angel

who believed in me

Fifi and I connected several years ago through this blog, and since then,

many wonderful things have happened. She has this gift to see beauty in what others create & she knows how to share it with the world quite well.

I am beyond grateful for this beautiful gift I received this Holiday...a dream come true for me...

Romantic Country Spring Issue 2013

Three treasures in my life to make it happen

Fifi O'Neill

Mark Lohman

Kimberely McCole

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

take a little peek... but you have to go out and  buy a copy!

dreams do come true..so clean up your home..keep dreaming..keep cleaning..

it will happen

 

farm living here

kick off your boots

take a seat

 

 

perhaps read a book..or maybe the new issue of Romantic Country?

 

 

sorry but Jerry was photo shopped out in the actual article

Love him in this picture.

 

 

 

stay a while I'll make you dinner

 

 

 

 

don't forget to dream

they do come true!

so go get your copy

it is a beautiful issue

with many beautiful bloggers homes

sweet dreams.

xo Laura

 

 

A favorite vintage treasure

Hi my blogging friend! I just wanted to post something I would like to share and I am excited about...my vintage wooden crates!
I have been selling crates in the store for some time but over the last few months I am become a supplier to many across the country. I don't know what is is about old wood crates but I have been drawn to them as far back as I can remember. I think my first love was the small cheese crates. I still have it. Crates have so many uses...especially to store and display some of your favorite treasures.
They are perfect for kids rooms, garden rooms, retail shop displays, kitchen counter tops, any table top, bathroom, closets,...endless ideas. I also love the way the French nordic homes display and use them ( shown in a previous post)
I have been wanting to share some of my ideas with you but have been super busy with the Holidays..so next week I am setting aside a crate afternoon to create some of those ideas and share. I think everyone should have at least one vintage crate. Don't you?
There are many different type of vintage crates out there.
These blueberry crates I have purchased and been selling for quite some time in my store and have recenty started to sell them on line...who know they would be so popular..even Rachel Ashwell has them now.she sells them for $125.00 with a beautiful Shabby Chic liner. mine are just primitive and plain no liner I will leave that up to you.

 

 vintage wood in the coolest chalky shades. they come with dividers that can be removed..so many great uses.I will be sharing some project here next week.

These are the current customer favorites mine too.

 

nothing like the real patina of weathered old wood

you can go here to order these are the current favorites

www.apieceofvintatge.etsy.com

 or just swing by the store for pick up.

 

 

these crates are very sturdy all have metal trim for knocking around, handles & some of the original lettering none have been painted all original.

 

 

if you are interested in one crate or many crates please feel free to contact me via email I just love them I would love to share my cool finds with you.

xo Laura

lvdellaporta@gmail.com

or stop by our downtown store

44 SE First Ave ( Marion Block Building)

Ocala's Original opera house

Ocala Florida

Get your crate & start creating!

 

www.apieceofvintage.etsy.com

 

 

 

The Joys of creating

loving to create and share a little dream  with you this holiday season..a handmade holiday.. always a Joy to transform my nest when I can for you....creating with love  in my heart and soul...come share the Joys of creating and giving this holiday season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

God bless you always! xo verbena girl

A beautiful Season

                                                 Hi my old blogging friends!

 

                      As you know it's been busy around here on the farm just trying to keep up with life, kids, chickens, dogs, rabbits, horses and trying to get my little shoppe Verbena ready again for the Holiday Season.  I thought it would be nice to blog especially for some of my friends who I don't get to talk to much but I know you stop by to see what's  up in this neck of the woods!!! Hi Cheryl!!!! Hi Nancy!!!! Hi Kim!!!! Miss you all!!!!

 Always inspired and  motivated to make something new out of something old, something that is functional with meaning, nature inspired and most of all beautiful to give.

 I had a lot of fun creating these little Holiday vignettes on my studio porch..take a peek hope you get inspired to make and give something  beautiful this Holiday season.

                                                                Enjoy!

 



I thought of this idea a while back thinking what to do with all my vintage silver collection so  

I made hand poured soy candles in vintage silver cups sprinkled with fresh herbs and flowers I grow here on the farm.

tea cups are also another idea and good way to recycle old cups. What better way to share my antique and silver collection for Holiday gift giving. Some of my customers are bringing me their cups to fill with my heavenly blends.

several antique trays are filled with these at the shoppe

I love them grouped together in three's on a little tray...the smell is so sweet.

I also dusted faux snow on petite pine trees  and placed them in my collection of silver baby cup lined with moss from the farm trees. makes a sweet little gift & nice way to reuse your childs baby cup.

Another favorite shop item for years that has become very popular is our sacred hearts..I love them worn around your neck on a handdyed silk or vintage ribbon or just placed on top of old tattered books for display. These make extra beautiful & affordable gifts for a loved one.

Flowers in vintage mason jars tied with ripped old fabric..plenty of that around here.

I had such fun creating all of this on my studio porch. Here is one of my favorite  perfectly weathered old farm table I took & mixed some of my old chairs and lightly  nestled them  together to create a cozy but creative French Nordic feel. My favorite style.

lots of whites, bleached wood, sheep skin throws, French bottles, handmade artisian Holiday tags dangle on a naked wire lampshade, touches of deep rich reds and my favorite a big galvanized bucket filled with gifts.

lots of pine cones in this neck of the woods... .perfect for holiday touches everywhere...a pretty silver trophy cup I picked up at a local thrift shop

 

oh what would one of my jewelery displays be with out our beautiful verbena girl

she was taking a break here on the farm but will be back to work in the shoppe this week!

always save the best for last..Dante's dog Eddie is  enjoying watching me carry all these things back and fourth from the house..and I  know he is wondering what the heck I am doing!

 

Having fun... doing what I love to do..making a mess!!!!

Look for the new Ocala Family Times Magazine Holiday issue this December..it will be a beautiful issue filled with many great stories and creative ideas for the Holidays...plus my little Holiday  studio porch styled by me will be featured...thank you Rose!

 

 

Last but not least

Please don't forget to support your local shops, buy handmade and...

 be sure to do something nice to help another even if it's something small. We know now more then ever there are so many in need.

I am taking a percentage of all my Holiday sales and giving back to a family in need.

 

my little gift for you...a  very old poem that is one of my favorites written by a child in 1861

BEAUTIFUL THINGS

 

Beautiful ground on which we tread,

Beautiful leaves above our head,

Beautiful flowers and beautiful trees,

Beautiful land and beautiful seas!

 

Beautiful sun that shines so bright,

Beautiful stars with glimmering light,

Beautiful summer, beautiful spring,

Beautiful birds that merrily sing!

 

 

Beautiful lambs that frisk and play,

Beautiful night and beautifl day,

Beautiful all the plants that grow,

Beautiful winter, beautiful snow!

 

Beautiful drops of pearly dew,

Beautiful river, bright and blue,

Beautiful herbs that scent the air,

Beautiful objects everywhere!

 

Beautiful every thing around,

Beautiful grass to deck the ground,

Beautiful lakes and woods and fields,

Beautiful all the green air yields,

 

Beautiful bud and beautiful leaf;

Beautiful world, thought full of greif;

Beautiful every tiny blade;

Beautiful all the Lord has made!

 

 

Blessings to all.. see you in a few weeks with  some  great news to share!!!!

xoxoxo Laura

                                                   

 

• 

French nesting at Verbena

While treasure hunting a while back, I discovered these wonderful vintage creates that had the perfect chalky colored patina...perfect for my decorating style and perhaps yours....vintage...muted shades...a little rustic....functional and French inspired! I stored them in the barn for a while waiting for the right time to bring them out and offer them for purchase. Timing is everything..and I think these are the perfect accessory for your French inspired holiday decorating.

 I am posting some pictures that have inspired me to share with you. some are mine and some are from jean d arc..one of my favorite sources for inspiration.
I will be working on styling a Holiday photo shoot here on my studio porch this week with a local magazine and will be using them as well for some creative and festive uses. I will share the pictures with you when they are done.
so take a peek I think you will love these. I would love to hear some of your uses for them as well.
 Once they are gone that's it. These are the real deal with metal detail sides too.  .

                 French inspired from Jean d arch great for nesting your books and magazines

My mom has had one for years that sits on her kitchen island filled with some of her special olive oils, herbs d Provence and French sea salts.

love this picture from jean d arch!!! Don't forget I will be sharing more pictures of what I am doing with mine for the holidays...

I also have a few of these longer fruit crates left..so message me if you would like to get creative for the holiday's or any day  with your French inspired crate !!!!
  or stop by the store in the Marion Block building Ocala's original Opera house. You can also visit my moms incrediable & european style cheese room across from me.. a truly special shopping experience for all..have fun and  fill up your crates!
lvdellaporta@gmail.com contact me for details to ship etc...
xo Laura

Potpourri Pumpkin!

Happy Fall!!!  This is the best time of the year to get creative, bake, make home made gifts, stay inside, light a candle, put on a pot of soup and  be thankful for all we have....especially dear friends.
When ever I ship an item I  love to add a little something something special..my way of saying thank you. Most things just come to me as I go & this is one of them. I think you will like it.
It's different, original...easy to make, really pretty, makes a nice little gift for your child's teacher, a friend or just for you!

Almost everything I make is nature inspired. I try to use what ever I can find here on the farm.
here are some of the things you can use.

cheesecloth, twine, dried rose petals, dried lavender, herbals teas, sea shell.

just cut any size square depending on how much you want to fill up your potpourri  pumpkin, tie it with a natural twin & embellish..that's it...now the best part is..you use it as a tea bag to place inside a tea pot or a smaller one for cup, put one it in your unmentionable drawer or just keep it tucked in your bag to keep you dreaming of Provence all day!

I say make a cup of tea and dream on!
I am calling them my Tea Pourri's!


Simple, functional and  original....for now!

xoxoxo Laura

Getting ready...

Art Night is back...see you in Historic Downtown Ocala this Friday September 7th..6-8 pm.

Handmade one of a kind treasures, lots of vintage finds and happy people will be at the nest....see you this Friday!!!! xoxoxo verbena girl

Mesmerized with galvanized

Starting to get the fall spirit around here...we have some fun things planned...stay tuned!
sorry if I am unable to post your comment I am having troble with my comment moderation I will soon! Thanks for stopping by. xo Laura

Images

Images of different kinds are all around each of us in many ways today more then ever

It's endless and over whelming.

 

What meaning do some of these images really have.. and why are we so drawn to them?

 

Women seem to be drawn to a special kind of beauty, a beauty that comforts and graces their soul.

Maybe we have a deep connection to these images or maybe they take us to a place to dream.

Whatever the image you love remember your connection goes deeper then you know.

We are all blessed to see the beauty around us...each one of us has the gift to see something that touches our heart.

 

perhaps something sacred

that reaches deep in our souls...

 

 

 

 images of pieces that have an  interesting story to tell... think of where they have  rested, who has opened that door or written a love letter on that old table.

images of vibrant vines to remind us of what is real.

 

                                    

                                     

a comforting image to know a sweet creature has safe place to nest

 

a beautiful image on a building to remind us to look up and trust.

 

                                



or  an image that takes us to a place to we do not know perhaps a journey we all need to go!

 

here is to all the beautiful beautiful images we see & share  & be sure if you do share others images on the internet, you give the proper credit to the original source. Thanks! xo Laura

 

 

 

 

 

                            

Go to your corner!

I love Sunday mornings. I don't know what it is about them but I always feel such a calm and quiet within when I awake...maybe it's the sound of silence in the air on the farm.. sleeping in, no school runs, no work.  It's one of my favorite days. But for some reason I do more cleaning on Sundays then any other day go figure. How about you? Do you have a quiet place?

 I created my quiet corner using old fabrics, soft cozy pillows..I put my antique Italian prayer bench from Italy at the foot of the daybed.  This is my space where I come to read, close my eyes and pray, have a cup of tea and  cozy up with my favorite furry friends..Ellie and Jerry. So take a seat and  relax today it's Sunday morning I say!

I love my dreamy sheep skin throw.I got it last year from Santa....I sort of hoard them around here..it's Florida every girl needs a furry throw!

vintage linen table cloth with fringe I used a a bed skirt.

all pillows  are handmade.

My very special pillow..I was born on Staten Island and  my family is from there it is a small Island off of Manhattan so you can say I am really an Island girl!

when I get sleepy my corner starts to look like this...blurry.

I saved the best for last my Jerry..well Dante calls him Skunk. this is his quiet corner he was a little under the weather in this picture but is fine now..Ellie is hiding somewhere in her corner.
I hope you have a special place to get some inner calm and peace..lord knows we all need a quiet little corner.
Thanks for visiting. xo Laura

Easy and delicious quick fix!

Feeling hungry? love pasta? Not much in the pantry...that's o.k. If you have a small garden or a few leftover veggies you can make a great pasta dish. I love to get creative with nothing especially when it comes to cooking.  Here is a very easy and delicious dish.Keep in mind this post is to share a dish made with practically nothing that you will love!

what I had
one big juicy tomatoes from my garden or any veggies...chopped
fresh basil from my garden...chopped
olive oil
grated cheese
one pound of any pasta ( I used a gluten free spaghetti)
99% of the time I cook with garlic left it out this time..great to add chopped to but be sure to saute in a little olive oil

boil your pasta add a little olive oil and a pinch of salt to water. I  cook until al dente

chop your tomatoes

chop your fresh basil...holes included...hey the bugs have to eat too!

drain your pasta ( reserve a little water a few large scoops ) put in big bowl to mix or your pot.

drizzle in a bit of olive oil

some sea salt

toss together add a little grated cheese and there you go...a quick, easy and delicious Italian dish served in my French bowl of course!!!

enjoy! xo Laura