Some of my fondest childhood memories come from spending time in the South with my grandmother, Fay Brown Casey, as we wandered through antique emporiums and around auction or rummage sale sites.  She taught me the great art of patiently sifting through remnants of bygone eras looking for a special item to treasure.  Often she would have to stop and explain the use for these unfamiliar things–a button hook, a flower frog, an old tea caddy, a rug beater. Most explanations came with a story from her own childhood, which made the time together that much sweeter. This is probably the reason that I have such a passion for antiques and architectural salvage.  There is nothing better than carefully combing through old buttons, glassware, shutters, doorknobs, bathtubs, jewelry, buckets, fencing, linens,furnishings and such.

Days of Vintage
Storefront

A favorite spot for getting my salvage fix is to take a quick drive up Yarnell Hill and stop in at Days of Vintage.  With stores in both Yarnell, Arizona, and in Chandler, Arizona, there is so much to see.  It’s hard to get past the front porch and into the store, there are so many wonderful items stored outside.  And new things coming in all the time.  You just never know what you are going to find.

I have my eye on this Mermaid Serafina!

Check out the website at http://www.daysofvintage.com/.   Mike is the friendly owner and, yes, he really does wear those overalls and the cowboy hat!   He also encourages the lingering shopper who likes to carefully sift through the vast variety of items in the store.  And he does a pretty good job of explaining the use of some of these old vintage and antique items.  Not the same as my grandmother could do, but not bad!

Keep in mind, too, that if you take a trip to the Yarnell store, stop in at the Cornerstone Bakery for something fresh-baked to go with coffee.  The cinnamon rolls come highly recommended and are so large they will suffice as a meal for two.  All of their items are baked fresh daily.

It’s important to mention that the town of Yarnell is still in the recovery process from the tragic fire that took place in June.  There is a website you can  visit for more information:  http://www.yarnellhillrecoverygroup.org/. The site lists all of the relief efforts that continue to support this small but special community.

I hope you find time to take a trip up The Hill!  Happy Hunting!

Casa Serafina’s Fall
Front Door

In this part of the country, it can be a bit of a challenge to get into a Fall frame of mind. Temperatures are often still on the high side and, without a colored leaf in sight, the feel of the season can be lost.  Here is my encouragement: “Don’t skip Autumn!”  While you certainly don’t need to stack straw bales and pumpkins on the porch or put a scarecrow out at the mailbox, a simple Fall wreath on the front door or an arrangement of dried flowers and branches can make a great statement and give you a little more of that Fall feeling. At Casa Serafina, there are always some special things placed around to give a “nod” of appreciation to this favorite season. The front door is decorated and a few dried florals with mini-pumpkins and gourds add touches of  beautiful Autumn colors. It helps set the mood as we head toward Thanksgiving.

Autumn Arrangement
for Patio Dining

Fall Branches in
Golden
Earthenware Vase

Plant Succulents
In a Pumpkin Vase

Collected Acorns in
a Leaf-Lined Dish

http://www.thewonderforest.com/2011/10/make-vase-out-of-sticks-tutorial-time_18.html

If you need further inspiration, plan a trip to a part of the country or state where the season’s colors abound to collect your own Autumn foliage. This easy-to-make  twig vase will dress up the Thanksgiving table (and even carry you through Christmas with some pine tucked inside).  It can be made in varying shapes and sizes and filled with the foliage you collect.  It’s a great family and/or friends project.  Break out the Pumpkin Bread and the Spiced Cider!  Welcome Fall!

On a recent trip to the Phoenix Art Museum, I attended a docent-guided tour of the Thorne Miniature Rooms Exhibit.  While the largest collection (68) of these fascinating miniature rooms is housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Phoenix Art Museum has an impressive collection of twenty rooms. The tour provides a wealth of information, illuminating the life of Mrs. James Ward Thorne, whose passion for miniatures has left us with an enchanting and captivating legacy.  These special rooms provide a glimpse into a world of beautiful historical interiors, delighting and, at the same time, educating. Fans of art, architecture, dollhouses, or just an appreciation of fine craftsmanship will enjoy this wonderful exhibit.

Above: Two of the rooms from the Phoenix Art Museum Collection (French and Italian Dining Rooms).  Each room is historically accurate for the time period it portrays and is created in an exacting 1:12 scale (1 inch in the miniature room is the equivalent of 1 foot in real life). Lovingly and painstakingly hand-crafted, the rooms include such details as hand- carved wood paneling and furnishings, petit point rugs and tapestries, decorative plaster, wallpapers, hinged cabinet doors, and even some books which are bound and open with fully-turning pages inside.

Mrs. Narcissa Niblack Thorne (1882-1966), married to James Ward Thorne (an heir to the Montgomery Ward department store fortune), began extensively collecting miniatures during her travels, and her passion for these beautiful collectibles translated into the treasured models on display today. Between 1932 and 1940 Mrs. Thorne employed craftsman in her Chicago studio, commissioned architects to create historically accurate settings, and had textiles and carpets made by the Needlework Guild of Chicago to be featured in her rooms.  The works depict interiors from Europe, Asia and North America from the late 13^th to the early 20^th century.  Her rooms were displayed in several World’s Fairs and at various Expositions.

Author Marianne Malone has written several children’s books featuring the Thorne rooms (http://www.mariannemalone.com/index.html). The first in the series is entitled The Sixty-Eight Rooms, a fantasy for children grades 4-6.  The Sixty-Eight Rooms is available at the Phoenix Art Museum gift shop and also at Amazon.com (Amazon also carries the other two books in the series).  A trip to the museum to view the miniature rooms with children this age can be an extra special event by treating them to lunch in the Museum Café and presenting them with a gift of the book.  What a great way to make a life-long memory!

I highly recommend a tour of this exhibit, whether in Phoenix, Chicago or the Knoxville Museum of Art, which houses nine models. If you are unable to visit a museum exhibit, there are many websites available on-line with video slideshows which will show the captivating and charming detail and precision in the Thorne Miniature Rooms.  They are truly amazing!

Whether it’s something going on “Around the Casa” or an adventure further afield–there’s always lots to share!