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Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Saving Summer

What's It Wednesday #179
Those of us who love Victoriana know they embraced flora and fauna. They were passionate about having flowers in their decor, whether fresh or in paintings, rugs, upholstery, wallpaper, and even carved in furniture.

One of the biggest pastimes of the day was flower pressing. Simple flat flowers like pansies, daisies, and violets, as well as ferns, leaves and grasses were often pressed and used to create beautiful bouquets and intricate designs.

This gorgeous tray caught my eye in an antique store and I couldn't leave without it. From a distance I thought it was a painted tray, but as I got closer the incredible detail was breathtaking!

The patina of the old frame

and the attached forged handles just made the vibrant color of the flowers pop. I had to have it!

 Not much has changed in our passion for flora. We still dry our roses and hydrangeas to carry us through the long bloomless winters. Now I know this is just a tray made to serve tea or a small snack, but for me, it's a piece of art and a connection to bygone days.
Hugs,
Patti

Thanks to all of you who partied with us last week. Please link up and join us again. Remember, it's not a party without you!

Here Are This Week's Features:

Don't Forget to Add a Feature Button!
Ivy and Elephants


We are partying with these fine folks:

41 comments:

  1. Thank you for the party....and hosting each week!

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  2. Thankyou for hosting. You're one of my most favourite linkups. Everything is so pretty! Love, Mimi xxx

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  3. Pretty new tray. Thanks for hosting!

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  4. The tray was the first thing that caught my eye, lol. Love it! Thanks for the party!!

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  5. Patti, the tray is beautiful! Thank you for the party! Have a great week!

    Hugs,
    Dianne

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  6. The tray is lovely, no wonder you couldn't leave without it.

    Diana

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  7. Thaks for the party Patti! Have a great day!
    Hugs,
    Vesna

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  8. I love your tray! The detail is exquisite! Thank you for the party and for featuring my colorful tablescape!
    Blessings,
    Pam (www.everydayliving.me)

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  9. Thanks for hosting! Have a lovely day. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  10. Patti, your tray is pretty! I remember back in the 70s when it was so popular to have a florist use preserved flowers and have one's wedding invitation framed as wall art (sometimes even one's own flowers from their ceremony). That's what your tray reminded me of. I was one of those 70s brides who did that, as well as at least one of my sisters. Thanks for the memory, and the party. :)
    Rita C at Panoply

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  11. Love your features and the tray is beautiful! Thanks for hosting!

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  12. How beautiful! And I love visiting others that link to this party! Thank you and enjoy your day sweet friend. Hugs, Diane

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  13. Wow Patti- that was an exceptional find! It is a piece of art work and I'm glad it's in your hands because I know it will be taken care of.
    Thanks for hosting!

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  14. I've just recently discovered your blog and I absolutely love it. Thank you so much for hosting!

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  15. Hi Patti,
    Your pressed flower tray is wonderful! I have done a little flower pressing and framing of it myself, it is fun.
    Thanks so much for hosting each week,
    Gina

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  16. Hi Patti,

    You always have such lovely things to share!

    Thanks for the party, and have a great week!!

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  17. my goodness that tray is gorgeous! What a wonderful find and a gorgeous addition to your afternoon tea table. The white flowers look a bit like our paper daisies or everlastings. Have a wonderful week and thank you for hosting.

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  18. The tray is beautiful. I used to press flowers but somehow along the way I stopped doing it, you have reminded me how lovely they can be. Thank you...I will have to try it again!

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  19. That tray is gorgeous, Patti. And I agree - it's a work of art. Love the features = the dresser/bench is amazing. Thank you for hosting. Cathy

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  20. Hello gorgeous! Thank you so much for hosting such a fabulous party! Please take a minute and stop by our party. We would love to party with you twice this week! Lou Lou Girls

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  21. Thanks again for another great party! Your features are awesom!

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  22. Thanks so much for the feature! Have a wonderful rest of your week!

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  23. Your tray is wonderful! Amazing that the flowers are still beautiful after all this time! Thank you for a great party! xo Karen

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  24. One has to appreciate the beauty of a dried flower, each petal is exquisite. Thanks for hosting!

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  25. The tray is absolutely gorgeous! Thanks so much for hosting the party.
    www.redwineandpeonies.com
    Paula

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  26. Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to leave such a kind comment!!

    Hugs,
    Deb

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  27. Wow, that tray is beautiful. Love it
    Have a great day
    Hugs from here

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  28. Thanks for the party! Hope your summer is a good one. I love the pressed flowers and hope to get to a project of pressed flowers before the summer is over! Best wishes, Linda @Crafts a la mode

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  29. Your incrediable tray with the pressed flowers is very unique. Delightful find. Thanks for hosting the link party.
    xo,
    Vera

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  30. Great party! love the dry flowers! Hope you are doing well and enjoy the weekend
    Hugs Maria

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  31. Great party! love the dry flowers! Hope you are doing well and enjoy the weekend
    Hugs Maria

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  32. Patti, the tray is beautiful and very unique! I still love to press flowers and leaves. I have some in my press drying right now. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

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  33. I love the dried floral tray, Patti. It's beautiful! I've been seeing these done in old sashes lately. Thank you for hosting the party...fun.
    Debbie
    xo

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  34. Wow, what an incredibly gorgeous tray! Thank you so much for sharing with Roses of Inspiration. Hugs to you!

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  35. A wonderful tray! I am very fond of old trays, and have collected a few, but not one with pressed flowers.

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  36. Thanks for featuring my post "Out for dinner at The Glenn - Shrimp Etouffee," it's an honor to be featured on your blog.

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  37. The tray is amazing Patti! I thought it was painted too in the first photo you shared. Just beautiful! I love the incredible things the Victorians did with their hands and the fineness of it all!
    sending hugs...

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  38. Patti that test is beautiful what a find I pressed flowers as a kid so much fun.

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  39. Patti,
    Such a beautiful tray, a lovely piece of Art actually.
    I am wishing you a happy week and a big thank you for the party!
    Hugs,
    Jemma

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  40. Hello gorgeous! Thank you so much for hosting such a fabulous party! Please take a minute and stop by our party. We would love to party with you twice this week! Lou Lou Girls

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Thank you so much for your comments! We enjoy hearing from you.