Sunday 23 August 2009

Lilacs & Violets


I love the lilac, violet and purple. Here are a few lilac, violet and purple coloured items to be found around my home


One of my favourite items ewer & basin which used to belong to Alan's Aunt. The colours and the design are so beautiful.


A medley of lilac










Vintage floral hat lilac & pink flowers




One of my vintage blouses


This painting is currently in our bedroom

Vintage dressing gown & Heather painting

Vintage purple ric rac


Violet from Nostalgia at the Stone House




Vintage Violets fabric

You will also find violet soaps mixed in with my clothes. The scent is heavenly when you open the drawers. I associate the scent of violets with my Belgian Grandmother Gabrielle, her skin always smelt of violets. She used Yardley's violet soap and as her skin retained perfume well, it stayed on her all day long. Wonderful memories, it is so nice that a scent can take you right back to a specific moment or a person.


Isabelle x

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Such lovely colours, they certainly have my vote. Your collection has a peaceful yet optimistic quality about it. So pretty.
Adele

KC'sCourt! said...

What lovely things and colours, they are beautiful. I have a vintage hankechief with the exact design on as your vintage fabric with the the word "mother" underneath. Violets are beautiful don't you think? They used to grow wild in the garden I grew up in as a child.

sharie said...

I love violets and lilacs. I used to buy violet perfume on a regular basis from Boots and can't think who made it now. Gorgeous smell

koralee said...

Your photos are stunning..I too love all things lavender..lilac and purple but do not have much of it around my home...Violets remind me of my Grandma as well....she had them growing all over her lawn.

Happy week to you!

Katie said...

What a glorious array of violets and lilacs. Hoorah for Magpie bunnies! I love your vintage hat. Parma Violets are one of my favourite sweets...I can't see violet and not taste them in my mouth! Katie x

Laura @ 52 FLEA said...

Violets and lilacs are among my favorites too! My grandmother's scent was lily of the valley! Thanks for a beautiful post...
Take care, Laura

Lori said...

Isabelle, your collection of lilacs and violets are so pretty...your hat in those shades is just gorgeous...and i love your little doll from Niki, she is adorable!!!

Stephanie said...

Violets are one of my favorite scents and I love perfume that has violet in it. What beautiful colors too.

Fluitenkruid said...

Very pretty, love the little bunny!

LiLi M. said...

It is said that nothing beats bringing back the memories as smells! Love violets too, I collect vintage violets, millinery, cards. china mmm I guess I want to collect everything you have here!

OhSoVintage said...

Although I love purple flowers especially lilac and violets, it is not a colour I have been fond of for clothes or decorating but you may have changed my mind.... I love the soap dish!
Ruth x

Lisa said...

Smells can be so evocative. Lovely colelction of pretty floral pieces.
Lisa

Sue said...

Absolutely gorgeous, I love that vintage dressing gown.

Sue xx

Serenata said...

Beautiful - I just love violet and lilac as well. Gorgeous photos.

Les Cotrions said...

Hello Isabelle! I love these colours too and you have faboulous things in these shades!Also my grandmother used violet parfume...it's a sweet memory for me too!
Happy new week!
Vale

sarah-jane down the lane said...

Ooh Devon violets, my Granny's absoloute favourites. We used to go to a very funny little shop in Torcross and buy them for her when I was little.

Gorgeous jug! Love it, thanks for such a pretty post Isabelle,
Love Sarah x

bellaboo said...

Hi Isabelle,so glad you are enjoying my blog...lots more of Devon to come!I agree with you about how a smell brings back memories.I remember my mother bending over my bed to kiss me goodnight and the smell of her perfume.

Bellaboo x

Niki Fretwell said...

Hi Isabelle,
What a beautiful post...you have a wonderful collection of purple lovelies. The china set at the top is so special.
I'm a violet/puple fan too...I put it down to having a chilhood during the 70's, when purple was very cool! ;-)) (Along with bright orange!)
The scent of violets is devine too - I agree with you. Its amazing how a scent can instantly transport us back to a memory of our past.

Thank you for the link - I'm sure Violet must be very happy living in your purple world!
Niki x

Hen said...

Hello Isabelle,
I hope life is treating you well. What lovely lilac goodies you have shared with us. I too love the scent of violets (and the colour). I picked up a lovely block of soap, "violette" last week, the most heavenly scent and colour, one of those gorgeous brick soaps the lovely French people do so perfectly! I also love the smell of Devon violets perfume, it reminds me of trips to the seaside in Devon when I was very young. I have Violetta from Penhaligons now.
Hen x

Ragged Roses said...

I love violets and lilacs too, particulary with a touch of green thrown in as well. What beautiful photographs, such lovely treasures. The smell of violets reminds me of my mother;s handbag for some reason...
Kimx

MelMel said...

How pretty they are....the colours are wonderful!xx

Carole said...

Lilacs are so romantic almost as much as roses. So sad they don't last longer in the garden but then we can have so many reminders of them, like you have to keep us happy throughout the year.
Wonderful collection and especially like the yummy flowers on the hat.
xo,
Carole

Unknown said...

Just stunning. It reminds me of the lavender field of Provence. Love your blankie also. What fun colors. Was able to use my for the first time here this morning enjoying the outside with my cup of joe.

Mary Poppins said...

What a delight for the eyes, Mmmmm we do like the same things don't we ;)

Look out for Mr. or Mrs. Postie you pretties are on there way :)

X

Les Cotrions said...

Blogs coups de coeurs !
renvois moi ce com et envois le à tes 10 blogs coups de coeurs. Ne brise pas la chaîne ! à me renvoyer si je fais partie de tes amis.
Aucun envoi : tu auras à travailler sur ta relation avec les autres.
2 envois : tu es gentille mais tu as besoin de t'extérioriser
4 envois : tu as bien choisi tes amis
6 envois : tu es des plus populaires et c'est probablement la raison pour laquelle tu es dans ma liste !

AkH said...

So many lovely things you got around you.
Have a nice day!
Anna-karin
livetharochnu-akh

Victoria - Florence and Mary said...

Congratulations you won my giveaway!

Please drop me an email at victoriaeales@hotmail.com with your address and I'll pop your goodies in the post

Victoria xxx

Zita - Mlle Magpie said...

So much lilac loveliness, Isabelle.

Bleudelavande said...

Hi Isabelle, it was a great pleasure come back in Blogland looking your wonderful treasures with those fantastic colours of the violets and lilacs!
Tank you for your lovely words of the last e-mail. See you soon!!!
Big hugs

julie said...

lovely colours - they are some of my favourites x

THISNTHAT said...

Lovely colours, so restful and nostalgic. You have a great eye for a collection. All the best with the floorboards! :)
Lesley X

Reflections from the Stone Nest said...

Amazing purples and lilacs. Just love them all. Reminds me of spring where here in the U.S. we are heading into the Fall and then Winter. But, something to look forward to.... Can't wait to see more with your room painting/make over.

Have a good weekend
Kitty

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

These colors are all so beautiful! Every shade of purple!