Nesting Instincts ~ Dressing My Hutch of Red Transferware for Spring

Being a female I sometimes experience that primal instinct to clean and prepare my 'nest' for things to come.   It reminds me of the six times I was a pregnant Mother to be experiencing the 'nesting' instinct.  I'm sure you Momma's out there know that feeling.   I remember having that uncontrollable urge to clean, and then clean and then clean some more.  Everything must be clean and in its place.  I still get that urge, quite often actually, but thank goodness it isn't accompanied by a baby in my belly.   

As Winter dissipates and I revel in the newness that Spring symbolizes I find myself ready to take on a deep, thorough house cleaning. 

Whoa horsey! On second thought, what I mean to say is that I am ready to take on a deep, thorough hutch cleaning.  I also realize that I'm a little late to my own party seeing as Spring officially sprang on March 20.

Oh well.  You get the idea.  I cleaned my hutch real nice like and added some Springy decor and now I'm going to show it to you.

ok?

Since red isn't exactly the Springiest color out there and I am so OCD that things absolutely must match or be unified in some way I had to  find a way to Spring-i-tize my hutch with the inclusion of my red transferware.

I first took everything down and cleaned it so that it was nice and sparkly again before putting it back in place.  I am going to do a post about cleaning transferware soon, so you will definitely want to watch for that. 

I decided to take down all the antique/vintage linens I'd placed on the hutch.  The only one I did use was what I believe is a pillow cover.  These were laid over pillows back in the day, just for looks.  I still do some stuff for looks.   I bought this on Etsy ( I think...) and it came from either Germany or Belgium.  Anyway,  it's lovely so I scrunched it up to one side allowing it hang over the front of the drawers.

A few weeks back I received in the mail the sweetest gift of four birds nests.  A reader had seen a comment I posted on another blog about my wanting a collection of nests.   I had only one nest which I've saved for a couple of years, all the time keeping it displayed under a cloche.   Liz was so very kind, and generous, to send these sweet nests to me.  Thank you Liz,  I am enjoying them thoroughly! 

These new nest additions were the inspiration for my Spring hutch. 

 I usually have my cloches on a tea cart but wanted to display  the nests here on the hutch, so I've moved many of them over here along with a bag of faux bird eggs that have been placed randomly in or around the nests, alongside other pieces, and on the upper shelves.

Looking down at the display of egg filled nests amongst some of my red transferware collection.

I love the nature inspired look here.  I think the nests, eggs, moss and branches would look amazing with brown transferware to....hmmm maybe that will be next.  Then maybe not...it will probably be Fall before I gussy up one of my collections again.  You never know.  I never know.  Maybe it will be when the mood or  pressure to put out a killer blog post strikes...lol  I know you other bloggers do that to, so don't even try saying you don't do stuff just to blog it!

 I've been making so many topiaries for my shop with preserved reindeer moss.  I mixed in some moss covered balls, that Shawn and I made, along with English ivy here and there.  One of the moss balls fit perfectly over the opening of this Aesthetic Movement vase.

Over to the left is an old Copeland (Spode, ca. 1880) toothbrush holder.  I used to keep pens hidden in a floral bouquet in this on my desk (had to protect my pen stash from my family).  Here I added a little moss and a handful of branches.  I use these branches for the topiaries I make but I like this very natural, earthy look so much that I think I'll have to go on another branch seeking walk to gather some more of them.

I couldn't resist tucking some moss into a couple of the hanging cups...

...or fitting this tiny toy creamer with moss and another egg.

Below is a stack of Mason's Vista dishes with one of the nests Liz sent me.  In the nest is what's left of a real bird egg along with a glass bird that broke off the top of one of my cloche's.   =(

  I decided to mix some moss in and around the hutch so this jumbo or joke cup, as they are called,  was fixed with the nest over a pile of light green moss and a trio of speckled faux eggs.  

Don't you think the moss and nests look great together?

Over on the far right of the hutch is my little red transferware bunny sitting atop a pile of moss balls in a Vista bowl.  I think he's so coot! (cute)

Behind little bunny boy is my cloche with a figural bird on top.  This is like the one that broke and I can't find them now...well not for the $10 I paid anyway.  Under the cloche is an egg cup stuffed with moss and one of the faux eggs.  I've got a few of the egg cups displayed on my hutch this way.

A miniature trophy cup shaped vase holds twigs, more moss, a single egg and a piece of baby blue lace that I couldn't resist tucking around the moss.  

Absolutely a must for this arrangment was my sparrow ashtray ...how could I leave this cute birdie out?

On top of the hutch are a couple of large, anchor pieces:  an Aesthetic Movement water pitcher (I have the wash basin on my kitchen table) and a piece that's new-ish to my collection; a water cooler / beverage dispenser in the Tonquin pattern.  To tie in and carry the theme I've placed some larger moss balls on one end and...

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..added another cloche on the opposite end.  The antique champagne basket may be another post in itself.  I've collected a couple of these and they have the wooden labels on them...really neat pieces.  Originally they held and were used to transport a bottle or two of champagne.  The rooster painting is one my Mom did for me.   That's my old house in the background and the little chicks represent each of our six children.   You can read about it HERE.

A few more closeups for your viewing pleasure...haha

Here's my gigantic teapot that requires both hands to hold this thing...and that's when it's empty.  I wonder if anyone ever brewed a pot of tea this big!?!

If you want to see the hutch at Christmas time, click HERE.

Ok I realize you're probably sick of seeing this hutch now so I'm going to end with pictures of Kalyn and Jonah on prom night.

Here's KK with her beau / date, Steven,

and Ashton who loves her big sis. 

It's true, my kids seldom wear matching socks.

Here is Jonah aka JoJo on his way to pick up his date.  Ethan and Michael stopped by as I was finishing this post and Ethan commented on Jonah's pic saying,  "he's looking fly".  I didn't ask what it meant but by the inflection in his voice I could tell that it was a compliment.

I've had quite a few emails recently about some of the ways you can follow me / my blog so I thought I'd put a list of most of them here.  Just click the highlighted words to be taken to that page.  

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