♣ In the great and ongoing project of organizing my photos, I realized how many pictures I’ve taken of little vases and what a difference they’ve made around our house! So I thought maybe you’d enjoy a day of flowers, girlfriends . . . This bud’s for you! ♥
I look for vases pretty much the same places I look for old quilts: in yard sales, flea markets, and antique stores. Little vases can be tucked into small spots, bathroom window sills, bedside tables, or cupboard shelves — this turquoise one is on the sideboard in our dining room. A little vase doesn’t require an armful of flowers. Just a couple of blooms from the garden and voila! I’ve done something to make the day better!
This guy lives on the shelf over my kitchen sink. At night he cavorts with the Beatrix Potter people. ♥
We dug a hole in the backyard to plant a new dogwood tree this spring, and found this bottle in it! Joe brought it in to me. I was so happy. Hello, I said in vase language (which I speak fluently), Welcome back.
Off they go to the bathroom, next to my reading chair, to Joe’s-side-of-the- bed . . .
This is the best spot on earth for a human to put her nose. ♥
Was making a tray for tea, needed little spot o’ color in the middle . . . it’s just a plain old glass jar with something that grows wild from over by the side of the barn. ♥
Made this rose bouquet for the coffee table. There’s mint in it. So when someone smells a rose, they get a double whammy. Even innocent flower-lovers are my victims. ♥
My stove has a shelf. It’s my ever-changing seasonal stove-top scene that this little bouquet is the centerpiece of.
This bird vase is one of a pair I rescued years ago at an estate sale, hiding on a top shelf in the dark corner of a pantry in a very old house. My eye caught the white gleam, and I went, oh yes, come on down. Now they welcome guests at almost every dinner party we have.
This mini Grecian urn does duty year-round. For $3, this little vase has given more joy than any expensive fancy cut-glass vase could ever do. ♥
Old creamers and sugar bowls make wonderful little vases too. ♥ Would you like to see my vase cupboard? It’s right next to the kitchen sink; I knew when I grew up I would have a vase cupboard. None of these little vessels were expensive, but all of them have some personality trait that drew me in, like the yellow fish on the top shelf…he’s silly and he looks very good filled with flowers in the guest bathroom.
I’ve been stalking vases since I was in my early twenties, which means I’ve had plenty of time to pull this together. Was I supposed to look at the tiny one on the bottom shelf with the duck on it and say,
oh no, stay where you are, I have enough now? No. I rescue them, give them a good scrubbing, and make them feel useful again. I’m a green recycler of all old things. This just goes to show what a dedicated hunter-gatherer can do in her spare time. ♥ Like in the quote below, I am “glad to the wood.”
We felt that all things were like us people, down to the small animals like the mouse, and things like wood. The wood is glad to the person who is using it, and the person is glad to the wood for being there to be used. ♥ Native American brilliant person, Joe Friday.
I love little vases also and pick them up at flea markets and yard sales when I see one that just calls my name. I like to use them to brighten my office with wildflowers or roses, just about anything, sometimes weeds! But my favorite thing about little vases is brightening someone else’s day with a small bouquet of flowers. The only thing I ask of the recipient of these little bouquets is that they do the same for someone else and keep passing that little vase along to other people. Occasionally, a little vase will find its way home.
Sweet!
Thank heavens – I thought it was just me! I have so many vases (stored in an
old dry sink), that I told my daughter to not let me buy any more when we go
on our flea market adventures! (I still find them calling to me though!)
Me too Pat!
I have a “technical” flower-picking question….something that I always worry about concerning bringing flowers inside from the garden. Do you ever worry about bringing bugs into the house? I’ve brought flowers in to put in vases in the past only to find little “gnatty-flies” crawling on the wall or counter. UGH! So, I don’t often pick flowers to bring in…sad! I bought the cutest little square white jar (old Avon jar that must have had scented cream in it….dreamy little scent!) flowers on it and did pick a little mini bouquet and have it by my computer right now. Cheery! xoxo….kp
I don’t often get bugs with my flowers, but every so often one slips by, you can try shaking the bouquet out before you bring it in. Flowers are so nice to have, I think it’s worth it for a little bug now and then.
Susan, my grandmother collected ‘little pitchers’ … she traveled with my sweet grandad for his work, and bought these little pitchers, about the same size as your little vases. She had them all displayed on a curio cabinet which I found quite interesting when I was growing up…after she died I discovered a little tiny black binder that had all of the pitchers cataloged, each one had a little numbered sticker on the bottom. Many of them now sit on my curio shelves, a reminder of her and times gone by. I’m sure they were an inexpensive way to chronicle her travels in the 1920′s and 30′s ~
susanp
She obviously loved them if she took the time to catalog them, that’s very wonderful that you have them.
I love your site. This is the first time I’ve visited but there will be many more.
It’s just a “heartfelt home” place. I also have a collection of litte vases and bud vases. Glad to hear so many others collect them. I also love old lamps!
I do too, makes such pretty light!
I, also, have been collecting vases for a long time. Nothing brightens up a space like flowers and, surprisingly, it does not have to be a large fancy arrangement to be your finishing touch. A small vase of common flowers is a pleasing little gift to the eye and nose and senses in general. I love everything Susan Branch!!! Thank you so much for bringing happiness to my heart on many occasions when the pick up was greatly appreciated. By the way, your harvest stew has become a mainstay in my home and I make it often throughout the autumn and winter.
That’s so nice to hear! Thank you!
Susan my soul sister = vases are vessels for love, and you are in the vase that holds my heart!!! The other perfect vase is a teacup or teapot or even a little lonely salt or pepper that lost her partner thru the years. I am a lover of tiny stuff, so I kinda collect with that in mind. The other treasure is plates, collecting them, like vases, to put sweets on and pass around. I love Donna Hamilton’s “pass it on” rule, it will come back ten thousand fold.
xoxo!
Susan, Thanks for sharing all your vases. I love collecting little pitchers. I did buy my first vase this summer at an antique store.(Love those places.) The vase is a little girl with pigtails and she is holding her doll. I have it on my desk with pencils and markers etc. in it. You have given me so much inspiration.
Thank you Linda!
Love them all! Imagine my delight when on ebay I found a tiny little green ivy susan branch vase!!! It is on my scrapbook cubby shelf year round cuz i love her! Thanks so much for being you! xo
Don’t you wish you could hear the stories of old that these little gems could tell?
Like you, I adore to collect old lovely things and wonder what kind of life they have had. What conversations they’ve heard, who were the souls that loved them, who made them? I wonder, I wonder. One of my favorite collections is a large group of cordials that I have. Now don’t you know there must have been some good conversations to listen in on with those!!
I have an old pink transferware bowl, maybe my favorite of all the dishes I have. It’s old, with nothing written on the bottom, no pattern or maker, and I thought, “maybe this belonged to Abigail Adams.”
Yes, I do wonder!
Can we see a photo of your favorite transferware bowl???
OK, I’ll have to remember to do that, although it will be hard to choose, because I’ve rarely met any transferware that isn’t my favorite!
I use my collection of shot glasses for smaller flowers: pansies, small rose buds etc. Very cute. God Bless You Susan.
Thank you Mary Beth.
What a sweet collection. I have a few and would love more. Your pastel ones are so lovely and the white bird one is so pretty! I can see why you could not pass up the little one with the adorable duck!
Michelle
These are so cute. I love and collect old planters and vases. I have them in all shapes and pastel colors. I used them on the tables at our son’s rehearsal dinner last month….filled with lovely pansies of all colors. I just discovered this blog site and I am enjoying it so much. Blessings to you!
Thanks Annie, happy to have you here!
Gosh, I thought I was the only one with a vase addiction! I’ve mainly collected what I call white ware, but its the inexpensive pressed kind. Two dollars is my limit ! I built a narrow (4″) set of 7 shelves, on the stair wall to the basement and they are full . Of course the edges of the shelves had to have a happy scallop! The wall behind is a beautiful blue-green color that sets that white off just right. I also set the vases around with tea lights inside , the kind with the metal bottom, so I don’t have to worry when they burn out.What a beautiful , soft glow. Sometimes I line the drive or steps with them! I love my sweet mother in laws saying “Flowers first, food if there’s money left over!”
Oh noo, you are not the only one!! I’m like you, need to find a deal! Like 50 cents and $1.00
Yard sales are great for vases! Flowers first!
You little stinker….you pulled me in again:) I was just happily reading your blog and then followed this link. It reminded me that I USED to gather little flowers and put them in my small vases around the house. Well, that was my “up north” life. In FL it is so darn hot you kinda stay in alot. Early morn is the only bearable time. Well, I am a blue glass collector and have many other sweet sweet little clear, etc. vessels that I use soooo, this morning I did go out to my much neglected garden in the back yard to gather a few flowers and……4 hours later….after changing into a bathing suit (clothes + were sopped) and with the hose running weeded and trimed and did bring my little treasures in. A few almost neon orange sprightly flowers – that look fabulous in the dark blue vases, three little pink just opened roses, a fuschia flower that has a party of little yellow flowers in a circle in the middle and some yellow trumpet (small) flowers. Also, a bunch of pink frangapanni’s. My spelling is not good on these, forgive me, no spellcheck. After a shower outside (with suit on:) and now just made blueberry freezer jam and have downed 1 huge bottle of sport drink, and 4 glasses of ice tea. Think I’ll lay now and let the fan blow on me. I really had other projects for today…ha, foolish preparation – just seized the pleasure – thanks to YOU:) Hugs
I love it, “seized the pleasure,” what a little vase of flowers does to a girl!
Oh, to have room for a vase cupboard. I sit them around with anything but flowers stuck in them. Will have to pay more attention at flea markets and yard sales. I’m sure I need to rescue more of them. Will find a place for them. I love, love, love everything about your house, especially the kitchen. It just smells like H-O-M-E! Love it all!!
I don’t have that many cupboards in my old kitchen … but lucky to have a pantry which is a huge help, had to give up food space in cupboards for vases, but I always wanted one, it was this or forget about it! Thank you Elaine!
Who needs food right?!!
Weeeelllll
Right! She says, speaking through her grilled cheese sandwich!
I have an area in the basement that holds old vases…also one in my kitchen. I have more old vases than space, I’m afraid! When in a pinch for a good photograph of something, out comes a vase or two…..and a few sprigs of something beautiful.
Like props!
I keep my vases on the top shelf in my pantry, with a few tiny favourites on the shelf over the sink in the kitchen. Those are the ones for the dear little handfuls of wild flowers the children bring me in the Spring. I must admit to being a gatherer of vases; just yesterday I found a well-loved pewter urn and a tiny black 1950s cream jug in the thrift shop.
Our weather has warmed up suddenly too and I threw open all my doors and windows for a while and went out to see what was happening in the garden. The forsythia is absolutely covered with buds! Only a couple of months to wait….Spring really doesn’t arrive here until May. But I am off to England next weekend and will get a little breath of Spring then! Happy days!
You have some really interesting things in your vase cabinet. Some I know, like the small Fiesta jug, others I’ve seen in peoples homes, and some are new to me. I’m a vintage glass collector and while I might not buy everything I see, although I’d like to, I sure do love to look at it all.
Me too!
little vases….what a fun hour to spend with you and all the girlfriends…..i collect old perfume bottles……some so small they only hold one flower…..one johnny jump-up….or one small daisy…..four or five of these in a collection indeed, make one smile……thank you for all your inspirations……peace and joy to all……phylicia
I have a collection of perfume bottles too … I should put them on the blog someday … tiny little things that I never meant to collect, they just came and they stayed!
Ha! Once again, you’ve channeled ME when you used the word “rescue” to describe your penchant for vases. I, too, rescue old dishes of all shapes, sizes, colors, patterns–whatever appeals to my sense of charming. I am rescuing them from someone who might not be appreciative enough! I have totes and cabinets and shelves full of precious pieces. Most of my finds are acquired at auctions.
Thanks for your lovely post today…a breath of spring-fresh air for a winter day! Then I followed the link here. I’m a vase collector, too and today you inspired me to use them more. I think I’ll look in the attic tomorrow for some faux ones to use until we have real ones in the yard again!
So charming, a lovely blog, beautiful flowers in wonderful vases, thank you! Your 1st quote reminds me of a day at work, I had taken my skillfully arranged bouquet of flowers & set it on the counter above my desk, to share with all. A fellow worker came by ( who was very proud of her creative abilities, as she should be), & asked if she could rearrange my bouquet, because, you see, she does the bouquets for church! I sweetly smiled & said, yes. After she left, I rearranged it, back my very own creative way! I often wondered if she noticed! xoxo
How DARE she!
Sin of sins. Good for you! LOL!
Love your blogs! Always anxious to receive the newest one. Thank you for them. Cherish my purchases from you!
Nice to hear Rose!
I also collect mini pitchers and vases. My favorite is a clear glass creamer (remember when they used to come with your cup of coffee at a diner?) This was in the days before artificial cream packages. I’ve had it for years and when I first got it (I was a kid) I would put dandelions in it. My granddaughter now picks dandelions for me and I still use the little glass creamer to keep them in.
Perfect! Good size for snow drops too!
I adore “little” vases, jars, etc. Putting some “live” flowers and or greenery…anything that calls to me …twigs even are adorable. Thankyou..was so refreshing to read and be given HOPE for springtime..yahoo….Tomorrow I will be getting my vases out to put some “sunshine” around our home….stay warm…appreciate your kindness
You think of the most amazing things to capture in photos. I’m going to go get my camera right now and tour my house. Thanks for the inspiration. Again.