French Parlor update #3- the china cabinet and new mirror

I told you that I would show you the cabinet that I moved in HERE, after I had all my goodies tucked inside. And I also said that I would tell you the special story behind it.

This cabinet belonged to some dear friends of mine, Roy and Francis Bolin. I first met them when I was 2 years old and began going to the little church I still call my home. Ms Francis had the patience of Job. She taught me in my first Sunday school class. I can vividly remember those first classes. I could see and hear the tiny children in the playroom directly behind us. I wanted to go and play instead of sitting at a table with the other kids. So I would sit in my little chair (adorable little bentwood chairs, painted in primary colors!) until she turned to the felt board to put up figures to go along with the Bible stories. At that moment I would go limp, pretending like I had no bones at all, and slither down to the floor. Then I would do the Marine crawl across the floor, back to the playroom. This happened multiple times. Each time I was picked up and brought back to my chair. Ms Francis was just as cheerful and sweet each time she diverted my escape. In the face of such staunch and happy determination I finally gave up. And I realized I truly loved Sunday school, and Ms Francis.

Mr Roy was ornery as the day is long. He was the greeter at the door, and he would often pull a lock of my hair, or tweak my nose, and call me Sambo, or even George or Harvey. It was a fun teasing, and I always looked forward to seeing him. When I grew up and had my three boys, the Bolins were still at church, as faithful and loving for a whole new generation. And Mr Roy treated to an all new set of nicknames and handshakes that would crush a rhino. 

But time passes on, and so do we. Ms Francis went first and was mourned. Mr Roy was 98 when he passed, still living in his own home until just months before. Their going left a gap in our church and hearts. After their family had taken the things that they wanted from the house, they left all the other items for a yard sale to benefit the church youth. The boys and I went to help clean out the house and outbuildings, and they gave us first pick of the items. 

This cabinet was handmade by Mr Roy for his wife. It was in the part of the garage that was once her beauty shop. It held her supplies, and just so happened to be the place where Ms Francis gave me my very first haircut. I initially got the cupboard knowing that my boys were marrying and having homes of their own. But my heart really loved that little cupboard. So after my middle son moved into the new house, and they decided they didn't need it, I decided to bring it to live with me. 

The original color was yellowish, a perfect counterpoint to the aqua blue of other items that were in her beauty shop (I also got her blue waste basket), not ideal for my parlor. I decided to go with the Swedish look of painting it to match the wooden trim in the room, and thus almost look like a built-in. I thought it was perfect as soon as I saw it in it's place! I immediately began to run back and forth to fill it with tea items from the china cabinets in my dining room. 

I have been collecting the tea cups forever. My start was all the ones passed down from my great-granny. I have gathered the others from auctions and Goodwill. I have never paid more than $5 for any of them. The silver repousse tea set was my Grandma Tommy's. I also added in some serving pieces so I would be able to simply take them out and put them on a table when I had parlor guests. And the biscuit (cookie) jar is filled with those lovely chocolate covered shortbread cookies from Aldi, tucked in a ziplock for freshness, but ready when the need arises!

In the bottom portion I have my samovar coffee pot, which I can also use just to boil water. There are also aluminum serving trays to put all the goodies on to transport, and my boxes and tins of tea. Did I mention that both sugar bowls in the top are filled with sugar cubes and tongs are at the ready? I was so excited about it all, that I had moma over the very next morning to have tea. We just sat and admired the little cupboard (while ignoring the unfinished part around it ;). I had invited Pop too, but he had been working hard and decided a nap would be more restorative than tea!

Another parlor addition is that the mirror is in the frame! I just transferred my St Patrick's day china display from the dining room to the mantle, but it was fun just to see it look finished.

 I said I couldn't wait to see how beautifully the mirror reflected everything, but it appears to showcase the ceiling fan the most...{eye roll}. But here's a prettier side photo.

Pop came over to help me with the mirror, and we were also going to put the shadowbox with the antique French fan that I showed you HERE into the frame. He held it while I nailed from the back. It looks so very, very beautiful....until I hit a nail in too deep, and it went through and cracked the glass. I was very sad, because I had so wanted to see it on the wall! But in hindsight it was probably for the best. The fan is so old and lovely, I would hate for the bright light of the parlor to fade it away. So, if I have to have glass cut for it, I am going to get the UV protection kind to give it addition safety. 

Slowly but surely, Dear Reader! And each little thing makes my happiness bloom. Thank you for visiting, and listening to the story of a cupboard, which is really the story of two beautiful people I look forward to seeing again...