It's time for the long-awaited Cloche Party, hosted by the much beloved and always gracious Marty of A Stroll Through Life! Please stop by Marty's beautiful blog, see who the participants are, and pay them all a visit.
First of all, I don't own a cloche. I know ... it's an embarrassing thing to admit. Marty said an apothecary jar would also be suitable ... let's see ... nope, I've missed out on that trend as well.
I have cake domes and cheese domes ... but I like the elegant shape of Marty's taller cloches.
Looking around the house, I spotted an old bird cage made of wood and wire. Not a real bird cage mind you ... a faux one purchased on clearance at Hobby Lobby a few years ago.
It seemed to call for a bird, but I didn't have one ... faux or otherwise. Then I spotted the pair below at a local junk store last Saturday. I bought these, the little round beribboned lidded box, a basket of potpourri (new in bag), and a ceramic fish (not pictured) for a total of $1. So this is an affordable cloche-y creation!
I went around the house gathering things I thought would be at home with the caged tropical-looking birds. My goal was to include a variety of textures, earthy colors, and interesting shapes.
I set this up quickly ... and then waited for the sun to move lower in the sky.
I love the drama the late afternoon sun creates ... with the intense light and the long shadows!
This poor bird needs sunglasses, doesn't he? I don't think you've ever seen me display a "chippy" painted object on Affordable Accoutrements before. The cage used to live outside as a home for a potted asparagus fern. So the chippiness of the wood and the rustiness of the wire were purely unintentional! Having said that, I like it better now than when it was new and perfect.
The textures of fabric, feathers, wood, and wire are all obvious in this shot.
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There's gotta be a first time for everyone, Bill~ and yours was a doozie! How clever to take the old chippy birdcage and fill it with your bargain birds. You have staged it so well with the fabrics and other art objects; and shooting it in both daylight and candlelight showed us two sets of moods. So creative!
ReplyDelete:-) Sue
Wow Bill, I knew you wouldn't disappoint. This is stunning. I love the birdcage, and the birds are perfect. Your other accessories are just gorgeous. Your photography is also so dramatic. You are really creative and I always look so forward to all of your creations. This is definitely one of my all time favorites. Thank you so much for joining the party. This is great fun. Hugs, Marty
ReplyDeleteBill is they nothing you can't do???Please tell me your a lousy cook...work with me here friend...Loved what you did as always...sighs...Good great my friend...Hope you have a GREAT weekend...Hugs and smiles Gl♥ria
ReplyDeleteHow very fabulous.......love the birdcage!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are an excellent photographer. Thank you for making me be aware of the effects of late afternoon sunlight! I was very intrigued by that. :) It is fun to learn new things. Beautiful birds in the cage by the way.
ReplyDeleteI'm laughing out loud at the obscene thought of how you impaled those poor birds & got them to stay put! LOL
ReplyDeleteYou have some really COOL stuff at your house, Bill & you truly have a gift for bringing it all together. Your photography skills make me green with envy.
I, too, don't own a cloche....yet, so I didn't participate in this party but you've made me want to join in next time.
Love the cloched birds! And the maroon colored feathers are perfect for your setting.
ReplyDeleteWe DO want to know!
ReplyDeleteAnd your house is amazing! Love the cloche and love that it's chippy. That cage is wonderful! Oh, the things you could do w/ it!
Looks great!! I love the birdcage and birds, and what a great deal. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLOL...my bird was not co-operative at all either and I am sure will have to use more masking tape on her before the season is over. Your display is absolutely charming and I am so happy to have found your blog thru Marty. ~ Lynn
ReplyDeleteI really love the birdcage as cloche! What a great idea. The photographs are beautiful, and how did I miss those windows before? Gorgeous! Have a great rest of the week. Kathy
ReplyDeleteOnly you could pull off a "pretend" cloche this fabulously!!! Your story telling is wonderful. I wanted more. I wanted to see the little birdy in the first morning light!!
ReplyDeleteRhonda
Bill, have we converted you to true "chippiness!" You'll never be the same again! I love the birdcage!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
I don't own a cloche either or an apothecary jar! I did just buy a black iron bird cage at Target this week (on sale for $16). I don't know why, but lately I just HAD to have one. I thought I might find one at a yard sale, but when I saw the one in Target I couldn't wait, so I grabbed it. I didn't think to join in the cloche party with it, so I'll just post pictures of it soon when I show my fall decor.
ReplyDeleteLove what you did with yours ;-)
Bill, love that antiquey bird cage!
ReplyDeleteHi Bill,
ReplyDeleteI love the birds in the cage and the photographs have come out well.
Hugs
Carolyn
Your Fall Cloche Party contribution is beautiful, Bill!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post from morning till nightfall. I don't own a cloche either so just used my only little cupcake stand. It's not much, but at least I could join in the fun. Your birds are delightful and I'm sure they will learn to sit on the perch. :-) Thanks for sharing such a stunning post. It was a delight! ~ Sarah
ReplyDeleteHi Bill,
ReplyDeleteWell, normally I my favs are the candlelight pics, but I have to say...my fav is the one in the sunlight...and I do love the chippy look! Just beautiful!
Bill-I had never owned a cloche until recently either--I guess I tend to think of them as bell jars (which brings up all kinds of unpleasantness with Silvia Plath :) What is the fabric behind the bird cage??--I think it needs to be a chair at my house :) I love it! Love your photos--your lighting is always beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI think you used candle Stick-Um to attach the birds.
ReplyDeleteEverything in the photo look so rich and exotic like in an old mansion full of a life long collection of artifacts.
I knew you would come up with something that would knock our socks off...and sure'nuf, YOU DID. I LOVE IT...you are so orginal, Bill, and that's what makes your blog so special...
ReplyDeletexo bj
I love your chippy birdcage! However, I'm totally distracted by the tortoise vase! Great job!
ReplyDeleteYour arrangements are so pretty. I love what you have done for the cloche party! The birds are tweet!
ReplyDeleteHi Bill! Glad you joined the party! Isn't it fun! Great job too! I'm about partied out with so many blog parties this past week, the rooster party, Gone With the Wind Party, and now the Cloche Party! Whew! Fun though! I'm still behind with commenting on the TTs!
ReplyDeleteKatherine
Bill, You did a beautiful job, as usual. You never disappoint me. I love the texture of this bird cage with the smoothness of the feathers on the bird. The afternoon light does so catch the beauty of the two combined. It is breathtaking kind sir, just breathtaking. Stop by and see what I made. Love the cloche party. Country hugs, Sherry
ReplyDeleteIt is very pretty and the colors are very fall-ish!
ReplyDeleteHello Bill...
ReplyDeleteOoooh...what a gorgeous Autumn vignette! You have such a beautiful home...I must admit that I was peeking around that beautiful vignette...trying to see more! Hehe! I love your birdcage and your scarlet feathered friends...so pretty! My friend, you were definitely successful...beautiful colors, interesting shapes, and so many fabulous textures!!! Your photos are exquisite! I always enjoy how you photograph by candlelight...gorgeous, my friend!!!
Warmest wishes and Happy Fall!
Chari
Hi Bill,
ReplyDeleteYour birdcage is beautifully aged. The contrasts between the chippy paint and the elegance of your bird (yes, I know he was quite inexpensive), truly made a statement. Adding candlelight only increased their beauty. You always inspire me to search for elegance...even in my eclectic mess.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Jane (Artfully Graced)
You made those "junk" birds into a work of art! Lovely display... so nice to meet you at this party.
ReplyDeleteBill I must tell you I also don't have a cloche in the house. Lots of glass pots and vases and whatever but no cloche. :(( But you were smart and used what you have. I love the cage and the birds. Have a nice day
ReplyDeleteBill, I couldn't wait to see what you had done, and you didn't disappoint me. The birdcage is beautiful and I love it in the candle light.
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Hi Dear Bill! Your birdcage is so lovely and your cloched birds look very content. It's so nice to hear from you. It's so hard to visit every one all the time but it was so nice to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteBe a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Bill, I love the way you've staged your birdcage. I love the chippy with the rich lines of your fabric and your wonderful sphere and all your other goodies..hugs ~lynne~
ReplyDeleteElegant, as usual! So pretty. Hope you'll stop by to see my Christmas Tree!
ReplyDeleteHoney, you are a hoot!
ReplyDeleteThis definitely represents a cloche and I love it!! It is beautiful...BUT....I do want to know how you attached those birds??
ReplyDeleteRubber bands? Hot glue? Gorilla glue? putty?
Come on.....share.... LOL
Have a great weekend my friend!
Lou Cinda
Eeeeeewwwww. Sounds like the birds must've had a rough time of it! ouch! LOL
ReplyDeleteYou are very patient! I lose track of time when the sun starts to go down, get occupied doing something else and then, poof! I missed it!
I think your contribution to Marty's party was wonderful! I mean, how else would we have found out how you tortured those fake little birds! HA!
Thanks for sharing. You have the most beautiful home! afternoon or evening - you capture it in your pictures just right.
Karen - Some Days Are Diamonds
Bill, just wanted to pop back by to thank you for the wonderful comment on my 9-11 post. It really means alot to me that someone really "gets it". Have a wonderful weekend. Kathy
ReplyDeleteyou are very creative! The birdcage makes more sense than some.
ReplyDeleteWOW.....love the effect of the sunset!!! You are great at everything you do!!! This was my first time too. :)
ReplyDeletexoxox~ Tonya
OK Bill,
ReplyDeleteI want to know what you did to those poor little birdies! hehe. You made a grand statement with your lovely cloche and your photos are always outstanding too! Cindy
You did very well coming up with a cloche, Bill. And you were able to fill it for pennies. Have to love that!! Perfect! And your home is lovely...
ReplyDeleteYes, birds can be quite difficulT. I used to raise cockatiels!!
xoxo
jane
You are too funny. I love love love the picture in the late afternoon shadows and the backdrop you have for the cage was swell (like that word) as well! I didn't even know what a cloche was until I looked Marty up!! So I tried to participate but didn't realize it was supposed to be a Fall thing. I think it is weird that you didn't have a cloche (I didn't have one either but I made something up).... But I would have assumed you would have had one because of all the things you collect!
ReplyDeleteOh Bill, what a lovely vignette! The lighting just sets it all off. You always have the most amazing and polished looks. I just love this.
ReplyDeleteLove your birds!
ReplyDeleteHi Bill! I love your display. I like how you layered everything with different textures. The bird cage and the birds are really nice. You have a beautiful home..Christine
ReplyDeleteHi Bill. I knew those birds were going to be trouble the minute I saw them in that 1st picture peering into the box trying to see what you bought! Inquisitive little guys. But at least they behaved long enough for you to take some fabulous pictures!
ReplyDeleteI bought a bird cage today, but it's not at all chippy, but it is white and gorgeous and I think I'm going to make a Christmas display of beautiful birds like yours. Thanks for the inspiration and thanks for playing along. Please come give my cloche a look. I didn't have a cloche either, so I turned a hurricane lamp upside down!
Be Well!
Bill,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful post, I just loved all the texture of the birdcage and the objects around it.
Sandy
I liked the birdcage better!
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful photography!
You did a great job. 'Reminds me of the window dressings in the stores along 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
All the best,
Eileen
Hi Bill wow such gorgeous place and photos! Lovely cages.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
Regina