Twice Remembered

If You're Reading This, You Shouldn't Be....

2009-11-04T08:13:00.004-06:00

Just a little friendly reminder that if you're following this blog, it's time to make the switch and start following my new blog instead. There are still about 251 followers of this old blog, but I just wanted to make sure you know that I've moved. Thank you and see you here at my new blog address!: Twice Remembered

My Blog Has Moved! + Make Your Monday Project

2009-07-20T10:44:00.007-05:00

{Note: This is my last blog entry at this location. I have a new blog address! The new blog looks and feels just this blog, but my blog name has been changed to Twice Remembered and a few quirks have been worked out that I wasn't able to get rid of at this current location. There will be no more posts to this blog but my old posts have already been transferred and future posts will be made to my new blog location, Twice Remembered. I invite you to follow me there and to update your subscriptions - thank you! I will be hosting a giveaway soon for those that follow my new blog as a special thank you for taking the time to make the switch! Also, I'm working on updating my blog roll over there - I have a lot to add and it's taking a little while!}

Now, moving on!

Make Your Monday: From Gaudy Art to Fabulous Chalk Board

Folks, if you haven't done so already, you must go to your nearest thrift store and purchase the biggest, gaudiest, most unattractive piece of framed art you can get your hands on. Watch out for other shoppers who are there for the same reason as they may try to run you over to claim the last one. {Well, more than likely, most other shoppers will wonder why you would pay good money for such atrocious art and they will feel pity for you due to what they perceive as a total lack of taste and class on your part. But nevermind those shoppers.}...Continue reading and viewing photos on this Make Your Monday project at my new blog!
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I'll see you there, and don't forget to update your blogrolls and subscriptions!

Reflections

2009-07-19T08:51:00.004-05:00

Every house where love abides
And friendship is a guest,
Is surely home, and home sweet home
For there the heart can rest.
~Henry Van Dyke

A Touch of European Inspiration

2009-07-18T07:12:00.010-05:00

I often like to imagine that I live in a quaint and cozy thatch roofed cottage much like the one in this painting, tucked away somewhere romantic and idyllic like Provence. Ah, beautiful Provence! I like to imagine such things especially when I glance up at the ceiling in the living room and see the 8 X 6 inch patch of missing "popcorn" {which sometimes snows down to the floor in the middle of the night} , or when I sigh hopelessly at the weeds I've managed to grow in my so-you-call-this-a-garden? garden, or other things that are not very Provence-like. I am a "head in the clouds" kind of homemaker, that is to say, while I should be cleaning or menu planning or doing laundry, I'm thinking up ways to try to make our home like the cottages I dream about. I don't have to tell you, dear reader, that it is really quite therapeutic and satisfying to do a few small creative makeovers and knick knack shuffling and Voila! Is this a French cottage I'm beginning to see peeking through the popcorn and weeds? Perhaps so!

I've collected a few beautiful vignettes from tourist and decorating sites or shops and I hope you enjoy looking at them as much I do. I apologize that I can't remember where I found a few of them...

{country living}

{country living}

{country living}

{country living}

{country living}

{farmhouse wares}

{farmhouse wares}

{family linens}

{the blissful}

On the home front, hubs returned from a nearly week long business trip last night and brought back the camera - the camera that I had planned to use last week to document some of the things I've been working on. I will share those soon. Note to self: ~~Hide the camera the next time hub goes galavanting~~ Buy another camera. :)

A Month of Sundays

2009-07-01T11:46:00.006-05:00

And so it has been a month of Sundays since my last entry. Has the idea of a lazy summer, complete with swimming hole swimming, porch swing swinging, ice tea sipping, and of course, recreational blogging, become a thing of the past? No, surely not - but sometimes such simple pleasures have to take a backseat for a while so that life can take the wheel and get to where it needs to go.

Ours has been an unusually busy summer so far. As I've mentioned before, our place of worship was just remodeled and all the work was volunteer - so we helped with that along with our regular weekly volunteer work. During this time, we also had a two day Bible education program that we attended the first week of June, then a special visit from a traveling minister and his wife for a week. Tomorrow, we are leaving for another (3 day) Bible education program, which is out of state. I've been packing and cleaning and planning for our trip for a week now, along with spending some time with a dear friend that's visiting this week from Pennsylvania. So all of this has happened within the last four weeks and as you can imagine, I haven't had a moment to focus on much of anything else.

There is a time and a place for everything, though, and after this trip I want to share with you a few decorative changes that I've made to Twice Remembered recently. Like most of you, when I have guests over, I'm motivated to "fluff the nest" and spruce things up a bit. And I've still been making my weekly trips to Goodwill and always find a little something special to bring home. More and more, our home is looking like a little old French style country cottage. I often think about how years ago, more than anything, I wanted to buy a hundred year old, dilapidated house (with lots of character!) to slowly fix up over the years. That didn't happen. Instead we bought a nondescript 30 year old house to work on...for years. But it is interesting to slowly see the backwards progression of our home. It really is starting to feel like that 100 year old cozy farmhouse I envisioned for so long.

I hope all of you are having a delightful summer and I look forward to being back on my regularly scheduled program after this trip! Take care and we'll "see you" soon!

And the Winners Are.....!

2009-05-30T09:23:00.004-05:00

I've posted the names of the winners of the three Cottage Charm Giveaways I offered this year. Just click on the links below to see who won!

Giveaway #1 (for hostesses)
Giveaway #2 (for everyone)
Giveaway #3 (for those adding banner to blog)

Thanks again to EVERYONE who made this years Cottage Charm Giveaway event a great success! I hope everyone had fun!

Cottage Charm Giveaways: Just One Week Left to Join

2009-05-23T11:54:00.004-05:00

Many thanks to all of you who are participating in this years Cottage Charm Giveaway Event by hosting giveaways on your blog. We couldn't do this without you! For those of you who are thinking about having a giveaway, there is just one week left before the big blogwide drawings on May 30th. You have until then to post your giveaway and then let me know so that I can add your link to the giveaway list. We've almost hit 50 giveaways and the original goal was 75-100 this year. I think we can still at least reach 75 this final week, so let's see what happens! If you are interested in participating, just click on the banner below for instructions. Thanks again, everyone!
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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Parties and Pupcakes

2009-05-21T13:19:00.004-05:00

Folks, it's that time of year...the kids have just a few days of school left and then they are all mine for the summer! Doesn't it seem, though, that the last week of school can be one of the busiest? I'm thinking ahead to next Friday, the last (half day) of school - when we can all finally exhale again. But it's all good...we are staying busy with fun things at least - one of which will be making these cute Pupcakes for two of my daughters' classes. I'll be working on these all of Monday and hopefully they'll all be ready by Tuesday morning for 40 sweet-toothed children!

Tuesday night, my oldest will be graduating from 8th grade (and giving a speech!), so we're really excited about that. Following the ceremony, we'll be having a small party for her here at home for close friends and family and serving all the things kids and adults alike love...homemade pizza, punch, cake, and icecream. The next day, a school picnic for the graduates! I'm trying to figure out when I'm going to bake the Snickerdoodles she's requested for the picnic, but I'll fit it in somehow as all mothers miraculously do, hehe! And then Thursday, more baking for the volunteers that are helping to remodel our place of worship. I hope to find snippets of time to actually be able to shop for everything I need - and I have to admit, I ordered a cake for the graduation party instead of making it myself (I know...what were all those cake decorating classes for?), but I really don't think she'll mind.

Last week there were field trips, this week field day(s), today - an Awards ceremony...and tonight...ah, yes, more cookies to be baked and and delivered by tomorrow morning. I think there really is no such thing as too much baking! It's just pure love in the form of sugar and butter:) So this coming up week will no doubt be a little crazy but a lot of fun. I'm going to sign off now for the next week so that I can focus on my family and getting everything accomplished that I'd like to do. I'll still be popping in to update the Cottage Charm Giveaway list.

We will "see you" again next week!

(Photo by Rita Maas)
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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Studio Inspiration Photos

2009-05-20T08:43:00.007-05:00

We're still plugging away at painting all the studio furniture and with the exception of the giant storage unit, we're in the home stretch. I tell you, it took 2 HOURS just for me to prime 10 of the cubes! I'll need to prime and paint 28 shelves as well, so it's quite the painting project to say the least. The rest of the furniture is all but finished...another coat to go on the sideboard and the armoire doors need to be painted.

I absolutely love the photo of the kitchen above - those yummy chocolate and vanilla colors. That's the feel I want for my studio. Here are a few more inspiration photos. Not all of them are of workspaces, but I think would look lovely in a workspace setting.

I love these greenish blue cabinets in contrast with the checkerboard floor...

With all the white on the walls, the cabinetry and flooring doesn't seem dark at all. Love that lighting and would look great in a workspace, too!

Look at that painted chocolate brown floor with a painted runner that goes all the way up the steps...How I love painted floors! If the tile in my studio was in bad shape or unsightly, I would paint them (you really can!), but I think the grout just needs a good cleaning. (By the way, you can change the color of existing tile grout by staining it. They make specialty stains just for that purpose. Neat, huh? I may try it if cleaning doesn't improve the look of my tile grout.) Oh, the chandelier above the steps? Hmm...my mind is racing as I have one I'd like to use in my studio.

Any color looks pretty against a white background. That's why I couldn't resist painting all my furniture white! And you know I love the red accessories and storage boxes in this photo - I want to incorporate just a touch of red in my studio - minor accents. I've already bought all my storage containers (think vanilla icecream with chocolate on top!) I can't wait to start organizing my craft supplies! The table skirt in this photo is really sweet. I think I'd love a skirt made out of burlap or natural linen...if I make one, I need to figure out how to do it without a lick of sewing sense!

Dark brown (or black?) desk and chair. Notice the natural looking rug? Love it!

Here's a cozy little work nook. Again, loving the dark painted desk! Notice those steps, too, with the treads painted dark brown. You'll be seeing that again;)

This workspace is a little contemporary for my taste, but still very pretty and clean. What I really like about it is the fabric focal point above the desk. It's just fabric stapled to a wooden frame. Inexpensive and easy!

Here's a nifty idea for those pretty old shutters we always see at flea markets...

I like this old piece used as a desk. And I really love that lamp and lampshade!

And finally, this sweet little space. The wall color is similar to mine - a little lighter I think. See the red accents?

I'm borrowing a few ideas for my workspace from the photos above and can't wait until we are finished so that I can share the results with you! I'm waiting on a little "something something" to arrive in the mail and when I receive it and it's in place, I'll at least have some AFTER photos of the studio steps and stoop (try saying that 5 times fast!)

Have a great day!

(Images from My Home Ideas, House Beautiful, Better Homes and Gardens and House to Home)

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

A Sweet Deal from Anthropologie : Numbered Mugs on Sale

2009-05-19T10:24:00.007-05:00

A quick note...If you're into typography as much as I am, then you'll love these numbered mugs from Anthropologie. They are on sale now for $3.95 each and they offer six different numbers/mugs. You can get a set of six for just $24! Not bad!

They also offer their beautiful cursive monogrammed mugs and print monogrammed mugs at $6.00 each.

I'd love to have every one of these...how fun!

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Make Your Monday: Freeze Frames!

2009-05-18T10:25:00.017-05:00

No, I'm not having an 80's music flashback! I'm really talking about frames for your freezer and fridge. I've had this idea rolling around in my head for awhile...actually, it's not an original idea as I'm sure if you look hard enough, you can purchase something similar...but I thought, why not make it myself? So here's an easy "Make Your Monday" project that will have the front of your fridge spruced up in no time!

For this project, you'll need some picture frames (with or without glass), super glue, some strong rare earth disc magnets, and photo mats if you like. I buy my magnets on Ebay, by the way. I've been collecting those old vintage and vintage style metal picture frames from Goodwill for a little while now and I like them because they are lightweight. You can use just about any frame but remember, the heavier the frame, the stronger the magnets need to be.

Here is my pile o' frames before I altered them:

I also found a good sized wooden frame...

I pulled off all the frame "stands". This is so that the frames will lie flush against the fridge.

Then I removed the backs and all the glass and painted the frames. I used my favorite brown that you see on so many of my projects like my studio ceiling fan, gumball machine, and other accessories - Rustoleum's camouflage brown spray paint. I did not prime the frames but I would recommend it for durability.

Next, I flipped the frames over and superglued the magnets to the corners of the frames. It's important to let the glue fully cure for a day or so before using. Notice that I used bigger magnets for the bigger, heavier frame.

Now the frames are ready to adorn your fridge! For the larger frames that I used for my kids' art, I did not use the glass. I'll be changing out the art frequently so it makes it so much easier to just be able to pop a new piece of art behind the frame. For the smaller "word" frames, I did use the glass as I won't be changing those out as much. Either way works so long as you use stronger magnets to support the added weight of the glass. But if you have young children that like to bang on large appliances, maybe you shouldn't use the glass:)

I used photo mats in a few of my frames for a nice clean look. You can use these "freeze frames" for art, frequently used recipes, poetry...oh, and photos! The possibilities are endless!

It thrills the kids to see their artwork displayed so beautifully - the frames make them appear even more special than they already are!

Now, for all the paperwork that usually goes on the side of my fridge...do you think they make magnets strong enough for me to stick a filing cabinet there? Just keeping it real folks...just keeping it real:)

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Old Fashion Snickerdoodles

2009-05-14T07:17:00.009-05:00

Mmmmm, the Snickerdoodle - an old time favorite. Snickerdoodles got their silly name the German word Schneckennudeln, which means "crinkly noodles". Funny, huh? While the cream of tartar in the recipe gives them a bit of a tang, they are still plain enough for children to enjoy, and who doesn't love soft, warm, buttery, cinnamon-y goodness?

I'll be making lots of Snickerdoodles today, along with The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies. Our place of worship is being remodeled and all the work is volunteer, including food preparations, so for the next two or three weeks, I'll be doing a lot of baking. Tomorrow, I'll also be helping to tear out all the old chairs to strip them down for recycling. Hubs will be busy there, too, with the exception of Saturday when we'll be attending the funeral service for his grandmother and visiting with family. It's going to be a little busy here from now through the weekend, so you may not see me until week. I will keep popping in until then to update the Cottage Charm Giveaway list.

But back to those delicious Snickerdoodles...if you've never tried them or made them, here is a really great recipe that I use taken from Mom's Big Book of Cookies. They are simply divine!

Snickerdoodles

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs

Cinnamon/sugar mix to roll dough in:
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper. (I never line the baking sheet, hehe)

2. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt in a medium-size mixing bowl.

3. Cream the butter and 1 1/2 cups of the sugar together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer on medium bowl on medium-high speed until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the eggs and beat until smooth. Beat in the flour mixture until just combined.

4. Combine the cinnamon and the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar in a small bowl. Scoop up a heaping tablespoon (I always use 2 level tablespoons combined) and roll it between your palms to form a ball. Roll each ball in the cinnamon sugar to coat it completely. Place the balls on the lined baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches between each cookie.

5. Bake the cookies until they are pale golden around the edges but still soft on top, about 10 minutes (a minute or two longer for frozen balls of dough). Let them stand on the baking sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Snickerdoodles will keep at room temperature in an airtight container for 2 to 3 days.

And there you have it! These happen to be Hubs favorite cookies from childhood to present, and I look forward to making them for many years to come! (Oh, and just leave out the cream of tartar and cinnamon to make great sugar cookies!)

Before I leave you until Monday, I thought all you homeowners would appreciate this...I posted it a few years ago but it's true enough to bring back to the surface:)

Your House As Seen By:

Enjoy your weekend!

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below! As of this writing, we have 41 giveaways so far!

More Gumball Machine Makeovers!

2009-05-11T16:43:00.023-05:00

Since finishing my own gumball machine revamp for my studio, I thought it would be fun to scour the web to find others who have given theirs a whole new look as well. And did I find some creative souls!

How sweet is this antique gumball machine made over by Karla at Karla's Cottage Here is what it looked like before - it still looked great even then but she made it her own by spray painting it in "Ballerina Slipper" pink. After roughing it up just a bit with sandpaper, she lightly drybrushed on some white acrylic paint. Don't you just love how pretty it looks filled with yogurt raisins? She keeps her gumball machine in her studio, too.

Now take a look at this before shot of a gumball machine Ellie of Home - Be Inspired picked up recently at a garage sale.

She says it was actually her 9 year old daughter who fell in love with it, bought it with her own allowance, cleaned it up, and spray painted in Powder Pink herself! She filled it with pink Whoppers and now it resides in her "pinkalicious" bedroom! (My kids would be so envious!) Great job, Little One! I know your mom is proud!

Here are a couple of gumball machines handpainted by the talented artist Teresa Lynn of Vintage Rose Studio. She paints her art on just about any object. You can see some of her work here! Can you imagine this in a shabby style cottage? I love the robin's egg blue base!

Teresa doesn't just do floral painting...check out this Rooster and Hen gumball machine she painted for a custom order. The nest of eggs and chicken wire are fun touches!

Next, Kristi, the makeover queen behind Addicted 2 Decorating took this old gumball machine...

and with the stand she made this really nifty table! It has that old-fashioned feel that I just love! And the gumball machine? She filled it with...

A fish!

How neat is that?! To see how she did this, check out this entry on her blog.

So if you happen to come across on old gumball machine at a yard sale or thrift store, take it home with you and transform it into something special (and then tell me about it, of course!)

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Wood Carved Boxes and Accessories

2009-05-11T07:33:00.013-05:00

Aren't theses roses beautiful? My very dear and closest friend brought these over for our family (along with some homemade soup, muffins, and cookies!) a few days ago. They were big when I got them, but after putting them in water, they fully opened up and and were absolutely huge...much bigger than the palm of my hand! The rose fragrance was absolutely heavenly and permeated the living room! It really makes me want to plant some more rose bushes of my own. Ah, the rose - an absolutely perfect masterpiece. Perfect in every way!

I've always had a thing for all things wood carved. That said, I don't have a lot of wood carved pieces, but when I find them, you can bet that they come home with me. There is just something about all those tiny, intricate details that piques my interest. Here are a couple of my own wooden boxes. The large, dark one I found for $10 at Hobby Lobby during one of their half-price sales. (They have half price sales daily - love that!) I use this box to hold pens and pencils. Functional beauty at it's best!

The small box I found at Goodwill. It wasn't stained a color that I loved, so I painted it myself and stressed it a little. There in the center, I'd like to add a monogram or perhaps my sparrow silhouette that I love so much. And there in the background are a couple of carved wooden candlesticks from Goodwill as well...

In the past, I've written about my trivet collection. Left unpainted, they seem to take on more of an Indian feel...but painted and aged, they work perfectly in a cottage kitchen. I have to admit, though, these are really tough to paint, even with spray paint, but well worth the effort.

And here are a few carved vintage boxes that I found while perusing Etsy. Aren't they gorgeous?!

Nifty Vintage

KittyBCreative

Grandtiques

Olive Vintage

I have most of my new blog design completed. I hope you like it! There are some issues to work out, though. If you have added my blog to your blogroll and click on my blog name or photo snippet, you may be directed to the wrong page and get a Blogger error message. I don't know what is going on with that, but I'm working to get it fixed. Also, if you haven't been receiving my blog feed, let me know. I think things went awry with my feed when Google officially took over Feedburner.

If you know of some great cottage style blogs out there that I haven't yet discovered, I'd love to hear about them!

Have a great Monday!
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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Site Redesign in Progress

2009-05-09T10:33:00.003-05:00

I wanted to let everyone know that I'm in the process of redesigning my site and that when I upload the new template, things might be a little wonky for a bit until I get everything fine tuned. I know for sure that I'm going to have to re-add my blog reading list, so if you don't see it when the new design is up, it's coming. This will not affect any of my blog entries or the Cottage Charm Giveaway list down below - though the Giveaway list to right (over there ---->) may need to be uploaded again.

(and I guess we all better say good bye to the polka dots...*sniff*)

If you haven't already, be sure to check out my last entry about The Nester's ebook...and to let me know what you're up to this weekend! I hope you all aren't waterlogged like we are here!
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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

It Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful + Cottage Charm Giveaway Update

2009-05-08T09:00:00.001-05:00

I'm so thrilled to have something fabulous (and free!) to share with you today! The Nester, of The Nesting Place has written an E-book based on her mantra,her battle cry - It Doesn't Have to be Perfect to be Beautiful!

"I truly believe that the home where you live in right now can become your dream home. This ebook isn't a step by step list of rules for you to follow to achieve a perfect home but rather a fun read that will free you to make your home what you want it to be starting now." ~The Nester

For more information and to sign up to receive this free e-book, just visit the Nester here!

Well, we're exactly one week into the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway and I'm happy report that we already have (as of this writing Friday morning) 24 giveaways- almost a quarter of a way to our goal of 100 giveaways! Thank you ALL who are supporting this event either by hosting a giveaway, spreading the word by telling others about it on your blog, or by signing up to win the lovely giveaway offerings! We couldn't do this without you! I've set up a Flickr account just for photos of all the giveaways, so take a peek and become a Cottage Charm Giveaway Flickr contact if you'd like to stay up to date with all the giveaways that are added daily.

I enjoyed reading about your "forever" pieces in my last post. Thank you to the following visitors for sharing!

Cherry's Jubilee, Digiscribbles, The Cottage Around the Corner, From House to Home, Cottage, The Gathering Nest, Walnuthaven Cottage, and Yarborough House 1929

Have a great weekend everyone! We'll be working on my studio tomorrow...but what are you up to?
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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

The "Forever" Table

2009-05-06T22:41:00.006-05:00

Have you ever thought that you could live without a certain item in your home or maybe even just thought that you could move it to another spot - but once removed from it's original location, something just felt wrong? So much so that you finally moved it back and then all was right with the world again? Yes. Me too.

A few years ago, I found the sweetest little white table at the flea market for just $20. I brought it home and tried placing it in the living room, the bedroom, and other places, but ultimately it ended up in the kitchen at the end of the counter. This has been a good spot for it because it seems to soften the abrupt, hard lines of the side of the cabinet, plus it's a great surface to decorate! This table has been adorned many different ways...like this soft romantic look compiled of tea pots, doilies, old plates, and a decorative dessert display.

A couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd take the table out of the kitchen - you know...to free up a little space and to provide a visual change. Well, I don't have to tell you that that didn't last long! The space seemed so "off" without my little old white flea market table. So back it went, nestled into it's permanent home at the end of the counter.

I seem to be drifting toward a kind of French cottage style - rustic meets elegant. So this is what I've recently come up with for my "forever" table...

I just love straw hats! I only have two, but I'm going to keep my eye out for more and start a little collection. The white dish towel is actually very, very old but has been preserved well throughout the years. I found it on Ebay. Linens - another weakness! I like the look of it layered on top of red and white towels (clearance at Wal-Mart). And nothing says French cottage like a nice basket! I have three of these baskets (thank you Goodwill!), but one I reluctantly gave to my birds once I saw how much they loved playing in it:)

My trusty old teapot you see in my photographs all the time coupled with an old chippy guilded box that I've had for years...and a bowlful of ceramic eggs!

In case you haven't noticed, I'm really into layering lately! I layered an old Italian gold mirror on top of an antique plate for a little extra sparkle.

Do you have a "forever" piece in a permanent spot in your home? Tell me about it! I really do understand!

Here are a few lovely bloggers that took the time to comment on my last entry about my mantel...Thank you!
The 7 Daggets , Aurajoon, Walnuthaven Cottage, Therapy by Decorating, Reinvented, As Time Goes By, Honeysuckle Lane, Cozy Little House, and The French Bear.

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Cottage Style Mantel Decorating

2009-05-05T11:00:00.018-05:00

I think the mantel is kind of like the neck of our homes. Just as we dress ourselves with a lovely necklace to compliment our attire and express our style, likewise we dress our mantels to compliment our homes and, of course, to express our styles and even moods. My own living room mantel has has undergone several changes since we've lived here. It once held a large Kim Parker canvas for a few years (loved it, yes! but as my style evolved, it just no longer worked with the feel and "spirit" of our home...I passed it along to a friend who loved the canvas just as much as I did). I replaced it with an antique painting of a cottage. It fits the mood of our home perfectly during the fall and winter months...to me it represents shelter, warmth, and safety.

But when spring arrived, I craved a lighter atmosphere. I simply cannot stop myself from snatching up pretty, old picture frames whenever I'm fortunate enough to run across them, so I thought they would make a nice mantel grouping. I added a couple of topiaries and my letter K that I got from the decorating genius Layla of The Lettered Cottage a few months ago. Lastly, I tucked in some greenery across the front to add a touch of nature - even though the greenery is indeed fake! Here are a few shots...

For a change, instead of having one focal point in the middle of the mantel such as a painting, I decided to start at the left of the mantel and display items in descending order for a little interest. (Normally the candle on the edge isn't there...I was enjoying a quiet, overcast morning and decided to light it, but I have to keep it out the way of my birds when they're out! I forgot to move it when I took this shot.)

Because we have high ceilings in our living room, I think our fireplace mantel could stand to be beefed up a bit, perhaps with chunkier jambs (the vertical pieces holding up the shelf) and maybe even an overmantel. But for now, I'm enjoying transforming it when the seasons change or the mood strikes!

Before I sign off, if you'd like to see how I painted the lettering on the front of the fireplace, check out this entry. It's easy peasy!

Oh, and ONE more thing! Check out Layla's blog...she's having a great giveaway now in honor of her 1st blogiversary! It's a really nice burlap monogrammed table runner from Coastline...

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May and see the list of current cottage style giveaways, just click the banner below!

Cottage Studio Furniture Progress

2009-05-03T23:35:00.006-05:00

Boy, do I have a lot of furniture to paint for my craft studio! But it's coming along and really, I find painting to be quite relaxing. Today I put the first coat of paint on an old armoire and my new craft table hubs built for me. I also primed an old telephone table and a sideboard that my grandmother gave me 15 years ago. This is the part where my mother will probably call me and say "I thought I said that you should *not* paint that sideboard! It's CHERRY!". (I'm sorry, Mama!). It's an old table that has been needing to be refinished since it was given to me - it had a sticky finish from where it had been stored in an attic of an old house for a while. I did start to take the old finish off many years ago, got about a fifth of the way through, and then my 1st daughter was born. And that was as far as I got. This old table has moved everywhere with me ever since - and always put in storage until I thought I could get around to stripping it completely. It really has been a shame that I've never really used in all the years that I've had it in my possession. I thought long and hard about it and decided that I was going to use it in my studio (it has wheels, can be easily moved around) and that if I was going to use it, it should fit my style and work with my decor. Besides, I've only stained a couple of pieces of furniture before in my life, and they both turned out horribly. This piece will get passed down to my girls, and hopefully by the time they're grown and I'm ready to give it up, I'll be able to afford to pay a professional to strip and refinish it for me.:)

Is that my phone I hear ringing? Help!

We've made some progress with the big ugly (and dirty!) cubed storage unit that once held paint cans and tools in our garage. Hubs has added extra shelving to it and a new top and bottom. The shelving will serve to hold trays of faux desserts as I'm working on them. We wanted to add the beadboard to the sides of the unit on Saturday, but it started raining and we didn't have enough room to cut the beadboard in the garage. But here is how it looks as of now:

When it's all finished, it's going to take a while to paint, I'm sure. The shelves slide out, so at least that will make it much easier. When the shelves are all painted along with the inside of the cubes, we'll slide them back in and attach a beadboard back and moulding to the front.

If you remember from a previous post, originally I had planned on hubs building a nice L-shaped unit that would run in front of the sliding glass doors and then down the adjoining wall. I still want to do that, but that requires even more time and money, and I'm anxious to get crafting. So we'll work on that down the road. For now, the armoire will hold some supplies and the computer.

So if you're wondering what I'm to, I'm probably painting...or on the phone doing some serious explaining to my Mom!

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May, just click the banner below!

A Touch of Delicious Whimsy

2009-05-02T09:08:00.011-05:00

I've been working on accessories for my little robin's egg blue studio. I knew all those knick knacks and containers that I've picked up at Goodwill and stored in my attic over the years would come in handy someday! I had always planned on remaking them at some point and finally just took the plunge and began. I first took "before" photos of everything before priming my items because don't we just love a good before and after comparison? So I took photos of everything in their "before" state and went to work.

And then the memory card in my camera died and all my "before" photos were lost.

Who is this Murphy guy and why is he and his Law out to get me? ;)

Anyway, one of the items that I worked on was an old red gumball machine. It probably isn't actually old - it just looked very sad and beaten up. The red paint was chipping off like crazy and clearly, it had seen better days. I picked it up at a yard sale several years ago for $5 and liked it because there's just something nostalgic about gumball machines. Above is a photo that I took when I first brought it home back in 2006 (when we were working on our kitchen!).

But I don't like gumballs, or sweet tarts, or any of the standard candies you would find in a gumball machine (though my kids sure do!). I wanted the piece to be purely decorative anyway, so I thought why not fill it with something I really do truly love and can't live without? Something like...

Chocolate!

I superglued a lamp finial to the top (the gumball was missing the top piece), spray painted the gumball machine in a deep chocolate brown, and added a collection of my faux chocolate desserts...a touch of delicious whimsy for my studio!

You may be able to see the lines drawn on the painted chocolate brown floor, which is actually the top of the steps in my studio. I'll be painting a checkerboard pattern there, and I've gone ahead and drawn out my grid. We'll see how it goes!

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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event taking place during the entire month of May, just click the banner below!

My Cottage Charm Giveaway #3 - For Those Adding the Cottage Charm Banner Link to Their Blogs in May

2009-05-01T11:00:00.015-05:00

This years winner was determined by Random.org. (I excluded the names of those that did not qualify, which left 67 names.)

And the winner of this year's hostess gift is......

Heidi! Congratulations and I'll have your gift mailed out to you next week! I wish I could send everyone a gift from my home to yours, but I truly appreciate you all helping to get the word out about this year's Cottage Charm Giveaway. Thanks SO much!

For this years CC Giveaway, I wanted to make sure that I also included an offering just for those that are helping to spread the word on their blogs about our annual event. If you have added the linked banner (coding below) to the right or left hand column of your blog, feel free to enter your name in this special drawing! (I will ship within the continental U.S) Whether you host a Cottage Charm Giveaway this year or not, you can help us to get the word out...and then sign up for this drawing! Thanks to everyone that's helping out in this way!

BANNER LINK CODE to add (copy and paste) to your site:

 
<a href="http://owcl.blogspot.com/2009/05/sign-up-now-for-3rd-annual-cottage.html"><img border="0" src="http://www.onewomanslife.com/giveaway2009.gif"></a>

I will be giving away this beautiful apothecary style glass jar. It measures about 12 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide at it's widest point. It's heavy!

Remember, if you add your own Cottage Charm Giveaway to your blog, you are eligible to put your name in the drawing for my Hostess giveaway! Also, check out my giveaway for everyone here!
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Click on the banner below for information on the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event:

My Cottage Charm Giveway #2 - For Everyone!

2009-05-01T09:11:00.013-05:00

This year's winner was determined by Random.org. (I excluded the names of duplicate entries, which left 215 names.)

And the winner of this Cottage Charm gift is......

The Nester! Congratulations and I'll have your gift mailed out to you next week! Thanks to all that entered - I wish you all could have won!

This Cottage Charm Giveaway offering is for everyone, so if you want to enter, just add your name below! I will ship within the continental U.S. Be sure to include a way for me to contact you. If you have a blog, I can contact you that way :)

This offering is a collection of spools, blocks, and clothespins that I've painted and covered in several different beautiful coordinating papers. I'm also including a "Nest" pennant banner that matches this set. The colors are warm and muted and includes one of my favorites, robin's egg blue! I'm a word lover, so I added inspiring words to both the spools and the blocks. The blocks also have a puzzle on one side that features a romantic painting by Kate Greenaway. The clothespins, too, are painted in various colors, papered, and distressed. These would look great displayed in a bowl or used to hold photos and papers to a strung line of wire. I think all these would be great for someone's studio!

I made the "Nest" banner few months ago (you may have seen it in my post here). The lettering was created with antique silver fine glitter. The papers and colors in the banner are the same ones used in this collection - they would all look great together!

So here's what you'll get if you win this drawing:

Thanks for stopping by and entering to win this Cottage Charm giveaway! Remember, if you add your own Cottage Charm Giveaway to your blog, you are eligible to put your name in the drawing for my Hostess giveaway :) Also, by adding the Cottage Charm Giveaway banner link to the right or left column of your blog (whether or not you have a giveaway), you also qualify to enter this drawing.
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If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event, just click the banner below!

My Cottage Charm Giveaway for Other Giveaway Hosts/Hostesses - Cupcake Plate and Faux Cupcakes!

2009-05-01T08:36:00.013-05:00

This years winner was determined by Random.org. (I excluded the names of those that did not qualify and duplicate entries, which left 45 names.)

And the winner of this year's hostess gift is......

Sadie Lou! Congratulations and I'll have your gift mailed out to you next week! Thanks to all that entered and hosted giveaways this year...it was so much fun!

I will be doing three different giveaways for this years giveaway event, but my first one is especially for all of you who are hosting your own Cottage Charm giveaways! After your name has been added to the giveaway list, you qualify for this special drawing and can put your name in by commenting right here. I will ship within the continental U.S.

I wanted to come up with something really special for my hostesses, so I started by making a cupcake plate. I used an inverted old-fashioned ice cream dish and attached it to a sweet antique cream colored plate, layered with a vintage crocheted doily. The glass dome completed the cupcake plate, but what's a cupcake plate without cupcakes?!

The three standard sized faux cupcakes I created are the most realistic dessert pieces I've made to date and I'm thrilled to give these away to one other Cottage Charm hostess. With a faux chocolate cake base, creamy faux buttercream icing, faux fondant flowers, and glass "sugar and sprinkles", these delicious looking treats will last and look great forever!

If you would like to read more information about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event, just click the banner below! Also, check out my giveaway for everyone here! And, by adding the Cottage Charm Giveaway banner link to the right or left column of your blog (whether or not you have a giveaway), you also qualify to enter this drawing.

Sign Up Now for the 3rd Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway Day - May 30, 2009

2009-05-01T00:02:00.108-05:00

***Click here or scroll down to view the complete list of 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaways - Updated Daily Until 11 PM Central on May 29th, 2009.*** If you would like to host a giveaway, please read details below...thanks!

It's May and that means it's time for the 3rd Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway event! This is a month long event (all drawings will be held on the same day - May 30th) and is a great way to discover new cottage, romantic,and vintage oriented blogs, as well as vendors and talented artists. I am so excited to announce that this year, crafters and artists from both Lollishops and Etsy's Cottage Style Street Team have been invited by their group leaders to join us by adding their own fabulous giveaways! This year's goal is to reach 75 to 100 giveaways for the month of May! You don't have to host a giveaway of your own to enter to win these great prizes, but if you'd like to be a giveaway hostess, come join us!
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Hosting a Cottage Charm Giveaway:

It's easy! Just three steps!

(1)You have until Friday, May 29th, 11pm Central to post your "Cottage Charm" giveaway offering on your site. When you post your giveaway on your blog, please link back to *this post* (not my main blog address) so that others may have an opportunity to learn about and participate in the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event. Below is the coding for the banner link that you can copy and paste to your giveaway post (and your sidebar, too, if you like). The more people that know about our giveaways, the better!

BANNER LINK CODE to add (copy and paste) to your site:

 
<a href="http://owcl.blogspot.com/2009/05/sign-up-now-for-3rd-annual-cottage.html"><img border="0" src="http://www.onewomanslife.com/giveaway2009.gif"></a>

and then...

(2)Let me know when your giveaway item is listed on your site by posting a comment with your giveaway link in the comment section right under this post. When your name is added to the list, feel free to go ahead and enter the drawing for this hostess giveaway if you would like.

3)On May 30, 2009, announce the winner of your Cottage Charm Giveaway on your blog.

That's it!

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

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"3rd Annual Cottage Charm Give Away - 2009" Participant List - To Be Updated until 11 PM Central on May 29th

1) Twice Remembered - (If you host a Cottage Charm giveaway, you are eligible for this drawing)
2) Twice Remembered (For everyone!)
3) Twice Remembered (If you add a Cottage Charm banner link to right or left column of your blog, you are eligible for this drawing)
4) Very Pretty Things
5) Rose Petals and Rust
6) Artsy-Fartsy
7) Michelle's Treasures
8) FooFoo Elm
9) Cottage in the Sun
10) The Handmade Housewife
11) Tattered Quilt Cottage
12) An Enchanted Cottage
13) Karla's Cottage
14) Dreams Intertwined
15) Whimsy Art Studio
16) A Lovely Thing
17)Cozy Little House
18)The Charming Garden in My Head
19)Cranberry Cottage
20)Yarborough House 1929
21)Lollishops
22)Anna's Place of Holding
23)Digiscribbles
24)The Chateau of Remnants
25)Bunch of Scrap
26) Ivy and Lace Cottage
27)The Lettered Cottage
28)Sherrie's Rose Garden
29) Indulge Your Shelf
30) Paisley Cats Sewing Blog
31)made 2 cREate
32)Bailiwick Designs
33)Change of Heart
34)The Handwork Chronicles
35)Nanalulu's Musings
36)Unshelved Words
37)My Cottage of Bliss
38)Vintage Rose Designs
38)The Vintage Nest
39)Cupcake DD
40)The Other Side of Me
41)Coasting Along
42)Shorehouse Chic
43)Sugared Songbird
44)Land of Nod Studio
45)Art Fartz
46)Paris Rags
47)Decor to Adore
48) Shabby Cottage Collectibles
49)My Artful Adventures
50) Shabby Chiki Cottage
51) Songbird is Nesting
52) Cherished Vintage
53)Treasures from the Heart
54)Daisy Cottage
(We've surpassed last year's giveaway count at this point! Thanks everyone!)
55)Bunny Rose Cottage
56)Tales of the T's
57)Blackberry Creek Home Arts
58)My Shabby Rose Cottage
59)My Piper Dog
60)The Wild Rasberry
61)Sweet Memory Making Mom
62)Evangline's Vine
63)The Rat's Pajama's
64) The Decorated House
65) Shabby Chic Junk
66) Cherry's Jubilee
67) Me & My House
68) The Little Red Shop
....
100) !?!?!

Lollishops and the Cottage Style Street Team on Board for 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway!

2009-04-29T10:08:00.007-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I've received word from Andrea of the Cottage Style Street Team at Etsy and Sadie Lou of Lollishops and they are both definitely "in" as far as getting the word out to their shop owners about the 2009 Cottage Charm Giveaway event. If you haven't already, take a few moments to peruse the sweet shops at Lollishops and Etsy to see what kind talent and beautiful items these vendors have. Who knows what they may offer in their giveaways?!

"Our group is for artists/sellers at Etsy that specialize in Glitter, Ephemera, Old Photographs, Collage, Mixed Media, Roses,
Polka Dots, Tea Stained, Ball Fringe and all around beautifying the world with our Romantic, Shabby, Cottage Style!" Visit CSST profile page or blog or Flickr pool.

"Lollishops - The Frou Frou Friendly Marketplace" Visit Lollishops marketplace or blog or Flickr pool.

Now I'm off to work on my giveaway items!