Notes from A Cottage Industry

Inspiration Friday- Classic Christmas ball ornaments

     Oh ya, what can't you do with these babies? Pure inspiration is what they are. If you thought they were made to simply hang on a tree, you've been missing out. They're just so perfect in any room, in any arrangement.
    So warm and rich, with that shiny, shimmery glow as the light plays off them. I have them everywhere. Every. Where.
    I filled my beverage dispenser with them (I just turned the spout towards the wall)

    In the kitchen, mixed in with some reproduction mercury glass pine cone ornaments...(I think these are my favorites in the entire cottage)

    In the dining room in my old thrifted urn, in my favorite punch bowl....

    They make perfect place cards (This is a tip from my upcoming workshop tomorrow!The sticker shown is from Martha Stewarts line at Michaels)

Oh, and on the tree (of course!)

Busy, busy, busy...

    Is it Saturday night yet? I've gone and over booked myself dreadfully this week. I'm way too busy at my grown up job at the moment. Last night I had a wonderful time with out of town company for dinner (and tree trimming!) *Sigh* A good friend and comfort food.(chili and cornbread and all the toppings!)Such a nice time. The tree is now officially decorated. Wow. Looks A-mazing. Christmas cheer in all it's glory....

Back to my dreadfully over booked week...
     Tonight I'm hosting a jewelry party (What was I thinking, planning that at this time of year?!)
     Yet another house guest comes in tomorrow and then, finally, on Saturday...oh my, Saturday I'll be conducting a very fun workshop at my cottage, where hopefully we'll be making a DVD to follow up from the class. This one is going to cover cupcakes, sugar cookies, packaging your baked goods in creative ways, and last but not least, some ideas for menu cards, place cards and table themes.So, in between all the other things this week, I am prepping and creating and making an outline.

Mmmm hmmm, this little chicky is gonna be so ready for a holiday bubble bath by Sunday.

A little Christmas cheer in the kitchen

     I used to be crazy for Christmas decor, going with the "if one is good, five surely must be better" attitude. I think I may have mentioned that I had 15 rubber made tubs of Christmas decorations to go through. What I didn't tell you was that I also had four fake Christmas trees as well. (I told you my last house was big.) Not full blown giant trees, but the kind you could put in a group, with the skinny trunks...
Ahem..Anyway.
     While I am going with a less is more attitude in holiday decor this year, I do enjoy seeing merry little details in my rooms. The high chair I keep in my kitchen (I know. I do not have any grand babies yet, but it's so cute that I had to keep it after I painted it up a delightful Robin's egg blue) got a little holiday cheer with a faux sugared fruit spray and a simple bow. (See? Cute, huh?)
*sigh* I just love it.

Simply cranberries

    I'm working on putting out my Christmas decor this week, whittling through all the many (15 to be exact!) boxes of decorations from years gone by. These faux cranberry trees are from WalMart (I got them about 3 years ago...) and I do love them. Just the right size for my kitchen table.

As you can see, my kitchen table isn't terribly large, (I think it's 42 inches across...) so big centerpieces make it impossible to enjoy a meal, or to see who you're eating with, and I don't like to have to remove the centerpiece just to sit down.  The cranberry trees don't take up too much room, and they look so festive.
I think these are just perfect here.
     This year I am going much more into the soothing, sophisticated holiday blues and silver instead of the traditional red and green, but this is one of my exceptions. There are a few more splashes of red and green, which I'll share as the week goes on.
What are you putting on your holiday table this year?

Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree...

     I did it. Went out with a friend and got my first ever single woman's Christmas tree. (and supported the Boy Scouts of America at the same time, thankyouverymuch.)  It took us almost an hour to select just the right trees at the tree lot. (We both got Silver tips...) Then, the Boy Scouts of America loaded  'em up for us, one tied to the roof, one in the back end of my SUV, (the trees, not the Boy Scouts) and off we went, on our merry way. How liberating. And fun!
We dropped off her tree and went to Chili's for a Presidente' margarita to celebrate.
Oh ya, this just might become one of my new Christmastime traditions.

Words to live by- week 43

"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our Thanksgiving." 
                  W. T. Purkiser

My Christmas mojo has returned....

    ...and it's only November 24th! Oh yes, I am feeling the Christmas spirit. Big time.
     I realized last night (and I was very surprised to discover ) that I am actually looking forward to Christmas this year! Last year I pretty much skipped the entire holiday, and had only been moved into my cottage a couple of weeks at that point in time. Now, a year later, I am mentally ready to dig through the 15 giant rubbermade tubs of Christmas decor to see what will stay, and what will go.
     Going from a large house (about 4,500 square feet) with five Christmas trees, and too many collections to count (Santas and snowmen and pine trees....) to a smaller home (about 1,600) means I don't need all of this..stuff. Not only that, some of the items have memories attached that I'd just as soon donate.
*sigh* Bittersweet, but freeing too, in a way.
     So, the Christmas music is blaring, the cider is on the stove, and a roaring fire is ablaze in my charming dining room fireplace. Oh yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here on Norman Drive.
     *sigh*The dogs think I've gone over the deep end.

Inspiration Friday- it makes scents

     Smell has as much to do with creating a welcome home as the decor does, and I think a scent can inspire us.
     Pumpkin spice, and  cinnamon and cloves just inspire an Autumn nesting feeling.
      Likewise, lavender and vanilla can also complete a soothing and warm atmosphere.
     I like using candles, simmering potpourri, and linen spritzes to add the finishing touch to my cottage, whether it's when I am entertaining, or when it's just me, home after work, curled up in my favorite reading chair in the dining room.
What scents inspire you, and how do you use them?

Slightly delayed Inspiration this Friday

After all of the big events lately (the big engagement party, the big Thanksgiving meal...) and staying up far too late for far too many nights in a row, the pups and I are having a little R & R this morning (No, we're not hitting the stores with all of the early birds! We're just plain tuckered out.)...so I'll be sharing inspiration Friday a bit later today!

A lil' peek at my table setting for turkey day

(**edited Thanksgiving night to add- I have no idea why the blue looks so bright in these photos. It is actually a very soft Robin's egg blue!)                      Happy Thanksgiving to you all, dear friends!
Here is the peek I promised yesterday. I guess late is better than never, right? I just couldn't seem to get caught up around here last night, nor this morning.
So...Here it is.... I went for simple. Homespun burlap with my favorite Robin's egg blue accents. Kind of restful but still harvest.

     The turkey is in the oven (Please don't fail me, Bobby Flay!) and the dressing is ready to go.

   I made my son's favorite Thanksgiving dessert, Maple Pumpkin spice cake. It rivals the best home made pumpkin pie, I tell you. Mmmmmm.

*sigh* It feels good to be hosting Thanksgiving once again.

I'm so thankful for all of you.

     I want to thank Suzy over at "Suzy's Bloomers" for giving me the "Ray of Sunshine Award" . How nice!  Thank you Suzy!... and all of you out there, that faithfully read my little Blog, whether it's a ray of sunshine that particular day, or not. You are all rays of sunshine and inspiration to me, (really!)even though we may never meet face to face. I truly value the friendships I have formed here online and look forward to reading comments throughout the day, every day....So, consider yourself nominated for the Ray of Sunshine Award as well, and know that someone out there (me!) really appreciates you and see you as a shining light.

**Just a tiny note here- I'll get time later today to share a peek at my Thanksgiving table scape...right now, I'm late, 'coz I've got to hit the grocery store one last time for forgotten items before I get to my grown up job!

Thanksgiving...and being oh so thankful

     I'm hosting Thanksgiving this year, are you? It will be a small group of only five or so of us, with the Newlyweds... (oh my gosh... 3 weddings in a year, I guess they'll all be newlyweds... )..er...my son and daughter-in-law, the Sewing queen of northern Nevada, and at least one dear sweet friend. We're potlucking it, and I am doing the turkey, ala' Bobby Flay.
     Well, you know me, I'm looking for a theme now. Something different, something harvest, but unusual...I left the three white glittered pumpkins up at the Bride-to-be's after the engagement party (Oh no, I was not schlepping them home again on the plane. One way was enough to tote those babies.) I do still have one more left here at home, waiting for me to do something with...
     I am working with my favorite color combo of mocha and robin's egg blue. See those darling dessert/salad plates? TJ Maxx, of course. And in my colors! I mean, isn't obvious to everyone that I had to get them? (Talk about meant to be.) They had dinner plates, cups and bowls as well. I stopped myself at the small plates though, deciding that I can mix and match them with my dishes, and anyway, the turkey on the dinner plate would be covered with...well, turkey, during the meal. (I'll be sharing pictures of the table scape later this week)
     Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday, centered at our home, with kids, and cooking and lots of love. Last years Thanksgiving just kind of slid by me though, in a blurry, sad, slow motion kind of way. The newlyweds being only nearly-weds then, pitched in and made a very nice Thanksgiving feast for us all, considering the state I was in. Now, a year later, Thanksgiving feels more like it should, a time to give thanks, with loved ones near and so very much to be thankful for, not the least of which is my  pretty content little life here in my cottage on Norman Drive.

Have cookies, will travel

 
  ...you betcha. I used 'em as my carry on on my trip to PTown for the big shindig...and in case you're wondering what happened to the fabulous white pumpkin theme for the fall wedding (that has now become the winter wedding) well, we used the white pumpkin look for the engagement party! Mmm hmm, that was my other carry on, on the flight.

    The engagement party was a lot of fun and I managed to get a few pictures to share with you before the party began...actually even before the food was in place for the buffet, but you can get the idea anyway.(as always, click the photo to enlarge...) I used simple $2 black plastic frames and put different short quotes in them to add interest to the buffet table, along with some wonderful garland we found at Target. So affordable and such an impact.... Perfect!
     I made a banner to announce the happy news.....

    Oh, and the end decision on the monogrammed cookies?

    Both! Some on a tray, along with chocolate foil wrapped candy hearts, and a basket of the bagged cookies for departing guests by the door. They were a hit with everybody!
   So, back to the topic of the wedding. Some of you caught it in this post..I somehow forgot to say it back then, but the wedding has moved seasons, and dates, and possible locations several times. Anyway, a winter "destination" (for almost everybody) wedding it will be,(on the Ides of March, no less!) and I think a gorgeous one at that. Lots of snow outside and candlelight all aglow inside. Oh, it's going to be just spectacular. I just know it.

Words to live by-week 42

Inspiration Friday- candlelight

     This time of year I find candlelight especially inspirational. The warm welcome glow, the romantic light it casts on everything.

Taking a bath by candle light or dining with the flicker of candles makes the ordinary extraordinary. I use candles in most rooms of my cottage to add a sense of calm and peacufulness.

    I like scented candles as well. Lavender, vanilla, peach in summer, apple spice in Autumn...
     *sigh* There's nothing nicer than a room full of romantic candlelight that smells lovely too.

Eat drink and be married.

    Gosh, I love that line. Love it so much that I used it on the favors for the engagement party.

      The favors are my signature sugar cookies, all dolled up and ready to eat. The monogram look is so big right now that we decided to capitalize on it (no pun intended...) Now I've just got to decide if I want to bag up the cookies as favors, like my samples shown, or  display them piled on a tray to eat at the party.
        Which do you think?

Sharing the cupcake love

    Ya baby, that's what I'm talkin' about.
     Among others, I found this cutie patootie shirt on  her site (they were for little girls!) I asked if she made them for grown up girls...and she does! Am I ready for Cupcake Heaven now, or what?

Thanks Cheryl! You do great work!

An engagement party!

We're having an engagement party! Oh, this will be such a wonderful event, with friends and family celebrating the happy news!
The invitations were  fun to design and make. After I tried out several different ideas, the Bride-to-be selected one that was simple and elegant. I made them and we got them all sent out.
The party is planned! (Wait till you see the darling favors I'm working on for this little soirée...I'll show you later this week)
Come Saturday morning, we (the bride-to-be, the Maid-of-Honor, the future Mother-in-law and I) will be busy fixing up appetizers and some fun little desserts for this very special night.
I'll be sure to share all of the details!

Thank you to our service men and women

I'm a very proud Mom of a Nevada Air National Guardsman, on deployment working in Intelligence right here in Reno Nevada. I'd like to say thank you today to each and every woman and man that has served or is serving in our armed forces. God Bless you all.

Lessons learned

    Yesterday was spent with my two friends, working at the little craft fair at the church. (Let me stress the word "little" here.) When the fair ended, I was very glad that I had only taken one carload of my things to this boutique, as we were all schlepping them back out to take home again.(Sales were even slow for the Sisters, who had made crafts to sell for the church!) Still, all in all, I sold decently, and I actually learned quite a few things from the experience. Another perk was that I had a fun time with my girlfriends.

Mixing cupcakes intermingled with vintage crafts was not a good idea either (Ya live, ya learn, right?) as many folks thought they were crafts and not real! Note to self: next time I attempt mixing the two, I need a more defined area and display for the cupcakes.
    Also, I forgot a few items (bags and tissue for starters) so I learned that I need to assemble a fair basics kit to take along to all fairs with things like scissors, a pen, bags and tissue and safety pins....

     I promoted my latest upcoming workshop for December with a sign and handouts, which seemed to be a hit (all the baking and entertaining tricks! It should be fun!)
    The best part of the fair was meeting new people. I met a gal that is a caterer part time, and she told me of a new cooking school her friend is getting read to open downtown. She thought I'd be a possible candidate to teach some cupcake and cookie classes! She was having dinner last night with her friend  and was going to recommend me to her friend opening the school. Now, how cool is that?!
All in all, not a bad way to spend a Sunday at all.

words to live by- week 41

    The Sewing Queen of northern Nevada sent me this quote earlier this week. Isn't it fabulous?
    Wow. What a great attitude to apply to living our lives.
(Click on the photo to enlarge and read more easily)

a day of crafting

    I've been busy finishing up a few things for the fair tomorrow, and I had all the necessary items right here at my cottage. Mmm hmm, I didn't have to purchase a single new supply. I decided to use only things I already had, or were a work in progress, waiting to be finished in the craft room. Oh, now that's a good feeling.
   I'm going to be testing the market for my cupcakes as well. I made the regular sized cupcakes and the eensy weensy babycakes. Then, I've foofied up some of my chinese take out boxes to sell as cupcake carriers....the photo above is a peek at them in progress.
   For any of you that are local, the fair will be held at Our Lady of the Snows Parish Hall on the corner of Arlington and Monroe (1200 Arlington is the actual address...) I wish you all could come! We could sit and visit, and  have a cupcake or two, and chat, and have another cupcake or two, and visit a bit, and...well, you get my drift. Oh, it could be fun!
*sigh* Back to work now. I'll be sharing pictures of the booth set up on Monday!

Inspiration Friday- a lttle bling!

    Adding a bit of crystal, or any kind of glass for that matter, adds a touch of class to most any vignette, don't you agree?
     Whether it's a candlestick, or a pretty piece of stemware.....
    When I'm on a cleaning roll, nothing makes a bigger difference than washing up all the glass items, and rearranging them a bit. (That includes the glass on all the many, many family photographs..)

  Finding vintage crystal on my junkin' adventures with the Navigator is one of my favorite finds... *sigh* Aah yes, that touch of bling changes the look of everything.

From Christmas ornaments to harvest time place cards...

    Hard to believe these began life as Christmas ornaments at Walmart. They actually look like they came with my cake pedestal, don't they?  Here's how they looked when I bought them (for $1.97 each!)

     You may remember that the cake pedestal began as a sage-y green piece from the Southern Living at home party line. Well, now, it's become an Autumn ensemble'...and I can't wait to use the entire group together.
I am picturing them as place cards, but they also would make great little sign holders for a dessert buffet, or with a selection of cheeses.... oh, the possibilities are endless!

Keeping busy

Don't ask how, or why, but I am up to my eyeballs in glitter and ribbon and paper and all sorts of crafty things.      
     Mmm hmm, I am participating in a small holiday craft faire this Sunday, (With the wedding and the holidays coming I need all the pin money I can gather right now!) so I am once again on creative overdrive. This is a small fair, where we are each given only a six foot conference table, not a true booth space. Of course, I am making the most of those six feet! I have two friends participating as well, on either side of me, so it should be a fun day for all, whether we sell anything...or everything!
     I'll share more in a day or two, but I am going with the vintage feel, using a canvas drop cloth and some burlap (did you know it comes in colors now???) for my table covering, and I'll have banners, and shreds, and ornaments, some small furniture pieces...and oh, yes! This time I am going to try selling my cupcakes, complete with gift boxes....just a few though. I keep having to remind myself- I only have a six foot table!

Destination Wedding!

    I'm working on the Save the Date cards for the big wedding......it's going to be held at gorgeous Lake Tahoe, and that's a destination wedding for all but ten of the guests. That got me to thinking of the travel theme...a plane ticket!....and here's what I came up with so far. I like them quite a lot.  We'll see what the Bride-to-Be thinks....

A weekend getaway and breakfast at Mothers

...it just doesn't get any better than that.

Hello all! I was away from my computer all weekend, and not able to post! Oh, so sorry I hadn't told you all in advance...and thanks for the concerned emails. I felt so missed and loved!
I meant to write my Saturday post, as well as my usual Words to Live by post before I left town Friday evening, but somehow, time slipped away and then I thought I'd have time to write in Portland. Not so. Busy, busy, busy!(and having far too much fun!)
It was a full weekend of of time with my favorite girls and wedding planning, complete with a bridal fair, thankyouverymuch! We also had time to hit my all time favorite breakfast place on the planet Sunday morning before the Bridal faire...that's right, Mothers. The men even got to join us for this treat.
A complete weekend full of gown shopping, (we found it!) theme talking, location discussing, debating the time of year and a date (does anyone really care if you get married on the "Ides of March"?) and anything else wedding. *sigh* It was heaven, I tell you.

*sigh* This little getaway was just what the doctor ordered to snap me out of my rough week. It put everything back in perspective on what really matters, and I've got. it. all.

Inspiration friday - pewter and silver

Mmmmmm, old tarnished silver, and pewter looking metals are so pretty to me.
The soft patina adds  warmth to whatever display they are in. Whether it's for the dinner table ...

or any other vignette..

they just add such a homey feel.

Wednesday night...Halloween

    My gosh. The words of wisdom and encouragement you wrote me! I started to read a few comments during the day at my grown up job and had to stop, they were all so very touching and inspirational that I was reduced to blubbering in less than 4 seconds.
     I read them all, over and over once again when I got home, where I blubbered freely. Thank you just doesn't seem to cover it. This blog world thing is powerful, for sure.
    Then,  in between trick-or-treaters, I lit a fire and cleaned and rearranged things in the dining room and living room of my cottage, tweaking the autumn decor just a bit, towards romance. Nice. Peaceful looking, actually.
I took the hottest, longest lavender scented bubble bath when I was through.

*sigh* Sometimes I so wish there was a fast forward button on my life...sometimes.