Notes from A Cottage Industry

Another late Monday night HomeGoods blog post!

I'll share pictures from the wonderful Antique Market in Roseville tomorrow, but tonight I want to share a bit about the HomeGoods website on my Monday post with OpenHouse. Check it out here.

Decorating with chocolate.

What, you say? Chocolate?! Oh yes. It's a food that's just so versatile that women across America are decorating with it these days. Faux (resin? Plastic? Ceramic?) chocolate that is. Check it out on my Monday late night HomeGoods blog post.

Monday night HomeGoods Blog Post

  The other Tracey and I went on a field trip of sorts today (I'll share more later!)and then I had a cupcake order to get going, so here is my very late Monday night HomeGoods blog post.

My Monday morning HomeGoods post...

Mmmmmmm, nothin' sweeter than pink cupcakes with flags.The other Tracey was a personal chef yesterday at a baby shower and I did the cupcakes for the sweet baby girl's Mama. Check out my HomeGoods Blog post for a little more detail!

A (very) little peek into the new guest room...

Well, there's not much to see...yet, but give me a week and it will be a little slice of heaven. (I have to finish prepping for Sacramento this week, and I work at the bank all day, so it's taking a bit of time...)

See my post over at HomeGoods to see a little snippet of things to come.

Monday night HomeGoods Blog Post

Better late than never. I finally got my post up over at HomeGoods...find it here.

A themed baby shower gift for a sweet friend

     I'm going to a baby shower for one of my coworkers today.(The bank is closed for the Presidents Day holiday, so it was the perfect day for all of us to be able to make it to the shower.)
See my post over at the HomeGoods blog. Just click here.

A very late Monday night HomeGoods blog post.....

I had some computer issues today, so my post is quite late, but here it is at last. It's Monday's homeGoods blog post...read it here!

Monday HomeGoods Blog post...some orderly inspiration

      I shared with you a few posts back that I was born messy, and, believe me, it has been an uphill battle my entire life. Now that I am really trying to persue my bliss with my painted furniture and my cupcakes, I need to be extra organized more than ever. I created a quick and easy system using inexpensive clipboards to work in my office/creative space along with my giant inspiration board. I share the details on my HomeGoods blog post..here.

Monday morning HomeGoods post...

 
I know some of my kids read my blog, so...I guess they'll just have to act surprised when they see their Valentine's gifts this year. (There's more than just home decor at TJMaxx, you know).....check out my latest HomeGoods post here.

Monday is HomeGoods blog day and a second Tumbleweed Cotillion booth in the works!

We've done a bit of restructuring within the bloggers for HomeGoods Openhouse blog and from now on, I'll be doing the posts over there each Monday instead of just randomly. Check me out over there....

Yes! The other Tracey and I have secured a second location to showcase our vintage treasures..with a bit of a twist! We'll be setting things up today across town in a charming florists shop (I'll share the address and details as soon as we are set up completely!) For now, let me tell you that we are doing a black and white theme in this booth for the month, and it's slanted towards weddings and romance...and a little bit French. Ooh la la!

Stay tuned for the details as they unfold this week!

What a difference a couple of plates make...

 
Check out my latest HomeGoods blog post. I found some charming little dessert plates to add to my ever growing collection of dishes, and I love what they did for my table!

An after Christmas HomeGoods blog post

Forgive me,I'm up visiting with the the newest member of the family, so computer access is a bit sporadic. I did take minute and shared a little post over at the HomeGoods site, so check it out! (I'll be sharing more later!)

A toe injury, a fabulous deal, and a HomeGoods blog post

**disclaimer** my ankles and calves are not actually as large as they appear in the photo above...(anyway I don't think they are...are they?! No... No. I am certain it's the camera angle...I think.)

It might not have come up before, but I am not the most graceful nor the most athletic gal on the block. Oh,no, not by a loooong shot. Last Thursday I stubbed my baby (pinkie? Whatever..)toe on a dumbbell laying on the floor in my bedroom..um...ya...No, please don't ask.

Anyway, here I am, a full week later, just now finally now back to wearing my favorite high heeled boots to my Teller training classes.

Anyway.

I managed to hobble around TJ Maxx the Tuesday night with the other Tracey and I found a fabulous deal that makes my life oh, so much more comfy.(Check out my post on the HomeGoods Blog!)

Check out my new post on gift baskets on the HomeGoods blog!

Lucky me! This adorable basket crammed full of treasures was given to me yesterday..for my birthday!Check out the details on my HomeGoods post. Here's the link...leave me a comment over there if you feel like it!

A new HomeGoods Blog post....

Catch a little post of mine over at the HomeGoods blog.... leave me a comment there if you like!

My HomeGoods Blog post on Thanksgiving tablescapes

    I did a post over on the TJ Maxx/HomeGoods Blog and shared my tablescape ideas from last year's Thanksgiving. Check it out and leave me a comment over there if you like!

Catch me over at homeGoods Blog today...

I'll post a little something later if I get the time (did I mention earlier that it's a busy week?)But I did get a few minutes to do a little HomeGoods post. I'd love to know if any of you buy little gifts in advance, adn if so, what types of things do you stockpile? Feel free to leave me comments there!!

My take on Autumn nesting...

Glorious autumn is upon us!Check out my latest post on the HomeGoods Openhouse blog here.

BIG news in my little world

 

You know that TJ Maxx is one of my favorite places. (for gosh sakes, I even have a blog category called "I love me some TJ Maxx!) Well, TJ Maxx and HomeGoods (you know they're the same company, right?) have a blog.

What? You didn't know that?  Well, they do.It's called "Openhouse". (How cute and appropriate is that name?! I love it!) It's all about decorating and entertaining and..oh, just about everything I love.

Anyway.

I've had a little secret for a few weeks and I'm finally able to share it with you. I am officiallya new blogger for the Openhouse blog! Yes! Somebody pinch me, please! (I realize I've gotten a little carried away with the exclamation points in this post, but it's all I've got going for me to convey my enthusiasm, people!)

I was so excited, and at the same time, I wasn't sure what to say in my first post..so I made it kind of...well, short and sweet. Just an introduction of sorts.

Of course, I'll still be here, just like always, but I'll be doing one or two posts a week over there as well. (Can someone please pinch me again?!) Please do pop on over to the Openhouse blog and take a peek, then tell me what you think.(You can leave me comments over there, or here..or both spots) I'd love to hear some ideas on what you'd like to see me post about for Openhouse, so bring on the suggestions!

A most special Friday surprise

    I arrived home from work last night to find 2 large shipping boxes on my front porch. I hadn't ordered anything...what could they be?
     I opened the boxes to find the most beautifully wrapped presents! Each one a work of art, wrapped in sheet music and vintage wallpaper,adorned with old buttons, vintage ribbons and crystals and accompanied by the sweetest handmade collage notecard from Susan G. (That's the darling notecard in front!) They were all so lovely that I couldn't bear to open them, so I just admired them on the counter in the kitchen for nearly an hour.
     I had a friend coming over and so I decided to wait to open them so she could see the incredible wrappings. Once she arrived it was just like Christmas. Really. I opened all of my sweet gifts and found the most precious black and creme colored ceramics!! Susan had thrifted most of these treasures and thought of me.(How nice is that?!) She said the pitcher was from TJ Maxx. (does this girl know me, or what?!) I cannot wait to use it!

The gifts are fabulous, but much more, I am so touched by her kind note, and her thoughtfulness that I do not have the right words to really express it. "Thank you" definitely doesn't begin to cover it. Susan, your wonderful note and gifts from the heart have me grinning ear to ear, knowing that I have so many wonderful friends out there. We may never meet face to face, but we're kindred spirits just the same.

You touched my heart and I thank you sincerely.

A water dish can be a thing of beauty...

     You know how some people have good china and save it for only very special occasions? I am not one of those people. (Actually I probably need a 12 step tableware program, since I am about 2 dishes and an antique butter knife away from needing an intervention) It's all part of living a beautiful life. So...

Wanna see the pupper's water bowl? (I can't believe I hadn't shared this with you sooner)

What?

You thought it was a compote, or a salad bowl?

Oh. Now that you mention it, I guess it could be. But I was looking for a new water bowl for the boys, and, for the most part, they are just so..small, and when I do find a larger bowl, they are often so Gawd awful unattractive and expensive (Hellooooo, suddenly single budget here, folks) and, well, they never seem to go with my kitchen decor. (and you know that I am all about the details) Then...I stumbled upon this...beauty. Toile, no less. Stunning, and just the right size. (Oh, and I loved the lifted off the floor pedestal effect, too. Those dog dish tableware designers think of everything.)

Where? Of course, TJ Maxx, baby. I got it last summer for only $9.99 and worth. every. penny.

Life is too short to not use the good stuff, people, even for the pups.

More fabulous-ness from you-know-where

What can I say? I love me some TJ Maxx.

     Mmm hmm, I found this on my last expedition there with a friend on our lunch break from our grown up girl jobs. I've wanted one of these babies for, like, a year.
     Now that I have it, I don't really know what to do with it. It's tall, more than three feet high, and it's made from heavy rust colored metal wire. It could be a most incredible centerpiece outside on a buffet table this summer. Right now it's sitting in my workroom, and it's looking fabulous on the floor there,if I do say so myself, but if I am going to keep it, it has to pull it's weight around here, you know?
     Ideally, I picture it in my booth at the Tumbleweed Cotillion, full of adorable tags and such, or even better, in a corner of the boutique area of a Cupcakery, full of birthday candles, handmade gift tags and place cards for sale...but for now...for now...what shall I do with this masterpiece to justify the $39 purchase?