Notes from A Cottage Industry

Meet the Grand Diva of the Tumbleweed Cotillion

 
...and I mean that as the most sincere compliment! She's dubbed herself Deco Diva Debi and she is an absolute marvel to watch in action, along with her soulmate, "Mr.Deb" (Bob the amazingly get-er-done kind of guy!)

 
Her trained eye knows just where to place delicate little NeSt's and vintage paper collections. Chairs are stacked precisely upon tables and sideboards, and little treasures are tucked here and there. 

Lighted vintage lamps added a romantic ambiance to her ten by ten indoor gazebo space that felt exactly like a little piece of vintage French heaven. (and are you loving that table and chair set that Mr. Deb painted?! Ooh! La La! )

Even Deb's fabulous makeshift dressform, Mme. Foofy, looked oh-so-terribly-French in the booth, no? (are you lovin' her tumbleweed hairdo that Mr. Deb rustled up? I know I am.)

 
The booth was decked out, floor to ceiling, and every inch a thing of beauty. Rue de reTreat was the epitome of a class act at the Tumbleweed Cotillion and shoppers and vendors alike were inspired by the creativity and genuine warmth they showed during the fair.

These people are simply the best, and I am so proud to call them my friends.

Getting ready for friends

    
 The guest room is ready and waiting. I spoke with my friends from reTreat last night. They're driving down from the Seattle area and should be arriving in Reno for the Tumbleweed Cotillion Wednesday in the early afternoon. They're going to be staying with me while they're in town and I am so looking forward to their visit!
If you're planning on attending the event you're gonna love Deb and Bob and all of their great stuff. So much talent!
     I'm still franticly running around like a crazy woman, getting things painted and sanded and priced. I guess I must like working under pressure, putting certain things off until the last minute, because this seems to be a pattern with me.

Hmmm,  I need to work on that.

Booth thoughts and ideas...input and ideas wanted

  

    I spent Wednesday evening after work down at the Antique mall getting my booth revamped for this Friday night's official Grand opening. (for you local girls, it's Junkees Clothing Exchange and Antique Mall, located at 960 S. Virginia Street on the corner of Center and Virginia)
     The store actually opened June first, but that was what they call a "soft" opening, where they didn't advertise and they worked out all the kinks on the cash registers and such. Friday evening there will be champagne and appetizers. I'm going to go on over straight from work and stay for the rest of the evening.     
     All the posts I've been drooling over from the Farm Chicks event, and all the beautiful booth photos I've seen have got me thinking.Great pictures of fabulous booths, like here. And here. And here. I'd love your input on how to improve my booth display. OK, so here's the deal. At the mall, and at the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion, my booth has no walls to speak of surrounding it. I have been pondering the idea of buying a canopy (gazebo?) and removing the canvas...to add dimension to my booth. It may make things more confined though, since most of my pieces are so large...**edited to add** My booth at the Cotillion is basically a 9 x 10 space in the CENTER of the barn, with no other booth around it, and no walls, if this helps clarify. I cannot really spill out past these perimeters too much at all..What's your take on this? Do the canopies at times make you feel claustrophobic, or is it a great addition to the feeling of being in a cozy little nest of charm?
    Then, I had the idea of using an umbrella frame, which wouldn't have the confining feel, but still give me the ability to display hanging items, or a fabulous round vintage table cloth...like she shared..and it's pretty and affordable (I found a wooden framed umbrella yesterday at a grocery store!) and portable, and easy for a one woman crew to set up...but is it a look that could work for me, or will it look silly?
     OK now. I've got two weeks till the Cotillion, and I want to decide this weekend. (Keep in mind, whatever I do can be used after the Cotillion in my booth at the Antique Mall) Please give me your thoughts, your ideas, your two cents. You know I value your opinion!

One woman's trash

...just very well may be another woman's treasure.
I got an email yesterday from the card designer. She wanted me to check my front porch when I got home because she had done some cleaning out of her crafty supplies, and she had some things she thought I might like, so she dropped them off at my cottage. What I didn't want, she said, I could pass on to someone else.
     I didn't get home until way late (working on my booth at the Antique Mall) but when I did, I raced to the front porch and grabbed the bag. I hurried into the kitchen and plunked it down on the table to see what treasures awaited me.

Oh my! Thrill of thrills, the bag was loaded with cutters and markers and stamps. It felt like Christmas. She'll never know how she made my week. (I swear last night I even dreamed about the rainbow assortment of markers she gave me!)

This morning when I got up for my work day, it occurred to me that we all have things..stuff, that we have accumulated over time,(that maybe we never should have purchased to begin with...)  that is not being used, or valued like it should be. And, what an absolutely lovely thing to do, to gather it up and surprise a friend that you know will appreciate it. It is a win-win situation then, with the receiver enjoying (and valuing) the gifts, and the giver clearing out some space (and clearing your own conscience for items purchased and not being used)

I think this weekend I'll take a little time to clean out some of my own crafty supplies and see just who I can surprise with some goodies.

Words to live by - week 71

Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It’s splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.

                              Anne of Green Gables

---------------------------------------------------------

Can'tcha just tell these gals are kindred spirits? Oh ya, you just know they are.

     Adrienne, my friend and business partner in the Tumbleweed Cotillion is up at the Farm Chicks show right this very minute, up in Spokane.(oooh! How I wish I could have gone!)  She sent me a text last night and then, after some more frantic texting, we spoke on the phone.
     She shared with me about all the fabulous vendors that are there, (Deb, and Heather, and Bari and Tammy...and so many more) Then she told me how lots of people are excited about the upcoming Cotillion, and that people were asking all about me, telling her that they read my blog. (I tell you, I was genuinely surprised, and I was so touched I cried. Really.)

     See? That's where I was going with the kindred spirit thing.

Anyway.

     I want to thank you from the bottom of my toes for reading my blog, for posting your comments, for sharing ideas and thoughts and questions. I want to thank you for pouring out your hearts to me,and letting me pour mine out to you, for encouraging me, for..well, you know.

After all, we're kindred spirits.

A package in the mail!

    

     I love it when a package arrives. It doesn't matter if it's something I ordered or a sample of dryer sheets, I just get happy, you know? Well, today's mail brought an extra-special-oh-so-very-over-the-top-exciting package. I won Joanne's 50th birthday drawing and the prizes arrived today!
That's right people, pri-zes...plural.
While  love them all, I must admit I am particularly smitten with the vintage egg beater, with the adorable green wooden handle. So sweet. I can just imagine some woman, a woman just like me, beating up cupcake batter with this little gem at one point in time when kitchenaid mixers weren't around in every kitchen.

*sigh* Thank you so much Joanne.

Italian paperclips

     
    Just look at these beauties.
    Aaah, there's nothing quite like them. Exactly the kind of tiny detail that catches your eye, the difference between average and fabulous, really.(Really!)
     I first saw them when one of the vendors in the Tumbleweed Cotillion submitted their application and used one to hold her packet together. Wow. I loved the look. Did she make them, I wondered? I wanted some of these darling little miniature mattress spring looking things...so, I wrote and asked her. No, she had bought them, and she'd be happy to send me some and I could pay her when she gets up here for the faire. (She and her sister are coming up from San Francisco to sell some of the most wonerful candlesticks and such that they create from vintage chandeliers. So cool.)    
     The paperclips arrived yesterday and I. am. in. love. (I am quite sure of it.) I'll be using them Friday night as I finish up some Press kits and I know they will make the presentation.
Thanks Rebecca!

Cottage Charm Give away winner!

    
     I decided to do my drawing at 9:00 tonight, (Pacific time) to give more people chances of entering. Here's a little reminder of what I am giving away....

Now, without further delay...Drumroll please.......The winner for my giveaway for the Cottage Charm Contest is.... Zegi!
Thanks to everyone that entered the contest and reads my blog!

1.5 minutes of semi fame (a teeny tiny bit of shameless self promotion here, people)

 
I'm so excited that I just had to do a second post and brag a little bit.

      Channel 2 ran my little news story, and promoted the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion, both on the news, and with a link in the article! These people rock.
Here's the link to the story AND the video...not sure why they list only Pam in the title...on the news they mentioned both of us of course...oh well....did I mention that they plugged the Tumbleweed Cotillion in the article and the video?!

**note** I have done nothing but eat since March 15th (the last wedding) and I wish I could say the camera added those extra pounds, but...no. I will be eating sensibly beginning tomorrow at sunrise. *sigh*

Love shack

Oh. My. Ga.
     Look what the newest newylweds bought this weekend! It's a 1956 vintage trailer, people, and according to the mama-to-be, it's even got the original pistachio green oven in it. I've lusted in my heart for one of these babies for years, and now, I'm going to get to help jazz this one up. (be still my heart!!!)  
     Of course I spent last night scouring the internet for photos of vintage trailers for inspiration. The first place I looked was at this charming blog, because I noticed she had added trailer pictures to her banner and sidebar not too long ago.
    So far this is the only photo I've got, but as soon as they get this baby home I am sure to see pictures of the inside and we can begin to brainstorm to make this gem into a little slice of vintage heaven, for sure.

I'm thinkin' a pink flamingo lawn ornament is a must-have.

A cupcake cottage opens in Hickory Grove...

     Wow. Talk about kindred spirits. I know I say this all the time, but the people in the blog world are just the best. To have not met someone face to face, but to feel inspired by them, to feel we know each other...well, it's just incredible. See that oh, so charming picture there? Well, Cathie said I inspired her when she painted this! It's an adorable cupcake cottage, nestled in Hickory Grove. (Don't you just love the hanging cupcake sign? I think she has inspired me to actually make a life sized one of those!!!)

I am so touched...and flattered...and honored.
    Thank you Cathie. You are an amazing artist, and I can't thank you enough for finding inspiration in me.

Summer Garden Tour!

     Last week we had a heat wave hit the biggest little city. We went from the high 60's to 95 degrees within a matter of a few days. We've cooled back off a bit to more normal temperatures now, but it got everyone in the mood for gardening, and then it occurred to me...
     Remember the holiday home tour last Christmas? It was so inspiring to see each other's homes and holiday decor ideas! Why not have a garden home tour in June like we had a holiday home tour last December? Sound fun? Here's what I am thinking...
     If you'd like to share pictures and a post about your garden, your summer porch, backyard or patio, whether it be big or small, you know, all of your outdoor living spaces, which is my favorite part of outside...bringing the inside out!

(you can use photos from this year or a past year- the idea is to inspire us all with your outdoor decor and blooms!) send me your blog link before June 17th (and one photo if you like) and I'll compile them all into one big post on my blog, linking your blog to mine. Then, I'll publish the post on Wednesday, June 18th. (This gives us all a few weeks to get motivated to finish getting our gardens and outdoor living spaces prettied up!)
     Feel free to take my little logo picture at the top of this post to post on your blog on the sidebar or whatever. (See what I mean? This will work exactly like the holiday tour did last December!)
     Does this sound fun? I hope so!

I'm off to water my flowers now.

Take a moment to vote for our sweet friend Dawn!

     **an extra Sunday post**

     You know, I told you that I felt this was going to be "my year". Well, my sweet friend Dawn is having an incredible year as well. (You must know Dawn. I shared these darling tags that she made, and I first met her online when I bought these beautiful pillows from her...then, at long last, we met in person at the Victoria Magazine launch weekend!) She sold her little Antique shop, and has let her passion for altered art bloom. (Actually, it has been more like an explosion of creativity coming from her!)
     Her altered art has already been recognized in publications, but this time, there is a very good chance she'll make the cover!
    Please, let's pull out all the stops, and show what a difference the blog world can make, by supporting one of our shiniest stars. Take just a moment to go here  and vote for her incredible work to grace the cover of Somerset Life!

We're wishing you all the best here, Dawn!

Cottage Charm Givaway!

    Kim from The Twice Remembered Cottage ~ One Woman's Cottage Life is having the Second Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway and I decided to join in! (Cindy inspired me to get on board!)
    I wasn't quite sure what to put in my giveaway, since not everyone likes exactly the same things, so I decided to combine some things that I like...

The Cottage Style book (it's not Cottage Style magazine) is full of great decorating ideas, and the Cabbages and Roses Vintage Crafts book is bursting with all kinds of things to make yourself. I added an embroidered vintage pillowcase and a sweet little match holder that I did up myself (it makes a great wall mount pencil or flower holder as well!)

**edited 5/21/08 to add** OK, apparently I have somehow confused some of you. I did not MAKE the match holder. I painted, antiqued and decoupaged the match holder. Sorry for all the confusion!!

    The drawing will be on Saturday, May 31st. You have until then to leave a comment, on this post or any post after this one, and if you post on more than one blog post, you'll be entered more times..so, the more posts you do (one comment per blog post) the more chances you'll have to win!. (if you don't have a blog, please make sure you include your email address!)
Thanks to Kim for creating this contest!

Finding happiness (and gift shopping) on a Saturday morning

    Yes people, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Aah, yard sale season. When a young girl's heart turns to thoughts of turning trash to treasure, and  the highlight of the week comes very early on Saturday mornings, in a stranger's driveway. It's all about the hunt for the coolest junk at the cheapest price, and eating Krispy Kreme donuts while sealing a deal.
    On the yard sale success meter, I'd rate today an 8 out of 10. We managed to fill the navigator's car to the roof before 9:30 this morning. We did however, pass on the cat towers.(I'll share pictures of my haul a little later.)

Not only did we shop for items for ourselves (for the Tumbleweed Cotillion, in my case) but we also managed to find a present for a mutual friend of ours. You see, she's revamping her home and her patio, all in a tropics theme. Kind of "Tommy Bahama meets British colonial meets luau" and it's coming along nicely. We knew when we spotted this...

...that we had to get it for her. Big spenders that we are, we each threw in fifty cents and couldn't wait to stop by and surprise her with it. (nothing better than sharing a little yard sale love with kindred spirits)
   Sure, her grandkids might enjoy it, but we were thinking it would be fabulous fun at a Mai Tai party too. She loved it, and our party idea.

I mean, wow. Island bowling with coconut balls. (It just doesn't get any better than this for summer fun, does it?)

*sigh* Yes, I lead quite a wild life.

A Cottage Industry website to relaunch this week.

...and I wanted you to be the first to know.
I will be relaunching my website later this week. I'm going to be showcasing my "Make if Special!" Kits, including a new one just in time for Mother's Day...keep watching!

When is an early Mother's day gift the best Christmas present you'll ever get?

...Give up?

Well...before I tell you, let me begin at the beginning.(I actually was trying to wait to do this post until the day before Mother's day, but I just can't wait a single. minute. longer. I fear I will burst)

The newest newlywed is a planner by nature. Always has been. Born on her due date, not crazy about surprises, makes lists. Doesn't lose them.
      She thinks things completely through, every move is a purposeful decision, big or small. By her own definition, she's a "planner". Definitely not one to simply "wing it" or fly by the seat of her pants, like her older sister, and younger brother.
     Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying she isn't adventuresome; quite the contrary. She's my cutie patootie that's a world traveler, (even going to Morocco while living in Spain, shortly after 9/11 when I told her not to go) and the one who invited her baby brother to get tattooed together. (much to my horror) What I am saying is that those things were well thought out, and carefully planned, even if they were not Mom approved.
      She's the middle child, so she's used to sharing, and compromising, and not necessarily getting to be the center of attention all that often. Seldom does she get the opportunity to be the "first", and she's fine with that.
      I think that's what makes this all the more special. It's her time, their time, to bask in the thrill of being first, on both sides of the family, and share their joy and excitement with the entire family.

     So, I'll pose the question again.

"When is an early Mother's day gift the best Christmas present you'll ever get?"

That's easy. It's when they give you one of these.

After all the squealing and jumping and hugging I did in Chili's restaurant when they gave me this fabulous little present, I did some quick math. (With my birthday in December, and my son's birthday in December, it wasn't all that hard.)
    They laughingly admitted that with all of the planning, the due date was the one thing that they never even thought about. They just knew they wanted to start their family right away, so the planning began.

*Sigh* I can't think of a better Christmas present in the whole. wide. world.

It's a small, friendly, puddle-jumper-wearing world out there in Blogland

** a second short post for today that I just had to share!**

Aaah, for the love of galoshes.

Remember this post? Well read this post , and you'll see what transpired between my sweet friend Ms. Crafty, and sweet Dolly over at From my cherry heart!

The people out in blogland are the best.

A big thank you, a little bit of this and that...and an award!

Happy May Day, internets!

I've been busy the past week, but I am finally getting caught up. So, a little bit of this and that... first of all, a huge thank you to everyone that bought my flags, placecards and invitation/menu cards kit!!!! I was completely and totally blown away at the response. Thank you all so. very. much.

Next,  I want to thank Jen for this wonderful "Arte Y Pico" award! It's an award for creativity and I am supposed to recommend 5 more creative blogs...but there are so, so many more than 5 that I can't bear to even try doing this. I thank you all the same, Jen!!! I am honored, truly!

Finally, I was tagged for a meme by Tracey. The meme is to share 6 unimportant things about me...OK, well, hmmm... here we go, then!

1. I can't find a hairstyle that I like on myself. I've been trying for a few years now. Actually since I was 22. I've been blonder, darker, shorter, longer...still struggling.

2. I have kind of ugly pinky toes. My little toe nails are very tiny.

3. I don't care at all for artichokes,(and I just don't get the point of eating them like that) but I love artichoke dip. I am sure it has to do with adding mayo or cheese or whatever to it.

4.I'm a morning person and a night owl, apparently. Since becoming suddenly single, I only sleep about 6 hours a night usually.

5. I think I've shared this before (Oh, my gawd! I seem to share a lot of useless stuff here I am suddenly realizing)...I sing when I'm alone at home with my dogs.
A lot.
Mostly the Mary Tyler Moore theme song. They seem to love it. (If they don't, they haven't let me know about it)

and finally...

6.I have a pretty substantial crush on Donny Deutsch. I think he's wildly cute in a kind of older-preppy-dorky-ish-offbeat way. (but he needs to stop that thing he does with the reading glasses half way down his nose)

There, that's 6. I'm tagging all of you to share now. (C'mon, people! I want to know.)

Last day for April showers...

...and I found these just in the nick of time. (I told you, Ms. Crafty got me hooked on looking for these to decorate for April...)
    Aah, the thrift store, on half off day, no less.A whole whopping dollar twenty five. Yippee skippy! These little darlin's are just too adorable, don'tcha think? Perfect little puddle jumpin' centpiece for my table, even if it is the last day in April.

reTreat joins the Tumbleweed Cotillion Vintage French Market

     Oh, people, people, people. Cancel any vacation plans you had for June 27th and 28th. You just don't want to miss this. Really.
    All the way from the pacific northwest, Seattle's own reTreat has been added to the vendor list at the June Cotillion. They'll become"Rue de Retreat" for the two glorious days of the vintage French Market here in the biggest little city.

Deb and her dream of a husband, Bob, are the visionaries of reTreat. She's an incredibly amazing and talented designer, he's an equally amazing and talented contractor/builder, and they both love to thrift, scavenge, and rescue forgotten items. (Now, that's my idea of a dream man!) 
     I've known Deb for many years now, first online, at the iVillage message boards, then with the "Bliss Boards" from the original Victoria magazine. Then, later again, with the Women Take Wing community...becoming good friends without actually meeting in person...until last June at the life changing Willows Nest event (very near the spot where I first discovered the real Stars Hollow Camas, Washington!)The following October, we got to meet in person again at  the Victoria magazine launch event.

*sigh* They are incredible people.

Anyway.

Deb has been trying to see if they actually had the time and the inventory to make the Cotillion. You see, they are already doing the Farm Chicks show in Spokane in early June. Last night, they made the decision to just go for it, and do both shows.

To give you an idea of Deb's creative vision, here's a quote from one of her emails to me last night..."And wouldn't you just know it, as I go along, I am also finding a BUNCH of stuff that I could create an absolutely FABulous booth at the Tumbleweed Cotillion French Market. White, ivory, tan, rusty foofy and frenchy stuff. Filigreed frames and candelabra and wire urns and white scallop-edged dishes. I have furniture & mirrors & lamps that could go with it, too. I can picture it, all arranged, in my head - like a soft-focus tintype photo in sepia tones. Madeline Peyroux murmuring French songs in the background. Welcome to the 'Rue de Retreat Flea Market'......"

See what I mean? Mark your calenders, people.

*sigh* Such inspired people.

A fabulous workshop, but no pictures to prove it.

     I am so ticked at myself. I meant to take pictures all through the workshop this morning, but...too much talking, teaching, and cupcake eating, and I somehow  forgot to get pictures from about midway on.(I even forgot to take a shot of the completed paint can full of supplies and work books!!! Augh!

In the end,everyone left with a completed chalkboard in an antiqued frame, and a cute paint can full of everything they'll need to make more.

Yes, I'd say a very good time was had by one and all.

Pretty little post-it note holders

      Aren't these the prettiest little covers for Post-it notes? I'd say this falls into the category of "living a beautiful life", wouldn't you? Making the ordinary extraordinary. Little everyday details that make us smile. My sweet friend that was over for breakfast last weekend (the card designer) made these covers. Yeah, that's right. She made them. In "my" colors. She found the cute post-it's and then, made the cover to coordinate. (sooo classy) Notice the wording on the adorable label? (It reads, "Live your Bliss") Perfect for me, wouldn't you say?
*sigh* I just love 'em.

WWJD?

    I don't mean to sound sacrilegious with my title,  I'm just wondering.
     There weren't many yard sales today that were in our "area" (three to be exact) so it didn't take long, but, oh baby, were they worth the trip. The first stop was right around the block from my cottage and I snagged a silver plate gravy boat and a picture of Jesus. Not just any picture of Jesus, mind you. It's the exact picture that I had hanging in my room when I was a little girl, except mine was a little bit smaller and was in a gold plastic frame. Uh huh.
    I think it was from one of those "Home Interiors" parties in the early sixties, or maybe it was a church fund raiser. At any rate my Mom apparently bought it. I remember that it hung on the left side of the bedroom window with the made-by-Mom pink with giant white polka dot curtains. The curtains matched my coverlet on my twin sized bed. As I recall, I really loved that whole ensemble. Girly, but hip at the same time, you know?

*sigh* It's funny how things like that can remind you of all kinds of trivial, but oh, so warm and fuzzy memories from way back when, isn't it?

Anyway.

     When I went to pay I told the woman having the sale my little story about how it brought back memories of my childhood and such and she said she actually felt "weird" putting a Jesus picture in the yard sale. She thought it might be considered offensive to re-sell Jesus like that. (The truth be told, I think I made her feel better about selling him by sharing my little story)
     What I didn't tell her, because I thought it, might in turn, offend her, was that I bought the Jesus picture for the fabulous frame. Really. It's going to be incredible when I get it all painted and antiqued. Then, I will add a chalkboard to the center of it and it will be all set for the Tumbleweed Cotillion.

*sigh* Now, if I can just figure out what to do with the picture of Jesus inside the frame. Somehow, it just feels kind of "weird" to give it away.

A is for adorable...(that's what these are to me)

    Do you buy cards right when it's an occasion for card giving, or do you keep a stash of great cards on hand? Me, I'm a card stasher. But only amazing cards. Special cards for special people, you know. And, me being ever so slightly Type A, I have them organized by occasion, in a little basket, with cute labeled cardboard dividers for each occasion. (What? Doesn't everyone do that?)
Anyway.
     Cupcakes are pretty much my favorite thing these days, (but, you know that) and not just those I bake. Last Saturday when I had my friend over for breakfast, she brought me the most adorable bunch of cupcake cards. You see, she's a card designer.(Oh, she's too modest to call herself that, but that is what she is) She's been making cards for years. Look at them closely. The embossing, the color coordination, the perfect rubber stamps she used. (Seriously, can you even believe the cute cupcake stamps there are out there these days?) These cards are so adorable, I almost drooled on them. Really. 
   I tell you, I hate to give them away. See what I mean?  A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E.

   

     OK, so as long as I am bragging on her handmade one-of-a-kind cupcake cards, let me also show you her puppers cards too. Mmm hmmm, adorable, I know. I have two friends with wiener dogs, but... I afraid I can't give this wiener dog card away, 'coz I like looking at it so much. (Actually, it almost makes me want a wiener dog. No. Two dogs are plenty for me. For now.)

     It might seem funny, but as many things as I make, cards are not one of them. (Oh, once in a great while I might do one with a photo of the person I am giving the card to, but outside of that, nope.) I like having this nice little basket full of perfectly adorable cards, right at my fingertips, anytime I need a special card for a special someone.

*sigh* And, just knowing that someone handmade some of them (especially for me!) to share with others, makes them even more adorable.

I was Green before green was cool, people.

...and I know lots of you were too....Her, for example. And her. And her. Oh! and of course, her.

Green....Um, ya. You know, renew, reuse, recycle. Recycle. That's what we nutty and obsessed serious yard saling, junker types do. (I wonder if we junkers could be LEED certified?) We re-purpose discarded items, skillfully size up what may appear to the untrained eye to be trash, unearthing a real diamond in the rough.
Such was the case this past weekend. I spotted this fabulous antique dresser on craigslist last Friday and emailed the guy. We set up a time after the writer's conference on Saturday for me to go take a look.
Can you see the inner beauty? Look close. It has the original wooden wheels (like those last 2 chairs I bought!) It is so darned cute. So perfect. I got it for a great price, and after a little bit of repair work on the drawers I will work my painter's magic on it.
     I love it. It's gonna be another positively adorable piece for the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion....(if I don't keep it!)
     Once it's done I can enjoy the cuteness of it and be proud of myself at the same time. After all, I saved it from an everlasting life in the landfill.

I'm afraid I might be a laundry room weirdo.

      OK. So, I have a thing for laundry rooms. There, I said it.
     In my last house, my favorite room was the giant laundry room...and I had such grand plans for the little "walk-through-on-the-way-to-the-garage-from-the-kitchen" laundry room in my sweet cottage, but now that it's on the market I've put them aside. I'm afraid they'd be too personalized... (I was going to paint the walls Robin's egg blue and put in stick-on vinyl tiles in black and white checks...)
     Last week, when my friends were over to assemble the tiny flags, one of my guests commented that they had never seen such a "staged" laundry room. Hmm...I wasn't sure if I should be offended or flattered. (Who am I kidding?! I was a wee bit offended. I tried to tell myself she was just jealous.(wink, wink!)Poor thing. Maybe her laundry room was boring and sad and pitifully neglected, and so she felt the need to attack mine...or...could it be that she thought I was... suspenseful background music here.....a laundry room weirdo?)
     I told her it wasn't staged, it was how I lived. I take the basket off the washer when I do wash (hey, it's only me and I have 2 loads of laundry, per week, on Saturdays..No big deal, right?) She looked at me like I said I had just returned from a flight to Mars with George Clooney. 

Anyway.

   It got me to wondering...am I the only person that decorates the laundry area of her home? (surely I am not!)
       To clarify, (and to defend my sanity and sense of style) the basket of ivy and the washboard are concealing the very high-on-the-wall water knobs for the water to go to the washing machine. (They are like the ones on a bathtub- huge..and very ugly...to me, anyway) See? It serves a purpose.
    The lamp...well, it brings some black and white toile,(which is in my kitchen) along with a whole lot of ambiance into the little room, which, when lit up at night, is seen through the lacy French door in the evenings, and adds a touch of romance to my kitchen (...once again, for me, anyway.)
     The framed quotation (oh, you know how I love good quotations...) makes me smile every Saturday, because I do find joy in laundry, in being home...in nesting.

*sigh* If that makes me a laundry room weirdo, I guess I'm OK with that.

A lil' treat in the mailbox...and great minds DO think alike!

    Look what I found in the mailbox.

Wait a minute, let me back up. First, my sweet lil' Georia friend sent me this calendar. (Oh! You know I loved it!) and then...then my daughter (the most-recent-maid-of-honor...) sent me the actual cookbook! And, not just the cookbook, but the cookbook crammed full of post it notes with comments for me to read...(and the cutest post-it's I'd ever seen!)
     So, there I sat, all cozy-ed up in my bed last night, reading recipes, and drooling on my duvet. A positively wonderful way to spend a Thursday night (with all new episodes of the Office playing on the TV while I read)

I think I'm going to try out the lavender and honey cupcakes to see if they might just be the perfect treat to serve at the upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion's Vintage French Market at Lavender Ridge...now, doesn't that sound just perfect?

Sunday afternoon

    I feel like a bit of a tease, not telling all the details of my move right now. Please know that there is a lot more involved than just me randomly deciding to jump and sell my cottage. From bad things come good, and there's a time to evaluate your life and step up to the plate. (It's that old "Life is not a dress rehearsal" concept...so true!)
Becoming suddenly single and the financial dynamics that came along with it have been a challenging learning and growing experience, to put it mildly. I've learned the hard way that people don't always keep their word, especially where money is involved and I've learned that life is far to short to try and figure out why...
    Life is also far to short to spend time doing things you do not truly love doing.(It's all about following our Bliss, people!)
      I'll share more with you when I can. For right now, I am focused on selling my sweet cottage and moving on to the next wonderful chapter in my life.(and rest assured, I'll share more when I can!)

From my heart

     Thank you for all of the wonderful bloggy love yesterday! The comments and the emails were..well...wonderful. They made my day...my week, really.
I hope you all have happy, happy Friday. You deserve it.

A circle of friends

“Kindred Spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. Its splendid to find out there are so many of them in the world.” Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables

I have met the absolute nicest people since I began blogging. Truly. Kind emails, compliments, pep talks and occasionally even surprises in the mail. Such was the case two days ago. I arrived home from an extra long day at my grown up girl job to find a padded envelope in amongst my other mail. 
     Knowing my passion for nesting, and all things nest related, sweet, sweet Jenny sent me this incredible nest pendant that she made herself! Thank you Jenny!(I'm going to string it on a thin Robin's egg blue satin ribbon) My heart welled up and spilled over when I read your sweet note.
     I can't put into words how much inspiration and support all of you have been to me the past 18 months. (I know I don't mention this nearly often enough.) I thank God for my friends, both online and right here in person too. Old friends and new. Kindred spirits.
     Days when I felt down, or angry or frustrated, I found hope and friendship here online, reading comments and emails from people that have gone through what I went through and am still feeling the after shocks from now and again. People that cared what I had to say, and missed me when I didn't post for a day.
    You may have thought I was sharing all my ideas and projects because I am creative and because I seem to enjoy chattering on endlessly (and there is some truth to that last part), but the entire truth be told, it was you who have kept me on track. Kept me from falling off the road into the ditch of negativity and depression, and red puffy eyes from having  endless pity parties. I felt obliged (in a very, very good way!) to post as often as possible, about positive, fun, good-for-the-soul-things,instead of wallowing in a giant puddle of self pity.

For this, I thank you all.