Notes from A Cottage Industry

words to live by - week 157

 

What you do speaks so loud that I cannot hear

what you say.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

While reading blogs the other day, I came upon a blog with this quotation and also the following incredibly thought provoking piece (Perfect for Weekly Words to Live By)....

How you treat your spouse.

How you take care of yourself.

How you speak to others.

What's important to you.

How you handle stress.

How you cope with hardship.

Who you spend time with.

What you spend your time on.

Your order of priorities.

How you speak of others.

What you value.

What you don't value.

Special thanks for today's words to live by to Sara over at Clover Lane, a charming blog! If you'd like to join me in sharing your own "Weekly Words to live by", simply use the Mr. Linky too below  to link to this week's specific Words to live By post, and let your readers know about the Mr. Linky back here on Notes From A Cottage Industry.

Weekly words to live by, and advertising opportunities.

 Oodles of exciting blog stuff has been developing  around my home....First of all, I've had another busy week here, getting to know my MAC a little better. (And I am loving it!!!!) This coming week I will be turning in my old computer to the Apple guys to move all of my information over to the new MAC. Once that is complete I think I will be able to get back up to speed...anyway, I am hoping so.

Second....I'm thrilled to share with you that Notes From A Cottage Industry is now offering advertising opportunities! You may click here for more information. You will see that my good friend Deb from hummadeedledee has a darling link button over on my left sidebar, (and if you're interested Deb can make a button for you as well) that promotes her online business.

On another note....I've been posting my weekly words to live by for a long time, (156 weeks and counting!) and I get quotations from all sorts of places- the web, books, and even from some of my readers. It occurred to me yesterday that maybe some of you would like to share your own Words to live by posts, on your blogs as well, so..starting this Sunday I will have a Mr. Linky installed at the end of my words to live by post for you to link to your blog post. I will also now post my Weekly Words to live By post at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evenings, instead of early Sunday mornings. If people seem to like this, I'll continue to do the Mr. Linky thing each week.

If you are not familiar with Mr. Linky, let me explain it for you. It's simply a box that you fill in your blog name and a link to your post. Once you do that, readers may click on your name and be taken to your post to read...sound fun? I think so.

I hope you all decide to participate. The more, the merrier!

Tablescape Thursday...a birthday celebration.

 Last Saturday was Bob's birthday and I set a special table for the occasion. I thought I'd try my hand at joining in the Tablescape Thursday posts put on by this blog by sharing the pictures from my table set up. Somehow, in all the excitement of the day, I forgot to photograph the table with the food on it, so you'll just have to see the basic table set up this week.
I used giant round white helium filled balloons tied with wide satin black ribbon and place cards reading "You" and "Me". (All of the party stores, as well as WalMart sell helium tanks these days and they are so handy to have around!)
 My table runner was a simple piece of burlap with Robin's egg blue hole punch circles scattered about for confetti. So easy. Vintage scalloped edge oval plates added a touch of charm to the table, and the center piece was made from grouping the Birthday Boy's presents together in color coordinated wrappings, which I shared this past Monday.
One final detail that made things festive was the birthday flag skewer of strawberries in each juice glass. (You can buy my online kit to make your very own personalized flags here.)
It doesn't take a lot of time or money to make a special table setting, all it takes is a bit of pre-planning, and it's well worth the effort!

Camas Antiques booth update...

 I worked on my booth space last night at Camas Antiques. Lots of changes, and so many more little vintage accessories to be added later this week! Here, I'll let you take a look around....

  

I completely lose track of time when I get inside that booth and start fluffing things up.(Now, if I could only stay that focused when I am home working on tagging merchandise...) Anyway, I hope you enjoyed seeing the new additions!

Baked goods as gifts.

 I've always liked giving handmade, or home baked items as gifts, and since Bob's birthday was this past weekend, I decided to bake him some of my sugar cookies as part of his present.
I packaged the cookies in a colored to-go box, (available at restaurant supply places or online at box stores) and added a simple ribbon to adorn the box. So easy, and yet, such a nice gift, don'tcha think?

....Thursday I'll be sharing my birthday-party-for-two tablescape!

Words to live by - week 156

 There is no end to the craving. Hence contentment alone is the best way to happiness. Therefore, acquire contentment.

               Swami Sivanana

Hangin' with Mr. C.

**WARNING** Blatant Gramma Brag post.

I spent yesterday afternoon hangin' with my babylove here in town. He's gotten his first real haircut and he looks like such a toddler these days, so I just had to share. He loves to sit and eat lil' snacks like bananas and cheese crackers now that he can feed himself..... 

 

He took a nap and woke up smiling.....
 

We will return now to our regular blogging. (Thanks for indulging me)

 I hope you all have a fabulous Friday!

A little ray of Sunshine!

 What a wonderful way to begin my Thursday!!!!!! I am very flattered and incredibly humbled to have been nominated for the Sunshine Award by three thoughtful friends!!!

Thanks so very much to sweet Robin King ( Robin King Designs ) for thinking of me, and adding my blog to her list for this award. 
 (Don't you just LOVE her Blog Banner?!)

Thank you also to Piper Green (Piper's Pen blog ) for thinking of me as well. Check out her charming blog!
Thank you so very much, Piper!! 

And last, but certainly not least, a huge thank you to one of my all time bestest blog and creative types buddies, Deb, from Hummadedledee, (as well as half of the creative duo of Kennedy & Kennedy Designs.)
 Deb is one amazing girl. In fact, she is the person that created my new blog banner. She is the Sunshine Queen!

I know, I am supposed to give this award out to 12 other bloggers...but I simply cannot narrow any list of mine down to 12, so......... If you have ever taken the time to post a comment here, consider yourself nominated. You all deserve Sunshine Awards. I treasure each and every reader and friend I have out here in Blog land. 

Inquiring minds and all that.

 I have a few frequently asked questions that I thought I would take time to answer today. Here they are, in no particular order....

What kind of camera do you use? I use a Canon Rebel. It's a big camera, and my favorite thing about it is that it will take 3 pictures per second. I love it!

What program do you use to get the soft focus around the edges of your pictures? It's an old cheap software program called Professor Franklin's Photo Effects. I paid around $30 for mine, but when I googled it today, I found a version online for FREE! I'm not sure it's the exact same program, since mine is about six years old, but, it's definitely worth downloading!

Can you share the formula for the Robin's egg blue paint?

 Behr Brand (eggshell or satin finish depending on your taste)paint (Quart sized, and using the lightest base Behr makes) used on bedrooms, etc. and furniture  

COLORANT     OZ   48   96
Lamp black      0     7     1
Thalo Green     0     4     0
Med. Yellow     0     2      1

Tracey's Robin's egg blue Behr Brand semi-gloss finish paint (Quart sized, using the lightest base Behr makes) used on furniture if you prefer a higher gloss and on the bathroom and kitchen walls 

COLORANT     OZ   48   96
Lamp black      0     5     0
Thalo Green     0     1     1
Med. Yellow     0     2      1

How do I paint and antique furniture? Well, I did a blog post, way back when, that you can find here, or you can order my DVD kit here for detailed instructions. Try it, it's really not all that scary.

Can you share the recipe for your buttercream frosting? It's simple as can be:

1 bag (or 2 boxes) of confectioners sugar (powdered sugar)

2 cubes (1 cup) butter or margarine (softened, but not melted)

1 Tablespoon vanilla

Milk 

SIFT sugar (Very important if you are going to use frosting bags and tips for decorating your cake, cookies or cupcakes!) and add butter, vanilla and about 4 Tablespoons of milk. Mix at high speed with mixer. Add more milk as needed to reach desired consistency..Thicker frosting works better for decorating...things like making roses and such. Add food coloring once the frosting is mixed.

Where do you get your cute clear acrylic cupcake boxes? I get them from a cool online company called Bags & Bows. (Click on the blue words to follow the link) They come in lots of sizes, and I buy them in 2x2, 3x3 and 4x4 inch sizes. Not only are they wonderful for cupcakes, they are great for any little gift or treat or favor!

When do you sleep? (also, Do you ever sleep? How much do you sleep?) Hmmmm, good question. I haven't slept all that well for quite some time. When I first became suddenly single,with all the stress I had going on, coupled with the fact that I had trouble getting used to sleeping alone, (I still sleep with my extra pillows on the other side of my bed at night.)  I would do little snippets of home projects during the spans of time at night when I couldn't sleep. Time passed, and for whatever reason (Habit? Menopause? Caffeine?) I still generally sleep about six and a half hours or so a night. If I make it to seven hours or more for any given night's sleep, I am thrilled.

Did I miss any questions? If so, now's your chance to ask me! Post your question in the comments area and I will answer it there.

Warming up the bedroom fireplace.

 
 
 A very short while after I shared the pictures of my master bedroom I found a wonderful old wicker chair (for an absolute steal of a deal!) to cozy up the fireplace in my bedroom, as so many of you had suggested. It has the perfect combination of old paint, slightly weathered but not too tattered, and quaint charm. I re-covered the seat cushion and added a white cutwork feather bed pillow to add some softness to the back of the chair.

Now the area isn't so bare, and I have a spot to sit...and it looks inviting and charming and warm and welcoming. Oh, and I also added an old (and VERY heavy) mirror to the mantle area for some added personality, although I am still not sure I will keep it up there.

I am very happy with my new-to-me old chair and I am so glad you recommended adding one to this corner of my bedroom!

Sweetheart of a Valentine's Day

 First off, I know many of you have emailed, posted comments, and even called me..asking about Bob. Let me say that I know you wish the best for me, and, while I share lots of things about my personal life, sometimes I do try to keep parts of my life a bit more private. With this being said, this post today should set your minds at ease about my friend Bob....

 I hope you all had a lovely Valentine's Day. My day was fun, from start....
(My Valentine arrived around 9:00 with grocery bags in hand and made eggs benedict for breakfast, no less!) ....to finish.....(with a candle light dinner for two, and, of course, dinner included my favorite veggie, roasted brussel sprouts! Bob did all the cooking for both meals. I made the cupcakes.)
In between breakfast and dinner we went and saw the movie "Valentine's Day". Such a cute movie. There were special treats- Homemade Valentine cookies for him, and just take a look at these amazing chocolates he surprised me with!...(Even the wrapping was darling!)
 (They came from Sahagun, a wonderful chocolate place in Portland.) It's a little hard to see in the picture, but they are dusted with edible gold leafing and metallic powders!)

*Sigh* It was the nicest Valentine's Day I can remember in a very long time.

Words to live by - week 155

 Who, being loved, is poor?  ~Oscar Wilde

Happy, happy Valentine's Day!

Vintage touches add charm to the master bath.

I found a charming vintage hutch top a short while back, and I fell in love with the cottage look of the scalloped shelf edges. I painted it a weathered white and it now has a home above my master bathtub.

  I think it adds some vintage charm to the otherwise modern room, with some of my favorite old photos and sweet old silver pieces. My two foot tall vintage tiered silver tray rounds out the tub area, filled with hand towels, bath sponges and soaps.
Now, every night I take my candle light bubble bath, enjoying the romantic vintage look of the re-purposed hutch-top of days gone by.

Once again, it's all about thinking outside the box.

Big Mac.

 Okay, a little MAC. (I simply couldn't justify the the price difference in my wallet for the mere two inch larger screen) 

Yes! After reading all of your opinions, advice and experience lessons, I took the leap and switched over to a MAC this past weekend, and I must tell you, I am thrilled! Thank you all so very much for your help in this big decision. It's sleek, and shiny, and white and oh-so-pretty. I feel very hip and with it, like I've joined the cool kid's club. It's fast and, so far anyway, incredibly easy to use.I am wondering what I was even worried about.

*sigh* I am in love.

A new Blog look and many more changes on the way....

 How do you like my new banner? I love it!!! My dear, dear friend, Deb made it especially for me, and I couldn't be happier! She also designed a custom button for me that I will be adding tonight hopefully, along with quite a few other improvements to my lil' blog. 
 And, before you ask, the answer is YES! Deb is now doing custom banners and buttons as a new part of her business, when she isn't doing shows with her fabulous hubby, or crafting one of a kind tiara's and nests and all sorts of other amazing things, or writing on one of her three blogs! If you're interested in having Deb work her magic for you, shoot her and email, or check out her work over here. You'll be happy that you did!!!

words to live by - week 154

 Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.

                                                                            Rita Mae Brown

Re-vamped Vintage at Stars Antiques.

I'm still struggling with computer challenges, but I wanted to share some pictures from a great booth space at the fabulous Stars Antiques store in Portland. Remember when my new friend showed me all the great thrift shops in town a while back? Well, I accidentally left a couple of my purchases in her car and we finally connected for me to gather them up, and in the process, I got to see her amazing booth at Stars Antiques Mall.

AJ's booth was nothing short of incredible! (So incredible that I begged her to please think about getting a booth space over at Camas Antiques sometime soon!!!) Even her sign is amazing.... You're missing out if you live anywhere near by and don't stop in to drool over all of AJ's treasures (and the many other wonderful booth spaces at Stars!)

To PC or not to PC?

My computer, a large desktop set up, was purchased in 2002. Its lived a good long life, and has been a good friend and work horse to me, but it's on it's last weak legs and I am needing desperately to replace it...soon.

So....with that being said, I'd like you to give me your two cents on this subject if you've bought a computer in the past year.Do I stick with a desk top set up, or switch to a laptop for all of my work (so I can take it with me where ever I go?) Do I stick with a PC or become a MAC person?

I love all the stuff a MAC has to offer, and the fact that MACs don't get all these virus type things, (okay, and I will admit to being smitten with the sleek white looks of the MAC) but am I too set in my ways to learn new tricks and skills? Typically the MAC costs more too...but, in the end, is it one of those you-get-what-you-pay-for benefits? Is it worth it?

Well...what are your thoughts?

Birthday Girl with a passion for Minnie Mouse.

As I told you a few days ago, my grand daughter celebrated her first birthday this past week, and her party was absolutely adorable! My daughter-in-law really out did herself with no detail left undone.

From the moment guests arrived at the party, it was obvious that the theme was Minnie Mouse....

and the bright blue polka dot fabric and hot pinks really made things pop.
Even her cake had polka dots!
I just had to share one cute shot of Miss Isabelle and her Daddy (My own baby, my son. Hey! Does he kind of have a young George Clooney look going on in this photo, or is it just me?!) before the party began.
Isabelle's Mama (My daughter-in-law) made shirts for herself and Isabelle's Daddy using the computer and transfer paper...so cute and so creative! (You can really see her baby bump now. They are expecting a baby boy in early June!!!)