Notes from A Cottage Industry

Weekly words to live by.

Weekly words to live by.

Weekly words to live by- Veterans Day 2018

Thank you to my son, and all of the other sons, daughters, sisters, brothers, Moms and Dads who serve in our military. This proud Mother is eternally thankful for your service. (So proud of you, TJ!)

A creative break in the midst of holiday booth prep.

I've been slightly off grid, unintentionally.

We got back in town late Tuesday...er...early Wednesday morning I should say, and I have been going non-stop every moment since my fit hit the ground at Portland airport. (Seriously, I've even spent my bits of sleep time dreaming about my long to-do list of paper crafts I am making!)

I did leave Christmas-town for a short while this morning to make this adorable birthday party hat as a custom order for a friend, and I loved every. single. minute. of. it.

You like?

A new-to-me decorating idea using collections.

Oh. My. Goodness.

While we were out of town this past weekend, (More on this later this week!) we stayed at a hotel that had an interesting photograph collection above the front desk. These photographs were of various old staircases (most likely old plantations) and were full of character, in a soft, yummy sepia-tone colors.

(Sorry my photo doesn't do it justice. It was hard to avoid the glare, and to capture the size...)

The framed photographs were huge, about three and a half feet wide, and maybe five and a half feet tall. The framed photographs were hung on a tufted fabric, with an even more massive frame, and hung in a row above the front desk.

I loved the idea of grouping multiple photos of a collection like items as art, and my mind was whirling as I considered the possibilities. Architectural items, like doors, windows, clocks, or old clothespins could be a fun collection. A group of themed items would be fun as well. Kitchen hand tools, sewing or quilting supplies, or bar ware.(Picture small photos above a bar area or cart. It could be fabulous!)

What are your thoughts on this idea? 

Weekly words to live by.

Revisiting my laundry room...with some autumn touches.

I know I have shown you my laundry room at my cottage once or twice before, (Here, and here...and probably more spots that I missed.) but I thought I'd share it again, as I am happy as a bird with a french fry over my new-to-me old vintage drying rack. (even though I haven't ironed one of my dish towels up there. Oh well.)

Let's start at the interior door to the laundry room, which is off of my kitchen.

It's a sunny laundry room, with two windows, one on the door, and one next to the door. (I couldn't get a good photo, because the sunlight was streaming in.)

I gathered up my stash of old and new clothespins and put them in one of my giant lidded jars, which was just sitting forlornly in the garage for the past couple of years, begging for a new purpose.

I still need to write something on my chalkboard. I was thinking of putting, "Alexa, fold the clothes" but haven't gotten around to it, and I am a little concerned I am bordering on having too many quotes around my house...

I plopped a couple of my faux white pumpkins in the laundry room for fall, and I am liking the feel of this room so much, which is good, because we come in and out of here everyday. Do you do seasonal decor in rooms like your bathroom, or laundry room?