My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Monday, March 24, 2008

A Sweet Collection

I collect a lot of "things" - especially if it is "eye candy"! Hmmm, I've never collected husbands though - still on the first after 47 years. Anyway, no matter. I do have several collections. My sweet hubby, Jack, would tell you that my fabric collection tops the list, but truthfully, I've seen women with far more fabric than I have! Mine is just a drop in the hat compared by my sister-in-law's stash.

But I love beautiful pitchers. I have more than these below but these are the prettiest ones. So I thought I'd show you some of them. I decided to group them together as collections should be. I don't always follow my own advice but in this instance it does present quite a show.

This is a burgundy lacquered sofa table in my small "entry way" and that term I use loosely because you're right in my living room when you enter - the effects of downsizing, but much, much easier to clean this house than the last one which was about 3 times as large. So I put them on there as a group.

The one on the left is a MacKenzie-Childs look-alike and that's why I bought it. I love their pitchers but this one was a fraction of the cost. The little blue one, 2nd from left, is a darling blue raised fruit pitcher. The 3rd from left is a majolica one I purchased on ebay several years ago and when I received it and opened the box I actually gasped at the beauty of it. So did Jack! It is stunning in real life. The 4th from left is covered with roses; therefore, I had to have it! The 3rd from the right is just an adorable one with a polka dot bow and a rose but very unusual looking. The 2nd from right is again roses but the colors are a bit unusual but it has a graceful feminine line and so it had to be in my home! The 2nd from the right is also a very unusual one because of the top part which is flowers but the bottom almost looks like a basket weave and the handle reminds me of a twisted rope. The vase on the right is an unusual color of green - almost lime - but it is also lovely and had to be in my home also.

So enjoy the close ups below that I've put on here for you to see.


The little "boxes" are another thing I love to collect. Those I got at Macy's, which is my favorite store in the world.

The little bowl on the left matches the pitcher so I just filled it with faux grass and added roses to it. I'm a rosy kinda chick!! Hah......


Thursday, March 20, 2008

What's This?!?!?!?! Hmmmmmm?????

Jack just drew a name and the winner is:


Anne




Before

After

***
I have an ebay group that I just love! I call them my "chicks/chickadees/chickies" or sometimes "bunnies" because they love chicks and bunnies. Anyway, I've been trying my best to come up with something to give away. I found this little plate in a boutique sometime back and just loved it. It didn't have the chick on it. I got another plate that day that did have a chick on it but no roses. There was only 1 plate with the chick. I'm keeping it! :-)

But anyway, I've finally thought of something I can do. I'm decoupaging the plate with the little chick. It took a bit of maneuvering to do it but here it is in its first stages. That little chick and the name is put on there today with just a bit of .............uhhhh, maybe you don't want to know. I'll wash it before I do the decoupage, girlees!!!!!!!!! Okay, so this is the giveaway. I only have 2 of those roses plates and one is MINE!!

Okay, soooooo a giveaway, everyone! All you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you'll be entered into the giveaway for saturday's drawing! Now, what could be easier, chicks?????

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Bunny Plate & Petit Four & Faux Cake!

I just felt like making this petal cake today. Isn't it cheery? This are on ebay also. It made me feel like spring is definitely on the way!

Easter is almost here, chicks and bunnies!! I found this shabby little plate at a boutique in Boise a couple of months ago and couldn't resist buying it. I got a chick one also but I'm keeping it. This bunny plate just went up for sale on my ebay site. BUT the strawberry and petit four are included!!! Not, how can you beat that. It is so cute and cottage looking. I almost hate to part with it but I am.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I loved Ireland when we visited in the 1980s. And they love Americans. I think it is because most Americans have Irish relatives still in Ireland. But three things, actually four, stick in my mine about Ireland. And yes, it is green everywhere - a bright emerald green and all year long too.

One is that every time you buy something or give them money to pay for it, they say "that's lovely." They all say it! Just their way of saying thank you.

The 2nd thing is the Cliffs of Mohr. They are so high from the ocean when you are standing on them that you look down on the birds circling around. But they are magnificent.

The 3rd thing is their small towns. They have more small towns than large towns in Ireland and they are quaint. Just like being in an old "English" movie. And everyone shines their windows even in the rain. Plus we saw more lace in the windows than any place I've ever been! Beautiful bright, clean, crisp windows with Irish lace in them. They have shabby chic in all their homes but just don't know it!! Wonderful to be in an old Irish home and partake of their hospitality. And I can't remember any town we passed through that didn't have a castle. Castles are everywhere there.


The other thing is they burn "peat" for fuel. The pix above shows men harvesting it for their daily supply. It looks and feels like earth because it is "earth" but it burns in their little fireplaces and stoves. I found that just amazing! It's usually a little bigger than a red brick but it smells so earthy when burning it. I loved that. And they seem to have an never ending supply!

Friday, March 14, 2008

Roses & Easter Arrived Yesterday!

Oh my gosh, look what arrived in the mail yesterday for me! Some things I ordered but some were just a "gift" from Rhea and what a surprise. Just meander down and take a look!! I was sooooo excited that I forgot to take pictures until I was reminded. I had already hung some of these things on my lattice (thank you, Miss Rhea! :-) ) so I had to take them all down and put them on the kitchen counter to photograph.

First, there are the parchment roses I ordered from Lori and they are lovely.

Then some little millinery "posies" from sweet Rhea. A "bling" C - my initial, some little white plastic hearts, tags, birds and a cupcake.

Would you just look at these sweet chicks?!?! I call all my gals "chicks" because we really a gaggle of chicks!! Hah! Look that word up and it means: informal or disorderly or noisy group of people. Yep, that's us chicks!! Right on the nose!

Another shot of the little tags.


And theeeeennnnnn we have some sweet little birds in their own little white tissue nest. How cute. And notice how sweetly Rhea wraps them. I think I'm gonna take a clue from that and wrap better when I send something.

Now, the sweetest thing of all!!! A non-caloric cupcake (eye candy for us computer people......hah! I love eye candy!! Isn't he too cute? I've named him Mr. Ed - not after the old show by that name but after sweet Rhea's hubby who is not only a hunk but a really sweet guy......according to Rhea, of course, and she would NOT lie about that, trust me!!

And looooook at this cloche!! It's tiny but so adorable. I just love it because of it's tininess and look of fragility. The rose is under there for now but I'm thinking of other things to go under it also. I'm so glad I got it!

When I first opened the package and saw these I thought they were giant lollipops! Oh, be still my heart......candy?!?! So I opened them up and here's what they actually where. Are they not adorable?!?!?!?! Maybe even better than candy because I won't eat these up. Hah!

And just to keep some of you up to date on my office/crafts room this is how far I've gotten in a week or two. Pathetic, huh??? I'm still working on it though.