I began collecting items painted by Debi Coules on eBay. She has now moved on to having her own website (banner lower down in the post.) I just love her roses and have lots of items spread out through my home and will be sharing more of them in the future.

My kitchen bay window has a shelf and right now has a combination of enamelware and two stained glass lamps. Somewhere I’ve got more plates that I’ll probably put on the shelf – but I tend to like the way it looks now. I do have a lace trimmed runner that’s in my “to iron” stack that will go back on the shelf.

Thanks to Cindy at My Romantic Home for hosting Show and Tell Friday. Cindy’s blog is one of the two or three that inspired me to start my own blog.

I finally got tired of running all over town to find copies of Romantic Home so I decided to finally get a subscription. When I went to sign up there was a “deal” to also get four copies of Romantic Country – so I figured I can’t have too many Romantic magazines, so why not?

As I was going through the Summer 2010 issue I turned a page and stopped in awe. It was over a article called The Poetic Potter – Lark Roderigues. It includes photos of her pottery which is just spectacular. Below is a photo of some of her vases that I found online:

They are absolutely gorgeous and I suddenly thought about what I could get rid of so I could afford a couple pieces. I also regretted getting rid of my kiln from my dollmaking days because I would so like to try to make something like it. But, alas the kiln is long gone.

The article mentions her website, which is www.larkpottery.com and has lots more examples of this beautiful handmade pottery. I then googled her name and found a piece of her work on eBay, though it had been sold. And lastly I found her Etsy shop with a few of her items.

There are so many wonderful things in Romantic Country that it’s going to take me some time to get through all of it. But I as soon as I saw Lark’s work I knew I had to blog about it.

Sandra

It’s Pink Saturday again! And as always our Hostess Bev has collected a list of great blogs that want to participate in the celebration of all things Pink. You can find more blogs listed at How Sweet The Sound.

One of my favorite things to collect is Roman’s Seraphim Angels. I was very fortunate to be able to get this collection of angels called Heavenly Reflections. It features five angels surrounding a pool. It sits on a small oval table in my living room.

CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE



This week I thought I would feature a site that I think a lot of people would like. It’s called Tip Nut and have some great ideas – everything from links to recipes, embroidery designs, household tips, and more. I get their daily newsletter and look forward to seeing what links will be included. There’s more than just the links in the newsletter. As an example, a current Featured article on the front page is something I’ve been doing for awhile and it really has helped me out. It’s about Household Inbox System. A system like this has saved me hours of hunting through my condo for places I’ve put stacks of mail thinking – I’ll get to it later. Well, now I have my “in box” in one place (the office) and Friday is my day to deal with whatever is in the bos – and then get it filed away.


Have a wonderful Pink Saturday!


Sandra

It’s Pink Saturday again! And as always our Hostess Bev has collected a list of great blogs that want to participate in the celebration of all things Pink. You can find more blogs listed at How Sweet The Sound.

The winner of my giveaway from a few weeks ago is Tina from Beansie Babbles! Congratulations. The package will be in the mail to you soon.

This week I received the Spring part of a collection from Jim Shore that I got from one of his appearances on QVC. I love his work and the way he incorporates quilt patterns into his sculptures. I think that this egg is just adorable. There are two very tiny bulbs in the diorama section – that don’t show up in the photos – that illuminates it. The bunnies are so cute and so is the quilt pattern on the back of the diorama. The other two in the collection that I’ve received are a pumpkin with pilgrims in it and a star with a nativity scene in it. I’ve forgotten what the Summer selection is so in a couple of months when I receive the next installment it will be a surprise.

Bev has asked us to feature another Pink Saturday blog each week. This week I’ve selected a blog that is filled with some fantastic crafts. The blog is Glitter and Roses by Ginger – and she’s even having a giveaway this week. Make sure to check out her blog.

Lastly, thank you for the many kind wishes for my son. He’s now back to work and is doing very well. He even went on a job interview yesterday. The contract with the current company is over and now he’s looking for something permanent. My hope is that he gets the job that’s right for him. Fortunately, he’s in IT and has a lot of great experience so he should be able to find something good soon.

Have a wonderful Pink Saturday and thank you so much for all the great comments – they mean a lot.

Sandra

This is the third Saturday that we have a theme for our Pink Saturday thanks to Bev at How Sweet The Sound. This week we are recalling a Holiday or Christmas tradition.

Each year for about the last fifteen years my son and I have gone out on Christmas Eve to see the decorations around town. We used to go out and guess at where to go. Now our local paper provides a list of homes that have great decorations and breaks it up into north and south sides of town. This makes things a lot easier. Plus, my son is a techno-geek so likes programming all the addresses into his GPS. We tune the car radio to one of the Chicago FM stations that plays Christmas songs and take off on our adventure – with Bootsy (Dave’s Chihuahua) cuddled in a blanket on my lap.

Here’s some pictures that show off our town:

Naperville’s downtown lights create a beautiful canopy.







We haven’t found another house that is decorated as extravagantly as any other in town. There are always a dozen or so cars parked around this giant display. We always get a laugh at the house next door. Their one decoration is a large arrow made up of white lights pointing toward this festival of lights.







This is one of several Trolley’s that give tours of Naperville. At Christmas they take folks around at night for an hour tour of the best decorated homes in town. Several times we’ve run across the Trolley on Christmas Eve and have found a few houses to add to our own tour.










Another wonderful house with a fantastic light displays. It’s always one of our “must sees.”


Now, in keeping with the Pink Saturday idea, I thought I’d show off a new tradition for my home – 4 foot trees. Rather than one big tree that I never seem to get set up – mostly because I don’t like bugging my son to do it and he does work hard. So, now that I’ve got one tree set up in my bedroom, I realized how much I like these smaller trees – even got three more this year at JoAnn’s for fantastic savings. But they will have to wait for next year to be put up – but oh what fun I’ll have through the year search for “treasures” for next years theme trees.







A pretty pink tutu graces my Pink Themed Tree.







My pretty pink ballerina dancing on my White Christmas Tree







My ballerina and beautiful painted rose ornament.







I’ve had this ornament for a long time. She’s a Joan Walsh Anglund angel.





Handpainted rose ornament by Debi Coules.







The entire four foot white tree that sits in the corner of my bedroom. My bedroom has such a wonderful glow to it.







And lastly, there’s my ceramic nativity that I made about thirty years ago. Just one of my five nativity sets.


Thank you for sharing an old and a new tradition with me this year. Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to everyone!

Welcome to a very special post of Christmas Memories. This week, and for the next two weeks, Bev at How Sweet The Sound has suggested we have themes for our Pink Saturday posts. I love the idea. This week the theme is A Special Memory of a Holiday. For me, that has to be Christmas. December is always a very important month because of my birthday, my dad’s birthday, and Christmas.

But, to start things off with a bit of a current memory I’m starting, I thought I’d show off my “finds” at Home Goods this week.

These are adorable little teacups and saucers for the small tree I’m putting in my bedroom. I should have pictures of the tree starting on Monday. I had been taking a “House Tour” and fell in love with Cindy’s full-size Christmas tree filled with cups, saucers, and even silverware at My Romantic Home. I plan to spend the next year gathering items for a similar tree – but in pinks and blues.

Got some small mirror ornaments for the “pink” tree. Shades of the 70s and the Disco era.

Christmas Memories

While going through the boxes of pictures I’ve got I was reminded of so many great memories but the one that always sticks out in my mind is from when I was three. I’m not sure that I have any actual memories of this specific year, but I do remember the many Christmas days spent with my Grandfathers and other relatives. Often we would spend Christmas Eve with one side of the family and the Christmas Day with the other. But I do remember several times having both Grandfathers at our house for the holiday.

The photos that I want to share are from Christmas 1949 when I was three.

Me at three with my new baby doll.

Here I am with all the presents that I got when I was at Grandpa Thompson’s and Auntie’s. A baby doll, a train, and what looks like some new clothes. I believe that the pleated skirt was made for me by my great, great grandmother. And don’t you just love the dark shoes. So charming. lol

Here’s my dad giving me a horsey-back ride. But as you can see I’m not letting go of my new baby doll.

This is my mom and me. Isn’t she pretty? Oh, and excuse the bit of the undies showing. lol

This is a photo of my Grandpa Thompson, me, and my daddy. I was named after my grandfather. His middle name came from his middle name which was Sander.

This is my “Auntie.” She was my mother’s great aunt. She and my great great grandmother came to America from the “old country” of Norway when they were in their teens. She helped to raise my mother and uncle and was an absolute fantastic cook. Dinner at Auntie’s was always wonderful.

And once more Christmas comes to an end. Most likely I’m thinking how tired I am but that I just don’t want to go to bed and have Christmas really be over. But a year later there will be wonderful memories to make of Christmas with my Grandfathers and the rest of the family – but my Grandfathers will always hold a special place in my heart.


Thank you for visiting and sharing these memories with me. I hope the joy of this time of year fills your home and heart.

It’s Pink Saturday again at Cottage Dreamer! Thanks to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for once more hosting this fun day of sharing all things Pink!

This week on my nearly weekly trip to Home Goods, I was lucky enough to find something I’d always wanted and also that something I’d seen there a few weeks ago was still around – something that doesn’t often happen at Home Goods.

The first items were two dinner plates and two smaller luncheon plates – or maybe they are salad plates – in the Franciscan Desert Rose pattern. I was so excited to see them – esp for $2.99 each. There was also a cream and sugar pair, but no tea pot so I decided against them.

And though the next plates aren’t pink, I was tickled pink to find them still in the store. They are Spode’s Chirstmas tree plates. I only got two dinner plates and also a set of highball glasses (figure they would be good for water.)

Just the other day I had been telling my girlfriend Pat that I wanted to start a small collection of the Spode Christmas plates for my son and me. Many years ago when the family was all around we started collecting them. Each year we would add more serving dishes, glasses, and anything else my sister could find. Well, my parents are in Florida and my sister and I don’t – well, let’s just say that we haven’t seen eye-to-eye in many years. So, Christmas is just my son, myself, and his Chihuahua Bootsy. But even if we only use the plates at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it’s still a tradition “just for us.” And since it’s open stock we can add dinner plates if the occasion calls for them – like maybe a special friend for my son. lol I thought the last one was “it” but she didn’t work out. My goodness I’m chatty this week about personal stuff.


I’d also told Pat that after seeing all the beautiful china and dinnerware on other people’s blogs – like the one person that had an entire room of china – that I was going to start picking up two dishes here, two dishes there, just so I could change things up a bit for my son and me at dinner. I told her the first dishes I wanted to start the collection were – yep, you got it – Franciscan Desert Rose. I’ve always loved the pattern. And at $2.99 a plate, you just can’t go wrong.


So, now I have to go find a place in the kitchen for my new collection of plates to live but now I’ve got another excuse to go to Home Goods, antiquing, junking, and to garage sales next summer.

Hope you all have a great Pink Saturday!

Sandra

All things work together for good for those who love the Lord.

It’s Pink Saturday again at Cottage Dreamer! Thanks to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for once more hosting this fun day of sharing all things Pink!

For a long time I’ve had an embroidery machine and took it in some time ago to have it serviced so I could finally use it. After that it was a few months wait for a Magic Box to come in to the dealers – this is a small pieced of equipment that allows me to use digitized designs. I thought – at last – I can do some embroidery. No such luck. The machine had to be services once more. But now all appears to be well. Below are some pictures I took while doing a design from a fantastic set from Michelle’s Designs called Silk Ribbon Floral Fantasy.

I have a Deco 600 made by Bernina





This is the first of six thread changes that are needed.





Had to take the hoop off the machine because I was running out of bobbin thread. This is the embroidery after two colors have been stitched.





Finally, we get to the pink thread! There are three shades of pink used in the embroidery.





More Pink.





Here’s the finished embroidery. It takes about a half hour to complete which includes the thread changes that are needed.







I plan to use this and several other designs from this collection to make a quited wallhanging. Most likely I’ll also use the designs for some hand towels and I’m going to be looking at anything I buy in the way of clothing this fall to see if I can put some embroidery on it.

Thank you for stopping by and have a wonderful Pink Saturday!

Sandra

It’s Pink Saturday again at Cottage Dreamer! Thanks to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for once more hosting this fun day of sharing all things Pink!

This week I’m featuring one of my many Roman Seraphim Angels. Her name is Simone “Nature’s Own.” The quote used for her is:

“In all ranks of life the human heart yearns for the beautiful; and the beautiful things that God makes are His gift to all alike”

- Harriet Beecher Stowe

Simone, along with many other Seraphim Angels, will be going into my antique curio cabinet as soon as I get them all out of their storage bins. I’ll be posting photos as I go along of my collection.

Once again, thank you for stopping by and for your great comments. They are really appreciated.

It’s Pink Saturday again at Cottage Dreamer! Thanks to Beverly at How Sweet The Sound for once more hosting this fun day of sharing all things Pink!

I went out this morning to do a bit of shopping. It had been awhile since I’d been to Home Goods so decided to head over there. I kept thinking – you don’t need another teapot or ceramic bowl or crystal candlestick. I was just about to forget about going into the store when I realized – I had been thinking of something I needed – a nice plush blanket just for me. My son’s chihuahua Bootsy, who spends most weekdays with me while Dave is at work, tends to take ownership of all afghans, comforters, and blankets. He’s even been known to take his 5% of the bed right out of the very center. Anyway, I thought I’d check in to see what they had. So, I made my way to the linens area – after going through all ceramic and glass aisle. I found a lovely pink twin blanket that is as soft as any other blanket we have in the house. I thought it was just so pretty all wrapped up with the satin white ribbon that I’d take a picture of it for Pink Saturday.

I need to wash it – can’t stand any kind of sizing in material, and then I think I’ll put it on the chaise in my “dayroom” – which I really hope to have done by the end of August.

Thank you for stopping by and for all the wonderful comments so many of you leave.