Perilously Pink Tale....

So many of you commented on this teacup from a
POST
earlier this week...well, it is pretty isn't it? Just so pretty
and delicate... well, it was....
While my sisters were slaving in the kitchen, I
was roaming Kae's home, with my Muse in tow,
fluffing and adding flair were needed (Kae's Muse
was on strike because she felt that she was over
worked and underpaid!)







So, I took a whole stack of doilies and placed them
all around...including one right under this teacup...
NOT A GOOD PLAN, this being the bottom
shelf and all...in a home where this lives....






Yep, one of Satan's...I mean Hero's very large paws
wanted that doily and wanted it bad...you can guess
the rest I'm sure....KABOOM! Smithereenies!
Can you really fault a feline for admiring PINK
too? I think it just proves that he has been
raised right! ;)


Scamper over the HOW SWEET THE SOUND
for more PINK!!!!!

My Pink Butter Cream Heart...

OK, my heart isn't really "butter cream",
but these cookies are covered in it!








I see that most of you have very elaborate
creations prepared for this fine Foodie
Friday, alas, I am not an elaborate eater
or "cooker"...I would eat pizza everyday
and not mind...so my food loves are very
simple...and just the sight of these cookies
that Kae made warmed the cockles of my
heart...yes, the very cockles!








Nothing fancy...run of the mill sugar cookies
topped with regular old butter cream frosting...
but together...for me at least, it's a feast for
the eyes!
(Little tip...I like to add Amaretto to my
frosting...mmmmmmmm.....)











Hurry over to Gollum's house for more
FOODIE FRIDAY

Brass & Buttons & Bows....

I know that's not how the song really goes...
I took a bit of literary license :)

I have a bit of a thing for mother of pearl
buttons and I love making jewelry...I have no
idea why I find the act of twisting tiny wires
and wrangling infinitesimal beads relaxing...
but I do.

These are just simple pins tho, no twisting
and wrangling was required....just brass
(pickled) & buttons.





I know they are not very "on trend" or stylish,
but I just like to make the little
arrangements for myself... like little collages





(this is actually 4 pins together...not one scary
monster pin...I just didn't have another picture...
so a bit of imagination is required ;)


Stop over at THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME for
more from SHOW & TELL FRIDAY!

Putting This Life Into Perspective...

Be sure to visit Cielo for her, always inspiring,
HOPEFUL FRIDAY.

Sky Watch Friday...Somber

No matter how many clouds are blocking
you're view...
the sun IS shining somewhere.

Stop over at Sky Watch Friday
for some uplifting prettiness.

Have A Beautiful Day!

The Reason Why Some Pictures Are Never Taken...

...NON-UNION HELP!!!!! :)

(Juuuuuust kidding, my cats live
in a right-to-lounge-state! :)







I have two "assistants" but this one is , by far,
the most "helpful"!















So, when he is helping me so "vigilantly"...
I just can't get anything done! Mostly because
I am cracking up!














There is no "tough love" here...they own
me and they know it...one little "chirp"
and I'm like putty in their paws!








I had to show you this one tonight...
I had put it in the wrong folder at
Christmastime and never could find it!
But here it is...in all it's puppy-humiliating-
glory...Bee's babies's Christmas portrait...
poor things!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Special "THX!!" to Kathryn at OUR SHABBY COTTAGE
for this lovely award.





This amazingly insane seamstress
should be giving awards to no one
but herself!!!


And also to Abigail at ABIGAIL HUTCH
for this sweet award



...she enjoys life like no other!

THX GUYS!!!!!!

**Shock**Gasp**Blue in The OC Cottage!!!

Don't be alarmed...you do have the correct blog!









As surprising as it may seem...there is BLUE in all
3 of the OC Cottages...in the form of a darling
chintz pattern named "Julia". Like this little
demi-tasse...








This is "Julia" one of the most popular...and unfortunately
...most expensive patterns made by Royal Winton. But
the pre-WWII lead-based blue is so gorgeous it really
has to be seen to be believed!






Daher also created these adorable tin plates in the
"Julia" pattern...made more adorable by the
blue birds!!!!






And this cute little tin container!






My love for the "Julia" pattern and that amazing periwinkle
color drew me to these English porcelain pins that were made
during the same period.









Just plain pretty!

Be sure to stop over at SMILING SAL'S
for more BLUE MONDAY!

Valen-tease...

Well, yesterday Kae hosted her annual Valentine's Tea...
and I was sooooooooo ready to take millions of pictures
to post, and that I was happily doing...until my battery
died...(DUH! doesn't even seem to be the right word
for such moron-itude!)










Luckily, my niece had her camera at the ready...it was even
charged! Maybe that is why she is the paid, professional
photogharpher...and I am not! But now I have to wait to
get the pictures from her, so in the meantime, I will
tease you with a few of the ones I was able to take before
the unfortunate event!







Cute, glittery heart huh? I know! She didn't get me
one either!!!! Where's the LOVE?????












YUM!!!!!!

Lauren Luke?

I know this is not the kind of thing I usually
blog about but.....
I was looking for a video on You Tube a while
back and I came across an entire page of eyes
...fully made-up eyes...I was intrigued to say the
least...I am a girl, after all.
And after watching about 10 videos of this
funny, down-to-earth, girl demonstrating
different celebrity make-up looks, I was
hooked.
Her name is Lauren Luke and apparently,
she is the most watched person on You Tube.
I think her demos must have struck a chord
with me because I vividly remember looking at
this record cover while sitting on the bathroom
counter, many years ago, and copying this look....
(not the hair, the eyes!)



Yah...I know...why???? :) Hey, I was young &
impressionable! (and pretty weird!)
It's hard to tell, but there are about 15 different
colors going on, and if I do say so...I did an excellent
job! Those days are long gone...I am all about the
matte eyeshadow now...but there's still a girlie-
girl in there somewhere who is fascinated by
watching Lauren's techniques.
So, if you have a few minutes, take a look...
and yes, those are her dogs you hear snoring
in the background!!

Luring The Muse...

My muse can be a minx...harassing me when I
should be sleeping then lazy and lolling when I
should be glittering things. So, sometimes I have
to entice her...and something shiny usually does
the trick!

And with the help of a new ETSY shop I stumbled
upon called CHRISTOPHER PINES I think I
may have found a few things to give my Muse a
good kick in the...I mean, inspire her. :)







Oh, those little bags of sparkly goodness....
can't wait to get my hands on them! (and
again, I sound like I need a 12 step program!)







Little paper crowns....oh, the possibilities!








Pages from a French children's book....what will
they be next?






Ahhhhhhhhhh, the trouble I can get into with this....
can't wait!!!

A Few of My Fav-or-ite Things...

....I know...gag! :)

A Not-So-Necessary Creation...

Something about the tiny little pink feather
boas in the doll department at Michael's
seemed to tickle my Muse's fancy...but you
think I'd have more control over her...I mean
I am the responsible one, right? (don't answer!)
But, truly, who among us is strong enough to
resist pink feathers???










So, you'd think that when I found out that
there was no wooden "E" so, I'd have to
make due with a backwards "3" (sounds like
Dr. Seuss, huh?), that sense would have gotten
the better of me...but no, my Muse pressed on...










...until we had created a "LOVE"-ly feathery
Valentines banner!!







Sorry, kind of a ratty picture...click to enlarge.


Some things are just too "foo-foo" to live
without!!!

A Little Short Cut...

I know that the way I have our post titles
set up is not really conducive to "ease of use"...
maybe if I actually used titles that were
informative instead of smart alek-y, you might
find your slog through the blog a bit easier...but
I can't help myself. I cannot use simple post titles...
partly because I am a brat and partly because I am
full of, uh, I mean creative.
So, I have pulled the posts that featured our
homes (since I think those are the ones we enjoy
the most...seeing each others decorating styles) and
put them all together in one place...right
over there in the sidebar,"HOME TOURS".
I hope is helpful, because I will never change...my post
titles will never be anything but obnoxious! :)
And for you crafty chicks, I am working on gathering
all the posts that featured my old photographs
and postcards, so that you can copy and use them
to your hearts content!

Hope you are enjoying your PRESIDENT'S DAY!!
(I am...it's raining!!!! :)

Just Being Nominated Is An Honor...

...isn't that what everyone always says??? :)
But, for us it really and truly is! Geez, Louise,
litttle 'ol us? I swear I was almost skipping when I
read the email from Laurie at TIP JUNKIE telling
me that our Toile Memory Board had been
nominated as Best Home Decor Tip....WOW!





The last couple of weeks have been pretty fun...
I got my first cheque from Blogher! And I found
out that one of my creations will be in the next edition
of Somerset Life...which my sisters don't even
know yet...hee hee...
So, this nomination is really some fun icing on the cake!!!
I have to go skip some more...see ya!

Sandy Gets Her PINK on!

FIRST OF ALL...HAPPY ST. VALENTINE'S
DAY TO ALL!!!!







Now, let's get down to business...PINK SATURDAY
business!



So, I am sure that many of you have received your premiere
edition of Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade
magazine by now?








My sisters love her but I have to confess, I have only seen
her show a few times and I was really only interested in the
cuteness of her kitchen...but I must admit, this magazine is
a keeper! Especially since it's all about the PINK this month!






There's not only cooking...but crafts, decor & DIY ideas
too...






She even gives a list of the best PINK paints!







There are a lot of other fun PINK ideas too!






This darling pink apron from HEAVENLY HOSTESS ...






which, wonder of wonders, Bee already owns! And I
cannot tell you how fun the Heavenly Hostess store is
(there is so much more than aprons!) or just how nice
they are!!!!










She also features this Jaqua PINK Buttercreme Frosting Lotion
that truly has to be smelled to be believed! You'll really
think it must taste as good as it smells...but a word to
the wise...it's doesn't! ;)

So if you have no plans today, sit down with Sandy
and have a truly PINK SATURDAY!!

Skeedaddle on over to HOW SWEET THE SOUND to add some
PINK to your day!