My Cozy Home

pictures, pictures, pictures...

The visit with my mom and grandpa was perfect.  I love vacations like that - almost always involving antiquing, watching old mystery movies, relaxing, eating, almost no actual responsibility.  To me, that's vacation perfection.  We had our Christmas with my family on New Year's Eve.  We ate pizza, watched "Candleshoe" with a young Jody Foster from 1977, opened presents, and rang in the New Year.  Even my 93 year-old grandpa stayed awake right till the end.  Here is my Grandpa, Evy, and my mom before my grandpa left to go back to North Dakota.

I think it's picture overload for this post.  Since I haven't posted in a while I've accumulated some settings and a project that I want to share with you.  In my next post I'll show you the project that my mom and I worked together - a very, very old, small crib that's been in our family for a long time.  We painted it and made a cute cushion for it - pictures to follow in the next post.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

This is the journal and bookmark I made for my mom while she was here.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

This is a side view with the tabs and pockets that my mom added to it.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

A view of the kitchen.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

This is an old basket that I picked up while antiquing with my mom.  I also got a couple more 1803 candles which are absolutely the best candles I've ever used.  Some how those little cups ended up in a picture again.  I think they've been in my last three posts.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

My mom gave me that little tray for Christmas.  It has chalk board paint on it.  Such a cute idea.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Cranberries, orange slices, evergreens, and floating candles.  They smell so nice.

My riding hat collection is growing.  I just can't seem to refuse a riding hat when I see one.  I think they're so fun!

                                                                                                                                                                   

A couple of old horns that I picked up recently while antiquing.  Steve was bummed that he couldn't honk the horn sitting above the trumpet.  He couldn't quite understand why I would get a horn with a falling-apart honker.  I looked at him in disbelief and said, "why wouldn't I get it?  It looks like the perfect horn to me".  ;o)

Hope you all are well my friends.  I'll be back soon - I promise!

journally things part II....

I made two more journals recently.  This time for the lovely Shelley's daughter Britton.  Shelley contacted me after she saw my last journal and asked if I would make one for her daughter.  One ended up being two somehow.  I'll be making one for her other daughter, Garet, as well. 

 

The inside with a bookplate for writing Britton's name.  I like covering the inside because it makes it look more like your own personalized, custom journal.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

This is the second journal I made for Britton.  I also cover the inside front and back flaps, but I forgot to take a picture of that. 

I've been very fortunate to receive the "You Make Me Smile" award from several of my blogging friends.

                                                                                                                                                Priscilla, Karla, Teresa thank you so much for the award.  It makes me smile in return to know that some how my blog has been a source of enjoyment for you.  All of my blogging friends make me smile to the point that I don't think I can single out any one person.  I'm so happy to be part of this wonderfully  supportive community - our own little forum to discuss our lives, family, decorating, recipes, books, hobbies and crafts.  And all without judgment.  It's a blessing in my life.

I also wanted to say happy birthday to my wonderful husband Steve.  He is such a thoughtful, caring man and I'm so grateful to be able to share my life with him.  His birthday was on November 1st and we celebrated with Evy, Alex, and his girlfriend Mary.  This weekend I'll be making Steve's cake of choice, pineapple upside down cake.  I think maybe a meatloaf and roasted sweet potatoes are also in order.  Sounds like a great Autumn meal.  Hope you all are safe and well my friends. 

journaly things...

I've been so inspired by all of the wonderful journals that I've seen people create lately.  Typically they are the 56 cent notebooks, the black and white marble looking ones, that have been altered.  People are so creative.  I decided to try making one as well.  I'm definitely going to make more and try different styles.  I decided to use my journal to keep track of my "me money" expenditures (this is an allowance that my husband and I each take when we get paid.  That way we can each spend the money on what we want, and we don't have to feel guilty about it - it's a good plan for us).  In addition to tracking that information, I plan to add little pictures that inspire me, and lists of fun things and antiques that I'd like to try and find. 

 

I covered the front and back of the notebook in scrapbooking paper.  I then used Martha Stewart scrapbooking ribbon to cover the seams between the paper and the edge of the notebook.  It is sticky ribbon so you just place it where you want and it stays put.  I used a glittery "A", and glittered scrolls to embellish.  The little girl is from a book that I have that has paper projects in it.  I scanned her, printed her on photo paper, and then cut her out.  Little rhinestones line the bottom of the notebook, but you can't see those very well.   I also made the little bookmark.

I just love that little girl.  She's so cute.

I like having a pretty bookmark to go along with my new journal.  I really had a great time making the journal, and I have realized that the more I play with different materials, the more my creativity increases.  I find it to be the same with writing and photography  too. 

I'm getting my hair done today - I always love that. I have a/some glass(es) of wine while I'm there :o)  We gab and gab and gab.  I read magazines.  It's a good time.  I hope you all are having a great week.  In my next post I'll show you were I put all my goodies from my antiquing escapade last Friday.  The weather here is crisp and perfect for jeans, sweaters, and jackets.  I love this time of year.

a crafty sort of thing...

I spent a bit of time crafting this weekend.  This is what I made. 

I'm not sure if you can tell, but there are two pockets, and within each pocket are tags that I made, and little bits of this and that for embellishment  The paper and the template for the hanging pockets is from Paper Bella.  I really enjoyed making the tags and deciding what to put on each one.  I sort of felt obsessed about it - I even dreamt about making tags last night - and then thought about it all day today :o)

Here are some close ups of the tags.

I really love the colors, the patterns, and the embellishments

And one more.

I'm going to make a crown next - stay tuned for that!

"Project"...finished

Let me just start off by saying that I'm in no way showing you my completed "project" (term used loosely) because I think I did a bang up job.  In fact, this particular "project"  really is better viewed from a distance, with eyes slightly squinted.  I did however intend to show you the finished product...so here it is, flaws and all.  As you may remember, and can see in my prior post, I wanted to try and somewhat mimic the very cute heart in Home Companion (as seen below).  I would say that mine is more of a distant relative (think 3rd cousin twice removed) to the one below.  In fact, these cousins have never met, and if they did - say there was some sort of stripy heart family reunion, mine would be the one sitting alone, all the other attractive hearts avoiding eye contact, not wanting to admit they're related.  So, as I mentioned, stand back and sort of squint at it.  I didn't have any pink ribbon on hand, nor did I have spare Scrabble letters to attach to the heart, lovingly spelling out my child's name.  But...I do have one of my grandma's vintage earrings.  It is just clasped onto the heart, easily removed for wearing when I need it.

I thought I would also throw in a few pictures of Evy's room while I'm at it.  All of the white furniture is from Target - the Simply Shabby Chic line.  I really like it a lot and the quality is great.

The wall hanging is a vintage one that my mom got for Evy.

The little Snow White is from my mom.  Evy still talks about how it was hiding in my mom's slipper when she gave it to her.  The animals in the box are finger puppets from Evy's brother Alex (or Howie as Evy calls him - and we all do too now).  The little Angelina Ballerina figure is a gift from Alex's beautiful girlfriend Mary (or Mia as Evy calls her).

   

The "project" again

A bit blurred, but this is Evy's favorite doll, Sophie - couldn't leave her out.  She loves her so much.  And look at that bed and the bedding - it's just too cute (the doll and bed are from Pottery Barn Kids).

This little chair was made for me when I was very little by the husband and wife who watched me during the day while my mom was at work.  Isn't it sweet.  I love it and I'm so happy to have him.

 

That momma bunny and baby bunny are made from a bed spread that my grandma had.  She had a couple of bedspreads that she had bunnies made from.  I have a white chenille set as well.  My Mom also has a set like the ones in this picture.  The little hat box holds Sophie the doll's clothes - what doll shouldn't have a hat box full of clothes.  And while we're at it, Evy has a monkey (Maggie) that has a trunk full of clothes (courtesy of my mom at Christmas - the monkey and the clothes).  Have a wonderful day!!

A project...

First off I just wanted to thank Kim from Daisy Cottage for pointing me in the right direction for getting my pictures sized correctly - I really appreciate it!  I adjusted the pictures in yesterday's post, but I'm still working on my comments and how they are positioned.  It's not perfect, but it's progress :o)

Since I am now the happy owner of a sewing machine I have started to think of different sewing projects that I might be able to do.  I hope to get the book Romantic Home Sewing: Cottage-Style Projects to Stitch for the Home.  It looks like it would be a fantastic book, and it is really highly rated.  If anyone has it let me know how you like it.  As I mentioned in past posts, I'm so inspired by the many talented women who's blogs I visit - so I have decided on two projects to begin with.  I found some red ticking fabric today and I plan to make a pin cushion (heart-shaped), and another heart meant for hanging about somewhere - maybe my daughter's room.  Below is a picture of what I have in mind - it is down in the lower right corner.  It is so cute.  It is a picture taken from the Feb/Mar issue of Home Companion, pg 83

Here is the ticking I got today to do the little hanging heart.  I also got some buttons, ric- rac, and a pretty calico print material as well.

   

Wish me luck on my sewing adventure!