My Cozy Home

the odds and ends of january....

I've had a number of pictures to post lately, none of which seem to relate much to one another.  I guess there doesn't need to be a theme exactly, it's just nice when there is one...says me.  Odds and ends, mixed with a bit of this and that are okay too.  When my mom was here she and I fixed up an old crib that had been used by my great grandma for her six baby girls.  It stayed in our family and was used by my mom for her dolls when she was growing up.  I painted it and my mom made a nice cushion for the bottom of it.  Evy's babies have a new place to take a nap now.

                                                                                                                                                                  

My mom sewed different colored buttons on the end of the cushion for the enclosure.   

                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                 

This is a slate that got on Saturday at Haupt Antiek in Rosemount, MN

                                                                                                                                                               

I got this little "mother" box at Hunt and Gather in Minneapolis, MN.  It's been featured in Country Living and is just 20 minutes from my home. I also got an old clarinet there as well and have it next to my old trumpet.

                                                                                                                                                          

And now for the important stuff.  I purchased several goodies from Rosemary who makes fantastic creations - the kind of wonderful goodies that just make you smile.  This is one of the cones that I got from her.  She sent me two because she wasn't sure which color I would like better.  I love them both!  This one hangs on the french doors between the living room and the family room.

                                                                                                                                                               

This is the second cone, which works perfectly in my bedroom.  It actually hangs from my nightstand, but the lighting wasn't as good there so I moved it to the door.  I also got the little "Dream" banner that is set in the top of the cone.

                                                                                                                                                               

For some reason my camera wouldn't quite focus in on the little box, but I'm sure you can still see how lovely it is.  It sits on my night stand atop "Jane Austen's Guide to Good Manners; Compliments, Charades & Horrible Blunders" 

                                                                                                                                                            

And this...this is the wonderful crown that Rosemary made.  I just love it!  I love it all and am so glad to have her beautiful creations in my home.  She is so detailed and uses such pretty materials.  Thank you Rosemary for allowing me to purchase these lovely  works of art!

                                                                                                                                                               

I've recently received a couple tags and an award.  I will write about those in my next post along with some photos from my mystery bookshelf which recently received some Nancy Drew additions thanks to my very sweet and thoughtful husband.  I hope you all are well my friends.

                                                                                  

goodies from abroad...

My friend Sophie sent me a wonderful goodie package from England.  It was a birthday/Christmas present and I just love what she sent.  I showed the "NOEL" gilded letters in my last post, but she also sent this wonderful pillow and cute hand towels from Laura Ashley.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  The little candle lights are from my mom.  When they are turned on they flicker like candles.  I really like the little polka dot towel from Sophie.

                                                                                                                                                            Another Laura Ashley hand towel above.

See the little paper crown on the cloche?  Below is a picture of Evy on Christmas day wearing a paper hat from her English Cracker.  We all were wearing them while eating our Christmas waffles.  Good times.

                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                                             Sorry for the big gap between posts.  I've been working, trying to spend time with family - you know, all that stuff that everyone deals with at this time of the year.  My mom and grandpa arrived today to celebrate a belated Christmas, as well as New Year's with us.  I'm looking forward to a week off of work starting on 1/2.  My mom and I will be antiquing, watching old movies, eating popcorn and chocolate.  We may even work in a fun sewing project.  I hope you all had wonderful holidays, and that you'll have a Happy New Year.  We'll be opening presents again - Christmas round two.  Thanks for putting up with my spotty posts.  I'll get back on track soon I promise.  Hugs to you all!

Where has the last week and a half gone?  You'd think in that time I would have finished my Christmas shopping.  Yep...you'd think so.  Anyhoo...moving on.  I wanted to finish a quick post and then work out.  I'm trying to be resolute about working out.  I often just want to curl up in my corner of the couch and read magazines or watch fun shows that we have on DVD...you know, mysteries.  But, I can't let go of the working out thing.  It makes one's brain function better, makes you live longer.  I must do it.  So, after this post, I'll head down to the basement and begin the work out.  And I'll be so happy afterward - I always am. 

I wanted to show you the wonderful "NOEL" sign that I got from Sophie.  Thank you Sophie!!

The little Santa next to the "NOEL" sign is a vintage candle.  He's now a cream color, but I think he use to be red.  I guess he faded over time - now he's the perfect color.

                                                                                                                                                                              

Here are the little Bailey's cups I recently got.  You saw the boy cup already a couple of posts ago, but I wanted to show you the girl cup as well.  Do you see her little bow and pearl necklace?  I think they are so cute.

A reading nook.

One of our outside windows - there is a mirror image on the other side of the house.

   

The mirror in our foyer reflecting our living room fireplace.

Hope all is well with you and that you are further along in your shopping than I am.  Happy Holidays!!

Charmed, I'm Sure....

     These are the goodies that I received in the mail after a recent order from Sally Jean.  I ordered the charms and she sent them in that cute box, with a business card, and the candy necklace.  I'm sure many of you have heard of her before and maybe have some of her amazing creations.  I will certainly be getting more from her - she is so talented.  The paper everything is sitting on is from 7Gypsies, and is part of a larger project that I am working on from Paper Bella - see what project will look like at this link.

They have designs/words on each side.  I haven't gotten the charms attached to my charm bracelet yet, but when I do I think it will look something like this.

Steve and I hung new drapes and drapery rods in our bedroom last weekend, coffee-colored velvet to go with that robin's egg blue on the walls.  I will be taking some pictures of them and post them soon.  Best wishes and hopes of a relaxing weekend for you :o)

Goodies from the mailbag....

Hello, I've recently purchased some goodies from my blogging friends at their Etsy shops.  They came in the mail over the past few days and I wanted to display them front and center.  First up is a very sweet and pretty apron from Tiffaney at Folded Gingham - she has a link to her Etsy shop from there.  She also included a bird that she made.   I love my apron and bird Tiff!  I have it hung over one of the doors of my black cabinet in the kitchen. 

This little fella is in my bedroom now.

Sorry for the poor lighting in this picture.  I just wanted to show the apron out an about in the kitchen

These eggs are from Carol's Etsy shop at Boxwood Cottage - Carol also has a link to her Etsy shop from her blog.  Thank you for all of the goodies Carol.  In addition to the eggs, she sent gummi bears from Germany, and some wonderful Victorian cut outs. I love the eggs - just beautiful.  Thank you for the extra goodies!

I thought this was the perfect spot for this egg.  Seemed to fit right in.

 

The little tag is from Carol with a nice note on the back.  I thought it looked so cute attached to this basket.

This is one of the little Victorian cut outs Carol gave to me.  I have leaning against a photo album.  I love that little glass hen next to it.

I found myself anticipating the arrival of these goodies the instant I submitted my orders - it's so fun knowing that something is traveling to you from a distant place - lovingly packed by someone else's hands just for you.  Tiffaney's came from the east coast, and Carol's from Germany.  There's just something about getting gifts and letters in the mail - like being a kid again.  Have a wonderful day my blogging friends.

A bunting we will go...

I ordered the below very cute bunting from Joyce who sells her wonderful handmade items on Etsy (from Joyce's blog you can get to her Etsy shop and her Ebay shop).  Joyce had the bunting wrapped in cream and black toile tissue paper, tied with a pretty red ribbon.  She also included a really cute book mark that she had made.  It was so fun to get that package!  I took a few pictures of it.  This is in Evy's room.  The bunting lines the front of two shelves.

Closer picture.  Geez, in looking close up, I didn't get it attached very straight.  Oh well.

Another....even closer

I'll post some pictures of the snow tomorrow.  I just need to get out there with my boots and take some pictures.  It's so beautiful.