The Marie Antoinette Award:

I would like to thank Miss Shabby Shan for bestowing upon me this lovely award. Thank you very much. http://shabbyshanscottage.blogspot.com/



Here are the rules:

1. Please put the logo on your blog
2. Link it to the person from whom you received the award
3. Nominate at least 7 or more blogs
4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog
5. Leave a message on their blogs to tell them (I'm letting them know here @ MMP)


And the nominees are:

Karen of Sweet Necessi-Teas: www.SweetNecessi-Teas.com

Carol of Clutter Bug Studio: www.clutterbugstudio.com

Inka of Inklings Designs: www.inklingsdesigns.com

Gail of Gail Friend Designs: www.gailfrienddesigns.com

Cindy of Angel Wings Cottage: www.AngelWingsCottage.com

Lori of Katie's Rose Cottage: www.katiesrosecottage.com

Stephanie of Shabby in Pink Boutique: www.SoShabbyinPink.com

Happy Monday everyone. My fun little feather trees have finally arrived. I just fell in love with them when I saw them in NY. They are 27" high, made of Styrofoam and feathers. You can actually stick pins in to decorate them if you choose. Aren't they the cutest? I'll be listing them for the twelve days of Christmas. They are the perfect addition to your shabby chic holiday decorating.

I finished up a few pieces this weekend. I need to wait a couple of days to let them cure before I distress them to give them that lovely shabby chic look. I was thrilled to find two matching tables last week. They are hard to come by and I always have customers looking for them, especially bedside tables.

If you read my post last week you know that I painted the wrong hardware for this buffet. Well I found the hardware and finished it up. The pieces always look so different with their final touches. This heavy piece is hopefully off to the shop this week. I just need to enlist someone to help me move it.

I have been having fun playing with my Christmas window. I still have to make some adjustments but this is a sample. I'd love some opinions.

Thanks for visiting ...

The Twelve Days of Christmas Shop Hop

at Make Mine Pink begins November 2nd!

All of the participating Make Mine Pink boutiques have lots of fun things up their sleeves ... free gifts, special sales, new items, free gift wrapping, and the list goes on. It's the perfect time to start your holiday shopping from the comfort of your home. So grab a cup of coffee ( or tea ) and browse through the wonderful selections offered by the lovely boutiques at Make Mine Pink! And be sure to sign up to win prizes for finding all of the MMP shop hop trees.

http://www.makeminepink.com/shop-hop/

It's Monday again. Where does the time go?? I finished this very large buffet on Sunday. When I went to put the hardware on I realized I had painted the hardware for another piece. OOPS!!! So, it's not quite done yet. My plan is to finish it by Wednesday now.

On Friday my sister-in-law and her family came to visit from Colorado. My kids absolutely love when they come. They spend every free minute with them and just have a ball. On Saturday we went to a cute little festival at a farm in town. The kids painted pumpkins, made scarecrows, and had fun. My niece even got to ride a pony who's name was Denver (which is where they are from). The wolf rescue group from NY brought an Arctic wolf for everyone to see. His photo is below. The first picture is all of us making scarecrows. I have the green jacket on and my son Josh is next to me in red. Last night was a very cool Fall evening but we had everyone here for dinner and to hang out by the fire pit and in our barn (which has a woodstove, electricity, water, etc.) They are here until Thursday. It's going to be a challenge trying to get my kids to school while their cousins are here. Thanks for visiting.

Please join us Friday October 17th for

"In the Hope Chest"

The meaning of owning a "Hope Chest" is different for everyone. For some it is planning for a special wedding day that is sure to come, others use it to store heirloom linens and treasures passed down from generations. If you've been lucky enough to have a hope chest or perhaps had a glimpse into someone's, you'll find that no matter the purpose, each "Hope Chest" tells a story. What's yours?
Please join us Friday October 17th for "shopping with a twist" as the shops at Make Mine Pink present "In the Hope Chest."
http://www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday/

Happy Monday ... I have to say that I love living in Connecticut eventhough the wintertime here can be pretty harsh. I think that's why we have such a beautiful Fall before the cold arrives. This past week we had 60 - 70 degree sunny days and gorgeous 40- 50 cool nights (warm cozy comforter nights). The trees are all beginning to turn gold, orange and red. In the sun the leaves are just amazing. I took a few photos of our yard and neighborhood. Last night we had a bunch of friends over for a "fish fry". My husband caught a few blackfish (salt water fish) on Saturday. Fresh fish is the best. Then everyone brings something, we sit by the firepit, the kids run around. It is so nice to be able to hang outside still. I love this time of year!!






I have to admit, I'm like a kid in a candy shop when the holiday merchandise starts arriving at the shop. We ordered back in August and I often forget how beautiful it all is until I start unpacking it. These photos are a few of the many items I have listed on my site this week. Like many of us, I wish my photos were better because the items are so beautiful and the pictures just don't do them justice. I love vintage inspired Holiday things, especially those that are not in typical colors. The brownish greenish glass ornaments below are so rich looking. I think I'll have to put some in a bowl on the table. At my house each year I always adorn my mantel in pinks and silvers with a touch of turquoise. No red and green for me! And when it's time, I hate taking the decorations down. Thanks for visiting ...

Time for show and tell ... This is the table and chair set that I got a few weeks back and had posted a picture of. There are actually four chairs but I brought them into the shop before I remember to take a picture. The set is now white and distressed and went home that day with a customer. She was thrilled with it which made me happy.

This past weekend we went camping in a town in CT called Bozrah. I am not a big outdoorsy girl but with a husband and two boys, I have to give in sometimes. We have a little pop-up camper. Usually we camp close to home so I get to take off and sleep in my own bed but not this time. Anyway ...it was a beautiful area I had never been to. Unfortunately, on Sunday it rained most of the day. I did take a few pictures of the beginning of the Fall foliage here (in the rain). The last picture is my 9 year old in the heated pool at the campground. The temp outside was in the high 40's. Yikes!

Please join us Friday, October 3rd for "Office Chic"

Create a space of your very own……
When you look around your office, what do you see? Most office furniture is drab utilitarian, designed for function, but not beauty. The good news is, with a little imagination and the right props, you can create a chic office space that can be more than just an office, it can be respite just for you. It's all in the accessories. Add a chandelier, a floral display, pretty fabric organizers, chic storage boxes stacked in the corner, perhaps even a pretty, slip covered chair and ottoman. Awaken your senses - listen to the rustle of silk curtains blowing in the breeze, feel the smoothness of a hand painted desk, smell the scent of a flickering candle, gaze upon a basket of colorful ribbons while doing the most tedious of tasks. Make your office so much more than just an office. Let it be your sanctuary, your inspirational spot to create, a quiet place to write a letter to a friend, a place to get lost in a Victorian novel, a place to listen to music or maybe just a place to feed your soul.
Join the boutiques on October 3rd as we present "Office Chic" this week's PINK Friday 'Shopping with a Twist' theme.

http://www.makeminepink.com/pink-friday/

Please join us for Make Mine Pink's

PINK OCTOBER SHOP HOP!
Monday October 6-12th.

Winners will be announced the week of the 12th.

Each year, Make Mine Pink celebrates all who have suffered and survived breast cancer and honors those who have lost their battle with breast cancer. The boutiques at Make Mine Pink have lots of exciting things planned including special limited edition products, special discounts, or a percentage of sales donated directly to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

For all of the events details, please go to:

http://www.makeminepink.com/shop-hop/