Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Red Enchantments...
















After reading the blog, http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/2010/08/rednesday.html, I accepted the challenge to find red (for Rednesday). In my kitchen and dining room, I have several treasured items which are red. The first is a fun piece of art in which the artist uses several pieces of wood and other mediums to create texture and depth for flowers and buildings. I love the red barn building and the white farmhouse in the background~it reminds me of my grandparents farm. The second treasured red item is my Little Red Riding Hood bear. She even has a music box inside her~love her red velvet cape. Next is the flying Cardinal by Lori Hough. She sculpts in paper mache and has even made life sized animals. I have many mice, a raccoon, possum, rabbit, baby bunny, bluebird and bat, all made by Lori and treasured by me! My red antique gumball machine that I bought over thirty years ago is one of my most prized possessions. I love the many colors inside as well as the red paint. My husband loves the gumballs!
Surprisingly, red is here and there throughout my home. I even bought the red t-shirt for my son who will visit next week. Couldn't resisit!
Have a red letter day!

Monday, August 16, 2010

VeRy MaRy!












One of my favorite magazines of all time was Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion. I have all the issues and still go through them for inspiration. Here is a picture of a miniature setting I have that is ME style. Gotta love it!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Thinking ahead to Christmas...


I had a group of old high school friends (ten!) up to the cottage this week. On our way to Charlevoix, we stopped at my favorite gallery, housed in an old red school house. Ray and Tammy Bier own the gallery, where they sell their work along with many other artists. They used to do the art fair circuit, including the Ann Arbor Street Fair. Now they sell year round at a beautiful place with a view of the bay. http://www.biergallery.com/


Anyway, this was my third visit to their gallery this summer. I decided after my last visit that I really 'needed' a Christmas card holder. So I now own another piece from the carver from Tennesee. Love his work!


Now for a nap...

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

New Workshop!


Finally moved my miniatures down to the walkout basement at the cottage. I have been working upstairs on the kitchen island. So the cottage has been a mess with all my 'stuff' all over. I asked my dear husband to please help me clean the window in the basement so I could put a work table where I could see the lake. Of course the window was painted shut, both inside and outside but after a few hours (dealing with paint and dry rot and stripped screws), we now have a clean window and I have a new workplace! Yippee!

Now I want to work on my workspace back at home....

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Garden Glass











I find myself dreaming of a garden of glass...beautiful colors and shapes and textures.







We took an old friend to Suttons Bay this week for lunch at our favorite place (North Country Grill and Pub). Of course, we had to walk off our delicious lunch so we wandered into a few stores. One place is surrounded by beautiful glass and other yard ornaments. I tried hinting about an anniversary gift to my darling John but he wasn't paying attention. Oh, well! I'll see it in my dreams!



Tuesday, August 3, 2010

New&Old Enchantments











I went into Traverse City today and took an old teaching friend to one of my favorite stores~The Red Dresser. I left with a new vintage shelf, a small pottery cornucopia and some new/old gift cards with tiny birds nests as embellishments. Then we walked over to The Candle Factory but alas! The owl tick tock clock has disappeared from the wall! I'm sure my husband would be happy about that as I decided that if it was still there, it was meant to come back to the cottage with me. I love the old brick facade of Thc Candle Factory. The red geraniums are so beautiful! As I was taking pictures of my finds from today, I also took a picture of Rocky the raccoon~made by a miniature artist from Japan. I bought him a few years ago and cherish him. The artist couldn't speak English but somehow we were able to exchange money for her work. I love my treasures~
I also finished a few furniture kits for my Wee Forest Folk. The groundhog loves the new stuff!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Cluttered or empty?


Albert Einstein: "If a cluttered desk signs a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?" I must agree with Albert! I have clutter surrounding me in my workspace...and now I don't have to feel bad about it!


For an interesting article, go to: http://www.seattlepi.com/business/smth08.shtml