Show and Tell Monday, June 30, 2008

Here we are again! Another Monday and Show and Tell. It was such a nice weekend. Went to my daughter's for a barbecue on Saturday and we had a lovely time. The poor girl has got poison ivy so badly and she cooked for all of us anyway. She's such a good kid! The grandchildren were great, as always. Seems every time I see them, they've grown a bit more. My son-in-law was the grill master--he is the cutest, just loves his grill.





Yesterday was nice and quiet. I sat most of the day due to the fact that my knee still looks like a canteloupe. So I created a new whimsy for my site, will finish them up this evening (she said hopefully). Here is my progress so far--

Smells awfully good in my dining room. Little lavender hearts, aren't they cute?

Don't forget, Pink Friday this week. Romantic Roses! Everyone loves roses. Do I have to even tell you that everyone at Make Mine Pink is over the top crazy about this theme??

My favorites are yellow, just something about them that draws me to them. Of course, that's the one color that doesn't dry really well--depends on how you feel about brown!

So, don't forget Friday! As Ethel Merman said:

EVERYTHING'S COMING UP ROSES FOR ME AND FOR YOU

BEACH COTTAGE PINK FRIDAY!!

Pink Friday is here again!! This week our theme is Beach Cottage. Well, I don't know about you, but I am so ready for the beach. It is my favorite spot on earth. Who could not be ready for some beach fun, we're almost to July here?

So be sure to visit Make Mine Pink in the morning--all the Little Pink Boutiques are getting the sand raked, the water warmed and the temperatures just right! Go to www.makeminepink.com and click on the Pink Friday icon. All participating boutiques have their beach badges on, just click on the boutiques one by one and see what everyone has got to offer--don't forget the sunscreen.

Themed shopping from the comfort of your own home, the beverage of your choice at your side, feet up---ahhhhhhhh---don't you feel more relaxed already??

Show and Tell

BEFORE

It's Show and Tell Monday at Make Mine Pink. Well, my poor old sewing machine went sneakers up last week--it's currently at the spa getting rejuvenated. I think I should do the same for me!!

It was a very exciting week for me regardless! Joyce Lucas, owner of Make Mine Pink, posted last week that there was a request for Victorian parlor items to be featured in a magazine, Country Victorian. I was not going to participate because I felt I was too new at this. Then after a little thought, decided to take a chance and send in a picture of two.

Some of my pink sisters and Joyce (affectionately known as Mama Bear) offered encouragement and also reminded me that the worst that could happen was to get a no as an answer. So, off went the first picture. I have to tell you, it is pretty awful--photography is not a strong point over here! Unbelievably, I got a response that afternoon that the woman at the magazine was interested if I could get better photography. I have a friend that is a photographer, so I figured I would ask him---noooooooo, in the middle of a big job.

So, that left me to my own devices! More suggestions from my pink sisters and Mama Bear and I got together a few props and waited for the sun to move around the deck so the lighting would be good. My show and tell this week is the best photograph I have ever taken! I know I still have a long way to go, but it's my best and I am happy with it. Whether I get in the magazine or not, I have learned a whole lot from this experience. I'll be much more ready for the next opportunity!! Thank you for all your encouragement, Pinkies!

AFTER

By the way, this is my Old Fashioned Rose Potpourri.

DON'T FORGET ABOUT PINK FRIDAY!!

Just a quick reminder about Pink Friday, Shopping with a Twist sponsored by Make Mine Pink.
This is a themed shopping experience as only the Little Pink Boutiques at Make Mine Pink can do it! This weeks theme is "An English Tea". This may prove to be one of the more spectacular Friday's, in my humble opinion. There has been a lot of buzz about this and I, for one, cannot wait to see what all the Boutiques have in store for us. Anyone interested in collecting or using teapots, gorgeous teacups, teapot cozies and teacup totes better mark your calendars. I've heard that Sweet Neccesi-teas has something really special going on. We have ladies that specialize in vintage linens--I'm sure there's going to be some real treasures in that group, too.

It's not too early to think about Christmas! The specials on Friday are one day specials don't forget. Click on the link to the right to go visit the participating boutiques.

Hope to see you there, bright and early Friday morning!

Good Grief--It's Monday Already??

I wish I knew where these weeks go! Here we are, Monday again. It has been a crazy week around here. My husband somehow got bit by what the doctors believe was a brown recluse spider. I cannot tell you how awful these bites are--it was horrendous. Let's leave it at the fact that he will be on IV antibiotics for awhile. He is improving though.

The weather has been rather lovely in our NY corner of the world. Had a couple of bad heat days but for the most part it's been enjoyable. Yesterday was gorgeous and we had a nice father's day. All the children, save one who was working, came up to celebrate. We had a nice barbecue and even got the Papa Bear outside to blow the dust off him!

Have not been able to accomplish a whole lot this past week, the doctor runs put a real crimp into productivity. But here's a photo of something I've been working on while in waiting rooms. It's photoed (is that a word???) on top of one of the racks of flower petals I'm drying. Smells like a florist shop in here. We are now drying on the back porch as well as an unused upstairs bedroom which has been passing as my still room. I now know why you need an official still room. The back porch is, of course, a way in and out of the house. There are petals all over the place. These breezy days lift the dried petals every time the door is opened---sigh.

The visions of potpourris are dancing in my head as we dry tray after tray of petals. So much fun. Nothing like opening a jar of summer sunshine when there's snow on the ground.

What do you suppose the embroidery will be???? Stay tuned.............

Don't forget to stop back for Pink Friday--this week's theme is English Tea. Could be interesting! Some of the boutiques at Make Mine Pink specialize in tea, some in the china, the selections should be absolutely amazing.

IT'S PINK FRIDAY AGAIN!

Well, tomorrow is another big day-- Pink Friday with the theme of Kitchy Kitchens. Can't wait to see what everyone is going to be putting out. Kitchens are right up everyone's alley. This should be an incredibly fun one to get into. Don't miss out on all the new items to be offered by the Make Mine Pink Little Pink Boutiques. My items can be seen either at my website or at Make Mine Pink in my Little Pink Boutique.

Remember, this is a one day event--you don't want to miss out!

Wait until you see next week's theme! This is getting to be a very looked forward to event.
Stay tuned!!

Something's Coming

Happy Tuesday everyone! So sorry to have missed Show and Tell Monday with Make Mine Pink. Ended up spending the day in the ER with my hubby. Things are calmer today. But, no photos today.

Have started the crazy process of drying flower petals! I have stacks and stacks of racks already. Let the wild rumpus begin. It is so exciting to think of all the beautiful potpourris that I will be making out of this bounty. Have jars lined up on the kitchen counter to store my dried treasures--will be gorgeous here by the end of the week.

I read the cutest book last night, "Mrs. Thrift's Cupboard" by Betsy Williams. Here is a great idea she has for the partial jars of olives that end up in the fridge (or at least in mine!).
Pour all the olives and juice into a kitchen bowl (a mixture is best-green, black, Greek olives, oil cured olives). Remove the olives from the juice with a slotted spoon and pack into pint canning jars. Try to get a mixture of olives in each jar. Tuck a piece of fresh thyme and a peeled garlic clove or a small hot pepper into each jar of olives. Strain the olive juice through a coffee filter paper and pour the strained juice over each jar of olives. Fill the jars to the top. Screw on a new two-piece lid tightly. Label the bottles with the content and date. Store in the refrigerator until needed.

Now doesn't that sound like the gourmet olive salad you can get at the fancy markets? I'm on it. Will definitely have some gourmet olive salad in the fridge by tonight.

One more little tidbit for this week! Recent research has shown that oil of catnip may be effective against termites--think I'll be planting some catnip all around my 200 year old house. This is a win-win project. Protect the house from termites and have a nice crop of catnip for tea and pillows, and the cat will be in heaven all summer!

Well, off to battle this terrible heat--yuck! Can you believe it's the beginning of June and here in the Northeast we've broken 100 degrees twice this week????

Don't forget to check back on Thursday night--the Make Mine Pink, Shopping with a Twist event, "Pink Friday" is on again for this week. This weeks theme is Kitchy Kitchens, there should be loads of wonderful goodies from all the participating boutiques. You don't want to miss this one!

PINK FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow is it---PINK FRIDAY!!! This week's theme is Father's Favorites. Follow the link to Make Mine Pink and have fun visiting all participating boutiques. We have tried to make this even easier this week, the links will go directly to the Pink Friday pages on the websites. It can be a Father's Days shopping extravaganza with hardly more than a single button push per shop!!
This should be another resounding success, all of the boutiques have tried very hard to make this the most convenient shopping experience you can find on the net! Hope to see you there in the morning!

Pat

IT'S MONDAY ALREADY????

Well, it will be Monday by the time most of you see this. Off to work on Monday AM, so here's my Monday Show and Tell. Can you take this efficiency?? These were fun to work on and I got a kick out of hanging them in the shrubs--feel free to notice how healthy and lovely my barberries are.

These are sachets with hand pieced fronts and lapped seam backs which I have hand stitched closed so the potpourri doesn't go all over. Wanted you to see how they can be hung up. They can slip over a hanger in your closet, over a door knob, in front of an open window, or over a knob in your car. Air freshener or sachet--very versatile little whimsies.

All of the boutique owners at Make Mine Pink had a great time participating in the first Pink Friday. It was great fun seeing how everyone interpreted the theme of Springtime in Paris. It went quite smoothly and was very successful. Thank you to all who came to visit the boutiques.

This coming week, the theme is "Father's Favorites" - this one could be very interesting. How do the boutiques in this oh, so pink world interpret this one??? I can't wait to see. Don't forget to come by on Friday to check out the Pink Friday offerings on my website and that of all the other Little Pink Boutiques. Come with a cup of coffee or a cup of tea and have a lovely, relaxing shopping experience. No lines, no Gas!!

My poor little pooch, Chloe, was so excited today. There is going to be a brand new Little Pink Boutique offering doggie outfits and accessories. Well, Chloe has wanted to be a model since she was a pup. She insisted I send off her picture to the new boutique owner, front face and profile:

Now she is completely devastated and feels her career is over before it started. She has been mistaken for a Lhasa. She is a very sensitive Pomeranian and took to her bed, she vants to be alone!

Well, let me console my little diva, do you suppose a milk bone will work???

Will be back Thursday, don't forget to visit on Friday!!!