a keeper and a reminder...

Just wanted to share with you a new treasure I found over the weekend that I am keeping...

The chalkboard is the perfect color for my studio and is a pretty way to remind you to enter my Shabby Apple giveaway...

I will announce the winner in the morning...

You can enter here...good luck!!

Have a wonderful week!!

giveaway update and some shop peeks...

Good Morning...

I noticed that not too many of my blog friends had entered my Shabby Apple giveaway.

It wasn't until one of my faves brought it to my attention that not everyone is on Facebook these days.

(Liking Shabby Apple on FB was a requirement of the giveaway.)

So I contacted Katie of Shabby Apple and after I explained this to her she generously said you don't have to be on FB to enter!

So, for all those who haven't entered, now is your chance!

You can enter here.

Just remember to visit their website and let me know what you might purchase if you win!

I did some fluffing in my new booth space the other day and thought I would share some photos with you.

I also wanted to share this sweet chair that did not last long at the shop...

And how about this unique mannequin in one of our new vendors space, which is still available (I think)...

Well, thanks for stopping by for my giveaway update!

Have a wonderful day!

summer's treasures...

Good Morning!

For White Wednesday today I thought I would share with you some of this summer's treasures that I am keeping in addition to the old bureau I showed you yesterday.

If you missed it you can see it here. 

I finally bought a demi john for myself from Jeannie at the shop...

I also found this wonderful rusty old scale...

I thought they would make a nice vignette together...

Today is a beautiful day!

Before I head out treasure hunting, I think I will visit Kathleen and see what inspiration I can take with me!

Thank you for hosting Kathleen!!

Thank you for visiting ~ before you leave, don't forget to enter my giveaway!!

Have a wonderful day!

P.S.~you can find me on Facebook too!

weekend finds...

Thought I would share my finds from my weekend treasure hunt with my girlfriends for White Wednesday...

Not sure if I can part with the wonderful tin header!

I am keeping this vintage sewing bag for my studio...

The colors are just perfect!

Oh...and speaking of treasure hunting...I'm hoping to be off to Brimfield in the morning, depending on the weather!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget about my giveaway!

suite departures...

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend!

I want to say thank you for all the wonderful comments that were left on my last post ~ you are all so sweet!
I am still celebrating!

It has been no secret that I have wanted to do a mini makeover in the princess suite.

Of course I wanted the room to stay clean for a while so I could actually tackle the project.

That never seemed to happen (hey, I'm keeping it real!).

Then, I finally realized that the furniture that was in the princess suite was actually making it hard for her to keep it clean!
She needed more drawer space so we went to Ikea and purchased a few bureaus for her room.

The princess and I love Ikea and we had a fun day shopping together!

The room is still a work in progress and I hope to share it with you soon.

For now I will show you what has departed the suite.

This lingerie chest is now patiently waiting for the white show at the shop...

The old cupboard is waiting for my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint makeover (yes, I finally bought some) and the vintage vanity has been safely stored in the attic for her very own first nest...

This old beauty is in my booth at the shop right now...

Just waiting for the next princess...

A few other small pieces have left her room as well, all headed for the white show.

To take a peek at the original princess suite post click here.

Oh, and speaking again of my last post ~ have you entered my giveaway?

It ends today at midnight!

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!

celebrating...

Hello ~ I am so glad you stopped by!

I am in a great mood today and want to share my happiness with you all!

You see it was a year ago today that I had my successful open heart surgery to remove the benign tumor from my heart.

I am feeling just wonderful and want to celebrate...

Source: vitaverandan-anna.blogspot.com via Sandra on Pinterest

Also, February 10th marked my second year of blogging!

Another reason to celebrate!


I am ever so grateful for the friendships I have made these last two years and wish I could share a little something with each and every one of you...

Source: athingforroses.blogspot.com via Sandra on Pinterest

Just know that you all hold a special place in my (improved) heart!


I treated myself this week to two new books and curled up in my big comfy white chair last night with them...

Rachel's book is absolutely beautiful and inspiring!!


To celebrate how lucky I am, I decided I would give away a copy of one of these books ~ winner's choice!
And, just in case some of you may already have these books, another choice for you is the book that my son gave me for Christmas...

Maybe you still do not have a copy of Fifi's first book so I will offer it as a choice too...

Finally, I wanted to include this other good choice that should be arriving at the shop soon...

The new issue of Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine!


Now I like to keep things simple.
To win your choice of one of the following...


Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Inspirations and Beautiful Spaces
Thrifty Chic
Pale and Interesting
Romantic Prairie Style
Jeanne d'Arc Living Magazine 2nd edition 2012


...you must already be a follower and all you have to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me which one you would choose!
It is that simple.
You can be a current follower on Google Friend Connect or the new Linky Follower, both of which are on my sidebar.


The giveaway will end Tuesday, February 21st.
I will announce the winner next Wednesday.


Good luck to you all!
Have a wonderful weekend!

merci michelle...

When I asked Michelle to make one of her beautiful inspiration holders for my giveaway, I asked her to make one for me too...

Debbie's is hiding behind mine...hee hee!

I asked her for a glass knob since we grew up with them adorning all the doors in our house.  I also asked her to surprise me with the rest and boy did she ever!

Voila...

Just look at how the glass knob sparkles!

I love how she repurposes the old cards ~ a tribute to my family of four...

And I adore what she put in the beautiful buckle...

How cute is the fleur de lis charm!

Did I ever tell you how I came up with the name for my blog?

cot-tage:  a usually small frame one-family house

I have always lived in houses with small, cozy rooms and have always embraced cottage style, going from country to shabby to my current mix of shabby, french farmhouse.

muse:  a state of deep thought or dreamy abstraction

In addition to fitting the definition (blogging and now pinning are definitely dreamy abstractions) my maiden name is Muise.  It is pronounced a bit different, with a softer s but I just thought the similarity was perfect!

Again, thank you Michelle, I just love my new inspiration holder...

Debbie...you will LOVE yours too!

I am sharing today with Kathleen for White Wednesday.

Oh...and by the way...did you know I am having another giveaway?!

Click here to enter!

Thank you for stopping by today!



another giveaway...

That's right...I am having another giveaway!

Don't you just love it when it is my birthday month?!

Uprinting recently contacted me and is offering one of my readers a set of 100 postcards!

www.uprinting.com/postcards.html

Here are the details...

One winner will receive one set of 100 postcards

5" x 7"

14 pt Cardstock Gloss

No Folding

Front Only Printing

2 Business Days Print Turnaround Time with Free Shipping

Limited to US Residents 18 Years Old and Above Only

My friend Nicki over at The Vintage Farmhouse recently won a similar giveaway and had these great postcards printed...

I would love to have a set of my own to use in my booth at the shop or to tuck in with my Etsy orders.

Another great idea would be to order some Christmas Cards ~ leading online printing companies have so many ideas I am sure you will find a design that is perfect for you.

This giveaway is sponsored by Uprinting, no monetary compensation was given and I will receive a postcard for hosting.

Ok...now that the technical stuff is out of the way here is what you need to do to enter...

Just leave me a comment on this post and let me know what kind of postcard you will order...it is that simple!

I will announce the winner this Friday the 28th.

Thank you so much for visiting and good luck!

petite oiseau...

I am joining Jill from Gypsy Brocante over at The French Cupboard for French Inspiration Thursday today.

My friend Mary Ellen gave me this beautiful tiered tray for my birthday...

It looks like an old french zinc piece to me and is topped with a  little bird (or petite oiseau as my friend Michelle would say)...

I love the sweet little cowgal tag she attached to it...

It is perfect to hold all my price tags and business cards...

I bought the old match boxes from the shop...

I found a new mercury glass like bowl to hold my scissors, pens and pencils at Marshalls over the summer and love how it looks next to it...

The tray fits perfectly in the corner of my desk in my studio...

My desk has not looked this clean in a while!

Thanks so much Mary Ellen...I love it!

We are going treasure hunting together tomorrow...can't wait!

Thanks so much for stopping by today ~ it's the last day to enter my giveaway, don't forget!

pocket pillows...

For White Wednesday over at Faded Charm this week, I would like to show you what my friend Sue made for me...

Two pocket pillows ~ aren't they beautiful!

I showed Sue photos of some from blogs and Etsy shops and thought since she liked to sew she could make them herself.

And she did ~ for me!

The pillow covers are made from an old skirt and the flowers are from an old afghan she found while treasure hunting...

I love the old cabinet card she tucked in with the sheet music (she even gave me the frame the photo came in).

Look how sweet the flowers are...

I hope to talk her into making more ~ I would love to buy some to sell in my booth!

Thank you again Sue...I love them!

Thanks Kathleen for hosting and thank you for stopping by today!

Don't forget the sale in my Etsy shop!

Oh ~ have you entered my giveaway yet?

You still have a few days left to enter!