Un Peu de Beauté Pour la Journée

This lovely old, antique print, The Crown of Love, hangs in one of my hallways. I have had it for so long that I can't remember where I even got it. Somewhere along the way I had it framed and re matted. It is a bit unusual because it is printed in green, and not in the usual black. It was one of my husbands favorite pictures and I thought it was a perfect one to share with you for Valentine's Day. So...here is un peu de beauté pour la journée...a little beauty for the day. Enjoy!

Thais post has been linked to: http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

Valentines, Roses and Tea

For  Valentine's Day I thought it would be nice to set up this little vignette on the shelf in my kitchen window...just in case someone stopped by for a cup of tea and a treat. The china pattern, Old Country Roses, is one I think most of you are familiar with; I am especially fond of the chintz, accent plates. It was also the first opportunity to use these adorable little Martha Stewart cupcake stands, which I fell into temptation and bought on sale at Macy's last week. They were just to cute to resist! Now please sit down and have a cup of tea; would you like one lump or two...



Thank you for coming I wish you a wonderful, romantic, and love filled Valentine's Day!

This post has been linked to: http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/, http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/, http://astrollthroughlife.blogspot.com/ , http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Valentine Birdhouse Wreath

I have had this charming little Valentine birdhouse for a while, I usually put it on my front door for Valentine's Day; but what is the fun of doing the same thing all of the time. So this year I decided to put it in the kitchen window. The only problem was that it wasn't big enough and looked lost in the space, it really need to be framed by a wreath and I couldn't find a wreath just the right size so....

...I bent some wire in the shape and size I needed, took some floral garlands from my stash in storage and twisted them around the wire several times, added a few extra flowers, a red ribbon to hang it, and voila! this is what I ended up with. This was a very, very simple project but it is exactly what I wanted.

Now...what am I going to do with the shelf below the window? Come back for my next post and see!



This post has been linked to: http://myromantichome.blogspot.com/, http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/, http://www.abeachcottage.com/

Garden Flag ~ Une Saint-Valentin pour vous!

I found this Mary Engelbreit garden flag on sale at Michael's right after Christmas...perfect for wishing you all Happy Valentine's Day. I love it's happy colors; it really adds cheer to the garden during this drab winter month...I added a few extra hearts via Picnik just to make sure it was 'valentiney' enough. And I get to see it everytime I come down the driveway.




This post has been linked to: http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/ , http://www.anoregoncottage.com/,http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/, http://howsweetthesound.blogspot.com/

Pretty in Pink

I have been looking forward to making a new header for the month of February because I knew I would be using my favorite color ~ pink! Going from left to right above: a little vignette on a table in my living room it features a small needlepoint work that I did and have always liked. In the middle picture I have a grouping of decorating books; the book on the top, Decorating with Roses is a Victoria publication that I recently purchased; don't you think that decorating with roses fits in perfectly with someone who lives and gardens at a house called, Rose Arbors? And the last picture, with an afghan and a needlepoint cushion I made, was taken in the sitting area of my bedroom. For some reason, along with pink, needlework seems to be a focus of this header, funny I really didn't plan it that way. Once again I ended up with extra photos I didn't use so here are the rest of my February pink header possibilities...maybe for next year.

Another curbside find this chair is sits next to the fireplace in the living room, I like the juxtaposition of the pink and cream stripes  against the floral wallpaper

...a few of my Desert Rose dishes, the first china pattern I started collecting and still one of my favorites, I use these for my everyday china during the spring months, at one time I used to be able to go to the Franciscian factory in Los Angeles and buy them, that was long ago and now they are made overseas and not really the same in quality

...I have been experimenting in using textures with some of my pictures and I really liked the way this one of the pink camellia turned out, I think it is quite interesting. Have any of you been attempting this process?

So here you are all of my "pinks", perfect I think for the month of romance.

This post has been linked to: http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/, http://shabbychiccottage.blogspot.com/, http://brambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Plaisirs simples ~ Valentine bulletin board

For many years I have been saving the old fashion valentines I have received ~ most of them were  given to me by my daughter at: http://loveandlifeatleadora.blogspot.com/. For this Valentine's Day I decided that they really needed to be taken out of the drawer and enjoyed, so I took some of my favorites and put them on the bulletin board in my workroom... now for the month of February I can see them every time I sit at the computer...and as a blogger you know that is fairly often.  Just another, plaisir simple de la vie...simple pleasure of life.

I hope that you enjoyed sharing these with me. Do you have a way to display your special valentines?

This post was linked to: http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/, http://shabbychiccottage.blobspot.com/ , http://alittleofthisandthat2.blogspot.com/ , http://romantichome.blogspot.com/, http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Un Peu de Beauté Pour la Journée ~ Silver

This lovely silver set was given to my husband and I many years ago by his staff for our twenty-fifth anniversary. I have always loved the restrained elegance of it's design. The bud vase I purchase at Jacob Marse, a wonderful florist shop and boutique in Pasadena; I think it adds a nice floral compliment. Here you see it in the kitchen, as I just finished polishing it, but unually it sits on a coffee table in the sitting area of my bedroom...just in case someone wants to share a quiet, intimate, cup of tea in front of a cozy fire.

I hope this adds un peu de beauté pour la journée...a little beauty for the day!

The post was linked to: http://ladykatherineteaparlor.blogspot.com/, http://breathoffreshair.blogspot.com/,
http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/, http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com/' http://blissfulrhythm.blogspot.com/

Weekword ~ Mercurial: The Afghan

Here in Southern California although our winter weather is really very mild considering what other people are going through this year, we are experiencing our usual mercurial changes in temperature...up one day, down the next. That is why is it always nice to have a throw or an afghan near by to toss over you for added warmth in the evening when you are watching television, reading, or for an afternoon nap. I always like a needle work project to carry me through the long winter nights, so this year I decided to make a new afghan for the media/family room to help me cozy up when I am feeling chilly.

 I picked a color that would blend in with the color palette I have selected for the room, I didn't particulary want the afghan to stand out, but rather to blend in and just add textural interest. I bought all of the yarn at an after Christmas sale at Michael's. I picked a very simple and mindless pattern that keeps my hands busy, but lets my mind free to chat, daydream, talk on the telephone, or listen to television or music...very therapeutic and relaxing. Crocheting is so much fun and easy to do, if you haven't tried it I highly recommend doing so ~ the results are quite amazing.

I still have quite a bit to do, but it really doesn't take very long. I love the lace-like appearance of crochet. What do you think...c'est  jolie, non?

This post has been linked to: Weekword http://biomouse.blogspot.com/, http://romantichome.blogspot.com/, http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/, http://cottageinstincts.blogspot.com/, http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/