It's Starting To Look A Lot Like Christmas

A little grouping of Santas and my squirrels. This happy group sits on top of my desk in our den. The "pencil" Santa is my boys' favorite one. Each year I buy a Santa piece for my collection and this guy is about 15 years old. The tallest Santa was given to me by my father for my birthday many years back. Dad bought him on a trip to Oregon. I love Santa's boiled wool red cap and coat, his green cords and black buckled shoes! He is a beauty!!

I found this great shelf to display my Vintage Baby Ben clock collection in. For quite some time I have been looking for a shelf like this and found this one at my friend Marcia's shop. I love the dark green color. On top is an old CWS biscuit tin with a bluebird..one of my favorite tins.

Has everyone started their decorating or finished yet? I find myself moving things around here and there to get the right look. The house is looking cozy and with the twinkle lights and the little Santa faces smiling here and there. I did not get around to entering the Cottage Of The Month contest over at Jennifer's, but am anticipating who the lucky winner will be. No doubt it will be fab-u-lo-so!

Till the next post, wishing all of you a happy weekend! Take some time to enjoy the day!!

xo

~~Gratitude~~

Vintage Towel Pillow still available - 35.00 plus 5.30 shipping.
Handmade piping with vintage heart fabric coordinates with the hearts in the design of the towel.
The little vintage floral print coordinates with the flowers, too.
The back of the pillow slipcover has more of the towel fabric. Red and white polka dots and white pom pom edging adds adorable cottage appeal. A new 12 x 16 polyfill pillow form is included.

If interested in purchasing this pillow, just leave me a comment by Tuesday, November 27th.

Duhgall is supervising me whilst I perform my Turkey magic.
"Dad, mom isn't kicking down any tid bits!"
"Ok Mom, you need to remember that Martha Stewart said to tie the bird just so!"


Hello everyone! Just wanted to leave a few words to say thank you to you lovelies who purchased my handmade things and to those who took the time to leave me a comment on my last post.


This weekend was busy for our family as we not only had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, but went on a three day Christmas decorating binge. Deep sighs....and we are just about done.


I also want to thank Jenn and Jacqui for the Rockin' Girl Blogger award - HUGS TO YOU!! Later this week, I will be passing on this and two other awards that have been recently given. As far as I am concerned, each and every blogger is just wonderful - how you open your hearts, your home and share ideas, stories and life's happenings with all of us.


We hope that you have a wonderful week! Stay warm and toasty - except for you gals who are experiencing summer right now!!


((((hugs))))


Becky and Duhgall

Welcome To My Christmas Crafts Fair Open House

Welcome to my Christmas Open House~~would you like a molasses cookie, or how about a snicker doodle?
How about some homemade hot chocolate?
Or a cup or two of espresso for you coffee gals? vrrmm vrrrm!
I want to first thank Phyllis, over at Shabby In The City, for being the chair person to organize this special cyber event! She has a list of all participants over at her blog, so be sure to stop by to see who is selling their things. There are soooo many talented and creative ladies out there in blog land and I am sure that you will find something tempting to purchase.


Ok....the door is open now..step on inside. Duhgall, please stop nibbling at everyone's feet and let our guest inside. Below are the items available today at Sweet Cottage Dreams. You can click on the any picture to enlarge it.Selection #1 - 3 Pink Christmas Ornaments - Sold - thank you Barbara!!

For the PINK loving gals, three handmade ornaments - 2 hearts and one stocking. I used a darling cotton print with lots of pretty pink roses.
6 x 5 " heart - filled with polyfill and fresh lavender. In one corner is a vintage napkin topped with vingage buttons. An itty bitty pink rosebud ruffle goes all around the edge. More rosebud fabric used for the hanger and more buttons added for texture. 7" drop. You could use this on your tree or hang from a knob or hook.
The second heart is similar to the other with a pretty edge of a vintage white napkin. Filled with polyfill and lavender. The back has an adorable pink ticking fabric. The hanger is a pink and white polka dot ribbon that could be cut and resized if you choose to.
This dainty little stocking is made with the same yummy rose fabric, pink ticking, vintage crochet edging and has an itty bitty bell and pink bow at the toe. Stocking is 7" with a 3" pink satin ribbon hanger. Stuffed with polyfill and machine stitched closed at the top.
Little Pink Satin roses at the top.

Price: $20.00 plus 4.60 shipping

Selection #2 - Tiny Scotty Pillow - Red/Gray Toweling - Sold! Thank you, Chris!!

A little Scotty Dog pillow designed by myself. Mr. Scotty is made from scraps of vintage wool plaid and is machine appliqued. His collar is tiny vintage white buttons. The background fabric is vintage toweling fabric with fun gray and red stripes.
Tiny details.
Little red buttons match the red polka dot 1 inch ruffled edge.
The back has my personal stamped label. This pillow is also filled with polyfill and fresh lavender. Hand closed shut. Size: 6 x 7 1/2"

Price: $16.00 plus 4.60 shipping - sold - thank you Christine!!

Selection #3 - Tiny Scotty Pillow with oatmeal colored toweling. SOLD!

Thank you, Lallee!!
Another itty bitty Scotty pillow. Made from old toweling with a white stripe at the top.

Approximately 7" x 7" with a 1" polka dot ruffled edge.
Little red buttons and a tiny polka dot ribbon collar with a little silver bell. Filled with polyfill and fresh lavender and handstitched closed.
$16.00 plus 4.60 shipping
Selection #4 - Kitsch Kitchen Towel Pillow - Hearts and Flowers
Above is a fun pillow! The center is a piece of a vintage towel (that was
never used). I love the graphics on the towel - little kitchen items that have
red flowers and hearts.
I made this piping using vintage heart fabric. It matches the hearts in the towel. See the little floral fabric? It too is vintage and matches nicely with the flowers on the towel.
More details below..A white pom pom edge completes the pillow. The back has a wonderful red and white polka dot fabric. The reds are not quite so orangish as the photos show. There is more of a blue tone in the reds in person.
I used a piece of the towel on the back at the opening. The pillow is lined with muslin on the front and the top portion of the back slip cover.
The pillow is 12 x 16 and comes with a new polyfill pillow form.

Price: 35.00 plus 5.30 shipping

Selection #5 - Cherry'd Out Tote Bag - SOLD! Thank you, Lallee!
The front is made with two coordinating cherry print fabrics, cherry ribbon and stacked buttons.

The handle is made with red ticking fabric and a thin polyfill batting so that they are nice and cushy. Extra long straps (21" drop) allow you to hook it across your chest.
Vintage Red Rick Rack along the top...a red gingham tab closure and stacked vintage buttons. The bag is lined with a thin polyfill and the top half of the front is machine quilted for durability.

Lined with a purchased white quilted fabric. I made a pocket that has several sections to put your Ipod, cell phone, pager, keys, etc. My personal label is sewn onto the pocket.
Close up of details. The bag is 15 inches across, 14 inches deep with a 4 1/2 inch gusset at the bottom. I Scotchguarded the bag for protection.
Hand wash or spot clean. Line dry. Do not dry in the dryer.
Price: $35.00 plus $5.30 shipping.

Selection #6 - Mod Vintage Inspired Ornament Pillow - sold! Thank you, Brenda at Spare Minute Cottage!!

Note: The red color in this pillow is not so orange looking. My camera washed out the colors. grrr.
This was a fun pillow to make. I love the playful and whimsical fabrics and bright green eye-lash trim. Fuzzy and fun!



Can we say 50's?
The back is fun with biggie stripes and playful polka dots. I added a row of vintage red rick rack for texture. This pillow is fully lined with muslin for durablity.
Along this edge more red rick rack and an embroidered asterick to match the same pattern inside one of the ornaments.
This pillow is a slip cover and included is a new 12 x 16 inch pillow form.
Price: $35.00 and $5.30 shipping.

Selection #7 - Vintage Tablecloth Pillow - Red Flowers and Lattice
note: the reds in this one look orange, too. - Sold! Thank you, Christine!
Made with a remnant from a vintage tablecloth, this pillow has all of the colors of Christmas. I was going to hold off and sell it in the spring, but I think it would be pretty along with red and green Christmas pillows.
Framing the center piece is a soft green and white polka dot fabric. Vintage one inch pom pom fringe finishes off the edging.
The back is cute with a red gingham tie closure, a strip of the tablecloth fabric, a fun red vintage button and sweet green ticking decorator fabric.
A new 16" pillow form is included. This pillow is not lined. This is a pillow slip style pillow.

Price: $35.00 plus 6.50 shipping (This will be sent Parcel Post because I have to use a larger box than what is required for Priority Mail).

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Here is how this works..

If you would like to buy something, just leave a comment as to which item you would like. Each item for sale has a "selection number." I only have one of each item, so whoever leaves the first comment for that particular item will be able to buy it. If you would like to purchase multiple items, I will have to refigure the shipping costs and let you know the amount.

All of these things are handmade by myself, along with my little sniffer and inspector Mr. Duhgall P.

The pillows and tote are to be handwashed or spot cleaned and line dried. I do not recommend drying them in a dryer. Most of my fabrics are pre-washed.

We all hope that you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Ok, the whistle is blowing to get the house ready for Christmas and all of the shopping done! Some of you are probably already done with it all and if you are one of them, then you are just amazing! ;)

My husband and I also have some items listed on eBay this week. Our eBay name is Cottage*Dreams.

Have a lovely day and thank you for stopping by Sweet Cottage Dreams. xo

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Best Wishes....

for great dishes, from my kitchen to YOURS!!!!!!!!!!!! (I am no Paula Deen in the kitchen though!!)

Have the best Thanksgiving and enjoy the day!!!!!

Ok, off to start the turkey (using Martha's Turkey 101 recipe this year). Be sure to stop in tomorrow to see the items I have to sell for the Christmas Open House.

Cheers!

All White, All White!! Wascally Dreams For Decorating....

The photo below is from CL's website
Oops...out of order with uploading - but Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Don the aprons and start cooking!!!!

From CL's Website
Clock photo from CL Website
Cabinet from ME
From CL

Berg and Bath
From BHG's Website
BHG's website
BHG's website
CL's Website

Whenever I turn the page in any of my favorite magazines or books and find a room that is all decorated in shades of whites and beige, my heart leaps. I carefully study each room, checking out every corner - taking note of the juxtapostion of each adornment that was lovingly placed here and there.

Awhile back I was visiting Deb's blog and this post caused me to nearly go into a brain warp. What is a brain warp? When the mind starts thinking so fast and taking it all in that your neurotransmitors don't fire fast enough and smoke starts coming out your ears!! Deb's style is what I am loving these days. She has a sense of mixing it all up, adding textures, lighting and objects that all meld so lovely together. Not only is she very talented, she is also a sweetheart.

Ginger introduced me to another blog, because she totally knew I would love it, and if you haven't been here before, you have to treat yourself to visiting. I don't understand the language of the postings, but the photos speak a thousand words. Her style is wonderful - how she mixes tone on tones with a touch of metal objects and greenery here and there. Very fresh and quiet.

Though having an all white sofa or chairs is completely out of the picture for me, with having a black haired doggy and a little cat that sheds, I could still incorporate a medium shade linen fabric - perhaps one with subtle tones of white in a small floral and unobtrusive pattern, like this one. With shades of white, you cannot go wrong if you want to toss is a seasonal color - like my favorite RED. Now I am thinking about the IKEA commercial that tells us girls to get out of our boring beige box and think with color. Color is good - it is all a personal choice and when we find that "style" or color that we can live with each day, then we are satisfied....for a time.

This week is so busy for everyone, but I wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving a bit early. This will be my last post until Friday, Nov. 23rd. Phyllis is having a Holiday Open House that day and I will be listing some things for sale. Also for sale will be some of our collections up on eBay - under our name Cottage*Dreams. Oh honey, can you get those pictures ready please!!!??? ~~ Till next time, blessings to all of you and thank you so much for your visits, comments and wishes. BTW, several of you have asked about everyone...my son is so much better as is Doogs. A blessing indeed!