Roses in Bloom

I love this time of year when the roses start to really bloom. I pruned most of my bushes this spring--scaring a few with my unstoppable clipping perhaps. They look a little small...but I know they will be full and pretty soon. So far so good as far as the tent caterpillars go this year. They have been terrible the past few years eating my bushes down to the stalks. We are prepared this year....and are determined not to lose any bushes to them and their incredible destruction.

This is what the roses from my huge bush out back look like up close--they are rugosas. Though they are not the fancy kind but are hearty and fragrant and beautiful.This is what we see from our deck. We have a lot that extends a good distance in from the road. Mom brought literally a stick about a foot long to us from Maine about 4 years ago. It was October, and I wasn't sure it would survive. I planted it with banana peels and so hoped that it would make it since it was something from Maine and reminds me of the salt mist roses seen along the coast--a wonderful remembrance of growing up there. Well, not only did it survive, but it has flourished into this huge bush taller than I am. It smells wonderful, is hearty, and I just love the mass of green covered with pink. What a delight to look out back and see this...and I bet you can almost smell them!

Chains...A Help When Gluing

Here's a little crafting tip: I do a lot of gluing and have found chains to be one of the most valuable helpers in my creating area. I discovered this after buying a stash of treasures in which were a bunch of chains--something I don't normally use. I put the chains aside in this tray to try to figure out what to do with them. One day I was gluing something and needed to set the item in something secure so that it would dry and not move....yes, those useless chains right then become quite useful. The chains conform to the shape of the item to hold it securely in place. Thankfully chains can be found inexpensively at any yard sale or thrift shop, and if you do a great deal of gluing, I'd recommend using them.

Cottage Charm Giveaway Winner...

....thank you to all who entered my giveaway. It has been great fun to meet some new people, and I hope you have enjoyed visiting my blog. The winner is Tina! I have already emailed her the news and look forward to sending her treasures along to her.

Last Day to Enter the Giveaway!

This is the last day to enter my giveaway...and everyone elses for that matter in the Cottage Charm Giveaway. There haven't been many who have entered mine (could it possibly be that people sadly do not want a Bible?) and there is plenty of room and time today to enter. I'll pick a name sometime tomorrow.

Finally Finished...

I've been working on this assemblage for a long time. It is full of many of my favorite vintage jewelry pieces and other treasures and has been listed already in my Etsy shop. Enjoy!

Janet's Giveaway

Check out the pillow that Janet of Janet's Creative Pillows is giving away in the Cottage Charm Giveaway...

...wish I had the waistline of this pillow!!

Quick Post

Just wanted to show you what is blooming on the front lawn--my cherry tree and the other bush which I can't remember the name of. I love the flowering blooms in the spring!

William and Kate Royal Wedding Swap From Kathleen

As said in my above post, my partner for Heidi's William and Kate Royal Wedding Swap was Kathleen from Set to a Tea. Kathleen has an amazing tea themed business, and she sent me an amazing box filled to the brim with wonderful things--tea, royal, and British!--from her business.

It all started with a pretty card complete with a tea bag. Isn't it just beautiful?
This is the complete picture. What a swap! She included a tea cozy, tablecloth, cookies, tea, fillable tea bags, and royal plates, cupcake liners, and two-tiered tray.






You may find these pretty things on her website. Hop on over for a visit at Set To A Tea. Thank you so much, Kathleen, for such a delightful swap. I shall enjoy everything you sent. Thank you also to Heidi for being the hostess for this enjoyable swap.

William and Kate Royal Wedding Swap from Me

Heidi at Foxgloves, Fabric, and Folly hosted a "William and Kate Royal Wedding Swap". My swap partner was Kathleen of Set to a Tea. We were supposed to spend a certain amount and put together a swap with a royal, wedding, and/or English theme. I had a great time scouring antique malls for pretties for Kathleen. I know Kathleen has a tea related business, so I tried to think of different things for her that she could not get through her business (other than those Walker cookies, I suppose...but can one have too many shortbread cookies?). What better things than those that are vintage and/or one-of-a-kind handmade.
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First of all, I wrapped everything up in gold boxes and pink tissue paper tied with English garden style floral organza ribbon. I made a card with two postage stamps (compliments of Jan from England and my nephew, Luke, from New Zealand), a rhinestone crown, and big sapphire rhinestone to mirror Kate's ring.



The show piece is this beautiful vintage teacup and saucer. It was pink on the saucer and outside the cup and had a beautiful fruit pattern inside. After I bought this, I really wanted to keep it because it is so pretty...but I sent it along to Kathleen.


Here is a porcelain rose pin from England--a vintage find--and a pair of vintage white gloves. Also, I had great fun making especially for Kathleen this British and wedding themed zipper/purse clip. It has tiny jewelry pieces in it all secured with resin--rhinestones, faux pearls, a cameo, a crown, and a pretty piece of teacup.


This is a "Woods of Windsor" vintage powder tin and a souvenir handkerchief from England.


I made these "royal jewels"--vintage jewelry thumbtacks in rhinestones with pretty jewel tones as well as an old piece with a crest.

I hope Kathleen enjoyed receiving her things as much as I enjoyed putting them together.

Speckled Egg Spring Inspiration Box Swap...from My Swap Partners

Heather, at the Speckled Egg, hosted a Spring Inspiration Box Swap. It was great fun to put together, and I have already posted about what I gave my two partners. The boxes from them came in this past week.


Kathy from Country Chintz sent along this prettily embellished box filled to the brim (and overflowing) with springtime embellishments. I especially liked the paper flowers and the little yellow bird!
Becky from Me&Mine sent along this beautifully embellished little box filled (I love the color of that flower on top) with wonderful treasures including a miniature salt shaker filled with mica sprinkles, a tiny embroidered pin cushion, a decorated flower box filled with tiny embellishments, and other little delights. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Many thanks to Kathy and Becky for the time they put into these pretty boxes filled with springtime goodies, and to Heather for being hostess. It was certainly great fun.

Finally....

...I'm back. I've had problems with getting into my blog the last several days, and there are so many things to write about! Thankfully, I'm up and running again....so here are the posts!

Cottage Charm Giveaway

Announcing my giveaway goodies for The Twice Remembered Cottage's 5th Annual Cottage Charm Giveaway. I participated the last two years and couldn't wait to participate again this year. There are a number of others taking part in this, offering some beautiful cottage style items. Please click on the link above to see what else is being offered. Here is what I am giving away....

1) A special commemorative edition of the King James Bible. As said in the post above, this past week on May 2 was the celebration of the the KJV's 400th birthday...it's translation completed in 1611.
2) A pretty, decorative, cottage-style California Perfume Co. powder tin.
3) A little gold tone box with a lady and gentleman painted on enamel set into it. It has a spring-type hinged top. 4 & 5) A glove clip and some vintage jewelry push pins/thumbtacks (those push pins made by me).
The rules are simple... 1) You must be from the U.S. and have a U.S. address only. 2) Please leave only one comment on this post to be entered. 3) I will draw a name sometime during the day on May 29, so please add your comment by midnight May 28. The winner will be announced on May 29. 4) You must accept the entire offering, and I will ship all of the items pictured above. Please email with any questions. I hope you like these cottage offerings. Please hop on over to The Twice Remembered Cottage to enter the other lovely giveaways. Thanks for entering!