Romantic Homes Advertisement with Shabby Cottage Shops

The December 2015 issue of Romantic Homes magazine is out, and the Shabby Cottage Shops ad looks great!

There is my little diorama ornament at the center bottom of the ad.  Hope everyone does well with their ad.  Love the teacup by the way!

Lollishops Romantic Homes Ad--May 2010

I have been eagerly awaiting the May 2010 issue of Romantic Homes to come out since I participated in a Lollishops ad in it. Well, the magazine arrived in my mailbox yesterday, and I think the ad looks great! I'm thankful that the little cupcake brooch goes so well with the colors of the ad and am very pleased. Sadie did a good job. Thanks for the opportunity, Sadie!

Perfume Bottles and Romantic Homes Magazine

I always get way too far ahead of myself when it comes to reading my magazine subscriptions. I just got "Tea Time" in the mail...their January/February issue where they are talking about Valentines Day already...but I can't help it! All of this beautiful, fabulous information with pictures is sitting there waiting for me, and I can't resist peeking...then reading...from cover to cover!
Well, the January 2010 issue of "Romantic Homes" arrived, and I've already read through the whole thing. I couldn't help it. There is a must-see article about the home of one of the Layla-Grace co-founders, Wendy Estes, (the ornate white-with-pink-kissed-roses dresser is WAY, WAY beyond gorgeous), and there was a little article about perfume bottles. How can one resist an article about perfume bottles?
First, in the picture above, is the decorative glass "tray" that I have on my dresser. I don't use the things on it. It is basically just for decoration. I like the labels and the shapes and think it is romantic in every way.
The pink one with the heart-shaped topper I've had since high school and really like the color of the bottle AND the heart, of course.
The green one with the crown topper I bought in New Zealand at an antique store. It is a bath salt bottle actually with some of the salts still in it. I thought the crown was gorgeous and unique.
This is the perfume I use. My husband loved the scent...on another girlfriend, if you can believe that! LOL! But, no hard feelings at all, and I've worn it for over 20 years. He usually gets it for me for our anniversary when I'm out. I take great care not to waste it, and a bottle lasts and lasts and smells wonderful...oh, and makes me think of Paris!
These are little miniature bottles that I have sitting on this chintz plate on my dresser. You know...I can't resist anything in miniature, so a few miniature perfume bottles are a must. The Poeme bottle was given to me, and I like it for it's shape. The Paris miniature bottle, I've had for years and years. It was a "diamond" edition freebie with a Paris perfume purchase well over 10 years ago. My kids think it's a real diamond--wish it were!
Finally, this trio is an inexpensive set, but they look expensive, I think. The colors go perfectly with our bathroom colors. I love the crystal stoppers, and they sparkle and shine (when they aren't dusty!) and look beautiful when the sun is shining in our bathroom window. They just seem to glow.
I really do like and enjoy perfume bottles. I love their shapes, sizes, and labels. I don't have many perfume bottles, and those that I DO have aren't expensive ones. But, who needs to spend all outdoors to enjoy something pretty? Bottles and labels in many shapes and forms (like my glittery, shabby rose perfume label ornament--for year-round enjoyment) can truly add pretty spots of color and glamor to a home.

Thanks for the Blessing, Polly!

I just finished reading the last page of the Romantic Homes December 2009 issue. It is a beautiful issue (love what they did with those gorgeous hankies on the front cover--beautiful material!)...and it ended beautifully with a little "At Home With..." article about Polly Hood of French Cupboard (a group I'd love to be a part of someday when the money allows...someday, I hope) and Counting Your Blessings fame. It was such a blessing to read in a large publication that one of her prized possessions is her Bible! Not everyone would have the guts to say such a thing (might "offend" someone...might lose some business...etc.). I figure if the Lord had the "guts" to die on the cross for us, an innocent man, then why shouldn't we have some guts to speak out for Him and his Word? Anyway, I appreciate and respect Polly for mentioning the Bible--a book which is increasingly getting more and more unpopular--and I know the Lord will bless her and her business for it. Thanks for the blessing, Polly!

Romantic Homes "Detail Work" Feature

You know how I love embellishments--especially vintage ones. I like to embellish my home, my little , me, things I make, food, presents...well, you get the idea. (...though, I DO leave my hubby alone!). So, anytime I read something about embellishing, my antennae go up and I can't wait to devour the words and pictures. The October 2009 issue of Romantic Homes has a wonderful article entitled "Detail Work" about Nancy Jamar and her shop, Gilding the Lily...a boutique that sells vintage embellishments and also gives classes to create beautiful things. Check out the website>>http://gildingthelilyvintage.com. While you're at it, she has an interesting blog as well....gildingthelilyvintage.blogspot.com. If a person can make something pretty, embellishing in some way with a little glitter, a bit of ribbon, a rhinestone or glass bead--even just a little bit or a few--can make a world of difference in how it looks. Thanks, Romantic Homes, for such a pretty and inspiring feature!

A Lollishop Party? Romantic Homes's Party Spread

When I first looked over the article "Get What You Wish For" in the Romantic Homes July issue my immediate thought was, "This looks like a birthday party that Lollishops would have!" It is a totally fun article filled with pink lollipops, colorful polka dots, vintage pretties, old fashioned candies, and lots of pastel colors. If Sadie Lou or Lollishops were to have a real, physcial birthday party, I imagine it would look just like this and have all of these goodies. (Mmmmm, perhaps Lollishops WILL have a virtual birthday party this year using ideas from this article.) It was a fun read and an enjoyable article, so be sure to take a peak (if you're not a subscriber) when the magazine comes out in July. If you're into festive pink and vintage fluff, this offers great inspiration for your next party! ; )

Letter to Editor in Romantic Homes Printed

I was really shocked actually to see that my letter to the editor of Romantic Homes was printed. How exciting! If you peek in their magazine you'll see what I said along with some familiar photos that I've posted on here in the past. I LIKE their idea about making a bead garland for a chandelier. I have a few ceiling fans that just may lend themselves (the the light part underneath, of course) well to this idea. I knew Romantic Homes would come through with some good ideas!

Romantic Homes Magazine Ad

The proof is done, and the ad is off to press. My dear husband allowed me to be a part of Lollishops' first ad in Romantic Homes magazine. I have been on a tight budget with my little bead business--a very tight budget--and couldn't swing any of the other ad opportunities offered by Sadie, though tempting as they were. BUT, as dear as he is, my husband saw the value in being part of the co-op ad for this magazine; we had enough extra for the ad; and we agreed this would be a wise use of money. Besides, Sadie made it all very tempting with such a great deal for each vendor (thanks, Sadie, again for the opportunity!). I've enjoyed Romantic Homes for years and years. It has undergone many editors and changes over the years. It took on sort of a "modern romantic" feel with the most recent editor when she came on several years back, and although it was hard to accept at first, I stuck it out and have grown to really enjoy the magazine once again. The ad comes out in June's issue, and I'm so excited. It looks great! Check out what the Lollishops ad will look like here>>>>>>http://lolli-ads.blogspot.com. What do you think? Can you find me in the ad?

The Romantic Homes Survey...

...and I'm putting "Lollishops" and/or Sadie down for #6! Well, I figure, "Why not?" The last two issues of Romanitc Homes magazine have a survey for readers to fill out. Number 6 asks, "What would you like to see in a future editorial feature?" I put--an article on Lollishops (www.lollishops.com) or Sadie who started it. Perhaps if many people did the same thing, the editors just might look into it. Just a thought! *wink*

Romantic Homes Magazine--Crowns

What better way to mark my 100th post on this blustery, snowy day than to mention the January Romantic Homes article "Crowning Achievements". I so enjoyed it. What a fun thing to read about! I don't think a person can add enough *sparkle* to themselves or their homes, and adding a few crowns around would be such fun. The only crown we have up in our house is in my daughter's room holding a swag and centered over her window. It is a cheap one from the kid's section of the store, but it has plenty of "gems" to add pretty sparkles in the room of my little princess. The ones in this article are definitely more "grown-up"...but do we ever really grow up? My favorite ones in the article are on page 61, especially the one under the cloche. I wish we could have seen Alys's favorite one--the "tattered purple-velvet lined life-size jeweled crown." But I'm glad for the ones we DID see.

A Pretty Laundry Room

Some household tasks are more mundane than others, and, well, it's pretty hard to get excited about doing the laundry. Some days it's a chore, and some days it is a down right drudgery. I figure for a place that I must visit several times a week to do something I would rather not have to do, the room itself needs to be cheery and inviting...even pleasant, if possible. I painted our small laundry room a warm, buttery yellow with coordinating sandy-yellow tiles. I like to hang my laundry outside when I can, so I wanted to give an appearance of bringing the outside "in" by displaying a rose garden theme to the room. Besides it makes it much more pleasant on those rainy or snowy days when going outside and hanging up laundry with whiffs of roses in the air is quite impossible. I "re-purposed" a country-styled shelf by painting it white and adding crystal knobs. A pretty rose plate from a yard sale and brass planter with a philodendron in it beautifies an otherwise useless wall. My favorite "Scott's Roses" tin wall-hanging was eyed in a Romantic Homes magazine a few years ago, and I found mine on line. Rose cabinet knobs, a pretty rose-covered valence, "Garden" sign, flower mister, and teapot all add to the charm without making the room too overwhelmingly decorated. The only two things that I'm still working on in this room. One is my ironing board cover. It does show in the room. I saw a rose ironing board cover at some store years ago, and would like to get one sometime. I'm sure I can find one somewhere (Do you have any suggestions as to where?). I just have to look hard enough. The other thing is a potted miniature rose which fell ill this past summer (notice I have subtly left it out of camera view!). I am trying to "love" it back to health instead of merely tossing it and buying a new one. Sometimes this method takes a great deal of time and effort which hopefully will be worth it in the end. I hope you enjoy my warm, rose accented laundry room!