Well Hello, Sweets!

Hope you are having a lovely Thursday. The sun is shining and everything looks so FRESH here after the rain we've been having. I did a great deal of cleaning and general mess-re-distributing ;) yesterday and I feel so....energized. Everyone was sick for so long and needing such concentrated and constant attention that when they slept or were temporarily happy I found myself just escaping and not doing much in the way of home-making (read: YUCK). But Andrew is playing happily with a Priority Mail envelope (don't tell the Post Office!) next to me and Rachel is watching Dragon Tails with Daddy and his newspaper in the living room. There is nothing totally disgusting that needs cleaning and no huge messes to hurdle in order to move around in the house. It's a miracle, really!

I am putting the finishing touches on my Valentine swap gifts, as well as a few gifts for loved-ones but I have to tell you....I'm already thinking about Easter! If you've stepped into a craft store like the Michael's I went into a couple evenings ago, you'll know that it's not just me, either! I saw SO MANY lovely Easter things and my mind began SPINNING with the possibilities...I delved into my collection of vintage fabrics, poked around in some of my favorite vintage Easter images and came up with the beginning of a whole collection of Easter/Spring items you'll begin seeing in my etsy shoppe and eBay auctions.

This is one of my favorite Easter images that I've had on a fabric block for over a year and I've just been ITCHING to make something pretty with it. I picked a vintage nubby chenille and a repro green dot and fashioned a pretty pillow from them. The "innards" are a combination of high-quality polyfil and my new favorite fragrance mixture: dried French lavender and dried roses. It makes for SUCH a lovely scent and a sweet surprise for anyone who picks it up or leans against it, since the slightest touch releases the fragrance inside! To finish this sweet cushion I embroidered a pink bullion rose and made it into a covered button on the pink ticking yo-yo. Don't miss the way the pink ticking brings out the blossoming trees in this vintage image OR the dear little church that is just up the lane and beyond the gate!

I also made a matching tussie mussie from the green dot and I love the way they sweetly compliment one another! I used a dear pink and white vintage hankie my sister Whitney found in an antique store and added a vintage millinery rose on front. The ruffle of the tussie was fashioned from the body of the same hankie and the inside of the cone is lined with a vintage book page. The "tail" and "hanger" are my new favorite pink ribbon....so old-fashioned and luxe!

My second new offering is what my friend Pat calls a "pillowette"...think combination of pillow and sachet! It is filled with the same lovely combination of lavender and roses but this one is smaller and hangs from a precious length of gingham posey trim I found in wonderful store in San Francisco and have been saving for something very special. You'll see the same trim on the matching tussie, as well! The focal point of this pillowette is an image I think is my VERY favorite Easter image...at least this year. It is just the DEAREST little toddler who is simply and completely BEWITCHING. I don't know what it is about her....perhaps her lovely brown curls that remind me a bit of one of my daughters' or maybe it's her expression or her gorgeous frock? Whatever it is, she is just adorable! Do you see what she's holding? A whimsical "hoop" from which dozens of Easter eggs hang! I just adore this, don't you?

I found some soft, soft blue cotton that was originally a vintage curtain that I used part of to make this set last year. It had dear little sunbonnet girls on the bottom but I've been saving the rest of it for just the right purpose. And here it is! You'll also notice the same nubby vintage chenille and three blue cotton yo-yos punctuated by loads of vintage and new buttons, baubles, ribbon roses and more! So simple but so very sweet. The matching tussie mussie is in the same blue cotton and lovely trim. The center of the bow is adorned with a little posey of vintage millinery forget-me-nots!

I am selling these as "sets" and you can find both of them in my etsy shoppe HERE.

Before I go I wanted to share something oh-so-adorable that the very sweet Janae sent me as a hostess gift for co-hostessing the Vintage Valentine Swap. I just can't get over these SWEET ladies and their thoughtful gifts! Janae certainly had me in mind when she created this PRECIOUS shadowbox...notice the little doll she altered (DOLL is the name of my girls' clothing line!) and the cute little heart that says "Rosey Posey"! What a thoughtful gift. I love the dear little cherub, too, and I thank goodness I thought to take this photo as SOON as the package arrived since my girls and I DEVOURED the candy hearts within minutes. THANK YOU so much, Janae! Be sure to visit her blog and check out her etsy shoppe when you have a moment.

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Hope each of you have a lovely day. My goal today is to try to start in on those curtains I've been avoiding. This of course means I'll make all KINDS of little projects in order to FURTHER avoid them! Well, we'll see....

HUGS,

Cheryl

Happy Monday!

Hello, Sweets! Hope this finds you well, happy and ready for a new week. It's Laundry Day here which means mountains of clothes are sitting on my couch ready to be put away but am I tending to them? No! I'd rather be here, visiting with YOU! It's a rather rainy and dreary here in Central California but I'm feeling quite optimistic since my sweet baby is feeling better today after a long while of being sick and very, very, VERY clingy and whiny. I found a $5 plastic lawn mower at Wal Mart last night and good heavens....I've already gotten my money's worth! I had almost forgotten what his "real" personality is like and it does this mama's heart good to see the boy happy, smiling, chuckling and playing! Plus I had a nice, long phone chat with my dear friend, Linda, and feel so much more connected with all that is good in my life. So all is well here!

If you've come by for a Monday Yummies excursion, you're in luck! I've been poking about, peeking at all sorts of lovely things that I can't wait to show you.

So come on! Hop in my little cyber-buggy, and I'll take you on a oh-so-yummy trip through cyberspace...

YUMMY THING ONE: "Home" by LoveJoleen Studios

I've been admiring this piece for awhile but haven't shown you it. As you may know, I recently "moved house" and seem to be attracted to all things homey/"nest-y" these days. I lived in the little cottage we just sold for 6 years and that was the longest I have ever lived in one abode in my entire life. But the really wonderful thing that I still can't make completely real in my head is that THIS house...the one we just had built and moved into....is our "forever home." We're not going anywhere. We built next my in-laws (whom I ADORE) on the very dirt my husband and HIS father played in as little boys. This is fourth-generation Dack dirt and we are going to live on it till we die! Such a lovely feeling. So pieces like this are really speaking to me...

YUMMY THING TWO: "Sweet Marie" Versailles Wreath by Oh Merci
If you missed the most recent issue of Somerset Life, you must go run and pick one up. The oh-so-sweet-and-very-talented Mary of Oh Merci was featured in an article about blogging in this issue and a very-similar wreath was pictured. This one is for sale in her scrumptious etsy shoppe.

YUMMY THING THREE, FOUR & FIVE: Beth Quinn Designs

I had the delight of stumbling upon Beth Quinn this weekend in one of those delightful "rabbit trails" where I followed a link, which led to another link...well you know how it goes, don't you Sweets? I got here and was absolutely charmed. I ADORE this lovely artist's style, and not only that, she is just as sweet as sweet can be! You'll be seeing her in Somerset this coming year, as well. She has an etsy shoppe HERE but what I want to show you is actually some of her past work... Isn't it FABULOUS? I have a new favorite, I do believe!

YUMMY THING SIX: Playful Pink Vintage Charm Bracelet by SweetExcess

Now this is what I call a CONFECTION. Jenn showed me this on etsy and I think we are both pretty much drooling over it!
YUMMY THING SEVEN: Sweet Hearts and Old Roses by Karla Nathan

I love so many of Karla Nathan's pieces but this has to be my favorite so far. The epitome of VINTAGE GOODNESS, don't you think, Sweets? Karla also had some of her work in Somerset Life! Don't you think it's great fun to page through your favorite magazine only to find your blogging "pals" featured there? Makes me feel like I know celebrities!!

YUMMY THING EIGHT: Tiny Dancer Cupcake by Splendid Designs

Isn't this deleciously sweet? I think so!

YUMMY THING NINE: "My Own" by Rosey Posey Confections (Me!)

This is my very last miniature shadowbox kit this season....so grab it while you can! Like the others, this one features the last of these itty bitty antique bisque dolls, a vintage heart-shaped baking pan, vintage wallpaper (with a cherub, no less!), a snippet from a 1922 love letter which reads, "My own" (isn't that sweet??) and a vintage ceramic heart that is this sweet dolly's own Valentine! I will include some pink vintage glass glitter which you can add if you like...remember, this is a kit and you can place the elements where you wish or even add some of your own. You can find this sweetie in my Etsy Shoppe, HERE.

Well Sweets, that's it...The Hubby has come home from work, sick, poor guy. As soon as I got one guy almost well, now I've got another one to tend to! At least this one doesn't fuss at me and ask to be carried around on my hip 24/7. But he still could use some "mothering"....couldn't we all when we feel sick??? So off I go. Hope you and yours are staying well...

Big Hugs,

Cheryl

What's Doin'....

So much fun going on here in the "Confectionary"! I have been having such a wonderful time decorating the studio, making it my own, creating little inspiring vignettes with my materials, organizing my sewing patterns, etc. I feel like this has really "fueled" my creativity. I love SEEING all my pretties instead of having to stow them away right before I go to bed like I did in our little cottage. I couldn't leave anything out because Baby would get into it the next morning or someone would step on my piles of things or decide that they "needed" something for their own craft project!! Here's a few new shots from my desk. I'm still not ready to show the entire room since things are still not quite settled. But you can see how I'm using these GREAT white milkglass footed bowls my friend Jennifer Pafford sent me to hold the supplies I'm wanting to keep right in front of me. The highest stand is actually something I found in an antique store this last weekend for a BARGAIN. It's vintage and metal and has the best little pedastal that you can't really see in the photos. But I just about squealed out loud when I found it! Here's some close-ups of a few of my recent "finds," both online and locally...

The tiny miniature crocheted cupcakes from pukashell on etsy are sitting on a sweet little vintage butter pat plate from Heather over at Pretty Petals. Under THAT is a tiny white vintage egg cup I just love using for needles, pins and other assundries. The floral print in the background is actually a beautiful floral mousepad from For Your Shabby Cottage. It makes me happy every time I see it!

I found a couple of great old salt and pepper shaker sets in one of my local antique stores that I've turned into "glitter stations." I sold this one....

but I decided to keep this one. It was actually my sweet husband who pointed out that the holes in the shaker lids that say "S" and "P" could stand for "Silver" and "Pink," my two favorite shades of glass glitter! I put my mica in the third little container that has a tiny spoon...perfect for spooning mica flakes onto my projects.

And switching gears, I was just THRILLED to see pictures from Nancy of Fete et Fleur of the tussie mussie she made with one of my kits I sold for Jolie Paquet! Here's the lovely pics from HER blog:

The Materials in the kit...Ruffle attached....Finished product!

And she added her own lovely touch....gorgeous white feathers! And don't miss that incredible-looking linen cupboard in the background....slurpity!Great job, Sweet Nancy! I'd love to see any other tussies any other of my sweet customers have made with my kits!

And speaking of tussies (like that transition???), I have restocked my etsy shoppe with more blank cones just like the ones I use in these kits and to make the tussies I've sold. If you buy 2 or more, I will send you a free pattern/instructions to fashion your own tussie mussies. Here's the listing if you HAVE TO HAVE some of these. ;) They are just the best cones I can find....so sturdy, almost indestructible and you couldn't bend them if you tried. I just love them. Find them HERE...

And this tussie mussie and doll is one that I made that you can purchase for the "doll" in your life! You can find it HERE...

Hope you're having a wonderful week, Sweets...come back Monday for some extremely yummy YUMMIES!

Hugs,

Cheryl :)

What I've Been Up To and Yummy Monday

Oh My.... Who was I kidding when I said things would calm down after Christmas????? February is quite the birthday month among my family and friends so I've got all sorts of plans afoot. And that's not even counting Valentine's Day which I regard more as a lovely time for giving really beautiful, feminine gifts to the women in my life than a "sweetheart" sort of holiday. So I've got some things up my sleeve for all "my girls"! Oh and my NEST....let's just say it's needing more feathers, Sweets. I seem to have lost steam in this department. The prospect of sewing yards and YARDS of drapes with fabric that was far too expensive and therefore CAN'T be messed up is a bit daunting, I must confess! Though the sewing itself will be simple it's the measuring and figuring that has me a bit overwhelmed. So in my typical fashion, instead of diving into something overwhelming, I have been just AVOIDING it! Instead I've been making tiny little pretties that I can finish in a day....but I'll show you those in a bit....

FIRST, I must talk about our Valentine's Swap that Jenn and I are co-hosting! For those of you who are participating, how are you doing? It's going to sneak up on us all of a sudden, isn't it? I am having such fun working on goodies for my Swap Partner. I can't tell you (or her!) who my partner is, of course, but I hope she will LOVE what I am making for her... But I CAN show you the FAB hostess gifts Miss Jessi Nagy sent me! I was so surprised to get this sweet gift! This is the first time I've hosted a swap so I didn't anticipate "hostess gifts"....what a lovely thought!

And here's what was inside the little wrapped up packages.... Thank you so much, Jessi!

And now....back to the stuff I've been doing INSTEAD OF the stuff I should be doing! :)

New Stuff I've Been Working On!

"Sweet Love" Treasure Box....

Kit version: SOLD

Already-Made version (with treasures inside!): find it HERE (EDITED: SOLD! THANK YOU!)

"My Heart Belongs to Daddy" Shadowbox....SOLD
"Dearest" Shadowbox....SOLD

"You're a Doll" Shadowbox....SOLD

"Dearest Sweetheart" Fabric Collage...Available HERE
Antique Glitter Station... Available HERE (Edited: SOLD....thank you!)

"Feathering Her Nest"... Available HERE (Edited: SOLD....thank you!)
And now....since it's Monday....of course we must take our YUMMY MONDAY TRIP!

What's that you say? Well of COURSE you're invited!

Hop into my little cyber car with me and off we go to see some of the yummiest things I've found of late!

YUMMY THING ONE: Our "New" Vintage Stroller from Summersdarling/Just Between Us Girls

This sweet little contraption is a vintage stroller called a Taylor Tot that my friend Pat's husband Casey restored! Isn't it darling? I think so! I bought it from Pat last year while we still lived in our little "cottage" and she's been keeping it for me until I had more space. Now that we're settled into our bigger nest, she sent it to us....and what a HIT it is! You can see by Andrew's face that he thinks this stroller is the best thing since Cheerios! And his sisters fight to ride on the back where there is a little ledge they can perch on. We went for a walk down the street and it worked wonderfully. When my MIL saw it she KNEW that it was called a Taylor Tot since she and her siblings had one just like it as children!

YUMMY THING TWO: Lavender Sachet Pillow by Summersdarling
Here's one of Pat's lovely sachet pillows, just in time for Valentine's Day. I love this dear little image of a little girl...reminds me of my second daughter. The box and doll are not for sale but aren't they adorable? Pat is so good at setting up pretty little vignettes.

YUMMY THING THREE: Vintage Valentines Shadowbox by Sweet Eye Candy Creations
OH MY GOSH....this is too darling for WORDS! You must go HERE and HERE to see it and all the close-ups! My good friend, Jenn, has done it again. She is quite the assemblage artist and I am just so in awe of everything she creates! This piece is just over-the-top sweet!

YUMMY THING FOUR: Dream Jar by Katie's Rose Cottage

I love Katie's Rose Cottage. I've purchased several items from her boutique and love every one! Isn't this little jar darling? I love the key strung on the ribbon. I think writing down dreams and putting them in a jar is a really lovely and sentimental idea, don't you?

YUMMY THING FIVE: Cupid Valentine Frame by GaudyisGreat

Gorgeous collaged frame covered in buttons, baubles and charms, both old and new. And what a sweet Cupid print inside, as well!

YUMMY THING SIX: Valentine Flashcard Garland by CariKraft

I love these garlands. She makes them for all occasions and they are just so sweet and simple.
This one reads, ""There is no better friend than you dear Valentine."

YUMMY THING SEVEN: Vintage Lefton Valentine Southern Belle Music Box

I am a little bit addicted to searching "Lefton figurines" on eBay! I'm not a "knick-knack" type of gal but I will make an exception for these sweeties. I drooled over the Christmas figurines before Christmas and I am really debating over whether to start a "Birthday Girl" collection for my girls....if you haven't seen the Lefton Birthday Girls, you must take a look. There are different styles from different decades but my favorite are the ones holding the number. For instance, there is a little girl holding a "4" that I'd love to give my almost-four daughter. But if I do that, then I will have to give my other daughter a "7" in August and then we'll have a big problem since I'm not all that good about dusting.....

Anyway, my dusting issues aside, isn't this gal sweet as can be????

YUMMY THING EIGHT: Cupcake Clips and Rubber Bands by Bobbleicious

Speaking of birthdays, I got these cuties for one of Rachel's birthday presents. As I mentioned last week, Miss Rachel got some of Gymboree's Cupcake line for Christmas so these will be perfect accessories for my sweet girl!

YUMMY THING NINE: Valentines' Cloche by LullabyLamb

And OH MY...what a precious little hat! So darling for V-Day and beyond!

YUMMY THING TEN: Bird Queen of Alcatraz Collage by Dollface Designs

She's done it again....I just love these Dollface collages.

YUMMY THING ELEVEN: "Sugar Kisses" Sign by Susie's Signs

This makes me think of my almost-neighbor, Analise Sledd, who has a blog and etsy shoppe she calls "Sugar Sugar." And speaking of Analise, have you seen the latest issue of Somerset Life??? I was so excited when I picked it up in the bookstore and I told the poor cashier ALL about it, even though she looked about 14 and seemed pretty much appalled that I was buying a MAGAZINE for $15. But it's not just any magazine, is it, ladies??? It's more like a book and I save each and every issue that I buy for future enjoyment. This is a particularly good issue and I am so very PROUD to "know" Analise!

Here's something YUMMY from Analise's store:

YUMMY THING TWELVE: Pink & Aqua Candy Cups Kit by Sugar Sugar

I could just slurp these sweeties right up! You get enough materials to make six of these and wouldn't they be perfect for our kids' teachers/Sunday School teachers, etc. for Valentine's Day or even Easter? Just darling.

Well that's it for today, Sweets! Hope you have a lovely, creative week. I'm sending big hugs to you! Thanks for stopping by for a visit. It's always nice to "see" you...