White and Rhubarb Raspberry Valentine Hearts

Any excuse to whip cream.

My favorite Lenox bowl to whip it in. Got out my heart cookie tin.

Played a bit. I spooned some whipped cream into the heart cookie cutter and lifted it up. So pretty. Would anyone like a little whipped cream on the side of their dessert?

Here is the treat! Rhubarb raspberry crisp. It's so good. It makes you pucker up your mouth and squint your eyes because of the tartness, then the sweetness kicks in and it's oh, so good.

A little mini heart on top.

The little whipped heart grew. Not only are the heart cut outs very Valentine like, they also make for smaller servings which is just what I need.

Connecting up with White Wednesday
A Beach Cottage

Paper Dolls Winter Whites

Winter Whites

brighten the room

even if they are small

I made this wee paper doll girl today holding hyacinths.

What better "doll stand" than a bird nest!

She is also keeping the new/old white deer company

I got these for 48 cents and think they are sweet for winter.

The silver plate tray might be made into a chalkboard

since it has rust spots but then again that adds a rustic

quality. Maybe I should just fill the tray with candles?

Linking with White Wednesday.

Advent Calendar Frugal

Tomorrow is December first and this evening I gathered a few bits of recycled things to make an impromptu advent calendar. What we do for chocolate! This one is not so traditional looking but is fun and anyone could have one in a matter of minutes without running off to the store for supplies. The sweet little nest came out of the fir trees during a storm and it is so tiny and perfect. Had to add it.




For supplies I had left over white styrofoam cups from a shower. (I used a crayon to poke a hole in the center to insert fir twigs.) My collection of cinnamon sticks. Fir tree tip cuttings from the yard, and an empty starbucks coffee bag. I will tell you the scent when I was finished was the perfect combination. Fir, cinnamon and coffee with a tiny hint of chocolate! It's a wonderful little holiday decoration in itself.




I've never really cut open a starbucks coffee bag before, and I was surprised how pliable and wonderful it is to work with. It feels like a metalic fabric, not all flimsy like baking foil. It was worth forfeiting my free cup of coffee to make this advent Christmas calendar.





I cut little squares to resemble scrabble pieces and set them in the rolled up section of the cinnamon bark. They slide in there and stay. I could have used some twine, but this is what I settled on for the time being.




I have a little fir forest 'garden' on my diningroom buffet that smells heavenly and I also have a feeling I will have to keep a close watch over it. My son is excited about 25 days of chocolate. We will see who is the first one up in the morning.

Connecting up with White Wednesday at Faded Charm Cottage.

Sweater Chair Slipcovers - Recycle

A pure wool sweater gets a new life on the farm. I had the washed burlap to make slipcovers, but when I laid this thrift shop sweater 3.00 across the chair. The light bulb went on. Make a sweater slipcover!

That is what I did. The sweater was too large for me so I bought it because it was beautiful and would make quite a few mittens. Wool is warm and cozy and I'm always trying to save wool sweaters and recycle them.

Today was it's been drizzling but warm. I took the chair outside for better lighting, but then I went under the pine trees, so it was probably darker there than in the house. I just wanted to be outside enjoying the weather maybe that was it. I tucked the bottom ribbing under, but you could leave it out. I turned the sweater inside out and stitched about an inch under the arms all the way across the chest and back together. I used pinking shears to cut an inch above seam. Instant slipcover for your head, neck and shoulders. I have plenty left. Should I make wristlettes? ;-)

Now we have a bit of irish in our livingroom. I love the color of natural wool. I do not think it scratchy at all. Connemara is a beautiful area of Ireland.

The recycled sweater before picture.

My lambie giving the heads up approval.

I had all kinds of stylists taking breaks around and on the chair! This is Bravo.

Our westie ruffles and curls match the burlap on the chair. The chair is from Ikea. I washed and washed burlap earlier to make slipcovers, but now since this is a work in progress I might make the bottom cover out of burlap and add a ruffle or two or maybe pleats. Til then I am stitching away.

I am joining these friends:

Tip Me Tuesday

A Little Birdie Told Me

White Wednesday.

Stop by and look through some lovely ideas and photographs.

White Picket Fences and Paper Dolls

I love these little miniature white wooden picket fences. So sweet and they say cottage charm. (Haven't you heard them?) I like to rearrange this little fence with different vignettes of paper dolls and animals. So much fun can be possible with a pen, paper and scissors. This would look so sweet in a nursery, but I actually have this in my dining room at present. I collected moss from out in the shady garden. We love to bring greens inside when it turns chilly. This is the tiniest clay pot they make I think, but so cute. My little giraffe says, "Hi. How are you? Let's party."




We have to include our westie dog most of the time with my paper dolls. A boy and his dog!





Sometimes our kitty gets to babysit them, but usually ends up bathing them.





These roses were white with pink edges. I dried them and I think they still look pretty.





Miniature fence, miniature clothespins. This looks like a fairy fence with their flower petal aprons out to dry.

There are so many more little decorating ideas for these little picket fences. I've seen them stitched onto collages and on canvas.

I hope you had a little fun here with me. Be sure to stop by Faded Charm to
see all of the other White Wednesday posts as there are many white cottage decorating ideas and gorgeous photographs. All photographs here I've taken myself, no small feat. Have a great week!

White Metal Lantern - Wednesday

I love these lanterns and the way they are designed. You can carry them with the candle lit and not burn your hands.




Our westie gave us his approval.



He is also my assistant stylist. He's telling me he take notice of the punched holes in the metal on the top rim. Red and white is a good match all year round. Very scandinavian. It reminds me of redwork embroidery. Old-fashioned goodness. Also Sir Salty's leash is red.

Do visit the other blogs and the Faded Charm Cottage who hosts these wonderful white Wednesday parties. There are lots of pretty pictures there.

Home.

White Wednesday Bird

This wool felt bird watches out my window on a nest that fell after a storm. She looks cozy and it looks like she made it just her size. She is content just to sit there and look beautiful.





Sometimes she likes the company of other white fuzzies like this yarn.




She also likes these dainty cookies and tries to hide behind the fern leaf.

Do stop by faded charm cottage for lovely white decorating and gorgeous photographs.

French White Doll Furniture Painting Art

I purchased a doll bench at a tag sale for 1.00 and immediately wanted to paint it a french white. My french white colors mixed are beige, white, green and blue.



All winter we will dream about roses so I painted on an oval surrounded by roses and buds. I'm not sure I am finshed yet as I want to age it a bit more. Do I want to add something to the two bench tops like balls? or birds?




This is the before picture. It is cute, but it doesn't match our decor. I always worry about putting the before picture in case someone likes it better.

One idea always produces another...so these are going to be book plates! I could put them in all of my cookbooks.

Thank you for stopping by. Be sure to see all of the other white wednesday posts at the Faded Charm Cottage.

Back to Westie Art & Garden.

Primitive Doll Clothes and Brown Transferware

I found three small collector dolls for 1.32 each at a thrift shop. They make wonderful styling props. The very first thing I did was take off their hats, their coats, their dresses right down to their whites. Doesn't she look beautiful, cool and carefree? It's hard looking at dolls bundled up in coats in 100 degree weather.









She helps hold a brown transferware teacup for me to photograph. So helpful. This tea cup is from the Royal Staffordshire group.






A little pinch of red for spice. Ruby slippers or red mary janes? Just cute!

I also found another metal plate from England. Vintage. I gave it a white wash with paint and love the change it gives the plate. It looks so peaceful, calm and shabby. The gentleman is buying flowers for his love. He seems to be having a hard time letting go of the money. Just kidding.






Happy White Wednesday. Be sure to go to Faded Charm Cottagefor all of the lovely White Wednesday posts and blog party.

Painting Wood White Wednesday

A sad, dreary writing organizer got a new look this week. This was a thrift shop find and I almost missed it because it was so dark and lighting is usually dismal at these stores. Out came the white paint and wow, I'm loving this piece.

I put it on top of a table to hide all of my goodies in. Doesn't everyone have seeds and plants on their tables? And bits of fabric, paper and lace? Tea and a teapot?

I also found a paper mache box that held 6 smaller boxes and a spool of thread fits neatly in it. They would also be good for button collections and to hold seeds.

These vegetables I have to plant today. They are beets and their foliage is a gorgeous burgundy. Their name is less lovely, Bull's Blood Beets. After I plant these it will make room for something else pretty and leafy on my table.

The before picture. The way the sun is reflecting off of it it looks lighter. Under our pines trees is where I painted it and now when you look out the window you see "white clouds" there on the ground where I've been spraying bits and pieces of furniture white.

Don't you agree it looks much better white? I am linking over to fadedcharmcottage for her White Wednesday fun. Do link over for some inspiring painted white items.

Back to home page.

White Wednesday Artist Diary

Another lovely White Wednesday today. Here is what I did in one hour today.

I tried to take some pictures of lace and leather which happens to be my skirt and my cowgirl boots. I think it's a great contrast of textures. My husband is not too thrilled when I wear these boots out to town with skirts. "Aren't they hot?" he'll ask. Psychology is amazing; isn't it?






Soon we had fur, lace and leather. More white textures. (I also found out you can only bend over so far and take a picture before falling over.) I made a mental note to get a tripod and use the timer next time. Hopefully I will not forget the camera and run inside. The mind is amazing; yes? Mine is full of goings-on and at times I think it's unraveling, but I graciously gather it back up and keep going.






Our little romp outside turned into a fur party. Just sit down on the grass and everyone climbs on board. If someone would have opened the gates the sheep would have been upon us too.






Sir Salty, our westie dog, is being patient and trying to share the love, but it's hard. Etsy says to share the love.

I can't believe how fast the kittens are growing up. They used to be these fluffy "antique white" balls just a few weeks back!







I ended up looking back on my camera of all the stored pictures there. There are about 60 percent animals and 40 percent people.

What came of our day was a little aceo oil painting of our siamese kittens. I paint rather fast and all in one sittng. I feel that gives a better impression, better brushstrokes and it's not overpainted. You have to simplify, just put on the canvas what's important.

Do visit the other white wednesday ladies and gents posts here.