Posted by Cobi on Monday July 26, 2010 at 06:00 AM
Comments (2)
I can't believe it's been a full year since I started blogging. I've reached my goal of a regular Monday morning post for 52 weeks in a row and counting. Hooray!!
It's been a great way to keep my 'deadline-discipline brain cells' active while working on other long term projects. I hope you've enjoyed my missives to date, and stay with me over the next year or however long I manage to keep chattering.
I'm just going to take a short break to recharge and enjoy this great weather (hopefully you are doing the same!) and I'll be back in a week or two.
Have a look at my July letters if you're looking for a little summer inspiration...
And here's another little treat ~ a note and picture a good friend sent me from his beautiful little new (old) country house...
Hi there
We're at our new house for a coupla weeks. Every day is a revelation. So much fun discovering a whole new world view, even on a small scale. We bought this little tomato-red number at Pier1--had to have the colour--before the magnificent hollyhocks came out. What a wonderful surprise! Whoever said tomato, magenta and pink don't work together hasn't been to my front porch this week. Pretty swell huh?
We love summer!
Me too. May your summer be filled with Red rocking chairs and Pink hollyhocks!
Posted by Cobi on Monday July 19, 2010 at 06:00 AM
Comments (3)
One of my favourite collections is my bits and pieces of milk glass. It's particularly fun to use in the summer.
I use the vases for flowers and leaves from the garden - hosta leaves and hydrangea look great.
But also for votive candles - the white glass just glows (sorry I don't have a shot at night).
I also have some pieces at our cottage in PEI, they're perfect for holding a single Lupin or Daisy bloom.
But here's a use I hadn't thought of...
What I love about milk glass is that it's so easily available. There's always a few pieces at any thrift shop at any given time and for next to nothing - you can get it for $1.00 - $2.00 a piece, less at garage sales.
What that means is - it's easy to amass a collection in no time.
Check out this one...
But you don't have to have tons to make an impact:
Just a few pieces look great together.
Or even just one...
It's also easy to grab a bunch of pieces if you're throwing a party.
And with a bit of florist tape, it's so easy (and affordable) to do your own arrangements.
Notice that all of these flowers are cut quite short so the look plump and full, not tall and spindly.
The white glass looks great at weddings.
But don't just think flowers, check out how great this moss looks. This whole display could be done for under $5.00!
I love this shot...and I actually own 6 of these tumblers, but I don't have a wire holder...hmmm....gotta run...
Posted by Cobi on Monday July 12, 2010 at 06:00 AM
Comments (2)
One of the easiest and best things we did when we decorated our cottage in PEI, was to frame a few maps of both the Provence and the city of Charlottetown.
It quickly created a couple of decorative vignette's, but not only that, practical ones that can be used by ourselves and visitors to plan day trips and become more familiar with the island.
Local maps are an easy way to decorate your home - seasonal or otherwise.
We have a huge school map of Ontario hanging on the large stairwell wall in our home and often look to it to find places we're discussing.
Here are some other pictures of maps used in homes:
They are a great way to anchor a vignette:
Or decorate a large blank wall. Especially when you can get up close to examine them.
Here's a more decorative idea. Wallpapering in maps. New ones are very affordable...
and the colours are often nice...
This summer, get your directions right and hang a local map at the cottage. You'll be on the road to success!
Posted by Cobi on Monday July 05, 2010 at 06:00 AM
Comments (2)
I was just looking at this cute pocket board we have in our cottage, here in PEI.
It hangs over a bed and guests use it to keep the odd cd, ipod, novel, jewellery, a watch, sunscreen...it's surprisingly handy.
And it got me thinking that everyone has a few old pairs of jeans in their closet, if not a stack!
And if they don't, every thrift shop has denim just waiting to be bought for nothing.
If you're at a cottage this summer, it might be a fun project to make something out of old bluejeans.
Here are some ideas....
If you're up for a big project, you could try a quilt. The pockets are a fun addition:
Or here's a small project that you could make up fast for stocking stuffers later in the year:
Here's a fun idea, add a pocket to existing pillows you have at the cottage.
For a young friend, these purses are cute:
I'd like to make these cutlery/napkin holders - what a fun idea to take 10 or 12 to someone's cottage for a hostess gift:
Or if that sounds too ambitious, how about two pot holders? The pockets are the perfect size for hands of course:
And here' a summery look, you'll be smashing serving lemonade in this:
Forever in Bluejeans Babe!
