Cottage Kitchen

I thought I should post some pictures of my little ole home, so that you could get a feel of me.

I am starting with the heart of the home...the kitchen.

Not that the appliances, save the microwave, get that much attention.

But some how it is the hub.

This is one of the two cow paintings in my kitchen.

I have mad cow love.

Actually, I love just about anything that could be found on a farm.

I love this mug. I found it at a local junk store for a dime.

Yes, I did say a dime!

My canisters that sit on the island.

And yes, I did drink the wine that went to all of those corks.

I am just proud that it is only a little more than half full, and not overflowing!

watering the teachers "Spring is Sprung" gift in the farm sink.

I do not think I got any good shots of the counter tops,

but they are concrete.

The color is called Guinness

because if you look at it one way it looks black,

and from a different angle it looks brown.

Kinda like the beer.

I absolutely love them.

The Juice-O-Ma-tic

Love the old chippy look and the industrial feel.

Old Fashioned candy in Ball jars on the bar.

The front of the piece of furniture that I use in the kitchen for my island.

So unusual and unexpected, and has loads of storage to boot!

Close ups of the labels for my apothecary canisters.

This window looks into the sun room.

Our little milking stool that the

"Baby Bradley"

uses to get the goods from the cabinets.

Notice my chevron pattern floor cloth.

One of my extremely talented friends made that for me in exchange for a little table.

Better shot of my island.

I smile every time I look at it.

My dogs bowls.

Rough is the one napping in the chair and Ready is the one getting a drink.

Together they are Rough and Ready,

and let me tell you they are two Walker Coon Hounds that live up to their names!

Love my old metal yard stick.

I collect old scales.

I am using these two for my cookbooks.

I use the cookbooks to support the dust that they collect.

My most favorite of all favorites.

An old chippy, rusty, industrial scale.

So, there ya' go. A little bit of me. More to come...

Etsy on my mind...

Etsy on my mind....

So, it is a lazy Sunday afternoon,

and I have spent mine moving furniture and accessories around my house.

Which, of course,

leads to editing some things out

and the need for replacements.

And, since it is Sunday and all my local haunts (including my shoppe)

are closed today (I live in the south).

I got on line

All of the photos on today's blog are from Etsy sellers.

I mean look at these treasures that are to be had out in cyberland....

Don't they just make your toes curl?

And your heart skip a beat?

And your mind race with ideas?

And while nothing can compete with fresh air,

and girlfriends on a Saturday morning

hot on the trail of a collection and laughter on their lips...

it is good to know that Etsy

and all of its talented keepers are there

on a rainy day,

when you just can not get out of your pajamas,

when you have a napping child,

or your inspiration comes at 12:36am

So, check out Etsy today.

As if you probably haven't already!

but remember....

There is no place like home,

and no website will ever be better than the local shoppe keepers hard work.

( After all, I am one of those keepers)

The seller featured are:

luckyolivervintage, oldcrowfarm, dogsbodydalvage, Eclecticpelican, parcel1, thefrenchnestco, salinascraftroom, kgentinella, herroyalfatness, satisfind, newberrycottage, luxedeluxe, karmatrice, & a bushelandapeck

Cloche Encounters

I am a collector.

I love the thrill of the hunt, and I love new and creative ways to display my collections.

So, in my quest to marry my collections to displays I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with all that is cloche.

Here are just a few that make my heart skip a beat! Can you even imagine going to a tag sale in the french countryside, and walking up to this? Hows about a metal cloche?

If I had a green house, I think I would love the idea of green glass in my green house. Celebrating all that my green thumb could do! Alas, I do not have a green house, I do not have green glass, and I certainly do not have a green thumb.

I know it is not even near Christmas, and the last thing we want to think about is decorating for said holiday, but holy holiday this is a great grouping of cloches.

I love the idea of growing a garden and rushing out before a frost to cover my plants with my collection of cloches. Hey, wait a minute the cloche was not supposed to become a collection, but a way to display an existing collection. How did that happen? Oh yeah, I am a collector, and it is just part of my nature that can not possibly be helped.

How about a little funky modern to the mix!

Such a modern twist on an old faithful!

no need for words here....

Did I mention I collect old scales for my kitchen?

How about a little Asian twist on the cloche?

I am a shoppe keeper, so this just tickled my fancy as a great way to display the candles we sell.

So sweet when paired with a desert pedestal....

Did I mention that I collect old clocks?

I would love this on my dining table for Spring. Notice the mushrooms. A great alternative to the expected flower.I think this is my favorite of all.

LOVE this industrial look paired with the architectural pieces and again with my old clock collection.

I feel an office make-over coming on!