Lilacs, One of My Many Favoite Flowers

This painting was purchased about 30 years ago. I love lilacs and you can almost smell them, they look so real.

I decided to paint them on my next table project.

I don't think it turned out too badly, although they aren't as vibrant as the original. The reason for this is the different colored backgrounds, dark and light, I think.

Hummingbirds Are Back

Our little friends are back at the cottage this year.
It is amazing to watch these tiny birds in action.

They don't like to share too much, because every time one of them showed up, another one would push them away.

We have three of them around this year. There names are Henry, Harriet and Harvey Hummingbird. L.O.L.

The male is the more attractive of the two, with his ruby red throat that is really noticeable when the sun shines on him.

I was surprised he let me take a picture of him up close, but I guess he is used to us now.

Inside the cottage

Garden Table

Here is a table that I decided to put in the screened in porch at the cottage.
I painted it a cream color and then just decided to do some hydrangeas on top.
I'm thinking of adding some blue to the legs, what do you think?
I still have some touching up to do, then I will clear coat it to protect the finish.

Time To Open The Cottage

Its that time of year again.

Time to open the cottage after a long winter.

This Bird House is Taken

Looks like someone has moved in.
She is busy preparing for her family's arrival.
The house has only been up for about a week and already we have occupants.
It is so cute to watch her flying back and forth with twigs and branches to feather her nest.

Happy Easter Everyone

Hope everyone has a great Easter!

Latest Birdhouse

Here is the latest birdhouse that was just made for a friend who is retiring.

He said he always wanted to travel when he retires. L.O.L.

Wedding Centerpieces

When we decided on the color for the wedding (sage green) then came the task of deciding what we would make for centerpieces.

We found these beautiful fruit bowls on stems at a kitchen shop called Stokes.
They resembled an over sized wine glass, but were actually for putting your fruit into.

We also found (after Christmas) last year all of the ball ornaments ( some with glitter on them) and decided that they looked like bubbles in the glass. We painted chop sticks in the sage green and glued them together to look like straws. Then in the middle of the bowl we added a frosted glass with a battery operated candle. It gave a nice glow to the centerpiece. We also painted round wooden circles to look like fruit for the rim of the glass.

The final touch was a silk gerbera daisy, in the matching sage green, wrapped around the stem. The bowls were placed on a square mirror tile at each table and sprinkles with faux rose petals.

Wedding Invitations

Last year we saved a lot of money making our own wedding invitations for our daughters wedding.

We purchased the actual invitations at Wal-Mart. They come with the blank invitations, reply cards and all the envelopes in a kit.
They also tell you how to print the invitations right from your computer.

To dress them up, I purchased the green velum paper, (you could use co-ordinating velum to match your wedding theme). Then we made the jackets to cover the invitations, just by wrapping the velum around the invitation so that it met in the middle and creased it firmly. Then we folded back the corners, and punched 4 holes ( 2 on each side) at the middle of the velum and tied swiss dot ribbon in a bow on each side. I also added a daisy ( to match the border of the card) in the center of the invitation, so that it peeked through just above the jacket.

To enhance the envelopes I purchased a stamp and ink pad in the co-ordinating sage green to stamp initials onto the envelopes. I used an embossing powder to sprinkle over the ink, and with a heat gun ( used with embossing powder)I heated the powder, and it gave a nice shine to the letters. If we had ordered the invitations from a company, the price quote was $500. but by making them, It only cost under $100. Quite a savings.

Just click on photo to enlarge.

Greetings

I have been inspired by the Vintage Moth with her beautiful vintage clip art to start making my own greeting cards, it is so much fun.

The first set of cards was a kit from the Martha Stewart Line available at Walmart. Very easy to create. I also purchased one of Martha's punches to make the scalloped edges on borders.

The last 2 cards are some of the clip art from The Vintage Moth's blog.
Do check her out.

HOT CHOCOLATE CONES FOR EASTER

These hot chocolate cones are great to give for Easter.
Here is the recipe:

3/4 cup hot chocolate
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
2-10" clear icing bags

Place hot chocolate in bag and tie with clear elastic, cut off excess bag.
Put this bag inside of second bag.
Layer the chocolate chips on top and then the marshmallows.
Tie with elastic and ribbon.

Can't Wait For Spring

Nothing says spring like tulips. Can't wait for mine to come up, but I guess it will be a while. For now I just purchased a bunch at the grocery store. They bring spring into the house even with 3 feet of snow on the ground. Can't you just smell those lilacs? These are pictures from last years harvest from my lilac tree. I also grew the hydrangea's and gladiola's.

President Obama buys cookies in Ottawa Canada

It was so exciting last Thursday to have President Obama visit my home town of Canada's Capital, Ottawa.
Our city prepared for his arrival with great anticipation. It was not a long visit, (only a few hours) but I think a very eventful one.
He is such an out going President, so friendly and personable. You are all so lucky to have him as your leader.
While he was here, he took a little side trip to a bakery, down in the heart of our city. It is called Le Moulin De Provence in the Byward Market. He bought some cookies to take back to his daughters and yesterday I was down town and picked some up. Apparently the owner of the bakery has sold 5000 cookies since the Presidents visit and he has had calls from all over the world
ordering these cookies.
They are a type of sugar cookie with red icing, not too sweet and oh so delicious. When I bought the cookies, they were made, but didn't have the white icing on yet, but I bought them anyway and put the white letting on to show you how they are supposed to look.
He also enjoyed a Beavertail (pastry) with whipped cream on top.Yummie
President Obama said he will return when Canada warms up L.O.L.

Scroll Saw

Thought some of you might be interested in seeing what a scroll saw looks like.
It is a lot like using a sewing machine, but without the foot peddle, as I mentioned before.
Not scarey at all.