Since I featured my cats for Halloween last year, they just assumed it's going to be an annual thing, so they are posing for their photo shoot. Isabella says; Wait Mama, I'm not in the shot.There, that's better. Is this my best side?

Those dorks in the back think they are more Halloweenish, just because they are orange. But they only know one pose.

Happy Halloween!!

Romantic Homes & A Wonderful Friend

Have you seen the December issue of Romantic Homes? Mine arrived a couple of days ago, and it is beautiful ~ in great part, because the gorgeous holiday home of my lovely friend Cathy, of Treasured Heirlooms, is featured!!

I am always so excited to see my bloggy friends have their homes in my favorite magazines. I know it is a dream come true, and they are all so deserving. I am especially happy to see Cathy's home featured, because her decorating style is sooooooo my taste!! Imagine my excitement when I looked closely at her white tree, only to see the ornament I had made for her on her tree!! (We had a pink Christmas ornament swap last year). I was so excited to see something I had made on the pages of Romantic Homes!!

You probably can see that my issue is already a little rumpled, because I just can't stop looking at it. I stopped in to congratulate Cathy, and read that she had listed my blog in the shopping guide!! I couldn't look it up fast enough ~~ yep, there it is on page 89 of Romantic Homes! What an incredibly kind and generous thing to do. Cathy, I cannot thank you enough for this sweet gesture.

Oh, yes, that's Cathy's home on the COVER of this issue too!! Squealing with excitement here!!

Johnny B Goode

Brad's band (Midnight Son) performs Johnny B. Goode. This is a short clip -- less than a minute -- of them playing at a Homeless Mission. Twice recently, they have given up their Friday nights to play there for free, and entertain those less fortunate. They are all teenagers, and I'm proud of them. Hope you enjoy the clip!! :)

A friend gave me this "flowerpot" for my high school graduation. It had a vintage look about it even then, but I don't think I truly appreciated how pretty it was at the time. Through the years, I've grown to just love it. It has acquired a crack and a chip, but it's very special to me. Special, because of the dear friend who gave it to me -- we were the kind of friends that would often wear identical clothes, shoes, etc. -- neither of us had a sister, so we were "twins", even though we looked nothing alike. We would talk on the phone for hours -- starting at about age 12 -- we would write long notes on notebook paper, dotting our "i"s with hearts 'cause we thought it was cute, writing about boys, parents, fashion.... and boys some more......

Here we are at about 15. You can't see it in the photo, but we had matching tan boots on. Are you laughing at the pose yet? Guess we thought we were fashion models with those snazzy hats and those boots!! LOL!!

The little flowerpot now resides on my studio creating table....... a lovely reminder to "follow your dreams".

About My New Rose Border.......

I have had several blog friends ask how I got my new rose border on my blog. This is something I'd been wanting to do for quite awhile, but could not figure out how on my own. I found some instructions at The Cutest Blog on the Block. Click on that and look for "how to make your own background". I must admit, it took me awhile, even with the instructions, because I don't have photoshop (I have Picture It). I finally figured it out though, so I bet all of you can too, as I'm not extremely computer-savvy! Let me know if you make a new blog border; I'd love to see!! :)

And for you fellow Christmas fanatics, don't forget to check my new Christmas blog; I add new posts almost daily.

A Thrifting Day A call this week from a friend to see if I wanted to go thrifting was met with great enthusiasm! I found a vintage sewing basket, in a pale blue.... (some of these finds were from my favorite antiques shoppe)
Sweet vintage angel....
Old blue quilted glove box and a "hat" which is a blue bow with netting.

A vintage "silent butler" or crumb tray, that I will use for cleaning up all my paper scraps at my studio work table. (I am messy when creating :)Vintage Meyercord decals of sweet kittens, bunnies, and ducks.

Vintage Christmas Card with faded ribbon.... In one of my favorite color combos of pink and green.
Most of all, a fun afternoon with a friend!! :)

Have a Heart!

My latest collection -- vintage heart pin cushions. I found the first one at my favorite antique shoppe, then picked up two more on our recent trip to Indiana.

I also found this crochet/ribbon piece, that I thought would be perfect to put as a "garter" around a basket. It happened to fit this one perfectly.

Old crochet edging.

Pink ribbon yo-yos.

See that little extra crochet piece on the left of the photo? What do you think that is for? It is just the right size to hold a thimble, so perhaps that is its intended use.

I like the different variations on all of them. And the fact that they all have some pink in them. The ruffles on this one are so sweetly done!

P.S. If you like Christmas, don't forget to visit my new Christmas blog. :)

I have a new Christmas blog!! As you all know, I LOVE Christmas, so I made a place to talk about it all the time!! Oh, and I'll be sharing lots of Christmas decor pictures too!! I'll still share about it here also, especially as the season gets closer, but for now -- if you LOVE Christmas too, pop on over to "Of Bluebirds, Roses & Christmas"!!

(P.S. Yay, I finally figured out how to change my bloggy background, see?!! :)

A Cozy Nook A little spot in our bedroom

(yes, we have pink carpet and walls, my dh is sooooo patient with my decorating :)


I have been working on our bedroom, as I move things from there into my new studio. I just love all the room it is opening up (I've already designated a spot or two for Christmas trees to be placed soon!)

I also would like to mention a new blog for you to visit,

Kim at Shabby, Pink and Pretty

Kim has only been blogging a few weeks, but how can you go wrong with a blog name like that? And she is such a sweetheart too; I *met* Kim about a month ago when she e-mailed me a lovely letter about my blog. Please stop by and visit Kim!

And, as always, thanks for stopping by my Bluebirds & Roses Cottage!

Show and Tell Sunday

Vintage Aprons

I like how this apron pocket almost looks like a heart. :)This one provides full coverage!! I love the colors of it (when I was photographing it, I discovered the price tag still on it -- twenty-five cents from a garage sale :) Apron strings.....

Vintage child's apron Pretty blue and pink....
Do you use an apron? I must admit, mine are just for display. My mom wore aprons when I was growing up, but I don't think she kept any of them. I like to picture my mom in the kitchen; such happy memories of her showing her love by cooking for her family.

To see the other vintage aprons from today's Show&Tell Participants, please visit Cindy.

Happy Sunday!!

Barn Sale TreasureWe stopped at a barn sale this morning, and they had this gorgeous vintage tray for sale.This is huge; I'm including the photo of the candles and frame on it for scale. I'm guessing it's close to two feet wide. It has the most wonderful aged patina. I love it.

And the best part? Three dollars. Yep. I couldn't believe it either.

Hope you are having a nice Friday!!