Christmas is Coming!!!

Christmas is coming... well, at Apple Tree Cottage it is anyway!!! Most of you know that I love painting on vintage pieces. I have found some really nice things lately and have painted up a storm in my studio.

I have been collecting small antique mashers for the past year. These three make a nice set of "Jolly Olde Souls", don't you think? I like the way the dimensional snow looks when used for the fur on their caps.

The vintage cake cover was so much fun to paint --- who doesn't love the sweets this season has to offer. When I found this treasure, it even had the original plate to go with it. Both were in perfect condition.

I found a new shop in Tuscaloosa that has owners who love primitives as much as I do. They search high and low for the most unusual things and I am never disappointed when I pay them a visit. A recent purchase of an old ice cream scoop was turned into the perfect snowie hanger for a cabinet door or hook.

Finally, I found this old doll trunk at a tag sale. This is a design inspired by Terrye French with a few touches of my own. Wouldn't this be sweet display with a collection of raggedy dolls or a feather tree?

Thanks for taking the time to stop buy. I always love to read your comments. Time to get busy back in the studio. Stay tuned for more Christmas goodies!!!

MIA for Months!!!!

My apologies to everyone!!!  I haven't been able to access my blog since the blue screen of death that I received last summer.  I have missed all of you and will try to update everything starting today!!!

To the Seashore and Back Again

We love going to the Gulf Coast.... the white, sugar sand beaches there are the most beautiful in the world in my opinion. Each time we go and I get my first peek of the emerald sea and the sparkling sand my heart soars. We love the Seagrove Beach/Seaside area. It is so family oriented --- flying kites, building sand castles and looking for seashells is the order of the day there. We don't even wear our watches. We just smile at each other and say, "We are on beach time now."

We have found the most marvelous places to eat and all within a few miles of where we stay. Every morning we walk to Modica's Market in Seaside for croissants and coffee. It is the perfect way to start the day, sitting under an umbrella and doing a little "people watching" as we drink a second cup of coffee. Lunch can be had at the quaint little Airstream trailers that have been converted into all sort of eateries. Our favorite places to eat dinner are 30A and The Old Florida Fishhouse. The grouper and diver scallops are to die for. We have never had better!!!

We love to go to Old Towne Panama City to look for antiques. There are many within about a mile radius that have great nooks and crannies to explore. We are never disappointed and always find the most unusual little treasures.

If you have never been to the Emerald Coast of Florida, please go! I promise that you won't be disappointed and you will return home tanned, rested and with wonderful memories.

From Tuscaloosa --- We Will Rise Again!

My beautiful city is still reeling from the impact of the F5 tornado that struck two weeks ago. So many of my friends have lost their homes and are trying to find even the smallest shred of keepsakes they had to hold onto memories of families and loved ones. Donations have poured in from all over the world at an amazing rate. But the most amazing thing of all is the tenacity of the survivors. Won't you keep them in your thoughts and prayers?

Wishing everyone a glorious

and blessed New Year!!!!