Waiting for Spring

I am longing for springtime and the time when I can get in the garden and start digging. Meanwhile, it is still cold and wintry here. The chilly temperatures aren't keeping me from doing some spring painting however and I want to share a few pieces with you.

The first is a door crown that is a Terrye French Design. My dear friend, Diane, who lives in England is the new owner and I know it will look lovely in her home. We exchange notes about the comings and goings in our lives. Her writings of trips to Sweden and working in her cottage garden just sweep me away!


I have another friend, Linda, who is suffering through the long winter as I am. Living to the north, she is receiving more than her share of snow and frosty temperatures. We both talk of how spring is surely around the corner and how we are waiting impatiently for its arrival. She recently purchased this "springy" prim bread board. Don't you just love the black bunny and the little robin's nest with its blue eggs?

Wendy, who lives in Japan, is getting her share of snow too. I hope this prim sheep skillet will give her a glimpse of springtime. We have become fast friends through our convos on Etsy. What a dear she is!

Snow is in the forecast for today so my beloved pup, Suki, and I will stay inside my warm little studio. I tell her to be patient but she wants a warmer, sunnier day. Hugs go out to all of you from the both of us!!!

My Little House of Dreams

by

Louisa Cook Don-Carlos

My little house of dreams!

Who knows how warm, when fall the winter snows,

How bright its fires, how fair its rooms,

How safe and still 'neath starlit glooms,

My cozy little house of dreams,

All seasons are its best--it seems.

My house of dreams!

Where order reigns

Behind its glistening window panes.

Shady its trees, its garden fair

And best of all, my love is there,

With shining eyes and calm, sweet face,

The benediction of the place,

And peace and joy and heaven's light beams

Within my little house of dreams.

Spring Challenge - Part 2

I finished the last two projects for the Spring Celebration Challenge by Old Farmhouse Gathering on Etsy. I kept the theme going with this little baby shoe light, painted with a spring peep from a Terrye French design. I love to think about the little chubby feet that once wore this tiny shoe. I found a sweet vintage baby picture to put on a round hang tag. The candle light has been cut down to the desired length and has a flickering silicone bulb.


The final piece is a shadow box with a tea party them. The little cup and saucer came from a set I found at a tag sale. They were just the perfect size to tuck inside and sit on a paper doily. The little girl photo is a favorite of mine. I thought she needed a pink hairbow to wear to this fete. And what party would be complete without some posies? The pink forget-me-not nosegay is tied with a sheer pink ribbon. The frame is painted ivory and antiqued for and aged appearance. The heart on the frame reminds me of a locket a little miss might wear to a party.

Cottage Teapot Easter Tree

My husband says I will paint on anything if I can get it to hold still long enough.... I just smile and nod my head. I guess it's true. I have painted a ukulele, more chairs than I can count, and bushels of gourds. But I must say here and now that my favorite thing to paint on by far is a teapot! Tall and skinny, round as can be, dented or not, I love them all. This teapot has been in my stash for a long while and today it was calling my name. So I decided that it would be the perfect palette for a new cottage design. Here is the result.... a pink plaid background with a little cottage, flowers and picket fence. The eggs are gourds (yes, really!!!) painted and trimmed with ribbon and forget-me-nots. The birdhouse is decoupaged in pink polka dot paper on the sides and pink toile on the roof. I can't wait to show my dearest this one --- he will just smile and nod his head.