artful sharing!

I am so honored to be included in the upcoming issue of Artful Blogging (NOV/DEC/JAN 2012). Like many, I have swooned over and dreamed of contributing to this publication in some way for quite a while now. I probably submitted essays with photographs on three separate occasions. I never gave up (and neither should you, if this is a goal of yours).



In August I received an email asking if I would like to contribute an essay. Yes! I was asked to provide 650-850 words along with high-resolution originals of a list photos they selected from my blog.



Words came easily about how the myriad of friendships I have through blogging help fill some of the void left by my mom, who was my biggest cheerleader and fan, and a sort of "keeper of memory," recording my actions sometimes even better than I did myself.



The first draft I wrote included a list of at least twenty bloggers whom I consider dear although most of us have never met or even spoken on the phone. But the more I edited and tweaked the article, I worried about leaving someone out and decided to keep the two friends most relevant to my essay: Maryjane (aka my FairyBlogMother), who from the very beginning of my blogging experience took me under her wing, and Debi, who continues to amaze me not only with her talent and generosity but her recollection of what is shared.



I am thrilled and honored to be part of this beautiful issue, alongside such talented women as sweet Cassandra, who constantly dazzles me with her dreamy creations.

Lately I haven't had much time for blogging (due in part to writing news that I will be sharing soon) but please know that I continue to cherish blogging and am looking forward to an evening soon where I will sit with a hot cup of tea and luxuriate in blog-hopping!

{And remember, if being in Artful Blogging is on your list of goals or dreams, visit this link for how to submit.}

Warmest thank yous for reading!

xo
elyse

bright idea

I really like Serena Thompson's Farm Chicks style. To me, it's very Cath Kidston meets down-home Americana. Lots of pretty pale shades of blue and green punctuated with pops of cherry red and cheerful prints. (If I sound like I've been writing a lot, I have!)



Ever since seeing Serena's colorful kitchen in Where Women Cook (Dec/Jan/Feb 2011) I have been thinking about storing cupcake liners in a jar. So simple. Well, the other day at Target, I finally purchased a jar.



In went the cupcake liners. (I might paint the lid?)



Ready for cupcake and muffin baking!



My apologies for being absent from blogging. I miss being inspired by everyone and hope to make a big evening of visiting soon! As mentioned earlier in this post, I am busy writing these days, which is a dream come true!

Happy October!

xo
elyse

picture this

When my home appeared in Fresh Cottage magazine it was exciting to me for many reasons. One of the biggest is the pat on the back it gave for all of my hard work painting, repurposing and decorating on a dime.



When I saw the magazine a year after the photos were taken, I was dazzled by Fifi's styling and words and especially moved by her perfect title. I love the "live happily ever after in a tiny Cape Cod" because this house symbolizes so many dreams of mine that I dared to dream. I knew instantly that I wanted to frame this page but forgot about it ... somehow.

Last week, a dear neighbor returned a copy with a sweet note and as I flipped through the issue, remembered: I want to frame this. I went to my framing go-to Recycled Relics for something chippy and a little pink. They asked me exactly how big I wanted the "face" of the frame to be.

{The customer service at Recycled Relics is excellent. This was my 3rd online purchase and please know this is not a paid/trade endorsement.}



I sent dimensions and it wasn't long before my special order arrived.



I framed the magazine page and hung it immediately on an existing hook in the dining room. {This may change later when The Hubs is home to help. I am terrible at hanging pictures.}



I used my old trick of covering the nail with a pretty hair pin propped on top.



Believe it or not, having the frame made custom didn't cost much. Thrifty Vintage indeed! Hmmm ... what else have I been meaning to frame?

xo
elyse

flower cart and butterfield

Yesterday was a bright, sunny day and my boys and I spent the morning at one of my favorite places: Providence's East Side.



It's a beautiful section of the city filled with historic buildings, sprawling parks and playgrounds, the campuses of Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design, cafes and shops ...



and occasionally this flower cart.

I was thrilled to have my camera with me as we stopped to drop five dollars into the can for the remaining bouquet.



While my boys attended a Lego building workshop, I sneaked across the street for a five minute snappin' spree at Butterfield, a delightfully eclectic home furnishings and design store.



Cool signs



Pretty displays



A range of prices



Great packaging



I did manage to leave with a little bag of treats: pretty "Dessert" cocktail napkins by Michel Design Works, a couple of John Derian postcards and



a vase for my flower cart flowers!

xo
elyse

expanded issue giveaway

I was asked to share news about 2011's Holiday with Matthew Mead magazine and as a long-time admirer of his clever work (Country Home!), I'm honored to do so. While Matthew's latest magazine will be sold on newsstands, an expanded keepsake issue is ready for order online now.



To help spread the word about the expanded edition, I am giving away a free copy. To enter, simply share a link of this sneak-peek video or embed it to your blog, Facebook or Twitter site and leave a comment letting me know how you shared.
~ Leave 1 comment per share for each chance to win
~ One winner will be selected at random on Saturday, October 8, 2011
~*~ THE CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED (10/8/11) ~*~
Using Random.org the winner is Betsy. Betsy: Please email me (see my profile) with your mailing information.
Thank you so much to everyone who participated and helped to share about the magazine!!!
xo, elyse



Be sure to also head over to Holiday with Matthew Mead for their launch week (begins Oct. 3) of contests and prizes such as home accessories from Matthew's new home decor collection, and free copies of his books and magazines.

As for me, I'm daydreaming about some projects and tackling others. Will share more soon!

xo
elyse

crafting and gathering

When you like to tinker, you tend to save bits and pieces of almost anything with the thinking of "maybe I'll use this to make something someday ... "



I found my initial efforts of trying to keep this random assortment pretty organized (as in this older post photo) slipping through the cracks. It was becoming difficult to find what I needed when I needed it. The make-shift baker's rack-as-shelving in the Girlie Office closet just wasn't working.



Over the summer, The Hubs* installed some adjustable shelving. I quickly moved everything back in and it helped but still lacked organization. So you know what I did the other day?


Click to enlarge for a fun game of I-Spy!
Find 1 wreath; 3 corsage pins; 1 broken sea shell lady; the word "celebrate"

Yep. I dumped out every box in the closet to do a super-sort! Even my boys were shocked to witness the mess I had made but like I always say, sometimes it takes a mess to clean a mess. There I sat amongst scattered piles of bagged sequins, spools of thread, half sheets of stickers and much more with emptied photo boxes at the ready, determined to categorize my crafty chaos.



I soon determined categories worthy of titles and posted notes to each box.



I didn't want to invest in new boxes but still desired a tidy look so instead printed out uniform titles to label each box.



Much better. Now I feel more like a tinkerer and less like a hoarder (for the moment, anyway; in this closet, anyway)!

Can you relate?

xo
elyse

*Is The Hubs a good reference for Jeff? Sounds better than Mr. Cottage or Mr. Troll. Hmmm?

good golly! c&r winner announced

I am so happy to announce the winner of the Cabbages & Roses & Fabric & Book giveaway is dear, fun (and funny!) Holly of Cutie Pie Cottage (used to be Girls at Heart).

{As you know, winners are selected using Random.org}

Thank you to everyone who entered and Tweeted and voted and Shared!



I just know that Holly will make the best use of the lovely fabric and so enjoy swooning over this book (I have borrowed it from my library countless times ... I should just buy it already!).

Also, still waiting to hear from Trish who won a subscription to Cottages & Bungalows at this giveaway.

{Winners: Just email me!}

Happy Fall!

xo
elyse

cabbages & roses fabric & book giveaway

Do you have a clothesline? This breezy image courtesy of Cabbages & Roses sure makes me want one. Ever since learning about Cabbages & Roses on Fifi's blog, I have been swooning over their catalogs, blogging about them, even indulging in a small purchase. Recently I won C&R fabric from Laura at 52Flea and am happy that I can pay-it-forward by hosting a similar contest.



The giveaway celebrates the launch of Cabbages & Roses new line for Moda Fabrics. This is the first time that C&R fabric is available in the U.S.! The new line is called Northcote Range and is a beautiful vintage-inspired collection of florals, stripes and motifs. Here's what you could win ...



1 yard of this floral print


1 yard of this solid print


C&R founder Christina Strutt's beautiful book At Home with Country

To enter this giveaway simply leave a comment. A winner will be chosen at random on September 21, 2011.

• For an additional entry, please share news of this giveaway in some way (Facebook, blog post, Twitter, email) and return with a comment letting me know
  
• For a third and fourth unrelated/favor entry, please visit this link and vote for Old County Road School PTA to win a $50K grant to build a new playground. {Thank you}
  

xo
elyse