Welcome to My Studio

Welcome to my studio.  It's where I come and spend some time every

day.  It's a cottage hideaway where I can write and create.  

It's a spot filled with memories that inspire.

It's a place that is tranquil and kind.

A cozy spot where a cup of tea is enjoyed or a new craft project

unfolds.  A place where a blog post is created and where the blog

posts of others are read and enjoyed.

It's a spot where worries are left outside it's walls.

Where naps are enjoyed and encouraged.

A spot where books are read.

And where dreams live.

What's It Wednesday

Thanks for stopping by!

Big Texas Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Decorating the Man Cave

For the men in your life ~ husband, father, son, son-in-law, boyfriend, etc.

Each one of them wants a man cave.  You know what I'm talking about,

a room focused on a flat screen, plasma or LCD HD TV.  That great big 

60 to 72" or more black rectangle sitting on the wall.  To them, it is

heaven.  To us, well not so much.

Every time my hubby goes shopping with me at Costco, he is mesmerized by the 

biggest flat screen available.  I won't even mention the remote because that's a whole

other topic.  I swear that men are born with a channel scanning gene that we are

somehow missing. 

But, I can't complain too much.  My hubby lives with shabby chic furniture and lots

of floral prints.  He never complains.  So here is my suggestion for bringing a bit of

vintage coziness into that masculine domain.  

Vintage books.  I found mine at a book sale at Catholic University in Washington, DC.

A vintage looking clock from a thrift shop and a vintage sketching of a couple of 

dogs from an antique shop in Leesburg, VA.

Oh and this cigar smoking bull dog.  You get my drift ...

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Mod Mix Monday

Table Top Tuesday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Bentley ~ I caught you watching golf with your Daddy.  Just don't start 

channel scanning too!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Leaving Stress Outside Your Door

After yesterday's vibrant reds I decided to calm things down a bit with some

calm, cool and collected blues.  Our world is so full of stress and tension.  We all

need to find ways to bring serenity into our homes and leave the stress outside the door.

The soft shades of blue and white make me feel peaceful.  It's just one of the ways

I bring serenity into our home.

I love to add vintage pieces into the mix as well.  I love their charm and 

innocence.  

It's what we bloggers do.  We nurture our families by feathering our nests

and sharing our ideas with one another.

Have a wonderful day and when you have a chance, stop by and visit 

these blog parties for lots of inspiration ~

What's It Wednesday

Tablescape Thursday

Home and Garden Thursday

Open House Thursday

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Time Travel Thursday

Show and Tell Friday

Home Sweet Home

Potpourri Friday

Farmhouse Friday

Vintage Inspiration

Of course one of the very best ways to lower the stress in our

lives is to include a furry friend.  Bentley brings us so much

happiness everyday and lowers our blood pressure too!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

Rosy Retreat

What a pleasure it is when I have a few moments to be

alone and browse through magazines and dream of 

gardens, decorating, cottages and collecting vintage lovelies from

antique and thrift shops.

This absolutely adorable Spode plate was a gift to me from my dear friend

Maria.  Isn't it just the sweetest plate?  I love the eyelet trim.  Maria found

it for me at a local thrift shop.  She knew it would be perfect for a post on my blog.

It is Spode's Billingsley Rose.  Thank you Maria!!

Looks like I will have to take this Rosy Retreat inside because the sky is 

getting dark and gray.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Joining ~

Tablescape Thursday

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Pinkalicious Thursday

Home Sweet Home

Feathered Nest Friday

Inspiration Friday

Show and Tell Friday

and

Pink Saturday

Hurry up Bentley ~ looks like rain!!

Hugs,

Susan and Bentley

A Little Garden Tea

Care to join me for a little afternoon tea in the garden?

I am serving it on my vintage child's size wicker rocker.

I have some sweet petits fours.

No Bentley ~ too much sugar for you!

Mama has some sugar free peanut butter cookies 

just for you!

Bentley and I (with his peanut butter treat)

are joining ~

Tablescape Thursday

and

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

French Grain Sack Inspired Snack Tray

One boring, run of the mill snack tray.

A bit of French vintage inspiration, some paint,

And ...

Voila!

My Vintage French Grain Sack Snack Tray!

For those of you who are wondering why the number

1913 ...

That's the year our cottage was built.

Thrifty and fun!

I am joining ~

Amaze Me Monday

Blue Monday

Market Yourself Monday

Metamorphosis Monday

Masterpiece Monday

Making the World Cuter Monday

Show Off Your Cottage Monday

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday

Twice Owned Party

Tuesdays Treasures

and

Table Top Tuesday

That was fun Bentley ~ what should we

transform next?

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Vintage Kitsch Fun! And an Award Too!

Let's put on a pot of coffee, kick back and have a bit of vintage kitchen kitsch fun! I'm a huge fan of I Love Lucy, so when I saw this coffee pot at a yard sale I had to buy it. Lucy had one like it.

Speaking of Lucy, do you remember the episode where Lucy and Ricky were late arriving for dinner at the owner of the Tropicana's apartment? Lucy was so hungry that she picked up an apple from a fruit bowl on the coffee table and it wasn't until she bit into it that she realized it was wax!! So here's a vintage bowl of fruit for you, but don't eat it any!! It's fake!!

Vintage kitsch goes from kitchen to patio. Let's mix up some marinade in a vintage carafe and give Daddy-O a chance to show off his grilling talent!

How about some vintage Salty and Peppy shakers. They are just too cute!!

I love these little vintage measuring spoons and the Fiesta pitcher too.

Brightly colored measuring cups and a cute vintage spoon rest too! Thank you so much for visiting me today and for giving me a chance to show off some kitsch. Please stop by to visit Suzanne at Colorado Lady for more vintage fun!

I also want to thank my dear friend Rosemary for sending me the Sunshine Award! Rosemary has the most interesting, fun and informative blog! Rosemary's blog is Content in a Cottage. Please stop by and visit this dear friend of mine and her faithful companion Webster. If we didn't live so far apart, Bentley and Webster would be playing outside together right now!

What's that Bentley? I know you want to play with Webster right now, but New Jersey is far away from Idaho. We'll have to set up a play date in advance!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Wha

Vintage Shutters

I'm always on the look out for vintage shutters at thrift shops. They make lovely accents and are fun to use. Have a great Monday!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Bentley's Vintage Thingie

Bentley and I are out in the garden this morning when suddenly I find Bentley with an old toy. "Mom is this vintage?" Well, let's see Bentley, it's an old squeek toy that belonged to Bitterman many years ago while the first George Bush was in office.

Dan Quayle is on his shoulder. Bitterman chewed off the nose long ago. (This is not a political commentary, just a fact). That was one of Bitterman's favorite toys when he was a puppy, and that was over 20 years ago, so yes, I think it's vintage.

Do you want to show it for Suzanne's Vintage Thingie Thursday at The Colorado Lady?

Let's show a picture of sweet little Bitterman too.

So Bentley, are you working on your big pink post for Saturday?? Bentley?? He's not answering, but I know he's working on it!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Vintage Botanical Prints

It's time for Vintage Thingy Thursday again! This week I am showing you some of my favorite botanical prints I have collected from various antique shops over the years.

None of these were very expensive, but I just love the charm of the floral prints and the vintage frames.

This oval framed print is a favorite of mine. It has a Victorian flare.

The tiny ones with the round frames are so sweet. I love to group them with other prints.

Here is another one I just could not resist! The one just below is from my Grandmother.

Thank you for visiting me today for VTT. Don't forget to stop by and visit Suzanne's blog The Colorado Lady for more Vintage Thingies! It's a great way to spend a Thursday!! Right Bentley?? Bentley agrees, particularly since he can stay curled up in his little bed while I browse the fabulous sites in Blog Land!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Must Love Dogs!

I love dogs!! Sometimes I even like dogs better than humans. Yes, that's true. I love dogs because they are loyal and true, but also because they are playful and spontaneous. I think that is the best way to be. So for this Thursday, can you believe it's Thursday already?? I am proud to participate in Vintage Thingy Thursday with our lovely hostess, Queen of the Rockies, Miss Suzanne and her lovely blog ...

The Colorado Lady. For this week I want to show you some of my vintage canines.

This sweet little cup came from my dear Grandma. She was a great dog lover, and she also loved cats, horses and all of God's sweet creatures. I love this little cup and saucer. The bottom is stamped "Germany". Isn't that a cute pup?

What a cute array of terriers. Don't you just want to pick them up and give each one a hug?

This vintage chalk dog is a favorite of mine. It looks like he's ready to play! Oh wait ... how did this cute little guy sneak into the picture??? Thank you Suzanne! Now please link back to see all of the other participants. Hey Bentley, did you see that last little guy sneak in?? Bentley ....??

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo

Vintage Pink Quilt

Every Saturday Beverly over at her blog How Sweet the Sound, is the hostess of Pink Saturday. I am very excited to participate for the very first time. This is my vintage pink quilt which I believe is around 75 years old. Each square is hand embroidered and unique.

There is a windmill and a basket of flowers. Tulips and a kitten playing with a ball of yarn.

A horseshoe for good luck and a young girl in a bonnet.

A cluster of grapes. Imagine the hours of work that went into the embroidery alone!

I love the picket fence with the flowers growing behind it.

A pot full of flowers, a baby and a frog too. But here is my favorite of all, "Old Faithfull". I think the person who made this quilt made a mistake in spelling "faithfull", but I think we can overlook that error, don't you?

Thank you so much for visiting me today. Thanks also to Beverly for being our lovely hostess. Don't forget to stop by and visit the other Pink Saturday participants as well. Have a great Saturday everyone!!

Love,

Susan and Bentley

xxoo