Vintage Religious Needlework

Our Father Who Art in Heaven...

One day while thrifting for our ETSY shop, my daughter and I came across the most amazing vintage stitchery of The Lord's Prayer.

The prayer, doves, flower basket and border are stitched on a pink satin/silk material that's oh-so-slightly faded and stained around the edges.

The old gold frame is quite chippy, adding to the charm of this piece.

I was so taken with this piece that my daughter bought it for me on the spot and told me it was for my birthday!!

It definitely shows signs of its age which again, in my eyes, adds to the beauty of this piece.

The piece is not signed or dated, so there's no way to know for certain when it was stitched or by whom. I don't know if it was a young girl or an older woman who lovingly stitched this prayer, but it was certainly a labor of love as this is quite a large piece, about 16" x 20."

And since I work from home either transcribing, painting, or managing my ETSY shops, I'm able to enjoy it every single day as it hangs in my office/studio.

I'm linking up to How Sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday. Have a lovely weekend!

Donna

Spring vignettes...

Spring has really arrived here in New England! Not only outside, but inside as well!

A little spring vignette in the Family Room featuring a vintage paint-by-number and bird figurines.

I think Mama Bluebird is squawking to Mr. Blue Jay that he'd better stay away from her nest and eggs!

As you can see, I use most of my old chair pads on tables rather than chairs. This plant is enjoying soaking up the sun through the slider.

Now this plant is an artificial boxwood, so technically it doesn't need the sun's rays, but I think it likes this spot in the window anyhow!

Baby is enjoying lounging in the family room today, laying against one of my favorite pillows made out of an old chenille bedspread. It is definitely a spring pillow with a big pink rose against a blue and white background.

This floral swan was a bedroom decoration in one of my girls' bedrooms when they were little. They're now in their 20's, so it's been around for quite some time.

It sits above the family room sliders.

This is my Christmas/Easter cactus. I call it that because it blooms at both Christmastime and in the spring around Easter. It sits on a robin's egg blue floral place mat in the living room bay window.

And last, but certainly not least, is the bird bowl I shared with you in yesterday's post. This little fellow definitely brings a touch of spring to the fireplace mantel.

(photo editing courtesy of PicMonkey)

I hope you enjoyed some of our spring vignettes. I'm linking up to Beverly's Pink (Spring) Saturday at How Sweet the Sound, so stop on over!!

Happy spring, everyone!

Donna

A vintage hankie Pink Saturday celebration!

Happy birthday to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!!! She is celebrating her one year "Pink Saturday" birthday anniversary today and you must visit her blog to join in on all the pink fun! (Not to mention she has the most fabulous pink cake recipe that looks oh-so-good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)


I have a very special Pink Saturday item to share today... It's a beautiful vintage hankie that I won in a giveaway late last year from sweet Nancy of My Crafty Little Page!


I was able to choose between a kitten or a puppy hankie, and the minute I saw the puppy I knew which one I wanted!


The hankie has a delicate scalloped border and is adorned with pansies. And the puppy reminded me so much of our sweet little Gizzy Girl, who we lost in March of last year.


She had blonde fur, big fluffy ears, and gorgeous brown eyes, just like the puppy on the hankie.


The hankie is the most gorgeous shade of peachy pink....


(I don't know why it looks yellow in this photo!)


I tried it out in several locations...


...before deciding to use it on the white tray that sits on an end table in our living room... I've also toyed with the idea of framing it so I can hang it somehwere.


Here's a photo of little Gizzy on the sofa, right next to where the hankie is sitting. (This was taken in her later years after she'd had one eye removed due to an infection, was blind in her remaining eye, and was getting insulin shots 2x a day... but look at the smile on her little face. She was a happy little troll dog until the day she left us.)


Having this little hankie displayed so prominently...


...is such a sweet reminder of our little angel.

So thank you, Nancy, for this beautiful hankie... And thank you, Beverly, for another great Pink Saturday!!!

Donna

Pink shadows...

The morning sun cast beautiful pink shadows on the family room shade the other morning...


... and knowing how shadows (and rainbows) can disappear in an instant, I ran to get my camera so I could share them with you.

The shadows are being cast by this little architectural piece propped against the window (Thank goodness the view no longer looks like this January photo [although it's not out of the realm of possibility since early April snowstorms are pretty common here in New England!])

The other shadows are being cast by the diamond pane pattern of the windows...

For more posts featuring the luscious color pink, be sure to visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see her Pink Saturday post and to visit all the other pink loving bloggers participating today!

Donna

Pillow Talk...

Welcome to Pink Saturday, hosted by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!

(click any photos to enlarge)

Pink roses on pillows... a match made in heaven!!


This is the sofa in our family room, and it's the most comfy spot to lounge, watch TV, or read a book...


Last month, on my way home from a dental appointment, I happened to drive by a Marshalls store....

Since I needed some foaming hand wash for the bathroom, I popped in... Now I know I should have picked up the hand wash and then made a quick exit...

... but I made the mistake of doing a quick walk around the store. When I spotted these pillows, I was absolutely smitten!

All my favorite colors... perfect pink, cottage blue, spring green... These pillows are as soft and comfy as they are beautiful... (some women have a handbag fetish... I think I have a pillow fetish)...

And one of the best features is that they tie in the back so they can be easily removed for washing!

So you've seen my store-bought pillows, but if you'd like to see a very unique pillow, you must visit Mel at her Country in the Town blog (which is delightful!)

Just look at this embroidered "envelope" pillow she made, complete with a pink rose "stamp" in the corner!!! Is this not the sweetest pillow you've ever seen? How perfect would this be as a housewarming gift with the recipient's new address embroidered on it? I asked Mel if I could share her very special pillow with you in today's post and she graciously agreed!

Please click on either of these two photos to go directly to the pillow post. Mel has beautiful photos of this pillow as well as others. (My pictures do not do her pillows justice! I used my camera to take photos of her blog pictures from my computer monitor... trust me when I tell you that makes for very bad quality photos!!) Thanks again, Mel, for letting me share your unique envelope pillow!!

Now be sure to stop by and see Beverly's beautiful Pink Saturday post, where you'll also find a list of all the other pink loving bloggers participating in today's Pink Saturday!!!

Donna

Shabby Cottage Giveaway - Bunny, Birds, and Blooms!

Happy Pink Saturday! I cannot believe it's been almost a year since I started blogging, and I've really enjoyed getting to know so many of you!


My very first post, on March 16, 2008, featured this crackled vase of faux pink roses that sits on my dining room table...

Therefore, it only seemed fitting that my first anniversary giveaway include lots of PINK roses! (That, plus the fact that I'm soooo anxious for spring, and I thought many of you might feel the same way!!!) So I went shopping as though I were picking things out for myself; I hope you like my choices! All of these items were purchased from one of my favorite places, The Christmas Tree Shop... As anyone here in the northeast knows, CTS is not an expensive store, but you can always find some pretty cool stuff there! So let me show you what I picked out, just for YOU!!!
(click any photo to enlarge)

There you have it - everything you see on top of the pie safe (except for the lamp - that's mine!!)


You all know how much I love birds and, from your comments, I know a lot of you love them, too! So when I spotted this love bird topiary, I KNEW it had to be part of my giveaway!


Ever since I got them home they've been so excited, chirping back and forth to each other, wondering who the winner will be and where they will be going to live!


And you also know that one of my very favorite colors is robin's egg blue, so when I spotted this fringed pillow with lush pink roses I grabbed it for the giveaway! (It reminds me of a vintage barkcloth material)...



This shabby little garden bunny hopped over to me and asked if he could be part of the giveaway, too... I hope you all like heavily distressed pieces because he's missing quite a bit of his chippy paint...

... especially on his left side... But I told him that I thought you would all love him, just as he is! He asked if he could pose with the two little planter boxes that the winner will get... Again, robin's egg blue and pink roses... It was a done deal as soon as I saw them!

And lastly, this little floral quilted tote with braided handles. These were being sold as lunch bags (they have a soft insulated/plastic interior and a velcro close tab)... I actually bought one of these last year to tote around Delilah, my little Garmin GPS unit... Very handy!!

So there you have it! I hope you like all the goodies I chose for you... It's such a small way to say Thank You to each and every one of you who visit my blog, both old friends and new. Just leave a comment on this blog post and you will be entered into the giveaway. I'm going to keep it open until midnight EST on March 31st... I'll post the winner on April 1st or 2nd.

And if you mention this giveaway on your blog, please mention that in your comment so I can enter your name twice... And if you don't have a blog, please be sure to leave an e-mail address so I can contact you if you win!

Now please visit Beverly at How Sweet the Sound to see her Pink Saturday post! While there, you'll also find a list of all the other pink-loving bloggers who are participating in today's PINK SATURDAY!


Donna