by Madai from Wren Cottage |details below
Once upon a time…
There was a little old lady who lived in a vinegar bottle…
Even though it was many years ago, and I was just beginning my days at school, I can still remember exactly how the story began.
I can still see my friends and I sitting in our favorite reading corner, all nestled on the story rug listening intently to the librarian as she read to us… the tales of other times and far away places.
I’ve always thought of this story as one of my favorite childhood tales, but as I tried to recall it recently, I realized that the rest of the story didn’t make it’s way into my memory whatsoever. However, the very first line was enough to fuel my imagination for all of these years!
I remember as if it were yesterday… as I heard the words… wondering into that little glass house with the little old lady and making myself at home.
I remember my teacher describing the little cottage as being tucked away deep in the forest, so that no one could find it without already knowing the secret path to her front door. She warmed herself with her tiny wood stove, in which burned a cozy crackling fire, sending tiny rings of smoke out of the top of the chimney. In front of the wood stove was a little rug and a comfy little chair where she would sit and read amongst the pretty pillows.
As I read the original story online today, all of those juicy little details were mysteriously absent from the text!
So now I’m left to wonder…
Did my teacher actually describe the little glass cottage in the woods… or did my mind begin to wander after hearing the very first sentence and creatively fill in the blanks…
How it really happened I can’t honestly be sure, but what I am sure of is my long time love of tiny little things – especially when they are under glass.
So what I’ve done is…
I’ve asked some of my friends to share their creativity with us. I simply told them… “use your creativity to put together a display under glass.” I asked them to try to use a cloche or cake stand, but if they couldn’t find either of those… to use what they could! And… they didn’t hear my little story, so they are sharing things that fuel their creative imagination!
I know you are going to love what they’ve come up with… almost as much as I do 😉
Tiffany
Let me introduce you to Tiffany. She has a wonderful ability to create displays, and somehow, she can make anything look beautiful… from little snippets of paper… to left over bit & bobs from the tool drawer! Just look at what Tiffany has put together! You’ll have to look at it for a while to see all of the beautiful little bits that she’s included in her piece! I especially love the little nest, and how little Ms. Birdie has built it with so many pretty things 😉
Here are some of Tiffany’s other creations where she uses glass as a way of “collecting” beautiful objects!
You’re going to love Tiffany’s website – Beyond the Vintage Path!
Also – stop by her blog & share some comments!
Madai
My dear Madai has some of the most beautiful creations I’ve ever seen! Her sumptuous glittery bits make me wish for one of each! You can “try” to pick up one of her creations in her Etsy shop, but you must hurry… as people seem to swarm for her things 🙂 Do stop by her wonderful blog Wren Cottage and get to see all of Madai’s creations and decor up close!
Here the Princess tried to sleep… she really did… but who could sleep with such beautiful things to gaze upon!
Layers and layers of beautiful lace and quilts
There’s that pretty little pea 😉
Here Mr. Bunny is ready for tea
With such lovely little treats… who could pick just one!
It’s the Spring Baby Bird contest & Mr. sheep is the first to vote!
Cathy
As you look through Cathy’s website, blog, and Flickr pictures… one thing becomes very clear… you know you’ve seen these beautiful things somewhere before! That’s because Cathy’s beautiful decor has been featured in many different publications. She is especially known for her wonderful little pink garden cottage. When I asked Cathy to share a creation with us, just look at what she came up with! Don’t you just love the little momma bird caring so deeply for all of those beautiful eggs!
Stop over at Cathy’s website – Treasured Heirlooms to pick up a few pretty things for your home, or her blog to share a few thoughts, you’ll be glad you did!
Debrina
Debrina, from “spark your imagination“, always does just that… she takes you to beautiful places with each piece that she creates!
You can’t bottle up the music inside!
Eunice
Eunice had some lovely things to share! I just love this sweet little bird… way up high caring for her nest!
And how about this “dream” banner!
What a lovely little angel… and all of that snow looks like diamonds!
Take a stroll through her Etsy shop to see some more of her lovely things!
Jennifer
Jennifer once made me buy a magazine! Well… let me say… the feature of her house was what made me have to buy that issue and add it to my “keeper” collection at home 😉 It was wonderful to find her online, and see even more of her beautiful decor! You can take a peek inside of her home, and see some of her creations at her blog – Sweet Eye Candy Creations. I know that I am just one of many who love Jennifer’s style… because when I asked her to participate in this segment, she quickly made such a little sweet creation… only to have it sell within minutes!
Well… who wouldn’t want this little sweetie in their home to greet them each morning!
Mary
Mary created the most lovely little display! I think I would like to have this in the center of my table when my friends come for tea! Mary… shall we 😉
Mary’s blog “Little Red House” is always filled with beautiful things! You & Mary must become friends… especially if you shall be greeted with such “pretties” on the table when you call for tea 🙂
Becky
Becky has such a beautiful home! You’re going to love visiting with her over at Sweet Cottage Dreams!
She made this lovely “collage jar” a while back, and I thought it was such a lovely way to display all of your favorite little things! Look at how much you can fit in one large jar… and you could turn it around to display whichever side you were in the mood for at the moment!
Judy
Judy does lots of things with pretty papers and fabrics. I found her on Flickr, while looking at her pictures of beautiful far away places… and I’m so glad I did! You’ll want to be sure to look at all of her pictures, as well as visit her inspiring blog
This little fairy is out gathering flowers, while draped with her own shabby chic bunting! We love this Judy!
Heidi
The motto of the Birds of a Feather blog, is “dream, inspire, create”. That is exactly what Heidi causes us to do… when we look at her beautiful creation!
Just look at this sumptuous collection of lace, ribbons, and glittery things in Heidi’s creation under glass! Look how she has propped the lid of the cake stand open, and made it appear as though it is the roof of the little birdie’s home! And… I love the sweet Spring colors!
Here you can see the little princess up close!
I hope you’ve enjoyed the wonderful “creations under glass” from my very creative friends!
** My next big segment will be “Creative Spaces – Where Creativity Rules”, in which we will share the special spaces that allow your creativity to shine! We want to highlight the ways you organize, how you decorate your creative space, beautiful shelves, etc.
Please feel free to send in your pictures, flickr links, and blog address if you would like to participate.
If you would like to be a part – please feel free to contact me!
Pearl
Writing to you from my little cottage tucked deep in the woods… beyond the stone wall… and just before the bend in the river. Thankfully my cottage doesn’t have glass walls 😉
Pearl,
OH MY STARS!!! What a GORGEOUS post!!! Such a visual delight! Im in awe of all the amazing talented artist and their beautiful creations! Thank you so much for adding my little easter egg ornament. I cant wait to look at all the lovely ladies blogs. They now have a new fan!!!! 🙂
XO,Jenn
Jenn ~
Thank you for sharing… such a sweet little piece! And… I’m sure that you are going to have some new fans as well 🙂
Pearl
Hello Pearl, I feel so honoured to be amongst such wonderful pieces ~ thankyou for including me, Judy x
Judy ~ Thank you for sharing your talent with us!!!
Pearl
Oh my Pearl! I made myself a cup of tea and clicked on some beautiful music in my itunes and began to read…I was mesmerized and transported into your little world of the little sweet lady that lived in the bottle, what a magical story! You sure do have the gift of storytelling! and I have to say that when Tiffany introduced me to the world of flickr and blogging one of the first places that instantly grabbed my eye was your little red door and I have been totally hooked to this beautiful world where we have the best neighbors and friends any creative gal could ask for! They invite you in and offer you tea & cake, tell you stories, share there talents and even take us shopping! What more can I ask? I’m very grateful that you posted some of my little creations here… and am sooo very happy to be able to see all these beautiful creations, what an inspiration!! I adore all their unique & BEAUTIFUL creations & styles! This sure has been a treat!
Thank you for putting together such great and beautiful information for us on a regular basis… I love reading all your tips on how to live and be happy without having to spend a bundle and of course all the eye candy!! Sorry for the rambling… :)))
Thank you Pearl!!
xo Madai
Madai ~
Thank you! You’re such a sweetie!
I know what you mean about flickr & the wonderful blogs! I SO ENJOY my filckr account & love it almost more than any magazine! You can find SO much creativity out there… it’s such a joy for me!
We should plan some sort of gathering sometime 😉
Pearl
pure delights today!!!
i love all of them!
thanks for all the photos!!!
jessi
Excellent! Made my day!
Janice Polk
Wonderful, I came over from Mary’s Little Red House, I love decorating under glass too, I am so inspired to have had the pleasure to see all of these creative ladies “glass jewels”.
Oh my Goodness!!!!!! Where do I even begin!!!!!! What a delightful treat and honor to be included!!! What a fantastic gathering for wonderful eye~candy that can really get your creativity flowing! I can’t wait to visit these blogs and Pearl I’ll be listing this on my website and blog also along with your link 🙂 You are such a doll, Thank You so very much!!!!
xo Tiffany
Pearl,
Thank you so much for including me in your post. I am in awe of these talented women, and had the most wonderful afternoon looking at their creations and visiting their sites.
Many thanks,
xoxo,
Mary
Hello,
Love your photos! You make me want to put goodies in jars and glass containers:)
Everything looks wonderful.
new blogger
kayellen.typepad.com
Pearl
Everything is so enjoyable to look at , I have always loved anything that is under a glass dome ! This is such an honor to have my things with all of the other fabulous things here . Thank you so much !
Eunice
The Little Things
littlethings1
This post is absolutely lovely. Each creation is wonderful. Blessings, Karen
Hi Pearl, my goodness, we don’t know where to begin either!! Your blog is amazing, we know a few of these lovely ladies and their work is truly outstanding!! We are looking forward to visitng the other ladies this afternoon, such gorgeousness deserves quality time to appreciate and enjoy. Thank you for a such a beautiful blog. We are a certain to be regulars here 🙂 Jenn and Jacqui
Pearl, what a fun post! I loved seeing everyone’s inspiration and checking out the new to me blogs. I even made a purchase from Madai!
Looking forward to the creative spaces segment!
Manuela
Everything was so inspiring. These women are all so talented with their creations under glass. I loved them each and every one!
Barbara
OOHHH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! this is wonderful! I love this… All things under glass just sparkle with magic!!!!
Thanks for sharing so much!!!~
Ahh everything looks fab, so nice to see all the different creations under glass, what a good idea!
From Debra (allthingspretty)in NZ
What a bunch of talented ladies with wonderful imaginations!! Lots of eye candy and inspiration!!
Michelle
Oh my! I am astonished at the beautiful little worlds you create! So, so lovely!~
Ohhhh my gosh !!! I am in love with your creations under glass !! I have 2 cloches that I wasn’t sure what to do with and now I know ~ YAY !!! I am glad that I found your blog and I am going to add you to my favorite blogs to read !
xoxo,
Lori
Oh my gosh they are all so wonderfully fabulously beautiful! I’m in awe!
And I know that I’m very late posting a few of my own creations on flickr today (due to severe back pains and other reasons) and I’m very sorry that I was’t able to do this on time. Thanks for asking me to participate dear Pearl! It was a real pleasure! Seeing your pictures I think that all my Soldered Jewelry pieces fit in creations under glass as well!
This is such a lovely theme!
Have a great week everyone!
Hugs Carol xox
Wow – these are all exquisite. What a lovely post!
Thank you for a glimpse into a wonder land under glass…each creation a work of art…..I look forward to many return visits…..Betty @ Country Charm
I am just in awe of the wonderful delights that you have shared with us. These works of art are just something to behold.
oh, I just loved all of these, very inspiring, I think my favorite was the princess and the pea
I definitely remembered that sweet story, with it’s sing-song style. It was the Welsh tale The Old Woman Who Lived in a Vinegar Bottle by Rumer Godden. You might enjoy reading it again at http://tinyurl.com/35lyav . Yes, the perfect inspiration for the dreams under glass. Such beauty, thank you for sharing.
Pearl, this was an amazing idea and I was thrilled to be part of it. I must say I haven’t seen so many outstanding and diverse displays under glass before.
These were inspiring and amazing as are all the wonderful creations from this group of talented women.
Thank you for sharing these treasures.
These have got to be the sweetest things I’ve ever seen. I really like the princess and the pea.
Dear Pearl,
Well let me tell you…when I was little, we had not much money so no books in our house to read, but let me tell you at 67 I still recall the old women in a vinegar bottle. That story has been with me all my life. If I feel as though I have not enough of something, I think about the old women and how she was never satisfied never liked anything until she came back to the beginning of her life. The fairy knew what she was up to! I nearly fell of my chair when I read what you had put. What a coincidence. I just felt I wanted you to know, that I too remember the story so well from start to finish. And I have not seen or heard of it since I was 5!
Regards,
IRENE
……………………..
Dear Irene ~
So good to meet you! It sounds like we have a lot in common… including our name! I’m Pearl Irene, named after my great grandmother Pearl.
It’s funny how I remember the story as being so “romantic”, because as I said in
my post, I didn’t remember anything past the first bit… and how wonderful it would be to live in a little cottage in the woods 😉
Now I do live in a “not as little” cottage in the woods right near a river, stone walls, mossy covered trails through the forest, and very soon to be covered with cottage gardens… for which I am forever grateful to God 😉
Keep in touch & it was wonderful to hear from you!
Pearl
Now I have to go get the story about this woman that lived in a vinegar bottle! LOL! Sounds charming!
I absolutely loved every vignette under glass. You ladies have proved it doesn’t take alot of “stuff” to create beauty under glass!
Kitty
I just LOVE all these pictures! You have motivated me! Wonderful! I have subscribed to the updates so I won’t miss anything!
Have found your blog for the first time today and blown away with your wonderful posts!
All these amazing places you have found to share are all pretty in their own way.
Thank you for filling my day with all kinds of creative inspiration.
Came back to visit and see what is NEW on your wonderful Blog! I just love spending a few minutes here and see all the crativity!
I am always amazed how putting something under glass gives it such a feeling of special-ness (is that a word?) , but these creations are simply spectacular.
I am so glad I found this site! I bookmarked long ago from somewhere — I wish I could remember from where.
Is it alright if I like to you from my blog?
Such lovely displays… & thanks for introducing me to Tiffany…
These blogs have SO much inspiration… they just feel good!
Editors Note:
I received this note & wanted to share it & my response with all of you 😉
Hello Pearl,
I’ve just spent a delightful time on your blog and enjoying your creativity. I was so delighted to run across your reference to the “old woman who lived in a vinegar bottle”, it brought back memories of my grandmother reading to my sister and I so many years ago. I went looking for the rest of the story for I could remember no more than her living in the vinegar bottle and want to tell the story to my new granbaby and I found it on the web. Don’t peek for I like your memory as it is, but if curiosity gets the better….enjoy!
Thanks for the memory and your beautiful blog.
Susan
My Response:
Susan,
Thank you for taking the time to stop by!
When I wrote this article, I decided to write it… and only then look it up to see how my memory compared. I think I might have a more “colorful & creative” imagination than the actual original author, as I tend to romanticize everything & find joy in even the smallest little places 😉
Pearl
What great ideas! Great & beautiful inspiration! Marilyn
First you got me getting my yard in shape now I am going to do something wonderful with all the glass bottles I have been saving! Thanks for the motivation!