A Storybook Life - Page 13 of 28 - Creative Home and Garden Ideas From Our Cottage in The Woods

A Bit of Velvet and a Dash of Lace

September 24, 2013February 21, 2008 by Pearl Sanborn

If you’ve never heard of Magnolia Pearl… you’re in for a real treat for the eyes!

Magnolia Pearl (aka Robin Pearl Brown), who lives in Texas, started from very humble beginnings. With her father being an artist, and her mother a gypsy, her home was filled with creativity. Her parents were always encouraging her to creatively express herself, but it wasn’t until her mother passed away, that she took that very special first step that would launch her into a brand new career!

You might remember her from her beautiful handbags… dripping with velvet & lace, or her beautiful pantaloons and other garments edged in lace. Whatever you remember… one thing that you will always do once coming in contact with Magnolia Pearl is… remember her!

With her new book on it’s way “A Bit of Velvet and a Dash of Lace”, we will get an even bigger look into the life & home of this very creative gal!

I thought you might like to get a little glance into the life & home of Magnolia Pearl!

Magnolia Pearl’s… “Humble Beginning”

Magnolia Pearl Style… “Serenade of the Winged Victrola”

** Don’t forget… the 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!

Creations Under Glass – Creative Displays to Fuel The Imagination

November 23, 2011February 15, 2008 by Pearl Sanborn

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!

Secret treasures!

Where time stands still

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 😉

Happy Valentine’s Day – Conversation Heart Candy

October 28, 2011February 14, 2008 by Pearl Sanborn

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I wish for you a day of sweetness and joy… and may you be surrounded by those you love!

Exciting Post Tomorrow!

I have asked several friends to participate in a special segment that I have planned for tomorrow. It will be called “Creations Under Glass”

I just love looking at little displays of pretty things under glass, and you will be amazed at what these gals have come up with!

………………………………………………………….

The History of the “Conversation Heart”

Ever Wonder How Long Those Little Conversation Hearts Have Been Around? As I was walking down the candy isle to pick up some candy for my teenagers to pass out to their friends today at school, I was asking myself that very question…

Nothing brings back memories like candy! And whether you’re only 9, or already 90, you’ve probably received your share of conversation hearts on Valentine’s Day!

Did you know… The new England Confectionery Company (or NECCO), is America’s oldest multi-line candy company, and it still produces 8 Billion candy hearts each Valentine’s Day! That boils down to 100,000 pounds of candy hearts every day!

From the moment they were introduced, the candy hearts were a huge success! The tradition of giving these sweet little treats as gifts on Valentine’s Day has been passed down from generation to generation, which the company says, is the secret to their success.

The original concept of the conversation hearts, which were originally called “Motto Hearts”, goes all the way back to the late 1800’s. Back then, the sayings were printed on colored paper, and placed inside of small crisp candies that were called “cockles” – because they were formed in the shape of scalloped shell. Then, in 1847, one of the founders of NECCO, Daniel Chase, invented the process that allowed the candy company to actually print directly on the candy itself.

Although originally cut in various shapes such as; postcards, horseshoes, and baseballs, the heart was the shape that had the most room for the longer sayings. And when I say longer… I mean longer! If you were to receive one of the original candy hearts, you might see a saying such as;

“Please send a lock of your hair by return mail”

” How long shall I have to wait? Pray be considerate”

Although today’s sayings are short & sweet, “Be Mine”, “Be Good”, “Be True”, “My Man”, “Kiss Me”, and “Sweet Talk” are some of the original sayings that are still used. In the early 1990’s, the company decided that every year, they would add new sayings to their familiar line up. Every year people from around the globe send in thousands of romantic suggestions. Although some people have a hard time seeing different phrases on their much loved candy, many younger fans welcome the new changes.

There’s nothing better than a good recipe that you can depend on, and NECCO feels the same way about their closely guarded secret recipe. However, they will share this much… they use; 90% sugar, a dash of corn syrup, gelatin, gums, and artificial colors and flavorings. The dough is rolled out, printed with the sayings, then stamped into the little heart shapes. After 45 minutes of drying, they finally reach the semi-hard consistency needed.

* If you’re a NECCO wafer fan…. Did you know… they use the SAME recipe for conversation hearts as they do the wafers?

If there’s one thing that you can always count on at Valentine’s Day, it’s seeing the colorful little conversation hearts in a store near you. And hopefully… a few of those 8 billion little candies make their way to your house 😉

Add Life and Beauty to Your Home by Decorating With Birdcages

September 24, 2013February 1, 2008 by Pearl Sanborn

Today the weather doesn’t want to make up it’s mind! First freezing cold, then snow, then sleet, then rain, then snow… then we start all over again! Needless to say, the kids were excited about their second snow day of the year!

This time of year seems to get a bit gloomy for some people, because the holidays are over, and now we are waiting for some “signs” of Spring… which won’t reach us for another 2+ months 😉

But… with the blessing of the Internet, we are able to travel past our doors & share so many wonderful pictures, ideas, stories, and far away places… without ever leaving our chair!

So…

I thought I would share some “eye candy” with you today, to help get your decorating ideas flowing!

There’s something very romantic about birds, their houses, nests, and cages. I’m not sure what the lure is for me, but I have always found them so very beautiful and intriguing.

Maybe it all started with a school field trip?

As a very small child, I remember visiting the Smithsonian Institute in Washington DC for a school field trip. While there, we were able to walk into the nature section, where we were amazed by the miniature birds that were not much bigger than a quarter! I’ve always remembered how fascinated I was that day with God’s beautiful creation (of course… He never ceases to amaze me ;)!

Not long after that… I remember standing in my grandfather’s garden in TN, and being startled by what I thought was a bee flying by my head, only to find out that it was indeed one of those beautiful little birds trying to get to the flowers that were teasing him from the shrub behind me! Oh how I wanted to pick him up & put him in my pocket 🙂

Then, there was my great grandmother’s farm in Md…
When you live on a farm, birds become a part of everyday life! There were always little birds flying in and out of the barns, and eating the insects around the gardens and the orchard. This meant lots of little nests in the trees, as well as the occasional baby bird who needed helpful attention. I was very happy when grandma would ask for my help!

My husband & I have always had some sort of birdie friend sharing our home (whether inside or nesting in our eaves ;), and for many years we even raised different kinds of parrots – which we really enjoyed.

But… you don’t actually have to have birds living in your home to enjoy their beauty! You can decorate your home with bird houses, decorative bird nests, pictures of birds, or perhaps a collection of vintage bird cages.

Bird cages, for example, can be found very inexpensively at auctions, yard sales, thrift stores, and even in garbage piles along side of the road! You see, most people look at an empty bird cage as something you would buy to house a new pet. And if they are not in the mood for a new pet, they simply don’t see the value in having it! This idea works to your advantage, because these cages, that are mostly unfit for a real bird anyway, would be beautiful additions to your home decor!

It doesn’t matter if the cage is in great shape or not, as a matter of fact, a little rust will help give it that vintage appeal! You can fill the cage with anything your heart desires. Also… don’t forget about outside of the cage!

Why not try some of these items to Here are some different ideas for items that you can use to decorate your birdcage;

– candles
– your favorite collection
– clay flower pots, pretty flowers, plants, or green vines
– pictures in pretty frames or placed between the wires
– a lace doily, ribbons, and bows for a shabby chic look
– a stack of pretty books
– hang bits of pearls, crystals, broaches, or other jewelry from the wires
– tea cups & pretty plates
– dolls, teddy bears, or other vintage toys
– a nest with eggs
– a little birdie from the craft store
– white lights
– items for the holidays such as Christmas ornaments, glittery hearts, or flags

Here are some pictures of how other people have decorated their beautiful birdcages to help get the ideas rolling.

Think of removing the top of an old cage to use as a place to put magazines and things.

I love the sheet music that was used to line the bottom of this cage for the little singing canary!

Birdcages in the garden

How to Make Beautiful Beads From Recycled Newspaper

September 24, 2013January 23, 2008 by Pearl Sanborn

I love finding ways to turn everyday common items, which would otherwise go into the garbage, into beautiful items that everyone can enjoy!

So… when I came across a gal who was making beautiful beads from recycled newspaper, I had to share the idea with you!

When I saw Helen’s beautiful beads, I asked her if she would mind sharing how she made them. After hearing from her, I realized that the methods used for these beads, were the exact same methods that I have used for several different projects including; costumes, handcrafted paper, and sculpted home decor items. I think what I love about her beads though… is the natural earthy look that they have. Please click on the pictures & visit Helen at her Flickr space!

What better way to pamper yourself than to make something so beautiful that costs nearly NOTHING! It would also be a great way to make some beautiful gifts for less than pennies – while recycling those pesky piles of old newspapers 🙂

Perhaps you could also earn some extra money by making a nice little business out of your beautiful new creations! I’m sorry… there I go again… always the business mind 😉

Step #1 – Gather a small pile of newspapers from the recycling basket.

Step #2 – Rip the paper into small pieces

Step #3 – Put the pieces of newspaper in a large stock pot

Step #4 – Pour enough boiling water over the paper to cover

Step #5 – Allow to sit for an hour or so

Step #6 – Stir the paper to help break it down a bit

Step #7 – Drain as much water out of the paper as you can

Step #8 – Add enough glue to the paper to help it hold together in a ball shape (any glue that is clear when dry – such as Elmer’s, or PVA)

Step #9 – Roll the paper into round balls being sure to squeeze out as much moisture as you can while rolling (you can make any size you would like)

Step #10 – Let them dry for a few days – rolling them every several hours – until they are completely dry

Here’s a mix of paper & felt beads. I love the look of this mix!

Step #11 – Sand each bead down with a bit of sandpaper to remove rough edges

Step #12 – Drill a hole in each bead that is big enough for the material that you want to string them with

Step #13 – Paint them with left over craft paint

Step #14 – Give them a coat of varnish

Think of all of the different variations that you could make with this technique! The colors & stringing material possibilities are endless! I think some pretty pink beads strung on black velvet ribbon will be my first pampering self indulgence 😉

And… don’t stop at just making beads!

How about…

– Little hearts for a Valentine’s Day banner, or to grace the front of your handcrafted cards

– Tiny beads to make earrings

– Little snowmen with a coat of cream paint – drenched in chunky glass glitter

– A nice chunky key chain made from beads & ribbon

– Snowballs strung on a ripped piece of homespun fabric – to make a snowball tree garland

Well, I think you will agree when I say that these little bits of recycled newspaper are some of the most beautiful bits I’ve ever seen!

Projects Sent in by Creative Readers

September 24, 2013January 20, 2008 by Pearl Sanborn

Today I wanted to share some of the wonderful creativity of our readers! I love getting letters & pictures of your projects, so if you have something to share… please take a minute & send it in!

Ingrid sent in a note to let me know that a picture of my little “prim” sheep included in a post about decorating for Autumn inspired her to make her own “paper” version of the 3 sheep to hang on her front door.

Here are our 3 little sheep, which were given to us by some friends.

Here’s Ingrid’s letter & a picture of her creative project.

Hi Pearl,
I love your site. I really like your design and decorating style, especially the idea of using what you have! Right on sister. I posted about you on my own blog today, because you inspired me. I had come across your sheep on another blog, they inspired me to make my own version, take a peek!
Thank you for the great ideas and inspiration,
Ingrid

3 little sheep

Shelley stopped by and left me a message after I posted the article about making cinnamon & applesauce ornaments. You probably remember me saying that the ornaments could be used anytime of the year – especially for Valentine’s Day.

Well, here’s Shelly’s note & a picture of her beautiful creations!

Pearl,

Thank you for your wonderful blog. I don’t know how many times I looked at your Christmas decoration pictures. They are inspirational. I had been meaning to make the cinnamon applesauce ornaments before Christmas, but it never happened. My daughter (12) and I made heart ornaments today for Valentines Day. What fun! We had to remind her brothers several times not to eat them (we added a bit of Elmer’s glue to the recipe). The smell is wonderful. Every year she and I host a Valentine’s Day Tea for her Girl Scout friends, and we always have a little treasure bag for each girl to take. This year the cinnamon ornaments will be a lovely addition!

I also wanted to tell you that I found a lovely Christmas quilt (I had been sighing over the one you put over your table) at an after Christmas sale for only $7. I could not believe my luck! It is so gorgeous – and worth the unplanned trip to the mall my teenage daughter begged for.

Thanks again for your blog. It helped me through the long season with five kids.

Shelley

Here are the cinnamon & applesauce decorations that Shelley & her daughter made.