Summer Reading and A Favorite Childhood TV Show

What have you been reading lately?  I read The Magic of Ordinary Days.  It was good!  The movie version of it was on the Hallmark Channel just this past Saturday.  Its always interesting to see what Hollywood does to a book, isn't it. 

I also read My Life On The Mountain...What I Learned From Erin Walton by Mary McDonough.  That was excellent!  I find it interesting to read about the life of a Hollywood star.  I also found it interesting how many things I had in common with a star.  Too bad having lots of cash in the bank isn't one of them! 

The Waltons is one of my all time favorite TV shows.  When I was growing up, I always wished that my family was like them.  I would even imagine myself being one of the Waltons.  I loved how they all got along and even when Olivia was pregnant many years after Elizabeth, the kids were all excited.  In my own life, I only had a sister and she hated me from the day I was born.  I endured mental, emotional, and physical abuse from her for years.  I tried and tried to gain her acceptance and love, but nothing worked.  Luckily, I had the Waltons to escape my grim reality.  

I discovered that the Hallmark Channel and INSP are both showing all of the seasons of the show.  Yeah!  Here is a strange coincidence....I had been thinking of reading A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, found it on my shelf, and started reading.  A few days after that, Cindy Walton (Ben's wife) was reading the same book.  I know...I'm weird.  LOL!

So what are you reading this summer?  Would you like a pretty bookmark to keep your place?  Here is my selection of beaded shepherd hook bookmarks at my Etsy shop:

I hope you enjoyed looking at my beaded bookmarks.  I am currently having a Christmas in July sale at my shop.  If you use Coupon Code CIJ15, you will take an extra 15% off your entire purchase (before shipping costs).  Why not start your Christmas shopping early?  All of my bookmarks are shipped in an embossed, white gift box, ready for gift giving for someone you know or even yourself.  LOL!

Happy Reading!

Melissa

The Fourth of July is just around the corner....

I'm a bit late in posting about my patriotic wreaths at Etsy, but better late than never.  I think you could decorate your front door with a patriotic wreath all summer.  Here is my selection:

The last wreath is my fabric wreath.  I took many, many swatches of glittery patriotic themed fabric and pinned them to a styrofoam wreath.  I'm sure you can imagine how long it must have taken me, when you see how full it is and that it was created by hundreds of 2" squares of fabric.

I also have some patriotic quilted wallhangings and a door knob hanger on my Etsy shop:

The last two pictures are Debbie Mumm's patriotic fabric.  I just love them; especially since there is a tabby cat on them.  ;-)

The last patriotic item in my Etsy shop, is a patriotic beaded bookmark:

I hope anyone reading this will stop by Melissa's Cozy Cottage on Etsy.  I currently am having a sale.  Use coupon code USA10 and get 10% off of your order total (before shipping charges).  The address is http://www.melissacozycottage.etsy.com/ 

I hope everyone has a safe and Happy Fourth of July!  ENJOY!!!!

I've been kind of MIA....

I haven't posted here in quite a few months.  I've been busy designing items for my Etsy shop (http://www.melissascozycottage.etsy.com/) .  Lately, I've been feeling in a fancy mood...a Victorian mood.  Here are a few items from my shop that have a Victorian feel to them.  They are from top to bottom my Victorian Pincushion Basket, my Basketful of Lilacs and Lilies of the Valley Wall Pocket or Tabletop Decoration, my Sweet Victorian Pansies Wreath,  and my Victorian Garden Chair Tabletop Decoration (that one is very Victorian).  Enjoy and hope to see you at Melissa's Cozy Cottage on Etsy.com sometime!

 

February is coming in like a lion....

Oh boy!  We're getting lots and lots of snow, 35 mph winds, and sleet.  Not fun!  I wish my husband's company closed for the night like so many other companies are, but that is not going to happen.  Its not a full blown blizzard....yet.  Hope it doesn't come to that by tomorrow morning.  Sigh.........

I've been busy in my Cozy Cottage designing all kinds of goodies for my Etsy shop.  Here are a few of my creations:

This is my Valentine's Day Debbie Mumm Four Hearts quilted wallhanging:

These are my Spring and Summer Flower Gardening placemats:

Here is a couple close-ups of the placemats:

I just love the fabric that I used for the backing:

I also designed a couple spring time/Easter door knob hangers.  When I first opened my Etsy shop, I didn't think door knob hangers would be a big seller.  Boy was I wrong.  I sold all of them but one.  Here are the latest ones:

That is my Victorian Springtime Pansies door knob hanger.  I really like the ribbon flower in the corner.   This next one is my Basketful of Pansies door knob hanger.  The ribbon flower I used on this one really looks like a pansy. 

I also made a Valentine's Day Country Hearts quilted wallanging:

I really like that backing fabric (last picture).  It really suits the wallhanging.

I've got some other goodies coming for Easter, spring, summer, Fourth of July, etc.  I need to spend a good few hours and straigten up my studio before I can resume designing. I just can't be creative surrounded by a mess.  I would never make it as a hoarder.   Speaking of hoarding, I have a story, but that is for another time...

Yes, its Friday!

TGIF!   Its been an odd week for me.  Tried to order different things online and ran into bizarre situations.  Anything from someone wanting to charge shipping as the same amount of the item.  When I asked if the postage would really be that much, seeing as I'm not that far from this seller, I was told that packing materials, tape, ink, etc., all add up, so yes the amount was correct.  What?  How in the world do you figure how much packing tape is per order?  How do you figure up how much ink you used in your Sharpie or printer in addressing the package?  Seriously!  Nope, I had to pass on that item, even though I did want it to add to my collection.  When I told the seller that I had to pass, I was told that I could get the ten I wanted for under $20.00 shipping.....something is smelling awfully fishy to me.

Then I tried to order fabric.  Oiy!  How hard can that be????  A week had gone by and no fabric, so I contacted seller only to find outlots and lots of interesting facts.  They had the fabric, they didn't have the fabric, it shipped, it did not ship, we can substitute, and we can refund.  Just give me the refund.  I really, really wanted that fabric for my sewing room.  I have an Amish theme and finding that type of fabric is hard.  It was a nice print.  So sad.....oh well.  There will always be some new fabric somewhere else.

Stopped in at JoAnn's.  Got some batting, fiberfil, and muslin.  Yep, got some new projects on the horizon.

Here are my recent creations:

I really like how "Lady of the Roses"(second pic) turned out.  I think its beautiful!   Its unique, because you can either hang it or sit it on a tabletop or shelf.  The first picture, Rosy Posy, is a favorite, also.  All of these turned out so nice, that I'm redoing all of my own Valentine's Day decorations.  For the shepherd's hook bookmark, I thought I'd be clever and photograph it on one of my vintage books.  The twist is that the title of the book is my name!  LOL!  Yes, I'm wierd, but in a good way!   The grapevine napkin is a new item I've added to my shop.

I sold this Valentine's Day wreath just the other day:

I hope my customer really likes it.  She's never ordered anything on Etsy before, so I was excited to be her first order.

Become a follower on my blog and I will give you 10% off your first order with me.  Just let me know in the comments section of the order and I will refund you the 10%.  You can see my items on the widget on the left hand side.  Sales....percentage off......always a good thing. 

Have a great weekend!

Happy New Year!!!

I've been so busy with creating items for my shop, decorating my home, baking, shopping, etc., for Christmas that I've neglected my own blog.  I hope anyone who happens upon this blog has had a Merry Christmas and has a very prosperous and Happy New Year!!!

Do you have any resolutions?  I usually don't make them, but I am this year.  First, my husband and I would like to get our debt down....way down.  He had major surgery this past fall and even with good health insurance, there is still a large amount to pay off.  We were blessed with a very generous Christmas bonus from his employer, (Thank You, PBE!!!) so that took care of a large chunk. 

My second resolution is to get more on top of my Etsy shop.  By that I mean that I want to get more product variety and get seasonal items posted sooner.  I haven't even started posting any Valentine's Day items...oiy!!!

Currently I'm having a "After Christmas sale",  which includes all of my Christmas wreaths and centerpieces.  This is my "Snowy, the Snowman" wreath: 

He is so cute that I'm making one for myself.  I'm a Santa collector and a snowman collector.  I have so many, that I take down the Santas on New Year's and then bring out the snowmen.  So this wreath would fit right in.  Besides, who says that snowmen are only around for Christmas???

Happy New Year everyone!!!!

"Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas",,,,

in my Etsy shop, that is.  I have been as busy as a Christmas Elf creating Christmas designs for my shop.  Here are a few of my new creations:

This is my Country Style Nativity quilted wallhanging.  I think its a different look to a traditional Nativity scene.

This is my Christmas Hostess Set.  It is a beaded with some beautiful faceted crystal beads, in traditional Christmas colors.  There is a bottle opener, a spreader knife, a spoon, and a fork.  This would make a lovely hostess gift.

This is my Christmas Peppermint Candy centerpiece.  The ribbon I found for it is so cute!  The letters are made with red and green candy like pieces.  Neat!  I also used little iridescent pieces of "rock candy" that I scattered throughout.

Noel the Christmas Angel wreath.  Isn't she just the cutest little angel?  I like her so much and I love how the wreath turned out that I just may keep it myself, if no one buys her.  Like I really need another wreath..........Nearly every door in my home has a seasonal wreath on it at all times of the year.  LOL!

This is my Country Style Christmas quilted wallhanging.  I thought this was a unique wallhanging in that there is a different theme in each diamond.

All That Glitters Christmas wreath.  This is a very rich looking wreath.  The reds and the golds just pop; especially with everything being covered in glitter.  Is there really such a thing as too much glitter; especially at Christmas????

I have a lot of items still in the "idea stage".  With Thanksgiving being next week...I better get off of Blogger and get designing. 

So...what are you designing for the holidays???????  Please share.