WHIMSICAL FAIRY COTTAGES......

Home Sweet Home......

More often than not the things that end up on my website and Etsy originate from something that I decide to make for myself, and these are no exception......

Last year I made and decorated so many little cottages and they were very popular but in the end I did not keep any for myself and so with that in mind I decided to make some for our own home. These little English vintage style cottages are just the sort of house I can imagine fairies choosing as their home. I know if I were a fairy I would have my little bag ready to go in a heartbeat. I think they definately have an English influence and are once again in my favorite colour scheme of pink and aqua......

I think most of us love and can remember the little vintage German Putz houses that are very collectable and popular today so with that in mind these pay tribute to the early German Putz cardboard house. They have been made with a mixture of new and vintage accessories and are pretty enough to stay out all year round......

I am going to display my little English country village with a few of my favorite spun cotton ornaments. I have collected these over the last few months and the two creations go together so beautifully. They are a perfect match that I had to buy some more of these wonderful little figures......

I will be listing these little houses up onto my website and Etsy over this coming weekend and hope you will stop by to take a look. If you would also like some of these wonderful little figures of your own please check out www.thepinktulip.etsy.com, the little fairy sitting on the toadstool is one of my all time favourites!......

LOVE & MARRIAGE......

14 September, 1974 The McDowell-Reid Wedding......

This photograph is the only photograph in existence of our wedding, we are the young couple in the middle. The Best Man was my husband's best friend Alan Thompson and Reuben's sister Annie stood for me. When we got married we had no money and I mean no money. We got married at the local Registery Office in Newtownards, Co. Down, Northern Ireland and I wore a simple suit by Kadix (I still have it tucked away) and Reuben wore a mis-matched jacket and pants plus his Ben Sherman shirt (these shirts were very trendy in the seventies). Looking back at this photograph I can see that Reuben had grown and really needed longer pants, but that was not in our humble budget......

My husband and I met when we were each 17 years old and as I did not start dating until I was 17 he was my only serious boyfriend. I consider myself very lucky to have met my husband when we were so young, we have grown and weathered life's storms together.......

We got engaged on the 4th of May 1974 (Liverpool won the F.A. Cup) and married a few months later in September. No one thought it would last as we were 18 and had only known each other less than 18 months (of which 6 months of that I was in England). But we knew our own minds and wanted to be together......

We had so little money and could not afford a church wedding, photographer or wedding reception. We were driven to the Registery Office in the next door neighbours old car and then came back to Reuben's parents house for a pot roast dinner for the seven of us. My husband's daddy had an old camera and he took the one photograph that is in existance. From our very humble beginning we have now had 35 years together......

I am so grateful that Reuben is in my life even with all of the difficulties that my husband now faces on a daily basis I would not change a thing. I am even more pleased that we did marry at such a young age because I really value all of the years we have been given. Sometimes you just have to grab every second and hug it close because you never know when it is going to be snatched away......

I wish all of you joy with your loved ones and hope that life treats you well, blessing always......

FORGIVENESS......

Psalm 32:1-7 (King James Version)

1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit
there is no guile.

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

4 For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the
drought of summer. Selah.

5 I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will
confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my
sin. Selah.

6 For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest
be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him.

7 Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt
compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS......

Meet 'Rosebud' One Of My Favourite Things......

Like everyone else I have a house with lots of things but also like everyone else I have some things that are extra special to me and of great sentimental value. This beautiful cloth doll is one of those things......

About fourteen years ago I met a wonderful lady called Barbara and we immediately hit it off and became firm friends. This was truly amazing to me because my best friend Barbara is beautiful and has that sort of blonde hair that always falls into a perfect sweep with what seems no effort at all. Me, I am short, chubby, look like I have been dragged through a hedge backwards and usually heading out the door in such a hurry that I have not even put any make up on. So the fact that this sophisticated, well groomed lady wanted to be my friend was a complete suprise to me. On the surface we looked total opposites (imagine Danny Divito and Arnold Schwarzenegger in 'Twins') and I would understand others thinking we had nothing in common. But in fact we are kindred spririts and share the same birthday, different year but same day......

The wonderful doll you see was the very first birthday gift to me from Barbara, I was completely floored by her generosity and have treasured this beautiful doll ever since. Rosebud sits with pride in my home and she something that I will treasure forever and never part with......

She is an all cloth doll and I belive her to be French, she is original including her little onesie underneath her organza and felt dress. She has the most beautiful hand painted face, blond hair and the chubbiest of chubby cheeks. I also love how her little organza and felt hat frames her very pretty face. Thank you Barbara for giving me something that I truly love and treasure, your friend, Maureen......

TEA, BISCUITS AND EIDERDOWNS......

Click on images to see full size of some of my vintage English eiderdowns......

One of my favourite eiderdowns with beautiful pink roses and pale robin's egg blue background......

The thing I loved best about my grandparents was that every home they ever had felt like a true home. There was nothing fancy about their houses in any shape or form but to me each and every house they had was like a little haven......

There was never any fancy wallpaper and more often than not the wallpaper that was in the house when they moved in was the wallpaper on the walls when they moved out......

They never had any fancy furniture and there was no special room for company. Nothing they owned matched and each and every piece had been owned by them for a long time and was time worn with love. When I look back on things I realise they did not even own a sofa, they had two simple little chairs with wooden arms that sat side by side in front of the television with the fireplace to toast your little toes to perfection......

One of my favorite childhood memories of my grandparents was the first cup of tea in the morning. Every night before going to bed my grandfather would fill an electric kettle with water that was on a table beside their bed ready for the next morning's brew. There was also a tray that held two cups and saucers (when I was there it was three), sugar, milk and British digestive or rich tea biscuits......

Like clockwork everymorning the alarm would go off and my grandfather would get out of bed and put the kettle on. My little bedroom was directly beside theirs and I would always wake up to the sounds of the water heating in the kettle without fail. My little feet would hit the floor and I would head into their room and into the middle of the bed. Pillows would be plumped behind my head and the covers would be smoothed out and the fluffy eiderdown quilt would lay on top to keep us all snuggly warm from any chill in the morning air......

One of the constants in every home of my grandparents was the ever presence of the soft feather filled eiderdown. These were a staple in every household and came in some of the most beautiful and glorious fabrics. These wonderful old eiderdowns are now highly sought after and collectable but to my grandparents they were the perfect way to keep warm in a house with no central heating other than a coal fire. Nothing speaks of home to me more than hot cups of tea in bed and cozy floral eiderdowns on the top......

My grandparents have now been gone for a long, long time, but their memories linger with me constantly and influence my life and home in every way. I now have vintage eiderdowns from England on my own beds. They give me comfort and remind me of those wonderful days of childhood when everything seemed perfect. Hot cups of tea are still the norm in our house and when it gets cool enough I still love to snuggle. I do smile though as I live in South Florida and it rarely gets to be anywhere cool enough to even think of using an eiderdown but I would not change a thing......

I hope that you have wonderful memories to keep you warm and soft fluffy quilts to snuggle under this winter, God's Blessings to you always......

(Eiderdowns, or eider down quilts, were introduced to Victorian Britain from Europe as a substitute for heavy woollen blankets - but they didn't do away with all blankets. British beds were still made up with a top sheet, a couple of blankets and then an eiderdown: always an ornamental item, even when covered by a bedspread. The typical eiderdown was covered in satin or floral chintz, and tightly quilted. Despite its name it might well be filled with goose feathers, not real eider down from the eider duck. Feathers were used in mattress's and duvets in Europe dating back to the 14th Century and the eiderdown has evolved from the European duvet and feather mattress.)

I WON, I WON, I WON......

The photograph below belongs to Vintage Crystal Blog......

I Won A Blog Give-A-Way......

I am so happy and thrilled because I won a blog give-a-way today and I could not be happier......

On the 16th of October I entered a competition to win the above 'Good Witch Fairy' Ornament from one of my favorite creators. I am lucky enough to already own some of this very talented artist's pieces, so I was truly thrilled to be able to add to my collection......

Please take the time to check out the blog of the spun cotton ornament designer http://vintagebycrystal.blogspot.com/, I know you will not be disappointed. I will let you know when my 'Good Witch Fairy' arrives and takes up residence in her new home. I hope she like it here in sunny Florida!......

IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOME......

This poem is very meaningful to me and I read it throughout the year. I fall far short of what I should be doing at all times and continue on a daily basis trying to be worthy. I hope you enjoy reading it also......

If Jesus Came To Your Home

If Jesus came to your home to spend a day or two

If He came unexpectedly,I wonder what you'd do.

Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room to such an honored Guest,

And all the food you'd serve Him would be the very best,

And you would keep assuring Him you're glad to have Him there

That serving Him in your home is joy beyond compare.

But when you see Him coming would you meet Him at the door

With arms outstretched in welcome to your Heavenly Visitor?

Or would you have to change your clothes before you let Him in,

Or hide some magazines, and put the Bible where they'd been?

Would you turn off the radio and hope He hadn't heard,

And wish you hadn't uttered that last, loud, hasty word?

Would you hide your worldly music and put some hymn books out?

Could you let Jesus walk right in, or would you rush about?

And I wonder -- if the Savior spent a day or two with you,

Would you go right on doing the things you always do?

Would you go right on saying the things you always say?

Would life for you continue as it does from day to day?

Would your family conversation keep its usual pace,

And would you find it hard each meal to say table grace?

Would you sing the songs you always sing, and read the books you read,

And let Him know the things on which your mind and spirit feed?

Would you take Jesus with you everywhere you planned to go,

Or would you, maybe, change your plans for just a day or so?

Would you be glad to have Him meet your very closest friends,

Or would you hope they stay away until His visit ends?

Would you be glad to have Him stay forever on and on,

Or would you sigh with great relief when He at last was gone?

It might be interesting to know the things that you would do,

If Jesus came in person to spend some time with you.

~Author Unknown~

LETTING GO......

I don't know if it is about age or just about changing my life but for the last two years or so I have been slowly down sizing and simplifying my life and my home......

For most of my adult life I have been an avid collector and gatherer. For me there was not a sweet little vintage anything that I could pass by. My mind would always pause and wonder who had owned this treasure and why was it now for sale. Invariably I would end up buying it and bringing it home......

This was alright when I was a young bride and our home was a very barren nest but after a number of years you begin to wonder, where am I going to put this. Now I could in most circumstances find a corner that was just perfect for this new treasure and complete things to perfection. But with the passage of time even my poor house could bear no more......

I began to dream of a house that when guests were coming to stay I would be able to throw open the doors of a closet or the drawers of an old dresser and say "Put your clothes here". Now I was a very long way from that point, whenever anyone came to stay I would madly scramble about and try and move my precious collectables to other areas that were already groaning under the strain......

Now to the inexperienced eye my house was a vision of perfection with everything in place and a place for everything. Only I knew that every drawer, closet and underneath the beds were packed full with wonderful treasures that I dearly loved......

There was a time when the mere thought of parting with one single item would have caused me angst and much heartache. But slowly over the years I have found myself slowly evolving and growing towards a more simpler way of life. I began to think of being able to have a piece of furniture that did not have to have every drawer full to capacity and for the vacuum cleaner to be able to scoot under the beds with no obstacles in sight. Heavenly indeed!

With this thought in mind I have slowly been letting go. Now I must empathise that the word is slowly, but I have to say that during the last two or three years I am now beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.....

I have amassed a beautiful collection of vintage linens, antique chromolithograths and vintage plates galore and although it has been hard I am slowly letting go......

Where to start is often the hardest part and the most overwhelming and I have watched the series 'Hoarders' with avid interest. Now my house is possitively empty in comparison to the houses that appear on this show. But for me it has been imperative to let go of a lot of what are at the end of the day just 'things'......

I made the decision that I wanted to have the sentimental possessions that I loved either on the wall or on display in my house and that anything else was surplus to requirements. It is a very slow process and I have had my own plan of attack and chosen to under take a drawer or a cupboard at a time. Once I have decided which room and which cupboard is going to be sorted I then remove the items that I think I can honestly live without. These items either go for sale in my Etsy shop or they go for donation. I also decided that if they did not sell on Etsy after a reasonable lenth of time that they would not go back into the cupboard but rather be given away or donated......

There was a time that doing this would have filled me with horror but I have honestly found that once the treasure has left the house I no longer give it a thought. Now I am not a paragon of virtue and when I first go through a cupboard or drawer sometimes only 10% can initially be parted with and that is OK. I know that maybe in a few months I will again come back to this cupboard and again remove 10%, it is amazing how much this adds up to over time......

I now have some empty drawers in my house, and I can see the bottoms of the closet floors. They used to be piled high with folded quilts, but now these have all been sold and I am just about down to only the quilts that will go on my various beds. I cannot begin to say how wonderful this entire experience has been, I now have all of my beds clear and can happily pass the vacuum cleaner underneath and catch all of the dust bunnies......

I am going to continue this process until I feel I am at a point where I can again breathe and not feel that my possessions have become a burden to me. When I was young my son played ball in the house one day and broke an antique plate, I was so upset because the plate was well over a hundred years old. Now today when an antique plate gets broken I am OK about it and realise that it is only a thing and that I do not actually own it. Everything I have is not owned by me but rather I am a custodian of it while I am on this earth. When I die someone else will become a custodian and borrow it again for a while. I hope that they love it but also realise that it is after all just a possession and not of enormous importance in the great scheme of life......

I love now that my shoulders are lighter and that I no longer feel a slave to my home and my possessions. For me letting my things go in small increments has been the perfect solution and that something that could not be parted with six months ago is now not so important.....

My home is still a haven and still a place I want to be but now I feel that I have the things that I need and not the things that I want. A big difference indeed, blessings to you always......

BLOG GIVE-A-WAY......

Fairy Cupcakes Anyone!

These are probably hands down my top seller. Everyone it seems loves cupcakes and in my family they were always called 'Fairy Cakes'......

For my second Blog give-a-way the winner will receive a set of three fake cupcakes. These are very pretty with pink roses and lots of fake sugar sprinkles. There is a pale pink, pale lemon and white, these can be displayed in many rooms of your house including, Kitchen, Dining Room and Living Room, enjoy......

If you have always wanted to have a set of faux pasteries this is now your chance. It is very simple to enter and there are many different ways you can take part......

The rules are very easy for you to follow:

The blog give away will run from tonight October 15th, 2009 until 31st October, 2009 11.59 pm Eastern Time. I have allowed this to last for two weeks in order for you to be able to enter many times......

Any or all of these, the choice is yours......

(1) For every comment left on any blog from September 15th, 2009 until the closing date and time you will be entered into the give away. The more comments you leave the more enteries you will build up and increase your chances of winning.

(2) Mention my blog give away on your blog and it will count as an entry (you will have to notify me that you have done this).

(3) Following me on Google will also count as an entry.

(4) Introducing a friend to my blog and having them leave a comment and/or follow me on Google will also count (you will have to let me know the name of your friend).

(5) Adding my link button to your blog sidebar will also count as an entry (Again let me know that you have done this) This is on the right side of my blog.

(6) Lastly adding my blog to your Favorite Blogs List will also count as an entry.

Have fun and the best of luck......

LIFE ALTERING AND INSPIRING......

Oprah Winfrey Show - October 08, 2009

On October 08, 2009 I watched Oprah and was transformed by a guest appearance. It is not often that I feel compelled to write about a television show but this was truly an exception. I have never met someone with such a spirit and depth of character that this very special lady and her husband have, and I felt honored to learn of them both through the show......

This inspirational lady is called Stephanie or Nie and she appeared with her wonderful husband Christian or Mr. Nielson as she refers to him on her blog. After watching the show and learning of their very remarkable journey I felt compelled to learn more by going to NieNie's blog......

I am not going to say too much about her as I hope that you will take the time to read and learn about Nie and her husband yourself......

I can only hope that if I am ever put to the test that I can have the same courage and conviction. Thank you Nie and Christian for taking the time to appear and help change my life, blessings to you every single day......

http://www.nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

THE BELIEVER'S PATH......

12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:12-17 (New International Version)

BLOG GIVE-A-WAY 'DADDY'......

Jules Arthur 1922 aged 5 years......

I wanted to wait until Julie Marie had received my first blog give-a-way gift from me before I posted about it on my blog......

I can honestly say that it was a pleasure and a joy to create this keepsake for Julie Marie. We emailed a few times to come up with an image and during this time it was clear to me that an image of Julie Marie's dear 'Daddy' was the perfect choice......

I think this is such a beautiful photograph of when he was five years old and I sincerely hope that Julie Marie will love and cherish it forever......

My first blog give-a-way has been an inspiration for me and a joy to create, bisous Julie Marie......

10 THINGS YOU DID NOT KNOW ABOUT ME......

1. I was saved and became Born Again on 03 December, 1978. I thank The Lord every day for choosing me and giving me a direction to go in my life.
   
2. I met my husband in Ireland when I was seventeen and we married when we were eighteen. Everyone gave it a year but we have now lasted 35 years and still love each other.
   
3. My son was born in Ireland and being a mother to my son has been my greatest accomplishment in life and I would not take back a single day.
   
4. I was a tomboy and loved to climb apple trees and go fishing with my little net and catch Stickleback fish.
   
5. I have always championed the under dog, to my own detriment on occasions.
   
6. I was an avid reader of the classic novels and love Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte.
   
7. I was born in Rhodesia as it was then and Zimbabwe as it is now and could speak fluent Africaans. I loved being a child of Africa but things became difficult and my parents and grandparents decided to move back to England.
   
8. I lived in Liverpool during the sixties and grew up with The Beatles as our local lads.
   
9. Our family moved back to Belfast in Northern Ireland in 1968, my father was Irish and 'The Troubles' began in 1969. I lived in Belfast for 17 years through the thick of it and loved it and would not trade one minute of life there and until my husband became disabled with M.S we used to go back and visit often.
   
10. I am English through and through, right down to the accent but consider myself blessed to have traveled the world and been fortunate enough to have spent parts of my life in South Africa, England, Ireland, Australia and now the U.S. I now look on myself as a Heinz 57 varieties!

DO YOU BELIEVE IN FAIRIES......

'Jolie Filles'

I do, from my earliest memory as a little girl I believed in the 'wee folk'. Does this come from having an Irish father where enchantment and reality often meet, maybe. But I do know that I have always loved to imagine little tiny fairies going about their daily tasks amid a world of humans......

When I was small I used to sit quietly in a room with only a tiny bit lof light and believe that the little fairies would come out to play if I only sat still for long enough. Now obviously I never actually saw one, but does this stop me from believing, absolutely not......

I think there is nothing lovelier than having a touch of whimsy in our lives. The land of make believe takes us away from our daily lives and brings a touch of magic to our everyday existance. I can only think how dull things would be without an active or in my case over active imagination......

My latest little fairy creation is called 'Jolie Filles', which is French for pretty girls. I hope you like my latest fairies......

You can find them on my Etsy site http://www.arosewithoutathorn.etsy.com/, enjoy......

GOATS FOR JESUS......

Goats For Jesus by Dave Branon

When Dave and Joy Mueller felt God prompting them to move to Sudan as missionaries, all they knew was that they would be helping to build a hospital in that war-ravaged land. How could they know that goats would be in their future?

As Joy began working with the women, she discovered that many were widows because of the devastating civil war and had no way to earn a living. So Joy had an idea. If she could provide just one pregnant goat to a woman, that person would have milk and a source of income. To keep the program going, the woman would give the newborn kid back to Joy—but all other products from the goat would be used to support the woman’s family. The baby goat would eventually go to another family. The gift of goats given in Jesus’ name would change the life of numerous Sudanese women—and open the door for Joy to explain the gospel.

What is your equivalent to goats? What can you give a neighbor, a friend, or even someone you don’t know? Is it a ride? An offer to do yardwork? A gift of material resources?

As believers in Christ, we have the responsibility to care for the needs of others (1 John 3:17). Our acts of love reveal that Jesus resides in our hearts, and giving to those in need may help us tell others about Him. — Dave Branon

1 John 3:16-20 (New International Version)
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence 20whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

IN AN ENGLISH COUNTRY GARDEN......

Upton Manor

Nothing probably says English cottage more than a pretty flower strewn garden filled to capacity and bursting at the seams with blossoms. One of the most famous creators of this form of gardening was the wonderful Gertrude Jekyll and I cannot see a cottage garden without thinking of her......

Gertrude Jekyll was born in 1843 and died in 1932 at the ripe old age of 89, and was probably the most respected gardener of her day. By all accounts she designed over 400 gardens with only a handful surviving. There are very few remaining gardens that are fully restored but we can appreciate her work from the abundance of literature and gardening books that she wrote and produced......

The most complete restoration of a garden that she designed is at Upton Grey Manor. When the new owners bought the property they did not know that there was the remains of a gem of a Gertrude Jeckyll garden. After many years of restoration work they are now the most complete gardens remaining that Gertrude created and a living museum of Jekyll design......

For me a Gertrude Jekyll garden is bountiful and overflowing, filled to capacity with cottage flowers in all colors and not an inch of soil to be seen. I do not crave the manicured brilliance of perfection, I love instead a garden that looks as if it has simply evolved and not been designed. I think this is truly the brilliance of Gertrude Jekyll, keeping things full of life and having nothing contrived......

Please click on this link http://www.gertrudejekyllgarden.co.uk/ it will take you to Upton Manor where you can see the amazing before and after pictures of the restoration work......

I hope you enjoy this little look at one of my favourite gardeners......

MY FIRST BLOG GIVE-A-WAY WINNER IS......

I am so happy to be able to announce my first Blog give-a-way winner, and the winner is, drum roll please......

Julie Marie, C'est Moi

Congratulations and also a big thank you to all who took the time to enter my very first blog give-a-way......

Big hugs and blessing all round, Maureen......