Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Her Name is "Antoinette"

Painting furniture has always been a love of mine and it seems that as the whole world is doing just that right now...Poppy House needed to get back on the wagon! 

Taking a forlorn piece of discarded furniture from what it was to Who it really deserves to be is such fun!



This sweet little desk was absolutely darling, but not in good shape at all. She hadn't been loved or cared for and had some pretty rickety joints. Her hand built drawers didn't fit and her legs were very wobbly. After a lot of tender lovin' fixin', by my wonderful handy dandy husband...she could stand stand up straight and start to feel like she was worth something. All she needed was a pretty dress and some fancy shoes and to the party she could go! 

Her transformation was such fun! Almost a Cinderella Story! 

Introducing......"ANTOINETTE'
        
                          
           
                                 
With her fancy gold leafing and vibrant colors she is now dressed
for the party and will surely be turning heads!

I thought it would be fun to share her with you! 

so....the moral of the story is to Always Know that with a little fixin' and a lovely new dress to the party we can go!

Hoping you can find something fun to dress up today!

Happy Day, Loves!




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Monday, January 16, 2012

A Very Happy Monday To You!




'My Aqua Monday'

I have a Very Precious Friend who always reminds me to have a "Happy Monday".
For some reason it seems Mondays can be a bit overwhelming, and her sweet reminder helps me to put everything in perspective....and then I sigh...and when I sigh the sweetness of her words fall over me.
She has encouraged me to remember that Mondays can be for simple, wonderful things...and not a huge list of breathless 'to-dos'.
I love this about her and I want you all to have this little gift in your pocket for the Mondays that seem too big.
Because of her, my Mondays are now...

No Rushing!
A cup of coffee with a dear friend...
A walk in the fresh air...
The quiet of just being still...
and...listening...because when we listen the amazing thing is that we cannot rush or worry or be stressed.
My Mondays were always a swirl of things I had to get done...(Because I see everything in color), I saw hundreds of colors, and I would get overwhelmed. Now...my Mondays are Aqua, which is her favorite color, soft and calming and never swirling!

I made this painting on a Monday because this is what they feel like to me now...


Have a Happy Monday, Loves
and remember...you can paint your day any color you choose!




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A little Peek Into The Window of What Happens In My Studio


http://pinterest.com/poppyspottery/poppy-house-pottery-pieces/
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Tuesday, March 8, 2011

In The Pink

The Dream of a Soft Pink Wedding is coming true...

How Beautiful She will be...floating down the aisle in a drift of white surrounded by the Pink Bloom Of Spring!

 

This Beautiful Photograph is by

Lauren Dinneweth 
You can treat yourself to more of her lovely work at: 

Leaping Gazelle Studios on Etsy 

Lauren has such a magical style that captures delicacy and beauty in the most sensitive way!
So...Here's to You, Lauren...and the amazing beauty you see!


May we all look through a rose colored lens today...as everything is coming up Pink!

 Happy Day, Loves!

     

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Thursday, March 3, 2011

Frosting Practice Day...

The Momma Is Going To Make The Wedding Cakes!

So...today is frosting practice day.

My Darling Daughter...The Precious Bride to be...found the most wonderful old recipe. It is Incredibly Delicious...with a few little tweeks.

Old Fashioned Flour Frosting
1 cup of cold whole milk
5 tablespoons of flour
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla

Whisk the flour into the cold milk and bring to a boil.
Cook until it gets really thick, like a paste
Take it off of the heat and stir in vanilla
Set aside until completely cool...let it cool on it's own.

Beat 1 cup of butter with 1 cup of white sugar and 1/2 cup of brown sugar until light and fluffy
When flour and milk mixture is cool beat into the sugar and butter!!
Oh My Goodness! Heaven on a spoon!

This is the first practice day and I think this frosting gets a Great Big Star!
Now we just have to figure out if it will hold up or melt into a sweet, delicious puddle.

Fudge Brownie Cupcakes with a KISS In The Middle!




You should whip this up, Loves!
It is hard to believe how Heavenly it is!

Happy Frosting Day To All Of You!







 
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Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Time For A Wedding!

The Bride To Be...So Sweet To Me!

My Precious Daughter is getting married in April!
This is for HER...all things Beautiful!!

These wonderful items can all be found on Etsy!

So...To all of You, 'Mother's Of The Bride'...
Such sweet Beautiful ideas for your Precious Girl!



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Monday, February 14, 2011

The Colors Of My Love

  I made this heart for my WONDERFUL HUSBAND
and painted it with all the
Colors Of My Love





 How Do I Love Thee

 by..Elizabeth Barrett Browning 

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
 
And...who could have ever said it better? !!!
Happy Valentine's Day, Loves!










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Tuesday, January 25, 2011


          

        










What Color Is LOVE To You?













                                     A  "Pink" Love Story    













                                             

                                             

                                             

                                             

                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                 



                                    


                                     

I was five years old when My Dearest Auntie asked me what color Love was to me....I said... "PINK"...and every single year from that moment on she planted the most beautiful PINK tree in the whole  wide world... on My Birthday!







 I was forty three when God took her Home....









An incredible birthday each year, an acre of PINK IN BLOOM!!!!! The most  amazing sight and feeling! The sweet fragrance of a million blossoms  and the softness of  a Pink Cloud in full bloom above me is something I will never  forget! 











The first tree she planted for me was a Japanese Flowering Cherry. It  was just outside her biggest window and the most magnificent of all!  Always in it's full glory on My Day. 



We would sit and marvel at it's beauty and size. Every family picture was taken under it...'Our Favorite.' With each coming year we anticipated how beautiful it would be.







 On my birthday in 1993 the phone rang and she  said..."Darling, the cherry tree didn't bloom this year!"



I gasped, and we both cried!







Two weeks later, she went to Heaven..........











Such a story of Love! Of listening and knowing a little girl's heart and understanding, even then, what beauty meant to me. I will always marvel at how she knew how to love me...and how she was able to make all things special and wonderful!









When I arrived back home, (I had moved away), most of MY PINK CLOUD was still in  bloom...but not...'Our Favorite!'  I stood there under it feeling so alone and sad,  and as I looked down, right out of the bottom of the trunk, there was a  tiny twig...with one PINK BLOSSOM!  











I knew at that moment that God wanted me to know I was not alone and that I was Loved!









Even though I live far away now, I know that the bloom of Spring is just around the corner and MY PINK TREES will be in their glory! 







Thinking of My Auntie this morning and My Precious Gift I  put together a Pink Treasury on My Etsy Page to share with all of you.
















Have you ever thought of what color LOVE is to YOU?...or to someone you love?...or what you could do with THE COLOR THAT IS LOVE TO THEM ?









Happy LOVING, Loves!

 



  




































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Wednesday, January 5, 2011


          

        










May Your New Year Be Filled To The Brim With Love!












A Very Happy New Year Loves!



 May it be filled...To The Brim With LOVE!









I have been pondering on the year and thinking of all of the Love that it held. Have you ever thought of that?



OH My Goodness! It suddenly becomes absolutely filled to the brim and overflowing! 









The simplest of things can say...I Love You.









My Precious Grandchildren giggling as they walk into the house and call out..."Nana"...makes me feel like a warm blanket of Love just wrapped all around me!



The thoughtfulness of My Wonderful Husband...each and everyday...is as tho, even without a word, he can surround my world in Amazing Love!



All of My Children home at the same time is Love to me. The fact that they simply "Made It Happen"...feels like being in God's arms!









Thinking of our own actions and showing someone else our love is such joy!!!! 









Paying attention...









What do we do that puts the Biggest Smile on their face?









What is there that they need help with?









What can we do to be sure that our Patience and Kindness is ALWAYS available for them?









Just very simple thoughts from a very simple girl wanting to be sure that a year filled with Love is the goal!









...and so for fun and a sweet reminder... I filled some bowls right up...To The Brim With LOVE!!!











































































May this New Year hold Love for You...



May you Fill and be Filled...right up...



 To The Brim With Love!






























































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Friday, December 10, 2010


          

        










One Little Note!












Hello Loves!









'Tis the Season'...and I have found myself way too busy...as usual!



How about you?...are you realizing, right about now, that there just isn't enough time to make it or bake it or create it?...me too!...and so for today, I have decided to do just one little thing...Write a note!...just one...by hand...that tells one person one thing about them that is special to me. 



That's all...and then I am going to walk to the mail box and mail it.

























It is 'The Season'...but each and everyday is too, and...if we could always remember that one sweet thought, from our heart, to someone else truly is a gift, we would realize that what we can make or bake or create really isn't so important. Our heart touching theirs is what matters most!









All of a sudden you may find yourself, as I did, thinking of many wonderful moments... don't get overwhelmed!...This is for today... Just Today!...there will be other days for... "One Little Note"...for one special person... when it isn't even 'The Season'.



 









Who are You thinking of today, Loves?



Is there a precious person that blessed you by being with you when you needed them most? Was there a loving look that encouraged you or is there someone that you admire and love...Tell them!









 



Just..."One Little Note"...one little  thing...to one special person, today...written by hand...and mailed!









We may all be surprised at how many "One Little Notes" we can write...one little day at a time!









Blessings To All...

























 



 



 






















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Monday, November 8, 2010


          

        










A Day For Cooking














This cool autumn morning has me thinking of my Grandma and how she loved to cook. I remember her always in the kitchen and that she never had her apron on without her pearls!



Everything she did was lovely and beautiful and everything she made was absolutely scrumptious!









Thinking of her has made me miss her and my tummy homesick for her cooking...and so, without further ado, I am going to make My Grandma's Apple Pie!..out with the rolling pin and apples and on with the pearls and the "Cutest Apron Ever"!

















You can find Your Very Own Perfect Apron at...  





 The Best Kitchen Shop Ever! 



The Kitchen Sync                                                     http://thekitchensync.com/

  





 

My Grandma's Apple Pie

   Crust 



2 sticks of butter 



2cups of flour 



3 tbsp brown sugar 



bit of salt 



1/4 teaspoon baking powder 



4 tablespoon ice cold water with 1 tbsp. vanilla 



Stir flour, salt and baking powder together cut in chilled butter with fork or pastry blender until crumby, (I use the food processor). Add the vanilla ice water mixture one tablespoon at a time, stirring with fork until dough sticks together but not really wet. 

Make two balls and chill for a while before rolling it out.











   Filling



10 apples sliced thin

1 1/2 cups of brown sugar (a little less if apples are really sweet) Honey Crisps...if you can find them are wonderful! 

2/3 cup water minus 1 tablespoon

1 tablespoon lemon juice

3 tablespoons of flour

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 cup of sugar

1 tablespoon of Brandy

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 tablespoons butter

1/2 teaspoon salt 



Mix the brown sugar and water in saucepan add lemon juice and apples. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes or until apples are starting to get tender. Using a slotted spoon, put apples into a bowl and set aside. Add flour and granulated sugar to saucepan, stir and cook until it thickens...then add butter, salt, vanilla, brandy, apples and cinnamon. Cool a bit, add to rolled out bottom crust in pie dish. 

Roll out the top crust and place over apples, cut vent slits. Brush with beaten egg white  decorate with leaves cut from left over dough and sprinkle it with raw sugar. 



Bake at 400 degrees for about 35 to 45 minutes

or until crust is perfect. If browning too fast reduce heat to 375 degrees and cover edges with foil. 



My Grandfather loved his pie with a huge slice of sharp cheddar cheese...I prefer mine with vanilla whipping cream.



 I promise that you will want to lick your plate!











My Beautiful "Incanto" Dinnerware by Vietri at...    



The Kitchen Sync










 



Does Your tummy ever get homesick? 



 Is there a recipe that makes You think of someone You love?...or maybe You just might want to try... 



 My Grandma's Apple Pie!



Happy Cooking Day To You!













 

 










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Thursday, November 4, 2010


          

        










A Gift












On the sunlight path to my studio...A Gift!



The most beautiful nest and perfect blue eggs!









Why was it on my path?













I love nests! I am always pondering...how on earth can one tiny bird, with no hands, build such a perfect home for something as fragile and delicate as teeny eggs and babies without feathers?









"A nest is a perfect home, one without any nails"









Marveling at My Gift, I began to think of Our Nests and that this time of year always makes for "cozy-ing" them up.



and so...a precious reminder to me to make My Nest cozy and warm and soft and wonderful for a winter season at home with my loved ones.



  



I made an oil painting of My Gift to be always reminded of how important Our Nests are and what a Gift it is to have one to make wonderful!









 







Is there A Gift on your path?









or...has the smell of Fall in the air touched your heart and inspired you to start "cozy-ing" up Your Nest to make it warm and wonderful for your loved ones?











Happy Nesting, Loves!


 



 



 










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Tuesday, November 2, 2010


          

        










Forever Leaves












The ground is covered with the most beautiful color and light this Fall, and there are leaves everywhere! Not just gorgeous normal leaves, but amazing enormous ones! Our Chinese Empress Tree is their mother and...























every year when they begin to fall, I am so inspired!



Doing lovely things with them is very fun. One year I ironed them and they were our Thanksgiving place mats. Another time they were so wonderful decoupaged onto a dressing screen, but this year..."Something Forever" is what popped in my little head!









And so...from Leaf...to Forever...became a Platter!









Making them... as each leaf falls, (before the frost) is quite a challenge, but I have been smiling the entire time!









Does the beauty of this Fall catch your eye in a special way, Loves?



 Is there "Something Forever" you can create this year?









 



 Whatever it may be....Keep Smiling!!!









 










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Monday, November 1, 2010


          

        










Five Dollars In My Pocket...












My new studio is really wonderful and finding sweet things to use in it is so much fun!









I stopped at the thrift store yesterday, with five dollars in my pocket, and guess who came home a happy girl!









 



one broken lamp....1 dollar



one torn shade....25 cents



one dirty lace dresser scarf...50 cents



one dented silver champagne bucket...2 dollars



one rusted frame...25 cents



one ugly brass tin...1 dollar









Transformed into...









one, very cute, rewired lamp



one shade covered with clean lace dresser scarf...tied with ribbon



one polished champagne bucket...filled with paint brush bouquet 



one frame, painted...with a new mirror



one brass tin sprayed cream...filled with erasers









Perfect!



A darling arrangement of usable things for my work station!









 



What corner of YOUR world are you going to transform? 



You could be surprised, you may just have some treasures right under your nose...or a stop at the thrift shop (with five dollars in your pocket) might be a treat after your morning coffee!









I hope you have fun creating something new today, Loves!



 


 

 





















 

 









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