FourSistersInACottage.com

IT'S A GIRL!!!!

2011-11-27T19:33:00.001-06:00

IT'S A GIRL!!!! KRISTI AND CHASE ARE HAVING A BABY GIRL!!!!
I AM SOOOO BLESSED!!!!

Due in late March....How exciting!!!! I CANNOT WAIT TO MEET HER!!!
Love and Hugs to all of you,

A DOLL HOUSE????

2011-11-07T23:50:00.003-06:00

So last night I couldn't sleep and dreaming of how I am going to decorate my new home.

I'm in the house, not all unpacked but I have nothing but time to decorate. (working so much that the decorating has to wait for the weekends)

AND I am trying to fall asleep and knowing that I've ALWAYS WANTED A WHITE AND PINK HOUSE....

I sat up in bed and thought.....I WILL PAINT THE DOOR, THE SHUTTERS, THE DECK and my cutie STORAGE SHED PINK!!!!!

WHOOT WHOOT!!!! Looks like I will have my "DOLL HOUSE" after all!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!!

2011-10-25T21:14:00.003-05:00

I'm so blessed....I GOT MY OWN HOUSE!!!!

It's little, it's sweet, it's all mine and no one else's!!!!

And SOOOO DARN CUTE!!!!

Living Room

(not my decorating, just pics of the house the way the old owners have it)

More Living Room pics....I sign the papers on Nov 1st!

A Darling WHITE CUPBOARD Kitchen....Oh boy...I'm gonna have so much fun!!!!

My bedroom (again, not my decor)

Full Bathroom on Main Floor....shower/tub not shown

Dry, Open and endless possibilities basement.

Look at all that extra living space!!!!

Not seen is a huge deck off the back of the house!!!!

OKAY....Truth be told....

I haven't blogged because I was sad I didn't have a place to decorate.

I drooled over all of your blogs and it made my heart break so I stopped reading and looking...

UNTIL NOW....

YIPPY!!!! I have my own place to decorate and call my own....

ANY CUTE IDEA or PICTURES you can send my way, or suggestions on what you would do...I AM ALL EARS!!!

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!
Amy

~ALLI is GRADUATING n GOING AIRBORNE~

2011-08-04T08:20:00.004-05:00

WOW WOW WOW

~ALLI in FORMATION in SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS~

~LEARNING HOW TO TRANSPORT the INJURED.....

ALLI is a COMBAT MEDIC~

~More Transporting.....if it's just you out in the field with the injured soldier~

~Learning to stick tubes down the nose.....

she said she bled like a stuck pig and that is was very uncomfortable~

~Alli working on one of her combat buddies leg~

It's been since JANUARY that I have seen my Alli girl....she headed to Boot Camp at Fort Jackson, South Carolina....then straight to Combat Medic School at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.....

I MISS HER SOOOOO MUCH!!!

Tomorrow she GRADUATES as a Combat Medic in the US Army and was HAND PICKED by her superiors to go onto AIRBORNE RANGER SCHOOL!!!! She is so excited as she is my daredevil fearless daughter.

Not sure when I will get to see her....makes me sad and at the same time, she makes me so PROUD!!!!

All I can say is.... HOOAH!!!!

Love and Hugs, Amy

GRANDMA TO BE!!!! THAT'S ME!!!!

2011-08-02T19:59:00.003-05:00

That's right.....I'm gonna be a Grandma!!!! I AM SOOOO BLESSED that Kristi and Chase are expecting in March....WOW!!!! I am truly blessed to be alive to be able to see and hold my first Grandchild....OH BABY!!!! What fun this will be!!!! THANK YOU GOD!!!!!

Love and Hugs to all of you!!!!
Amy

~KMRY RADIO Station Official Photo~

2011-06-27T09:11:00.002-05:00

~These are my "Official" KMRY Radio Station Photos!!!!

And to think, I have now had 10 inches of my hair cut off since it grew back from chemo in February 2008. It grows soooo fast!!!!!

Happy Monday Everyone!!!! Hugs and Love, Amy~

WEBSITE READY!!!!

2011-06-25T21:47:00.005-05:00

FINALLY, I have all new vintage treasures on the website....www.FourSistersInACottage.com

Vintage 1938 and 1939 Catalog Pages from when my Mom and Dad were born

Vintage Seashore and Garden Treasures

Beautiful Old Quilts and Duvets

And Piles of Books from the 1900's including

Little Black Sambo

Darling GIRLY THINGS

I WANNA BE A COWBOY BABY

Hope you have a chance to take a look...it's been a long time coming. Have fun and THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for all your thoughts and prayers. I'm doing sooooo good!!!!

LOVE YOU!!!! I REALLY DO!!!! ~Amy~

Surgery went great

2011-04-27T16:01:00.001-05:00

Surgery went great.....Doctor Rozeboom saw no cancer on the outside as a matter of fact he said it was so clean and he was pleased with that.
All glory to God!!!!
Dr. Rozeboom was running way ahead so they called me to see if I could come in and my surgery started at 1:30 instead of 3:00. From the time I got there on Monday to when I left on Tuesday at 10:30am I was only in the hospital for 21 hours. Dr. Rozeboom also said I lost very little blood, less than 2 tablespoons. That DaVinci Robotic Surgery is amazing. But of course I had the best doctor and the best anesthesiologist Dr. Christopher Walsh. He is the best in his field and so compassionate. You can request him too!!! That made me so happy!!!! So, everything has been sent to pathology and I will know on Monday what they find. Sleeping all the time and thank goodness for pain pills. Thank you everyone for the well wishes, the prayers and the emails!!!! I'm on the mend and praying for good news on Monday. Love ya.....Amy

~My Surgery Tomorrow~

2011-04-24T07:51:00.002-05:00

http://www.stlukescr.org/our-services/surgery/robotic-surgery/gynecology/

The above link will take you to the page of the Da Vinci Robotic Surgery that I am having on Monday.

Scroll down to the part where there is a guy sitting on a chair looking around.

That is my Doctor, Dr. Rozeboom....click on him and he will give you a little spiel about the surgery.

Then right above him is a link (see below) and click on the first one that says prerecorded hysterectomy webcast.

MAKE SURE YOUR POP UP BLOCKER IS OFF otherwise you can't watch it. Resources

Watch a live, prerecorded hysterectomy webcast from St. Luke's operating room.
Follow a twitter log of a hysterectomy and vaginal prolapse surgery at St. Luke's.
Learn more about the da Vinci Hysterectomy.

You can speed it up to about the 32 minute part and that is where the surgery starts. PRETTY COOL, VERY INTERESTING (gross at some parts) but I have watched it 2 times and will watch it again Monday before I go in, you know me, I have to know what's going on.....

Let me know if you get to watch it.....but don't watch it if things like surgery gross you out. Oh and there's hardly any blood so it's not so bad

My surgery is scheduled to start at 3pm but I have to be there at 1pm to start the IV's and stuff. They said Dr. Rozeboom is always running ahead so I will probably go in before 3. Also, my surgery is scheduled for 2 hours but if he sees cancer on the ovaries (yes, he will be able to tell right away) my surgery will then be a 3 1/2 to 4 hour surgery to allow him to call in another kind of surgeon and pathologist so they can make sure to get all cancerous tissues removed.

I'm in great hands...I have the BEST SURGEON in THE COUNTRY!!!!

I AM SOOOOO BLESSED

Love ya!!!! and talk with you soon......Amy

~I'm Here~

2011-04-12T08:34:00.004-05:00

~That's my Alli Girl!!!! In Army Boot Camp and she graduates this week!!!! SHE DID GREAT!!!!

I AM SOOOOO PROUD OF HER and she will be heading to San Antonio this weekend to finish up her training. I won't see her until September.....I miss her something awful!!!!

I will keep you updated.

Love to all of you for hanging in there with me and THANK YOU for all the wonderful emails and prayers.....I need that most of all!!!!

Hugs and Love, Amy

~And the Winner Is~

2011-02-20T20:27:00.002-06:00

~The winner of my Vintage Lace, Buttons and Book is:

Ann Varga of California~

Thank you to each and everyone of you for your wonderful birthday wishes and for entering my contest.

Have a Happy New Week.....Hugs and Love, Amy

~GIVEAWAY only a few days left~

2011-02-16T06:50:00.001-06:00

~Only a few days left to enter my VINTAGE LACE, BUTTONS n BOOK GIVEAWAY~

Hugs and Love, Amy

~Me with The Four Sisters~

2011-02-10T09:02:00.003-06:00

~I know I promised you pictures of me with "The Four Sisters" but it's been really hard on me since they left on Jan 28th.....(just 2 weeks ago today)

It's the first time in 19 years that I haven't had Alli here. It hit me harder than I thought it would and I've been trying to keep my mind off of it by visiting all of your wonderful blogs and keeping busy around the house.

I will post more, but for now,

this is the only one I could muster up to share with you.

From Left to Right:

Me, (Amy the Mom)

Alli (sister #3),

Ashley (sister #1),

Kristi (sister #2)

and last but not least, Maddi (sister #4)

Love and Hugs,

Amy

(Don't forget to enter my Vintage Lace, Book and Buttons Giveaway)

~4th GIVEAWAY ~ GORGEOUS LACE~

2011-02-06T09:37:00.010-06:00

~In celebration of my birthday today, (yes, I am exactly as old as the Super Bowl) I am having my BEST GIVEAWAY SO FAR.....EVERY DREAMY TREASURE you see in the picture above is going to ONE LUCKY WINNER....it's an estimated $80.00 value~

~You will receive this GORGEOUS 40 Step-by-Step Projects hard cover book, full of beautiful treasures to make called "Crafting with Lace"~

~Along with that, you will receive 3 Bottles of my Vintage Pearl, Victorian and Novelty Buttons. I have adorned them with the old 1940's Meyercord Roses Decals that are so hard to find. These would be stunning if embellished with the lace that is in this giveaway~

~There are YARDS and YARDS of Old Vintage Lace in the best Old World Colors all hand done and in 100% Old Cotton~

~I couldn't resist giving you some darling YO-YO's that my 85 year old Aunt Gertrude made....She shares the exact say day birthday as me and is one of the most fascinating ladies you could meet. She is a sweetheart!!!! I even included a darling pair of doll mittens for you to use your imagination with. They are precious.~

~You will also receive oodles and oodles of PINK SATIN RIBBON made in RIVERSIDE, CONNECTICUT, quite a few yards to play with. I love this stuff as it is so soft and easy to work with.~

~Yummy coordinating colors as everything sings together~

~Divine Antique Lace Clutch Purse~

~Amazing Vintage Reference to styles, times, and different eras of clothing with lace~

~Beautiful Emerald Lace Sampler~

~Stunning Antique Lace Bib~

~Even a History to the Life and Times of Lace, so fun to read and full of helpful hints and information~

~An Amazing Lace Wreath~

~Of course, patterns for everything in the book....there are 40 of them~

~The inside cover is so pretty and will get you excited about what will be inside~

~All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, that's it, nothing more. Tell your friends!!!! You may also email me if you don't have a blog and I will be happy to add you to the drawing.

I will draw the winner on February 20th, 2011 in the evening.

Everyone can enter, even internationally!!!!~

GOOD LUCK to all of you....Hugs and Love, Amy

(PS....don't forget, there are all new treasures on the website....www.FourSistersInACottage.com )

~NEW TREASURES at FourSistersInACottage.com

2011-02-05T10:57:00.003-06:00

~OVER 125 LINENS ADDED~

~BARKCLOTH, SHEETS, PILLOWCASES, HANKIES, QUILTS, and LINENS GALORE~

~Just click here www.FourSistersInACottage.com and have a look see if you have a chance~
Happy Weekend Everyone,
Love and Hugs, Amy

~2 ROOMS of LINENS~

2011-02-02T19:35:00.004-06:00

~CHECK OUT ROOM 3 and ROOM 5 of my website as these Lovely Vintage Linens are ready to go to new homes~

HAVE FUN...more added soon www.FourSistersInACottage.com

~MY Linen HOARDING CONFESSION!!!!~

2011-01-31T14:32:00.003-06:00

~You can click on any picture to enlarge for better details....

IF YOU DARE....LOL~

~ I AM SICK....LOL....

What is wrong with me you ask????

I think I am a LINEN HOARDER!!!!~

LOOK AT ALL THOSE LINENS.....ALL VINTAGE, ANTIQUE AND OLD!!!!

And I DON'T EVEN SEW, I don't even know how....I just love old linens.

Since I truly do not think I am really ever going to learn to sew, well not anytime soon that is....

I promised myself for 2011...

I am selling it all!!!! All the linens that is.....

Stay tuned because it will probably take me HALF if not ALL YEAR LONG to get them on the website.

Just thought I would let you see what a LINEN HOARDER looks like....

They say admitting it is the first step...oh, and all those bins are full of linens too....LOL, I am sick, the love for linens sick that is.

Hugs and Love, Amy

~AND THE WINNER IS....PLUS A SNEAK PEEK~

2011-01-30T22:08:00.005-06:00

~AND THE WINNER IS KRISTI from JUNKOLOGY 101,

Thanks to everyone who entered and there will be YET another GIVEAWAY this week....stay tuned for the 4th GIVEAWAY of the year...it's gonna be another fun one, I PROMISE!!!!

~AND NOW A SNEAK PEEK INTO what's coming up on the website this WEEK~

~LOVELY OLD VINTAGE LINENS, BARKCLOTH, CURTAINS, PILLOWCASES, TABLECLOTHS and FABRIC.....this is just a little sample of what's to come.~
We are expecting another 6 to 18 inches of snow Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday so I will be staying home and taking loads of pictures for www.FourSistersInACottage.com

HAPPY HAPPY NEW WEEK.....only 8 weeks til my shop opens for the season...YIPPY!!!!
Hugs and Love, Amy

~GIVEAWAY TODAY~LAST CHANCE TO ENTER~

2011-01-30T12:21:00.003-06:00

~TODAY IS YOUR LAST DAY TO ENTER MY 3rd giveaway of the year.....110 piece paper ensemble~

Will draw the winner tonight around 9pm CST~

Love and Hugs, Amy

(PS.....to see more details, just go back a few posts to see everything)

~Me with the Girls~

2011-01-27T15:42:00.004-06:00

~I HATE HAVING MY PICTURE TAKEN as I never have felt that I was one of those photogenic types, but I did it anyways....
Me, Kristi, Maddi and Alli~

~These pictures were all taken the 1st morning Chase and Kristi arrived from Florida~

~SISTER LOVE IS THE BEST~

Tonight is the night.....I say goodbye to my "big girls"
This is so painful....I already have a lump in my throat and have been holding back the tears all day.....

Hug those you Love and don't let them forget how much you love and adore them.....

Hugs, Amy

~KIDS SLEDDING in IOWA~

2011-01-27T09:32:00.004-06:00

~Part of our crew~

~Maddi, Kristi, Chase, Alli and Alex....we were missing Ashley and Nick~

~They were at our house playing in the snow and sledding, after one of the sleds broke, I went and got swimming air mattresses, blew them up for the kids and TADA...a super fast sled was born. They came in, got warmed up then headed to our famous "Thomas Park Suicide Hill". They came home to homemade hot chocolate with marshmallows. Fun time had by all, Oh to be a kid again~

Hugs and Love, Amy

(PS....still time to enter the 110 piece paper giveaway....see post below)

~A GIVEAWAY #3 and 25% off EVERYTHING ON ETSY~

2011-01-24T14:29:00.004-06:00

~Yep, EVERYTHING in our Etsy Shop is 25% off~

USE COUPON CODE: LOVEYOU

to receive your 25% off and STILL FREE SHIPPING ON EVERYTHING IN THE ETSY SHOP~

Don't forget to enter our NEWEST DRAWING, number 3 so far this new year!!!!
Hugs, Amy

~3rd GIVEAWAY of the YEAR~

2011-01-24T10:18:00.006-06:00

~SOOOO MUCH HERE I HAD TO STAND ON THE CHAIR TO GET EVERYTHING IN THE PHOTO, 110 pieces~

~ANOTHER PAPER EPHEMERA GIVEAWAY~

110 pieces of fun vintage reproduction paper all cut from a magazine by me.

4 WAYS TO WIN!!!!

Just simply enter on this post for one chance

Post on your blog about my giveaway for 3 chances

Become a follower for one chance

There are tons of cute photos to use in your altered art projects...WWII, Advertisements, Cupid Awake/Asleep, Valentine's, St. Patrick Day goodies and more....You will get everything pictured.

Hugs and Love and GOOD LUCK!!!!

Amy

(PS....will pick the winner Sunday, Jan 30th in the evening after I say goodbye to my girls in the Army.)

~Get Ready for ANOTHER GIVEAWAY~

2011-01-23T21:52:00.002-06:00

~YEP......I sat down yesterday and cut out over 100 vintage photos from a magazine to give to you on my next giveaway.

I will take pictures this week and will officially launch my next giveaway, it's looking like TUESDAY.....Loads of fun stuff for alter art projects and more pink n red vintage tickets.

Kristi and Chase get here tomorrow from Florida so I will try to get the pictures on Tuesday. Please don't enter yet......it will mix me up and I am easily mixable.....LOL

Happy New Week....

Love and Hugs, Amy

~MY MILITARY FAMILY~

2011-01-19T05:18:00.020-06:00

~This is my sweet and smart daughter Alli. (Sister #3 of the Four Sisters) She has a new boyfriend Stephen who is also in the Army as a Combat Medic. (shhhh don't tell the girls, but I think Chase and Stephen could be brothers, or is it just that military hair cut?) Alli is leaving in 10 days for Active Duty Army and she too, will become an Army Combat Medic. That means I now how 2 girls in the military. WOW....still trying to get used to that whole idea. She'll do great and who knows, maybe she will get to see Italy and Alaska like she's always dreamed of doing.~

~And this is my sweet and smart daughter, Kristi (Sister #2 of the Four Sisters) with her hubby, Chase, married, living in Florida and both Combat Medics for the Army National Guard.

They are coming home next week to see everyone and say goodbye to Alli. Chase just got back from a long tour overseas in Iraq and Quatar and we are excited to see them both. Kristi worked this summer in St. Croix helping build a hospital with the Army and will be leaving soon for Haiti for the Army~

Hopefully, weather permitting, since Ashley lives 80 miles away, next Thursday, I will have all FOUR SISTERS HERE and take pictures to share with you. It's going to be BITTERSWEET for me, as I will be so happy to have them all together again, but also know, it's going to be a very long time before we are all together again.

It makes me sad just thinking about not having them around. I've been a Mom for almost 24 years and although I know we love seeing them grow up, it's still hard to let them spread their wings and fly. I have done the best I knew how in raising them and only hope and pray that THEY ARE ALL HAPPY, HEALTHY and WISE.

I think it's in their blood.... they have uncles that were in the Army and Marines, and both Grandpa's were in the Army, their dad was in the Air Force, yep, I'm and ex-Air Force Wife.

I just think it's there, in their genetic make-up somehow :)

Just think of all the memories they will have and the chances they will have that we never got.

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE PARENTS OUT THERE THAT HAVE MADE OUR AMERICAN SOLDIERS.....AMAZING SACRIFICE FOR BOTH CHILD and PARENT!!!!

SAY A PRAYER for OUR TROOPS

Love and Hugs, Amy

~AND THE 2 WINNERS ARE...~

2011-01-15T20:35:00.002-06:00

~WOW WEE.....SO MANY ENTRIES and NOT ENOUGH GOODIES TO GIVE AWAY, not to worry I'm gonna have more~

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who left comments, became followers and added the giveaway to their blog. That was soooooo awesome!!!!

And the winners are as follows:

ROSE GARDEN ROMANTIC (giveaway #1)

SWEET BEE COTTAGE (giveaway #2)

Thanks again to everyone for playing and I WILL have another one SOON!!! Stay tuned....for more fun giveaways!!!!

Hugs and Love, Amy

~LAST CHANCE TO ENTER VALENTINE GIVEAWAY~

2011-01-15T10:17:00.004-06:00

~GIVEAWAY #1~

~GIVEAWAY #2~

~DRAWING THE WINNERS TONIGHT....LAST CHANCE TO ENTER!!!!~

Good Luck and Happy Saturday!!!!
Hugs and Love, Amy

~2 Giveaways, Don't Forget to Enter!!!!~

2011-01-10T07:19:00.003-06:00

~70 Piece Valentine's Day Paper Ephemera Giveaway #1~

~70 Piece Valentine's Day Paper Ephemera Giveaway #2~

THREE WAYS TO ENTER:

1. Leave a comment on my blog that you want to be entered and which one you prefer

2. Post on your blog about my giveaway

3. Become a follower

I will announce the TWO Winners on January 15th, 2011

HAVE A HAPPY WEEK!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

(and don't forget there are Valentine's Day Treasures listed on the website at www.FourSistersInACottage.com )

~Miss Maddi in the ER all night~

2011-01-07T13:27:00.003-06:00

AWWWW....My sweet baby girl Maddi was at the ER last night until 6:10am this morning. Needless to say, we went right to bed when we got home.

Poor Baby has an intestinal infection and the stomach flu.

Lots of blood work, IV's, Ultra-sounds and two hours of drinking that nasty barium smoothie (and 2 bottles of it to boot) she had CT-Scan....and puked all over the place.

We are happy it wasn't her appendix or anything else. It is a virus and takes 7 to 10 days to get over. I am exhausted (so is everyone else, they are still sleeping) and will keep you up to date.

The cutest thing ever is that she got to have "one adult" stay with her during the CT-scan and when they asked her I started to walk towards her thinking she wanted her Mommy and she says ever so sweetly, "I want Bob".

Her dad was there, I was there and Bob.....It didn't hurt my feelings one bit...it made me happy to think that here is this Awesome, Strong Firefighter Man who Maddi picks to be with her, hold her hand and comfort her while doing something she has never done and is scared to death of the unknown. We were all shocked. Bless her heart.

Off to go get some bland food and drink.....

Happy Weekend....
Love ya, Amy

(The picture was taken the first day of school this year, can't wait to see that darling smile again)

~2 GIVEAWAYS n NEW TREASURES at FourSistersInACottage.com~

2011-01-05T20:31:00.006-06:00

~Giveaway #1 pictured below~ ~WOW WEE!!!! It's time again for my annual VALENTINE DAY GIVEAWAY!!!!~

2 people will win one of two 70 piece Vintage Valentine Day Paper Ephemera's....WHOO HOOO!!!!

Here is what you need to do to get your name in the drawing up to 3 times:

A. Post a comment on this post and tell me if you want Paper Ephemera #1 or #2

B. Become a follower of my blog

C. Post this giveaway on your blog

That's it...it's that simple.....Each one has 70 pieces of stickers, tickets, labels, valentines, postcards etc.

DRAWING WILL BE HELD on JAN 15th, 2011

~Giveaway #2 pictured below~

AND I JUST FINISHED ADDED ALL NEW TREASURES ON THE WEBSITE....100's of Goodies. FourSistersInACottage.com Below is just a smidgen of what's on there.....

~Loads of Linens this time around~
~Neat old 1900's Sewing Treasures, Buttons, Sewing Books and more~
~Pretty Vintage Valentine's Decor (notice the paper hanging up in the background.....those are part of the giveaway)~
~ROSES, ROSES, ROSES~

~Awesome Decorating Books, good ones too cause my outdated ones get donated to the goodwill, ONLY $5.00 each~

HAVE FUN and I hope to see you around "The Cottage"

Hugs and Love, Amy

www.FourSistersInACottage.com

~Outside the Box = My Mind n Alice's Wonderland~

2011-01-05T07:53:00.007-06:00

~This is the set of 2 Children's Dinnerware Set that I told you about yesterday. They are from a local friend of mine who gave them to me and said she tired of them and to sell them in my shop or website. LOL...silly girl, I have to keep them for a bit!!!! There are no makers marks on them except the words "Saison Des Alice" in French which translates to "Season of Alice" the words in the middle of the dinner plate is Croatian. How strange huh?

If anyone knows anything about these, please let me know......might have to send a picture of them into Country Livings, What is it worth column.~

~I love the Rabbit skipping away on the saucer....LOL...he just makes me giggle every time I see him~
~Sometimes I think something is wrong with me because I am always like this....

I THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX~

~These awesome beaded CROSSES are NAPKIN RINGS....I found them at Pier One and of course, I DID NOT SEE NAPKIN RINGS......I saw adornments for my living room.~
~Pretty added over one of my glass bottles~
~3 of them really jazzed up my plain black clock~

~Perfect over a candle holder~
~Check out my OLD 1920's Flapper Girl HAT BOX....
I found it this past summer on our road trip to Northwest Iowa.
GET THIS....My Mom and Dad got married in and then lived in Sheldon, Iowa. It's the store that MY MOM AND DAD rented their first apartment from. THEY LIVED UPSTAIRS ON TOP OF THE STORE. Not to mention, it has SHELDON, IOWA listed on it. I NEVER KNEW THIS TIL I GOT HOME AND SHOWED MOM THE HAT BOX!!!!
Imagine how much more special this has made the hat box. And to think, I found it in Storm Lake, Iowa....not Sheldon at a shop called KRISTI'S. (that's exactly how I spell my Kristi girls name)
SO NOTHING LIKE THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX....
It does have it's benefits. LOL
Hugs and Love, Amy

~For the Love of Baby~

2011-01-04T08:18:00.010-06:00

~Not sure what it is but I just love these old Composition Baby Dolls. I'm not picky one bit, as a matter of fact, the ones that have faded eyes, arms or legs missing, stuffing falling out are the ones that I love best.~
~It's as if they were LOVED SO MUCH by A SWEET LITTLE GIRL they chose to save her in a box until someone like me would give them a home and love them as much as they did. Better then the landfill~
~This precious little one has darling molded shoes that don't come off, I was lucky enough to have a friend barter her, for some of my treasures on the website. A happy trade for sure! And she came all the way from California, Thank you MJ from YellowBeachDog Blog!!! She loves her new home~
~If you can find just the right clothes, you can't see their broken limbs, cracks or insides falling out. I believe it was age 5 when our family went to "THE HOUSE ON THE ROCK" and I was scared by the Dolls on Main Street, yet I kept going back to them and looking at them~
~I put a child size veil on this one to hide her cracks on her head~

~This doll reminds me of Alice In Wonderland, now just to find clothes. Do you see the PLATE in the BACKGROUND? I cannot for the life of me find any information on them. They are in French and Croatian and given to me by a friend here in town who told me to sell them in my shop or website....WHAT???? I DON'T THINK SO!

~These two are my worst ones but they are buddies and came to my house together. Arms a missing and all....

Those are my baby shoe from when I was a baby. So glad Mom kept those and I can now display them~

Are you baby doll crazy too???? I always have been, always will be and happy I had all girls that loves dolls too!!!! (cept Maddi asked me to please take them out of her room cause they scare her....LOL)

Hugs and Love, Amy

~MORE Pictures of Living Room Re-do~

2011-01-01T19:32:00.005-06:00

~Still working on it and having a blast~

~I was trying to take these pictures around Bob watching "Flip this House" before the football games started today. I wanted to paint the benches white but thinking I might just keep them in that "Pitter Patter Aqua" just in case I want to add pink and aqua later on....we will see~

~That BARE WHITE WALL is NEXT.....I CANNOT WAIT for the kids to get back to school next week and then I can play some more...will of course, show pictures of what I decide to do~

~I am seriously thinking of adding some lace to the big picture windows that are 9 feet across. We have two of them, one to the North and one to the South as I love the light pouring in during the day and we are far enough from the highway that no one can tell, there are no curtains or shades.... oh, the possibilities~

Hope you are enjoying your FIRST DAY OF 2011!!!!

Hugs and Love, Amy

~HAPPY NEW YEAR and MY NEW LIVING ROOM~

2010-12-31T18:42:00.003-06:00

~HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE~

My house was totally mismatched after the whole shabby chic thing didn't work to well with all the kids....

I resorted BACK TO MY BLUE JEAN Sofa and mis~matched furniture!!!! UGH!!!! I HATED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!!!!

My NEW YEARS RESOLUTION....MAKE THE HOME YOU WANT.......(with 2 kids gone, 2 more leaving this year and only 2 left at home, it's time)

~So I went into my shop and "SHOPPED"......I am so drooling over all these gals blogs with the "Old World Whites, Creams and Black" so I decided why not see what I can come up with????~

~I'm NOT FINISHED yet. YEAH, I have many more ideas swirling around in my head and I have to tell you, I transformed my Living Room to this point in just ONE DAY!!!!~
~Bob just rolled his eyes and said, "Really?" then sat down in his big green lazy boy that I covered with a Rachel Ashwell POPLIN King Size sheet and started playing Wii golf....LOL I am so blessed that he is such a trooper with all my decorating madness~

~I am totally thrilled with what I have come up with already and I woke up this morning at 6am while it was still dark out and sat in the quiet with my "French Vanilla Coffee" and all the candles on....

It's my HAPPY NEW YEAR and I WISH THE SAME FOR YOU~

Big HUGE Hugs and ALL MY LOVE,

Amy

~MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE~

2010-12-25T06:57:00.002-06:00

~May your day be filled with Blessings and Happiness!!!!~

All my love to you, Amy

~AND THE WINNER IS~

2010-12-13T13:41:00.003-06:00

And the winner of my HANDMADE BOTTLE BRUSH TREE IS

L.D. from Alabama (email entry).

Thanks so much for all the sweet comments and entries. I will try to make some more and have another drawing soon.

Less than 2 weeks til Christmas and I haven't even started shopping....LOL.....my get up and go has got up and went!!!!

Hugs and Love, Amy

~BLIZZARD IN IOWA~

2010-12-12T00:16:00.000-06:00

Winter Weather Alert

Map Data - Terms of Use

As of 00:04:00 Sun Dec 12 2010

Blizzard Warning
Special Weather Statement

Winter Weather is affecting the KCRG-TV9 viewing area.

Click on a county for the latest watch, warning and advisory information.

CLICK A COUNTY

Top Story

Snow Plows and Tow Trucks Halted Amid Blizzard Conditions
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Several Eastern Iowa counties have issued a “tow-ban” and discontinued snow plow usage due to blizzard conditions across the state of Iowa. Roadways covered with snow and ice... Read more »

~GIVEAWAY 2 DAYS LEFT to ENTER!!!!~

2010-12-11T10:28:00.004-06:00

~If you haven't entered for my HANDMADE BOTTLE BRUSH TREE GIVEAWAY, you still have 2 days left!!!!~

Leave a comment here or email me at FourSistersInACottage@msn.com

We are bracing for a huge ICE/SNOW STORM and BLIZZARD TODAY so if we lose power (which we usually do being we live in the country) and I cannot get online....I will draw the winner when I can get back online)

Don't forget to check out

our ETSY SHOP because

EVERYTHING IS FREE TO SHIP in the USA!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

~A NEW GIVEAWAY, MY BOTTLE BRUSH TREES!!!!~

2010-12-10T09:05:00.004-06:00

~ONE LUCKY WINNER WILL WIN THEIR CHOICE OF MY HAND MADE BOTTLE BRUSH TREES~

I am giving away ONE of these BOTTLE BRUSH TREES hand bleached and decorated by me.

You will get your choice of any of them pictures and I will draw the winner on Monday December 13th, 2010. Please leave a comment on this post or email me and I will enter you.

Have a great weekend!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

~MOM'S HOUSE CHRISTMAS 2010~

2010-12-08T07:32:00.007-06:00

~THIS IS MOM....SHE IS SOOOO HIP....Can't believe she's gonna be 72!!!!~~~

~I WANT HER WHITE BOOTS....They are soooo darn cute and she looks FABULOUS with them on....maybe someday I will find some for myself~

~COME ON IN~

~Boy, sure wish I would have bought this Vintage Shoe-Fly Rocking Horse at my Mom's garage sale....she had it for only $22 and when it didn't sell, she decided to keep it...It's adorable and now I want it!!!!~

~This is the inside of the front door....TOO DARN CUTE~

~Fireplace Mantel in the Living Room. Mom designed it, Dad built it~

~Still one of my FAVORITE things my Mom owns...The Department Store Composition Doll, who stands by the Christmas Tree that Mom placed in an Old Vintage Shopping/Flea Market Cart)~
~The Dining Room....with that RED CUPBOARD I WANT, I really really want it~

~On the back porch is a sweet sprinkle of Christmas~

~Remember that Old Fold Up Camp Bed that Bob found for me in Sheldon, Iowa when we went on a buying road trip this past summer? Well, this is how I want to make up mine....And I made the bed skirt on this one for my Mom....I saw a stack of vintage picnic tablecloths in one of her baskets and I took them out one day while she was on the phone and just layered them between the two mattresses. NO SEWING REQUIRED...That's my kind of decorating!!!! She loved it so much that she has never changed it!!!!~

~Tomorrow I will be posting the chance to win one of my BOTTLE BRUSH TREES~

Have a wonderful day.....

Hugs and Love, Amy

~BOTTLE BRUSH TREES I CREATED~AND GIVING 1 AWAY~

2010-12-05T14:30:00.009-06:00

~Over the coarse of TWO DAYS I worked and worked at trying my hand at BLEACHING, DYING and MAKING BOTTLE BRUSH TREES~

~I do not recommend DYING THE TREES once they are BLEACHED....THEY TURN OUT REALLY CRAZY COLORS, LIKE THE ONE ABOVE and BELOW~

~Overall, my COLORED Bottle Brush Christmas Trees turned out pretty cute~

~I was more IMPRESSED with the ones that I just BLEACHED.....this process took over 3 hours and I still had to pick out pieces of green color, this project is just that, A PROJECT, and way too much work for what it's worth....I suggest, JUST PAY THE MONEY and BUY THE ONES ALREADY ON ETSY.COM~

~STILL SWEET for the SHABBY COTTAGE CHRISTMAS HOUSE~

~The tree in the cup was my first one....I quickly learned that you need to use the BIG BALLS on the BOTTOM and progress them upward with the little ones at the top~

~I ended up using almost ALL of my years of collecting Vintage Feather Tree Ornaments for all 11 Trees.....COSTING ME WAY TOO MUCH MONEY to make these eleven trees, that does not include the bleach, food coloring, vinegar, glue gun and sticks, trees and the time it took me to make them...LOL~

Overall.....They all turned out CUTE......

AND I am going to be giving ONE of them away.

I will post the giveaway this week so stay tuned!!!!

Make it a great week!!!!

Love and Hugs, Amy

~AND THE WINNERS ARE.....~

2010-12-01T21:35:00.004-06:00

DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

and the winners for ONE of TWO $40.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to

www.FourSistersInACottage.com

are.....

Peggy from TX

and

Lynn from CA

I want to thank EVERYONE for entering, it was soooo much fun and THANK YOU for all of the encouraging words....

Stay tuned for another giveaway soon!!!!
Happy Holidays!!!!
Hugs and Love, Amy

~GIVEAWAY LAST DAY TO ENTER~

2010-12-01T09:11:00.004-06:00

~Two of my sweet vintage baby collection, little keepers for sure~

~ I WILL BE DRAWING FOR 2 LUCKY WINNERS to WIN $40.00 GIFT CERTIFICATES TO THE WEBSITE

www.FourSistersInACottage.com

YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO ENTER!!!
It's cold here, -1 below with the wind chill....BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE!!! Have a wonderful day!!!!
Stay Warm.....

Amy

~2 GIVEAWAYS~

2010-11-30T07:29:00.003-06:00

~IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO ENTER TO WIN one of TWO $40.00 GIFT CERTIFICATES TO FOURSISTERSINACOTTAGE.COM~

Leave a comment here or email me and I will pick the winner December 1st, 2010 in the evening.

Have a great day today....make it a good one!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

~A GIVEAWAY & NEW FUN STUFF LISTED ON THE WEBSITE~

2010-11-28T07:08:00.005-06:00

Loads of Vintage Treasures just listed on the website FourSistersInACottage.com

~And I am GIVING AWAY TWO $40.00 GIFT CERTIFICATED TO THE FourSistersInACottage WEBSITE~

Just post here or send me an email and let me know you would like to be entered, no purchase necessary and I the drawing will be Wednesday, December 1st!!!!

Hugs and Love, Amy

~HAPPY THANKSGIVING~WHY I AM THANKFUL~

2010-11-24T08:06:00.003-06:00

~I'm not sure YOU really know how THANKFUL I am for having YOU IN MY LIFE and how thankful I AM FOR MY LIFE.

Yes, it's been hard at times (who's isn't) and I just want YOU, YES YOU, to know that without you in my life, I would not be the person I am today. YOUR LOVE, PRAYERS, HELP and FRIENDSHIP is what has seen me thru the good and the bad times.
I know our time here on earth is so short in comparison to what is to come and so I THANK YOU for every thing you have done for me.

I can't even begin to list everyone who has touched me. Yes, people come and go in our lives. BUT EVERYONE IS SPECIAL IN MINE!!!!
I am THANKFUL FOR MY LIFE, I AM THANKFUL FOR YOU!!!!
Have a blessed and wonderful Thanksgiving.

From the bottom of my heart, I LOVE YOU!!!!
Amy

~CHRISTMAS DECOR~Just a SMIDGEN'~

2010-11-21T13:47:00.002-06:00

~Here is just a SMIDGEN' of what's to come on the website, will be working on it all this week, YIPPY!!!!~
Happy Thanksgiving Week.....Hugs and Love, Amy

~LOVED FLORIDA!!!!~

2010-11-20T10:30:00.003-06:00

~HAD A BLAST and miss Kristi already....don't know how to make these pictures bigger....sorry bout that, and Maddi and I got our bangs cut while we were there...Life is too short....LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST!!!~

~FLORIDA or BUST~

2010-11-08T06:53:00.003-06:00

~BOB GOT ME A NEW CAR~

Boy, was a I shocked 2 weeks ago when Bob came home, got on the computer and said, "You have 21 cars to pick from, pick the one you like"

WHAT????? You're kidding me????

So I loved the red one (of course, with red being my favorite color) and so he went down to see Darius Loveless (AWESOME GUY) at Toyota of Iowa City and picked it up. (this all happened while I was so sick)....when he got home with it, he handed me the keys and said, "Now go see Kristi!!!!"

So, we planned the trip and thought we better go before the snow starts and here we are, leaving in LESS THAN 24 hours, in the new car....it's a GORGEOUS RED 2007 Toyota Camry, loaded, only 22,000 miles and still under warranty. You have no idea how excited I am. The newest car I have ever bought was at least 10 years old. Most my cars I have bought have been in the $3000 range. I feel pretty special and am soooo thankful for such an AWESOME HUBBY!!!!
We will be gone for 10 days, me, Alli and Maddi. No one else could go and when I get back I will have new goodies on the website.

Kristi already said there is tons of consignment and 2nd hand stores down in Panama City and so I hope to bring back a bunch of goodies.

See you when I get back and if I can figure out how to post pictures from her place I will.........

Hugs and Love, Amy

~FALL at MOM'S~

2010-09-18T10:18:00.005-05:00

~ENJOY~

~My Dad built this cupboard and it's part of her everyday decor, just had to take a picture of it because it's one of my favorites!!!! I LOVE RED!!!!~

~THE BACK PORCH.......Where everyone visits and Mom always has a glass of Homemade Lemonade waiting for you~

Happy Weekend.....Hugs and Love, Amy

~WOO-HOO~

2010-09-12T21:19:00.003-05:00

~GET READY.....MOM IS HAVING A HUGE SALE!!!!~

It's been THREE YEARS since she has had a sale.....THIS IS GOING TO BE HUGE and there will be something for everyone....remember, she has been featured in the gazette 3 TIMES for her BEAUTIFUL DECORATING!!!!

More Details to come....

Make it a great new week....Hugs, Amy

~FALL at FourSistersInACottage~And THAT BUCKET & A BRANCH~

2010-09-07T14:17:00.004-05:00

~I've BEEN WORKING SINCE 8am THIS MORNING....here is the SHOP SO FAR, I'm having a blast and sweatin up a storm~
~THERE IS THAT BUCKET AND A BRANCH.....filled it with Vintage Fishing Net, some Bittersweet and Leaves and Added 11 CROWS to it....I LOVE how it turned out~

~I scattered leaves all over the floor, you know, cause it's FALL~

~I ended up having to packed some of the other stuff away so I could make room, but I sold TONS last week....THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SHOWED UP FOR OUR ANNUAL 50% off sale~

~Old WAINSCOTING Built In CUPBOARDS from an Old Farm House in Harris, Iowa~

~Love that BIG OLD BREAD BAKERY RACK from the Cedar Rapids Metz Bakery, they don't make those old heavy wire ones like they used to~

~What you see when you walk thru the RED (front) DOOR~

~Another View, from the side where all the PINK SHABBY GIRLY TREASURES ARE~

~Those Crows make me smile~

~Awesome PINE TABLE with BLACK PAINTED LEGS~

~FALL HAS ARRIVED~

~THANKS SO MUCH for TAKING TIME OUT to see what I have done, MORE PICTURES SOON of the WHITE CUPBOARD with HALLOWEEN~

Love and Hugs, Amy

2010-09-05T19:19:00.002-05:00

~A BUCKET and A BRANCH~

The weather is turning cooler here in Iowa so tonight I went outside hunting around our house. I have visions of FALL!!!!

We have 21 pine trees and numerous oak, silver maple and ash trees on our sweet little piece of American Land.

I found this branch....quite big in fact, as our trees have had 40 to 50 years to grow and so, I took my old bucket and well.....stay tuned for what I dream up....

Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

~SHOCKED~

2010-08-31T12:43:00.005-05:00

~SAY WHAT???? WHAT DID YOU SAY????~

~"I JOINED THE ARMY MOM"

My ALLI Girl is SWEARING IN TODAY to JOIN THE UNITED STATES ARMY~

YES....TODAY!!!!

Imagine HOW SHOCKED I WAS when she informed me that she dropped all of her FIREFIGHTER CLASSES and IS JOINING THE ARMY FULL TIME!!!!
YIKES!!!! I am in shock.....and YES, I tried to do everything I could to talk her out of it.

Now, I have to give her 100% of my support and wish her well (and do a whole lot of praying)

So I am officially a MOM to TWO ARMY SOLDIERS.....and yes, she is going to be a COMBAT MEDIC, just like big sister Kristi. She of course is going into the Army full time and Kristi is in the Army National Guard. TWO BIG DIFFERENCES.

Please put her in your prayers as she starts this new journey (and pray that my nerves will be calmed) KISS YOUR KIDS, TELL EM YA LOVE EM....and as much as it hurts, TELL EM YOU SUPPORT THEM 100%!!!!
Hugs and Love, Amy

~VINTAGE APRON, GIRL n' HALLOWEEN SEWING PATTERNS~

2010-08-24T10:02:00.007-05:00

~VINTAGE APRONS~ ~DARLING VINTAGE APRON SEWING PATTERNS FROM THE 1950's~
~Since it looks like I'm not going to learn how to sew anytime soon, I'm selling off my 1950's Vintage Sewing Patterns~
~2 Vintage 1950's Apron Sewing Patterns both for $14.00~

~VINTAGE LITTLE GIRL~
~6 Vintage ADORABLE and DARLING 1950's LITTLE GIRL SEWING PATTERNS all for (SOLD) ~
~BONNETS and COATS~
~DARLING DRESSES~

~SLEEPY TIME BATHROBES~

~EASTER TIME and SPRING DRESSES~

~Yep, I bought two of the same pattern...LOL, also included in this lot~

~More DARLING DRESSES~

~VINTAGE HALLOWEEN~

~Vintage 1950's JESTER, CHOIR and ANGEL Sewing Pattern~

~Vintage CLOWN, JESTER and DEVIL Sewing Pattern~

~ 2 Sweet Vintage Halloween Sewing Patterns both for (sold) ~

If you are interested in these, feel free to email me or leave a message on this post.

Have a great day today....wish I knew how to sew....someday maybe!!!!
Hugs and Love, Amy

~WHY I SHOULDN'T CRAFT!~

2010-08-21T08:49:00.002-05:00

~ABOVE ARE THE DARLING BUTTON BOUQUETS from VINTAGE SUE'S BOX TREASURES~

~So, for a long time I have been putting off making BUTTON BOUQUETS. I was over at Vintage Sue's Box Treasures and saw her post of the DARLING Button Bouquets that she did. It INSPIRED ME TO GET IT DONE and well, LOL....this is how mine turned out!!!!~

~I USED VINTAGE RHINESTONE and PINK PEARL BUTTONS. Then USED VINTAGE PIPE CLEANERS, since I didn't have wire~

~And well, there you have it.....

THEY TURNED OUT LOOKING NOTHING LIKE SUE'S and so, this is why I don't craft, do altered art, and am AFRAID TO LEARN TO SEW....I think you have to have it in your blood to be able to take something simply and make it BEAUTIFUL!!! At least I can say I tried.

Next time I will just buy them.....LOL~

Happy Saturday!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

~116 NEW TREASURES on the WEBSITE~

2010-08-19T22:45:00.004-05:00

~FINALLY.....NEW GOODIES ON THE WEBSITE~

FourSistersInACottage.com
~HOPE YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK....PRICES $2.00 on up!!!!
HAVE FUN and HAPPY FRIDAY

Love and Hugs, Amy

(PS...thanks to everyone who waited all summer long for me to get back at this....I never thought life could be this busy)

~MADDI'S 1st DAY of 3rd GRADE~

2010-08-19T10:03:00.002-05:00

~SHE WAS SOOOOO EXCITED TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL SHE LOVES IT SO MUCH~ ~She wanted me to take a picture of her hair with her fake braids in her ponytail~
~SO READY AND SO HAPPY TO FINALLY BE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL~

~CAN''T BELIEVE THE PICTURE BELOW WAS TAKEN JUST 2 YEARS AGO!!! WHERE DID THAT TIME GO????~

Here's to some days to myself again.....and I am FEELING LIKE MYSELF AGAIN....just gonna get another shot in my neck for my herniated disks that are affecting my arm soooo happy they finally got that figured out!

I'm not taking naps everyday now and you have no idea how great that feels....

Make it an awesome day....Hugs, Amy

~LAST U.S BRIGADE LEAVING IRAQ~

2010-08-18T23:10:00.003-05:00

FINALLY.....THE LAST U.S BRIGADE IS LEAVING IRAQ after 7 YEARS and 5 MONTHS

~NOW LET'S GET THEM OUT OF AFGHANISTAN~
THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR TROOPS and THEIR FAMILIES for ALL THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO FOR US WHILE WE SLEPT SAFELY IN OUR BEDS AT NIGHT

GODSPEED SOLDIERS!!!!

WE ARE SOOOOOO PROUD!!!!

~SCHOOL STARTS TOMORROW~

2010-08-18T08:53:00.003-05:00

~WHERE DID THE SUMMER GO????~ ~This picture was taken in early June, right after school got out for the summer. Kristi got to visit for a few days before going back to Florida for the Army. Maddi and Alex got new baby farm kittens and the love em!!~

Alex and Alli start school next week (pictured Left to Right). Kristi is back home (in Florida) after spending the summer helping build a hospital in St. Croix with the Army. And Miss Maddi is starting school tomorrow in the 3rd grade. HOLY COW, seems like yesterday I took these pictures and now it's the middle of August. I don't remember summer vacation going this fast as a kid....LOL

Have a great day today.....Hugs and Love, Amy

~DARLING ESTATE FINDS from IOWA/SOUTH DAKOTA~

2010-08-16T08:15:00.005-05:00

~DARLING and SWEET AS PIE~ ~LOVE the POEM ON THIS OLD VINTAGE PINK ROSES PLATE~
~JUST CAN'T GIVE THESE TWO BABY DOLLS UP....THEY WILL BE GOING IN MY COLLECTION OF OLD COMPOSITION BABY DOLLS~

~SPOTTED THIS OLD WICKER HIGH CHAIR WITH OLD CHIPPY PINK PAINT FALLING OFF OF IT.....I FELL IN LOVE~

~IMAGINE MY SURPRISE WHEN DAYS LATER I LOOKED IT OVER GOOD AND FOUND THE BRASS PLATE "HEYWOOD WAKEFIELD" ON THE BACK COVERED BY PAINT~

~CAN'T WAIT TO CLEAN IT UP, HAVE BOB FIX THE TRAY AND PAINT IT, of course, PINK~

~FOR NOW, THEY WILL SIT IN THE SHOP TO KEEP ME COMPANY~

~LOVE LOOKING OVER AT THEM AND SEEING THOSE SWEET FACES....THEY MAKE ME SMILE~

~I FOUND HER in SOUTH DAKOTA, JUST LIKE THIS...SHE ALMOST 30 INCHES LONG and a CHUBBY SWEET BABY DOLL~

~THIS ONE I HAD BUT FOUND THE DRESS IN MT. VERNON IOWA~

Make it a great day....I am off to paint more furniture!!!!

Hugs and Love, Amy

~A COUPLE OF MORE AWESOME BLOGS~

2010-08-15T17:42:00.003-05:00

Ms. Alison Gibbs

(Wow....love this gal...she has awesome pictures and she is a total sweetheart from VICTORIA)

Old Flowers 4 Me by Jo

(A friend of Alison's and I want to stay at her blog all day)

Have a great rest of the weekend......not to much left of it...(count down to school....just 4 days away)

Hugs and Love, Amy

~I AM TORN ~ WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO?~

2010-08-14T16:47:00.004-05:00

~WHICH PICTURES DO I KEEP? WHICH PICTURES DO I SELL?~

~You have to click on these to see the details in the bigger picture~ ~I am so torn, I love all of these and I can't keep them all....I have no idea which ones to keep and which ones to sell?~
PINK GERANIUMS, HAND PAINTED OIL on CANVAS and it's HUGE!!!! (my camera keeps making them look red but they aren't they are the prettiest pink, just like the real ones)
~This one is a YARD-LONG and going to get a coat of cream colored paint around the frame, as you know me, I do not like natural wood anything! The details are AMAZING....right down to the staircase in the background~

~I CAN'T TELL WHO SIGNED THIS or WHAT THE NAME OF THE PRINT IS AS IT IS COVERED UP BY THE DOUBLE MATTING~

~VERY VERY VICTORIAN and EVEN MORE SO ONCE I GET MY PAINT BRUSH ON IT~

~OKAY, I have to admit.....THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE because it is the OLDEST and it's BREATHTAKING, to say the least!!!! I do believe I have an antique oval frame to fit this one, you know the kind with the convex bubble glass, it's a BIG ONE TOO!!!!~

~YEP, it's an OLD OLD LITHOGRAPH~

~And....Last but not least, this amazing canvas oil painting in an AMAZING ROSES FRAME, yep, I know what you are thinking...PAINT THE FRAME PAINT THE FRAME....I think I might have to~

~But look at those hand painted details on the roses...little hints of baby blue~

So as usual, I am torn....I can't keep everything, and right now, the only one that goes with my house is the Canvas Oil of Pink Geraniums.....UGH!!!! HELP HELP!!!! I hate trying to part with these awesome pieces....TELL ME WHAT TO DO!!!!

Hugs and Love, Amy

~SOME NEW BLOGGERS TO VISIT~& I WON~

2010-08-14T08:26:00.006-05:00

TATTERED TREASURES by SHAWNA

(She was the one I missed in Rock Rapids, Iowa when Bob and I went on our trip, however I am hoping we can make it there for the August Occasional Sale)

SENTIMENTALLY ME by PATRICE

(So much fun and a giving spirited gal...fabulous stuff too)

GLAMARELLA JUNK by SHERRY

(I met her in Escondido, California when I went to visit Anna...I just won her AWESOME GORGEOUS Flower Necklace, such a talented girl)

OLD GLORY COTTAGE by CAROL

(And there is Carol, LOVE her blog....just the picture on the top sucks you in)

If there is anyone out there that would like to be on my blog list that I have missed....just drop me a line and I would be more than happy to add you!!!!
Have a great weekend....Love and Hugs, Amy

~THE PINK ROOM in the SHOP~

2010-08-10T15:44:00.004-05:00

~I'm HAVING SO MUCH FUN with my newly painted "FADED ROSE" furniture that I had to share with you what I got done today in the shop~
~Having a hard time having this wardrobe out on the floor for sale~

~But I sure am having fun redecorating, it's like my VERY OWN PLAYHOUSE~

~Of course I am no where near finished and I'm not sure I like the child size step back cupboard just plain pink....I have to figure something out. Thinking of some of that pink gingham wallpaper on the shelves~

~OOOO and I LOVE WICKER TOO~

~I COULD HAVE MY ENTIRE HOUSE LIKE THIS.....

if I didn't have kids and a hubby...LOL~

~What you see coming around the corner....the door with the long roses drapes goes into my house~

Have a happy rest of the day.....back to playing for me :)

Love and Hugs, Amy

~TODAY I WAS A PAINTING FOOL~

2010-08-09T20:44:00.005-05:00

~WHEW!!!! I AM COVERED IN PAINT~ ~I painted this old metal wardrobe PINK called "FADING ROSE" by Behr and it turned out so cute....I'm having a hard time parting with it but it will have to go as I have no room for it. Out to the shop it goes tomorrow~
~The one I didn't get painted today because I am torn as to what color to paint it...PINK? RED? AQUA? WHITE? BLACK? ANY and ALL SUGGESTIONS NEEDED!!!!~
~THIS ONE WAS MY FAVORITE TO PAINT TODAY....A VINTAGE HANDMADE CHILD-SIZE STEP BACK CUPBOARD!!!! It's a great size of over 3 FEET TALL!!!! Once again, painted "FADING ROSE". I had to tear off, scrape and then sand, because someone has glued a piece of linoleum onto the top....what a mess, but I got it done, now I think it just needs one of my vintage Meyercord decals on the door, or maybe some cute pink gingham wallpaper I just bought at an estate sale....ooooo the possibilities.~

~ A cute GARDEN box that needed some PINK "FADED ROSE" PAINT~

~ A CUTIE PA-TOOTIE DESK ORGANIZER BOX, ALSO PAINTED "FADED ROSE" PINK~

~And a DARLING WOODEN STEP STOOL THAT GOT A MAKEOVER IN "FADED ROSE" PINK~

~FOUND THIS BEAUTY IN SHELDON, IOWA on my trip with Bob at the Antique Shop there in town.....IT WAS A MESS to say the least.....I painted the inside "CHERRY RED" from Sherwin Williams and "BABY TOOTH WHITE" also from Sherwin Williams. OH BOY DID THIS ONE TURN OUT AWESOME!!!! I surprised myself on this one because it was almost going to be "FADED ROSE" PINK along with all the others I painted today~ And remember I have this infatuation with PAINT NAMES!!!! LOL....couldn't resist these two.

~THIS ONE IS A KEEPER FOR NOW, and I have been saving TWO of the most adorable vintage shelf papers for something done in red....Now to decide which one I am going to use....one is the sweetest baby kittens and the other is flowers in flower pots. Guess I will try them both and see which one wins.~

~This one only has one coat of "BABY'S TOOTH WHITE" and I will finish it tomorrow in-between customers at the shop. It has 3 shelves that go into also and QUEEN ANNE LEGS~

Can't wait to see how this one turns out.....

I HAD A BLAST, even tho it was 100+ with the heat index outside today. THANK GOD FOR AIR CONDITIONING!!!!

Have a great day tomorrow......

Hugs and Love, Amy

~SOME OLD TREASURES NEW TO THE SHOP~

2010-08-08T19:45:00.006-05:00

~I LOVE HOW THIS CORNER TURNED OUT~ ~I AM TOTALLY IN LOVE WITH THE WHITES, CREAMS and BLACKS....I FEEL A REDO of my LIVING ROOM COMING ON~
~And LET'S NOT FORGET PRISMS.....I HAVE A WHOLE HAT BOX FULL OF THEM...TIME TO LET THEM GO TO ANOTHER HOME~
~OODLES and OODLES OF LACE....SOOOOO DREAMY...I AM IN LOVE WITH ALL OF IT~

~And NOW I HAVE THIS FASCINATION of VINTAGE UMBRELLAS, THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THIS ANYMORE~

~CAN'T EVER GET ENOUGH OF THE OLD GORGEOUS MANNEQUINS & DRESS FORMS~

~JEWELS + JEWELS + and MORE JEWELS....Added to BLING BLING RHINESTONES = YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY~

~JUST CAN'T HELP MYSELF WITH COLOR!!!!~ ~A DARLING VINTAGE CORNER CUPBOARD RE-PURPOSED by ME, MOM & BOB.....Painted WHITE and added OLD CHICKEN WIRE TO THE DOORS, MOM PAINTED IT FOR ME~

~STORAGE JARS AND BOXES ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITES THINGS~

~SUMMER IS STILL HERE IN IOWA, HEAT INDEX OF 100 to 105 for MOST OF THE WEEK~

~I LOVE these RED LETTERS from SHELDON, IOWA!!!! The ladies I bought them from said they were from a drive-in movie marquee that is no longer around. BOY do I remember the days of the drive-in movies :) And they are just $2.00 each~

~Remember you can click on any of my pictures to see close ups. And as always, everything you see if for sale.~

And now I have 1/4 of my shop EMPTY so I will be adding TONS of Vintage Shabby Decor to that area this week....YIPPY, I LOVE LOVE LOVE PLAYING WITH PINKS, WHITES and AQUAS!!!!~

Have an awesome week....

Love and Hugs, Amy

~MY CALIFORNIA TRIP~ FINALLY~~~~

2010-08-05T11:19:00.009-05:00

URBAN BARN in ESCONDIDO, CALIFORNIA~
~ALL US GIRLS BEING FUNNY WITH THE HATS~ What a FUN BUNCH OF GALS....ANNA and I HAD A BLAST~

~MY 2 FAVORITE PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA, BILL and ANNA, WHO ALWAYS MAKE ME FEEL LIKE FAMILY WHEN I COME TO VISIT~ I LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR THE TIME OF MY LIFE~

~2 NEW FRIENDS from LAKE ELSINORE.....JAMIE and EDWARD, I COULD STAY AND VISIT WITH THESE TWO ALL DAY LONG! Thank you so much for making me feel so welcome and I want you to know you are ALWAYS WELCOME to come stay with me in IOWA! Love you guys!!!!~ (PS...Jamie was surprised when I took this picture, sorry Jamie, SHE IS GORGEOUS!!!! and my picture does not do her justice. Stop by MORA'S ANTIQUES in Downtown Lake Elsinore and say hi)

The SWEETEST GAL I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO MEET FOR SO LONG....Miss GEORGIA MALLORY from GrandMaG's
She was so much fun and we got to have lunch with her in Temecula....wish we would have had more time together as she is the most down to earth gal you will ever meet!!! Thank you Georgia for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet up with us. Love ya bunches!!!!

~PATINA DECOR in DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA~ ~OKAY, I CONFESS, I BOUGHT SOMETHING FROM EVERY PLACE I WENT....well, almost....most of what I wanted wouldn't fit in my suitcase....LOL

Have fun looking at the pictures, sure makes me smile to look at these!!!!

~MRS. DARLINGS in DOWNTOWN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA~

AND I SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST....

~MORA'S IN DOWNTOWN LAKE ELSINORE! WHERE ANNA HAS HER BOOTH~

~ANNA'S BOOTH....CAN YOU TELL WE ARE TWO PEAS IN A POD...WE JUST LOVE THE SAME TREASURES!!!!~

~THANK soooo much for waiting on these pictures~
It's been a FUN and ADVENTUROUS SUMMER FOR ME and as soon as the kids get back to school, I will be posting more on the website!
Hugs and Love, Amy

~A NEAT IDEA & MY VINTAGE FIND~

2010-08-03T08:15:00.003-05:00

~My Vintage Find & A Neat Idea~ Imagine how excited I was to find this old vintage table top mannequin dress form. I have lots of ideas rolling around in my head for her as she is going to be for sale in the shop. I have been collecting vintage rosaries from Italy. They look so pretty draped on her. I'm excited to get into the shop today as it needs a totally new make over. FUN FUN FUN!!!!

Here is a neat idea I came up with all by myself....Don't you just LOVE THESE OLD POCKET SILVERWARE CLOTHS???? I found a whole stack of them and knew I had to have them and would figure out what to do with them once I got them home. I had make-up brushes in one of them (which sold right away) and this one I put painting supplies in. I also sold one that had vintage garden tools tucked inside. I LOVE TO RE-PURPOSE old treasures.....HOW FUN!!!!

I just hung them on the wall with thumb tacks.

Imagine all the darling goodies you can store inside....it's not just for silverware anymore!!!!

It's amazing how many different ones are out there.....I have 2 left and think they are the cutest thing ever.

Make it a great day.....

Love and Hugs, Amy

~CORRECTION, SORRY I WAS WRONG~

2010-08-01T08:13:00.002-05:00

~BACK PORCH VINTAGE~ SPENCER, IOWA~

~RENAE~

I am so sorry as most of you know I am horrible at remembering names. Not only did I get the name of the most adorable shop in Spencer, Iowa wrong but I got Renae's name wrong too.

PLEASE FORGIVE ME RENAE!!!! I had it all written down but of course, couldn't find the paper I had written it down on....LOL

If you get a chance, PLEASE GO TO HER once a month occasional sale. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!!

They are located at:

BACK PORCH VINTAGE

9 E. 2nd Street

Spencer, Iowa

A sweet old house with tons of YUMMY TREASURES!!!! And if you go, tell Renae I sent ya!!!!
And THANK YOU to all of you who came out and checked out the 30% off sale, HOLY COW, you made it the best week ever.

Love and Hugs, Amy

~HUGE SALE THIS WEEK ONLY @ FOUR SISTERS IN A COTTAGE SHOP~

2010-07-25T20:48:00.003-05:00

THIS WEEK ONLY!!!!

30% OFF EVERYTHING IN THE SHOP!!!!
(yep, EVERYTHING)

Open Tuesday July 27th and Thursday July 29th

10:00am to 5:00pm

CALL ME if you can't make it those days and I WILL OPEN FOR YOU!!!!

THIS IS A BIG ONE, TONS OF FUN with Lots of Treasures added since my BUYING TRIP to NW IOWA and SOUTH DAKOTA!!!!

Something for everyone, shop early for the best selection and deals!!!!
SEE YA THIS WEEK!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy
7543 Mt. Vernon Road SE

Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Located just 7/10ths of a mile East from the Intersection of HWY 13 & Mt. Vernon Road SE

~Missing My Dad~

2010-07-15T16:30:00.005-05:00

4 years ago today my Dad passed away....

Woke up this morning to the song,"My little girl" by Tim McGraw....the part where he sings about 'she had me wrapped around her pinky from the day she was born' had me bawling like a baby....right up until the last days my Dad was in the hospital, he had to introduce me to all the docs and nurses and tell them that same line.....Can't believe it's been 4 years. I miss him something awful....

Love to all of you....Amy

~HAPPY 9th BIRTHDAY MADDI~

2010-06-28T16:04:00.003-05:00

~CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???? MADDI IS 9YEARS OLD TODAY~

~HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET MADDI GIRL~

No way did I ever think time would go this fast.....These pictures were taken today, she is the cutest little ham!!!!!

Hugs and Love, Amy

(PS....I promise I will be getting more on the website soon and will post the pictures of my California trip, Kristi was here before she has to go on her Army assignment overseas and she was in a car accident with Maddi in the truck....everything is fine, just busy with everything and life....Miss you all)

~HEADING HOME~

2010-06-13T10:50:00.002-05:00

I'm heading back home to Iowa early tomorrow morning....I will be back around supper time and will post all my adventures in California this week that I had with Anna!!!!
I'm sad to leave as the fun never ends when I am with Anna. However, I am getting homesick for my kids and hubby and life as I know it and like Dorothy always said,

"There's No Place Like Home"

Have an awesome week!!!!
Love and Hugs, Amy

~HEADED to CALIFORNIA~

2010-06-03T08:16:00.014-05:00

~YIPPY SKIPPY....I'M HEADING TO CALIFORNIA~

~I AM SOOOOOOO EXCITED as I AM HEADED TO CALIFORNIA NEXT WEEK~
It's been over 2 and a half years since I have been to California and I am excited to be going to
"THE URBAN BARN" in ESCONDIDO, all the shops in RIVERSIDE and of course, DOWNTOWN LAKE ELSINORE to see Vicki at MORA'S ANTIQUES, if you get a chance...YOU HAVE TO GO SEE HER, THE SHOP IS FABULOUS and SO ECLECTIC, there is something for everyone, it's one of my favorite haunts when I go to California and it's always the FIRST PLACE I HIT after I get off the plane!!!! I'm going to see Anna and only have a few days to be there. I will be taking pictures and sharing my trip with you!!!!
Have an awesome week....Love and Hugs, Amy