~Vintage Gardening at FourSistersInACottage.com~

~Vintage Gardening at FourSistersInACottage.com....Hope you can stop by!!!~

~And don't forget the Vintage Linens~

I SURE DO LOVE THOSE VINTAGE LINENS...How about you???

~SPRING and EASTER have arrived at FourSistersInACottage.com

SPRING and EASTER TREASURES are now on the website....Hope you can have a look see.

~WHERE I WORK~

WHERE I WORK....EVERYDAY....

When I open my door to my "shop" this is what I see everyday. I LOVE IT IN HERE. My AWESOME Hubby transformed one of our 2 stall attached garages into "Amy's Shop" for me to work in everyday. It has electricity, heat and air, so it's just the best!!! Where the window is, used to be the garage door, it has painted floors & carpet. And I get to rearrange it whenever the mood strikes me. Just like our trade mark....Because We Love Playing House!!! I am truly blessed and happy that my "work" is only steps away from the rest of the house. This of course, is only a small area of the "shop"....as seen on my previous posts, the opposite wall is my pink painted striped wall.....that is the north wall....the above picture is my south wall. I will of course, get pictures of the east and west walls but I have sooooo much decorating to do with those....LOL
~Amy~

~ANOTHER "COLLECTION" of mine.....VINTAGE RIBBONS~

~"MY SHOP" at CHRISTMAS TIME~

~FEBRUARY'S PAY IT FORWARD~

FEBRUARY'S PAY IT FORWARD CONTEST

As of 4:11pm CST on Sunday March 4th, 2007

I AM ONLY AT POST #9 so don't let the numbers fool you...STILL LOOKING FOR LUCKY NUMBER 10 (only one post/entry per person)

I CAN'T BELIEVE this is the LAST DAY of FEBRUARY!!!
Time just walks away from me...and I realized this morning that I didn't do my monthly PAY IT FORWARD.....So, Get ready friends....

THIS MONTHS'S PAY IT FORWARD is...

A $10.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE to our website...YEP...TEN DOLLARS to www.FourSistersInACottage.com FOR YOU TO SPEND AS YOU WISH.

The 10th person to leave a comment in my blog will win it.....If you have previously won one of my PAY IT FORWARDS, please give others a chance to win.

GOODBYE FEBRUARY, HELLO KITE FLYING MARCH!!!

(PS...Only one post per person will qualify per pay it forward)

~A SNEAK PEEK~

I LOVE "Pink" PARIS IN THE SPRINGTIME

That is my theme this week with all the new treasures going on the website......

YEP...everything you see is for sale...well, okay I am having separation axiety with the petal cake, the cake pedestal that it sits on and the vintage rose fabric covered hatbox...but other than that....everything you see....is going.

I HOPE YOU CAN HAVE A LOOK SEE....

My PINK Painted Striped WALL

Well, I have to tell you.....awhile back while looking at Bella Mary's Home aka Isabellascloset, she had the BEST PINK STRIPED WALLS and, I WAS PINK with ENVY!!!!

I really wanted some PINK STRIPED WALLPAPER. Not able to find any...I took matters into my own hands. I went and bought some 1940's PINK PAINT and lots of PAINTERS TAPE and in a matter of an hour and a half...I had painted myself my PINK STRIPED WALL!!! And it only took ONE COAT, just like the paint can said!!!

I love this wall as it is in my "shop" part of the house. I have moved things around once again....Since our signature trademark "Is Because We Love Playing House" I have to...you know, PLAY HOUSE all the time!!! I get these brain storms and love doing this....so I am constantly playing house....

The picture below...it what it looks like right now....I have ANOTHER CLEAN SLATE to play house with and I will of course, show pictures of it when I am done. I found this darling (SIX and a HALF FOOT TALL Cupboard, already painted white, and with that adorable SCALLOP across the top), at one of my favorite shops. One thing I know for sure....it will be forever changing as the mood strikes me....OH I LOVE BEING A GIRL!!! ~Amy~

BEST FIND OF THE WEEK

HUGE SHABBY PINK DOLLHOUSE

OH MY GOODNESS ARE WE EXCITED OR WHAT??? AS MADDI SAID while I was taking these pictures tonight...."I WON THE TROPHY".....I about busted a gut laughing at her....SHE WAS SERIOUS and is SO EXCITED!!!

Maddi was gone for a few hours late this afternoon so I quick ran to one of my favorite places....I didn't find a thing BUT...MY HONEY OF A PEACH MOM called me and told me to get across town as she found something FABULOUS and I had to get there right away. So, 30 minutes later, I swear I hit every RED LIGHT, there I was at the place she was waiting for me.....& there she stood GUARDING this DARLING HUGE PINK DOLLHOUSE!!! OMG!!! TALK ABOUT DOING THE HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY DANCE.

I could not believe SHE didnt' want it and I tell you girls, I am going to have a HARD TIME SLEEPING TONIGHT.....as I have VISIONS OF SUGAR PLUMS DANCING IN MY HEAD. I already know I am going to use some of my old 1940's fabric and redo all the FLOORS!!! The inside walls are all SHABBY PASTEL COLORS and I am going to leave them just like they are....but boy oh boy.....are the ideas flying thru my head. CURTAINS, LITTLE PAINTING (I will make all of this myself of course) and OOOO I HAVE SOME Vintage Dollhouse Wool Hooked Rugs that will be PERFECT inside. I will of course, take pictures as the "HOME IMPROVEMENTS" progress......AND SINCE THIS IS A KEEPER.....I have to tell you what I paid for it....$8.00....YES...ONLY EIGHT USA DOLLARS. It's SOLID OAK and ALL HANDMADE and the BEST PINK OUTSIDE PAINT with WHITE TRIM!!!!

OH TO BE A GIRL!!!! THIS IS THE BEST FIND THIS WEEK...maybe even THIS MONTH!!!!

~LUSCIOUS LAVENDER~

I AM BUSY WORKING ON THE WEBSITE AND IT'S GOING TO BE FULL OF LAVISH LUSCIOUS LAVENDER TREASURES...I HOPE YOU CAN TAKE A PEEK WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE~ AMY

~A Long Week~

It's been a long week.....Lots of cold blowing snow, a few no school snow days, Valentine's Day in the middle of it all, some migraines and 7 months ago today my Dad passed away......It's been a long week, I haven't blogged for so long it seems like an eternity. I even shut my computer down for 26 hours because I just couldn't look at it anymore.

IS IT STIR CRAZY??? CABIN FEVER??? HIBERNATION??? BOREDOM???

I'm not sure what it is but I am happy this week is over and it's the weekend. I miss my Dad most of all....and wish I could have just one more day with him. I can't believe it's been 7 months ago today that I sat and watched him die. I find peace in my heart knowing that those last few months are not the way he wanted to live, he was not the person he was, just sitting there, not able to do anything, not even able to eat. And I have to thank God for not letting him live like that for years....Time to COWBOY UP and get back into the swing of things. Get back to the countdown of SPRING.....as it's my favorite time of year. As the old saying goes....

TODAY IS THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!!

Jack of all trades, Master of None

I just finished looking at Niki's, from Nostalgia at the Stone House, blog. She INSPIRES ME!!! Yet, I look at all the eye candy that she treats us to everyday and I feel a bit inadequate. I feel like I don't have that talent like Mary Bella from Isabellascloset or Niki. I look at these pictures of what I have done in the past and wonder, Do others look at my creativity as inspiring as I do at others. Most days, I feel like a Jack of All Trades and A Master Of None.
And so.....the story goes, I will continue to try to find my talent. Try to find that "thing" that insprires me and others around me, that "thing" that makes me feel like I have some talent. Until then, I will keep trying, and looking at these pictures and say..."Did I really do that?"

~VINTAGE TABLECLOTH INFATUATION~

Okay...I have a confession, one I probably should not even admit. I own over 1000 vintage tablecloths.

Why is that???

Why can't I help myself?

Anyone else out there have their heart skip a beat when they find a vintage tablecloth they do not own or is not yet in their collection?

Once again, I am getting ready for the SPRING SEASON, I think the First Day Of Spring is less than 6 weeks away and well, I'm going to let some of these pretties find a new home. YEP ~ I promised myself and no-one else that I would "downsize" and so, that is what I am going to do.

But the funny thing about it is I also told myself and no-one else is that I will still be looking for them, I will still be buying them, I will still let them make my heart skip a beat, and I will still add them to my collection. VINTAGE TABLECLOTH INFATUATION.....Is there a 12 step program for this???

~DELICIOUSLY BLUE~

OH MY GOODNESS!!! WHY CAN'T I LEARN TO SEW????

ANOTHER BATCH OF VINTAGE FABRIC

~DELICIOUSLY BLUE~

And I am hoping that I'm not BLUE when I find new homes for all these YUMMY LINENS!!!
I will be adding them to our website on Saturday along with some other FABULOUS TREASURES. I hope you can have a look see and maybe, just maybe, one of them will call to you asking for you to give them a new home and make them into something even more DELICIOUSLY BLUE!!!

It's My Birthday

HOW FUNNY IS THAT???

Well, actually yesterday, February 6th was my 41st Birthday!!! But I spent it getting over the flu and tending to my sweet 5 year old who also has the flu. Funny thing, this is the 2nd year in a row I was sick on my birthday....SO...who was it that said "When you hit your 40's, everything just gets better."????

Have any of you seen the GEICO commercial with the "LITTLE ME" guy in it....Where he sings IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, GOT MY CAR FIXED....well, I was singing that all day because my wonderful hubby went out and got the oil changed in my car AND bought me all brand spankin new tires....all FOUR OF THEM.....SO....here is my spin on that song:
"IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, GOT MY CAR FIXED

GOT MY OIL CHANGED

GOT NEW TIRES!!!"

One more time.....(while standing up stirring the soup dancing)

"IT'S MY BIRTHDAY, GOT MY CAR FIXED

GOT MY OIL CHANGED

GOT NEW TIRES!!!"

~SICK~

Here we are.....SICK~SICK~SICK.....Going on week 3 of the round robin sick giving season. (I just made that one up...LOL) I am tired of it and ready for SPRING. School has been called off because of the cold weather and the doctors office is so full we can't get in until tomorrow!!! They are asking for us NOT to go to the Emergency Room because of the possibility of catching something else.....SOMEBODY wake me up when the BIRDS START SINGING AGAIN!!! Back to bed for me until my tummy feels good enough to sit for longer than 10 minutes.....

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

WE HAVE A WINNER to our "PAY IT FORWARD" Blog....DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....

I am happy to announce that Leigh Ann from the-pink-kitchen was my 4th person to comment in our blog.

THANKS SO MUCH EVERYONE.....stay tuned as this is only the first of MANY MORE to COME!!!

PAY IT FORWARD ~ January 2007

PAY IT FORWARD....ALL THIS....FREE to the 4th person who leaves me a comment in this blog I'm not sure how many of you know this about me, but I have been paying it forward for sometime.

But most recently, since my Dad passed away 6 months ago, it has come to my attention how much MY DAD....PAID IT FORWARD and he didn't even realize it!!! The constant words, letters, and phone calls that I get, of all the inexhaustible giving my Dad did for others, not just those that he knew and loved, but for those he didn't even know, blows my mind at times.

I want to be more like him, I want people to remember me with the memories and the warm feelings he gave unselfishly to those he didn't even know. I want to bring a little smile, a little sunshine, a little faith in people just because I want to be more like him....I want to pay it forward. So, here it is.....The first of many to come....I only ask....that you too, pay it forward to someone else. No one knows I am doing this....I am anxious to see how long it takes everyone to catch on....Amy

WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET.... Faux BUTTER YELLOW ROSES in a Shabby White Terra Cotta Pot, A BEACH COTTAGE BLUE Terra Cotta Pot with a Vintage Victorian Die Cut Girl on the front, a Vintage card of Lansing, IOWA Pearl HEART buttons, an old glass jar full of OLD BUTTONS tied with White Rosebud Ribbon, A Mary Englebreit Spring book CHOCKED FULL OF AWESOME EASY TO DO IDEAS and last but not least....The fabric in the background is a PAIR of ROSEBUD CAFE' CURTAINS that measure 45 inches wide by 32 inches long each.

FREE....FREE....FREE.....I PAY THE SHIPPING TOO!!!

WHY THE FOURTH PERSON YOU ASK???? Because of the Four Sisters!!!!

THANK YOU DAD....I MISS YOU....

OH that OLD FABRIC...

Oh THAT OLD FABRIC...

Well I did it....I put all that OLD FABRIC on my website, you know, all those pinks fabrics in the basket. It about killed me but I have to start somewhere.

I hope you get a chance to look at them and maybe even give them a good home. Someday I will learn to sew...but not today.

Next will be all the fabric in the above picture. They are just sitting there, SMILING AT ME, in a big old jelly cupboard. I know they want out of there, I know they want to be used for something pretty....so off to someone elses house...to be loved as much as I loved them.

Why Do I LOVE Linens

I'm not at all sure what it is about old linens, fabric and textiles that make my heart go pitter-patter. I'm not at all sure why every time I see one, it catches my eye and makes me think of all the wonderful things that it could be made into.

Is it the COLORS? Is it that it has SURVIVED all these years, uncut, unaltered, unfinished just begging to come home with me and made into something gorgeous? Or is it that I FEEL THE NEED to have it passed onto someone else that will give it a good home and see it's potential like I did? Who knows, all I know is that I should learn to sew, I should learn to turn these pieces of the past into something BRILLIANT! I know I can do it, it's in my blood. My Mother, is an accomplished seamstress, sewing for some of the most influential people in our town. She sewed all of our clothes growing up. My Grandmother and all of my aunt sew. I just can seem to get up the courage to begin. It is my goal this year to give it a try. My 14 year old daughter has learned to sew in the last 6 months and I am amazed at what she is making. Oh, to learn to sew....IT MAKES ME A BIT NERVOUS because I am afraid I might end up LOVING the old stuff even more.

Snow Day Work Day

Nothing is better than a SNOW DAY turned into a WORK DAY of decorating. I had so much fun unpacking boxes of treasures and redoing my entire downstairs. I turned it into my own space, my own DARLING COTTAGE. I LOVE IT and will be using it of course to not only showcase all of my collections, but also display my treasures I am selling.