Faux Cupcakes and Signs and Shopping - Oh My!



It makes my heart so happy to know that I've finally reached my long time goal of opening an online shop of my own - a little place for my creations to temporarily reside until they find a forever home. She Could Fly, my new shop, has been so much fun to work on and care for and I'd like to thank all my new customers for taking the time and interest to stop by and see what I have to offer! I wanted to let those of you who have asked know that I have started stocking my realistic faux desserts and I will continue making various kinds at various price points {cupcakes, cookies, candies} along with my painted signs. You can look for vintage items in the future as well. If you haven't stopped by in a bit, please take a moment to check out She Could Fly, and from now until November 29th, use coupon code SHECOULDFLYSALE1 to receive a 20% discount off everything. Don't worry - you don't have to worry about me always blogging about my new 'baby', but I do know that many of you have shopping in mind for the weekend so I thought this would be a good time to tell you about my sale and show you what I've been working on. If you have any questions, please let me know!


































Have a wonderful and safe weekend, everyone! {And can you believe that it is nearly December already?!}

P.S. Look at this cherry pie my daughter made this week! It wasn't yet baked in this photo, but the finished product was delicious! I shy away from pies because the making the crust part scares me, but I found this simple, old-fashioned crust recipe that received very high ratings on AllRecipes.com and it was perfect! It makes enough for two pies or one pie with a top crust. If an eleven year old can do it, I believe I can, too, don't you?!

78 comments





My Visit with Layla Plus New Wall Color



Good morning, everyone! I'm sitting here in the dining room looking out the window and while it looks so cold and dreary outside, I've got a toasty fire going, a candle lit, music on, and it just couldn't be more perfect inside. {Well, maybe if my house were clean it could be just a little more perfect...} I'm also enjoying three - three - bouquets of roses that Mr. You Know Who gave me throughout the week. How'd I get to be so blessed? The pink roses above were the first bouquet. They are like little summer stowaways, just tagging along with Fall, refusing to be replaced by mums and marigolds.

As long as we're talking about being blessed, a few weeks ago I had the privilege of having Layla of The Lettered Cottage as a guest here for a couple of days. What a delight she is! I've known Layla for a few years now and we've met in person a few times, but this was the first time she visited Twice Remembered. I was super duper nervous because we live in a fixer and our home is certainly not 'company ready' at this point, but you know, in the grand scheme of things, it's not things but people that matter...so I just got over myself and we both had a blast! The timing could not have been more perfect because hubs was out of town AND the kiddos were visiting a relative for the week....so it was just us girls here to goof off and have fun! {In my excitement, I completely forgot to take photos but Layla wanted a few pics of my signs so we snapped the one below...and she generously let me borrow it for this blog post. Thanks, Layla!}


One thing, among myriads of things, that I appreciate about Layla is that you get what you see with her. If you've read her blog, you can feel just how sweet, compassionate, funny, and down to earth she comes across. And she is exactly the same in person... She didn't give our unfinished projects here a second thought - even though she had to sleep in my daughters' very undecorated and unremodeled shell of a bedroom... and even though I don't have curtains or any kind of window covering in much of the house...and even though it took me forever to get ready whenever we went out because before she got here, I shoved a bunch of clothes into the closet in a massive pile and couldn't find anything...and even though I threw a whole lot of junk into the already junky studio - which she got to see, along with my even junkier garage and upstairs storage space. I think it's not just any person that you could feel comfortable showing your life as it really is - with all the ugly, messy parts included. Yes, I am certainly blessed to know someone like Layla and to have the opportunity to visit with her as I have. I just love her!


When Layla was here, it won't surprise you to know that there was lots of talk about projects and decorating. I had just finished putting a new coat of paint on the walls of the kitchen and living room. If you remember, I had planned on painting Twice Remembered ALL WHITE, with the exception of the red cabinets. Ultimately, though, the rest of the family wanted some color and I decided upon a cheery blue / robin's egg blueish color. Here is a sneak peek of the shade we went with and it is called "Blanket" {CI246 by Valspar found at Lowes}. Let me tell you, this color GLOWS! No kidding! In fact, I was kind of freaking out about it for a few days because it really changes with the light. In most parts of the house I loved it but certain spots at certain times of the day, it translated to more of a minty color. By the time Layla got here, I was thinking that I was just going to have to change it. Layla and I talked and talked about it, and I even tried another similar color sample, but it was much darker than what I had in mind. I wanted BRIGHT and HAPPY! I really did love the glow afterall and now that it has been up a while, I'm so glad I didn't paint over it right away. By the way, the nook you see is by our front door and was once a tiny coat closet. We ripped it out because I wanted a little spot like this for flowers and keys. I can never find my keys, though, so having a spot for flowers at least is lovely. :)




We're still working on painting - the story of our lives - but I can't wait to show you what the blue looks like in the kitchen! Based on what you see in the photos above, what do you think? Not that it is an option anymore with my families campaign against all white walls, but if you had to choose between this color {happy, cheery, and bright} or white {soft, relaxing, subdued}, what would you have chosen?

{I love the random little chalk drawing 'Love' person in the last photo. Not sure which of my kiddos drew it, but it sure makes me smile!}

Enjoy your day...and I hope you find some time to waste today!

22 comments





Faux Cupcakes and a Word on 'Being Creative'



Hello, friends! I hope you have been well and are enjoying this delicious fall weather! I'm itching to get a nice, warm fire going in the fireplace and settle in for the season. This is most definitely my favorite time of year!

I have been busy making little things for the shop and have turned out a sweet batch of faux cupcakes. I will be photographing and listing them when they are fully cured, but I thought I'd share with you one of my favorites.

Why is it that I am so fascinated with little mushrooms? ...And little polka dotted mushrooms at that?! Let's not forget tiny pennant flags and unexpected teensy tiny things, like a miniature cupcake, under aforementioned polka dotted mushrooms...




*le sigh* Oh little baby cupcake. How I love you.


This cupcake is sprinkled with German glass glitter for a little sparkle...and I do believe I am addicted to German glass glitter as much as I am cupcakes and mushrooms.


{The mini bakery is slowly coming along. You can see in the background the wallpaper choices I'm considering. Chocolate stripes and tiny French print! The little table that the cupcake sits upon will be painted robin's egg blue.}

Of course, I'm still working on signs as well...


I can't tell you how happy it makes me to get up each day and decide what to make. For me, {and maybe for you, too} there was a long period of time that I felt like so many other things needed to be accomplished first before using my time to create. "When the house is finished", "When the closets are organized", "When the landscaping beds aren't full of weeds"... But the truth is, for me, {and maybe for you, too} I need the energy that only comes from creating to be motivated to work on the more mundane parts of life. Admittedly, there were also a lot of doubts about my abilities and fears of not doing things as well as others. I still have those doubts and fears, but I'm realizing that being truly creative means striving to let go of them, just 'going with it', and being open to imaginative adventure. Whether our interests lie in home projects, crafts, music, writing, painting, culinary arts, sewing, gardening {and so on}, making time to c r e a t e is so important to our health and mental / emotional well-being, and sadly, busy lives can easily snuff out the precious time needed to dedicate to personal creative interests. But if you have a long list of goals and projects right now, whatever they may be, you'll be amazed at how much more enjoyable they will be if "Make Something Daily / Weekly OR Do Something New Daily / Weekly" is near the top of the list. If you don't think you have a creative or adventurous bone in your body, do it anyway because the very fact that you're thinking about the possibility shows that you have it in you. If you don't think you're that 'good', do it anyway because you have to start somewhere and really, who cares! I recently read that 'comparison is the thief of joy' and I truly believe that. So avoid the temptation to compare... If all the artists and musicians and designers, etc., worked to be just like the others, we'd have a world full of the same old stuff, and where's the fun in that?

Before I sign off for now, I found a few interesting creativity quotes to inspire you as they have inspired me. Enjoy - and Happy Creating!

True happiness comes from the joy of deeds well done, the zest of creating things new. -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

I'm always thinking about creating. My future starts when I wake up every morning... Every day I find something creative to do with my life. -Miles Davis

You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have. -Maya Angelou
While we have the gift of life, it seems to me that only tragedy is to allow part of us to die - whether it is our spirit, our creativity, or our glorious uniqueness. -Gilda Radner

The first and most important thing an individual can do is to become an individual again, decontrol himself, train himself as to what is going on and win back as much independent ground for himself as possible. -William S. Burroughs

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. - Sophia Loren

A creative mess is better than idle tidiness. -Michael J. Fox

The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. No big laboratory is needed in which to think. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone, that is the secret of invention; be alone, that is when ideas are born. That is why many of the earthly miracles have had their genesis in humble surroundings. -Tesla

The creative adult is the child who has survived. -Ursula K. Le Guin

When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the heck, leap. -Cynthia Heimel

Everyone is born creative; everyone is given a box of crayons in kindergarten. Then when you hit puberty they take the crayons away and replace them with dry, uninspiring books on algebra, history, etc. Being suddenly hit years later with the 'creative bug' is just a wee voice telling you, 'I'd like my crayons back, please. -Hugh MacLeod

So you see, imagination needs moodling -long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering. -Brenda Ueland

If you hear a voice within you say, ‘You cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. -Vincent van Gogh

Creativity is contagious. Pass it on. -Albert Einstein

We will discover the nature of our particular genius when we stop trying to conform to our own and other’s people’s models, learn to be ourselves and allow our natural channel to open. -Shakti Gawain

Creativity can solve almost any problem. The creative act, the defeat of habit by originality, overcomes everything. -George Lois

10 comments





Questions about The Twice Remembered Cottage?



Good morning, everyone! I hope everyone is getting their weekend off to a great start! The weather here is absolutely gorgeous!

I know many of you have had lots of questions regarding The Twice Remembered Cottage paint colors, projects, and the like, so I thought it might be a good idea to resurrect the FAQ page that I created quite a while back that may answer some of them. I would like to work on adding even more information to the page but I guess I first need to know what you would like to know! So, send in your questions and I'll answer them for you! Keep in mind that I may post your question on my FAQ page but I'll only use your first initial. So if you have project questions or really, anything that you're curious about, let me know!

{For your convenience, you'll also find a permanent link to the FAQ page right over there in the right hand menu column ------>.}

Have a beautiful day, friends, and we'll talk again soon!

6 comments





Cupcakes, the Sea, and Emily Post



A few happy things to share with you today...


Like this little sign I made because I'm obsessed with cupcakes and the sea - and so now I secretly pretend that my kitchen is a seaside cupcakery. {Did I just say that out loud?}



...a trio of {faux} cupcakes. Of course, I had to make a polka dotted one. {My shop - She Could Fly - opens next week! Though the next few days I'm focusing on getting signs listed, you'll start seeing faux treats trickling in here and there. I *almost* decided to just not bother with them anymore...but they are just too fun to make!}


Oh, here's a little something I've been meaning to do for quite a while - lining the kitchen drawers with old book pages! Of all the things to hold me up, it was mainly the fact that I couldn't find just the right book. I finally found a vintage Emily Post Etiquette book that suited this little project perfectly! I used the chapters of the book that related to food and entertaining...





I love all the illustrations that explain how to fold napkins, how to create proper place settings, and the best way to set up buffet tables...




For this project, you simply carefully tear the pages out of the book, apply white glue to the back of each page with a sponge brush or foam roller, and press into place, taking care to press out any bubbles. Let it dry overnight and then seal it with two or three coats of clear non-yellowing latex sealer. {I still have to do that step but it's very important to protect those old pages.}


I think it just adds 'a little something nice' to a usually ignored part of the kitchen. Who knew opening kitchen drawers could be so sweet? Now I kind of wish I didn't have to put anything back in them!


Have a beautiful weekend, everyone!

28 comments




Newer Posts Older Posts Home
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)



  • this and that

    • home
    • about
    • FAQ / have a question?
    • blogs of note
    • email

    categories

    • dining room
    • dollhouse
    • exterior
    • food
    • hallway
    • inspiration
    • kitchen
    • living room
    • personal
    • poetry and quotes
    • small projects
    • studio
    • thrifty finds

    search

    memory lane

    • ►  2016 (2)
      • April 2016 (2)
    • ►  2013 (1)
      • January 2013 (1)
    • ►  2012 (4)
      • November 2012 (2)
      • July 2012 (2)
    • ▼  2011 (30)
      • November 2011 (2)
      • October 2011 (2)
      • September 2011 (2)
      • July 2011 (3)
      • June 2011 (1)
      • May 2011 (7)
      • April 2011 (4)
      • February 2011 (2)
      • January 2011 (7)
    • ►  2010 (101)
      • October 2010 (2)
      • September 2010 (8)
      • August 2010 (2)
      • July 2010 (5)
      • June 2010 (6)
      • May 2010 (10)
      • April 2010 (10)
      • March 2010 (15)
      • February 2010 (23)
      • January 2010 (20)
    • ►  2009 (104)
      • December 2009 (7)
      • November 2009 (10)
      • October 2009 (11)
      • September 2009 (10)
      • August 2009 (24)
      • July 2009 (12)
      • May 2009 (16)
      • April 2009 (2)
      • March 2009 (8)
      • February 2009 (3)
      • January 2009 (1)
    • ►  2008 (55)
      • December 2008 (1)
      • November 2008 (8)
      • October 2008 (1)
      • September 2008 (7)
      • August 2008 (2)
      • July 2008 (6)
      • June 2008 (12)
      • May 2008 (11)
      • March 2008 (2)
      • February 2008 (1)
      • January 2008 (4)
    • ►  2007 (65)
      • November 2007 (3)
      • October 2007 (1)
      • September 2007 (4)
      • August 2007 (4)
      • July 2007 (1)
      • June 2007 (4)
      • May 2007 (9)
      • April 2007 (9)
      • March 2007 (11)
      • February 2007 (6)
      • January 2007 (13)
    • ►  2006 (107)
      • December 2006 (12)
      • November 2006 (4)
      • October 2006 (3)
      • September 2006 (4)
      • August 2006 (3)
      • July 2006 (16)
      • June 2006 (16)
      • May 2006 (17)
      • April 2006 (9)
      • March 2006 (7)
      • February 2006 (13)
      • January 2006 (3)
    • ►  2005 (23)
      • December 2005 (6)
      • November 2005 (3)
      • September 2005 (6)
      • August 2005 (1)
      • July 2005 (3)
      • April 2005 (3)
      • March 2005 (1)
    • ►  2004 (4)
      • December 2004 (1)
      • November 2004 (1)
      • October 2004 (1)
      • August 2004 (1)

    as featured in...

    as featured in...

    inspiration

    • Miss Mustard Seed
    • The Graphics Fairy
    • Notes from A Cottage Industry
    • MARLEY and LOCKYER
    • White Living
    • The Gardener's Cottage
    • Air Kiss
    • home and harmony
    • FleaMarketTrixie
    • Burlap Luxe
    • Dreamy Whites
    • Jennys Hem och Harmoni
    • me and Alice
    • French Larkspur
    • an angel at my table
    • Fiona and Twig
    • Welcome to Boxwood Cottage!
    • Ticking and Toile
    • The Painted Hive
    • BELLE BLANC
    • Vita Verandan
    • Et à part ça ?
    • A Country Farmhouse
    • Agnes Shabby Chic
    • Linden Townhouse
    • Vita Ranunkler
    • Cottage Dreamers
    • Modern Country
    • Millas hem
    • LA MAISON DOUCE
    • {oc cottage}
    • BELDECOR
    • Lilla Blanka
    • 52 FLEA
    • Meadowbrook Farm
    • K&K Test Kitchen
    • Hvítur Lakkrís
    • Brabourne Farm
    • Maple & Magnolia
    • The Old Painted Cottage - The Blog
    • white flower farmhouse
    • {Beautiful Nest}
    • The Fairfield House
    • miss gracie's house
    • Crème de la Crème
    • Whimsy by Victoria
    • Faded Prairie
    • between cottage and cabin
    • Spets och snor
    • Faded Plains
    • Barn House
    • frugal farmhouse design
    • Songbird
    • Anettes Hus
    • Un autre été
    Show 25 Show All
  • extra! extra!

    extra! extra!


    my little shop

    kitchen

    kitchen

    studio progress

    studio progress

    small projects

    small projects

    thrifty finds

    thrifty finds

    food

    food

    dollhouse blog

    dollhouse blog

    subscribe

    Posts
    Atom
    Posts
    All Comments
    Atom
    All Comments

    email updates

    Enter your email address:

stay in touch

popular posts

  • Make Your Own Magnet Board
    "Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air" ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson I appreciate everyone's well wishes in my last...
  • Transformation of a Cottage Kitchen Part 2: Antique / Farmhouse Style Red Cabinet Makeover
    K itchen cabinetry. Really, your kitchen cabinetry can be considered one of the major furniture pieces of your home and, to say the least, Y...
  • Make Your Own Vintage Art ... With Nail Polish Remover!
    I know I left you all hanging on Wednesday when I said that I was working on transforming the framed art below with my {not so secret} secr...
  • Everything and the Kitchen Sink: Farmhouse Sink Inspiration Photos
    F armhouse sinks. I don't think I've ever seen one that I didn't love. Usually what first comes to mind when we think of these o...
  • Red Cottage Kitchen Vignettes and Hardwood Photos
    Y ou all left such lovely comments in my last entry about our new hardwood flooring. Thank you! It was a backbreaking job as you may well k...
  • Perfect White Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    I 've been thinking about all of you who are having to endure these huge snowstorms in various parts of the country. How are you faring?...
  • Decoupage Goodness
    D ecoupage. I love it! After my last project that involved decoupaging, I believe I've convinced myself that I want to use old book pag...
  • Photos: Red Cottage / Farmhouse "Antique" Kitchen Cabinets *FINALLY* Complete!
    Get Your Own! | View Slideshow I didn't think I'd ever see the day where I could officially say..."The cabinets are fini...
  • A Cottage Bedroom - The Marmalade Makeover
    H ello friends, and Hello 2013 !  I hope this brand new year finds you and your family happy and well.  We've been chipping away at...
  • A Craigslist Sob Story & Great Uses for Old Windows
    A re you up to a Craigslist sob story? Ok then, get your tissues ready.... I found this huge picture window for free on Craigslist last F...



 cottage guests now visiting

The Twice Remembered Cottage © 2008 Free Premium Wordpress Themes and BlackQuanta | Bloggerized by : GosuBlogger