Create Romantic Charm with your Shabby Vintage Linens!

Vintage linens are one of my favorite things to collect!

I especially adore ladies handkerchiefs that whisper the sweetness of days gone by. Linens are a wonderful way to add vintage romantic charm to your cottage decor!

Feeling inspired I decided to get creative with one of my pretty handkerchiefs and create a pretty spring wreath. 

So, if you would like to give this a whirl, here is how I created my vintage linen wreath!

I used a straw wreath that I picked up at a thrift store for .50 cents.

I wrapped it in strips of old curtain lace and then added a satin bow at the top to layer lace and vintage flowers on...

Next I stretched the vintage handkerchief across the front of the wreath and hot glued the edges to the back

Once this is done you can add as much lace and fluff to the top as you want!

 I love lots of flluff in my wreaths...even the simpler ones!

  A perfect way to use your vintage linens and create vintage romantic charm in your cottage!

I will be sharing this with 

http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/
http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

Have fun creating!

Hugs,

Shabby Chic Boutique

Hello Darling Friends! 

I am so excited to have my art featured at the new Shabby Chic Boutique in Osage Beach, MO opening in Spring of 2011!

This Boutique is fabulous  and very unique to our neck of the woods!

When I create, I always wonder if someone else will like it!

Here are some of my suitcases painted and fluffed up...

My PARIS sign was used to decorate the dressing room...

 they named my mannequin "Olivia" (made it easier to part with)

This is a larger view of the store...

 To see more pictures of this gorgeous store click below

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Shabby-Chic-Boutique/157273184312191

Thank you Shabby Chic Boutique for supporting my Shabby loving ways in the middle of winter in good ole Smalltown, USA. The support in itself is such a huge blessing for my family and I!

Also, don't forget to sign up for my giveaway, I will announce the winner this weekend! Click on link underneath picture, leave a comment to be entered!

http://shabbychictreasures.blogspot.com/2010/12/olivias-romantic-giveaway.html

I will be sharing this with

http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/

Squishy hugs,

My Shabby Chic Mantel Fluff Up!

I need a tiny glimpse of spring...

 A fresh Shabby Chic inspired mantel will do the trick!

 With the New Year upon us I am in the mood for soft colors and symbols of hope...

During Christmas I used alot of whites and gold...I am ready for a dabble of pink!
I am in love with this beautiful rosette I found on Holiday Getaway, I pinned it to the top of this antique mirror...

These crushed roses are my favorite....so soft and sweet!

My tree will stay up until after the first. However, I could not resist this pretty touch of Romance for the New Year!  I just love "new" adventures!

Yesterday it was an adventure in my kitchen!

Today, a Shabby Chic Romantic Mantel!

I will be sharing this with 

 http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Hugs,

Shabby Italian Chicken Recipe

Soooo... I went grocery shopping today and got a FABULOUS deal on chicken! I stocked up on some items I thought I might need for my new found adventure in the kitchen.
(PLEASE GOD LET ME LEARN HOW TO COOK)
I started to brown the chicken in some butter and fresh garlic.

I panicked when I began to cook them, I began to flip nervously through my cookbook which is possibly written in FRENCH or SPANISH for all I care!!! It all seems so foreign to me! I can't find anything with the ingredients I have!!!

What was I thinking???

Then I  found Italian Chicken!!

I had most of the ingredients except I was supposed to use white wine and I had a dark red port which turned the sauce a pinkish purple color! PANIC!!! As I sauteed and sampled I decided the port will make it "Shabby Chic" Chicken! Why Not!?! Plus it was tasting pretty yummy!
(I do not drink, maybe the port sauce tasting made me a bit loopy)

Italian Chicken

6-9 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

1 Env. dry Italian salad dressing mix 

1/2 stick butter

1 8oz cream cheese

 1/3 c white wine (or Port)

4 sliced mushrooms 

1 can cream chicken soup

1 t. chopped chives optional

1 t. fresh garlic optional

Melt butter in skillet. Sprinkle salad dressing mix over butter, saute chicken in butter until brown. Place chicken in a 9x13 pan. Add to the skillet drippings soup and cream cheese. Blend thorough. Add the mushrooms, wine and chives. Heat until bubbly and pour over chicken. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Serve over rice or cooked noodle (I choose noodles, but rice would be good too!)

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve on your prettiest rose dishes! 

~Cottage Hugs~

Anyhoo, the end result tasted good!  I love to taste until the point of being full by dinner time. 
(I am waiting like it is Christmas to see what the hubby thinks after he gets off work). 
I can make things look pretty, but I have the desire to make them taste good too! Isn't that how you get to a mans heart through his stomach?

Sissy has also decided to bring her kitchen into the center of my kitchen and cook too!

ADORABLE! Please God don't let her grow up!!!

 I will be posting the recipes at the top of my blog under the "Recipes" page.
Nothing fancy, stuff you can get at your every day grocery store.
If I can do it , you can to, I promise! Later this week I will be fluffing up my mantel decor with some fresh spring ideas!

 Have a fabulous day!
I will be sharing this with
White Wednesday at
http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com
  
Hugs,

Shabby Chic Kitchen!

I have truly been praying for God to plant the desire in me to be passionate about cooking!

 Something is stirring in me and in my Shabby Kitchen!

Home Made Mashed Potatoes

 Yes, I took the time to peel and boil the potatoes, then I added tons of butter, sour cream, milk and salt. Yummy!

(I think Home Made taters are so much healthier than McDonald's fries, plus it is fun to sit down together at the table)

I made these for Christmas dinner and there were no leftovers, imagine that! 

My princess and I also whipped up some fabulous deserts using pudding and oreos!

The Recipe Book seems a bit intimidating to me.

I am learning that if I try it and mess it up or nobody likes it... I can try again with something else!

I am not sure why I have never really wanted to cook, it might take alot of money and a shrink to figure it out, but I believe God can change my heart about alot of things...right now it is cooking!

NOW, I of course WILL be decorating and painting things!!!!

My kitchen needs some cute pink accessories and I am dreaming of a rose cutting board.

For now I am thankful for the desire to create memories with my sweet family!

This is my view from my kitchen window...

My sweet n Shabby Kitchen

 Wish me luck as I blunder through recipes!
Lets Show off our Cottage with Cielo
http://houseinroses.blogspot.com/

Hugs,

Sweet n Shabby Christmas

The sweetest blessing...

 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

John 3:16 

Praise God! We are incredibly blessed!

 Hello Dear Friends!

Santa's cookies are ready! 
We have all been cheffing it up in my shabby kitchen...

Nestle Toll house Original Cookie Recipe!

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 2 Cups Nestle Toll house Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions

PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.
YUMMY EAT LOTS! NO CALORIES DURING CHRISTMAS!!! HA!
The stockings are hung by the chimney with care...

I am cooking, eating, wrapping, eating some more, and fluffing up the house in preparation for that jolly old elf to make his grand appearance!

(Let me tell you he is going to be one well fed elf!)

 I am thankful this holiday season for all of our blessings! 

God is faithful and good!
I will be sharing this with

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/

http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

Merry Christmas my sweet friends and to all a good night!

Hugs,

Shabby Garage Studio

My home is small....

I need a space to create....

My Shabby is spilling into the garage...

but why not? nobody else is making it pretty...

~Before                                               ~After

my teacup chandelier is finished...

 this pretty castoff lamp with a wire pumpkin flipped upside down lampshade and a vintage linen draped over the top fits perfect in my little space...

The hubby seems ok with this transformation, he hung this window for me...

 some shabby for my booths...but right now I like them here

 Right now it is about 35 degrees in our garage, but I feel inspired when I think about this space.

There is actually alot of room out there. 

I can't wait for things to warm up...I would like to make a family room area on the other side.

Have a beautiful and blessed day!

Hugs,