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July 07th, 2017

7/7/2017

Flower Power at Maisonvogue

Maisonvogue's flowers are struggling to survive all of the rain we are having in Alabama this year ...but some of them are loving it.
This shows part of my Wild Flower garden that I planted from seed this Spring ...
I wanted a garden I could cut flowers to bring in to the house.
And that is what I am getting ..a huge variety of colors and plants.
Despite all the storms we still find that Flowers have the Power.

I have Morning Glories climbing up the railings on one side of the front porch ..they are in 4 different colors

Some of the Wild Flowers

The birds planted this Sunflower ....straight from the bird feeders ..or could it be one of our Cats or Raccoons carrying it on their fur ..we will never know ...but it is beautiful.

A beautiful delight in the Wild Flowers ..I have no idea what it is called ..along with lots of lovely white daisies.

Another view of the Wild Flowers.

Some Wild Flowers that I cut and brought inside to put on the window sill in the kitchen.

Black Eyed Susan's and fuchsia pink Impatiens (we call them ' Busy Lizzie's' in England as they grow so quickly).

I have no idea what this is called...if you know
Please leave me a 'comment' as I would love to know.
I just found it on the internet ...
Pimpernel (Anagallis Arvensis Caerulea) - This unusual little plant is originally from Europe. Known as Blue Pimpernel, it has a spreading habit which makes it well-suited for edging a border, as a general ground cover plant, and in pots and hanging baskets. The Blue Pimpernel flower is open only when the sun shines. The habit of closing in dull weather and when rain is approaching has given the plant the name Poor Man's Weather-Glass.Pimpernel (Anagallis Arvensis Caerulea) - This unusual little plant is originally from Europe. Known as Blue Pimpernel, it has a spreading habit which makes it well-suited for edging a border, as a general ground cover plant, and in pots and hanging baskets. The Blue Pimpernel flower is open only when the sun shines. The habit of closing in dull weather and when rain is approaching has given the plant the name Poor Man's Weather-Glass.

It is so striking ..it makes me smile every time I see it ...I think I will buy lots of them next year to place all over our garden ....they are my new favorite flower !!

I put Fuchsia Pink Impatiens under trees or amongst other plants ...they look so lovely ..don't you think ??

Rose of Sharon is really a member of the Hibiscus family ...I have many in my garden all taken from cuttings from my Husband's childhood home.

I love these two plants ..they are new to me but are total winners ..i will buy them again next year.
I have no idea what they are called but they are stunning.

As you can see I have it in purple as well ...just glorious!!

My silly little wicker bird house is filled with lovely yellow blooms.
I have no idea what this plant is either ...but I think it is great in this bird house that I am using as a hanging basket.

Wild Flowers

We would not have flowers if it wasn't for the bees ...I am very happy that my flowers attract so many insects, butterflies and humming birds.

Thank you for popping by and looking at my Flower Power.
I hope your are enjoying the flowers in your garden too.
Have a wonderful day.
Please 'comment' if you know the name of some of the flowers I don't know.
I would really appreciate it.

Happy Days to you all

Janet

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July 04th, 2017

7/4/2017

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Happy 4th July, Independence Day...ideas for your Celebrations Decor

I thought I would just show you some of my favorite ideas for your 4th July celebration decor curtesy of Pinterest

I just LOVE this idea of sewing lovely Bandana Scarves to make a one of a kind patriotic tablecloth ...such fun and so impressive

This must be one of my favorite ideas of giving all of your guests their own little bucket full of everything they will need to have a wonderful time ...I just LOVE it ...I should think that the buckets can be bought at Christmas Trees Shops, Target, Michaels even Walmart might have them ...you can make them ahead of time and just put them out either on the table place setting or just on a side table for guests to pick up

Get the men in your life to make this very simple game for your guests to enjoy and do some simple painting ...you will need to cut out some star shapes to put on the wood before you spray paint it blue ..great project for the children to join in with

Most food ideas depicting the American Flag seem to be desserts but this time it's savory ...love it ..cheese, pepperoni or salami and blue corn chips

Great decor ...I just love the lanterns and the hydrangea's are a great touch ..you could buy some red spray paint that is for flowers from Michaels Craft Store and spray a few white hydrangea's red ...all of this decor would be available at somewhere like Pier1 Imports I would have thought ..or even Christmas Trees Shop

We all have these tin stars ...just have to spray them with matt paint in red, white and blue

Hope you have been inspired with these great ideas ....have fun getting ready for the big day

Thanks for popping in

Janet

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July 2nd, 2017

7/2/2017

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Pottery Update on Week 16 of my Pottery Lessons...A Tray and a Cacti Planter came home this week.

Week 16 of my pottery lessons and I was so happy to bring home two of my finished pieces with me.
I am so pleased how my tray came out ....I love the colors and I am so pleased in how I placed all the colored glazes ...they look nice and uniform ..very happy.

These are the first two stages of making my tray.

As you can see I only glazed the flowers and left the rest of the tray raw clay, unglazed.
I used a pink clay with speckle's in it .....the clay doesn't come out pink but it has a warmer glow than the grey clay...

I will find this tray not only practical to use as a tray but also to decorate our home ...I am going to put it on our coffee table and will stand this gorgeous French Breton pottery cider jug that I bought many years ago in the 1970's in France ..I have several pieces of it ...I just love the dark brown glaze and the little cider apples on it.

This is the underside of my tray ....I glazed the underside of the handles too both in a lovely turquoise glaze.

Here is my finished planter pot ....The glaze is wild ....I overlapped lots of glaze in just two colors.
I used Textured Leopard and a Raku Turquoise ...it was the Raku glaze that made it go crazy in the kiln.
I love how it created a bright turquoise puddle in the bottom of the planter..unfortunately once I have put in the soil and the cacti we won't see this glaze.

Here is the before planter ..waiting to be glazed.

One of the outside walls stayed just Textured Leopard as you can see.

The Raku glaze ran everywhere and even created adorable bubbles in the glaze.

Here it is all planted up ....I am very, very pleased with it ...this photo shows it little wonky..but it must just have been the angle I took it on ....as it's not wonky at all.

I have it sitting on the coffee table next to the tray ...it is raining so much at the the moment in Alabama that I fear I will loose my cacti so this planter is staying inside for the moment.

Thanks for popping by and looking at my pottery creations.
I made a load of jewelry this week mainly to give to friends or neighbors.
And a little trinket tray that has lady bugs on it and I carved out two flowers with dandelions in mind

Have a wonderful 4th July Weekend

Happy Days

Janet

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July 01st, 2017

7/1/2017

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Violet brightens up a rainy day in Alabama

Not very much going on at Maisonvogue at the moment .
In Alabama we are experiencing a very unusual pattern of endless rain ...it just won't stop!
For weeks now we have had grey looming clouds dumping heavy relentless rain on our State.
My beloved garden is getting very little love at the moment ...my Wildflower garden is being beaten down to lay flat on the ground.
It is full of flowers and buds but most of the flowers are having to fight to be able to stand up
The lawn grass is really enjoying it though ...but it may cause a lot of moss to grow ..
Shopping on Friday's for our weekly groceries etc..is just a day of dodging the rain with my umbrella up.
Last year we had an awful drought ...so I guess this is better than that.
I just want to say to the sun that we would love you to come back!!
So I have found all of these violet photos from Pinterest to brighten up my day and your day.

I am just loving this door ...the color is amazing ..and I just love the little off set window ...the flowers.. it's just beautiful ...

I need to start to get ready items for our vacation break for my Birthday next weekend ... I can't wait to go and have a lovely time.

I am also going to start to make cakes, cookies etc ..for my Downton Abbey Tea Party for my Pottery friends.
I will make everything except the sandwiches before hand and freeze them .
So that it's not too much work on the day.

I am going to make the invitations for my Downton Abbey tea party this weekend...a lovely thing to do when it's raining outside.

I bought home two finished pieces from my Pottery class this week ...I will photograph them and share them with you in the next day or so.

I am at last coming in to this century with my phone ..I am awaiting the arrival of a lovely iPhone and have ordered a lovely sparkly, glittery pink cover for it.
Then I will have to learn how to use it but apparently it's not much different to my iPad so that will be ok.
I am excited !!

So I have plenty to keep me busy and amused in the wet weekend we are promised by the weather channel.
Tuesday is the 4th July , Independence Day here in America .
We are not doing anything exciting but I do have some delicious items to cook and eat.
Danny wants to cook hot dogs on the BBQ (grill)
Red potato salad, special recipe for baked beans and all the lovely goodies that 4th July brings.
Let's hope there is a clearing in the rain long enough for people to fit in their BBQ ....
I wonder if fireworks will be lighting up the sky.
Whatever you are going to do,
Have fun and stay safe.
The interstates, when I was out shopping yesterday, were full of cars .. filling up my mirror when I looked behind me ...all seem to be racing down to the South to the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico ....hopefully not too much rain will spoil their fun.

Thanks for popping by

Happy Days

Janet

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June 25th, 2017

6/25/2017

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I am Preparing to Host a Downton Abbey Type High Tea Party for my Pottery Friends.

I have not had a fancy Afternoon High Tea since I made one for our Daughter's Bridal Shower in 2013 would you believe.
Having been ill for such a long time with my injured arm ...I haven't dared to take on such an endeavor.
But now as I am getting a little stronger ...I have asked some of my friends at my Pottery class if they would like to come along to my home and I would host a Downton Abbey type Afternoon High Tea for them.
They all ask me about being British and all of our customs and about the Queen and the Royal Family, etiquette etc...that what could be better than showing them some of our traditions inside of my home.
I am not able to work for hours on anything these days as it I get tired so easily but I look forward over the coming weeks to make items for it in dribs and drabs ...to eventually get to the finish and host the tea.
I first intend to design some cute invitations to send out to them, within my craft room.

It will be so great to select some of my favorite teacups and saucers from some of the ones I have photographed above.
Pretty Linens, plates, silverware etc...from my collection,
Floral arrangements,
Fabric shabby chic flag buntings that I have hand made and sewn,
Gorgeous perfumed candles with English garden flower scents,
All that make a great High Tea so special.

My guests (those that I have spoken to so far about the subject) look forward to dressing up in 1920's
clothes or just wearing an afternoon tea hat ..it will be such fun.

This collection of Downton Abbey cookies are adorable but too detailed for me to ice these days with the weakness in my arm and hand

My 1920's clothing choice is very simple for me as I bought this charcoal one above for our daughter's wedding ...I just am sorry it's grey now ...it was great for the theme of the wedding but I prefer something pastel and pretty ..perhaps I can add a lovely peach or green scarf ..I will have to look and see what I have in my collection of scarves.

This is one of my favorite teacups I intend to use on the day ..it's Royal Albert 'New Country Roses'

My Grandmother gave me a full tea set of this Colclough 'Wayside' teacup and saucer, with the templates,bread and butter plate etc..

Here is a cute invitation I found on Pinterest

I could make these cute 'Teabag' Cookies.
I will make the food in advance and keep it in the freezer so it's easier for me on the day.
Dainty sandwiches, cookies,rock cakes, wedding cookies etc ..can all be made in advance along with delicious Sultana (Golden Raisin) scones to be served with Devon clotted cream and homemade Strawberry Jam.

These are some of my teacup collection I will use on the day

I don't think I will be wearing white gloves for the occasion but wouldn't it be nice.
We need a butler don't you think ??

As you may already know I won't be using tradition vases for my floral table decorations.

So that is some exciting news I have .
Here I am at the Bridal Shower Tea in 2013 ...that was a buffet;
But for the Downton Abbey Tea Party we will be doing it properly;
And will all sit down at the tea table just as if we were in Downton Abbey.
I hope they aren't expecting a castle instead of our humble abode !!
I can't reveal too much more to you before the day as it will not be a surprise to my guests.
I do however promise lots of photo's and a full posting of how the party went.
After the event.
I am expecting anything up to around 12 guests in all

Happy Days to you all

Janet

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June 23rd, 2017

6/23/2017

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Tropical Storm Cindy dumps way too much rain on the South.

Morning....Just a quick post to show you how much rain we have had thanks to Tropical Storm Cindy .
This is the lake that has spilled over our main road ....and making it impassible ..
We live up a road just past these cars.
We have had days and days of relentless rain .
Storm Cindy has been dumping rain on us without stopping and is going to carry on today and on Saturday.
The lawn is very green and now of course needs to be cut.... but that is impossible at the moment
And my flowers are down on the ground looking very sad.
But once the sun comes out on Sunday I am hoping that they raise their pretty heads to the sun .
Each plant seems to have doubled as they are being fed by the rain.
I have a shopping day today ...so guess I will have to find a different route from our home that is not flooded.
We have had a tornado as well that damaged and wiped out a few business's
4 people were injured but nothing serious thank goodness.
Wherever you are stay safe
Thanks for popping by

Kindest regards

Janet

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June 20th, 2017

6/20/2017

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Pottery Update Week 14 ....Finished Log Vase came Home to Maisonvogue.

I finally bought home my unique Log Vase ...I was told it was a 'Masterpiece' by my Pottery teacher and Friend Faith.
I am very pleased how it turned out.
First you see the raw clay on the day I made it.
Then the bright orangey brown of the glazing stage.
Then the first photo shows the finished article.

Before !!!
And below is after !!!
The finished article.
Do you see how cute my little bird turned out ??

My sweet little Turtle survived the journey.
As you see it was glazed and looked plain turquoise.
But look how it turned out.
All mottled and lovely almost like marble.
I think that Horatio the Turtle is very pleased with his new look .
Don't you.

As you can see it looks really lovely with a few of my Wild Flowers in it.
It was made just for flowers that have snapped off leaving short stems in the wind.
Or when I go to pick them and I cut them too short for other vases.
It's doing it's job well.
Don't you think ??

Here is the floral tray I made last week and showed you ...it was then fired in the Kiln for me to glaze this past week

I could not decide what color to glaze it ..so I asked lots of my friends and they came up with so many colors that I just went along and incorporated some of them.
I have put in the glazes and will leave the raw clay around them.
Here it is fully glazed.
I have put in a deep blue, Turquoise,Deep candy pink,a yellowish green and a proper green.
So when it is fired it should come out with lots of bright candy colors all shiny and glazed.
The underneath is glazed in a Turquoise and so are the underside of the handles.
I can't wait to see how it turns out ...

I am as you can tell enjoying immensely my pottery lessons.
The creating, trying to tame the clay.
As it has a mind of it's own.
The companionship is most dear to me.
I have met lifetime friends and deeply cherish their friendship.
And the laughter ...so enjoying the laughter

Then just when I can't think it can get any better.
I get to bring my items home to enjoy.

Go see if there are pottery lessons near you.
You will never regret it and will learn things about yourself you never knew.

Happy Days

Janet

Thanks for popping in

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June 18th, 2017

6/18/2017

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Maisonvogue Flowers and Handmade Jewelry Gifts

My very needy Wildflowers are just coming on very, very well.
With lots and lots of tender care and water ...they are growing like mad and I can't wait till I have an endless show of glorious flowers.
The Cosmos showed it's beauty first and then the Zinnia's and Cornflowers are now showing their happy colors.
This is just one of our Zinnia's ...there are many buds almost ready to burst open.

I made some pottery jewelry about 8 weeks ago but have not been able to post a photo of them as they were gifts and I wanted the recipients to receive them first.
This one I made for my Sister Sue ....She loved going to Thailand and Sri Lanka and riding Elephants so that is the theme I did on her necklace.

This one I made for my dear Friend Mary ..
I was very pleased to see how the glaze worked out .
I used just two glazes.
Where the glazes overlap you never know what color they will create.
This time they created a wonderful turquoise.
It was a total surprise ..very happy with it.

It is hard to see my lovely Mexican Pottery planter as the flowers have just over taken it all in all of their glory.

Here is Sue's finished pendant complete with little Elephants

I thought that the Nuthatch Bird had forgotten us then all of a sudden there is a nest ...built in to my faux window on the front porch.

Here is Mary's pendant ...finished off with a sweet heart and a little metal turquoise rose.
Mary received it last Friday and sent me the sweetest email saying how much she loved it
And that I had captured her personality perfectly.
Let's hope so we have been friends since we were little children at school.

The Nuthatch picks the safest place to have a nest ....it's covered and weather proof as it's under the large roof of our front porch.
It's impossible for the rascally Raccoons and the cats to get to it ...just has to put up with us humans passing it through out the day and sitting chatting on the front porch .
But that doesn't faze it at all as it keeps returning with new nesting material whilst Danny and I are chatting away ..joyfully watching it build a safe haven for it's soon to be precious babies.

I hope that you are going to have a great day whatever you are planning to do.
I have some pottery things to finish off ready to get fired next week.
It's also Father's Day today.
So I will light a candle for the day in honor of my darling sweet Best Dad in the World
Who left us far too early in 1988 at the young age of just 62 and 2 months.
I think of him almost every day and can still hear him giving me advice when I am remodeling our home or trying to do something handy around the house.
As Dad taught me how to paint, hang wallpaper,use power tools etc...
So glad that he did I have used those skills many, many times since he passed.
Also remembering my dear Father in Law who I only knew for a few short years as he too passed at a young age ..leaving me with lovely memories of a sweet, loving man.

Happy Days to you all

Janet

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June 11th, 2017

6/11/2017

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Faith's new Shabby Chic Guest Room & Pottery of Hers that you can Purchase from Her.

Faith as most of you know by now is my lovely Friend and she is also the lady that teaches my Pottery Lessons.
Faith recently decided to redecorate her Guest Bedroom on a Shoestring ..using inexpensive items and repurposing or vamping thrift store treasures.
This incredible head board was Faith's own idea and creation...She made it from garden fencing panels as you can see.
Cutting each one 3" shorter, she graduated the fencing slats ...
Before she assembled it she washed them over with a lovely paint combination making them look worn etc..
Faith also said that she sanded them down so that the wood was no longer rough as it was going to used for sleeping.
Then Faith put a piece of wood on the wall behind the bed and hand screwed each fencing panel to the wood ...the bottom of the head board panels are all the same size making a straight cut across the bottom.

I just love how it looks ...well done Faith ....it's just too adorable and cost very little, in a high end home decor shop they would be asking high dollars for the same item.
I love the color of the bedding with the headboard and one of my own French peacock pillows (a gift from myself to Faith) just looks at home on the bed doesn't it.

This super cute lamp with it's lovely shade and finial was a thrift store find ...great buy.

I am featuring lots of Faith's Earth Art Pottery that she has for sale in various shops but would love to sell to you ..if you contact her by either of these ways on her business card above you will find Faith a wonderful lady to talk to who will bend over backwards to make you happy..give her call or email her ...she is also available on Etsy.com as you can see.

I believe that some of these pots that Faith has displayed in her guest room are for sale.

In the guest room Faith has the bottom half of a Vintage Singer Sewing Machine ...found at a thrift store ...she placed this lovely box on top of it and shabby'd it to match her room.

Faith very cleverly is displaying some of her stock of pottery, all made by her own hands, on shelves, that decorate the guest room ...she has white washed stacks of red bricks and placed painted turquoise wooden boards for shelves ...I think it looks great and very economical..the vintage windows were also thrift store finds.
Faith also uses wooded crates to create shelving to display her beloved pottery ..each item is made with great love and attention.

The cute bedside table was also a find as an unwanted table ...and Faith shabby'd it to suit the room.
The lovely lamp also found at the thrift store Faith cleverly crochet'd a cover for the shade and added beads to the bottom of it ...it looks really great.

I believe that all these items are ready for sale ...Faith wraps them very carefully to ensure they arrive at your door in perfect condition.

How gorgeous are these plates with all the beakers and bowls to match ....I just love them.

The items on the top shelf ..the 'cat', 'sunflower','blue bird' and 'pig' are all for sitting your Smart Phones in and make the most wonderful gift for adults and children...there are other designs that I believe Faith can make ..I know there is a 'dog' with it's tongue hanging out ..you can see it on the wooden crate shelves next to the bedside table in previous photo's.

Faith has a mug tree full of lovely mugs and gorgeous Jelly Fish chimes.
They all come at very reasonable prices.
Especially as I now know how long it takes to make pottery items and what skill is required.
Worth every penny for a one of a kind item.

I hope you enjoyed me sharing my Friend Faith's home and art work.
Please don't hesitate to contact her if you would like to discuss purchasing anything.
She could even list it on Etsy.com for you if you prefer to buy through Etsy.com.
Go on her Facebook Page and please share the love by 'liking' her page.
I have enjoyed telling you about my wonderful dear Friend
Happy Days

Janet

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June 10th, 2017

6/10/2017

2 Comments

Update on Pottery Lesson Week 13 plus update on my Wild Flower Garden

Here are just some of my wild flowers from my Wild Flower garden ...it's just a small raised bed but after lots of tender care it is producing lots of flowers for me to cut and decorate my home with . I am thrilled with them.

Because of the recent storms we had and the pottery kiln being outside in the my teacher's garden ...there was a delay on items I had made being ready to either bring home or glaze ..
So I decided to make myself a tray ...
I had lots of fun making it ...the handles were something new for me.
They look very thick but when the clay is put in to the kiln it shrinks by 12% so they will be smaller on the finished item.

It was also the first time that I got the chance to make some feet for one of my projects ...
By doing this I can glaze the underside of the tray too ...
I must leave the bottom of the legs free of glaze as if they had glaze on them it would stick to the kiln.

My Hydrangea's are just loving the new fertilizer that I am feeding them once a month on them ...I have constant pretty blooms to cut and bring inside the home.
I have these lovely purple Mop Heads and I also have a pale pink and blue Lace Cap ...

I hope to take some more photo's of the flowers in our garden today.
Everything is going to plan.
Not quick enough though.
But you have to learn patience when being a gardener.
They bloom in their own time.
But for most of the time they reward you with such beauty and joy.
Here is a photo taken yesterday of a Sunflower on our back deck.
It must have been planted by birds.
Or perhaps Bella our cat had it hanging on her long fur.
Collected at the bird feeders.
But we have watched it grow strong and straight then yesterday this smiling, happy sunflower said ' Hello'
It is a bit smaller than we thought with such a large stalk.
But perhaps as it opens up it's face will get larger and have a bigger smile.
We love it anyway.
Thanks for popping by.
I had fun.

Kindest regards

Janet

2 Comments

June 05th, 2017

6/5/2017

1 Comment

Pottery Lesson Week 12 Update ....I NEED your help please !!!

Week 12 Pottery Lesson update .....

Here it is my biggest build ever after 12 weeks of lessons.

I have made myself a plant pot ....I will fill it with soil and either put Cacti in it or shade plants as it's going to sit on the back deck's table underneath the garden umbrella.

But I need your help, so that it doesn't crack in the firing process ...I need lots of your blessings or prayers please ...I need all the help I can get ...ha! ha!

It was a huge learning curb ....I so enjoyed making it.

It took me 7 1/2 hours to make it ....so much concentration ...such devotion to producing a finished pot.
It took a lot more math than I would have thought.
Certainly made me use parts of my brain that have been dormant for years ...ha! ha!
But look I have made it .
It's not perfect ..
It would not win a contest.
A Master Potter would pick it to pieces.
But I am proud of my achievement.
It is more than I ever thought I would make.
7 1/2 hours seemed like 2.

Now please cross all of your fingers and toes that it behaves in the Kiln ..
Can you imagine the heartache if it cracks in the kiln.
All that work for nothing .
But no it would not be for nothing as I certainly learned a lot about Pottery doing this project.
If you crossed your fingers and toes correctly I will then be able to move on to glazing it.
I haven't thought of the glaze color yet.
Let me know in 'comments' what color you would like it to be please
I would love your input
Thanks for popping by
I had fun

Happy Days

Kindest regards

Janet

1 Comment

June 04th, 2017

6/4/2017

1 Comment

Love is Hearts and Flowers of Maisonvogue on a Sunday

Happy Day to you ....just a few of the hearts and flowers at Maisonvogue

Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, the romance- and you find out you still care for that person.

True love is worth waiting for even if it takes a lifetime. Then in return a lifetime of love will be waiting for you.

True love is not finding someone else but finding your other half.

Love is like swallowing hot chocolate before it has cooled off. It takes you by surprise at first, but keeps you warm for a long time.

Love, the strongest emotional bond, is the most satisfying human experience imaginable for those fortunate enough to find it.

You haven't found the right person if you can live with them, you've found the right person if you can't live without them.

Love is when he gives you a piece of your soul, that you never knew was missing.

Love is giving someone the ability to hurt you but trusting them not to!

If love is a drop, I'll send you shower;
If love is a petal, I'll send you flower;
if love is water, I'll send you the sea;
if love is a person,
I'll send you my HEART

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June 03rd, 2017

6/3/2017

1 Comment

Sparrow's Nest .....A 4 Day Getaway for my Birthday !!

I have a birthday coming up soon ....and was delightfully surprised when my Son's said to choose a cute cabin or hotel to go on a 4 day getaway vacation break and they would pay.

How lucky am I and so thankful for their generous gift.

So here is where we are booked ..this super cute little cabin on the edge of a State Forest just 3 hours away from home , in Tennessee.

How rustic is the kitchen ....these are obviously not my photo's they are the photo's that were on the vacation listing.

But you know that I will be taking lots of mine and will share them with you.

We chose a secluded cabin instead of a lovely hotel as we will love to sit on the porch and have our breakfast and again to watch the sun go down....we can get up whenever we want and we won't be doing any major cooking or anything so still a lovely.

I Love the wooden floor and the real tree trunk holding something up or perhaps just for more rustic decor.

It is just 20 minutes from downtown Chattanooga ...so lots to see and do.

Chattanooga has wonderful restaurants,

An amazing Aquarium, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Incline railway up to the top of Lookout Mountain, A visit to the very unique Rock City with it's spectacular views and Ruby Falls that are inside a massive cave system that we can walk in to so we can see the falls.

We can visit Lookout Mountains cute little town of Mentone ..I love that place and eat at Wild Flower Cafe ..so unique and quirky.

We can even go on a trip in an amphibious Duck vehicle that rides around Chattanooga telling you all the history of the buildings and then after a chorus of 'Quack, Quack, Quack' turns in to a boat as we enter the Tennessee River via the slip way and go for a ride around the river ....lovely experience ..

Super cute bedroom too ...with it's pine ceiling ....so cozy and lovely ...every area and corner of this cute mountain home is unique it seems.

Sliding barn doors take you to the other bedroom that has two single beds ...perfect if you are taking children with you .....

Lovely sized window ...I can't wait to see what the view is from it ...

Full of surprises this little wash hand basin is just darling in the bathroom and below the large shower.

Some of the view of the valley below.

We also have a hot tub on the backside of the cabin.

I hope that some wildlife come to say 'hello'

So here is another view of our home for 4 days.

The cabin is called ' Sparrows Nest'

For a birthday treat to remember.

I can't wait to start creating memories with my Darling Danny.

Are you going on any mini breaks just to unwind and take another view of life for a while?

Thanks for popping by.

Happy days to you all

Kindest regards

Janet

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May 29th, 2017

5/29/2017

2 Comments

To those who serve Thank You.

2 Comments

May 28th, 2017

5/28/2017

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An over night fire burns parts of my beloved Historic Dinan in France ... Shop Signs & Shop Fronts are a complete curiosity & work of art in France

Parts of my beloved Historic area in Dinan broke out in fire overnight !!

The photo's look dramatic but it could have been so much worse as most of the houses are made of wood..
I am not sure but I do believe that no one was hurt ...thank goodness.

I don't like to post such sad news ...so I have put an album together of some of my favorite shop signs in France most of them are in Dinan.
I just love them each one a piece of beautiful art.

In France I always look out for unusual shop fronts and sign's and I don't have to look too hard

This one advertising 'Hotel Maison au Pelerin' translating to 'Home of the Pilgrim'

These are some of the signs in my favorite town to visit when I am in France, Dinan..a medieval town..

This isn't the greatest of photo's but it made me smile ...it's of a Hotel advertising bedrooms with the silhouette of a woman running up the stairs to bed ...so cute and sure to make you smile

The Dwelling of the Monks

Butter and Cheeses ..Yum !!

This house is one of my favorites in Dinan and it is at the top of the most incredible cobbled street that leads down to the River Rance ..

Le Mont Saint Michel

Bakery and Pastries

Hardware and Ironmongers

I have eaten many a good meals in this great restaurant in the incredible Le Mont Saint Michel , a very ancient monastery on a tiny island that has been there since the 8th century, AD ..it had red gingham tablecloths the last time I ate there

A gorgeous sign for the local French Pancake Shop

And one for the library book shop

Below is part of the main street of Dinan, France

As you can see it's very old and beautiful and looks like it's just out an old Three Muskateer's movie

The old town is most atmospheric, crammed full of half timbered buildings dating from the 13th and 14th centuries, with cobbled rambling streets all carefully restored and preserved. Interspersed throughout the old town are numerous individually owned cafes, bars, restaurants and the colourful shops of butchers, bakers and today scented candle-makers. The shops of florists, artisans, craftsmen and weavers mingle with the ubiquitous gift and post card shops that thrive in any town that is a magnet to tourists.

Monsieur Vannes and his Wife ..so cute

Of course being a cat lover I couldn't leave this one out

Hope you enjoyed my tour of French shop signs

I will take lots of photos of other ones when I am in France this Summer ...they are such works of art

Below is a sign for a sewing shop that does alterations for women only it seems

Merci d'être venus et en regardant mes signes

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May 29th, 2017

To those who serve Thank You.

May 28th, 2017

An over night fire burns parts of my beloved Historic Dinan in France ... Shop Signs & Shop Fronts are a complete curiosity & work of art in France

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