E is for Estate Sale!! One of my most favorite things to do on a Saturday. I have found so many gems and treasures over the years. And really GREAT buys too!! An old vintage 6ft. shutter divider was FREE!! ( My favorite price!) It was an ugly dark brown and so I painted it a shabby white. I took out the broken shutters and replaced them with lovely shabby fabrics in  blues, pinks and greens. Some are even vintage fabrics.

This was a great find too. A wonderful garden shed at an estate sale for only $50.00. It was dark wood and I painted it a sweet country blue with white trim. We love it and use it all the time in our garden.

This 5 piece wicker set was also a fabulous Estate Sale find. It was beige and pretty dull until…yep you guessed it. I painted it white!! And only $75.00 for all 5 pieces! I used vintage fabrics to make seat covers.

F is for Flowers These are some heirloom flowers we had in our garden last year. Foxgloves are a very old variety and are a very English flower. To me they are pure heaven!

We also planted heirloom Sweet Peas. They are so delicate and fragrant. One sniff and you’ll be hooked.

Thanks for joining me at the Etsy Party today.

Which one struck your fancy??

Last week “Curbys Closet” took part in a community boutique to help raise money for the kids at CHOC Hospital in Orange, California.  The booth looked like a sweet shabby chic baby shop. It all looked darling with a little help from family and friends. Joining me in the “Curby’s Closet” boutique was…

My sister Cindi and her adorable OOAK fabric covered lighted candles. Perfect for babies room, bathroom, hallway or anywhere you need a little light. And her holiday ones look so cute for your holiday tablesettings.

Also joining us was EmmaJane of “Lil Heartbreakers” with her fun baby girl hair bands and bows. They are so cute and look adorable with the “Curby’s Closet” vintage baby dresses.

My talented husband made a new refurbished display rack for my quilted baby shoes. Believe it or not, he made it from an old mirrored piece that our neighbors were giving away. It went over a mantle and it was painted a ugly navy blue. He added shelves, a base and even wheels for easy moving. Doesn’t it match wonderfully with the dress rack he made for me last year?

It starts with a lovely pink vintage tablecloth of red roses and pink hydrangeas. Add some very pretty dishes with a delicate cottage rose design.

Of course there should be fresh cut roses from the garden, displayed in a old English vintage pitcher.

A perfect setting for a delightful brunch, an English tea luncheon or just a fun get together with the girls. This was my Mothers Day table scape this year and  I figured since I am the only woman in my house,  I’m going to go for sweet and feminine. It was a fun and lovely Sunday for me, spent with my family!

Try using cottage pink and shabby roses for your next get together!

“Romantic Homes” magazine has always been my favorite. I have subscribed for years and always look forward to each and every issue. I totally LOVE it!!

Well, this issue of Romantic Homes has a lovely full page ad for Lollishops ( a super delightful place to shop) and one of the vendors shown is none other than “CURBYS CLOSET”. Isn’t that exciting!!

It’s the June issue… so walk don’t run to your local grocery store and pick up a copy. I promise you… you will not be dissappointed. If you love shabby chic, cottage style and any thing soft pink and romantic. This magazine is for YOU!!

Yes, that’s right… get your copy of “CREATIVE COTTAGE SHOPPER” today!

What is Creative Cottage Shopper?

The “Creative Cottage Shopper” is an 8 page publication professionally printed. It is folded and stapled and will be addressed on the cover and shipped to you in the mail.
There are over 30 different coupons from your favorite Cottage Style vendors! Many of the coupons are for up to 40% off your purchases!
Not only does the Creative Cottage Shopper have coupons and savings but there are tutorials and tips from well known Cottage Style artists! So many surprises and goodies!
So if you’re a fan of Cottage Style, Chippy, Shabby, FrouFrou creations, antiques and supplies…you’re going to want to collect the Creative Cottage Shopper! Starting with this Spring issue!

You can buy it from Etsy or
LolliShops

I’m sure that you will want a copy for yourself,  hey maybe even for a friend. At any rate I’m sure that it will be wonderful and you will want to buy a copy each time they come out.

And here’s the best part...it’s only $4!! Yep, that’s what I said $4. What can you buy these days for $4? Right?  Anyway,  here’s the other best part… “Curby’s Closet” has an ad in the “CREATIVE COTTAGE SHOPPER” and is offering a BUY ONE PAIR OF BABY SHOES GET ONE FREE discount. I personally think that’s pretty exciting!

OK now, don’t delay and head on over to either etsy or Lollishops and purchase your copy today. When you get yours tell me what you think and how you like it. Oh and don’t forget to buy your baby shoes!!!

We don’t often think of “shabby Chic” style as being very harvest-y or using the typical Thanksgiving fall colors of deep greens, reds, oranges and yellows. I mean you wouldn’t even think of using a soft, pale green tablecloth, sweet pink roses or trailing ivy right?
I mean that doesn’t sound very harvest-y!
Or would you??

If you are looking for a Thanksgiving table scape with a very soft, pretty, romantic feel, yet still captures the look of Thanksgiving. Take a peek at my shabby chic style Thanksgiving dinner table.

I began by layering a soft green square brocade table cloth at an angle, on top of a rectangular green tablecloth. I love the layering effect on tables is adds so much character and texture. Then I set my table using my soft green dishes, flatware, goblets and gold napkins.

For the centerpiece I used a fun ceramic vase which has a lovely harvest fall scene painted on it and then filled it with wonderful flowers from my back yard (Yes, I do live in sunny California). I chose pinks, oranges, reds, and yellows. So yummy!
I added greenery like trailing ivy and lemon tree leaves for a full rich feel. Around the base of the centerpiece I added more ivy and lemon leaves. Then added hydrangea blossoms, and several tiny pumpkins. Anchored on each side of the vase were pewter goblets filled with spice potpourri and candles tied with a soft orange ribbon.

Most of the items I used in this Thanksgiving table scape were found from around my home or yard. I totally love that! Just going around your home finding things that you already have and putting them all together in a new and lovely way!
So, try something different this Thanksgiving… add a few roses…find a couple of your treasures from around the house and create your own unique and Shabby Style table setting.

Let me know if you think that maybe pink roses and ivy do say Thanksgiving. Well at least a “SHABBY” Thanksgiving!!

I know Halloween is almost here, but trust me there’s still time to pull of an adorable yet spooky table scape for your Halloween dinner. Many of the items I used, you may already have in your home or from past Halloween parties. Start by thinking roses and skulls!! “What did you say…are you crazy??” Don’t knock it till you see it. It’s pretty festive and I call it “Shabby Shriek“. Take a look below for creative ideas. Turn an ordinary black plastic cauldron into a breathtaking shabby centerpiece using lovely fall flowers (even add violet roses!), or try setting your table using spooky black coffins and skulls, or for the garden lover plant a little pansy in a tiny tin jello mold painted black. Now, these may not be your typical decorations, but they are sure to delight your family or guests and they will add the perfect balance for the woman who wants to decorate for Halloween, but keep that Shabby Chic (Ooops!! I mean Shriek) flair!!

So…. what do your think?

Well, I hope that you saw something that got your creative ideas flowing!! If so, then head off to the Party Shop. Target, or the florist and start creating!! You’d better hurry tho, no time to waste!!
Be sure to have fun and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

I am still fairly new to this blogging world, but I am getting much more familiar with how things work by joining groups and forums that are interesting to me or who reflect “my kind of style”. So, I would like to share with you some of my favorites and why. I sell some of my vintage baby clothes on ETSY and have for several months now. And through some other vendors there, got introduced to “ETSY COTTAGE STYLE”. It’s a terrific group and if you love Shabby Chic or that Cottage style… this is the place for you!
The next group I joined was “VINTAGE PULSE” a informative place to meet and converse with vintage minded people. We sell vintage, wear vintage, make vintage items, shop at vintage places, etc. it’s really awesome and very useful. (Eco friendly too!) Next, I put “Curby’s Closet” on “COTTAGE FRIENDS EMPORIUM” a place where cottage minded people sell their items and designs. A great way to find more of US out there. Then I joined “LOLLISHOPS” and “LOLLISHOPS GUILD”. “LOLLISHOPS” is not quite open yet… but you’re gonna want to check it out when it does! (I’ll keep you posted) “LOLLISHOPS GUILD” is for those who are vendors, ready to talk shop and who love everything darling, pretty and Sweet! Another group I’ve joined is “MARMALADE PINK” a little more for the business side of selling and very worthwhile. And last but certainly not least… I joined the forum of “MAKE MINE PINK” a wonderful network of gals who support and befriend you in the most inviting and comforting way. Perfect for chats, info. networking and of course shopping!! You’ll have to check out their very shabby, cottage style boutique stores.
I truly have enjoyed and learned a great deal from each one and I just wanted to share my take on them with you.
If you sell or buy Shabby Chic, Cottage, Vintage or love Pink!! Click on the button, badge or widgets on the right side of this blog and take a look. Leave yourself plenty of time, cuz there’s lots too see!!!
Let me know which one “floats your boat”!!

I was watching a design show on one of the cable channels the other day. It’s the one where designers compete for the title of “DESIGN STAR”. It was the episode where the designers task was to re-do country singer Sara Evans hotel suite in a “Shabby Chic” or “Country Cottage ” style. I was very intrigued and excited because I really love both of those design styles. Well, I won’t recount the whole show and all its events, but I will say that the “Professional” designers aka “Judges” pretty much let it be known, that these two design styles are not really even styles at all. I was kinda shocked and stunned!! I must say that it did offend me a bit!! ( Don’t worry I’ll get over it!) I don’t really understand why on these design shows you must either be contemporary, modern, or traditional. There seems to be no room for anything else.  I mean what about English or French Country style? What about a Romantic or Garden style? I guess that they wouldn’t be crazy about those either. I was delighted that Sara Evans liked the soft lovely “Shabby” kind of style. I bet if you asked successful designer Rachel Ashwell she’d say that “Shabby Chic” was a very wonderful style.

Just a thought… What do you think?