Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmas Love A*U*C*T*I*O*N in honor of Amelia~

I am joining in with Beverly & Pink Saturday with this post! Please sure to join her here to enjoy all the other Pink posts! Merry PINK Christmas Everyone!



For posting your bid on any of the six items in this post, all you need to do is the following:
  1. Leave a comment with the name of the item, item #, the $ amount you are placing your bid for, along with your email address.
  2. You'll want to make sure you return often to review other comments/bids. If anyone has placed a bid higher on the item you'd like to have, you'll want to place another bid higher than that person to hopefully win the final bid.
  3. On December 21st, the bidding will end at Midnight EST. I'll notify the winning bids by email on December 22nd, Amelia's birthday, with next steps.
  4. There will be a very nominal shipping fee added for each item purchased. Will also ship to Canada, but the rate of the shipping may vary somewhat.
100% of the Proceedings will be going to baby Amelia ~ Please read her story below:

One year ago this month, on December 22rd, this precious little Baby in the above photo, Amelia, was born into a loving family to a Daddy named Jacob and a Mommy named Jenny in Michigan. Jacob & Jenny had been married just 18 short months when Baby Amelia arrived. After Amelia was born there were complications and Jenny, her mommy died. Hearing about this event broke my heart and I just felt I wanted to do something for little Amelia.

I asked Amelia's grandmother, Kathy, from Welcome to Mimi's Garden if I could do something to raise some money for Amelia and her Daddy Jacob earlier this year. Kathy gave me her blessing to do so. Kathy, along with her husband, has been helping her son Jacob to raise little Amelia this past year. A few days after Amelia was born and I learned about the situation, my mother had a bad stroke and much of this past year was spent in traveling to help care for her; which caused the delay in my putting this auction together.

Love Auction Items: I'm auctioning some of my very own custom handmade Tea Cozies, as well as a few other collectible/new items.

If you'd like to join my cause for Amelia, maybe you'll find something in my post today that I'm auctioning off that you'd like for yourself or as a gift to give someone else. All you need to do is review the 5 items below and follow the steps at the end of the post to place your bids. Please share this auction with all your blogging buddies - or better yet, post about it and include the hyperlink of this post so others would come and place a bid. The more that participate, hopefully the more we can raise together for Amelia. The highest bid on each item will be the winning bid to purchase it!


Item #1: A Retro Parisian Tea Cozey
both vintage and new fabric has been used in this design

Item #1 - Picture 2, Inside view of the Parisian Tea Cozey
Black/White damask design for contrast
Item #2 British Tea Cozey
Red/White/Navy QUILTED Paisley design~
(teacup and book not included)

Item #2 - Picture #2 Inside View of British Tea Cozey
small gingham check contrasting fabric

Item #3 - TeaPot for One & Cup.Scripture on it says, "With God all things are Possible"

Item #4 - Breakfast at Tiffany's Tea Cozey in Aqua & Mocha Brown Paisley
(Teapot and tray are not included)


Item #5 - Wedgewood Blue Collectible Heart Dish with Lid

#6 - Chandelier Photo Blank Note Cards with envelopesSet of 8

Remember, 100% of all proceeds from this Love Auction is going to little Amelia...
Your Generosity in participating in this auction is greatly appreciated!
For more information on Amelia's story, you can go here:
Amelia's Story
May your Christmas with your own families & loved ones be blessed this Season!
~CC Catherine

Monday, August 15, 2011

Summer Breeze Girl Trip Memories....just a sneak peek for now

For months I planned my trip to the Summer Breeze Get Together at Claudie's in Canada!

August 6th came and the final day was upon us before we knew it... Sigh...

This pic was taken on our final day together. Claudie is the best host ever and made our trip a dream come true!

Soon I will post my TOP TEN Summer Breeze Moments!
This was certainly one of them!

I'm in the Green twirling...the rest of the gals, Miss Bee, Jeanne, Wendy, Claudie, and Julie...I'll share more soon! :)
Ciao for now...
~CC

Friday, July 22, 2011

Happy Birthday Baby Kitty! :)

In celebration of Baby Kitty turning 8 at at Confessions of a Plate Addict Friday night, 7pm!

Hi Baby Kitty!

It's "Moi", Princess Mignon Abbie, arriving a bit early for your Birthday Party!
Do you like my hat Baby Kitty? :)
My Mama helped me put this special Tea Party together just for you! :)
Do you like one lump or two?


What's on the menu you ask?
It's "meowing" good!
Strawberry Scones, Coconut Cupcakes, and Tea, of course! :)
Do you see the little candle that says "8" laying on the Kitty plate? Who's turning 8 today? teahehe!
I'm turning 8 in August!

Baby Kitty, I want you to see my OTHER party hat I'm donning for you!
Oh, I forgot to ask, do you like my necklace? It says Happy Birthday! :)
And next to it is a "Party in a Box" that my Mama is allowing me to use for your party...
And now, for SINGING to you... I've been practicing all day!
Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Baby Kitty, Happy Birthday to meOW-you!
Now, don't you go catching your hair on fire while you blow your candle out! :)
And by the way...

Here's some French Kitty water in case your thirsty from eating that Coconut Cupcake. It was good, but it could really stir up your Fur balls.... teahehe
Wow, this party stuff is tiring...I can hardly keep my eyes open...but I do have the party blower next to me. Will you help me blow on it to celebrate in style?
Thanks Baby Kitty! :)

Well, as a Princess, it's time for me to leave the party now Baby Kitty.
You know what they say about Beauty Sleep! :)

I pray all your Kitty Wishes came true today Baby Kitty.
I love you...
I truly do! :)

Till next year...
~Auvoir
Princess Mignon Abbie

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

A Pret-Tea Cosey Space "Where Bloggers Create 2011"

"Where I create in my Home!"

This is the room that inspires me to create. It's still under renovation ~

My thoughts when making over this room recently were three things.
1. French influence throughout
2. Tiffany Jewelry box to match for wall color~Love it~ (S.Williams did great job of matching exactly)
3. De-clutter and keep it organized so it's a room that I "long" to come into and create.

Where I create ~ In no particular order....
Lighting #1 - A vintage find in a local antique shop for $20. This floor lamp...the shade will be covered in the B/W fabric that you'll see later on in the post.
Lighting #2 - Beautiful Lamp with Detailed stitching on it - totally a French feel that I snatched up for $20 at a GOB sale in AL.Accent Fabric being used throughout the room in small ways... I have yet to make the pillow covers that will be tossed on the sofa... On my to do list for today.. It's also being used for cuffs on baskets on my shelves...and the shade for the lamp stand.
Storage baskets to hide items beautifully that I use in my creations...


The desk and shelving unit where I hide much of my materials behind "closed doors". Keeping the clutter in sight to a pretty minimum.

Cuffed white wooden basket that I use for my note-cards.
I'm holding out for the "PERFECT" picture of Audrey Hepburn below for behind my butter cream matelasse covered sofa. Someone had custom ordered it with the matelasse fabric and then didn't want it when it came in. It was Perfect for my office!

I gave my office another theme, "Strong Women who God's used in my life to INSPIRE me".
Audrey Hepburn is one of those women...
Here's the sofa that Audrey will sweetly grace above it. The oil painting sitting on the sofa now will be hung in the room at one point, still deciding the "where".
I love the wall brackets I found for $10, they are soooo heavy. I also love the rod that I picked up for just $5. Together, they are a great pair~ still outstanding are the free flowing white curtains I need to pick up...as the window treatments.

On my shelf...
A Good Reminder to Focus ON staying IN the day!
As I walk through my French door into my office, this is what I see ~ I love my sweet old fashioned reproduction of a phonograph player. I love to play French music on this.
First on my list of women that personally inspire me is my Mother...she is a talented seamstress and taught me much of what I know in that arena. She is a woman who stood by her man in tough times... and always made lemonade out of the lemons dealt in her lifetime.

Another lady that has inspired me, my Mother-in-Love. She's been a great example of a wife, friend, and mother. I'm glad to be surrounded by women of such character!

I have other pictures to display of other women that have done the same in my life and am in the process of getting the pics framed and placed on the shelves to further remind me of how God uses these women in my life.

Centered on the top of the shelving unit are my favorite books, and underneath are the great heavy magazine binder holders. They keep dozens of my Romantic Home magazines that I love to be inspired by in a nice neat package!
Last, but certainly not least -Lighting #3 ~ the Chandie that reminds me that even an office can be graced by the presence of soft lighting, sparkles, and beauty...and "inspiring" it is!
My view from my sofa...
Another view....
Secondly, What I create ~

You'll quickly learn there are three things I love...
Tea Parties, Making Custom Tea Cosies, and Photography.

I created the name, Pret-Tea Cosey, because it sounds British when you say it in a British accent. And, it describes how adorable each one of them are, Pret-Tea! Each are designed with their own personality. When I can, I create them with the recipient in mind.

This first one was a gift I made for my girlfriend, Kathleen, when she celebrated a Special Birthday! I wanted her to feel like ROYAL-Tea, so I used a deep wine velvet material and then hand sewed vintage buttons on each side. I overstuffed the cosey and near the top where I attached the handle I hand sewed two crystal earrings that would serve as clips to hold her Tea Party fishnet gloves I purchased from the infamous Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

When Kathleen wants to wear her gloves, she simply snaps the earrings open and slips each of the gloves out to slide them on. When not holding the gloves, the earrings sparkle near the neck of the cosey.

On an earlier summer mid-morning, I decided spontaneously to take an "unannounced" traveling tea party to a local widow that has her own potting shed gardening center in the country. I baked my scones, packed up the trimmings and off I went...
Upon my arrival I emptied my basket and began setting up the table.
The Pre-Tea Cosey in this basket was the first one I ever made. The style of this Tea Cosey is considered a Dome shape and was made with Vintage fabric.
Nestled within a quiet and shaded area, the Tea Table began to take shape.

Each Kitty Cat took their prospective seat and began sipping their tea...
The Potting Shed owner enjoyed her surprise Tea & so did her Kitty Cats.

More of my custom Pret-Tea Cosies...

This custom Vintage Retro style Cosey below was designed for a young lady in her 20's. It was so fun to create & give to her as a gift! Notice I used pearls for the Cosey holder at the top? I also gave this Dome Cosey an overstuffed affect.

One of my favorite things to do is use contrasting fabric to line the Pret-Tea Cosies. In this case, I used what I call a "French influenced design" black/white fabric...and it turned out beautifully.

Next, is a British themed Cosey. I actually created this using fabric I cut from a blazer. The trim as you see it on the Cosey is exactly where it was located on the blazer. I really like the way this turned out and it certainly is for someone that is more conservative and less about the frills.

Since the British Tea Cosey is more conservative in design, I decided to use a simple small check out of Navy/yellow for the lining. It worked perfectly.

All this sewing makes me tired...so, sit with me for a quick cuppa~ This is the Verandah porch that exits my office on the second story of our home.
There's nothing like a relaxing Tea for One on a hot summer afternoon...

Okay, I'm ready to whip up another Pret-Tea Cosey™ for you!
This Cosey turned out beautifully!
Tiffany Blue & Brown Paisley.
The brown gimp trim worked perfectly in matching the brown in the fabric.
I decided to angle the design of the fabric when cutting the pattern out for more interest in the flow of the design. The Tea Cosey fits comfortably over the Teapot in the picture below:
With painting my office Tiffany Blue recently, you can tell that this Cosey works perfectly in my color scheme.
Another signature look for some of the Cosey's I design is the little sash at the bottom left of the Cosey made with the gimp. The lining of this Tea Cosey has a coordinating small green print fabric that matches the green on the outer design of the fabric.

And what would a Pre-Tea Cosey be without a Pot of Tea?
Lonely, that's what... :)

Thanks for dropping by!
I hope you enjoyed learning a little bit about me, my love for having Tea Parties & baking scones, Photography, and creating my custom Tea Cosies.

Please enjoy visiting Karen Valentine at My Desert Cottage so you can enjoy all the other special posts in celebration of "Where Bloggers Create 2011"

NOTE: The Tiffany Blue/Brown Pret-Tea Cosey will be auctioned off in my next post as a fundraiser. Become a follower of mine so you can participate in the auction. Maybe it's suppose to be living at YOUR home!

I'm also joining in with Beverly for Pink Saturday...so be sure you drop by her place on Saturday to see all the pInKs.

~Ciao
~CC Catherine