Catherine de thé Cups

Happy 2nd Birthday to Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi at the Rose Chintz Cottage

2012-01-24T05:14:00.000-05:00

I'm caught by the TEA BUG - and am joining Sandi over at the Rose Chintz Cottage today to celebrate her 2nd Birthday with Tea Time Tuesday's Tea Parties!

Please gently glide over to her place by clicking on the Rose Chintz Cottage link above to visit all the other Tea Parties today.

I'm going to share the following Tea Party that is hosted for a group of young ladies that I'm blessed by, my neighbor girls!

Also, you'll get to meet my little Princess Mignon Abbie, my little Sheltie Princess. She loves joining in on the Tea Parties with the girls.

For years now, wherever I've lived, I've opened my home up for my little neighbor girls, no matter how young or old. One as young as 3 when she began coming over for weekly tea.

Even though they probably feel they are the ones that are getting something out of it; I gain so much more from them.

Without further adieu~ and no further narration needed,

Welcome to my Tea Party

Merci...

~CC Catherine

Have a "Tealightful" day!

Love Auction Results for Baby Amelia

2012-01-19T14:06:00.001-05:00

LOVE AUCTION for Baby AMELIA RESULTS!

My December Love Auction hosted for Baby Amelia resulted in $200 from the many blogger friends that particpated.

Thanks to everyone who placed winning bids for the items that were auctioned off and to those who placed donations for this cause, and as well for the kind comments.

The focus in this post is Precious Amelia ~

This is a pic of her from her Mimi's blog from last Easter time - Welcome to Mimi's Garden.

As soon as I get a more recent photo of Baby Amelia, I'll post it on my sidebar!

Happy New Year Everyone...

Merci ~ once Again!

~CC Catherine

Christmas Love AUCTION in honor of Amelia~

2011-12-11T23:51:00.014-05:00

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:

Leave a comment with the name of the item, item #, the $ amount you are placing your bid for, along with your email address.
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.
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.
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

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

2011-08-15T17:24:00.003-04:00

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

Happy Birthday Baby Kitty! :)

2011-07-22T08:45:00.007-04:00

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

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

2011-07-13T22:34:00.028-04:00

"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.

"Contemplating Tea Time"!

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

Oh Where Oh Where did it go? :(

2011-06-23T17:47:00.004-04:00

Time flew by wAy too fast these past two months...while doing that, I enjoyed meeting up with my Momma that is recuperating from her stroke in December of 2010 rEmArKaBlY. My two blonde sisters are Becky (beside me) and Barbie (beside my Momma). Absent from this pic is my sister Carole and brother Will.

I was the CANDID photographer at my nieces wedding while there in PA and my niece wanted a pic of the back of every one's hair...this is the shot I had them pose in, and I LOVE IT~

This shot above was a creative one...I actually cropped it to have just the bottom portion of the bridesmaids dress, it was gorgeous~

The Lovely bride, my GREAT Niece Carissa, and my Mother. Mom no longer walks with her cane or walker either. Aren't they just so precious?

Last but not least, the GORGEOUS shot of the bride before the wedding with her mother... Pic taken from my camera stretched up above my arm just to get an aerial shot...She was breathtaking~

I spent about 1.5 days editing the pics of the wedding rehearsal and wedding day; it was well worth it~

Be on the look out for a silent auction that is coming sOOn...to benefit little Amelia, Kathy Black's granddaughter. More to come....

Hugs to all, I sure do miss blogging...miss SO much, but I am enjoying life, regardless of how busy it is~

You too?
~CC Catherine

Two weeks away ~ Quilting, physical therapy, and shopping

2011-04-20T12:25:00.003-04:00

While I was away, I attended one of my Mom's Quilting days...and so did a furry friend below. Isn't she just so cute? She didn't get much quilting done, as she was too busy drinking her cup of tea and visiting everyone there. :)

Here's my Momma on Quilting Day. She is recovering from a stroke that paralyzed her entire right side 12/28/2011. She is already back to quilting, a true miracle she thought she'd never do again. Isn't she so pretty?

I took this quilt square to work on at my Mom's Sister~Friends Quilt day ~ I made it for a friend that is retiring at my work.
I'm leading our work team to complete 32 10.5x10.5 squares that will be all different for the quilt. I am thrilled with how mine turned out. I hand drew the teacup pattern. The handle was so tough to get right, so I decided to use buttons in her favorite color, purple, instead of fabric.

The pic of my mother above (standing :) is beside a quilt top she completed for my sister...all done by hand. Isn't she fabulous? I do a square, she does an ENTIRE quilt top - her 13th in 10 years. And, she's standing WITHOUT her cane! ;)

And below...it's a gal named Cathy that I met on my way home to GA at the Shoppes at Mauzy, VA. They allowed me to snap her pic, she was so kind to me. ;)

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS What's COMING!!!

I hope to post real soon about an auction that I want to do for a blogging friends granddaughter. Kathy Black, from Mimi's Garden blog, experienced a very sad loss late last year when her daughter in law died shortly after childbirth. The money I raise from the items I auction off will all go to this little girl.

Stop by again real soon, as you won't want to miss seeing the items I'll be custom designing to auction off!

I'm going to create a button if you'd like to advertise it on your blog. The more people we get participating, the more interest there might be in bidding on the items and this little blessing of a baby girl will get 100% of the proceeds of the sale of these items.

HINT ~ One item I'll be auctioning off will be a custom designed Tea Cozey with a French theme material made by "Moi".

Happy Easter Everyone!
~CC Catherine

Can't get her outta my Head!!! ;)

2011-03-20T00:33:00.011-04:00

I wonder if I packed my home made Strawberry Scones in a suitcase to fly to Canada if they'd travel well? If they do, we're gonna make this when I GET to Claudie's!

mmmm.... The only thing sweeter than my scones are my spring posies getting ready to bloom in the weeks ahead.

Spring has a way of bringing new life, and I just love it! The Iris above is from 2010 ~ she resides on the side of my home and she is preparing to bloom again soon, and she's had lots of babies! I can't wait!!!

Another thing I can't wait for is my Canadian trip to my friend Claudie's! I just can't get her outta my head today! Probably because Saturday was her birthday, and "her b'day" just past about 14 minutes ago. Happy Birthday again Sweet Friend! ;) Claudie and I are like twins.

We're the same age, born only one week apart. Only she in Canada, and I here in the states~but fortunately we found our way to each other two+ years ago.

I'm excited about the trip to Canada and did more shopping today. Isn't that what we girls like to do when we're getting ready for a trip? Oh yes.... Okay, so here's what I've found so far..
This top above is so cool. It's one of those comfy tops that has multiple colors. You can blend it with so much, and it has a really neat fit to it.

Oh Claudie, I think we're gonna be...

in Montreal, right? I'm counting the days...

Now, you were wondering what this lane is called, I call it "Heaven's Lane". :) And you're right, the Bradford Pear blooms are even more gorgeous this year! I know Canada will have it's own breathtaking views just like this one here in Ga!

Oh yea, I'm going to be bringing my vintage white coat above with me on the trip just in case the evenings are chilly. I'm looking for some vintage or sparkly buttons to replace the ones on it. It's my spring and summer coat that belonged to my Grandmother many moons ago. Once I lose 10 more pounds, I'll be able to tie that little belt like it should be tied. ;)

Here's one of your cute cards that I taped in my cupboard, it always brings a smile when I go to grab a glass for my H2O for the day.

...back to the outfits. This little gem below is both a skirt and a strapless dress. I can wear the top folded down when I want it to be a skirt and pull it up when I need a quick little strapless black dress to wear under a jacket. I need "5" of these! Love it!

One of my favorite colors to wear is Aqua blue...and this little two piece set is silk and if you notice on the top of the hanger I've hung the necklace that I bought to go with it. This little set is so sweeeeet. The earrings I bought to go with it are silver flowers with a crystal in the center to match the aqua flower on the necklace. Only the earrings are much smaller. ;) Thank goodness, a girl could lose an ear with earrings that large.

These little pumps (from last summer) have exchangeable tops that helps them convert into multiple pair of shoes and they are great for everything. The belt is a total treat at only $1 last weekend when I went antiquing with a friend, and it's NEW.

Below is my favorite pastel yellow lace top of all time, found it at a local consignment shop two weeks ago. It has the best design and is so fresh and springy with these floral slacks.

...another look at these multi-colored slacks ~ also picked up at the consignment shop.

Below is another top that has the cutest design. It's a deeper shade of blue and it's so feminine. Notice the little ruffles all over the majority of it and the neckline? I picked this up from a friend selling some of her clothing. Fits like a glove...with enough comfy room to eat too! ;)
See how cute it looks with my interchangeable black shoes? And the pic below this one shows the back.

Next on the shopping spree I picked up this packable black and white hat that I'll be wearing with this jacket, among other things. I love this hat! It's so comfortable... The little white stitched jacket is priceless too! Notice how the little $1 black belt looks so cute with it?

She's stylin and profilin now... :)

I've washed out my "T's". The one on the left I picked up today. The one with the poodles was a Christmas gift from my daughter. I adore them both.

Now, don't be a hatin me, but I got these Chinese Auction red shoes (below) at Goodwill today in NEW condition for under $5. Every girl needs a splash of red in their wardrobe and these made the cut! The heel on the shoe is black and quite stylish. Thank you GW! :)

And the red shoes will go with this little red silk top that I bought from my girlfriend as well. And the tops I bought from my friend were only$5 each. ;)

There's something about wearing red. One year I was so crazy about red that I bought a red coat, and multiple red sweaters...it's been a while for me, so... now I have my red back again!

That's it for the fashion show today~ I'm still collecting little things here and there.

Claudie, I sure hope I can find the perfect little ~ "kinda big" suitcase to carry them all in soon. :)

Having so much fun getting ready to travel!

Ciao for now...
~CC Catherine

Antique Mirror Makeover Serving Tray ~ And all for under $7

2011-03-02T19:04:00.005-05:00

We all love a Makeover, don't we? I know I do!
I found this mirror at a tag/yard sale in CT years ago for $1 - it is a great antique with some missing pieces on the lovely sculpted deeper part of the frame. I knew immediately what I wanted to do with her...

As you can see by the close-up pics, the chips were definitely noticeable, but I had just the idea that would bring this Mirror up to her potential!

The condition of the Mirror itself was in perfect condition...

At one of my favorite antique stores, I found this genuine mink brooch/hair clip (yes, it does both) and decided she had to play a part in the Makeover. Doesn't every lady love a mink brooch?

Using a jeweled metal ponytail holder that had lost it's attachment through frequent use, this was the perfect piece to hot glue to the mirror so I could clip the minkie on, but also take it off when "I" wanted to wear it! This was my favorite part of the entire project...dual use for this luscious clip.

I'm a button and bauble bead collector - so I pulled my tray of goodies out and selected just the right ones that would bring this Mirror Lady to life. Many of the items in this location are not only buttons, but odd earrings that I no longer wear, but have great artistic interest.

A sneak peak at her on the bed after her Makeover was complete - you'll see in the front middle area that I've added a few pheasant feathers that helped to tie in with my hint of animal print that I have as accents in my Master Suite.

I decided to keep the entire stressed look, other than covering the areas that had badly chipped. This reminds me of us ladies that begin to mature, it's part of "who" she is, and it somewhat speaks of where she's come from...

I loved making the earring drape over the outside edge...again adding to her sweet presence and uniqueness.

Another great view...

The pic above allows you to see how the mink clip reflects in the mirror - unfortunately a little dust is showing in this pic that I missed dusting off first. Oh well, I have a bit of dust on me today too... ;)

And, here she is - in her full glory in her new room.
The wine colored pillow on my bed says "I believe in Angels" ~ a great thrift store find right before Christmas. I think this Mirror definitely had her own little Angel to bring her all the way from CT at a tag sale to my home here in GA to live like a Queen with all of her new Jewels & Mink. You can't really see from these pictures, but four smaller knobs are attached to the bottom of the mirror, as every woman needs shoes... Oui? I am on the search for some small crystal door knobs to replace these smaller ones eventually.

I have missed posting these past weeks, life continues to spin so fast...the harder I try to slow it down, the faster it gets. I'm sure many of you can relate!

Hoping to drop by and visit many of you this coming week! I miss you all so much when I'm absent. Happy Spring!
Hugs,
~CC Catherine

what's LOVE got to do with it?

2011-02-05T10:00:00.007-05:00

What does LOVE got to do with it?

The upcoming Valentine's Day has had me thinking this past week.
Is it about the price we pay for a gift that equates to the depth of our love?
I'd like to think that it goes back to the nostalgic days of old...and the true intent of the heart behind the gift that is given.
The pair of little Italian Lover Bunnies captured above were a surprise gift I picked up at a consignment store recently for my Beloved. When I recently took a trip without him, I left them by his bedside with a bracelet that said in French, "I love you" Je t'aime

This book jacket above protects my favorite gift from him of all time that he blessed me with this past Christmas. How can one add words to what is written above to express love any better?

The book is called "Love Letters, an Anthology of Passion" and it literally has dozens of love letters (actual copies in pockets within the book) from past centuries from people in love.
The story behind him giving me this book is even more precious to me. Last year was a sacrificial year financially, as we invested in our youngest son that went back to school at the age of 25. It was a one year program and we wanted to do whatever we could to contribute in helping him achieve his dream. When Christmas came along, we were strapped...and so we decided that our gifts would be humble ones, the kind we used to give to each other in our early marriage.

He found the Love Letter book at the Goodwill one day when we were thrifting...and he purchased it. He then went through the book and read it - adding his own words of love here and there. For the very thought that he'd take so much time to share this book of love in such an intimate way - reading it, adding to it, blessed my spirit - and so this truly is HIS book of Love to me, for always... I so enjoy reading the love letters of years gone by..words of passion and even at times love lost because it never took a chance... It's the BEST gift a girl could want from her man...

Then I recently picked up the book above called Perfect Pairs - again at the Goodwill - and decided the photos were too lovely to stay within this book. They needed to be shared...and so I made these for my friends and will be mailing them out this week to celebrate friendship!

The card above goes to my best friend, my mother...she adores Rock Hudson & Doris Day films...one of my own heartbeats... :)

Cary Grant & Grace Kelly, another great pair that made the screen light up! This card goes to ??? you'll soon find out! :)

Now, this one is tough, because I have "two" friends that are fans of Audrey, but Claudie would kill me if I sent it to anyone but her. So, I want to live... Claudie it goes too, and proudly so! ;)

What would love be without "Gone with the Wind"? Clark Gable & Vivian Leigh - well, my girlfriend of 25+ years, Kathleen Ellis has always been a double in my eyes for Vivian Leigh! ;) She has to get this card!

Spencer Tracey & Katherine Hepburn ~ This one goes to a friend that loves anything nostalgic, like I do. Can you guess who you are? :)

And who can forget one of my favorite movie classics "The Philadelphia Story" with Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn? What did love have to do with it? They'd been divorced and he enters back into her life to cover the story of her impending marriage, which was to be the season's premier event. I'm sure he never expected to fall back in love with Kate, but he did...and the rest is history as they say. Great movie from start to finish...

My book on famous pairs helped me to create dozens of greeting cards, not just the few I shared above...and I had so much fun making them last night. It's not always the price on the back of the card, or attached to the gift that means the most to me. But, it's the intent of the heart...

And so, I leave you all with this today...
When you are laboring over what gift to give, take something and reinvent it, repurpose it...as it will mean so much more to the person receiving it, and will make you so happy as you create it and give it your own personal touch! Great things come out of life when one is squeezed financially, and many times it's the gifts we create out of need that are celebrated the most!

Happy Early Valentine's Day my precious Friends!

I found this little rhyme in a vintage personalized autograph book I have...and it seems so fitting for today and it will leave you with a giggle or two.

It's written on 8/22/1924 by someone named, Mary Painter

"They sat on the porch at midnight...
Their lips were tightly pressed,
The old man gave the signal,
The Bulldog did the rest"

Love to All,
~CC

From my home to yours this Christmas Season! And a Christmas Prayer for a Friend & her family...

2010-12-24T07:55:00.000-05:00

Merry CHRISTmas Friends!

In preparing for this wonderful time of celebration, I am reminded

of all the family and friendships God has blessed me with throughout the years and I'm so grateful!

In preparation for this occasion, I have been one of Santa's little elves working on this dollhouse. I found it unpainted at a yardsale at a nearby Antique Shoppe a couple months back. I thought it would be the perfect gift for our grandie, Cate.

I used gray for the roof, pink paint for the interior walls and a very light minty green for the external paint...and painted the front porch gray to match the roof. I even added pink shutters to the home, a MUST for all little girls.
The little doll standing in the front door is a mini Madame Alexander doll that I found at the outdoor yardsale as well. She came with the little boy sitting on the retro chaise lounge I made for the cottage. Finishing touches were the custom drapes I made for inside the home and a few pieces of furniture using what I had in my home. And, what would the home be without a few Christmas Wreaths hanging in the windows? Found those teency weencies at Holly Lobby. The pink lace, replicating a light pink snow, was found at Goodwill in perfectly mint PINK condition~ :)

Cate will be surprised, and I will love adding to this cottage throughout the next several Christmases.

As I close in sharing my Christmas post today, please remember a dear Blogging Friend of mine from Mimi's Garden, Kathy Black, in your prayers. Her family experienced this week the highest high and the lowest low. Kathy's daughter in law, Jenny, and her son had their first child. Jenny experienced complications and as a result died on 12/22. The baby, a precious little girl, was born by emergency C Section and last I heard was doing fine. My heart has been so heavy for Kathy, her son and grandbaby girl...and the rest of the family. In your own celebrations this Christmas Season, please say a prayer for comfort & hope for Kathy and her family.

My heart & verbal reply screams out in response to all the Happy Holidays I hear in line and everywhere I go this year, Merry CHRISTmas~I chirp merrily back. I cannot leave Christ out of the REASON for this Season!

Love to All, and especially to Kathy Black & her precious family!
~CC Catherine

Christmas came early...I'm so glad the box said, OPEN NOW!

2010-11-29T01:45:00.002-05:00

Pictured above are all my great gifts that came all the way from Canada, from my Bubblin Over friend, Claudie! I screamed when I seen my pink toilet tissue she sent me~ ;)

I'd been in the Christmas spirit since mid October when I began decorating for a Holiday Open House tour here in my neighborhood. So when the package arrived......I was in the mood to rip it open!

A sneak peak at my tree~ And a new ornament, an Eiffel tower, that I found at Goodwill. I love it! The theme of this tree is vintage, pinks, silver, gold, and whites.

This is a distant view of it... and you can see the gifts on the ottoman in front of the tree that Claudie sent me.
Oh my, who's this? Well... it's "moi", with my new Pink Ear Muff band that Claudie sent me...and my new pair of gloves she embellished! Check out the vintage earring that she adorned the one glove with. I LOVE IT Claudie! ;)

What's this? It's my Abbie, she wanted to model the Pink Ear muffs too. ;)

Well, tons more to decorate to get ready for the Holiday Open House tour this Saturday; gotta run for now~ Will try to show pics later!

Hugs to all my Blogland Friends! And especially...a BIG HUG & Thanks to Claudie for my lovely EARLY Christmas Gifts! :)

~CC Catherine

These R a few of my FAVORIT*E things!

2010-10-04T00:56:00.012-04:00

A Teacup Chandelier...and in my favorite Blue & Whites...

Stopping by my favorite place at Aunt Bee's! The first thing you find is her glass jar of cookies to your right on the counter! I'll have one today Aunt Bee, Thank You! :)
Next to the cookie jar, you'll find her business cards...she's the SWEETEST lady you'll ever meet!
She serves piping hot coffee to drink free while I roam the 70+ vendors in her Antique Shoppe
How can I not fall in love with this oil on canvas?
And teacups galore, this one was "only" $4~
I couldn't walk away without falling in love with this pink hand inscribed bedroom dresser...Oh, how I want that! It spells out PINK just walking by it! Lovin it... This caught my eye as SOON as I walked in! French & Fab!

This next item,only $8! A "totally" fabulous purchase! I can't wait to wear a vintage black dress and wear this little lady! You'll see her below with a special piece in my collection of vintage wear!

These little piggies cried all the way home...not really! :) But they'd like to! I already have my own Kitchen Piglet - these are ONLY $15 or less. I think they are $13.99. If you're interested in them, post a comment and I'll call Aunt Bee to see if they are still there. They ARE a super catch! The little chalkboards are removable too.

How do you like my vintage hat with the vintage black slip that belonged to my grandmother? I want to get a pic wearing these together... Vintage is SO chic! The armoire was a great purchase at a yardsale two years ago for $75. We use it for the TV in the Pink Guest room!

This, "I HOPE" will be the next hat I add to my collection! She's only $10! Can't you just see this on me? I can too! ;)

And this lovely? She's a plant......I met her at the Athens GA Botanical gardens last week. Isn't she a BEAUTY?

Thanks for dropping by and enjoying a few of my favorite things!

Hugs to all~

~CC Catherine

Be sure to drop by this week to visit the following and enjoy many other interesting & favorite things!

Sally at Smiling Sally's on Blue Monday
Tam at The Gypsy's Corner on Three or More Tuesday
Susan at A Southern Daydreamer on Outdoor Wednesday
Beverly at How Sweet the Sound on Pink Saturday

Primrose Lane ~ A Sweet Vintage Haven both Inside & Out!

2010-09-09T07:40:00.009-04:00

In a little piece of Heaven on Earth, you'll find Primrose Lane. She's a little Vintage Boutique in Franklin, NC. June is the owner of the boutique, and she's just as sweet as the shoppe's name!

I fell in love with this little Haven and just had to snap pics with June's approval to share with all my friends in Blogland. I have nothing to gain from sharing June's information, with the exception of a sense of hope that we will all keep her in business by visiting her if you're in the Franklin, NC area. I want her to never fade away, nor the boutique! ;)

Here you will find precious ornament chandeliers & floral umbrellas hanging from the lattice suspended from the ceiling... Parisian items for all us Francois lovers, chic hats for all occasions, shawls, teacups, and on an on and on! To the right of her entryway of the boutique you'll see a Bistro Tablescape all set up, as if to invite you in to sit and stay awhile! Tea anyone? ;)

The photo of the home outside is one taken nearby Primrose Lane that I couldn't resist sharing, somehow it made it's way into this post! ;)

And for the finale in the Primrose Lane post, you can finish the visit off in the nearby Coffee Haus & Pub if you've overspent your budget when you visit her in Franklin! ;) On the opposite side of this Coffee Haus is a great big Antique Barn that we enjoyed and it was "BIG"! ;)

Be sure to drop by the following blogs this week to enjoy all the other wonderful posts:

Outdoor Wednesday with Susan

Tablescape Thursday with Susan

Hope you've enjoyed your visit at Primrose Lane today! Give June a call if you've seen something you can't live without! I'm sure she'd be happy to ship something to your door, for sure! ;)

You can also email her at hjune2@gmail.com to let her know how much you enjoyed learning about her boutique in this post if you like! I'm sure she'd appreciate the hello and feedback on the items featured in this post.

~CC Catherine

Strolling through life one day at a time while breathing in the spectaculars along the way!

2010-08-11T01:12:00.004-04:00

Welcome Friends!

Open the door & come on in to see the places & things I got to experience in my journey up North the past two weeks.

As you walk through this "Mystery Door", you'll be amazed at where it's going to lead you in the small rural community I grew up in...I sure was!

It leads you to this porch that overlooks a pond that was owned by my 6th grade teacher many moons ago! His daughter now owns the property and built this fabulous porch that overlooks the family pond that my Great Uncle fished at when I was a young girl.
This is the view of the external "faux" windows and flower boxes that greet you when you walk up to the building.

As you can see from the rear side of the building...the door is screened, the opposite side of the door that has the lace is on the porch entry side, which really makes you feel like you're indoors.

What you cannot see is the fact that there is a fountain on the top of the tin roof that with the flip of a switch becomes a recycled water pump/fountain from the water in the pond. The rain falls off the edge of the roof and you sit and breathe in the beauty, as well as hear the sound of the rain trickling down... The love seat rocker makes a great addition to allow you to rock & enjoy!

Then on to CT to an ice cream shoppe, this was in their flower garden which I found quite amusing...but sweet! See the hula dancers?

A drive down a few side streets in CT proved to me that New England states know how to showcase that Cottage look I so love...check out these posies on a side porch~

I had to grab this CT home with the Pink Door for my Pink friend Claudie! The side door was pink also......and it was a dream to see it matched the pink geraniums in the front door! :)

This home was my favorite. The blue/white awnings were on three sides of the home. Gorgeous!

Then to a little antiquing in Glastonbury CT. Deb, check out this rooster painting! Superb!

This little mirror is for a small child, if I would've had a pickup truck, it would have come home with me for my grandie! It was only $70 and was in great shape!

French Pottery I adored...couldn't miss snapping them!

What a chic showcase, couldn't resist! And, she had pink netting sashed on the mannequin!

Last, but NEVER least, a Chandie made out of brass & marble! I still am considering calling the shop and having it shipped to me. It was GORGEOUS!

Well, thanks for coming on my little tour!
I hope to share later this week the exciting trip we had when we visited Franklin, NC recently.

Hugs to all my blogging friends~

And drop by Susan's on Wednesday to enjoy her Outdoor Wednesday where you'll see other great outdoor shots, I'm sure!

Merci~

~CC Catherine

Le Parti de Cloche ~

2010-07-15T19:49:00.009-04:00

~Merci to my friend Marty for hosting "Le Parti de Cloche"!

To see many more Cloche ideas, click on Marty's Cloche button above and visit the other lovers of glass covered riches~

Many of these speak for themselves...but for those who don't...

As a teacup collector & lover, this ordinarily sits in the middle of my new 80" round Dining Round table. The cup is a new one from a guest that attended a Tea that I hostessed in May. Underneath the cup is a pair of vintage pr small girls gloves. My friends Julie & Claudie from Canada presented them to me when they visited in March for my granddaughter, Cate.
Some days I just need more color and I "Pink" it up a bit with one of my vintage hats underneath it.
This little cloche is only about 8" tall and the items you see underneath it are literally 1/4" tall for the teacups, 1'2" tall for the sugar/creamer, and the little girl seated & bear are only about 3" tall. My little granddaughter Cate runs to this every time and it's so precious...until she knocks the cloche top off... :)

Here's a distant shot...

I find that the items I put under my cloche are the things I adore the most...and photography is one of them! Here you'll see my dad's vintage camera he brought back from World War II. Surrounding it are the black & white photos of my three grandchildren. Memories to last a lifetime...

In one of my Guest Suites, the newly named "Pink" room in honor of my "Pink" friend Claudie! You'll see underneath the cloche a little bubblin over clown doll she made me. In front of the cloche is a bunch of glass Pink grapes I recently picked up. A closer shot of the Bubblin over clown doll is below...with the lid off so you can see the details on her

In my grape room with the Dresden Plate quilt my mother hand stitched for me is my collectors Doll "Kathleen". I bought her to remind me of another dear friend back in PA many moons ago ~ every time I see her I remember the many years of friendship that Kathleen and I've shared...over 25+ years...

This little French Stuffed Poodle is close to 50 years old. It was a gift to me as a small child from my Meme. She's missing a nose, but I still love her! :) The French Poodle that is! haha! And of course, I'll always love my Meme~

Another view with the cloche lid removed...

Claude, the converted bear creation made out of the recycled Asiatic Mink Fur that belonged to my Meme , is showcased under a cloche cylinder type of glass and I topped him with a straw hat to keep the dust off his lil head...He loves it there... When he wears necklaces, I call him Claudette... :) Today he's Claudette! I adore open picture frames randomly sitting on my Master Bedroom mantel...and often sit them just here and there...

Who said a cloche has to be round....??? Look in this little glass container...it's my Meme's vintage jewelry that I often wear at my tea parties...

Another picture of Claudette! :)

I call this a Cloche "Fakeout"... Can you tell what I did? If you can, let me know in your comment.

This one was a bit tricky, but it can work with a little ingenuity! A Cloche in a Door Hanger! Yes! And inside is a PINK feathered little birdie from a friend named Claudie! I have her all over my home! ;)

I made the door hanger arrangement prior to Claudie coming for her March visit and hung it on the door of the newly dawned "Pink" room! One more lil view...

And last, but not least, a touch of Francoise...with a vintage key and Parisian stamped hanger that Debbie from "Confessions of a Plate Addict" put on a hostess gift she brought me last year. I've kept it and typically hang it on my guest room door. For ambiance, I added my copy of a French Newspaper that I brought home from a trip back in 2001.

So, there you have it, all my Cloche ideas!

Merci,

~CC Catherine

~Recycled Creations Inspire me...so I spent the weekend creating!

2010-07-12T08:15:00.007-04:00

There's something about gifts & packaging made out of recycled items that I love ~ they are pieces of Art that I adore~they become heirlooms to moi~ It amazes me of the talent my friends Julie & Claudie have. (go visit them, they are both extremely Francois & chic cool ladies)

The card below sits on my mantel to this day and I read it over and over again every time I walk by it. Each meticulous cut and trinket they attached morphed into this delicate and chic with French influence piece of art for me that they gave me their last morning here back in March.

Not only is it beautiful ~ but it wasn't till after they left that I realized (1) of them even bequeathed me a piece of her monogrammed jeweled pin to make it even more of a heartstring gift~The Rhinestone Letter "C" that hangs on the bow.
So, this weekend I was packaging up some trinkets, baubles, and gifts I had been collecting to mail to each of them in Canada, and I couldn't help but wanna return the creativity favor! ( I can't show everything, but this will give you some great ideas ~ and it will give them a sneak preview of some of the features of their cards and wrapping!

This card is made out of a lovely striped cardboard that was on the top of a box of candy or cookies. It was too pretty to throw away, so I kept it for a rainy day. The little friend pups I cut from a card that was given to me from a "PUP" I dog sit. (I can't bear to throw cards away) The coin is new that I bought from Cracker Barrel...and with just the right cut here and there...and doubleside tape for the coin...this is a card for my PINK friend~

Next, I'm gonna show you the whim that came over me when I was ready to wrap some of their packages! All you need for this is what you see above. Something to cut your paper, Takkon strips to make attaching the paper & pics to your boxes/paper. A punch corner cutter, see how pretty & adorned the edges of the paper look above.

And last but not least, a plain small box. (Approximately 8x10 inches)

And don't forget some trim for the side of the box ~ since the box is not going to be wrapped in traditional all over wrap, this will be how you dress up the sides in some cases!

You guessed it right, this is for my Pink friend, we all know who she is and where she lives! She's mad about Audrey, and so I decided to do some photoshopping and quote finding of Audrey's and use that to adorn the package back... (yes, backside) ;)

Side view...

And front view ~Notice the adorable Tiffany diamond ring that I found antiquing in Franklin, NC just last weekend~ It totally gave it the Audrey Hepburn/Breakfast at Tiffany's bauble accent that it needed. All my friend needs to do when she gets this gift is gently remove the ribbon (it's not taped on) then cut two small pieces of tape that is holding the box lid on...remove her gift, and reattach the box lid for her memory box to keep our letters in that we from blog land send her! :)

Since I was wrapping for "two" friends that I adore~ Claudie brought Julie to meet me back in March...and now she's sharing her friendship of Julie with me too. What a gal~ :) Above you'll see that I took two vintage hankies to wrap a small gift for each of them. The floral hankie is tied together with a lace shoelace that I kept throughout the years and never used. I only had one...and it was perfect to tie up the giftwrap~

And, now...for my Vintage friend Julie~ You see, Julie loves everything vintage...and especially clothes, hats, and such~ So, this box was designed and created with her love of design and art...with a bit of vintage recipes that I photocopied from a book that is over 100 years old that belonged to my great great MeMe.

Here are the items that I used to create with...laid out randomly...

Instead of using ribbon that didn't feel vintage to trim the sides of the box...I went with buttons instead...and to keep with the vintage feel...I went with basic blacks, greys, and tortoise shell brown tone buttons and one cream designer flat stone for the front & back side.

The photos I took a couple years back while antiquing and they just had Julie's name written all over them. (back side of box)

And front side of box...Julie loves to wear the color black~and this dress would look Francois & chic on you my darling~ ;) And, no, not done yet... Using some old French newspapers from my visit to Paris & Dijon back in 2001, I photocopied some small sections for more small wraps. Check it out below~

Who would have know that in 2001...when I brought this French Newspaper home that I'd meet two French Canadian friends in 2009/2010, and one of them would be all about Audrey Hepburn...notice the article about Audrey on the paper~ :) Amazing...

The personalized card attached to the copied newspaper wrap was made from a photo that I took in a sweet vintage shop in Franklin, NC called Primrose Lane. The shop owners name is June Hernandez and I'm sure she'd love to sell some of these finger "tipless" fishnet black gloves~ They're on my shopping list for the next time I visit her shop~ I simply added some text to the pic...made a teency hole in the top left to slide a paper flower in it and "voila"...it's my personalized touch that says how much I adore & treasure these two GEMS of friends~

Am I ever gonna be done? Probably not...I spent the entire weekend alone having a blast wrapping their gifts...one more quick idea~ Here is a small pink doily that I found antiquing in Franklin..folded it in half...interwove some pink sheer ribbon along the sides & bottom, slipped in my little gift..and...

attached another little handmade card from a "too pretty to touch" tea set from June's shop that is available for purchase at Primrose Lane (Shope# 828-524-9258). No, I'm not getting commission, I just love small business owners and believe if we don't support them, they'll go away in this economy...so, go to Facebook and search for Primrose Lane and get connected with June~ I'm going to feature here in my next post so you can see "many" of the great items she carries in her precious Vintage & Chic boutique~

And, for my vintage friend...I think I got "p*r*e*t*t*y" creative making this card for you my dear~ Can't wait for you to get it~ And, yes, I was at Caffe REL when the pic was taken for my 28th Wedding Anniversary one week ago~ For anyone in the Franklin, NC area ~ or within driving distance...it's a MUST~

Well friends,

Au Revoir for now...

be back in a few to talk more about Primrose Lane...and how we need to support June so she keeps her doors open! We need to show her how the lovers of vintage & chic rally the troops in Blogland, and believe me, when you see what she has in her shop....she'll need a receptionist to take the phone orders she's going to get~

Since this is Monday, and my friend Susan loves seeing things morph from one thing to the next, thought I'd join her and the group today. Be sure to stop by her place to see more things that morph on Mondays~

Introducing Our Lil Guy ~ Born 6/29/10 weighing in at 7lbs.7oz.

2010-06-29T23:43:00.003-04:00

There's something to be said about New Beginnings...

I am blessed to share that our Lil Guy, Jonathan David Jr was born today, 6/29/10.

He is "P"recious with a Capital "P"!

He is our second grandson and third grandchild!

Wanted to share our Love of "him" with each of you!

Hugs all...

~CC Catherine

At 18 months, It's still important to learn the Basics of Tea Time~

2010-06-24T18:54:00.004-04:00

Catie is my namesake, and she's my 18 month granddaughter!

I had to show you these pics as she explored my world of Tea Time ~ and I shared just a couple

tips with her along the way.

1. Always sit with good posture ~ She gets an "A"

2. Never put your arm on the table ~ She's gotta work on that one. :)

3. Always be sure to inspect the cleanliness of the silverware when no one is watching - just kidding...
Then on to the real fun, the Tea Pot & tray ~ What is that lid for she thinks...

Hmm...Any tea inside?

Nope ~ They drank it dry

Well enough of having "no tea" ~ I'm trying on Mimi's shoes she says...
And before I knew it, she was tired and needed a bit of afternoon shut eye ~ But as all angels do, she needed to work on her lil angel wings awhile before she could shut her eyes.

I hope you enjoyed Catie's little Tea Time excursion today!

We are anxiously awaiting her little cousin that is due any hour...his name is Jonathan David. He will be her first baby cousin on our side of the family and my third grandchild and second grandson.

We are excited!

Hope you are enjoying this lovely hot summer!

Blessings to all of my friends I adore in Blogland!

~CC Catherine

What does one do when a PC crashes? For me, I kept busy...and am awaiting the birth of my third Grandchild!

2010-06-11T09:58:00.007-04:00

This post is to give all my blogging buds a quick update since I just got my PC back from the Computer Docs after getting a new hard drive.

I kept busy...held a Vintage Tea for a local Writer in my home - Sneak Peek of the hat & earrings below~ I wore my grandmothers vintage white pearl earrings, her jersey silk blue/white dress that I remember her wearing when I was a little girl...and then I sported a great new blue hat that a new friend, Julie, gave me earlier this Spring. I even wore my Grandmothers floral shoes - yes, we have the same size foot! The Tea was so much fun, and we made some great memories for the featured guest!

Then this past weekend I was in Cornelius, NC and visited a great little authentic FRENCH owned Chocolate/Wine/Coffee Shoppe. The owner is an artist and his art covers the walls. His wife is the Chocolatier...and she does FABULOUS designed and tasty chocs! The wines are all French!
Today I decided to start my day off right......so, I'm really trying to eat well this summer and make it a lifestyle and not a whim any longer. The Blackberries were scrumptious and the parsley is from my own herb gardens in pots on my front porch. I grabbed my favorite magazine, Romantic Homes, and showcased the platter on my favorite Italian Tray which was a vintage find a few years back. A picture perfect morning with great flavor! :)
And, now I await the call that I'm a MiMi again.....and I will soon share my new grandson, lil Jonathan David, II with you all!

Ciao for now...hope to visit you all very soon!

Hugs!
~CC Catherine

Dogs, Cars, Family, and Celebrating my Beloved's 50th! Something Blue?

2010-04-26T00:08:00.009-04:00

I think this year my fascination for all things French has taken a back seat to family, and rightfully so~ Yet, the love still resides within my heart to be on the search for anything to add to my collections when I get a chance... Life in the Family Lane has pulled me back into "real time" and it's far from French~ It's actually very Italian...like my Beloved! I threw him a Surprise 50th Celebration just last weekend~ Note, the sweet cake above! He was blown away to see the 50 guests in attendance.Every man turning 50 wants a BMW Z3 convertible, right? Well, here is my beloved taking his mom for a spin in his new (used) car of only one day, she flew in from CT for the surprise!

This is at the end of the party where we got to give our sons a big hug goodbye. Peter is in the blue, and Jonathan in the white shirt. Our daughter Kim is below in the pic where her husband, Chip, is kissing her, and my grandson, Tyler, is kissing his sister, Cate. We are VERY blessed!
After the party was over, we spent the night at my husbands Aunts home where his mother also stayed. On the morning of his birthday, he kissed his Mother the last minute he was 49. And then he kissed her again the first minute he turned 50. He told me that was the highlight of his birthday...and that made my heart warm. Any son that loves his mother that much, makes a very loving & thoughtful husband, and that he truly is! You'd never guess that my Gorgeous Mother -in-Love is going to be 69 in June. Yes way, she uses Oil of Olay! ;)
Now for the dogs...all seen this week! :) This little pooch riding shotgun below in the rig was in a traffic jam on my way home from the birthday party on Hwy 85. I couldn't resist.

These little pooches are Australian Shepherd puppies, 9 weeks old. They are sisters...

Wait a minute...that doesn't look like they're sisters? Nope, they're not. Enters the one year old Great Dane...He nearly took her pretty little spotted head off after I snapped this pic. The Great Dane, a recent rescue, is learning manners her new owner said. Uh, gulp...manners? Rule #1, you never eat a puppy on your first day out trying to improve upon your manners. ;)

Now for some posies, these are near my patio...and I have rarely got to enjoy them this past week, as I've either been in Charlotte, NC for the surprise Party or in MN on a business trip. Yes, could you please pass me a bit of cheese to go with my "Whine"? ;) Ahhh, Merci!

Well, now I'm home....and I'm going to "make" some time to stop and smell the Irises this week. I still have many to bloom yet. Can you believe this Iris garden is only two years old? My window boxes are filled with a Hot Pink Ice Plant...and it's just beginning to bloom, I can't wait till it's lush in pink, they'll remind me of my Claudie friend when they do... :)

Next weekend I have a friend coming in...we are going to sip tea, eat scones, and "Enjoy Being Friends". Maybe soon I will get enthused about taking pics of my recent junkin finds to share with you. Right now though, it's all about Dogs, Cars, and Family...and, Oh Yea, posies too! :)

Be sure to visit the following this week for other special posts from super friends:

Blue Monday: Smiling Sally

Outdoor Wednesday: Susan's, A Southern Daydreamer

Hugs & Have Missed You All Dear Friends...

~CC Catherine

I love making my guests feel special! Here's some of what I do...

2010-04-05T23:32:00.003-04:00

I make sure there are some snacks in the room that they can munch on...

I have inspirational books on the night stands for their pleasure. Amongst my favorite here on this list are From the Father's Heart. It was a gift to me from a friend, and I treasure it! All that pick it up love it as much as I do.

All guests like pretty things to look at!
This is the "miniest" of all cloche displays I think. The items inside are only up to 2" high. I recently hosted a tea party and this was a great little way to celebrate the day!

And what woman wouldn't feel "special" in a room with this on the mantel! Even though the Gucci bottle of cologne is long gone, the beautiful decanter and the vintage purple hat still look great on the "empty" Gucci gift box. And some would've thrown those empty boxes and decanters away? What a waste...aren't they just so chic with this hat?

Another way I always love making my guests feel special is to lay this prayer on the bed once I turn it down. It was written by a missionary friend that was still preaching in her 80's before she went to Heaven! It's a great way to end the day-reading her lovely words...

Now, this is the way I make my Beloved & I feel special! This is our master bedroom, and we have a wall of mirrors. We have started adding some tiny ones to the wall, and every time we do, it adds an even more special touch to the room.

I love hosting guests in my home, and every time I know someone will be staying with me I start to plan how I can make them feel special! Many of the things I do for them I've learned over the years by observing others. So, feel free to take any ideas I have here today...and make your own guests feel special when they visit this year!

Hugs,
~CC Catherine

Photos are courtesy of Juli while she was visiting from Vancouver, Canada (Thx Sweetie) ;)

My March Madness with PINK, Claudie & Julie's visit, and it ALL "made my birthday celebration" the best!

2010-03-29T21:43:00.009-04:00

This post is like my life lately, "not in order"~ The only people that really know this are the people that spent a few days with me recently. Drumroll....Here I am, getting ready to serve my first tea to "Claudie (Bubblin Over) & Julie" on their visit to GA from Canada! I couldn't believe it, they were FINALLY here in my very own home! Deb, my blogging bud from Confessions of a Plate Addict, joined us for the day we went Junkin~

For anyone that knows Claudie, it's all about her love of PINK, lil angel's, pastels, cupcakes and FUN~ And that's exactly what I offered her when we celebrated our birthday's together the first night she was here. Claudie brought along a great surprise, a NEW PRECIOUS FRIEND, Julie~ Both Claudie and I were born in the same year (not tellin) and only one week apart. We all enjoyed a lil cake together - see above and then we broke out our gifts to each other! It was so much FUN~

When Claudie and Julie went to their rooms, they each found some lovin from "moi"~ :) Claudie found alot of Pink in her room, and Julie found some Purple, which I came to find is one of her favorite colors (colours) too! :)

Then we went for a day of fun....and I took them to see my favorite photo taking place, "The endless Bradford Pear trees at a nearby private drive. I was so hoping they would be blooming, but the buds were just out and it was still a bit nippy.

This is a great pic of my sissie Becky that came up to meet Claudie & Julie "in person"...and we had tons of fun laughing and chatting about "everything". Trust me, "everything". :) Aren't we all so pretty!

It's about time that Julie, "our favorite photographer and fav new blogging friend" joined us for one of the final pics of their visit. I took them to Chateau Elan Winery so they could experience a traditional Irish dinner at their local Authentic Irish Pub. Once again we have Deb, myself, Claudie, and Julie. The bottle of wine was given to Claudie for her birthday as we walked upon the lawn to take a picture of Claudie & Julie at the fountain. It was a cute story that Claudie just might share with you when she gets back home and is posting again. I think she'll probably have enough stories from her USA Tour of Bloggers homes for the next year of posts, I'm sure of it!

Well, my March Madness is coming to a close, and I will forever cherish the time I had with Claudie, Julie, Becky, and Deb during the few days we had together. Hey girls...is anyone going to post the vintage hats at A Flea Antiques? :)

Claudie, you are EVERYTHING I knew you would be, PLUS more friend! And, Julie, I've gained a NEW friend in you...thanks for sharing Julie with me Claudie~ :)

Hugs & Kisses to all my blogging buds that I've missed visiting. I'll be by soon!
~CC Catherine

PS: Photos complimentary of Juli!

A Valentine Dance... And she's a Catherine too!

2010-02-07T06:27:00.001-05:00

A Valentine's Day dance, just for Me!

Meet my precious namesake "Grand" daughter, Catherine, we call her Cate.

I took this shot on Halloween when she was 10 months old. Isn't she just the cutest little dancer?
I couldn't resist thinking that she totally has the ballet moves down, even if she was just sitting at the time. :) For Christmas I found her the cutest little pair of her first tap shoes in like "brand new" condition at an antique store. They are black patent leather and I can't wait to see her dance in them.

For today, have a Happy Valentines Week and Day Everyone from both Cate and Moi!

~CC Catherine

A Cheetah Share & Wow was it at a savings...plus an Heirloom Gift

2010-01-15T10:01:00.006-05:00

I'm excited to join Cindy at My Romantic Home for her Show & Tell Friday today. If you love animal print and heirlooms, you'll enjoy my recent adds to my Master Suite and a gift that I put together for my mom and sisters. Please stop by Cindy's to enjoy all the other Show & Tell items today.

I couldn't resist sharing my After Christmas special that I found at a local Antique store, one of my favorites, "A Flea Antique" located in Braselton, GA. The chairs and table in this post were purchased there recently for a "steal of a deal". The framed heirloom butterfly doily is something I framed for my Mom and sisters recently. The doilies were made by my Grandmother over 40 years ago...and they were all butterflies. They each love them and I used different color mats for each person to match their decor. My mom wanted hers on this black velvet!
Here's the table close up...the top had been distressed with a black paint...totally what I needed in this spot of my master bedroom.

A close up of the pair of Italian chairs - wood frames made in Italy and the upholstery work was done in USA per the label on the bottom of the chairs.

Some details on the wood here...

And there...

This table drops down and doesn't have to be in the open position constantly. I love it... The table was under $50 and the chairs were purchased as a pair for under $60 - Yes, you heard me right~ It was a huge blessing and find to add to our room!

The centerpiece is one I purchased at a favorite local consignment shop called "Emma's Attic" in Flowery Branch, GA. A huge savings ~ only $10 and still had the price tag on the inside of a flower for $129. The doily (handmade) was just purchased there yesterday for $1.50.

Here's the entire view as I sit from my bed~ I have a hint of Cheetah here and there in my room...and this brought it all together even better! The entire corner makeover was realized at a total of $121.50! My kinda makeover~ :)

`Merci for stopping by today~Have a blessed day!
~CC Catherine

In Tribute of Barney from a 2009 Post of The Nostalgic Tablescape!

2010-01-14T08:23:00.005-05:00

This photo featured today was snapped during the afternoon Tea Party of Elouise and Barney's hands. Their hands were clasped like this on the table the entire time of my visit! How sweet this will always be to me, and now to Elouise and her family. I had just visited them the Saturday before Christmas a few weeks back and shared this framed print for their enjoyment. Little did I know it would become a precious heirloom and become such an impact to them and their family this week.

There are some things one never forgets, and for me...that will be the day of Feb 25th, 2009 when I visited a precious couple by the name of Elouise & Barney. They had recently celebrated 67 years of marriage prior to the time I visited them.

Elouise is an avid Writer friend of mine. During an earlier phone call we had in 2009, Elouise told me that she had both a son and husband that suffered with Alzheimer's. We chatted and prayed together that day. She for my son and a situation he was going through, and me for her son and husband for what was a daily ongoing situation for them and their loved ones.

While on that call with Elouise, I couldn't help but be inspired to plan that day to take a tea party to Elouise and the husband I'd always heard her speak so lovingly about. So on this date in February, the actual event unfolded and I spent the most lovely afternoon in my life watching the truest of all love stories.

Even though Barney suffered with Alzheimer's, he still was able to recall many pockets of earlier days with Elouise and how they'd met, what he'd both thought of and still thought of her. One thing for sure, he still felt she was the prettiest gal he'd ever set his eyes on.

This week, not only did my precious friend Elouise's husband Barney lose his fight to Alzheimer's, but so did her son Richard. Richard died on Monday, 1/11, and then on Tuesday evening the following day, Barney died. One certainly does wonder how Elouise and her family will ever get through this tremendous loss? But, I learned after meeting her family last night at Richard's viewing; the family is made out of the same character cloth their Mama is made out of. Both their Faith and Trust is firmly placed in the Lord.

If you didn't get to read my original post on Elouise and Barney's Tablescape Tea party, please do so now by clicking here. I post today in memory of Barney, and also in honor of their son, Richard.

I love you Sweet Precious friend Elouise!

To visit all other Tablescapes, please visit my friend Susan at "Between Naps On The Porch".

Friends, The Outdoors, French Influence, and Chandies...What More Can A Gal Want...

2010-01-12T22:34:00.005-05:00

Each Christmas Holiday, my sister and I sing as entertainment in one of the homes selected to be on the Holiday Open House Tour. Afterwards, we get to enjoy taking the tour ourselves when the next shift of entertainment arrives. Enjoy just a couple great things I found both on the tour and in an antique store close by.

As you'll notice on the pic above that I took from within the house, Santa was out in the backyard napping. :)

This chandelier was breathtaking and of course, I couldn't resist taking an upshot!

This outdoor pic above was taken during the tour, and believe me, it was chilly here in GA the first Saturday in December.

The pic above is a Chandie in one of the antique shops in Norcross, GA where the tour was held. The cool French infused lamp shade below and the adorable emerald green feather wreath also are featured in the shop.

This was one of my favorite French signs in one of the kitchens on the tour.

And last, but certainly not least, was this lovely chandie that was on an open outdoor porch that had some shelter. The chandie actually was hanging over a really cool daybed that was all dressed as if you could cuddle up in it for the night. A nice Holiday twist to end the tour!

Before you exit, please drop by Susan's to see the other Outdoor Wednesday fun posts!

~Merci for dropping in...
~CC Catherine

A Cinderella Tablescape to kick off the New Year of 2010! :)

2010-01-07T07:38:00.005-05:00

It is "SOOOOO" great to be participating again in Tablescape Thursday today~ Thanks to Susan, my dear friend from "Between Naps On The Porch" for hosting this weekly gathering! Be sure once you visit me that you step on over to Susan's to see all the other lovely tablescapes and ideas.
Today I'm sharing another tablescape from the "Beautiful Event" held back in December of '09 where over 100 women were in attendance at my church. One of the focuses and fun events of the evening yearly are volunteer hostesses who each design and pull together a fantastic tablescape to share with the guests at their tables. They have full access to decorate in any manner and artistic style they desire. This tablescape theme reminds me of a "Cinderella Dream World". Come with me to see all the details of not only the table, but even the chairs. I'll begin with the chair below.

This hostess used two tone satin in the shades of the color palette that were used on her tablescape. You'll also notice she adds a flower on the one side that will tie in to the bouquet she designed and used on the table.

One of my favorite place card holders and cards were on this table. Each person had a personalized name card with a scripture of encouragement and adornment on it. The holder itself elevated the card up high so that the guest could see it easily when they sat at their place of seating. At the end of the evening they were able to take the card home with them.

A Close up of the porcelain doll used as the focal part of the centerpiece. This was moved during the sit down dinner, and the floral centerpiece remained. The thing I loved about her using this doll in a large event like this was that it drew the attention of people to step over to make sure they seen how she incorporated the doll into the scheme...but then she was able to remove it when the guests needed to have a more practical purpose to see each other during the dinner.

This table did not win the "Most Beautiful Tablescape" award, but I'm sure it was a close tie. It was really gorgeous!

Some unique shots of the details...

And one final thought from the Song of Solomon using Lois's hostess place card.

I hope you enjoyed this "Beautiful" tablescape from a friend of mine!

Happy New Year!
~CC Catherine

Oldest Pecan Tree in GA for Outdoor Wednesday ~ Roots and all!

2009-12-30T07:48:00.005-05:00

Outdoor Wednesday has been on my heart ever since I took a reprieve from "life" and wandered up to the oldest Pecan tree in GA, that just happens to take up residence here in my own little town of Braselton. Life was kinda just "going on it's merry little way", and I just said STOP, I'm getting off!

I grabbed my camera and bundled up in a warm coat, grabbed a large trash bag that would serve as my blanket on the ground for taking up shots under the tree...and I had the time of my life with Ms. Pecan for the next hour or so! :)

Enjoy her wonder here, as I did a few weeks back on a very gray but glorious day!

Happy New Year everyone!

Be sure to stop by Susan's to see all the other Outdoor wonders today! Susan, thanks for offering this venue to enjoy all that the outdoors has to offer! It truly is a great way to stop and smell the roses...or the little pecans that drop on the ground from this tree. Hugs to all~ ~CC Catherine

A Very Merry CHRISTmas and a HAPPY New Year in 2010!

2009-12-23T17:47:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas!!!

May the true meaning of Christmas ring in your home this Holiday Season. I count it a privilege to have come to know each of my blogging buddies this year! May your homes be enriched during this time with family, friends, laughter, and the realization of knowing that HE is the reason for this SEASON!

From our Cozy home to yours...
My beloveds and my toesies on the left and our children/grandkiddies on the right~

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year~

Hugs and Christmas Kisses to all...
~CC Catherine

Puttin On The Ritz with a Classy "or" Vintage Tea Theme for a Holiday Luncheon!

2009-12-18T05:01:00.005-05:00

I recently posted about an event called "Beautiful" held at my church here in GA. This was our second year for it and it's always so much fun. I wanted to feature two tables that were hosted that used a "Tea" theme. This first one was created by a lady named Bobbi, it's the "Classy" style theme. Notice how she used a jewelry hanger for her centerpiece that flowed with silver jewels? Her color palette consisted of silvers, white, black, mirrored items, and crystal. Just the right mix for a totally classy look~

I hope you can see these fabulous chargers underneath her china. They are the fanciest chargers I've ever seen and were oohed and awed over all evening.
The tea set was part of the decoration, not functionally used for the event. So, even though you may not drink tea yourself......grab up that silver teapot at the GW~It makes a lovely centerpiece... The name card holder below fit the bill....a glittering silver shoe.

Voila.....a totally Classy Tea Party theme for a perfectly divine Holiday luncheon! You'll also see in the pic below that she used white bridal netting and wrapped it around the top of the chairs for a special affect.

Now for the Vintage Tea Theme! I've showed a few pics here and there of this table, as it was hosted by "Moi". :) Back in early 2009, when I participated for the first time in Tablescape Thursday, I brainstormed on what napkin rings I could use because I didn't really have that many sets. Using the same idea with this Vintage Tea theme, I'll share with you how I created them. I rummaged through my brooches in my jewelry box and then purchased new white pony tail holders. I pinned the brooches to the pony tail holders and slid them up over the napkins. The idea was one of the "a`ha" moments of the evenings for using what you have instead of going out to buy new in economically tough times. The young lady that was my guest took this PARIS brooch home as a gift from moi to her.

The china I used was mismatched intentionally, as I wanted everyone there to see that I had used mostly "misfits" to pull together the Vintage look., but also for a deeper purpose. Early on when I came up with this theme, I felt it served a spiritual purpose for the evening. So many times our lives feel messed up, we feel like we're not good enough, used baggage...and maybe will never "fit in" to what society approves of. Sometimes "we've" been tossed by the wayside like a stray piece of china put in the GW box for delivery. Intentionally, I pulled this table of misfits together as a message to all that sat at my table. I told each of them that GOD sees us all totally beautiful, regardless of any mess ups we've made, regardless of anything that has defined us in our past. HE loves us unconditionally for "who we are", not for "what we've done".

My "Tea~mutts" (mismatched tea cups and saucers) were showcased at the event. Another example of taking what I've found here and there and saved it to make a grand entrance at a grand affair. Little did each of them know they'd one day be Puttin on the Ritz at an event like this one! :)

The beautiful gold baroque oval photo frame is used flat on the table to showcase the elevated Teapot and silver jingle bell garland. All the items were either purchased at GW or were hand me downs with the exception of the mercury glass item turned upside down to serve as a stand for the red bejeweled picture frame that I used to hold my table number.

The Wedgwood blue tea tins had been awaiting this event for a few years now. I purposefully had been saving them for such an event. The pansies were just the right posie to smile when the guests arrived at the table. I used a floral pick and attached a clear wrapped Tea Bag with a bible quote on it and then put the guests name on a white flower shaped cut out and taped to the wrapped tea bag.

A Vintage event wouldn't be complete without borrowing something. So...I borrowed the gold chargers and silver flatware from my sister Becky. There was a time in my life that I thought "I had to own it all". But, again, tough times helps us to make better choices... borrow versus spending makes $mart Cents! :) And, what a lovely way to say "Welcome" for any Holiday Tea Luncheon guests~

I hope you've enjoyed both the Classy & Vintage Tea Party Luncheon themes today. Now...don't forget...it's "who you are today" that counts, you are a treasure to behold! :)

I hope you have a very Merry Christmas! And...be sure to drop by Susan's at "Between Naps On The Porch" to experience other wonderful Tablescape Ideas!

Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah

~CC Catherine

Happy Thanksgiving from ~CC to all my Beloved Blogging Buds!

2009-11-27T22:59:00.002-05:00

This is "Moi" saying "Happy Thanksgiving" Blogging Buds! This is another picture at our recent event at my church entitled "Beautiful". I was the hostess of this table and we had a grand time. Earlier this same day I got to enjoy the company of Rose, from "Santamakers Journey"; Debbie from "Confessions of a Plate Addict"; and Susan from "Between Naps on the Porch" as we had an early tea party at my place and then went antiquing in the afternoon. We closed the day with lunch at an Irish Paddy Restaurant at Chateau Elan near my home. I am quite thankful for all of you out in Blogland that I've come to know this past year. Each of you are so kind to visit often and I really do miss being more of a daily or weekly visitor. Life in my home these past months is nearly a blur... Note: Must slow down and smell the roses more often in 2010~ :)

A lovely Thanksgiving theme table at the Beautiful event. The hostess did a fabulous job!
Praying you had a lovely day with your family and friends yesterday!

Much love and Hugs!
~CC Catherine

Pizazz, Vintage,Creative,Passionate Blues, and Totally Beary Cute!

2009-11-15T23:01:00.003-05:00

Okay...I love this pic I took at a recent gala event at my church. Notice how the table hostess decorated her bottle of bubbling apple cider? Is it not just too cool? It's got "just" the right amount of pizazz! Just so that she was voted the best set table! Stunning!

Is this not a beautiful vintage wedding dress? A lady loaned the dress for our scenery on the set of the gala event! She is celebrating her 50th anniversary this year... The dress was impeccable...and could have been worn that night it was in such great shape! Oooohhhh how I love vintage!
I hosted a table as well...and the theme of my table was "Using anything that someone else either threw away, or that I gave new life to". This is just one "sneak peek" of something that I'll share more in a future Tablescape Thursday post. I had been saving my Hedley Teabag cans for a special event. This night fit the bill and I gave six of them away after the event was over. I planted little pansies in the tins, tucked some Spanish moss in around the edges, put a floral pick in the plant, attached a "Spiritual tea bag" and doubled it as a place card by attaching the name of the person sitting at each seat. Everyone loved their take away gift that evening.

This pic has nothing to do with anything but the fact that I fell in "Love" with her blue eyes! She is a young huskie and her name is Arianna. Now, how could you resist these baby blues? She politely allowed me to snap her pic on a recent Outdoor Fall Fair we attended.

And last, but not least, my "Beary Cute" Claude.... Yes, I know...men don't wear jewelry... Well, Claude is secure in his masculinity and allowed me to use him as a prop when I recently kicked off my friend Vonnie's Silpada party at a weekend open house. We had a blast later hanging jewelry off my chandie, on the bear, anywhere I could get inspired to take pics! Thought you'd enjoy Claude.....I always do, even when he has no jewelry on! :)

Well...gotta run, hope to visit some of you real soon! I feel like Road Runner these days....I'll drop in, say "Beep, Beep"...and off I go again! ;) Life happens...and I'm just tryin to keep up with it all!

Love to all,

~CC Catherine

Some days even Beautiful things feel like they're in a BUBBLE! ;)

2009-11-03T08:01:00.002-05:00

My friend was visiting from NC, as I decided to do a Silpada Fine Silver Jewelry party for her. I decided to get creative and hang the jewelry on my chandelier. Then did a bit of playing around with some filters and voila...... A beautiful Bubble of Jewelry and Chandie combined!

Love to all in Blogville Land!

Click HERE if you want to go to my friends website and check out the glitz!

~CC

Celebrating my 100th Post with Great Blogging Friends!

2009-10-20T20:09:00.003-04:00

I was blessed to have had a lovely weekend with a few GA Blogging Buds! Left front to rear of table and to the right is, Cheri from GeerGathering, Moi, ~CC Catherine, Debbie from Confessions of a Plate Addict, Susan from Between Naps on the (Fabulous) Porch, and Rose from Santamakers Journey.

I had it in my lil head that I so wanted to do a post on my first Auction Bid Win ..to celebrate my 100th post, but I think friends definitely top material possessions, am I right? For sure... :) The table was set very simply, because the main focus was on "US".

Princess Mignon Abbie joined us for Tea and Scones as well!

Oh, the Maple Scones, Scrumptious fruit and veggies and luscious cheese ball and crackers tasted delicious too~ And here the scones are displayed on my little corner stand that I used for my very first Meta Monday post ions ago. :) Oh how I've missed participating over these past summer months... :(

Hope to see you all a bit more often. The quilt was finished in time for Tyler's birthday celebration. He loves it...I'll post some completed pics soon, promise! :)

Hugs to all who've stopped in to say you miss me...I'm amazed that you still come on over! BUT am totally blessed by your visits and comments! MISS YOU ALL!

Hugs!
~CC Catherine

I'm ALIVE...and I'm so thankful I still have my FAITHFUL Blogging Buds! Look at what I've been doin...and doin...and doin...

2009-10-07T17:34:00.007-04:00

Princess Mignon Abbie up above a bit tired from watching me run around this past two months like a lil French Chicken with her head cut off...
This is a QUICK POST to say I'm ALIVE! :)

and...what I've been doin! Nope, I've not been taken by Body Snatchers...but I kinda feel like it!

I decided to finish a 3 year old project! It's almost done. I started this quilt for my first grandchild literally three years ago. His third birthday is 10/10 and I decided since the birthday theme was FISHIES, I'd finish the Oceanic Fish Quilt that I designed for him (my first quilt) long long ago...come look with me. I'm nearly done too! This is one of the fishies...

This is a long distance pic of the quilt at an angle. I'm quilting it all now...after I finished the applique's...and then I put the border on and "voila"...it will be ready for the WRAP! Party is this Sunday!

Traveled to PA for a friends funeral...and at the Restaurant afterward there was a Historic Bridge and when I walked over it, this was sticking out of the stone bridge wall. No kidding....had to have a pic of it! Talk about a once in a lifetime moment.

Worked on this in between quilting for my girlfriends birthday gift, "Kathleen Ellis" of LifeStyle Designs... It's in the mail to her...can you tell me what it is? :) Kath...do you know what this is? It was soooooo much fun making...and the cool thing about it, I'm making more! :)

This little tiger (poodle) I babysat for a week. Is he not the coolest little guy you ever did see? Ms. Abbie was in love.......is in love! She loves French Men! ;) His name is "Baloo". He has chocolate hair, chocolate eyes, and chocolate nose...and chocolate LIPS! He's CHOCOLATE! teahehe!

Oh how I've missed you all...now that the quilt has been nearly taken care of, I think I just may be back online soon! My company of four months has left...and I'm not making as many HUGE meals! YEA.... :)

Hugs and Sugar to all of you that left me such adorable and friendly notes saying how you've missed me! I have SO missed each of you! I'll be making the rounds to your place SOON!

Ciao for now~
~CC Catherine

A Garden Tea Party with a CHIPPIE in the mix! :)

2009-08-26T08:41:00.005-04:00

Memories made in a Tea Party in my Mother's Garden are forever embedded in my mind, and I'd like to share a little piece of it with you today! :)
Thanks Susan for giving us this venue to recall our fond times in the lovely Outdoors each Wednesday! Be sure you drop by "A Southern DayDreamer" to enjoy the other posts today!

The party, May 25, 2007 - My sissy Becky with my Father-in-love Daddy Jim~ Yep, we even had a man drop by and share a scone with us! :) They enjoyed a game of golf and then crashed our party~

My mother's garden is up on the hill above her home...and this particular visit to PA she was having an IRIS sale to raise money to go toward building a Peru Orphanage for children. She raised $1,000 selling Iris roots that year. Before my trip up, I grabbed my Teapot, a selection of teacups, my favorite tea tray and recipes to make the scones! This is Helen on the left, one of my mothers dear friends and neighbors and quilting buddies, and my mother, Myra, on the right~

We sat the table up under the fruit trees near the Iris garden so we'd have some shade. The lovely lady that joined my mother on the left is my Mother-in-Love, Alice Jean. :) The hand made crocheted table cover is a gift my mother received from her sister, Audrey.

At one point in the day, you could see my laying on the ground in hundreds of positions to stage my props for some great pics after the tea party was over...I felt this would help me to recall why we all enjoyed our day so much even two years later. They remain my favorite pictures of all times... This one especially...

This one hands down is probably my most favorite of the Irises in the Sky shot!

A Field of Flowers to moon over in the sun~ :)

This white Iris is off my mother's porch - It reminds me of Purity...amidst the Outdoors

This Iris and blue sky backdrop are a Fabulous French Feel...and so colorful with the blues and yellow tones...

The Family of Cups awaiting their own conversation post the tea time~ Oui, they enjoy their own conversations even after the ladies are done sipping from their lip...

They sometimes move their conversations to other locations in the garden when someone walks too closely... ;)

As you can see, this little chippie that I found near my mother's home that day appeared he grabbed one too many scones and pocketed them in his little cheeks~ :)

Mother calls this one, "Old Fashioned Iris" ~ I love that name...

This one, I call Marie...as it belonged to my mother's best friend who is no longer with us to enjoy our tea times. Her memory was captured that day with the addition of this lovely legacy she left behind, her Iris.

I hope you enjoyed revisiting a Garden Tea Party in the hills of PA today.

May today bring you a little bit closer to your own Tea Party in a Garden~ You won't regret it~

Seize the Day with Tea and your favorite Tea Cup~
~CC Catherine

Odd Fellow Blues on a Monday! :)

2009-08-24T11:57:00.003-04:00

Drop by Sally's to see all the other lovely BLUES today!

Let's start out with this cutie pie of a PIC! Nope...it's not BLUE - but it's too cute to not share it with you! This is my precious little Allie (Grandbaby Girl Yorkie) that was hiding her head under the chair. She's so embarrassed when she wears her pamper! :)

Now this one, you have to THINK of BLUE when you see these precious shells! :)

This is one of my Mother's favorite Pink Dahlia's in her garden! Is it not gorgeous with the BLUE SKY backdrop? That fills my PINK cup too! :)

This is the beautiful ceiling of a B&B that I stayed at in Memphis, TN last spring. We dined in the evening and it was tremendously romantic.

My favorite tea party amongst the clouds and blue sky earlier this past spring!

A Whimsical Tea Set always looks great with a BLUE SKY Backdrop... God truly is the ULTIMATE artist!

Have a great Day!
~CC Catherine

"Papillote" French Eatery in Savannah GA made my weekend Get Away a totally French Experience!

2009-08-19T16:41:00.007-04:00

Welcome to another Fab Foodie Friday with Michael at "Designs by Gollum"!

I just returned from a fabulous trip to Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA this past Monday.

While in Savannah, I came across this divine newly opened of 5mos French Eatery called "Papillote". While there I enjoyed one of the Chef's fabulous French pastries called "Coffee Macaroon! It melted away into my mouth and I still remember the experience, yummy and delicious! :)

This is what I purchased in the "Papillote" to bring some of the French experience back home. A luscious tea that I tried for the first time today! It's "tea-heavenly"! ;) And, I asked the owner if they ship, and they do! Oui!
Then, of course, I needed something French to munch on as well, so my Beloved Hubby bought me a Quimper Tin (Yes Debbie, Quimper Tin! :) full of French Bretagne Biscuits (cookies) by "Ker Cadelac". Both are products of France. Ahhhh....Sighhhhh....a totally French experience that I brought back home!
Be sure to check out the Papillote if you are in the Savannah, GA area! Here is the information for their location below. They have their own Website and the owners are totally fantastic! Be sure to read their credentials and bios under ABOUT US - they will be around for a very long time I believe! We were totally excited to have found this gem of a French Experience and plan to revisit when in Savannah the next time!
For those of you that have never gone to Charleston, SC or Savannah, GA - It's a MUST! I love each city in a unique way! While in Savannah, we stayed at The Catherine Ward House Inn., a B&B. It was a lovely experience and the owner Leslie was very hospitable to us! So...not only did we have a great FOODIE experience at Papillote, we also had a fabulous time of relaxation at a lovely Retreat Getaway! Click here to check out the B&B!

Hope you all are having a really great and fun Summer!

Don't forget to drop by "Designs by Gollum" to visit all the other Fabulous Foodie Friday shares on 8/21! :)
~Au Revoir
~CC Catherine

A Foodie Favorite Worth Repeating for Foodie Friday!

2009-08-06T23:56:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Designs by Gollum for celebrating another Foodie Friday!
Be sure to drop by her place to visit all the other interesting recipes, tips, and cooking tricks!

This salad is MY FAVORITE~ I found it in an AARP magazine four summers ago and it's fabulous!

Ingredients:
Butter Bib Lettuce
Mango
Blueberries
Red Cabbage
Oven Toasted Walnuts
Dressing: Raspberry Vinaigrette

ENJOY~
~CC Catherine

My Favorite Outdoor Shots For Wednesday! :)

2009-08-05T08:44:00.003-04:00

A "Shout" out to Susan for hosting Outdoor Wednesday on this lovely sunny GA day! Please be sure to drop by her place to see all the other Outdoor Wednesday shares!

My first favorite Outdoor pic is this shot of Middleton, SC - a plantation near Charleston. We had the best time here about three years ago and we are revisiting on August 15! I can't wait! The restaurant on the plantation makes THE BEST "White She Crab Soup".

Another favorite pic is the Pineapple Fountain that I snapped in Charleston... Pineapples are a symbol of "Welcome" and I just adored this one...it's located by the harbor.

A snap of my Lantana when I lived in Charlotte, NC - this butterfly took up residence~

My totally favorite outdoor pic of my great nephews enjoying ice cream at their cousins new Ice Cream Shop...

My pics at Biltmore Estate Gardens

More great nieces and nephews...this time they are the flower girl and the ring bearer...and the ring bearer, Eaven, is blowing his bubbles in the flower girl, Carly's, hair. Isn't that just like a little boy? :)

Have missed visiting you all this summer......Life has been like a box of chocolates....and I've been picking quite a few interesting ones this summer! :)

Hugs!
~CC Catherine

Princess Mignon Abbie taking a Peep at a Peep! :)

2009-07-24T18:32:00.003-04:00

Mignon Princess Abbie takes a Peep at a Peep on our porch! She took her first flight out of the next on our front porch and was afraid to do much else than perch on our stoop by the window where Princess Mignon Abbie adored watching the lil Peep!
The little Peep now flys to and fro around our home!
And Princess Mignon Abbie still enjoys looking for her...

~Auvoir

Happy Weekend Everyone!
~CC Catherine

July 4th we celebrated 27 years of Marriage & Dogs on Thursday, an Odd combination!!! ;)

2009-07-16T09:50:00.009-04:00

Drop by Designs by Gollum to enjoy all the other wonderful recipes today! ;)

Be sure to drop by Natalie's place to see more Dogs on Thursday by clicking on the logo above! :)

July 4th started out with a GRRRReat Independence Day Parade in our neighboring subdivision. Isn't this little golf cart rider above a hoot? I loved him~

The picture below is of my Tyler, waving his flag to and fro...love the shades! ;)And here he is, riding his bike through the parade~ His first Holiday Trek!Here we are...we decided to celebrate our special 27th Wedding Anniversary in our favorite Tea Room in Clarksville, GA - Baron York Tea Room CafeMy Beloved called ahead to Dea Irby, the Tea Shoppe owner, to have a special tea for two ready for us when we arrived. Here is just a little bit of what we dined on~A great view of the Tea Room with an "Up Shot" in the Historical section of Clarksville~ ;)Back to the festivities of the day with our Mascot in the Parade!And for the family...everyone celebrated the weekend as well~ My future daughter in law prepared this delectable Asparagus Quiche that I found the recipe for online. We all loved it, excellent reviews~If you want to enjoy the Asparagus Quiche, Click here to enjoy the recipe!

Happy Early Foodie Friday~

Have a blessed day~
~CC

A Special Tribute in Memory of Justin Todd Vest, "Yoshi", our other son...

2009-07-10T22:35:00.003-04:00

Two days ago a young man of just 27 years old died in an unexpected motorcycle accident. All that knew and loved him called him "Yoshi", except my husband, he loved calling him Justin Todd Vest, his given name. Yoshi was, and I'm sure will continue to be in memory, my youngest son Peter's best friend. And to us, he was like one of our other sons. He called me Momma Cos and my husband Mr. C.

He leaves behind a precious 18 month old son, Preston, whom the sun rose and set on to him. This stained glass heart was a project my husband just completed...the stained red glass cross in the center of the piece reminded me of the time that my daughter made and gave him a stained glass red cross years ago. He was so excited with receiving the cross from her and the next time I seen him he had it on a long chain around his neck that he wore as a necklace. When he smiled, he lit up the room...and that's what happened the day she gave him the cross, and when I seen it on his chain, his smile lit up the room even more.

There was something about the way his eyes lit up when he saw me and he called me Momma Cos. He would hug me, smile his big smile...and that's the way I will remember him. Please say a prayer for his family and friends this weekend, this is a huge loss. May we all remember to cherish each day we live, and do our best to be the best we can be for the people we love and that love us.

Today Heaven is blessed to have Yoshi's big smile for eternity...and we will continue to remember him proudly as our son, our friend, and as our brother... We love you Yoshi!

~CC Catherine & family

~A Parisian Cloche with ~Catherine de th`e Cup

2009-06-18T21:01:00.005-04:00

Ahhh...My lovely friend Marty at "A Stroll Thru Life" decided to have a Cloche Party...and I decided to join in! Please be sure to drop by Marty's place to visit all the other bloggers sharing their favorite Cloche designs!

Bonjour, I'm ~Madame ~Allie, and I will be your hostess today at ~CC's Parisian Cloche Party!

It's all about ~CC's favorite French collection...note the French bill used as a book marker within the cloche? Her Papa brought that back from World War II. ~CC decided to use this Cloche to hold some of her favorite French books. Surrounding the cloche are some more French theme items that she's collected over the years. Notice the teency candle to the left of the cloche? This candle was a gift from her sister Becky...the lid to it sits in the French Tea Cup that ~CC picked up when she visited Dijon, France.

A French Book Close Up Look~

A Front View

A Final View

Changing it up a bit...I turned the French Tea Cup upside down on the saucer and used it as a candle holder...the French box behind the cloche is a lovely design by Kris, from Tresbelle's creations. I situated all the other French items around the Cloche.

A Parisian Lighted Cloche...you can't leave the cloche on long or it steams inside. :) But, isn't it cute just for a sneak peek?

Well...it's Madame ~Allie saying ~AuRevoir...

Baby Birdies Fly the Coop on Outdoor Wednesday

2009-06-16T23:21:00.005-04:00

It's been ages since I've had the fun of participating in Outdoor Wednesday! Thanks goes out to Susan for hosting from "A Southern Daydreamer"! Please be sure to drop by her place to see all the other lovely shares!

Today I want to tell you about the birdies that took up residence in one of my brand new hanging flower baskets that are on my second floor Veranda Porch. One day there was a nest, and before we knew it were the eggs...and it seemed like overnight there were these:

Today this little birdie took his first flight to here...

from there:

You really don't want to hear the horrid details of how he almost got killed today... I'm afraid I'd be too embarrassed to share...but thank the Good Lord, He intervened and he's alive and well and flying amidst the neighbors trees now with his siblings. I love to hear their little banters back and forth and see them practicing their flights.

I hope you will remember that even though he looks really scared and teency just one week ago (last picture above), today he had all his feathers and only a teency spiky hair on top of his head left from the baby fur that he had last week. Amazing what a week does in a baby birds life.

I hope you have a lovely Outdoor Wednesday!
~CC Catherine

Mosaic Monday - It's all about Yorkies! ;)

2009-06-15T13:21:00.006-04:00

My sister is above in the picture with her two Yorkie's. Her first Yorkie, Mazey Mae is the groomed one, and Bonnie Sue is the skinny hairy one she had just rescued through a Rescue Group. She learned after she rescued her that she's a mix between a Yorkie and a Chihuahua.

I hope you enjoyed this Mosaic of my sister with her Yorkies! ;)

~CC Catherine

Be sure to stop by "Mary's, at Little Red House" to see the other Mosaics being shared today.

Generational Stitches Link Yesterday to Today with Meta Monday & a Blue Monday Auction for you!~

2009-06-08T08:52:00.009-04:00

I feel like I'm springing up from a pool to get a breath of fresh air today! I'm back for Meta & Blue Monday....for the first time in a long time~ IT's great to be back!

Thanks to both Susan, from "Between Naps on the Porch" for hosting Meta Monday...I've gotten more projects completed when I participate in Meta Monday...it's inspired me week after week!

And thanks to Sally, from "Smiling Sally", for hosting Blue Monday's. My passion for blue and white is extremely noticeable on my blog, as all of you well know. First up - My before picture of a Pillow Top I recently redid. Both sides of the pillow looked like this:

The other side looks like this completed after I stitched it onto the reverse side: The reason why this Pillow Top is so special to me is because my grandmother started it over 60 years ago. She tacked all the color you see on to a muslin square...she then embroidered all the black stitches you see. I found it ten years ago in her possessions and asked her if I could take it and finish it. I purposefully wanted to use embroidery thread colors different than black so that I'd always remember where she stitched. I recently completed this after picking it up and laying it back down the past five years. I love it...here is a close up of the stitches:
Now for my Blue Monday Auction offer...I've recently decided to begin an Auction opportunity to my readers. Today...I'm sharing the following Blue/White favorites from my collection and am auctioning them off.
Items being auctioned:
Two exclusive dish designs that remind you of a Fitz & Floyd look. I have a matching pair of bowls that are a very nice size...each one is glazed so it can be used for food...and a little bunny is on the front of each bowl. (Two of these - 5 inches circular wide at top)
Then, the third piece to the collection is a 12" end to end, with 8" x 4" basket like tray with a bunny on each end. I've used this for serving bread, veggies, potato salad...anything you need to serve looks tremendous in this!

How the Auction will work:

1. I'm starting the auction of all three pieces at only $15.

2. If you decide you'd like to place a bid to purchase these, just leave a comment with your bid amount and your email address on this post.

3. If you are the highest bidder, I will send the payment arrangements to you personally by email. (Shipping and Ins/Handling charges will be applied to the total fee)

4. If for some reason the highest bidder does not end up sending payment, the next highest bidder will be notified to see if you're still interested in the items.

5. This Auction is only open to USA residents due to high cost of shipping out of states, my apologies.

NOTE: If this auction is fun and well received, I plan on doing this frequently.

Happy Monday to everyone~
~CC Catherine

~CC's Alive, and sharing just a bit of light...

2009-06-05T14:46:00.002-04:00

Hello Blogging Buds!

I've been MIA now for about 3 weeks...I can't believe it's been that long since I posted last. I think that's a record hiatus for moi! I've missed you all terribly. Sometimes life just happens, and that's exactly what has been going on in my world during this time; lots of happening things going on.

I thought I'd just drop in for a quick share of some of my favorite chandy pics in my home. These are the antique chandy's that are in my dining room and my master suite.

I hope to be back more often in the upcoming days...

Thanks to all of you that continued to leave notes to me on my posts!

~CC Catherine

Capturing Old World Memories with an Italian Scape & Foodie Friday

2009-05-21T08:25:00.006-04:00

I'll be sharing the spotlight today with Susan, my sweet friend from "Between Naps On The Porch" for Tablescape Thursday, and with Michael Lee, from "Designs by Gollum" for Foodie Friday!
To start the day off right...I'm sneaking a peak up!
First, the Old World Memories...

I have a second cousin by marriage that I created a Family Heirloom Recipe Book to give as her bridal shower gift this weekend. I used handwritten recipes that I copied from her Great Grandmother that she shared a birthday with, and was named after as well~ The buttons were put on the outside of the cover of the album to create dimension and interest...they also belonged to her Great Grandmother.

In memory of the Great Grandmother, my husband's maternal Grandmother, that has since departed us, the petals of this rose all represent the wonderful layers of her life that she shared with us...and all the wonderful Italian traditions, recipes, and holiday dinners that we experienced in her home. I still remember when she taught me how to make home made cavatelli's! The loving care she gave each family member while on earth remains with us today in a special time capsule that from time to time we open up when we see one of her recipes or something we have that used to belong to her.

For the first page in the book, I decided to create a Table of Contents that lists the recipes I included in the book, as well as some notes of interest personally to the Bride to be. All recipes were placed onto a marbled pink heavy hard stock paper and were slipped into high grade plastic sleeves.

Here is a look at how a few pages of the recipe book look...

One of my favorite recipes of hers is one used with Ricotta Cheese, every Italian's favorite staple for any baking or cooking is Ricotta Cheese! ;) This recipe can be used for filling between cake layers, used for cream puffs, or can be eaten as a dessert by itself.

For my scape for one today, you'll see traces of my Blue Italian Spode...it seemed perfect to share my Italian Spode on an Old World theme day showcasing this fabulous history of my husband's Grandmother.

And here is my place setting for one ~ Blue Italian Spode style~

Be sure to visit with other participating posts at Susan's today for tablescapes and Michael's on Foodie Friday!

~Ciao for now...

~CC Catherine

A Better Late Than Never Floral SCAPE in my Boudoir today!

2009-05-14T08:59:00.006-04:00

A Better Late Than Never Floral Scape from my Boudoir today! Be sure to visit our FAB Hostess, Susan, from "Between Naps On The Porch" to see all the other scapes today!

I decided when I didn't get my scape pics done last evening, it's TIME for a Late Scape in my Boudoir! I really didn't feel like crawling out of bed today to go to work...but I managed it! But not before I created this quick and easy breakfast tray! An aerial view! For the summer I purchased this lovely Chenille spread with three shams & a toss pillow at my favorite Consignment Store, Emma's Attic, a few weeks ago. It's a bright and sunny yellow, made by "Mary Jane Home" and it's so cheery to wake up to. The pillow in the background is very special and I'll be sharing it in this upcoming Meta Monday post.

The floral tray is a favorite of mine from years back that I purchased at TJMaxx for only $12.99. It's huge and is perfect for a breakfast tray! A close up view of the Charger, import from Italy, Dark Blue rimmed Yellow dinner plate by Gibson, and the center French Floral plate by American Atelier @ Home. This little tea mug is a favorite of mine from GANZ, you'll have to double click on the pic to see if you can read "The Meanest Mother In The World" verse that's on it. I bought this for myself years ago while visiting Clemson, SC. Every mother should love her children so much to model this Mean Woman! ;) I believe it's still available in some gift shops! Announcing my Monthly GIVE AWAY posted on Monday, 5/11:

And, the winner is: Kim @ http://manningfamilytree.blogspot.com/

YEAAA Kim!

Kim won the lovely Cottage of Contentment Plate(See top right on my sidebar!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS ~ My next giveaway will be posted on June 8th! Come back and enter!

Have a LOVELY Day everyone!
~Au Revoir,

~CC Catherine

My Blue Monday GIVEAWAY ~ Yes, another one! Join me for Cindy's "My Romantic Home" Meme GiveAway launching TODAY!

2009-05-11T11:58:00.004-04:00

Hi Everyone! For my faithful frequent readers...YEP, another Give Away!

And, on the heels of announcing my previous one just earlier today!

I just couldn't pass this up when I seen it offered at Cindy's from "My Romantic Home" blog. Can you imagine how cool it would be to see 100 different people join in to offer Give Aways on the same day each month? I couldn't resist.

Once you get done with this post and entering my Give Away by leaving a comment to possibly win the lovely little Blue/White cottage plate below, be sure to drop on over to Cindy's to see what all other bloggers are joining in on the Give Away frenzy! ;)

You must double click on the pic below so you can enjoy the verse imprinted on the front of the plate:

This is what is stamped on the back:

Celebrating also with Sally at "Smiling Sally" for BLUE MONDAY! How sweet it is ladies, please be sure to leave your comment so you can possibly add one more B/White item to your collection! ;)
The winner will be announced this THURSDAY when I post my TableScape Thursday post! ENJOY Ladies!

~CC Catherine

Announcing "Catherine de th`e Cup" Winners of Blog Give Aways!!!

2009-05-11T10:11:00.009-04:00

Good Morning Everyone!
I want to first thank each and every person who left one of the 116 comments on my 4/28 post to enter this Give Away & the 23 bloggers who decided to include my Blog Give Away Button on their side bars to participate in my Mother's Day Give Away!

I was blown away at the response, and very excited to see how much you all loved the "LIFE Full Collection from DaySpring" I featured in my 4/28 post.

The first Winner being announced is someone I'm very excited about! Many of you are avid readers of each post I write. Cynthia, from Applestone Cottage, for sure is! Cynthia is my winner of the Elegant Fluted Teapot and matching Teacup and saucer. Cynthia was selected by my using the Random Number Generator, #3 - for leaving a comment on my 4/28 post. If you've never visited Cynthia before, it's a must! Visiting Cynthia for me is like visiting a best friend I haven't seen for awhile...grabbing our cuppa and sitting for a chat on her patio. She's a Sweetie and is always an interesting read and visit!

This is the lovely gift Cynthia will be receiving below~ If you're bummed because you didn't win it, please visit DaySpring and use the 20% discount code at the bottom of this post. You'll locate this under their collection of Teapots.

23 Bloggers posted my BLOG GIVE AWAY BUTTON on their side bar - that was an extra way you could get the option to win some of the LIFE Full Collection items.

Announcing the following 3 WINNERS:

Jen, from the "Frugal Jen" blog won the "Table Runner" from the LIFE Full Collection! YEA Jen, her Random Number generated was #16! This was Jen's first visit to my blog! It pays to visit new blogs! ;) Make sure you click on her hyperlink and visit her. She has many cost saving tip ideas on her blog!

Jen's Gift is below~ It's a reversible Table Runner and the other side is multi stripes that match the colors you see below in the pic.

Dixie, an avid reader of mine...and moi of hers, she's from the "French Lique, TX" blog. Dixie won the Life Collection Full Apron. This is her Random #20, that was selected! YEA Dixie! Dixie hosts the Wordless Wednesday Meme each Wednesday! If you've never had the privilege of visiting her...please do so! Her blog is a treat! She's another dear friend that I've gained over the months I've been a more serious blogger.
Dixie won the Full Apron from the LIFE Full Collection from DaySpring ~see below!
Last, but certainly not least is a friend of mine named Chandy, from "What Now Tablescapes" blog~ Chandy is another faithful visitor to "Catherine de th`e Cup". Chandy loves tablescapes...her Random Number generated is #6! If you love participating in Tablescape Thursdays, you'll love her blog, because she focuses most of her posts on her passion, Tablescapes! Definitely pay her a visit too!
Chandy's gift won seems so appropriate, she won a pair of place mats the LIFE Full Collection from DaySpring! I can guarantee you that Chandy will put these place mats to good use in a future post! ;) Right Chandy?
For those of you who enjoyed the post on the LIFE Full Collection...you can enjoy the 20% discount they're offering till May 31, 2009. Free Shipping on all orders above $50! In today's economy, discounts and free shipping speak volumes! ;)
Thanks everyone for the FUN~
This was a huge Success and I'll be shipping the gifts out this week~
For all that won, please email me your mailing addresses at the following: serendipitea@bellsouth.net

Catherine's MONTHLY GIVE AWAY
I had so much fun with this give away that I'm going to be joining a new Meme that posts monthly with Cindy from My Romantic Home Blog. Check back later on today to see what my next Give Away will be and when the deadline for entry will end!

Happy Monday Everyone~ ;)
~CC Catherine

A French Influenced Tablescape with Princess Mignon Abbie as Hostess

2009-05-06T17:16:00.005-04:00

Bonjour, Welcome to Princess Mignon Abbie's first "inside" Tablescape as Hostess!

Princess Abbie had such a lovely time cohosting when Debbie, from Confessions of a Plate Addict, joined us for tea a few weeks back that she begged me to allow her to host this weeks all by her lil ole self. I obliged and said I'd at least snap the pics for her!

The breadbasket is a find that I brought home from France and is a favorite of mine~

As you can see, Princess Abbie is at the head of the table awaiting her guests to be seated...she's so mannerly~ I have told her though that when she tilts her head up in the air like this, some may think she's a snoot, and she's really not...sincerely she's not! ;)
Everything on this weeks tablescape was purchased at either 75% off or for little to nothing from Goodwill visits~ I'll mention the few items that aren't when I come to them. This lovely centerpiece pot was picked up at a yard sale for just $5. The bromelaide plant was a gift and is just about ready to bloom.

An aerial shot to showcase the Macy's plates, "The Cellar" my sons got me a few years back. This is my every day dinnerware I'm using today.

My Aunt, that is an Artist, created the lovely candle holder below and candle snuffer. It is only about 4" high and is very delicate.

A view from above the Chandy!

An aerial shot showcasing the salad bowl on each end of the tables. Princess Abbie's is an import from Italy from Williams & Sonoma. I know, I know, this is a French influenced Tablescape, but these just fit beautifully with my French colors! ;)

The bread plates and center salad bowl atop the dinner plate on this view is from Furio Home and is also an import from Italy. Yikes, can you tell I'm married to an Italian? ;) The colors in these plates though evoke the spirit of France to me.

The lovely little napkins tucked in to the wine glasses as roses are a souvenir I brought home from France a few years back. I cherish them and always feel like a little part of me is there when i use them. The wine glasses, thrifty find at a consignment shop.

Another creation from my Aunt, the Artist! This is a little dinner bell. Notice the three angels? I bought it because it reminds me of my three children that are my angels on earth!

A fun view below is my Chandy above the dining room table with the reflection in the mirror on the side wall. I put a special filter on this one because it's just "fun".

A view from an angle as I walk in from my kitchen! Notice Princess Mignon Abbie underneath the chair...she thought it would be more humble of her to be submissive as everyone enters the room. Dinners on she politely barks! ;)

And one last different view!

Now...I need to hear from all my readers...I'm considering changing my banner above. This is my chandelier from my master bedroom. Do you think I should try it for the summer for a Chandy change? Leave your answer on your comment! I'm seriously thinking of making a change!

Now, Please be sure to visit Susan at "Between Naps On The Porch" to see all the other lovely and whimsical fun tablescapes this week! ;)

~CC Catherine

Don't forget to Click on the Logo on my sidebar to enter my BLOG GIVEAWAY - Deadline for entry is May 10th, Midnight, PDT. GOOD LUCK~

My Tuesday Morning Veranda Porch Party!

2009-05-05T12:01:00.010-04:00

Thanks to Barb from "Grits and Glamour" for hosting today's Porch and Patio Party!

I did get a late start...but I decided to have my morning brunch on my break today in the most peaceful place at my home, on my 2nd floor Veranda Porch. Fruit is always on my menu for brunch!
Lovely flowers with the sky in view from my chair!

My favorite Romantic Homes Magazine, June issue
More lovely flowers to enjoy from the view of my chair, I have three hanging baskets of Impatiens to enjoy!

More brunch goodies! I have a scrumptious Dijon Chicken Salad on Whole Grain Wheat cut in the shape of a Carrot, and more healthy crunchies with cucumber and cheese hats!

My Tablescape for One using my new Life Collection from DaySpring. The place mat is so colorful and invites me in to truly believe that Spring is here in full swing! The Charger matches the place mat! (Don't forget to visit this link "BLOG GIVEAWAY" to get in my drawing, deadline is May 10, Midnight PDT.

My new little personal size Silver Holder w/ Blue glass liner for my Lemon Curd!

A dollup on my Scone and a lovely Italian Almond Cookie to enjoy...

Prior to my Tea Time, I love having cold water with fresh lemons and cucumbers...what a great way to hydrate your skin and feel refreshed! This Teapot / Teacup is one set for Giving Away... Be sure to click below on the appropriate link to sign up if you've not already done so.

Another view from my chair...

My resting place, with my favorite Toile Pillows~and the faux silk forsythia on the back of the chair... This chair makes me feel very special when I rest in it!

This little glass bowl of shells holds a precious place in my heart...they are collections from when our children were small and many have love notes to us on them. These are under the Boston Fern on the Veranda, right near my fingertips if I decide to reminisce...

And here you see it all together... Ahhhh....How sweet it is!

Again, don't forget to go HERE to enter my Fabulous Blog Give Away. Winners to be announced on Monday, May 11th!

~CC Catherine

Chef Claude Peter's Make Over for Meta Monday along with his infamous Strawberry Shortcake Scone Recipe!

2009-05-03T21:43:00.007-04:00

Welcome to my Chef Claude Peter Metamorphosis Monday Make Over!

Please be sure to visit my friend, Susan, at "Between Naps On the Porch" to catch all the other super shares!

I found Chef at Abbie's Attic Consignment Shop in Flowery Branch, GA, for just $10. He's made out of Terra Cotta and was originally lightly white washed. He was kinda messed up in a couple places with a little ink, but nothing a can of spray paint wouldn't clear up.

Here he is, going through the paint job! I used a flat white spray paint. He was very well behaved, with the exception of the fumes that bothered him terribly...he did superb! ;)
By Claudie...I think he's all done now! ;)
You'll notice in this shot below that he's now sporting a black bow tie, along with black caps on the buttons of his chefs jacket. I just adore him! I named him "CHEF Claude Peter", after my father(first name) and my youngest son(middle name).

Chef Claude Peter felt like helping me bake tonight...so we whipped up my Strawberry Shortcake Scone recipe. It's a scrumptious scone that can also be used for Strawberry Shortcake, which is what we did tonight! mmmm good! Chef is great to hold a slim vase of flowers like I used him for in last weeks tablescape, or above, you'll see him sporting the napkins for dessert!

Strawberry Scone RECIPE:

1 1/2 cup strawberries hulled and cut into 1/2" pieces

(sprinkle with sugar to bring out juice)

2 1/4 cups flour

3 T. granulate sugar

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

6 Tbl. sweet butter

2/3 cup milk

In large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Cut butter in and work in till size of peas. Stir in strawberries and gently stir to coat, add milk and gently stir again until the dough begins to form. Using your hands, form into a ball out of dough. Then roll out onto a floured board 1/2 thick. Bake till golden brown.

Bake @ 425 Fahrenheit min., or until golden brown.

Always have plenty of extra strawberries for garnishing the shortcake! (Dishes are part of the "LIFE COLLECTION" from DaySpring that are showcased in a previous blog post.) Don't forget if you like the LifeStyle collection by DaySpring, you'll want to check out their website for more details. But, first...check my information out on my blog!

Here is the traditional Strawberry Shortcake!

And my favorite, I take the scone and chunk it up in a bowl, put more strawberries that have been sugared and put milk on all of it! Now, this is GOOD! ;)

Don't forget to enter my Blog Give Away by clicking on the Blog Button below. CLICK on blog button and follow the Give Away guidelines so you can enter! Deadline for entering is Sunday, midnight, PDT. May 10th!

Bon Appetite~

~CC Catherine

Catherine de thé Cups

Happy 2nd Birthday to Tea Time Tuesday with Sandi at the Rose Chintz Cottage

Love Auction Results for Baby Amelia

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

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

Happy Birthday Baby Kitty! :)

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

Oh Where Oh Where did it go? :(

Two weeks away ~ Quilting, physical therapy, and shopping

Can't get her outta my Head!!! ;)

Antique Mirror Makeover Serving Tray ~ And all for under $7

what's LOVE got to do with it?

From my home to yours this Christmas Season! And a Christmas Prayer for a Friend & her family...

Christmas came early...I'm so glad the box said, OPEN NOW!

These R a few of my F*A*V*O*R*I*T*E things!

Primrose Lane ~ A Sweet Vintage Haven both Inside & Out!

Strolling through life one day at a time while breathing in the spectaculars along the way!

Le Parti de Cloche ~

~Recycled Creations Inspire me...so I spent the weekend creating!

Introducing Our Lil Guy ~ Born 6/29/10 weighing in at 7lbs.7oz.

At 18 months, It's still important to learn the Basics of Tea Time~

What does one do when a PC crashes? For me, I kept busy...and am awaiting the birth of my third Grandchild!

Dogs, Cars, Family, and Celebrating my Beloved's 50th! Something Blue?

I love making my guests feel special! Here's some of what I do...

My March Madness with PINK, Claudie & Julie's visit, and it ALL "made my birthday celebration" the best!

A Valentine Dance... And she's a Catherine too!

A Cheetah Share & Wow was it at a savings...plus an Heirloom Gift

In Tribute of Barney from a 2009 Post of The Nostalgic Tablescape!

Friends, The Outdoors, French Influence, and Chandies...What More Can A Gal Want...

A Cinderella Tablescape to kick off the New Year of 2010! :)

Oldest Pecan Tree in GA for Outdoor Wednesday ~ Roots and all!

A Very Merry CHRISTmas and a HAPPY New Year in 2010!

Puttin On The Ritz with a Classy "or" Vintage Tea Theme for a Holiday Luncheon!

Happy Thanksgiving from ~CC to all my Beloved Blogging Buds!

Pizazz, Vintage,Creative,Passionate Blues, and Totally Beary Cute!

Some days even Beautiful things feel like they're in a BUBBLE! ;)

Celebrating my 100th Post with Great Blogging Friends!

I'm ALIVE...and I'm so thankful I still have my FAITHFUL Blogging Buds! Look at what I've been doin...and doin...and doin...

A Garden Tea Party with a CHIPPIE in the mix! :)

Odd Fellow Blues on a Monday! :)

"Papillote" French Eatery in Savannah GA made my weekend Get Away a totally French Experience!

A Foodie Favorite Worth Repeating for Foodie Friday!

My Favorite Outdoor Shots For Wednesday! :)

Princess Mignon Abbie taking a Peep at a Peep! :)

July 4th we celebrated 27 years of Marriage & Dogs on Thursday, an Odd combination!!! ;)

A Special Tribute in Memory of Justin Todd Vest, "Yoshi", our other son...

~A Parisian Cloche with ~Catherine de th`e Cup

Baby Birdies Fly the Coop on Outdoor Wednesday

Mosaic Monday - It's all about Yorkies! ;)

Generational Stitches Link Yesterday to Today with Meta Monday & a Blue Monday Auction for you!~

~CC's Alive, and sharing just a bit of light...

Capturing Old World Memories with an Italian Scape & Foodie Friday

A Better Late Than Never Floral SCAPE in my Boudoir today!

My Blue Monday GIVEAWAY ~ Yes, another one! Join me for Cindy's "My Romantic Home" Meme GiveAway launching TODAY!

Announcing "Catherine de th`e Cup" Winners of Blog Give Aways!!!

A French Influenced Tablescape with Princess Mignon Abbie as Hostess

My Tuesday Morning Veranda Porch Party!

Chef Claude Peter's Make Over for Meta Monday along with his infamous Strawberry Shortcake Scone Recipe!

Christmas Love AUCTION in honor of Amelia~

These R a few of my FAVORIT*E things!