FRIDAY SHOPPING EVENT, May 7th

COLOR ME PINK....All of a sudden, it seems that everywhere I look, I see more and more pink. Now, one of my very favorite colors is being used in home décor and accessories of all kinds.

Mixing the various shades of pink can create a feminine and warm feeling in any room. But a single pink piece in an all white room can capture just as much attention.

This week Cozy Cottage is "bringing out the pink" and joining the other participating boutiques at Make Mine Pink for the Friday Shopping Event. We hope you find something to enhance the beauty of your home or office.

Show and Tell Monday

Now that the weather is cooler and the air is crisp I've been thinking about the upcoming holidays. This week I worked on an old wooden tray that I've had for awhile and wasn't quite sure what I would do with. Now it is all dressed up for Christmas and ready to list at Cozy Cottage and Patchouli Rose Designs. My pictures are a little dark but I'll take more later on this week. Here is a sneak peak...........

I also have a new clipboard started......I used a vintage Christmas card to set the theme. It is a work in progress and will have much more embellishment when I am finished.

Have a wonderful week and remember it is only a little over two months until Christmas!

Debbie

FRIDAY SHOPPING EVENT

Here it is......almost Friday again.....and this week Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor is participating in Make Mine Pink's Friday Shopping Event. The theme is one of my favorites......"Simply Pink". I hope you can take a few minutes and stop by to see what Cozy Cottage and the other participating boutiques are featuring this week. Have a wonderful weekend!

Debbie

"Tea for Two and Two for Tea"

Hello everyone.....it's that time again.....Pink Friday at Make Mine Pink! This week's theme is "Tea for Two and Two for Tea". Please drop by Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor as well as the other beautiful boutiques participating this Pink Friday. Hope to see you there!

Pink Friday is "English Cottage Style"

Photo courtesy of www.freefoto.com


This Friday, July 17th, Make Mine Pink presents "An English Cottage". If English cottage style decor is your passion this is the time to indulge as Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor and other participating boutiques at Make Mine Pink gather to present a lovely array of English cottage style decor!



English cottage style decor has become a favorite because of the feeling of welcoming and warmth it lends to a home. A pretty bit of clutter atop a well-worn antique table that has been passed down through generations (or has at least been made to look that way) may be combined with comfy, overstuffed sofas and chairs covered in softly muted floral fabrics. Scatter lacy doilies here and there and a room just calls out for you to relax. A hallmark of English cottage style is color: all the colors of nature are perfect for this decor. Beautiful pinks, pale greens and shades of white might be used in one room; and yet another room may be lovely done in geranium red, deep green, violet, golden grain, and earthy brown. Even the colors of autumn are perfect for English cottage style: brown, yellow, rust, orange and green. That is the real beauty of English cottage style - using the colors YOU are comfortable with and that make YOU comfortable!



Once you have chosen a color palette, it is time to select furnishings. Because English cottage style evokes an antiqued, aged, and cozy feeling furnishings should have an aged patina. The overall effect should be that furnishings have been acquired over time, such as those passed down from generation to generation. Seating should be soft and comfortable - overstuffed chairs are perfect and if they are a little too worn, slipcovers are perfect for English cottage decor. If you are on a budget, you might look for furnishings in fleamarkets, thrift stores or at tag sales. Bookshelves, wingback chairs, roll-arm sofas, wicker furniture, framed mirrors, pine or dark wooden tables, wooden plate racks, buffets or sideboards, and hutches are just a few furnishings that are appropriate for English cottage style decor. Look for pieces that can be used for something other than their original purpose such as an old flat top trunk used as a coffee table. And don't forget the golden rule of English cottage style - every piece of furniture must be decorated!



Cover small tables with vintage doilies or cloths. Crochet lace doilies are perfect for the back and/or arms of a chair. Consider a tea tray with an assortment of pretty objects atop a coffee table. A bookshelf could hold a few antique books along with pretty knicknacks passed down from your grandparents and great-grandparents. Other items to look for when decorating your English cottage home are vintage china and glassware, silver or pewter pieces, porcelain figurines, vintage musical instruments, vintage paintings or postcards, vintage photographs in pretty frames, old clocks, fresh or dried flowers, lots and lots of pretty pillows on sofas and chairs, needlepoint wallhangings, and homemade candles and soaps.



Lighting should be soft and subtle. Table and floor lamps and candles are perfect, but overhead and recessed lighting should be avoided. A pretty chandelier is always welcomed but only small bulbs should be used or better yet, a candle chandelier. Light filtering through lacy sheers at the windows is lovely and in winter a heavy drape may be added to lend warmth to a room.



Finishing touches might include old quilts and soft handwoven rugs over a wooden floor.......and remember English cottage style is always a work in progress, never a finished product!

Favorite Finds at Cozy Cottage this week

Cozy Cottage is participating in Make Mine Pink's Pink Friday and this week's theme is "Favorite Finds". I looked around the shop yesterday and found several of my favorite items that I hadn't listed on the Cozy Cottage website before and decided they would be perfect for the "Favorite Finds" theme. I hope you will drop by Pink Friday at Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor and take a look.....remember Pink Friday means FREE SHIPPING at Cozy Cottage!

Join us for Pink Friday this week......

Please join Cozy Cottage this week for shopping with a twist on Friday June 12, 2009 as Make Mine Pink presents "Along the Garden Path."

Delights and pleasures that make your heart beat a little faster await you along the garden path. Sights and sounds and smells that excite your senses and inspire your imagination. Perhaps it's the purple cone flowers, multicolored morning glories, fragrant angel trumpets, or the lordly foxglove, all grown from seed and tended with love, that line the path and remind you to dream. Or the delicate shadow of a Victoria trellis supporting a new vine that takes you on a new flight of fancy. In the early morning hours, or when the sun begins to set, a verdigris candle holder or metal scroll work lantern might illuminate the garden pathway. But it's the vintage metal buckets painted with floral designs and planted with overflowing flowers, that seem to light the way. Along the garden path, a cherub garden sculpture, or a vintage cherub planter might welcome you to this less-traveled road. Ceramic plaques engraved with thoughts and sayings to brighten the day remind you of the peace you find when you walk here, and invite you to linger a while. Garden mushrooms greet you, as does the sparrow-song sung by tiny birds that have stopped to rest on bird-feeders shaped like perfectly opened petals and delicately formed tea cups. A garden tea party...a hand painted table brought outdoors just for the occasion. Sparkling candy lights make this a fairy-tale place in the midst of an enchanted path. A Victorian cake stand filled with roses and sweets takes center stage, the vintage china tea cups and plates are set. In the shade, you can remove the sun hat that was created just for you, in a design that makes you smile whenever you catch a glimpse of it. The garden scenery is reflected in a beautiful handmade cushion, stitched from fabric alive with pink blossoms, then placed on a nearby garden chair. A decorative vintage birdcage hangs from a weather hook. On the table lies a gardening book filled with inspiration and ideas to share. Later, you'll remember absent friends and lovingly write to them on note cards reminiscent of a favorite rose garden. But for right now, you'll celebrate with those who are here, and share the treasures you've found along the garden path.

Joyce Lucas, FounderMake Mine Pink


Photo Contribution 1: Treasured Heirlooms Photo Contribution 2: Caroline Alexander

Pink Friday at Cozy Cottage and Make Mine Pink

Please join Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor and the other participating Make Mine Pink members as we celebrate "Something Old, Something New - A perfect time for a summer wedding!"

Wouldn't this vintage maxi dress be perfect for a summer wedding?

Pink Friday - Romantic Delights

~Romantic Delights~

Please join Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor and other participating boutiques when

Make Mine Pink presents "Romantic Delights"

this Friday, May 1st on Pink Friday.

Mother's Day is just around the corner, May 10th, so this is your chance to find

the perfect gift inside the lovely boutiques at Make Mine Pink!

Remember, Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor offers

FREE SHIPPING

on all items listed in the Pink Friday category.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Debbie @ Cozy Cottage

Pink Friday is "For the Birds"

Please join Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor and other participating boutiques at Make Mine Pink as we celebrate the birds of Spring this Pink Friday.

Easter blessings to you and your family from my Cozy Cottage family!

A Touch O' Whimsy comes to Cozy Cottage - Pink Friday!

Once in a while, it's fun to take a detour from the normal "a place for everything and everything in its place" ritual and include some whimsical touches in our daily routines – celebrate your whimsical side and surround yourself with things that make you smile! This week at Make Mine Pink we celebrate "A Touch O' Whimsy". I hope you will drop by and visit Cozy Cottage as well as other participating boutiques for this special event. Free shipping on items in the Pink Friday category

at Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor

....this is the time to load your shopping cart !

You may also enjoy the items in my
Little Pink Boutique

Wishing you a cozy and wonderful weekend!

~Debbie~

Pink Friday ~ Shades of Rose

It's Pink Friday at Make Mine Pink again and Cozy Cottage has several new items for this week's theme........Shades of Rose. Come visit and enjoy our new look as well as the pretty items we are offering this week. Be sure to also visit the other participating Make Mine Boutiques, and have a wonderful weekend!

Cozy Cottage gets a facelift

Well, I've never been known for being static.....I just have to have change from time to time! With that said, I've been wanting to give my Cozy Cottage website a facelift for quite a while now and I finally took the plunge, purchased a new template from Pappashop and had it installed over the weekend. Go over and take a peek. I was aiming for a feminine, soothing, elegant atmosphere. What do you think? http://www.shabbycozycottage.com/

I'll be posting a slideshow of all the changes that have been happening at the real live Cozy Cottage before long too.

Have a wonderful week,
Debbie

It's Pink Friday again.........

~Winter Whites~

Friday, January 30th

Please join Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor and other participating boutiques at Make Mine Pink this week as we celebrate ~Winter Whites~.

My personal favorite color scheme is white on white so I can't wait to see what everyone has to offer this week!

Remember, everything in the Pink Friday and Friday FleaMarket categories

at Cozy Cottage is free shipping within the continental United States.

Happy shopping!

Debbie

~Pink Friday is Romantic Roses~

It's Pink Friday again for Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor and the other participating boutiques at Make Mine Pink! This week's theme is everyone's favorite - Romantic Roses - and what better way to bring in the new year than with beautiful roses?

Pssst guys - this is a great chance to shop for your Valentine sweetie!

Happy Shopping!

Debbie

Pink Friday - Jan. 16th - Something's brewing at Cozy Cottage

This Pink Friday, January 16th, Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor will be premiering Cozy Cottage Coffee. Our special blends will be available in 2 oz sample packs, as well as 8 oz and 16 oz bags and customers will have the option of choosing whole bean or ground-to-order flavors. We will also be offering coffee mugs, coffee accessories and gift packs in the near future. Cozy Cottage invites you to stop by and see our newest product and the delicious coffee flavors selected to tantalize your taste buds!

Looking for a bargain? Visit Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor at Friday FleaMarket to see all of the items that I've placed in the fleamarket this week....and all
of my Friday FleaMarket items are FREE SHIPPING!

Be sure to also visit all of the other participating shops at Make Mine Pink as they showcase their newest products. This week's theme is "In with the new" and with all of the talented artists at Make Mine Pink you are sure to find the best of the best when you shop this week!

Pink Friday is back.....January 9th

"Making way for the new....."Join Cozy Cottage at Make Mine Pink on Friday, January 9th for the return of Pink Friday. This week's theme... "Making Way For The New". It's time to clean house and make room for new treasures. This means you will find great bargains at Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor and some of your other favorite boutiques. So, mark your calendars and I'll see you there.

Show and Tell Monday

Hello everyone!


I saved the announcement of something big for Show and Tell this week.....the opening of my newest website Patchouli Rose, where I will offer bohemian style home decor,and fashion items. After the first of the year I will be adding my own designs, handmade from repurposed fabrics and embellishments, and they are going to be full of bohemian elegance.

Meantime, it's business as usual at Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor where I've been packing and mailing orders like crazy the past couple of weeks. Thank you so much to all of my good customers! The brick and mortar shop has been busy too. We had Christmas Open House a week ago and that really put me in the Christmas spirit!

Now for the RECIPE OF THE WEEK.......

KANADLES

This recipe for German dumplings is handed down by my husband's family. They are "old Germans" and have lots of good recipes but this is one I just had to try. It is what I call a "leftover recipe" and is a good use for leftover holiday ham and dry bread.

1. Preparation.

Boil leftover ham until it falls off the bone. You will need a large pan of broth so keep adding water while the ham is boiling. Let broth cool. Remove bone and discard. Crumble the ham into tiny pieces.

2. Make the kanadles.

Crumble day-old bread or left-over rolls into a mixing bowl. Add chopped onion to taste. Salt and pepper to taste. Add the crumbled ham. (If there seems to be too much ham for the amount of bread you have, just put the extra ham back into the broth after you make the kanadles. Pour ham broth a little at a time into bread mixture until it forms a sticky ball. Bring the remainder of the broth (and extra ham, if you had any) to a full boil.

3. Cook the kanadles.

Make small balls from the kanadle mixture, about 2 inches in diameter. Bigger balls won't cook completely and the centers will be dry. Place the kanadles in the boiling broth and cook for about 10 minutes or until centers are moist.

4. Serve kanadles.

Place kanadles and a dipper full of ham broth in a bowl and enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

Look what I got!

I love it, love it, love it! My father-in-law found this shabby Victorian style mantel curbside today and of course, when I saw it I just had to have it! The smaller part sitting in front goes on top of the mantel and the mirror will have to be replaced but I can already see it installed in the living room at my cottage shop. I will paint it to match the walls and then load it up with all sorts of treasures for my customers. I'll post an "after" picture when I have it all ready. :)

Show and Tell Monday

A bit of information for you........

Pink Friday at Cozy Cottage held over this week! Yes, you can take advantage of the Pink Friday and Friday FleaMarket free shipping all week long.

Something new at Cozy Cottage! All orders over $100 (before shipping cost is added in) will receive a full refund of the shipping cost....that means FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $100!


Also, for every $50 you order (before shipping cost is added in) before December 18th, you will receive a gift of peppermint scented Candylights, retail value $11.00. So, if you order $100 of merchandise you will not only receive free shipping, but also two strands of Candylights.....now what could be better than that???

Recipe of the Week

This week's recipe comes from my mom. It was a new recipe to her but she made it for Thanksgiving and we all loved it!

BEER BREAD

Ingredients:
3 cups self-rising flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 can of flat beer (open a beer and let it sit out for a couple of hours)

Mix all ingredients and pour into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Drizzle melted butter over the top and bake at 375* for 50-60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool until bread is just warm before cutting with a serrated knife.

Note: This bread makes wonderful toast!