My Winnings...

I won this fabulous painting from Design Ties. It was painted by the talented Matt Leblanc. I hung it on the wall on the third floor...an attic space where I quilt, blog, watch tv, Wii, read, and dream.  

Thank you Kelly and Victoria of Design Ties and Matt LeBlanc.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Don't Shoot the Messenger...

My mom sent me (Lollie) because she is busy and didn't have time to prepare a proper post (say that fast three times). I was bored and dug out this toy to play with.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Great Estate Sale Company...

Stopped by the Great Estate Sale Company in Minnetonka, MN yesterday, as I was driving right by their front door and hadn't been there in years. Of course I was immediately drawn to the blue armoire. I would love to have it but I don't have any use for it.

I have always wanted a cabins sign...I was tempted to buy it.

Speaking of cabins...the iron chandelier below would look grand in an open floor plan cabin or lodge.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Up Close and Personal...

Meet Henny. I found Henny in a quilt shop called Fourth Corner Quilts in the Bellingham, Washington area five years ago. When I spotted her I wasn't sure if she was for sale. Loved her colors and thought she would look cute in my kitchen. Upon asking one of the woman working in the quilt store she told me that Henny belonged to the owner and didn't know if she was for sale. I left my name, number and email address for the owner. The owner, Julia, contacted me and said her high school Home Economics teacher made it and she would contact her teacher to see if she would make one for me. Well, as it turned out Julia sold me the original one the Home Ec teacher, made because the Home Ec teacher agreed to make a new one for Julia. Incredibily generous if you asked me. I put Henny (the name I gave her) in my kitchen, took her photo and sent it to Julia to show the Home Ec teacher that Henny landed in a good home.

Every day when I am washing dishes (I rarely use my dishwasher) I look up at Henny and smile.

Stop by the Junk Revolution by March 31st and

enter to win this necklace.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Northwoods Boutique…

 

 

Yesterday I went to the Northwoods Boutique, a travelling art, craft, antique and gift show, with my friends Kate and Connie. We were greeted by lively, metal sunflowers, and an incredibly friendly older gentleman. I wanted to share what they have to offer and the organizers were kind enough to let me take some pictures to show you. I am in awe of the talent of the vendors. Information on location, dates, and times can be found at the end of the post or by clicking here.

Our tour begins with this camper birdhouse!

I had two of the shelves below in my childhood bedroom and they held my dolls.

The red chair would be great on a porch.

The picture below doesn’t do justice to the mirror. It was fabulous.

Here is a close up of the mirror…beautiful…wish it could have come home with me.

These Easter bunny table runners were adorable.

I am addicted to rag rugs and have been shopping for a new black/white rag rug…the b/w one in the picture below was 4 x 2 and I need a 6 x 2…so I am hoping that the person who makes these will make one to fit my kitchen floor.

The fish shaped license plate is perfect for the Land of 10,000 Lakes.

I thought these round pillows made of embroidered towels were so charming.

Northwoods Boutique

March 24 - April 5
Braemar Golf Course - Clubhouse
6364 John Harris Dr.
Edina, Minnesota
952- 826-6799

Tues- Fri.  10AM - 8PM
Sat.  -  9AM - 5PM
Sun. - 10AM - 5PM
Sun.  - April 5  10AM - 2PM  (Closing day)

 

As always…thanks for stopping by…

Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

Missed Opportunity...

Spotted this item curbside in the neighborhood. I wasn't sure what it was but I decided I needed to cross the street and find out.

Do you know what it is? Upon a closer look I learned that it was a lamp. I immediately thought...not a lamp I'd put in my house. My mind jumped to spray painting it and putting beautiful twigs/sticks or pussy willows in it. I wanted it...but I couldn't carry it because my hands were full.

I was walking three dogs. Got them to sit while I lamented over the lamp. I had plans to go back for it, but of course by the time I dropped off two of the dogs at their home, I completely spaced it out.

Thanks for stopping by...
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

The Best Neighbors…

 

This is what my happy hour neighbors made for me. Yes, that is what I call my neighbors G & C. At least once a month in the winter and several times a month in the summer, I walk across the street to enjoy happy hour with my 80+ year old neighbors G & C. In the summer we sit out on their patio which is three stories up and watch all the neighborhood action. We live just a few steps away from a lake that has trails for walking, running, biking and roller blading, as well as a band shell that hosts a concert every night from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Never a dull a moment during the warm months.

Every Christmas I make carmels (caramels) for them and G makes me a wooden spoon. I don’t know about you but I can ever seem to have enough wooden spoons. During a recent happy hour G showed me the salad utensils that he had made for one of their children (they have 10 between them…they each lost a spouse 30+ years ago and were lucky enough to find each other 28 years ago). I think he got the hint I wanted a set because of my enthusiastic reaction.

Last week when G & C came over for lunch they brought me my own set, handmade by G. He is an incredibly talented woodworker. LOVE ‘em. Plan to donate all the other salad tools I own. Thank you G!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by…

Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

The Season is Upon Us…

Yes, the golf season is on the horizon here in Minneapolis…so I thought it would be fun to share my treasure. Back in 2001 or 2002 (can’t remember a thing these days) my friend Kirsten and I drove all over France. The roads and freeway system are fabulous and the country side is breathtaking. However, the food for me was challenging (I prefer eating in Italy)…the only days I enjoyed the food were when I could get pasta and a local fish or when we hit a local farmer’s market and bought cheese, meat and wine.

We stopped in Limoges, France so I could visit a porcelain ceramics studio, as Limoges is famous for their porcelain. I purchased this beautiful golf bag. I have golfed on and off for many years and for whatever reason I was drawn to this particular piece. Little did I know in 2001/2002 that in 2004 I would join a golf company and spend 4 years working there.

I gathered the following off the internet in case you are interested in knowing more about Limoges porcelain. Porcelain is a ceramic material made by heating raw materials, generally including clay in the form of kaolin, in a kiln to temperatures between 1,200 °C (2,192 °F) and 1,400 °C (2,552 °F). The toughness, strength, and translucence of porcelain arise mainly from the formation of glass and the mineral mullite within the fired body at these high temperatures. Limoges porcelain became famous during the 19th century. However, Limoges porcelain is a generic term for porcelain produced in Limoges rather than at a specific factory. More than 50% of all porcelain made in France comes from Limoges.

Thanks for stopping by…
Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle

This week’s free finds…

Gotta love the weekends…because folks do some cleaning and toss stuff out. On Sunday I found two  RUSTY metal cabinets. I haven’t ever cleaned anything that was this rusty. The P L A N . . . clean up the rust (do you sand it, if so, with what?), seal the remaining rust and spray paint white.  I am thinking that if all goes well, including getting the left door open on the double door cabinet…I will try to put it in my bedroom closet to replace the dresser that is in there. I have always wanted a cabinet in my tiny closet, as you can open the doors and see everything at once with out having to open each drawer…yes, I am lazy! I actually think it will make the two turns on my 1906 narrow stairway…unlike the other free find cabinet. By the way, I sold the other free find on Craigslist…the buyer lived just a few blocks away and was planning to paint it and use as a linen closet in a cabin…so perfect…make me happy!

I even like the lock on the cabinets.

This single unit will probably end up in the garage or basement. If it goes in the garage I may put some plastic bins in it and use to hold my recycling…that way I won’t have to look at all those goodies each time I get in my car.

Thanks for stopping by…

Renee @ Cottage Lifestyle