Karla's Cottage

More February Foofing, another small change

When I bought new recliners for the living room, I opened a Pottery Barn charge card that gave me cash back to spend in the store.  

Pottery Barn isn’t my typical shopping venue.  I’m pretty cheap on the frugal side, and usually go for second hand or discount stores.  But those chairs,  were the exact perfect pieces, because I do not care for recliners, but they are all my husband wants.  

These were ideal, cottage seats that secretly reclined. 

So, I splurged. 

 

And happily poured through the online catalog, planning my bonus purchase.  

When isaw this quilt, in colors that would warm up a drab February, I knew it was just right for my room.

First of all- roses and birds? 

With old fashioned, faded looking squares?

 Yep, perfect! I’m a sucker for cottage quilts, my mom was a quilter, and I’ve got a soft spot for them. Plus, I like the way they feel, layered on my bed. 

It came in the mail the same day that my Sissy sent this robe to me as  a gift. I felt like I was meant to be wrapped in those warm, rich, flowery tones when I found both boxes on the front step in the middle of that awful, polar vortex of cold that had settled over much of the Midwest. 

They both made me feel pretty happy, and knocked the mid-winter blues away. 

Little changes can give me a big lift

There is something about this time of year that makes me want to redo and spruce up my home.

 Is it just that I miss the sparkle of Christmas?  

Or that everything is so gray and dingy outside, and I crave some color inside?  

Or am I just cooped up and tired of seeing the same things over and over?

On the other hand, there are some things that I never tire of and still very much enjoy having around, like the hand painted mirror and vanity in my bathroom. 

But It still needed a freshening up. I satisfied the urge for a redo, by doing a deep cleaning and emptied the drawers, threw away expired items, regrouped others.  

I added the larger, white set of mini drawers from the studio, and stacked it with the others already there in the corner.  Then, I put cotton swabs and pads into the little, aqua tin from another room.  I’d had the Qtips in a glass jar, which was fine, but like I said, I needed changes.

These are all little switches that I’d probably be the only one to notice.  But they did the trick, and I felt pleased.

The necklaces and bracelets even got cleaned and resorted.

Making the most of a getaway

 

I’m using my mini work trip to teach a couple of pretty projects at the Cozy Castle as the perfect excuse for a Florida vacation.  Sugarwings and her Pop Pop are joining me tonight for a trip down the coast to stay on the beach a few days.

After sunning and swimming, we are headed back to Orlando to drop off my Handsome Husband for a golfing weekend with his buddies. 

Then, the grandfairy and I are free to run amuck at the Magic Kingdom til it is time to meet up and fly back to Kansas.  

Well why not?  I was already going to be in Florida anyway... with airline points and companion passes, all flights were free. Hotel points went a long way too, not quite covering the beach stay but helpful.  I have a Disney Credit card that racks up points for discounts.  

I love wringing as much as I can out of a getaway, and putting the week together like puzzle pieces to see just how much I can squeeze into one flight. And of course, how could I not try to wrangle a trip to Disney in while I’m sooo close to the Happiest Place on Earth?  

Thank you, dear Peeps!

The ladies who came to A Lovebird’s Song were generous in gifting each other and me, too. 

My pal, Carol made this holiday banner and it is ideal above my work table. 

There were so many caring and kind, gifts, flowers, and treats!

Thank you all, for coming to spend a day with me and for being such nice people to hang out with. 

Happy Valentine’s Day!

As I was petting Twinkle recently, a torn, dried up leaf, in the shape of a heart, fell off of her.  

I love finding unexpected, accidental hearts.   Thank you, Tinks!  Of course I’ll be your Valentine. 

Valentines on the Mantle

After spending so much time on spiffing up the studio for  A Lovebird's Song, I kind of called it in for the rest of the house.

I added vintage candy boxes to white flower pots that were already on the mantle and hung a bit of lace with some old Valentines clipped to it.

The lace had hearts on it, and the cards were the 3-D, folding kind.  

Those are so pretty, simply hanging them up made it all look special.

I did a bit more for the guest bathroom, it got some rosy curtains that used to hang in the studio at one point, and some new towels.

Well, I guess that isn't a whole lot, is it? But it was a refreshing change to get me out of a mid-winter, post Christmas, decor slump.  A small change can do big things for a room when you are cooped up inside on cold days.

 

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