20 Years Ago Today.....

husband and I were married. It was such a gorgeous autumn day. Warm and sunny with the leaves at their peak. Just perfect.

It was Friday the 13th. My future brother-in-law stood on the steps of the chapel and said, "Friday the 13th, black bridesmaids dresses, and a full moon. Yeah...I give this marriage 2 weeks." Well, I guess we proved him wrong! LOL!


This is us on our honeymoon in the Poconos. (I spared you the picture of us in our heart-shaped bathtub!)

And the Winners Are....

Thank you to all who entered the giveaway at The Pink Rose Cottage!

The winners are:

$20.00 Gift Certificate
Mary from Mary's Meanderings

Tabletopper with tea napkins and 4 silver spoons
Christy from Sweet Tidings

The pretty hankies
Denise M. from Marysville, WA

Bluebird guest towels and soap
Jany from Look in the Nook

Congratulations!!

The Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club

I LOVE vintage tablecloths! In fact they are pretty much an obsession for me! When I joined The Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club I had 44 tablecloths in my collection. None I spent more then a dollar on at a garage sale.

Today, well I haven’t counted but, I estimate I have upwards of 500 tablecloths. I’ve spread my collecting wings and now hunt antique stores, ebay and online shops. But a garage sale find is still my biggest thrill!

My very favorite cloths are Wilendurs. Followed by Broderie and anything pink! Florals are up there with cloths that make me go Ahhhhh….and if they are roses, well you know that thrills me!!

If you haven’t stopped over at The Vintage Tablecloth Lovers Club in a while, you might not know about our Tablecloth Database. The TLC now has the only searchable tablecloth identification database! It’s really wonderful. A quick and easy way to put a manufacturer and pattern name to your tablecloth. This database was created and is maintained by TLC members. So you know this is an amazing collection all in one place!

Please stop by. We’d love to have you as a member! Not only will you enjoy the database, you’ll meet a lot of nice people who share a passion for vintage linens.

And a reminder….If you haven’t signed up for The Pink Rose Cottage giveaway, please do so now. Entries accepted through Friday, October 2 until midnight. Good luck!

A Giveaway at The Pink Rose Cottage!

Just visit The Pink Rose Cottage, sign up for our newsletter and you are entered! In addition to the chance of winning great prizes, signing up for the newsletter will alert you to sales, coupons, and new items! You’ll be among the first to know!

Want to increase your chances of winning? Leave an entry on my blog and let me know how you found The Pink Rose Cottage.

How about a third chance to win? Post a link on your blog telling your friends about the giveaway. And please let me know that you did so I can make sure you get your extra chance to win!

Four prizes for four lucky winners!

A table topper with pink cottage roses, along with 4 dainty tea napkins and 4 mismatched silver teaspoons. 2 of the spoons are monogrammed!




A set of vintage bluebird guest towels with vintage soap



8 vintage handkerchiefs, all in pinks and greens, tied with a bow and adorned with a sweet little vintage pin




And last, but not least, a $20.00 gift certificate to The Pink Rose Cottage



Entries accepted from now until Friday, October 2, 2009 at midnight. Winners will be randomly selected by a drawing. Winners will be announced Monday, October 5, 2009.

Good luck to all!

Time flies....

What happened to August? Did I sleep through it? And now we’re starting the second week of September!?! When I was a kid time just seemed to drag…Christmas was so far way….School days were soooo long……My mom use to say, just wait til you’re older, it just flies by! Is that ever true!

It’s already time for our annual neighborhood garage sale. Even though it’s later in the month this year (for 30 years it’s been the first Saturday after Labor Day), I’m not quite prepared. Partly because I wasn’t sure I was going to participate and partly because time just got away from me. But my mom is bringing things over to sell, so I decided to purge too. Although I’d much rather shop!

I’ll be back to routine sometime next week. I missed reading every ones blogs daily, but did peek in when I could. Hopefully after this week life will get back on schedule!

See you soon! Take care my friends!

I Love This Time of the Year!

I'm so excited when the little farm market opens around the corner from us. The owner grows her own flowers and puts them together beautifully!I enjoy their fresh veggies too but the flower bouquets are the best!

A Treasure From My Grandma

I've had this old box since I was twelve. I keep it tucked under my bed. Every now and then I pull it out and look at the treasures it holds. Today I was suppose to be working, but the box was calling me. I haven't visited it in a long time.
Every time I open it I give a little gasp at the beauty of the treasures it holds.


Brown velvet ribbon and pink and teal silk grapes.

There are soft pastel wreaths and rosettes still on the mesh backing.

One lone little bouquet of calla lilies.

Rosette trios.

Blue pansies trimmed in gold.

Roses and more in beautiful jewel tones with gold trim.


I'm not sure when or how I got my treasures. I know they were my grandmothers. I've only ever used three. I sewed them to the christening gown my daughters wore when they were baptized. Those are put away with the gown for their daughters.

I must have been thinking about the box today because it's my grandmothers birthday. I lost her to breast cancer when I was twelve. She was only 62. As I get older I understand how truly young she was.

She was strong, beautiful and talented. She loved antiques and had a wonderful store. I inherited my love of vintage from her. I wish I would have inherited her creativity gene too. She was a wonderful seamstress. She never shied from a large project. After my grandfather died, she sold their farm house and moved into a charming little cottage-like home. She didn't like the old refrigerator. It was yellow. So she covered it, top to bottom, in fabric to match her kitchen curtains and chair pads. It was beautiful!

She moved in with us when she was at her sickest but kept her home as we all thought she would get well and go back. The day after she died, her home caught fire burning a large portion of it almost completely to the ground. Not much survived, mostly things in the back bedrooms. I'm not sure if my treasure was in her home or her shop, but it's my own little gift from her. I only had her for twelve years, but she has shaped me in many ways. The baby picture on the home page of my website is her. I know she helps me live my dream.

Love you and miss you Grandma! Happy Birthday!