A Peek at the New Shop Space

I've been a little missing in action from the blog lately while developing my new shop space. But I'm giving you a little sneak peek into where all the Cabin & Cottage action is lately. 

Here we are standing just outside the door where the shop sign hangs at Vintage Market & Design in Albuquerque. . . .

 Come on inside!

We are all working overtime to meet our February 1st opening just a few days away. Only the bare bones are in place, but you may get a sense of the cottage vibe that I love so much.

I'm loving the clean spare lines of the space before it gets all filled up. Still so much to do!

Cubbies to fill. Linens to hang. . . .

It's also an opportunity for me to get the hang of taking photos in a room illuminated mainly by cold fluorescent light. The upside is that I never have to wait for the right time of day to do it!

I'm excited to be showcasing some of my favorite things like this luscious vintage table lamp. A wonderful hand painted example of decoration the way it used to be!

I love all of the wonderful details. . . .

I have a thing for decorative French mirrors and old laces.

Lots more room for pretty china.

Alas, never enough French furniture.

It's so nice that you came by for a look! I'll be sharing more of the new collective space and the other wonderful shops here too. It'll be a big hump day for me this week. I hope you're having a great week too!

Jacqueline

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Timewashed~Blissful Whites Wednesday

New Linen Lovelies

I suppose I am feeling apologetic for showing two linen posts in a row, but it's where I am these days. Spending a lot of time at home, and gearing up for a larger shop space opening next month.

But I did pop into a market this week to find a handful of pillowslips waiting for me. They were all in singles, and in new condition, as though they had been saved in a cabinet or drawer for many years. 

I am not at all deterred by their not being in matching pairs. I love the charm of a mix and match much more anyway. And such gorgeous hand crochet trim!

I gave them what I am sure was their first laundering, and am very happy to put them to their first use. Most often beautiful hand-worked linens show a lot of wear and can't last a long time with regular use, but these will be around for a quite a while.

Even the fine muslin casing itself was hand-sewn in this example above, and it is only folded in half lengthwise here, and quite narrow like a bolster cover.

I found a jar of the vintage wooden spools too. The eyelet trim is also vintage, and was quite yellowed with age when I first found it some while back.

One of the pillowcases (underneath) has a tatted lace edge. A much rarer find.

Very simple and quite beautiful. I can imagine lolling in bed late some summer Sunday and appreciating its details and wondering at the hands that could fashion such beauty. . . .

Well maybe you can imagine my delight at finding such a pristine little pile of loveliness like this all together in the same spot! (The wide machine lace border underneath is a valance that I found in the same place.)

Each of these was six to eight dollars each. Now I ask you, why on earth would I buy brand new white linens at the mall when I could have these instead?

Doesn't that pale pink make your heart skip a beat? Even Mr. Cottage stopped to admire it! Cheery as a bouquet of flowers!

I know a lot of you are in the deep freeze. Take care, bundle up, and think good cottage thoughts!

Thanks so much for your kind comments and visits!

I hope you're having a great week!

Jacqueline

Join me at

TIMEWASHED~Blissful Whites Wednesday

The Charm of Home~Home Sweet Home

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

My Romantic Home~Show & Tell

Make Mine Vintage. . .

If the smell of warm cotton doesn't make you nostalgic, then you are probably too young. . . . (Sorry.)

You perhaps never skipped through the door after school to the scent of freshly ironed laundry wafting in the air. And you probably have no memory at all of your first ironed hankie, or felt the early pleasure of a smoothly ironed towel that you managed all by yourself. (Pity.)

I can't really help you with the absence of longing for the heavenly scent of freshly pressed cottons. (You have to actually go out of your way to have all cotton linens these days, and ironed polyester just smells!) 

But you know what they say. . . . 

It's never too late to have a happy childhood!

Some days are just better when you can see that you have gotten a few things all ironed out.

Seeing fewer wrinkles can make any woman's day!

First there's the pleasure of the doing. . . .

And then comes the delight of the having!

Eating and sleeping on beautifully ironed linens is almost decadent in our times. . .

But even while they're waiting to be used, they are the gift that keeps on giving. . .

Here's to keeping your laundry happy!

Jacqueline

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Between Naps on the Porch~Metamorphosis Monday

Savvy Southern Style~Wow Us Wednesday

Shabby Art Boutique~Shabbilicious Friday

White Mornings

January always finds me with a huge appetite for white. Maybe after all the holiday intensity, and all of the visual delight, my eye is ready for a rest. More likely it's the light pouring into my dining room first thing in the morning that's responsible! It's more of a wake up to me than any cup of coffee.

And the light never shines more beautifully than it does at the morning of the year when the sun rises earlier each day and January begins to keep the promise of a coming spring. 

So I often pause a bit to appreciate the gift. The new light on my old things in the early day. Even as it passes quickly away. . . .

I hope your new week has started out well!

I am elbow deep into my new projects of the year.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 I am still getting around to visit you when I can!

Jacqueline

Join me at

Timewashed~Blissful Whites Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style~Wow Us Wednesday

Common Ground~Be Inspired

French Country Cottage~Feathered Nest Friday

Shabby Art Boutique~Sabbilicous Friday

The Charm of Home~Home Sweet Home