just bouquets

I wanted to do a post like this on May Day, but time just slips away.

Just bouquets today for you!

I hope it's a beautiful day for you!

Jacqueline

Painting The New Guest Bed

I found this twin size antique bed recently and considered putting it into the guest house with its mahogany finish as is. But a vision of white just would not leave my head. (Surprise, surprise! haha!) 

Mr. Cottage has gravitated to this shady spot out back for the painting tasks. Bless that man!

Doesn't everyone paint outside under the junipers? There was a drop cloth involved of course. But I remembered to document the process too far along in the game for that. Here the head and foot boards are leaning to finish drying.

This was also an experiment for me to practise shooting with my camera phone. Something very new to me. The pics here are a mix between my tiny Olympus point and shoot and my camera phone. I have just joined Instagram to keep up with the slew of talent that has migrated there. (https://www.instagram.com/cabinandcottageblog/) So far it is much more fun to visit than to post. 

Once again we are using a basic primer/finish paint from Behr rather than a trendy chalk paint. My idea about that stems from authentic old paint like what you find on the antique piece above. You can always tell natural aging of the finish versus a faux one. It's just my preference. And it's my experience that dings and scrapes don't take long to happen naturally!

I found this piece beautiful to begin with. It only needed a bit of sprucing up to the wood finish. But white paint shows off so much more of the wonderful details like these from the headboard shown here and in the previous photos.

The rest of these shots are of the even more decorative foot board.

Here is a teaser of how it looks in the new space. . . . (taken with my camera phone).  See how those details capture the light? Gives me the shivers! I also love the look of that old plastered adobe wall around the window. (White was definitely the way to go.)

The End.

 (Haha! Couldn't resist that.)

Happy Friday! Hope it's a great weekend for you!

Jacqueline

Join me at

Between Naps on the Porch~Metamorphosis Monday

Shabby Art Boutique~Shabbilicious Friday

Musings From The Rose Garden

"Do not attempt to adjust your screen!" Remember that advice from the sixties TV show the Outer Limits? Haha! Well that's the first thing I thought of when I was posting these pictures.

The colors really are this brilliant even in the morning shade along the garden walls where these photos were taken.

Somehow the firey hues seem best fit beneath the desert sun. But today it is the blooms themselves that are blindingly beautiful on this cool spring morning.

I did't choose these varieties, but their characteristics just dazzle me. See those undertones?

And the pink and yellow together is so lovely. A peace rose maybe? But this is the way spring announces herself. With trumpets.

I should be raking the lawn of twigs and branches from the storm. I should be doing the dishes or combing my hair before the neighbors catch sight of me. But instead here I am, camera in hand, waking up to a day of brilliant color.

This narrow English ironstone milk pitcher has become my go-to flower vase of late.

But this fat metal pitcher that I found a few days ago holds a more formal looking arrangement. So classic. Undeniably perfect. (Are these from your bushes? my son asks.)

There can be so much beauty in the things of this world that are not of our own choosing.

I hope it's a brilliant day for you!

So lovely that you stopped by!

Jacqueline

Join me at

The Charm of Home~Home Sweet Home

Springtime at Je L'Adore!

April sailed by like a kite for me this year. Springtime is always full of special events, and the May calender is filled in even more already. Phew! Good thing I always have a way to slow down and smell the roses. Or . . . , make that lavender.

It's time again to show a few shots of the little French shop Je L'Adore that I am proud to be part of. It's always a breath of fresh air. If you can't have April in Paris, this is a good little substitute. And yes, we have lavender products in shop. One of our lines is from our own local lavender farm. 

Our shop owner, Tammy, the vignette queen, has put together these delightful garden displays. The little enamel pots and the tall pitcher are straight from France.  

I am partial to the soft cottage colors shown here.

And of course I love all things chippy!

Here are a few more lovely samples from a local artist Mikel Robinson that I mentioned in an earlier post here. He uses his own photography with vintage elements for framing. Aren't the angel portraits wonderful?

We represent another talented painter, Anne Sandry, from France, whose work you can see in the background above. Read more about her here.   Of course you can always come to Albuquerque and see more of her popular miniature paintings in shop!

So many French delights are tucked in here and there, such as this marvellous little china inkwell.

I love this gorgeous etched tray/basket.

A lovely bedroom vignette. . .

And heavenly vintage garments from France.

French style furniture in all the right colors.

And a new line of fragrant Voluspa candles!

But my current favorite is this antique cupboard packed full of delicate brown transferware, and styled in Tammy's inimitable fashion.

Yum!

C'est fantastique, non?

Shop location and hours are listed on my profile page here. You'll want to stop by for a visit if you're ever in town.

I hope you're taking time to smell the lavender too!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Jacqueline

Join me at

Shabby Art Boutique for Shabbilicious Friday!

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday