Tree Portal

For a while now, I've had a bit of a mini-obsession with obtaining a bubble glass frame. I had a very specific purpose in mind for it. The space under the arching trees above my bed seemed to call out for something special, and I imagined a portal that made you feel like you could fall into a tunnel of trees straight to Faerieland.

Well, thanks once again to Dresden Junk-Shun, I got my bubble glass frame. I searched the internet for a photo of an acceptably fantastical tree tunnel, and then I found out that a) none of them seemed quite right and b) because the frame is 13x17" instead of 11x17", I'd have to pay an extra $10 or so for a single color paper copy of an image to go inside.

So I decided to make one myself! After all..the rest of the trees in the room are mine, these might as well be too...


I'm quite pleased with how the set-up with the trees on the wall and the trees in the drawing pull you in. Now I'm having another debate. Originally I had planned to have the tree portal be a central frame in a series of frames hanging among the branches. Now, I'm not so sure...I'm afraid having other images on this wall might lessen the impact. Thoughts?


Tom is going to have a heart attack when he reads this too, but I'm starting to wonder if perhaps it's not time for a new bed set/comforter. I've had this one, in jewel-tone velvet patchwork, for going on 10 years now. What do you think...does it still work, and am I just questioning it because familiarity breeds contempt? (I actually hate that saying) Or would another design work better with the room?

Thanks, Cardboard!

I found the most lovely candle sconces at Hobby Lobby for our living room wall. Problem is, they came with those obnoxious candle spikes right on each level. Why obnoxious? Well, when we put open candles on there one night, we discovered the iron "cups" weren't even close to large enough to accommodate the melted wax, and we had quite a mess to clean up.

So, I thought "aha! I'll go out and buy some clay and level it off to above the level of the spikes. Then I can just buy some votive glasses to catch all the wax" I did so...and then we discovered the candles get hot enough to melt the clay under them like wax. No go.


So I made little cardboard circles to go under the candle cups (bought from the dollar store) to level them off to above the level of those stupid spikes. Knock on wood, thus far it seems to be working, and the candles are high enough on the wall that only a really tall person with a keen eye for detail would notice them.


Thanks, cardboard!

Friday Crafts and Buys

My decorations on the mantle were highly themed to Valentine's Day. So since the holiday was over, I decided to do some sprucing up. I went out to the local antique mall again, and brought back some goodies. Here, then, is the new mantle, pictures taken in 3 vignettes.

The center:

The right side:

And the left side:

One of my buys from today was this awesome vintage bottle for $3. The front says "Straubmuller's Elixer: Tree of Life: Since 1880" and the back says "Nectar: The Golden Life of Health & Vitality." I put a handful of twigs in the bottle.


I also picked up this round tray, imported from England. As soon as I saw it I said "William Morris pattern!!!" and snatched it right up for $3.


Finally, on my Domythic Bliss blog, I talk about how I made this Faerie Book Tree, using several items found at the craft store and antique mall. It's the centerpiece of the mantle now.

Antique Mall Purchases

Today we went antiquing with friends. I came back with a few things.

This frame was such a unique shape and was on sale for $1.25. I hope to try to put another image in the matting...something more fantastical. I love the mottled green on the matting too.


Another $5 book I couldn't resist.

A view of the inside:



My splurge of the day. I saw this book last time I was at the antique store, but I didn't want to spend the price. The memory of it haunted me, however, and I had to have it. The Book of Romance by Andrew Lang, illustrated by Henry Ford. 1929 edition. I couldn't help but share a selection of my favorite illustrations from it.

Not Unsentient Matter

For us, our house was not unsentient matter--it had a heart, and a soul, and eyes to see us with; and approvals, and solicitudes, and deep sympathies; it was of us, and we were in its confidence, and lived in its grace and in the peace of its benediction. We never came home from an absence that its face did not light up and speak out its eloquent welcome--and we could not enter it unmoved.

-Mark Twain 1896

Happy One Year Anniversary, Catty-Corner Cottage!!

Today's our house's anniversary, and we are so glad
that one year ago today we first slept in its bed.
And we want to give thanks, to this special place
that offers up a true home to Corvin, Tom and Grace


(Apologies to my family for the parody of the family Birthday song)

Yes, today is Catty-Corner Cottage's one-year anniversary! Last night exactly one year ago, we stayed our first night in our new home. And for our one year anniversary, we bought our home a present...a pair of earrings, of sort, for it to wear on its facade.

We finally got our window boxes for the front two windows, thanks to a talented local woodworker, and thanks to a wonderful new contractor for installing them on Monday. I've wanted these window boxes in the windows since we first moved in, so I am THRILLED they are finally up!!!

Looking back on the last year, it's amazing how much we've accomplished. I would have liked to have had even more projects done by this point, but I keep reminding myself that we have an entire lifetime in this house to fix, jazz, and flourish.

So thank you, Catty-Corner Cottage, for being a place that makes me smile and feel blessed every time I come home...both because of what you are, and because of the loved ones I know wait for me inside your doors.