"Dear Old Dad" Revisited

I wanted to revisit a blog post I wrote about my father. I wrote this in 2009 and it still rings true today. Sadly, I lost my father in 2013 after some harrowing times. 

 

Happy Father's Day in heaven Dad where I'm sure you are celebrating with our Heavenly Father!

 

 

Sometimes words escape me, even me! What word do I use to describe my dad? I suppose I will use the first one that comes to my mind: GENEROUS. He was the fix-it man who everyone always came to when they needed help. He worked for P.G.&E. (gas and electric company) for 42 years, and no surprise here, he was the shop steward........ We always took in the cousins who had gone astray in the big city (we lived in a small town of 7,000). The big city was Bakersfield, California, lol.
 Dad loves fishing, and never missed an opening day of the season until recently. He taught us to fish in the streams that run the Sierra Nevadas. I remember walking along the beautiful banks of those creeks. Dad would whisper,"Now don't let the fish see your shadow." He showed us how to fill our creels with moist grass, how to angle in little pools made by the beaver dams, and how to keep quiet, and enjoy our surroundings.
He would take us on walks and make up fabulous stories about the Smith family, the only remaining family of the Donner Party. He would pause by a rock and say, "This is where the Smiths buried the baby during that cold, cold winter. He'd have us in laughter and tears during those nature walks, filling us with imaginary tales of poverty, love, and survival during pioneer times.
 He let us each bring a friend for our two week vacation, and sometimes the cousins would come up to spend some time with us.
 Dad would always build an outhouse with the help of the boys. He would find three pines in close proximity, dig a deep hole, position the throne, and put up a rope and canvas covering with a flap opening. We always had the best camp on the mountain, we thought.
He was a true environmentalist. He taught us to leave nature as we had found it.
 This was before the days of modern convenience, unless you were rich. But we were rich, if not monetarily. He was barbecue king, and carpenter extraordinaire. When mom and dad bought their first house I was seven and my big brother was nine. Mom was pregnant with our soon to be little brother. Dad made my older brother and I headboards with our names on them. To make planter boxes for the front of the house, Dad would go out and pick up the cement that the cement trucks dropped when they stopped on the side of the road with their funnel trucks. He would mix up the cement, and fashioned lovely planters with native rock.
 See how long this post is, and I haven't even touched the surface of my father. Father, if you read this please know, "I love you".
 Of course, papa isn't perfect, and we had our differences. But, I wouldn't trade my dad for any other dad in the whole wide world. So sure was I of his power, that at six years old I told a friend whom I was arguing with that my dad would turn off her electricity and gas if she didn't be nice. I think I got in trouble over that one, lol.
Please let me know how your dad's shaped your world.
By the way, my father will be 79 years old this year. He works at the church we attend, and waters the grounds most everyday. He still fishes, and carpenters. He is still a handy man and loving father. My hat is off to you pops. I hope I can retain the same spirit you have when I reach that age....

A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. Proverbs 22:1

Happy Father's Day to Father's Everywhere,
Theresa

Strawberry Baskets - Wimbledon Tradition

We love Hammersley china here at Cottage Violet's. The beautiful patterns and lovely shapes are some of the finest of traditions from England's china heyday.

Wimbledon is also an English tradition. The lovely grass courts and royal spectators make this one of the finest tennis events every year.

Besides having jolly old England in common, tennis and Hammersley china share another connection. Strawberry baskets! That's right, Strawberry baskets.

Visitors and spectators at Wimbledon eat literally tons of strawberries and cream each year. Now, they are served in punnets (little baskets). But in days gone by when there was a piece of china for every eating event, Strawberry baskets were all the rage..

Strawberry baskets usually consisted of three pieces. A lovely handled basket with a removable creamer on one side, and a removable sugar bowl on the other side. They sported the loveliest patterns of the day.

A Hammersley Morgan's Rose pattern Strawberry Basket

 

There would also be china tennis set's in the same pattern. A tennis set was an eight inch salad plate with a lipped rim to hold a matching teacup. Of course, what would an English event be without a spot of tea.

 

Hammersley Chrysanthemum Pattern available at Cottage Violets

 

So in honor of Wimbledon, Cottage Violet's says "All Hail to the Queen", and let the serving begin.

 

Blessings, Theresa

 

 

 

Mom's Kitchen ~ Still Feels Like Home

Got a call from my brother Dave. He is bringing his grandson DJ to visit Dad. Three generations of Davids, meeting at Grandpas (Dads).

I decided to make some Snickerdoodles, as they are dad's favorite. He usually doesn't have them because of his diabetes, just for special occasions, and not too many (occasionally he sneaks one, lol).

Isn't This Mixer So Cool And Different

 

First of all, I could only make a half batch as I had one egg. But, I started. Then I noticed mom's white mixer, the white counter, and some white flowers (left-overs from a little bouquet, I can't stand to throw them away till the last flower fades). And it struck me, I had left here 40 years ago, but this is still home.

Voila! Snickerdoodles On Mother's Violet China

 

So I took some pictures and wrote this post. I'm really missing my mom today. So much of her is still present in the shadows of this kitchen.

The Card My Brother Bought My Father

Love you Mom!

Blessings,
Theresa @ Cottage Violets

The Tale Of Miss Angel Heart and The Fairy Tale Buttons

I wanted you all to meet the lady behind the wonderful handmade ceramic buttons used on my Tim Holtz rosettes.  Here is a post from July 2008. Please meet Cindy Houot, affectionately known as Miss Angel Heart.

Once upon a time in the Land Up North, way across borders and mountains and streams, there lived an Angel with a heart of gold. Now Miss Angel Heart (for that is her name) was sitting in her throne room (license taken) overlooking her kingdom, where goats and chickens and dogs and nature sang together in three part harmony.

Amid the cacophony, there came the message, "You've got mail". Flying to her magic box, Miss Angel Heart read the request. Oh my, the land down under (under Sammamish, that is) was in need of buttons. Fairy tale buttons, ice creams colors, pastel wonders, could she do it, the sender asked?

 Miss Angel Heart went to work with earth, and paste, and glaze, and all the colors of the rainbow. At just the last minute, she raided her stash of fairy dust and threw in a goodly amount, because there is an overwhelming need for Fairy Tales in the land down under (under Sammamish, that is).

With a mighty launch, Miss Angel Heart sent the Fairy Tale Buttons flying over land and stream to their new home. In the package the poor Southlander found an added treasure, a beautiful polka dot bowl. Miss Angel Heart wanted to make sure the Fairy Tale Buttons had a royal place to reside, so she sent the bowl to keep them company.

. Satisfied with her hard days work, Miss Angel Heart laid down her weary head, and dreamt of all the Fairy Tale treasures her buttons would soon be a part of.

 So in honor of Miss Angel Heart, let the festivities begin. Welcome to the World of Fairy Tale Buttons, the story is just beginning.............. it's a love story.........

NOTE: Gentle readers, who is Miss Angel Heart you ask? When she is not ruling her Royal Kingdom, she takes on the mortal personna of Cindy Houot (pronounced Who, like the Who's in Whoville, but that is a story for another time). Her boutique is http://www.angelheartdesigns.com/ .

P.S. If you are interested in the Pinwheel Tags, they are at http://www.cottageviolets.com/ this evening. I love my Pinwheel Tags, so fun.

See you in Fairy Tale Land, Theresa

Rosettes - You Can't Make Just One!

Hi All,
Theresa from Cottage Violets here. I ordered a new die for my sizzix. It's the "Paper Rosette Die" from Tim Holtz. I had some cardstock strips 2" x 11" in pastels that I got at Michael's on clearance, a perfect fit for the die.

This is a die-cut machine (just one option). The Pink Sizzix Sidekick

 

 

I told myself I'll try out a pink strip, hence, pink rosette. Crank, crank, crank, out comes the perfect rosette strip. I fold, fold, fold, and glue, glue, well, you get the idea.

 

I honest couldn't stop, I made over forty!

 

I take a look at the finished rosette. It is sheer perfection. The ideas are jumping out of my brain. Mixed media art, scrapbook pages, journal covers, clean room awards (lol, for the little ones), cupcake picks, and etc.

 

A Rosette with a Handmade Button

 

As of today, I have finished half the stack of pre-cut strips, 40+ rosettes in pastel colors.I JUST CAN'T STOP...... Right now I am happy just to sit and admire them. They were a pure joy to make, and even look pretty sitting in a gallon Glad bag.

So, Cottage Violets will be selling some paper rosette crafts in the future. Unless, I just leave them out on the table in a crystal dish, all pastel perfection!

Blessings, Theresa

She selects wool and flax, and works with eager hands. Proverbs 31:13

 Oh, I couldn't stop and after I wrote this blog post, I made this little sign. So fellow bloggers and crafters: Bloom Where You're Planted!

Happy Mother's Day From Cottage Violet's

Dear Friends,
I am taking time out from the vicarage to come and tell you, "Happy Mother's Day".

It's a nice spring day here in Harrington Woods. The violets are in full bloom, and it smells like the English countryside.

Gabby, the girl of all work, lost her dear mother, our housekeeper, two months ago. I am guest posting on her behalf. She is deeply saddened, but holding up rather well after all.

                                                                                                                                So "Happy Mother's Day" to all the mothers and substitute mothers out there.

Hold you mother close and dear. Never take a day for granted. We only have one day at a time to fill with joy and gladness

A few pictures that make me very happy, enjoy;

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Mother's Day from Cottage Violets,
 Miss Violet Teacake and Friends

Note: Miss Violet Teacake is a fictional character from the website "Cottage Violets" However, my grief at losing my mother two months ago is real. Blessings, Theresa

My Mother Told Me, If I Was Goody

The old nursery song goes, "My mother told me if I was goody, that she would buy me a rubber dolly." Well, I had enough dolly's, so I opted for paper dolls.

 I still like paper dolls. I am an avid fan of old cinema, and the movie star paper dolls are the best. I even keep them on my website, Cottage Violet's, for old time's sake.

 Truth be told, I often take them out and look at them. Grace Kelly is my favorite. What a fairy tale come true. I remember her best for her role in "Rear Window", and "To Catch A Thief, both Hitchcock thrillers. She was always graceful and glamorous. Her paper doll looks graceful and glamorous.

.

By the way, if you see or hear of an Ingrid Bergman paper doll let me know, okay? I just wrote a little review on the Victorian mystery classic, "Gaslight", and would love to have a paper doll of Ingrid.

You can see the review at Victorian, Etc., the premier magazine of the "Victorian Heart Shoppe." The Victorian Heart Shoppe brings the Victorian era to life through a network of  lovely web shops all in one place.
                                       



Here's a little selection of paper dolls available at Cottage Violets. Hop on over and check them out if you care to. Paper dolls have many uses these days,especially with the mixed media craze going on.

Bette Davis

Myrna Loy

 

Carmen Miranda

While we're about it, who was your favorite paperdoll? My most remembered is Little Lulu, but my favorite, Grace Kelly.

June Allyson

 

Blessings, Theresa

......to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:3

 

 http://www.victorianetc.com/