Leaves Do Not Fall With Regard To Time

I am taking my cue from Autumn this year. Autumn let's the winds swirl at their leisure. She doesn't hasten the changing of the colors of the leaves. Autumn never pulls the leaves from the trees in uniform formation. The leaves swirl with the wind, and detach themselves from the trees in a rhythm known only to themselves. The winds may blow up a storm, but Autumn sits patiently. She has her allotted time to perform the task at hand. So she sits, and watches the changing of the colors, the beauty of the moment, and doesn't interfere much. Autumn is free to enjoy the labor of the harvesters. Autumn provides beautiful settings and lovely full moons. She silently judges the costumes, as trick or treaters make their way from house to house walking briskly in the chill of early evening. She casts a long shadow for a short time. Autumn is thankful and has a holiday to prove that she is. Even when thunder rolls and lightning strikes the darkened skies, Autumn smiles and settles in for the show. She knows this storm too will pass, and the air will be clean, and the earth will send a fragrance only Autumn can provide. I hope you will take a moment to enjoy the earth the way our Autumn does.

Here are some cup and saucer sets from (my favorite English china company) Hammersley. So dainty in person, light and lovely. Such a beautiful ring when tapped lightly! They are in Miss Violet's Tea Cupboard on Cottage Violet's if you're interested.

I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places,

Theresa @ Cottage Violets

The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.... Psalm 24:1

Why English Fine Bone China???

I love English china. So, I went back through the archives to find this post and put it out there again. First posted in February of 2008, it still is timely today. I love English china!!!!! Enjoy!!!

Why English Fine Bone China, you might ask. There is nothing as lovely as English china. With outsourcing the way it is, English china has become the new collectible of the 21st century. The patterns are works of art. The beautiful ring when tapped lightly with the finger. The exquisite colors. The light and ethereal quality of the china. Lately our cozy cottages are all about staging. Some are minimalists, some are plain old pack rats, lol. A beautiful tray on the coffee table with that beautiful piece of Hammersley fine bone china, a doily, a tussie mussie, or small basket of flowers. It is all about elegance. It is all about a gentler life. The patterns lend themselves to still life. Once you become accustomed to the touch and feel of fine bone china you won't be satisfied with any old substitute. Yes, you may use your fine bone china, but due to the collectibility of the china I would suggest enjoying it as art, as arrangement, as still life. And don't forget to have fun with your English China. Set the stage in your home for the genteel life, the cozy life, the life that English china speaks to. From candle snuffers to tennis sets, to strawberry baskets, to syrup pitchers, to sugar sifters, let English china sweep into your life with all the grace and beauty of another era. You will be glad you did.

To err is human, to have fine English china: divine, lol. Sorry it was so long between blog posts, life kind of got in my way for a moment.

Kind Regards, Theresa @ Cottage Violets

Be It Ever So Humble

Do you remember this song?

"To thee I'll return, overburdened with care;

The heart's dearest solace will smile on me there;

No more from that cottage again will I roam;

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

Home, home, sweet, sweet, home!

There's no place like home, oh, there's no place like home"

John Howard Payne (1791-1852)

We of the Cottage I-business variety try to make our sites a place of refuge, of solace. I know that I would like to think of my little Cottage Violets as more than a hard cold cash kind of affair. We have a need to nurture, to spend ourselves so to speak. I like to add little extras to packages in the hopes of making someone's day. I often pray and ask God, "What can I do to brighten this person's day. This person who took the time to visit my site, and purchase from me." We try to give our customers some eye candy, a veritable feast for the eyes. If they can glean some ideas for decorating, laugh at my silly item comments, or just leave satisfied, I have done my job. Maybe that doesn't make me much of a business woman, (I have never been accused of being much of a business woman, lol) but I can't seem to help the way I am wired. I see potential in almost every site I visit. I get excited for my blog sister's and fellow shopkeepers talents. It is like being in a giant museum of the arts. We fit together. I am cozy, you are elegant. I love English china, you have a French sensibility.

I am an e-commerce youngster, and I still skip from shop to shop, pressing my nose against the windows. I am always amazed as I surf from blog to blog at the spirit of my sister bloggers. Some make treasures from trash, some elevate treasure to a place among the crown jewels. You never know what is on the next page. Blogging is like a big mystery novel with twists and turns on every page. The mystery starts to build as you fit the pieces together, and then voila, you have an intricate collage where everyone has motive and opportunity, everyone is a piece of the puzzle. Perhaps, blogs are more like the movie serials at the Saturday matinees. You always leave wanting more and knowing next week there will be a new episode.

I salute you Sister I-Store owners and Sister Bloggers. Be it ever so humble there's no place like home. You are my home, and Cottage Violets, your home.

Oh, and lest I forget:

"Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain that build it." Psalm 127:1

Warmest Regards, Theresa @ Cottage Violets (of course)

Living in the Land of Gracious Dreams

I was thinking about "Gracious Living" today. I looked up the word gracious, and was happily surprised by the definition. The first definition of gracious was "godly". Now I will admit it said obsolete in italics, but if we endeavor to give it back that meaning, I am sure we can. In fact, I would venture to say we must. I mean it was the number one definition after all! Godly was followed by pleasing, acceptable, marked by kindness and courtesy, graceful, urbane, merciful and compassionate. The word gracious keeps fine company. Then I asked my online Webster for the definition of "dreams". I really liked definition number four: a strongly desired goal or purpose. So I put them together, and thanked God my ancestors endured such hardship so I could, "Live in the Land of Gracious Dreams." I have heard many of your stories, and I know that you, too, are happy for the "Land of Gracious Dreams". Following you will find some china that survived harrowing journey's to come to rest in the "Land of Gracious Dreams". Please enjoy!!! I would love to hear why you love "The Land of Gracious Dreams". Memorial day is coming upon us quickly. A time to remember those who went before. A time to be thankful....

Greater love hath no man than this...........................

If you are happy and you know it clap your hands!!!!!

Blessings, Theresa

Do Not Rob the Little Violet

The splendor of the rose and the whiteness of the lily

do not rob the little violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm,

If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose,

Spring would lose its loveliness.

Therese of Lisieux

I have a certain fondness for violets. Violet's mean faithful in the language of flowers. A cottage epitomizes a certain cozy, warm, way of living or life. At Cottage Violet's we try to live up to our name and evoke feelings of warmth and comfort when you walk through our webby doors. We faithfully bring you lovely china, tchotchkes, and crafts that would fit into any cozy cottage. Here is a little assortment of violet quotes and violet pieces to show you what we mean. I have chosen to showcase Hammersley Victorian Violets china today.

***Please, have a hankie at the ready. We wouldn't want someone to catch you with drool on your screen.

Stars will blossom in the darkness, Violets bloom beneath the snow.

Julia C. Dorr (from "For A Silver Wedding)

Winds wanders, and dews drip earthward; Rains fall, suns rise and set;

Earth whirls, and all but to prosper A poor little violet.
James Russell Lowell (from "The Changeling")

The violets prattle and titter, And gaze on the stars high above.

Heinrich Heine (from "Book of Songs")



Cold blows the wind against the hill, And cold upon the plain;

I sit me by the bank, until The violets come again.
Richard Garnett (from "Violets")

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And last, but not least, we can thank our dearly beloved Mark Twain for this closing quote:

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"Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it."

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If someone has wronged you, please, forgive them today and let the fragrance of your love and forgiveness be shed abroad. It will come back to you in ways you never even imagined. Our Holy Saviour said, "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." If He can forgive the cruelty he suffered, I can forgive the petty little complaints I have nurtured and grown.

Have a beautiful blessed day,

Theresa @ Cottage Violet's

Don't Worry Be Hoppy

Come on everyone sing with me:

Here is a little song I wrote

You might want to sing it note for note

Don't worry be happy

In every life we have some trouble

When you worry you make it double

Don't worry, be happy......

I think we all know the Bobby McFerrin song: Don't Worry Be Happy. Now, I am one happy girl. Andie of Brown Bee Designs, a little stitcher girl extraordinaire, was stitchin' and I hopped right on over and won the object of my affection: A Spring Pinkeep....woohoo, and here it is, nestled in among my other luscious pin keeps.

And here it is again.

Thank you, Andie. Here is Andie's blog where you can check out more of her wonderful wares. http://www.thebrownbee.blogspot.com/.

I usually don't choose bright colors for projects. I don't know if I was born bland or just kind of kept leaning that way until I fell for pastel. However, these times call for a little pop of color (trite decorator phrase, lol). That being said, here are some tags I created that exhibit more of a Boho feel. So, look at these tags and "Don't Worry, Be Hoppy!!!"

Celebrate Moments and Share Memories

Enjoy Fun And Family

Stay Enthusiastic and Just Dance

A scripture is running through my head today. "For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." So, if I believe and am persuaded, what does that leave for me to do today. Don't Worry, Be Happy!!! I hope you will do the same.

Kind Regards, Theresa

Proud as Punch and Tickled Pink

I finally pried open the pocketbook and updated my blog look. I am pleased as punch, and tickled pink. If I were young this picture would be of me, as I gazed upon my new banner. Not only am I celebrating a new look (for the blog, lol), I am celebrating my 36th wedding anniversary. Of course, I was a child bride (not). Let's see, I bought two new blog looks, another shop on Shabbylane Shops (Miss Violet's on the Garden Court), a spot on Friday Flea Markets (also Miss Violet's), and had steak for dinner. Now, that is living large. You know the old bible verse, Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow...... I decided if God can't take care of me, (and I am sure He can), I might as well go down having the time of my life with the best people on earth (that is you). I don't mean to be flippant, but I suspect if we were not told by the news media every five minutes that we were going to self destruct shortly, we would carry on as usual, our feet firmly planted on fallow ground. I was over at Magnolia Pearl's blog and read if I may quote from Robin, Miss Magnolia Pearl herself:

"When I sit on my porch sipping hot tea, I listen to the birds singing as they know nothing of the economy and the sorrows of the world; or do they? I think they know that God is optimistic if he made the sun shine yet another day. I'll take my cue from the birds and sing as long as the sun continues to rise and shine."

Right then and there I decided to be optimistic and happy for each day God gives me and America. I hope you are happy and blessed, too. Heck, you can only fail if you never try again. So, stop and smell the roses and then get back to work, cuz our Lord has big purpose for that life of yours.

Oh. and a big shout out to Debbi of Marionberry Cottage for the great blog designs on both Cottage Violets and Miss Violets. Here is her banner. Click on over and see her lovely shop

Smoochies and blessins,

Theresa