A Tour of Evi's Christmas Cottage

Welcome to my dear friend Evi's beautiful home...

...all decorated for Christmas!

For those of you who don't already know,

 Evi is an accomplished and renowned doll maker.

(Evi's Country Snippets)

Throughout you will see her one of a kind, incredible dolls,

 Santas, snowgirls, rabbits, etc.

 I love this scrubbed pine cupboard that we see 

when we first walk into the sunroom at the back of the house.

Evi has a beautiful, fresh, clean

(and I mean spotlessly clean)

  European look to her home. 

(After all she was born and raised in Germany!)

I have often posted photos of Evi's lovely home but perhaps you are new to this blog or maybe you would just like to see how she decorated her home this year!

 She kept color to a minimum on the main floor...

almost a "Jeanne D'arc Living" look...

 I could give you a play by play,

 photo by photo explanation ...

...but I will spare you ...

relax and enjoy!

Apparently I can't keep quiet for long...

Isn't her mantle decorated so pretty?

Each year, it is a little different...

Those cheeses on the platter, by the way, were delicious!

Bowls, baskets and other containers are filled

 with pine boughs, greens and sparkle!

The dining room...

This is where we sat and enjoyed the most fabulous meal...

all prepared by Evi, also a gourmet cook!

Poor Mr. Flea...it's back to reality for him.

Their bedroom...this year in black and white!

The guest room...

touches of red...

Even the bathroom is elegantly decorated!

Downstairs in the family room...

there is more of her favorite color...red.

The window to the right opens up into her studio...

where Evi creates and all the magic happens!

The door in the back leads into another bathroom...

 ...newly remodeled!

More of Evi's extraordinary Santas...

OK...that's all for now....a 45 picture post!

I guess I should have warned you at the start...

Evi has so many talents and gifts...

I admire them all.

One of the talents she possesses, one that I have none of...

 is the ability to edit.

There is no clutter in her home...

none, nada, zip.

Mr. Flea surely would appreciate that talent,

 as well as the gourmet cooking skills that Evi exhibits.

He's still happily munching on the big box of
 homemade cookies she sent home with us. 

Sigh.

I know they say we can't do it all...

but Evi can!

Thank you Evi and Eb for a wonderful afternoon
 and for treating us like royalty!


And, thank you friends and readers for stopping by.

Hope you enjoyed our visit!

:)

Madison Bouckville 2010

Driving out of the mountains on Wednesday into the farmlands of beautiful upstate New York I was full of anticipation and excitement.
Once again, I was off on my annual trek to Bouckville to hunt for treasure.

Although alone this time and missing my girls...
I was happy to be spending the day in the fields and hoped to meet a few bloggers who had let me know that they were also going to be there.


Click Images to Enlarge Pictures

It was a fabulous day!
My time was limited and there was so much to see!
I dug right in but...
... could hardly scratch the surface...

The Linen Lady from Maryland was there with all her beautiful things...



As usual...I went straight to her dollar table!



For all you doll lovers...Tory-Beth Radwick of Dolls of Chester Springs had a beautiful collection of quality dolls and a lovely display...





I saw so many things!
Charming things...



Rustic things...loved these little birdhouses...



Remarkable things...look at the beautiful long braid on this woman!



...and even some scary things!

Although last year I brought home lots of rusty and utilitarian items ....
this year I seemed to gravitate toward more girly things!





...lots and lots of lace...



odds and ends....bits and bobs...





...my usual dollar aprons and hankies...



...some assemblage and jewelry making treasures...



A sweet little velvet jewelry box..



...old sewing notions...
...ribbons, seam binding and yes, even more buttons!



I loved this Victorian piece with the bird on top...
...was it to hold spoons along the side?
I am sure I will figure out something to do with it! :)



I couldn't resist this lovely cotton slip...
...and it fits!
All I need to do is get out my cowboy boots and jean jacket...



...sigh, so feminine!



I also brought home this pretty tucked and lace underskirt...



Lots of linens...



Four pretty vintage slips in pristine condition...



...and more blue glass...



I was really pleased...
...exhausted but happy tired as I shared my day with my parents back at the lake.
I will try to show more pictures of the rest of my finds this week.

At the end of the day I was able to meet with Gina from Vintage Junk In My Trunk (bottom row below) and her husband Paul. Gina is adorable and Paul a veteran treasure hunter. They spend four days here each year looking and sharing their passion for antiques and junk. What a fun couple...I would have loved to spend more time with them.

I also met and spent a few minutes with Judi (top left) from The 1829 Farmhouse and her husband Dan. They are also a lovely couple and we hope to meet up next year and spend more time hunting together!

I was sorry to miss Sue from Vintage Rescue Squad.
This is her first year at MB and so far she is loving it!



I was really pleased...
...exhausted but happy tired as I shared my day with my parents back at the lake.
I will try to show more pictures of the rest of my finds this week.

Although another day or two shopping here would have been heaven...
...I am grateful to have had this day in the sun... having fun...meeting new friends and doing that thing I do!

Today is my first contribution to Kim Klassen's The Inspiration Studio.
Are you looking to find inspiration and a place to share the beauty and goodness around us?

Kim has lined up some wonderful contributors from different venues and I am honored to have been asked to participate. You can check it out HERE...

I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
:)
:)