The Last "Pink Saturday" of January......

Hello Ladies....Here's to wishing each of you the lovliest of "Pink Saturdays"!...hosted by Beverly at "How Sweet The Sound"..... My family & I, are getting ready to move, so have planned a huge garage sale for this morning!....My sweet sister-in-law Terri, has been nice enough to hold it at her house today,.... so as you read this post I will be sipping coffee & hopefully selling all my "stuff"! Please wish me luck!....I want to go to the next house with much fewer "things"! :)
Also, be sure to check out my previous post!...I celebrated my 200th post yesterday & am giving away one of my charming "pink& white quilts" as a "thank you" to all of you, for making feel so welcome in this blogging world of ours!.....Happy Pink Saturday dear friends!!.....Heidi XO

Note: Please visit my daughter Holly's blog "mommy holly".....She was just informed by a good friend about a family who desperately needs all your thoughts & prayers!.....Visit her blog for the full story.....I'm sure the family would be most appreciative....

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My 200th POST!!!!....

My beautiful "Half-Square Triangle" quilt......just a comment away!

I simply cannot believe that this is my 200th post!?......When I begin this blog, I couldn't even conceive of writing 100 posts, let alone 200!??.......But believe or not, the day is here!.....I cannot began to tell you how appreciative I am of the visits you make on a daily basis!....I began this blog expecting it to be a sort of "diary", ...writing my thoughts & "goings-on's" here at my home......more for my benefit than anyone else's. You can imagine how excited & thrilled I was when I actually started receiving a few comments!......Comments from all of you!...You have become dear friends that I will have forever!....Thank you so very much for "opening up my world"!....
In celebration of this 200th post... & in anticipation of St. Valentine's Day......I am giving away one of my "quilts" from my etsy shop Heidi Devlin Design! It is a lap quilt in the "Half-Square Triangle" pattern & is charming in bright pink & pure white!....All you have to do is leave a comment & your e-mail address. I will choose the winner on February 6th! & post it on my blog!.....Good Luck To You All!!!...and thank you again for your cherished friendships!........Heidi XO

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Mallory Turns "24".......

Holly & Mallory at the Brimfield Antiques Show, ....three years ago.....(Mallory is the taller one!) Are they not the cutest!.....

Today, January 25th, 2009 ......my youngest daughter, Mallory turned "twenty-four"?.... I can't believe it?.....When I really think back over the years, it does seem possible I guess?,.... but when I remember back to that snowy, January afternoon 24 years ago ....it seems very vivid, & not that distant a memory? ...."Twenty four years" have really gone by?...... Wow?......
I must say though that I am a very "lucky mother", for I have two amazing daughters...Holly & Mallory. Holly has always been the "little conversationalist", while Mallory has always been more "reserved", ...very happy to let her sister speak for her. Both were good little girls, .... very good teenagers & have grown into wonderful women!....We have gone from being parents...to being friends.....which is the highest reward for any mother & father.....So here's to our "Sweet Mallory".....We love you more than words can say......Mom & Dad XO

A "proud mama".....a few days after Christmas....enjoying a relaxing day down by the water, with her "girls"......

**For the Very Vintage Valentine Swap, here is the link to the flickr group!! Post your photos!! :)

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"A Cupboard, is a Cupboard, is a Cupboard...unless it's a "Pink Cupboard"!....

I LOVE charming pieces of furniture!....& certainly at the top of the list is the "Glass-Front Cupboard"!.....Not only is it a piece that "oozes charm",..... but it's also able to show off all the "pretties" it happens to be collecting!......This one is no exception!.....You take this cupboard's exquistie design esthetic & add a generous coating of "pink" & the result is quite the "confection"! "Delicious" to look at.....& "sweet enough" to make the cynic in all of us smile!.....Best Wishes to you on this "Pink Saturday!...& thank you again to our hostess, Beverly at "How Sweet The Sound"!

Note: To all the ladies participating in my Very Vintage Valentine Swap...I will be creating a "flickr page" for us all to show off our valentine treasures!....I will have it ready to post on tomorrow morning, January 25th.....Can't wait! XOXO

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A Gentle Reminder....

Note To All My Very Vintage Valentine Swap Participants: Hi Ladies, I just wanted to remind you all that tomorrow is January 21st,....the last day to send out your partner's swap boxes. If by chance you are "running a bit behind", be sure & let your swap partner know immediately. I myself will be sending my boxes (I have 2 partners!) on Thursday morning....(am in the midst of preparing to move, along with getting a little preoccupied watching the inauguration today! :) ....And please remember to "e-mail me" (heididevlin@gmail.com) when you do actually send your partner's box & when you receive yours! Many of you have already contacted me & I do so "thank you" for being so responsible!....Let's make this swap one where no one is forgotten about!...I am keeping track & will be publishing the names of anyone who does not follow through!.....However, I am hoping that will not be necessary!.... I am quite confidant that the "group of ladies" assembled for this swap are "top-notch, quality women", who have "manners & respect for each other"!.... Please prove me right!...Your friend, Heidi XO

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The Humble Household "Skirt".....

I am definitely a "jeans girl", but when it comes to my house, I would love to add a "skirt" of two to it's wardrobe!.....I could handle "gathered" or "pleated"..... & would be fine using a "simple cotton or linen"....but have to admit a "toile print" would turn my head!

A "skirt" would so "dress up" my kitchen sink, as well as add "softness" to my bathroom.....

It would not only be a "pretty addition", but one that could also hide all the cabinet contents I would rather not have on display!...... :)

Maybe making up a few of these "household skirts" would be just the ticket for me & my home. Not only would they add that "charmingly quaint feel" of an old manor house,...they just might end up making me reconsider adding a couple "skirts" to my spring wardrobe?...... Enjoy your day!.......Heidi XO

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'Thank you President Bush & Welcome President Obama".....

It is Sunday evening & I am thinking about the week ahead.....a very important week to be sure. This coming Tuesday morning, we will be inaugurating our 44th president .....President-Elect Barack Obama.....But before we do that, I wanted to take a moment to mention someone else in this blog...that being President George W. Bush. I am completely aware this may not be a popular view among many of you, but I feel I must say it....."Thank you George Bush" for being our President these last 8 years.....I can't imagine how difficult this "presidency job" must be, but I know you have done your best. You have had to"face tasks" &" know information" that many of us would never want to take on or even know about.....You have "stood strong" & "kept us safe" in the "face of terror".....& all the while "stood tall" as your critics, the liberal media & polls critized your every move. I know you are not perfect & probably regret a few of your decisions, but I believe you made them in good faith & trust in the American people. I would like to wish you & your family the best, as you say "good-bye" to the presidency & "hello" to once again becoming a "simple American citizen".

Now with that said, I am also looking forward to the inauguration of our new president!...I love history...& find these events amazingly interesting & quite moving...no matter which side of the isle you may be sitting on.....I will though Mr. Obama... along with many of us, be "listening to your words",.... after all, being able to give great speeches is much easier than following through with what they promise.....and we will also be "watching" to see if your actions follow your words....I know this nation is in a very serious position & many people are expecting miracles from you, which I think is a bit unfair......I do believe though you are an "honorable, hard-working man", & know you will do your very best!....I wish you, your wife & beautiful daughters a very successful 4 years!.....Our family is looking forward to having you in the White House & representing all of us Americans!......Good Luck Mr. Obama!.....I mean..."Good Luck Mr. President".......

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"A Warm & Cozy Pink Saturday".....

Hello Ladies, I have been away from "Pink Saturday" for sometime......so am delighted to be returning this week!......Our dear friend, Beverly,... at How Sweet The Sound was so lovely to welcome me back!.....So as my contribution today, I would like to offer possibly the coziest & most charming room ever! There may be nothing better on a cold January Saturday,... than to warm your "spirit & toes" near a fire where the "rosiest pink rug" is underfoot!.....Put the kettle on & nestle in for a delightfully lazy afternoon!......Off to visit you all!......Heidi XO

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"Delicious Color & Cookies"........

The most "appetizingly" pretty kitchen & cupboard!....
Happy Friday Dear Friends, Well it has been a week of "cleaning out" & "getting rid of"!....& Oh! it feels so good!.....I have been going through stored boxes, drawers & every conceivable "cubbyhole"... ridding our home of no-longer-needed stuff"!......Along with all that I have been going through all my magazines, some of which just need to be discarded, so I'm sure, like many of you, I am leafing through each, tearing out ideas & photos & projects I must save.....As I was perusing,... I happened to notice a pattern..I kept ripping out photos of rooms all having this marvelous "dijon-mustard" color!! Well, .....I guess I love it!!??......I know I have made a point of letting you all know how ready I am for all white surroundings, with little color...but somewhere inside I must have a deep-seeded love affair going with this color!? Who knew?.....but I do so appreciate it's delicious hue!.....So after thumbing through magazine after magazine....I found myself in the kitchen whipping up a batch of "Moms's Brown Sugar Bars"..... coincidentally they have a very similar shade to this "new" beloved color of mine!?......"Color & Cookies"....a delicious combination you too may wish to try!.......

Such a cozy, little room......

And this bathroom would feel "warm" even during the coldest winter!

Amazing cabinetry.....beautiful color.....

And such a "yummy" ceiling".......what a charming background for this barrel shade.....

Note: Thought you may enjoy trying a new cookie recipe....This one comes from my dear friend Laura, who always has the best cookie recipes!!!

MOM'S BROWN SUGAR BARS:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 large egg

1 t. vanilla

2 cups flour

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1 12 oz. package semisweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups sliced almonds

* Beat butter and brown sugar at medium speed until creamy. Add egg & vanilla, beating until blended.

* Combine flour, baking soda & salt: gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended.

* Press dough into an ungreased 15x10 jelly roll pan.

* Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Place pan on a wire rack. Sprinkle chocolate morsels evenly over warm cookie. Let stand 5 minutes; spread chocolate evenly over top. Sprinkle with almonds. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into squares.

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Winter Basics and Baubles Swap!!

Hi Friends, Well this morning found me reorganizing my kitchen!...Oh yes!...one set of drawers soon turned into all them!...I went through each drawer throwing out, sorting through & redoing!.....How can they get so messy!?.....Anyway, while I was at it, I was noticing how old & raggedy some of my dishtowels, dishcloths & potholders have gotten!? I am somewhat of a "stickler" about things in my kitchen being super clean & in good condition!....So a wonderful idea came to me!....I cannot be the only lady around who could use some great new basic kitchen linens!...This is the time of year when we all want to start fresh, clean out the old & make room for a few new things!.....So with this in mind, I am announcing my next swap...my "Winter Basics & Baubles Swap"!.....That's right, you will be sending your partner a box made up with pretty new kitchen towels, cloths & potholders!...& along with that you might like to include a few new kitchen gadgets your partner could use!....And yes, since getting a box made up entirely of kitchen things may need a bit of excitement, then why not tuck in among the necessities one bit of "bling"!.....a ring, bracelet or earrings!.....a lovely little piece of sparkle that you could wear while organizing all those drawers!.....So ladies, put down those brooms & take a few minutes to join my "Winter Basics & Baubles Swap"!!....We can spruce up our kitchens & look pretty all at the same time!!........Looking forward to hearing from you!.......Your friend, Heidi XO

Please e-mail me the short list of questions I have listed. (heididevlin@gmail.com) I will e-mail you back as soon as I get both to confirm that you are participating!....Any questions please just ask!.....

*Name:

*Address:

*E-mail Address:

*Blog:

*Willing to swap internationally?:

*colors/motifs of kitchen linens you would prefer:

*any utensils or gadgets you may need or enjoy: (example: timer, coffee scoop, zester)

*jewelry preference:

*Style preference? (country, modern, vintage, etc!):

Signups will be closed on February 1st!! And you must send your swap box full of basics and baubles by March 1st! ...Thank you!!

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"Imaging Winter"......

Hi Friends.....As many of you get to know me, you know that I am a "Winter Girl"! I adore these snowy cold months!.....and if you read my blog often, you also know that I live in Southern California, where this weekend is beginning yet another "santa ana", a few days of warm winds & hot temps?.....In January!???...Being born & raised in Washington State, I will never get used to it!....NEVER!....So to counteract my aversion to living in a somewhat tropical climate, I like to pretend that it is very blustry outside, that snow is falling & temperatures are in the single digits! ......That way I can happily cook, craft & clean without feeling like I'm missing something by not being outside!.... So today that is exactly what I did!......Isn't the "imagination" a wonderful thing!........

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A Winter Saturday of Sewing & Creating!....

Which one should I make first?....

"Saturday Morning"!....Oh! I love those two words!...They hold such possibilities!....For me though, they offer "time",..... "time" to get started on my commitment to get back to all my "sewing & quilting"! ...With the holidays & all they entail, I found myself with little time to devote to either of these pastimes.....So now I am so looking forward to a weekend of hiding out in my sewing room,.... & spreading out my fabrics, sorting through all my patterns, for clothes & quilts....& deciding which projects to begin first!.....

I must make a batch of these adorable "berries"!.....

Like many of you, I have far more "ideas" than time,... but that is so not going to stop me!....This last week, I began working on a exciting new decorating project for my dear friend, Susie. Susie & her husband just bought a beautiful home in the hills surrounding San Diego.....They are wanting to "update & redo" it to reflect their own design esthetics,.... so my partner Lauren & I have been two busy girls coming up with the "master plan"!....So needless to say, with all the attention we have been putting into choosing floors, coming up with room schematics & shopping for fixtures & furniture, .....spending Saturday, "quietly sewing" is just what I need!

And charmingly beautiful "bed-linens"....All my rooms are crying out for some of these pretty ideas!....

So Friends, enough blogging!....I wish you all a wonderful winter weekend!......Off to get a large mug of peppermint tea & up the stairs I go!.....Look out fabric!...here I come!.....

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Very Vintage Valentine Swap ....RULES!

Good Evening Ladies,..... I am writing this blog to all of you who are joining me in my Very Vintage Valentine Swap.....First of all, I want to "thank you".... & give you each a "big hug" for such a wonderfully enthusiastic response!....It is just lovely to have so many of you returning, from some of my previous swaps....as well as having so many new ladies participating for the first time! Thank you....thank you!!!! I couldn't do it without you!

O.K....now to get to the more serious reason for this post.....This is my 3rd swap...Most of you know, I began with the Very Vintage Halloween Swap & then followed it with the Very Vintage Christmas Swap.....The "Halloween" swap overall went very smoothly, with a only a very few ladies not receiving their swap boxes from their partners......However, the "Christmas" swap was riddled with an overriding amount of "flakers"!!!....many of us, including "me, the hostess"!....We made up well thought out & beautifully festive boxes for a partner that not only never confirmed she received it, but never even sent a swap box back!???? ..... This is simply UNEXCEPTABLE!!!....

At the beginning of each of the swaps I have been very clear....If for any reason you decide you cannot follow through, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.....A.S.A.P.!!!!.....I completely understand that sometimes we find ourselves in a situation that makes it impossible to continue with the swap.....but instead of "hiding" from your partner, "not answering e-mails" or "not posting on your blog"....JUST LET ME KNOW!!!!! I WILL UNDERSTAND!!!....What I will not put up with is "flakers"! When you sign up for a swap, you are promising to follow through....if not, then you at least need to let the hostess know...that is all I ask...If you do not, in my opinion, it is quite simply "stealing"....."flakers" & "stealing"......harsh words, but true. Again I will not have it!

Now some of you have noticed that a few swaps are now "charging" to participate!....A "fee" to join a swap?.....I have & am currently participating in one of these. I admire & respect the hostesses of these swaps & know that they feel they must charge a fee to weed out the "flakers", which I do understand....However, I LOVE putting on my "Vintage"swaps & want to continue to do so wothout charging a "fee". Please help me do this.....let's please be accountable.

So in this Very Vintage Valentine Swap" I have posted each of your names on the left side of my blog......I also have a list right next to my computer.....We each have till January 21st to send your swap box to your partner.....When you send your box, I am asking you to send me a quick e-mail telling me you have mailed it......& when you receive your swap box, please e-mail me again letting me know. I will be keeping track of everyone!.....Again, I know life happens....if you are running late just let your partner or me know....I will understand!......I will be politely contacting anyone who does not send their box, or does not receive one.....But if someone decides to "flake" on any one of you.....I will be posting their first name & blog on a final post, entitled..."FLAKERS"!.....I know this sounds a bit "mean", but like I have said many times....I will not put up with this disrespectful treatment of the honest, well-meaning women in my swaps!

I apologize for having to take such a firm hand with this situation...I do hope you all understand!....Thank you so much for your participating!...I so look forward to this lovely Very Vintage Valentine Swap!!!......Your friend, Heidi XO

P.S. Any questions about anything, please just ask!

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"Crisp, Clean & Uncluttered".....

Such "simple beauty".....

After the busyness of the holidays, I usually find myself entering January, with a whole new appreciation for "crisp, clean & uncluttered rooms"......In fact, as I tuck away all the holiday finery, I can't wait to strip away any superfluous accessories that think they are adorning my shelves & surfaces.....The "look" I am yearning for is "stark country"...not sure if that is a design style, but it sure is a perfect description of what I find appealing!......I want very little color, very simple arrangements & only the "basics" out on display.....Now don't be mistaken,.... I still yearn for "cozy & comfortable",....just done in a very clean, fresh way......& I still want a "winter look", nothing too "warm weather-ish"....... So with this in mind, I proceed.....relegating anything with color to the recesses of my cabinets.....& instead,...out comes the "purist white" ironstone pitchers....the "clearest glass" canisters & the "simplest" decorative pieces I own......Doing this makes me so happy.....After all, it is January.....a fresh new month,... in a fresh new year....."Crisp, Clean & Uncluttered"......

" White pitchers"....."white beadboard"..... "white subway tile"......lovely!

Fresh & pretty!......

An amazing bathroom!.....

" Clean & uncluttered" at it's best!.....

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Welcome 2009!.....

The new year is here!...2009!....I really can't quite believe it!....Wasn't it just Halloween?....What happened to November?...& with family visiting for the holidays & so much going on, the days just seemed to fly by..... even with things slowing down a bit these last few days, time still feels like it's going much too fast!
With this in mind....I begin to make up my list of resolutions....I am definitely a "resolution" kind of girl. I enjoy writing down my hopes & dreams for the new year. Somehow putting pen to paper actually makes my commitment much more real,... & for some reason, much more attainable.....I must do it every New Years Day!..... Many of you who feel that after years of not accomplishing your resolutions, you will no longer waste good time in making them, or at the very least make fewer.....But not me!...That is far to sensible!....For me, the process of adding difficult tasks to a yearly list & trying to figure out how to accomplish them is somehow theraputic!.....It makes me "happy" to have a list, sometimes in the double digits,.... of changes I want to make in this new year of 2009!....I feel empowered, with not only a fresh month, but an entire year to see them through!....What an odd creature I am?...odd, but optimistic!
So with "this day" the first of a brand new year....I take that new pad of paper & sharpie & begin my list for 2009!....Some on my list will come to fruition & some will not.... but I will continue my quest for bettering myself & my surroundings....For me it's "tradition"...a tradition I will hold tight to every January 1st......Good Luck with your resolutions &...Happy New Year to you all!......

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