Announcing my......"Very Vintage Fourth Of July Swap"!

Hello Girls,.....Summer is almost upon us!...in fact, I can see it peeking around the corner! ...So that means my "Very Vintage Fourth Of July Swap" is quickly approaching too!!!....My "Very Vintage" swaps began last year with Halloween, continued with Christmas, Valentines Day & Easter.... & now will be finishing the year with this July 4th one! ( another swap series is in the works for the Fall!!,... stay tuned!)

What a great way to prepare & celebrate for our Great Nation's Birthday!...but with a wonderful swap!.....many of you have joined me before & some of you have participated in each & every "very vintage swap"!!!! Thank you so very much!!!....When I began hosting these I had no idea how popular they would become!.....You all have made each swap a delightful success!!!! Thank you again!

So for this swap as always, I am asking you to fill out the "information sheet" I am providing, & e-mail it to me! (mailto:heididevlin@gmail.com.. You have from now till May 15th to sign up!!!....At that time I will assign you each your partner & we can all began preparing our swap boxes! ($20-$30 limit) You will have "1 month" to assemble your box & am asking to have you mail them no later than June 15th!.....That way each of us will have some darling new "patriotic" things to add to our decorations this year!!!

I am also asking in your information sheet for you to say if you prefer a bright, clean, modern design to your 4th of July decorations...or do you opt for a more "old-fashioned", vintage look!.....Hopefully that way, what you receive will be items you truly love!

And with this swap, I think it would be fun to not only make the interiors of your swap boxes pretty, but please decorate the outside of your boxes as well!!!...Use your inagination!...use stamps, beautiful scrapebooking papers, etc. Think how fabulous it would be to have a "beautiful red, white & blue box" waiting for you on your doorstep!!!

O.K. Ladies.....I so hope to hear from you all & hope to make this last swap of my "Very Vintage Series" one to remember!!!.....I invite you to sign up now! ....Like I mentioned before, the "Fourth of July" is right around the corner!!!....Wishing you all a lovely summer ahead!......Your friend, Heidi XO

INFORMATION SHEET:
* Name:
* Address:
* E-Mail Address:
* Blog Address:
* Would you prefer an international partner?:
* What is your summer style?...."old-fashioned, vintage" or "bright, clean & modern".......please describe......
* Your favorite summer scent:
* Your favorite summer flower:
* Would you prefer things for your home/patio/garden/ porch,... or all of the above?....
* Hobbies:
* Favorite pieces of jewelry:
* Favorite magazine:

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"Planting In Pink",.... & a "bit of daydreaming".....

Pink Hydrangeas spilling forth...... At our house the "Planting if Pink" is taking over!......I simply cannot get enough of this luscious color!.....Every trip to the garden center is the same story, I gravitate directly to anything pink!?.....Not sure the reason, but Hey!, why fight it!.......I have 3 large pots on my front porch that I've planted with bright pink geraniums, which I am thrilled to report are doing very well!.....

I have also just ordered 2 of these amazing David Austin roses, to tuck in a planter next to the chimney, ....which I'm hoping will one day drape themselves gracefully over the roof & front door!....

Then of course there are the "sweet peas"....Oh! What can I say?.....I have such adoration for these delicate blooms!......Being late to plant these little beauties in my own garden this year, I am instead picking them up by the bunches at our Saturday "Open Market"......Their aroma is simply intoxicating! And as if my yard & garden isn't enough, I have found some lovely "botanical prints" that I am busy framing, wanting to tuck them on the shelves of my back porch hutch, among my collection of "Guy Wolff pots" & "antique flower arranging frogs"!.....This "geranium print" in particular is just the prettiest,...don't you agree?

And this breathtaking photo is what I hope my own garden will look like come late summer!.....I am very aware that I am the ultimate "dreamer", but why not be!...I figure if I "think big" & "work hard", anything is possible!.....So with that in mind, I'm closing my eyes & imaging how truly enchanting it will be to live in our "tiny cottage covered in pink blossoms"!!!......."Happy Planting & Daydreaming"!....... Heidi XO

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Mondays......

Good Morning Friends, Once again the beginning of a fresh new week!...Oh the possibilities!....It is still early here at our house, cloudy & cool, which is just the way I like it!.....I am off to work this morning at my good friend Judy's house, hoping to help her with some decorating issues she is having.....Then it is home for the afternoon,.... one that includes tidying up a bit, some laundry, Andrew's karate lessons & hopefully a little sewing!.....Another delicious Monday of "everday doings".......How I love that!....simple tasks at home!......Nowhere I'd rather be!......

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"New York In Springtime".....

"New York in Springtime".....Happy Pink Saturday!.....& thank you Beverly @ How Sweet The Sound......Enjoy your weekend!

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"Shades of White".....

With the arrival of Spring, comes the "yearly parade of color"...glorious color which I think we are all ready for & welcome with open arms!.....But then as the weeks of Spring unfold, I end up once again coming back around to my beloved "Shades of White".....Oh! How I love the color that is "white"!......I love the "quiet" that is "worn grayish white", showing up in old pieces of furniture, the soft patina of "aged tin".......

Then of couse there is rich warm "vanilla"........lending such a comforting feeling to anything it touches! A color that dispells the idea that white is "sterile & unfriendly".....

The most interesting fact about using white though, is not just in the color variations, but in the willing way they have of "complimenting each other". The warmer shades play against the coolness of the others, creating such sweet harmony!.....That is the reason you should make a point of mixing "shades of white", far more effective design-wise......

This also applies to not only the various "shades of white", but also the "textures of white".....When using a color so neutral, it is very important to mix many combinations of textures,.... beadboard, marble, terrycloth & linen....all lend their particular "hue", along with their particular "feel".....which results in quite a lovely appearance!......

"Shades of White" can be as exciting as the brightest fushia, or the deepest green.....as long as differing colorations & textures are used together!.....So when trying to decide which color to use in your next decorating scheme, consider "white".......You might be surprised at what a bold color it truly is!

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"A Country Girl".......

A "beautiful old barn",... softened by blossoms of Spring.....

Ever since I was a child, I have loved "country", & I am really not sure why?.... It's certainly not that my home growing up was "ultra-modern", or that my mother preferred a "stark, contemporary style".....quite the contrary!.....My mother has always had a love of "Tradional Home-esque" interiors & provided us with a home that was cozy, inviting & very classic....I had no complaints....
When I started keeping a home of my own, I followed fairly closely with what a had been taught,.... but as I have gotten older, I have noticed more & more that a "farmhouse country look" is what I love most! I adore those old white farmhouses, red barns, & anything John Deere!.......I long to plant my own vegetables, grow my own flowers & decorate with checks & tiny pastel prints!.....I love to listen to "Rascal Flats", & "dream of" once again owning a piece of property somewhere in rural America.

A simple shelf, "dolled up" with gingham!......

The other day while chatting with my mother on the phone......I asked her if she or my sister were familiar with the "Farm Chicks"?....two darling "farm ladies" in the Spokane, Washington that have joined forces, organizing not only a antique show, but who have just written their first book as well!.....You see, I grew up in Spokane & thought since my mother & sister still live there, that maybe they would have been to one of the the Farm Chicks Shows?....Oh Yes!...my mother had heard of them, but quickly went on to tell me how she was not into "that farm stuff", but knew I was??.....I just had smile!

Old tractors!........love them!

So once again, I ask where this love of "humble country" comes from?.....I guess your just born with it!....Years ago , it was spending a few hours up in a tree reading one of the "Little House" books, or choosing to be a "pioneer for Halloween!......Then it was my love of the Ralph Lauren "Prairie Style" in clothes, & wallpapering my first kitchen with "red checked wallpaper"!.....& now I have to say my "attraction for country" has turned into a lifestyle!..... My home is filled with wonderful old things.....I make jam & grow tomatoes....I piece quilts & sew-up grain-sack pillows & I can totally appreciate a great pair of worn jeans!

And a pretty "country kitchen"!.....

I am proud to say, this "love affair" is here to say!.....The "farmhouse country style" I find myself immersed in, is not a passing fancy, but a charming way of living that brings satisfaction & happiness to my life!.....So in closing,...Even though I wasn't born a "country girl", .....I sure am enjoying becoming one!........Heidi XO

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Simple Houses, Sweet Peas & Scents!.....

Simple "Pink House"........just too darling! "Pink Saturday" is upon us all once again!.... A day where we all celebrate this "exquisite color" & "lovely state of mind"!....Thank you to Beverly @ "How Sweet The Sound" who thought this day up & who has continued to gather together those of us who just love "pink"!...I am definitely one of Beverly's proud participants!!! I adore just about every shade of "pink"......& "love" when it shows itself in some of my "favorite things"!......like simple houses, sweet peas & scents!!!......Girls, enjoy each of your Pink Saturdays!.......Heidi XO

"Sweet Peas".......Oh!...their lovely aroma!

and a little bottle of rose "scents"!......aahhhhh......

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Lots of Announcements!.....

It is Wednesday evening, & I am just now sitting down. I started the morning, working (if I can call it that!),..... at my dear friend Tere's house, helping her with a few decorating projects!.....She already has a wonderful home & amazing yard, but Tere is always ready to freshen things up a bit!...So "thank you" Tere for a lovely morning!

Then this afternoon, after doing a bit of laundry & straightening up the kitchen, I was able to spend a little time sewing!...am busy creating lots of "pretty new things" for both my etsy shops...which I will be announcing in a couple weeks!....

I have also decided, to write a weekly post entitled, "Heidi's Weekly How-To's".....I am so excited about this!...I am planning on covering many of the things I am doing in my own home,.... sewing "simple drapery panels", "creating Spring bouquets", & "beautiful decorating ideas while staying on a tight budget"!..... I am planning on beginning these entries next week, so check back!!!.....I hope my ideas will be ones you can use in your own home!

And one more announcement.....I am going to begin e-mailing out a "monthly newsletter", starting in May!..... A few years ago I wrote one, & sent it to all my decorating clients, which I am happy to report turned out to be very popular! It contained recipes, seasonal decorating ideas & upcoming classes!...along with lots of information & lovely quotes scattered throughout! .....However, my busy schedule ended up making it impossible to continue!...but now that my lifestyle is a bit calmer, I am thrilled to begin writing the newsletter again!...If you are interested in receiving one, please go to the button in the upper left-hand corner of my blog, leave me a message & I will add you to my list!....

O.K. ladies, I think I have worn myself out with announcements!....This day has been a wonderful one, but now I am looking forward to sitting down & watching American Idol! It is cool here in California tonight, so we are going to light a fire & settle in for the evening!.....Thank you so much for visiting with me!!! Wishing you a cozy evening too!.....Your friend, Heidi XO

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"Glimpses" of My Sweet Little House....

I am a true believer in having at least one bouquet of "fresh flowers" in your home!....These are some gorgeous "stock" I pick up each week at the farmer's market! I am addicted to this amazing color!!!! For some time now, I have been posting photos of lovely rooms & homes from some of my favorite magazines like "Country Living & House Beautiful".....which I will certainly continue to do. However, since we began renting this house, I am feeling more & more like posting what I'm doing here in my own home!.....I have been very busy trying to arrange, decorate... & make the tiny rooms in this house come alive with an old-fashioned "prettiness"!... So here are a few "glimpses" of my sweet little house!....

Our "living room".....I decided to use my "quilts" as the artwork in many of our rooms!....I love the graphic design & think it makes the perfect backdrop to my leopard velvet sofas & toile pillows!.....

Even in this tiny house I squeezed in this chest of drawers, which here in my kitchen serves as the perfect "sideboard".....an ideal spot to dress up with antique crocks, glass cake plates & domes, along with a huge bunch of hydrangeas!.....I have the drawers filled with candles, linens, my Kitchen-Aid mixer & recipes!......Today the cookie jars are partially filled,... & once in a while, a cake or two may be tucked under the domes!.....

A little peek at my side of the bed!....We ended up selling our huge bed...couldn't fit it in this tiny room!....So now an "old quilt", I picked up at Brimfield serves as our headboard! ...and there is so little room, that a pair of Walmart T.V. trays serve as our "nightstands"!!!....They fit perfectly & actually are quite efficient!...and the best thing is each tray was only $8!!

And one more photo of our bedroom......the quilt is very old, so it prefers to hang a bit crooked (which I find charming!), soft denim pillow shams, our beautiful blue/white "Double Irish Chain" quilt.... & another Brimfield find, an old grain sack that I stuffed to make this large pillow! An itty-bitty room, but one we find "cozy & inviting" & delightful to retreat to each evening!.....

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"Easter" Has Come To Pink Saturday!......

What a weekend this one will be!.....Not only are we starting it off with "Pink Saturday", hosted by Beverly at "How Sweet The Sound", but we are following it up with Easter Sunday!!....Here at our house we will spend Easter afternoon dying eggs, & frosting cookies, along with putting the finishing touches on our "Easter Basket Cake"!.....My grandson, Andrew can't wait!...& along with all the festivities, we will be remembering the "true message of Easter"....that of "rebirth & everlasting life"!.....Wishing you all a glorious weekend!......Your friend, Heidi XO

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Crisp & Clean... White & Green Swap..!!

Hi friends, another swap on the way!! Over coffee this morning, my daughter Holly and I were chatting about decorating for spring... so, of course, this carried over into starting yet another swap! After winter, I think we are ready for crisp & clean decor, and what better colors to inspire us than white & green!!

My daughter at Mommy Holly and I are co-hosting this swap, and we really want to make it a fun, pretty swap without spending an arm and a leg on this... I think in this economy it is more than important to put together beautiful packages without spending a lot. This swap should be creative, cute, wrapped beautifully, but should be done with a budget in mind- let's send sweet little things... cute green paper plates to make a spring snack a bit brighter... a cute green candle that smells like spring... a darling pair of green earrings to make your outfit oh-so-cute... a yummy recipe written on a super-cute green recipe card... whatever you can think of for your partner that is green and white!! :) Get to know your partner so you are able to pick out some beautiful things according to her taste.

To sign up for the swap, please email your filled out questionnaire to Holly at hollyndevlin@gmail.com or to Heidi at heididevlin@gmail.com ... we will be sure to email you back a confirmation that we have your name down for the swap. We will keep signups open until April 17th, and then we will email partners out that weekend.

Name:
Address:
Email Address:
Blog Address:
Willing to ship internationally?:
Decorating style (modern, shabby chic, vintage, funky, etc!!):
Favorite candle scent:
Favorites stores (for clothing, home decor, etc!!):
Any accent color to add to green and white?:
Hobbies, interests, anything else you want to share with your partner:

After we send out partners, you will have until May 6th to send your box. Feel free to grab our button and share it on your blog. We are looking forward to hearing from lots of you!! :)

xo!- Heidi & Holly

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A Pregnant Tummy Comes Between Me & My Candy".....

O.K., I'm warning you all!....I am so irritated!!!.....but not about politics,...just about "inconsiderate pregnant women"!!!......Earlier today, my daughter, grandson & I took off to do a bit of Easter candy shopping at Target. Now I'm fully aware, that it is days before Easter, so I was expecting a lots of shoppers, especially in the candy area....but rude I was not?.....All I wanted was to choose some cute candy for our Easter baskets!....I was able to get the Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs, but as we approached the "wall" of candy where everything else was displayed, there were two ladies who were just chatting away, monopolizing the entire wall! They obviously hadn't seen each other for awhile & were catching up, which I completely understand...however, could you please move to another aisle, maybe one a tad less busy!!!? At first I tried to be nice, reaching around them, excusing myself. Then I pushed our cart further down the aisle & came back to look cart-free?...The ladies looked at me, didn't even shift weight & just kept talking on & on about the pregnancy of one of the ladies!?...You would have thought no one had ever been pregnant before!...They were just going on & on!!! I know I sound horribly mean, but has anyone ever taught you any manners lady???....Your pregnancy is none of my concern,... except for the fact that your "swollen belly" is between me & the jelly beans!!?....Having had quite enough, I looked at the woman, who had now abandoned her cart in the middle of the aisle, in order to step closer to her friend, who now had her hands on the expectant mother's tummy!!???....So being totally beside myself, once again said "excuse me", pushed the pregnant lady's cart to one side & grabbed my candy!!....And you know what?...I don't even think she noticed???.....Unbelieveable?.....Of course this spurred on a conversation between my daughter & I about raising children with some concept of manners & consideration of others!.....
So after Target & settling down a bit, we decided to drive over to our local mall for lunch. As we approached the mall, deciding to park near Nordstrom....we see plenty of parking spaces & were thrilled to be able to park so close!.....But no!?...it couldn't be!?.....All 4 of these spaces were posted with signs saying.... "Reserved For Expectant Mothers"!!????..Are you joking???.....Wouldn't it make more sense for stores to reserve parking spaces for mother's with 2-4 kids?...I don't know?....but it seems to me they are more at a disadvantage than those who's child is still on board!?......
Sorry for being so cranky!.....I really do love "moms-to-be", ....but ladies please don't forget your manners!!!

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Weight Watchers "Revisited".....

Eight weeks ago, my daughter Holly & I, decided it was once again time to address our "weight". We decided to once again join "Weight Watchers", but not "on-line!.....this time it had to be in person!.....We both felt we needed to actually choose a meeting & show up each & every week in person to face that dreaded scale!.....Amazing how well you stick to a healthy eating plan when a stranger is weighing you in each week!!?
Anyway, we decided that the best time for us was 6:30am on Saturday mornings!...I know, most of our friends just shake their heads, but for us it has been perfect!.....The day has not even begun, we can easily sneek out, with the rest of the family still asleep & be back before any of the day's plans have been made!!
We also have taken it quite seriously, sticking to our assigned number of food points. We both have been exercising, eating right ( O.K....a couple indulgences!) & I am so happy to report we are feeling terrific!....Holly has lost 10 lbs.!!.... & I have lost 20.2 lbs.!!!!....Holly was fairly small to begin with, & is looking wonderful!....She is so thrilled to have just purchased a pair of jeans in a size smaller! As for me, clothes are baggier (LOVE that!),... I feel amazing & even though I have a long way to go.....my friend Lauren & Susie noticed I had lost weight!...How great is that!!!
So on we go,.... both beginning to slowly understand that this is a chosen lifestyle, not a passing fad. I encourage any of you needing to lose a bit of weight to head to your nearest Weight Watchers!....sign up & stay for the meetings!.....The support is invaluable, as is the healthy lessons they teach!.....
Oh! ...almost forgot!...I am including a delicious WW recipe I received years ago. It is amazingly good & those members of your family not dieting will love it too! So here's to taking care of ourselves!...& realizing that with determination & time,...the "Heidi Klum" in each of us can immerge! :).......Happy "healthy"day to you all!

Broccoli/Cheese Casserole:

* 4 oz. Cheddar Cheese
* 4 oz. Kraft Old English Cheese (in a little jar)
* 2 cups long grain rice
* 1/2 cup of each....drained sliced mushrooms ( we actually saute a cup on fresh mushrooms in a tad of olive oil!).....diced onion....& canned evaporated skim milk
* 2 packages of chopped broccoli
* 1 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 2 qt. casserole with non stick cooking spray; set aside. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. Turn into the casserole dish & bake until mixture is heated through & broccoli is tender, about 30 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

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Martha Stewart's Marshmallow "Peeps"....

A little parade of "Peeps"!.......This week I am immersing myself in Easter activities!..."Dying eggs" with Andrew, "baking" an army of leaping bunnies (the sugar-cookie variety!) & making up a batch of these adorable homemade "Peeps" from Martha Stewart Living! Are these not just the sweetest little things!!...I have never made marshmallows from scratch, but these have won me over! I am so going to try it! I am including the link right here on my blog, so if any of you also want to delve into this world of "marshmallow delights" you can join me! I will let you know how I do! Wish me luck!....Happy Easter to you all!

" How to shape those tiny "bunny bodies"!....

Little "sugar baths".......Make up a batch too & then we can compare notes!!!....How hard can it be!!!

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"Perfectly Pretty Pink Prints".......

I adore fabric!!....All kinds of fabric!.....and pretty "pink" prints may very well be among my very favorites!.....Whether it is a "large vintage floral" that happens to be softening a fabulous "mid-century lucite" chair,.... or beautiful "embroidered cottons" made into voluptuous patio pillows....I find them all so charming & utterly endearing!.......

When strolling through quilting shops & local fabric stores, it is most likely these "pink florals" that catch my eye!....In my own home, I have very little pink,... but when it comes to making a quilt or new Spring top, it is the "pretty pink prints" that I find myself continually being partial to?...Why is that?....They are certainly not "sophisticated" or terribly "in vogue", but is doesn't seem to matter. In my mind, it is the "humble sweetness" of these fabrics, that make them so enchanting.....

So today for this "Pink Saturday", hosted by Beverly at "How Sweet The Sound".....I pay tribute to "pretty pink prints"..Afterall, they really are quite "perfect"........Enjoy your weekend!......Heidi XO

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Today......

"Today" was one of those days where my girls, Andrew & I decided to leave our "responsiblities".... & a "sink full of breakfast dishes" at home, & just spend the day strolling around "Balboa Park". For those of you not familiar with San Diego, "Balboa Park" is a large park right in the middle of town,...beautiful old Spanish architecture, museums, lovely landscaping & fountains.....It just so happened, that today, has been a cloudy, cool day ...even better to while away a few hours, with no agenda in mind!.....We took turns, "dancing" on the outdoor stage, "talking" to the fish & "throwing pennies" in each & every fountain!!!....Andrew brought his scooter, which might as well be an appendage to his active little body,.... while Holly, Mallory & I just "walked & people-watched"...... "Today" was "unplanned & unhurried"......& one of those days that will be fondly remembered for quite sometime.....

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