"Kind Gestures & Girlfriends".....

*Sometimes I have a tendency to think a bit too large*

Let's take any holiday throughout the year,...Christmas, Halloween, May Day, or at the moment Easter,......I began thinking how lovely it would be to treat "all my friends" to a small, but very sweet gift.
Maybe "pansies encircled in pure white parchment paper".... & tied with a taffeta ribbon.....
or possibly a "delicious lemon bread" wrapped in clear, crisp cellophane & secured with twine & fresh lemon leaves,.....
or better still, a "floral teacup" ( found while out thrifting!) placed in a tiny box that has been wrapped in fabric & "millinery daisy-garland"!

Now as lovely as this would be, it all takes time, which is something all of us seem to always be a bit short of.
So I am trying something new....I am choosing one dear friend, each month to do something special for.
Nothing extravagant, nothing expensive.

Instead something baked from my kitchen,
or grown in my garden
or created with my own hands.
I will wrap it in the most charming way & tuck it in their mailbox or on their front porch,....
& of course it must have a pretty little card!
This way I will be able to treat each of my girlfriends to "sweet remembrances" in just a wee bit of time & very economically!

Here's to kind gestures!...& to friendship!

heidi
xo

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"A Springtime Pillow"...to give-away this morning!!

Good Morning Friends,.....
Today, I'm doing a little reorganizing here at my house & studio,.... & thought a "giveaway" might be a lovely way to start!......

In my shop, is the most adorable pillow,......It is made from designer Anna Maria Horner's "wallflower rose print",..... & is backed with a gorgeous yellow toile!.....
All in shades of aqua & soft yellow,....
this precious pillow just exemplifies the "Loveliness that is Springtime"!

To enter the giveaway, you must be a "follower of my blog"...& just leave me a comment!
I will announce the winner on Thursday, April 21st!

Good Luck to you all!

heidi
xo

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"Life Goes On"......

It's official......
My "Large Number" pillow is NOT in the May issue of Country Living magazine...
& I am so very sad.
Let me back up a bit,...a couple months ago, I was elated when an editor from Country Living Magazine e-mailed me, informing me that they loved my pillows & asking if I would send her two of my "Large Number" pillows as soon as possible!...She was very nice & asked if I would send her a "5" & a "0", both in tan burlap.The magazine needed them quickly, because they were interested in them for the May 2011 issue!.

Of course I was thrilled!....Of all the magazines I purchase, Country Living is one of my very favorites!!...& has been since I was in my early 20's.
Now keep in mind, I was just sending the magazine my pillows,..... nothing was for sure.

A few days later, the same editor contacted me again, with forms she needed filled out as quickly as possible!...which I did, faxing them back to her. Then another e-mail making sure I had sent all the information needed.
Throughout all of this, again, no promise that my pillows would definitely be in Country Living....

Needless to say, the last few weeks have been very anticipatory!...not knowing if my "number" pillow would actually grace a page in the May issue???
And of course during the last week or so, I have been a crazy person, running down to Walmart, or Target, or Barnes & Noble, checking each day if the May issue had arrived!?....And of course Martha's Living- new, House Beautiful-new, Oprah-new, etc. etc.....but no Country Living?
So yesterday, my husband & daughter & I were stopping for yogurt, & there happened to be a bookstore right next to the yogurt shop. We went in & there it was!...the May issue!.....All wrapped in plastic, with the most darling room on the cover.
We purchased the magazine, & went out side. We sat down & started thumbing through each page, scanning each for my pillows.
Then we turned one more page,.... & we saw a section all about "50 Deals Under $50"....& on the first page there is a photo with two pillows, one with a "5" & one with a"0",..... but not my pillows!?
OMGoodness!....It hit me! Someone else's etsy shop & pillows were chosen for the shoot...not mine!......
And instead of being mature & counting all the blessings that have been given me, I sat & I cried. Oh yes!...You heard me, I sat there, with my husband & daughter trying to comfort me, & tears rolled down my cheeks....I just couldn't stop weeping!

After a while we ended up getting our frozen yogurt & going home, where I have slowly come to terms with all this. Not a big deal for some of us, but for me in that moment a huge disappointing deal.
The tears are now over, & a bit of sanity has returned.
Life goes on...

heidi
xo

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"Wonderful Evening & Great Food"!......

Last night our "Dinner Club" got together at our friend's Dave & Judy's home!
OMGoodness!....
What a lovely evening!
Judy had the house all decorated for Spring, & had set a gorgeous table....
with peony centerpieces, beautiful antique glassware & candlelight everywhere!

The dinner theme was "Mediterranean", so anything Greek or Spanish was perfect!....
Judy made a pesto baked chicken,....
Susie brought wonderful vegetable cabobs, hummus & olives,....
Lauren a wonderful artichoke appetizer....
& I brought "Panzanella"!!...

I was a but worried since I have never made panzanella in my life, but have always wanted to....so I prepared this salad never having tried it before!..So risky, but it paid off!!...So amazingly good!!!!
So good in fact, that I'm making it again tonight for our family dinner!!...

Since I am always looking for a great recipe, I thought I would share with all of you!...
Super easy!
The perfect salad for Spring & Summer!....
I hope you love it too!.....
Enjoy!.....

Your friend,
heidi
xo

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"Four Cute Tiles".....

(photo courtesy of Country Living)

I have been decorating my client's ( & friend) master bedroom today...& just got home.
With the little time I have before figuring out what dinner might be, I was looking through some design ideas I had seen in various magazines & tucked away for safe keeping!...
possibly to be applied in a future home!....& look what I found!

This absolutely, ridiculously darling use of 4 gorgeous tiles!

What a charming back-splash!!....
OMGoodness!!
This is one idea that will be stealing!.....

Dinner is calling, but all I want to do is decorate!

Enjoy your evening!

Your friend,...

heidi
xo

master bedroom today ( & friend)

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"Pillow-Slip Giveaway" over at The Shine Project!......

Good Morning!.....
You must grab your coffee right away,... & head straight over to visit the ever-so-charming Ashley,..... at her inspiring blog, "The Shine Project"!.....
Ashley is featuring my shop, Heidi Devlin Design,..... along with a fabulous giveaway!....
my "Sweetheart" pillow-slip!

While signing up for the giveaway, please take the time to read all about Ashley,....
& all she is up to!

Good Luck to you all!

Your friend,.....

heidi
xo

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"Exciting News From the Shop!"......."

"Family" pillow-slip/
This morning, I have the most exciting news from my etsy shop,....
Heidi Devlin Design!.....
My pillows have become "pillow-slips"!......
For some time now, I have simply offered my designs as actual pillows, with clients having to request the "pillow-slips", & me making them up as custom orders.
However, after much thought, I decided designing & hand-stenciling "pillow-slips" was the way to go for everyone!

Creating "pillow-slips" allows for me to offer many of my pillows at lower prices, as well as slashing the shipping costs to almost 1/2 of what they have been!
And now, with the "pillow-slips" being beautifully made with a finished "envelope closure", customers can easily remove them for laundering, making the pillow-slips ones that are very family friendly!.....
My "pillow-slips" also allow you the"seasonal switch"!!,..... using your existing pillows, but just switching out the "pillow-slip" for one a bit more appropriate for the season you are in!
With the economy the way it is, I am trying very hard to offer charming pillows, runners & accessories that are not only extremely well-made, but very well priced as well!

I encourage you to visit the shop very soon!....& do a little shopping!....
After all, "pretty pillows" at lower prices & shipping costs just doesn't happen every day!!!!!
Happy Shopping!

Your friend,....

heidi
xo

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"For the Love of Gardening".....

I have always loved having my hands in the dirt.
I love the idea of taking a seed & watching it grow. I love waking up,.... & wanting to check the garden, even before making the coffee.
I'm not sure why it is that some of us are drawn to the idea of gardening? I know for myself, that watching my mother plants "petunias & marigolds" off our brick patio, was something I took to heart.
I noticed at a very early age how a few, very ordinary annuals would transform our modest backyard into an area of beauty. And I was very proud of it. My mother worked tirelessly in our yard, ....weeding & trimming & raking....& even though at the time I didn't always want to participate in the heavy work, I do remember appreciating the compliments that came from the neighbors & friends.

Then as a young wife, both my husband & I spent hours in the yard of our first home. We removed rocks that were crowding out our shrubs, & we re-purposed them into a rock wall. I planted pots of red geraniums & trailing blue lobelia,.... & placed them all over our deck,...again lots of work, but the reward was so very satisfying.

Over the years we have lived in many homes,.... tiny suburban homes with tiny suburban yards......a large colonial with a very large yard & even a rural New York farmhouse & 31 acres, not to mention 2 huge gardens & a greenhouse!......& through it all I have happily grown flowers & vegetables & herbs.
And now in my early 50's I am more interested than ever in being a gardener, or dare I say an "urban farmer". I am interested in growing a full kitchen garden, with all the herbs I cook with.

I also want to grow not only my dear little "sun-gold & cherry" tomatoes, but a few heirloom ones as well, .....& of course a variety of lettuces, & french radishes & shallots & zucchini & pumpkins....And "flowers"!....old-fashioned hollyhocks, nasturtiums, zinnias & sunflowers!.....

I not only want to grow all these edible darlings, I also am trying my hand at composting, which I have not done in years, but do remember doing with very favorable results!

I have to say that when I imagine myself as an old woman, I picture myself dressed in faded, denim overalls ( of course with a gaudy rhinestone brooch pinned on!),... a huge straw hat & lots of grandchildren helping & having as much fun as I am in our family garden!....

I'm off to a good start since my almost 7 year old grandson Andrew, has spent many summer afternoons picking & nibbling tiny tomatoes while I weed..... He loves it like I do, like a true gardener. It is in his blood, just like it has been in mine, my mother's & her dairy farmer father before her.
I guess then, that I have answered my own question,...whether we are born with the "desire to plant" or not..it is possibly more in the "cultivation". So I will go on from here, spending as much time as I can in the dirt & hoping to instill my love of it to all my future seedlings.

Off to the garden....

heidi
xo

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"Eggs.....Glorious Eggs"!...Be inspired!

At this time of year, with Easter peeking around the corner,....
I am simply enchanted by "eggs"!....
To tuck in a basket,.... or decorate with,.... or give to a friend,... Easter eggs are ever so charming!.....
Here are a few of my favorites this year!......

Above is this darling "button egg" that I happened to see ages ago on Etsy, but now have no idea who's shop it's from?.....So please let me know if you recognize it as your own!....
All those old buttons secured with pearl-headed pins!.....So pretty!

Of course Martha Stewart's "paper-flowered eggs" are as fresh as Spring itself!.....
Pastel-dyed eggs,.... adorned with the tiniest of blooms!

And these "amazingly spectacular confections", from the blog "Everyday Beauty"!
Now "confections to the eye" I should clarify!.....not truly edible, yet so luscious to look at!...all lavishly embellished with
millinery flowers, antique buttons & velvet ribbons!....
Oh My!
Now I realize I might not be making all these myself, but I certainly am inspired!
I am off to create a few eggs of my own & you should too!
Happy Egg Decorating!

Your friend,
heidi
xo

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"Pretty Pillows for the Upcoming Weddings in Your Life"!.....

"Happily Ever After" pillow.....$56

It seems that lately "engagements & weddings", are the common theme in my shop!.....
Everyone is ordering pillows with" sweet romantic messages" to be given as shower or bridal gifts!!.... which simply couldn't make me any happier!...
Not only are my hand-stenciled pillows a very personal gift,.... but also one that is very practical!...
what would be more charming than a lovely pillow to place in your first home together!.....
Come on by Heidi Devlin Design today!

It is definitely true!...

LOVE is in the air!......

Your friend,

heidi
xo

"Sweetheart" pillow....$46

"us" pillow.....$28

"I Do" pillow....$28

"Family" pillow...$56

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Announcing my "William & Kate Royal Wedding" Swap!......

The other day, it occurred to me that I have not hosted a swap in quite some time!...& to be very honest I miss it!!.....So I have decided to combine my "love of swapping", with my
"over-the-moon excitement" for the upcoming
wedding of
Prince William & his lovely bride-to-be Kate Middleton!...into the
"William & Kate Royal Wedding" Swap!!
Now if you know me or have ever been involved in any of my swaps, I am very strict about signing up only if you have every intention of following through!!...I am not kind to "flakers" of any kind!....no patience for it at all!
With that said here are my guidelines for this swap!!
In this swap, I will be pairing you up with a partner. You will be responsible for making up the loveliest of swap boxes for her! ( $20-25 limit)....which should include items that are "British-inspired" &/or "wedding/romantic-inspired" as well!...This could be teacups, crowns, British flags, etc.
The point is to use your imagination & make not only the contents of the box wonderful & creative, but the wrapping of it all as well!
You can sign up for this enchanting little swap from now till Tuesday, April 12th.
I will assign & e-mail you your partner on Wednesday, April 13th....
And I am asking you to please send your swap box out no later than April 29th,.... the wedding date of this charming pair!
I so hope you will sign up & join me in a bit of "royal fun"!.....
We are in for a "Jolly Good Time"!
Your friend,....
heidi
xo

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"A Royal Swap"......

A swap of "Royal" proportions!....
To be announced tomorrow!........

See you then!

heidi
xo

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"Mixing Oranges".......

I love flowers! And I love creating interesting combinations with flowers. For me, combining two or three different varieties of flowers, but staying in the same "color-story" gives you the most charming results!.....
While grocery shopping a couple weeks ago at Trader Joes, I happened to eye these amazing "melon-y orange roses",.... & then at closer inspection glanced over to see tulips in a very similar shade. I snatched then up, brought them home & WOW!
Look at the result!.....
Just the bouquet I needed that cold rainy afternoon!..
It inspired me to light a fire & lots of candles & make big pot of soup!

Nothing like "Orange Blooms",....
a bit of bright green....
& a backdrop of brown transfer-ware to inspire an entire evening!

Have a cozy little weekend!

Your friend,...

heidi
xo

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"I Have a Question for You"?

Hello Friends......I am spending the afternoon today working on laundry, changing beds & stenciling pillow fronts for the shop. However, what has been swirling about in my head has nothing to do with laundry, making beds or stenciling pillows.....
It has to do instead , with these ever-so-charming "sequined fruit"!?...
(No telling what you think about while doing household chores is there!)
O.K....I found this photo a while back,..... I think in Country Living magazine when they were doing an article on flea markets & thrifting.......& I fell in love!...I so want to make some of these bejeweled fruits!!! The question is where do I get the fruit?..Silly question, but the hard fake fruit at the craft stores is a bit too thick, & of course I'm not aware of any styrofoam in these glorious fruit shapes? Is there a softer faux fruit that would work?....
I would love any suggestions you may have!....My hands are itching to get into tiny pins & all those gorgeous colors of sequins, so I welcome any input you can offer!
Thanks so much!......Now back to the laundry, beds & stencils!
Enjoy your afternoon!........
Your friend,
heidi
xo

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"A Must Try" !!!!

Good Morning Friends,
If you are under the impression "Mac & Cheese" is not appropriate for company than think again!.......
A week or so ago I was hosting a big family dinner,.... & decided another side dish was needed. Since Ina Garten is usually my "go-to-girl" recipe-wise, I went to the bookcase & pulled out one of her cookbooks. I was flipping through, & somehow landed on the page with her
"Mac & Cheese" recipe......
Now it seems I had made it years ago, since I had made a little star & written delicious?.....but somehow my memory of how good it was had faded?
O.K....so I decided I would add this to my buffet dinner for my husband's extended family.
I made it that afternoon & baked it right before serving!.....& OMGoodness!......So incredibly fabulous!!!!!!!.....The children loved it ( what child doesn't adore m&c!), the men loved it & so did the women!!!!!!!!
So the message here is most definitely plan a night to make Ina's "Mac & Cheese"!
You will simply love it!.....It's a keeper for sure!!!!

Happy Cooking!

heidi
xo

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Just in time for Easter...my "Glittered Ragball Eggs"

With Springtime just peeking around the corner,.... & Easter just weeks away, I decided to add these enchanting "Glittered Ragball Eggs" to my
Etsy shop, Heidi Devlin Design!
When designing these eggs, I wanted to give them that "vintage feel"!....So I actually made "ragball eggs",... & then encrusted them in mica flakes, which adds that antique-y look we all love!
I am selling them for $18/set of 4.....each egg measuring 3+ inches. The set comes wrapped in a crisp cellophane bag & tied with satin ribbon!...so very pretty!
Personally I am planning on displaying my "Glittered Ragball Eggs" in a few old florist baskets that I have been collecting for years,.... but they would also be lovely to give as a "favor" at your Easter celebration or even as a sweet gift for a friend!
Hope to see you over at my shop!......
Your friend,
heidi
xo

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"Living Little" has Gone Seasonal!....

Happy Monday to you all!...I hope you are all doing well!
For those of you wondering where your on-line issues of "Living Little with Heidi" are, I am so tickled to announce that my Spring issue is being put together as we speak,..... & will be arriving to each you in about three weeks!

Like many of us,.... life & work here at our house has gotten busier & busier, & very often it seems that there truly are not enough hours in a day to accomplish everything I want to do. So as much as I loved putting out a "monthly" newsletter, I have decided a "seasonal" one might be just as lovely!.....

Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter editions are being planned!...

with a few fabulous short special editions added along the way!

For those of you who are not familiar with "Living Little with Heidi", let me take this opportunity to tell you all about it!
"Living Little" is my lovely free,...on-line newsletter!
It is filled with seasonal ideas of decorating, cooking, crafts & gardening! Ideas that have worked for me & that I am sharing with you now in "Living Little"!.....And the ideas are based on my personal philosophy, creating a beautiful life with little time, little money & little space"!!..which I feel is quite relevant in today's world!

And lots of beautiful pictures & inspiring quotes too!

To receive "Living Little" please e-mail me at heididevlin@gmail.com!!

And a sincere thank you & hug to all of those of you who indeed are my readers & who have sent such sweet e-mails to me about "Living Little"! I love hearing from you!

Wishing you all a day of discovery!

Your friend,

heidi
xo

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"the whole world is a garden"......

"If you look the right way,....
you can see that the whole world is a garden."

Frances Hodgson Burnett, "The Secret Garden" ( 1911)

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"Not Sure Which Way to Turn?"......

I am not quite sure which way to turn?.....Spring is in the air around here, & I am in the mood to spruce up everything!.....The house, the patio, the garden,...... all are calling out for attention!....
In the garden, I am working on adding more raised beds, so all the seeds I am dying to plant will have a place to grow & thrive!.....I am eying tall "tuteurs" at the local nursery, to add height & structure to the garden,.... & am even hinting to everyone that a "rose arbor" would be a lovely Mother's day gift!

I've even moved our wicker patio table to the far end of the garden, where I romantically see us dining throughout the summer months!

And then there is the inside of our home. Where do I start?.....
Making curtains for the kitchen window, would be good.....or maybe those large floral/burlap pillows for the sofas?
Or possibly rearranging the furniture is where I should begin?....but then again the coffee table is desperate for paint?.....

Decisions, decisions....

Then there is the patio.....I have already given it a good cleaning, but new cushions on the chairs would be lovely!....but nothing too tailored. I am far more in the mood for a large geranium print, something "splashy & not too serious"!
And then I am even toying with the idea of hanging drapes on all four corners of the patio? Wouldn't that be charming!
So need I say more. I'm sure you can imagine the list of "to-do's" I have in front of me.
Somehow though it doesn't seems like work. These are the tasks I find so inspiring!....
Creating beauty in & around the spaces where we live!

Now off to get a start on that list!

Here's to all our homes, our gardens & our dreams!

Your friend,....

heidi

xo

(photos courtesy of... Martha Stewart & Country Living)

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