Bella Maison Tresors

I Just Had To Share Yummy Dinosaur Mac-N-Cheese

2012-08-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

If any of my wonderful readers have ever heard of the great Dinosaur Bar-B-Que then you know the raves they get for their mouth watering mac-n-cheese. We are not talking about just another cheesy and creamy mac dish, oh no, it's a very delicious and unique adult & kid loving eat-em-up mac-n-cheese and I've finally found the recipe. My father's wife actually gave it to me because she's lucky enough to have almost every recipe of theirs. She's from Syracuse and that's where Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is really big, in fact I believe they have quite a few restaurants out there which is something us out here in the west don't have.
So anyhow here it is:
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 cup onion, diced
1/3 cup green pepper, diced
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic (1 clove)
2 ounces flour (about a scant 1/2 cup)
1 1/2 cups water
1 1/2 cups half-and-half
7 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
2 1/2 ounces Colby cheese, shredded
5 ounces American cheese, shredded (I cubed slices of American cheese)
2 ounces Pecorino Romano, shredded
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon French's mustard
1 teaspoon white vinegar
3/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce
3/4 pounds elbow macaroni (you could go up to 1 pound to make it serve more/less rich)
TOPPING:
4 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese
1 tablespoon Pecorino Romano cheese

Heat oil in a large pot. Add onions and peppers; cook until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in flour. Add water and half-and-half. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Using an immersion blender, puree this mixture until it is smooth (if using a regular blender, work in batches, filling the pitcher only half-full, since the liquid will be hot). Slowly add cheeses to warm pureed mixture, making sure all cheese is melted before adding more. (If the cheese isn't melting, return the pot to low heat and stir constantly.) Once cheese is completely melted, add salt, lemon pepper, sugar, mustard, vinegar and Tabasco. Stir to combine. Cook dried elbow macaroni in boiling water, according to manufacturer's instructions. Cook until al dente, not completely soft. Combine hot, cooked pasta and sauce in the large pot; stir well to combine. Pour entire mixture into a greased 11-inch-by-7-inch pan or close to it. Top with 8 ounces of shredded cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons of Pecorino Romano cheese.
Bake at 400 for approx: 15-20 mins then place under broiler until top is golden brown and bubbling.
Serve immediately & Enjoy!!!

I hope you all enjoy this and I will post more Yummy Dinosaur Recipies soon!!!

Shabby Chic Spaces

2012-08-18T08:45:00.002-07:00

Hello, Gina's Friends! I’m Joanna, a writer for Arcadian Home—a wonderful online shop full of delightful home accessories and decor. I’m so excited to be a guest on Bella Maison Tresors. I’ve brought along a few of my favorite shabby chic rooms to share with you today. Enjoy! This dainty dining room features palladium windows which let in lots of sunshine. An accent wall is painted a pale blue hue. The cabinet has touches of blue paint showing through a coat of white. The pretty floral rug anchors the room and provides pattern. Architectural found objects give this space a sense of history. The contrast works well between the weathered pieces and the pristine white tailored sofa. A small marble coffee features a cherub base. An eat-in kitchen is filled with shabby chic treasures I’d love to add to my own home decor. The weathered table provides the perfect spot for a cup of tea with a friend. I love this flirty outdoor space with its vintage crystal chandelier, white wicker furniture and rustic coffee table. The painted white floorboards add to its shabby appeal. The white furnishings play well off of the dark wood of the floors and the rusticity of the brick fireplace. A mirrored window frame casts light back into the room from the outside windows draped in a soft champagne hue. A charming kitchen with a generous serving of shabby chicness is quite welcoming. If I were the owner I wouldn’t want to leave the space. The marble topped island with a weathered base provides lots of room for food prep. Slipcovered furnitures and vintage finds give a casual inviting feel to this enchanting living room. The large rosary hangs on an old door on which two portraits are hung. A mint-hued medicine cabinet hangs over an old cabinet made into a sink vanity. Small floral plates add a decorative touch. What a pretty place to primp in the morning! Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 I hope you loved these shabby chic spaces as much as we did! Let us know what you think of our post and don't forget to check out Arcadian Home, your source for all your furniture and home decor needs!

Shabby Pale Rooms of Color

2012-08-13T12:14:00.002-07:00

I’m so excited to be a guest on Bella Maison Tresors! My name is Mari and I write for Design Shuffle, a terrific website and blog which provide a platform for interior designers to share their work and design enthusiasts to find decorating ideas galore. I’ve collected a eight rooms featuring the palest of hues. While it’s true many shabby chic rooms can found decorated in glorious white, there are others that still hold true to the style but feature lovely bits of color. I hope you enjoy today’s post! A pretty brick wall provides the perfect backdrop for this chic bedroom. Pale pinks and greens add a hint of color amongst the white bedding and furnishings. The crystal chandelier adds a bit of romance to the space. Light cream and just a touch of soft pink warm this all white bedroom. The ornate bed provides a retreat from the worries of the day. The palest of grays covers the walls and some of the furnishings in this delicate décor. The French bed boasts a velvet head and foot board framed in soft gold. Silvery silk panels frame the windows beautifully. Lots of interior design ideas to be found in this space! Whispery blue covers the bed in this shabby chic bedroom. The weathered chest adds a rustic appeal against the high white flooring and walls. Can’t you just imagine curling up for a mid-day nap in this serene setting? The soft mint walls provide a lovely canvas in this romantic bedroom. The distressed wrought iron bed adds a touch of rusticity to the room. A feminine floral ties the colors of the room together. A pretty sage headboard rests against a wall of the same hue. The petite side table and café curtain add a dainty touch to the décor. So many stunning elements in this captivating bedroom design! The decorative armoire is glorious in a soft white with green undertones. Next, two busts donning flower laden hats sit atop a cabinet that doubles as a headboard. Pale washed walls give this shabby chic bedroom its lovely coastal feel. With just one pop of red, soft watery hues on the bed add a shabby feel to crisp white sheets. It’s such a nice space for guests to relax in. Images: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 Are you a fan of shabby and pale bedrooms? Make sure to let us know and don't forget to check out Design Shuffle's Design Gallery for more bedroom decorating ideas!

Bella Summer Surroundings...

2012-07-25T10:16:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy doing paint touch-up and keeping the children entertained while their out of school that I'm now exhausted, but one thing I always find time for at the end of the day is Pinterest. It's nice to sit down after the kids are tucked in and look at all the beautiful pictures and wonderful crafts and ideas. If only I had time to actually do some of them, I just keep repinning and thinking to myself that one day very soon I'm going to try these great recipies and actually make that homemade laundry detergent. There is something for everybody to try that they have never tried before, and that's why I love it so much. There have been many nights I looked over at the clock and hours had passed by so quickly before I realized it was 2 am and knew I would be hurting the next day when Kaitlin woke me at 6:30, so now I keep myself aware of the time passing. I have been following some great pinners and am grateful they have such great taste and similiar design likes as I do. I just love romantic summer pictures like some of these here I want to share from some of my favorite pinners.....

and here are some of my own personal pic's that I have pinned this month.....

I hope to see some of your pins and favorites too! I also want to share the Minnie Mouse Ears Happy Birthday Bunting Banner Giveaway while we are discussing pinterest. In my BMT Design Board on pinterest I have posted/pinned a picture of the banner and will be giving it away August 30th, all you have to do is follow me here on my blog, which is to the right, and follow my facebook page if you haven't already but most important follow me here on the blog. I will have my daughter randomly select one of my followers on Aug. 30th to be the lucky Minnie Mouse Banner Winner! (of course the name Kaitlin will not be on your banner, but it will look just like the banner in the picture I used and read "Happy Birthday" and will also come with two of my glass glitter clothes pins for hanging!!! Who will the lucky winner be?????? Stay tuned for more great giveaways every month from now on!!! If your a follower, you will win! I hope you all have a "BELLA" Day..... Gina

The Move is Over, & New Items in the Shop!

2012-03-08T14:53:00.002-08:00

If you have been following me you know we have been doing this big move after 14 years of owning the Lake House......well it's over or should I say almost because I still need to do a big trip this weekend and go get my plants and a few misc items. No way am I leaving my plants and pots that I have had forever and the funny thing is that when we had our big moving sale of which we sold some big bedroom sets, the pool table and things like that, everybody asked if they could buy my plants/pots from me. At first I was shocked by how many people asked, but then I realized that I do have some pretty pots that I painted and some great ceramic sculptured ones that I made to look vintage by distressing and etc. So needless to say I wouldn't sell them and now I have to go move them......all of them......uuuggggghhhh! I am happy that it's coming to an end since week, after week it's been one trip after another. We donated a U-Haul truck full of stuff to our church at Lake Tulloch, and it was good to help out the many charities they will give to. It was alot, I really couldn't believe it was a U-Haul truck full, but we don't need it.......I have learned so much and I may have said this before but if I haven't used it or forgot I had it for more than a year or two then there isn't a need for it and I don't "need" it. At first I thought sizing down would be so hard but it wasn't, it feels good. On another note I just listed some new things in the shop that I created and I'm hoping to have some time this weekend to post more. I'm doing customized banners and bunting garlands which you will find on the website. For those of you that have not visited the new website it's www.bellamaisontresors.com and you will find many shabby chic cottage style bunting banners for home decor, special events, weddings, and you can also order customized lettering in any of my styles listed there. Here is one of the many bunting banners, this one is in the 5 x 7 vintage music sheet design......and they are only $15 with shipping!!!

You will also find handmade roses and some pretty little cottage cardstock signs, doorhangers, and other romantic shabby chic cottage decor. Please follow my blog here for some great ideas and projects coming soon...... Have a BELLA Day!

Bella Maison Tresors Website Is Your Online Boutique

2012-01-31T10:14:00.000-08:00

The official website for my boutique "Bella Maison Tresors" is open and ready for ordering. This makes it so nice for one stop shopping and will also have both my handmade items and all the flea market finds, antiques, and reproductions that I find and repurpose or design with some "shabby chic" appeal....will all be on the website. You will be able to order my Shabby Chic Cottage Paris Bunting & Custom Bunting here as well.

I will still be posting the DIY projects, pictures, and posts here so you all know what I'm up to. We are also moving to the new place, still in SF but we will be on the outskirt of the Bay, so I have been crazy busy with packing and getting rid of "stuff".......you all know that stuff we aquire after owning a home for so long......my husband has more stuff than anyone would ever know what to do with! Seriously..........he is worse than I am. So now we pay the price of having to go through all of it and at the moment there are 3 "piles", first we have the keep pile, then the donate pile, and then the pile of stuff we want to keep but we know it will continue to sit so we will be posting it on ebay or something........ebay is great but neither one of us have the time to sit and write descriptions, take pic's, and post all of it because it would take a whole week or two of doing nothing but just that. This is when one of those stores "we sell your stuff on ebay" would be so helpful around here but they are not around like they used to be over here years ago when ebay started out. Although ebay is only about 40 mins away, it doesn't help us any, boy do I wish we could load it up and take it over there.....lol......It does feel good going through all of it,and I know there are so many people that can use the donation pile of clothing.....I found stuff like jackets with tags on them, kids warm winter coats that they wore maybe once or twice to the snow........in this economy it makes me realize how much we used to spend and I will never let things get that way again......for sure! So needless to say, it's an early Spring Cleaning for us! I am also excited about getting my work studio set up from a bare room to a working studio.....it feels good to do this once in a while because you also find things you forgot about here too. So I am organizing things a little different than they were to make sure everything gets used and it will all be placed where I can see it, instead of boxes.......maybe some clear containers but no boxes because "out of sight, out of mind" right?..... I hope you all will follow me here and visit the new site and also send your friends over to look. Don't forget I list new things every week to replenish, and you will always find something new. I look forward to hearing from you and posting some pic's of the makeover we gave the place. Another Giveaway!!! For the Month of Feb I'm feeling the love, so I am offering this FREE MINNIE MOUSE BIRTHDAY BANNER! Unless you have the need for the letters KAITLIN you can take those off of course...

All you have to do is follow my blog here and make sure to leave a comment so I can have my friend Sabrina randomly select a winner out of the names in comments. I will contact the winner on February 28th. Thanks for entering, Good Luck, & Have a "BELLA" day!!! You can visit the new website here: Bella Maison Tresors www.bellamaisontresors.com

Making White Stand Out, Shabby Chic Design Can Be Color Too!

2012-01-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

The conversation comes up so much with many of my friends and acquaintances, "Interior Wall Color" and so many end up just settling with white. I could never understand when I watch many episodes of House Hunters on HGTV why so many actually make a decision based on the color of the walls, it's just paint. In our minds it seems so permanent but you can completely change a room with a few hours of painting and instead of making that shabby design pop with bits of color through accessories, why not make the white stand out with wall color that will make everybody rave.....

The wonderful thing about paint, and we all know this, if you don't like it change it. I have learned over the years to take risks on color and I may not even like the color but once it's on the wall 95% of the time I love it. It's so hard for us to think of going bold, why, because bold isn't beautiful, isn't romantic, isn't the norm of the Shabby Chic Design.....take a look at some of these beautiful rooms that I'm sure will be getting pinned, and it's not because they are not appealing to the eyes....

It shouldn't be difficult to go for it and paint over those white walls, but the most difficult part is there are so many colors. Get me in a paint store and I can spend hours looking at color, I love color and of course it's always easier to pick colors for everybody else so don't get me wrong it's sometimes still difficult for me to pick just one. Color brings much more happiness, warmth, and romance into a home, and it doesn't matter if it's bold or light, it's color......and it's just paint.
Revoir & Bonne Nuit

Shabby Paris Cottage Chic Birdcages Made to Order At Bella Maison Tresors

2012-01-10T10:41:00.000-08:00

If you have been to my etsy boutique you know I design, recycle, re-purpose, and even hand make Paris Chic Home Decor, Photo Props, Wedding Decor, and more. In the Bella Wedding line I have had more requests from Brides for the Paris Birdcage Wedding Card Holders so I'm now taking orders for them here. Many customer like to use them for baby showers, weddings, home decor, photo props, outdoor room/porch, birthday parties, and etc. You can choose from them here and email me or go to my etsy boutique and send me a msg there if you have etsy and would rather do that. You can also look me up on facebook and send me a msg that way if you prefer, I check all msg's on my sites multiple times a day. In the email please list which design you would like (there are 13 photos below so just count from top to bottom and give the photo number), what size (med or lrg) you need, and your name. The large birdcages are $59.99, the medium birdcages are $39.99, and I have small ones that are great for a child's room or bathroom that are $29.99. I will get back to you same day. All of my birdcages from order/payment to shipping have a 1 week time frame. I ship all products priority so they usually arrive within 4-5 days, the cost of shipping is 10.00, if you order 2 or more the shipping is free. Take a look at the birdcages and let me know if you need a particular color that I don't have here and I can customize it free of charge.I can send you an invoice by paypal or list a custom order in etsy if you prefer.
Thank You & Have a "Bella" Day....

......Keep Spreading The Romance.........

New Year News at Bella Maison Tresors

2012-01-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

I want to wish all of you a very Wonderful New Year for 2012!

A time for New Beginnings, Dreams, and Goals. I am working on so many things, I just wish they were finished so I could share them all with you today, but in time. One thing I am offering in the boutique is Free Shipping on most of the items. I have taken the shipping off of these items already and also marked certain items down by 30%-40% off, including these Shabby Cottage Chicken Wire Cloche items....

I'm also going to share the Distressed Turquoise Picture that so many of you liked on my facebook and pinterest accounts of the brick and door. I have used this for a blog background or other site backgrounds and it's always been a hit. If you want to use it for your blogger background you can just go into your template designer, click the little arrow on the side of the spot for your picture and upload it there. Follow me here for more great backgrounds and other pictures to come.I'm going to have some great giveaways too!

I will be sharing some pictures later this week of the Floating Home we bought a few months back from the Sausalito (San Francisco) Bay Floating Home HOA. What a project this is going to be, but I plan on designing it into my little piece of "Paris" Cottage so I'm getting excited. I will share some DIY and other design projects. Since it's ours and not a client's design project it will be a little different, but fun.

Speaking of the city, look how pretty it is this time of year with the thick fog clouds...and at sunset it's so crisp.

I will leave you with some beautiful Shabby and Elegant Pictures that I find inspirational in the season of winter....

Keep Spreading the Romance....

Romantic & Unique Christmas Decorating

2011-12-18T22:52:00.000-08:00

We all like seeing the latest romantic holiday decor and we can't wait to do something different than the year before, something better, the "Real Conversation Pieces"........you see it and your on the phone texting and pinning a picture of it before you really even finished taking it all in.........like this antique hotel silver decorated tree, I love it!

Over the years many of us have moved on from our same old decorating routine and that can be tough for some because you only got comfortable with the last change....8 years ago.... If you are willing to try something different it will certainly open that door to having some of your own unique displays that everyone will remember and be talking about. One of the most unique displays of a Christmas Tree these days is the upside down tree. I love the display in the picture and makes a room so much more balanced if you have the room to do both, or do one smaller in a shabby cottage like bucket or a table top scene, and they don't have to be close to each other at all. I have to say I wasn't a fan of the upside down tree until this year, now I laugh because it was only a couple of years ago I thought it was a ridiculous display, but I had only seen a few and they just were not decorated to my liking and didn't catch my eye enough yet. Then I started thinking what kind of display I could do with both and just had to try it.

Things have certainly evolved and these days it's hard to pick just one color scheme or just one theme because there are so many different and Beautiful kinds of holiday decorations. I love all the romantic decorations that have sparkle, glitter, and lots of bling, the more the better I say, but I also love and adore the simple and rustic vintage designs like music sheets and rusty garlands. This is why I like to have at least two trees in the house during the holidays.

Whatever romantic decorations, colors, or schemes you go with, just know that anything you put your own style and unique qualities into is sure to impress. Go ahead and use bright colors, be different and let your creative side flow, don't think about things for too long because this is where alot of people get scared into doing the same old.......you would be surprised. I would love to see your favorite decoration or creation, so post a comment or email me, or feel free to ask a question. I'm going to go sit by the fire for a bit and enjoy the quiet now that everybody is fast asleep. Have a wonderful night.

Shabby Cottage Birdcages for sale in the Boutique

2011-11-28T15:15:00.000-08:00

Shabby Cottage Birdcage
I wanted to post a link to some new designs and projects for sale in the boutique this week....you can click on the boutique page to the left or go to my etsy boutique here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/bellamaisontresors?ref=si_shop

Come take a look......

Turquoise Blue Christmas.....Without You.....

2011-11-21T00:27:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to go with the beautiful turquoise BLUE Christmas decorations this year, and I know I'm not the only one. It seems to be a favorite again this year.....but it looks like it's the same pink and silver mercury glass from the last four years. Belive me I'm grateful I have pretty decorations don't get me wrong, but sometimes I just want things my way, ok all the time....HA! We are in the beginning stages of packing to move (still in San Fran Bay but a post for another day) and will actually be out of town for the Holidays.....so to keep it easy I'm keeping things the same. However, next year I am going to do something new for sure, and we will be in the new house so I'm just going to wait and do it my way next year. Maybe by next Christmas I will have a new favorite for a Holiday color scheme, but I love the elegance of Blue and white or blue and silver. There is something so majestic about ice blue and turquoise and I thought since I can't have it my way this year, (like how I added that again) I could at least post some of my favorite pictures of this Holiday favorite.

I really love these bright icy turquoise blues, you can have fun with adding other bright colors to them....

Then there is my favorite, the softer "Tiffany Blues"....and the nice thing is that if you decide to use this as part of your interior design then some of your holiday accessories can actually stay out all year and be used when you move on to a new holiday scheme....

some more romantic holiday blues and beautiful shabby cottage whites too....

I hope you enjoy this little photo shoot and come back for more posts on design, diy projects, and much much more as I begin to engage in a complete remodel of our San Francisco Bay floating home we just recently purchased. I will be giving it my own design touch of Romantic Shabby Chic meets Beach Cottage so I would love it if you follow along as I share pic's and details.
Have A Very Beautiful & Blessed Day!!!

Bella Maison Tresors Is Your French Country Cottage & Shabby Chic Style Interior Design and Events Specialist

2011-11-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

Bella Maison Tresors started with small scale Wedding Design and making Design props for Photo Shoots, and other special events in the San Francisco Bay Area. Offering full scale Event Design & Coordination, I give a unique design to a variety of events and homes in the Bay Area and Northern California region. No event is too small for a classy and elegant look and I have done full scale weddings to a small birthday girl tea party. I specialize in Romantic French Interior Design,including the Shabby Chic look to the Elegant Hollywood Glam style and everything in between. I include my clients every step of the way and like to get their input so that pieces of their personality pop out in each design.
If you have questions regarding a special event or need help with your home or office design you can contact me at bellamaisontresors@yahoo.com.
I also host flea market & antique shopping days.If you are just looking for accessories, you can view some of my Paris Flea Market finds and handmade designs, in my online etsy boutique or here on my blog boutique page. "Keep Spreading the Romance"

The Shabby Cottage Shops Christmas Spirit Has Something For Everybody!

2011-10-26T09:34:00.000-07:00

It's so nice and makes you feel warm and fuzzy when you see Christmas Giveaways that actually give you a chance to win items that are Beautiful and items anybody would love to add to their home collections. This year Shabby Cottage Shops has a Christmas Tree Hunt where you can win one of 6 $25 Gift Certificates to spend at the Shabby Cottage Shops. You can enter and visit all of the fun by clicking on the link below and/or any of the Shabby Cottage Shops banners to the left to visit the different catagories.

You will find something at the Shabby Cottage Shops for everyone on your shopping list this year, you will find Paris Flea Market Items, Beautiful Shabby Chic and Paris Christmas Tree Ornaments, vintage inspired jewelry, custom French pillows, all types of French style home decor, Paris Apartment Style finds, and even pretty Paris gift tags!!! You can shop til you drop! Come see all the Beautiful Shops at Shabby Cottage Shops!!!

The Smell of Fall is here......

2011-10-16T23:43:00.000-07:00

When October hits I'm usually only focused on the one Holiday on the last day of the month, which happens to also be my sister-in-laws birthday, and lots of parties and fun for our family. When October hits you can bet I'm running like crazy .......I'm usually baking, ordering costumes, attending lots of parties, and not even thinking one day ahead of Halloween, but not this year! I'm so ready for all of the chaos and already looking forward to Christmas. We have a big Family Reunion next month which I'm very excited about as well. For some reason it's strange this year, I've never been a person who has made a New Year Resolution but I'm guessing I'm feeling what a person feels when they make a very serious New Year's Resolution.......only it's October! With so much going on I have filled my calendar and inspiration board full for the next three months. What have I done?
I am also excited to have joined all the beautiful shops at Shabby Cottage Shops and am enjoying getting to know all of them. You can visit the shops by clicking on the link in the top left side bar. I have some new designs and projects to share and some new listings in the Boutique that I will be adding little by little as they are finished.
Please come by as often as you can, and don't forget about the SCS Christmas Giveaway where I'm giving a beautiful Paris Flea Market Find of which you can see by clicking on the Christmas Shoppe Page.
Have a "BELLA" Day!!!

Some of the New Romantics for Summer

2011-07-19T16:16:00.000-07:00

In between many things this summer (kids out of school, 1 yr old, and more) lol....I've managed to find time to design some new Bird Cages for the Wedding Card Holders and Romantic Home Decor.......the Bella Home Designs!!!

More to come soon........

Love the NEST.....

2011-04-08T11:09:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when you see pictures of eggs and bunnies, although bunnies do not lay eggs, but we often don't picture the Hen or the mama birds much, just think about it for a minute........

My papa used to have a hen farm and every morning in the summer as a little girl of 5 and 6 I would help him collect eggs and feed them. I used to love throwing the seeds out for them and watch them run over and peck and pick as many as they could before Mr. Rooster came to rule the yard. Fun memories for sure.

I love birds and pictures of nests. In recent years my husband and I have seen some beautiful moments at the lake house with the Eagles and watching their nests. We love to go out on the boat and look for any new faces and nests around the lake every spring. It's amazing how they watch over the nest as the other is out on the hunt for food, after a while the female screams for her companion and he comes, Wow! Imagine that ladies.....lol..... We have some amazing pictures as we have watched them build, protect, teach their young, hunt, and mate over the years and I thought I would share a few of our private collection.........

I really love Nests.........especially French Country Nests......

there isn't anything more calming to the soul than to have that special place that gives you peace, love, joy, solitude, and even more inspiration than you thought was possible......

in your everyday duties and quests as you nurture, grow, and protect it......it's the place you want to grow old, the place family always comes back to and never wants to leave.......

It's Your NEST....... A Place Called Home!

Petite Shabby Chic Candle Holders add Big Romance and Character......

2011-04-07T09:14:00.000-07:00

These Petite Candelabra's have found a new purpose as Shabby French Cottage Decor......they were once silver and looked so plain to me, sitting in a bucket on a table at a Flea Market in Alameda, one look and I knew exactly what to..... I took them in and right away I painted them my favorite "Cottage White", I added some Antique French Crystals I had been hanging onto because I knew I would find something to hang them from someday, and Voila! Magnifique!!!

I found the small tapers to fit them at a little country candle shop in the Sierra's, you can find them you just have to look. I love these Candleabras sitting on a Bath Tray or you could even use them as Table number Holders at a Small French Country Party or Shower with some flowers around them, they have so many uses and they are one of my Favorites, they may be small but they sure make a Big Statement.

It's funny how some of us don't even see things as they sit, we are already thinking of what they can be as repurposed items we love. I have been this way ever since I can remember and it's the thrill of the hunt that is so exciting to me........

New Goodies in the design studio.....

2011-03-16T10:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some new things, just thought I would share. For now they have to be bought on my Etsy site but I'm in the process of getting the website up and running so that I can provide a store this way! Can't Wait.....These things take time, and I didn't realize how much of it :)

Social Media Site Buttons

2011-02-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday to All!!!

I recently nearly spent 2 hours trying to figure out why my downloaded buttons and html codes were not working correctly and taking you to the page they were supposed to be. I kept trying to copy and paste codes under html when I found the buttons I liked but it wasn't working. I was under the impression you had to do it this way but with blogger having all this new template design and changing so much my template was not letting the codes interact with the buttons and links. I finally realized that if I went to picture under the gadgets instead of html and just simply copied a button icon that I had saved on my desktop or wherever all I had to do is paste the link and add the picture from my PC. How easy right? I figured it to be much more than this. I just wanted to share that I found some cute buttons for linkedin,fb,twitter, & more at a site called coolbutton.net and even though they do have the codes for html you can still hit enter to enlarge in new screen & save as to computer which is what I did. I copied all of my buttons from them.They have styles for everybody, hundreds of them. Above are a couple I found there.....

Hope this is helpful and you find a cute button for your social net's. Don't forget to let friends know of my giveaway, anybody that has a cricut machine that you may know. I'm going to try to have a giveaway every month so come back and check in often.

Spread the Romance!

Have a Wonderful Weekend,

Gina

Giveaway Information

2011-02-18T12:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I posted some information about a giveaway I'm having and said I would post pic's of the Tie The Knot Cartridge I will be giving away on the 1st day of March. All you have to do is leave a comment in yesterday's post to enter. Thank You So Much & Good Luck :)

Giveaways!!!

2011-02-17T18:40:00.000-08:00

I love reading all the wonderful Romantic Blogs people have and wonder where they find the time to make all the details look so beautiful, I actually opened a blog a long while back but then never did anything with it really. So I have made a commitment to stay dedicated to this and use it to get the word out on what designs I'm working on and get my business name out to more than just the San Fran Bay Area or Northern Cali! I really didn't think having a newborn, a husband, family, business, & etc. (because I know I'm leaving something out..lol) would keep me from working on my designs and marketing my business like it has and keeping a Blog maintained. So I have recently completed this whole body & spirit recharge, with finishing my classes (yeah) I had some time to take a "healthy cooking" & yoga type of week long retreat and it did wonders! I feel like I can conquer anything!
So with that, I had noticed some of the great Giveaways that these Romantic Bloggers were having and thought what a nice idea, it's fun, you can meet some wonderful and beautiful Bloggers/Friends, and giving gifts is something I love! I would like to have at least one every month. This month is almost over but oh well, I'm going to be giving away a Brand New "Tie The Knot" Cricut Cartridge that you can use in all the Cricut machines. The going rate for this new one is between $28-50 on ebay. This one does invitations, cards, monograms, even favors, it's so FAB! I'm not a scrapbooker but I do like to make cards, invitations, shadow box misc. & stuff like that and this one is my favorite so far. I'll put a pic of the cartridge details & shapes up tomorrow, I promise :) Please let all the Romantic Blogs & Sites you know to come visit the newbie on the Blog within the next two weeks...(by the last day of Feb) & leave a comment under this post to enter.
Thank You So Very Much, Chow for now,
Gina

FABULOUS FINDS!!!

2011-02-16T00:44:00.000-08:00

As I'm getting back from a great tour of inspiration, as in design shows, and a fab home & garden show, I'm working on some new designs of my own. I was going through some pic's and thought I would share.....

These stair spindles I repurposed into candle holders by adding some crystal Bobeches along with french crystals and Viola!!! Fun Project!

The Pretty Candles above I actually made, they are soy 2 wick candles and I make them along with Palm wax pillar candles. Hopefully I will be able to list some soon! I use only natural materials and have a large variety of essential oils and fragrance oils. I love to repurpose vintage candle holders for all my candles I create. I also love bird nests and my favorite new color is the Robin Egg Blue! I love this Color! I will post some more pic's as soon as I can with more repurposed items and fabulous romantic finds. Spread The Romance....

Shabby Bird Cages for Weddings and More.....

2011-02-02T12:05:00.000-08:00

I just finished my Romantic Shabby Chic Bird Cages... they are popular with Brides who use them as Wedding Card Holders, and some of my customers are using them with a candle or two then hanging above a French Vignette or out on a porch for a Romantic feel.....I use the French Glass Crystals or pearl beading and other beautiful misc. add some distressed seam binding or French Stamped Ribbon with German Glass Glitter for sparkle.....

You can view the Birdcages and my other listings by clicking my Etsy store above......

Minnie Mouse 1st Birthday Party

2011-02-02T11:44:00.000-08:00

Kaitlin had a wonderful party and it was alot of fun for all of us Adults too! :) Thought I would post some of the pic's of her special day...

Everybody loved the Minnie ears!!! I make the Minnie & Mickey banners customized by name and the Birthday Hats & Favor Ears.....We made Minnie & Mickey Ears out of headbands for all the kids to wear, & even some of the Adults had fun with them....I had a tub of Minnie and Mickey Lollipops on the table and lots of pink candies in my apothecary jars all over for added fun and color....

Kaitlin had her own Minnie cake to get elbow deep and play with....

We just threw our daughter Kaitlin Nicole her 1st Birthday and since she is a BIG fan of Minnie Mouse, that just had to be her theme. I made the banner and cupcake toppers, along with her birthday hat and everything else. I had my friend who makes beautiful tutu dresses, make her a multi-pink one with the polka dot ribbon and it turned out so beautiful! There are many that make these tutu's but Tiara makes them fast, full, and the most beautiful, she will even customize.