I feel like Santa!....

And no not just because I have a beard growing and a jelly belly....only kidding...he he

But because I know my first 'Festive Giveaway' gift has arrived so I can blog about it and show you what I sent....

The talented Cathy at Potter Jotter won the New England style gift...

  I checked in with her first to ensure we were thinking along the same lines regarding style and colour,so I put together a lovely Sally Swannell card,giftwrap and tag called 'Christmas Eve',then added a wooden snowflake,a wooden reindeer,handmade heart and a soft decoration with holly on it....

 Then wrapped it in country style tissue and tied it all up with a cream wooden heart decoration...

I got a gorgeous email today to say it had arrived and I think she liked it!

Ooh I love playing Father Mother Christmas!!!

Warm Wishes,

Callie

xox

 

Festive Giveaway....

Hello!

Well now that my Birthday celebrations and our Festive Fair are over I am busy getting together the Festive Giveaway Goodies for the lucky 3 winners...

Catherine Daniel

Who likes the New England Style...

Crafty Helen

Who likes the Scandinavian Style...

Becky

Who likes the Traditional Style.....

So ladies I will be looking to get those in the post over the nest few days so that you can enjoy your goodies over the festive season....

Warm Wishes,

Callie

xox

Happy Halloween!.......

Happy Halloween and Samhain Blessings to all!!!

Wishing you a Magickal All Hallows Eve!

Warm Wishes,

Callie 

xox

A busy Autumn so far.....

Ooh I see in my absence that blogger has changed a bit...may take me a couple of posts to get used to it!

 Things have been fairly busy here, this is the time of year that I retreat to my craft room/office and get busy making and doing for our little online business;

www.merryandmagical.co.uk

A shameless plug I know!

But us cottage businesses have to advertise where we can!

In between all this productivity I decorated for Autumn at the beginning of the month and am now going to add some Halloween decs this weekend...

 

 Have a Happy Halloween Everyone!

Warm Wishes,

Callie

xox

Autumn is here at Callies' Cottage....

Well it has been quite a Summer here...

Lots and lots of challenges and the sad loss of my Beloved Grandmother...

She had been failing for quite a while so it was a Blessed release but it is always hard to lose those that you love and love her I always will....

 Always grateful...

So what will Autumn bring I wonder? 

Amanda Clark picture...

This is the time of year I start preparing for the reopening of our web site and getting ready for all the Festive Fairs that we will be attending...

We have new goodies on their way from the wonderful 

Sally Swannell...

How gorgeous is Merrybrights Emporium??

So I am busy making and sewing and photographing all our new goodies ready for the weekend when the website wakes up again for the Festive season...

Happy Autumn Lovelies!

Callie

xox

Retreated.....

I have been away on a spiritual retreat.....

 Looking forward to catching up and reading all your blogs...

Callie

x x x

Challenging Times.....

I haven't been blogging as much recently due to some challenging times...but it is always so lovely to read your blogs,so full of funny, interesting and informative stuff!

So although I am not feeling particularly funny,interesting or informative at the moment I thought I would post a little pic that I liked....

Warm Wishes,

Callie

x x x 

Keeping Busy...inside...

...Until the Sun arrives...!?

 I was given these chairs last year by a neighbour who I helped move,they are very solid but had that horrid yellowy 80's style varnish on them-so they have been on my to do list ever since!

 So after a good sanding and four coats (and as many days) of paint- one was finally finished...

 and ready to go....

After which it was time to get baking for another neighbour/friend who was having a Birthday...

With a bit of help from a Phoenix Birthday card to set the theme,it was time to go and celebrate...

Warm Wishes,

Callie

x x x 

Patchwork Heart....

I am a fan of the lovely Cathy at

 Potter Jotter

So much so that recently when she said she had lots of hearts to make I asked her if she could make one for me...

and she did...

and here it is!

 It arrived today and I am happy, happy, happy..

..the talent of some of you bloggers out there is truly inspiring!

Thank you so much Cathy-I love it and it will be treasured..

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Week,

Callie

 x x x

The Red Dresser and Liquid Turkish Delight....

As Summer has obviously decided to be fashionably late this year,the garden hasn't been getting the usual amount of time spent in it,(apart from hand picking all the slugs off my tomatoes and sweet peas!)- no weeding,reading,lounging,eating al fresco...so my spare time has been taken up with other projects.....

Still managing to get some reading in....

(Loved it as much as her other one-The Cupcake Cafe)

 While sampling our own selection of humbugs and lemon sherberts..of course...

Having painted the kitchen, my Beloved dresser needed a change about...

No 'before' photos but here is how it now looks...

My favourite colours- red,white and cream....

 

 So after all the painting and re-arranging time for a break...

 Mmm,its like liquid Turkish Delight...

Hoping that the sun shines for you soon wherever you are,

Warm Wishes,

Callie

 

Happy Summer...

 The Summer Solstice is almost upon us....

(Gorgeous picture by Amanda Clark)

Wishing you happy days-full of sun,warmth,nature,love and laughter....

Warm Wishes,

Callie

x x x 

Reading Matters....

I received two books in the post this week!

The first one,Sweet Shop of Dreams was on my Amazon wish list after reading her other one....

My Husband had ordered it so that was a lovely surprise to get....

And the second one was a book I won in a Giveaway!

 I won this from the LOVELY Kelly over at

 Kelly's Clutter/Kelly's Recipes for Life....

 It is full of interesting info and tips and all about looking after your home more naturally-less products and chemicals-which I always find a balancing act as I like a clean home but do not wish to destroy the environment in the process!

As you can see -I took my 'preparation' seriously....Well I have to read it before I can begin....

Thank you Kelly -Bloggers like you are the reason Blogland is such a lovely place to be!

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Weekend,

 Callie

x x x

And the winners are......

Happy May Everyone!!

Let's hope that we have a bit of drying out weather this month,the poor plants and herbs are looking a bit soggy!

Though I am hoping all this rain has reduced the chances of a hosepipe ban...

Anyway, in honour of May Day I am revealing who has won my Giveaway on my other  blog...

 www.merryandmagical.blogspot.com

So if you entered, pop over and see if you have won!

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Week,

Callie 

Giveaway ends on Tuesday.....

Just to say that my Giveaway ends on Tuesday May 1st.....

If you would like to enter pop over to my other blog...

 www.merryandmagical.blogspot.com

Good Luck...

Warm Wishes,

Callie

Hope that you all had a lovely Easter!

As a recent lucky winner of a Giveaway over at

 'Mad about Bags' 

 and as I am a bit poorly, so spending lots of time at home,

I have been inspired to do a Giveaway of my own...

But  as it has a 'Festive Flavour' you need to pop over to my other blog to enter!

 'Merry and Magical'

 Good Luck!

Warm Wishes,

Callie

Easter Blessings.....

Sending you all Warmest Wishes for a Wonderful Easter!

I have been a bit poorly over the past few weeks so have been pretty much housebound,but with the lovely warm weather it wasn't too much of a problem....

I love this time of year,everything waking up again,I have not been tempted to go out and buy any new plants,not until after May but I have been potting and re-potting the ones I have on our teeny tiny patios....

 Primrose and rabbits!

Spring is blooming....

Herbs....

 More Herbs...

Lilac....

 And getting ready for Easter of course....

 Easter tree...

Easter door...




Wishing you and yours a Happy Easter Weekend,



Callie
x x x

Spring Fair....

Sunday was our day to pop down to a fair in Tavistock.....

 We needed to be set up by ten....quite civilised compared to some we have been to!

 I always plan the table at the studio first so that I know where everything will go...

 I sold quite a few of my Handmade cards....

 We took lots of Mothers Day themed pretties....

I spent a good part of the week making and 'prettyfying' angels, hearts, cards, pot pourri bags, sweetie jars and bags and candles....

But sadly the day was very poorly attended- we did 'ok' but some sold nothing, such a shame as they were a lovely group of people!

Never mind,theres always next time....

Meanwhile back to the Studio to get everything tidied and put back for our 'Crafty Thursday'.... 

Warm Wishes for a Wonderful Week,

Callie

x x x

Busy Bee.....

This is what I am beavering away for this weekend....

 Hope you can read it ok- if you are in Tavistock on Sunday please come along...

I have been doing these-'Rosebud Hearts'- up for Mothers' Day gifts....

Excuse the photo of my messy craft room! There IS method in my clutter...

I am  really hoping that it will be a good day...

Warm Wishes,

Callie

x x x