Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Re-Imagining the Bulletin Board

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You never know what might happen when I clean out a closet. I have this closet in the guest bedroom/office/music studio. By the way, we only have 2 closets upstairs and a very small one downstairs. My husband and I share the one in our bedroom and it is not a big walk-in closet. Oh no. We cram our clothes in there, which allows me to have the other closet for fabric, yarn, craft supplies, office supplies, etc. When we first moved here, I installed shelves and that makes a huge difference. I was ruthless the other day and filled up a big contractor’s bag with stuff. I still have to go through my yarn and donate the yarn I know I won’t use. While I was tossing things, I found a bulletin board. It got me thinking.

I have a memo board, the kind with ribbons on the diagonal. While pretty, it isn’t entirely practical as I have to shove everything under the ribbons. It limits what I can do. So, why not have one board for some things and the bulletin board for others? I pulled out my trusty aqua paint – the same can I used on the mantel shelf in my studio and on the chalkboard.


I painted this much the day before yesterday. Fast forward to this morning, oh, about 5 AM. I woke up early and couldn’t get back to sleep, so I got up, finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown (really liked it) and got out my paints. Of course, I was in my flannel pajamas, which seems to be the norm for my creative spurts. Just like with the chalkboard, I added the antiquing glaze to ‘age’ the bright aqua paint. Then I painted these:


I bought these from Rita when I was in California – at the Barn Sale. These also were aged. Looks like an frowning face, doesn’t it? I was unsure what to do with the cork when I remembered all the sheet music I have. I pulled out an exercise book that I know I will never use – that would mean I would have to practice. Ah…no.


With the help of Mod Podge and the adrenaline from strong early morning coffee, I came up with the above arrangement. I used an almost-dry brush and aged the sheet music a bit.


Then I attached my little garland and roses.



And, here is my pretty bulletin board:


Almost too pretty…I don’t want to clutter it up. Oh well, I’m sure that feeling will pass. I have to seal it somehow – any suggestions from all you crafters? Some sort of clear acrylic sealer? Any advice would be most welcome.

Thank you for your lovely comments about sweet Nella. I will pass them on to my parents. We will always miss her. I’ve already seen photos of Lydia and Luke and they are so adorable. Hopefully, I will be able to share them with you soon.

Goodbye, Sweet Nella

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My parents had to bid farewell to Nella today. She had been suffering with kidney failure for a few years. Within the last few days, Nella stopped eating and had difficulty walking for any more than a few steps. My Dad emailed me this morning to inform me that they would be taking Nella to the Veterinarian for one last visit. We are all filled with sadness. She was such a wonderful companion to my parents for 13 years. I spent the day running errands, but Nella and my parents were never very far from my thoughts.

When I arrived home, Don said there was a message from my Dad to call him. They said goodbye to Nella at 11:30 this morning. We talked about our grief for a bit and then he said they had ‘2 visitors.’ ‘Who?’ ‘Lydia and Luke.’ (I had never heard my parents mention a Lydia or a Luke.) It turns out they are 2 abandoned kittens that the Vet had been fostering. They have been adopted by my parents. I couldn’t be happier for them. For my Mom and Dad, Nella was a constant source of amusement and delight. They loved watching her and cuddling her. They need that. They need, like all of us, to nuture and take care of something. Lydia and Luke found my parents and I have to believe that Nella would be happy for them.

McCoy Monday

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In my second installment of McCoy Monday, I am highlighting one of my very first pieces of McCoy Pottery.


This is from McCoy’s Arcature line – it was made in or around 1951. The columns on either side of the bird are hollow and can be filled with water and used as a vase. Personally, I don’t think it needs any other adornment, the fabulous bird in the center is pretty enough for me. I’ve written before about my love for anything with birds. Fortunately for me, McCoy used a lot of birds in their designs. This 3 dimensional bird is especially pretty.


Isn’t it sweet? I’ve fallen in love with this piece all over again. And an added benefit: as I pull these out to photograph, they get dusted and cleaned!

Have a great Monday! I’m cleaning out the closet in the office/music studio/spare bedroom that has all my stuff in it (fabric, crafts, dialect tapes, yarn – you name it.)

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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