Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Fussing With the Studio

February 2, 2010 at 9:16 am by Claudia


Happy second day of February, everyone! After several spectacularly frigid sunny days, the thermometer is registering a bit more warmth. It was cold, and I mean cold this past weekend. The dogs are handling the change in sleeping arrangements fairly well; perhaps a bit better than their mama.

I’ve been playing around in the ‘studio’ lately. I always put studio in quotes because, let’s face it, it is not like all those gorgeous studios I see throughout blogdom. I don’t think Where Women Create will come calling. It is not a separate room. Or a large space. It is the small hallway on our second floor. We are space challenged here at MHC. However, where there’s a will, there’s a way…. that’s my motto.

After much consideration, I decided to hang the reimagined bulletin board here. (I will be creating another one for the living room.)


Just a few things on it at the moment – when something inspires me, I will add it to the mix.


This gorgeous ribbon came from Andrea Singarella. Her blog, Everyday Beauty is simply gorgeous. I fell in love with the soft pastels she uses in her creations. The ‘C’ is from my friend Elyse and the bird was created by my friend Joy.


Vintage Chick button from Joy – Vowels print from my friend Heidi.


A McCoy pot full of pens, markers for quilting, a seam ripper, millinery flowers and tags made by Jill at Gypsy Brocante.


While shopping for Christmas presents, I found this little framed beauty. I love that vintage graphic. The ballerina in a little jar is from Linda Crispell.


The starfish and cherub are from Vintage Sue. The Carl Larsson prints are from IKEA – I used them in my temporary digs in San Diego.


A beautiful watercolor from Helene and a little pink chick from Elyse.


My ribbon board – full of favorite quotes, cards and notes from my blogging friends, my Ravelry button from Rhinebeck, a button from Heidi’s shop.


One of my favorite quotes – ever. I’ve carried it around with me for several years. Oh, and my Paul McCartney ticket. The red button came as part of the wrapping on a little gift from Amy at Inspire Company.


More quotes, cards and a photo of my best friend Laural and me taken a few years ago in Manhattan. Laural and I have been best of friends since I was 12 and she was 13. She lives outside of Chicago and is also in theater. My nails no longer look that nice – I went back to my real nails, for better or worse.


Blogging friends make such creative tags and I’m starting to gather them together in one spot. Some blogger had a post about using these tags in her studio space and darned if I can remember who it was!


There was a play on Broadway in the 40’s called Claudia. It was a big hit and was eventually made into a movie with Dorothy McGuire. There was a sequel made called Claudia and David. I’ve always known about these movies because they influenced the names my parents chose for my brother and me. A few years ago, my antique dealer friend Suzanne found this original program from the Broadway play and gave it to me.


I saw this piece in a shop over two months ago. When I went back recently, it was still there and so reasonably priced that I snapped it up. It is beautifully embroidered and is a doilies roll. Was that the way doilies were stored? I’ve kept in on the roll but I may hang it somewhere.


The sewing corner of the studio. There is also the design wall portion but I haven’t really changed anything there. As I finish this post, I am taken by how many of the items that are a part of this space are from my blogging friends. My life has been enriched by your friendship.

This is my happy place.

Filed Under: Fellow bloggers, studio 35 Comments

McCoy Monday

February 1, 2010 at 1:05 am by Claudia


It is McCoy Monday #4 here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Don’t you just love this color? You know I do – you’ve seen it throughout the cottage. This is one of the larger McCoy vases and I am crazy about it. It sits on one of the side tables that I painted a creamy color last summer. The curvy, classical lines of this vase are so simple and beautiful. It is filled with dried blooms from a snowball bush that is outside my friend Heidi’s shop.

The second night of our new experiment with the dogs went fairly well. This time, though, Scout was on to us and tried to sneak upstairs. When I encouraged her to get up on the loveseat downstairs, she gave me a look that said, ” Are you kidding me?” And then she looked sad. And then I got sad. But we made it through another night. I feel guilty about her, but I don’t see any other choice. I wish I could just explain the whole thing to her – I’ve tried and maybe on some level she understands?

Tomorrow I will show you some photos of my ‘studio.’ See you then!

Filed Under: McCoy pottery, Riley, Scout 18 Comments

Tiles and Picks

January 30, 2010 at 6:23 pm by Claudia


I call this “Still Life with Tiles and Picks.” Don has been practicing using a pick with his guitar and I have been finding these all over the place. We don’t need Mr. Riley snacking on a pick. I gathered them all up and dumped them on top of the mah jongg tiles in my McCoy dish. Wait…that might make a nice photo. And there you have it. Don’t you find yourself looking at everything as a potential blog photo? I do.

I’m so proud of my dogs. After much preparation, blocking off the stairs, putting all things away that an anxious dog might find potentially edible, bringing down Scout’s bed and closing the door to the den – I took Scout’s little face in my hands and explained why, for the first time ever, she had to sleep apart from us and asked her to be a good big sister to Riley. I talked to Riley, too. We left them downstairs, with a little classical music playing (just as we do when we leave the house) and cheerily said goodnight. We made a beeline for our bedroom, closed the door, turned on the white noise machine and hoped that all would go well. I, being the sap that I am, started crying. The dogs are always with us in our bedroom and this would be a major change to their routine.

This morning, we tiptoed out into the hallway, peeked down the stairs and saw them both sleeping. Scout was on the loveseat, Riley was on his favorite area rug. No messes, no puddles, no nothing! They really handled it well. They are such good dogs.

It is so cold here today – I’ve haven’t gone outside at all. Around mid-afternoon, I heard my husband let out an ‘Oh no’ as he realized the hot water pipe in the kitchen had frozen. Luckily, he discovered it just in time and we used a hair dryer to warm up the pipe. Crisis averted.

Spring, please come quickly.

Filed Under: decorating, McCoy pottery, Riley, Scout 20 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

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