My Little Bloomin’ Shop Grand Opening

Welcome Friends,

I’d like to announce the grand opening of Leisure Lane’s new shop, “My Little Bloomin’ Shop”.  This little shop features more of my artistic projects, plus one-of-a-kind gifts and fun things.  I’ll be adding more items all the time, so keep checking back at My Little Bloomin’ Shop.  And while strolling along Leisure Lane, don’t forget to stop into The Knittington Fairies’ Shop and Gallery.

This beautiful scarf and its sister scarf are both featured in My Little Bloomin’ Shop.  A perfect way to bring in Spring colors while still keeping the early Spring chill away.

Thank you for spending time on Leisure Lane, and I hope to see you again soon.  I love hearing from you, so you’re welcome to leave a comment.

Don’t forget to drop by tomorrow for the teacup note card tutorial.

Until next time, may happy days abound!

Marianne

A Sneak Peak At Summer

Hello friends,

Many of you live where the winter’s been quite insistent, and I’ve noticed that you are longing for warmer days.  So, here on Leisure Lane, to help bring in the long awaited warmer season, I’m featuring a delightful poem by my dear and talented friend, Brenda.  She was inspired to write it from a question she read in a magazine.  Perhaps it will bring back some memories for you, too.  EnJoy!

I Remember When

I remember when the only thing I ever
wore all summer was a swimsuit. My favorite
was of leopard print made by my best friend’s
mother, whom I called “Mama Dot.”

That seemed to be my only worry during
those summer months; which one should I wear;
a one piece or two?  The colors were beautiful,
the prints were simple, and the water was cool.

I was excited to learn to swim and to “jack knife”
from the diving board. My best was the “Swan Dive!”
Parading around with youth on my side and
not a worry in my heart or soul.

I look back on those days and wish that life
now could be more of a simplistic means.
Being able to have a young, youthful figure,
and no worries other than what swimsuit to wear.

 

Brenda Lynn Stevens
Copyright © 2011

 

Perhaps now, you’re inspired to write a  poem, too.  If you do, please share it with us. You can write it in with your comment.

Don’t forget to stop by Tuesday, March 1st, for the teacup note card tutorial.

Also, I have another shop!  It’s called “My Little Bloomin’ Shop”.   This shop features more of my artistic projects, one-of-a-kind gifts, and fun things.  It is now opened for business, so come in.  Click here or on the shop name in header.

As always, thank you for visiting, and I look forward to seeing you again, soon.

Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne

Note:  Thank you http://arestlessgypsy.blogspot.com for the above vintage photo.

Wedgwood Wednesday

Welcome friends,

Well, today I am showing my last pieces of Wedgwood.  The first piece shown here is a sweet 4 1/2″ x 3 1/4″  tray.

Two mischievous cupids are playing; a little dog joins in the fun.  It’s wavy edges and flower/fern design on the inside edges add grace and charm.  Such a delightful piece.

This last set was quite an unusual gift to me from my mother and sister.  It was the first time I had ever seen black Wedgwood.

The white on black is stark and lovely, and the designs so beautifully silhouetted against the background.  The cameo and earrings are set in silver adding to their intriguing nature.  I just think they’re a treasure.

All of my Wedgwood mean so much to me because they were given as gifts for my birthday, and their donors very close to my heart.

If you are wondering about the glasses, well, they were also given to me by my mother and sister, who had taken over my father’s jewelry shop when he passed away.  They no longer have the store, but when they did they would occasionally get some interesting antique pieces.

These are theater or magnifying glasses.  Aren’t they divine?   They’re kept closed, and hang around the neck as a pendant until you are ready to use them.  Then they unlatch and open up into spectacles.  Notice the intricate design on the handle.   How superb!

Even the chain is beautiful.  Notice the motif designs on the chain.

I hope you enjoyed my little treasures.  And until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne

Don’t forget to visit next Tuesday, March 1st, for the teacup note card tutorial.

Tutorial Coming Next Tuesday

Hello friends,

For next Teacup Tuesday, March 1st, I will be posting a tutorial for making a ‘cup of tea’ card similar to the one above.   They make great surprise gifts to send to someone.  It’s easy and fun to create, so don’t forget to stop by.

I like to collect blank note cards because I can make them unique and personal.  Hope to see you then.

Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne

Tomorrow I’m posting lovely Wedgwood ~ come by and visit.

O, Love

O, Love

How enlivened I am when Love appears.  Sadness is but dust at my feet when Love is near.

O Love, what spark has blazed your fire?  Even the birds sing your song!

Marianne 2011©

When we open the door to the Divine, a joy within us leaps, and who can tell what beauties will present themselves.

Wedgwood Wednesday

Happy Wednesday, dear friends,

It’s still the love month, so today I am showing a lovely little heart-shaped piece.  This 2 1/2″ heart box is perfect for keeping small treasures, like this pretty pearl necklace or a a pair of earrings;  perhaps even a love note or two.  I’ll never tell.

You can see the detail on the top of the box as well as the accent detail on the bottom side.  Don’t forget to click on the images to see a closer look.

All of my pieces were given to me by my former husband, except a set of earrings and matching cameo (which I will feature at a later date), and this beautiful powder compact (below).

This compact was given to me by my late mother-in-law.  She found it at a garage sale for about $3.00!!  It had never been used as far as she or I could tell.

The original powder applicator and mesh are still inside.  It was made by Stratton in England, and you can see the name of the company on the applicator as well as on the back of the compact.  The center metal ring opens up so you can pull out the mesh and refill with powder.  An unusual, yet lovely piece.

I hope you enjoyed these Wedgwood pieces, and if you have any Wedgwood beauties that you would like to share, please leave a comment on this post so we can click over to your site and view them.

Thank you for visiting me.  I look forward to seeing you again.  Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne

Note:  If anyone is interested in owning a Wedgwood powder compact by Stratton, there are some being sold on ebay.  I actually found one with the same lid as mine – a lady charioteer.

Happy St. Valentine’s Day

Hello visitors, and welcome…

Today is the day of Love, and I’ve chosen three red objects to symbolize the three parts of our being which crave our love.   If we nurture these separate parts, they will fundamentally work beautifully as a whole, allowing us to love ourselves and others more deeply and healthfully.

☼ Red gogi berries ~ to nourish and restore our bodies

☼  A red candle ~ to restore tranquility to our minds

☼ A red heart ~ to feed our souls

It’s my birthday today, and a reminder for new beginnings.  And those new beginnings begin with me.  A new beginning of harmony and balance ~ peace and love.

Love begins in the home ~ not only the geographical home, but the inward one as well.  Due to some of yesterday’s circumstances I have been re-illuminated to these fundamentals of perfect living.

So I wish everyone of you a Happy St. Valentine’s Day full of balance, peace, and love.  A day to remember to love not only those dear to us, but also, and most especially, ourselves.  A day to restore wholeness to our being so that we can love more richly.

Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne♥

Note ~ the little heart pendant was a Valentine gift, made and given to me by my son when he was in kindergarten 16 years ago.  I wear it every year.

Thank You, Faerieluna!

Welcome friends to Leisure Lane,

I am very excited!  Last evening when I arrived back at the ranch my beautiful prize was waiting for me!  Just in time for my birthday, which happens to be on St. Valentines’s Day!  Isn’t it gorgeous? And I must say it’s much more beautiful in person.  When I look at all the stitching, arranging, and just plain love that went into its creation I feel very blessed to have it.

It came with a lovely monogrammed note, which I waited to open this morning with a cup of coffee (yes, ladies, occasionally I do have a cup of coffee – I think I like the aroma more than anything, so once in a while I treat myself).  I took the photo just as the sun was peeking into the window.

Thank you, Rella (Faerieluna), for your tender sweetness, and for the opportunity to win such a lovely.  It will have a special place to shine where I can be reminded daily of its enduring message.

Ta-ta for now, and until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne ☺

Wedgwood Wednesday

Hello, friends,

Welcome to Leisure Lane.  Well as some of you remember I thought I would show you my Wedgwood collection during the month of February.  But as you can plainly see, February is getting quite away from me.

Romeo and Juliet

So to start, here are three beautiful, limited edition, Valentine plates which were issued beginning in 1991.  My birthday is on St. Valentine’s Day, so my husband, looking for a nice gift, went to a wonderful store in Houston where they sold beautiful items.  They happened to carry Wedgwood, and there he found the Romeo and Juliet plate.  It had just come out and was the first in the Valentine series.

Antony and Cleopatra

Helen and Paris

The next year he gave me the Antony and Cleopatra, and the third year gave me the Helen and Paris plate.  He also bought me other fine pieces of Wedgwood which I will share with you at another time.  Aren’t the plates lovely?

The detail around the borders is very pretty with all the little cupids, hearts, flowers, etc.  These are a treasure, not only because they are Wedgwood, but because they were given with thought and love.

The backs of the plates describe what they are.

If you have any Wedgwood that you would like to share, I would love to see it.  Just leave a comment on this post, so I can click over to see yours.

Please forgive the photos…it’s a very dark, stormy day here today, and the lighting left much to be desired.  Not to mention I am in a rush because I have to go to the job today.

I hope you’ve enjoyed viewing these Valentine plates.  I will share more Wedgwood with you next week.  Until then, may happy days abound.

Marianne

Tea Poem and More

Good day, dear friends,

For this Teacup Tuesday I would like to share with you a cup of tea, some good fortune, and one of my tea poems.  Enjoy!

A Cup of Tea

It’s nice to have a cup of tea
And share our thoughts…don’t you agree?

It’s nice to take a sip or two
And think of reason’s I like you.

So since you don’t live near to me,
I’m sending you this cup of tea.

And when you take your sip or two
Remember I’ll have thoughts of you.

modified

copyright©2007 Marianne Coyne

For more Teacup Tuesday, don’t forget to visit our hosts, Artful Affirmations and Martha’s Favorites.  They always have lovely things to show.  And when there you can visit other delightful sites with all sorts of teacups and other wonders.

Also, don’t forget to stop by Tea Pages, that wonderful blog of tea reviews, news, and more.  Katrina has just released a video book promo (on her Feb. 1st post) for her upcoming book “A Tea Reader”, which will be released this year.  It should be a very interesting read.

Thank you for allowing me into your lives today for some sharing and fun. My Wedgwood Wednesday idea has been a bit scattered.  So I hope to share some items tomorrow, as St. Valentines Day is approaching and I have some goodies for that occasion.

Until next time, may happy days abound.

Marianne ♥