The T-Cozy

A Picnic, Presents, and a Parade

What a wonderful weekend! To celebrate Hannah's graduation and my birthday, we had a picnic brunch at the beach yesterday with family and friends. It was a beautiful day and John made pancakes on the grill. They were delish!

We asked everyone to refrain from bringing gifts, but that didn't stop them from bringing flowers. Look at all of these glorious bouquets!

John and the kids gave me some spectacular presents: a book that is just my style called Found, Free & Flea, the new John Mayer CD, and best of all, an iPad. Yay!

Or course the weekend wouldn't be complete without attending Rowayton's little Memorial Day parade. Here are my favorite views from the event: a 1958 turquoise and white Nash sedan convertible, a trio of Boy Scouts manning a vintage wooden go-cart, and the marching band from Hannah and Jacob's former high school.

What fun! But now it's time to get back to work. This afternoon, I'm photographing my new Elephant's Trunk Flea Market finds to prepare them for their Etsy debut. I promise to share them with you later this week.

Susan

So Proud

Hooray! Hannah is now a graduate of Johns Hopkins University!

Hannah worked her tail off all four years and made the Dean's List every semester. And in true Hannah fashion, she has found an exciting job in New York City that she'll start in early June. It's hard to put into words how proud we are of her.

We enjoyed the JHU graduation ceremony, gathering with Hannah's friends and their parents, and dining at a few yummy Baltimore restaurants. (I'm going to miss that city.) 

We also packed up Hannah's apartment and moved all of her furniture into Jacob's new college apartment in Delaware. Needless to say, it was a hectic few days. I'm so glad to be home!

I am also thrilled to have a full house again. I love having both of my beautiful children back at home. Now I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend and spending time with family and friends at my birthday brunch at the beach on Monday. 

Wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day weekend,

Susan

Catching Up and 20% Off on Etsy

Now that I've finished my Studios magazine article, I can get back to some neglected duties, such as planting my window boxes, going to estate sales, and working on Etsy listings. The window boxes are almost done and the rest of the garden is looking good. We even have a new stone wall that I'll share photos of soon. This morning, I'll be stopping by a couple of estate sales, and later today, I will finish listing the vintage items shown below. 

New additions to my Etsy shop include jadeite Fire King, old cameras, rustic foot stools, paper ephemera, white art pottery, and more. I even found another Sew Master toy sewing machine. It seems that every time I list one, they fly out the door. The last two shipped all the way to South Korea.

As a thank you to my loyal customers, and to patrons yet to come, I am offering a 20% discount in my Etsy shop all weekend. Usually, I have a birthday sale, but this year it falls on Memorial Day and things will be a bit crazy here. So please enjoy 20% off today May 18 through Sunday, May 20. To receive the discount, you'll need to enter the coupon code SPRINGSALE at check out. By the way, for those of you who don't like using PayPal, I now accept credits cards on Etsy.

I'm looking forward to a busy week. We'll be heading down to Hannah's graduation as well as packing up both kids' stuff at college. Lots to do!

Enjoy this beautiful Spring weekend,

Susan

A Commuter Love Story

John and I are often asked how we met. As you may know, it was back in the mid-1980s while riding a commuter train home from work. I commuted by train from Connecticut to New York City for six years. However, John commuted for only six months. Lucky me that our paths crossed.

For your viewing pleasure, I unearthed this segment about us that originally appeared on television's Inside Edition back in 2001.

 

What a hoot! When I met John, I was the design director of the very railroad on which we were riding. So years later, when Inside Edition wanted to do a piece on couples who met on a train, they contacted the PR department at the railroad to see if they knew of anyone. And of course, my former co-workers led them to us.

You may wonder, why have I shared this video with you today? Because on this very day twenty four years ago, I married my commuter love. 

Happy Anniversary to John, my sweet husband, the love of my life.

Susan

Mommy, Mom, Mother

Depending on their age, your children may call you Mommy, Mom, or Mother. My two are still in the "Mom" stage. But every now and then, they call me "Mommy" which makes me really happy.

It's the first time in 22 years that I haven't celebrated today with at least one of my children by my side. But Hannah and Jacob are still away at college. Fortunately, I'll be seeing them both at Hannah's graduation in a little over a week. But I sure do miss them today.

Whether your kids are with you today, or are out in the big, wide world like mine, remember that although us Mommies, Moms and Mothers hold our children's hands for a very short while, we will be in their hearts forever. 

Wishing you a most wonderful Mother's Day.

Susan

A Spring Weekend on Cape Cod

We had the pleasure of spending the weekend in Eastham, one of the many lovely towns on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Ours friends, Steve and Sue Ellen, invited us up to their beautiful home and showed us all the beauty Cape Cod has to offer.

From its beaches and glorious ocean views . . .

. . .  to its architecture, like this ornate house that sits atop Fort Hill. It was built in 1868 for whaling captain Edward Penniman.

On the other end of the architecture spectrum are these tiny beach shacks along the sea in Truro.

Don't they look just like a row of Monopoly houses?

A trip to the Cape wouldn't be complete without traveling to the outermost tip, Provincetown. While there, we had a delicious lunch at the Lobster Pot restaurant.

We also browsed Ptown's many shops. One of them sells these dazzling mosaic lanterns and hand painted boots from Turkey.

We also witnessed a picture perfect sunset at First Encounter Beach. This is the actual site of the very first encounter between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.

Our weekend away was perfect— the weather was mild, Sue Ellen and Steve were gracious hosts, and I even found some wonderful vintage treasures that I'll share with you in my next post. 

Susan

A Few More Minutes with Andy Rooney

Being a fan of the news program 60 Minutes, I was saddened to hear of the death of Mike Wallace last week. And just a few months ago, another 60 Minutes icon passed away — Andy Rooney. Mr. Rooney happened to be a resident of my town. He resided here with his wife and four children since 1951 and called Rowayton "a great, unpretentious hometown." When I moved here in the mid-80s, I lived just down the street from Andy and every now and then, I'd see him walking home from the nearby train station. Even though he kept to himself, he was Rowayton's one and only celebrity and will surely be missed.

A few weeks ago, the Rooney house was open to the public for an estate sale. After reading the ad in a local paper, I knew I wanted to go. It stated:

Wonderful old Victorian home in Rowayton has been home to the Rooney family for 60 years — chock full of Americana, modern art and memorabilia from Andy Rooney’s incredible career in journalism and television. Period antiques and an amazing collection of American early 20th century prints and oils create a sale full of surprises and an opportunity to shop for a piece of history. 

Special offering: Andy’s antique Underwood typewriter, his vintage desk chair, pieces of furniture he made, many autographed books, vintage press & WWII memorabilia.

Although the home was lovely, I was most intrigued with the basement where Mr. Rooney had set up a home office with an unusual U-shaped walnut desk. And in the adjoining room, there was an impressive woodworking workshop with serious tools and large, unused pieces of cherry wood, pine and mahogany.

I could picture Andy sitting at this desk and clicking away on his classic Underwood typewriter, hunting and pecking at the keys. Once I remember him sharing on 60 Minutes that he only used two fingers to type — something we both have in common. By the way, silent bids were taken on this gem of a typewriter. At the end of the estate sale, it sold for a whopping $3,000! 

Just yesterday, the Rooney house went on the market. The 2,474-square-foot, four-bedroom home was built in 1882 and is situated atop a hill, within walking distance of the village and train station. Priced at $749,500, it seems like a bargain to me.

I started watching 60 Minutes in earnest while at college. After spending the day studying, my friends and I would emerge from the library and gather around a television in a local eatery to watch the show. Three decades later, I'm still watching most Sundays.

I always looked forward to the few last minutes of 60 Minutes with Mr. Rooney, even though I didn't always agree with his often curmudgeon-y views. However, I truly admired his wit and wisdom — especially this quote: "I didn't get old on purpose, it just happened. If you're lucky, it could happen to you."

Susan

A Day of Blissful Inspiration

I am still basking in the glow of the Etsy Success Symposium last Friday. What a fabulous event!

Just across the East River from Manhattan, Etsy is located in a section of Brooklyn called Dumbo, which stands for "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass." Their headquarters are in an industrial building with a loft-like vibe. 

I was thrilled to be one of the 100 Esty sellers invited to attend the Symposium. I met people from New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Toronto, Massachusetts, Missouri, Australia, and even someone from Cleveland who went to my high school! Most of the attendees were crafty types who create handmade goods. Only four other people who sell vintage items like myself were there. 

The Symposium's "Get Found" theme covered topics such as catching the eye of a curator, blogger, magazine editor or potential buyer; how to write better listings with a nod to an item's back story; the ins and outs of Pinterest; and so much more. I was treated to a one-on-one critique of my Esty shop and also had the pleasure of chatting with a literary agent to discuss a book I've been working on. She was very encouraging and asked me to send her my book proposal. Yay!

The Symposium was truly awesome — so chock full of inspiration! Now I know just what to do to take my Etsy shop to the next level. 

What impressed me most about the day was the dedication and creativity of Etsy's employees. They are forever tweaking and improving Esty to ensure it will always meet the needs of its sellers. I must say, I am proud to be one of them.

Susan

Selection Sunday

I was told by John that today is "Selection Sunday," the day when college men's basketball Division I teams are picked to enter the tournament known as March Madness. And I'm doing a little selecting myself, because today is when I announce the winner of this blog's 5-year anniversary giveaway.

But before I do, I want to thank those of you who left comments on my giveaway post. It was wonderful to hear from so many kindred spirits. I was thrilled to read that my blog has inspired you to carve out a place in your home that is all yours, that the T-Cozy is a welcome retreat from your hectic day, and that it even encouraged you to start your own blog. I loved hearing about your favorite posts, be it Jacob's first shave, our many vacations on Martha's Vineyard, or how John and I met on a commuter train to NYC. Please know that I enjoyed reading each and every comment. They truly touched my heart.

This morning, I used an online random number generator to select the winner. Congratulations to the lucky winner — Meg Brookman!

Here is Meg's comment:

The T-Cozy is my happy go-to place. And that's especially true if I'm under the weather or feeling a bit buffeted by the world’s knocks. The transformation from moody to over the moon is instantaneous. Childhood memories and what I call ‘the T-Cozy high' turn my gray disposition into a joyful rainbow of lovely thoughts and images. After some bountiful browsing, I inevitably return to my day a renewed, positive me. PS: My favorite blog of yours is peeking into your tea room. I can smell and savor the teas. And tasting everything that Cathy puts on the table (without gaining a calorie!) is pure clotted-cream heaven.

Thank you all, once again, for your heartfelt comments, support, loyal readership and friendship. You're the best! And since I can't send gifts to each of you, I am offering 20% off in my Etsy shop for the remainder of today. To receive the discount, type in the coupon code SUSANTHANKSYOU at checkout.

Susan

Enter My Fifth Blogiversary Giveaway!

Today marks a major milestone for my blog. The T-Cozy is five years old today! And you know how I like to celebrate an important occasion such as this — with a giveaway. Yay!

The lucky winner will receive this array of T-Party gifts — a new Bee House aloe green ceramic teapot with a built-in stainless steel infuser (just like the ones used at my former tea room); a matching Bee House aloe green tea mug; a handmade tea cozy made by me from a re-purposed vintage tablecloth; a cellophane bag filled with Comptoir Du Sud rough cut cane sugar cubes; and a 4-ounce tin of Lavender Lace, a caffeine-free loose leaf herbal infusion that is soothing, light and fragrant, containing lemon verbena, spearmint, cinnamon, lavender and rosemary. 

To enter my giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post. For those of you who feel ambitious, do some digging in the T-Cozy's archives from the past five years and let me know which post was your all-time favorite and why. If you do, you will be rewarded because I'll enter your name a second time to improve your chances of winning. (And if you reference a post that is older than the ones shown as you scroll down, I'll really be impressed.)

If you are shy about leaving a comment, please don't be. I'm not looking for anything profound here, just a little feedback on what has interested or inspired you on my blog. Are you new to commenting? Read the instructions titled "How to Leave a Comment" found in the column on the lower right.

The deadline for leaving your comment is midnight on Saturday, March 10. The winner will be selected at random and their name will be revealed in a post on Sunday, March 11. 

This is my 898th post, so I hope you don't mind that while you are busy perusing my blog this week, I will be taking a breather to recharge my blogging batteries. And please know that even if you choose not to enter this giveaway, I truly appreciate your readership, comments and kind support over the last five years.

Many, many thanks!!!

Susan

When the Food Network Stopped By

For your viewing pleasure, here is a video of when my tea room made its television debut.

 
Yikes! I cringe when I watch this. Filmed seven years ago, back then, my hair was five inches shorter and I was ten pounds heavier. Plus, they mispelled my last name and my comments in the segment were downright inane. Even so, I'll never forget how truly thrilled Cathy and I were when the Food Network called with their offer to feature T-Party on Roker on the Road. 

To prepare for our debut, we scrubbed the kitchen until it gleamed, swept away every cobweb, and dusted each nook and cranny; not an easy task as antique shops are notoriously dusty. We were ready — and also a bit nervous.

At 9 a.m. on a sunny Monday in May 2005, a Food Network producer, camera man and sound man arrived to film our segment. But — no Al Roker! We were told that he only went to about one out of every four locations filmed for each show. However, the production team was first rate, making us feel relaxed and comfortable right from the start. They were very thorough and began the day with shots of Cathy making scones and tea sandwiches. Then came interviews of both of us. At midday, we assembled tea trays to welcome a full tea room for filming. And by 3 p.m., we were on to two hours of close-ups of food and loose leaf tea. Nine hours later, we were done. The result: six hours of tape shot for a five minute segment. That was a very long day.

How nice to get a glimpse of my former tea room. It was such a fun place. And doesn't Cathy's food look amazing? It tasted even better.

Susan

An Oasis of Wonderful in a World of Wacky

The title of this post was coined over four years ago by Cathy Santarsiero, one of my loyal patrons. Cathy was referring to my former tea room, a happy place where you walked in the door and left the cares of the day behind. Whenever I hear from my shop's patrons, they tell me how much they miss my tea room, especially on a breezy day like to today, when there is nothing better then sitting in a cozy spot across from a good friend, sipping warm tea, and munching on tiny treats.

I, too, miss my shop. But more than that, I miss seeing my favorite customers on a daily basis. Luckily, I still hear from many of them. In fact, one of them is stopping by my studio today to pick up a large order of loose leaf tea. 

These days, my "oasis" has become my home studio. It is the one place in our home that is all mine, and I love how I can do whatever I want it with it. But when we moved into our house over 20 years ago, my studio didn't even exist. In fact, we had difficulty even finding a house to buy that had space for a home office. Back in the late 1980s, working at home was not as popular as it is today. However, I had already started a home-based freelance graphic design business so that I could be near the children we were planning to have.

In our home search, all of the houses we looked at didn't have a dedicated space for working at home. I would have had to convert an upstairs bedroom, work in a dank basement, or add a costly addition to have the space required to run my business. What I really wanted was a room on the main floor with a separate entrance to allow for the easy flow of clients and suppliers that would need to stop by. That was a tall order, and John and I searched for a house for over two years.

By the time we bought our current home in late 1990, Hannah was seven months old and we were bursting at the seams. My first house in Rowayton was a tiny 1920s cottage, too small to accommodate a new baby, a home office and a sitter who watched Hannah for a few days a week. Fortunately, our new house had over three times the square footage of our old one and it had lots of potential. But it still required some tweaking to create the studio of my dreams.

The house had a small den that was attached to a screened-in back porch, so our idea was to combine part of the porch with the den. A friend/architect drew up the plans and once they were complete, we hired a contractor. Very soon after, he gave us the bad news that the existing screen porch was not stable. So what we thought was a simple project, turned into building an addition after all. The porch came down, and in its place we constructed an airy space with a vaulted ceiling off the existing den, along with a small screened porch off the kitchen. 

I was so excited about getting a custom built office for my growing design business. I remember standing in the space when it was nothing but rough framing and thinking about how I would decorate this special place. 

Over the years, my studio's decor has changed. At first, it had a round conference table, a huge photocopier, and two wooden flat files to store large mechanical boards for my clients. Before long, everything I designed was done on my Mac, so the flat files were no longer needed. Then, with the advent of email, I rarely needed to see my suppliers and clients face to face, so the conference table was out the door. And finally, two years after I opened my shop and tea room, I decided to leave my 24-year graphic design career behind for something new. For a while, my studio sat idle. But now it has come back to life.

I am back spending every day in this space and I truly love it. Filled with all of my favorite things, everywhere I look, I find inspiration. As I share more of my "oasis of wonderful" with you over the next week, I hope you will find some inspiration, too.

Susan

My Own Little Corner, Revisited

I'm so pleased. My sewing corner photos were a hit! Christelle's editor even asked for an additional picture. She was particularly taken with my button jars that line the window sill. So I just took this photo and hurled it off through cyberspace to France.

When I was tidying my sewing corner in preparation for the photo shoot, I decided to spruce up a plain jane basket. It stores all sorts of mending supplies and sits in the bottom tier of a Victorian-era sewing stand. Voilà! A makeover was achieved with spray paint and a new knob. Easy peasy.

Yesterday, I found a charming chair cushion on sale at Pier 1. Isn't it the sweetest? So much zippier that my old one. And since I was already photographing my button jars, I figured, why not re-shoot the whole area with my new chair cushion in place? To see these new photos, they have been placed in my original post for your viewing pleasure here.

Help! I can't seem to stop tweaking my sewing corner! It's such fun. And I am truly enjoying my new camera. Between my blog, website and Etsy shop, I take several hundred photos per week. How nice to finally have a decent camera. And how nice to have loyal readers like you. Many thanks!

Susan

All the Best to You in 2012 . . .

Wishing you a year of abundant happiness!

Susan

Holiday Greetings

Sending along my best wishes to you and yours . . .

. . . for a happy, healthy and peaceful holiday. I hope you are surrounded by good friends, cherished family and scrumptious food today.

Enjoy — and have a very Merry Christmas!

Susan

Clip art: The Graphics Fairy.

Turn Your Vision of a Dream Studio Space into a Reality

Hot off the press! A best-of compilation of articles and creative inspiration from Studios magazine, Inside the Creative Studio is chock full of innovative ideas to help you create your own one-of-a-kind artistic environment. Experts show you how to repurpose furniture, integrate recyclables, and showcase vintage items to establish a space with purpose and personality. Artists and crafters of all types share their stories, tips, and creative spaces. From spacious oases to cute and compact retreats, each studio offers countless ideas.

I am thrilled to be included in this fabulous book! You'll find my piece, titled "Organizing with Vintage Collectibles," on page 80.

You can special order Inside the Creative Studio, by Cate Coulacos Prato, at your local bookstore, or online here.

Susan

Home for Thanksgiving

Yay! Our nest is a little less empty now that Hannah and Jacob are home from college for Thanksgiving.

I am so happy to have them home again. And I am so very thankful for these two terrific kids. They have grown into amazing young adults who make me and John proud each and every day. 

Wishing you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving!

Susan

After the Storm

As expected, Hurricane Irene wreaked havoc on our low-lying neighborhood. Lots of flooding, downed trees, and many folks without power. How did we fare? Our yard is a salty, soggy mess, we have no phone service, and our crawl space is in the midst of being pumped out. However, we feel fortunate. Thankfully, we didn't get a drop of water in our house and we still have power. 

We've spent all morning cleaning up after that messy Irene. Later today, we'll be off to take Jacob to college. So bittersweet: I'll miss him dearly yet I'm very excited for him.

Our nest is looking mighty empty!

Susan

Vintage clip art courtesy of The Graphics Fairy.

Keeping an Eye on Irene

I have only one good thing to say about the upcoming hurricane scheduled to slam into the eastern seaboard tomorrow. It has given John and me an opportunity to spend a little more time with our son. The move-in and opening weekend festivities at Jacob's mid-atlantic college have been postponed until further notice.

Original artwork by Briana LaBonte.

I truly enjoy living near Long Island Sound — except when a hurricane is looming. And unfortunately, we may be in for some major flooding this time. Living here for twenty years, we've witnessed several floods, but it has been a while since we've had a really bad one. So now it's time to batten down the hatches. 

My first introduction to hurricanes occurred in September of 1985, less than three months after I moved into my first house. It was a sweet little cottage on the banks of a peaceful stream, one that Hurricane Gloria transformed into a raging river. We lost power, my sump pump couldn't work, and my basement quickly filled with water. However, this story has a silver lining. I got to meet all of my new neighbors when they graciously came over to help me bail out the basement.

The last bad flood in our current neighborhood was during a nor'easter back in December of 1992. Hannah was two years old and I was six months pregnant with Jacob. When the tide came in, it just kept on coming. Before we knew it, we were unable to leave the house and John couldn't get home until the tide turned. But luckily, our house is at the apex of the street and we stayed high and dry. We can only hope for the same once Irene comes to town tomorrow.

Susan

Why I Love Where I Live

I spent my first 22 years in the Midwest. I grew up in Cleveland and went to college in St. Louis. However, after I graduated, I heard the New York City sirens calling me eastward. Eventually, I found my way to the coast of Connecticut, and for the past 30 years, I've enjoyed the best of both worlds. 

This lovely beach on the shores of Long Island Sound is a short walk from our house. Or for a change of pace, I hop on a commuter train and arrive at Grand Central Terminal in under an hour.

If I want fresh fish, I bike down the road for the daily catch.

If I desire hustle and bustle, I roam the midtown Manhattan streets.

I am treated to serene views on my morning walk.

I enjoy the range of architectural styles the city offers.

I can peek between columns on a seaside porch . . .

 . . . or walk between stately marble columns to enter the New York Public Library.

In the 1980s, I spent seven years working in New York and I still have a great fondness for Manhattan. A day in the city is always fun and inspiring for me. 

And then I come home to views like this.

Susan

Inspiration For Your Art and Craft Space

I have some thrilling news! I am in the upcoming book titled Inside the Creative Studio by Cate Coulacos Prato, the former editor of Studios magazine!

You can be sure that this new book will provide lots of innovative ideas to help you turn your vision of a dream studio space into a reality. As stated in its online summary, "Experts will show you how to repurpose furniture, integrate recyclables, and showcase vintage items to establish a space with purpose and personality. Artists and crafters of all types, including quilters, fiber artists, mixed-media artists, jewelry makers, sewists, painters, writers, bloggers, and more, share their stories, tips, and studios. Beautiful photographs and friendly dialogue walk you through these active spaces as if you were getting your own private tour. From spacious oases to cute and compact retreats, each space offers countless inspirational ideas." 

I am so honored to be a part of this wonderful book! For a peek at the Table of Contents, click here. As you can see, I have a piece in chapters three and four. So exciting!

Look for Inside the Creative Studio at a bookstore near you this November. It is also available for pre-order here.

Susan

Life is Just a Bowl of . . .

One of my items was just featured on the Etsy Vintage Tumblr! Everyday they feature awesome vintage items from Etsy sellers that follow a theme. Click HERE to check out their cherry good finds.

Thank you Etsy! 

Susan

And the Winner Is . . .

Time to reveal the lucky winner of this stylish Shabby Apple Trevi Fountain dress!

Each entry in my giveaway was assigned a number. This morning, an online random number generator chose the winner for me. Congratulations, Jana! You've won! Please email me with your full name, phone number, shipping address and dress size. 

For those of you who have a hankering for your very own Shabby Apple dress, they are having an awesome summer sale.

Throughout the entire month of July, you can receive 20% off every dress, skirt and accessory (excluding Swim Wear). Click HERE to be redirected to Shabby Apple.com and be sure to type in the coupon code SUMMER20 at check-out.

Many thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway!

Susan

It's a "Shabby Apple" Dress Giveaway!

Have you heard of Shabby Apple? They are an online company offering vintage-inspired dresses that are a return to what dresses were always meant to be — a one-piece outfit that doesn't need anything else; no tank tops, no cardigans, nothing!

After years of not being able to find stylish dresses that covered enough skin to make you really feel comfortable, Shabby Apple owners Emily and CK decided to do something about it. 

They visited trade shows, marketplaces and designer studios only to discover the problem was not that stores weren't buying the right dresses, but that designers weren't designing them. So they began ShabbyApple.com, the place to find great women's dresses that make dressing simple. 

At Shabby Apple, you'll find a vast selection of dresses in all kinds of colors, fabrics, and lengths — white dresses, long dresses, pink dresses, silk, and even some elegant dresses for that special night out. And they cater to all sizes, from plus-size to petite. Whatever you’re looking for, there is a good chance they'll have something you will love. 

Below is my favorite dress, called the Trevi Fountain, from their Roamin' Holiday line. And... it could be yours! I am offering this lovely dress as a free giveaway to a lucky T-Cozy reader.

Isn't it sweet? A bouquet of cerulean blossoms flutters across the scoop neckline of this slim waisted A-line dress. Made from lightweight Cotton Poplin fabric consisting of 97% cotton and 3% spandex, this dress would be flattering on all body types with its princess seams and dainty cap sleeves accentuated by a fitted and flared skirt. Bold and bright, this dress is sure to be a standout for seasons to come.

There are several ways you can enter my giveaway for Shabby Apple's Trevi Fountain dress. Feel free to do one, or all of them, which will increase your chances of winning.

#1: Become a fan of T-Party Antiques on Facebook. Click HERE to be redirected to T-Party's fan page. Once you are there, click "Like." Then leave a comment on this post stating that you did so.

#2: "Favorite" my Etsy shop. Click HERE to be redirected to my Etsy shop. Once you are there, click the heart at the top. Then leave a comment on this post stating that you did so.

#3. Follow T-Party Antiques on Twitter. Click HERE to be redirected to T-Party's Twitter page. Once you are there, click "Follow." Then leave a comment on this post stating that you did so.

#4: "Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook. Click HERE to be redirected to Shabby Apple's fan page. Once you are there, click "Like." Then leave a comment on this post stating that you did so.

#5: Help me spread the word! For more opportunities to win, blog about my giveaway, tweet, or comment on Facebook with a link to this post. Then leave a comment on this post stating that you did so.

Remember that you must leave a separate comment on this post for each of the ways you choose to enter. (If you are already a T-Party Facebook fan, Etsy favoriter, or Twitter follower, you can leave a comment about that, too.) And be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you if you win. Please note that the winner must have a U.S. address and there are no exchanges for the winning dress. This giveaway runs through Monday, July 4.

For those of you, like me, who fall in love with the Shabby Apple aesthetic, they have kindly provided 10% off to T-Cozy readers. Simply type in coupon code thetcozy10off at checkout. This can be used on everything at ShabbyApple.com — from women's dresses, to skirts, swimwear, fitness wear, bridesmades collection, little girl's dresses, jewelry and accessories. This special T-Cozy 10% discount is valid until July 20, 2011.

I hope you'll enter my Shabby Apple dress giveaway. If you do, good luck! The winner will be announced on Tuesday, July 5.

Susan

It's Dad's Day!

To my sweet husband John, and all of the other caring, patient and awesome dads out there — Happy Father's Day!

Susan

A Home in the Trees

I love it when I have happy customers. And I also love it when they share how they have used one of my items in their house. Here's a great example: The item, below, recently sold in my Etsy shop and then went on to a very special new house.

I made this pennant banner from vintage pink sheeting, braided trim and red buttons. It now resides in the sweetest hand built tree house fit for a princess.

This structure was a labor of love constructed by blogger Kim's husband Chris. Here is my pennant hanging in its lovely new home in the trees. Too sweet!

This darling tree house is a sight to behold. You must check it out! To see it in all of its glory, go to Kim's blog called Musings from Kim K. You'll be glad you did!

Susan

A Coupon Code from the Birthday Girl

Tomorrow is my birthday . . . and I have a little gift for you!

As a thank you to all of my loyal readers, friends and patrons, I am offering a discount on each and every item in my Esty shop. Simply type in the coupon code BIRTHDAYGIRL at check out to receive 20% off. This one day birthday sale is valid on May 28 only.

I hope you have a terrific holiday weekend,

Susan

Flowers from Diane

Aren't these flowers beautiful? They were a gift from an artist friend of mine, Diane Weeks.

Last fall, I had the pleasure of visiting a group of inspiring artists who call themselves the Wilson Avenue Loft Artists. As the name implies, these talented folks share an old loft warehouse building in Norwalk, CT. Twice a year, they open their studios to the public, and that's when I came across one that was comfortable and homey. I got to talking to Diane, its owner, who thought I looked familiar and soon realized that she had visited my former tea room on several occasions. I then realized that her light-filled studio was magazine-worthy, just perfect for Studios magazine.

Diane creates lovely, detailed rapidograph and color wash drawings of people and places. Her studio is so inviting, like walking into a cozy living room. I just knew she belonged in the magazine. Plus, who could resist that Pug!

I recommended her to the Studios editor and, lo and behold, she is one of the featured studios is the new summer issue! Once the magazine arrived on her doorstep, Diane stopped by and presented me with those gorgeous flowers as a symbol of her gratitude. So sweet! Thank you, Diane!

To see more, the summer issue of Studios is on the newsstand. And be sure to visit Diane's website, Diane Weeks Art.

Susan

Pass the Apron to Someone Else Today...

May you have a peaceful, pampered, relaxing, lounge-around-the-house, breakfast-in-bed, let-someone-else-cook kind of day. 

Happy Mother's Day!

Susan

Tablescapes & Tea — and Me!

This year, I am pleased to take part in the Garden Center of New Canaan's annual fundraiser called "Spring Fever." It is a tablescapes show taking place at Waveny House, a stately 1912 Tudor mansion that is now a municipal building for the town of New Canaan CT.

There are over 25 designers in the show creating inspiring table displays. Most of the contributors are area decorators, shop owners and florists who put together lavish place settings and flower arrangements. My spot is a built-in shelf unit along one wall, perfect to showcase some of my more humble and cottagey treasures. In fact, I am the only one at the show with a truly vintage-inspired display. 

To whet your appetite, here's a little peek at my contribution . . .

I "shopped" all around my house for the items in my display and I'm very happy with the result. But there is so much more to show you! I'll share more of my area, along with some of the other designer's tablescapes, later this week once the show is over.

The Garden Center of New Canaan is a group of volunteers whose mission is civic beautification. I'm honored to have been asked to be in this fund-raising show. If you are in the area, Tablescapes & Tea is open to the public on Thursday, April 28 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Waveny House. Tickets are $25 at the door.

I hope to see you there!

Susan