The T-Cozy

I Love Starting Every Day Here

It’s hard to believe that we’ve been in our cozy cottage for seven years. You may remember, we spent the first four months in 2013 bringing this neglected vintage home back to life. The largest and most rewarding project was creating the kitchen of my dreams, the perfect place in which to start each day.

Taking down the walls of the original narrow kitchen and equally narrow family room enabled us to reorient the kitchen along the back of the house. I wanted it to be light and open with modern amenities, yet I still wanted it to look like it belonged in this historic home. Did I succeed? I think so.

When planning this space, I made sure to have plenty of windows, a large island, and glass-fronted cabinets for my kitchenware collection.

Now the kitchen is open to the family room and dining room. And see the doorway on the left in the photo below? That’s my sweet little studio, a space we created out of three tiny rooms.

If you’d like to see and read more about this renovation, you can view five posts from 2013 here, here, here, here and here.

It has truly been a pleasure renovating and living in this house for the past seven of its 95 years. I wonder what original owners Harold and May Wilson would think of the changes. 

Susan
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Hi There! I Know It has Been a While...

Not sure where the time went and I apologize for not posting sooner. Weren’t the past two months crazy? Have you enjoyed spending more time at home? Since I normally work out of my studio, it hasn’t been that different for me — except that I’ve quite happily had my family working here, too. 

What have you been up to? My Etsy shop has kept me busy. I’ve also spent time sewing face masks for labor and delivery nurses and ICU health care workers at a local hospital.

I have enjoyed having the opportunity to read more, organize my studio, and draw in my sketchbook. Three of my drawings were inspired by vintage kitchenalia.

I like how they turned out so much that I featured them on spiral notebooks in my shop HERE.

And here is my latest sketch, inspired by current events...

I’m very grateful that we’re healthy and safe here. I do hope all is well with you and yours.

Susan
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A Year of Joy & Love

I hope you had a wonderful year and holiday season. For us, the highlight of 2018 was our daughter’s wedding day. 

The wedding took place at Lounsbury House in Ridgefield, CT, a National Historic Site built in 1896 by former Connecticut Governor Phineas C. Lounsbury. 

Charles Case of Flower Basket of Westport created exquisite arrangements for our daughter’s special day. Charles also did the flowers for my wedding 30 years ago!

The wedding cake was made by the Cake Box. It featured a LOVE topper, just like the statue in Philadelphia’s Love Park.

For our family, 8/18/18 was a day filled with enough joy and love to last the whole year through. 

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Susan
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Our MV Living Room, Dining Area & Sun Room

I am finally getting around to sharing the inside of our Martha’s Vineyard vacation house with you. (Sorry it has taken so long; been crazy busy here.)

During the early spring of 2017, we furnished the home from scratch on a shoestring budget. Packing our car to the gills to bring items on the ferry over the course of several months was challenging. But little by little, we did it. Fortunately, the home’s former owners left several decorative pieces behind, such as the vintage window on the wall, the floor lamp with cork shade in the corner, and the table under the TV. So nice of them!

A few trips to IKEA, the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market, Home Goods, Pottery Barn, Pier One, and various estate sales helped to round out the decor. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention that a friend gave us the sisal rug — perfect for a beach house!

Across the way, you'll find the dining area which leads into a bright sunroom. The table (purchased with credit card points for zero dollars at Pottery Barn) has chairs from IKEA, chair pads from Pier One, and a long wooden bench left behind by the previous owners. More points were used to buy the metal light fixture at Home Goods for exactly one penny! 

My favorite room in the house, the sunroom, features woven furniture (thank you Pottery Barn) and a vintage cabinet in the corner that once lived in my tea room. Now it holds board games and puzzles. The previous owners left us the three ocean paintings in that exact spot on the wall. Yay!

Several years ago, we found an old pine table with hand-painted poppies for $25 at a church tag sale. We stored it in the basement of our CT house hoping that it would someday become a breakfast table on the front porch of our very own house on Martha’s Vineyard. 

When our long-awaited cottage finally became a reality, it didn’t have a front porch. So we cut down the table’s legs, turning it into the perfect coffee table.

The little stool, below, was also left behind for us. It has just the right amount of wear/paint loss. LOVE!

Thank you for coming along on this quick tour of our MV living room, dining area and sun room. More rooms to come . . . I promise!

Susan
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Showering the Bride-To-Be with Love

It has been a while since my last post. Sorry, April was a bit of a blur. I spent most of my free time planning and preparing for my daughter’s bridal shower.  

I worked on lots of fun projects for the event which took place in late April at The Twisted Tail in Philadelphia. We rented their Club Room that has a rustic vibe featuring two fireplaces and a chalkboard spanning the length of one wall. What a great space! 

For party guest favors, I ordered an assortment of mini succulents from The Succulent Source. Once the adorable plants arrived, I made origami boxes for them out of patterned paper in shades of blue and green. 

I then placed tiny “Let Love Grow” tags in each one and used moss as filler. Aren’t they sweet?

To keep costs down, my daughter and I did the floral arrangements ourselves. Using an array of flowers from the grocery store, we placed them in vintage blue glass mason jars gifted to us by a neighbor. We were very pleased (and a little surprised) with how well they turned out.

Another dear friend with mad cake decorating skills made the cake. Sherri does this as a hobby that began when she helped me make a birthday cake for my daughter nine years ago (shared HERE). Starting with that very first one, Sherri caught the fondant cake-making bug and has since made over 50 amazing cakes for family and friends.

With help from Sherri and her daughter (who is the maid of honor), we came up with a few fun party games.

There were questions to answer, faux engagement rings to steal, ages to guess, and more... 

I also asked each guest to fill out a card offering “Advice and Wishes for the Soon-to-be Mrs.” that I placed in a handmade album for Hannah to take home and share with her fiancé.

Speaking of her fiancé, he showed up near the end of the shower with a beautiful bouquet for his beautiful bride-to-be.

What a fun afternoon!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Susan
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Our MV Cottage Wishlist, a Lucky Rock & a Letter from John

Over the last 11 years of blogging, I’ve shared our various fun-filled family trips to Martha’s Vineyard with you. As you may know, for over three decades, we rented an array of lovely summer homes there. But we always longed to own a little piece of MV heaven. Once our kids were done with college, we realized that we could finally afford to fulfill our dream. We searched in earnest for two years before we found the perfect place — a modest and well-kept cottage in the pastoral town of West Tisbury. Upon entering the house for the first time, both John and I knew it was “the one” because it ticked off each and every one of the boxes on our wishlist.

When we toured the house with our realtor Emma on that cold December morning, it was one of a long list of houses to see. And since we were on the island for only that one day, we had a lot to accomplish. After viewing all of the properties, we got a very good sense of how our favorite compared to others in its price range. In our eyes, there was really no comparison. It was exactly what we wanted! However, it was just above our maximum price. Isn’t that always the way?

We had a lot of thinking and financial calculating to do before we would feel comfortable putting in an offer. We toured the house for a second time that afternoon and then headed to the ferry landing. With a few minutes to spare before our boat home, we stopped by a nearby beach for a moment. It was blustery and I stayed in the car while John took a quick stroll to the water’s edge. When he returned, he was holding a small rock in his hand. We took it home to CT hoping that this little piece of the island would bring us luck in our upcoming negotiations.

Knowing how difficult it is to find desirable houses in our price range, time was of the essence. So the next day, we put in an offer. We also knew how competitive the MV market is and felt we needed something to help the sellers know more about us. We decided to include a letter written by John about his 50+ year connection to the island. Next came a bit of countering back and forth. We also learned that there were two additional offers from potential buyers on the table. Even so, they chose to accept our offer. We were told that it was John’s letter that tipped the scales in our direction!

After doing a happy dance, we placed our lucky rock on the windowsill above the kitchen sink where it still sits today.

Soon I’ll invite you inside our new MV cottage, so please stop by again.

Susan
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Welcome to Our MV Cottage!

As you may know, John and I finally fulfilled our long held dream of owning a home on our beloved Martha’s Vineyard. It has been a year since we purchased it and I hoped to share it with you sooner. But life got it the way. So here is my first in a series of posts devoted to our little piece of MV island paradise. Let’s start with the exterior...

Our sweet little cottage built in the mid-1990s seems like a mere baby compared to our 93-year-old stone and shingle CT home. Located in the pastoral mid-island town of West Tisbury, it is part of an association with a neighborhood swimming pool and tennis courts. Nestled back from the road on just over an acre of property, our place has loads of privacy.

The home’s previous owners planted lovely flowering shrubs in the garden as well as enclosing and winterizing a screened porch. What really sold us on this house was how move-in ready it was. After doing extensive renovations to our CT cottage, we had no desire to embark on any more remodeling projects.

Our house boasts a large back deck with plenty of room for lounging, dining and grilling as well as an outdoor shower, perfect for rinsing off sand after a day at the beach. 

The view from the deck is quite serene. Our property has a little shed in one corner and backs up to conservation land. Just beyond that is the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest which has miles of hiking trails and paved bike paths.

Once we closed on our MV digs, we were happy to find that the previous owners left us an array of home decor items, one of which was an old window screen with an arched shape and shabby green paint. I decided to turn it into a welcome sign. Here’s how...

I chose a typeface on my computer, printed out the word “Welcome” and enlarged it to the proper size on my copier. Then I cut it out, spaced out the letters and taped them to the back of the screen. Using cream-colored acrylic paint and a small brush, I simply traced over the black letters. Once the paint dried, I removed the paper template — and voilà! 

I planned to hang my refurbished screen in the foyer, but there wasn’t enough room on the wall for it. I then decided to try the space above the front door. It’s a perfect fit!

It took us three months to feather our MV nest — loads of work and somewhat of a challenge to furnish a house on an island. But for me, it was truly a labor of love. In subsequent posts, I hope you’ll come along as I take you inside. 

Susan
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Spike, Our Pet Frog, Turns 20!

In February of 1998, our then 4-year-old son Jacob headed off to a friend’s birthday party. When I picked him up at the end of the afternoon, I was surprised to find an unusual item in his party favor bag — a baby frog! The birthday boy’s mom thought it would be fun to give the guests frogs in small jars of water to take home. Crazy, right? Although Jacob was happy, John and I weren’t thrilled to have an instant pet. We didn’t even have a proper tank to put it in, let alone frog food. So I quickly did research online and learned that this sudden addition to our family was an aquatic African clawed frog. With that knowledge in hand, we headed out to the pet store to get the appropriate supplies. Once we got our baby frog set up in his new home on the kitchen counter, Jacob promptly named him Spike. 

And now, 20 years later, Spike is still going strong! Plus, out of all of the partygoers’ frogs, he is the only one that is still alive. Why has Spike lived so long? We’re not really sure. Perhaps it’s because we have only used spring water in his tank. Or that we have a cover on the tank so he can’t jump out and go exploring. But I believe it is due to the fact that for all these years, his tank has been front and center on our kitchen counter, right in the thick of things. Spike gets to see us come and go. And I think he likes watching John cook dinner every evening.

Susan
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From Our House to Yours . . .

Happy Thanksgiving!

Susan
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Cottage Number Two

We’ve owned our very own house on Martha’s Vineyard for three months and now, we’re ready to relax at last. Feathering our new MV nest has kept us quite busy. Although it has been loads of work and somewhat of a challenge to furnish a house on an island, for me, it has truly been a dream come true and a labor of love.

This tiny painting of our new home is by my sweet daughter, Hannah, who gave it to me for my recent birthday. Isn't it adorable?

We furnished our island getaway at breakneck speed so that we can enjoy it with family and friends this summer, as well as rent it out a bit to recoup expenses. The challenge that I relished the most was working with a shoestring budget. Between flea markets, tag sales, Craigslist, thrift shops and more, I found lots of things I love at amazing prices.

I promise to eventually share our new summer cottage with you, and perhaps you’ll feel that you’ve come along and taken a little vacation, too! And if you’d like a sneak peek, check out my Instagram feed and search for #mvcottageofmydreams which is the dedicated hashtag I created for the house.

Susan
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Dreams Really Do Come True

Over the years, I have enjoyed sharing numerous family vacations with you as we traveled across the U.S., Canada and Europe. You may have noticed that we return to one place in particular every year without fail — our beloved Martha’s Vineyard.

The first time I visited MV was almost 32 years ago in the early days of dating John. He had a long history with this idyllic spot, the proof being the 8mm home movies his parents took of him as a baby there. It didn’t take long before I fell in love with both John and the island, and we soon started talking about how wonderful it would be to have a place of our own there someday. We married, had kids, and continued our annual pilgrimage. For fun, we’d peruse real estate listings and wonder if we would ever be able to afford anything. With two children to raise, house prices were always out of our reach. However, once our youngest graduated college in 2015, we became determined to finally make that vacation home a reality.

And now, I am thrilled to announce that after a long search, our dream of owning a house on Martha’s Vineyard has finally come true! We closed on this lovely little cottage two weeks ago and are so very happy and excited. We look forward to spending time there with family and friends this summer. But first, lots of work ahead to furnish it from top to bottom. I will surely relish every moment of it...

Susan
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Autumn Endeavors

Hello there! Sorry I haven’t posted in a while; it has been quite the busy month.

To prepare for the holiday shopping season, I have been furiously listing all sorts of new items in my Etsy shop. A few are shown below, with lots more to list.

John and I enjoyed some time away this month. We visited our daughter in Philly and our son in Baltimore. We also stayed at a lovely B&B called Buttermilk Falls Inn located in New York’s Hudson River Valley. 

One morning, we explored the Walkway Over the Hudson, a 1.28-mile-long linear walking bridge. Quite a view!

Today is Halloween, so here’s Jacob’s dog Lucy dressed up as a taco. Isn’t she adorable?

Gotta go — the first of many trick-or-treaters are at the door... Happy Halloween! 🎃

Susan
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Martha’s Vineyard Views

We had a glorious vacation on Martha's Vineyard this summer. For ten days, we rented a wonderful house in West Tisbury that was roomy enough for our whole family and then some. Now that we're back, I've spent this week catching up. Today, I finally had a moment to collect some of my favorite pictures from our time away...

Serene and green: The deck at our rental property had a vine-covered arbor with fairy lights. At dusk, they looked magical.

Wildflowers galore: A path off the backyard led to a beautiful walking trail. (Thank you, Sandy, for shooting this pretty photo!)

Cozy and cute: The gingerbread cottages at the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association in Oak Bluffs make me smile.

New and old favorites: Left, we discovered a restaurant called Little House Cafe where all six of us loved the food. Right, a trip to MV wouldn’t be complete without stopping by Alley's General Store.

Lovely lighthouse: Gay Head Light in Aquinnah on the western end of Martha's Vineyard was recently moved back 135 feet to keep it from falling off an eroding cliff!

Pink flowers: Left, weathered shingles compliment a colorful window box; Right, a sandy path lined with beach roses at Lobsterville.

Fishing frenzy: Everyone in my family (except me) likes to fish. So while they cast their lines, I took pics of the stunning surroundings.

A few finds: With picture perfect weather, there wasn't much time to shop. Even so, I brought home five old MV postcards and a fruity vintage tablecloth.

John and I have been visiting the island together for over 30 years. We cherish every moment spent there and its beauty never ceases to amaze us.

I do hope you’ve enjoyed my Martha’s Vineyard views. Have a great weekend!

Susan
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Seaside Pursuits

Don't you just love June? It’s one of my favorite months, particularly because of the time spent at the shore with my family. 

Recently, I tagged along on John’s business trip to the mountains of Vermont, a truly glorious place. We had a wonderful time, but while there, I realized that I prefer to be at the ocean. Could be because I don't ski. More likely because, for over 30 summers, we have made an annual pilgrimage to spend a precious week on Martha’s Vineyard, a place that everyone in our family loves more than any other on earth. We go in late June, before the crowds and hot weather arrive. So we are patiently counting the days until we return...

Susan
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Farewell to 15

I'm sorry to report that our former house is no longer. Its newest owners decided to tear it down to make way for what I'm sure will be quite the McMansion. Before it was demolished, my dear husband was determined to have a little piece of the home that sheltered us so well for 23 happy years. A few weeks ago, before the wrecking ball struck, he stopped by and boldly removed the old house numbers.

Shortly after, the house looked like this...

 

And before long, the house, and every last tree, were just a sweet memory...

Places get torn down at the drop of a hat where we live. It is often to be expected when properties change hands, particularly in neighborhoods near Long Island Sound (thanks, in large part, to Hurricane Sandy). 

I must admit, it is sad that our kids can no longer drive by the old homestead and say "That's where I grew up." However, all of our wonderful memories remain — as well as the brass house numbers. Thanks, John! :)

Susan
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Two Years in the Life of a Cottage

On this day two years ago, we took ownership of our new home. Little by little, we have brought this neglected once-rental property back to life. Although it had its challenges, I found the renovation process fun, fascinating and so rewarding. I adore old houses. And now that I have had the chance to live in and transform one myself, I know just how thoroughly satisfying it can be.

Our biggest project began the moment we arrived: removing walls to create an open concept kitchen and family room. The original rooms, shown below, were long and narrow and shared a common wall.

It was exciting to open up the kitchen wall to reveal the family room's rustic stone fireplace. We relocated the kitchen along the back of the house and vaulted the ceiling to follow the existing roofline. Another wall was removed between the kitchen and dining room. 

The finished rooms are exactly what I envisioned — a bright, open space where family and friends can enjoy cooking, eating and relaxing together. 

We also carved out my studio from the closet-sized office and full bath/laundry room below. Combining these small spaces and vaulting the ceiling created a surprisingly roomy work space.

Chock full of my favorite things, this light-filled room is everything I hoped for in a studio, and more.

If you follow my blog, you know that these projects were just a few of what we did to revive our good-boned 1925 cottage. We renovated two bathrooms, replaced the roof, paved the driveway, refreshed the landscaping, installed new garage doors, refinished floors, removed menacing trees, tweaked the AC, heat and irrigation system and painted the deck, woodwork and every single wall. 

Sounds crazy, right? Perhaps, and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

Susan
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Artsy Acquisitions

Over the past two years, it has been great fun decorating our cozy new cottage. My goal is to keep it open, clutter free and low maintenance, so I have been mindful to not fill up every nook and cranny. That isn't always easy for a collector like me, so I contain most of the collection craziness in my studio. As for the rest of the house, I have tried to keep it as simple and serene as possible.

We're almost at the point where our home feels truly done, with just a couple of large, empty walls needing attention. Over the summer, John and I have been going to outdoor art festivals and galleries looking for something within our budget; not as easy task. However, within the last month, we finally found two affordable oil paintings.

We discovered the first one at a local estate sale. Measuring 22 by 28 inches, its large size is perfect for the wall in our dining room. And its price? A mere $15! It was unframed and very grimy. I gently cleaned away the years of schmutz to reveal a sweetly primitive landscape with a cottage vibe. 

We took it to a framing store and selected a chunky wooden frame to complement its colors. I love the result, even though the frame cost several times as much as the painting.

Our estate sale find now has a new home in the dining room. And with the open concept, it can be enjoyed from our family room and kitchen, as well.

The above photo will give you a good idea of our home's open layout. Shot while standing in the corner directly in front the painting, you can see our family room, kitchen, and even the door to my studio in the distance.

Another empty wall that needed attention was in Jacob's room. Our son has just begun a job teaching second grade in another city, so his room looked rather forlorn after he packed up his things. 

We got lucky once again and found this colorful landscape at Goodwill for $25. I was pleased that it already had a wooden frame. 

Here it is on the wall in Jacob's room. I love its peaceful composition and rich colors. Just right for the room, don't you think?

The photo, below, shows the sloping ceilings, dormer window and knee-wall storage characteristic of Cape Cod houses. Cozy goodness.

Time to go; John is calling me in for dinner. Enjoy your evening and the rest of the week. Have a wonderful Labor Day holiday weekend, too!

Susan
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Our Old Homestead is Coming Down

I just got back from an early morning bike ride. Often, I head toward the water and pedal around our old neighborhood. Today, I spotted this...

Yes, that's our old home, the one we owned for over two decades. It has been almost two years since we moved into our cozy cottage, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for this house. 

We ran into a former neighbor recently who mentioned that the house was slated for demolition — but not because it is inhabitable. On the contrary, we heard that the people who bought it from us opened up walls inside and made all sorts of improvements.

But did they have to rip out the entire garden? Years and years of dividing perennials... Here's peek at the front garden when we lived there. I don't see anything offensive, do you? To each his own, I guess.

Anyway, they moved to California. We were told that the newest owners want to raise up the house, like so many have done in our area after Hurricane Sandy. Apparently, the cost to do that is almost as much as building a new one, so down it comes. I understand that these folks want to make improvements, like we all do when moving to a new place. And many would find this mid-century colonial boring and basic. I liked it just the way it was.

When we moved there back in 1990, it was one of the largest homes on the street. Now, it is in the shadow of new "look at me" houses that are big and bulky with minimal green space. John and I joke that they look more like conference centers than family homes. There is nothing cozy about them. Above shows the view from my former studio before and after a giant McMansion was erected. Monster houses are taking over that neighborhood. We got out just in time!

Luckily, we have tons of photos to help us remember what a lovely spot this was to raise our family. It was a happy, happy, happy place and the memories live on, even though the actual structure will be heading to a landfill soon.

Susan
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Movie Set Status

We just returned from ten glorious days on Martha's Vineyard. This special place never disappoints and as always, great fun was had by all. Beauty abounds — so much so, the island looks like a movie set. Here are a few of my favorite pretty pics. Enjoy!

Tootling around on my bike, I came upon this jaw-dropping property...

Edgartown Lighthouse is oh so photogenic...

Bicycle triplets at the beach...

John and Jacob fish at sunset on Dogfish Bar in Aquinnah...

In Edgartown, even the garages are beautiful...

Jacob and Hannah take a tandem bike for a spin around the neighborhood...

Back on the ferry heading home...

So long MV! We will surely miss you. See you next year!

Susan
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Cottage Happy

We're heading into Oak Bluffs this morning, the town on Martha's Vineyard that is funky, fun and filled with some of the sweetest cottages ever.

These humble and historic abodes take charming to an entirely new level!

Susan
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Land Ho!

We had a perfectly pleasant ferry crossing to Martha’s Vineyard this morning. (Love the cool vintage car that was ahead of us on the boat!)

This year, we’re renting a house in downtown Edgartown so that we can walk or bike to shops, restaurants and an idyllic neighborhood beach.

Down the street from the property is this glorious view. Isn't it sublime?

Gosh, how I love it here!

Susan
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So Proud

 

Our dear son received his diploma yesterday! Four years of college have flown by and it is time for him to embark on a career in elementary education.

He will be (and already is) an awesome teacher. I am certain that he will have a positive impact on the lives of each and every one of his young students. John and I are beaming with pride. 

Susan
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“After” Pictures, Part Two: Our New Guest Bath

Using the same materials as the refreshed master bath, our guest bathroom is now clean, bright and ready for visitors. Here's a peek . . .

Doesn't the tub look amazing? Hard to believe that it is the original taupe-colored 1925 model. Re-glazing it was definitely the way to go.

Remodeling the two upstairs bathrooms was the final project on our year-and-a-half-long to-do list. At last, we are done! Room by room, it has been a fun and rewarding journey bringing this sweet vintage cottage back to life. Now I can't help but smile every time I walk in the door. 

Susan
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“After” Pictures, Part One: Our New Master Bath

How lovely to have a clean and functional master bath! Have a look . . .

Like our renovated kitchen, we wanted this new bathroom to feel like it belonged in a 1925 cottage. So we chose simple elements: white wainscoting, a Shaker-style cabinet, a vintage-inspired light fixture, a neutral gray floor tile, classic subway tile in the walk-in shower, and a marble countertop on the vanity. To keep costs down, we kept all of the plumbing in the same location.

The light fixture's glass shades match the schoolhouse globes in our kitchen. I love those thin black stripes!

The shower stall now has white subway tile, a marble seat, a frameless glass door and marble basketweave tile on its floor. A niche with two handy shelves repeats the same marble tile. We used Grohe chrome fixtures with a 1920s vibe for the shower and vanity.

And there you have it! Next time, I’ll share photos of our new guest bathroom which uses the same basic elements. Do stop by!

Susan
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Cozy Time

More snow, you say? Sure! Bring it on!

Yesterday, we hunkered down to wait out yet another snow event. While the white stuff silently piled up around our sweet cottage, John and I were productive and did that painful, yet necessary, annual chore — taxes.

When we were done, it was cozy time. We treated ourselves to a good movie in front of a roaring fire. Along with a cup of hot tea, there is nothing better on a snowy afternoon.

Aside from all of the snow, our driveway is now home to this: a large red dumpster. Why, you may ask?

Because we are about to embark on a final reno project — updating both the master and guest bathrooms. And demo begins tomorrow! This remodeling project should take a couple of months. I promise to share lots of before and after pics with you as things progress.

Happy Sunday,

Susan
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Kitchen Sunshine

It has been snowy and gray here for far too long. However, I am happy to report that today, we have blue skies and sunshine. Yay!

This morning, I loved how the sun was streaming in through my kitchen window. So I thought — why not share my latest pottery find with you. Isn't this old pitcher wonderful?

With lots of windows and two skylights, I like how bright our new kitchen is. It's rare that I have to switch on any lights during the day. And when the sun is out, the room absolutely glows.

Having lots of white surfaces helps, too. And all of my green and blue vintage pottery adds pops of pretty color.

I always longed for a kitchen with glass door cabinets. Now my pottery collection has a happy place to live.

As you can see, I'm not afraid to mix many different shades of blue and green together. No need for everything to match.

I also like to combine vintage pottery with Jadeite glassware and even a few new pieces. Aren't the colors yummy?

I think my new cottage kitchen is pretty yummy, too. And don't forget all of the yummy meals that John has been creating in it for family and friends. Yummy, all around!

Susan
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Spike, The Wonder Frog

Can you believe it? Our pet frog is 17 years old!

Spike came into our lives in a surprising fashion. Back when Jacob was four years old, he returned home from his friend Jack's birthday party with an unusual item in his party favor bag — a frog! Apparently Jack's mom thought it would be fun to give all of the guests fully-formed baby aquatic frogs. Crazy, right? This sudden addition to our family promptly took up residence in a fish tank on our kitchen counter. Jacob named him Spike, and the rest is history...

Happy Birthday Spike! We're so glad to still have the pleasure of your easygoing company.

Susan
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Happy Holiday Wishes

As Chanukah comes to a close, Christmas is about to begin, and Kwanzaa is just around the corner — may you be surrounded by family, friends and lots of love to warm your heart all year long.

Happy Holidays!

Susan

Turkey Day Greetings

Ever grateful for my wonderful family, inspiring friends, and loyal patrons!

A Year in the Life of a Cottage

365 days ago, we became the proud owners of a house brimming with potential. From the very first time I set eyes on it, I knew this humble abode had everything I wanted. All it needed was a little TLC. Well, maybe more than a little...

Over the past year, I've shared our vintage home's top to bottom improvement projects with you — its new roof, garden, paint, floors, kitchen, dining room, family room, living room — and let's not forget my new studio. Yes, it has been a lot of work. But I would do it again in a heartbeat. I hope you've enjoyed seeing the progress as we brought this 1925 charmer back to life. Thank you for coming along.

Is this finally the cottage of my dreams? You betcha!

Susan

Green, Greener, Greenest

Check out this car I spotted a few weeks ago in Oak Bluffs! Being a Prius owner, I always thought I had a "green" car. But this vintage, ivy-encrusted Volkswagen Beetle is even greener.

Speaking of my Prius . . . John and I have decided the time has come for a new car. I must say, I have thoroughly enjoyed my Prius for the past seven years. But our new home is located in a rather hilly part of town — good if you want to avoid flooding from hurricanes — bad if you want to go anywhere on a snowy day.

Last winter, we had lots of trouble navigating the rolling hills around our lovely cottage. After going to the gym one snowy morning, we couldn't even make it home. We had to leave the Prius at the bottom of a hill and walk back. And that wasn't even my Prius! John drives a company car and it is a Prius, too! Therefore, after last year's super harsh winter, we vowed to get a new car that would get through most anything.

Having been spoiled with the Prius' gas mileage, we began our new car search by looking at Hybrids. The criteria? They had to have All Wheel Drive, be affordable and fit in our smallish garage. Unfortunately, they are few and far between.

Next we focused on fuel efficient AWD vehicles. Want to know my favorite? The Mini Countryman. What a crazy fun car! But it is also crazy small and we deemed it unpractical. Time for a Subaru . . .

We finally settled on a Crosstrek, their zippy, smaller AWD. It even comes in a hybrid version. However, that model costs several thousand dollars more and only gets an additional five miles more to the gallon. So the standard Crosstrek, a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV), would do just fine.

In a few short weeks, we'll be going from being a two-Prius to a one-Prius family. I'm sure it is for the best as then we will be ready for the winter to come. Bring on the snow!

Susan

Scenes from the 146th Grand Illumination

What a magical night! I will be forever grateful to my sweet son for letting me tag along on his spur of the moment getaway to Martha's Vineyard.

BTW: the morning after this glorious event, I rode my bike to a gym in town for a work out. Afterward, I strolled through the MVCMA for one more look and to my surprise, there wasn't one lantern in sight. Everything was back to normal and I found myself thinking — Was that a dream?

Susan
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Preparing for O.B.'s Showiest Night of the Year

Grand Illumination Night is the annual summer event that is most emblematic of the magical Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. This historic community in Oak Bluffs, MA, has over 300 charming homes embellished with gingerbread trim and painted in every color of the rainbow. One August day each year since 1868, cottage owners retreat to dusty attics and unpack Asian lanterns and umbrellas, many as old as the homes themselves, to embellish their picture-perfect cottages even more. Come nightfall, these lanterns will be lit en masse to the oohs and ahhs of thousands of appreciative onlookers.

I spent the afternoon before Grand Illumination last week riding my bicycle around this area so that I could watch as the cottage owners prepared for their showiest night of the year. The result is the photos, below.

Aren't they wonderful? Just wait until you see them all lit up — in my next post! 

Enjoy the holiday weekend,

Susan
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The Ferry at Daybreak, No Lines at the Art Cliff Diner, and a Little House Called "Seashell Cottage"

Last week’s unexpected visit to Martha’s Vineyard was such a treat. Here’s how I was able to go back a second time this summer to my most favorite place on the planet...

Before returning to college, my son and his girlfriend were planning a last minute trip away. MV was where they really wanted to go, but it can be very tricky finding a place to stay and getting a spot on the ferry with such short notice. Luckily, there was space at a camp site and I helped them secure a ferry ticket. (The only boat available was at 7am!) I then checked an online calendar to see what was happening during the three days they would be on the island. When I saw that they'd be there for Grand Illumination Night, I was beyond jealous. I have always wanted to witness that lovely spectacle. So, my son kindly invited me along! Now I just needed to find a place to stay.

I’m not one for camping, nor did I want to horn in on his trip, so I was bound and determined to find a room for two nights near the action in Oak Bluffs. Plus, to further stay out of his hair, I was going to use my bike to get around. I searched every inn and hotel to no avail. They were all booked and had long waiting lists. I was just about to give up when I came upon a listing for a room at a tiny place in O.B. named Seashell Cottage. To my delight, it was available! 

In order to get to Wood's Hole and catch the 7am ferry, we began our journey by the light of the moon at 1:30am. I offered to drive and with almost no other cars on the road, we arrived at the ferry landing in record time — so early, in fact, that we were put on the 6am ferry. How lovely to watch the sun rise as we made our way to our beloved island.

By 6:45am, we docked in Vineyard Haven and headed to our favorite place for breakfast, The Art Cliff Diner. Eating there generally involves a 45-minute (or more) wait for a table but it's always worth it. This time however, we arrived just as they opened and didn't have to wait at all. (I guess 7am is the time to go. By 7:20, every table was occupied!)

After a delicious Art Cliff breakfast, we drove over to Seashell Cottage and met Carol who graciously rents out one of the bedrooms in her darling house. We also met Birdie, her adorable blue-eyed Cocker Spaniel rescue.

Seashell Cottage sits high above Lagoon Pond and is adjacent to a path that leads to a small neighborhood beach. With a white washed bead-board interior, this little cottage oozes with charm. Have a look inside.

Isn't it sweet? And best of all, it’s walking and biking distance to Oak Bluffs. Bicycles are a popular and perfect mode of transportation on Martha's Vineyard because there are miles of paved bike paths that are safe and separate from the road.

Please check back for more about last week's blissful MV trip. Next time, I’ll share pics of the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association cottages as they prepare for their showiest night of the year.

Susan
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Three Days of MV Bliss

Talk about spur of the moment... I have just taken an unexpected trip to Martha's Vineyard. Again? Yes!!! And it was all because of an opportunity that arose that allowed me to be there during an event that has been on my bucket list for decades: Grand Illumination Night.

I returned home late last night, so once I have a chance to catch my breath, I'll be sharing more about my three days of bliss on MV.

Happy weekend!

Susan
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Our New House, Then and Now

Don't you just love a good "Before and After"? Me, too! So have a look at what our vintage cottage looked like when we put in a bid to purchase it last fall.

And here is what it looks like today . . .

Top to bottom, this home underwent a subtle, yet much needed transformation. First off, we took down several menacing trees and put on a new roof. Then, we selected exterior colors, had it painted, installed new garage doors, and settled in for the winter to work on its interior reno. 

Come spring, we resurfaced the driveway, replaced the gutters, and seeded the lawn. And just last month, we put in a new garden, moving and/or saving existing shrubs where possible. 

And of course, let's not forget the icing on the cake: a historical plaque officially naming the house after its original 1925 owners, Harold and May Wilson.

Ten months after it became ours, the work is finally done. And I couldn't be happier with the end result. It was so enjoyable and satisfying to bring this lovely abode back to life. Now it most definitely has earned "cottage of my dreams" status.

Susan

Martha's Vineyard Rocks!

Last week, we spent our days exploring the island's many natural wonders. One of the most spectacular is the Aquinnah Cliffs which we admired from the observation deck near Gay Head Light. For an even better view, we headed over to nearby Moshup Beach, a destination for geologists and beach enthusiasts alike.

Moshup Beach offers stunning views of the Aquinnah Cliffs. Composed of 150- feet of sediment from six glaciers, they are made up of red and white clays, green sands, white quartz, black organic soil and lignite.

Protected as a National Historic Landmark, the cliffs are truly spectacular. My photos don't nearly do them justice.

Another day, we felt energetic and hiked MV's Menemsha Hill Reservation. 

Its longest trail led us up Prospect Hill, the second highest peak on the island, then down to a remote rocky beach with commanding views of Menemsha Village and the Elizabeth Islands.

So beautiful. Martha's Vineyard rocks!

Susan
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A Day Just for Dad

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

Susan

Glorious Martha's Vineyard

Another wonderful vacation on MV! I've been coming to this glorious island annually for almost 30 years and have fallen in love with it a little more with each visit. 

More posts about our time away to come very soon. Have a great weekend!

Susan

While I'm Gone . . .

Off we go! Time to relax with my family and enjoy sun, sand and surf. We look forward to our time on Martha's Vineyard all year long. So excited it's finally time to return to our most favorite place!

Before I go, I've been furiously adding new listings to my Etsy shop. That way, while I'm gone, my patrons can enjoy some of my latest finds. Here's what's new:

I adore hard to find relics like the soap flakes dispenser, above. Isn't it fabulous? 

I always offer an array of old toys in my shop. So cute and brimming with vintage appeal.

Straight out of my private collection, these Japan pottery pieces have a hand painted pattern of little flower pots set against a grid pattern. LOVE.

This 1933 edition of the Adventures of Sonny Bear has a great cover — perfect to display face out on a shelf in a child's room.

Vintage pottery,  textiles and books — three of my favorite things to offer on Etsy.

And just in time for picnic season . . . pretty floral tablecloths and old picnic tins.

I'm quite pleased with my latest finds and hope they will find good homes soon. Can't wait to see what I discover on the Vineyard!

Susan

Countdown to MV

Our annual trip to Martha's Vineyard is approaching. No where on earth we'd rather be! 

Enjoy the weekend,

Susan

Another Birthday

Today is my birthday! I am now 56 years years old, teetering at the top of the 50s hill about to roll down the other side. As I begin my descent, I must admit that the first half of my 50s was a bit challenging. So when I blow out the candles at dinner with my family this evening, you can be sure I'll be wishing for smooth sailing during its second half and beyond.

A while back, John asked me what I wanted for this birthday. My answer: Not a single thing. You see, I have everything I could have ever hoped for — a loving family, wonderful friends, the cottage of my dreams — and most important, my health. 

How grateful I am to have this day. As a breast cancer survivor, each and every day is a gift. What more could I possibly ask for?

Susan

The Open Concept Cottage

In a small home like ours, taking down a few walls can make a world of difference. What was once a tiny dining room, narrow kitchen, and sliver of a family room is now one large space that's bright and inviting. This newly configured open area runs the entire width of the house. That means that while at the kitchen sink, I can see the sunrise in the morning. And from the family room window, I view the sun setting across our front lawn. Plus, the abundance of windows has provided refreshing breezes this spring. Another perk: the family room's original stone fireplace can now be seen from the kitchen and dining room.

Enough talk — here's a tour! I think the pictures speak for themselves.

Embedded in the fireplace mortar is a 1935 penny, shown below. Our home was built in 1925, so perhaps this was left as a clue as to when the fireplace was added. Love it!

Within the first few moments of stepping inside, that tiny penny was just one of many details that immediately sold me on our endearing cottage, sweet cottage.

Susan

What a Difference a Year Makes

One year ago today, we put our home of 23 years on the market. Many people cautioned us against it. They said it was too soon after Hurricane Sandy to list a place so close to Long Island Sound. We were very fortunate, however, that the super storm had little impact on our house and we were able to sell it within 5 months. Now, a young couple with four small children resides there. We are sure it will be a great place for them to raise their family.

Today, we are happily settled into a smaller, sweeter home. Located in a quiet neighborhood on the outskirts of Norwalk's Rowayton, we are perched on much higher ground. Because this peaceful property had been a rental for the last twelve years, it needs a lot of TLC. Now that our interior renovation project is complete (I have a few more pictures to share with you next time), we are focusing on the exterior. By mid-May, we'll have a new driveway, and in June, new plantings will fill the neglected garden beds. Plus, we are shopping around for comfortable outdoor furniture so that we can entertain on our large deck this summer.

We've been in our 1925 cottage for seven months, and although it has challenged us a bit, it is definitely shaping up to be the cottage of my dreams. A lot has happened over the last year — and it's all good!

Susan

Suzanne's Story

I love hearing about how vintage items I offer for sale evoke fond childhood memories. Here is a message I received this week from a lovely woman who stumbled upon my Boston Terrier string holder wall pocket on Etsy.

I've had this relic for well over 15 years. And there is a good possibility I purchased it in Ohio. I am originally from Cleveland and I often frequented antique stores in the area when visiting my family over the years. What if this is Suzanne's grandmother's actual string holder? Could be . . .

Suzanne, many thanks for sharing your sweet story!

Susan

The Perfect Cottage Kitchen

Here's a look at our newly completed kitchen. How do you like it?

Our goal was to have the new kitchen feel like it belongs in a 1925 cottage — clean and simple with finishes that would feel fresh for years to come. 

For me, I wanted to create a comfortable and well-thought-out space for John to enjoy, since my sweet husband does the majority of the cooking in our family. He never fails to make the most delicious meals. Now he has a proper kitchen in which to create them.

Top to bottom, I am very pleased with the new kitchen. It's especially lovely to have so much natural light, because the kitchen in our former home was located within the interior of the house making it perpetually dark. Plus, I adore the glass-fronted cabinets where I can display my collection of green and blue vintage pottery. 

We have never put in a kitchen from scratch before and expected it to be daunting. However, our contractor and old friend, Jeff Meier of J.M.O. Builders, made the process easy. He guided us through the reno step by step, surrounding us with superb suppliers along the way. 

Many thanks to Jeff, Billy his master carpenter, Frank the architect, Jim the kitchen cabinet designer, Shane the electrician, the plumbers Stanley and John, Noel the dry-waller, Alex the floor installer, James the tiler, and all of their talented helpers!

We are finally settled into the new space. All that is left to get are four counter stools. We are having a bit of trouble finding just the right ones. Any ideas?

As you may know, from start to finish our kitchen renovation took four months. The project also included the family and dining rooms that are now open to the kitchen. And let's not forget my studio! It's just about ready for its unveiling, so stay tuned...

Susan

Welcome to My Workroom

Done! Our 4-month renovation project has officially ended. Now comes the fun part — decorating! All this week, I am devoting myself to my new studio. 

Time to unpack boxes and figure out where everything should go. I must admit, it's a bit daunting. Luckily, my daughter was here over the weekend to help. 

However, I am still surrounded by a sea of packing paper and bubble wrap. Once I have things under control, I look forward to sharing the entire room with you. In the meantime, take a look at one area that Hannah helped me organize. 

In my old studio, my massive collection of picnic tins held art supplies. Now these relics will be purely for display on a high shelf along an entire wall. Don't they look happy in their new home?  

Stayed tuned for more peeks of my new studio coming soon!

Susan

Home Sweet Home Stretch

At last! We are officially in the home stretch of our kitchen/family room/studio/dining room renovation project. Here's what has been happening recently . . .

Counter tops were installed. Although I originally wanted soapstone, John and I felt they would require too much upkeep. Our choice: engineered quartz by Caesarstone. Not only is it durable, it's stain, scratch and heat-resistant.

Next came the back splash. For the tile, I didn't want anything fussy that I might grow tired of. Our choice: handmade white subway tile. Clean, fresh and simple.

I spent a lot of time researching lighting for the kitchen. For the same reason I selected understated Shaker-style kitchen cabinets, I wanted the lights to feel like they belong in a 1925 cottage. Our choice: three pendents with classic schoolhouse globes by Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Company of Portland, Oregon.

And finally this week, the kitchen, family room, studio and dining room floors are getting sanded, stained and sealed. Our choice: a rich, mid-tone brown stain to match the floors throughout the rest of the house. 

Our reno project has lasted just under four months. Soon we will be unpacking the remaining boxes and moving into the new rooms. Hallelujah! 

Susan

A Lot Can Happen in a Week . . .

Lots of progress on our new kitchen! Last week, the cabinets, fridge, dishwasher and stove were installed. Still to come: Counter tops, sinks, range hood, back-splash, floor stain, paint, light fixtures and more.

Soon, we will purchase new dishes and cookware because most of what we had was sold at our September estate sale. I can't wait to unpack my collection of aqua vintage pottery and display it in those glass-fronted upper cabinets. 

John and I have never had the opportunity to design a kitchen from scratch, so seeing everything come together is exciting. So far, we are very pleased with the outcome. If all goes as planned, we will be cooking our first meal in the new space by the end of the month. Yay!

Susan

Reno Progress

It's been a while since I've shared our renovation project with you. As you can see, we have come a long way. 

Our new kitchen, family room and studio have been framed and insulated.

Then came the drywall . . .

. . . and new oak flooring to match the hardwood throughout the rest of the house.

Trim work and painting began last week. Does the paint color below look familiar? It's the same as our former house's family room and studio — Benjamin Moore's Turquoise Mist. Love that color! 

Cabinets and sinks will be delivered tomorrow. We are so ready for the kitchen to be complete because for the past two months, our living room has been doing triple duty. 

Not only is it where I work, it's where we watch TV and cook, too. Very cozy, and kind of strange having a refrigerator and hot plate in the living room. Dishwashing takes place in a small powder room sink at the other end of the house.

I'm so looking forward to setting up and working in my new studio, below. I have several projects on hold because most everything I need is still packed up in boxes in our garage and basement. 

One of the things patiently awaiting studio completion is my new table. This 1950s relic with a nifty chrome apron and legs will eventually be a work/sewing surface. 

Pretty adorable — don't you think?

Susan