My Charlotte Moss Checklist

"Elsie de Wolfe's famous pronouncement -- 'A house should be attractive, comfortable and suitable. The food should be good; you should be beautifully dressed' -- says it all. I might add that the flowers should express your sensibility; the atmosphere should reflect your personality; and the housekeeping should be impeccable."

Charlotte Moss

So, let's see...

1. attractive, comfortable, suitable? Two out of three, I think...

2. good food? Does takeout pizza count?

3. you should be beautifully dressed? Ummm, not happening.

4. the flowers should express your sensibility? What does a mixture of faux and dying express?

5. the atmosphere should reflect your personality? Gosh, I don't even know where to start with this one.

6. the housekeeping should be impeccable? Oh, hell no.

(Sometimes, things just tend to pile up on my dining room table. That happens to you, too, right?)

Mosaic Monday: Memories

I'll bet you were expecting more spring flowers today, huh? But I've been in a very nostalgic, vintage-y sort of mood lately. No, I'm not looking back on winter with longing. But I am loving the warm, tea-stained, vintage tones and film grain that make a photograph look like a memory. And I have been intrigued with the idea of making a photo that tells a story, too, which was the challenge last week at [Framed], a fun website with free weekly broadcasts and giveaways for photographers.

So here is the culmination of those two inspirations -- a little tableau of things that we held close in the cold days of winter. There are books we read before a crackling fire, letters received and treasured, bits of nature that we gathered on our walks, and an old pair of binoculars used to watch the returning birds. It was cold and snowy, but we stayed warm and dry and held our memories close till spring arrived...

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If you are interested in photos that tell a story, check out this week's video at [Framed], which is a fabulous site for photographers. Also find them on Facebook and Twitter.

Photos edited with actions by Red Leaf Studios, Florabella, and Nodding Violets Actions. Papers by Sarah Gardner Photography.

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Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.

Photographic Still Life

Good morning, dear bloggers! How are you this fine morning? We have had a bellyful of bad weather here in New Jersey this week, and I'm battling a cold. I don't really have anything too exciting to report, so I thought I would show you my latest artistic endeavor -- making photographic still life images.

It started as a word prompt from a photo group on flickr. The Shutter Divas group is run by Christina Greve, whose wonderful blog Divas and Dreams is an inspiring place to visit if you love photography. Every Sunday, she posts a word prompt for the week. This week's word was "polka dots." So I searched for some polka dots and came up with a few pastel dish towels and small bowls from HomeGoods. How to include them in a photo? I thought I would take a crack at making up a traditional still life image.

And wow, it's harder than it looks. It took me a while to come up with a decent composition. I just love all the old still life paintings from the nineteenth century, and I have also been inspired by contemporary photographers who mimic that style.

I've been setting these up in our living room, with the dark fireplace as a backdrop. There is strong natural light coming from camera left. I actually used a wooden cutting board on top of a small end table for the surface. The point of view is from straight on or slightly above. The "brushstrokes" you see are achieved with a texture overlay, which is brushed off on a layer mask in Photoshop.

And now I'm addicted to shooting still life. I can't wait to try more. Finally, all those thrift store finds are going to shine! lol

Dear Spring

23 March 2011

Dear Spring,

As you probably know, I have been waiting impatiently for your arrival. After snowstorm upon snowstorm, during endless cold nights and gray days, I have dreamed only of you. I long to feel the warm kiss of your sun on my cheek; I dream of wandering through fields of golden daffodils, cutting armloads of forsythia and hearing the dawn chorus greet the day.

So imagine my surprise when I awoke on Monday morning to ice and snow weighing down the branches of my beloved sugar maple. And although the sight of the brave red buds with their mantle of white was beautiful, it was discouraging as well. And I think, perhaps, that there will be more snow here by the time you read this.

So please, dear Spring, come home soon and stay. I miss you.

xoxo,

Mary

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In case you are interested, the handwritten overlay textures can be found here.

Mosaic Monday: Snowdrops

A few weeks ago, I showed you the first snowdrop blooming here at our Little Red House. Since then, they have been flowering steadily, first the ones that are on the west side of the house in the sunshine, and finally those that face north by our porch door.

It sounds like we have a lot of them, but we really only have a few clumps. Old gardening wisdom will tell you that snowdrops are best planted "in the green" -- that is, dug up immediately after flowering, separated and replanted. I have never questioned that; but I did not know anyone with snowdrops who might give me a few plants. So I planted them one year from bulbs in the fall, and they did fairly well. I don't really have big enough clumps to divide yet, so I will try planting more bulbs in the fall. If I remember... :) If you are interested, here is more information about when and how to plant snowdrops.

I have to tell you that this is the first year that I have actually picked any snowdrops. Normally, I am loathe to take any away from my meager showing, but I wanted to make up a pretty mosaic, so you could see them up close. And laying on the wet ground to shoot them where they grow is something you only do once or twice. :)

So, these snowdrops are for you, my dear bloggers. Happy Spring!

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.

Hello

Just popping in quickly to say hello! This has been one of those weeks -- you know, the ones where life takes precedence over blogging. I'm afraid I have not gotten around to visit all your mosaics, and for that I apologize!

We have had a few beautiful days here in New Jersey. Temperatures reached into the 70's on Friday (hooray!!!) and today it's a little colder but oh so sunny. Some bright yellow crocus have joined the snowdrops here, and spring is knocking at the door. I can't begin to tell you how happy that makes me feel. :)

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Please join me for Mosaic Monday this week! The Magic Link Machine will be up by 8:30 pm Eastern time, USA, Sunday. Thanks for sharing your beautiful mosaics!

For Japan With Love

An Irish Blessing

Wishing you always...

Walls for the wind,

A roof for the rain

And tea beside the fire.

Laughter to cheer you,

Those you love near you,

And all that your heart may desire.

Rainy Day Thoughts

Do you ever have one of those days when you can't think straight? When thoughts just seem to flit in and out of your head like seeds scattered to the wind? That is how I feel today.

Yesterday was beautiful and sunny -- a real treat. Today, it's dreary, dreary, dreary -- raining since before dawn. I know that the rain will bring with it a green and beautiful spring, but I still miss the sun. And I can't seem to focus on getting anything done.

Oh, I've got the usual chores to do. I'll be doing laundry (my favorite chore) and vacuuming (my least favorite chore). But instead of taking a walk in the sunshine this morning to drink in the sights of the unfolding seasons, I will spend some time straightening up my desktops -- digital and analog -- and wandering through my photo archives.

Do you write letters anymore? Or keep a journal -- a handwritten one? Those were my thoughts when I came across this photo I took recently. I make my own photo notecards (note to self: put a few in my etsy shop) and I wondered if anyone still cares about penmanship... I went to a Catholic school, where good penmanship was expected of every student. If the nuns could see my writing now, I'm afraid they would be very disappointed. :)

And so, this is my rainy day -- tea and chores and disjointed thoughts. I don't know if I've ever told you this, but I'm a bit of a cable news junkie. I check in throughout the day to keep up with what is going on in the world. Lately, the news from Japan has been so very sad. My thoughts and prayers are with all those people, who just seem to face one tragedy after another. Do you think that there is some sort of, oh... force (for want of a better word) that binds us all together? So that when so many souls halfway across the world are bleeding, we feel their pain?

Just another rainy day thought... Japan, I hold you in my heart today.

Mosaic Monday: Vintage Spring

I know most people would be celebrating spring with pastels, but I seem to be in a vintage mood at the moment. It's funny how these things go -- I'm not sure where inspiration comes from, but I know that you just have to listen when it speaks. And there are really no pretty colors here just yet. We have several weeks before the more colorful flowers burst forth. So here is my take on a vintage spring. :)

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.

Quiet Beauty

It's a quiet day here at our Little Red House. I am posting much later than usual. Yesterday was a day of gusting rain; I didn't sleep much last night, with water in the cellar and the wind rattling the branches against the house.

But earlier this morning, the welcome sight of the sun drew me outside. And the remnants of the storm were beautiful in their own way. Droplets of water clung to the last, stubborn rose hips and glistened on the azalea branches, where the new green of fledgling leaves was impossibly lovely.

The high winds brought down this branch from the wild apple tree, with it's fascinating green lichen -- another bit of beauty from the storm.

Can you see the blue sky in the puddle? Even in the depths of the mud, there is beauty to be found. You just need to look closely enough.

And in the end there is the water itself -- like so many glittering diamonds on the wild rose bushes.

So there is my dose of quiet beauty for today. I've been watching the news from Japan and my heart is breaking for the many people whose lives have been touched by the tragedy there. My thoughts and prayers are with them.

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Don't forget to enter my giveaway.

But still...

Can I tell you how happy I am to see this single snowdrop? I wish I had a whole field of them. In fact, I think I will put a reminder in my calendar to buy a whole lot more this fall... :)

This has been an extraordinarily hard winter -- so much snow, so many grey days, and the entire months of January and February overtaken by illness... Oh, I know that we in New Jersey have not had as hard a time of it as other parts of the country, and I do appreciate the fact that spring would not be as sweet had we not had such a hard winter.

But still.

This little blossom has had it's photograph taken so much that it must feel like a celebrity. :)

Sometimes, I feel like a broken record. Sometimes I feel like a spoiled child. After all, there are so many people, all over the world, who have so much more to bear... surely I can live with a few months of darkness.

But still.

I am so very grateful for the longer days, the warmth of the sun, the swelling buds... for each and every sign of the new life that thrums from deep within the earth. And yes, I know that sounds like so much New Age crap.

But still. :)

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Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Mosaic Monday: Giveaway and Sale

Those of you who have been visiting here for awhile now know that I have a long-standing love affair with transferware dishes. I can't explain it, don't understand it... (what song are those lyrics from?) except to say that I cannot imagine having at least one piece of transferware in my house. Of course, as my husband points out, we have way more dishes than we know what to do with, and many of them are transferware... but that is a post for another day. Today, I have something really exciting for you.

A giveaway!!! And a sale!!! (Actually, that's two things but who is counting?)

I have written before of my blogging friend Nancy, whose blog Nancy's Daily Dish is a must-see for anyone who loves transferware. Nancy has an etsy shop that offers a very comprehensive collection of vintage and antique English transferware. It is a marvelous place to visit if you love dishes! But first, go to my review blog, where you can read all about and enter the terrific giveaway and sale!

Now let's have some mosaic fun! Here are the instructions:
1. Publish your Mosaic Monday post. The post may be about any subject you wish. The only stipulation is that it include a collage, or mosaic of photos.
2. Once it is published, click on the title of the post. This will lead you to the static link for your post. The static link is the page with only that post on it. Copy the url from your browser at the top of the page.
3. Paste the url into the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
4. Type your name in the appropriate inlinkz box in this post.
5. Click on "Enter."
6. Please link back to this Mosaic Monday post so that your readers can find other wonderful mosaics.

That's all there is to it! It's always a good idea to then check and see if your link is working. If you have any questions, feel free to email me: mrcarroll(at)optonline

And a quick reminder: if you would like to join Mosaic Monday but don't know quite where to start, there is a tutorial on mosaic-making on my sidebar. Just scroll down, and click on the small blue mosaic.

Time Flies

Oh, this has been one of those weeks where time just got away from me! I'm sure you know what I'm talking about -- it seems like one minute it is Sunday night and when you wake up, it's Friday morning... and some minor but annoying computer problems didn't help matters either.

Now I've got some errands to run and cooking to do, but I just wanted to stop by quickly and assure you that Mosaic Monday will be up and running this week as always. In fact, you will not want to miss this post. I've got a giveaway and a special offer for you. I know you will love it! :)

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Hope to see you this week for Mosaic Monday. The linky thing will be up by 8:30 pm Sunday night. That is Easter time, USA. See you then!

Happy March!

It's March! I'm so excited. (Yes, it doesn't take much to excite me...) No, these daffodils are not from my garden -- we have a few more weeks before we will see any daffodils in my part of New Jersey -- but I think my supermarket can tell when I need a little pick-me-up. ;)

We have had a few warm days in a row (in the 40's and 50's) and, of course, each day is just a little bit longer than the one before. It's amazing how much happier and more energetic I become with the growing light. Do you find that happens to you, too?

I've bought a new vacuum, cleaned out closets and drawers, tidied all the shelves in our bedroom cabinets with canvas containers, and found a small ottoman which fits under the desk in our tiny den, giving us more room in this very small space.

Suddenly, my house is sparkling, and I'm planning all sorts of decorating schemes, from painting my bedroom dresser to a total redo of the family room!

Isn't it amazing what a little golden light can do? Happy March, dear bloggers!