Beautiful Shops Blog

I hope you all had a Beautiful Mothers Day!  Don't forget to take the photos and make a scrap  book page!  Mother's Day is a great day to start making Memories! Especially if you are a new Mother!

Mothers Day reminds me of quilts, tea, picnics, yummy homemade food, roses and all the things I shared with my Mother and Grandmother as I grew up.  There's nothing like putting together a party and if it's a beautiful day take it outdoors and throw down some quilts to sit on. 

Tea at Tiffany's has everything beautiful for tea: (Tea at Tiffanys)
I remember the smell of tea boiling on the stove entering my Grandmothers home.  Chicken & dumplings in a huge pot at Moms and taking naps on patchwork quilts made from scraps of all our clothes.  As a child I loved snuggling with patchwork buddies like this patchwork teddy with vintage rhinestone buttons for eyes!  (A Rose Without a Thorn)                                                                        Sachets filled with lavender and adorned with vintage jewelry, Maybe Grandma's favorite brooch. Waking up to the yummy smell of cookies hot out of the oven and that beautiful smile on Moms face as she served them to us.  Mom always had a special serving plat to make things extra pretty too!  Kimberly at Shabby Rose Studio knows all about adding special touches!  She paints roses, little blue birds & sweet cherubs on her beautiful wares. ( Shabby Rose Studio)

Mom always had a special touch at decorating too!  Putting whimsical artsy things together to make my room extra special like this shabby french chandelier made with teacups & dripping in crystals from The Whimsical World: ( Whimsical World )

One of my favorite things as a little girl was going into Mom's closet! Trying on her clothes and playing with her pretty handbags like these at Anna V Jewelry's shop! ( Anna V Jewelry )

or these awesome purses from Wendy Costa. Vintage or Retro is all in style!       

Wendy's original art work is on handmade purses & they are on SALE right now, I LOVE mine & everywhere I go, someone stops me to compliment me on my handbag!  (WendyCosta)

                                  I'll always remember my Grand Mother teaching me how to make things!  Crafts, once necessary for pure survival are now a work of "Heart" & art!  The Country Craft Show Online is the ultimate Craft Mall online!  You'll find primitive to whimsy, cut to elegant and everything in between! Have fun shopping there! Have a Craft Shop?  Join them! ( Country Craft Show Online 

 

 These are just a few of their Shops!  You'll have so much fun visiting them!   Don't forget to say your Blessing!  Feed on the word reminds you with scripture ware to eat on! What a wonderful gift for any occasion.  Simple & Elegant to fit every dinner table and remind us all we have so much to be thankful for! ( Feed on the Word )                                              It's the little things that mean the most and that we will always remember, those little treasures of life.  Beautiful Shops wishes all the Mother's & Grand Mother's out there  a Beautiful very special day with your loved ones!  Remember it's "Family" that truly matters the most and that starts with "Mom"..  Speaking of memories in time, Becky is well known for her one of a kind handmade vintage plate clocks!  She's has cute butter pat hanging plates too: ( Beckys Rose Cottage)

 Check out this fabulous China plate collage!  Vintage china, old silverware, broken china would be perfect for this!  Camp Divas will take your broken china to make something memorable for you if you don't see exactly waht you want on their site! ( Camp Divas )

March is "Women's History Month" - We've come a long way Baby! Beautiful Shops is proof Women can do anything! From Moms to Savy Entrepreneurs!

Here are some interesting links about Women who have changed our world!  Biographies, First Ladies, Women from the early days out West to Women in our present day.  Yes, we've come a long way Baby! Click here for Women's History Links  International Women's Day is March 8th!   

March 17th is St. Patricks Day.  Here are some beautiful Vintage Post cards & a sweet Irish poem.

AN IRISH WISH May you always have... A sunbeam to warm you,
Good luck to charm you, And a sheltering angel
So nothing can harm you, Laughter to cheer you,
Faithful friends near you, And whenever you pray,
Heaven to hear you. May your joys Be deep and many,
May your heart be light and glad,
May you have the best St. Patrick's Day
That you have ever had!


Kimberly Ryan of Shabby Rose Studio shows aperfect example of how to photograph your items with a soft background & adds lace for a romantic feel.  This is what the Editors of magazines look for!  Keep the background plain or simple, add lace or fabric to outline. 
Visit Kimberly's site:  The Art Of Kimberly Ryan

Mary Kotulak of Sew Graceful, adds a shabby chic quilt as a perfect background to show off several items and adds pearls for a romantic touch!  Visit Mary: A Beautiful array of gifts
 

Lori Meyst of Camp Divas, uses silk flowers as a background to show off her beautiful collage art framed in rhinestones! Her hand painted China, Murals & tiles are incredible!  Visit Lori: Exquisite Handmade Creations


Kerry Newcombe of Shabby Villa, uses art and lace as a background to show off this gorgeous hand painted vintage vase!  See all her vintage pretty one of a kind finds.  Visit Kerry:  Fabulous finds!


Karen Ingraham of Teacups and Roses, uses soft rose wallpaper to match up to the roses of her beautiful rose architectural shelf. Visit Karen:  Beautiful Tea accessories & Home decor!

Debra Ferries of Anna V Jewelry, uses black to add drama and show off her exquisite vintage brooch! Gorgeous vintage jewelry, purses & one of a kind hand made crsytal Jewelry!  Visit Debra:   Custom Crystal & Pearl Jewelry!


Debra Aguilar of Shabby City, shows off her charming jewelry using a blurred effect of roses as a background.  One of a kind earrings, Gorgeous Charm boxes for weddings & baby gifts and charm key chains that keep photos of loved ones close by!  Visit Debra:  Very "Charming"Jewelry!
 

Welcome New Members

Susan Temple owns Baskets-N-Boughs in Ashville, Ohio visit her shop online www.BasketsnBoughs.com  She has beautiful baskets for a new Baby,  weddings, pets, thank you's & House warmings! Hand made wreaths and gifts for every possible occassion!

Marilou Rock owns Lemon Tree Corners in Williamsburg, Virginia visit her shop online www.LemonTreeCorners.com or her Auctions on EBay.  Exquisite vintage jewelry, antiques and incredible collectibles!  Sterling silver collectible spoons,  Oriental vintage  porcelain  & other collections!

April Goff Brown owns April Goff Brown Jewelry in Hartford, Connecticut.  Visit her online shop www.AprilGoffJewelry.com for gorgeous one of a kind gemstone, lampwork glass and crystal jewelry! She recreates that romantic vintage look and she takes custom orders!

Thinking Romantic, Beautiful Shops Members stores are filled with romantic decor, vintage and antiques along with cottage style items to make any room romantic.  Look how pretty this room is! Just imagine a vintage chandelier and mis-matched vintage china dishes on the table. 

This is Shabby Chic style at it's best in romantic white on white with shades of pinks and greens. Remember to add roses!  Buy faux roses and twist them onto the tied on ribbons.  Add folded napkins and add the same roses to the napkin rings.  Add candles with roses wrapped around the base and fresh roses in a vase in the center of the table! The beauty of white, you can decorate around it simply changing accessories and colors, especially for the holidays.

Visit CupidsCharm for romantic Valentines Day jewelry.  Hand made necklace, earrings and keepsakes, romantic inspired from broken china. 

    HEART SHAPED SWEETS FOR YOUR SWEETIE

CHOCOLATE HEART CAKE   HEART COOKIES    COOKIE SANDWICH HEARTS           COFFEE DACQUOISE HEARTS        STRAWBERRY HEART PILLOWS

Click on any delicious Valentine dessert for the recipe, Yummy!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Chocolate and Raspberry Heart
Napoleons

From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

Serves 2

3 half-pint containers of fresh raspberries, about 18 ounces, or 1 pound frozen raspberries

4 large egg yolks

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

2 tablespoons kirsch, or champagne

3 large egg whites

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon superfine sugar 

Bittersweet Chocolate Hearts (see recipe below) 

Confectioners' sugar, for garnish

Directions

1. Line a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside. Place raspberries (if using fresh raspberries, reserve 1/2 cup for garnish) in a medium skillet over medium heat. Simmer until raspberries begin to break down and liquid is released, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer raspberries to a food processor, and puree, about 20 seconds. Pass through a fine sieve. Set aside to cool.
2. Fill a large bowl with ice and water; set aside. Bring a stockpot 1/4 full of water to a boil. Let simmer. In a medium stainless-steel bowl, whisk together egg yolks, 2 tablespoons sugar, corn syrup, and kirsch or champagne; place over simmering water. Whisking constantly, cook until mixture thickens (when whisk is lifted over the mixture, the ribbonlike trail it leaves on the surface should hold its shape for 1 or 2 seconds), about 4 minutes. Transfer bowl to the ice-water bath; whisk mixture while it cools. Add 3/4 cup raspberry puree to mixture; whisk to combine. Set aside.
3. In an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on high speed until frothy, about 30 seconds. While mixer is running, gradually add remaining 6 tablespoons sugar; beat until very stiff, 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. Transfer mixture to a bowl. Beat cream with whisk attachment until stiff; fold into egg whites.
4. Fold raspberry mixture into egg whites and cream. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan; cover with plastic wrap. Transfer to the freezer; freeze until hardened, at least 4 hours. This can be prepared up to 2 days in advance.
5. To make the raspberry sauce, stir superfine sugar into the remaining raspberry puree (about 2 tablespoons). Refrigerate until ready to serve.
6. To serve, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter (2 1/2 inches across at the widest point) to cut out four hearts from the semifreddo. Divide the raspberry sauce between two dessert plates. Place a chocolate heart, off center, on top of the raspberry sauce. Place a semifreddo heart on each chocolate heart, and repeat layering until there are three layers of chocolate and two layers of semifreddo, ending with a chocolate heart. Garnish with reserved fresh raspberries (if using), and sift confectioners’ sugar over the raspberries, if desired.

Bittersweet Chocolate Hearts

Ingredients

Makes 6

• 7 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Cut parchment paper to fit a 9-by-13-by-2-inch pan. Brush vegetable oil in corners and center of the pan, pressing parchment to adhere it. Set aside.
2. Bring a medium pot of water to a simmer. Place chocolate in a medium stainless-steel bowl; place the bowl over, but not in, the simmering water to melt the chocolate, about 4 to 6 minutes.
3. Remove chocolate from simmering water. Thoroughly dry bottom of bowl; a drop of water will ruin the chocolate. Pour chocolate into prepared pan. Using a large metal offset (bent-neck) spatula, spread the chocolate evenly over the surface 1/6 inch thick. Freeze until chocolate sets, about 6 minutes.
4. Working quickly, use a heart-shaped cookie cutter (3 1/4 inches across at widest point), to cut out six chocolate hearts. If chocolate begins to soften, return to freezer for several minutes. Run an offset spatula under the hearts, and place in a container. Cover and freeze until ready to use, up to 2 weeks.

Romantic Homes & Beautiful Shops

We are so thrilled to see some of our members in the pages of the February issue of Romantic Homes. 

Check out Angelina's Cards!

AND Dianne Wood, The Desperate Diva!

Congratulations to both of you for making it into the Valentine's Issue! We're so proud of you!! Your items are beautiful!

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas from Beautiful Shops!

I'd like to wish you all a beautiful Christmas! Today's images come from Jo-Anne Coletti's private collection. These photographs are of her lovely home and products. Enjoy.

For more of Jo-Anne's original art and photography and to read her beautiful decorating ideas, please visit her website and blog.

Beautiful Shops Pink & White Christmas

Always A Special Place, The Boulevard,

is an extra special place at Christmas!  Shop for Christmas gifts to make

someone feel extra special!  Pink, White or Traditional Green & Red, All of

us at Beautiful Shops wish you & your family a "Beautiful" Wonderful

Christmas filled with Love!  Make Memories this year to last a lifetime!

After you shop the Boulevard visit our Beautiful Village Shops!

A Rose without a Thorn has hand sewn shabby chic pink stockings,

pillows, totes, bags and beautiful sachets. A Rose Without A Thorn

Lavender Hill Studio's hand crafted mosaic items are exquisite. Penny can

take any vintage find and make it a treasure! Lavender Hill Studio

The Rose Cottage has delightful handmade treasure & Memory Boxes,

sweet pink signs, dolls & hand painted signs.  The Rose Cottage

Shabby Rose Studio has beautiful hand painted roses on everything!

Kimberly Ryan creates exquisite one of a kind beauties for home & garden!

A Bit of Paris  a melody of gifts for your shopping pleasure!  Her vintage

mirrors become works of art with yard long rose prints, just beautiful!

Camp Divas  Gorgeous hand painted china murals with beautiful roses!

Her mosaic designs are found on boxes, exquisite lighting, everything!

Sew Graceful  beautiful fabrics, patterns, sewing notions & wonderful
gifts!  Pretty pillows. baby quilts, new & vintage items for your home.

Roses & Teacups gorgeous items dripping in lace & roses! Quilts, broken

china jewelry and if you Fancy tea you'll love the beautiful tea accessories!

Wendy Costa is a renowned Artist who brightens any home with her

whimsy artsy handbags, tiles & items with her signature food designs!

Teacups & Twigs pretty hand painted decor will delight anyone! Vintage

linens, china with shabby chic new & vintage home accessories!

Becky's Rose Cottage is well known for her one-of-a-kind vintage china

plate clocks!  A gift anyone would be thrilled to get for Christmas!

Bonnie & Clyde's is a Treasure Trove for Vintage fashions from yesterday!

Museum quality collections of vintage clothing & accessories.

Anna V Jewelry hand crafts the most beautiful custom designed jewelry!

Need something special to wear at your wedding, she has it!

The Shabby Villa is stocking up for Christmas, make sure to stop by for

handmade, new and vintage items for those who love Shabby Chic!

Feed On The Word reminds us all year long to thank God for our many

Blessings! Say it on dishes right from the Bible!  Great Gift for Christmas!

Neere An Dear creates one of a kind creations for your home!  Beautiful

paintings or painting on furniture to make it a special work of art!

 From Desperate To Diva the perfect Christmas teddy bears to not only

put a smile on a child's face but yours as well!  Sweet, Beautiful gifts!

HomeStyle Divas has gourmet tasty treats & gifts for the Diva in you!

  

Stop by The World's Best Country Craft Show Online for Christmas gifts,

especially if you love Country, Prim fixins & good ole fashioned Goodies!

K.I.S. Antiques has collected the most beautiful treasures for you to give

to someone special! Family Heirlooms to treasure forever!

Pear Street Studios specializes in creating websites for Women owned

Businesses. Fabulous logos, exquisite business cards & everything you

need to create your company's presence. Jennifer Froh, the Owner, is our

Website Designer and just look at everything she's done for us! Design,

Beautiful Websites, Print &  extensive business Promotions!

'Tis The Season....To enjoy, start or Renew Traditions

Beautiful Shops is the perfect place to find everything you need to inspire your family Christmas Traditions.  From handmade stockings to handed down ornaments.  To reflect on who we are and to be grateful for what and who we have in our lives.  Tis the season of shopping online and offline. The sound of jingle bells playing in the background while children run through the toy isles in stores with huge smiles and lit up faces amazed at the toys and wondering what will end up in their stockings, under the tree and what Santa will drop off on Christmas Eve.  If you don't have a Christmas Tradition, start one!  Something as simple as stringing popcorn together, hanging stockings up with your names on them or baking cookies will be remembered in your hearts year after year
               

November

Winter is in the air, the crisp breeze, the colors changing and talking colors.... Whites, light blues, and greens are perfect for the cottage look. Remember to place roses and flowers to add a splash of color and romance!  Candles with the scent of cinnamon, vanilla or pumpkin add to the ambiance.  Decorate & cuddle up to someone special! 

Need the perfect accent piece?  Stroll through the streets of Beautiful Shops!  Here's my idea of Winter....Cottage Style.

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to give thanks to those who are special blessings in our lives.  All of you are very special, talented women who have courage, strength, determination and wisdom.  I admire each one of you and I am very proud of all of you!  All of you have blessed my life.  Thank you!

Some wonderful Recipes to add to your cookbooks!  Roast Turkey with Cranberry Orange Glaze, Golden Mashed Potatoes with chives, Pumpkin desserts and a Cranberry Martini to relax you after the busy day of cooking and entertaining!

The Pumkin Recipes are here:  Click Here   

Arnell's Rose Collection

Ar'Nells Rose Collection offers a very unique design with a feel of Romantic Italy. Step back in time with beautiful images artfully created by Gay Nell.  Send her a photograph and she'll make you a special keepsake to treasure forever!  Handmade jewelry, framed prints, tote bags with tote jewelry & very special one of a kind custom creations for loving memories!
Visit:  Ar'nells Rose collection

Isabella's Roses

Catherine brings you handbeaded crosses, vintage and new tea sets, baby blankets, romantic rose items and so much more!  A unique Boutique experience is yours with one click to her beautiful site! Shabby Chic, Cottage style, Country,  Whimsy designs and even a touch of vintage, like her moss rose tea set all blend together for a wonderful shopping experience from her home to yours.
Visit:  Isabella's Roses

Raspberry Rabbits

Michelle keeps busy in her New Bern, NC studio creating her one of a kind beautiful quilts and other sweet textile creations.  Her passion to create shows in her love of quilting.  She use to teach but now keeps so busy it's even hard to find time to snuggle with her bunnies, Chloe and Razzy. Quilts, pillows, wall hangings, purses and just about anything in fabric can be enhanced with a little love and patience which you see at her site!

Visit: The Raspberry Rabbits

Millani's Antique Cottage

Victorian dolls, mantle mirror shelves, romantic cottage lighting and victorian accessories to enhance your home.  Millie loves going to auctions and flea markets where she finds things to paint and fix up into something one of a kind.  She also carries a wide selection of reproductions and new items too! Millie will soon be adding all her hand painted treasures!      Visit:  Miallanis Antique Cottage

Shabby Cottage Designs

Suzanne Davenport loves expressing herself through her beautiful romantic paintings and happily takes special request!  Choose one of her exquisite creations or ask her to make a custom one.  Cottage signs, Shabby chic cottage furniture, notecards, candles and keepsake boxes all take on a new life with her artistic touch and paintbrush!
Visit: Shabby Cottage Designs

Catherine Moore - Character Constructions

Catherine Moore is a recognized Artist in several books and magazines worldwide!  Her own book, "The Art Chronicles" is an incredible journey through imagination & art and beautifully llustrated.  As a mixed media Artist & Art Instructor, her classes incorporate new ideas with collage and paint techniques  It's fun to mix the old with the new, rubber stamps and applique to construct incredible works of art! Everything you need is at her site!  Her book is fabulous & her site full of artsy inspiration!
Visit:  Character Constructions by Catherine Moore

October 2007

Want to send something extra special to someone for Halloween...
Visit Joy at Cupids Charm www.CupidsCharm.com

 

Halloween is a time for bewitching decor, fun recipes and great crafting! It's a great time to be with our children and to watch them explore their creative minds! It's time to entertain, have parties & treats!

This Great Pumpkin Cake is my favorite for a great presentation along with punch with frozen hands for ice, a bowl of ghastly fingers, Witches hands filled with popcorn and coffin sandwiches.

A basket of Witches Fingers are simple to make!  (Click here for Witch Finger Recipe) Decorate your sandwiches like coffins!  (Click here for coffin sandwich recipe) A larger recipe to view is on the Kraft site too!
Visit Kraft for some fabulous recipes with videos for the perfect touch! Click here for the video!
This site has incredible ideas for Halloween!  Click here!

Members In The Media

Exciting News....Another Beautiful Shops member has been featured in Romantic Country Magazine. Dianne Wood, owner of From Desperate To Diva has her adorable "Piggy Guest Towels" on page 17 with "Our Favorite Finds".  www.desperatetodiva.com

One more reason to visit all these wonderful charming shops here at Beautiful Shops.  When you are looking for the best and the most unique home decor and gift ideas,, you will be amazed at all the treasures  you will find right here in this one stop shopping mall filled with Beautiful Shops from Beautiful Women......:)

For this charming little towel set visit: www.desperatetodiva.com

And don't  forget to stop by the other shops for more beautiful finds.

Bippity..Boppity...Boo !

Halloween is CREEPING up on us and FALL is finally in the air. With nippy nights and chilly weather just ahead we will be looking for ways to stay warm. What better way to chase the chill away than with a STEAMY cup of HOT CHOCOLATE. You will find the PERFECT TREATS in the shops of some of our members. Just look at these ADORABLE finds.

This adorable box of HOT CHOCOLATE MIX comes tied up in ribbon with a sweet charming card. Marshmallows are included for melting in your cup.

And these fun COCOA CONES are made for sharing. Each one makes two mugs of delicious gourmet hot chocolate. And for added Fun check out the Jack O' Lantern Soup and Ghost Poop.  These treats will bring smiles to all your special gobblins this Halloween Season.

You will find these wonderful treats and more at www.desperatetodiva.com

Happy Treating .....Dianne Wood