Cottage Road Designs

My sweet and talented cousin is the one behind Cottage Road Designs. She is a mother of 5, twin baby girls included. I have 3, counting my twin boys, and I don't know how she does everything she does and has creativity left over to run this adorable little business.


You have to check out her aprons. They make PERFECT Christmas gifts (she slips a cute recipe card inside). I have to admit I wear mine cleaning, changing diapers, doing laundry, and on the rare occasion when I actually "cook". It is so cute it may pass as lingerie :)

She makes this all natural, hand made lotion in between feeding and changing her twin baby girls, or maybe while they are napping.

Her original art she most likely does in between helping the older kids with homework.

Her creative journals she probably puts together after feeding her family of 7. Don't they just make you want to start a journal and keep it up everyday?

This one she calls Brave, happens to be my favorite and most emotional piece of art she has done.
Her inspiration behind the art:
I recently had twins to make five children. As I drove up to the school to pick up the older kids, the PE teacher wanted to look at the babies and then she looked around at the overly filled car and smiled at me and said, "you're brave." I said, "well, I don't know if it has anything to do with being brave." and she looked at me and said, "you are doing all this and you still have a smile on your face. That's being brave." I had never thought of it that way! So that's what inspired this painting.

Brittany is truly inspiring. She is a strong woman with a tender artistic talent. Visit her Etsy shop or even her blog. She has something for everyone.

From now through December she is giving FREE SHIPPING! Thanks Brittany for letting me show you off :)

Copy Sketch art

I am working on a "recycle redo" with the kids bathroom.
Recycle Redo: Use stuff you already have around the house, mix it up and you got a basically FREE makeover!

I have tons of black frames I am not using anymore but I just needed FREE artwork. hmmm... didn't want more family pictures...... I know, sketches!


Supplies: Drawing paper and drawing pencils (got mine at Michael's)

1. Print out a picture of the item you want to draw (got mine off Google Images)
   
2. Place it under your paper so you can "copy" it.
3. Carefully sketch, using the copy as your guide. Make it "sketchy" (not just an outline).
4. Shadow
5. Sign your work
6. Hang it and admire!

My husband saw them hung and thought I had purchased "real" artwork. When he found out I did it he smiled and laughed. Got him fooled :)
I have to laugh at the toilet drawing. I did it to be humorous and funny, but I think it turned out great. Remember, anything goes in my book. If you like it, then it works!

The Final reveal of my Bathroom "recycle redo" in a couple days.

Picture Galleries

I LOVE a good picture arrangement. I love clean lines, but yet I still love messy. I love organization but then again, a bit of chaos. I love PERSONAL pictures, pictures of places, things and personal memories all arranged together. Not to mention snapshots and your own little memorabilia is thousands cheaper than art!

Staircase- These frames were $5 each at Michael's.

Above my couch- Odd number of frames are my favorite way to arrange pictures (luckily I have 3 kids!)

My inspiration, above, would have cost me around $200 just for the SHELVING alone, so I hit Lowes, bought the shelves for $30 and went out to collect my mismatched frames from Target, Michaels, and some I had around the house that I reused (which were, smile :)... FREE).
I just got all different frames, types, sizes, brought them home then played with the arrangement for a while. I only had to take 1 frame back!

TIP: When redecorating see what you have around the house first, before you go buy. Especially when it comes to picture frames, accessories, or even fabric.
I just LOVE the way the frames are leaning against the wall, overlapping each other, and creating this cozy, messy but clean little story. I am still in need of some accessories, but that will come.

When it comes to framing think "outside the frame"... hehe.

1. I picked a fall leaf at the park and pressed it = FREE
2. I also framed my late grandma's art work= FREE and meaningful
3. Framed a picture of their lakeside cabin that holds all the memories of her and I= FREE
4. My mom frames music programs, Restaurant menus on significant anniversaries. I also saw that one of my friend's framed dried roses she had gotten from her husband over the years, so cute

Anything goes! Anything counts as artwork as long as you love it!
If it is special to you, FRAME IT!!!