Something Old- Something New

(the "Before" of the front of our home with the "new" posts in place)

We live in a 'Colonial Cottage'.....at least that is what I call it. The major and minor remodeling we've done on the house over the last five years has made our little abode live-able and has also given it some 'character'.

(My husband and friend working on the porch.....Woohoo!, it is really happening!!)

(Just needs some stain and paint...oh, and that last board attached on the end!)

The past few weekends, my husband and a friend of ours have been building a porch to our cottage. It is turning out to be so cute...(as if I had any doubt about their abilities! :)
This entrance to our home has quite a "history", you can read about that here:

Concrete Crisis

It is SO nice to finally be able to walk into the house on sturdy steps, and have the added bonus of a cute "Colonial Cottage" porch to sit on.

Welcome!

Next, we need to stain the porch deck and paint the posts.....then, maybe a cute railing will be added?, but I won't "push it"! :)

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Something New....Lana (Honeysuckle Lane/ Simple Joys Paperie) and I have combined our names and our "alter-egoes" - and a mutual love for the cottage-style - and have opened a new little website called "Mavis and Mavis."

You can see our offerings and read more about it here:

Mavis and Mavis

Mavis and Mavis ( a "play" on our last names: Lana Manis and Suzanne Davis....all the letters are in there somewhere!) These updates will happen periodically....sometimes seasonally and sometimes for holidays.

NOTE: I AM still painting/creating "paintings of the past", aka: 18th/19th century style art....'cause I LOVE it, but this is just a fun "lighter side" of vintage-y art for me.

Here is a peek at Lana's neat idea....she used vintage book covers as backing for her beautiful watercolors~ Clever girl!

(Lana's work on Mavis and Mavis)

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Something I painted for Mavis and Mavis

~"French Country"~

(shabby table, old barn board and a blue enamel pitcher)

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And another bit of news....I received a letter from Early American Life publication saying that I have been chosen to be in the 2011 Artisan's Directory! Thank you EAL! I'm honored and excited to be included!

Of course, I did receive this letter on April 1st (April Fool's Day!), so I'm hoping the honor is "for realz" ! :)

Here is a link to EAL if you aren't familiar with the publication. There is also info on subscriptions. I highly recommend this magazine if you are an early American lover of history/ art/ gardening/ cooking/ crafts/ and "everyday life" of the past.

Early American Life

And the painting of a little person on my sidebar...in the red dress wearing an apron...
do you see it? :)
That is one of the paintings I entered as my submission to the EAL directory this year.

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We are hoping for nicer weather to stain the new porch deck this week.....but it looks like a wet and rainy one. :(.....guess it must be spring! Have a great week.