Make Mine Pink

"Dreaming of a White Christmas"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:42:00 +0000

Every Christmas, everyone from great-grandparents to the newest addition to the family, gather around the Christmas tree. We’re filled with anticipation of the upcoming celebration and gratitude for loved ones to share it with. The boxes of favorite ornaments are brought out from their safe storage and passed around, inspiring memories of many a Christmas. Some of the ornaments have been handed down from mother to daughter for generations, we reminisce about the memories they hold. Others are new, bringing a new excitement about the memories we’ll make this year. Soon the tree is shining with glitter, beads, ribbons, lace and memories.

As we set up our Christmas villages with the old-fashioned houses and bottle brush trees, the children peer closely at the scene and imagine what is happening behind those tiny closed doors. The sprinkle of glittering snow on the village rooftops and pathways reminds us of the snow we hope to have for this Christmas.

A quick look around and you’ll see Christmas wreaths and garlands of greenery, gracing our doorways and doors. Each welcoming family and friends inside with holiday ornaments and twinkling lights Stockings are hung from the mantle, seemingly empty but overflowing with hopes and wishes for Christmas morning. As we sit by the crackling fire, sipping tea and hot cocoa from vintage holiday mugs, a feeling of nostalgia fills us with contentment.

We fondly remember unwrapping treasures from our childhood. A precious doll with curling hair and eyes that closed when you tucked her into a bed made just for her. A charm bracelet that made you feel all grown up whenever you wore it. A hand knit sweater that felt like a hug from your mother when you put it on. These treasures are etched in our memories.

This year’s gifts sparkle under the tree, each present lovingly chosen and carefully wrapped with extra special touches. They’re trimmed with vintage lace and beautiful handmade tags, bearing the names of loved ones. The packages capture our imaginations, and we can’t help but dream about what’s inside and what wonders this Christmas season has in store.

Outside, as the snow begins to lightly fall, we know that this year, like so many others, all of our Christmas dreams can come true.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday November 27, 2009 as we present "Dreaming of a White Christmas"

Photo Contribution 1:Grandma G's | Photo Contribution 2: Misty Moonlight Creations|Photo Contribution 3: Patricia Rose|Photo Contribution 4: Carol's Rose Garden, LLC

12 Days of Christmas Shop Hop

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:35:00 +0000

Please join all the Christmas fun!

MMP Shop Hops are a type of contest where you try to find as many “You Found It” images (as shown here) as you can. Each of our participating boutiques has hidden an image on its website that says, “You Found It!” on the tag. Click that image to return to Make Mine Pink and get credit for finding it. The more images you find, the better your chances of winning great prizes. See the prize list below to see what you can win!

There is no cost and no obligation to purchase anything. However, if you do happen to find some products you might be interested in, don't forget to bookmark those pages so that you can come back later! Good luck!

The 12 Days of Christmas Shop Hop just got bigger and better than ever before! Please join us November 27th — December 8th as we celebrate the holidays in style!

This year we are pleased to announce that we have 3 other premier on-line shopping malls joining us to make your shop hop one of the most exciting, one of the biggest, prize-filled events that we've ever held.

Instead of just searching for the "You Found It" image on make Mine Pink, you will now be searching the boutiques at:

Grand Prize

Find all of the "you found it" shopping images, and be entered into a drawing to win "The Ultimate Gift Basket" (retail value: over $1,000). See Details of "Ultimate Gift Basket" and contents here.

Gorgeous Holiday Pillow

A beautiful, reclaimed Angel needlepoint, finished with silk taffeta and plush brush fringe, makes for a gorgeous holiday pillow from C’est Chouette Home (retail value: $124).

C'est Chouette Home

Bethany Lowe Christmas Putz Houses

A set of three Bethany Lowe Christmas Houses (retail value: $80).

Misty Moonlight Creations

Hydrangea Rose Garland

This festive garland consists of mixed greens; creamy, lightly-glittered paper hydrangeas; and red roses. Shown across a mirror, it can also be placed down the center of your dining table, on top of a hutch, mantle shelf, etc. Approx. 9"×37". (retail value: $45).

Hydrangea Home

"Angel on Wing" Musical Waterball

Plays the tune "Angels We Have Heard on High." 6"×3½" globe diameter. (retail value: $45).

Coeur d'Alene

Elegant Santa Stocking

This lovely heirloom-quality stocking is made using an antique holiday post card image and luxurious trimmings. Exclusively designed and fully lined in coordinating fabric, it will bring a huge smile to its recipient! (retail value: $35).

Esprit de Joie

Christmas Tree Stitchery

A delightful Christmas Tree Stichery with pearl beads, vintage lace, and the Raspberry Rabbit's original quilt-upon-a-quilt look. Measures 13"×24". Ready to hang. (retail value: $35).

The Raspberry Rabbit

Pink Christmas Tree

A ceramic, white Christmas tree to help decorate your home during the holidays. 14" High (retail value: $32).

Angel Heart Designs

Set of "Girly" Ornaments

Three girly ornaments with different sayings:

"Girlfriend let's be naughty and save Santa a trip."

"Staying young:eat slow. Drink wine and lie about your age. Merry Christmas."

"Girlfriend, we may have issues, it's nothing a little wine can't fix." (retail value: $24).

Tres Belle Boutique

Santa's Helper Holiday Tussie Mussie

This one-of-a-kind pink holiday tussie mussie is embellished with vintage trims and whimsical ephemera. It is perfect for filling with your favorite trinkets for an extra special gift this season. It includes a coordinating tag and measures 20" long. (retail value: $18.95).

Noelle Garrett Designs

Pink Candy Cane Ornaments

Set of three pink and white, sugared candy canes with a large shimmering snowflake and turquoise satin flower and rhinestone for a little bling. (retail value: $18).

Pink Hugs Sweet Shoppe

Christmas Bake Shop Box

Christmas Bake Shop Box includes two mini-Honey Buns from the Glace (3 Sisters) and Crazy 8 (Sandy Gervais) collections. Also includes pattern to make a "Secret Santa Christmas Stocking." (retail value: $15).

The Quilt Shoppe

* In the event that one of the products is not available at the end of this contest, Make Mine Pink reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.

* Prizes will be shipped out directly from supplier upon return of confirmation of winner.

* In the event of an international winner, MMP reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value that is purchased and shipped from winner's country of residence.

* In the event that the prize is not claimed within 7 days a new name will be drawn.

Make Mine Pink Employees, and immediate family members are not eligible to win any of the drawings/prizes.

Check ~ HERE~ for a list of all the participating websites.

Good Luck!

"All About Family"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:45:00 +0000

When our family gathers for the holidays, Grandma’s dishes always come out of the china cabinet. From favorite serving dishes that held many a turkey, to silverware passed down through generations. Crisp, starched tablecloths, reminiscent of many holidays past, grace the family dining table. These simple pieces are as much a part of the annual celebration as is the family gathered around the table. Each of us thankful for those memories and for each other.

After dinner is done, and the pumpkin pie is gone, the children are anxious to leave the table and play in Grandma’s bedroom. They gather on her chenille covered bed, anxious to start the treasure hunt through her jewelry box. The boys quickly tire of this game and head off to meet the men in the living room, while the girls play dress up with the old pearl necklaces and rhinestone pins kept inside the box of treasures. They try on Grandma’s cameo necklace and the hand crocheted shawl she keeps on her boudoir chair. They and imagine they are elegant ladies, from what they imagine to be Grandma’s past. It’s always such fun to explore the treasures and keepsakes, looking for something new since their last adventure.

The women sit around the table long after dinner is over and the dishes are cleared, sipping tea from favorite vintage cups. Their fingers trace over the cross stitching on the antique tablecloth, and they marvel at the long hours someone put into the intricate design. They talk about their own stitching projects and their favorite collections of antiques and heirlooms.

Talk turns to plans for the upcoming Christmas holiday. Always hoping for a handmade Christmas, they share their favorite sewing and decorating plans. A holiday-themed quilt that must be finished in time, a Christmas stocking for a baby’s first Christmas and maybe even a stylish sweater knit from a teenager’s favorite colors. They reminisce over past holiday traditions and plan which new ones to start this year, jotting down suggestions and writing lists of memory-making ideas for the family this year. They may even draw names for gift giving.

When our family gathers for the holidays, our home is filled with love, laughter and many memories of the past gatherings just like this one. A glance around the room provokes a feeling of deep gratitude for the family and friends in our lives.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday November 20, 2009 as we present "All About Family"

Photo Contribution 1: Polka Dot Rose | Photo Contribution 2: The Casual Cameo|Photo Contribution 3: Shabby Shan's|Photo Contribution 4: The Quilt Shoppe

"Comforts of Home"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:43:00 +0000

When I think of the comforts of home, I picture a favorite sweater, soft and worn with time. Sitting by the fire, wrapped in a quilt that my mother made so many years ago bring back so many memories of home. Looking around, there are framed photographs on the wall, some of people I see every day, and others of friends of loved ones that once touched my life , yet are no longer with us. The memories woven remain alive and woven into our lives. The antique clock that my great-grandmother cherished, chimes the hour in the next room, and the crackling of the fire seems in tune, counting the minutes.

As I sip my tea from a special antique cup and saucer that was once a part of my grandmother’s treasured collections, I can’t help but remember and smile. No one made a tea party more special than she did. At the end, we’d read our tea leaves as if we could tell the future. Mine was always filled with wonderful things that were sure to come true.

The fragrance of potpourri simmering on the stove, reminiscent of holiday get-togethers, gingerbread and pumpkin pie, and mingling with memories of my mother’s kitchen on any Sunday or holiday, fills my senses. The lit candles, with rich and spicy scents, cast soft shadows around the room, lighting up corners with thoughts of familiar voices and laughter.

The comforts of home reach out from the past and wind their way into those of the present. Our homes, stamped with our own distinct style, with just a touch of nostalgia mixed in. Grandmother’s teacup, now finely glazed with age, sitting on the shelf alongside a favorite new set of coffee mugs. A vintage lamp standing tall, surrounded by candlelight. Among the faded family photographs hangs a framed print that makes you smile just because. A treasured worn sweater lies in a dresser drawer beside a brand new knit cardigan. On the sofa beside me, the colors of a new quilting project are bright compared to the quilt my mother made.

It’s the little touches from generations past that help to make our house a home. Each item is so different from the others, yet nothing feels out of place. It just feels like home.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday November 13, 2009 as we present "Comforts of Home"

Photo Contribution 1: My Rose Retreat | Photo Contribution 2: The Roseberry Cottage

"Cupcakes and Fairytales"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:36:00 +0000

Remember the simple delights of childhood? How a cupcake could make you giggle and a fairy story would stir your dreams? The smallest things, done just right, could bring out the biggest smiles of all.

Cupcakes remind me of those happy times – they’re so simple, easy and childlike. Who doesn’t love a cupcake? And yet, what is simpler than a tiny round of cake topped with frosting? They’re never overly indulgent, but give us just a bit of fun in a perfectly sized morsel. They appeal to our playful and teasing side.

It’s the simple things like cupcakes that bring us so much pleasure. They’re a scrumptious reminder of the delight we feel when we take time to enjoy the simple things in life. The sweetness of stealing a moment just for you, to soak in a hot luxurious bath or sip your favorite tea from a cherished vintage cup.. The delight of a sharing a special moment with your favorite daughter, granddaughter or child. Tiny pleasures, yet supremely satisfying.

Fairies and fairytales remind us how easy it is to escape to that land where a little frivolity can brighten a whole day. A bit of fun and fantasy in a world where hard times are far too plentiful. They stir our imaginations and make us believe we can fly on wings sprinkled with fairy dust back to those simpler times.

We only need to find a happy magical moment – think back to a special day or ahead to the possibilities of tomorrow – and dare to dream of the things that delight and refresh our senses. The first snowflake that tickles your nose, the aroma of grandma’s holiday baking, the bubbling laughter of good friends. An impish collection gives us an excuse to make believe, to remember, to dream, and to recharge.

All things whimsical have a place in our lives. Each brings about smiles and wisps of childhood memories. Whether it is a fanciful collection or a whimsical element added to your decor, the hint of fun is a welcoming greeting to all.

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday November 6, 2009 as we present "Cupcakes and Fairytales"

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Photo Contribution 1: Angel Heart Designs | Photo Contribution 2: Caroline Alexander | Photo Contribution 3: Gail Friend Design

"Colors of Autumn"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Autumn bursts into a seasonal symphony of color. With swirling leaves of crimson, amber, and gold against a background of crisp blue sky, it excites our senses and invites us to grab hold… before it slips away.

This is a season of celebration, meant to be shared with family and good friends. There are family dinners at tables covered with vintage cloths embroidered with the colors of fall. Time spent together carving pumpkins and decorating with colorful gourds. Weekend afternoons are spent winding through corn mazes, and trips to the apple orchard. Cool crisp evenings and long walks, enjoying all that the season offers before moves into winter.

Nature’s display mingles with the scent of fall. Pies made with fresh apples baking in the oven, cinnamon and spiced tea steeping in a vintage teapot on the counter and marshmallows toasting over a crackling fire. The crisp cool air that rushes in when you open the front door refreshes and excites the senses.

The changing fall foliage provides inspiration for our indoor and outdoor decorating. We add accents from an autumn palette of copper, rust, green, gold and pink to highlight forgotten nooks and crannies. We warm up your our homes with the colors of falling leaves… orange, brown and yellow. Maybe a fall wreath hanging in the entranceway, a needlepoint cushion stitched with rustic fall colors, a pumpkin spiced candle, or a pretty fall bouquet displayed on a side table.

The colors of autumn pervade our quiet alone times too. We start knitting projects with yarn of warm russets and reds, crimson and gold. We stitch quilts with beautiful fabrics that remind us of swirling leaves and autumn’s irresistible allure. Perhaps an attempt at keeping the autumn colors just a little longer.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday October 30, 2009 as we present "Colors of Autumn"

Photo Contribution 1: Caroline Alexander | Photo Contribution 2: CandyLights | Photo Contribution 3: Coeur d'Alene

"Pumpkins and Spice"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:10:00 +0000

With the return of autumn come the familiar feelings of comfort, happy childhood memories and hope for what the future will bring. Comfortable fires and cozy kitchens surrounded by the warmth of family and friends. Crunching leaves and laughing voices. A brisk walk in the cool air. With crackling leaves under foot, the sights and smells mingle and wrap you in memory like a warm blanket on a chilly evening. The smell of a fire burning in a neighbor's fireplace as you take your evening stroll, reminiscent of outdoor bonfires and marshmallow roasts, or a cool night warming by the fire with someone you love. Vibrant carved pumpkins or hand crafted velvet pumpkins, both have their place. Some gracing the front steps, others atop a dining room table or sideboard. Reminders of nights spent trick-or-treating, carving friendly pumpkin faces and toasting pumpkin seeds. All reminiscent of autumns gone by.

Cinnamon and clove potpourri simmering on the stove top or in a kettle on the wood burning stove fill your home with the delicious scent of fall. Friends stop by for spiced cider and fresh pumpkin bread - right out of the oven. Laughter and conversation over a table set with a whimsical pumpkin fairy or an elegant pumpkin centerpiece, fills the the room.

The autumn season evokes many happy memories of childhood mixed with anticipation of what's to come. Sunny crisp afternoons picking apples in the orchard, slicing apples for the secret recipe passed down from your grandmother. The aroma of baked apples and gingerbread spiced candles in vintage teacups and containers fill the room.

Autumn is the time for quilting and knitting in front of a crackling fire. Remembering grandma's hands, covering yours as you learned how to make your first stitches so long ago. The season bursts with memory. Memory of all of the senses.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday October 23, 2009 as we present "Pumpkins and Spice"

Photo Contribution 1: Esprit de Joie | Photo Contribution 2: Patricia Rose | Photo Contribution 3: Camelia Cottage

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:51:00 +0000

Make Mine Pink Shopping & Decorating Guide

Your favorite Make Mine Pink Boutiques have joined to bring you a Holiday Shopping Guide as well as decorating hints and some really delicious recipes. You may purchase it at http://magcloud.com/browse/Issue/40059

"Posh Tots"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:47:00 +0000

Childhood is a time for make believe and today’s tots are growing up in affordable elegance that makes everyone believe that with a little creativity, our little ones dreams really can come true. Children of all ages are being dressed in style and nurseries and bedrooms are decorated in luxury thanks to incorporating vintage a treasures from yesteryear. At baby showers, we welcome beloved little ones with fashionable outfits and one-of-a kind treasures, like a vintage silver rattle or heirloom dresses and designer clothing made from vintage textiles. Nurseries and children’s rooms are decorated with vintage and repurposed items that once considered ordinary, now add an touch of luxury that inspire imagination. You might catch a glimpse of a vintage chenille blanket
draped across the crib or a delicate needlepoint pillows set on a chair. Whimsical and chic bootie planters grace a nursery shelf. Vintage hand stitched coverlets, often hung on the wall for display.

For our posh tots, every first is cause for celebration. There’s the first birthday, first step, a first tooth. Parents capture all these firsts in photographs and store treasures in keepsake boxes just the right shape for a child’s first coat, her first birthday dress or his
first birthday suit.

Every child needs a fairy to watch over them at night and keep their dreams sweet. A fairy house night light, magical and enchanting, lets the fairies know they are welcome in this child’s special place.. What girl doesn’t dream of a fairy tale tea party? Perhaps a tea pot night light adds a Victorian touch to a little girl’s room and whisks her off
to dreamland.

Do you need something special for a little girl made of sugar and spice? An engraved silver charm for her first piece of jewelry, or paper dolls that are just like the ones you had when you were a child. For little boys made of puppy dogs’ tails, lights in superhero colors to string
over a headboard or around a window frame. Quilts with dinosaurs, trains, lions, and planes to add adventure to a little boy’s room.With the right accessories and a sprinkling of imagination, your special child won’t need pixie dust to transform into a posh tot.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday October 16, 2009 as we present "Posh Tots"

Photo Contribution 1: Sweet Hummingbird Lane | Photo Contribution 2: Mary's Cottage Treasures | Photo Contribution 3: Roseblossom Cottage

Pink Twilight Sale

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 13:37:00 +0000

Please join us every third Saturday of the month from 6:00 pm – midnight EST for unbelievable buys from the Make Mine Pink boutique owners! 6 Hours and 6 hours only - once a month where you'll see buys like never before on make Mine Pink. Mark your calendars so that you don't miss this new, monthly event.
First event date: Saturday October 17th 6:00 PM - Midnight EST.

"Girly Finds"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 17:16:00 +0000

Women everywhere are no longer afraid to show their girly sides, but instead celebrate it. We now seeking out pieces that make a statement about who we are. Instead of downplaying our femininity, we accessorize and decorate with items that celebrate being a girl. Not only is it OK to show our feminine and flirty side, it’s easy too! Everywhere you look, there’s something fun and interesting and available at a great price. The smallest touches in just the right places are all it takes to become a girly girl.

Take a length of vintage French velvet ribbon. There’s nothing simpler, yet it can become the perfect hair tie for a casual dinner. There are other trimmings to be considered, too, like pretty rick rack in a rainbow of colors, vintage jewelry, and silk roses to add on to a favorite bag or tote.

Girly finds in various shapes and sizes can change the ambiance of any room. A piece of handmade lace draped over the back of a chair. A floral pillow placed on the bed. Nurseries, once cold and sterile, now lit with antique chandeliers, crystal prisms giving the room a dreamy, girly look. Yards and yards of silk puddling at each window.

A Victorian shawl wrapped around your shoulders creates an elegant entrance. Pouring tea from a teapot painted with delicate roses turns tea for one into a relaxing and feminine getaway. Luxury soaps, as pretty as they are practical, are scented with soothing fragrances and poured into delightful shapes. Boxes made out of vintage wallpaper, buttons and handmade roses are filled with old love letters tied with velvety bows.

A single feminine element is all it takes to change the appearance of anything, or the atmosphere of any occasion. Just adding a touch like a simple rose belt to a denim skirt, or a snippet of lace at the cuff is all it takes to make personalities emerge in a sea of girly girls.

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday October 9, 2009 as we present "Girly Finds"

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Photo Contribution 1: Shabby Shan's | Photo Contribution 2: Caroline Alexander

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:47:00 +0000

Each year Make Mine Pink and all of the members come together to help raise Breast Cancer Awareness.

Make Mine Pink will donate 20% of all membership fees in the month of October to the Susan G. Komen foundation. In addition, we will be hosting our annual PINK OCTOBER SHOP HOP as a way of providing some fun for our customers, while at the same time bringing attention to a much needed cause.

Many of our members will be hosting special events on their sites and we urge you to take a moment while searching for shop hop bags to see what events the individual boutiques are hosting.

"SIMPLY PINK"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 19:24:00 +0000

Shades of pink are popping up everywhere. Pink, once reserved for women's boudoirs and little girl's dresses is now being incorporated into the décor of homes everywhere. Sometimes in hues of summer sunsets, and sometimes bold and bright, pink makes a statement that is impossible to ignore.

Many decorators are "all things pink" fans and put pink in every corner and space - pink furniture, pink curtains, pink accessories. Others' craving for pink is satisfied with just a bit of a favorite shade here and there. You may find a pink pale mirror hanging in the cream colored powder room, an antique pink teapot for tea parties with the girls, or an accent wall painted in a vibrant pink.

Mixing shades of pink makes a room feminine, but the single pink accent in a black and white room can command just as much attention. Towels with pink tatting in a white basket, a miniature pink accent placed on a shelf, or a pink cushion on a contrasting sofa. Even when subtle, pink catches the eye wherever it's used.

Over the past few years, pink has been proclaimed the new black. It's the color that fits in with any theme - from girly to chic, from romantic to modern. Store windows are filled with eye popping pink accessories and furnishings. Designers are using extravagant pink fabrics for whole pieces or to create just a few pink touches. Websites are celebrating pink by selling pink products and giving us ideas for decorating in pink.

What is it about pink that makes us love it so? It's the color of play and delight, yet feminine and strong. It can be whimsical on vintage doll tutus and pink fairy cake pillows. It reflects a bold zest for life when used on larger pieces. It's a reminder of the past on keepsake boxes, and feminine on a ribbon or a rose.

Make Mine Pink represents so much more than just the color pink. It symbolizes women, femininity, strength and calm. Whether you surround yourself with pink or just keep a special pink reminder nearby, pink celebrates life - everything you already are and all your hope for the future.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Photo Contribution 1: Sew Victorian| Photo Contribution 2: The Pink Rose Cottage | Photo Contribution 3: Pei Li's Dollhouse Miniatures|

"TIMELESS TEXTILES"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0000

There are some fabrics that never go out of fashion. As the years pass, they grow more beautiful by adding the threads of history to their own. The original colors might fade, but these timeless textiles stay bright with the memory of the hands that created and cared for them. The stories they know are never truly forgotten when we make room for them in our lives and in our homes.

A beautiful damask tablecloth used by your grandmother might grace your own dinner table, completing it with memories of the past and those you love. Linen napkins, slightly worn with use over the years, are now a tradition at every family gathering. Somehow, the table never looks complete until one is placed by each setting. Embroidered hankies handed down from your mother add elegance and sentiment to your bedside stand.

These timeless textiles - hand stitched or hand created - can be worked into almost any décor. Monogrammed pillow cases edged with a bit of tatting - perhaps bearing your own initials or a great-grandmother's - grace your beds. A vintage quilt is draped across the back of your sofa. It seemed magical when you found it, and you lovingly mended and washed it, and adopted it as your
own.

A long lost needlepoint, now rescued and restored, sits
elegantly on a boudoir chair,
in its rightful glory.
Some textiles are not so old, but they give a feel of yesteryear with a crisp new look. Kitchen curtains crafted from new vintage inspired fabrics hang on a sunny window. Crochet doilies draped over lamps or chair backs add a little extra warmth to a cozy room. A new mini quilt combining delicate hand and machine stitchery is destined to be a future heirloom.

Whether hand crafted, hand created, or stitched by modern machines, timeless textiles mix our stories with those they already know, and will pass them down to generations to come.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join Make Mine Pink for shopping with a twist on Friday September 25, 2009 as we present "TIMELESS TEXTILES"

Photo Contribution 1: Grandma G's| Photo Contribution 2: The Raspberry Rabbits| Photo Contribution 3: C'est Chouette |

"OFFICE CHIC"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:25:00 +0000

I don’t know when it happened, but office spaces for women have become so much more personalized and chic! Whether you spend your working hours in a casual home office or go out for the workday, work spaces are being all gussied up. Women are putting their own stamp on their office space making it more feminine and a lot more fun. Take a look around the next time you visit a friends office. It could be something as simple as an altered art tag dangling on a ribbon from a memo board. Or a fabric covered photo frame, boasting her favorite photos of friends and family. It’s not only acceptable to use a feminine eye when planning your office space, it’s become the norm. I don’t know about you, but I love it!

When looking for furniture, remember, it doesn’t have to be boring to be practical and comfortable. An old vanity or desk freshened up with a coat of paint becomes a work space that is not only comfortable but economical and pleasing to the eye. The worn work table you picked up at a flea market can be refinished to give you extra room to spread out your current project. Go ahead - cover that utilitarian black desk chair with a pretty slipcover in a floral or striped pattern. I did and it made a huge difference in how my office space looks and feels. Your office will never be ordinary again.

Don’t forget - everyday office accessories get a feminine makeover as well! Add a touch of feminine and whimsy by switching the document tray for a vintage wire basket. Adding magazine holders in fun patterns help you keep your office space organized and chic. Look for unusual items that can be used as mail or office caddies, again adding to the personalization of your work space. Adding a decorative mouse pad to further enhance your work space is an inexpensive way to add a little pizzazz to your desktop. Perhaps a favorite vintage creamer or coffee cup would be the perfect accessory to store your pens nearby in feminine style. Embellishments make everyday items fun while still being useful. A clipboard can be transformed with flowers, trims and appliquéd accents. Tie a stack of file folders together with lace and pretty trims. Even your stapler can be dressed up with ribbons and roses in colors to match the office décor.

Do you have a vision board in your office? Vision boards inspire you to reach for and achieve your dreams. Dream big with a board embellished with pretty fabrics, pearls, charms and crystal beads. Keeping it nearby will add style as well as keeping you focused on your goals and dreams.Working in a space that is pretty and calming is a great stress reliever. By adding a few embellishments and feminine touches, you can create a chic office space where your office hours will become more fun and less tedious.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join Make Mine Pink for shopping with a twist on Friday September 18, 2009 as we present "OFFICE CHIC"

Photo Contribution 1: Carol's Rose Garden, LLC| Photo Contribution 2: Noelle Garrett Designs | Photo Contribution 3: Shabby Shans Cottage Photo Contribution 4: Pale Pink and Roses

"SCENTED DELIGHTS BATH AND HOME"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:09:00 +0000

As you're settling back into your regular routine, and making sure everyone around you sticks to their schedules, remember to take care of yourself too. Scented delights can help you fit in a few minutes of "you time" no matter how hectic your day gets.

The scents of honeysuckle and rose can sooth away your stress at the end of a busy day. Add them to your bubble bath to help you unwind. Or energize yourself for an evening out by using playful fragrances like coconut, lime, or wild orchid.

Certain aromas can make even the daily details of life seem more exciting. When you feel bored with your daily calendar but don't have the time for an exotic vacation, add adventure to the atmosphere instead. A luminary scented with white almond, lilac, pink rose or poppy nectar can add some excitement to the everyday.

The right scents can even help you fall asleep at night so you get the rest you need at this time of year. For a peaceful sleep, a lavender scented sachet tucked into your nightgown drawer or into a bedside pillow can give you sweet dreams. In the bath, chamomile scented bath tea bags with essential oils of lavender can help you relax.

Keeping a scented candle on your desk can give you a few minutes to relax or reenergize throughout the day. When you need a boost of energy, you can forego the caffeine or the power nap, and revitalize yourself with a cappuccino-scented candle that smells good enough to sip. Fragrances of orange slices, vanilla, cloves, or ginger can all give you a refreshing break in your day.

And when you need to create the right atmosphere for a cozy chat with friends, cookie scented candles lit in the kitchen give the faint smell of cookies fresh from the oven and make everyone feel comfortable at home. The aroma of gingerbread, nutmeg and cinnamon hints at upcoming family celebrations and get-togethers this fall.

No matter how busy you find yourself this season, surrounding yourself with scented delights will make it easy to take care of yourself too.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join Make Mine Pink for shopping with a twist on Friday September 11, 2009 as we present "SCENTED DELIGHTS BATH AND HOME"

Photo Contribution 1: Anna's illuminaries| Photo Contribution 2: Savon Marie | Photo Contribution 3: Tres Belle Boutique

B-I-N-G-O!!

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Our NEWEST PROGRESSIVE BINGO game starts Monday Sept 7th. You won't believe the prizes! In order to play you must be a Make Mine Pink public forum member and be signed up on the MMP mailing list.

You won't want to miss out on this fun filled game.

View the Official BINGO rules here: http://www.makeminepink.com/dynamic/?page=57

Our wonderful BINGO prizes were donated by the following Boutiques at Make Mine Pink! Thanks Ladies!

http://www.coeurdalenegifts.com/
http://www.candylights.net/
http://www.thesassybeach.com/
http://www.cestchouettehome.com/
http://www.thepolkadotrose.com/
http://www.tresbelleboutique.net/

"Working Around the House"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:50:00 +0000

With the arrival of September, our nesting instincts return. With the kids back in school, there is more time for yourself and to care for your living spaces. It's time to create a cozy fall home in preparation for cooler days and more time spent indoors.

Living spaces that were moved outdoors over the summer will now come back into the house. Afternoon teas in the garden return to the kitchen or dining room. A favorite vintage tablecloth spattered with hints of autumn flowers pulled from the linen closet and ironed to get ready for the first guests. Your reading nook on the patio will be returned to the living room or den. Favorite pillows ad cushions stitched in deeper shades of autumn, are fluffed to make the corner cozy again.

This is traditionally the time of year we start fall cleaning, tucking away summer accents and decorations until next year. Summer curtains are put away and replaced with warm fabrics in vibrant shades.

The fragrances of fall fill your home now too, coming in through the windows and wafting from the fall bouquet you placed in a vintage metal bucket on the table in the hall. The scents of a fresh apple pie in the oven, and apple cinnamon scented potpourri that fills bowls throughout your home and simmers on the stove. The familiar scents inspire feelings of comfort and home.

Fall is also a perfect time to begin a few of the projects you’ve been putting off. The small pieces of furniture you picked up at summer flea markets now hold the promise of becoming your next painted projects. The vintage fabrics you found at neighborhood estate sales will likely become your next stitched masterpiece. The possibilities are endless as we happily work around our homes. Somehow, we never seem to mind. Instead, we settle back into our routines and enjoy the first hints of excitement of upcoming family gatherings and holidays not far off.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday September 4, 2009 as we present "Working Round the House"

Photo Contribution 1: C'est Chouette | Photo Contribution 2: Patricia Rose | Photo Contribution 3: Grandma G's

The Pink Slipper Project

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:14:00 +0000

Each year, hundreds of thousands of women and children are forced to leave their homes and seek safety and healing in shelters across the country. This year, you can make a difference in the lives of a few of those women and children and remind them that their sisters are thinking of them. They are not alone.
Make Mine Pink and Quilt 'n' Stitch Marketplace are joining together to launch our much-anticipated Pink Slipper Project, and we hope you will join us.
What Is the Pink Slipper Project?
Inspired by Tery Grahl of Enchanted Makeovers.org, The Pink Slipper Project is an endeavor to warm the hearts and the toes of those who will spend this winter living in women's and children's shelters. We are going to provide hand-crafted slippers to as many of these women and children as possible.
Our goal is to work closely with with Enchanted Makeover’s shelter projects, providing warm slippers to the residents of each makeover project, along with as many other women’s and children’s shelters we can provide for.
Not only will these slippers help keep the recipients warm, they will be a daily reminder that someone cared enough about them to make something special just for them, which goes a long way in the healing process.
The slippers don't need to be pink, but they do need to be warm and, of course, new.

To read how You Can Help with the Pink Slipper Project~ go to the Pink Slipper Project Blog

Please join the Pink Slipper Project today by writing and telling us how you can help. info@Makeminepink.com From your soul to the soles of women and children in need, you'll be helping women everywhere make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.

"Getting Organized"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:00:00 +0000

Getting Organized has taken on a new look! From being strictly functional to being functional and stylish has become the latest and greatest way of getting and staying organized. Pretty and stylish organization means that you no longer have to hide everything away in back room closets and filing cabinets. Instead, old locker baskets painted pink and stylishly chic organizers help you get organized in creative ways.
By using decorative boxes, vintage baskets and embellished magazine organizers, you can carry your decorating theme throughout your home, office, and even your laundry room.

Storage boxes filled with odds and ends, office supplies or ribbons and trims can fit into the décor in any room. A repurposed basket or box can beautifully organize your odds and ends while keeping them out of the way. A vintage metal file box hand painted with pink roses keeps your papers safe while adding romantic charm. Elegant wooden boxes painted with flowers store photos, CDs and letters in plain view.A vintage china plate might hold a stack of favorite napkins on a table or open shelf. A pretty pink basket can store clean dishtowels by the kitchen sink. A white wicker basket keeps guest towels or magazines, or perhaps organizes your craft space. Vintage nursery jars can hold cotton balls and other necessities while a refinished side table can keep your address book and notepaper handy.

When you need to organize, forget about boring boxes and folders that will keep everything out of sight. Instead, look around you for creative ways to accent your décor and store everything you need within arm's reach.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday August 28, 2009 as we present "Getting Organized"

Photo Contribution 1:Business in the Bag | Photo Contribution 2: Cozy Cottage Gifts and Decor| Photo Contribution 3: Pale Pink and Roses

"The Secrets of Mother's Jewelery Box"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:02:00 +0000

What did Mother dream about after she tucked her little ones into bed at night? What did she secretly yearn for while listening to the secrets of her heart? If there was a way to find clues to the mystery of our mothers, it could be tucked inside the treasure chest called her jewelry box.

Amongst the treasures, barely concealed amidst a sea of costume jewelry, lies a small rusted key. You can’t help but wonder if it’s a diary key that can be used to unlock mother’s most secret dreams, or a key to another box where even more secrets and mysteries lie? Our imaginations run away with us. When no one's looking, almost as if a child again, you try the key in the lock of her jewelry box. The drawer unlocks and it’s disappointing for a moment, that the mystery is so easily solved. But then you slide the drawer open and new mysteries and the memories of her fill the room.

Vintage rhinestone pins, clouded with age but ready to be shined and repurposed. Pearls yellowed over the years. We're unable to resist gently nibbling them to see if they're real. Mother's favorite lace gloves she wore to church each Sunday or to occasional weddings, rest under the tray, as if awaiting another special occasion to bring them out. A vintage silver bracelet, the one she let you try on when you were a little girt but was much too large for your childish wrist. Mixed amongst the treasures, you might find a few mother of pearl buttons, saved in hopes of finding a special use, or a few stray cuff links of Dad's. Mother was always sure there would be a use for that one cuff link. A tarnished locket with his faded photograph brings back a flood of memories. Vintage buttons are scattered throughout, each one reminding you of a dress Mother wore.

Mother's jewelry box is a treasure trove for little girls and grownup daughters. No matter our age, our imaginations become colorful and childlike when we open her box of secrets.. As a child, we’re convinced that somewhere in the magnificent box lives a fairy who can tell all the secrets that lie amongst these treasures, and if we listen hard enough, we’ll hear the stories it can tell.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink

Please join us for Make Mine Pink's Friday Shopping Event, shopping with a twist, on Friday August 21, 2009 as we present "The Secrets of Mother's Jewelery Box"

Photo Contribution 1: Rose Blossom Cottage | Photo Contribution 2: Pale Pink and Roses | Photo Contribution 3: RME Boutique

Cozy Seaside Cottage

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Cozy seaside cottage decor provides an opportunity to repurpose discarded furniture and decor that no longer fits in your home or day to day lifestyle. Items that have been well-loved because of the special memories they hold or just because of the way they catch your eye will fit in perfectly in your home away from home.

Cozy seaside cottage style conjures up visions of pure white with accents of blues, greens and painted white furniture. A French blue
metal flower vase in the center of a painted white dining table or a side table, painted a sea glass blue is placed beside a bed to hold your favorite books or magazines. If you look around, you’ll see a scattering of casual pillows in shades blue and white, tossed onto a white slip covered couch or accent chair. If you look closer you might see a pillow tucked in with with pale pink roses, bringing a new look to the seaside cottage.

Well loved quilts and vintage chenille spreads grace the beds, none matching yet, in the cottage, all seeming to fit in together beautifully. The bedrooms are serene, without much clutter. A simple rose print against a white wall seems as if it’s always been there.Casual dining is on the daily menu at the seaside cottage. Mismatched china left over from sets over the years fills the white china cupboard and is brought out for the daily meals. Vintage white ironstone or mismatched china grace a weathered sideboard. A quilt often used as a makeshift tablecloth or for an ocean side picnic.

Each corner of a seaside cottage is filled with the beauty of the sea and favorite memories. Clear glass vases filled with seas shells. Sand dollars sparkle like the sea fill a treasured Rose Covered bowl and add seaside romance. Jeweled sea glass, polished smooth with time, and other decorated treasures that you might find when walking on the beach, sit upon the shelves and mantel, their quiet song of the sea filling in the empty spaces of the seaside cottage.

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday August 14, 2009 as we present "Cozy Seaside Cottage"

Photo Contribution 1: Cottage Flair | Photo Contribution 2: Victoria Rose Cottage

Tea for Two and Two for Tea

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:35:00 +0000

Teas can be used to celebrate many occasions. Whether it's a mother and daughter tea party, a bridal tea, a special time with friends or some quiet time by yourself, it's always the right time for a tea party.

First introduced in China, the tea service was elevated to an art form as the Japanese Tea Ceremony in Japan. As the art of serving tea made its way across Europe, tea drinking became part of the way of life in each country. In recent years, tea parties have become more popular with tea rooms opening everywhere. Tea rooms have been are springing up all around us in the United States., and from fine hotels to country inns, tea services are now offered.

Beautiful tea cups, saucers and pots and now cozies, are an essential part of the tea ritual. From fine bone china painted with pink roses or cherries to ceramic cups painted with bumblebees and sunflowers, you can find a tea set that reflects your personality or brings back fond memories of afternoon tea with your grandmother. If you don't have a completed tea set with a matching pot, you can use a mismatched set of tea cups to stir up conversation. To make tea for one, you can use an elegant stacked teapot with spring tulips or pink roses.

Don’t forget the accessories that accompany a tea party. You can display your specialty teas in bone china tea bag holders painted with blue roses. Or rest a tea bag and silver-plated teaspoon on a purple violet spoon rest. Place loose tea in a muslin tea bag; use a tea infuser to make a cup of tea for yourself, or a tea ball to make a larger pot. You might even want to carry your favorite teacup with you in a tea cup tote, always ready for the opportunity to share a cup of tea.

Whether at your home or at a formal tea service, a cup of tea adds a sophisticated and soothing touch to your everyday routine.

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday August 7, 2009 as we present "TEA FOR TWO AND TWO FOR TEA"

Photo Contribution 1: Sisters Gift Company | Photo Contribution 2: Sweet Necessi-Teas

"Pretty Pillows and Purses"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:05:00 +0000

If there's anything a girl can't have enough of it's pretty purses by day and pillows at night.

A woman's purse can reveal a lot about her personality. If you're fun and flirty, you might carry a giraffe handbag or a pearl patent purse with pink polka dots. For the more reserved - a collector of all things pretty and vintage - perhaps a romantic summertime bag with roses and bachelor buttons. You can even show your "green" side with a straw handbag decorated with rescued jewelry, belts, buckles and various embellishments.

You can celebrate the many sides of your "purse"-onality with a purse that allows you to change covers and quickly as you change your mood. Or announce your uniqueness with a one of a kind "little black bag" - a vintage beaded black handbag.

Pillows can change their personalities too, as easily as changing a pillowcase. For sweet dreams, there are sweet heart hand-embroidered pillowcases. Feel nostalgic with vintage cutwork pillowcases. Or create a fun look by layering a bed with lots of pillows covered in different Southern Bell pillowcases.

Pillows make a statement all their own. Rescued vintage needle point pillows grace the finest parlors and boudoir chairs. They can be reminiscent of a special event or a special someone, like a floral monogram pillow with the initial of someone you love. A wedding keepsake pillow made with an antique style certificate or your favorite wedding photograph. Beautiful pillows made from antique doilies and vintage dresser scarves.

Some pillows are fun and used to make a space colorful and whimsical,like a chocolate dipped strawberry pillow, a blue cupcakes pillow, or a handmade slice of cake pillow with satin pink roses and pink lace trim. A whimsical teapot pillow with Battenburg lace to set on the guest bed or porch swing. You can even grow a garden of pillows with mauve ribbon flower hearts, heart pillows with roses and pink ribbed chenille, and a pink roses throw pillow.

No matter what your style or what mood you're in, you can surround yourself with pretty purses and pillows designed to express exactly what you're feeling.

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday July 31, 2009 as we present "Pretty Pillows and Purses"

Photo Contribution 1: Mama's Pocketbook | Photo Contribution 2: C'est Chouette

Photo Contribution 3: Gail Friend Designs | Photo Contribution 4: Janets Creative Pillows

"A Stitch In Time"

cestchouette@sio.midco.net (Sharon) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Hand-stitched quilts, detailed hand crafts and keepsake needle arts stitch us together in place and across time. Regardless of century,

country or kin, we're unified by our love of all things handmade. Stacks of gorgeous quilting fabrics remind me of Saturdays spent with my grandmother, my eager little hands anxious to just touch the color fabrics tucked in every nook and cranny of the small sewing room. I'd watch her hands and as she worked her fabric like magic and turned floral pastels, ticking stripes and colorful plaids into prized treasures. Stitched treasures are beautiful as well as practical. Hand stitched sachets filled with the sweetest lavender - tucked inside a special drawer of an antique dresser or washstand. Whimsical quilts, using the newest techniques mixed with treasured old quilts tattered with age. Each one is beautiful in its own right, but the centuries combine to create something truly exquisite.

Embroidered table linens can become the finest heirlooms. Many have been passed down from mother to daughter or are looking for new homes to create new traditions. Today, machines can replicate those delicate stitches to create heirlooms for our own grandchildren. Pink flowers embroidered on vintage tablecloths, carefully scalloped edgings, delicate stitches on kitchen towels and napkins.

Needlepoints rescued and made anew with beautiful silks, each one with a story all its own, ready to make new memories in a new home. The finest yarns and threads woven, knitted, crocheted into practical and beautiful garments and accessories. A hand crocheted doily paired with silk ribbon flowers to cover a table, beautifully crocheted cushions to rest on a sofa. A handmade shawl whose stitches are eager to warm someone special on a cool summer evening.

From past or present, near or far, we are united in our love of all things stitched.

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday July 24, 2009 as we present "A STITCH IN TIME – ALL THINGS QUILTED AND STITCHED "

Photo Contribution 1: The Quilt Shoppe| Photo Contribution 2: Kitty Kitty Designs | Photo Contribution 3: Beloved Creations