The Colors of Spring~~

Welcome Friends, As you might imagine I am back in the studio and trying to catch up on lots missed while being sick. While I am not out of the woods yet, and go to tests today (as you read this) and Monday, I have used my waiting time to create and create. Creating seems to always settle the nerves and relax, so for this, I am truly grateful.

The colors of Spring and lots to share from my studio,HERE to browse.


My creative flow is back in spite of my little set back. You can imagine me, always so busy having to stay still and rest. It is a challenge my friends and very hard for me, so I used my time to plan and sketch ideas for new creations and business directions this Spring.
Here is a little peek of the new treasures lining the shelves in my shoppe.










More creations coming soon~ Altered Art Parisian Keepsake/Gift Boxes.


And, this little sweetie, open egg ornament with bunny is featured in my 55th treasury pick on etsy.HERE. Thank you Kim!

Also, Spring Green Bunny was also chosen for a treasury pick HERE as my 56th treasury inclusion. Thank you Miss Patti's Attic!


Remember I have a Spring Giveaway going on too, so if you have not entered and would like to, visit HERE to comment, follow or enter on that post only.

Lastly, I am also a new member with Shabby Cottage Shops.com You can see my little cottage in the 6th frame down in the middle. It was an honor to be invited to join and I am overjoyed to be among such talented ladies as my neighboring shoppes.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend and as always, many thanks all around for your visits, comments, giveaway entries and well wishes. You all are the best ever!!
Blessings always,
Celestina Marie

HAPPY SPRING GIVEAWAY & MANY THANKS!

Welcome Springtime! Greetings friends, I hope you are excited about our new season as much as I am? I know you are!! And, here in my toile studio, I have a little bunny just waiting to hop over to someone special for my new Spring Giveaway.

She is made from ceramic and wears a halo of pink tulle, pearls and gemstone flower on her sweet little head. Glitter pearly flowers circle her neck and my hand painted cottage pink roses grace her sides with a sweet rose bud by her bunny paw. Her eyes are closed in a sweet little disposition as she dreams of her new home with one of you. She asks that you enter this giveaway with a comment on this post only and perhaps become a new follower too. That's all you have to do, nothing more.



Also, I have to take a moment to send my many thanks to you for the get well wishes. Your emails, cards, gifts and flowers really are appreciated. You thoughtfulness and kindness will always be remembered. I am scheduled for more tests this week and the next while I gather my energy and get back to creating in the studio.
In the meantime, Happy Spring and best wishes for a blessed and wonderful new season.

Blue Skies Be Yours,
Celestina Marie

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2011

Greetings Blog Friends, Happy St.Pat's Day to you and yours. I have been a little under the weather and did not have time to write my traditional Irish post, so I will share a post from the past.
Thank you for stopping by with your thoughts, prayers, well wishes and emails while I have been away. It meant so much to me. Hope to see you again soon.

Ireland is about the size of West Virginia, and this tiny island has some of the richest history of the Western world. Some important dates are 600 B.C. when the Celtic arrived on Irish soil. In A.D. 432 St. Patrick brought Christianity to Ireland. During the time from 500- 800 known as the Golden Age of Ireland, great music, literary creativity made Ireland the most accomplished in Europe. When the Vikings invaded Ireland in 800, they founded the first towns including Dublin in 988. In 1002 Ireland is united for the first time under one leader and by 1801 Ireland is part of the United Kingdom. 1845 saw a million and a half Irish starve to death due to the Great Potato Famine and a million more people emigrate to avoid the same fate. By 1922 Ireland becomes a free state within the British Commonwealth except for six counties of Northern Ireland which still remain part of the United Kingdom. Leaving the year of 1949 to see the twenty six counties of Ireland become an independent republic.

St. Patrick is the man who converted the Irish to Christianity and is the most famous Irishman of all time. No one is sure where exactly the patron saint was born or buried, but they do know when he died, which is March 17Th. So on this day, the Irish worldwide celebrate the holiday in honor of his name. The shamrock is the symbol of Ireland and comes from Gaelic Seamrog, which refers to the plant's three leaves. As the story goes, It was in a heated debate with a Druid priest that St. Patrick bent down, picked a shamrock and used it to demonstrate the Christian trinity using the three leaves held together by one single stem. We don't really know for sure if the story is true or not, but still regarded today as the national plant of Ireland and worn in many forms on St. Patrick's Day.

William Churchill once said," We have always found the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English"

My grandfather was from Dublin and came to this country residing in Pennsylvania in 1921.

Here is a picture of Dublin today overlooking the River Liffey. Shown is a portion of the Ha'penny Bridge. The Dome building in the background is the Custom House.

Some of my favorite books!

Some pictures from the books to share! Pottery and shamrock bowl, ending with spring roses!

I hope you enjoy a bit of the Irish on St. Patrick's Day and may your day be filled with blessings and good cheer! The following pictures are a bit of Irish in my home.

Thank you for stopping by, Hope to see you again soon. ERIN GO BRAGH "Ireland Forever" Smiles, Celestina Marie~

Springtime is on it's way~~~~

All around our area of North Texas, Spring is beginning to warm the days and wake the flowers from their winter nap. My pretty red Camellia bush is full of buds and several blooms. Gorgeous in yellow, is my Carolina Jasmine. Pots of Knock Out Roses that line the entry to our garage in the driveway are filling out nicely with new leaves and lots of growth. And, my hydrangeas are up and filling in with long stalks reaching for the sunshine.

Yes, Springtime is on it's way. I can't wait to work in the garden, dig in the dirt and talk to my flowers once more. I believe one is nearer to God in the garden. I long for the peace and quiet of the new blooms as they enjoy their rebirth. The fragrant aroma in the air of fresh flowers when the wind blows. The scent of the earth after a soft rain and the feeling of a new beginning each and every day of the new Spring.

Today I snapped a few first pics of my garden trying to wake up. Received Country Gardens magazine in the mail with a spotlight on the cottage style garden, which I can't wait to read~~~ and watched as my neighbors Bradford Pear tree dropped white blossoms like a Spring snowfall as the wind blew.











As the Springtime is surely on it's way and it arrives with a huge welcome,
I know that many around the country are still entertaining the last of winter with ice and cold rains. But the hope for us all, is a new season coming upon us.

Thank you for the kind comments on my Cucina redesign. Your words surely have been an encouragement and blessing.

Have a wonderful March Day and Happy Springtime!
Smiles, Celestina Marie

Welcome to "Bella Rose Cucina"

Greetings Blog friends. The last several weeks have just flown by here in my cottage villa while my dear guy and I have been very busy bees with our kitchen remodel. I have shared the process in past posts, and by now, I am sure you are tired of it already. Believe me, I am tired too and so glad to be finished and enjoying the fruits of our labor.
This project has been lots of work, but so worth the extra efforts to get to the final result. Inspiration for this update came from my childhood and happy days spent in my mother and grandmother's kitchen.

My family and I have always been kitchen people. We spend many wonderful hours around the kitchen table, visiting, dining, having tea and sharing our lives. When I was growing up, my mother's kitchen was the heart of our home and the place everyone wanted to be. That same traditional gathering has stayed with me over the years and it seems everyone congregates in my kitchen too. Great memories have been made right here in my cucina!
Now, this 20 year old, 12 X 22 foot kitchen has a new face and ready to tackle many more years of happy times with family and friends.
Thank you for stopping by as I share with you Bella Rose Cucina~~~~~

The above pic is the working kitchen side. The other side of the bar is the breakfast nook.


The french doors above to the left go out to the formal living area.


Stove area surrounded by a brick hearth. Cabinet above is accented with a gorgeous rose print, grapes, and vintage wine bottles from my grandpa who was a wine maker.
The basket was my grandmothers from childhood and very old. It is filled with vintage rolling pins. To the right hangs a unique wine bottle from Spain. The rose wagon framed over the stove top was an inspiration when I started this project. It is surround by a different framed back splash tile to set it off. I may add a soft teddy bear brown to these tiles later. For now, they are a very light ivory that picks up the ivory in the granite and contrasts with the black specks and light pinky salmon in the granite. The wall inside the stove top area is textured and painted chocolate curl. I am in love with this yummy color. It really anchors the room along with the black island and hood fan cabinet above.

The following pics include the island which I painted black and added little feet at the bottom to look like a free standing furniture piece. The chandelier above fills the space with much needed light. It is on a 3-way dimmer and the light globes are soft ivory petals. The non reveal sink was a must for me with no divided sink. It is about 10 inches deep and is one of my favorites. The cutting board was a gift from my fabricator and I love it by the sink.




Looking over the bar to the breakfast nook.

This area for the table has evolved over the years, but in it's previous life, many years ago, it was a banquette window seat for the backside of the table. Not pretty in our view, so it was the first thing my guy and I removed and finished with dry wall when we moved in. Now there is plenty of room around the table and the bay window overlooks the yard and pool. The french door to the outside is around the corner in the familyroom/library.



The pedestal table is hand painted with my fruit design painted 10 years ago. I inherited this table from my mother. It dates to the late 1800's. I painted and lightly distressed the bottom of the table and chairs with pecan sandie, also used on the built in hutch.

The sheer curtains are a soft ivory with lots of ivory embroidery on the panels. The valance tops are also embroiderd and finished with light pink roses trailing across the hemline.
Same Breakfast nook, two looks!



This dutch door goes to my laundry sewing room. My talented hubby built this many years ago and it is so charming to the kitchen.


I'll end my little remodel tour with a few pics from around the room. As you will notice, I kept the blue willow cobalt blue for my accent along with chocolate curl and a touch of pinky salmon with lots of rose accents.








Thank you for sharing in my remodel project. I am so glad to be finished and now in the studio painting my heart out for Easter with lots of bunnies and pretties on the way soon. But, our redesign journey does not stop here. We are going to update a guest bathroom next and my laundry room. Then I'll be done, I think, for now, maybe, oh~~ then there is the outside, and gardening, more painting and and and~~ okay I am a hopeless decorator. But I am in love with decor and it sure keeps me busy!! LOL

Have a wonderful day and thank you so very much for taking a moment to visit my Bella Rose Cucina. Your comments always warm my heart. Thank you also for all the dear birthday greetings. Love to you all! ~~~~La Dolce Vita!! (to the sweet life)


Blessings and Blue Skies be Yours Always.
Celestina Marie