Thursday, December 27, 2007

Merry Christmas & Post Christmas Sale!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I have just marked all Christmas pillows, ornaments and stockings, a whopping 50% off on my website!!

I am already planning for the new year - so many creations are brewing around in my head. Check back soon for updates.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Mid-December Holiday Discount at The Cottage Gate



I hope everyone is having a wonderful December, enjoying the "hustle and bustle" of the Holiday season. I am currently offering a 15% discount on your total order at my website www.cottagegatedesigns.com.

Merry Christmas and Happy Shopping!!

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Classic Sugar Cookies......A Christmas Tradition


In honor of the MMP Blog Cookie exchange, I had to share our cookie tradition in our family. There is nothing special about the recipe, just a simple time worn Rolled Sugar Cookie from the old Betty Crocker cookbook. My sister and I made these cookies with my mom when we were little, and I have made them with my children since they could reach the counter. The key to these cookies is to chill the dough for several hours, and then the rolling and cutting can begin, in between nibbling on the dough because it is hands down, truly the best cookie dough to eat. The other key to these cookies is barely cooking them - we cook them about 6 minutes, so once they cool out of the oven they are nice and soft.
Then the frosting begins, a simple powdered sugar frosting with milk and a touch of vanilla. We mix up colors and I let the kids do whatever they want. They like to swirl all the colors sometimes, and some years they use sprinkles. They are so good we usually gobble them all up in a matter of days. So simple, yet so delectable. I think this year we will make a triple recipe so they will last longer!

I have almost completed my Christmas decorating....I do so enjoy getting it all out each year and setting up all the things I have collected over the years. I think I get more nostalgic each year, as my kids get older and things change.

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~ Some of my Christmas Treasures ~

My special "Twas the Night Before Christmas" dishes set up in my old china hutch - a gift from my husband.


The start of my vintage Santa collection, and my grandma's old "Twas the Night Before Christmas" book, from when she was a girl.

Monday, December 3, 2007

Its time to shop the MMP Christmas Extravaganza!!



The Make Mine Pink Christmas Extravaganza has begun!!

Come shopping at The Cottage Gate and receive a whopping 20% off your entire order - just enter coupon code MMPC20. And that's not all! Any order over $25.00 receives one of my handcrafted Christmas ornaments FREE!

And don't forget to stop by the other MMP boutiques for more lovely items and special promotions this week only!

My display at Huffines Art Show - Richardson, TX

My display at Huffines Art Show - Richardson, TX

A little about my textile art.....

My vintage fabric collages combine my love of vintage textiles and my love of words. Words are powerful and a beautiful phrase can evoke such emotion. My collage designs are built around the wise words of an old poet or author, which I handstitch in a simple lettering. I use vintage fabrics, laces, buttons, etc...all handstitched in a unique way to mirror the words - there is always a little mystery with the finished product, but if you look closely you will see the simple beauty of the words reflected in the design. I collect old vintage frames throughout the year to frame each collage in. Below is a sampling of some of my pieces....

~Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul~Emily Dickinson

~Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul~Emily Dickinson