Greetings everyone!

[rubyslippers]

Hello all ... I have been posting for a week or so now; however, I did not know there was an introductions board until I saw someone else encourage a "newbie" to come say, "Hello". So, though it is a little belated, "Hi, it is nice to meet all of you."

My husband and I live in a small historic town. We are currently renting a cute little place that I have made as "cottagey" as possible. As this little town looks more and more like it is going to be home for "the long haul", we are biding our time looking for just the right place to live. We do not know if that will ultimately mean cottage/farm house restoration, new construction, or tackling the DAUNTING task of making a 1970's brick rancher into the home of our dreams.

In the meantime, I have an aesthetic eye and love clothes, shoes, and home-decor that are usually out of my price range. So, I do a lot of browsing, then I do a lot of "do-it-myselfing". I had a major breakthrough a year or so ago when I installed my own "dimmer-switch" on my chandelier. Plus, I refinish (sand/paint/restore a lot of fleamarket and antique store furniture). I tend to dive into projects without the right materials, but, I salvage them pretty well in the end.

Anyway, I turned 30 last September ... I feel like that is still pretty darn young (even though I invest in good face moisturizers); however, I firmly believe I would have loved living in the 1930's (I would miss the Internet though). My husband and I have a cute cat with a little lightning bolt of white fur on his black forehead and big green eyes ... his name is Potter (we named him before Harry Potter became the zany fun it has become today). We however do not have any little munchkins of our own just yet. Anyway, a lot of my friends do not really understand my "cottagey" nature ... I think it reminds me of my grandparents and their old Thomasville furniture and Arts & Crafts bungalow ... I miss them. Anyway, I mix patterns and colors and battle clutter all of the time. I love the lifestyle ... the combination of "do it yourself" or "find it on e-bay" ... then, every now and then, you just get to splurge (does anyone else dream about their imaginary tile floor as they clip coupons ... or that italian glass chandelier ... dollar general here I come for the kitty litter).

So, that is me in a nut-shell. I'm chatty and artsy with a good eye, but I need help sometimes. Plus, I have just decided I like it around here ... so, I hope you'll have me over and let me apologize for "crashing" the party without proper introductions. Next time I come to visit I'll bring chocolate-chip-technology-cookies and sprigs-of-my-shamrock-plant in light of St. Patrick's Day being around the corner.

Best wishes to all in cottage-land.

Bye,

Jenny (a.k.a. Rubyslippers)

[pacificstar]

Jenny AKA Ruby Slippers,

Welcome! Your post was really great. informative and funny. You sounds like my kinda gal! sounds like your off to the right start and I love your mention of Arts and Crafts style. That is mainly my style with a little Coastal Cottage (I live at the beach) mixed in. So thanks for sharing and my dog Maggie thinks cats are the enemy so I promise not to have her around when your talking about Potter. Welcome!

[RoseMary]

Jenny, I don't think I mentioned it, but the first time I read one of your posts I was quite sure your name would turn out to be Dorothy:D !

[rubyslippers]

I'm not even from Kansas ...

I do however happen to love movies. The Wizard of Oz has always been a favorite of mine. Plus, I am an English teacher. So, I get a lot of moans and groans about literature. I like to be light-hearted and remind people that they "used" to like stories ... scary or otherwise. Plus, I do like shoes. Somewhere on these message boards there is a discussion about people not "understanding" the issue regarding shoes. One day I will take the time to find that post and respond ... I have some pretty funny theories about that ... on these message boards though, I would imagine that the space for shoes is serving as a metaphor for the fact that cottages (especially rennovations as opposed to new construction) RARELY have enough closet space ... for a fashionista, or for someone who just wants to kick-off their proverbial working boots.

Anyway, RoseMary, you made me laugh ... have a good day.

[dedavis]

Hi Jenny,
I'm the one that doesn't understand shoe collecting, so it would be a big help if you could explain. If I could go barefoot all the time, I would.

There are some readers in this group--somewhere there's a thread about what people are reading. I am a bookaholic and eclectic reader. I still have three hardback Wizard of Oz books from my childhood.

Say hi to Potter. I share my little house with Henry and Hibachi (or Solid and Stripes--I mix patterns too).

Deb

[Chyna]

I love shoes Jenny so you're alright with me. :p I do however walk around barefoot most the time around my house, comes from when I was a teen and we moved into our new home. Mom wouldn't let us wear shoes in the house to protect the carpets. Honestly you live in an undeveoped subdivision, we have cows and horses and lots of mud and you think those carpets are going to stay stain free?! Let's just say I did alot of tiptoeing to my bedroom wearing cowboy boots. :D

[rubyslippers]

Hello Deb, I understand your lack of understanding when it comes to shoe collecting. (Did that make sense?) My theory on this is that women like to shop for shoes because, most of the time, our feet stay the same size. I believe it is also easy to change your entire "look" with a pair of shoes, in turn, maybe even changing your mood entirely. Imagine I am wearing a white button-down shirt and a pair of nice jeans:


Tennis Shoes: I become a woman with a mission ... my hair is in a pony-tail, and then I can get to the post office, get through the grocery check-out line, try to take my dog on a walk, and cook dinner all at the same time.
Black High Heels: I can serve on the board of the non-profit and then meet my friends for drinks.
Flip-flops: I can sit on my porch pinching the dead-buds off my flowers, read a book, wait for a friend to drop by to visit.
Cowboy-boots: Hop on a horse and go riding or turn a few heads in the hardware store.
Hiking-boots: It is just me and the appalachian trail, but I would like to trade out that shirt for some flannel.
Razzle-dazzle-silver-sandals: Well, I can stay in and paint my bathroom or I can paint the town.
Fuzzy-bunny-slippers: Old movie night ... order pizza ... or sign for something from the UPS man.Sometimes people want to feel taller or shorter, other times they just want to get a little attention, and other times they just want their shoes to get them through their time remaining on the treadmill. With all of that said, I still think that on these forums, any talk about shoes probably has a lot to do with storage space. But, in life, if you do not live in NYC where shoes are a status symbol, I think it is just a grown-up's way of playing "dress-up" if that makes sense. Some people do it by changing lipstick colors (or moving to a new neighborhood, or buying a new car) ... other people just change shoes.

I don't know if I helped ... or just made it more confusing. Also, the crazy thing about The Wizard of Oz book ... Dorothy had silver shoes in the book. You should read one of those versions to Henry and Hibachi ... they'll get a kick out of it.

ChynaElizabeth ... I bet you have some stories to tell when it comes to sneaking in wearing the cowboy boots ... that smiley face icon with the great big grin did not go unnoticed! Hee-hee.

[Memmey]

Jenny...your too much :D how funny and so right! I'm not so much a shoe collector but I do have a large assortment of flip flops..lol Hey have you bought the Crocs yet, the ugliest shoe on earth. I thought I could work in them and I also thought that pink was a good idea...wrong... they are like big pink lozenges. I have resigned them to the yard..now it's a good yard shoe!:)

[dedavis]

Thank you Jenny, your explanation was excellent. Now I understand why I don't understand this shoe business--I'm not good at shopping (except for books, hardware, and old used junk)! And I have extra wide feet, so shoe shopping is an exercise in disappointment. I have a good pair of Doc Martens oxfords for when hiking boots or flip flops just won't do.

As for storage...people are so creative at displaying all their other collections, why hide shoes in the closet? Our little houses don't have much closet space, so maybe the shoes could be displayed like books or fancy plates? Or out in the garden...once I saw hen and chicks planted in some old boots.

Deb

[pacificstar]

Ruby slippers,

I can tell your a teacher, I love your discriptions for different shoe wearing events. Your so whitty and right on. so happy your here, I could sit at your feet and listen all day long.

[RoseMary]

Great explaination, Jenny. Now, if you would just write a little booklet explaining all of this to MEN:p . Promise I'd buy the first copy!

[Chyna]

I have my prettiest shoes on display in my bedroom. I don't have a closet worth the very name so I have them in an organizor that I bought at a garage sale (should have bought them both but dummy me I went and only got one). I love and I mean LOVE high heels, so glad that boxy shoe craze ended and they brought back the pump. I've got theories on that one but not fit for public viewing. :p

Have you ever tried to tiptoe down a hallway in cowboy boots? Not easy....at all! I had even crawled down the hallway to the bathroom.:rolleyes: What possessed my mom to get cream colored carpet for my bedroom is just beyond me, better than the brown though so we'l just overlook the impossibility of keeping it clean. :o

[rubyslippers]

ChynaElizabeth, after you finish glazing, you should check out the red shoes on Target's website ... you might need your own pair of rubyslippers to match your painting glazing project!

[gigiG]

Hey rubyslippers...is that in "Wizard of Oz"? Has to be one of my favorites growing up. Had to run to a neighbors to see the magic before we had a color TV. Back then it was an annual event...;) :D Yes, I'd say I just aged myself...but, hey it's not all that bad! In fact, I have a really silly story to tell about the "rubyslippers" if they are what you are talking about...

ChynaElizabeth, after you finish glazing, you should check out the red shoes on Target's website ... you might need your own pair of rubyslippers to match your painting glazing project!

[rubyslippers]

When I was a kid, VCR's didn't exist ... so, my sister and I would watch in the living room and Dad would have to come watch with us just in time to "protect us" from the wicked-witch. I'd love to hear any rubyslipper related story. (This is a rather off-cottage-topic, but, the feeling of watching an old movie in a cozy homey place is about as "cottage" as it gets). So ... if you have a story ... I want to hear it ... go for it.

[gigiG]

Silly-Silly-Silly...When I was in 6th grade, I found a pair of rubyslippers at a shoe store called Hahn's. They were a bit small, but I didn't care-I wanted those shoes...when I went to school wearing them, over the loud speaker I heard, "Would the little girl with the Dorothy shoes-please come down to the office..." I walked those halls like I was going home. In the office all who were there- ohh-ahh my shoes and had me click them. I remember it made my day-good grief a 6th grader now would not have thought this was so exciting...times have changed...Anyway, that's my silly rubyslipper story! :D

[dedavis]

I too have happy memories of the annual "Wizard of Oz" viewing on TV. My dad would make popcorn and watch with my brother, sister and me. I LOVED when it changed from black and white to color.

It's funny how those memories stay with you. About 20 years ago, I was stationed at a remote lookout tower on an Idaho mountaintop. There was a ferocious windstorm, and I felt like Dorothy in the tornado. It was really noisy, and the tower swayed. If I was going to be whirled away by the wind, I wanted to land at the Missoula (Montana) smokejumper base, where there were a lot of buff young men. Alas, the lookout stayed intact and the storm passed.

I also love the songs--"If I Only Had a Brain"! Sometimes in the summer when I am out in the wilderness cutting brush along the trail, I sing "A snip-snip here, a snip-snip there, that's the way we pass the day in the merry old land of Oz". Weird, huh? Those memories bubble up any old time.

Thanks for the shared experiences and memories--it's nice to know others have them too.

Deb

[Chyna]

I thnk I'd rather land in Kalispel or the Whitefish area. Prettier mountains. ;)

[rubyslippers]

Part of the reason I chose this as my "name" for this forum (besides the fact I love the movie & shoes) revolves around the fact that in-the-end, Dorothy realizes she has everything she needs right in her own backyard. I think that is an important part of the "cottage philosophy". Sure, we all "need" things ... like crystal chandeliers every now and then ... or, an adventurous vacation ... but, most of our lives will honestly be spent in our homes (and in our proverbial backyards ... our fleamarkets, our community college painting classes, our local Lowe's paint department) ... so, I sort of see the rubyslippers as a metaphor for how I wish I could simplify my life and live each day in the present. I live in a very small town right now; I honestly really fell in love with the place in the fall (my favorite season). However, I have friends who live in bigger cities. Very exciting things always seem to be happening there. My BIG excitement is probably my container gardening this summer and a road-trip to the beach; but, that really is what makes me happy. I just have to try to remember that sometimes. I think that is why I like these forums. Everyone likes their homes (there is a reason we all have those Wizard of Oz memories) ... plus, if you need a quick chandelier fix if the backyard isn't doing it for you this week ... check out these:

javascript:openMe('/shopping/product/viewMorePhotos.jsp?iProductID=4790&count=4&currentCount=1','alternateview')

Gypsy Chandelier ... Sundance Catalog ... $745 b/f shipping & handling ... ouch ... I couldn't get the "pic" to copy/paste ... so, here is the link

http://www.zgalleries.com/display/020006394.jpg (http://www.zgalleries.com/shop/viewsrch.asp?sku=020006394&searchfor=Hanging+Lamps&cat=LIT&Listabsolutepage=3)

This one is $299 from Z Gallerie ... It is called the Bellina Chandelier ... and this is their Venezia Chandelier for $189.95 ...
http://www.zgalleries.com/display/020007000.jpg (http://www.zgalleries.com/shop/viewsrch.asp?sku=020007000&searchfor=Hanging+Lamps&cat=LIT&Listabsolutepage=1)

I have an incredible weakness for chandeliers ... I will have to take a pic of my wrought-iron blue italian glass wedding present chandelier and post-it one day ... (this is the one I installed my own dimmer for and managed not to burn the house down).

I just thought you could all enjoy a little drool ... these are my if I had a fairy godmother picks of the week.

In the meantime, I'll just focus on my porch-garden!

[Chyna]

Wizard of Oz plays a part in my life too. My second storey addition looks like a tornado came thru town and dumped somebodies shed on top of my house. Honestly it does! My big advice for anyone thinking of adding another storey to your house, hire an architect with an understanding of basic body styles and rooflines. Whoever thought that would look good was either stone drunk or just plain dumb. From what I've heard from the neighbors either could be true. :rolleyes:

[Memmey]

I found a chandelier at the little shop where my friend and I have booth and I think he wants $30, it looks like all the pieces are jumbled but I looked and they are all there. I did not hook the crystals on it in case somone else buys it(I don't want them too). I may go and lay it away(sure $30 in 5 easy payments.LOL). It's so great and each candle has a frosted crystal globe. I wanted it for over my kitchen sink but it's too wide but for that price I can find a place.:D Ugh income tax time , I went to my CPA today maybe I might make it $30 on 10 easy payments:(

[gigiG]

I am liking the look more & more at the crystal chandeliers. When I re-do my sewing room, I want to put one in there. Silly? I know the "men" in the family are going to say :eek: ! But-hey what do they know, at least in my family....okay silly story- Two years ago I put a big, no HUGE wreath above our bed...I waited, and waited and nope my husband didn't say a word :rolleyes: So, now that I think of it, if I wanted to hang a chandelier in every room, they may not notice :D All the guys in the family are into a "tool" thing-BIG time. They really can do/make anything-so I guess living with some men isn't that bad-thank goodness I have granddaughters who are totally into frilly things! ;)

[rubyslippers]

Or at least it looks that way in adding a story, you are going to DEFINITELY need a chandelier. Lowe's has some that aren't so bad Memmey ... now, they aren't the REAL DEAL, so, if you found a good price, you should go for it ... let me see if I can paste these in here ...

http://images.lowes.com/product/736916/736916182362.jpg

http://images.lowes.com/product/736916/736916182195.jpg


These range from 100 to 125 and you can bring them home today ... dangerous ... might look nice with all of that wood glazing ChynaElizabeth is up to ... with these little amber baubles?

Anyway, I really am a sucker for a chandelier ... I like Tiffany's / Mission stained-glass as well ... then I like to refinish my wood furniture. Anyway, I should probably start a chandelier post someplace ... my introduction is long over and I have turned this into the chandelier and shoe gallery. Sorry. I hope that isn't against the "rules".

G'night everyone.

[Memmey]

There are no rules!!!!:D We love pictures!:eek:

[Chyna]

I got the chandelier for my bathroom from Lowes on clearance. It was supposed to look like rusted iron which just didn't do it for me so I painted the metal black and silver leafed it. There wasn't enough crystals on it for my grandiose dreams so I made a crystal bead rope/drape and draped it on the arms, hung some glass fish bobbers I bought at a garage sale on it and it is really great. Oh and I bought glass paint and dipped some of the crystal drops in it, that was kind of a mistake there since I thought the paint I got was colored clear but instead was opaque. Not a big deal though, I can always make more. :D ;)

[rubyslippers]

I want to see a picture of your "doctored" Lowe's Chandelier. I like to call them chandleabras if they have uncovered candles ... my own little word.

[Chyna]

some day grasshopper, someday. You can ask just about anyone on here, I'm notorious for not having pics to back up the stories. I'm afraid to post anything now, would probably give them a heart attack. :p

[Thrift Shop Romantic]

July is coming, Tanya.... I think we were supposed to see some Christmas pictures in July. ;)

Chandleabra is a great word, Rubyslippers.

[Chyna]

Lucky for me I'm on vacation the first two weeks of July!:p ;)