Cupid is as cupid does...or Life is like a box of chocolates...

I love Valentine's Day decorations and especially love really nice chocolate boxes. Some years it can be slim picking for something cute or different from all the usual red heart boxes so this time I made one of my own. Only problem is - I couldn't pick a color.

White with a black cupid silhouette and red antiqued look??


Or a simple red box with a white cupid and antiqued with white?

I finished these off yesterday and my father saw them and immediately asked to buy one off of me to give to my mom for Valentine's Day. I laughed and told him I'd make another one for him. He's going to fill it with some chocolates for her. Isn't that sweet?

Both boxes are in my shop right now.

Shop Update

Some new items I've posted in my shop lately...


A lovely shabby chic frame with vintage sheet music and a lovely silhouette.

A box I made while thinking of my Yiayia (Greek for Grandmother). She came to his country from a little village in Greece so I papered a box with vintage Greek book paper and stenciled a young girl on it. She grew up very poor and had to pick up olives in all kinds of bad weather, even the snow and cook and clean for her family. She was kind of a Greek Cinderella. She was the younger, prettier sister who was treated badly and whenever a suitor was interested in her the family said they had to marry off the older sisters first. It was a very hard life for her.

To honor her I made this little memento box.

She taught herself to sew and has remained quite crafty - even to her ripe old age of 89 today. (I posted a few months ago a quilt she made me). She still makes crocheted purses, hats, scarves, etc. She can't stand not to do something with her hands.

And in honor of Valentine's Day...

Doesn't this look like a box of chocolates?? Only healthier, I suppose. LOL

My favorite silhouette of a young lady on a heart shaped box. I have some more Valentine's Day related items to finish and hurry up and post.

Have a happy Monday!

Winners of the Giveaways!

And the winners are...

A Pink Dreamer

AND

Danita !!!!!

I'll be contacting both for addresses and details. Thanks again and I'll have a new giveaway soon, promise!

TGIF!!

Chilly Days...Chili Nights

Brrr is it cold outside!! We got hit with snow and I've been enjoying the view, but going outside I'm reminded how much I dearly miss summer.

So to warm us all up - I made chili and crumbly sweet cornbread. Mmm...sprinkle a little cheese on top to finish it off. Yummm... I like my chili a little sweet and spicy. Like me. ;)

Isn't the bowl cute? I've been waiting for an excuse to use it - perfect for soups, stews and chili. I saw some really cute ones awhile ago at Target, too. They had little lion heads for handles, but they were too small and slick to be good handles, so instead of cute lions we have practical little handles on the sides.

200th Post and Giveaway!!

(Drumroll please)

Ta da - the 200th Post!!

Also known as 58 Cherries' Big Fat French Post since I'm here to tell you about my oh so cool new purchases that make my living room seem tres chic, oui?

First up, my brand new train time table - all the places I simply must go to when I visit France some fine fantasy day...

It's a HUGE canvas we bought at TJ Maxx just after Christmas. I loooove it. I was eyeing it and telling myself, No, I do NOT need a huge canvas of fantastic French places. No, I really do not need to buy more art I have nowhere to put... But this was all cast aside when my mother caught sight of it, too, and between the two of us drooling over it we decided that Yes, we DO need it and Yes, we will find a place. Like, over the mantle piece. Still needs to be hung up, but even propped up it is adorable, non??

And the little dueling soldiers are a far earlier purchase from...wait for it - TJ Maxx. Yes, I have seen the same prop piece in the show How I Met Your Mother and squealed - I have one just like that!

And apparently I should just move into that store since I also purchased this from them last week:

Isn't it the cutest chair? I love it - simple, comfy and such a pretty soft green. Perfect. I don't even mind killing my back carrying the chair throughout the store and parking lot it is just right.


And when I was taking pictures of my pretty little purchases I turned around and realized our great room is taking on a decided French feel. Yes, the train time table and chair and even the little bird pictures give it that air, but also this picture above my couch:



And this picture over the kitchen sink...

Oh, and that's another TJ Maxx purchase...
can you tell my favorite place to shop??

Ah well...if you can't live in France you can at least pretend, right?? And here's another random decorating picture...

The nook in my hall right before the living room has our family heirloom secretary in it and I decided to just put that sailboat there temporarily until I figured out where to put it, but it seems content there for now so there it stays.

And last, but certainly not least...the giveaway!! Or rather two. If you commented waaay back on my Halloween post and/or friended this blog you are already eligible for this giveaway, but you may want to add a comment here with which one of these you'd like more if you have a preference.

In honor of my French post...

A silhouette ornament with French text in the background. Gossamer white ribbon and on the back a cute crown.And in honor of my brand new chair... A chair fit for the Empress Josephine.

Complete with a bee and crown, symbols of Napoleon and Josephine!! ;) I love these two ornaments and I hope you do, too. Great for all year round really, I like to hang them on doorknobs or a white tree or branches cut from the yard.

So comment here for a chance to win, add yourself to my followers/friends on the bar on the right for a second chance and as I said those who commented back in October are already signed up, but you might also like to let me know which one you like when commenting here. I'll announce the winners on Friday!

Thanks so much for all of you who read my blog and especially those who take the time to comment and encourage me. Happy 2011!!!