And that award goes to......

You like me, you really reall like me.

On such an occasion, I simply couldn't resist giving the Sally Field academy award speech. Wink wink.

As mentioned yesterday two of my blogging friends, Cari-Jane from HybridHandmade and Traci from All Things Luci Rae, nominated me for the Leibster Blog Love Award. Sah-Weet!

The Leibster Blog Love Award given to smaller blogs with less than 200 followers that deserve recognition. The rules are:

The rules of the award are:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to their blog.
2. Copy and paste the award to your blog and
3. Nominate 5 further blogs and let them know by leaving a comment.
How will I choose. Well, I'm going to give myself some leeway on the total, since I was given this award twice. 

1. Alicia at LaBelleMaisonEtMoi always has the most wonderful vintage finds to showcase. I'm swooning over the vintage glass set she featured this week.
2. Jess at StuckInAZoo (Kalamazoo that is) shares vintage fashion finds and she also always takes lovely pictures, my favorites being Jess at the piano.
3. I love Laura's blog TillieTulip because she always gives me a pop of happy color when she posts project progress. She is a granny square master.
4. Reading about Bethany's two little boys on StillInStLouis makes me feel warm and fuzzy.......or was that Laz's blanket? She blogs about a lot more than the boys, including vintage fashion, family and friends.
5. Lynette posts some great recipes over on SweetPosyDreams. Beyond that, I never tired of seeing Alfie's face. Cute pooch!
6. ColdhamCuddlies showcases the talent of Isobel, who is extremely adept at creating what she refers to as 'companion toys' and 'mascots'. I just love that. That's exactly what these stuff animals are....companions. 
7. Champagne & Macarons gives me my fix of pink. Brenda always finds the lovliest style, decor, and recipes to share. Many of them touched with pink. I have no idea how many followers she has, but her blog is like a quick mini-vacation when my world is frazzled.
8. I'm just getting to know Bonnie's blog PaperKeeper and enjoying it immensely. It included personal stories (be sure to see her post remembering her mom a few days ago), pretty pictures (look at today's rose!), and good advice. Remember the little blue dinosaur story? That was Paper.Keeper!

Stop by these blogs and show them some love. They deserve it! Many thanks to Cari-Jane and Traci for nominating me.

I'd also like to mention a couple of others that I frequent that don't necessarily fall into the 'small category'.

First, Ada & Darcy, is the online home of shop owner Kellie Corliss. Oh the design, the home decor, the colors, the patterns, the recipes........Kellie always has something that catches my eye.   Her design style is filled with bright, happy colors.  Be sure to check out her fabulously stylish shop while you're there.

via ada & darcy

Canellevanille is the most sublimely beautiful food blog. Aran is a food stylist and photographer tho never ceases to amaze me. Did I already say sublime? Canellevanille makes me dream of being a food stylist. Not that there is any hope of me being a food stylist, but Aran's blog makes me dream of it because everything is so beautiful.  

via canellevanille- copyright aran goyoaga

What hidden jewels do you frequent? Share away. I love discovering new places.

How's your Saturday? Ours is now ugly and rainy all. Yup, on top of the more than foot of pretty, sticky snow we got. It's a mess.  I've spent the day at my desk so far. Better switch to house-wifery mode and throw some laundry in. Other than that, tonight's burger night. What about you?

enjoy the day,



And They Tell Two Friends, And So On, And So On'

via maisondecor

Spreading A Little Blog Love

Happy Friday.  We finally got some snow! OK, it was wet and heavy and messy, but it's still snow.  It is now windy and ice chunks are flying off the trees. Good thing I'm at my desk.

Ah, at my desk. Pretty much where I spend most of the day, almost everyday.  The thing about it is this, even though I don't leave my keyboard I still get to meet some pretty nice people. That's one of the bonuses of blogging. Know what I mean?

Being the kind of gal I am, I thought I'd introduce you to a few. When I find a good thing I like to share it with others. I hope that you'll take a moment to check out their blogs. They're all quite lovely. And, if you're so inclined spread the word if you know someone else who would appreciate their blogs.

Amy, from MaisonDecor is an interior designer with a great eye. I love her style.  If you're in the Boston area and you need help pulling things together in your home or office, Amy is your girl.  If you love classically romantic decor, with a personal touch, that's MaisonDecor.

via maisondecor

That's part of Amy's office. Don't you love the way she's displayed the pretty fabric swatches? It also makes me happy to see someone else who uses a curtain for a closet door. Amy happens to be a whiz with wallpaper...........something I just discovered by today's post. Just wait until you see how gorgeous new wallpaper is......and she found it at Lowes!

At HighStreetCottage you will find Tami busy at work on a beautiful French chair. You'll also find other beautiful things like this powder tin.

via highstreetcottage

I have to thank Tami for giving me a shout out on highstreetcottage today- so sweet, just like her blog.

Last, but not least is Cari-Jane of HybridHandmade, jeweler and metal-smith extraordinaire and the person who reminded me that it's nice to share what I'm reading with all of you. 

via hybridhandmade

I love reading her blog, seeing her photos and especially seeing what she 'catches in her net'. Cari hails from Scotland, but currently resides in France.

via hybridhandmade

Oh, and by the way, I LOVE her work. Is it any wonder?

So while you're sitting there at your desk today, take a little jaunt around the blogosphere and check these talented women out.

Did You See The New Giveaway?

It's our first of the year.  It's easy to enter. You could win this:

via mercantilemuse

For Just One Moment

I broke away from my desk. I grabbed the camera and went outside to capture the pretty afternoon sky.

I'm hoping the sunset is just as pretty. 

Freeform Friday

OK, so you got a little taste of Adam Levine from Maroon5, featured in Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes last week (which my mother Marge did not care for ..........but hey, different strokes for different folks...these are the differences that make the world go round).  This makes me happy too......beautiful day, beautiful song, the beautiful sweet high sound of Mr. Levine. Works for me Mom (wink, wink).  Click here if you're reading by email.

Have a fantastic Friday. What's hot for your weekend? I don't think we have one thing on the agenda. Just planning on getting the rest of my decorations put in the attic, doing laundry, and beating my husband's butt at Yahtzee again. Other than that, nothing much.

ta ta for now,

Blog Finds from Gotta Blog It & New Giveaway

Oh, The Places You Will Go

Hi guys. If you subscribe via email and didn't get the Muse yesterday, I'm really not sure why. Perhaps a glitch with blogger?  Anywho, you can access yesterday's post right here.  If you missed Sunday's, that's because I took a day off. That's allowed, right?

To the subject at hand, our last shop and blog link up brought lots of super things our way. I've posted about some of the entries in the Gotta Have It Shop Link Up before and thought it was about time I included some things I've found through the blog link ups we've hosted.  So, here we go..........

An awesome pillow project from the every crafty Laura at DesignShare!

Love this one. She used an old tshirt of her daughters to make this pillow pop.

Check out Laura's tutorial here.

It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving to be thankful. I love Angela's positive attitude at Garden and Sea.

Check out Angela's thankful post here.

How about a cool Upcycled dog bed? On wheels no less?

Check out the scoop at Different Shades of Green.

Thank you to everyone who has been sharing their shop and blog links this time around!

Notice: Time for a New Giveaway

Here's a giveaway with a choice. Mercantile Muse's new giveaway is for

either your own set of customized monogram note cards, as pictured below OR

a 125px X 125px ad on the Mercantile Muse sidebar until the end of the year.

So, if  you have a shop or blog you want to advertise, you can reach new people with an ad on our sidebar, or if you don't have a shop or blog, or would simply prefer the notecards. You can choose these notecards.

Giveaway runs ONLY ONE WEEK through December 6th, 7am est.

Here's what you gotta do:

Here's what you must do to enter:

*Follow this blog (check out the right hand sidebar for ways to follow), and tell us how you're following.

*Visit Bates Mercantile Co. and tell us what your favorite item is.

(if you already 'follow' and 'like' Bates Mercantile Co. & Mercantile Muse, just say so in your comment)

Earn one extra entry for each of the following:

*Like us on Facebook, and let us know you did.

*Spread the word about this Giveaway (receive one extra entry for each way you share this giveaway):

            *Blog about

            *Tweet about

            *Tell your Facebook friends

            *Pin this on Pinterest

 

            *Stumble it on Stumble Upon

            *Tumble on Tumbler

Have a fantastic Tuesday. I'm about to do some raking.