What I Found & Heard at the Party

via knitwedding

Who Told You I Was a Party Girl?

OK, the cat is out of the bag. I love a good party. The start of our current Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up Party is not exception to the rule.  The first link had me drooling on my keyboard.

Thanks go to Lynette for dropping by with Cauliflower Prosciutto Casserole. Love cauliflower, love proscuitto. Add to that some cream and cheese and now I'm in heaven.

via sweetposydreams

Gar's eyes rolled back in his head when I mentioned this recipe. We'll be excited to try this one. You can get the recipe from Lynette on her blog Sweet Posy Dreams!

Isn't the color of this knit lariat by knitandwedding fantastic? Coffee Milk.

via knitandwedding

Whatever you call it, it's one fantastic neutral. Knitandwedding also has a wonderful selection of lovely shawls and shrugs. I think this one is perfect for spring and summer over a tank.

via knitandwedding

Delicate enough to be cool over a tank, but still keep you warm on as the evening air sets in. Plus it looks way too cute with tank and jeans (not that there aren't other ways to wear it!).

Check out this eency weency book pendant from HaleysPaperLove! Teeny tiny always ups the cute factor as far as I'm concerned.

via hayleyspaperlove

Hayley started making these after being urged by friends and customers at the last craft show she attended. What a great way to use up scrap paper!

Leslie, from 925Maille, makes use of chainmail in her pieces and I really adore it. Whether it's a chunky chainmail bracelet set with a delicate pearl, or a more substantial accent like this abalone, it all works together beautifully.

via 925Maille

The lines of the chainmail bracelet, combined with the opalescent waves in the  the abalone have me saying gorgeous.

Talk about a happy tote. Oh, I know why.......

via minminsa

Yasmin, of MinMinsa lives in Barbados! Hello sunshine. Hello island life. Hello happiness.

Update. Barbados isn't the only place producing bright, happy colors! So is the South of France! Lovin' this new line from Cari-Jane Hakes of HybridHandmade. Cari's shop and blog are among my favorites. 

via hybridhandmade

I wait with baited breath for her What I Caught In My Net posts. Always amazing.

The party brings lots of guests and one cool things is we all get to meet new people.  Alas, Beccra found her way from Darwin, Australia, to Louisiana and then to Mercantile Muse.

via trueblog

I love the way the world wide web makes this all possible.  Stop by Beccra's place Trueblog and show her some blog love, won't you? And while you're there, if you have a remedy for fire ant itch, would you please share it with Beccra?

Thanks for linking up everyone. It wouldn't be a party without all of you!

Makin' Me Smile

Kat Ezat, was nice enough to pick my print as one of her four faves from her blog's StockTake link up!!! Thanks Kat! Be sure to add your latest shop item to Kat's StockTake and you might find yourself among her favorites next month. Cool stuff.

Have a fantastic Tuesday. The sun is shining here. I started my day with tea and brekkie and then a little early more raking before hitting my desk. It's a Spring ritual. The snow drops are up, the purple vinca is blooming in spots, and tiger lilies and other things are already pushing through the earth..........this too makes me smile. 

Ciao for now,

You Are Cordially Invited to the Party

via BatesMercantileCo.

The House Is Rocking the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up Party!

Come in. Just throw your coat on the bed and be sure to stop by the buffet.

Lots of goodies this week at the link party.

For the dd's.......a lovely black currant cider sparkler. It's divine!

via marthastewart

For the rest of us, ginger shandies. I know it's not summer, but a girl can dream.



via food and wine

What? You saved your appetite? Get a load of this!

via frankie, via panninihappy

Oh my.

Before the party gets into full swing, just a couple of things.

Yesterday, I found out that my designs were featured in two places. What a nice surprise.  Plus-Model-Mag.com featured two of our printables in their 'last minute Valentine's Day roundup'. Super cool!

via plus-model-mag

To top it off, our 'Shower Your Love' print was featured on Jillian's blog MimiNicole. Sweet!

OK, OK. Enough about me. The Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Party is all about you. Time to link up your shops and blogs!

Please read the Rules of the House, before linking:

*If you take part in the link up, you will go on a list of particpants and receive an e-mail from me (and from the address pbates@speakeasyinfo.net) in two weeks reminding you that the next Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link up party is underway.

*If you like Mercantile Muse enough to link up at the party, won't you consider becoming a follower if you're not already? 

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).  Be sure you’re posting your link under the right link up!

*Don't link and run, be kind and check out each other's links.

*Share a link to the party, 'you two tell friends, and they tell two friends, and so on and so on'. It benefits us all--- blog, tweet, facebook, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page) and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

*Leave a comment and check back Monday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It could be you!

And now for the bloggers...........





One more thing, there is still time to enter our current giveaway for an archival print of my photo 'Barn Rye'.

It ends tonight at 11pm est. Better enter now to be sure you're in the running!

Have a great day,

Giveaway!

Did you hear? It's Better to Give Than to Receive.

Lo and behold, it's another giveaway on Mercantile Muse. Do you like beautiful sunsets? Do you like the country?  Well, then start warming your fingers up, hit the keyboard and enter to win a 5x7 archival art print of my photograph Barn Rye.

It features a field of rye, waving in the sunset, in front of a New England barn.

We have the most glorious sunsets here and I'd like to share this one with you.

This giveaway for the Barn Rye print begins today and will close on February 16th at 11pm est.  I'll announce the winner the following day.

All you have to do to enter is: 



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

(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:

*Visit Bates Mercantile Co. and comment on your favorite item.

*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 in a post

            *Tweet about

            *Tell your Facebook friends

            *Pin this on Pinterest

 

            *Stumble it on Stumble Upon

            *Tumble on Tumbler

           

            *Put a button for this giveaway on your blog. Giveaway button     

              available on the button page of the Muse (see navigation bar under   

              header). 

Best of luck to all of you. The most recent giveaway prize, my Louis Louis in Pink print, is currently enjoying a nice trip to South of France on it's way to Cari-Jane's house!

Thanking You..........

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to link up and spread the workd about the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It shop and blog link up party now underway. If you're an online shop owner or blogger, be sure to link up if you haven't already. If not a shop owner or blogger, you must check out the link up and see all the wonderful things and places being linked up.  Very cool!

Freeform Friday

It's cold here. Sunny though. Hope it's the same where you are. Enjoy your friday. Take a break and enjoy a little classic Fleetwood Mac. (click here if you're reading by email).

Have a fantastic weekend. Ours will include a couple of neighborhood SuperBowl parties in honor of our New England Patriots, who will surely take care of the Giants. Sorry Giants fans, but you already stole one from us. This one's in the bag. 

LET'S GO PATS!!! BRING IT HOME!!!

Ciao for now,



A Merry FREE Printable & Link Up Party

Do Like The Sign Says

Eat, drink and be merry. I love that saying no matter the time of year, but especially at the holidays.

I think it speaks to me because it reminds me of some of my favorite times with family and friends; of gatherings I hold dear to my heart. 

I hope it speaks to you in the same way. 

I created this free printable in Illustrator and would like to give a nod to the graphics fairy, who was nice enough to share the pine and pine cone clipart for free. If you haven't stopped by her blog, you really should. 

If you'd like to download this FREE printable wall art, click right and save the jpeg image below to your computer, OR download the pdf here. 

You Are Cordially Invited

It's party time again!  Grab one of the Irish coffees from the buffet, and be sure to top it off with some real whipped cream.  Then settle in, get to know the other party goers, and if you have an online shop or blog, be sure to share their links. If you don't, browse around. You won't believe the wonderful things you'll find in the shop link up and the great reading you'll find on the blogs.

Now, go and enjoy yourselves.

It's pretty easy. PLEASE READ THIS before linking:

*After you've linked up, take a look around Mercantile Muse. We'd love you to follow if you're so inclined. 

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).

*Be kind and check out other's links that catch your eye. You never know what may come back to you for supporting small shop owners and bloggers.

*Share a link to the party. If we all share, the party will get more traffic which benefits us all-- blog, tweet, facebook, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page)  and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

*Leave a comment and check back Friday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It could be you!

First up, the shops.

And last, but not least, the blogs.

Make it a great one in your corner of the world, and I'll do the same from my little corner office and studio.

Adios amigos,