I recently ordered new pillow covers for the living room from an Etsy shop. Actually it was not my plan to buy them that particular day.
But I found myself on Etsy and happened to look at pillow covers, specifically red and white pillow covers. And I’m glad I ordered them then because one is already sold out in the 18 x 18 size I ordered.
Once I saw these red and white pillow covers I was smitten. Well, you know me when it comes to anything red and white.
They were sold at this Etsy shop called Twisted Bobbin Designs.
The Red & White Designs On My New Pillow Covers:
I loved the bright and cheery red and white designs. So I ordered this one and the one below.
I wanted them both in red and white, but not matching patterns.
This pillow fabric is one of my very favorite fabric combos: red and white checks.
It just perked my summer living room right up. Actually, it’s my first summer in my new apartment here. A place I’ve come to love.
Grief & Sadness Still Reigns:
Though sadness was to hit this home a few months ago, losing little Gracie, I have tried to move on. But it’s not easy.
This morning I was crying over Charlie Ross. Often I also cry about Gracie, who died so young. Just 10 months of age. She didn’t even get to have her first birthday.
I try hard not to look at the place where I found her in my bedroom because it’s just too hard.
Grief is always there in the periphery of my mind for my beloved pets. But one must go on. Ivy and I must go on together.
For some reason, mornings are the hardest for me, though Gracie died at night.
My Life Is Tilted In The Wrong Direction:
I guess because I wake up and my world is still tilted in the wrong direction. Life is still askew.
It wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Never could I have imagined that a kitten that young would die. And leave me heartbroken.
I have to play music and muffle the sounds so Ivy won’t hear me cry. Because it upsets her.
Old Cutting Board With A Shaker Recipe:
I found the cutting board at a garage sale or flea market many years ago. When I look at it, it says “home” to me.
The etchings on the wood are of herbs, a mortar and pestle, and a recipe from an old Shaker recipe.
I’ve never used this cutting board because I don’t want to mar the words.
Your home is your refuge, your port in the storm. It is the place where, as they say, you can’t be turned away.
Where you hang your hat and put your apron on a hook. And where you lay your head at night and wake up refreshed in the morning.
So it should be light and bright and just how you want it. Any home can be cozy and bring you happiness no matter how small it is. Or how much money you spent.
Back In The Day:
I used to make all my pillows and pillow covers. Quilted my own quilts. My home had my touch everywhere you looked.
And I suppose it still does, though I don’t sew these things anymore due to arthritis.
I wake up in the mornings, and there is my sweet Ivy, ready to begin the day. Urging me out of bed and leading me in the direction of her food bowl.
There is just one meow I hear now, not two. I don’t hear Gracie’s scratchy little meow that I so loved hearing. And oh, how I miss it.
Ivy is now the single flame on the candle now. My beloved, funny Ivy. She makes me laugh every day.
She is my everything.
Twisted Bobbin Designs:
Go over and look at Twisted Bobbin Designs because she does beautiful work. She has 13,703 sales and a five-star rating.
My order was delivered in just a few days.
She sells pillows, covers, valances, home decor, and fabric by the yard, and is from Greenville, New York.
And you can just tell that love is in every stitch she sews into her wares.
I love the pop of color the new pillow covers add. They’re so cheerful! Enjoy them!
Brenda, your new pillows look beautiful! I am going to check out this Etsy shop. Have a wonderful weekend!
Your new pillow covers are so pretty and cheery. I bookmarked the Etsy site to look at in further detail later.
Hi Brenda,
Your pillows are beautiful, so bright and cheery! I will have to check out Twisted Bobbin and since you mentioned Greenville, NY maybe I can check out the shop in person. I live about 15 miles from there.
Have a wonderful weekend!
I hope you don’t feel that you need to “get over” mourning for Gracie and your beloved doggies. It’s natural to grieve for lost loved ones including our fur babies, who are as much part of our families as our human relatives – well, for some of us anyway. People either get it, or they don’t, there doesn’t seem to be an “in-between” type of person when it comes to the love of pets or dismissing them as “animals” and they don’t understand the deep pain the loss of a pet can cause. I love red and white. My house on the outside has bright red doors, black shutters, and white trim. Red planters, white planters, and a red, white and black checked rug on the front mini porch. Red Drift roses out front and red and white annuals are planted across the front planting beds. The red and white floral pillow cover is especially beautiful, I have a thing for floral prints.
Even if I wanted to, I can’t stop grieving. It will be one year next month since I lost my Charlie boy. Your place sounds beautiful!
The pillows are so pretty. Little Ivy seems so much happier living in her new home with you.
This morning we watched a rabbit lay in the grass while eating it. A bird was near it picking seeds out of the grass. They were companionable.
The pillows are lovely. Red is such a fantastic color and always makes me smile.
I finally finished Ozark. Do you think they left it open for a comeback?
We also watched Candy. It was good I just don’t like films that have such a dark background. Makes me want to turn lights on somehow!! Jessica Biel
was great in it. You might like it Brenda.
Ivy is such a beautiful girl. And she loves you lots. ❣️
I finished Ozark a few weeks ago. I’ve been reading about it, and doubt there will be a comeback. What would the show be without Ruth?
I agree what would Ozark be without Ruth. She was such a spitfire! Just read an article where Jason Bateman said he thought it was a good time to finish the show and he thought Marty and the Byrde family would go back to a “normal” life. I was heartbroken with Ruth but I liked when Marty’s son saved the day at the end. Isn’t it crazy that even with all the evil things the Byrde family did we kinda wanted them just to be normal?
I guess because we got to know the characters and liked them, over time they “normalized” what they were doing and we bought it.
Absolutely!! That was my thoughts too!!
About the pets…I understand.
Your mention of Ivy’s routine reminded me of coming downstairs every morning to be greeted by my flock of six cats, mewing and leading me to the feeding station. It was like those 50s comedy tv shows (Green Acres, for example) with fake farm backdrops and a gaggle of squawking chickens scattering at the base of the stairs any time an actor stepped out into the yard. Now I’ve three cats left, old age has taken the rest of the from me in just this past year. I think of them all every single morning at breakfast time, not daring to start the day until they were served first! I miss them, and grieve them, yes. What has helped is the thought of what a good, safe, happy life I gave them.
Love the new pillow covers. I use yard sale pillow shams to cover my wicker chair cushions. I look for placements that have a front and back and use a seam ripper to open one end. Just pop in the pillow or stuffing and hand sew it closed. Easy and makes it so easy to add color to my neutral sofa.
That sounds nice and easy!
The pillows are so lovely! I especially love the tropical print one – very Hawaiian and so fun! Great choices!
That is the one that first caught my eye.
I’m so glad your lovely new pillow covers put a spark in your summer days. The continued grief over Gracie is so overwhelming, isn’t it? It’s just going to take time, but you already know that.
It’s exciting to me that you’ve come to love your new home. Enjoying your days with Ivy and your friends/neighbors.
Thank you for the links to vintage cupcake pans – I placed an order and am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the fun package. 🙂
Enjoy your Friday, Brenda!
I was hoping you’d come back and see those links!