Merry Christmas

Season's Greetings ... Merry Christmas ... Happy Holidays



Enjoy your day ...

M-A

I Saw The Light . . .

No ... not THAT kind of light!

Today is December 21^st, the first day of winter ... sigh!  The shortest day of the year ... double sigh! And the sun is so very, very low on the horizon ... triple sigh!  Perhaps by now, you’ve noticed I’m not a fan of winter, period!

Despite the sun’s ineffective powers this time of year, it still makes its presence known in the Showroom/Studio every sunny afternoon, beginning around 3:30 pm ... 

From the workstation, I don’t notice at first (I’m so focused on my work, you know)...

But as the minutes pass ...

One can’t help but notice ...

But by then, I’m “blinded”!  So excuse me while I venture into the “dark side” for a while. 

Happy Winter Solstice ... to those who actually do enjoy it.

Enjoy ...

M-A



Good Things Come In Small Packages (and from small shops) . . .

Today is Small Business Saturday and I do hope you will take this opportunity to visit/shop a local retailer near you. You just might be surprised by all the wonderful things you will find; a unique selection of inventory, a relaxed atmosphere, and some new friends as well.

Please SHARE this post with your friends and family ... and in advance, I thank you for shopping at Children’s Couture and MadCouture Fabrics where “Couture” literally means “the very best”.

For more information, directions or anything you need to know, just give me a call at 603-524-8801.  We are open today from 10am - 5pm.  And thru December 22nd, 2012, our hours are Wednesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm, and always by chance or appointment.

Thank you ... and enjoy ...

Mary-Alice

Happy Thanksgiving . . .

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday.  Happy Thanksgiving . . .

Enjoy ...
M-A
ps. And many thanks to L. Champagne for sending this photo of her beautiful daughter modeling her Children's Couture outfit. 

Crazy for You . . .

Actually, I'm crazy for zinnias.  What?

I know, I know ... I probably should be writing about sewing or designing or the inspiration behind my work ... blah, blah, blah.  But really folks, there are more than enough posts out there on these subjects; some good, many not so good (and this should be a topic for another time). 

So for now, here on this blog ... for these posts ... I prefer to share my thoughts on subject matter beyond the reach of the work I do. 
Sure, every now and then I'll throw in a piece related to Children's Couture, the Showroom and Shop, or MadCouture Fabrics.  
And perhaps all of these posts will give the reader a glimpse into the person behind the work ... just perhaps?  Not for the reason that I am so very interesting, but because there is always a story behind the work and the person who creates it.  Afterall, that's one of the benefits of buying local, handcrafted by a Master Craftsman, from an artist, and not "made in China".  You know where your purchase(s) came from and a little about the person behind the work; their likes, dislikes, interests away from work ... and maybe, a little about their lifestyle. 

And I'm crazy about my zinnias!  From June thru September, these brilliant plops of color surround the Showroom and surround my home ...

Outside and inside ...

A burst of color seen from the studio window ...

Mixed in with Black-Eyed Susans ...

Or perfection on their own ...

Even my Hannah Banana is crazy for zinnias

(And yes, she is in a harness and on a leash ... another story, another post ... perhaps!)

At this point in time, all the glorious magellans, dreamlands, zowies and cactus' have been zapped by frost and merely a skelton of their former, showy self.  Sigh!  Let's just hope that the upcoming winter will not be a memorable one ... and April will be here before I know it.  For one morning during the last week of April, a friend and I get together in my greenhouse and plant 4-cell packs with the zinnia seeds of choice.  So "save the date" and join us, if so inclined ... we do get a lot done and have a good time doing it.

Enjoy ...

M-A

Give Me Just A Little More Time . . .

Today is the first full day of fall ... sigh!

Summer is officially over ... double sigh!

I live in New England ... where the people rejoice at the start of the autumnal equinox and fall is the reining Queen of all seasons! 
However, I am a "summer person" and find my season of choice to disappear ... oh, so quickly.  This summer was no different.

I also find myself a "bit blue" come September as the daylight shifts into a shorter cycle and the shadows grow taller with each and every day.  (If only I actually had some of that height my shadow casts.) Our numerous gardens, so colorful in August, begin to fade as fall makes its presence felt.  Sigh!

Our House

I am a gardener, a Master Gardener to be exact, which is a good thing since my husband and I have created "a monster" in regard to our landscaping.  Between our house and the adjoining Showroom property, we own about 5 acres of land, with a "smattering" of woodlands here and there.



Children's Couture Showroom and MadCouture Fabric Shop



The terrain features numerous stone walls; some built by my husband while others are decades old, with meandering walkways that criss-cross the property, all alongside garden beds.  And where the land is actually ledge (New Hampshire is called “the granite state” for a reason), numerous container gardens fill the space.

 What on earth were we thinking!  Foolish in our youth ... but the work must keep us young.  Yes, it is work and I will admit I do my fair share of complaining during the weeks of planting and mulching.  But in reality, I am in love with the look of "color" painting my landscapes, the "mindless dribble" of daily watering, the power of "cutting"; deadheading and pruning, the feel of the soil in my hands, and the satisfaction of knowing which are the "bad bugs" vs. the good bugs and knowing the means of destruction and protection.

So please bear with me as I catalog my photos of our colorful garden splendor.  I expect I will need to take a peak, every now and then, to get through the remainder of this fall and into the winter ahead.  All with the prospects of doing it all over again come April.  Can't wait!?

 

The Gardens of Province Road
(at the Showroom)

The Gardens of the Home Compound

The Lawn View ...

The Driveway View ... welcome!

 
But alas, the summer has come to a close and the landscape is preparing to "sleep" for the next few months ...

It's time to put away the flip-flops ...

And put out the pumpkins ...

And it's time for me to take one last look at this splendor that fuels my daily routine, and be grateful for the beauty of this land.  We are only the caretakers after all.

Enjoy ...

M-A



Television Debut . . .

To view the Children's Couture segment on New Hampshire Chronicle, click here.

Please note: There is a short advertisement prior to the segment, but it's worth the wait!

I am thrilled to announce that "yours truly" and the

Children's Couture Showroom and MadCouture Fabrics will be featured on WMUR-TV's New Hampshire Chronicle this

Thursday, February 23rd at 7 p.m.

With special thanks to Melanie Ryder-Clark and her daughter, Maya, for their help with this production ... a supermom and her supermodel daughter.

If you were unable to view WMUR (NH Channel 9) in your area, or you just have to watch the segment again, then simply click on the following link to see the Children's Couture video.

So fluff up the couch, grab your favorite chair, sit back and ENJOY ...
Mary-Alice