This furry guy on a comfy topiary couch is based on one of my customers’ dogs named Monroe. Doesn’t he look ready for a picnic and more than ready to crawl over into your lap if you sat next to him?  Monroe is a Brown/Champagne colored Bearded Collie. This design will be available in both brown/champagne and the more common gray/white.

The Beared Collie design will soon be available online in the following products: Notecards, Linen Guest Towels, Linen Cocktail Napkins, Limited Edition Prints and Limited Edition Pillows. A sweet, unique gift for the Bearded Collie owner! Email mmasters@michellemasters.com with any questions.

As some of you may know I have been experimenting with fabrics/designs and coming up with some new products. Yay. I love this little pillow. Isn’t it sweet…  a little vintage, a little french inspired. It will be available with cream or black fringe or a black and cream gingham cord.

I was also thinking it might make a nice wedding pillow. Larger and square the bride and grooms’ first names could be on either side of the monogram in the white space below the ribbon. Below the design could read “founded on (wedding date)” in a script font. What do you think? Can you picture it?

The black and white toile backing is also a splendid touch. This pillow will soon be available for custom orders online. Until then feel free to email me with any inquiries mmasters@michellemasters.com.

Last weekend LaLa, Junebug and I took a nice walk through the historic Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rochester, NY. I thought you might enjoy some beautiful images of the fantastic fall foliage in Central New York and some Upstate history as well.

The cemetery was founded in 1838 and covers 196 beautifully landscaped hilly acres. It is one of the first rural/garden cemeteries in the US. Most weekends informative tours are held by the Friends of Mount Hope to educate the public on the importance of Mt. Hope and many of its famous residents including; Susan B. Anthony, Fredrick Douglass, John Bausch and Henry Lomb, Margaret Woodbury Strong and horticulture scientist George Ellwanger.

For my gardening friends out there… you must have one of these baskets! I found mine at the Philadelphia Flower Show last spring and enjoyed using it all throughout the summer. I love it because you can rinse your veggies off out in the garden before bringing them in the house/kitchen. I was using a picnic basket before and all of the dirt came in with the veggies. Now, my veggies are dirt free, Baby. I also like the industrial look of this basket. Today it is in a chair in my kitchen in front of the french doors with green tomatoes ripening in the sunshine.

I cannot remember who I purchased this basket from at the show but they are available here. Enjoy and have a fabulous friday!

Sweet Balls of Fire

Guacamoldy with Blue Corn Chips

Bug Salad

Slivered Scream Beans

Chicken Bog

Candy Corn Gelatin

Every year Farmboy and I host a family get together on or near Halloween wherein the kids can show off their costumes to their cousins, aunt, uncles and grandparents. It’s alot of fun. The adults have been known to get into it as well. It’s great fun to start off a dinner party in hysterics as people come through the door. Last year I was a Queen Bee and Farmboy was a Beekeeper. Too funny. I can’t reveal my costume yet for this year. Can you? Do tell!

It’s a rainy day here in Central New York. Plan on pouring some tea and heading up to the studio to work on a Bearded Collie design. Will post soon!

Have a day full of peace, joy and wonder! : )

While Farmboy and I were on our annual Anniversary (17yrs!) Trip through New England last weekend… we came across a great Indie band playing the Rockport Harvest Festival in Rockport, MA. Brad Byrd: check them out at here.

It was cold and blustery but a cup of joe and their music was a great way to take in the day! Enjoy and have a Fab Friday!

This pillow went out the door last week as a housewarming gift. One of my earlier topiary designs- the Terrier, begging for attention, complete with a little bone on the pot!

The latest brush fringe that I ordered is extra long and I love it! My seamstress is divine and she does such a beautiful job. The pillow construction is the highest quality. Each pillow has an invisible zipper in the bottom allowing the insert to be taken out for cleaning. I print, sign and number each pillow.

This 18″ pillow style is available with all of your favorite topiary designs for $56. Click here for more information. Have a super day!