Maggie's Cottage By Laura Francois

06/16/2022

I love my She Shed at the cottage! On our trip to the cottage, another project we got done before heading back to AZ for round third of chemo, we decided to switch things up a bit in it! We will be having some of our kids and grandkids visiting the cottage this summer and we are always in need of some more sleeping space, so we turned it into a summer sleeping room! I am loving it and all the vintage, and family heirlooms we put into it! My mother's grandfather clock, my cedar chest, family pictures, a vintage dresser and hutch I painted, thrift store finds and more! I hope you enjoy some pictures of it. If you want to see how we originally transformed our old coal shed into this rustic, romantic shed (last pictures of before) check out our link below...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxkxLqaoPj0&t=16s&ab_channel=MaggiesCottageDIY

06/10/2022

Life is too short to not eat on china and nap on an elegant bed in the mountains!

I have always wanted to do this and it was magical. These lyrics from the song "Today" from 1964 sums up how I have been feeling.

"Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine, I'll taste your strawberries, I'll drink your sweet wine, a million tomorrows shall all pass away, ere I forget all the joy, that is mine Today.....I can't be contented with yesterdays glory, I can't live on promises winter to spring, Today is my moment and now is my story, I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll sing."

Every day is a gift! I plan on doing my best to make them all special! I am grateful for a hubby that helps me make my dreams come true! We are blessed to have the mountains so close to our cottage. I hope you each take the time to enjoy today!
Check out my instagram https://www.instagram.com/maggiesyellowcottage/

06/01/2022

I am beyond happy to be at the Cottage! It has been so healing and rejuvenating. I can't do a lot but I have been able to do a few simply projects and some decorating with the help of my hubby! He has been working so hard, he is amazing!!

One project was to spray paint this shelf from black to white with Rust-Oleum Heirloom white. I had no idea how exhausting this would be, so crazy what chemo does to your body! But I got it done and with hubby we were able to hang it in our cottage bedroom. I added some vintage art, including a picture from Currier and Ives, books, porcelain dish and a Hobby Lobby picture! I loved waking up to it this morning! The cottage bedroom is one of my favorite spots, especially in the morning with the sun shining in. It is magical!

More projects to come! So grateful to be here. Last pictures are from my first morning waking up in our cottage!

05/23/2022

Second chemo round with my beautiful, amazing grandkids! My kids had this blanket made with my fifteen grandkids pictures on! It brings me joy to have them here with me! Yes we have fifteen grandkids ages one to fifteen! Eight girls and seven boys! They are my heart and bring me joy!

Our grandkids love the cottage too. When their parents ask where they want to go on vacation they often say they want to go to the cottage instead of some other fun place! I love that they love to come to the cottage! It brings so much happiness! It is the simple things in life that bring true joy!

05/17/2022

Wow it has already been so long since I posted! I am still in the middle of battling Breast Cancer, but doing well and feeling all the good thoughts and prayers from so many! Unfortunately, I have had to begin chemotherapy after my surgery. We were hoping this wouldn't be the case, but it is now part of the journey. I have three more sessions of chemotherapy to come and then radiation but things are looking good! Today my hubby will shave my head as my hair is falling out quickly. We are planning a trip to the cottage after my second session of chemo, as long as all goes well! I am so excited and dreaming of my lilacs there! I will share some pictures from the cottage! Thanks for all your support! If you want to see more of my journey and our cottage, follow me on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/maggiesyellowcottage/

Here are some pictures of the cottage to enjoy, it is my happy place and I can't wait to be there!!!

02/22/2022

Sorry I haven't posted for so long! It has been a crazy few months. Unfortunately, I have been diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It was a surprise for sure and not something I thought I would have to face! But good news is it was caught early! I am so grateful for mammograms and that I get them every year, that is the only way it was caught!! So ladies please get your mammograms every year. I have had a ton of testing and doctor visits but things are looking good. I have a lumpectomy and reconstruction surgery scheduled for March 10 with about four weeks of healing and then about five weeks of radiation every day there after. So far it looks like I will not need chemotherapy, which I am so grateful for!

Life can change in just a matter of days or even moments! I am determined to have gratitude and hope through this journey and look for the positives along the way. My goal is to be able to go to the cottage and see my lilacs at the end of May if at all possible! Good thoughts and prayers are appreciated! I have great doctors, a wonderful support system and the Lord helping me! Thank you for the support you have given me along the way with my little business of selling my creations, following me on instagram, Maggies Yellow Cottage, and for joining us on our Youtube Channel, Maggies Cottage DIY!

"When life gives you a hundred reasons to cry, show life that you have a thousand reasons to smile"-unknown

This is what I am hoping to see in May!!!!!

12/20/2021

We have a new video showing the restoration of our cottage kitchen at Maggie's Cottage! It has been a process to get it how we want it but we love it! We started with pretty much nothing, just the original wainscot, a built-in cabinet and the original kitchen door leading into the mudroom. I love that these pieces were still there so we could have some of the original character of the1875 cottage. Check out our video and please subscribe to our channel! We have almost reached our goal of 1000 subscribers but could use your help to reach it!!!!!

This is our extreme kitchen remodel on our 1875 cottage kitchen that was in bad shape with basically nothing in it! We used Diamond Now in stock cabinets fro...

12/16/2021

Since covid I haven't repurposed furniture as much as I have in the past, but I recently did these cute French Country Chairs I found at the thrift store along with the cutest Mersman vintage table. I wanted to share my video on how to repurpose chairs for your home or if you are wanting to make some extra money by selling them. It really isn't that hard and my video is even for beginners. It is amazing to see how you can change the look of furniture with a little paint and love! It is a great project you can take on after the Holidays when you are looking for something fun to do! Please check out my video and subscribe to my Youtube channel to see more DIY projects and projects at the cottage!

A simply tutorial on how to update, makeover thrift store chairs by painting with Rustoleum Chalked paint and reupholstering to make them look amazing to sel...

12/09/2021

Do you remember this faux mantel I made for fall? Well it looks so cute decorated for Christmas on our patio at Maggie's Cottage! I am loving having a faux fireplace to decorate on the porch. This is one of five faux fireplaces we have made, I love to make them! They are so fun! We have several videos that show you how to make them! It is a fun project! Here is the link for this one that we made from a vintage screen door and things we had at the cottage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjLU65Dq1ho&ab_channel=MaggiesCottageDIY

11/27/2021

There is something magical about Christmas in a small country town! One of our first Christmases after we got the cottage/farmhouse livable was just that! We went to a small local farm to cut down our trees and were greeted by deer as we looked for the perfect tree. We loved decorating our trees for the first time in the cottage and then we were greeted by some beautiful snow to make it even more magical, especially since we were coming from a city that doesn't get snow!
Here are a few pictures I thought you might enjoy from that time as we all prepare for another Christmas! If you want to see more of our cottage/farmhouse and it's restoration check out my link.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy9jRrf7-H4&t=29s...
https://www.instagram.com/maggiesyellowcottage/

11/25/2021

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends. I have so much to thankful for including the support you give to me as I share our cottage and DIY ideas with you!

I love to decorate the table with these Thanksgiving dishes I found at a thrift store a few years ago. They are so fun to use for our dinner! I am looking forward to our time today with our family! Enjoy your day!!