Saturday, November 29, 2014

Creative Village

I am so excited! I have been invited to bring my sentiment spoons and herb markers to sell in the sweetest little craft shop in historic Old Hickory.


I am one of twenty local crafters selling at the store. I was blown away by the talent displayed there, all sorts of different kinds of crafts, from jewelry and paintings to linens and soaps. I just loved the shop and think it is a wonderful idea to make handmade products by local crafters and artists available in a retail setting like this. Right now there are lots of the most adorable Christmas themed crafts and handmade ornaments! I could have easily walked out with a shopping bag full!



And the area? Darling. The shop is located in the Historic Old Hickory area not far from the Hermitage Itself, just an adorable old neighborhood with the most beautiful historic houses.

I am so flattered and excited to have been invited to join this talented group of artists!

If you are in the Old Hickory area drop, into Creative Village and have a look around, you will be sure to find something that begs to come home with you!


Friday, November 28, 2014

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving day!

We stay pretty low key at our house, just a small gathering, but, I always insist on a pretty table and fresh flowers.

Years ago, when my husbands Grandfather passed away and we were going through the estate, one of the things we took with us was some of his Grandmothers dishes. Now, they are not French Limoges or really any kind of expensive dishware, But, I just love them, such sweet flowers. The set we got was very small, just four place settings with some serving pieces, but during one of my Antique store trips I found a bunch more and added to the set. Now we have seating for nine, and even though not all of it was really  Grandmothers, that is still how we refer to it. And I love taking it out every year for Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. I like to think Grandmother Adeline would be flattered that we enjoy her pretty plates so much.


I don't usually use fancy linens either, I simple cotton drop cloth from the hardware store with a burlap and vintage crochet runner do the trick. I love burlap and vintage doilies. And of course my flea market collection of mixed flatware, nothing matches, and I love it!


I found this vintage Lefton turkey planter years ago, I have to admit, I forget to put him out most years, I will have to start packing him with Grandmothers dishes so I don't forget.



Summer before last, I found this vintage turkey platter, I always keep my eyes open for vintage pieces to add to my little set.


I love Thanksgiving, as much for the food as for the fun of decorating my table!

I hope you enjoyed your day as much as I did!

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Relaxing at the flea

Does that not sound crazy? Relaxing at the flea market? But, over the last couple years, going to the flea market has become just that. My relaxation. I stroll down isle after isle of vendor booths, enjoying the early morning sunshine (or rain) and finding all sorts of treasures and fun things for my home, garden or inspiration for craft projects.  I have come to really enjoy chatting with and learning from the people I meet there, especially the vendors who appreciate and love some these vintage items as much as I do.


Some things I see over and over and over again, like the ubiquitous marbles in a jar and Prince Albert in a can.


Some things make me smile because I remember seeing them growing up.





Others make me want to go home immediately, set a pretty table and have tea and lunch.



or even grab my hammer and make some sentiment spoons.


And sometimes....ok, well I have no explaination for this, except that it is a bed tray, in really good condition and the perfect size to set my ipad on while I am lounging in bed . Another fruity find and not my usual taste but, I am not gonna lie...I love it. Even if I feel compelled to justify it. What do they say one justification a day keeps the Dr away? Ok, maybe that is just what I say-lol.

I had a lovely morning at the flea market with my kids today. We found several treasures and had lots of laughs, I hope that when they are grown up and on their own, they remember mornings like we had today with fond memories and smile.


Tuesday, November 18, 2014

What can you say about vintage insulators?

Tell me, how exactly did vintage insulators become such a hot collectable? I mean, they are just pieces of glass that used to be on telephone poles, what on earth (other than their beautiful colors) makes them so interesting?

Well....I don't know, but I have to admit, I have my own little collection. I did not intend to collect them, but I guess they are like cats...you get one..then you find you have to have another, and another....and another.



When I lived in Wisconsin, I used to drive down hwy PD to get to my best friends house, as you drove down this little two lane highway there was a line of telephone poles and if it was the right time of the day, the sun would hit them and they would glow like beautiful topaz jewels, I always remember loving that view as I drove, I guess that memory is what attracted me to the vintage insulators. I found my first insulator at my favorite indoor flea market, and after that one, it seemed saw insulators everywhere I went. I love how they glow in my kitchen window. So beautiful.


I love the simple things like these silly insulators that make me smile.

Nashville Flea Market is this weekend, maybe I will get lucky and find a purple one, you never know! 

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Home for the Holidays Craft Fair

It has been such a crazy week, I was super busy at work and I missed the blog post I had planned for Wednesday because I was spending every free moment getting ready for the "Home for the Holiday's" craft show today. We did not have the foot traffic I had hoped for (our competition was a huge Christmas craft show at the fairgrounds in Nashville) but I had a fantastic day. Not only did I get to see some of my favorite friends and customers from the Farmisan Market, but I met some fantastic people and fellow vendors. This whole experience of stepping out and getting involved in the local crafting community has been an invaluable learning experience and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
I had my mom join me for this show, she brought her selection of adorable children's hats and I was really pleased with our display. Definitely learned some new display techniques that I will use again at the Farmisan Market next spring.



I love my moms hat's, They are so cute!



My Mom even made my 1980's Cabbage Patch Preemie a new outfit. My husband teases me for keeping my Cabbage Patch kid all these years. I guess there are just some things you can never give up.


But isn't he adorable!



I am so thankful that I had this opportunity, It has been a good ride, I think I will stay of the crafting train a while longer!

But right now? I am wiped out. Time to go to bed!


Sunday, November 9, 2014

A fruity find

A couple weeks back my daughter and I went on a short thrifting trip and found this adorable vintage fruit tablecloth a bargain price at our first stop.


Second stop at a nearby Goodwill, we found this adorable fruit plate. It has no markings so I am not entirely positive it is vintage although it looks to be.


Honestly, these are not usually my colors, but It looks kinda kitchy cool with the vintage cheese plate I found earlier this year.

I am expecting to have a crazy busy week, getting the final products and preparations ready for the holiday show on Saturday, but I am excited, we have over  5000 Facebook invites so we are expecting a great turnout!

Hope you all have a great week!

Saturday, November 8, 2014

Embrace your scars, accept your faults.

Good advice for people and furniture alike. 

I have been beating myself up trying to strip this little chair,getting every bit of old paint off of it (found out that the four coats of paint were holding it together in places-oops) finally  I asked my self, Why am I doing this? I don't want this chair to look brand new, I want it to look like what it is, a sweet little old chair that has been around the block a few times, I wanted to see the beauty in her age.

So I stopped trying to strip the years away. I smoothed and sanded what I thought I should. took apart and glued back together, painted the pretty ivory color I had originally imagined, distressed again, letting some of the old layers of black and yellow (even some blue) paint peep through.



 I am happy with how it turned out. I even gave her a new little bit of bling. She is a lovey addition to my kitchen.




I think the imperfections make my little chair, well, perfect.


It was a chilly day here, perfect excuse to drag out some of my French china, English tea and Mimi Thorisson's new book "A Kitchen in France" I am addicted to her beautiful blog Manger, her book is as beautiful as her blog, you have to take a minute to check her out. What a lovely family living in a story book like place. Makes me want to go to France more than ever.


 Bruno decided to get into the photo shoot this morning, he did not get enough "Mama time" this week and did not like getting shooed away or ignored, but I don't think he enjoyed becoming the subject of my photography either. That face, he kills me.



It has been such a crazy week it even put me behind on blog posts. I had planned to post again on Wednesday, but bad weather Tuesday caused a gridlock on my commute home and had me sitting on the highway until 7:00 and accidents did that same thing on Wednesday. My new job has a less than desirable commute, so I have adjusted my schedule so I can come in earlier and leave earlier so I can hopefully avoid some of the awful traffic in metro Davidson county at rush hour.

I am almost down to the bottom of my box of silverware stock, I will be hammering out the last few spoons and knives this week and should be all ready for the "Home for the Holidays" craft show next weekend. This is my first time at a craft show of this size, I even dragged my mom in to work the show with me and sell some of her cute hand knit hats and we are both really excited to participate!

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend!


Sunday, November 2, 2014

A touch of frost

We got our first frost here in Tennessee last night, so of course, as soon as I got up this morning I threw on my hoodie and headed outside with my Pug at my heels and my camera in hand.


I love my flowers, so sad to know that I will not see them again until next year. But oh, they look so beautiful kissed by the frost.


I love fall back, got so much done today because of course dogs do not understand "fall back" and had me up at 5:30. But I got several sentiment spoons hammered for the show on the 15th  and so much more accomplished around the house. 

Hope you all had as lovely of a weekend as I have had! 

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Perfect weather for Chenille

I love Chenille. 

Beautiful, warm, perfect to snuggle under. How could you not love it?

A few years ago, I stumbled across a chenille baby blanket, excellent condition in an antique store in East Tennessee. Not bargain priced but not expensive enough to put me off it. I love the baby blankets, they are the perfect size to throw over your lap while you read a book or watch a movie. It took no time at all for my kids to "adopt" that first one I found. So.. I started keeping my eye out so that they would each have one of their own.


It did not take long before we all had one of our own, Now we are up to seven in all, one even has  a darling matching pillow case. And of course I had to find one for Bruno to sleep on.

On our last trip to our favorite indoor flea market we found yet another blanket, the one pictured above with the cute bunny. This one was a bargain price and we snapped it up to add to our stash.



 A friend of my mothers made this darling teddy bear out of rosebud chenille for my daughter when she was born, It was an instant family heirloom.

The weather has finally turned chilly here, but with the sunshine, it was perfect to sit outside on the pallet couch with a book, blanket and cookies.


"The Hobbit" My favorite book in the world. I think I have five different copies of it now.



Bruno always joins me on our pallet couch...darn, this picture would have been Hallmark card perfect if I had my camera at the right angle.

I have not even touched on all the full sized chenille quilts I have...honestly, I am not sure how many I have both in use and in the cutter bag. I am determined that eventually I will make my cutters into a big patchwork chenille quilt. I suppose that means I need to actually sit at the sewing machine and really learn how to sew. Sigh, of all my hobbies.....sewing is not one of them.

We expect to have our first freeze here in TN, time to climb under a chenille and keep warm!