A very literary end to 2018......

I seem to have been a bit book obsessed lately.

 

What kicked it off was a beautiful Ralph Waldo Emerson book I spotted for sale on Instagram. I missed out on the sale, but have been obsessed with finding another copy ever since. This may take awhile, but I am committed.....or should be committed...jury is still out on that.

I discovered as I searched for the Emerson book I am obsessed with acquiring, was that he had many very beautifully printed books. This one caught my eye first.

 

 

As beautiful on the outside as the essays inside.

 

This one I really fell in love with.

 

 

During Halloween, we were watching the Disney movies, The adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, The story of Mr. Toad was an excerpt from the book "The Wind in the Willows"  trying to remember the stories bugged me for a couple weeks, I decided I needed to read the book. Went to pull it off my shelf and realized....I did not have that book anymore, whoops. Yes, I could have ordered a brand new copy from Amazon and had it in two days, but no, I decided I needed to wait a month for an old copy, still in pretty good shape for 1957. And I really love it!

 

 

Then last weekend, while visiting my husbands family in Kingsport for Christmas, I got to dig around in my mother in laws old cookbooks. They are a beautiful combination of horrific concoctions, and some real gems.

 

It seems that everyone in the late 60's ate a very large amount of tinned meats and tomatoes, broccoli, "salad dressing", cream of anything soup, MSG added to almost everything and lemon jello.....yuck.  My daughter and I had a great time trying to out do each other finding the most disgusting sounding recipe.

 

Scary to report that the salad cook book appears to be the winner in the gross out category. The "salad dressing" and lemon jello put it over the top on the gross out scale.

 

But the graphics in the books are fantastic.

 

 

But I will certainly try several of the recipes!

 

So here we come to the end of another year. I have to say that overall 2018 was a pretty darn good year. And I am looking forward to what 2019 will bring!

 

Hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to a safe and happy New Year!

 

SPLURGE!!!!!!

Tis the Christmas season and everyone is allowed a little splurge right?

 

That is what I keep telling myself anyway.

 

Ok, maybe not necessarily splurge on themselves, but I had a really good month's sales at The Basement in November. Typically I reinvest at least half my profits, but no, not this time. This time I bought myself a little present, one I have been looking for for a very long time.

 

But first, remember this?

 

 

I found this little gem at the Nashville Flea Market last December, a bit of a splurge at 20.00, but not really, they do tend to be a little pricy. I really wanted the TEA canister I saw at the Flea last year as well, but at almost 80.00 that would have blown my entire flea market funds budget, so I passed, and regretted it ever since.

 

But when I saw my profits at the Basement for November, my mind wandered back to that Tea canister, so my fingers went searching for it on Ebay, just to see.

 

Well, I saw.

 

 I saw that there were two out there for the same price including shipping as I found it for at the Flea Market. I also saw several more for A LOT more.

 

Merry Christmas to me!

 

 

It was a splurge, but totally worth it as far as I am concerned!

 

In my search, I also ran across these! Nice to balance a splurge with a bargain right?

 

Pepper and Sugar: .99 plus 4.99 shipping= BARGAIN!!

 

Yes they are missing their caps, but I will find them, or something that will work instead!

 

 

Salt...I am looking for you next, coffee....your too expensive I doubt we will ever meet.

 

But you never know...

 

Hope you are enjoying the Holiday season so far!

 

 

 

Flea Markets and Antique Shops......

Another Thanksgiving come and gone, I hope yours was as lovely as mine was!

 

And another Black Friday come and gone, I hope yours was a relaxing as mine was. Mine was lovely because I hit the Nashville flea market and not the local malls!

 

Attendance was pretty light at the Flea on Friday, lighter than in years past (vendors and shoppers alike) which was great for me, but continued sad news for the market in general. I was able to leisurely stroll through and look at everything. Between the Flea Market and shopping on Small Business Saturday, I managed to make out with a nice little haul!

 

I did break down and buy some more spoons for any upcoming projects with Bean and Betty (My friend Kim). These actually came from a different vendor than I usually buy from, same price and they do not look like they have been used in a crack house. The cute little strawberry dish cloth was a small business Saturday find from one of the local antique shops that I don't stop into nearly often enough.

 

 

A couple more things for joint Bean and Betty projects, I think the tea strainer and funnel will both make a darling tea light/candle holders. Not sure what to do with the aluminum scoops, but I will think of something!

 

 

And more aluminum, this film canister caught my eye as I strolled through on my visit to the Basement on Small Business Saturday.  Not sure what I will use it for yet, but it is really cute!

 

 

I found some great bowls a well, I can never say no to a new bowl.

 Especially when it is a "Grail" piece like the blue Pyrex stripe. I had found a couple pink Pyrex stripe bowls but at 45.00....I decided to pass. The blue I thought was a splurge but still good price at 20.00.

 

 

And I could not pass up the Chalet bowl! Especially not at 5.00!

 

 

This divided Fire King Baby plate was an Ebay find, not a bad price, I think I paid around 12.00 including shipping. The cute milk glass salt shaker and spice jar? Well, those are my shame. I did not look closely enough at them when I bought them, I loved the cute flower  and gorgeous cherries design on them. Had I looked closer, I may have noticed that they were probably temporary decals someone carefully glued on. The decals immediately fell off as soon as I tried to wash them. Grumble....take you time and inspect your purchase before you pay! I way overpaid for them, lesson learned.

 

 

My pink scores! The pink Fire King mug is possibly my favorite flea market find! And the cranberry Pyrex bowl, Small business Saturday find. I love the shape and size, I have another in the same size and use it often, it is nice to have two now!

 

 

And last, but certainly not least, more random swig glasses. The Baby animal swigs were a great buy from one of my favorite dealers at the Nashville flea, the rooster? I passed on him last month, saw him still sitting there this month and decided to grab him. My daughter has been wearing the rooster glass out since I brought it home last month, so I suspect the second one will get just as much use.

 

Such a fun weekend with lots of great food, fun shopping and plenty of time for relaxing!

 

This week, aside from jumping into Christmas shopping, I am brainstorming for some new craft projects, I hope to have something to share with you next weekend!

 

Until then! Have a great week!

 

6th Annual Home For The Holidays Show...

Another show come and gone, this was my fourth and finally, my last.

 

Show was large, I believe we had more vendors this year than in any years past, a lot more direct sales than we have had in the past, sadly not as many crafters but we had some pretty great food vendors!

 

There was good turn out traffic wise, with five crafters in our booth, it was a nice mix. I am kicking myself for not getting a picture of the final booth set up from Saturday morning. The pictures below are from Friday night, so it was missing he final things my friend Kim (Bean and Betty) brought in, our knitter and her lovely scarves and throw blankets and the last few things I slammed together Friday night. The booth looked amazing and was very full by the time the show opened Saturday morning. I was really tickled.

 

 

My mom made these darling pot holders and bowl holders, they sold like hot cakes, but she still had some left over.

 

 

I loved how my trees turned out, two of the big ones sold and one of the three tiny trees. I whipped the tiny trees together Friday night after I got home from setting up the booth, I was also up hammering more Succulent themed spoons as they go so well with Kim's concrete planters.

 

 

The signs, and planter boxes with the vintage labels did not sell, well one did to a friend of mine. The two tiny trees that did not sell and the big tree above I am keeping, the rest of the trees as well as the remaining ornaments are already at the Basement, hoping they will sell there.

 

I managed to walk away with only one purchase for the day, and it was from my own booth.

 

 

 Yup, I had to have this creation of  Kim's. Candle holder, vintage coffee filter in a concrete base. I am a candle junkie and this cute creation just had to come home with me.

 

Sales were very slow for me this year, I suspect it is because my stock is available year round at the Basement, which is why I will not be participating next year, but I will certainly continue to sell at the Basement, but does that mean that I am finished doing shows all together?

 

Nope!

 

Although I have been back and forth about that for some time now,  it turns out so has my friend Kim. These shows are a lot of work, but they are easier and a lot more fun with a partner. So we have decided to partner up and work a couple shows in Nashville together. Our stock works well together and it is always easier to work a booth with a partner, especially one who is as fun and inspirational as Kim, and when your stock blends so well together. I think the partnership is just what we both needed to spark some new inspiration and ideas! Not to mention it will bring the fun we have both been missing back into the creative process and shows. We think we will find a lot of interest at a pop up show that happens in Hillsboro Village in Nashville every few months. But more to come on that as we get closer to that show.

 

Until then, I am going to keep hammering away and hitting some new junk shops wit Kim looking for collaboration inspiration and more treasures for myself!

 

So stay tuned to see what creations Bean and Betty with My Hobby can come up with next!

 

Looking forward to the holidays! Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

A little light flea marketing.....

Although I was in high production mode preparing for the "Home for Holidays" show this weekend, there was still no stopping me from hitting the October Nashville Flea Market. Although it was wet and cold weather did not deter me, but sadly, I really did not find much.

 

My beloved Flea Market has been the subject of some major controversy the last year or so because the City of Nashville is building a new major league soccer stadium, where are they building it? Only the current location of the Flea Market. Long story short, the Flea Market is getting the very short end of the stick with this new development and many vendors are already bailing. I fear the Flea market as I know and love it, is not long for this world and I will miss it.

 

With that said, until they shut it down, I will keep going, and if I am lucky I will keep finding treasures, even if it is getting harder and harder to find them.

 

So what did I find?

 

Well....a couple things. The least popular find the day? This Sevres Robin pitcher. I love it, my family thinks it is like my creepy chalk ware yard pets...it got a big thumbs down.

 

I still think its cute.

 

A large BC comics bowl. The big one. 5.00, I grabbed it.

 

 

This random mix of glasses that I ended up buying because the cute little brass chicks had to come home with me and the vendor did not have change for a 5.00

 

 

These little buggers are HEAVY!

 

This "Beauty Consultant" milk glass jar jumped out at me, why? I don't know, but for a buck, who cares. Its kind of cool.

 

 

And that is all, not a big haul. Not half the vendors the October show usually draws, although the weather may have driven a lot of them off, more so than the issues with the city.

 

I will have to tell you more about the 6th annual Home for the holidays show later this week, because I am worn out after today. I put in a lot of extra time to have a bit more variety of stock. and I was pretty happy with what I finished!

 

Loved the way the boxes turned out!

 

 

I was very pleased with the trees.

 

 

And my husband was able to help me save the gorilla glue disaster signs.

 

 

Of course I had to do another WT Fork..

 

 

And of course, ornaments.

 

 

How did they sell? Well, I will tell you about that next time. Because right now, I am heading for a hot shower and bed.

 

But before I go, I do have one more fun find to show you, ok two. One, this wood Acorn box. Another one of those late night Ebay finds that I stumbled across, fell madly in obsession with and had to have. I love it by the way, I regret nothing.

 

 

 

The cute vintage butter press is another find from my Mother in Laws home. We are pretty sure it came from her mothers home, no idea how old it is, but it is old and I love it!

 

Off to bed I go...hope you have had a great week!

Dueling Desks.....

I cannot remember exactly what I was thinking of doing when I got it into my head that I wanted a lap desk, but not just any lap desk, I have a "modern" lap desk that I use with my lap top etc. I wanted vintage of course and was thinking of something with some kind of storage. My number one requirement was that it have a slanted top to write on.

 

So, off to Ebay I went to see if such a thing even existed.

 

I don't know why I ever doubted that I would find exactly what I was looking for. There were dozens of different styles of desks to choose from. Including one that was exactly what I was looking for, and one that was not.

 

First, the one I was looking for.

 

It actually has two storage areas, the top of the desk opens as well to hold pencils.

This is actually the "after" shot, it took a fair amount of sanding to buff out the scratches, then a hit of stain  But  I love the result! It generally only takes a little bit of work to really wake wood up. I love the rich deep color!

 

 

Total investment: 17.00 plus shipping. Based on how much I see boxes and such going for at the Flea markets, I will say I got a decent deal.

 

Now..the desk I was NOT looking for.

 

As I was scouring Ebay for the desk I wanted. I stumbled across this one. And I have to admit, I was immediately obsessed with it. It was almost what I was looking for, but not quite. I had already placed a bid on the first desk. Well guess what, not a lot of people seem to be interested in old wood lap desks so I easily won the above...the only bidder.

 

But this one was buy it now, and I think had only been up for a couple hours...so after pouring over the pictures several times, I jumped. I knew I had to have it.

 

I may or may not have impulse buying issues.

 

 

I mean, look at this wood! It was pretty dirty, but really only needed some cleaning and the lightest of sanding after a  good rub of orange oil cleaner to wake up the wood it looked just gorgeous!

 

 And it unfolds almost like a puzzle box!

 

 

It is quite small, less that a foot long/wide and does not have the slanted top I was looking for, but I am totally in love with it!

 

It does work perfectly when I am sitting on my bed writing out my to do list for the day/week and as it turns out it is the perfect size to hold my bullet journal supplies, another recent hobby I have picked up.

 

 

Easy to pick up and carry around, storage space that is both beautiful and functional? I am extremely happy with it!

 

The seller claimed is it vintage, late 1800's, after some research on line, I think I agree. But I am not any kind of expert in this field. I did find several reproductions that are very similar, but not quite the same. This one definitely looks old and has some flaws that you would not find in a machine made reproduction. Even if it is a reproduction, I paid 45.00 plus shipping. The reproductions go for 100.00 and up plus shipping so I still feel like I got a good deal regardless of it's age.

 

Plus I am in love with it and that is what really matters!

 

Don't think the first desk will go unused! My daughter who loves to draw has claimed it. The size is perfect for her sketch books and the huge storage area is perfect for her markers. It all works out in the end!

 

Shopping for desks is not all I have been up to! I have been assembling the Christmas trees and signs that I will try to sell at the Craft Show on the 10th.

 

 

I love the tiny lights, and I found some fantastic vintage postcards for the fronts of the boxes.

 

 

The signs on the other hand are more of a challenge. Don't get me wrong, I love how they look, but I used gorilla glue. I should not have used gorilla glue. It "swells" up. I now have a mess around many letters that I will have to chip and peel off, then re stain any damage. What was supposed to be a super simple project, it turning into a big pain in the butt.

 

Gorilla glue, you are not my friend.

 

 

I have also been happily settling into fall. So happy pulling out all of my favorite hoodies, baking pumpkin muffins and ordering my favorite candles from my favorite Etsy seller!

 

Trader Joes Maple Butter? Worth the splurge!

 

These  candles are amazing. I love the scent of leather and wood burning. These perfectly capture those scents.

 

Bruno is also happily embracing the cooler weather.

 

 

Who am I kidding, he embraces every season the same way.

 

Just two weeks away from the Home for the Holidays show! I feel pretty confident that I will have everything ready to go!

 

Hope you are having a great weekend!