Farm Table 101

 I wasn't happy with my dining room table....

It was round, dark oak, and although I had white chairs

And a beautiful lace tablecloth.....it was still dark wood.

Even I cannot paint beautiful wood....just the ugly stuff

That has lost it's life and beauty along the way.

When I came across this wonderful farm type table in a past

Issue of Country Living....well, I was in love.

After reading the article, I found this was actually Rachael Ashwell's table.

I'm assuming it was actually old, but it didn't matter to me....

I wanted one like it.....this was what I had been searching for.

I hung the picture on the fridge for several months.

I showed it to my sweet man....he said he could do it.

I keep enforcing the fact I wanted old wood used.

You know, scraps we had and the more beat up the better.

He didn't get that part, but he never has :)

Still, he followed my lead and built me what I had envisioned.

I have gathered mismatched chairs and

Still have to paint them various colors of white,

But, it is still the look I wanted.

Perfect for big family dinners

With no fear of water marks or damage

As this just makes it look better and better.

I'm also in the process of switching china cabinets and wall decor,

So the entire room results will come later....

For now, I'm just lovin' my table.

Today I am sharing with Debra's Common Ground's Vintage Inspiration Friday

My Romantic Homes' Show and Tell Friday.,

The Charm of Home's Home Sweet Home

and

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
and
Stuff and Nonsense Friday
and Vintage Inspiration Friday at the Picket Fence
and
Miss Mustard Seed's Furniture Feature Friday

Lots of wonderful ideas and vision......check it out.

If this is your first visit here and choose to follow....

Please know I always follow back.

Thank you for stopping by today....

You know I love it when you come.

"I'm Out There, Baby, and I'm Lovin' Every Minute of It........"

You know it's coming, and you wait and wait.

You know better than to share your news ahead of time

Because things can always change....

Publishing plans can switch gears, and you get "pushed back",

And it looks like you are making it up :)

So, when it is finally in print, you just have to share the news.

The latest issue of Somerset's Haute Hangbags is available April 1st.

And, there I am.....page 12 & 13 & 14.

 I always get excited......

One to be published for my work,

And the next, because they make my things look so darned good. 

The submission process is painless........

It's the waiting for acceptance that lasts forever.

However, it is definitely worth it.....

If you have ever thought about it, but just haven't for whatever reason....

Jump right in......you can't be accepted if you don't put yourself out there.

First time here and choose to follow?

Please know I always follow back.

This week I am linking my sweet  handbag to
Kathleen's Faded Charm at White Wednesday....
and
Beverly's Pink Saturday
Hop on over and see all the beauty
.

Thanks for stopping by today.....

You know I love it when you come.



I Love Antique and Vintage Linens.......

I have so many linens that they are very difficult to keep straight.

At one point, I had someone wash and iron all of them,

Measure them, bag them, and tag them.

But then who wants to look at antique and vintage linens through plastic?

I know I don't.

I want to touch them, feel them, and inspect them.

That's why over the course of the last week I started working on this

Specific area of the Shoppe.

I had them all in the same display cabinet and

Believe me, they were an absolute mess.

Customers didn't put them back on the right shelf,

Opened them and mixed them all up.

Then I got another cabinet and decided to sort them.

 One cabinet will hold all the bed linens, with the exception of the quilts.

 And that's because I have over sixty to display and choose from.

 So they have an area all their own.....

 But this is where I am removing the bed linens and

Planning on having just table linens here.

I will be able to remove the plastic and

Give them more importance and ROOM.

 And the new display area for all the bed linens,

From pillowcases, to bed sets, to bedspreads and coverlets.

 Still alot to do, but it's coming right along

 (sometimes I feel like everything in my life is "coming right along",

and I know I will be happy when something is finally finished :)

Since so much pink jumped out at me when I took a final

Look at the pictures,

I just had to share today with Pink Saturday at Beverlys...

And, if this is your first time here and choose to follow....

Please know I always follow back :)

Have a beautiful weekend.

I Never Tire of "Old Stuff"

The older the better and

If I can make something out of it then that's all the good.

I found I did not have the heart to discard, or even recycle, the amber bottles that

I received my fragrance oils in.

I kept tens and twenties of these sitting on the shelf waiting for a "project".

Last month I altered a few of them with antique silk velvet ruched roses and

Hammered spoon pendants 

 All displayed inside an absolutely wonderful antique iron stove.

One of the largest I have come across.

 But I also adore this antique Victorian musical instrument case.

I have no idea what instrument, but I love the velvet...

I find it odd that as I am purging color from my home,

I am particularly attracted to it at the Shoppe.

I guess it's good that I have both.

Thank you for stopping by today.......

and if it is your first time here and you choose to follow,

Please know I always follow back :)

I am linking to Debra's Vintage Inspiration Friday

Where you always find

Wonderful Inspiration from everyone who participates.

Also to Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home,

The Charm of Home's Home Sweet Home and

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

When Good Things Come "Your Way"....

  If anyone doesn't know it by now.....

I adore old linens and literally covet antique laces.

Sometimes to the point that my heart will beat fast when I am going through them

For the very first time.

I couldn't believe my good fortune this morning when in came

Lisa.......a sweet soul that found my Shoppe a couple of years ago.

She has come to know me well, and we talk about vision, dreams, and goals.

She had several large baskets of her Grandmother's old crochet pieces

And laces, and velvets, and Irish linen....

And on and on.

                                                                      All just for me.

I was in heaven all day long as I sorted through my beautiful bounty.

Just when I think all of the good stuff is gone or too pricey,

I am delightfully surprised as I was today.

And you know the good thing?

She says she has more......yummy~

Thank you for stopping by today..

If it's your first time here and choose to follow,

Please know I always follow back :)

Today I am linking to Kathleen at Faded Charm for

a beautiful White Wednesday.  

All That is Old is New Again......

A customer came into the Shoppe today and I asked my usual question....

"Are you looking for anything special?"

Usually I receive the standard "no", but today she had purpose.

I would say she was in her late twenties......

And I don't get many younger shoppers very often.

She had been thumbing through a Pottery Barn catalog

and found they merchandised and also sold

vintage reproduction suitcases.

She didn't want to pay their price,

And wanted it "today".

She had been to every store in town to no avail.

Can you imagine her surprise when I proceeded to

Show her not just one, or two, or three old suitcases,

But she had her choice between about thirty different ones.

I've been collecting these for years simply because I love the idea of

What they represent. 

Families or individuals traveling to new and different places.

Packing their most needed items and

Most probably traveling by car or bus.

Always with a hat box in tow as well....

A girl had to have her hat.

She also loved all the old books and bottles and

Since mine were not for sale,

She went about her day looking for some that were.

I just adore the story these old things tell,

If only we stop and listen.

Have a beautiful weekend.

Thank you for stopping by today....

I love it when you come...and

If this is your first time here and choose to follow....

Please know, I always follow back.

Today I am linking to the following blogs and hope you will visit them to see the wonderful

Items presented just for you. 

Show and Tell Friday @My Romantic Home
 http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
Common Ground Vintage Inspirations
The Charm of Home's Home Sweet Home

First One Down.....

The weather was absolutely beautiful, and we could not have ask for more.

The crowd was eager to shop and very receptive to our new event, Le' Pre'miere.

I don't think I have worked that hard in a long time, but the rewards were many.

The Shoppe gained many, many new customers having just found us for the first time.

And I still appreciate my loyal, long time customers who are now my friends.

There is no rest for the weary (or the over achiever or maybe the insane:)

As we are already planning the 11th semi-annual 

Main Street Antique Trade Days Flea Market May 14th.

The back lot is already full, so get ready for another good event. 

I'm still moving rather slow, so bear with me as I make the rounds seeing what you've been up to...
I know I've missed a lot and can't wait to see all your wonderful creativity.

Thanks for stopping by today,

I love it when you come.   

Right in the Middle of Crazy....

In the middle of crazy, I'm reminded of what is important.

A wonderful photographer in Arlington asked to come into

My Shoppe and take photos of our three generations

In clothing I had created for my

Heart & Soul Line.

She snuck us a picture to keep us at bay

While she is working on the other 40

That we just can't wait to see.

I am truly blessed.

Back to the sewing machine creating pillows for

The Le' Pre'miere Sales Event this Saturday. 

We're so excited!

Final Week.....Check It Out...

It's a long week with little time for posting,

But I just had to share a little of what is

Complete for the Spring Le' Pre'miere Quarterly Sale this Saturday.

Still so much to do.......

I hope to catch up with everyone next week.

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous....

Wanna check it out?

Please visit our special blog for this event at

Le' Pre'miere Quarterly

Still so much to do.......

I hope to catch up with everyone next week.

The weather is supposed to be gorgeous....

Please send some positive energy our way for a super sale!

Chicken Wire and Elbow Grease.....Viola'

Several months ago I spotted a huge roll of rusted,

old chicken wire in my lil'mama's barn.

I asked her if I could have it, and she asked me "what for?".

I said "I dunno", as I loaded it into the truck.

I hadn't thought about it since we brought it home...not until yesterday.

For some reason it just came to me that I wanted to make chicken wire cloches,

Which I started to do.

As I cut, and squeezed (and bled) , I formed the wire and also saw something else.

And that was table top dress form which now stands about 18" tall.

Each is individual, being filled with vintage tulle....

And old dress patterns,

Or absolutely nothing at all.


Simply having stylish "belts" and brooches....

Then, of course, the original thought......the cloche.....


With a better look at how they are actually formed......
great for inside or out.


I hope you enjoyed your visit today.
If it is your first time and you choose to follow,
please know, I always follow back.

If you are a "regular", I thank you for stopping by...
You know I love it when you come.


This week I am linking to the following parties:

Strut Your Stuff Thursday @ Somewhat Simple
Transformation Thursday @ The Shabby Chic Cottage
100 Ideas Uder $100 @ Beyond the Picket Fence
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic HOme
Frugal Friday @ Shabby Nest
Vintage Inspiration Friday@ Common Ground
Creative Girls Blog Hop Friday @ The Girl Creative
and

Of course....Beverly's Pink Saturday @ How Sweet the Sound

Display Made Easy....

What do you get when you combine chicken wire... Along with beautiful hand made organza roses....
And and old white wooden screen door?


A great store display and a wonderful way to organize smalls.

Or anything else that will hang......I think it would be perfect for old pictures as well.

This works just as well with an old window or frame.

Simply cut your chicken wire to size and carefully staple tautly to the backside.

Thank you for stopping by today...

I love it when you come

I'm linking to Kathleen today at Faded Charm for White Wednesday.