Save Your Pennies.......{Fab Midwest Fleas}

 {Why I like the Fleas}

1. Always great stories from vendors.

2. Good eats

3. Not knowing what you are going to find! It's a treasure hunt at its best and a history lessons to boot. It's fun to run into people you know & chat about this & that. 
P.S. I remember when the Alameda Point Flea was teeny-tiny. Look at it now.......Next time I head to CA, hope to plan a trip around it.
{Raise your hand if you studied Rachel Ashwell's flea marketing tips in one of her first books.}

TA-DA the spring line-up:

1. May 4 & 5th 2012 Rural Society Antique & Garden Show .  Hosted by Page Price at her 50 acre farm { featured in Country Living April 2012} Vendors with decked out spaces, food & rural Ohio at its best. I'm betting on plants, well done displays and high style nestled right beside a llama, chickens, dogs, cats.... just a sampling of the menagerie Paige has. Get your buggy ready.
We are going.....hope to see you there!

2. Na-Da Farm Event {"homegrown creative freedom"} 
May 18th 5pm-8pm & May 19th 10am-2pm
Anne-Marie has picked 20 or so vendors to set up at her farmstead haven. I do believe she will be baking up a storm for the event. Sweet treats, rack up the calories please, shopping is exercise.

Anne-Marie will dole out words of wisdom. :) I love her blog. Expect cheerful camaraderie and great one-of-a-kind finds + well edited displays. Midwest Living did a feature on her last fall and Where Women Cook featured Anne-Marie's kitchen and cooking. I do believe she is in the The Romantic Prairie Cookbook with Fifi O'Neil too.

Tentatively planning on it. I'm hoping my husband can ride along bring the truck.

Springfield Flea Market + Antique Malls: {Vintage Marketplace May 18-20th 2012}

I just read an article about the Springfield Market in our paper. The antiques mecca brings in a staggering amount of $103 million to the local economy. {that includes the permanents + extravaganza, lodging, restaurants etc.} {Dayton Daily News}
Folks fly into here to shop the permanent, gigantic antique malls. The extravaganza then heralds more people flocking. Of course, the jumbo sweet teas & lemon shake-ups might be a sort of attraction on their own. {Although it is more how should I say it.....country well, lets say you need to scout if you're a I-have-lived-in-CA-and-some-of-this-looks-too-primitive-kind-of-gal. However, I can always find fun vintage fabric, wrought iron for gardens, plants and some truly great finds. Keep looking, next aisle--What are socks doing here? That can mess with your vision of finding something keen. 
Info on the Vintage Marketplace that is going on that weekend at Springfield May 18-20 2012

Are you planning on going to any of these fun events?

Warm Days....

 bring a fervor of doing!

It will be nice to have someone help with uploading product!

Cleaning, photographing & organizing......it was time! Spent a full day yesterday with our new assistant. {she is great!}

Vintage Cabinet {lots of drawers}

Please excuse the glare and the light--gray day here in Ohio. Well, I have wiped down every drawer and still need to wipe the glass one more time. Although think it would be good to wait until things are put in the drawers. Don't you think she would look purty with a coat of Annie Sloan's dark wax on the black?

Two of the drawers have broken glass, which is easy to replace one of these days. Even though we want the cabinet upstairs, will go ahead and fill em' up and start organizing. 27 drawers should hold a lot of our small inventory.

 This space where the cabinet currently resides was from one week ago.....I was getting inspired to fluff and well, this table was moved to make room for the cabinet that "didn't fit up our stairway"! Oh, dear!

 Some of these things in this drawer will pop onto Etsy.......

See this wee piece? It was discovered when I was treasure hunting, 1/2 off and in the original box.
Miss Vivi has my dollhouse and this will reside in there. {I love thrift shops, antique places & the fleas! What is it about finding something one-of-a-kind? Do you love this type of shopping?}

Enjoy your weekend! What are you doing? Organizing? Relaxing? Don't forget to go to Church on Sunday......... ;)

P.S. I started drinking Slim Fast {generic brand, Kroger's} and I will keep you posted on this. I'm usually starved by mid afternoon. haha. {do you have any luck with this stuff?} I'm beginning to wonder about my relationship with weight loss drinks.
xo

Shopkeeping Style {Master Bathroom}

{Image Source}

Photographer: Janis Nicolay of Pinecone Camp blog

Perfect storage piece for the Bath! 

{White towels are my favorite}

No, Ma'am I'm sorry......

 {here she is without drawers put in!}

1.

 but, she won't fit up your stairs! Indeed I had measured the incline of our stairs wrong, very wrong. This piece has kept me busy this week... I spotted her in a favorite digging place, and had a "hold" tag put on her. {Right after I spotted her}  The drawers, all 24 of them are what we need to accomplish some of the store's bigger goals this year. However, the goals need to get finished upstairs in the shipping/inventory room, not in the dining room. Our upstairs windows are big enough for it to go through, however, that will be a chore.for.somebody. Anyway, we swept, wiped down & put a good coat of polish on all of the drawers that seriously keep cloning themselves.

The drawers are what sold this shop girl on her......it's easier to keep organized with drawers. Currently we have stacked boxes and every time you go to get something it's awkward to say the least. Plus, the drawers have glass fronts surround in aged brass, with darling pulls.

What: Vintage Rike's Department Store cabinet with drawers. {Dayton history, love it}
When: Circa 1940's
Where: Dayton, Ohio

love, love old department store display fixtures.

scene from 2/1/09...gathering and delighting in evening lamp glow.

{what is it about the remains of the day? maybe it's grasping all the sweet remnants that are left?}

2.

Friday, 2/10/12, arrived with a flurry of the usual school morning hustle & bustle. I felt a strong urging to get the crock-pot going before bus time. That never happens. {Chicken, sweet potatoes, apples & a surfeit of spices, simple yet tasty. }

 By mid-morning a friend stopped by and we sat and enjoyed mid-winter's frolic by chatting by the fireside. I felt a presence telling me to reach out instead of holding back. What are we scared of anyway?

By late afternoon I was in a homemaking flurry of baking this no- knead bread.  {I haven't baked homemade bread in years.} Must be the weather? Luke was asking for it and so wanted to surprise him after a long school day. I had went to the grocery on Thursday and was happy I did. {see why next}

By late afternoon another friend called and her husband was out of town and wanted to do something. Coincidentally, my mother had told me the day before in regards to her being without her hubby this weekend.  I had a tugging at my heart that I should call her on Friday to see if she wanted to come over, and she called me first! Goodness, I had been to the grocery, crock-pot was a simmering, salad ingredients in the fridge and she had a dessert made. Voila! Dinner is served and the more the merrier! {& louder :) }

See? That is what make our days sweeter, brighter and joyful. I can choose to be frustrated or really see how life's days are beautiful. Sweet.

Have a lovely weekend!

Valentine's Day {Preview of Craft Projects}

 ➸Next week we will show you some fun ways to do simple, sweet packages for February 14th. Remember it's a fun day to surprise someone with a pink or red enveloped card and sweet treats. Deliver some pretty balloons, make someone's day and deliver some "you are loved" love!➸

 The big arrow I made is going to be stuck into Zach's cake along with some of the picks I happily purchased from B H L D N!

 We're all into arrows these days!

➳➴➵➶➷➸➹➺➻➼➽

 Ok, kiddos grab some Brach's Conversation hearts, Valentine's Day mellow cremes & Brach's Cinnamon Hearts or whatever dime store Valentine's Day candy floats your heart!

Gather together Japanese washi tape, glassine bags, skewers, stamps, and paint sample cards....

We'll give you a detailed list next week of more supplies you will need for your craft arsenal!

xo

Valentine's Day {Crafting & Industrial Things}

Yesterday my wee ones went to Grandma's house. I was able to get all of our shipments out, except for these stools which requires my savvy-shipper husband to package these. They are headed to Vermont.

I put all of my inspiration for Valentine's Day in this "cubby drawer". Crafting is on my list for the next few days. I want to share with you some fun & simple ideas. 

{The petite books are; Don'ts for Wives and Don'ts for Husbands, hilarious reads and even though they were written ages ago they are so relevant today!}

Little {big!} Zach turns 3 in a few days and I want to make this cake I found over at Camilla Style's blog. This recipe has me curious, too. It's almost lunch time in Ohio and I'm hungry!

 I will be updating the Etsy shop today in between taking care of Zach & Vivian. Matt brought the computer downstairs for me so I can keep a watchful eye on them. The metal holder & cubby divided drawer are going on Etsy.

 Cute pharmacy cabinet........headed to the shop.

This industrial holder is sweet & petite!

 I heart red foil hearts & all shapes of sizes hearts. {and that's a lot of hearts!} Made in the U.S.A and headed to our shop!

Set of 4 industrial stools going on Etsy. They will be available for pickup as well.

What is it about cute storage? Gets me every time :)

Planning to craft--I feel it! Valentine's Day is one of my favorites celebrations.

 {Vivi 17 months}

Hat {Vintage}

Dress {Darcy's daughter Mckell wore this c. 1997}

Sweater {Baby Gap, Goodwill}

Cream cable leggings {from Grandma} :)

Shoes {clearance rack, Gap I purchased these way before I had kids.}

Happy Friday and wishing you a sweet day.

xo

I heart Italy

{Image Source}

On of the oldest apothecaries in the world, 1612.

This particular terra-cotta pomegranate was given rave reviews in Domino Magazine

 written & raved by Rita Konig. {Read more about Rita!} I love her style!

The scent is sealed in the firing process of the terra-cotta and lasts 9-12 months.

{Image Source}

A. Anichini's girl's dress in your choice of fabrics & colors.

{Image Source}

My favorite perfume. This is my daily pick-me-up, makes me feel very 

feminine and that I like! Anthropologie carries Tocca.

{Image Source}

A simple blouse by Tocca. 

{Image Source}

Blouse shown in another hue.

{Image Source}

For the Bambini......little girl's grey dress, Tocca. 

It's that weekend ahead you know........museum @ 11 and latte @ 2.

{Image Source}

Because I adore Di Santa Maria Novella packaging. 

Timeless. {& useful, wink!}

Sweet almond soap.

Rummage Sale/Studio Sale

*RUMMAGE SALE / STUDIO SALE*

I know this is announcing a sale a wee bit early, BUT it takes time

to get ready for a sale! We will be selling store things, odd & ends that are left as well

as kids clothes, fabric, furniture and this & that!

The first weekend in May--I will be more specific with times, etc.

More details on items will be posted in the near future.

Mark your calenders--we are clearing out!!!

Making room for some BIG changes around here........

{You just might need a truck.}

xo

Wee Things....{Caught My Eye}

{Trio of images, source}

 I have this Etsy shoppe, Nest Pretty Things, marked as a favorite.  {of course!}

Sweet & perfect for little toddler girls that still have a smidgen

of baby-ness left.

These made my day and I think I smiled when I spotted them.

xo

B H L D N SALE

 7.5 yards of linen, scissors included $66 regular $228!

I have had my eye on this linen & "clicked" it right up!

Promo code HAPPY2012  ends this Sunday.

 Anyone close by, placing an order, I forgot these crinkled circle fans!

 My favorite French candles at $9.00 for 12? You bet!

 @ $3.20 for 20 ---some of the colors will be perfect for Zach's Birthday party! 

weeeeeee in they go!

 These are cute--they are still in cyber space, the cake boxes didn't make it into my cart.
{maybe they should've!}

 These sure did though, map pennants for Zach's Birthday.

I believe they were $6.00!

 These are neat-o & sweet-o but

they stayed on the screen!

 These make me want to sing--

{no, D & J I didn't buy them}

 Cute. Just plain cute.

 I bought 2 sets for a photo shoot for 

Miss Vivian. They were almost free. Hee.

Of course I'm a planner, {you didn't know?}

for Miss Viv's Birthday in August.

Here's the fabulous link for the SALE section.

*P.S. Their "underpinnings" are beautiful*

{All Images - B H L D N}

Go, Go, Go

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!