Bricks & Stones of Savannah

Sa

 

Savannah...a beautifully aged old lady -

rocking her bright pink lipstick.

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Giveaway alert:  Speaking of PINK, our friend Candyce of Altered Ever After is having a wonderful giveaway revolving around the soon arrival of her newest grandbaby...check it out!

A Little Shopping in Asheville NC

Just before we arrived in Asheville, CG spotted an "Antiques" sign on the interstate, (snaps for him!)
We exited and found a little shop in a rural area. It appeared to be a multi-dealer mall, but all of the booths looked 'unkempt', (to put it kindly). Prices were mostly 'top end', which surprised me given the environment and lack of presentation.

Our next stop was Sweeten Creek Antiques in Asheville.  It's a large mall and a lot of the spaces were nicely staged. I found a few treasures including a huge lot of well-worn vintage letters & numbers.

The last stop of the day was Screen Door.  Can you say "eye candy"?  Over 100 vendors have some of the best industrial, architectural, primitives, mid-century, and garden finds displayed in enticing vignettes.  Some booths have newer items and repros, but it's easy to bypass them and let your eyes settle on the aged beauties.  The rest of the photos are from Screen Door...enjoy!

Chasing Spring ... Where Shall I Shop in NC?

Daffodils, flowering crab, redbud, green stuff...not in Wisconsin. We're on the road from Knoxville to Ashville NC and enjoying the scenery. We won't have time to tour Biltmore, but I'm hoping to sneak into a couple of shops. Does anyone have a suggestion for great "low-end" junk shops?

Hope to give you a full report later!

Happiness Colors

I've been known to drool over photos of white rooms layered with delicious shapes and textures, but when it comes to 'living', I need to be surrounded with color.  My favorite colors are the shades of the Caribbean Sea... soft blues & greens. 

This little collection populates the sunroom. 

The upside down urn...  

...and it's twin were my favorite finds in Minnesota last weekend.

I adore this old bottle, "For The Hair".

Matte glazes seem to be especially

appropriate on these colors.

 Now you've met my "happiness" colors...what are yours?

No Time to Create :(

I know we're all busy. How do so many of you find the time to create such wonderful things? Keeping my business running smoothly takes all my time. Between buying, photographing, listing on etsy, shipping, paperwork, tagging show items, blogging...there's no time left in my days to create.  I love what I do, but was just reminded again that I need to find a way to be more efficient! 

As I listed this sugar sack with the most beautiful faded red print...

...I realized that it would team up beautifully with a couple of old voting booth curtains in my shop.  A tote bag, an apron, a pillow...I can see them all in my mind's eye.  I've decided to save a similar sack and curtain for myself, but am wondering if I'll ever do anything with them. I'm truly frustrated by my inability to get to projects like this.  If you have any great time-management tips for me, sing out!  In the meantime, it's back to work for me...
  

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Thanks to Michelle from Vintage Junky for including one of our items in her delightful post today. Check out her fun blog when you have a moment.

Lovin' Me Some 'Apple' Green

When you get your Gracie's Cottage purchase in the mail it's usually wrapped something like this...

...in our signature green, brown & white.

Wasn't it nice of those Apple peeps to make an iPad 2 cover in the color I prefer to call 'Gracie's Cottage green'?

 (That's the cover, folded up at the back.)

 I've been wanting this little gadget for awhile, and actually waited in line for four hours on Friday to get it.  I don't wait in crazy lines for anything, except for a terrific estate sale. However, the iPad 2 went on sale on Friday at 5:00 p.m. and we were leaving for Minnesota at 5:00 a.m. Saturday. I knew the long car ride would give me an opportunity to get familiar with my new friend. I have to give the Apple staff props; they kept offering gourmet cupcakes, Girl Scout cookies, Alterra coffee and bottled water to everyone in line.

The iPad seems like a useful device and I anticipated using it for tracking sales at shows, taking credit cards, managing email and surfing the web. As far as reading goes, I've always been in the camp that says "I like to hold the book in my hands".  It took me about 5 minutes to pack my tent and move out of that camp.

Here's why:

1.  When I'm going on a trip I treat myself to a pile of new magazines. I love losing myself in glorious photos & text, but those puppies add a lot of weight to the carry-on.

2.  My eyes are aging.  Even with reading glasses I sometimes can't make out the caption on a photo.  Or, I can't make out the details of something in the photo.  With the iPad I can stretch the photo or text.  Notice the photo at lower left on the above screen.

Here it is stretched a bit; you can still see the full text box.

At full size I can count every brick on that home.

I can read the text even if I've lost my glasses.  I'm a convert and really don't care if I ever hold a book in my hand again. There are sure to be other unanticipated advantages to using the iPad. If you have one, I'd love to hear how you put it to use in your junking world!

Savoring the Details

With so many objects passing through my hands, I sometimes don't take the time to appreciate the details. This architectural piece came home from Minnesota with me.  Although I found just one, the home it came from would have been loaded with trim.  

Imagine the time and care it took to create this one simple object of beauty.

 Now grab your afternoon tea and follow me over to Faded Charm to wander through a wealth of wonderful whiteness!

Back From Minnesota...

...and sending out a big "thank you" to everyone for your shopping suggestions.  My plans went awry a bit when CG was flattened by food poisoning after a dinner out with the extended family on Saturday.  Sunday afternoon while he was sleeping I headed over to Antiques Minnesota, (thanks to Garage Sale Gal - Deb).   

 It was just a few minutes from our hotel and everything in the mall was 20% off. Prices were very reasonable for the most part.  I'll try to show you more of my finds later in the week. I don't collect  ceramics but couldn't resist buying this Lefton Uncle Sam bank to add to my patriotic collection.

I also found a nice group of old keys which are available in my etsy shop.

After a quick stop back at the hotel, I headed to Hopkins, about twenty  minutes away. This was suggested by "anonymous", (thank you - whoever you are!).  There were four shops within a two block area of the old downtown.  It was 3:30 by the time I arrived there so I got into "speed shopping" mode and shopped three of the four stores by 5:00.  Great finds included a bird cage, a couple of wonderful architectural pieces, a hat mold and a silverplate tray, which was an award from a 1948 horse show.

 I'd love to return to Hopkins when I have a bit more time. The other places you suggested are also on my "to do" list, next time I return.  We had planned to stop in Hixon & Hudson Wisconsin on the way home today, but CG was still not feeling the greatest.  Getting home without dilly-dallying seemed like the right thing to do. 

I'm really jealous of you Minnesota peeps - 

junk rules up there!  

:)

O Happy Day - It's Almost Time...

...To spring forward!

Many of us in Northern climates are severely affected by the lack of daylight during the winter months. (The technical term is SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder.)

 When Daylight Savings Time begins it's a rebirth for me.

More daylight, more energy, more happy!

While I'm waiting, I'm heading over to Common Ground where Debra hosts Vintage Inspiration Friday.  Come on along!

Don't forget to turn those clocks ahead on Sunday night

and I'll see you next week.

:)

Need A Little Help From the Minnesota & Wisconsin Junkaloonies

We have a little family event coming up soon in Minnesota and I've convinced CG to stay an extra day so that I might have a little junkin' time.  We'll be in the Minneapolis area.  If you could visit just one or two places on a Sunday afternoon or Monday, where would you go?  I've been to Hunt & Gather previously, but no other shops.

I'm saving my pennies for a trip to Brimfield with Margaret in May, so need to shop where the prices are reasonable.  I'd also love to see the Bachman's Idea House. Teresa has convinced me that Buffalo is dreamy, but it's a bit farther than where we'll be...or shall we drive it anyway?   I may also be able to convince CG to stop on the way home so if you know of something near I94 in Mn/Wi I'd love to hear.  

THANKS!

Cash n Cari RePurpose Store & Blogger's Bodega Sale

Does anyone watch Cash N Cari on HGTV?  It features Cari Cucksey of Northville, Michigan, who runs estate sales. She's also recently opened a shop in Northville, called RePurpose.  The web site describes the shop this way: "We offer 4200 Square feet of unique shopping. Everything from Clothing, Shoes & Accessories to Antique and RePurposed Furniture and Home Accessories.

 I had a chance to visit the shop on Saturday.  The clothing is in one area, with the rest devoted to furniture and accessories. It reads like an upscale home furnishings shop, with nicely staged vignettes at every turn.  I didn't see a lot of "chippy" in-the-rough pieces; many items had been  re-painted and distressed nicely.  There were wine corks made from old door knobs and a very cool chandelier made from lockplates.  Wish I could show you more but my request to take photos was declined, and I respect that.  I did get a shot of this ultimate junker's vehicle that was sitting out in the mall, and an outside shot of the shop with our three grandgirls peeking in.

 RePurpose is a fun browse if you're in the area.  Prices are definitely 'retail', but reasonable. If you aren't a DIY-er but love this look, you'll find some fun pieces all ready to put in place.

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Changing gears here...

It is Tuesday and that means Bloggers' Bodega over at

Capers of the Vintage Vixens. Hop on over there with

me and see what's featured.  We've been busy restocking Gracie's Cottage on etsy and are offering YOU 15% off everything today, til midnight. CST. Simply use code

bodega15 at checkout.

 Over 300 items at 15% off!