I DID SOME MORE TWEAKING TONIGHT

I’ve had some requests to show the trunk that I use for a coffee table.  We got it at an antique flea market a few years ago.  I have old linens stored in it.



My simple dining table display.



I have never been happy with the display on top of the wash stand in our hall bathroom.  I wanted a prim look, but the wash stand is not prim. Tonight I went to my storage shelves in the garage and grabbed a few prim pieces.  I added a couple of old mirrors, some grubby bars of soap and a couple of old linen hand towels.  I think I am happy with this display for now.



Close up of display.  The mirror on the old medicine cabinet is not dirty – it is cloudy from age.

 

I found this burlap potato sack at an antique shop recently.  I put a pillow inside it and added it to the bed in my blue/brown guest room.



Close up of pillow.



I moved the chairs around in our sitting room.  The toile chairs have been on each side of the quilt cupboard for a couple of years and the rocker was to the right of the red cupboard.


The coverlet on the grove ladder hides the thermostat.



The photographs on each side of the window are not prim, but they are very special to us.  They were a gift from a friend that we visited in Jamaica a few years ago.  They are landscape photographs named and signed by the photographer.  One is named “His Presence” and the other one is “A Quiet Place” – when I saw them I was so touched that she took them off her wall and insisted I take them home with me.  Every time I look at them I think of our special visit and my dear friend.

Thank you for visiting with me today and checking out my most recent tweaking.

Have a blessed week,
Sue

ARCADIA ANTIQUE FAIR

Today was the day for the monthly Arcadia Antique Fair in Arcadia, Florida.  As I’ve shared in a previous post, the Antique Fair is held on the fourth Saturday of each month.  In addition to the 24 Shops in this delightful town, vendors set up on the sidewalks, parking lots and in the park.  We have not been for three months because it is just too hot in the summer.  So I was really looking forward to going today.

When we arrived we checked out the outside booths first, hoping to beat the mid-day heat, but it was already too hot to shop.  I only found one treasure outside – a small stoneware bottle to add to my collection.  (It is the one on the right, in this wooden cubby that sits on the Kitchen counter.)



My two prim friends and favorite vendors, Judi and Karen, always set up on the sidewalk in front of Maddy’s Antiques,  but they were not there today.  I was so disappointed, because they always have something I want to bring home with me.  Well, after we had made the rounds outside we headed to my favorite shop, Maddy’s, and as we walked up the sidewalk hubby said, “there is Judi.”  She was set up inside Maddy’s today, so I got to shop in my favorite store and with my favorite monthly vendor at the same place.
 
Flo, from Maddy’s, had recently returned from a trip to Ohio and had brought some bittersweet back with her.  I had never seen real bittersweet, since it doesn’t grow down here, and I just had to have some.  I hung it on my rolling pin dough bowl cubby for the picture, but I don’t plan to keep it there – not sure where I want to use it yet.

 
Maddy’s has beautiful prim greeting cards and I always have to pick up a few of those when I am there.  I also bought the 2011 Fall issue of A Simple Life magazine.  Somehow I missed getting the 2010 Fall issue, so I asked Flo if she had a copy.  When she looked through her back issues she found one and I was able to complete my collection.

I love this small pumpkin gourd (from Maddy’s)  and the pop of color it brings to this shelf.



Maddy’s has some of the most beautiful, primitive antiques you will find in Central Florida.  To visit Maddy’s website click here and check out the featured items for a sampling of what you will find in the shop.

I got some awesome treasures from my friend Judi!

A set of stacking boxes, in Fall colors. (I need to find a home for these.)

 

This fabulous old basket.  (I need to find a home for it too.)



And the buy of the day (from Judi) was this coverlet!  It is navy, red and cream and looks great in our “red” guest room.



After lunch, we met up with some friends and spent the afternoon visiting the shops with them.  I found one more treasure – the small pewter pitcher on the left.  I needed it to balance out the other small pitcher on this shelf, don’t you think.



What started out is a hot, somewhat disappointing day, turned into a wonderful day of finding treasures and spending time with friends.  A great way to spend a Saturday!

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday.

Autumn Blessings,
Sue

VACATION GOODIES DISPLAYED

I had planned to post pictures of my vacation goodies a little sooner – but I had a medical procedure a couple of weeks ago and it was a little more extensive than originally expected.  So I have been a little under the weather and it took me longer to get things in place.  I am feeling better now and wanted to show y’all some of our goodies.

As I mentioned in my last post, we were blessed to meet Betty, Through my Backdoor, for lunch and afterwards she took us to The Speckled Hen.  When we arrived at The Hen, Betty had a gift for me – an adorable prim candle.  I had been wanting one of these for a while and already had a place for it.  I found this old iron ladle a few months ago and thought it would look good hanging on my cupboard door, with one of these candles.  It couldn’t have been more perfect.

 

Close-up of candle.  Isn’t the detail beautiful?




I had two things on my wish list, that I hoped to find while on vacation – Tobacco Cloth curtains and lamp shades for our Blue & Brown Guest Room.  I was so excited to find the curtains at The Speckled Hen.  I got the long ones and even after washing and drying them they are still longer than I was thinking I wanted for these windows.  What do y’all think?  Should I cut them off so that they only come to the bottom of the window?



I didn’t find the lamp shades while on vacation, but when I got home I found some online and ordered them.  They turned out to be just what I had in mind.  The tag said they are navy and kacki check, but the navy is actually a dark country blue.  The color doesn’t show very well in the picture, but I think it is perfect.



I now have all of the bones in place for this room – quilt, bed skirt, curtains, and new lamp shades.  I am thinking about painting the walls in a shade of kacki – they are now a soft gold.  Of course there will always be accessories to add and tweek – but that is the fun of decorating, isn’t it?

While we were shopping in Clinton for their “Christmas in July” sale day, my DH mentioned that he had two things on his wish list – a corn sheller and a pitcher pump.  We were so surprised to find a corn sheller, in a most unlikely shop, and the price was great.  The sheller was attached to a wooden bin – DH said he only wanted the sheller, but I wanted the bin, so we brought them both home.  We did see a couple of pumps, but they were not in our price range.
  
Adolph wanted to show me how the sheller works.



 You put an ear of dried corn in the top, turn the handle, and the corn kernels fall into the bottom of the bin.



See the kernels in the bottom of the bin?



Then when all of the kernels are off, the cob comes out of the back.



The corn sheller is so cool. I don’t know why he wanted one, except he said he used one growing up, to prepare feed for their animals. I knew why I wanted the bin though – I can’t wait to fill it with potted mums for the Fall.


Here is is sitting in our backyard.  Two of the bin’s legs are shorter, so that the bottom slants downward. I just love the way it looks.  We plan to enlarge the mulched area between the trees and add some other plants.



After shopping in Clinton, we went by Betty’s for a visit (see previous post) and when we left, Betty gifted me with a tobacco basket.  I have been wanting one for a long time.

I have it on the porch of Adolph’s workshop for now – I am still looking for that special place where it will call home.


Close-up – isn’t it primtastic?



We did find a few other small goodies, but I haven’t found homes for them yet.  They have been added to my other treasures that are waiting for that special spot or purpose.  I enjoy having a stash of goodies to pull from when I am in the mood to tweek, don’t y’all?


I hope y’all are all enjoying these last days of summer!

Blessings,
Sue

A PRIMITIVE ANTIQUE SHOW

My favorite shop in Arcadia, Maddy’s Antiques, hosted a Primitive Antique Show today.  (Click here to visit Maddy’s website.)  I am so glad that I am feeling better and was able to go – it was well worth the drive.  There were primitives, antiques, reproductions, hand crafted items, and wonderful accessories for the primitive or country home.  Since we are going on vacation soon I am trying to be good, but I did find a few things I had to bring home. 

Today’s finds.



I have wanted a grain scoop for a long time and was thrilled to find this one at a great price.  And of course I can’t pass up pewter – especially when it is something I don’t already have, like these goblets.  The folder in the front, with the feather, is a wonderful handmade prim reproduction – it is actually cloth, but is made to look like a worn leather pouch.  There is aged blank paper inside and the piece of paper peeking out from under the flap is a copy of a love letter dated June 10, 1863.  I also got some other goodies at the show, but they are gifts for people who read this blog so I can’t show you.

At Maddy’s I picked up some primitive needfuls, like prim notecards and silicone bulbs for my candle lamps, and a Sensible Scents, LTD candle in “Lemon Curd” scent – it is burning as I type and it smells yummy.  If you live in, or visit, the central Florida area you need to visit Arcadia – especially on the fourth Saturday of each month, where they host an antique street fair, in addition to around 25 antique shops along Oak Street.  It is a delightful place to shop.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Sue

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? AND A COUPLE OF NEW TREASURES

I can hardly believe it has been over a month since I have posted on my blog.  I have popped on a few times and visited a couple of your blogs but have not done much commenting.  I have missed connecting with y’all.  So, what have I been up to?  Well, I have been battling the Shingles.  I’m on my third round of meds and am much better, but this is getting old.  In addition to the discomfort, I have just not felt like doing anything more than the necessities.  Also, my best friend’s mother passed away last week after a long hospital stay – so I have been trying to spend time with her and help out where I can.  Please keep her family in your prayers – those of you who have lost your parents know what a heavyhearted time this is.

Welcome to my new followers and thank you to those of you who have hung in there with me.  I appreciate each one of you!

I placed an order with Misi of Gable House Goodes in early May – just got around to taking pictures.  I ordered two fabric covered boxes for my blue and brown guest room.  They are fabulous!  Misi didn’t just send the boxes – each one was tied with twine and a bunch of Sweet Annie – and she included some wonderfully scented faux flowers.  She always goes above and beyond.  Thank you, Misi, I love everything!  Misi is having a sale so pop over and check out her offerings.



Aren’t these boxes gorgeous!  I had wanted something to put in this blue bottle I picked up a while back – aren’t these flowers just perfect! 



A couple of weeks ago DH took me to my favorite antiquing town for a little get away.  Unfortunately, it was very hot and I wasn’t feeling very well by the time we got there – so we just visited a couple of my favorite shops and came home.  I did find one item on my wish list though.  I was looking for a stoneware jug to make into a lamp for the guest room, and at Maddy’s I found a jug that was already made into a lamp – and at a good price too.  (Lamp is pictured above.)  Now I need to order a lamp shade for it, I’m not loving the one I had on hand. 

A couple of lamp shades and curtains are all I need to finish the room – of course the tweaking will never be done.  I think I want tobacco cloth curtains, but have not made a final decision yet.

I HAVE A QUESTION:

We are planning a vacation in mid July.  We are leaning towards a trip to the mountains – maybe North Carolina or Tennessee.  Does anyone have any tips on great places to visit? 

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer!

Blessings,
Sue

BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR A FLEA MARKET!!!

First, I would to express my heartfelt condolences to all those who have been affected by the devastating storms recently. My thoughts and prayers continue to be with you and your families.

                            ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My home town has a wonderful Flea Market twice a year, called the Fancy Flea, and today was the day for the Spring event.  A couple of city blocks are closed off and vendors set up in the street.  


 



One of my new prim friends, Judi, who is a vendor at the monthly Arcadia Street Fair, came up for the event and we got to shop and hang out together for a while. We like a lot of the same things, so we had a great time looking for those “I need to take it home” items. This market had a lot of Shabby Chic, but I did find a few prim items I couldn’t live without.

This is everything I bought today.


I found two large wooden bowls – these are 16 inches across.  I love the knot hole in this one – not sure where I am going to use this one.


I displayed the other one in a cupboard in the Living Room, along with the bunch of lavender.


Here is a close-up of the molds – wish I had had the bunny one before Easter.


Another crockery jug to add to my collection – can’t ever have too many of them.


After leaving the Fancy Flea my hubby and I went to lunch, and then he drove me to Dundee to visit the Prim Shack - a great prim shop that just happened to be having a sale today!  I found this adorable little shelf sitter doll.  I got another one for a gift but I can’t show you because I am sending it to a blog friend as a surprise.


With their permission I took a couple of pictures of the shop.  Lots of prim goodies to accessorize your home.
 






Visit the Prim Shack website – you can access their blog from there.

I HAVE A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS

How long do you leave your Spring/Easter decorations out?  I packed mine away yesterday  - I was getting tired of looking at bunnies. 

What do you decorate with next?  I need ideas and welcome your input.

I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

Blessings,
Sue

TUESDAY DISPLAY CHAIN–“STRIPES”

I am participating in the Tuesday Display Chain hosted by Misi at 1980 Gable House Musings.  This week’s subject is “Stripes”.  

My favorite “stripes” are those on our American flag.  This flag is very special to me.  We were married on Flag Day and on our first anniversary, and each one there after for 25 years, we flew this flag.  It began to show some wear so we retired it and replaced it with a new one – maybe to be retired on our 50th anniversary in a few years.  The flag is proudly displayed on an old ladder in our living room.



This is a ticking stripe feather bed cover.  I love the way this is made, with an opening for adding the stuffing.



I have this displayed behind a guest bed, topped with an old coverlet.

 


These small Wesson Oil crocks, with a stripe on them, are family heirlooms – I inherited one from my grandmother and one from my MIL.  The plain crock in the middle was picked up at a flea market.



The last stripes I have to share are the stripes on my yellow ware bowls, displayed on top of the kitchen cabinets.



Thank you for stopping by and taking a look at my stripes.  Be sure to visit Misi’s blog and check out the other participants.

Spring Blessings,
Sue

ARCADIA STREET FAIR FINDS

On Saturday my DH and I, along with friends visiting from Texas, went to Arcadia for their monthly Antique Street Fair.  In my last post I had mentioned  that I would be going to a Street Fair in my favorite antiquing town and I received an email from a visitor to my blog asking if I was talking about Arcadia.  My new friend, Judi, told me that she had a booth there, where it was located, and asked me to stop by and say hello.  When she told me where she was located I knew that I had purchased from her in the past and was excited to be able to visit with her again.  When we arrived I could hardly wait to locate Judi’s booth and say hello.  She introduced me to Karen, another prim vendor - they both had wonderful prim goodies for sale.  If you are looking for prims in Central Florida you need to visit Judi and Karen – both have booths located in front of Maddy’s Antiques.  The Arcadia Antique Street Fair is held on the 4th Saturday of each month.  

This afternoon our granddaughter, Abbey, helped me take a picture of my goodies to share with you.  I just spread a sheet in the back of my SUV and we set everything out.  I haven’t had time to display any of my finds yet – we babysat grandchildren over night and when they are here there isn't much time for anything else.



I got all of the pewter from Judi and Karen – I also got the adorable little basket from Judi.  That item in the front center is some kind of wrench thingy, with extra parts and a case, that my DH bought – Abbey thought it needed to be in the picture too.  The large basket is pretty worn, but it only cost 25 cents and I thought it would look good on the porch with a couple of plants in it.  

What a wonderful day – the weather was perfect, I found some great deals, and spent the day with dear friends – but, the highlight of the day was meeting new prim friends.  (Thank you, Judi, for contacting me – I look forward to seeing you next month.)

Thank you for stopping by – I hope you have a wonderful week.

Spring Blessings,
Sue

TUESDAY DISPLAY CHAIN–“RECENTLY ACQUIRED”

I am joining the Tuesday Display Chain hosted by Misi at 1890 Gable House Musings.  This week’s theme is “Recently Acquired.” 

First I want to share my dust ruffle that I finally finished for my Blue/Brown Guest Room. 



It is made out of brown burlap and I am so happy with the way it turned out – it is exactly what I was hoping for.  I still need some lamps and a few accessories.  But, to me,  that is the fun of decorating – searching for those “just right” items.  We will be visiting our favorite antiquing town on Saturday for their monthly street fair – I’m hoping to find some goodies there.

My life has been crazy busy with family responsibilities lately, so this has been a slow month for prim decorating at my house.  But I do have a couple of “recently acquired” goodies to share.  Last week my sister gifted me with a neat old jar and a crockery pitcher that she picked up at a yard sale.  I have used them both in a spring display on my stove board.



I have missed participating in the display chain the past few weeks, but have enjoyed checking out all of the inspiration posted by those who have participated.  Thank you for stopping by and be sure to hop over to Misi’s blog and check out everyone’s displays.

Spring Blessings,
Sue

Renniger’s Extravaganza and Blue/Brown Guest Room Makeover

My DH and I went to Renniger’s Antique Market today to take in the last Extravaganza until next November.  What a beautiful day to enjoy an outdoor market!  I was looking for small items to use, to tweak some displays around our home, and found some great deals.  I found two rolling pins, a masher with a black handle, and a few old wooden spoons and paddles; some rag balls, a quilted bunny, and several hearts made from old quilt scraps; an oil lamp, two brown crocks, a pewter pitcher, and a few small molds;  and a small blue granite pail, a blue bowl and a blue bottle.



I added the rolling pins to a crock with a few others I had.



I added the masher to my rolling pin/bowl cubby (on shelf beside bowl).

 

I put the molds in a wooden bowl on my kitchen dry sink, for now.

 

I have had my oil lamps displayed on top of the pie safe in my Dining Room for quite a while and like the way it looks.  I wanted to use the one with the pewter base (right front, top photo) in the Living Room, so I needed one lamp to replace it.  The one on the right front (bottom photo) is today’s find.

 
 

The taller brown crock found a home on a shelf in the Living Room.  Haven’t placed the other crock yet.



I added the pewter pitcher (middle) to some pewter pieces I already had on this shelf.




BLUE/BROWN GUEST ROOM MAKEOVER

AN EXCERPT FROM A PREVIOUS POST - I had a lot of blue in our previous home and when we moved to this house (almost eight years ago) I thought I was tired of blue and did not use it at all in this home.  This fall I took some quilts to sell at a Street Fair that I participated in – and as the day progressed I kept looking at one of the quilts and thinking I don’t want to let that one go.  So I brought it home, spread it on the bed in one of the guest rooms, and fell in love with it.  The problem was that it didn’t go with anything else in the room.  Since then I have slowly been collecting blue and brown items for a room makeover. 

This is the quilt that started the makeover.

 

The room is still a work in progress, but I thought I would share what I have done so far.  After deciding to keep the quilt, I began to go through some things I had in storage and found that I had kept a few blue things.

A blue and brown crocheted rug and a quilt I had in storage.



I found this blue wooden caddy in the garage.  I added the blue bottle, granite pail, and rags balls that I bought today.



This blue cupboard was also in the garage.  I displayed a blue book and a few blue hankies in an old basket.  I added a lamp with a brown crock base, and the blue bowl with the quilt hearts that I bought today.



Close up of display.

 

This is how the room looks so far.

 

I have some fabric to make a brown dust ruffle – I just need the time to get it done.  I would like to repaint the room – maybe kacki – I haven’t talked to hubby about this yet.  And I haven’t decided on window treatments – I would like tobacco cloth curtains, but I don’t know if they are in the budget.  Does anyone know of a source for buying tobacco cloth?  I can make my own curtains if I can find the fabric at a reasonable price.

I hope you have enjoyed this little peak into my day of antiquing and my room makeover in progress.  And I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend!

Blessings,
Sue