Mark Your Calendars - January Events!

It was hard to even type the word "January" - seems so strange! 

January 3rd - 6th
First Monday Trade Days
Canton, Texas

January 12th & 13th
Brenham Mid-Winter Antiques Show
Presented by Rural Texas Antiques Shows
Knights of Columbus Hall
Brenham, Texas

January 18th & 19th
The Big Red Barn Winter Show
Round Top, Texas

January 18th - 20th
Third Monday Trade Days
US 380 - 2 miles west of US 75
McKinney, Texas

January 18th - 20th
Fredericksburg Trade Days
at Sunday Farms
Fredericksburg, Texas

January 19th & 20th
City-Wide Garage Sale
Palmer Events Center
Austin, Texas

January 19th & 20th
Buchanan's Market
2460 S. Stemmons Frwy.
Lewisville, Texas

Some venues have not posted 2013 dates yet - please check back for updates!

Light in the Darkness

Twas' 11 days before Christmas, around 9:38

when 20 beautiful children stormed through heaven's gate.

their smiles were contagious, their laughter filled the air.

they could hardly believe all the beauty they saw there.

they were filled with such joy, they didn't know what to say.

...they remembered nothing of what had happened earlier that day.

"where are we?" asked a little girl, as quiet as a mouse.

"this is heaven." declared a small boy. "we're spending Christmas at God's house."

when what to their wondering eyes did appear,

but Jesus, their savior, the children gathered near.

He looked at them and smiled, and they smiled just the same.

then He opened His arms and He called them by name.

and in that moment was joy, that only heaven can bring

those children all flew into the arms of their King

and as they lingered in the warmth of His embrace,

one small girl turned and looked at Jesus' face.

and as if He could read all the questions she had

He gently whispered to her, "I'll take care of mom and dad."

then He looked down on earth, the world far below

He saw all of the hurt, the sorrow, and woe

then He closed His eyes and He outstretched His hand,

"Let My power and presence re-enter this land!"

"may this country be delivered from the hands of fools"

"I'm taking back my nation. I'm taking back my schools!"

then He and the children stood up without a sound.

"come now my children, let me show you around."

excitement filled the space, some skipped and some ran.

all displaying enthusiasm that only a small child can.

and i heard Him proclaim as He walked out of sight,

"in the midst of this darkness, I AM STILL THE LIGHT."

A new reflection in the master bedroom

Hi friends.  Back in February, I shared with you the fireplace in our master bedroom that I painted with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  You can see the post here.  I recently found a mirror that is so perfect for the fireplace - it's hard to believe they were not painted at the same time.  The mirror is very large, has lots of character with some missing mercury and has wonderful details in the wood surround.

I tried to show the finishes here - hard to see but they are seriously identical. 

Don't you just love it when you find the perfect addition?!

Mark Your Calendars - December Events!

Lots of options this month for your Christmas shopping!

November 29th - December 2nd
First Monday Trade Days
Canton, Texas

December 1st
French Market Christmas
The Red Shed
8:00-4:00
317 Church Street
Grapevine, Texas

December 8th - 9th
Second Monday Trade Days
Bowie, Texas

December 14th - 15th
Old Red Lumberyard Market
600 E. Louisiana
McKinney, Texas

December 14th - 15th
Historic Flour Mill District Market
401 E. Virginia
McKinney, Texas

December 14th - 16th
Third Monday Trade Days
US 380 2 miles West of US 75
McKinney, Texas

December 14th - 16th
Fredericksburg Trade Days
at Sunday Farms
Fredericksburg, Texas

December 15th - 16th
Buchanan's Market
2460 S. Stemmons
Lewisville, Texas

Another Christmas Window

Hi friends.  Just a quick post tonight to share another Christmas window that I completed.  I shared my first Christmas window here.  I had another window frame with no glass and this one was a four-pane so it's quite a bit different than my first one.

Have you been working on Christmas crafts?

Meet Audrey!

She came into my life today and I think she is lovely...

Don't you agree? 

I was lucky enough to find her locally on Craigslist and I named her Audrey.  I think she is a size 8 but I don't see many markings on her.  I'm not sure how old she is but I calculated the woman who passed her down must have been in her 80s or 90s. 

 

She is not perfect, but I think she looks stunning for her age!  Her stand is adjustable and the hardware that holds her together is very old.

If any of my blog friends happen to be experts in vintage dress forms please share some knowledge!

Stencil Love

I ordered three new stencils from Maison de Stencils and they arrived on Saturday.  I was so excited to use them and I have already completed a project with each one!

I finished this tiered table:

This great wooden tray:

And this little sign:

Junk Hippy Roadshow

Mom and I made the quick trip to Arlington this morning to check out the Junk Hippy Roadshow!  We loved it and there was a good crowd so I hope all of our vendor friends sold tons!  We got to see some old friends and finally meet some blog friends in person.  I took lots of photos for you guys - enjoy!

 

If you like what you see go visit these talented folks: 

www.vintage-spirit.com

www.deidraroe.com

www.facebook.com/Paperandlacebotique

www.junk-and-jewels.com

www.talkingwhitetrash.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/oddestmae

 

Late Notice - November Event!

I don't know how I missed this event, but I'm so glad I realized it before it was too late!  I'm so excited because this one is close by and I think I'll be able to check it out!  There are supposed to be 110 vendors! 

 

Check out this Facebook page. And I noticed today that Deb and Cat Daddy will be setting up shop - read about it here.

 

If we go, I'll be sure to share pictures! 

  

 

Quick look at completed projects!

I've been busy, busy!  Here are some of my latest completed projects:

A great side table with a large drawer - Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Linen, Antionette and Old Ochre.

Great use for a window frame with no glass.  I am NOT ready for Christmas but perhaps my customers are?

And an old drop-leaf table with two highback chairs.

Hope you have all had a great weekend - the extra hour of sleep was nice!

More treasure for your shopping pleasure!

Mom and I moved into a new booth today!  We have spaces in Grapevine Antique Mall in Grapevine, TX and in Antique Gallery in Lewisville, TX.  Both malls are open 7 days a week and both malls offer layaway.  Take a look at these photos - I bet you'll spy some treasures that should be yours!

 

Mark Your Calendars - November Events!

Hi friends.  Tons going on in November - time to start Christmas shopping!

November 1st-4th
First Monday Trade Days
Canton, Texas

November 2nd-3rd
Rusted Gingham's Barn Sale
JB Wells Park
Gonzales, Texas

November 8th-11th
Neath the Wreath Holiday Market
Presented by the Junior League of Collin County
Plano Centre
2000 E. Spring Creek Pkwy.
Plano, Texas

November 15th-17th
Christmas in the Country Barn Sale
Flint, Texas

November 16th-17th
Old Red Lumberyard Market
600 E. Louisiana
McKinney, Texas

November 16th-17th
Historic Flour Mill District Market
401 E. Virginia
McKinney, Texas

November 16th-18th
Third Monday Trade Days
US 380 - 2 miles west of US 75
McKinney, Texas

November 16th-18th
Fredericksburg Trade Days
at Sunday Farms
Fredericksburg, Texas

November 23rd-25th
Fredericksburg Trade Days
at Sunday Farms
Fredericksburg, Texas

November 24th-25th
City-Wide Garage Sale
Palmer Events Center
Austin, Texas

Mellow Yellow

Happy Friday friends!  I picked up this little side table from a resale shop this week. 

I loved the pattern on the doors - it reminded me of the patterned wallpapers, pillows, rugs, etc. that I've been seeing so much of lately...and I love!  Something along these lines:

So, I knew I wanted that pattern to really stand out.

And the yellow is such a happy color!  I lined the drawer and the inside shelf with this fun contact paper.  It's for sale so I hope someone else loves it as much as I do!

Quick look at the "After"

You guessed it - I forgot to get "before" photos - I'm the worst!  Trust me when I tell you this little two-drawer side table was straight from the 70's. 

 

I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Antionette for the first time.  I added gray and white on the drawers for a little sophistication.  I also wanted the Mercury-glass pulls to "pop" on the white.  I'm picturing this in a little girl's room but it is far from childish - can't you just picture a great little chandelier with it?

Sometimes it's the little things...

...that make us the happiest! 

I'm a pretty organized person but you would never know it if you looked at my paint, craft and project supplies.  They are spread across two dressers, two closets, two bedrooms plus the garage.  I'm always having the hardest time finding things and it makes me crazy.  I'm not even close to getting everything in one, organized place but I did find something today that made a small dent.

 

I spotted this little homemade bookshelf at Goodwill today (for $9.99).  I took one look and just knew my chalk paint cans would fit perfectly.  I painted it and stapled burlap to the back.  And just look how perfectly my paint cans fit - I can actually see every color - so wonderful!  I still have a huge goal to get fabrics, papers, stencils, etc. all in one place but this little bookshelf made my day!

Country Drab to Modern Fab!

My mother-in-law gave me these matching end tables to use for a paint project.  This honey-oak color is probably one of my least favorites - mostly because it's the color of our current bedroom furniture and I'm really ready for something new!  The tables were really solid and I knew I could transform them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I painted them with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Graphite.  If you have not tried the Graphite it is like a charcoal gray.  Annie Sloan does not currently offer a true black.  (The graphite is my favorite color to use for stencling).  I painted the drawer a contrasting white and changed the drawer hardware to one that looks like Mercury glass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much better - don't you think?

Mark Your Calendars - October Events!

Hi friends!  Cooler temps and lots of shopping events in October!

September 28th-October 6th
Warrenton Show
Round Top, Texas
See this post and this one for more info.

October 2nd-6th
Marburger Farms Antique Show
350+ Dealers on 43 acres
Round Top, Texas
See posts here and here for more info.

October 6th & 7th
Bowie Trade Days
422 Decatur St.
Bowie, Texas

October 12th & 13th
Homestead Antique Fair
Hico, Texas

October 12th-14th
Third Monday Trade Days
Highway 380
McKinney, Texas

October 17th-20th
Gresham Barn Fall Sale
Flint, Texas (near Tyler)
See Jodi's blog for all the details!

October 19th & 20th
Old Red Lumberyard Market
600 E. Louisiana - just East of the Historic Downtown Square
McKinney, Texas

October 19th & 20th
Treasure Spotters Market
8:00-3:00
401 E. Virginia - just East of the Historic Downtown Square
McKinney, Texas

October 19th-21st
Fredericksburg Trade Days
at Sunday Farms
9:00-6:00 Fri & Sat
9:00-4:00 Sun
Fredericksburg, Texas

October 20th
Parking Lot Sale
9:00-3:00
Antique Gallery Antique Mall
Lewisville, Texas

October 20th & 21st
Buchanan's Vintage Market
2460 S. Stemmons
Lewisville, Texas

October 20th & 21st
City-Wide Garage Sale
Palmer Events Center
Austin, Texas

If you have an event you would like for me to post please e-mail me the details!

Pallet Art

Have you noticed the recent surge in pallet art?  The web, Pinterest and Etsy are all full of pallet art ideas! 

 

I just completed my first pallet art project and I started out simple.  No major construction - just painting.  I made this for our friends and the size pallet I had worked out perfectly for the size of their family! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The large top board displays the family name.  The large bottom board is the year our friends got married.  And then each member of the family has their own board and each is a different color.  The white pieces of paper that you see will be filled with photos.  A larger one of mom & dad and then smaller photos for each child.

 

This was fun to make and I think it will be fun for them to have in their home!

 

I have other pallets waiting so stay tuned for more pallet art...

Antique Alley - Favorite Find!

Hi friends - hope you have had a great weekend!  Mom and I shopped the Antique Alley sale today in and around Cleburne.  This sale is held twice a year and we shopped it back in April too - see that post here. 

 

We have this tradition after a big shopping trip to tell each other our favorite find.  I thought I'd share today's favorite find with all of you too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isn't this a great wire display?  I added the "vintage" banner and also embellished the original advertising lables with burlap and lace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And check it out loaded up with architectural goodness!

Cute, Easy & Cheap!

How's that for a title?  I'm talking about a Halloween craft!  This one is super easy and great for kids. 

My supply list:
Unbleached Coffee Filters (8-12 cup size)
Jute
Scrapbook Papers
Ribbon or Tulle
Scissors
Glue

There are countless variations and you could also spell out FALL, AUTUMN or TRICK/TREAT.

Go try it and have FUN!

Chantilly - the 8-Drawer Dresser

Yes, I named this 8-drawer dresser Chantilly because her details remind me of lace.



This was a custom job for my mother-in-law.  I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in Linen and Old Ochre.  I applied dark wax to the entire piece.  The hardware is original.

Baseball & Tomball

We traveled to the Houston-area this weekend for our youngest son's baseball tournament.  The games were played near Tomball which I have never visited even though I used to work in Houston (about 12 years ago).  Tomball had several antique stores and there was time on Saturday afternoon to check them out.

I loved these metal chairs - they were not old, but perfect around a farm table.



A couple of cute shops one block off of Main St.

And now a first for my blog - sharing a photo that I took in a public restroom - don't worry it's clean!  This was taken at Harris County Smokehouse in Tomball.

The boys did awesome, making it to the Championship game on Sunday afternoon.  We were tired and grouchy this morning but it was a great weekend!