Summer Happenings

Thought it was about time I jumped back on here. Been so busy enjoying summer. I have lots to share, but here are the highlights.

At the end of June, my son went on a school history trip to Europe. While he was gone, my husband and I decided to take a little trip of our own. Since our daughter decided to stay in Eugene for the summer, we thought this would be the perfect time to revisit a small part of my husband’s youth and traveled to Boston and York, Maine.

We had a great time staying at the Omni Parker House Hotel, walking the Freedom Trail, visiting the Boston Commons and eating at a lovely little Irish Restaurant.

York was the last place my husband lived before his family moved to Oregon. We stayed three days at a cozy little cottage in York Beach. Spent our time there site seeing, visiting museums, some antique shops and eating lobster.

We then ventured further North a bit, visiting Kennebunkport and stayed our last night in Old Orchard Beach at the Ocean House Hotel.

We didn’t have a reservation, just took a chance and was so pleased with this old hotel. No frills, but great beach access. This was the view from our window.

This charming place had not one, but two screened porches and all kinds of cool places to lounge around.

Loved this spot. Oh, and don’t even get me started on the gorgeous artwork. Okay, here is just a sampling.

These were hand painted tapestries. So wish I could have brought one or all of them home.

We ended our trip in Salem, MA. Took a trolley tour and visited a witch museum.

Our son came home from Europe the day after we did and had some great stories to share. He visited Rome, Florence, Normandy, Paris, Versaille and London.

Before our trip, we headed over to Central Oregon to celebrate my in-laws 50th Wedding Anniversary. It was a lovely party.

This summer, I also celebrated with friends, our 30th High School Class Reunion. This was so much fun seeing people I haven’t seen in a really long time.

I didn’t get as many pictures as I hoped, but we sure had a great time. I even got to go to the Bohemia Mining Days Parade which brought back so many fond memories.

On our way back from the reunion, we stopped in Eugene to pick up our girl who had some time to come home for a visit. She brought with her these two guys who are visiting from England.

I just fell in love with Stefan and Chase. They were so charming and clever and I could just listen to them talk all day long. Those English accents are awesome!

And finally, after wanting one for several years now, we finally got a vintage camper trailer.

It’s such a nice size and super vintage 1973, but I think I can work with it. Unfortunately I won’t be able to glam it up, but will be going with a more rustic cabin theme inside. It will after all, be used by my husband for hunting and I know he is not up for a shabby chic makeover.

So, now we are caught up. I really need to get busy working my booths. They have been a bit neglected, but I have found some great things so far this summer. Next post will be booth updates. TTFN!

Monticello Spring Home & Garden Show 2013

As I mentioned in my last post, which was quite awhile ago, I was asked, along with my good friend, Mitzi, to participate as a vendor in this years Monticello Spring Home & Garden show. So, as you can imagine, I’ve been busy getting my goods ready and together. This week Mitzi and I set up our space and I have to say, I’m really happy with this first time collaboration.

We both went to vendor night last night to put the finishing touches on and I was so excited to see how all other vendors booths have come together. So much good stuff in one place is almost too much for me to take. There were so many things I wanted to bring home and I’m sure, if you are in the area, you will want to bring many things home to. I did manage to snap a few pictures of our space.

It’s kind of hard to  see it in these pictures, but my work bench (the biggest thing I brought) is in there too. Here’s a picture of how it turned out.

The show starts tomorrow and runs through May. Vendors will be restocking frequently so plan on coming often to see what new goodies will be there. Will be back soon with some new Spring Show updates.

What I am finding

First week in March has come and gone. February flew by. So much going on and no time to blog. I have been on a trip down south (Southern California) and a trip to the Oregon Coast and during and in between there is always shopping.

I made a big decision at the end of last year to take some time off from doing shows. After five years of doing the fabulous Farm Chicks in Spokane, WA, I decided it was time for a break. I love doing shows, getting to sell my goods and meet fabulous people, but as I’ve said before, it is a lot of work. That said, I have really been focusing my efforts on my booths and it has been paying off. My sales have been great and life is good.

If you’ve been following my Facebook page you have seen a bit of what I’ve been finding out there. Here are some things I have found just in the last couple weeks.

This cutie just needed some sanding and new glass knobs and will be off to Stars this weekend.

Two little dirty white dressers. Have already been cleaned up and I sold the one on the right to my Mom to use in her sewing room.

These goodies were found on one of my trips to Eugene to see my daughter at U of O.

I found this lovely tablecloth at the flea market last weekend.

Found these goodies and the flea market too.

You know I always love finding blingy bits.

Love this yard long landscape painting.

Vintage aprons are always fun to find.

I had to chase down the dealer of this pretty floral watercolor.

And finally, my favorite recent find (and a keeper for now) is this

I thought it was a print, but my husband thinks it’s a painting. The back has a neat old Meier & Frank label on it so I don’t want to take it apart. I love it now matter what.

So, there you have it. Just some of the things I have been finding lately. There’s more, but some have escaped my camera and have gone directly to my booths.

At the beginning of this post I mentioned my decision to take a break from doing shows. Well, I have some exciting news. I have been asked, along with my good friend Mitzi, to do a space at the Monticello Spring Home and Garden show which starts in April and runs all through May! I am super excited to be collaborating with Mitzi. She always has great style and finds the best stuff. As we get closer, I’ll be giving updates and posting some sneak peeks. TTFN!

Playing with Paper

Vintage wallpaper, that is. Having collected vintage wallpaper over that last several years, I always like to find new uses for it. There is just something about it that adds a little something special to a crafty project. If you’ve been with me awhile here, on my blog, you may remember this post where I made some cute tags out of vintage wallpaper. I have covered clipboards, cabinet panels, lined sewing drawers, covered vintage jewelry boxes, and much more, but one of my favorite projects has to be this one.

A few years ago, I bought a plain and boring folding screen on Craigslist for next to nothing and covered it with a patchwork of vintage wallpaper, primarily wallpaper with roses, of course. This cutie has long gone to a new home where I hope the owner is enjoying it.
Recently I found a not so cute, vintage suitcase and decided it needed a little help. So, I dug into my stash and came up with this.

I did both sides. This one is a keeper as I’m going to use it to store old photos/negatives.
I was so happy with how this project turned out, I just kept on going. I had this plain two small drawers, over two bigger drawers dresser that I had picked up at the thrift store. I didn’t want to do my usual shabby chic paint treatment on it so I just decided on a distressed finish on the body and a patchwork of wallpaper on the drawer fronts. Changed the knobs to some cute glass ones and voila! Instant cute! Okay, maybe not so instant, but it really didn’t take me very long at all.

Here it is fitting in nicely in my Monticello booth. In case you’re wondering, I used plain old wallpaper paste that you get at Home Depot to adhere the pieces to the drawer front. To make it a little more durable, I applied a coat of matte Modge Podge to the top and that was it. I didn’t spend a lot of time planning where each piece would go, just kind of put them together so they overlapped a bit.
So, other than playing with paper, I have just been doing the usual trying to keep my booths stocked, going to exercise classes, (I’m loving the Barre Fusion class I’m taking at the local yoga studio) and hanging with my family. Haven’t been finding any really amazing things out there. I think it’s harder to find stuff this time of year, so I  continue to purge my collections at home to keep my booths well stocked. I have some plans to make some things too. Oh, and I also have a fun trip coming up next month that I’m really excited about.
Since I haven’t said it here yet, Happy New Year! I know I’m a bit late, but better late than never. Until next time, TTFN rose loving friends!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

French basket/Early Christmas Gift to Me

I have been a big fan of Corey Amaro’s blog Tongue in Cheek for several years. Her take on French life, photos and stories just fascinate me. I have been living vicariously through her on her Brocante (French flea market) adventures and periodically check her online store to see if there is anything I simply can’t live without.

So, when a few weeks ago I spotted a sweet little French basket she found at the Brocante, I just knew that I had to have it.

I loved it’s simplicity, but what really sold me on it was this.

it was lined with the most lovely French roses ticking fabric.

When I received it in the mail yesterday, I was so tickled to have this sweet little item from France. I quickly remembered some vintage millinery flowers that I have been saving for just the right thing.

And voila! My sweet little French basket all prettied up. Here’s another shot.

Hope you are all having a lovely 12/12/12. Just did Pilates and am getting ready to go see Anna Karenina with Isabel. Good times! Will be back soon hopefully with pictures of our Holiday Home! TTFN!

Long time, no blog

Hello. Not sure anyone is still checking my blog as it has been so neglected lately. I have been periodically posting on my A Thing for Roses Facebook page, so if you haven’t already, and want to, go on over and like me.

We had a couple weeks of really rainy weather up here in the PNW. I don’t do much when that happens, with maybe the exception of catching up on all my tv shows and movies I’ve wanted to watch. I have done a little crafting.

Inspired by my good friend Mitzi, who made the most adorable vintage bling Christmas trees (two of which I had to buy, aren’t they so cute?)

here are a couple I made.

Also, after making several (I lost count how many) vintage bling button bracelets to sell, I finally made one to keep for me.

I used all my favorite buttons. Love that it is super blingy and am looking forward to wearing it during the holidays.

I also spent a little time putting together some new/vintage earrings. Love this super simple craft.

We had a lovely Thanksgiving with my girl home from college and I haven’t even begun to think much about decorating for Christmas yet, but I just couldn’t resist bringing this little cutie home from my last visit to Monticello.

So that’s about it. Heading over to Monticello tomorrow to help Mitzi move into the front window and fluff my space a bit. I’m super excited to see what she comes up with.