Farmhouse Mantle

I teased you with some fuzzy iPhone pics,

but here are some proper photos

of my beautiful new mantle,

procured this past weekend

at Fredericksburg Trade Days...

Don't ask me what the swirly things are...

my buddy Patty at Trade Days gave me a bag full.

Aren't they fun?

Sea fans... *sigh*

I just can't get enough of those!

I picked up that fabulous mantle mirror

for $25 in Missouri.

TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS!

And just because it has a crack! What a steal.

I decided to add some touches of Fall in my color choices.
Adore my button topiary there on the far right

from Lisa at Bilancia Designs.

I admit it, I'm a suitcase ho.

 Just a quick one to end the week.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

 

The Facebook Chronicles

I'll admit it.

My life has been too crazy busy

these past Summer months to devote the time

needed to keep up with a regular blogging schedule.

Which is why I've been keeping everyone updated

mostly via Facebook.

It's quick, easy, and I'm able to shoot photos

with my iPhone and upload them to FB straight from my phone.

For those of you who are not on Facebook,

here's a bit of what's been going on in my world

the past few weeks.

First up, I was thrilled to not only be able to attend

the incredible "moving-in" sale at the new

Magnolia Pearl homestead right here

in Fredericksburg, Texas, but I got to help out

with pricing the day before the sale.

Here are some of my iPhone shots, pre-sale...

I brought home a goodly portion of

tea-stained lace and linen with me!

And this entire, HUGE basket of seam binding?

Home with me, of course!

I had to grab the tarnished silver "bread" platter, too.

It was a beautiful sale, and we are all so happy

to have Robin and John here in da 'Burg!

I also have been busy at Smitten

as time allows.

I'm lucky enough to have two features running

in the current edition of FOLK magazine,

so I set up a little point-of-purchase vignette

in the shop to hawk the issue!

I've also been dabbling in mixed-media art

a bit this Summer, and have even been brave enough

to begin selling a bit of my work, like the piece below...

I also found myself blessed beyond measure

when my incredibly sweet and talented friend

Sherry from ShantyGirl 

gifted me with one of her fabuloso,

handmade Union Jack throws....

Winnie immediately claimed it,

as she has impeccable taste.

Oh, and I love it too, Sherry!!!

I've added to my growing collection of dreamy  

Magnolia Pearl clothing this past Summer,

and the darling little MP jumper in the pics below

has quickly become one of my favorite pieces.

I got a new toy this past week, too...



I'm having fun learning this over-the-top
wonderful camera. 36 megapixels, wow!

I made a couple of trips to

Fredericksburg Trade Days 

this weekend, and just this afternoon,

came home with something I have wanted forever...

The lousy phone pics don't do it justice,

but this divine mantle is now in our farmhouse!

Finally, I've been super busy on

a few editorial features for magazines,

as well as shooting the photos for the in-progress

Carol Hicks Bolton Laboratoire de Design

website.

Below is a peek at what to expect...

I can't reveal any more photos from the website yet,

but this particular photo was featured in 

the local newspaper, so I figured I could share it

and whet your appetite for what is to come.

I'm sure you've all been having a crazy busy Summer, too.

Even though I haven't been commenting,

I've been keeping up with y'all, and

just want to thank you for the constant inspiration

you provide me on a daily basis.

Here's hoping you have a wonderful week ahead! 

 

FOLK Chat...

Happy Monday!

Thanks to everyone who entered my 

FOLK Magazine

giveaway last week,

as well as for all the kind comments

about my two features in the Vintage Issue

of this wonderful magazine.

I thought I'd share some of the original images

included in the story I contributed entitled

"Old House Love"...

 It was a delight to not only 

contribute a story to this issue....

but I was also honored to be

the subject of a feature written by the

supremely talented Deb Kennedy of

HOMEward Found Decor...

Thank you, Deb!

And thanks to all who entered the giveaway!

The five winners of this issue 

of FOLK Magazine are...

Andrea from Keeping it Cozy 

Cathleen from Vintage Home Lifestyle 

Dawn from The Feathered Nest 

Becky at Sweet Cottage Dreams

Barbara Jean from Treasures From the Heart 

Congrats, ladies!

Send me your contact info

and I'll get those magazines right off to you.

Happy Week!

Beautiful Blends

I've had the pleasure of getting to know

so many wonderful dealers at

Fredericksburg Trade Days

over the past few years.

I consider most of these fines folks to be

good friends now,

and two of the finest are

Diane Schwartz and Roger Gallamore

of 

BLENDS in Georgetown, Texas.

I paid a visit to their dreamy shop recently,

and although I knew it would be stunning,

 it truly blew me away.

The lovely Diane, ever the gracious hostess!

 And Roger...what a character!

He knew full well I was snapping his photo,

and carried right on with lunch. Attaboy!

In addition to visiting my good friends Diane and Roger,

I was so happy to get to meet one of their customers Dana,

who is also a follower of my blog.
She brought along her sweet grandbaby, Ryan!

 Ryan posed handsomely for me

after we became buds.

Those eyes!

The great thing about Blends is that not only

do Diane and Roger have a marvelous collection

of vintage wares, but they also carry an absolutely

fabulous array of romantic clothing.

One of their most popular items are 

what Diane refers to as "dance pants"...

 { photo courtesy debra oliver }....me on Elizabeth Maxson's front porch!

 Here I am in the photos above and below

sporting my dance pants / bloomers in white

from Blends.

 { photo courtesy elizabeth maxson }...with cute little Debra Oliver!

They come in many different colors,

and are truly flattering on every body type.

And so affordable, too!

But back to the shop itself...

You can visit Blends in their brick and mortar store

at

4230 Williams Drive, Georgetown, TX

Open Wednesday-Saturday 10-5 

or at

Fredericksburg Trade Days 

third weekend of every month

next up... August 17th-19th.

 I'll be there next go-round...

see you there?

XO,