Changes at home and at shop

 Starting to get in a Fall frame of mind and have decided to go with more of a primitive feel in the big room. Got started today. 

Moved Tina's wonderful redone trunks to center stage in the biggest room and am having fun stuffing one and displaying  on the closed top of the other.

Here is number one with the colorful red lining. Notice how her penny rug under the rocking chair picks up the pattern.

The second one is on the opposite wall below this newly added large framed oil painting.  On top of the trunk are a wood slat magazine rack stuffed with a burlap pillow, a rusty wire bird cage with one of tina's repurposed creations inside, as well as a bark basket and bird plate.

And finally, a peak at a "new" old piece I found on one of my excursions.  It was labeled a TV cabinet, but the fact that it was old thick pine boards notched together and finished on both sides, with an indented bottom such as found on kitchen cabinets made me think "kitchen island".

John could tell I really liked it, so he surprised me by bringing it into the house while I was shopkeeping and loading the big space where the TV was supposed to go with mixer, blender, and his father's old soda shop style shake maker. Guess that's another find that found a new home in this old house.

 Had this ready to sell as evidence by the tag which goes so well with the vintage aqua and red tablecloth, BUT..

 Went to Nellie's Barn Sale and spotted these hand  crafted napkins printed with

old potato mashers

 Brought them home and then started thinking about tablecloth at shop
So what do you think?

Trying to remember name of vendor and am drawing a blank.  She was in garage/barn area.  Help me out.  At any rate..Love what you can do with vintage and handcrafted and  a little bit of imagination. 

Inspiration from another shop

Just A Second

Was getting a bit bored with some displays at the shop and was waiting for some inspiration (the spirit within). Couldn't get to sleep and was going through various ideas in my too awake head, but really didn't get excited by any of them.

Then this A.M., was checking facebook and saw a post from Jeannie La Belle of The Gilded JunqueYard about a shop in Elgin called The Soulful Sparrow, and I was inspired.  I thought, that's it - white and summery.  I am not like the big box stores that already have fall and pumpkins about (although actually, we do have some of Tina's beautiful felted wool pumpkins in the shop.)  So I came in a bit early this morning and thought I'll just do one display; Got a white table, got a white trunk, got a dress form (Tina's), but of course, one thing leads to another, and by the time the store opened I had redone three displays.  

Just A Second

Ended up redoing the corner display from which I had sold a white chair, so it was looking a bit undone.  Now it is white and green and has kind of a bird theme.  I am happy (for a few days anyway)

The Soulful Sparrow

Just A Second

Also played with some turquoise including a great turquoise trunk  and turquoise chip and dip basket. Added brown as an accent and am liking the look.

As I mentioned in my last post, I figured out how to get comments, so feel free to let us know what you think.  We'd love to hear from you.

While you were shopping ...

Yesterday was another hot day and I hope you all remained cool at Just a Second while you were shopping. Renie is a wonderful hostess at the store and while she was serving you all iced tea and cake, I was outside in the heat working on something new.  Here is a little taste of what's to come into the store -- eventually.

 

These wonderful boxes came out of a workshop located in an old barn. They are well used cigar boxes that have been painted on one end and a nice old wooden handle added to make a little drawer. There are a total of 37 and I have cleaned each one, sanded with a steel wool pad to remove most of the dirt but not the age and waxed them to protect the wonderful graphics on the boxes.

 

Some are labeled and some are not. They would be wonderful in a unit of cubby holes. Unfortunately the piece they were in originally could not be removed from the barn wall as it was built right on the wall. But I am looking for something in either metal or wood that would accomodate these cigar box drawers.

 

They have wonderful graphics either on the tops or on the sides if no top exists. Perhaps I will just have to build my own cabinet. How would you use these? Just let your imagination run wild and post your suggestions and comments.  Happy decorating, Tina