A Christmas table for every style....

We had a wonderful Holiday Open House today at The Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall today.....wonderful customers, lots of sweet treats ( especially the handmade hot pepper jelly - yummo! ), and some great sales and discounts on a lot of merchandise! I stole away from the front counter for a few minutes to do a little shopping myself!

This year, we took an area of the building and did various holiday tablescapes. Five of our antique mall vendors (including me) decorated a table utilizing both old and new items. Each of us has a distinctly different style which shined through as you will see in the photos. I only got photos of four of the tables, but here we go....

Vendor #6239 is the QUEEN of fine primitives:

an absolutely amazing assortment of yellowware bowls displayed on the chippy farm table as well as the big chippy corner cupboard in the back

these deer epitomize the primitive look!

just look at how she puts all this together!

The next table was done by vendor #8 and is a wonderful tribute to the real meaning of Christmas....

she used a beautiful wood table and primitive chairs and showcased a whitewashed nativity scene with a natural woodsy feel.....very serene and reflective

her chandelier has a rustic ethereal look with the snowy pine and sparkly words hanging down



And then, there's Vendor #8866's kitschy candy bar.....so cute and cheery!

This gal does a great job rehabbing furniture and giving it a crisp, clean look as is evident with this drop-leaf table and chairs!

She had two of these antique metal three tier cupcake stands filled with candy cups

You felt like you were in a vintage candy store!



And lastly, my take on the tablescape was "french eclectic Christmas".....really I just used things that I love in the color scheme that I love......white, chartreuse and black:

the four vintage chairs are freshly painted and antiqued with new chartreuse green patterned seat coverings

the color combination is an unexpected twist for Christmas!

I borrowed this cupboard from my boss because I LOVE IT! It told me that it really wants to come live at my house, but my husband told it no! :-(

black and white damask, green and white ornaments, and glassware.

I found a HUGE roll of these black and white HOLIDAY stickers, and I plan to use them as gift tags, but I mounted a couple on pretty green damask paper and then used scrabble letters to embellish a bit



It was so fun to see what each person put together! We were all like little elves bouncing around adding this and adding that, singing Christmas carols while we worked, talking to ourselves, asking each other for advice and input, and encouraging each other in our efforts. I think it is so cool that different people have different styles....it makes life way more interesting!

Thanks to everyone who attended our Open House today! We truly appreciate all of our customers!

White {and green} Wednesday

Good morning and Happy Holidays to all! I have been somewhat absent from blogging as of late, simply because it's been a bit hectic, as I'm sure many of you are also experiencing now that the holidays have officially settled upon us!

Priority number one this week has been at work as we have been prepping various areas of the Antique Mall for our Open House this Saturday. But I have been able to muster up enough creative energy to add a little cheer throughout my house as well......









This ribbon and tag came in a package I received from Jeanne at A Bushel and a Peck. My husband purchased her handmade ruffle tote from Etsy for my birthday. I just had to find a home for this little adornment, so atop a little tree it went!


Please stop by Kathleen's blog Faded Charm to see her beautiful white Christmas trees!

Christmas Open House at The Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall

(image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy)


Christmas Open House
this Saturday!

December 5, 2009
10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Satisfy all your shopping needs at The Olde Shoe Factory Antique Mall this holiday season! Our vendors have been busy little elves filling their booths with tons of vintage Christmas wares and "new" old stuff!

We will also have an area within the mall dedicated to Christmas tablescapes! We asked several vendors to showcase their own personal style by creating a holiday tablescape. I can't wait to see what each person pulls together! I have been working on mine and just figuring out all the details!

We would love to see you this Saturday!

I am so grateful....

(image courtesy of The Graphics Fairy)


Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I wanted to take a few moments today to say a most sincere "thank you" to a few people who have graciously extended themselves to me through this great big world of blogging....

Anne of Fiona and Twig

Though we have never met and we live at opposite sides of the map, I feel like I have met a kindred spirit. Anne recently devoted an entire post on her blog about my blog. This sweet girl made such an impression on my heart through her words and kindness. She made me feel like a million bucks during a time that I was questioning my abilities. The economic climate has certainly hit home in the antiques and resale business, and it's been so hard to maintain that wow factor in my booth displays. Anne didn't know any of this. She didn't know me and had no idea that I was struggling with the decision to keep it all going or not. She doesn't realize it, but she helped lift me a little further out of the funk I had settled into. She encouraged me and inspired me to keep on keeping on. So, Anne, thank you! You have an infectious personality that shines through your writing on your blog. I just wish you could bottle up some of your effervescent energy and ship it to me, especially on those days that I feel like giving up! For those of you who may not have visited Anne's blog, please take a moment to do so. You will enjoy her adventures of finding the cutest stuff to sell in her booth and in her Etsy shop, and you will truly enjoy getting to know this girl who loves to junk, loves to write, and loves to share her "misadventures" with all of us!


Polly of Pollyann's

I've recently had the pleasure of connecting with another Polly! Not only do we share a name, but by the looks of her blog, we share a love for all things old and vintage. Yesterday, Polly left me a comment letting me know she had felt so inspired by the photos of our Christmas float that she had done a display she wanted me to check out! So, I went right to her blog and was so impressed with what she had pulled together! Thank you, Polly, for spotlighting my blog!


Angelique of Six in One Hand...Madness in The Other

A few weeks ago, Angelique nominated me for the Kreative Blogger award! I was on vacation at the time and was unable to do a post about this award she had passed along to me, but Angelique, please know that I didn't forget! I truly appreciate the award and want you to know that this expression of kindness means so much to me! Thank you, thank you, thank you!



This world of blogging has brought me such joy! I love to come home after a busy day and log on to see if comments have been left for me....do you all love comments as much as I do? It's like unwrapping a gift on Christmas morning! Each comment is a little gift from afar. The inspiration and camaraderie I have experienced through blogging these last few months has lifted me up and renewed my faith in myself. I am grateful for many things this Thanksgiving day including the connections I have made through blogging!

Floating away....

Lancaster's Christmas Parade kicked off the holiday season today! It was a very long parade lasting over 2 hours! We worked tirelessly this week pulling our float together, and we ended up receiving the first place award for "Best Homemade Float"! Yay!

Here's what she looked like....


The guys situated all the big pieces of furniture that we picked out including this VERY massive old cupboard with original mint green paint. Fortunately, it is two pieces, so it was easier to maneuver onto the wagon that way. Then they built a large wall for the back that the cupboard top screwed into. We filled it with vintage red Pyrex dishes, linens, and other little Christmas items.

This was our little primitive manly corner with a bright red saw, old red scales, and sandstone grinder.

This little cupboard got a fresh coat of white paint....aren't those original stencils in the glass just so kitschy?

We borrowed this cute white dresser from one of the vendors within The Olde Shoe Factory, and it fit perfectly in this corner in front of the old wrought iron bed.

I stood on a ladder in the middle of the street to take this photo of the bed. It is a gorgeous old wrought iron bed painted white and gold. We layered red and white gingham pillows, mint green and white damask euro pillows and red throw pillows for a bright pop of color. The bed is covered with a vintage white chenille bedspread.


A green cupboard at the other end of the bed set with some old child's size skis, a vintage Santa, and a vintage candy container.

A retro red and white enamelware table set with two ice cream chairs. This table is in great condition for it's age!


The amazing thing about this entire process is that, primarily, we used stuff that we found around the shop keeping our costs low. We did have to buy red and mint green ornaments, the red snowflake napkins that we used diagonally to add some color to the white skirting fashioned from old bedsheets, and two red tree skirts. Other than that, all of the furniture came from various booths in the Antique Mall, the linens and pillows we brought from home, and the pine came from a humongous wreath that would have taken 10 men to hang it on the building. The boss gave us the green light to rip it apart and use the pine and cypress garlands to use however we wished! That was a lifesaver!

I wish I had snapped a photo of the historic old truck that pulled the float! It was black with white lettering and all shined up for it's once-a-year debut! It was awesome!

I am going to rest , as it has been a busy and exhausting week. These old knees got quite a workout climbing on and off that wagon over and over! As the saying goes....."stick a fork in me, because I am done!" ~ wink wink ~ Seriously, though, goodnight all....I am really tired!

Until next time, let those sugarplums dance in your head as Christmas is just around the corner!

A sweet cottage Christmas....

Ok everyone, prepare to see cottage sweetness at it's best!!! A dear friend of mine shared photos of her home in it's festive holiday attire, and can I just say, this house is as sweet as they come! So cozy, so inviting, and decorated with quintessential vintage cottage panache! I am certain that you will enjoy a little peek into her nest as much as I did! Let the eye candy begin.....

















Isn't it just exquisite? Every nook and cranny, every corner, every vignette is just perfect down to the last detail! This house is a true reflection of this gal, who is also, as sweet as they come! A big shout-out to J of Open Market Style for opening your home to all of us in blogland who truly appreciate the inspiration you have provided!

White Wednesday

On Facebook, many of my friends have been counting down to Thanksgiving by sharing one thing they are thankful for each day until Thanksgiving. I have enjoyed hearing what others find important in their lives, and each day, as I read these status updates, I take a moment to reflect on what is important to me, and of course, what I'm most thankful for.....

~ my freedom ~
~ a husband who loves and gives unconditionally ~
~ my oldest and longest friend, who is always there when needed, even though our lives have gone in totally different directions ~
~ the hope that, just maybe, if it is meant to be, I'll be a momma someday ~
~ the opportunity I have been given to pursue my dream, albeit, on a small scale, but my dreams are being realized nonetheless ~
~ a few new relationships with gals that share common interests and goals; girls who "get" me and understand my insatiable desire to collect and rescue vintage wares ~
~ that tail-wagging ball of fur who fell into my life by chance and has left a forever paw print on my heart ~
~ a warm and comfortable home, a full dinner plate, and the love of family ~

Although I began my Christmas decorating a wee bit early this year, I did reserve one area for the sometimes overlooked Thanksgiving holiday....



I just received this vintage turkey planter from a dear friend for my birthday. He's a gem!

I found another old Anagrams game while on vacation that contains over 200 of these wooden letters! It's always a treat to open one of those old games with anticipation as to what color the tiles will be.

Please feel free to share what you're thankful for this holiday season! And, don't forget to visit Kathleen over at Faded Charm to see her White Wednesday holiday lovelies! There's a whole slew of White Wednesday participants offering beautiful photography, inspiring ideas, and glimpses of their white worlds!