Sometimes it just takes a wheelbarrow to bring the goods home~~~~~~~~

Hmmm, where to start? O.k., I'll just jump right in. Last week my dd and I drove an hour over to the coast to spend some time with my Sis and her dh....you know shopping, eating, shopping....etc.
We were spending the night so we could take our time. I found so many treasures that I can't wait to go back! Not to mention just spending some great fun quality time with my sister. You see, we've been apart for the last 30 or so years, only seeing each other a handful of times...so sad. Now that she lives closer we're taking advantage of it! So we were in a shop at the coast and I saw this HUMONGOUS scale. The price floored me, but not for the reason you may be thinking...lol! It was priced at $15! Yeah, I know. Now here comes the dumbest part of this story....I didn't buy it! Yes, I'll repeat that for those of you who may have thought that you weren't reading that correctly....I didn't buy it!
Must be all that salty air that got into my foggy brain.

Anyway, we got home and I just happened to mention the behemoth scale to my dh and he said, "And you didn't buy it?" I was astounded when he said he thought I should have. Let me just tell you, no matter how many years you've been married they can still surprise you. So I called up my sis right away and asked her if she would go down there the next day and buy it for me. She, of course said no problem.

This is one side of the scale, unfortunately I can't display it this way because of the configuration of our countertop and the nearby window....nowhere else to put the darn behemoth!!!!
But no worries, it still looks cool when displayed on the other side.
I think it's beyond awesome, especially when I see how much many people are charging for these huge grocery type scales....wowza! And just in case you're wondering where the wheelbarrow plays into this story, we actually did have to use my wheelbarrow to haul this into my house because she weighs about 45 pounds! I'm sure my neighbors are still talking....:).

These are my antique tranferware platters that I'm going to hang right above my massive scale.....I kinda like that "farmhouse" vibe that they'll add to my kitchen, even though we most definitely do NOT live on a farm or anything that remotely resembles one.
It's all good, every time I gaze upon my super bargain of a scale I find myself humming the tune to "Green Acres".

Happy Summer~~~~~~~~

~Made in Japan forget-me-not trinket box~

~Vintage Vis-Ed medical terminology cards with box~

~Vintage pink sewing patterns box~

~Charming baby sewing book~

~Little Tot's Record album holder~

~Vintage Alcott book~

How are you my peeps? Just a short drive-by here, Summer is in full swing and the living is easy! Hope you're all able to enjoy some fun time with friends and family.
You can see what I've been up to. I'm trying to balance it all (who isn't?), and having fun while doing so.
These are but a few of my newest offerings in my Etsy (you can access my shop on the upper right of my sidebar).
Be in touch again soon, have fun out there.

Crater Lake Lodge...heaven on earth.....:)

I've wanted to go for years......YEARS. Dh surprised me with a trip. Here's the thing about Crater Lake Lodge...you need to make your reservations at least a year in advance. Crazy but that's how popular it is. These first 2 photos are the view out our window.
I gasped when I walked into the room.

Our weather could not have been better. The sun was shining the entire time! With snow on the ground it was an unbelievable combination......and the utter quiet is hard to explain.

One of the HUGE fireplaces in the lobby area. You could claim a chair and wait for the waiter/waitress to come and take your order....heaven!

This is a view towards the dining room.  The lobby was a great size, not too big and not too small....just right.

My dd LOVED the snow.....so much of it still. With the lodge in the background I love this shot.
We had an unbelievable time and can't wait to go back. The boat tours to Wizard Island don't start until the end of June so maybe next year we can make that happen. As long as we don't wait too long to make reservations.
I highly recommend this gorgeous work of nature.

The happiest of Mother's Day's......!!!!!

Dd and I went shopping yesterday for my sister whose birthday is today.....happy birthday Debbie, the best sister ever! While in a thrift store my dd heard me say "OMG", not the words but the letters.....:). Spotted inside a case in St. Vinnies was this sublime vintage Coach Stewardess bag.....but as I wasn't shopping for me but for someone else I let it go.

Imagine my surprise when I opened this Mother's Day gift today! And my dd said, "And I hope you keep this one". That's because I re-hab these fabulous bags and then re-sell them.
I let her know that this is one bag that I will always treasure because she gave it to me from her heart!
I also love the fact that she chose a gift bag with an "OMG" on it .
I call that perfection!
I hope all of you had a wonderful Mother's Day!!

My newest obsession.........

Re-habbing vintage Coach bags! What does that entail?
I'm so glad you asked? It starts by finding an older bag at a great price.....does it look flattened, scratched, sad in general?
Then that's the bag for me! I wash them, dry them and re-shape them, condition them and then they're ready to go.
Some I keep (too many..lol) and some I sell...yay!
The older Coach bags are built to last and such classics.
Keep your eyes open when you go into your local thrifts, they'll be in the case under lock and key and if you're lucky like I was yesterday you'll find two at the same time! I found the tan bag pictured above along with the RARE green Willis bag at the same thrift!
They're sunning themselves today and relaxing.
Some hang out laundry, I hang out bags!
So what's your latest obsession?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Happy happy Sunday~~~~~~some progress

The studio is coming along.....never said I was gonna be quick about it...LOL!

Miss Sassy on the right is wearing her new silk and lace bonnet that I found at the flea today for $3....she's so happy now.

My best find of the week (well, of last week) was this beautiful wool area rug for my studio. I never thought I would find just the right one and truth be told this one is a bit large for my room. But I remained undaunted and simply folded one edge under my cabinets because it's not a super thick rug but oh the colors! It covers the floor and is oh so shabby chic! I was thrilled to find it.

They may have lost their heads but can still be pretty with pearls and flowers.........

I still have some more work in this room but it's already functioning so much better for me.
I'll be back soon to show some flea market treasures.

Reality bites......aka the domino effect......

I just couldn't take it anymore. My studio has been in a death spiral for quite some time now. I know you all get it (at least most of you do, I'm hoping!) Except for the ultra-organized, ultra-disciplined out there our studios get a real work out and don't always get cleaned as they should (or at all for months on end!)

I realized that my studio had become a liability instead of being the asset that it should be. And I swear, if my dh says one more time, "Sometimes I wonder if you would have less stress if you didn't have your studio" I may take drastic measures! He's actually said this many times to me. I need to keep my anxieties to myself, obviously! I had WAY TOO MUCH stuff in there because I have that hoarder's illness which is not being able to say "no" or to have that essential 'edit' button. After all, editing is no fun! We all know that more is more, and whoever dies with the most toys wins..........right? Ummm, but in the meantime there is a fair amount of stress involved. Stress like not being able to find what you're looking for? Please tell me you've done that too! No matter how much I want to be that organized person who always knows where everything is, in the back of my mind I know how futile that is for me.

So I'm sharing my 'mess in progress', please don't judge me. It is what it is...............................

See that measuring tape in the foreground? It's my lifesaver. Most people panic when they can't find their cell phone (yeah, I do that too) but when I can't find my tape I go into full-mode panic!
It's an essential every day tool that I use.
So wish me luck with my studio update, won't you? And better yet, if you have any words of wisdom or can commiserate, I'm all ears!
And have no fear, I'll share my after photos as well. After all, I can't leave you with this dismal impression of me and my workspace.
I like to think I have a bit more on the ball than this!

Have I mentioned that my tastes run toward the eclectic?

While perusing a favorite haunt lately for a side table for my bed (yes, I found one!) this beauty caught my eye....the price was ridiculous in a good way. I purchased it.

Bonus pink silk inside...so pretty.

Unlike many of these victorian celluloid boxes, this one is remarkably unscathed.....lucky for me.

Another item I've always lusted over....an original Dandux canvas cart on wheels....so many possibilities. Dd and I went to one of our huge St. Vinnie's that we hadn't been to in a loooong time. They were lined up out front and I was determined to ask an employee if I could buy one of them. But wait, what's this I see? A price tag on each and every one of them? Surely my eyes deceive. But no, they each were priced at $29....but since they were yellow tags they were an additional 25% off!

Some had rips in the bottom but this one was in great shape except for the stains.....I think they're supposed to have those anyway, right? I'll do my best to clean them off and have no idea where I'll put this monster but I do love it so!
I'll figure it out.
It was a happy thrifting day!

Warning, this post is all over the place....kind of like my life!

Let's start with my pretty wallpaper lined trunk discovery....
can you believe I looked at it and left without it? Me either....but I did which means I just had to go back a few days later and buy it.

How do I love thee, let me count the ways.
Perfect size, not too big, not too small.
Gorgeous wood inlay giving it a victorian look (which it is).
Sigh, vintage wallpaper....SOLD. I'll take it and 10 rolls of that paper please! What, you don't have any more? Figures!

A gorgeous eiderdown...love it. Small size, just right to cuddle up with.

Hey, it looks great in my new trunk!

Discovered this magazine the other day....so utterly charming.

An antique ledger that I'm working on that will be in my shop soon.....with a decidedly 'French' flavor.