Notes from A Cottage Industry

Shedding some light on my favorite part of junkin'.

     Want to know my favorite part about what I do for my part of the Tumbleweed Cotillion business? I'll tell you.

    I'd have to say that my most favorite part of my glorified junk business is right at the very beginning. Yes, the very moment I first spot an item that for whatever reason, seems especially interesting or vintage. Looking at old castaways in a thrift shop, flea market, or yard sale, seeing it with fresh eyes, and then, having an idea suddenly spark in my mind of how I can envision the treasure recreated. My eyes glaze over and my head very nearly spins as I my brain goes in a million different directions. I am filled with a burst of sudden and complete energy and inspiration. I cannot wait to get the new-to-me item home and begin making a large mess creating a masterpiece.The next thing I know, three hours have passed (although it feels like twenty minutes) the item is completed and priced and I am so excited I could stay up all night doing project after project, and I find myself repeatedly sneaking back to the item I reinvented, just to gaze at it and smile with a huge sense of satisfaction. Seriously.
     Now that I think of it, I guess I just covered almost every aspect, start to finish, of what I do in my business of bliss.

     Anyway.

    I'm just sharing this because I am wondering if any of you experience this phenomenon as well. Surely I am not alone. It's completely exhilarating to me.
     The picture above shows an example of one of the latest gems discovered on a thrifting excursion recently. You see, I got not one, but two of these charming little iron lamps a couple of weeks ago while out thrifting in the biggest little city with the other Tracey.

   Okay, they didn't quite look like this when I found them. They were pretty scuffed up and had no shades, or ribbons, or doodiddles decorating them. (Let's just say that they were in the "rough" stage of the diamond in the rough category)
      I could see their potential right away and was thrilled to snag them for a makeover before we head to Alameda this weekend. I can just picture one of these on a table in an entry, or in a corner of the kitchen, or even on a powder room or bathroom counter, can't you? (Talk about mood lighting. The perfect little muted light to take a bubble bath by, if you ask me, and I am somewhat of an expert on the proper atmosphere for bubble baths.)

*sigh* See why I love doing what I do? Now, if only I could do it full time.

Decorating with chocolate.

What, you say? Chocolate?! Oh yes. It's a food that's just so versatile that women across America are decorating with it these days. Faux (resin? Plastic? Ceramic?) chocolate that is. Check it out on my Monday late night HomeGoods blog post.

Words to live by - week 111

You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.                                                                  Andrew Jackson

Vintage family tree

    I'm currently very drawn to all things timeworn, tattered in shades of creams and wheats and warm deep browns. The more tarnish and the deeper the patina on an item the better, I say. (Please excuse the lousy photo for this post. I couldn't get a good angle no matter how I tried) but this shows exactly what I am talking about.
     Here is my vintage family tree wall in the corner of my dining room. My grand parents, parents, and me, all there in shades of creams, browns and blacks.(that's me, bottom left, holding my teddy bear) The shades are neutral and warm so it can go with any color scheme, and it adds a richness to the room I think. The simple black two dollar frames (some with matting) from the local grocery store several years ago tie things together perfectly, and add a slight tone of formality as well.  
    The idea would work with newer photos as well. All you need to do is make copies of your favorite pictures of the family or pets in blaack and white or sephia tones and you're good to go. Now, why not go take a walk around your home and look at the spots needing a little update for springtime?

 I'm thinking if you've got a corner or a hallway needing a little personality, you might want to try this idea too.

Come see us in Alameda!

With barely more than a week to go before our first show in Alameda at Antiques by the Bay, the other Tracey and I are working feverishly to complete some of our best treasures ever.(I'll add our booth space number here later today when we get it!)

I'll be crafting, painting and pricing into the night for the next few days after work, and I can't wait to share some pictures of our goodies with you!

The new workroom continues to emerge...

Each night I have been trying to spend a bit of time fine tuning my new workroom, and I thought I'd share my latest nearly completed project. The room is all about creating, and storage, and order and inspiration. By this I mean that I am hoping to be able to keep it clean while I create. (Is that an oxymoron?)

Anyway.

Here is the other side of the new office, folks, directly across from the giant hutch-bookcase-y thing that I am loving with all of my heart. These are the bookcases that I already had in the former office. (now guestroom) I took out the upholstered bench and replaced it with a dresser from the old guestroom (am I confusing you? I hope not) Anyway, the dresser (which is now my "shipping center", full of packaging supplies and boxes)began as a thrifted item in Portland, for my then college daughter's home. It was a buffet on her patio as I recall, and it was white. (I remember that it was fabulous out there too!) Later, it made it's way to the biggest little city, to my last house, was painted a deep sage green, and was placed in the library as a little buffet of sorts.

When I moved to my cottage it became a night table in the guest room, and the deep sage green still worked. Now, it's come full circle, back to white, in my sweet little workroom, where I hung my inspiration board above it.

Next on the list...my computer table and the window treatment.... A woman's work is never done.

Monday night HomeGoods Blog Post

  The other Tracey and I went on a field trip of sorts today (I'll share more later!)and then I had a cupcake order to get going, so here is my very late Monday night HomeGoods blog post.

Words to live by - week 110

(Please click on the photo to enlarge it if it's not clear enough for you to read above)

Wow. I feel like ol' Lee was talkin' to me.

A night stand for weary travelers

The new guest room is coming together, and I am so happy with my newly "created" night table that I wanted to share it. I got the luggage rack last Friday at the "Cattle Guard" Estate sale and I had the old suitcases from thrifting several years back. I put them together and it turned into the right height and size for a bedside table.

Pretty perfect for the room where traveler's stay, don't you think?

Meet the cute new couple from Portland.

     She's a blonde! I think she's adorable, and so is he. They're a perfect pair. And they'll be right at home with the rest of my collection. Lisa (Oh, you must know Lisa, she's one of my BFF's in PTown, who also happens to be a blonde!) surprised me with them in the mail, (be still my heart!) along with the vintage wedding cake bells, which I also adore. I'm guessing they're from the early 1960's...anyone else care to guess?
Thank you Lisa. (You know what I love!) I will think of you each time I look at this sweet little golden haired bride and her beau.

Celebrate Spring!

Have you seen this magazine yet?
     I spotted it at Lowe's hardware the other night and I just had to get it.(I haven't seen it anywhere else!) I am a complete magazine junkee, but I usually don't buy magazines off the news stands,since subscribing is such a big money saver. I had to make an exception on this one though, because for gosh sakes, it's by Phyllis Hoffman of Hoffman Publications, the woman behind the rebirth of Victoria magazine! It's called, appropriately enough, "Celebrate Spring".
     The theme of the magazine is all about celebrating spring and different holidays(st. Paddy's Day, April Fools...) and fun occasions like weddings and paint parties with a spring time twist. It's complete with recipes that are so yummy sounding (and to-die-for pictures) as well as decorations, table scapes and even invitation ideas. Right up my alley, for sure. (don'tcha just love how a little thing like a picture from a magazine can inspire an entire new project?)
     Last night after my bubble bath, I slid into my fresh warm sheets in my favorite pajammies and snuggled in for a good perusal of this gem. It inspired me to come up with some sensational Easter brunch ideas (all of the family will be here!) along with some dinner party ideas.

     I can't wait to share my ideas with you!

Tracey and Tracey's excellent adventures

..er...mis-adventures in thrifting.

Let me start by saying that I never seem to have my camera when I need it.

I don't work at the bank until noon on Friday's usually and so the other Tracey and I had this idiotic creative idea to go make the rounds thrifting in those couple of hours on Friday before I go to work. Turns out it's not the smartest plan, as this means I am dressed for banking, in business attire, which makes it challenging when schlepping sometimes dirty, dusty items out of a thrift shop or yard sale.

Anyway.

Last Friday we went to an early morning estate sale that a friend had told us about. It was on a ranch property (Looking back, I even think I remember the ad mentioned mud and to wear appropriate shoes...wish I had remembered that sooner) and the sale sounded good. (something about vintage iron cemetery fencing, and a barn full of old doors and tools)

We arrived and discovered that in order to get to the house and the barn where the sale was, you had to walk across a cattle guard. Do you know what a cattle guard is? If you don't, then click here for a visual. OK, now using that visual, picture the cattle guard being a good 12-15 feet long and it being over a creek that is about four to five feet below it. A bridge basically, with spacers. (I so wished I had taken my camera.) Now, picture if you will, a woman in black suede stiletto heeled boots and a skirt (...that woman would be me.I told you I had to go to work) trying to cross the bridge with the spacers. Um..ya, it's a no-go, people.

The other Tracey was not to be deterred from making her way to the estate sale. She crossed the cattle guard in record time (Of course she did. She was wearing faux patent leather flat loafers.) and then turned to cheer me on as (she assumed) I would follow her across. Realizing that it was an impossibility, she decided (apparently without too terribly much thought) to "toss" her shoes to me for me to then put on and  boot-scoot-and-boogy across the cattle guard. She lobbed the first shoe, which she overshot, and it nearly nailed me in the head. I then prepared to intercept the second shoe, but, unfortunately this time, she underestimated the distance and it hit the last wrung of the cattle guard bridge, bounced...and, as if in slow motion, the shiny black loafer tumbled, ricocheted, and finally, plummeted onto the creek bed rocks far below the bridge.

For a moment, we both stared down at the shoe in silent horror, me with my mouth open and eyes bugging out. Then, we tried to figure out where to go from here...

Me: Oh, nice. That was great. Now what do we do?

Her: ( A sigh and shoulder shrug) I'll just have to get another pair of shoes at WalMart.

Me: What?

Her: I said, I'll just have to get another pair of shoes at WalMart.

Me: I heard you. I meant, you'll go into WalMart with one shoe and one bare foot? (Realizing as I said this that she would most certainly not be the first person to ever do that at a WalMart)

Her: Ya. We just need to get to this sale first.

Me: You don't get it! I can't come across the bridge in my boots!

At this point, she sighed a big long sigh and scurried back across the cattle guard barefoot to my side and we both studied the situation for another moment in silence, peering down at her shoe, then looking off in the distance at the barn and house full of potential treasures that awaited us.(so very close and yet, so very far.) After a few quiet moments she spoke in her matter of fact tone.

Her: I think I can just climb down there on the rocks and get to it.

Me: With only one shoe on?

Her: Yes.

Me: (eye roll and a long sigh, followed by a shoulder shrug of my own) Okay then. Go for it.

 Just as she prepared to climb over the wagon wheel that was cemented into a rock (A sad attempt at decorating the entrance of the bridge we guessed. Oh, I how wish I had taken my camera!) and climb down to rescue her faux patent leather loafer, two men came walking up. We shared our sad little tale of woe with them and then one of the guys climbed down and rescued her shoe.(they didn't say it, but it was fairly clear that they thought we were a couple of dipsy-doodles) I then put on the loafers and carried my boots, while the other Tracey went barefoot (either she is more coordinated, or was more determined to shop than me...or both) and we made it across to the other side at last.

 In the end it was all worth it. We found oodles and toodles of great stuff in the barn and before too long we had a good sized pile of good junk to purchase. The other Tracey was allowed to drive her car across the cattle guard to load up our pile of treasures and I silently thanked God that we didn't have to deal with walking across the bridge a second time.

(We have since decided that thrifting the two hours before I head off to the bank to work most likely isn't the best plan of action, although you can bet we'll do it again.)

My Monday morning HomeGoods post...

Mmmmmmm, nothin' sweeter than pink cupcakes with flags.The other Tracey was a personal chef yesterday at a baby shower and I did the cupcakes for the sweet baby girl's Mama. Check out my HomeGoods Blog post for a little more detail!

Bus ride.

I swear, sometimes I feel like my life is one big Lifetime for Women Television movie. It's incredible to me that sometimes I can feel incredibly happy, hopeful, optimistic, (excited even) about some of the things and people in my life, and yet, still have a small, hard-to-describe-nagging-mad-scared-half-to-death-lonely feeling tugging at me at the very same time. Maybe that doesn't make any sense to you.

It probably doesn't. It doesn't even make sense to me. Looking back, the last two and a half years have been a continuous series of surprises- some pretty amazing, and some pretty lousy. Challenging times for all of us I suppose, in some way or other.

Periodically, (especially on Sunday afternoons and evenings) that lonesome, scared, alone feeling overwhelms me and I am overcome with the feeling of shock and surprise that I am single, as if I am learning the news for the first time all over again. It only lasts a moment, but it's enough to leave me in a puddle.

I'm over him, but I desperately miss being part of a couple. I am so much more comfortable as half of a pair. I miss having someone to share my evenings with, sitting out on the deck by a nice big fire.  Someone to confide my hopes, worries, successes and fears to. Cooking dinner together. I miss having someone to wake up with and have those early morning-before-the-sun-comes-up heart to heart talks with.

Two years and five months and I still have to pause a moment before marking the box on forms "Single" or even worse, "Divorced".  I find myself feeling like I am wearing a giant "Defective" sign on my forehead at the strangest of times- taking my car in for maintenance and trying to figure out if I really need what they are telling me I need, hanging out or having dinner with friends that are couples, visiting with my daughter's in-laws. I do my best to show that I'm doing just fine, and for the most part outwardly I think I appear to have myself together, but all the while, inside, I want to cry. My heart hurts. 

Later, when I return home to my cottage, I confide to the dogs how awkward I feel and how I envy their easy, carefree lives. I'm over this whole thing already, you know? (anyway, I want to be.) I'm sad and mad at the same time. What am I supposed to do with these feelings? What am I supposed to do with my life now?

Don't say go on a date. Please don't say that. I have thought about dating, except I don't know how to do that. Seriously. I haven't ever been on a date my entire life, except with that one guy. The one that turned out to not be "the one" after all.

I have been so very blessed with the most wonderful friends a girl could ask for, and I don't want you to think that I take that blessing for granted for a minute. I treasure those friendships. I'm just saying that I still find it surprising each day to discover, as if for the first time, that, when it's all said and done, I am out here in the world navigating things all on my own. I look in the mirror and think, "How did I get here? This wasn't my plan." And yet, so it is.

I don't know how people without faith get through life. I am reminded, once again, that there is a plan, and I know I need to trust in Him, always.

Oh, how well I know. I'm not the one driving the bus.

Words to live by - week 109

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.                                                                     Victor Hugo

The write stuff...er..writer's stuff

    Thank you all so very much for the fabulous welcome you gave the other Tracey as she posted her first blog post! She was touched beyond words at all of the kindness and friendship out there in cyberland. I knew you'd make her feel like a million bucks, and you did!
    Do you remember this post from last April? Well, it's that time again and so I am off to the TMCC Writer's Conference for the day to learn and to be inspired. (I like to think of it as an investment in my future.)
    My writer's critique group will be there (Have I ever mentioned that I have been in a critique group for the past year? My group ended up being all women- five of us, all writing different types of books. Our group's name is "The Publishers Clearing House".) as well as another writer friend that has already finished a children's book and is looking to get published. 
    Things have been busy around here lately (Yes, I know I say that all the time, but seriously, I mean even busier than usual.) and that has caused me to become a bit of a slacker with my writing. I know this workshop is going to get me excited to make time and get back on track with my writing.
     It's just amazing how spending a day sharing information and ideas with like minded people can rejuvenate a person, isn't it?

Finally... the other Tracey

 
*sigh* The little framed artwork above says it all. The other Tracey got it for me on an out-of-town thrifting adventure. (Of course I cried when I read it, and so did she.)

     Have you had someone that weaved in and out of your life repeatedly at different points in time, almost as though it were planned? Someone that seems to appear just when you needed that particular friend the most, even if you didn't know it? (It's a "God thing" for sure.)

I first met the other Tracey way back in my stay-at-home-mommy days, carpooling fourth graders and being room mothers. Time passed, and my little family moved across town. I began selling Creative Memories scrapbook supplies and it turned out that Tracey was my up-line-manager-person, and our friendship was rekindled. More time passed and once again, I ran into the other Tracey, where she was working, at a local cafe, Voila'. Each time our paths crossed, it was like no time had passed and we could talk for an hour without even realizing it.
      It still kind of surprises me at how close we are, after so many times where we have drifted apart , not due to any friendship issue, but simply life getting in the way. We have very similar thought processes and our values are the same. We both roll our eyes at the same kinds of things and laugh at ourselves out loud and often. We both know the precise time we've worked too long and need a Peanut Buster Parfait break. It's exactly the kind of thing I see when I watch my two girls interact with one another. We are like sisters.

     I have talked about the other Tracey here on my blog quite a bit lately. She's full of the most incredible stories. Stories like how she and her then fiance (Mr. Tracey!) invited John Denver to their wedding in the 80's and how she and her hubbs had three months notice that they were expecting their third baby. (Um, yes, you read that correctly. She's got some fascinating stories, really.)

     She has a great sense of humor and is filled with wonderful quotes and quips and words of wisdom. (My personal favorite one that she uses all the time is "Everything's okay until it isn't) While her life has hills and valleys just like the rest of us, she chooses to look on the sunny side most days, with a warm, joyful smile and usually a plate full of something seriously delicious and homemade.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Because, she's starting her very own blog.

Today.

Please pop over and take a moment to read her first post and welcome her to our fabulous blog world!

Meanwhile, the new workroom evolves....

  

     With the Antique faire behind me, and the next big trip to Alameda Point still a few (Three..yikes!) weeks away, I am plugging away, trying to get my new workroom settled and situated. Last night after work, after the other Tracey and I had moved a few items down to the booth at Junkee, I started tackling my center work table.
    It's a thrifted ($5 at a yard sale last summer) basic tall pub table, which I love because I like to work standing up and this is the perfect height to not stain my back. It was a cherry wood stain kind of color before, but I decided to paint it the same Robin's egg blue as the back of the new hutch-bookcase-y thing's back for a pop of subtle color. (I knew I wanted to paint it from day one, but just now found the time)
     The three suitcases hold all of my sorted photos and memorabilia from my three kids growing up. (um..ya. I am still attempting to get most of this stuff into albums to give the kids, hopefully before anyone turns 30, which seems to be approaching more quickly than I thought.Hmmm, well, at least I have them sorted, right?)
     The table is situated in the center of the room so I can easily get to any supplies as needed when working a project and then I can also easily put things away. (That's the plan anyway.) So far I am pretty happy with the way things are coming along in this new space, even if I am moving at a snail's pace.

A good time was had by all!

Yes! The Sacramento Antique Faire was everything we had hoped for and then some. Other than over sleeping and not having time to shower (yikes!) before the event, (we did make time to brush our teeth, but it was definitely not a good hair day for me.) everything, from start to finish was fabulous.
We arrived at the venue about 30 minutes late for set up and, along with the other 299 vendors, began unloading the trailer and setting things up by lantern light. The weather at 5:00 a.m. in Sacramento this time of year is perfect, with no heavy coats, mittens or long underwear needed as we would have here in the biggest little city.

We decorated our booth with our version of her coffee filter streamers, along with thrifted mosquito netting and canvas drop cloths for a backdrop. Our new cash wrap table is made from a thrifted Jenny Lind style changing table and it worked out perfectly. I kept telling the other Tracey that this was truly a dream job.(All day long) We had so much fun planning, setting up, working, and even tearing it down and driving home. Pure bliss.

We were busy from opening (at 6:30 a.m.) to close, and we got to meet so many blog friends!( Jenny shared some wonderful pictures of our booth on her blog today!!) I will admit I cringed more than a little bit each time we had to take a picture with my blog friends (Remember- bad hair day going on here, people, not mention, about four hours sleep) but it was thrilling to meet so many kindred spirits. It was a bit like meeting a long lost pen pal because we all feel like we all already know one another. To those of you that made it-Thank you all so much for planning us into your Sunday!!!!!!

 

Words to live by - Week 108

Life is either a great adventure or nothing.
                                        Helen Keller

Ready or not, here we come.

  

     It's almost here. The big day for the Tumbleweed Cotillion gals. That's right, we're takin' it to the streets, baby. Our first big out of town fair. (out of state for that matter!)Tonight we'll make the trip over the hill from the biggest little city to the capitol of California, then rise before dawn to follow our bliss...
     I think we're ready. Well, I mean more ready than we've ever been one day out from a fair. My garage is so full that is truly looks like I am packed to move. (I am sure my curious neighbors will be wondering what that crazy woman that fills and empties her garage on a somewhat regular basis is doing this time, with a giant trailer no less.) Besides my garage, the other Tracey's dining room is crammed full of furniture and boxes of smalls. (and she has a huge dining room) Then there are the items we're taking from the booth at Junkee.
   We attempted to set up a practice booth on Friday afternoon in my driveway but it was kind of snow flurry-ing and windy and we were freezing, so we agreed that we'd wing it when it's time for the real set up, Sunday morning at 4:00 a.m. (I'll let you know how that turns out....)   
   In case you need more info, the Sacramento Antiques Faire is located under the Capitol City Freeway (50) between W and X Streets on 21st Street.  Click on here for directions:  www.sacantiquefaire.com.  There are about 300 dealers and it is held the second Sunday of every month. We are scheduled to be in booth space M-13. (For those of you too far away, you know I will be sharing pictures!)

     I am so beyond excited about this latest endeavor that it's not even funny. (and without sounding too dramatic, possibly a defining moment in both of our careers)

*sigh* I am quite sure I won't sleep a wink tonight.

Almost ready.

I will be sharing more later, but there's just no time to chat this morning...

I'm happily pulling some loooooooong days and nights between work at my grown up girl job and prepping for this weekend's debut into the Sacramento Antique faire.... and preparing to launch our new blog next week for the Tumbleweed Cotillion as well!

A (very) little peek into the new guest room...

Well, there's not much to see...yet, but give me a week and it will be a little slice of heaven. (I have to finish prepping for Sacramento this week, and I work at the bank all day, so it's taking a bit of time...)

See my post over at HomeGoods to see a little snippet of things to come.

Six days and counting until the Sacramento Antique Fair!

Can you believe it?!

If you're planning to be there and you email me to let me know you're coming by, there will be a sweet little treat waiting for you at the Tumbleweed Cotillion booth! You should be able to find us under the huge overpass in booth space M-13.We'll be the double tent booth all done up in vintage style, with shades of whites, creams, and Robins egg blue (just wait until you see the charming little dining table I finished late last night!)...with a splash of black here and there (Oh! So French!) for good measure.
We've got so many darling things that it's impossible to list them all, but rest assured, there will be plenty of eye candy!  

Northern California's storm blew into town yesterday afternoon, making it the perfect weather for me to work on pricing and packing small items for the booth next to a roaring fire in my cottage fireplace. I am having so much fun planning and creating that I get lost in each new project and I have to make myself stop to get to bed these days.

*sigh* So this is following your bliss.

Words to live by - week 107

To choose what is difficult all one's days, as if it were easy, that is faith.
                                                                                            W.H. Auden