Notes from A Cottage Industry

A revelation about New Year's eve, (And about me) a word for the 2011, and a giveaway.

Okay, so since sharing my post about New Year's eve celebrations and all that I thought it stood for, I have come to realize that I am in a rather..um...small crowd. I asked my best buddy down at Camas Antiques what he and his partner would be doing to usher in the fabulous new year, to which he replied, "Nothing. I mean, we keep it low key. It's not a big deal."

I then asked another single-gal-pal from the antique mall what her plans were. She had no idea. Probably early to bed after dinner with some family.

Finally, I asked my daughter yesterday morning what she would be doing, (You know, since she has a semi-new beau and all, I was sure they'd be doing something absolutely inspired.) and she informed me that she was working all day, so no plans had been made. She did say she planned to most likely watch the ball drop in Time Square. (I didn't ask if she'd be watching it on eastern, or pacific time.)

Hmmmm.

So.

Apparently I am in the minority in thinking of New Years Eve as a you've-got-to-whoop-it-up-till-the-stroke-of-twelve-and-see-what-changes-happen-in-your-life kind of girl. That got me thinking.

A lot.

Why do I have this concept? One of my biggest little city friends pointed out that whooping things up if they even remotely resembled a holiday or event was all I had known for three plus decades. She pointed out that I had been married to, as she called him, "The Party King".

Really? 

Oh. My. Ga. 

I thought about it for a moment. She was right. When I was married, any occasion was a potential party opportunity. Mmm hmm. My ex-husband liked to entertain and so did I, so consequently, everything was a party. Birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas of course, but also things like the-daughters-are-coming-home-from-college-for-the-weekend, or...we're-going-on-vacation-and-taking-the-kids-friends-with-us-so-we-all-need-matching-custom-made-Spring-Break-2003-bags-to-carry-our-stuff...heck, we once even hosted an elaborate formal brunch (with printed invitations!) for a group of my girl friends after a yard saling excursion one morning. No lie.

Consequently, New Years Eve is...or was, in my mind...forever a confetti and champagne event. Now, I am not saying I was wrong, I am simply saying that I had yet another light bulb moment this week. I now think that while the new year is cause for thinking about the nice clean slate and the possibilities for good things to happen, it doesn't have to be an over-the-top event, unless you want it to be.

With this being said, I read a blog post this week that really got me thinking...and inspired me. Kim shared her concept, like a lot of other people do as well, of having a word of the year, and she even shared some ideas for how to find your word.

I thought it would be really fun to hear what your word for 2011 will be, so here's the deal, in three easy steps-

1. comment on this post before next Tuesday, January 4th at midnight, sharing the word you've chosen, and why.

2. Wednesday morning I will draw one comment and pick a winner.

3. The winner will get a custom banner sent to them in their inbox of their word for the year.

so...as I was saying....I liked the idea of a word for the year, and I decided to pick one. After not more than two minutes I knew what my word would be for 2011, as it was the exact thing I have been working on developing for all of 2010. (Some of my closest friends already know what this word must be and are chanting the word aloud right now...)

Anyway.

Since there are no real rules for this, I figure I can use the same word two years in a row, right?

Right.

Wanna know what my word was (without formally calling it my word for 2010..)...and will be?

.

.

.

.

.

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BALANCE.

Balance between work and play, between sleep and activities, between time with friends and family, and time with myself.

As I said above,those of you out there that know me really well, know that I have been searching for this all year, since I am rather...manic?...spastic?...obsessed?...er...Enthusiastic? (There, now that sounds more positive) and not terribly laid back when I do not know the entire plan for things in my life.(This being said, I am actually very laid back when plans change most of the time and go with the flow on things for the most part...I just initially like to know a loose game plan, and where I stand,if that makes any sense at all.)

I go all out for any new job, or creative endeavor, but then, I am easily sidetracked. (I know you're not shocked.) I seem to get carried away with one thing and forget another. Likewise, I get involved in a project and stay up far too late into the night working on it, like a crazy woman.

Yeah, so...Balance.

That's my word, and that's what I am gonna strive for.

(Now, pick your word, and enter my giveaway!)

This little light of mine.

My sweet friend Miss Char shared this on her blog a short while back and I loved it so very much that I had to share it with you, so you can feel warm and fuzzy too, this Christmas season.

 

It's not what's on the table, but who's in the chairs.

No, I'm still not really unpacked. I mean, at a glance it appears so, but the garage is still full of boxes, and my toaster is missing in action. My office workroom looks like a storage unit.

No matter. I closed the office door, and decided that I was ready to entertain guests.

Mmm hmmm. I realized that since my move to the Pacific Northwest, I haven't hosted an actual dinner party for friends, if you can believe that. I've had one person over at a time, yes, but never more than that since moving up here. Last night five of us gathered around my little round dining table in my cozy dining room, and surprisingly, we all fit just fine!

We had a very simple meal- chili with all the toppings, and cornbread, while we talked and laughed nonstop. It made me realize just how much I miss entertaining friends. I am now anxious to do it again, and think I will add this to my list of New Years Resolutions. (You know, I am wild about the fresh start of a new year and all the possibilities it brings...)

It just goes to show you, it isn't at all about the size of your home, or if the chairs all match. It matters not how how fancy the meal is. It's about people, and friendship. I am feeling extra blessed today, knowing that here in my new little home, I have a circle of friends to share my heart with.

The stockings were hung...

I thought I'd share some of the adorable stockings we saw at Monticello yesterday...so many cute ideas! The theme was definitely neutrals and vintage...and they all were fabulous!Take a peek at these... 

and these...
and I really liked these lil' ones...
...and how about these?
....these were simply too perfect for my daughter, the nurse... (We heart Worthy Goods!)... ...Monticello has a spectacular selection to choose from if you're in the market for some new stockings, that's for sure.

 

A little trip to Monticello.

My lil' Camas babylove and I made a trip over the bridge to PTown this morning (with his Mama and his Auntie) to cruise around Monitcello and see what's new for the holiday season. I took my Big Black Rebel along so I could share some pictures with you.....

Mmmmmmmm. Some yummy eye-candy, don't you agree?.

Good things come in HUGE packages too.

I got a call from my Camas Antiques yesterday. A package had arrived there for me, all the way from Michigan, and I needed to come down to the store and pick it up.

Michigan? I couldn't think of a soul I knew in Michigan.

Imagine my surprise when I opened the huge box, and it was crammed full of the most beautiful vintage linens I have ever seen! Tableclothes, vintage clothes, napkins, hankies...the list goes on and on. I was speechless, and so was my friend best buddy, Clark, who helped me open the giant box. Sweet, sweet Sheila had sent this wonderful surprise to me all the way from Michigan.

I know I have said this before, but the people out here in Blogland are simply the best. I am so grateful to live in a time when we can hop online and find friends and kindred spirits anywhere on the planet, and the world suddenly becomes a much smaller, cozier, more friendly place.

Sheila, thank you ever so much for such a kind gesture. I love everything and I will make sure that each and ever piece finds a perfect new home.

Another Barn House Tour Bus...this time from Eugene, Oregon!

 

I just wanted to share the news that Jill just sent me. There is yet another tour bus available for those of you wanting to attend the Barn House Flea Market, but you don't feel like driving over two hours by yourself....Check it out here!

I'm looking forward to meeting everyone a week from Saturday!

The July 2010 Sunset Magazine--The Barn House Boys Issue!

 
It's out! (And it's a really nice article with some great pictures!)If you are a subscriber, you should be receiving it any day...and it will be on the news stands any day.

It couldn't have happened to two nicer guys, and I went completely and totally over the moon when I saw the spread. The nice folks at Sunset magazine used a photo of my booth at Camas Antiques, as well as mentioning A Cottage Industry. 
 
(Be still my heart. Did you hear me squealing last night when Joann showed me the article?) I am thrilled to be riding on the coat tails of two such talented (and humble) boys.

Oh yeah. Life is good.

A little Tuesday inspiration for all of us.

Nope. No picture today.

Just a link to an incredibly inspirational blog post that totally made my (very early) Tuesday morning when I took a break from painting in the garage. I cannot even tell you how I came to land her blog, but I am so very happy that I did.

You've just got to love this girl's determination and commitment to her dreams. Thank you, Laura, for sharing your story with all of us here in Blogland.

To read her post, click here.

Barn House eye candy at Camas Antiques.

Joe is most definitely the king of display. A true master. I popped over to Camas Antiques to fluff my booth after my day at the bank, and I stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the progress he had made on his fabulous window arrangement. (Actually, I was so taken in that I think I even drooled.)

He even staged the entrance to the window display from inside the store, making it a new focal point!

There was a slight glare due to the outside street lights and the window glass, so you'll have to look past that, but...wow. Take a look yourself.... 

I am absolutely dying to see exactly what fabric and all is under the wrapped settee in the display. I know it is going to be a feast for the eyes.

All of the incredible items you see in the window will be for sale come Friday, when the Camas Antiques 6th Anniversary sale begins. There will be prizes for the first 50 shoppers each day, and sales in most every booth space, including mine. (I am picturing the line of shoppers waiting for the store to open, tapping the window chanting "Open, open, open!" like on that old Mervyn's commercial, aren't you?)

I can only imagine how quickly this gorgeous window display is going to be picked over, and Joe will then return to restock with more amazing finds....and more inspiration for us all.

And the winner is.....

......Marie!! Thank you all for entering my giveaway and especially for reading my blog. This has been so much fun that I just may have to do another for the first day of summer!

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING, EVERYONE! I'll be taking Moose to the dog park again, and planting some flowers later today...hope you're doing something fun also.

First day of Spring Givaway!!

The weather up here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest has been fabulous of late, to say the least, with more spectacular weather in the forecast for the upcoming next few days. (sorry for those of you living where the weather is still cold.) The spring like weather puts me in the mood to plant flowers and head over to the Dog Park with Moose every spare afternoon that I can find. It also makes me want to create, and to clean, and to organize. (Although my plans always seem to somehow get side tracked in regards to cleaning and organizing.)

Anyway.

I was in the unpack-and-organize mode yesterday, and I decided that since the first day of spring is this Saturday (I know! Can you believe it's already going to be spring of 2010?! Time flies.) I'd do a Giveaway here on my blog to celebrate.

The Giveaway package includes everything pictured up top...The Spring Cleaning book, one of my "Nest Full of Happy Thoughts", and a vintage apron. All of these vintage treasures have been gathered from around my own home.

To enter my First Day of Spring drawing, simply leave a comment on this post, and this Saturday, March 20th, I will announce the winner. Get an extra chance at having your name drawn by linking my post on your blog. (And shoot me an email or comment to let me know this.)

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Top O' the mornin' to you! Don't forget to wear some green today!

I'll be doing another post later today...I'm going to be hosting a giveaway!

Weekly words to live by, and advertising opportunities.

 Oodles of exciting blog stuff has been developing  around my home....First of all, I've had another busy week here, getting to know my MAC a little better. (And I am loving it!!!!) This coming week I will be turning in my old computer to the Apple guys to move all of my information over to the new MAC. Once that is complete I think I will be able to get back up to speed...anyway, I am hoping so.

Second....I'm thrilled to share with you that Notes From A Cottage Industry is now offering advertising opportunities! You may click here for more information. You will see that my good friend Deb from hummadeedledee has a darling link button over on my left sidebar, (and if you're interested Deb can make a button for you as well) that promotes her online business.

On another note....I've been posting my weekly words to live by for a long time, (156 weeks and counting!) and I get quotations from all sorts of places- the web, books, and even from some of my readers. It occurred to me yesterday that maybe some of you would like to share your own Words to live by posts, on your blogs as well, so..starting this Sunday I will have a Mr. Linky installed at the end of my words to live by post for you to link to your blog post. I will also now post my Weekly Words to live By post at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday evenings, instead of early Sunday mornings. If people seem to like this, I'll continue to do the Mr. Linky thing each week.

If you are not familiar with Mr. Linky, let me explain it for you. It's simply a box that you fill in your blog name and a link to your post. Once you do that, readers may click on your name and be taken to your post to read...sound fun? I think so.

I hope you all decide to participate. The more, the merrier!

A little ray of Sunshine!

 What a wonderful way to begin my Thursday!!!!!! I am very flattered and incredibly humbled to have been nominated for the Sunshine Award by three thoughtful friends!!!

Thanks so very much to sweet Robin King ( Robin King Designs ) for thinking of me, and adding my blog to her list for this award. 
 (Don't you just LOVE her Blog Banner?!)

Thank you also to Piper Green (Piper's Pen blog ) for thinking of me as well. Check out her charming blog!
Thank you so very much, Piper!! 

And last, but certainly not least, a huge thank you to one of my all time bestest blog and creative types buddies, Deb, from Hummadedledee, (as well as half of the creative duo of Kennedy & Kennedy Designs.)
 Deb is one amazing girl. In fact, she is the person that created my new blog banner. She is the Sunshine Queen!

I know, I am supposed to give this award out to 12 other bloggers...but I simply cannot narrow any list of mine down to 12, so......... If you have ever taken the time to post a comment here, consider yourself nominated. You all deserve Sunshine Awards. I treasure each and every reader and friend I have out here in Blog land. 

Monticello inspiration.

My daughter and I, along with my favorite little man, popped over to Monticello's yesterday afternoon for a quick bit of inspiration. As usual, it did not disappoint. 

I returned home, my mind filled with new ideas for some charming lil' treats for my own booth space at Camas Antiques....which I will share very soon!

Holiday event at Monti's....

Oh. My.

 I made it to the Monticello Holiday event opening day just a few minutes after 8:00 a.m when the event opened. The booth spaces were fabulous, with so many wonderful ideas to inspire! Today's post is mostly pictures, because there was so much to see, and the old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words really rings true here.
I wandered through the huge mall for nearly two hours before finally making my way to the checkout; my head spinning with inspired ideas for my own booth display at Camas Antiques....
Hands down, there were two items that literally every booth had tweaked to their own style...
First, Christmas stockings....in burlap, cotton, vintage fabrics- and each one more charming than the last.
The second hot ticket were all of the many bottle brush trees....
green, pale pinks, or bleached...
glittered, mounted on vintage candlesticks, and sugar bowls, displayed in a variety of clever ways, atop silver candlesticks or sugar bowls, and in every size imaginable.
The event goes through the holiday season, and the vendors will be replenishing often, so I am sure I will be heading back over to take another peek before Christmas arrives.

2009 Holiday Home Tour, part two.

 
The tour continues! (As always, click on the words printed in blue to hop over to tour a blogger's home for this years tour....) We're going to continue with our holiday home tour today, starting with Sue's place, over at "A work in progress" blog. 

From there, let's pop on over to see what Cindy has to share over at her Romantic Home!!! (You know Cindy will have some incredible ideas!!!) 
Cheryl has some adorable ideas for decorating this holiday season, so we simply must pop by her home next!
Next up is Roxanne, with her wonderfully charming cottage full of Christmas cheer....

....Next stop on the tour will be Gayla's home, and her cookies look absolutely delicious, so I can't wait to see what else she has in store for us!

Then, Lori sent me a lot of pictures of her sweet Oklahoma home, but if she has a blog, I couldn't find it...but I did want to share a couple of pictures anyway...
Then, we'll scurry on over to see what Lisa at the tarnished and tattered cottage has to share with us today!(I really do love these silhouettes in the picture she sent me, but I don't see them on her blog anywhere, so you'll have to ask her about them!)

...And we'll end our tour for today. Thank you to everyone that participated with pictures and blog posts!!!! The pictures from my holiday home will not be up until next week sometime, as I am in the process of moving right now!

2009 Holiday home Tour, part one.

Happy December everyone!What better way to start of the month and the Christmas season than with a holiday home tour? We're going to start this years tour at Debbie's home (How cute is that decorated candy cane up above?!) .....

....and then, it's off to Janelle's sweet home to see her holiday decor and treasures...

...followed by Carla's home and her new blog to see what holiday cheer she has cooked up!

From there, we'll want to be sure and stop by Donna's charming cottage, have some tea and take a tour....

then, on to Jill's home for a nice lil' visit... tomorrow we will show the rest of the tour! Thanks for coming along with me...

Guest post today over at 4 Reluctant Entertainers...

You must know Sandy, right? If not, you will now. She's been my blogworld friend for...gosh, how long? Maybe two years? Maybe longer, now that I think about it.
We met (obviously) through our blogs and we have grown a wonderful friendship over the past couple of years. I love her style, her hospitality, and dedication to raising her family. I am guessing we'll get to finally meet in person at some point once I get moved to the Portland area next month!

Anyway.

Sandy graciously invited me to be a guest blogger on her blog, sharing a hospitality idea and I was happy to participate!As you can tell from her blog's title, she shares many, many wonderful ideas for entertaining, with the focus on what is really important...In short, she inspires me!

What are you waiting for? Hop on over and check my post out, and tell Sandy I sent you.

A few practice shots....

I'm up in the Portland Stars Hollow  Camas Washington area visiting and doing a little business research. I am thrilled to share a couple of photos... from my new camera! (my favorite little man now has two teeth!)

     Yes, thanks to the many, many friends online and otherwise, I was able to make quite a dent in the price of a replacement camera. I decided I'd better buy it while I was up in Portland (where they have no sales tax!!) Thank you seems like such an understatement, but it's fom the bottom of my heart.

A boycott and chair numbers two AND three of ten...er..eleven.

Well.

   Thanks for all of your great feedback on thrift store price gouging, as alarming as it is. I had no idea that I would spark such a lively vent-fest about Thrift Store prices with yesterday's post!(And you had me laughing out loud with phrases like "the ladies in the back on crack" and "BadWill"!) I am truly shocked (and more than a little saddened) to realize it's a nationwide epidemic, and I think I can feel the rumblings of a major revolution here.
     As for me, I plan to boycott of the high priced Thrift Shops for as long as I possibly can,(starting yesterday!) and that should be quite a good little while since it's summertime. They need a reality check, not so much for folks like me that are re-purposing items to earn a living, but, more importantly, for people that need essentials at a price they can pay so they can get by in these tough times. I must admit I will miss chatting with Warren, our favorite Sally employee, but, so it must be. I can hit garage sales each and every weekend until the end of September. Maybe I can stockpile enough goodies to carry me through winter!
     Speaking of stockpiling, remember my collection of chairs? Well, two more completed, thank-you-very-much. (Please excuse the garage door backdrop- I couldn't get the chair through the tight doorway from my laundryroom to the kitchen. Oh! Special thanks to the Sewing Queen of northern Nevada for making the most incredible cushions!) That should have left me with seven to go, but...I discovered yet another chair ( a really, really cute Frenchie looking folding chair!) in the basement at 41 Taylor yesterday that I had forgotten all about.

Oh my. I really may need to find some kind of 12 step program for this. It's nearly as out of control as my "thing" for shoes.

Someone's having a birthday!

    I'm a busy little bee this week, with my painted vintage furniture class going on tonight after work at the bank, over at Pickled Tink ...

...but I wanted to stop a moment to let you all know that today is the other Tracey's birthday! Please, pop on over to her lil' blog and wish her the best!

My cup runneth over....

    Oh, how I love this blog world! Truly, so many kindred spirits.
    Seriously, where else can a girl ask for opinions and advice on how to paint a sign and get so many great ideas,(Thank you all!) or share her deepest fears about being suddenly single at the mid century mark, or, brag on her grand babies (relentlessly!) without anyone complaining?! Only here, in our fabulous blogland.
    Yesterday in the mail, this wonderful present arrived from the amazingly talented Becky!(Yes, I got all teary eyed and weepy just opening the package and reading her sweet, sweet note.) Her fabulous note cards (such a talented artist!) and her 2009 calendar are just the most inspirational eye candy. Becky and I have never met in person, and yet, I feel like we know each other. We have so much in common, and a friendship has formed. Thank you so much Becky!

Only through the incredible internet is all of this possible, and I am so grateful for all of my friends, both in person, and out here in the blogasphere. Knowing that you read my blog just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, and really makes my day. I treasure your comments and notes more than you can know.

A tour of the loo with Elmer, Harlan and Roger.

       Meet Elmer Huss. He's three years old in this portrait. (His name and age were on the back of his picture when we bought it from a fellow vendor at Junkee) Isn't he just about the dearest little guy?! Well, I mean next to these two doll babies. That's my own Dad, Harlan, on the left and my uncle Roger on the right. Couldn't you just eat them up?
They are all residing in my most favorite room of the new place-yes, many of you guessed it! The bathroom. The restroom, the loo, the water closet, the library..whatever you call it, it's a room full of charm in the little cottage on East Taylor. I could hang out in there all day. (*note* It is very hard to get good pictures in a tiny place like a bathroom, so bear with me.)Oh, but wait. Let's go back to the beginning, about a month ago. (Wow! Is that all it is? We do work fast!) Here was the fabulous little room a few weeks ago....

Lots of mismatched tiles. And some rather interesting....modifications, like this one here...

Ummm...hmmm....I guess someone wanted to recess their toilet into the wall..? (Who does that?!)

    We had the challenge of how to make this little bathroom work for us, on a shoestring budget. We decided we loved the floor, which is all original and in perfect condition. And we loved the original-to-the-house medicine cabinet.

 Everything else? Notsomuch. The patchwork-y tile was bad enough, but that hole in the wall. Augh! We were just not sure what we could do about that. Luckily, Juan, our incredibly-inexpensive-and-reliable-painter guy looked at it and said he knew how to do tile repair, and..get this..he could "bondo" the cut out wood area to look like new. We said "go for it, Juan." And he did. Our first plan was to cover the tile over with bead board. Too pricey for us, and it would be quite a challenge. then, we decided to paint the tile. I researched it, and yes, it can be done, with a lot of sanding and oil based primer and paint. Then, we hit upon another idea. Our signature look! Book pages! we have done it on bookcases and dressers, why not the walls? The added benefit is that it can easily be removed if someone else were to take over the home and need to actually shower in here. Three bottles of liquid starch later, and a whole lot of books and here is the finished product... The sewing Queen set up her machine in the bedroom and bless her heart, sewed so much burlap her machine may never be the same. (I had no idea burlap was so fiber-y and lint-y. What a mess!) She made us a skirt and a matching shower curtain (and the table skirt in the parlor in a lighter shade of burlap!)

   There is still a little bit of tweaking to be done (replacing the shower head for a smaller one and seeing if the Sewing Queen is up for monogramming the towels with our name...thanks for the idea, Betsy!!!!)

*sigh* so there you have it- a tour of my favorite room in the new place. A bathroom with enough reading material (and charm) for anyone.

How's about a little tour of the completed Parlor in the new place?

    Whew! We're very nearly done renovating the new place on East Taylor Street, and we'll be hosting our first event there this Friday! Let's begin today with a tour of the now completed parlor, shall we?
    Oh! Before I begin, I want to share a little story. Last Saturday, the other Tracey and I were yard saling, hoping to score more wooden dining chairs for the new place. We arrived at this one sale and found some of the most unusual things. (Okay, we didn't buy these things, but we both saw them as some sort of oddball confirmation from God that we are on the right track with our business venture. Are you like that??)

Our first amazing find- We spotted this crest. (or is it called a shield?) Now, we aren't really into crests, but the fireplace at our new place has a kind of knight's helmet thing-y in the center of it, as well as a shield ( or is it called a crest?) on either side of the mantle. And just take a peek at what is on this crest.(...shield?) Mmm hmmm. A "T". A coincidence? I think not.

So, then, upon entering the actual garage, the other Tracey spotted this.Oh ya, who says God doesn't have a sense of humor?!

Anyway.

Like I said, we didn't buy those things, but, I ended up finding and buying an incredible silver tea and coffee service (I am a nut for vintage tea services, especially if they have ornate foofy silver footed trays.) And then...we found not one, but two of the most darling, charming vintage newly upholstered fan back chairs. Well, we assumed they'd be too pricey, but when I asked the price,we were stunned to find they were in our price range! I then offered the woman even less and she said yes, so we grabbed them right up and hauled them to the new place. See the charming chairs? Pretty fabulous, don'tcha think? We just love them. And did you notice the wood floors? (Remember this room before?)

We stained over the old light oak with a deep dark mahogany colored finish, and we used a water based stain. No stinky smell, and it went on (we brushed a fairly thick coat and then sealed it a day later) like a dream.I highly recommend it.

   Here is one last before and after picture of the parlor. It's the front window area.......the warm chestnut colored walls, coffee dyed lace curtains and bright white trim with those new dark floors look so rich, and it cost us next to nothing, if you don't count elbow grease.Tomorrow I'll show you my very most favorite room in the sweet little cottage on East Taylor Street, complete with before and after pictures!

I betcha can't guess what room it will be.

Leap of faith

I did it. I am stepping out of my comfort zone and I am taking a giant leap of faith.

    We made Pro Con lists and crunched numbers. We asked advice from our families and friends. We prayed and looked for signs. Then, we took that leap of faith, and the other Tracey and I rented the fabulous diamond-in-the-rough little cottage!
    Can you see the potential, there in the living room? The magnificent fireplace, the warm, worn, hardwood floors, and the wonderful windows? Oh! We are so excited, and yes, still a little scared, as we begin working on all of our plans.
   Let me back up a bit. To give you the entire picture- I'm still going to be at the bank, and plan to stay there,( I'll be doing what I can around my grown up girl job hours!) unless I end up at the non profit job, if and when it could be offered. But..
   In the meantime, we decided that there could be a nice have-my-cake-and-eat-it-too set up with the house business idea. The plan is to host frequent Tumbleweed Cotillion vintage faires at the cottage, possibly monthly, with our vendor friends and even some out-of-town guest vendors. In between the vintage faires we will sell our own products during regularly set up business hours (and we will, for the time being, still keep one small booth at Junkee, just around the block) and..(here's the really fun and exciting part!) we plan on using the cottage to host intimate events, like bridal and baby showers, rehearsal dinners, anything you'd like, for up to about 50 people! (oh! Imagine the cupcake towers I'll be creating!)
     The events may be as simple or elaborate as you wish, with all of the details attended to in a charming setting. Now can you imagine the wonderful events that might be held in the spacious living room with the beautiful fireplace? (Just wait until you see how the room will look after we paint and polish and foofify things!) Here's another peek into the living room. It's the most incredible radiator cover I have ever seen...

Anyway.

That's the plan.

One more thing. We're struggling right now trying to decide on the name for our new place. Do we stick with the Tumbleweed Cotillion, since that's what our faires and our booth space is called? (You know, just build on our brand?) Or..do we use a new name to identify what the business will be....(Maybe one word, like "Cottage" or "Tumbleweed". Maybe something more hip, like "41 Taylor", which is the address of the house? Maybe something to do with our names? Or...something else entirely?) Please, we'd love to hear your ideas and suggestions!!!

Thursday night surprise.

First, let me say thank you to everyone that commented yesterday. It warms my heart and reaffirms my own faith to see so many of us feel the burden to pray.
     The other Tracey and I have been working like crazy women to be ready for our booth at the 1st Roseville Antique Market, and it's nearly here, whether we're ready or not. 
      I would paint and create little treasures everyday, all day if I could. (And someday I will!) I love doing it so much that I lose track of time, but this week I had a change in my schedule at the bank and it meant that I wasn't home parts of the week to paint as I had planned. (there are only so many hours in the day, no matter how I try to stretch them) I was pretty stressed that I wasn't going to have all of my pieces completed and my dining room, kitchen and living room were looking like some kind of furniture refinishing warehouse.

Anyway.

     Imagine my sheer amazement when I arrived home last night to hear Jack Johnson serenading me on my stereo and to find that all of the pieces of furniture that I had left half painted had been completed and ready to be antiqued or foofy-fied, along with the added surprise of a primed dressform I didn't think I would even have time to tackle for this show! (And she cleaned my kitchen!) It took me a minute to process all of this and then I burst into tears of disbelief as I walked through the dining room and living room. (Honestly, I felt like one of those folks on that Extreme Home Makeover show and I would hear Ty Pennington shout out at any minute, "Move! That! Bus!")
   The other Tracey, the little fairy God-friend that she is, had spent the entire morning at my cottage while I was at work, painting away, hanging out with my pups. I have typed and erased for 15 minutes now, and I simply cannot put into words how touched I am that she would do this for me.

It boggles my mind to think of just how blessed I truly am.

Meant to be.

It's thrifted. It's vintage. It's recycled and reinvented. It's perfect.

It's the official new Tumbleweed Cotillion Cash wrap station and it sports a fabulous vintage credit card sign.
     The other Tracey and I actually found the sign in Sacramento at the booth next to us at the Antique faire. We loved it from the moment we spotted it and decided we could find the perfect piece of furniture to attach it to. We didn't know when, but we knew that somehow, someway..someday, we'd find just the right piece of furniture to create the best darned cashwrap station anyone ever had.
    Less than two weeks later, we happened upon this three drawer dresser at our local GoodWill. The three drawers were perfect for holding tissue paper, bags, our cash box, scissors...you name it. (click on the after photo to see enlarged version of the rustic antiquing...)
 
The odd, yet amazing part was that it was missing the entire back, which we didn't need, because we wanted to mount our credit card sign there. (I swear, it was as if it was just waiting for us!) It was oh, so cute, and just happened to be the exact size we were searching for to hang our antique credit card sign. (notice it reads All "Valid" credit cards accepted!)

We ran home to my cottage, and, after measuring the sign, went back, snatched up the dresser and got busy painting and antiquing. (Special thanks to Mr. Tracey, who was given the task of mounting the heavy metal sign to the dresser for us.)

*sigh* See what I mean? Meant to be.
Man, you've gotta love it when that happens.

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.)

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!