SuzAnna's - still the one.....................

Although SuzAnna's Antiques hours are a little shorter these days - chilly Winter mornings mean opening hours start at noon - this fabulous antiques/vintage/shabby chic haven is still the best in my area. I try to stop by weekly because there are always new things to see and fall in love with......and the prices are right. As for the staff, nowhere, I repeat nowhere, will you find such great gals who will instantly become your friends forever!

My most recent visit was Friday with blog friends Vanessa at Vanilla Lavender and Deborah at Pictures, Pots & Pens. It was fun to have Vanessa back after her six week trip home to Brazil - lots to chat about as we browsed around the ever changing shop, and of course we each bought a treasure to take home. I was so busy talking I forgot to take photos, however here are some of the treasures I spied at the shop over the past several weeks.

The outside area will soon be filling up again when the weather warms - there will be plenty of patio/deck/garden furniture and all those sweet statues, birdhouses, shutters and garden paraphernalia we just can't do without.

Decor Decisions

After trying other places, the decision was made. Display the sconce in the dining room where it just seems to be at home.

This room is visible when entering the front door. It's passed through as one way to the kitchen and, besides being a place to eat, is often my desk, a room to sit and watch the birds visiting the front porch...........and currently is even the French classroom.

I still have to find two candles for the holders ~ they have to be just the right type and I need to make them look old and used, with dried wax drips, perhaps faded or stained. Any ideas on aging candles appreciated.

When I finally decided to buy the sconce this week, I was really stopping by SuzAnna's Antiques in response to their phone call regarding these amazing books.

Found at an auction last weekend, they knew immediately I would be interested. The three large volumes of L'ILLUSTRATION Journal Universel were published in Paris in the 1860's and each is a six month compendium of a weekly illustrated newspaper. Each book has almost 500 pages, hundreds of amazing illustrations, and are in wonderful condition other than some wear on the covers.

Note: Anyone else having problems with Blogger this week? I'm so frustrated at trying to sign in and stay signed in, losing pics after uploading, being unable to SAVE a post, and even problems leaving comments on other blogs.

If Walls Could Talk

You move through the shop taking in the array of antique and vintage treasure piled on tables and chests, tucked into corners on shelves, balanced on wobbly chairs. You glance up. There, hanging silently, are the chandeliers, the prisms catching the afternoon sun as it streams through the big open doors. The delicate lighter chairs, waiting for a dining table, swing from the rafters. In the vintage kitchen section, old timey hand mixers and box graters dangle like holiday ornaments.

But don't forget the walls! I especially love the treasures hanging on weathered wood with peeling paint, on vintage bits of leftover wallpaper, on painted brick or natural stone. The walls themselves are treasures too, becoming lovely backdrops for prints and paintings, or for frames holding pictures, mirrors, pieces of tapestry embroidery or photos. Often frames are empty and their loveliness awaits some special treasure you might like to place inside.

All photos of treasures taken at SuzAnna's Antiques last weekend when shopping with my fun blog friends.

Framed smidgen of tapestry to give a room a touch of France.

Such an elegant 'black tie' apron.

Rusty iron ~ shimmering crystal.

The sconce of my heart ~ now on sale, shall I splurge?

What a great idea ~ using the little metal bench as a picture 'frame'.

Very old wedding photograph ~ circa early 1900's by the clothing I think ~ a huge family. Someone should have kept this treasure for future generations of their family.

Give Me a Sign......

Yeah, yeah.............girls just wanna have fun at the beach this time of year. Here in the hot and humid Southeastern states, beaches, lakes, ponds and pools are the first choice of people wanting to keep their cool! This is one of many fabulous old prints framed in the neatest painted wood frames. Great selection at SuzAnna's Antiques for every room in your home - you can glimpse more on the wall in the last photo below.

If you can't get to a watering hole on a hot day, just head out to SuzAnna's in Raleigh. They're not lakeside property, the only standing body of water may be in the birdbaths scattered around the yard, however they will have ice-cold water for you as eloquently stated on this sign. And.............while sipping and looking at charming signs, here are a few more which caught my eye when visiting the shop with my granddaughter the week before last.

Now this one I need for my potting shed................

......... and we all have something vintage that needs identifying - I'm thinking dh!!!!

If you have a little cabin in the woods, next to a pond, with a view of a mountain......you also need a sign so we can all stop by to visit - and wouldn't that sundial be perfect in your little garden.

Isn't this a fabulous sign for your place at the beach.........nothing fancy or contrived (have you seen the crazy names some people give their beach properties?), this one just states the obvious.................signage perfection.

Oh! a barn, how I'd love a real barn-red BARN.......then perhaps a few chickens, a rooster, my own fresh eggs.............an old John Deere tractor..............a farm!!!!!

I don't have a garage but if I did I'd definitely take this one home and hang it on the door - after all MY car would be on one side, and MY stuff on the other................dh's car would probably still be parked in the driveway!

Ahhh! MUSIC. Who can't use a music sign to prop up wherever music is playing around your house or in the garden, and on lovely old barn board.

Susie and Anna - thanks for being there for us, come rain, come shine.............come 102 degrees, and keeping the water cold! You are the best shopkeepers ever - welcoming, kind, funny, helpful, talented, generous, beautiful.

We love your shop - we love sweet Linda and others who help you - we love YOU!

Susie, Anna and my granddaughter - June 2008.

Pretty in cream, white, yellow, green....and of course pink!

My visit to SuzAnna's Antiques this week was so much fun. I met up with Vanessa who found me via my blog and said she would like to treasure hunt too!

Vanessa is originally from Brazil, a beautiful, charming young woman. She brought her sweet little girl Luna along. The three of us had a great time with Luna ending up with a cute child size chair and table to use on their patio.

Afterwards, they came home with me for tea and while I showed Vanessa around the cottage and garden, dh entertained Luna...............he's great with little girls and even dug out our granddaughter's stuffed animals for her to cuddle.

~~~ Some treasures spied at SuzAnna's this week~~~

Sam's Country Porch is next door to SuzAnna's.

This birdhouse came home with me - couldn't resist it with that vintage book used for the roof!

First attempt at this post I added more descriptions however it will not post and I lost it!

This time you just get the pics and must guess what I said about all these pretties.

Thursday evening I'll return for SuzAnna's ribbon cutting party to celebrate the new addition to the shop - sounds like a fun time.

SuzAnna's Antiques - Bigger and Better!

You may recall I mentioned my favorite shop for treasure hunting here in Raleigh, SuzAnna's Antiques, has been busy building an addition. This past weekend I stopped by to find Susie, Anna, and many family members and friends, as busy as bees as they reorganized the shop...........and met some of the new consignors who have spaces in the addition. They are bringing in fabulous furniture, lighting, china, decorative items etc. Some gorgeous treasures were asking to be taken home - can see I'll be visiting often!

The outdoor area is still being redone - but even with the hodge podge of stuff there were some interesting items visible.

Before entering SuzAnna's outdoor area, one can't help but stop to view Sam's colorful Spring garden offerings at his cute little shop, Country Porch Antiques. The flowers and plants were great - I bought petunias, potato vines, verbena, and a large, beautiful rhododendron.

Sam will offer more local vegetables and fruits as the season progresses - I bought local strawberries which are just coming in and were really sweet and good.

Next post I'll take you inside the new 'rooms' at SuzAnna's and show you some of the lovely things that caught my eye.