Love at Second Sight

It's not always 'love at first sight' but when the shape is right and the bones appear strong, a little work can change a piece of furniture from ho-hum to hot diggity!!

Chair hanging out at the ScreenDoor in Asheville

This was the reproduction French bergere chair I found at the ScreenDoor in Asheville, NC a few weeks ago. A few hours in the garden armed with a paint brush and sandpaper after the upholsterer had removed it's dowdy, modern clothing..................................

..................then back again to be dressed in a French gown of natural linen. A small ottoman I already had was also reupholstered in the same linen. I'm really thrilled with this chair now.

Christmas Tea Party in Aspen, CO

My ex-pat Brit friend, the amazing graphic designer, Mmm, has invited us all to his First Annual Christmas Tea to be held in beautiful snowy Aspen, Colorado on December 1, 2009. Do visit him at Hot Toast and Jam or click on the above logo on my sidebar to join the growing list of people who love to gather for a tea party.

Be prepared to dress warmly, Colorado is chilly in December. I'll be wearing my heavy coat, tall boots, the warmest muffler, hat and gloves. Plan to arrive with British delicacies and sweetmeats, and of course your favorite tea.........mine is Earl Grey.

Go visit Mmm soon and RSVP - I know he'll be thrilled to hear from you...............he grew up in London and makes the best cup of tea!

Introducing the Sleepy Poet

In Charlotte, North Carolina, the Sleepy Poet Antique Mall is a great place to visit for stuff, stuff and more stuff! By now you must be familiar with the feeling where you walk in not knowing what to expect........heart pumping, eyes bulging at so much old beauty, legs a bit wobbly - yours not the furniture, camera ready, hoping, wishing they will have just what you are searching for.

My wish list includes such items as French linens, vintage silverplate, old cream china and white ironstone, French chairs and fabrics, chandeliers.........................and unusual things with writing/numbers that catch my eye, and of course just about anything French!

However, do you, like me, also see things you just know friends will love? I find myself getting excited over...........................

.............beachy cottage looking stuff for friends such as Sarah in Sydney, Australia.

Vintage dress forms and Brazilian burlap coffee sacks for Vanessa my close-by dear friend who often treasure hunts with me.

After traipsing around that 50,000 sq.ft. several times last weekend - this bed looked so good, I almost crawled in! Luckily there's a tiny coffee shop in the back of Sleepy Poet with comfy wingback chairs, books, and fabulous 50's/60's music.......................where hubbies and others not interested in hunting can hang out. The nicest people work at Sleepy Poet, including Karen - go see the amazing old homestead she's planning to renovate in South Carolina!

Vintage hotel silver for Brooke to add to her fabulous collection..........

.................and glittering crystal lighting including chandeliers which Penny may want for her lovely new home in the North Carolina mountains.

Next time I'll share my finds from the Sleepy Poet...............believe it or not I brought home some beauties from my wish list!!

*********

All images taken by me last weekend to share the treasures available at Sleepy Poet Antique Mall, Charlotte, NC

Southern Junk Finds

As if tootling south down the interstate last weekend to enjoy lunch with blog pals at Rhondi's home wasn't fun enough..............having a patient DH who would take me treasure hunting along the way made it doubly fabulous!

I was excited about visiting the Sleepy Poet Antique Mall in Charlotte, NC. The gals at SuzAnna's here in Raleigh told me about it ~ 50,000 sq.ft. of antiques/vintage shopping ~ AND a special blogger's booth belonging to Janna of Artsy Fartsy Junk Finds.

These pics are of Janna's junk finds in and around North Carolina.

Janna has a great eye and displays her vintage stuff so well.


Her colors are mostly pale, neutral or muted.......................

..................her little treasure items mixed in with old painted pieces.

Look at this old wooden dog bed - Janna suggests using it as a centerpiece on a large farm style table - that would be a conversation piece!

Necklaces are eye-catching, made by Janna and her husband, and are available on her blog.

You will enjoy visiting Janna at her blog Artsy Fartsy Junk Finds

All pics on this post taken by me last weekend at the Sleepy Poet Antique Mall - more pics and stories from Janna's road trips on her fun blog.

*************

Stay tuned - more Sleepy Poet finds coming soon.

ScreenDoor Snippets

Don't you love shops that have four-legged welcome committees? My favorite places usually have a 'shop cat' who wanders outside in a garden area, as this one does. Later, as I sauntered through the never ending spaces at the ScreenDoor, it appeared inside, just hanging out with the Southwestern coyote on that gorgeous rug.

Lots of interesting faces at this fun shopping venue in Asheville, near the Biltmore Estate. As I took loads of photos to share with you, I'll pop in a post now and then to show you many neat items........many of which would have stories to tell I'm sure.

Loved the tags on this dealers items - always a nice extra I think. A doggie with a vintage Roseville bowl for food or water would be especially fortunate!

Beautiful portrait - wished I had a place for this. Would hang it as is, love the wear at the bottom of the canvas and no frame.

This tin angel was lovely - the paint colors and the wings formed from old tin ceiling tile.

Goodness, gracious, great balls of.................string!

I'll leave you here with a few beautiful books..............I'm off to bed with my latest paperback, not as pretty but definitely less hefty for comfy reading tucked under the warm duvet.

Under Carolina Blue Skies........

...............we met, the golden trees and slowly falling leaves of Autumn lighting up the noon hour. Four bloggers who shared a few hours of friendship and delicious food in a beautiful, welcoming home.

My weekend jaunt to Charlotte, NC - 2-1/2 hours south on a pretty sunny Friday, with DH as my chauffeur, (we decided to go a day early to do some treasure hunting, more on that in the next post) - was to attend a luncheon at Rhondi of Rose Colored Glasses home.

Rhondi's beautiful tablescape with roses and camellias from her garden.

Having read Rhondi's blog for a couple of years, I was familiar with the decor incorporating her amazing quilts (they are fabulous), her awesome slipcovers, and huge collection of blue and white china ~ her photos are always beautiful and full of color. Stepping up on her pretty porch, strolling through her home, and seeing all the loveliness was the icing on the cake!

Above, the "hostess with the mostess" ~ sweet Rhondi serving the most delicious butternut squash soup from her charming blue and white hen tureen, followed by broccoli quiche and crisp spinach salad. Dessert of mango sorbet with homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and a 'luverly cuppa tea', made a delicious luncheon from first bite to last sip. Thank you Rhondi for such a perfect lunch.

Joined by Penny, fabulous mosaic artist of The Comforts of Home and Lavender Hill Studio, whom I met up with just a few weeks ago in Asheville, and quilter Donna of Dobco, a fairly new blogger from Oxford, NC, the four of us had a wonderful time...................as only blog friends can. When you visit their blogs you will see more pics of us having a ball!

Hope you get together with your blog friends ~ my list is growing and I feel so fortunate to have met so many wonderful women because of our blog connections.

Pink Saturday

Quick stop at SuzAnna's Antiques this week found me looking for some pink to share with you today.

A little pink and white chest of file cabinet proportions would make a great bedside table with storage in a girl's room.

This adorable pink rocking chair had a heart cutout, and this dolly was obviously loving her afternoon rest.

Enamel bowls, always useful around the house or garden. I have some white ones I use in my garden when potting plants. Usually that's the only color I see but here I found several sugar pink ones. The two stacked above looked quite new........................

...............this one, well worn and definitely showing it has earned its keep.

I'm away again this weekend visiting some special blog friends in Charlotte, North Carolina. Will tell you more about our get together next week. Meanwhile, pop over to visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound. I'm sure you'll find some pretty and interesting pink posts as always.

Before I leave, I'm 'sending' these pink roses to thank Beverly for all the work she does to make Pink Saturday possible each week. This fun ongoing weekend party has brought so many bloggers together.

By the way, I picked up these sweet roses a week ago Friday night at Fresh Market when they apparently mark them down.......just $5 and still fresh! I'm hoping they will age prettily to add to my display of dried roses.

Enjoy your weekend.