Day Three: Lucketts!

On day two, while we were at the Big Flea Miss Bittersweet and I engaged in the same activity which occurs whenever we are in the midst of junk, antiques, fabric, ephemera, etc.......creative thinking!! Recharging my batteries is an absolute necessity for me because I climb up and down the "blue ladder" so easily. Being completely immersed in creative thinking and discussion did wonders for my spirit and outlook. Miss Bittersweet is a great encourager and during this trip she inspired me to step out and take some of my refinished furniture and created items to a new shop opening here in Virginia Beach....Chartreuse. We also saw one small rack with some interesting re-purposed clothing and in response to my wondering...."would anyone actually wear this? I love this kind of thing and wish I could make some clothing..." Miss Bittersweet excitedly said a big "YES". She informed me that many of her creative friends who do shows love to wear funky vintage and romantic styled clothing but they can't afford some of the designers out there. Another little light started flickering and I decided to also step out and try this new venture when I returned home. So, I will be letting you know a bit more about all these new developments in a few days......

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Day Two: DC Big Flea

On day one, the Misses Flibbertigibbet & Bittersweet settled into their hotel and then went and bought some nice snacks for the evening and did a bit of shopping at Tuesday Morning (just to prime the pump). We spent the evening being inspired by the pile of magazines we had brought as well as surfing the net.
Up bright and early, downstairs for some breakfast and off to the Flea!

Walked in and.....oh my oh my....what can I say? Not a crocheted toilet paper cover in sight.....just rows and rows of vintage, antique and beautifully handcrafted items. I took pics of some of the more interesting booths. I always asked ahead of time and told them I would put a link to their site. Except for the ONE French booth (very very pretty things) everyone I asked said 'yes". So, enjoy.........
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Day One.....Occoquan Va

As promised, I'm giving an update on the traveling flibbertigibbet. I actually managed to get out of the house only 6 minutes past nine......that's because only one of the kids was up and he was half asleep anyway and was unable to verbalize yet. Picked up Miss Bittersweet and off we went toward DC!
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Road Trip!!!

To quote my grandson's favorite show (Mickey's Clubhouse)....Hot Dog Hot Dog Hot Diggety Dog!! I'm getting away from home for TWO WHOLE NIGHTS! My SIL (Bittersweet Folkart Primitives..check it out) and I are going up to the DC Flea and also taking a side trip to Lucketts (heaven on earth)! I heard that the Design House is closed......boo hoo.....but everything else is open.....yah hoo....I don't know if that means I won't get to see Miss Mustard Seed Designs or Primitive & Proper designs or not. I have only been there once (I know, don't tell me) more than a year ago when my hubby and I went away for a TWO NIGHT "vacation". That time I could hardly stand it and bought a set of enameled french hotel numbers for myself as well as a wire test tube holder....very cool. I didn't have much money to spend so I had to just fill up with "virtual purchases". I have a (sort of) photographic memory and can still visually walk through the different areas (and have.....repeatedly, believe me!). I've saved a bit of my furniture money so I can buy a few special things for myself this time maybe......CAN'T WAIT!!
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I Love my Porch! (Shutter Candleholder Tutorial too!)

Don't let the title fool you ....I didn't get a new porch, nor did I do a porch redo.....BUT, I love my porch and wanted to tell you why. I sit out there most evenings for about 2 hrs (if I'm home) and just swing in total silence with my shutter candleholder glowing as the only light......

Isn't it pretty? I'll tell you how to make it in a bit....

The BIG DEAL about this is that none of the kids or my hubby can take the heat out there so THEY DON'T FOLLOW ME!!!! I can sit quietly and listen to the katydids and (like last night) the rain.....lovely.
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Another Man's Junk.......

I thought I'd clarify a bit more about my taste in design. It's definitely 'eclectic' and moves from French to English to Vintage to Primitive/Country. I don't have a problem with it but some folks really need to pigeonhole you in order to understand and I refuse to be so contained. 

We'll start with the French part. I love anything with French writing on it.....books, journals, labels, tags, fabric, walls.....you name it. I took four years of French in high school and one year in college. My dream (as a girl) was to become a flight attendant and fly to Europe. I had researched Continental Airlines and decided that was for me.....hence the French. Unfortunately (or fortunately maybe) it didn't happen and I married, had children and stayed in the good old USA. But the love of French things never died.....someday I will go.....
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Gardening with Children

Doesn't that title sound sweet? I don't know about you but visions of Tasha Tudor's and Joan Walsh Anglund's little drawings pop up. Little girls in soft smocked dresses, brimmed hats and little wellies are carrying baskets, wielding rakes and digging in pretty, deep flower borders. Boys that look like Christopher Robin in little shorts and blond hair falling over their eyes are pulling a wagon with potted plants ready to be planted. I also am IN LOVE with all the cute gardening stuff I see at Target for children! The cutest little boots, gloves, hats, spades, etc. Ladybugs, frogs, butterflies.........OMG....hold that dream!! Have you noticed they don't come larger than a size 2 or maybe 4? Suspicious? That's because once your child passes 5 gardening becomes something ugly and dark. Here's how it happens here......you may want to sit down.....and get a drink.......
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A Mended Heart

Wow...what a weekend I had last week! Busy, highly emotional, and rewarding all in one. I don't have a furniture or home project to share today but I do have a 'heart' project.


Last week I received news that the son of some old friends who was also the grandson of another set of old friends had ended his life. He was a gifted and much loved young man. He is now free of all suffering and I know that all who loved him are happy about that. However, the pain of their loss is going to last quite awhile. Although I had not known him since he was a little boy, I have known his family members and friends of the family for years. When I heard the news my heart sank and my prayers went out to them immediately. What to do? I wanted so much to touch them somehow with an encouraging word but it seemed pointless at that moment. I was led to write something about my belief regarding the healing power of God. So, that's what I did. I forwarded it to a few people who were involved as well as to a few other people whom I knew had lost someone they loved. Here it is......
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