Field Trip Friday!!

The second weekend of every month here in Atlanta we have an amazing Antique market called Scott's.  It's just about a 40 minute drive from my house.  I've not been in a few months and thought maybe the kids would want to go today.  So I asked them yesterday and surprisingly they were very excited about it! (which saved me getting a sitter!)  You can only imagine the places I've drug these two to.  From icky thrift stores, every art store within a two state radius, antique stores, flea markets, and galleries they've shopped in just about every type of place there is.  They have, in the past, not been the most pleasant shopping company.  So I was super happy they wanted to go, but also a little nervous about their stamina in the 99' heat and ability to stay focused on the fun of the giant market.  Well much to my surprise they LOVED IT!!  We stayed over 4 hours and could have gone longer but I wanted to beat traffic getting home.  William had to go through every tent outside meticulously, and got very ill with me when we skipped one I thought to be less interesting.  He already has a little collection of pocket knives and for some reason today they were in every booth.  Literally.  He scored a tiny necklace charm pocket knife and one that is like a canteen knife with a fork, knife, spoon, can opener, etc.  Real cool.

Above was a favorite find.... a tandem bike!!!  We could not figure out whose it was, so we had to leave it.  But man I wanted it for my booths.  Of course my little voice of reason Mailey was like, "Mom, where are you going to put that?"  Below is the cutest stinkin' thing I've ever laid my southern eyes on.  A deluxe chicken house.  If we get to move I've already promised the family we are starting a large veggie garden and raising chickens for fresh eggs.  We will be coming back to get one of these for our girls!!

 I picked up some fabulous spools for jewelry displays and a wooden rack for jewelry as well.  And then there was the mack daddy find of the century.  Ok artist peeps....get ready to be very jealous of me.  See:

I know!!!!  I know!!!!  It's heavy as crap because it's solid wood.  And that wood is covered in its previous owners paint!  I can only imagine the artist at work using this amazing cart.  Best part, I opened up the drawers and to my surprise there were art supplies in every drawer.  And the owner said, "it comes with all that junk...I'll take $100 bucks for it".  I was trying so hard not to do a kart-wheel.  Yep.  Vintage supplies!!  There are amazing treasures in the unit from an old rubber date stamp that had only the years 1956-1960 to watercolors for hand tinting photos!  There is one drawer pictured below that is full of exacto knives and blades.  I have no idea who would need that many of that particular tool.  In fact, after taking off half my thumb in college with one I have a total fear of that particular tool!  Yuck is right.

The paint is of course dried out, but I am already thinking what a cool display in my booth!  I'll definitely be taking this sweet piece to the Country Living Fair.  I can totally see the drawers open with my products spilling out of them.  And here's the back of the piece.  It's bead board covered in paint as well.

So I am hoping this vintage treasure will bring me some good mojo in the coming months.  I can only imagine a happy artist could create such a mess!!

A Very Good Day

Hey guys!  I just HAD to pop in tonight to share a few things.   It's been one of those pay it forward happy days.  Seriously.  Where to start....where to start.   Yesterday my Dad called and asked if I was going to be headed to Scott's Flea Market today because he was thinking of driving over for the day.  I blogged about Scott's last month remember?  Last month I spent serious money on some amazing finds.  This month I had a little stash of cash and a mind set to NOT come home with anything that took up floor space.  Nope. (although it was painfully hard not to come home with a few finds!!)  So here are my two favorite finds:

 A pink velvet pillow with tulle fringe and a dainty vintage Girl Scout pin attached (cost:  $5.00).  Mailey Grace LOVED it!! 

And then......last month I found a guy selling hand carved metal jewelry stamp thingys.  Yes, I thought I'd died and gone to jewelry making heaven.  I poured over the trays and trays and bought 4, including a beautiful bird one.  Unfortunately they did not stamp into the metal like I thought they would.  Darn.  I think I can embed the images into PMC clay though, so not a total loss.  Today I found the one above!  LOVE.  Big puffy heart LOVE.  And yes, the PMC clay and I are going to become new friends asap.   Because Jeep and I have a little love relationship.  Like I love it kind of relationship.  (cost:  $30)

After a wonderful day of flea market exploring with my Dad (which was so nice) I came home to find a little box sitting at my doorstep.  Huh.  Who is this from?  I opened it up to find the sweetest little assortment of artsy goodness and note that made me cry happy tears from a BLOG reader!!!  So sweet Alicia...you have helped make my week that was a not so good into a very good one indeed.  Like the icing on a yummy cupcake kind of day!!  Your kind words, lovely bookmarks and pincusion I will treasure forever.  And I can not thank you enough for taking the time to send your kindness to me at a time when I needed it so. 

So right now.... I'm sending all of you a ginormous hug....feel it?  oooooweeee...what a day.  Yep.  Things are looking up in this house and that new horizon I've been painting is finally peeking up from the canvas.  Yep.

Field Trip Friday...Scott's Antique and Flea Market

We are so lucky to have this amazing flea/antique market once a month here in Atlanta.  We used to have two,  just thinking about it makes me sad....but alas, Scott's is still up and running.  And for some reason, I had a hankerin' to head there last weekend.  It was cold as cold could be.  But Tiffin and I with gloves, hats and coats were not deterred.  Promptly we drove up to the market at 9am and started with the outside booths.  I've never been to this with her before, and it turns out we have the same excitement about the outside booths!  Actually, we had the same excitement over lots to do with this market....thankfully not over any merchandise though!

Look at all those awesome ART stools below!!  Too bad I didn't need any.  They were a find though.  I loved the yellow and blue cart above as well.  It cranked up and down which would rock with my heat press.  Maybe next month.

 Anyone need a hand?  hehehe......

These bathtubs all lined up were just to funny.  I bet in houses built today these babies would fall right through the ceiling.    Oh, BTW, you guys like my hat?  I got LOTS of stares and some compliments.  Funny, in Georgia I'd never thought I'd need the darn thing.  But man I've worn it A LOT this year!

Tiffin on the other hand was mesmerized by the sitz baths.  She cracked me up talking about them being so comfortable and so much better than the stupid pink plastic tub they sent you home from the hospital with.  OK folks, I pretty much remember the birth stories of my children down the the minute, but the sitz bath thingy....I'd obviously blocked because until that very moment the pink plastic tub had escaped my memory.  Needless to say these sitzers became the giggle conversation the rest of the day. 

I managed to spend my entire Naked Art Consignment check in a few hours.  What did I buy you ask?  Well.... some beautiful beads, vintage jewelry pieces, faux pearl ring that ROCKS, hen house bins for the new kitchen, a beautiful 1st edition map for Billy (our anniversary is this week), 4 hand carved metal jewelry stamps I am praying work with my stamping techniques and these two rockin' items:

Above is my new jewelers bench.  It has the most amazing butcher block finish with pretty markings by the previous crafter.  The bin pulls are brass with remnants of paint from previous projects all over.  Ellie has already claimed it as her own little house.  I intend to add casters so it can be wheeled around.  And no, I have no real place for this....but for $130, it could not be passed up.  Nope.  It would have haunted me.

And last but not least, this little bauble I spotted immediately, and the owner wasn't even in his booth yet!  I have no idea how I noticed it amongst the tray of other baubles.  I mean seriously how many people are looking for a Pi Kappa Alpha signet ring?  Not me at the time of course, but it was definitely scooped up once I figured it out.  And Billy really liked it.   I got the really like it expression and the wow...you got this for me?   And those of you that know Billy and his small variations in facial expressions, it was definitely a good buy.  

So....I may have to take next month off for my pocket book's sake.  It was fun to go this month and spend time with a friend, plunder through vintage finds, and come home with all sorts of amazing finds.  Oh and the rice pudding, I can't forget the rice pudding.  Yummmmmmy.  So have you been on any field trips lately?

I've Been Working.....

I've found studio time to be a little sparse these days. But, I did finally get these cuties out of my head and into true form. These old sap buckets have received a much needed face lift! Two months ago I picked these colorful metal buckets up at Scott's Antique market with an idea to attach giant fun flowers on them. I've wanted something bold and different to sell. I may have found that new product. These are the test run buckets which are now for sale at The Vintage-Flea for around $20. They should be all-weather proof since the flowers are made from roofing felt.