Sassytrash

Etsy Cache.....

2012-01-26T18:00:00.017-05:00

I've always wondered what other Ebay and Etsy sellers do with all the stuff that is listed and waiting to be sold and shipped. I find myself just decorating a wall in my office with it, since I don't have an extra room for storage.

As my massive cleaning/purging "everything unnecessary that I own is getting donated" project continues (after many months, only 1/2 finished---this is why I run away to Florida!) not much else is getting worked on....especially blogging and creating....but I did manage to make some wire bees during a brief time out. Kinda fun and spring-y--and not too involved.

Hmmm.....make that: "sassy loves trash....but is getting rid of most of it"!!
I found these cool mini photography letter magnets last trip home at my favorite St. Armands shop: Garden Argosy. They come in two large sheets, with about 6 of each letter, and are really fun to play with....I use them on old baking pans.

Motorcycle mirrors have caught my attention lately.....there's an idea brewing somewhere in my brain of how to repurpose these--it just hasn't materialized quite yet.

Back to the drudgery....

Mermaids, Mangroves, and Manatees.......

2012-01-12T06:25:00.040-05:00

The gray days of winter made me do it! (post MORE pics of Florida, I mean) I know, I know.....my blog is starting to become a travel brochure, but I promise this is the last of my FL pics.........for now, anyway!
What could possibly be more fun than watching a real live mermaid show in crystal clear bubbling springs through giant underwater windows?

For this aspiring mermaid......NOTHING! (except getting in there myself, but they have silly rules about that)
It's vintage Florida for sure, being one of the state's earliest tourist attractions, and it seems so quaint and low-key compared to the mega-attractions of Orlando, but I'm really glad it's still open and delighting little mermaids of new generations!

My Florida mantra is "off-season...off-season...off-season"! There are such killer deals on fabulous hotels from September to December......and the weather is usually great! The Sanibel Harbour Resort, overlooking Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island, was practically deserted! (and the pools are even heated....oh yeah!)

Sanibel Island is almost one-half wildlife preserve and the best way to see it is drifting through the beautiful mangrove trails via kayak.

It's beautifully serene to drift along and quietly take in all the amazing scenes of nature as you decompress into a totally chilled-out and mellow state of mind.
Manatees love the warm waters of the Florida inlets this time of year (it's super hard to get pictures of them!).

So much beauty......
.......but the sunsets - with the ever-present seagulls - always steal the show!

A delightful backroads discovery....Giraffe Ranch eco-adventure

2012-01-09T09:01:00.034-05:00

**This one's for you Kayla! (My sweetie just loves giraffes!)

Unforgettable, educational, surprising...........these are just a few adjectives that come to mind when describing this unique eco-adventure located on the backroads of Pasco County north of Tampa.

Giraffe Ranch, which is situated on 47 acres of rolling terrain shaded by beautiful oak canopies, is a surprisingly personal and interactive wildlife experience that is very much like embarking on your own private safari.
Charles "Lex" Salisbury and his wife Elena Sheppa have created a wonderfully unique wildlife preserve and working ranch, with experiential learning in mind.

Lex is the former director of Tampa's Lowery Park Zoo and together they share interesting information prior to, and throughout the tour---which BTW has strict size limits to retain the personal element.
All of the animals have lots of roomy habitats, and you can see the care that has been taken to ensure their days at the ranch be happy ones.
Although the giraffes are the stars of the ranch, there are many other interesting animals--we saw antelope, warthogs, Dexter cows, zebras, ostrich, Haflinger horses, Lemurs, all type of fowl, and lots more.
You can even take a camel ride, or experience your tour by camel-back! But since it was about to rain, I wimped out and boarded the safari truck with the canvas roof!
The clean and carefully thought-out habitats, the amazing depth of knowledge shared, the hands-on interaction with the animals.....
....are all what make this experience so unique......
.....and refreshingly personal.
I believe they were about to acquire a pair of rhinoceros when I was there (some of the animals are on loan from the San Diego Zoo since the ranch is fully accredited and licensed).
You know, I'm actually not much of a 'zoo person'---I always find myself distractedly imagining a world where the animals all run free---but I truly enjoyed this unique place--you acquire knowledge without being 'taught', and really feel like family by the time you leave!

I swear I don't work for Florida Tourism.....

2011-12-31T05:33:00.027-05:00

.....it just seems like it!
I'm having a great time re-exploring the backroads of the 'Sunshine State' (where I grew up and spent most of my life) to break up the long drives down to visit family.....

.....and re-discovering all this state has to offer along the way!

Absence makes the heart grow fonder (when you live in Florida, all you think about is getting to the mountains!) and I truly miss these scenes....especially off-season (Sept to Dec) when you just about have it all to yourself!
Now that winter has set in most everywhere else (although it has been mild so far, thankfully) this tropical paradise is especially inviting!!

Sanibel beaches were overflowing with beautiful shells, starfish and sand dollars.....

.....and the oranges were ripe and juicy in my Mom's backyard.

The Spanish moss was blowing in the breeze at serene Myakka State Park .....
.....where prehistoric amphibians keep a watchful eye over marshes and rivers.
And the sunsets.......I especially love the sunsets over the Gulf of Mexico! This view was from the stern of the boat while drifting along the northern tip of Captiva Island.

Pickin's are so slim these days (I don't know if I am being more selective, or there is just not much affordable treasure left out there) but playing tourist makes a fun second choice!

"Not your grandma's craft show....."

2011-12-27T06:18:00.018-05:00

While in Florida a few weeks ago, my trip just happened to coincide with this cool 'Indie Craft' event being held at my old stomping grounds - the site of my early craft show beginnings - the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium.
Major Deja Vu!! How thrilling to be back in the historic venue where my journey into marketing began, and see a hip new generation embrace and run with the "craft" thing and create such great products made from fresh new perspectives - and most wonderful of all - the consciousness of recycling.

This event is the brain child of the artist and promoter Adrien Lucas who excels in advancing cool new trends in the indie craft market. (Her promotional ad pics were so creative....that's Adrien herself in the promo pics above!)

Many of the crafters exhibiting at the show are also fellow Esty sellers, and all of the show and product pics can be seen in this Flickr collection, or on Adrien's site link above.

It's one thing to sit and scroll through the enormous offerings of new products on Etsy, but to see them in person at the shows and meet the crafters was just.....better! I loved how they didn't go insanely over the top with their displays like we always felt the pressure to do! Simplicity.....how refreshing!!

I'm so glad this chance encounter set ablaze again the tiny flicker of creativity left in me after the exhausting fall shows!

(**Try googling 'indie craft' or 'salvage art' and check out all the new shows, shops and events that are popping up across the country! It's really getting exciting......again!!)

Etsy Favorites

2011-11-30T11:08:00.007-05:00

Browsing the aisles of Etsy is always an amazing adventure!
(I'm happy to say I have managed to sell more than I have bought - so far anyway!)

Backroads wandering.......Pebble Hill Plantation

2011-11-21T06:57:00.028-05:00

Some of my favorite scenic backroads are in south Georgia - and Highway 319 from Thomasville to Tallahassee is where you find many of the largest plantations in the area (I believe Ted Turner has a little place around here).
Pebble Hill Plantation was owned by naturalist and humanitarian Elisabeth "Pansy" Poe, who, upon her death, specified that her home (on 3000 acres) be open to the public.....
......and so now you can tour the entire plantation - complete with extensive gardens, pool, grass tennis court, cemetery, dog hospital.......

(pink and white camellias were spreading a lovely carpet of petals among the old headstones)

....and my favorite part - the stables!

These beautiful dark giants (they looked like draft horses) were napping in the paddock, and seemed indifferent to my photography except for the occasional blinking of their huge black eyes. So regal and lovely.......
(I'm experimenting with watermarks since there is more and more 'borrowing' of photos going on......but I still find them very labor intensive)
I did very little picking on my wander - partly because I am still in a state of burnout from the shows, and partly due a lack of shops that were open, but I never miss a chance to visit my all-time favorite shop "Relic's" in downtown Thomasville! It's always fabulous!

Owner Melissa was at Scott's that weekend, but I chatted with Wilson Britt (who has the refinishing shop adjacent) and he was quite helpful in sharing information that came in useful on my trip - thanks Wilson!

Backroads wandering.......Cedar Key

2011-11-18T06:08:00.024-05:00

I'm amazed at how I could have lived in Florida for most of my life and never ventured to these cool places!
Cedar Key was a pleasant surprise...... after driving a long way through bleak vistas of palmetto scrub and pine trees, this unique waterfront village did seem like a step back in time......
.....and reminiscent of what "1950's Key West" might have been like - as proclaimed.

It is situated 3 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico (start heading west when you get about a fourth of the way down the state) and I learned it's a federally protected sanctuary, which explains the refreshingly undeveloped nature of it.

Cedar Key was the destination point for Florida's first railroad to connect the west coast to the east coast at Fernandina Beach - which allowed this area to become a major supplier of seafood and timber products to the northeast starting in the 1800's.
There are undeveloped little islands and keys scattered everywhere you look, with beautifully unspoiled salt marshes.....making this prime kayaking territory!
Crab traps line the back bayou streets....
.....but most of the action is right down on the waterfront by the boat ramp where the restaurants sit out over the water, and where you can see the islands (boats will take you out to these for a day of beachcombing and exploration) and where you can fish off of the large pier.

A block inland is a little downtown area (modest and a bit ramshackle in a charming sort of way) where shops, and old and new hotels, line the streets.
Being in a time crunch, I didn't have the opportunity to do all the things I discovered there are to do here.....but definitely plan to return......ASAP!

The village is said to be a haven for artists and writers, although I didn't get a chance to check out the shops......and there are so many fishing, boating and kayaking opportunities in the Gulf, estuaries and islands. There's also biking and hiking trails to explore.....some taking you to shell mounds and other historic sites.

Next......Pebble Hill Plantation near Thomasville, GA

Backroads wandering........Florida springs

2011-11-17T05:43:00.028-05:00

North Florida is home to the largest collection of natural springs in the world with approx. 300 known springs--27 of which are first magnitude (over 64 million gallons daily flow).
Manatee Springs, near Chiefland, is a first magnitude spring and has a nice elevated boardwalk that takes you from the springs pool out to the Suwanee River, where you can see the natural terrain of cypress forests and overlook the crystal clear water along the way.
At the end of the boardwalk, which ends with an observation deck, there were hundreds of ducks congregating in a swarming mass, and as I walked further out I was totally amazed to discover there was a huge pod of manatees just a few yards off the platform!

I have rarely seen even one manatee in the wild, and it was totally thrilling to see so many of them up close. (They are not so easy to photograph though!) They start to come up into the rivers and springs in Nov. to get to the warm water--the springs are usually about 72 degrees year-round.

On the trail back to the main springs pool, I passed this sign......

......and wondered if the spring divers are ever menaced by alligators?
There were a bunch of divers in the spring pool that day (you can see them underwater if you enlarge the pics) and the water was such an amazing color of blue--photographs just don't pick up the clarity and color of the water.

Peacock Springs (below), near Luraville, is an entirely different type of spring area. The small clear pool leads to one of the largest underwater cave systems in the US, with over 28,000 feet of passageways, and is an internationally renowned cave diving destination (you must have cave diving certification). But this is all you see above ground!

Another spring along the Suwanee River is Madison Blue, and there were divers there as well. It's situated just yards from the river with a pretty stream connecting the two.
While walking the trails I remember thinking how I hoped all the snakes were underground because I would never see them in all the leaves.......and as I left the park and pulled onto Highway 6 toward Madison, there was a massive diamondback rattlesnake (that had apparently just eaten some critter judging by it's huge belly) stretched out across both lanes of the road. I couldn't get a pic of it since a truck was quickly approaching behind me. I'm really glad I didn't come across that on the trail, but I hope it made it across the road!

Next.....Cedar Key - "1950's Key West"?

Backroads wandering......St. Joseph Peninusula State Park

2011-11-15T14:51:00.017-05:00

These are the only mammals I encountered at this beautiful beachfront sanctuary surrounded by the Gulf to the south and St. Josephs Bay to the north. (about a 45 minute drive west of Apalachicola)
The bay side sand dunes were covered in beautiful clumps of bright yellow flowers....

.....and the estuaries were alive with water birds stalking little darting fish, easily visible in the clear water.
Gulf side the dunes were covered in sea grasses waving in the breeze......
.....and in the long stretches of beautifully rippled white sand--there were no footprints!

I have been told you have to camp here, or stay in one of the cabins hidden in the trees at the end of the narrow peninsula to enjoy the whole experience.

Next......the amazing and abundant blue springs of North Florida

Backroads wandering.......Apalachicola

2011-11-15T12:43:00.039-05:00

Recurring thoughts of salt air and watery sunsets finally convinced me that I was long overdue for a little backroads wander, and before I knew it my car was crossing over this bridge to the quaint Florida town of Apalachicola........
.......and I was checking in to the historic Gibson Inn......which is situated directly at the end of the bridge and within walking distance of everything in town (and which also has a great little pub where guests and locals congregate on the weekends).
(Of late, I have found myself constantly daydreaming about frolicking in the beautiful waters of the Cayman Islands, but with 'champagne taste on a beer budget', I was grateful just to get near ANY shore!)
I haven't traveled to this area-The Forgotten Coast-before, and I found it very low-key and charming! (Oysters are a big deal here.....judging by the massive mountains of discarded shells)
There are all sorts of cool nautical scenes.......
.....and beautiful old homes.

There's just nothing like 'off-season' in Florida! You can wander around without plans, since no one is here and you don't need to worry about reservations or traffic.......and the weather is perfect!!

Next......St. Joseph Peninsula State Park....aka the most beautiful unspoiled and uninhabited beach in Florida (since the discovery and ruination of the Southwest coast, that is).

Bike cam

2011-11-08T05:35:00.021-05:00

After working 'round the clock for so many months I was SO ready to dust the cobwebs off my mountain bike and hit the trails!
We're enjoying a stellar autumn here in Georgia so far, and we have hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails in the metro ATL area.......so my riding friend Paula and I hit the dirt rollin'.......
......for some much needed exercise.
The fall scenes were gorgeous! (These pics don't really capture it as well as I had hoped)

.....Paula usually manages a few spectacular wipe outs--but always keeps on pedaling!
(I made sure she was OK before taking her picture)
Fall and winter are my favorite times to ride since you can see prettier vistas with the leaves down........and no ticks!

Holiday inspiration and weekend events featuring talented friends

2011-11-05T07:30:00.037-04:00

Here are a few great places for holiday inspiration if you find yourself in the Gainesville, GA area this weekend!

Don't miss Iron Accents in Clermont, where the beautiful annual open house is underway....

.....owner Valerie and her talented crew of lovely ladies have been working non-stop to decorate to the hilt.....

....but I don't want to give it all away so be sure to stop by and check it out--you will be amazed and inspired!

At the 20th annual "Marketplace" at the Gainesville Civic Center (where Iron Accents also has a gorgeous booth) I ran into a few of my favorite talented artist friends....

.....Chris Loeb of Three Birds Studio is such an amazing jewelry artist, who not only makes the most fabulous trendy creations in glittery glam, but also has the sweetest personality ever!
She is assisted by her lovely friend Andra (an equally talented artist who has a booth at Lakewood 400).....
.....and it's always a joy to chat with her and see what stunning pieces she has been creating....
.....hmm...I'll take one of each......
.....I don't know how she does it all--with so many holiday shows--and she also sells monthly at Lakewood 400 and Scott's Antique markets......
.....where she always seems to have tons of new creations every time.....
....I'm starting to think she must have a few elves down in the basement hard at work!

Bev Norris, of Cottage Farm Chic, is another amazing and lovely artist friend who does so many shows it makes my head spin!
Bev, accompanied by her sweet and vivacious friend Mary Kay, always has a stunning booth filled with the latest in trendy and unique merchandise.....
....and you can find her at Lakewood 400 every month in Hall G where her booth is always a show stopper!

I was delighted to discover these amazing gals--Sue Sigmon Nosach and Debbie Torbett of 2 Broken Broads --who are creating stunning works of art with an inspirational outreach.
As "friends bound by ovarian cancer join their talents to show that broken does not mean without beauty and purpose" they create their gorgeous windows from broken and discarded glass.......
.....to inspire new perspectives in others, while using a portion of the proceeds to further research of gynecological cancers! How Totally Awesome!!!

I have no doubt they are in for a meteoric rise to stardom with their gorgeous creations and inspirational purpose! (Good luck with CL, gals!)

Country Living Fair pics and a huge Thank You

2011-10-23T06:36:00.062-04:00

For those who couldn't make it to the show.......
.....here is a look at some of the booths I snapped when I got a chance to take a quick run around before the gates opened......

...and these are the ones that turned out the least blurry!

(Whew! So much to see--so little time!)

I was completely overwhelmed by the awesome and wonderful people who stopped by my booth, and the awesome and wonderful new and old friends I was able to visit with.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your kindness and patience.....you are appreciated so much more than I could ever express!

Country Living Fair booth pics

2011-10-22T05:44:00.012-04:00

Early morning light = not so great pictures!
Everything just sorta got thrown together the best way possible in the short amount of time!
We brought 4 truckloads over two days and most of the time was spent driving and unloading.....
.....so there just wasn't time for perfection!
I have not made it out to see any other booths yet!!
Hopefully today I can get some pics of the rest of the show.....all I have seen so far is the path through the woods to the restrooms!

Showtime!

2011-10-20T16:28:00.025-04:00

IT'S FINALLY HERE!! Tomorrow the gates open at 8:30 for the BIG show and I have almost finished setting up after 2 long days.......and I have almost survived so far.......
....although I was questioning the survival thing while trying to get in the first day.....
....since I wasn't even close to the gate when I hit this mile long line of dealers also waiting to get in (and the line wasn't moving at all)......
(*above booth pic is of how everything just gets thrown everywhere in the beginning--no matter how much you plan, and plan, and plan to do this in an organized way!)

.....and then seeing my little booth set back in the trees with the lovely sloping slant throughout (I had to wire everything together and then wire it all to the tent--which I hope is still standing when I get there tomorrow!) not to mention muddy ground underfoot (TGF straw!).....
(*this booth pic is of that tricky slant.... and beginning stages of trying to make a stark white tent look interesting!)

....and then having to wait as long to get back out (someone was blocking the road out for a very long time) which was really frustrating......this is the hardest work on the planet for sure!! (and I don't know how I managed to not take out everyone else's booth while negotiating those tight corners!)

I always aspire to be bright-eyed, energized, dressed nice, and ready to rock and roll when the show opens, but reality is more like this: total sleep-deprivation, worn to a frazzle, clothed in 'bag lady' finest (for comfort ya know), and ready for a nap!

So now that all the challenging, yet inevitable, behind-the-scenes show stuff is revealed....

LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED!!!!!

More stash projects.....

2011-10-14T13:31:00.017-04:00

Clock case shadowboxes have endless possibilities (they are a bit hard to find for a good price).....
.....this one started out quite damaged and with no top piece.....I spent more time trying to find the best replacement for that, than on the whole project!
You can hang them on the wall or set on a mantle, table etc......and they make anything you put in them look cool!

I hate tossing anything out, but what in the world do you do with these dresser mirror holder arm things?
This is about all I could come up with at the moment.....
....it turned out sorta Art Deco looking!

WOW...a winner already!

2011-10-13T10:42:00.004-04:00

Terri Gordon is my 100th ETSY purchase giveaway winner...thanks Terri!!

Check out her blog at www.designsbyterrigordon.blogspot.com

Time flies...

2011-10-13T08:31:00.005-04:00

I am SO excited to reach this milestone, and am offering a choice of these two sets for the 100th sale. It's been quite an interesting endeavor, and I'm looking forward to listing more new items very soon!

More stash collages.....

2011-10-11T11:53:00.009-04:00

A decorative piece of Victorian wood molding married to an old sewing drawer makes a useful new wall shelf......

....and a little wood crate attached to a vintage wood panel.... with wire, hardware and an iron piece added....makes a unique hanging shadowbox.

More to come!

Crashin' the stash....

2011-10-09T09:03:00.019-04:00

Diving into my mega-stash of awesome old components....
.....I managed to come up with a few new collages.

It's totally therapeutic to piece together cool vintage junk!

But it's time to part with it all now!!

Yup...I'm finally to the point where I have no reservations about saying goodbye to every last bit of the cool stuff I have collected over the past ?? years.

(You know it's time when you have dreams about tipping the house over and sliding everything into a big dumpster, and termite-infested walls from that beautiful termite-infested farm table!)

After the Country Living Fair--if I'm still alive--I will be stocking Queen of Hearts and my Etsy shop with all the remaining architectural, hardware, etc. pieces that I haven't used by then.... so come check it out!

(Now I'm not totally delusional....I'm pretty sure that when it's all gone, a new stash will mysteriously start to appear again--it's in our blood, right?)

Fall decorations for the show.....

2011-10-01T15:48:00.014-04:00

This chippy orange reverse painted light globe is perfect for a Halloween vignette!
I really don't have much in the way of decorations for any season, but I dug around and found a little bit of Fall stuff for the CLF booth.

Country Living Fair--Stone Mountain GA--Oct 21, 22, 23

2011-09-26T06:45:00.006-04:00

With a week to re-group after the Bella Rustica show, I'm back in mega-production mode for CLF, and among the projects I'm hoping to finish is finding a unique way to utilize all these silver creamers and sugars! The above idea is 'all I got' at the moment!
(I'm starting to pray for level ground...dry weather...and no blustery wind! Outdoor shows are so much fun but also very challenging!)

Tennessee backroads

2011-09-22T06:20:00.019-04:00

Even though my flip trip was abbreviated, I still managed to get a bit of wandering in, and my favorite stop in Franklin was Scarlett Scales Antiques (just off the downtown area).......

.....and LuLu (on the main road through downtown).
My new favorite TN town is Leipers Fork (a short drive SW of Franklin).....the rural countryside around this area is absolutely stellar!
The main draw in town is Puckett's restaurant, which serves great food and features talented musicians throughout the week.

Serenite Maison was closed when I went through, but I have heard great things about this shop.
I loved the old vine-covered train depot I came across on the backroads out of town.
A quick stop in Bell Buckle yielded some good pickin's (don't miss the two antique malls BEHIND this row of shops) and leg-stretching before hitting the dreaded interstate.
Phillips General Store was having an open house---they always have awesome displays.
There is also a good restaurant--Bell Buckle Cafe--among the main row of shops.
So much to see....so little time!

Bella Rustica show pics

2011-09-20T10:22:00.077-04:00

I'd forgotten how beautiful the Tennessee countryside was and seeing the show venue for the first time was exhilarating! Pulling into the farm entrance you encounter a long tree-lined drive leading to the farmhouse.....
....with the show area situated all around the barns.....an absolute perfect setting for a gorgeous fall weekend show!
On the front lawn lunch was served to the vendors (what a nice surprise!) with BBQ, sweet tea, and homemade pies!
Everything about this unique show was carefully planned and amazingly carried out by the dynamic duo below--- Art Woods and Linda Lindley of AGAPE (our show sponsors) and all the wonderful volunteers who made this event such a huge success!

Pictured below is the ranch owner Mr. Frank Ingram (Taproot Farm) who came around and personally thanked everyone for their contributions to this effort.

Also volunteering their time were the many local musicians who blew us away with their amazing talent--their music really gave life to the show, and it was great to be able to meet some of them....
....like Goose Gossett (goosegossett.com), Kyle Knutson (on Facebook) and Alison Joy Williams (Alisonjoywilliams.com) pictured with Brenda below.

We were directly across the aisle from the Magnolia Pearl collection and enjoyed the fashion show as everyone tried on clothes, boots and hats the whole weekend!
There were so many quality dealers with amazing offerings!

It was interesting to see how the barns and stalls were utilized....every nook and cranny held unique treasures.

And just when I thought I had seen it all....I discovered a new use for gutter screens hanging from the rafters!

Another vendor/blogger Kim from Kim's Collectables and Treasures was set up in our tent, and it was great fun getting to know her.....she makes the very cool jewelry pictured below and so much more!

Keep your eye on these two talented young artists because they are rocketing to notoriety quickly......Deann of Deann Designs (far right) with her beautiful paintings....

....and Michael West of West Vintage Trading Company

.....with his cool signs and unique antiques.

And this is how our booth turned out.....

.......it all got just a little bit lost in the white expanse of the tent, and it was tricky getting everything to stand upright (I haven't done an outdoor show for a few years so I forgot how to deal with stuff like windy conditions and uneven ground), but it finally all came together!

Sharon's amazing artwork (Hunter's Crossings) was so stunning! Her killer junk crosses were a HUGE hit.....

....as were her awesoome concrete pine cones, pumpkins and angel wings!

I didn't have the time or energy to wander the surrounding area as much as I had hoped (I needed to get home to go with my Kayla to the Children's Hospital in ATL) but I know I will return to Franklin, TN very soon!

More Funky Metal Collage Flowers

2011-08-28T07:02:00.009-04:00

Even though leaves are falling and autumn is on the doorstep, flowers are blooming at my house......funky metal collage flowers are everywhere!
Small, medium, and large ones.....some on stems, some to hang, some with lights and some with mirrors.
I make them from the masses of old baking pans and jello molds that you find in thrift stores. A few are available in my ETSY shop (see sidebar) and I'm packing the rest up for the shows!

Georgia backroads.....Lake Oconee area

2011-08-20T19:34:00.048-04:00

Prohibitive gas prices and unfinished projects for the upcoming shows have kept me off the backroads WAY too long!

So between needing a countryside fix, and doing some pickin' and (my favorite) dereliction spotting, I took a much-needed break to wander the country roads around the Lake Oconee area.
And those amazing Georgia backroads never disappoint! Look at this beauty!!
Somewhere east of Greensboro she sits in all her dereli-cious splendor......just waiting for someone to stop and admire her for awhile!!
You can tangibly feel the history of a once glorious past....of generations of lives, loves, and losses that reach out to draw you closer!

She wants to tell you the stories, but she needs her people....oh where have all her people gone?
I'll never know the history of her, although I could probably find out some details in the record books if I had the spare time, but they wouldn't tell the real story....
......the story of the children, and their families, who played here, dreamed here, and grew up here....
....and hold those memories in their hearts.

It was hard to drag myself away, but when I did, I eventually ended up in a quaint town I had never even heard of before called Sparta (I only knew of the one in South GA off I-75).

Which turned out to be such a delightful surprise, with so many unusual old homes.....and my favorite courthouse to date. (I really have to go back when I have more time!)
From there I wandered back up toward Madison and came across the little town of Buckhead.
It's hard to imagine that at the turn of the century this town was once home to "4 general stores, 2 drug stores, 3 eateries, a hotel, corn mills, a cotton gin, a livery stable, barber shop, cotton buyers office, and a blacksmith shop" (according to some historical info I saw online).
And then the boll weevil and the Great Depression arrived.
There's some good photo-ops here......and I think this town borders the lake, because the price of land here is surprisingly exorbitant!! There are also some wonderful stories of a stately old home around this area that is haunted and I SO wanted to get pictures, but I draw the line (most of the time) at getting shot at and snake bit, so I'll wait until I find someone connected to the place who will get me permission and maybe machete the brush and snakes out of my way to get back to it.

Onward to Madison which never disappoints!!

I've done several posts on the amazing homes in this historic town so I didn't take many pictures here.....but I did find a NEW treasure.....

.....the oldest business in Morgan County! This original hardware business was established in 1836, in a landmark building still standing in Madison, before moving to the present location after 126 years.
Hardware being one of my most favorite things to find made this stop totally delightful....
......and the owners even more so!! What nice folks run this cool place! Sammy and Debbie couldn't have been nicer, and also gave me lots of leads and suggestions for my travels. I found all sorts of things I need for my projects and could have spent all day digging through their treasure trove!
Check out this fabulous old gas lantern! There are 2 of the them hanging above as you walk in the door.

I loved these bunches of old zinc buckles, but just couldn't think of what to do with them at the time.
Pickin' was slim this trip, but it was sheer joy to get back on the road again!!

Reality and the Picker Sisters

2011-08-08T06:14:00.021-04:00

..............................................................~THEIR WORLD~...........................................

............................................................... ~MY WORLD~...............................................

Watching this show is a love-hate thing!

First Impression? Too staged

It's a hard show to watch by those of us covered with dust and spiderwebs down in the pickin' trenches. Tanya and Tracy seem sweet and relatively innocuous, and they look good in front of the cameras....but pickers? Not believable! I hate that they get to have an army of people behind them doing the down and dirty work it takes to produce a worthy pick. (In reality, only about 1 in 10 picks will yield significant bounty) Alan is talented, and also looks good in front of the cameras, but you gotta know there is a bunch of guys out back of that way-cool warehouse putting all this stuff together!

Last Impression? Can't wait for the next episode

I totally love the type of stuff the girls are buying, and the end results they come up with for utilizing their fabulous finds! It inspires me and validates my rust addiction! And it's a refreshing break from Mike and Frank's sign-age and gear-age picks.

Bottom Line? Yeah, it's a Reality Show. But it's not Reality!

I could probably skip the first 55 minutes.....but wild horses wouldn't keep me from seeing the totally cool end results in the last 5 minutes!

A Few Projects & Pickins

2011-07-30T20:04:00.015-04:00

Painting stuff with blackboard paint is rather addicting!

So is playing with old hardware and wood! This new wall photo holder/shelf piece evolved from trying to use up some of my hoarded junk that is badly in need of reduction.

The vintage coin purse necklaces are pretty simple and I'm no jewelry maker, so I hope they will be bought by gals with a vision for adding cool stuff to make them wonderful.

Here's just a few of my fresh pickins (not much time for that these days).....I am MAD about this bird cage....

.......and the iron fence parts!!

~I hate being MIA in blogland! I miss you all, and the fact that I don't get to comment on all of your amazingly interesting and fabulously creative blogs drives me nuts! (I still haven't got my computer fixed yet....or is it just Blogspot that is so messed up?.... so I can't always see your pics!)

Scott Antique Market

2011-07-13T15:38:00.023-04:00

I only get to Scott Antique Market (2nd weekend monthly in Atlanta) a few times a year, but it is a great place to keep track of the latest trends. The dealers in the large tent in front of the North building are always very interesting.....
....there is lots of burlap covered stuff, architectural, industrial, and weathered wood.
(I actually have no idea what these are....driftwood?)

I was surprised to see hundreds of different metal junk lights, so I made a mental note to use up what I have and move on from THAT idea!!

More junk lamps-these kinda look imported to me, but I LOVE the tables!! Wish I got better pictures of those.
Inside the North building is some very high-end stuff, but always interesting.

(There are "3300 booths?" spread out on two properties called the North and South buildings because they straddle I-285. It's a pain to have to travel from one to the other, but there is a bus, too)

I actually ran through both buildings and the outside dealers in under 2 hours, which is why these pics are not so great.

Outside of the South building is a great place to get those hard to find hardware and architectural pieces....anything rusty, crusty and garden-y that you are looking for is probably out in this area-- it takes hours to sift through it all, but it was so hot I wasn't even tempted!
I did want one of these cool metal baskets but forgot to go back and get one before I left--did I mention how HOT it was?
I ended up only buying one lampshade and one lamp, but it really sparked some much-needed creativity to see what was trending at this show!

Wall Vase Collages

2011-07-04T10:45:00.014-04:00

Working with wood and my stash of rusty stuff is a nice break from wire!

Piecing it together is like doing a mend bender puzzle....

...which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't....

...but it's always nice when you get something completed that meets the criteria: funky yet functional!

New on Etsy....

2011-06-29T18:57:00.008-04:00

Using a vintage frame, I gathered and shaped my wire branches around the inside to create a tree shape with roots along the bottom-- to make a new version of jewelry holder.

It could also be used to hang photographs, or display interesting vintage collections, but a jewelry holder seems the most practical application.

It needed a bit of something at the bottom, so I made a wire nest to hold watches or ??

The shops of Monroe, Georgia

2011-06-27T05:36:00.037-04:00

With antique shops still closing everywhere, it's hard to find places worth the drive to do some pickin'.... but thankfully Monroe (east metro ATL) offers a nice day's worth of shopping.
There are about a half dozen antique shops here, with the largest being the Warehouse Antique Mall located in this massive old cotton mill.
The perfectly chippy patina of the green paint on the old brick walls is worth the visit! (and be sure to look down....the maple floors are original to the building circa 1895)

The offerings here are decidedly "eclectic".......
....but my friend Becky's booth always has wonderful unique vintage merch!!
This group of houndstooth print cases caught my eye.....

......as did this metal chicken coop.

There are 513 dealer spaces in 60,000 square feet--according to the flier.

Next stop is The Cotton Depot, which is a few blocks away and closer to downtown. The restoration has been wonderful here, too......
....with a cute garden area out front.......
....and you can still see the cotton bales and the weigh scales in the floor.
The first booths inside the door are marvelous!! Pam Hall and Lenora Gambrell take decorating to a new level and do the most amazing displays! You really have to see them in person, and hopefully get a chance to meet these sweet and very talented girls.

The original brick walls make everything look fabulous in the three large warehouse sections filled with quality booths!

And of course Lane Ward never disappoints with her talent for trendy treasures and wonderful decorating!
(Cool chicken wire lampshade, girl!!)

This gigantic metal trunk is so unique.

Davis Street Antiques is located between the above two shops and is the newest one.

Owner James Woodall has done a great job acquiring quality dealers and there are lots of very interesting antiques here!
This vintage oil painting caught my eye......
....and this great trunk.

The composition baby doll wanted to have his picture taken.

I ran out of time to shoot the other three shops, but be sure to check out Hodge Podge, Ladybug, and Old Mill that are in the same area. There are a variety of places to eat here, and some beautiful historic homes.....

....as well as some great affordable vintage fixer-uppers!!

**I only had about an hour to get to all these shops and do the photography, so forgive the brevity.....and the omission of all my other dealer friends that have wonderful booths in these shops!

Signage

2011-06-22T20:44:00.011-04:00

I've been working on my show booth sign for awhile....trying to find the different letters was a bit challenging....
It's about 6' long.....and not easy to photograph.....
....the old muted aqua painted board was perfect for this project!

Collections

2011-06-09T19:43:00.011-04:00

I knew those odd little iron stands I've been hanging onto would finally be used for something! I love how my thread spool collection looks on them.

My wood box collection is dangerously approaching "hoarder" status--I think they are reproducing....I don't remember buying all those! Better start to think of something to make out of them--They are like a blank canvas....I hope I can come up with something different to do with them.

Been working on this chandelier made with my pearly crosses--not sure how this will turn out yet.

I've got WAY too much going on these days working on two on-line stores, finding merch. for several locations, stocking up for Country Living Fair, and doing business writing for Iron Accents. Of course all this takes a back seat to hanging with my best bud granddaughter Kayla this summer! Oh...and that @#!! surgery really slowed me down!

Repurposing......

2011-06-04T20:42:00.006-04:00

Having fun making new lamps out of old things......
.....and new things out of old lamps!

Slim pickins

2011-05-29T18:41:00.034-04:00

Not to be confused with the Hollywood cowboy of old movies......but rather the prevailing state of doldrums that us 'seekers of worthy antiquity' seem to be drifting in of late!

It's out there, we just have to work harder to find it, and despite tough economic conditions, we have to pay more for it....go figure!

But I found a bit of 'good junk', and among it was some old iron pieces........

....a large heart tin, metal (shrimp?) trap, and lots of old bottles and jars and other odds and ends......
.....but the BEST part was where the backroads led.....which this time was through Union Springs, AL.
Apparently this is the field trial capital of the world.....
.....but better yet, it's a charming little town with a beguiling karma of bygone elegance and history which the beautiful Southern mansions give you a glimpse of as you pass by....oh the stories they could tell!
There are such wonderfully diverse architectural offerings here, with so many different styles represented.
An extremely abbreviated historical background is that the town was named for the abundance of fresh water springs in the area, was situated at the crossroads of two rail lines, and became a very prosperous pre-civil war town with wealthy cotton plantations and booming industry and commerce--hence the elegant mansions.
There are 47 preserved homes and businesses listed on the National Register of Historical Places.

My favorite--a derelict of course--is this treasure which, although I do hope she will be restored one day, I can't help but adore the character of which time has bestowed on her in this natural state.

The architectural details on these classy ladies are stunning when you take a closer look.....
....lots of corbels and columns....
....decorative trims and rails.......
....gables and dormers.....
....and, of course, some wonderful old iron garden fences!
Pickins may be slim, but discoveries of places of history and beauty along the backroads of the South are still thankfully abundant!

Industrial lamps

2011-05-18T18:56:00.011-04:00

I got a chance to make the trip out to Hogansville last week to the shop of my favorite lamp artist, Allan Boyer (see previous posts), to pick up these beauties.......
....and while I was there, they got a call from a designer in Illinois who wanted to purchase a chandelier he saw in a photo of their shop that I posted on my blog last month....I thought that was way cool, and so coincidental that he called while I was there!
I didn't have time for any backroads wandering, but hopefully I will very soon......

A few projects.....

2011-04-26T19:23:00.019-04:00

I haven't run out of ideas yet for these rusty metal birds! (available on my Etsy) They are so much fun to play with, and in this project I took this large wire (what else?) birdcage and added a light kit and hung a bunch of the birds on rusty twirling wires for a funky chandelier.

When I come across an interesting antique corbel I can afford, I buy it and then have 4 cut from new wood using it as a template to create a new style for my corbel mirrors. This one came out kinda lengthy, but is perfect hung horizontally over a mantel or vertically in a narrow space.
I'll start listing these on Etsy when I get the shipping figured out--this one will go to Queen of Hearts in the meantime.
Also, I have just listed one of my new wall vines......I think the possibilities are endless for these!
Etsy has been an interesting and worthwhile experience so far, but it's really difficult for your items to be FOUND among the millions of items on this site, and the limited categories are exasperating! (my creations never seem to fit into their basic categories!)

It's also helpful if you are a professional photographer and have high end camera equipment, because then your photos are chosen for the main page and tons more people can find you!

Backroads wandering....part 3......along the way

2011-04-15T06:51:00.033-04:00

I'm always amazed at being able to take off on a backroad in any direction from my house and come across beautiful countryside and historic stately homes!
I also think I appreciate it more because I grew up in South Florida where you only see (other than the lovely beaches) condos and traffic, or cows and orange trees....depending on which direction you head.
On the way to Hogansville I found an antique mall I had never been to in McDonough! Don't know how I've lived here so long and missed this one!
It's a lot bigger than it looks, and I found a few things here, although the prices were a bit higher than I hoped.

Cool humongous birdcage!

This corner full of "stuff" was in Fayetteville , and I did find some rusty treasures, although it is mostly pretty rough.

Near Hogansville on old route 29 is a little town called Grantville, where I screeched brakes for my favorite sighting: DERELICTION!!

I wish I knew the story of this interesting place.....

This was my destination in Grantville.....I found it listed on-line as a place for architectural antiques, but I have never caught the place open!!!! It's called "Re-Use The Past" and has lots of windows and doors outside, so I am curious as to what might be INSIDE!

The mostly abandoned buildings in downtown Grantville are of varied architectural styles and pretty interesting......
I bet this place has been used as a movie set before, or it should be anyway!

I didn't buy much, but this was my little haul......

I really love the texture of this old rusty wire cable above.....

......and here's the green cupboard for CLF. (I'll take the door off for the show and it will provide great vertical display space)

Backroads wandering to Hogansville......part 2.....Born Again Antiques

2011-04-14T04:41:00.029-04:00

As previously mentioned, I have discovered a cool shop in downtown Hogansville, owned by Allan and BJ Boyer (above), called Born Again Antiques.
It's a refreshing rarity to find such a cool shop that is: a) not a mall b) not a museum c) owned by special people, who are actually THERE in the store to work with you and d) filled with the unique, interesting, and (most importantly) RUSTY vintage stuff that reflects the fact that the owners 'get it' regarding what is currently in demand!
Allan and BJ have just about everything I look for in my work, from architectural......
....to industrial.....
.....to vintage hardware and awesome lighting.....
....to garden.........I love this cool piece Allan is holding, which may have been on a house, but would be so cool in the garden.

Allan has such a great talent for turning unique objects into the coolest lamps! (Can't wait to get back soon and pick up my lamps!)
And I LOVE everything BJ creates, like this great collaged piece below........
....and her unique birdhouses.........and this fun collaged cart made from a dresser drawer, rocking chair and old buggy wheels---LOVE IT!

They have so many great treasures....like this old file cabinet and this awesome industrial table.....
.....and industrial lamps and lights....

I get lost for hours looking through the amazing collection of hardware they have.
The day I was there, movie prop buyers were in the store (how can I get a job like
THAT????) There are so many movies being made in Georgia these days that I see buyers everywhere I go. (I REALLY think they need more help, don't you??)

This cool shop is certainly the place to find unique and unusual treasures.....just don't forget to leave a few for me!!!

Backroads wandering to Hogansville.......part 1

2011-04-11T07:13:00.045-04:00

Recently, on a stellar Spring weekend, I got the chance to wander back to my current FAV pickin' place.......
.....Born Again Antiques in Hogansville, GA. (Remember my previous post about the cool industrial lamps? This is the town and this is the place (above).......but more about that in the upcoming "Part 2")

Here's a bit of info about the town........there are a half dozen antique shops along Main Street......
(Hogansville is the home of the "Hummingbird Festival" held every year in October with over 200 artists and crafters)

.....there's the historic Grand Hotel B&B .........

.....and Van Byars Antique Auction is here as well, which runs about twice a month.

I love this cool old Art Deco theater--which now houses City Hall.
What cool architectural details!!

I had lunch at the Grand Hotel, and the innkeeper kindly invited me to take a tour........

....it's quite a beautifully restored place, with amazing woodwork and furnishings throughout the hotel.......

.....and a relaxing patio and garden area out back.....very pretty!

I chose this weekend to visit because the town was having their 1st annual Antique Show......
(you can sorta see that tall green cupboard I bought to use at the Country Living Fair-- the one that the guy is picking up)

.....I thought there was a nice offering of antiques, even though not a ton of dealers, but I plan to return next year--I hope this will be the next "Crabapple" one day!!

There is something quite special about this quaint little town and the friendly people that live here--I keep gravitating back to it and the surrounding area, and best of all, the pickin' prices around these parts are actually reasonable for the most part--something that is getting harder and harder to find!!

Coming up.....Born Again Antiques.....

Bird Cage Mansion and ETSY......

2011-03-21T09:10:00.010-04:00

I always say that I never keep anything permanently, but I doubt I'll be able to part with this awesome bird cage (about 20" tall)! It's probably the coolest I've ever seen......

I am now selling my metal collage flowers on ETSY.....
....and hope to be selling my butter pat posies next month.......
I am starting to really enjoy my ETSY shop, but can't seem to keep up with getting as much merchandise on there as I would like!

Industrial Lamp Love

2011-03-07T09:22:00.006-05:00

I just love pickin!! You never know what you are going to run across!!

How cool are these fabulous industrial lamps?

They were created by antiquer and artisan Allan Boyer, who along with his equally talented wife BJ, own a totally cool shop that I just happened to run across the other day while cruisin' the backroads.

I'll be headed back very soon to do a post on their shop!

After the show.......Backroads!

2011-02-25T19:46:00.061-05:00

Since I had to take I-75 all the way down to Renninger's, I was SO ready to get on the backroads for the flip trip. I wanted to head straight to the ocean, but with so much traffic around Daytona for the race, I decided to aim farther north at Amelia Island, since I had never been there.

I started north on 19 in Eustis and went by this pretty little park at Lake Eustis where the sailboats were out for a regatta.

Traveling through the Ocala National Forest (no phone signal and always on fire) I needed some exercise so I stopped at Juniper Springs and did the nature trail. Now I really felt like I was back in Florida, with the tunnels of live oak dripping with spanish moss, cypress swamps, palms and palmetto bushes around every turn.

The incredible clarity of the spring water doesn't translate so well in my pics, but it is just amazing.

The trail follows the river where you can see the clear water at every turn, and also see the sand "boils". These resemble boiling water coming up out of the sandy bottom, but are artesian springs of underground fresh water being pushed up through the honeycombed limestone which runs throughout central and north Florida, where there are almost 1000 springs!
The river was a bit low from the usual spring drought--I wonder how far these kayakers got?

When I arrived on Amelia Island, before I hit the ocean, I first cruised through Fernandina Beach, and what a surprise! It is such a quaint and scenic little historic town! Plenty of shopping and nice hotels close to the walking district (beware the blasting train horn throughout the middle of the night if you stay at the Hampton!)
There are tons of beautiful historic homes that have a wide variety of different types of architecture!! (There are a few antique malls in town--don't miss Trailer Park Collectibles-- with a few more scattered around the area)

Pressed for time, I did just a quick drive by photog of as many houses as I could......

......these aren't the greatest pics, but show the general idea of how different all these places are.

There is a really neat old cemetary in town that is quite interesting.

FINALLY I get to see the ocean.......and it was SPECTACULAR!!
Beautiful crashing waves......
.....perfect weather for a beach run.....
.....it was hard to tear myself away!

(I cruised around Amelia Island for awhile--the beach road is under construction--a bit disappointed at the massive development and endless beach cottages with for sale signs all along--Note to self: visit the unspoiled areas of the NC shore)

I got such a late start (slept late because of those !@#*! train horns) that I only had time to stop at ONE place along the backroads (341) to Atlanta, but it was a WONDERFUL stop in Baxley where I got to meet the very special father and daughter artisans and antiquers Jimmy and Clair-- who own Honest Al Antique Emporium.

Clair is a talented potter who has some beautiful pieces in the store, and Jimmy is retired Marine who plays the harmonica----both having attended the Campbell Folk Art School in Murphy NC.

(I'm always amazed to find that there really are no nicer people in the world than Georgians, and I'm always glad to be back where "Southern Hospitality" is a way of life that you find so easily along the backroads!)

Jimmy has the most amazing museum quality display of artifacts from the turpentine industry in Georgia that was so important to the early economy of the state. It was very interesting to learn about the different stages, tools and progression of the extraction of this useful but toxic by-product of the tar from pine trees.
There were the ridged clay sap pots that I have always loved, the metal cone-shape (and later rectangular) sap pots, and even the very rare glass sap pots made briefly during the war....along with the hauling buckets and other tools used.

Thank you, Jimmy, for taking the time to explain that interesting history!

This shop is filled with every sort of antique and collectible you could think of, and I wish I could have spent all day there....I am definitely going back!

I loved the tool room......and then there was the bottle room......

And when I thought I saw it all......there was the enormous warehouse out back that I could have spent all day digging around in----and me without an inch of space left in my car!!!
Ahhhh.......another backroads fix! Can't go too long without one!!

(Note: books on tape really fill in the time between stops, and make two hours of driving seem like a few minutes! I listened to Randy Wayne White again, and always appreciate the Florida history, archeology, geology, and the scuba diving details that he intertwines within his suspenseful tales)

More Renninger's........new friends

2011-02-24T08:51:00.025-05:00

This was the view from our booth lawn chairs for three days! The cool vintage model T car was a guy magnet--I wondered why Sharon never left the booth! (JK Girlfriend!)

**There were so many people that stopped by our booth that I don't have pictures of-- but SO much enjoyed meeting, like:

Susie from the blog From My Home To Yours ;

Carol Gammal from Tampa who is in Summerhouse;

The girls from the shop Relic on Manhatten in Tampa;

The totally sweet girl, Babs, from Michigan (Babsjustababblin)-- and some very nice people that bought my junk!
(I'm so sorry I didn't write down all the names 'cuz my memory is awful--it gets overwhelming when I travel so far to set up, sell, shop for merch, photograph, interview, and network all at the same time--with sleep deprivation too!)

I got to see Nicole and Ryan of Prism again, who are there every month;

AND I heard that bloggers Sweet Pea and Becky of One Shabby Old House were there but I missed them!

On to some of the awesome new dealer friends I got to meet that I DID manage to get pictures of!!

My favorite booth at the show belonged to Debbie Wilson-- pictured on the left with her sweet friend Lorie. I had the best time shopping in her booth, and talking to these totally nice girls! I bought two wonderful french doors, a huge chippy lantern, carved oval frame and a vine covered lampshade from them. I can't wait 'til Debbie gets her new blog started-she is mega-talented!

I loved meeting Mariann of Bella Flamingo Designs, and her friend Debbie--they were so much fun, and I really enjoyed talking to them!! Mariann does cool jewelry design, and Debbie has very unique vintage treasures!

Pictured above is fellow blogger Debi (check out Vintage Soul on Typepad) and her friend Robin who stopped by.
Here are the French Nest girls Martha and Shelley (Marsha wasn't there) who do a fabulous booth in the building near ours. They have a shop in Orlando at 2300 Edgewater Drive, and you can find them on Facebook. (I bought the "Quartermaster" iron bed in the below pic)

We really enjoyed meeeting Jim Perkins of Duluth Fish Decoys. His father David started carving these fabulous ice-fishing lures out of various types of wood many years ago, and they can be found in high-end shops along the East Coast from Maine to Key West. Jim travels 6 weeks a year to the shops and shows selling, and has lots of different types that are all works of art!
I originally planned to go on to Webster antique market on Monday after the show (heard it was fabulous), but since I didn't have an inch of space left in the car I went to the beach instead! (I didn't have time to get home to Sarasota--but I'll probably get to go back in April)

Renniger's show pics

2011-02-23T09:10:00.020-05:00

These are COOL mercury bottles......they were a big show hit!

**It took me ALL day today to download these few show pics (I'm pretty sure my computer is getting ready to crash) so I'm going to do 3 different posts on the Florida trip: these general Mt. Dora show pics....pics of the awesome new friends I met there....and then the pics of the backroads places and people!

I ended up buying these corbels, and 2 more like it, because they reduced them to a great price for me.....not crazy about the paint, though.

These burlap dealers were here in November.

The European linen above is fabulous........$18.00 a yard I think the vendor said.

The panda cookie jar displayed in the big wood bin was cute.

Shell art seemed to be big.....and there were some great primitives.

You find these industrial carts in lots of booths now---I saw chippy green ones, corrugated metal top ones, rough ones and shiny finished ones.

I really like the concrete sheep.....

This dealer with industrial furniture seemed to have the busiest booth at the show.

This show is spread out over 115 acres, with another big flea market next door to it, so you could spend all 3 days trying to see it all! It also felt like Equatorial Africa with the 85 degree heat, blazing sun, and dry, dusty wind! I was looking forward to it, but it turned out to be a bit TOO hot!

(Darn it........I had LOTS of great show pics, but gave up trying to download them!!)

Renninger's Extravo in Florida starts Friday!

2011-02-15T08:01:00.005-05:00

I'm so excited to be heading to Mt. Dora FL in 2 days!!

Sharon and I will be selling in booth 89-- which is sorta near this building in the foreground --down on the south (far right) side of the show. (Looking forward to seeing all my Georgia friends that are coming!!-- See ya there!)

Barn Horses Feeling Fresh After Storm

2011-02-08T07:35:00.006-05:00

This video was sent to me by my good friends Charlie and Jenny who board their horses at Silver Cloud Farm on 81 in Walnut Grove.

During the ice storm last month the horses were stuck inside for many days and couldn't be turned out, and this video was taken as the horses were let out for the first time after being cooped up.

They seem timid at first, and then really get rolling!! Jenny's horse "Wawa" is the cute little paint up on her back legs showing off.

My Sisters Antiques

2011-02-07T17:41:00.019-05:00

If you do your antiquing east of Atlanta, you surely have heard about the sweet sisters Angie and Christy who own MY SISTERS ANTIQUES on Main Street in Loganville.

These adorable girls are the nicest in the business and make everyone who enters the store immediately feel like family!!

They have a wonderful shop filled with great vintage finds that cover every category, and I always find something cool and unusual--at great prices!

I love how their vignettes always have some great architectural pieces in them....

....and I really loved this pink theme.....

....and how cool is Sandy?

This fabulous chippy pink-over-aqua cupboard is amazing in person (my photo doesn't do it justice)....and is offered by one of the nicest dealers I know....that would be Cheryl, pictured below coming up the aisle!

This booth belongs to one of my other favorite dealers-- Susan Akins, and if you can't find a treasure in her booth, you just ain't tryin'!!

Be sure to stop in if you are in the area!!
(The shop is closed on Sundays and Thursdays).
Their website is: www.mysistersantiques.com

a backroads wander.....finally!

2011-01-30T06:28:00.034-05:00

It seems like months since I managed some backroads therapy......and with temps hitting almost 70 and the sun shining bright (and the need for fresh merchandise) there was no way to resist, so I headed southwest through Georgia and down to Montgomery.

(Pictured above is the beautiful Meriwether County Courthouse tower in Greenville, GA)

We did some good pickin' around Montgomery and headed north on Hgwy. 231 and found this cool place.

The owner, Mr. Jones, was really nice and let me take pictures--it was much bigger inside than you could imagine, and totally filled with endless treasures--- which were so well organized (unfortunately almost always an indicator of higher prices).

Mr. Jones told us he lost about a third of his inventory in a tornado a few years back and hasn't bought anything since, which makes it hard to imagine what he USED to have!

He has EVERYTHING....and lots of it!!

I think the movie set production people should check this place out!

I REALLY wanted this clock.......

In Tallassee, we took a detour just before crossing the Tallapoosa River and Thurlow Dam to see this interesting abandoned building--I'm not sure what it once was, but I'm guessing a mill of some sort by the riverfront location.

I would SO have to play here if I were a kid in this neighborhood!

I forgot to get a shot of the river, but it was really pretty and wide, with old abandoned mills and bridges along it---makes you wonder what was once made here, and where we get those goods now?

A little more roadside dereliction on the way to Auburn......
It was a quick trip, but we got lots of great pickins (mostly smalls) at great prices in the malls and little places along the way---although I'm agonizing over what we had to leave behind because of space limitations (mostly bigs)!! (hmm....wonder if I could just run back over there today with my truck and be home by night?)

Primitive jewelry tree

2011-01-15T06:16:00.005-05:00

Take one chippy old door panel......add a twisty wire tree......and you have a funky and functional jewelry holder for hanging on the wall.

I added a wire vine to wind around it for more interest, which provides little places to hang rings and bracelets.

With the addition of a wire vine hanger at the top--it's ready to hang and display all my jewels---of which I have very few. This is probably the sum total of my collection (except for the boxes of vintage bits and pieces I have collected over the years to "do something with someday")

**I will probably list it on my Etsy---that is if I can force myself spend another hour in front of this computer today! The ice is melting, and if I stick to the main roads, I think I can safely venture out today! I am SO ready after a week of cabin fever!!

Wire flower and vintage corbel

2011-01-07T09:03:00.011-05:00

This project was fun--no real plan--just a general idea of size, and I bent and twisted the wire until something emerged that sorta resembled a flower!

The goal was to find a different way to utilize this cool chunky corbel I found the other day. Of course, the end result has to be functional, so I doubled the wire so it could hold photos, and you can also hang all sorts of stuff from the wire.

(Hmm, a jewelry hanger would also be a cool use--maybe with a wire tree?? I bought 4 matching of these corbels, so I have 3 left to play with!)

Silhouette hat stands

2011-01-06T19:11:00.003-05:00

I just can't seem to stop playing with wire! The more I work with it the more ideas I come up with. My manicure is ruined, so I might as well keep going......

(these are now available on my Etsy)

Sassytrash on Etsy

2010-12-28T13:46:00.006-05:00

WHEW! Getting my ETSY shop set up and first items listed took a lot longer than planned, and was quite a learning experience!

I decided to sell on-line after getting requests to purchase some of my creations, which have always done well for me at the shows, and I decided ETSY might be the best way to do that. So, after finally getting the holidays behind me it's full speed ahead......this is gonna be interesting!

But what work! Photos have to be re-sized, descriptions carefully thought over (trying to describe what I make, and find appropriate tags is a challenging task!), shipping charges figured out, and every detail disclosed--it still takes me about an hour to list one item!

Any tips from you pros out there in the bloggerhood would be ever so appreciated!

(I had to alter my name to SASSYTRASH ANTIQUES AND DESIGNS since awhile back--after I had been blogging about a year--someone used my name to set up shop on ETSY. Hopefully this was a coincidence, and makes me wonder if it would be smart to incorporate my name or something? would it ever matter? I'm clueless in that area)

So Beautiful

2010-12-26T17:07:00.021-05:00

This palm tree-hugging Florida girl~who has been known to complain just a wee bit about the cold and lack of sunshine around this time of year~was stopped dead in her tracks by the amazingly beautiful world of white the morning light revealed!

After such a blessed holiday, filled with wonderful times spent with family and friends, it was so very much like the icing on a magnificent cake.....the Birthday cake of our Savior to be exact....and rumor has it that this is the first time it has happened around here in over 100 years!

As I walked the paths of this scenic 900 acre park (where I do most of my cardio miles) I was amazed at how different everything looked in all that fluffy white splendor!

So beautiful.....it took my breath away!
(Umm.....that might also be the result of extra calories consumed and significant lack of exercise over the last few weeks!)

More wire vines

2010-12-13T11:19:00.006-05:00

I formed this vine to support an old frameless chippy mirror....

.....and it doubles as a jewelry/photo/stuff holder.

New wire project

2010-12-12T19:01:00.005-05:00

I took a little break from making wire photo holders (for my- "hopefully up in a few days" -ETSY site), and made bunches of vines instead. I had a large vintage frame, so I ran some vertical and horizontal wire to suggest a window....

......and attached the vines in various places for stability. I visualized it as a display for photos or jewelry or...?

(I think it would be cool as a family tree display...using similar little photo frames, but I only had larger ones, so I just used some other stuff I had on hand for these pics)

It is quite large--about 38x32--and when we ever get a warm day, I'm going to get outside and distress it for a funkier look!

Lane Ward's "My French Farmhouse" at The Cotton Depot

2010-12-06T19:15:00.010-05:00

While antiquing in Monroe, GA last week, we ran into our former show friend Lane Ward, who has recently opened a booth at The Cotton Depot, after being out of the business for many years.

Lane was always the "best of the best" at the shows, and I'm so glad she is back at it!

After about an 8 year hiatus, she just "threw this booth together" in a day or so! (I STILL don't feel like I have gotten our booth in Queen completed yet, after 4 months!)

Everything looks wonderful.....

....and we wish you all the best!!

Martha's snowman

2010-12-04T14:58:00.012-05:00

My friend Martha makes the CUTEST snowmen out of stacked bubble and fish bowls.

She hunts far and wide to try to find authentic little vintage Christmas items to put in them, and improvises with other creative contents when those run out.

They were such a huge hit at the recent Lakewood show!

What I bought....

2010-11-26T17:32:00.019-05:00

I don't show what I buy very often, because I mostly buy components to use in future projects....and they don't make much sense until I get them incorporated into something, but I thought I'd share a glimpse of my little haul this trip, anyway (I really need a bigger vehicle).

These three half-round baskets are my favorite purchase.....I broke my rules on these 'cuz I'm not exactly sure what I will do with them yet! I try to have a definite plan before I buy something, or it will just end up on the already too-tall heap of "what do I do with this?".
I actually didn't buy much this trip, since I have a pretty strict criteria that I at least attempt to adhere to. Cost is the first consideration, and most of this stuff cost very little. I think the shadowbox and everything in it (including the exfoliating doll) was about 12.00.

The pocket watch casings were 5.00 each and the watch faces were 1.00 each.

This etched and decoratively framed old mirror cost about a third of what I can get for it in my market, which is better than I usually get.

I scored lots of great cardboard photos (some 3/1.00 and some 1.00 each) and various iron pieces....more components for projects.

I paid about average dealer price for this green bucket, but I loved it.....and I think it might just have to go on my front porch with a little fir tree in it!

This cool iron base was a few dollars, and I'm going to have trouble letting go of it too, at least for a little while (I usually part with everything eventually).

I'm gathering lamps like crazy because I make my photoholders, etc. out of them and I'm getting very close to finally offering them on-line!

I also bought some tall, narrow, chippy blue vintage doors with glass panels (they are too filthy to photograph), but walked away from tons of stuff I was on the fence about----better to err on the side of restraint in these times, right?

Now, if I could just get all my projects transferred from mind to reality!!