Open for Business.

"Success is a journey, not a destination." Ben Sweetland 

I am so entirely pleased to announce that we have finally found a store front for our business! We stumbled upon The Arcade shops while walking the other day and fell in love with this beautiful corner store with big windows. Its small, but we really wanted to start small and work our way up to a bigger place. 

Its inside of a historic building that has been completely redone like new. The inside has a small upstairs room for an office / storage space which I am going to renovate for making my botanicals. No more cramped work spaces! No more storage unit fees for our inventory! 

So, we are planning to get in by October 15th and ready to open by Nov. 1st! I have so much to do before then its making my head spin but I can add this to my list of accomplishments! 

Halloween Prizes.

I found this amazing tutorial yesterday on how to make your own Halloween Trophy for Costume Contests. I had to give it a try- they actually turned out better then I expected!

Click { HERE } for the detailed tutorial on how to make these creepy trophies. I made the toe tags by cutting out card stock tags and soaking them in instant coffee, but tea works just as well. 

I hope all is well!

Trash & Treasure Monday.

"Happiness lies for those who cry, those who have searched, and those who have tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives." - Unknown

We didn't find much over the weekend, just a few small things for my moms new house. I think my biggest finds this week come from my moms old house. Two pieces that over the years I managed to attach good memories to. 

The first is this antique Menu board. My parents actually picked it up in an antique store in South Carolina. At the time they were opening a restaurant in SC where we were living and It was a piece they put into the restaurant. At that time, I was only 4 or 5 but I still remember my mothers hands writing the menu out each day on that board. 

Today she gave it to me, and I will be putting it up in my kitchen for a new generations enjoyment. I wonder what number I am in a long line of people to have used this before me. 

The second item is this lovely apple painting my mother did. She framed the piece in barn wood, complete with rusty nails and all. It wasn't until she finished the painting that we both realized it was a family portrait of us all. As these things go, its taken on a world of meaning all on its own. Selling it just didn't seem right, so were putting it in our living room. 

I hope all is well in your world. 

Halloween Centerpiece Ideas.

I'm not a sponge exactly, but I find that something I look at is a great opportunity for ideas. -Martha Stewart 

A big part of my party planning is dedicated entirely to themed decor, and in all of the parties I have thrown it is probably the most important detail. Especially for those of you who are hosting a themed party this year for Halloween! I am already dusting off my Halloween boxes and preparing my house for the inevitable doom and gloom makeover. I don't think anyone could be more excited about Halloween then me at this point.

I spent some time today looking over various center pieces I liked for our Haunted Plantation theme and I think I finally came up with some winners.

As usual I had to put my own little twist on all of these by combining them into one pretty freaky center piece. 

If your interested in how to make the tea died eggs, Martha Stewart has a detailed tutorial on how to make them. Just click  ( HERE ) . The rest of the items I picked up at a Halloween store a while back. Happy Autumn everyone! 

Rebirth.

After spending the entire summer disassembling my childhood home, I could have sworn a closing date wouldn't come as a shock. But it does just the same. In the scheme of things three weeks hardly seems like any time at all, and its not the work ahead that makes my stomach sink. Closing the door on 22 years worth of memories isn't as easy as it seems. 

Even rummaging through the attic, a task I was sure would be the easiest left me loaded down with memories and images from my past. As we continue sorting, the entire task begins to feel like one giant divorce. The handmade stockings my mother made for all of us kids, the hand crafted easter baskets, each gets put in its own separate bin, to each separate child, living their own separate life. What goes to dad in the nursing home? What goes to mom? The boxes slowly begin to fill, the items in them looking old and tired. 

A long rectangular box catches my eye and I pop open the plastic lid and sit back admiring my mothers handy work. Within the box, neatly folded are the tiniest lace baby shoes, with matching bonnet. A pink handmade dress with pink bow lie sweetly beside it, and folded on top is a nursery banner with Victoria emblazoned across it. The silver fabric rain drops still shimmering as they dangle in the fading afternoon sunlight. Every crayon scribbled paper, every grade report, every work of art all lie lovingly in my box. The knowledge of a perfectly preserved childhood helps to ease the ache of a ending story, and give me the strength to turn the page so the next one can begin.

“Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.”

-Dalai Lama

Trash & Treasure Monday.

Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. -Mark Twain 

Happy Monday everyone! Trying to get back on track and back into my routine- and Trash and Treasure Monday is the perfect way to kick of the week. This weekend, I didn't find too many items but I did find some good stuff! 

The newest item to my entry way is this antique serving tray I have mounted on my wall. This piece actually belonged to my mother, who hung it on her mantle since I was five years old. Her new home didn't seem to have a place for it so rather than see it sold I thought I would honor it on my wall. This piece is 8 times older than I am! 

These pretty brass sconce candle holders caught my eye this weekend as well, and I knew they would be the perfect fit for our dining room. 

While shopping online I found this pretty little Bee soap mold and knew it was love at first sight. It finally arrived today and I couldn't resist making a batch of Apple Jack soaps. 

The last item was delivered to me today and I must say I am so excited to read this bad boy I can't wait!

Life doesn't get much better then this! I hope all is well in your world. 

History of Aprons.

“For four years I toted an old laundry basket full of aprons hither and yon, and what I discovered is everyone knows what an apron is and everyone has a story to tell.” 

I got this email a while back, and while I typically don't enjoy chain emails this one made me smile. I have been gathering vintage fabrics for a while so I can start making my own aprons. I hope you enjoy this post... 

The History of APRONS

I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

Send this to those who would know, and love, the story about Grandma's aprons. Or it can be a good history lesson for those that have no idea how the apron played a part in our lives.

REMEMBER:

Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron..

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron ..... but Love !!

A Grand Entrance.

I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.  ~Nancie J. Carmody

I have been browsing the internet for ideas on how to create the perfect entrance for Fall / Halloween. And since this is one of the first things your guests will see upon arrival, I figured it was time to post some of my favorite choices for inspiration. We are 12 short days away from Autumns official arrival so it's never too early to start considering your options!