Fall Foliage From The Blue Ridge Mountains This Year...There's No Place Like Home!

Fall is my favorite season.  Each year when the very first sign of chilly weather arrives, I rejoice.  Take a look at some of my photos from this year.  It is just a little place I like to call home...

I hope you enjoyed your leaf season as much as I enjoyed mine.  These photos were a taken in the same general area in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains!

The Country Living Fair 2011- The Art Of Display

Hello Y'all!  I mentioned on my last post that there were some "Top Displays" at the Country Living Fair and I want to share 2 booths who had, in my humble opinion, the best overall displays and "shop concept."

Of course, the Fair was filled with creative vignettes as I have shown throughout the Country Living series, but this first booth impressed me with displays that were VERY well executed and it was clear as I approached , what this booth was selling and the themes that were central to their groupings of merchandise!

The First booth was KD Vintage!  Thank you for your beautiful visual inspirations!

KD Vintage is a manufacturer of beautiful seasonal items that bring back the vintage vibe for many seasons! One of the treats of being at the Fair meant that we could purchase their items directly!  They only sell their wares wholesale, generally and online, so if you are interested in these items, you can find a retailer online.  I would take a look at www.christmastraditions.com, otherwise known as Traditions.  This is a site that you should visit anyway, for they have some of the best lines of vintage and folk art holiday items online!


And the other booth that made an impression to the "visual merchandising" geek in me, was named
SassyTrash!  They had a great sign, the appropriate size booth for their available merchandise and a pretty cohesive concept.  Their booth was a lot of fun to look at!

These are images of either side of the entrance to their booth. Thanks for some great eye candy SassyTrash!
Visit their website for some more Country Living Fair photos and some extra photos from their booth!
www.sassytrash.blogspot.com.

Tomorrow, I will feature one of my favorite artists from The Country Living Fair this year, so be prepared for some major inspiration!

The Country Living Fair 2011...So Many Booths, So Little Time!

As you can see from the photo above, there were many vintage items at the Country Living Fair that could be used for display purposes and for floral arrangements or even unique collections!  Any of the small barrels featured here would be great if filled with fresh flowers and branches, or even preserved flowers, pinecones or fruits for festive table displays!  The large blue wood leaning tray would be interesting if hung on a wall and small collectibles were placed on the partitions, using them as small shelves...soo much more fun than a traditional small cabinet or shelf system.  I really like to use the vintage tool boxes like the black and wood ones as containers for floral arrangements that include hydrangeas, peonies, ranunculus and apples or other fruits.
Obviously, when you visit flea markets and antique shows or craft shows, you can have a lot of success in finding unique items if you open your mind to all of the many unconventional ways things can be used!  I have found some wonderful finds and had no idea how I would use them when I purchased them, but had a place to store them until I figured it out!  It never fails, whether it is one day or 3 months, I always come up with interesting ways to utilize vintage finds.

One of the biggest trends right now, is the use of vintage suitcases for many decorative options in the home.  One of my favorite uses for them, is small pet beds.  I also love to see them stacked next to the bed as a side table in the bedroom.

There are so many uses for the small trunks featured in this image, as well as old wooden boxes with graphics like the Utility box as well.  Remember, you can put casters on just about anything to make it mobile, and any wooden boxes or crates that you find, you can put casters on and use for toy boxes, pet toys and bones, book storage in a library or bedroom, or hobby supplies.

So... are you getting a better idea of the abundance of items at The Country Living Fair this year?  So many booths, so little time!  Well I thought I would end today's post with a photo of the item that is currently at the top of my wishlist.  As you can see below, one of the vendors brought a collection of vintage goat carts and yes, I want a vintage goat cart!  no, not go-cart....Goat Cart!  And I will eventually check it off of my list, but my budget wouldn't permit this year. hmmm, maybe next year.

Well I hope you are enjoying the images and inspiration I took away from the Fair this year, and if you have any ideas for uses for any of the items featured in the photos today, please share!  The series will continue tomorrow with more photos and several talented artists who were at the Fair this year as well.

The Country Living Fair 2011 - Furnishings!

Country Living Fair Series- Part 2

This year at the Fair, there was a larger variety of antiques and furniture, which was such a treat!  I thought that I would share some images of furniture that really caught my attention. I have also included a list of some of the vendors who featured some really interesting  pieces.

Take note of the hanging lampshades that are numbered...Not only are they great to look at, but the chronological numbers carry your line of sight across the room. This is great for styling a booth where you want visitors to notice as many elements as possible.  I like the mix of vintage rustic and french without too much fluff.  I saw this space and immediately wanted to walk in and sit down, that is a successful booth!

This blue piece was one of my favorites! It was a tough one to pass up, but I was looking for a bench and had to stick to my mission. All I could think about when I saw it was, what a great piece to hold a collection of just about anything...from sterling silver to white hobnail pieces.

Imagine a collection of Delftware filling this piece. WOW!   Blue and white is such a classic combination and it is one that should be done in a "large" way.  Oh well, maybe next time!

Great bench and pillows...I couldn't make it work for me, but I am sure that someone grabbed this one and took it home!  As you can see, the styling was really well done at this Fair and I could tell this was not the first time around for a lot of these vendors.

I really enjoyed the overall composition of this display, with all of the different tones of blue.  This is the type of piece that can inspire the look of an entire room.  If you are changing any room in your home, there are many different ways to initiate that change and it doesn't always have to begin the same way!  A transformation can begin with a gorgeous swatch of fabric, a vintage chair,  a distressed accent piece or even a piece of art.

Here is a list of some of the participating vendors from the Country Living Fair who had vintage and antique furniture:

• www.weatherednestantiques.com
• www.southporchantiques.com
• www.highfallsmercantile.com
• www.antiquesstlouis.com
• www.longwoodantiquewoods.com

I hope you feel inspired and check back for more features on the Country Living Fair 2011!

The Country Living Fair 2011...The First Feature of the Series!

I have returned from The Country Living Fair in Stone Mountain, Georgia and Wow, what an extravaganza!  This year, there were more vendors and even more of a variety of wares!  I will be featuring highlights over the next week, including several talented artists from the fair and many beautiful photos of the booths and artwork.

Today I want to include several photos of the entrance and welcome area of the Fair.  Upon entering, you immediately walk into a stone pavilion with a giant fireplace. This area is beautifully styled and it sets the tone for the aesthetic of the fair, overall.

Enjoy...as you enter the Country Living Fair 2011.  

Did you go to Country Living Fair this year? If so, what was your favorite part?  What did you buy?  Did you discover any new artists or vendors?

Check back for more Country Living Fair highlights throughout the week!

Fire Up The Grill, It's Time For a Fall Backyard Barbecue!

It's Fall Y'all!  Lets get together in the back yard and have a barbecue party!  Today's treasury includes many of the staples for a festive backyard barbecue.  Take a look at some of my amazing finds on Etsy this week.

Release Your Creative Mojo! Wool, Felting and Pumpkins Oh My!

Well it is time to pull that felting basket back out of the cabinet and start teaching myself how to felt!  At the end of last year, I entered the world of felting by purchasing 2 needles and some felting wool. I came home, watched a 5 minute video on YouTube ( you can learn to make anything from a youtube tutorial) and  30 minutes later, I had created a little bluebird.  I was blown away. Now granted, it was a scary little bird, but it WAS a bird.

Well things got a bit busy for me soon after, so I put my basket aside to pick up at a later date.  While that basket sat in the cabinet, my imagination ran wild and I had several ideas about items that I could create...and today I opened up that door to give myself a little refresher.  Now I have only created that one famous bluebird, so my version of a "refresher" actually means, I need to teach myself how to felt because I have some ideas that I want to get cracking on! I thought I would start small, literally.  A pumpkin sounded good...here goes...

So here is my masterpiece!  My first pumpkin...I know, I know, I have a long way to go, but most of the ideas that I have only include a small amount of felting and I will need to use my "jewelry making" experience to execute the rest.  I need to keep practicing so I guess I will be attempting all sorts of creations to get some techniques down....I have a  feeling I will have my own version of a pumpkin patch before this is over.

Well, I need to get back to the pumpkins, but I want to share some photos of the inspiration that occupies a corner of my studio...calling for me to get started on these new ideas that I have been pondering for quite some time! As you will see, it is quite hard to resist. Just a big bowl full of goodness...

Well, stay tuned...Hopefully over the next month or so I will bring my ideas to fruition and I will share them with you here...and if all else fails I will have a collection of pumpkins, right?

Do you knit, crochet or felt?  I would love to hear from any amazing fiber artists out there!  Aww, come on, don't be shy!  Also, do you know of any good classes?  We are certainly surrounded by some wicked good talent, so if you have participated in any notable classes in Western North Carolina or Upstate South Carolina,  please comment!

Stay tuned to see my ideas come to life. What are you creating right now?

Fall At The Mountain Farmer's Market!

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is to visit the Farmers Market. Years ago, I began visiting Asheville, NC in the fall to see the beautiful leaves, the gardens at Biltmore, and enjoy the crisp fall air downtown! Years later, I worked in sales across Western North Carolina and I was able to enjoy my favorite season by visiting beautiful mountain towns in the midst of all this autumn color like, Boone, Blowing Rock, Franklin, Sylva, Waynesville,and Nantahala every day of the week. And let me tell you, during the months of October and November I just didn't want to leave these areas to head back home!

I had the opportunity to visit every cool farm stand and roadside market and made some incredible discoveries, not to mention enjoyed some of the best homemade apple cider, boiled peanuts, and pumpkin bread. I continue to enjoy all of these places and several years ago, I added the Asheville Farmers Market to the list. I really just enjoy the energy of the market and all of the vendors as much as the pumpkins, flowers, bittersweet, fresh fall produce and apple cider!

I made my first fall visit the other day and it happened to be a big delivery day! I was parked alongside many farmers bringing in their pumpkins for market. I saw some incredible pumpkins of every color, from the deepest orange, pale greens, creams, golds etc! There were some beautiful oversized buckets of cockscombs, and all forms of bittersweet from sprays to large wreaths. The entire market was bedecked in Mums of every color you can imagine! I can never resist getting Mums in the fall, because they are so representative of the changing seasons. They are essentially a beautiful teaser of the exact colors that we can expect over the upcoming weeks!


Here is a photo of the Cockscombs that I purchased! I plan on visiting the Market several more times, so my next visit I will purchase a larger bunch and create a large Fall Arrangement with them!

I also some purchased several pumpkins, bittersweet, 3 ears of indian corn, and a small Mum. I found the small child's wagon at The Screen Door for about $20.00. As you know, older wagons, especially wood ones and/or painted ones are extremely expensive when you can find them, so I was thrilled to find this, as I can use it for many different displays in the coming years.

I literally placed all of the items in the wagon and voila! I did not use any adhesives, or pedestals. I wanted it to be very simple and organic! No over the top "arrang-ery." I think I just made that word up, but you get the idea. One visit to the farmer's market, all "real" produce, and one magical, inexpensive fall wagon!

I may place next to the back door, or I may leave it in the kitchen area!

Have you made a visit to your Farmer's Market lately? If not, it is time to carve out a few minutes of your day to head to the market to breathe in some fresh air, pick up a pumpkin or two and take a look around...it is a great way to get inspired for the season!

A Little Halloween Decor...

Well Hello October!  So we are just a little closer to that chilly weather that I have been anticipating...and now officially in the month of Halloween!  did someone say candy corn?  Okay, so why can't adults do a little trick-or-treating?  We all know that we enjoy "borrowing" our kids' candy and who doesn't like a little superhero costume every now and then?  At least as adults we could "make up" for that one awesome costume that alluded us as a child, or it could be an opportunity to don that wicked cool costume that your best friend wore in the third grade when you were forced to wear the hand-me-down scarecrow costume for the second year in a row!  Let's face it, it would be like a life time full of therapy, one night a year...I'm just sayin...

Well for some reason I am feeling a little more festive this year and decided to dress up a couple of spots in my home for the upcoming Halloween night (Okay, lets be honest,  I started reading Harry Potter and am beyond addicted-hence a renewed interest in everything Wizard-ish and reminiscent of Hogwarts).  Nothing fancy or ornate, just a little spooky.

I thought I would share a couple of photos of my "spooky."  How do you decorate your home for Halloween? Where do you get ideas and inspiration for your decorations?  What is your favorite decoration for Halloween?  Oh and of course, more importantly, what is your favorite candy?

I already had a large gray weathered bird cage and a small metal cloche cage, so I just purchased some crows, webbing, deer moss, and metal chalkboard signs at Michael's for a total cost of about $15.  I used some branches from the yard and just placed the items together carefully, no glue gun or adhesives.  This way I can use the items again and everything comes apart easily. I haven't painted the black chalk board signs yet, but they will say something like, " Do not make eye contact with the birds" and for the bigger bird, "Bird $25.00" and then I will cross out the $25 and write in "free."
    After Halloween...my gray cage is utilized year-round, empty, as decor in my home and the small metal cloche will have a small live plant grouping placed under it!  Bye Bye Birdie!

And remember, one bag of stretchy spider web fabric from Michael's goes a VERY long way-  If you are on a budget or maybe you just want to keep it really simple and realistic.  You can create some monumental spider webs in just a few focal points in your home and around your front door...then when it comes time to clean up, just pull them all off in less than 5 minutes!

Happy Decorating!  and let us know about your favorite decor and candy...