Just two weeks to go!

I can't believe it myself! Just two weeks until the first Flourishes event!! At this point I just need to take a deep breath.

Everything is percolating along just fine. The new fireplace is in so we should be snugly warm now. Bill will be building the mantel this weekend out of some fabulously chippy door headers. The goal was to put in a heat source that would look like it was original to the building. I believe we nailed it!!

It will be a busy, busy weekend. The Portland Antique Expo starts Saturday. I think they have somewhere around 1350 booths. It's ginormous....but not as big as the July Expo at 1750 booths. At any rate, it's a biggie and lots of fun. I'm going with a list and my camera!! I hope to get pictures of a couple of my favorite vendor booths.....Madison Park, Tarte and Barn House. Hmmm. Now that I think of it, I'm wondering if Joe and Jermone, Barn House will be in attendance. Joe or Jermone, if you're reading this, please give me a heads up!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Happy Pink Wednesday!

I'll be back to post more later in the day.....so many things to do for Flourishes opening and only so many hours in the day!!!

Warmest Pink Wednesday bear hugs, Aleta

You Make My Day Award

The sweetest thing happened the other day. I was given the You Make My Day Award by Patricia Knight, Zada Creations. To think that my little blog makes someone's day is a delightful honor. Thank you Patricia! You're a peach!!

What I can't seem to figure out is how to post the little banner thingie. It's a wonder I can manage to post pictures, let me tell ya! I still have yet to master putting links in text. I think it's a matter of taking the time to learn how to do it.

So, until I'm able to take the time to learn how, I'm sending Patricia a sweet little snowdrop bouquet from Mt. Pleasant to say how much I appreciate her thoughtfulness. Thank you again, Patricia.

Warmest Sunday bear hugs, Aleta

Have you seen the list?

A sneak peek!! The vendor list is complete for the first event at Flourishes held on March 15th. Some are favorite artists from the previous Willow Nest, and as mentioned before, some are new. Wait. Back up. They're not new per se, they're new to this venue. Actually, if you think about it, they're all new to Flourishes!! Joining in, in alphabetical order are:

Jan Chandler, Sassy Cat Creations; Cindy Dockins, Tarte; Tammy Gilley; Lisa Kaus; Martha Kohley, Vintage Trifles; Christine LeFever; Karen Otto, A'musements; Madison Park Antiques; Brenda Power, Duffyantiques; and Julie Verburg, The Withies.

I am thrilled and delighted to have this wonderfully talented group joining me and Bill in this most wonderful adventure on Mt. Pleasant. Many have even signed on to do shows throughout the year, including the flea markets where they are able show their entire line.

Time is quickly ticking by and there is still so much to be done!! Merchandise will be arriving soon.....

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Pink Wednesday....a wee bit early!

I'm posting Pink Wednesday on a Blue Tuesday. Ha! It's not really Blue Tuesday. It's just.....Tuesday. I just won't have time to post tomorrow so I'm posting early.

Look at this darling pink cabinet! It's actually pink and green, shabby and wonderfully chippy. It reminds me sort of like a speckled pink Easter egg! It really is the cutest thing with the mismatched chicken wire door! Flourishes or keep it?

That is my dilemma lately. Flourishes or keep it? I found the most wonderful French style waterfall dressing table last weekend too. I'm REALLY struggling with that one. It's so, so pretty with the lovely details and shabby bits of aqua blue paint peeking through the white. Sigh. I bet you're dying to see that one now aren't you? What a tease, you say? Ha!! Yup!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Rolling up our sleeves and getting to work!

Oh my, my!! We have a great deal of work ahead of us on this home!! I had to take my rose colored glasses off yesterday and realize that this home, with the carriage house/gymnasium, and the barn will probably take many years and a boat load of money to realize it's full potential....and not a small boat either! ha!

For now though, starting the extensive work will have to wait until we sell our home in Portland. So, the first order of business is to clean every inch and get a fresh coat of paint on all the floors! Yesterday I painted the diningroom (pictured) and part of the livingroom floors. Now I have to wait for the paint to cure before I tackle washing the windows. A smart person would have washed the windows first. I wasn't very smart yesterday. Oh well!! ;o)

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

P.S. More Flourishes sneak peeks coming on Friday!!

Pink Wednesday and Valentine Wishes!

Whoa! Almost didn't make it! I'm skidding in with my Pink Wednesday wishes. Hey now, I still have almost three hours before it's Thursday!

This is Bob (the bear!). He's holding a darling heart in shades of pink and ever so soft green. Bob and the sweet little heart were both made by my girlie, Brittany. She's the pretty one with that guy in the picture. (I heard that giggle, Bee!) That guy would be her fabulous husband, Jeremy. Like my dad says, "Don't anybody wake him up!" He says that about all of our husbands. Jolly chap, my dad. ;o)

Anyway, Bob and the sweet little heart are both knitted. Yes, my little Bee knits! This was her first attempt at a bear. Didn't she do marvelously?!!!! A proud mom moment. Yay!!

The second picture is a little Valentine I bought for myself. Made by the fabulous Lisa Kaus (link over there to the left). Oh, and did I mention that Lisa Kaus will be joining in with all the Flourishes fun? Yay!! That's two yay's in case you're keeping track. ;o) Oh, and two winks too!

Last but not least is a picture of two of my motley little antique bears. Friends forever and sharing a little Valentine Love. Oddly sweet, aren't they? Does anyone else out there collect sweet old bears with life's little issues? Eyes askew, nose wrinkled, sagging in places? Hey wait a minute....that rather describes me on any given morning!! Heehee.

Warmest Pink Wednesday and a big Valentine hug, Aleta

Make mine with sprinkles!!

This morning I actually squeezed in a little studio time. Not enough to really buckle down and work on bears and bunnies though. They take a lot more concentration that a paper whimsy. Unless, of course, I'm working out the details of a paper Easter basket pattern. But that's another story. One full of lots of swearing and basket tossing!

Let's see.....where was I? Oh. This morning I spent putting all the finishing details on my candy boxes. I listened to the whole hour of Martha Stewart while making 17 paper ruffles and gluing them to the boxes. If I actually baked I would make the strawberry cupcakes that a sweet little gal from Sprinkles in New York was demonstrating. They sure sounded yummy!! Who knew a person could build a business making cupcakes? Just cupcakes. $3.25 per cupcake or $36.00 for a dozen. $36.00 for a dozen cupcakes?!!! Well, I suppose we need something to go with our Venti Sugar Free Vanilla Skinny lattes!!! Ha!

Warmest bear hugs with cupcake sprinkles, Aleta

Making Progress!!

The weatherman said it was going to rain today. I'm so glad he was wrong!! Perhaps it will later, but for now at least, the sun is streaming through the windows "in the most delightful way!" And there's more! "In every job that must be done there is an element of fun....." Julie Andrews. Mary Poppins. A Spoon Full of Sugar. You will now have that song stuck in your head. Spit, spot. Ha!!

Thought I'd share a few more pictures to show you how Flourishes is coming along. The first one is of the strings of lights that I forgot to upload the other day! The string that is lit up in the picture is so pretty. The glass is frosted so it gives a lovely soft glow. Perfectly romantic!!

I think we're about halfway there as far as furniture/display placement goes. We even eeked out a space for a holding area. One of our concerns is making space for a check out line. Floor space is valuable but even more so is ease of movement while shopping!


Once the floor plan is set I can begin working on getting all the furniture in tip top shape. Some pieces just need a thorough cleaning after being stored in our garage for a few months. Some just need a cushion. Some, however, will need a bit more than that! I see some very late nights in my future. Sawing, sanding, a little french applique and voila! A masterpiece!!

Did I ever mention I wanted to be a furniture designer? In this case it will be furniture re-designer! How many hats can one girlie wear? This is where I insert: Don't worry mom. I'm not doing too much. And yes, I'm getting plenty of rest. She's such a worrier!! :o) (Isn't it too cool that my mom reads my blog?!!)

There is much to be done before my fabulous group of artists and vendors bring me their lovelies. Rolling up my sleeves now and getting to work!! Oh my goodness, you are in for such a treat!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

Pink Millinery Wednesday!

I collect vintage millinery flowers. No. Correction. I hoard vintage millinery flowers. If you are finding that there is a shortage of these lovelies, it is because of me. I am drawn like a moth to a flame when I see them. Especially if they are soft shades of pink or white. Oh, but wait! I can't pass up a bunch of violets or daisies either....the floppier, the better. Floppier? Is that even a word? ;o)

Happy Pink Wednesday bear hugs, Aleta

Let's move furniture!!

After yet another snow hiccup on Saturday, Bill and I were finally able to get some work done in the gym. When we moved everything up there, we just stacked it to one side of the room. Yesterday we started spreading it around to see what we had. I can tell you this.....I have a lot of work ahead of me!! Oiy!

First order of business was to set about getting the counter area put together. I already had in mind what I wanted to do so it went pretty quickly. The ceiling tins would go above a lovely old pale pink cabinet and between the 9 1/2 ft. windows. Fabulous!! Now to get Bill to hang the chandeliers on either side! Let's see....where did I put those? Hmmmm.

Next I tried out the lights I bought from Target. LOVE em! Need two more sets of the glass and one more set of the rice paper balls. Add it to the list! I have found for each thing I cross off the list at least two more things are added!

We spent several hours moving things around and around....and around. I'm telling you, Bill has the patience of a saint! And while we're on the subject of Bill; seven knob racks are finished and one birdhouse is done. The knob racks range in size from 2 ft. to 4 ft. long and each is one of a kind. One of a kind is also what each birdhouse he constructs will be. They are made from repurposed wood pieces, old picture frame parts and bits of this and that. The big one pictured is around 3 ft. tall. It's a biggie!! Decorative use only though.

Oh, and this is so very important! I've asked two more fabulous artists to join in the fun at Flourishes. Karen Otto, A'Musements and Jan Chandler, Sassy Cat. Karen will be bringing me delightful paper journals, fanciful little paper shoes and other lovely treasures to behold. Jan will be furnishing the creature comforts.....the most scrumptious, one of a kind, chenille pillows and throw blankets! Soooo vintage cottage and absolutely yummy!!

Are you getting excited for the opening?!!! Me too!!!!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta

P.S. Yes, I know. I didn't post a picture of the counter all put together. I will once the lights are up! Silly me just re-read everything and realized I forgot to post a picture of the lights. Blonde. It's going to be a "blonde" day today. Ha!

A wish for you!

I wish you all a lovely weekend!! As for me, I'll be working on getting all the furnishings arranged for the first Flourishes event. It's finally warmed up enough for me to go outside without turning into a popsicle!!

I bought some great string lights at Target last night that I'm anxious to see all lit up. Target also had some really pretty serving dishes in their Global Bazaar that I thought might look beautiful in a Spring place setting. They're in the shape of chrysanthemums and though they're new, they have sort of a majolica meets crackle glaze look to them. I know, I know! Take a picture!

I hope to take lots of pictures this weekend. Oh, that reminds me.....better go plug in the camera! See ya!

Warmest bear hugs, Aleta