Gehring Road

brimfield and birthdays

I'm back in this space after far too long (the days have been getting away from me) a year older and just back from Brimfield! Yesterday was the fourth day of Spring Brimfield and just happened to be this lady's birthday. Rob patiently spent the day watching me comb my favorite vendors for some really lovely finds. This was the first time we had been to Brimfield on a Saturday, and I have to say, it wasn't nearly as crowded as we anticipated, even with the absolultely beautiful weather. We made it up very early and found that many of the vendors were looking to make some really amazing deals before the end of the show. I would certainly go back on the weekend again... but I would get there as early as possible.

We visited the shoe rack lady at May's, again, with the hopes of finding another shoerack. They seemed to be packed away for the end of the show and the vendors had just a few left. Needless to say, we didn't buy one. Our visit had us back at the buttons and ribbon spots I love to visit. The buttons, I'm told are only there in the Spring and Fall, they won't be back in July. But I had such a lovely time looking through the vintage fabrics and buttons in the area. The vintage textiles ladies have gathered (and mapped) their locations in the fields and have given themselves a name "vintage textile mafia"... ha ha! They really are the nicest group of ladies and they have everything from feedsacks, children's clothing and ribbon to vintage tablecloths and dishtowels. I'll upload their map for Brimfield in July. They are definitely worth a look.

So the haul! I did purchase a few yards of really lovely fabric and ribbons. We also scored that really lovely mirror from one of my favorite vendors (I bought this from them a few years ago). While there, I also bought a stool for the loft. I've long been thinking about a new set up for sewing and that sweet little teal stool is just perfect. We scoured for a new table to take the place of the one I've been using for a few years (it is headed back to Rob's Mom for use in her new shop!) and Rob spotted the perfect (but very blue!) table. He's in the process of stripping it already. I think it is just perfect and we got it for a steal. 

We've had four birthdays, two mother's days and an anniversary so far in May... busy, busy but blessed and really lovely. I'll be back with some more birthday love tomorrow. Happy Sunday everyone, if you're in the area, Brimfield comes again in July! 

the shoe rack

This weekend Rob and I ventured out to Rehoboth, Massachusetts to visit Bliss Farm Antiques and pick my (very!) long awaited shoe rack. Every trip to Brimfield meant a stop to look at the shoe racks at May's, and yet I never found one that was just perfect for our house. I was so happy to find this on Etsy of all places, and even better it was at a shop not too far away for us to pick up. Perfect. I love its imperfections, the color of this (most are more of a gold color) and how it works with all my white stoneware and pitchers. I'm spending time moving things around, adding and taking things out of this area. Rob will be adding some wood on top of the dowels to make things sit just a bit better. I'm hunting a few more of those antique baskets for the bottom shelf (the one that is pictured was purchased at Bliss Farm before we left). Bliss Farm, by the way, specializes in really beautiful antiques, displayed really sweetly in a building on their farm. They also show at Brimfield for those in the area. I'm just loving this piece and it's place in our home. Happy Wednesday!

etsy finds :: the beginnings of a collection

 Bottle Opener Collection as seen in Country Living Magazine May 2012 Issue

Oh friends, I'm on vacation... though it doesn't exactly feel like vacation it is here none-the-less. I still have class and appointments and the dog to look after (Rob is off to Denver for work tomorrow) and grand plans for sewing (pajamaed sewing which I know is the best kind of sewing), but vacation it is. I love vacation, though we don't have plans to do anything out of the ordinary, that is just the vacation that I seem to need right now. Restful, rejuvinating vacation. And look at me blogging... I love vacation.

I spent some time today outside with the dog enjoying the glorious weather that wants to visit us this week (thank goodness) reading my issue of Country Living. This little indulgent reading in the sun time happened just before Kylie melted down when a dog had the temerity to walk down her street and just seconds before she ripped her too sharp claws into my side and stomach (we won't dwell on that) and just a few minutes before Rob seeing my slashed side said, "Oh my god, that looks awful"... Just before that I happened upon the Hanson's most beautiful bottle opener collection. I love it. Such a sweet and beautiful collection and their bravery in hanging things on the walls in their home is admirable (we've yet to hang anything since Rob painted... a while ago). So I prowled Etsy while contemplating if my encounter with Slash left me needing Neosporin or not and found some beauties... love these bottle openers!

Vintage Mermaid Bottle Opener from My 3 Chicks Etsy Shop

Brass Horse Bottle Opener by Lock the Gate Etsy Shop

Vintage Hand Brass Bottle Opener from Lisbon Story Etsy Shop

Owl Bottle Opener from Portugese Vintage Etsy Shop

Vintage Turn of the Century Cast Iron Nude Lady Bottle Opener from Broadway Treasure Hunt Etsy Shop

HMS Victory Anchor Bottle Opener from Portugese Vintage Etsy Shop 

Rare Antique Scissors Bottle Opener and Nutcracker from Yesterday's Silhouette Etsy Shop 

Vintage Bottle Opener Scotsman Irish Bottle Opener from STL Vintage Etsy Shop 

Vintage Cast Iron Cowboy Bottle Opener from Sweetrefrain Vintage Etsy Shop 

Vintage Owl on Brass Bottle Opener from Portugese Vintage Etsy Shop 

 

How lovely would those look on a wall in a kitchen or dining room. I'm thinking of surrounding some with a frame in our entryway. I also love this one seen at Pottery Barn. I think she might be the first in our little collection. All of this vintage shopping and prowling has me thinking of Brimfield. This year, I'm buying that shoe trolley! I know, I've been saying it year after year... this year as a little present for the massive amounts of work I've been doing and will be doing in June... it has to happen. I wonder what little bottle openers can be found in some of the cast iron tents. We shall see. Happy weekend to you!  

 

playing catch up

Beautiful Moon/Planet Alignment captured by Rob

The stars aligned this week (they really did, did you see it?) and I had a chance to get some things done besides course work. It was magical. Let's play catch up, shall we?

it snowed... finally! I was almost missing it... almost... but glad it caused very few problems

Rob made the.most.amazing.dessert.ever... and because I didn't successfully double my weight after gorging on it this week, he's making it again before he leaves for Seattle tomorrow... I tell you, I'm lucky... and in need of a good run... Here's the recipe... it's ok, eat it all and then come running with me...

we also ate tons of brussel sprouts... I love them roasted...

I cut my finger (badly) making dinner (ha! I don't often cook, and there's why, but the stars aligned you see). You're shocked that it wasn't with my rotary cutter, I know, I am too... it was remarkably close to an old rotary cutter incident scar...I'm fine and it has healed... already...

Lady Mary came to visit... I found her here... she came beautifully wrapped (of course she did)...

... I also treated myself to this beautiful little printer drawer from Etsy... I'm filling it with vintage silk spools and hanging it in the loft... I'll keep you appraised of it's progress... pretty slow right now, but kind of perfect...

I bought these tiny bits of new fabric in my new favorite colors... that poor lonely granny... oh well, soon... I did notice I had a shocking lack of peach in my stash, so I used it as an excuse to buy fabric... how those golds and that beautiful orange also landed in the cart is beyond me... I have little control... see above notes on dessert...

... I organized (well, kind of) my scrap bins... it was freeing... and a little frightening... must not save every little piece and must find a scrappy project (maybe this one?) for them soon...when sewing is an option...

 ... and this sweet lady has been making us laugh and keeping me grounded... I miss the lack of stress and work, looking forward to time with this little bean when grad classes are not in the back of my mind...

Semester is nearly done... I'm tasting the end as near more and more. April 4th is done-day for one class, May 5th for another... so, so close! Though we've had some snow lately I'm feeling the pull of those Spring days... they're getting closer and it feels very good... for so many reasons. Rob is off to Seattle for a few weeks, which is always difficult, but he has some non-work related adventures planned which makes me happy. His return is yet another thing I'm looking forward to... in the meantime, head down, balance, and breathe. Happy weekend to you! 

brimfield loot

 

Ribbons and Trims from Nifty Thrifty Dry Goods (Central Park Space 116 @ Brimfield)  

I apologize for this post being a bit delayed... yesterday we had a beautifully stormy, moody day and I spent it sewing a new throw, more on that later. I did promise a Brimfied recap so here goes.  This year, as I think I might have mentioned once or twice, I was seriously undecided about some purchases... ahem, but my ribbon haul at Nifty Thrifty Dry Goods (known to Rob's mom and I as 'The Button Lady') was epic. I spent an hour in the booth admiring the trims and ribbons while Connie prowled for doilies and vintage linens nearby. The booth is something to behold... I'm glad I snagged a picture last year as photos were not allowed this year...

 

I couldn't stop making the rounds in the booth... there is so much to see. My finds were decidedly and surprisingly (oh how I'm dreading the end of my free days!) autumnal. 

I'm planning a wreath for the fall with most of these ribbons... and I just couldn't resist those beautiful buttons.  The texture of those trims is really amazing, especially up close...

   
...and I'm in love with that cherry-colored velvet rick-rack... it's even brighter in person.

So Brimfield came and went again and I learned a great deal this time... 

* Brimfield in July, though hot, was much more laid back and quiet compared to the other seasons... some vendors do not show in July... the site has more information on this.

* J&J Promotions (one of the fields that charges an entry fee... May's does the first few days as well) wasn't necessarily worth it in my opinion.  Lauded as the "it" place at Brimfield, I didn't see much that wasn't in other parts of the market as well... that could have been because it was July.  I probably will skip this next time.

* Ask for the best prices... many dealers will say "I can do better on some things, let me know if you have questions" while you're browsing... feel free to ask about pricing and bargains. 

* Bring a list and an eagle-eyed companion (thanks Connie!). Also, Etsy is a good place to comparison shop... we found many things that were much cheaper on Etsy (Jadite Tea Canister at Brimfield for $250, on Etsy for $90)... that is also helpful when bargaining. 

* Not all dealers are nice... ignore them, have fun. 

* Pack a lunch and things to drink.  Connie and I had really delicious burgers at the food court, some of the food is a bit expensive.  September is the perfect time for apple crisp... and it is really tasty. 

* Know when to walk away and when to just buy something... I have personal experience with that (shoe rack)... which I will think about until September (shoe rack). 

* The Shoe-Rack lady is at May's... I'll elbow you on my way to her booth on the first day in September... apology in advance.  In all seriousness... hope to see you there!

etsy finds tuesday... lovely little things

 

Silk Lined Green and White Silhouette Forest Frame Kisslock Clutch, BrianaEdelmanDesign Etsy Shop

The school year grinds to a close in my little world, so this will the last Etsy finds for a bit as I buckle down and wrap up some work... namely frantic exam grading and then reveling in the last few days with some of my students. In the meantime, here are some lovely little things I've been looking at lately, when I really should be grading, ahem...

 

BBQ Fun from BROOKLYNrehab Etsy Shop    

 

Vintage Pretzels Tin from FrenchbyDesign Etsy Shop 

 

Home Sweet Home Block Print from 1canoe2 Etsy Shop 

 

Cities of Europe Bus Roll Bus Scroll from TransitDesign Etsy Shop   

 

Women's Mary Jane Crocheted Slippers from BrokenHallelujah Etsy Shop  

 

Vintage Wooden US Mail Box from bellalulu Etsy Shop 

etsy finds tuesday...

 

Vintage Candy Tin Storage Box from Fishlegs Etsy Shop  

Some celebrating of a very special day here on Gehring Road tomorrow, until then... Etsy finds tuesday! I'm just loving these little things...

 

Rennes Lace Necklace from Fox and Clover Etsy Shop 

 

Amelia Earhart Butterscotch Train Case from GallivantingGirls Etsy Shop

 

Cartography Series Part II from BlackHoneyCrafts Etsy Shop 

 

Serving Platter Bird in the Sky by Gleenashop Etsy Shop  

window in :: 10

 

... right now is all about new spaces, new fabric, new students and some old but lovely favorites. 

little red

 

 Vintage Red Metal Tin, vintagejane Etsy Shop 

There are some lovely little things happening in the loft lately, which is really the space that houses my new linen cabinet and fabric, that I share with some amazing plants and where one can frequently find a Jack Russell Terrier wanting to sit on my lap as I sew. I'd love to show you... as soon as I purchase new camera batteries (really? again?).

The little tin you see above found a spot on my desk/cutting table.  It's a sweet little tin that now holds thread and sewing supplies and is a bright little addition to my sewing space. Can't wait to show you. Hope this mid-week finds you anticipating in a very, very good way.  I'm off to spend some time in my creative space.  Be well! 

etsy finds tuesday

 

Vintage Tennis Clutch from Raggedy Threads Etsy Shop  

Tuesday is here and I have some amazing Etsy finds to share with you. I'm still kind of in a vintage frame of mind, and some of these little items have me a bit sticker shocked but it is oh so fun to window shop. I did end up taking home one of the crates from last week... I'll share that little corner of the loft in the coming days when I've had some time to arrange (and probably rearrange!) some things in my creative space.  So in the meantime, what is old is new and oh so fantastic to find again.  Enjoy!

 

 Vintage 1950s Turquoise Royal Typewriter, Thefancytail Etsy Shop

 

The migratory belt buckle, flightpathdesigns Etsy Shop 

 

 Dark Jadite Beehive Tea Canister, Jaditekate Etsy Shop

 

Vintage Rouge and Mirror Set, Vintage4U Etsy Shop 

 

 Vintage Desk Lamp, Luckylittledot Etsy Shop

 

Meredith Bag in Grey, Christiestudio Etsy Shop 

And I'm off to make some tuna-noodle casserole in our very well loved and very vintage casserole pan. I hope this new week is off to a very comfortable start.  Happy window shopping!