Country Living Fair & Shopping in Atlanta

Whew!  I'm finally back home after a long weekend away in Atlanta attending the Country Living Fair and doing some shopping around the area.  I'm glad that I finally made the trip down to check it out!  I started out this little business selling at fairs and shows like this so I always enjoy attending them.

Atlanta Country Living Fair Ticket Giveaway!

Ever since moving to North Carolina a couple years ago, I've been wanting to travel down to Atlanta for the Country Living Fair at Stone Mountain, but the timing has never been right.  I'm excited to say that I'm making it happen this year and will be traveling down to attend.  I'm even more excited to announce that I'm giving away a pair of 3-day passes!

Recent Projects and Market Preview

It's been a while, hasn't it?!  I've been incredibly busy the last week or so... From out-of-town house hunting trips, two hour nightly swim practices for the girls, and the fact that all the kids are home all day fills up quite a bit of my time.  But...I've also been super-busy getting ready for the first Carolina Vintage (mini) Market this weekend.

Introducing...Carolina Vintage Market!

I have some exciting news!  I've hinted around in the past few weeks about having a sale and I'm happy to announce the launch of the very first Carolina Vintage Market (mini)!  On June 22nd and 23rd, Amy from Atta Girl Says, Barb from Farmhouse Decor, and I will be filling "The Hen House" at SuzAnna's Antiques for a "mini" vintage market!

Tips for Shopping Antique Shows and Fairs

The Farm Chicks Show (in the earlier days) - via Country Living

Temperatures are warming up and antique shows/fairs are found almost every weekend around the country right now...it's my favorite time of year!  Spring is normally a crazy, busy time for me and for the first time in 7 years, I'm not working night-and-day on a gazillion projects for back-to-back antique shows that I'm normally a vendor at in April/May/June.  I have to admit that it feels strange not to be stressed out with piles of inventory in the garage and around the house and weirdly enough, I miss it!  I sort of crave the pressure, but with the house being for sale and not knowing what the future held, I didn't sign up for the Luckett's Spring Market this year.  I had been down that road before...back in the summer of 2010...house was for sale, 6 big shows, packing, moving, a baby that never slept...not fun, never again!  I had learned my lesson...

Luckett's 2012 - Part One

So instead of being a vendor, I'm a shopper at the shows this year and long before I started selling my own wares, I was a die-hard shopper at some of the biggest shows like The Farm Chicks Show, etc. for years.  By being both a vendor and a shopper, I've definitely learned a few things along the way, so I thought I'd share a few tips for navigating these shows/fairs that have worked for me over the years...

High Point Market Part 2 and My Loot

Gypsy Marketplace

I hope you enjoyed the little tour of some of the High Point showrooms that I shared the other day.  I promised to post my favorite part of High Point as well as some goodies I brought home!  As much as I loved looking at the new furniture lines, there's a part of me that loves digging through warehouses, barns, etc for the old stuff...

A Year in Review - Favorite Projects and Posts of 2012

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas this year!  We had a great time around here with a full house for Christmas dinner and out-of-town guests for several days.  Before I start breaking down the Christmas decorations, I wanted to share a recap of some of the favorite and most popular posts of 2012. Since I started blogging regularly during the 2011 holiday season, 2012 is pretty much my first full year of blogging and sharing projects.

Getting Ready for Holiday Events

I've been painting and crafting up a storm this week in preparation for some upcoming local events that I'll be participating in...

A Blogiversary...of Sorts

I can't believe it's already been a year since I shared a peek of my brand new home just outside of Raleigh, NC and entryway table with a fall vignette!  I'm declaring it a "blogiversary", but in reality, I really started my blog all the way back in 2009!

Eastern Migration

Well, it's official!  I'm excited to announce something that's been in the works for a few months...  After my husband and I and the three girls moved from the Pacific Northwest to Raleigh, NC last summer for my husband's job, my mom and step-dad decided to migrate east as well.  It's been a stressful time for all of us the last couple of years with two 2600-mile moves (and them having to sell their gorgeous home above), but we are all happy to be together again and of course, the girls love being with their grandparents...

Luckett's Spring Market 2012 ~ Part 2

Miss Mustard Seed's booth before the crowd came!

Are you ready for some more Luckett's eye candy?  For one of the few times ever in show history, my booth was completely ready to go the evening before with everything priced and in it's place.  I think it has something to do with not having the kids with me for this show!  Anyway, this allowed me to walk around the booths a bit before the gates opened up on Saturday morning.  I took a zillion pictures so sit back and enjoy...

Luckett's Spring Market 2012 ~ Part One

Whew, what a wonderful weekend!  Luckett's Spring Market was absolutely fabulous.  All the vendors and shoppers were so kind and welcoming, the weather was perfection, and I was walking around with a big smile on my face all weekend!  I owe a giant THANK YOU to everyone that came by to shop and visit!  I got to meet some new friends and visit with those I've met through the blog world too. 

A Cash Wrap - Just in Time!

I can't believe that it's Luckett's time already! I'm scheduled to get the trailer tomorrow and my husband and I will load it up in the evening and we'll turn around and leave the house at 5:30 am on Friday morning to get to our set-up time in Leesburg, Virginia (6 hrs away).  I've never been a vendor in a show this far away and have been very lucky in the past years that The Farm Chicks Show in Spokane, WA was only a short 15-20 minutes from my house. On the other hand, this will be the first show that I will not be struggling trying to load and unload furniture and set up a booth with small children.  It's such a giant relief not to have a playpen or baby in a backpack or any other worries with kids running around.  Call me crazy, but it's like a little vacation!

Just Pluggin' Away...

I'm still plugging away on many, many projects for Luckett's Spring Market... just one more weekend left!  I finished (well, almost finished) another large armoire yesterday and I'm so excited for bunch of industrial-inspired pendant lights that are in their last stage of completion.  Here are a few of them before getting re-wired...

Days O Work & Luckett's Preview

Yes, this is what my days are right now...full of work getting ready for the Luckett's Spring Market on May 19-20!  When I came across a set of these old tobacco press sheets used for pressing images into tobacco back into the 1920's, I had to keep one for my office.  I'll have the rest available at Luckett's in a few weeks...

Funky Junk Show - Spokane, WA

Hey there...it's been a while!  My mom and step-dad were visiting for a little over a week so I didn't get many projects done, but we did several "antique field trips" that I can't wait to share with you.  I've also been kicking it into high gear getting ready for the big Luckett's Spring Market next month.   I've been doing quite a bit of shopping and hitting the flea markets and I've got some great finds that post as soon as I get them cleaned up and ready to go.

Wahoo! I'm in...Luckett's Spring Market!



Farm Chicks booth 2011

I'm just a tad excited... you see I have antique show fever.  It's something that I've had since my first show (The Farm Chicks Show back in 2008).  Having left my career at a CPA firm (yes, I'm an accountant in my former life) to stay home with my then two-year old, I felt I needed a little something on the side that I loved to do and to help keep me busy at home. After shopping the amazing Farm Chicks Show for the previous 3-4 years, I took a giant leap, applied and got in! 

Vintage Show Love

When my husband and I were deciding to take the plunge and move across the country for his new job, a big factor for me was that I would be missing so many incredible vintage and antique shows that are a part of the Pacific Northwest.  Since The Farm Chicks Show began several years ago, the Pacific Northwest has become a mecca for these incredible shows.  I knew that I would miss them.... a lot!   Sure enough, now that I'm mostly settled in the new house, I'm pining to be a part of the shows again and I certainly miss all my wonderful and talented friends that pour their hearts into these shows, like Jennifer and Kathy Walker of Unexpected Necessities.  This mother and daughter team have their annual show this weekend in Nine Mile Falls, WA.  Even though I won't be able to be there, I'm living a little vicariously through my oh-so-talented mom and step-dad of Angel's Attic right now.  As they've been getting ready for the first show in which we haven't shared a booth, they've shared some of their projects and I'm in love...

Funky Junk Show Highlights

Funky Junk Show - Spokane

Two weeks away to the first big show of the season!  Mark your calendars - you won't want to miss this!

Can't wait to see you there...