Crowning Glory

Saturday morning found me at the Big D.C. Flea  searching for treasures for my two barn shows.  

Two buildings + 1100 dealers =

Heaven on earth.  

My first stop is always at my favorite dealer's booth.  

Let's just call him Mr. Anonymous.  

(Afterall, I wouldn't want to give away my best source, now would I?)

It's always great to see him because 

 a) he's charming 

and

 b) has great stuff!  

Like the crown motif mason jar pictured above.

Which I fell hard for at first sight.  

Total love. 

I bought every one he had.  

And I'm hoping Mr. Anonymous calls me if he ever gets any more.

Every girl deserves her own crown so if you want one too     

they'll be for sale at  Chartreuse and Co., and at my spring barn show.  

Ahh, total love!  

Photo found here.  

Too Much Testosterone!

I live in a house full of testosterone!  

Husband, two boys, 13 and 11

And lately I've been feeling alone

Now, don't get me wrong

I love them all and wouldn't trade my boys for girls ever

But sometimes

Like when I find airsoft pellets in the stove burners

Or Nerf gun darts behind the couch

And sweaty jockstraps strewn on the laundry room floor

I get a little crazy

They just think so differently than I do

They don't get me

They tolerate me

But they don't understand

My obsessive need to rearrange the furniture

("It's fine the way it is!")

My giddiness over new dupioni silk window treatments

("We like mini-blinds better!")

How I can spend hours reading your blogs

(Seriously mom?  You don't even know them!  Man vs. Wild is on tv!)

Which is exactly why I love the blog world

It lets me connect

With my own species

And a girl needs that every now and then

Hurry to Buckeystown, Maryland!

It's a Chartreuse & Co., weekend in Buckeystown, Maryland and the barn is loaded with absolutely fabulous vintage furnishings, antiques, jewelry, architectural salvage pieces and industrial chic items just waiting to go home with you!  

Take a peek at what's in this month's sale here.  

My Latest Obsession

Okay, seriously, I want to go on a road trip with these guys.   

Have you watched their show yet?  

American Pickers

It's on the History Channel 

It's the ultimate treasure hunt!  
It would be a blast to pack my bags and tag along!  

Wishing You Lots of Love!

Happy Valentine's Day!

(I snuck another snow picture in!)

Photo found here.

This is it! No More Snow Photos After Today!

"Picnik Show"

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

Got Snow?

Oh, yeah, we've got that!

How about you?

The Right Call

It's the call my boys and I had been waiting for all day.

The big question had been looming all afternoon.

Each time the phone rang we looked at each other with anticipation.

The first call of the day was my husband.

Checking in from Toronto.

When the phone rang again an hour or so later the boys sprang for it, certain it would be the one they'd been waiting for.

It was just a friend reporting on road conditions.

I sent the kids out sledding to get their minds off it.

They came back with five friends in tow, famished from trudging the tobbagan home from the hill.

The phone rang just as they sat down at the table.

I answered quickly and immediately hit the speaker phone button:

"Hello, parents, due to inclement weather schools are canceled for tomorrow."

The boys went nuts, high fives were exchanged and their screams of delight would have rivaled any group of similarly gathered girls!

This girl rejoiced with them!

I love snow days!

Beautiful!

SNOW!!!

Here it Comes!

It's like Christmas Eve around here!

I'm so excited because a massive snow storm is on it's way!

Winter fun all weekend long!

Stay safe!

Lots of "Dust"!

Okay, seriously, the weather forecasters in D.C. got it all wrong.

I mean in my world a "little dusting" is equivalent to the powdered sugar you sprinkle on a bundt cake!

Or the lame attempts my kids make to dust the furniture!

A "dusting" doesn't require the driveway to be shoveled three times!

No, we got significant snowfall

in the D.C. area today.

And I love it!

It forced me to slow down.

Instead of driving from one event to the next I stayed home.

And enjoyed a little down time.

A roaring fire.

A glass of wine.

Watching "Ice Age 3" with my son.

No cleaning, no projects, just relaxation.

It's my kind of "dusting"!

Image available here.

This Weekend at Chartreuse

Molly and I were at Chartreuse today working to get everything ready for this Saturday's one day barn sale.

Check out some of the items were offering:

Lots of chalkboards

Molly's art work painted on salvaged doors and barnwood:

Fabulous slipcovered wing chair and burlap pillows:

I have to go back tomorrow to finish fluffing, pricing, loading in all the cool stuff I bought at yesterday's auction, so I'll take more pictures and post them.

Well, That Didn't Work

Well I went to the auction on Wednesday to try to get inspired.

To get out of my creative slump.

To find joy in the "junque"!

I spent five hours standing out in the freezing cold bidding on things for my shop at Chartreuse and the barn.

The pickings were slim, but there were a few fabulous things I had to bid on.

And so did my arch nemesis!

Oh, yeah, he was there...as always.....

The one with the oh, so fabulous shop, in a trendy part of D.C.

The one with the really super cool, one of a kind beautiful pieces I love so much.

He was bidding on the same things I was!

As usual.

Like the garden table with the scalloped base and smooth, time worn, beautiful wood top.

Winning bid: $475.

Guess who won?

Nope, not me.

Or the super cool old safe that weighed a ton but would have made a really cool one of a kind coffee table?

$120.

Nope, not me.

Or how about the industrial steel side table that just screamed Restoration Hardware?

$110.

Nope, not me.

My pockets aren't as deep as his!

But I did get a really great french country panel mirror.

and

An old wooden box spring that will look fabulous as a display for jewelry in the shop.

and

A super cute industrial wagon that will be adorable loaded with pansies in the spring.

The other thing I didn't get was pictures!

My hands were too cold to carry a camera!

Off to the Auction

Forgive me readers for I have sinned!

It's been two weeks since my last blog post!

I've been tired.

Worn out.

Stressed out.

Uninspired.

But, I'm hoping that will change today, because I'm off to the auction.

It brings me joy!

The thrill out of the hunt inspires me!

Energizes me!

Calms me!

Wish me luck that today's auction is just what I need to get back to being me.

My Christmas List.....

Merry Christmas to all!