The Final Stretch

After months of searching for great inventory the other barn girls and I are in the final stretch of preparations for the spring barn show. The stalls are loaded with really great architectural salvage pieces, antiques, new furniture, original artwork, vintage finds, jewelry, accents pieces and soft goods. And even though it's all coming together I have so much left to do my head is spinning!

The best news of all though is that my mom and sister are coming down from Ohio for the show and I'm so thrilled they'll be here. This has been such a dream come true for me and it just wouldn't be the same without them here to share it with.

So if you don't hear from me much this week it's because I'll be busy loading in the last bit of inventory and trying to contain my glee until Friday! Have a great week!

What Brings Me Joy this Friday? Spring!

The daffodils are out, the trees are budding and the birds are chirping. The sights and sounds of spring after a long, cold winter definitely brings me joy today!

Dreams or Nightmares?

I've always been a big dreamer. I'm not talking about pie in the sky dreams like finding out I'm actually British royalty, what I really mean is that I dream a lot when I sleep. Really great dreams too. You know the kind that when you wake up you want to fall back asleep to see where the dream goes. The "what happens next?"kind of thing! My dreams are also always realistic type things. I never dream I'm a crazed alien out to redecorate the world! (Although sometimes I feel like that in my awake world!) My dreams are always plausible which is what makes them so interesting to me. (Who is to say Dylan McDermott won't knock on my door one day?)

But lately I've been having anxiety dreams. The barn show is just ten days away and for the past week I've been having terrible dreams (nightmares?) about the barn. Like people don't show up. Or they show up and we're not ready. Or I don't sell a single thing. I know I'm just anxious because this is my first show but I'm finding it so unsettling. I really want to sell everything! I want everything to be fabulous and most importantly I don't want to let the other barn girls down.

I've always been the "glass is half full" type person so I need to get back to my old dreams, where everything is lollipops and rainbows. These "nightmares" I keep having just don't work for me!

We Have a Winner Folks!

Thank you to everyone who entered to win my very first giveaway. Only moments ago my youngest stinker doodle, (definitely a term of endearment) drew the winning entry and the big winner is Anita of anita-womanwifemom.blogspot.com!

Congratulations Anita!

Enter Now!

Only two more days to enter the win the Allison Strine pendant I'm giving away! Just leave me a comment and your name goes into the drawing.

Have a great day!

Taking Dreams Seriously

Fellow bloggers will know what I'm talking about when I say we tend to spend a lot of time bouncing around the blog world discovering new blogs and finding inspiration from others.

Today I read a quote on this blog and just went, "WOW! I get that. I understand it. It's powerful. And it's true!"

What's the quote?

YOU CAN DARE TO TAKE THAT UNSPOKEN DREAM SERIOUSLY

Good things happen when you find the courage to dream out loud. I should know, it's happening to me now.

Project Create a Home Launch and Give Away

Happy Monday! Today's the official launch of a new blog I'm involved with called "Project Create A Home".

The blog was developed by Meme of The Screaming Meme. Meme has gathered a group of women who will contribute life and style tips to readers on topics ranging from finances (Not me. I haven't balanced my check book in years), fashion (I won't be writing articles on this one either. When you're in a 12 step program to kick a seasonal sweater addiction you're not exactly known for your haute couture style!), organization, (What's that?), health (I took it in high school), fitness (The hubby got tired of my monthly "donation" to Gold's so I just quit this week!), etc. You'll actually find me over there now and then posting articles on something I really do know a thing or two about; my passion - flea markets, auctions, estate sales, etc. and the occasional decorating contribution.

It's an exciting site and today is the "Grand Opening!" There is a special giveaway where one lucky reader will receive a life and style makeover. Think "life coach" rolled into one giveaway! Many of the contributing writers are also having their own giveaways, so be sure to stop by Project Create a Home to enter for the grand prize and to check out the other giveaways.

I'm also having my very first giveaway to celebrate the new venture. I started this blog last October, really on a lark and have been amazed to discover how much I enjoy writing, meeting new friends and being inspired by others. I've also been totally amazed at how willing people, (I'm talking complete strangers here!) have been to help me with The Kramer Angle, the barn show, and to encourage me to follow my dreams.

With that in mind, I think this totally fabulous pendant from Allison Strine's Ladybird designs is the perfect give away for the occasion. The saying, "Who is She to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Who is she NOT to be?" just about sums up how I started feeling about six months ago and think it's a sentiment all women need to have! You're fabulous! And why shouldn't you be!??



So, how do you win? Just leave me a comment and I'll enter your name in the giveaway! Don't worry, it will be really official. I'll write your name on a piece of paper, throw it in a basket and have one of my boys pull out the winning name! The winner will be notified!

Oh, and don't you just love this. You gotta love Allison Strine. Last week I wrote about how she is my absolute favorite seller on Etsy, and that I'm selling some of her creations at my barn sale. When I contacted her to order the pendant for the giveaway she said she wanted to donate it because she's all about "women helping women achieve their dreams"! Don't you just love it?

Good luck and have a fabulous day! You deserve it!

(Don't forget to click on the envelope to leave a comment for a chance to win the pendant!)

JOYFUL FRIDAY - A WEEKLY POST

If you're wondering what this picture is all about, it's part of what is bringing me joy today. About six weeks ago I was invited to become a contributing writer to a new cooperative blog called Project Create A Home. It's a new blog that's all about encouraging people to live their lives to the fullest.

I'm thrilled to announce we're having our official "grand opening" of the blog on Monday. To kick it all off we'll be announcing the details of a fabulous give-away that you're not going to want to miss. I'm also going to announce my own give-away here on Monday so be sure to stop back to check out the details.

Until then, enjoy your weekend, find joy in everyday living and I'll be back with all the details on Monday!

The Common Denominator?

What do the Blues Brothers, a lion, a bear and a $1,400 antique farm table all have in common? They were all up for sale today at the auction!
















And if you were the high bidder you could have also taken home a Victorian parlor chair, your very own gas pump (who wouldn't want one?) and a beautiful antique fireplace surround and bookcase. It was just another great day at the auction. So, do you think any of these things will turn up at my barn sale?

It's Getting Closer!

I can't believe my very first barn sale is less than a month away! You should see all of the great stuff we have in the barn. It is chockfull of fabulous finds! Over the weekend I went to the D.C. Flea and scored big with my favorite dealer. He repurposes architectural salvage materials into furniture. I bought a demilune hall table that was made out of an old organ base, a super cool tall cubby that incorporated three salvaged windows, a bench made out of a discarded Jenny Lind style bed and two fabulous benches made from vintage packing crates.

I'll be at the barn all day tomorrow with the other girls arranging, and fluffing, and dusting, and tagging, and laughing, and living my dream! I'll take some pictures tomorrow to show you how everything looks but here are a couple of pictures I took last week! We've got architectural salvage pieces, custom pillows, handmade jewelry, artist prints, furniture, accessories, antiques, and vintage home furnishings.

So, tell me, who's coming to the barn sale? Send me an e-mail and I can put your name on our mailing list!

What Brings Me Joy this Friday? Etsy!

I first discovered Etsy about three or four months ago and I've been obsessed with it ever since. It's been a great resource for me as I've been searching for really cool, unique items to sell at The Barn Show in April.

My all time favorite find on Etsy has been Allison Strine and her line of Lady Bird pendants, greeting cards, art magnets and prints. Allison's work is all about a sense of humor, empowerment, and validation and I totally "get" her. I'm going to be offering some of her products at my April show and I'm really excited to introduce her art to our customers. She even does custom orders! This is the pendant she made with my likeness and personal mantra on it. (The crown is a nod to my fantasy of being a queen!)


You can find Allison at her Etsy site, or on her website. Her art touches me, makes me laugh out loud and is just downright joyful. I love it!

So, tell me, do you have a favorite Etsy seller? If so, I'd love to hear who it is!