Do you read a post on this here blog nearly every Thursday that has to do with the newest stash of goodies? Sure seems that way. Maybe I should figure how to review the archives by label and see what I find. Well, I was at an estate sale today, and two thrift shops too.
get a load of those spectacles!
Notice anything redundant in this photo?? How many Bibles does one really need?... well, the story is - and shhhh, it's sorta secretive a surprise, sorta.. ANYWAY on with the Bible bit. My booth for Goat Hill has a theme. I came up with this idea immediately upon being asked to do the show. Abundant Finds will be showing a TENT REVIVAL. I have no idea where this thought came from. Something about the tent I'll be in. Something about the country atmosphere Goat Hill is going for. Something about vintage, and a different way of life. Something about goodness and family and friends. Showing devotion - no matter what kind. I'm rather devoted to this silly sport of accumulating FINDS! Adoration, passion, devotion - whatever you call it, I'm liking the place I'm in right now.
first inspiration
Sorry to say I don't know where I found this shot, so I can't give credit. LOVE THIS SCENE! I've already used this picture and had it mounted on canvas for the show. It sits mesmerising me while I type.
let's hydrate the entire State of CA!
Isn't this humongous thermos with a spout fabulous?
So, these vintage finds aside the current one that has me twitter-pated is the minute-by-minute schedule of the ROYAL WEDDING that I found in today's news. Trying to figure just the right moment to pop out of bed and get a glimpse of the hoopla! You can see the other fun I'm having with this British event on my personal blog : http://www.abundantpicnic.blogspot.com/.
To the "found objects " in life ~
and
To the laughter inducing festivities that make life worth living ~
I AM HOPELESSLY DEVOTED TO YOU !
Wanna be a devotee too? (think I'm going to use this question in some way for Goat Hill)
Sorry - had to add the video even though the sentiments have nothing to do with this post!... other than devotion....
We found a funky spot in a place less traveled, beside a 2 lane beachy highway. It is well known to bicyclists and motorcyclists. Such a blast from the past.
San Gregorio General Store
Love that signage! SMOKES geeeesh! who calls 'em that anymore? Funny! Inside is filled with Levi Strauss jeans, any type of hat you could imagine and a bar to mosey on up to....
love the dog!
Walls plastered with vintage signs.
And looky here what I found...... possibly the funniest and hardest to explain FIND ever.... maybe not...
Got an update from the Kahuna Cowgirl today. The BOSS for Goat Hill sent some news. We're now up and running on a website ~ http://www.goathillfair.com/! I was invited to contribute some photos from our first visit to the farm. They were taken prior to my big girl camera, and I can tell the difference! See what you think ~
May have to take a cruise over the hill and snap some lovely shots with the new girl...... hmmmm - that's a nice idea for a Springtime Sunday drive!!
Go look at the site. Mark your calendars too! Gonna be one mighty fine show!
During our afternoon of conversation, lunch and laughter there were, of course, many questions on how each others family members were fairing. What health problems were plaguing our parents? Which niece or nephew had married? What college is the senior child choosing? What FIND is waiting to be discovered in a brother's workshop?? AH, yes, key question.....artistic FINDS??!
My girlfriend's brother has been perfecting his craft, toiling for years in a woodshop making furniture. WOW! You should see this man's artistry!! You can if you go to his website : http://www.bradgreenwood.com/. And I have a picture of one creation that graces his Mother's home.
When you check Brad's website you'll see a category of games and mechanical toys. Hubby and I were completely awed by this blast from the past item. Reminiscent of olde-put-a-nickle-in animated carnival play-things. Precise, minute detailing.
insert quarter
The cabinet that houses the "toy" is pure beauty!
an old west theme
Each and every article was handmade.....
I should have thought to video this. The moving parts, a song, and the cowboy talking really should be witnessed to be believed! A fly flits about, an outhouse door slams open, a bar scene waltzes past windows.
A tiny, white clapboard shop sitting on the main street of an antiquated, barely viable town. The darn sweetest place you ever did wander!! Both the shop and the beach town of Pescadero. The shop is in an attic along the strip of places where businesses are kept. I was in love! ~
Petite and perfect place! Visiting the coast for a quick get-away. Whale watching tomorrow!
Really should be doing my make-up and heading off to work, instead I've been taking photos and sharing them on HOUZZ. Do you know that web-site? Great place for lots of decorating inspiration!
One of my fave decoraters at HOUZZ is Brian- Decor Demon. He did a great post on mixing fabrics, colors, textures and pattern. I've been trying to do just this as I switched up the house for Spring. So, I sent along a couple of photos to him along with my comment on how much I liked his column! Here's what I
sent ~
to show pattern & texture
texture
The photo above was indicating the texture of velvet combined with a linen/burlap pillow and a seat cushion not in the original velvet, rather covered in a pattern tone-on-tone heavy white cotton. Lots of pattern and texture in our rug also.
pattern - toile with stripes
I asked that Decor Demon please respond (in all of his spare time!) ha... if this look is too atrocious! Wonder if he really will??
closer shot
This pic just so you can better see that I tried to have texture on the table with the runner. And the bench incorporates another pattern. Still a stripe, but different than the others.
Okay, enough play - I really gotta get to work!
Physically, there wasn't a find of the vintage kind, but a FIND there was, just the same. After a long morning of exercise, as I drove south on the highway, I decided to stop off and treat myself. I was going to walk and inhale, experience and photograph, take-it-in and enjoy the mansion and grounds of Filoli. A historic and impeccable gardeners delight.
There are many more views of this gorgeous place. For some reason they are not downloading...... so maybe some other day I'll share.
The kindly, perfumed, quite attentive ol' gals at one of the vintage & used shops happened to mention to me upon check-out ~ "your items all go well together... a pretty package they make". And it was true ~
I find that this frequently happens when I go treasure hunting. The lots that I come home with seem to have a theme, or common ground. They easily could work together for decorative use! Thus making it even harder to part with them!
And here's an item that I'm not going to part with. I've looked for this puppy on & off for a long time. My reasoning is that he's the perfect foil to the frequently-out-of-tune gas one! "I'll get exercise while pushing him" I assure Hubby. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!! And, really it's the truth. Try pushing this ole guy~
Something about this piece of machinery brings back memories. The green color so earthy. That wooden roll bar still lovely after many years. It too is a pretty package of a sort. Love the clack, clack, clack of his blades while he munches his way across the lawn.......
le Lierre - means THE IVY in French.
We have le Lierre on signs. We dubbed our home Ivy Cottage years back. It began with a trip to Switzerland. While sightseeing with friends, we noticed the artful signage naming each family place. When we inquired about having a plaque made for our home we found the time constraints and cost of shipping not feasible. I truly was sad to leave empty handed. Once home, Hubby created his version of those wrought iron signs. He sculpted our IVY from a wire hanger. To this day it hangs in our dining room. I adore it!
my wire hanger gift
During linen closet clean-up 2011, I found two napkins. They read THE IVY. Searching memory banks I came up with two points of reference....
very wrinkled! remember - they were squashed in their closet!!
One was ~ a dark, wood paneled, historic Restaurant in London. A place we visited in 2001. Did I remove mistakenly pick-up the napkins while there? Here's a brief history on that fabulously British, oh-so-library-ish -publike place ~ THE IVY - LONDON
When owner Abel Glandellini and Maître d'Hôtel Mario Gallati joined forces in 1917, their modest cafe soon made friends and gained favour amongst the theatre community and The Ivy was born. "Don't worry, we will always come to see you, we will cling together like the ivy," said actress Alice Delysia, quoting a popular song of the day, when she overheard an apology from Abel Glandellini for his building works and his desire to create one of London's finest dining rooms - the name stuck.
.
"A table at The Ivy is one of the most sought-after pieces of furniture in London" AA Gill.
Or, on second thought - did I take a souvenir from the California eatery of the same name? I have been there to indulge once or twice. Well..... eat and STAR WATCH!!
The Ivy (Los Angeles)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ivy restaurant patio
The Ivy is a restaurant on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles known for celebrity sightings and papparazzi.[1] It serves nouvelle American cuisine "in a prettily decorated series of country-cottage rooms, with a flowery outdoor terrace"
The area around The Ivy on Robertson Boulevard is crowded with boutiques, paparazzi shooting for Us Weekly, In Touch or Life & Style, and tourists with "the largest herd of bulb flashers... found directly across the street from The Ivy, where stars and stargazers alike dine".[4] An MSNBC article called The Ivy "a celebrity beehive that sees a constant stream of Hummers, Mercedes and Jaguars pull up and discharge folks who pay through the nose to be seen eating in public".[5]
This is a clip from the movie Get Shorty shot in the courtyard of The Ivy. When I lunched on the patio during one visit I was completely enthralled with watching the table near us, as Lauren Holly was there reading a script with other various persons.....
I'm inclined to believe the napkins are from our dinner in London. Either story is a fond memory. Beginning to think I may have a klepto problem. HA!! Are my FINDS Found?? or otherwise??
Flipping through magazines while sitting in a stylists chair all morning. While glad to be pampered, I was tapping my fingers, anxious to get up and out! I had visions! Finally my energies were set to begin the rearrangement and redecorating for spring.
There is much to share. More to do, but the living area of our cottage has transformed. Want a tour???
The befores are on the left side and the afters are on the right and all brightly accented with RED !! That's the color I chose to play with for a short while. When summer rolls around I'll switch over again and the color then will be either blue, or yellow. OR BOTH!
Believe it, or not, this is the same chair. You'll notice that it is in the same spot, as are most of the revamped items. The moving around of furniture will come shortly.
I'm not going to leave this "curtain" up full-time...
I've fashioned a way to hang this vintage German embroidery so that I can cover the main window on very sunny days.
Some of the lighting changes ~
Other lamps will make their way into the scheme also. All in due time!
It feels much lighter and full of color. I love the black and white look, but a change will do you good!
Where did it begin? and WHY ? Wondering how I became so fond of tablecloths, napkins, bed linens, pillows and their cases, aprons and the like. I have no answer. I do know that my fondness has stretched to it's limits! Busting out of it's closet, in fact!
My ABUNDANT FINDS are finding a new home ~
Tablecloths of all sizes, colors and eras! Hopefully their new owners will find them at Goat Hill and be happy to claim one - or FIVE !!
It's time for my linen fetish to wane. Or possibly it's only time for a change in the type of linens I covet? Which shall it be? Only time and the next flea market will tell!
Strolls through museums on a rainy, foggy day - that's what dreams are made of ! Try as I might my traveling days are few and far between. Local galleries are great for an art fix. Art makes me smile. Art makes me stand and ponder - often question - sometimes GET IT !
When the wanderlust has faded, all I need do is gaze up from my downy perch, because I now have a DIY art gallery hanging upon the bedroom wall! It has taken shape over time. Pieces come and go. I have a couple of tiny empty slots for just the right item - once it is found.
And another shot?? ~ A small vignette ~
From a different angle.... and there's that empty spot... a project still in the works!
