The Gypsy Paintbrush at Bouckville 2013

Back to Bouckville ... way back in August...

I couldn't wait to visit the booth of my friend Victoria Potter

 who goes by the name The Gypsy Paintbrush.

Vicky is a creative and inspiring girl who always has a large supply of rustic items

 mixed with pretties and feminine treasures.

 In addition, she is a talented artist who adds her own painted pieces

 to her eclectic inventory.

Her interesting displays mix silver pieces, white ironstone, vintage ribbons, colored glass and pretty dishes with zinc containers, advertising pieces and a bit of industrial.

Vicky has a great sense of style and is genius at achieving just the right balance between masculine and feminine elements...

(I love how she re-purposed tiny iron pulleys into unique jewelry pieces.)

 

Vicky always has beautiful vintage clothes and pretty linens to look through. Last year I found the loveliest antique peach lace dress which hangs in front of a window in my bedroom and casts such a soft romantic light when the afternoon sun shines through.

This year, I couldn't resist a black poufy crinoline petticoat 

which looks pretty amazing on my Victorian cage dress form.

 

 

This stunning mirror took center stage in her pretty booth this year.

And, oh those little details that we all love so much.

 This is the bottom of a small box that another customer

 was purchasing in Vicky's booth. I adore this tiny label.

You never know what Vicky will bring to her shows...

...but I have never been disappointed and am always delighted

 with her beautiful and imaginative displays.

You can follow her on FB to find out where she will set up and display her wonderful wares next.

Next up...

...the booth of Colleen Bloom...The Vintage Room!

Thanks so much for all those lovely comments welcoming me back! 

You really know how to make a girl feel good about things :)

The Bouckville 2013 Review - Finally

Hello friends...

 It's been so long since I have posted...I almost forgot how!

More about why it's been so long later.

 For now...here are some pics of some of the wonders that I saw when I went to the fabulous Madison Bouckville show in August.

 Yes, I know...that was two months ago.

My first parking spot was literally at the edge of a corn field.

  This photo is out the front windshield before I exited the car! 

Can you feel the excitement?

As usual, my heart was pounding at the prospect

 of finding my brand of  junk!

Enjoy the photos!

Three beautiful days of antiquing and visiting with friends

 was such a treat!

This show is still my favorite.

Later this week, I will share pics from the booths of Vicky Potter of Gypsy Paintbrush and Colleen Bloom from The Vintage Room.

You will enjoy their distinct, feminine and pretty presentations.

Now, about my unplanned and long blogging break...

Well, Life got in the way.

The many joys of life...

 ...as we were very busy and had a ton of fun

 with family and friends at the lake this summer.

 And then there were some hard times too...

...our family, like yours, has had its share of loss and illness.

Fortunately, we are holding tight to one another and our faith.

So, that's why I have not been online much...

...I have been focused on family.

Having said that...

I have, however, been an Instagramming fool...

using the IPhone 5 my son Dan bought me last Christmas.

IG must have been invented for lazy bloggers like me!

Here's why I like it...

...my phone is always with me anyway, it's quick, immediate

and the photos are a bit gritty... not meant to be perfect...

...although you would be amazed at some of the shots on IG.

 Not to mention the amazing apps and editing tools

 which I have yet to get into.

 If you are interested you can click the button on my sidebar

 to check out my feed. 

Meanwhile, I hope YOU are well...

I have much catching up to do with everyone's blogs

 and hope to spend a little time doing that soon.

A special thank you to the dear friends and readers who have taken the time to email, message me or send handwritten notes...

...your thoughtfulness and expressions of concern

 have meant the world to me.

 I am grateful for your kindness and feel so blessed

 to have each and every one of you in my life.

Be back soon with more Bouckville photos!

 

Fit to Flea

Whew!

 Talk about tired...

I'm not fit to flea!

The yard sale at Paula's home was loads of fun.

A big thank you to all the neighbors, blogger friends, lurkers...

 and even self proclaimed stalkers :)

...who made time to come.

We loved meeting you all!

Suzanne, Janet, Debbie, Kim, Mary and Denise ...

...and those whose names escape me ( so sorry )...

Wish we could have hung out together a little longer!

The weather held out on Saturday and

many folks took a walk out back and toured Paula's gardens.


The photos here show a lot of the treasures Paula was selling and an old iron crib that our friend Kathleen has for sale.
I should have taken a picture of Paula's charming crib turned daybed ... it is fitted with a ticking covered cushion and sits in her living room...there probably is a pic of it somewhere in a previous post.

The yard sale was fun...

...relaxed, comfortable and so very civilized...

(as compared to the flea market)

We finished cleaning up after the sale and packed our cars full

 for the flea market on Sunday.
Then our good friend Deanna from the incredible shop Gather in Ivoryton stopped by and we relaxed with a glass of wine
 before our delicious dinner. 
Thank you Bill! 

It was early to bed as we got up at 4:00 a.m. 

Did I mention that I was tired?

Did I happen to tell you that I'm not used to all this

 lugging, packing, setting up and taking down,

and the worst...

 negotiating a sale...

?

I mean seriously when you tell someone your price is $2.00 for five perfect creamy white doilies and they say, "I'll give you $1.50"...

Well,

 I'm exhausted.

So, the idea of an online shop is sounding better and better...

As much as I love to shop a flea market...

...apparently, I'm lacking the required physical stamina and the unique negotiating skills needed for the other side of the table.

As a buyer, a friendly smile served me well.  

As a vendor...not so much!

There are some seriously talented bargain getters out there!

Sigh...I am no match.

...it's so much more fun to search out and buy treasures

 than it is to sell them.

I found myself just a little bit cranky at the flea market.

Sorry Paula!

But it was great to see Suzanne, Janet and Debbie again...
...they had a marathon weekend of flea shopping fun!


And it was great to meet Debra of  Capers of the Vintage Vixens!
She was shopping with cute as a button, little Stella who had just found a vintage Barbie
 with a bag full of delightful handmade vintage clothes!
We were playing Barbies and trying on clothes right there at the flea...what fun!

And it was wonderful to see our dear friends Evi and Ebbie
 who were at the flea searching for the perfect mirror for their newly renovated and decorated bathroom.
 I can't wait to see it!

Well, at least I got rid of a lot of good junk treasure!

:)

Hope it was a fun weekend for you too...

and that the week ahead brings all good things!