instagram

Friday

Rusty Ella-ments

I found some old farm seeders at an Estate sale last weekend. My Dear Hubby and I followed the sign down a short dusty road to a farm crawling with bargain seekers. We rummaged through the treasures out in the carport and garage before making our way inside.
I managed to have a pretty good stack of my finds saved out by the chain link fence and ended up spending about thirty dollars. I was making my way back to the car when I spotted a bunch of old farm equipment in the field with price tags blowing in the wind. My heart started to race as I headed over to area. I was disappointed to find SOLD written on almost every tag. Did that stop me from looking? Of course not! I started exploring, dodging the cactus and the fire ants and found an old rusty cylinder full of seeder wheels. Now, I am not really sure this is the correct term for these old implements, but I do know they were used to spread the seeds in the fields. The seeds would be dispersed according to how big the holes were and where the holes were placed. I am not sure about the wheels that don't have any holes... I grew up in West Texas, but only would visit farms, not live on one. So, I found someone to give me a price on my goodies and we took them to the car. I just about skipped all the way there.

Nothing like a little rust to make me happy!

Besides hanging them on the wall, I thought they would make cool plate chargers.
The old rusty patina is ironically rich looking.


This seeder is sitting under an old copper pitcher with some other rusty element I picked up somewhere in my adventures. Oh, and an old lampshade.

I placed this charger on a copper plate.


My kids thought I had lost my marbles when I concocted this wind chime! It actually has a unique sound blowing in the breeze.
(Although in Texas, that would be wind!)





Wednesday

Homework for the day

I woke up this morning feeling like I had been run over by a truck and then it backed up and ran over me again. Ever have those mornings? I have a blog post in my mind, but this photo is all I could manage to get posted for now. Giggle. Something we should do every day, something we should hear every day, and something we should encourage in others every day.

I am involved in a three day Vacation Bible School which started last night. Part of the time was spent outside in the 120 degree heat. Actually, it was only in the '90's, but it was not a dry heat! For those of you who do not live in Texas, it stays hot after sunset and does not cool down through out the night. Anyway, I was in charge of the four year old class. What a precious age. What sweet innocent giggles they have. Our theme for VBS is A Prayer Safari . Well, we felt like we were in Africa. Did I mention it was hot?

So, today my assignment to myself and to you is to laugh any chance you get.

You know it is contagious....


"A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones."

Proverbs 15:30

Monday

The perfect place to be

I took the leap. I moved downstairs at the Antique Company Mall. I am now on the main aisle across from the check-out counter. There is more room, better access and it is the
perfect place to be.
My Dear Hubby and I set last Friday and Saturday as our days to paint and set up. We didn't know that a recent lightning storm had fried some of the wiring in the building. This meant we didn't have any air or much lighting. Both of my booths upstairs did not have any working lights. I must say it was not the best working conditions and we were really tired at the end of the weekend. I am still fluffing and fussing over every detail, but it is getting there.

I took an old vintage frame and painted the inside with chalkboard paint. I was inspired to add the twigs and birds from an Anthropologie display I had seen on Roxanne's blog.

I tried to take photos starting at the front right and work back and around to the other side. It is hard to know what something will look like to someone who hasn't been there.

Does that make any sense?

I spotted one of the other dealers bringing this table in to sell in her booth, but it needed to be right here...in my booth.

I made hanging screens from vintage sheet music and old door insets. I adapted this idea from a booth I saw on a blog sometime back. If anyone knows whose blog this idea is from, please let me know so I can give them credit. (Update: I saw this on The Veranda's Oct. 2008 blog post. It was on a much grandiose scale, but that is what spurred the idea for my screens.)




The view from the check-out counter.

I will be adding new goodies frequently, so visit often!

Tuesday

Decorating with Burlap Garland

I just listed my burlap garland on
Etsy
. This has been one of my best sellers at the Antique Company Mall. I love all the fun ways to Ella~embellish everything from my booth to my mantel at home. I first started using this ribbon one Christmas on my tree for the nature theme I was doing that year. I later needed a way to cover the lights I had hanging at the top of my booth, so out came the burlap.



My recent display downstairs at the ACM for the McKinney Art Walk. I just tucked short pieces of ribbon here and there for a whimsical look.

Barbara's booth at the front of the ACM. She works the burlap in with a light airy theme.

This is my mantel at home. My house has an Old World feel, so I am working with a darker palette.
The shutters came from Romania and the framed ceiling tin has the original paint still intact and I bought at the Warrenton Antique Show.


I have rusty urns and birds (of course).

My daughter's boyfriend said my mantle tells a story of how the birds came along and knocked the urns over and they are really proud of themselves and are huddled together plotting their next adventure.

Check out my other posts for even more ideas.

~Burlap and Bubbles

~To Flea Market, to Flea Market