Happy New Year...almost!

I am so sorry to have been away for awhile...and it is a long saga...suffice to say that though Christmas was a complete blessing,  time with family a great gift, and 2010 a great year...the last month has been...interesting, to say the least, and I am learning  great lessons in being flexible, going with the flow and trusting! 
and I REALLY look forward to the coming year...I hope to see many of you at the Fleas...Alameda, Pasadena and Long Beach...and to read about your own adventures in your blogs and comments!
May you all find surpassing comfort and joy in the New Year....
and all the best,
kate

December...

Having fun bringing out little bits of Christmas right now...I will add a few photos once I have had a chance to try things here and there...
I must say, I am really thankful for a bit of a change in the weather...though I know that our change in California often foretells worse weather along the midwest...on into the east...it gets me thinking about  the coming of winter...the longer nights, often bitter cold (yes, we do get freezing temperatures here, though "nothing to write home about" as my grandfather used to say), rain, snow...I feel that the season is meant somehow to tell us to gather in, to pull in closer...quiet our lives down a bit...I know that is hard, with so many things to do...!  But I hope that we can take each day this month (as those days run toward the first day of winter), and find a way to experience the quiet night of the year...
 
I am bringing out my soup and stew recipes...pairing them with a grand wine, baking some cookies and stocking up the wood for our fireplace...

Our recipe for Italian Sausage & Kale Soup

4 links Italian Sausage or 3 Links Italian & 1 link Portuguese Chorizo (to make up 1 pound)

1 (15 oz) can White Cannelini Beans

1 (15 oz0 can Diced Tomatoes

3 small potatoes (yukon gold works best)

1 quart chicken broth

1 lg onion chopped

3-4 garlic cloves grated or pressed

3/4 pound kale chopped
bay leaf
salt & pepper to taste

Heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in pot...begin cooking sausages, until browned, add chopped onions, cook 3-5 minutes until onions are translucent, add garlic, cook to release the aroma, not browned, then add chopped potatoes, canned tomatoes with juice, bay leaf, salt & pepper to taste, and chicken broth...

cook until potatoes are starting to get tender, then add the kale...cook until kale is soft and tender...add a little parmigianno shaved or grated when serving...

serve with toasty crusty bread (yum) and a nice red wine...nothing too heavy...enjoy!

For those of you out and about this weekend...we will be at Alameda Flea Market...can not wait...my sons have been busy...I have been busy...and we are getting everything tucked away in the trailer to head up on Saturday...Stop by and see us if you are coming....we will be in S21 &T7  (back to back spaces, how fortunate are we?)

Also, stop by  Common Ground 
for Debra's vintage inspired Fridays...& Vintage Thingy Thursdays....

 

  

Giving Thanks...

We here in America have just celebrated our day of Thanksgiving...
a national holiday of giving thanks*, and I truly hope that in the midst of cooking, entertaining, travel, schedules, talking, laughing, resting, eating...all of you were able to spend quality time gathered with family and/or friends and most importantly, were able to take time to remember those things you are most thankful for!

We had a small family celebration this year...we barbequed a turkey (we did and it was wonderful!)...we had 3 pies made lovingly by my father (family tradition!) two different dressings...new recipes for side dishes...(I am always trying something new) and it was all SO special. And what am I most thankful for?  my family, of course...my husband, sons, mother/father, brother, inlaws...the whole brood!  And my friends...God bless them!
Time (always...and never enough of it), each day and each experience that challenges, stretches, pushes us...and mostly, the Author and Creator of all. 

Now, renewed, refreshed (a bit tired from all the entertaining)  I am ready to begin Advent, that time of preparation for the coming of Christmas...and I am promising myself that I will set aside time...for all those things that really matter...












Happy Thanksgiving...Happy Hanukkah...Happy Christmas!...Happy Holidays!   May you anticipate with the coming season with renewed hope, joy and comfort!





*** with a little nod to White Wednesdays at Faded Charm

Brothers of Industry

I mentioned in last week's post that my sons were starting in the business...and putting  their own unique stamp and look on things...

Who knew they would get so much pleasure out of salvage and flea markets...they come home from a day of picking and go through the treasures they found and the stories that go along with them...And I am enjoying seeing their thoughts as they create this business...wait til you see some of the pieces they have found...

I am just waiting...and trying not to be too impatient...to see what interesting surface will be showing up on the steel cart...I am seeing that as a great kitchen island, or a portable bar cart...hmmm....
And the super colander...it will be a fabulous chandelier soon!  They have already repurposed a few antique table lamps...and we will be bringing those to Alameda and Pasadena...


On a different note, one of the things I have always loved about treasure hunting is the people you meet while you are out and about...For those of you who love to flea, you know what I am talking about...the flea market folk are so much fun to get to know!  everyone knows one another and helps one another out...it is THE best!

and now, how lucky am I...I get to share all this with my sons...I am pinching myself...it is such an incredible blessing!   If you get a chance, check out their blog...Brothers of Industry

The Adventure of Flea Marketing!

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday!   I love Sundays!   Our whole family looks forward to Sundays...a sabbath day...a rest day, a day to gather together, to eat wonderful food, drink a little wine and talk a good bit about the week we all had...this is our family tradition!
And then the last two Sundays we have all started a new "family tradition"...We are now, officially, a Flea Marketing family!  I have always enjoyed flea marketing...it is (believe it or not) so much fun to get up well before the sun rises and bundle up...grab a cup of coffee and my shopping cart and head down to Santa Monica or Pasadena...Occasionally my sweet husband will come along with me up to San Francisco and we get to enjoy a little holiday along with my shopping!
And now, we have moved on to a new adventure in Flea Marketing...my sons have both branched out into this whole mad world of all things flea, vintage and antique and at their suggestion, we scheduled a few selling dates at Alameda and Pasadena and off we went, husband, sons, trailer and all!
Two Sundays ago was our first go at it...and what an inauguration.  We had been checking weather reports for a good week or so ahead of time and it was looking "alright", until Friday...and then the weather report mentioned rain.   As the hours passed it started looking worse and worse, but our trailer was packed, our hotel paid for and it is "rain or shine" at Alameda...how bad could it be and what is a little rain, right?

Needless to say (the picture says it all I am afraid)...it was one of the few times that they actually canceled the flea market due to weather...we all laughed about it...that just seems to be our luck!  But I must say...the customers we met (yes people really do come shopping in all weather up there, bless them!) were simply amazing and so sweet...they actually thanked us for being there!  We had a fabulous time!  we were soaked to the skin, shivery cold...and we are ready to do it again and again! 

It was so much easier this last weekend...Pasadena...aside from getting up in the very wee hours to drive an hour and a half so that we could be there by 4:30 am...to find our space...that is an experience in and of itself...set up and hope for the best!   And wow!  what a show...so many people, so much fun, and so crazy busy...thank you to all of you for coming by our space (U6)   You made it such a success for us...we can not wait to do it again.

My son sold several of his gorgeous mirrors, a stylish "urban farmhouse" table and more...I sold my mid century cow hide chair & ottoman...(I admit, I will miss that chair!) plus a complete assortment of this and that...we are filled with new ideas and can not wait for the next flea...

The guys are thinking of doing Santa Monica in two weeks...they have started their own blog and website...(check out their blog, Brothers of Industry ) and they were off today finding new wood and industrial treasures for their latest creations... whew...they definitely have more energy than I do at this point...(but just give me a few days!) and then it is off to do the whole thing next month...and we ALL can not wait!   We hope to see you there! 

And by the way, please take a moment to pop over to Faded Charm White Wednesdays  ...one of my favorite blog parties and always a great source of inspiration!

A quick word, if I may...

It is a beautiful Saturday, and two weekends post my busy shows...and I am already back at getting ready for a new round of busyness!   (note busy ness, rather than business!)   I am happily redoing my living room with a few industrial farmhouse touches...pictures to follow I hope!  and also getting ready for a new little venture...my husband, son (his girlfriend) and I will be hitting the road for the next few weekends, doing the Alameda Flea Market on Sunday the 7th (look for me at Booth S21) and then Pasadena Flea Market Sunday the 14th...(look for me in Booth U6)

I hope to meet some of you there!  

with a thankful heart...

what a wonderful weekend!  what a whirlwind of a weekend!   And how gracious and kind you all are! 
This last Saturday was the show at Nipomo, Remnants of the Past...and what with everything going on it just seems like it came and went lightning fast...
My sweet husband helped me take all my big pieces up on Thursday afternoon, and then we drove down to Los Angeles with our son to take him to the airport (and that of course is another story...and for your kind words for this momma's heart, I thank you so much)...and then back up to Nipomo to complete the setup for Saturday with my sweet friend and partner for this show, Betsy...then back home, and back again Saturday morning...I felt like I was meeting myself going and coming, going and coming....until Saturday and 9 am and then it was MAGIC!  

The line of people waiting to come in started a good hour before the show started...and it never stopped!  the energy...the excitement, the fun!!! It NEVER STOPPED!

 
You will notice that there are very few photos here of the day...that is because I never got time enough to leave my space...this is one of my favourite shows to shop, and THAT never happened!   This is one of the best places to see some of the most phenomenally talented women in this business, and I barely got enough time to say more than hi! WOW!  your space looks AMAZING!...and then run back to my space....
For me, though, each one of you that came by to see me...that shared your stories...and for each of you who share your thoughts here on my blog...I treasure that...it is the best part of this whole thing...So I must tell you all, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!  You are, each and every one, a true blessing!
until next time,  my thankful heart to yours...kate

For White Wednesday...and a mother's moment

I  will get to the photo of a few of the pieces I am working on a little bit later in this post, but if you will let me, I need to take a mother's moment...I hope you can identify with me in this, whether your little ones are learning to take their first steps on their own, or they are grown with children of their own...I think we as mothers always fight the battle of holding our treasures close verses letting them go...letting them spread their wings...
Well, my younger son, my second born, is heading off to Europe with a friend for two months on Friday...

....notice the long pause...         I am (I truly am) so happy for him to have the time, and the means (he saved every penny in order to make this happen) to go on this trip...a once in a lifetime experience...and, after all, I took this same journey when I was his age.   I am equally as sure that my own mother had the same feelings that I am experiencing right at this moment...I would be lying if I said that I did not fear for him...(for who will watch out for him, when I can not?)  But, I can honestly say that I do know the answer for that, and I am trusting in my good heavenly Father, who knows the number of hairs upon my son's dear head, & the entire span of his days, and loves him more than I could ever, possibly, ever....!!

So I am having one of several mother moments, as I help him prepare for the trip...packing, checking off things on his and my many lists, making sure we have ways to stay in touch, praying, and sending him off with JOY, love, tears, and a camera to catch every exciting moment!  

And since I said in an earlier post that I would share a photo of some things I am preparing for the upcoming show...a very quick shot of my screen/headboard with my favourite new chippy chair! 

its Monday and...

I am so happy...(okay, I am happy & excited,& running around a bit like a crazy busy person)...this Saturday, October 2nd!  is the Remnants of the Past Vintage show.  I know many of you, if you are fortunate enough to live within a few hour! drive, mark your calendars twice a year and make the drive to Nipomo, and the beautiful, rustic Dana Powers property...


For those of you looking to come up and join us, I am including  a link to Judy Watkins' (hostess, visionary, creator, dream maker, all around very talented lady, and my good friend) website here...Remnants of the Past
You can wander around her site, check out all the wonderful dealers coming to the show...and they are really, really wonderful!....get directions...and follow Judy's blog...(by the way, Judy is the talented woman who first got me interested in this whole blogging thing...

I am including a few photos from Judy's blog of some of the dealers coming to the show...so many tempting, beautiful lovelies!!!

here is a view inside the barn....so many things...never enough time!

3 fine grains....I adore this chair!

Indulge...need I say more?

I love this little collection...everywhere you look...something yet more wonderful

I love these shaving brushes from the Junk Girls

see that sweet little settee?  that one came home with me!

 I will try to post a few photos of some of the goodies I am bringing later this week...In the meantime...I am heading outside to finish a fabric screen (or will it be a headboard? or a memories board....)
thanks as always for following along!
kate

a white Wednesday...

Isn't the wandering world of blogging amazing!  I just discovered  Faded Charm 

from reading a site I discovered a bit ago...A secret garden cottage
...and  I discovered white Wednesdays...!
...and through White Wednesdays, even more amazing sites...I am feeling a little bit like Alice in Wonderland!

I am SO new at this...and I am having such fun navigating through everyone's amazing sites...thank you all for being so creative, so talented and truly inspiring...

There is something in the air...

Can you feel it?  There is just "something" about the changing of the seasons...even here in Coastal Santa Barbara...the light in the garden starts to change subtly...getting somehow softer around the edges...and there is just a touch of crispness to the air...I can smell the sea salt coming off the ocean...it is as if all my senses attune to the differences...I want to be outside "in it" somehow...just to walk along the beach,  water my fading roses, or watch the robins and rabbits going about their daily chores...I have a list of errands I "MUST" run today, but then I am heading to the farmers market, and after that, outside to work on a few projects...I can not wait!

Taking a deep breath and off I go!

I know it is a cliche but TGIF!

Thank goodness, it is Friday! Once summer is done, and the fall is here, I start a whirlwind of preparations for upcoming shows and events...that means the casual days of summer flea market and estate sales are indeed past, and the scurrying to fill in the gaps between my imagined look for the upcoming shows & REALITY is ON!!!!
First comes Remnants of the Past...for those of you who do not know this show, it is such a beautiful venue, an old barn in the middle of orchards and a picture perfect backdrop of California foothills...

50 dealers from California and Washington and distant parts gather together for an amazing vintage show that is a little bit "Round Top", a little bit Country Living, and SO MUCH MORE! I really feel that I must bring my "A" game to this show...everyone is so creative! WOW!

Anyway...my vision for this show is slowly coming together, but I always try to add something new, to push the envelope a bit, to find that special something that someone out there will think is special too! ...something that takes an everyday item and reshapes it to something fresh and new...I have a few pieces that I am working on right now...and they are a bit challenging...we will see!

Then on top of the work...(well it is fun work!) I have been reinventing my website and blog...hope you are still with me...

and then, finally, today I was hit by a hacker in my Paypal account...YIKES!!! I am usually a calm person, but I think my blood pressure spiked! After hyperventilating, changing passwords, and venting (just a bit and only to my older son (a very sympathetic listener by the way), so that no one's feelings would get hurt!) I think things have settled down, but TGIF!!!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Kate

Summer is gone and....

Have you ever had days that felt frantic, frenetic and overdone? I feel like the summer was a series of days just like that...I had all the hope in the world that I would be reveling in blissful days of sunshine; evenings on our back patio, grilling something delectable; bright, beachy days surfing with my husband and sons, and fruitful days of work and accomplishments...

Well...some of those wishes did, in fact, come true...but first of all, where WERE those warm sunny days of summer? My vegetable gardens moped and struggled along in our cloudy days...and sitting outside for an evening under the stars? too cool to try it very often I am afraid...(though it was fun to bundle up, get a fire going outside and talk into the night with a good glass of wine, and s'mores for dessert!) And surfing...hmmm...my husband got all of us out surfing all last year, learning how to stand up, catch the rollers, and hang on...and we were truly looking forward to a summer of "hangin ten", only to find that the waves were pretty much non existent here in Santa Barbara...our Pacific Ocean looked much more like a lake this year...
So, we worked on projects all summer long... a new roof here, new stairs there...trimming here, there, and everywhere...and though we accomplished SO MUCH, it started to feel like a marathon, (and one I had not trained for!) My husband is amazing...he stayed with it, ticking things off the list, day by day...and I did my best to keep running along...but, frantic, frenetic and overdone...that is how I felt by the end of August...
And now September is here! I am happily preparing for my upcoming shows...Remnants of the Past, October 2nd...and the CALM show in Mid October...here are a few finds I will be bringing along...I can not wait! Be sure to join me...check out the Remnants show (www.remnantsofthepast.com) It is a wonderful show...great dealers, and a purely magical day... I hope to see you all there!

in the garden...

I had a wonderful opportunity to visit a few gardens in the last several weeks...one, a masterful kitchen garden, had me dreaming of summer bounty & rushing home to create new raised beds(we have moles, gophers & sweet bunnies, all more than happy to enjoy the fruit of our labour) and fill them with the seeds of summer...lettuces, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, basil, cilantro and many, many plants of peppers (my guys do love their serranos!)
And the second, Portland's famed rose gardens, had me snapping photos like a mad woman, and looking at my own feeble attempts at lush beautiful blooms with a bit of a jaundiced eye I must admit...
Both visits got me to thinking, quite a bit, about what makes us head out to potter around in the dirt...
I love being out in the garden...I have dreams (often frustrated, I admit) of a fine English garden, filled with bounteous roses, masses upon masses of every lovely perennial nestled comfortably side by side with one another, happily co existing and creating an harmonious whole...I love the challenge of trying to create colours and textures that suit a southern California climate and sensibility, while still echoing those amazingly abundant, overflowing riches of a Somerset garden...sigh! Then too, I have a son who will constantly remind me to be xeroscapically minded (that is, conscious of my use of resources and native plants, hence, new vegetable beds in the place of grass & drought friendly beds)...and a husband who will remind me of the value of form vs function...aesthetics vs practicalities...so now, I have quite a mix in my garden...roses, yes!, but also lavender, licorice plant, mexican sage, bush sweet peas, rosemary, and society garlic...they are not quite flowing merrily into one another's space, but they do blend, and they are happy to exist with minimum water...it works, most of the time, but does have times where it looks either wild and overgrown (the times when I do not give the time to be out in my garden) or tired and hot...(and I sympathize,because usually by that point I am feeling the same way)
I said I love being out in the garden, but I have found that I can too easily be pulled away by the urgent, the immediate, and it can be days, or even weeks (or more if I am brutally honest) until I can go out to water, trim, and tend...and my garden shows and suffers when that happens...isn't that, not to put too fine a point on it, much like everything in life? If I allow myself to be distracted, to be pulled away, by things "urgent", immediate, and "necessary", I can miss the important, the quietly beautiful, the best things in my day to day life...and they suffer, and it shows in my life...
I am taking time this summer to take more time...in the garden, (my vegetable beds are coming along beautifully, and my "english gardens" are thriving...as to my roses...I will get back to you on that topic!)
And I am also trying to see distractions for what they are, and to focus on the true, the rich, and the meaningful...For me, family, friends, and TIME...here's to all of that and more for all of you!

Mid May! Where did the time go? Oh! I know...

Whew! Just beginning to resurface after one very hectic, wonderful, challenging and incredible 4 (or so) weeks! Just after I started this little venture, I got busy getting ready for my FAVOURITE show...Remnants of the Past...what an amazing time! To say it was beautiful is an understatement...to say we all had an incredible time, really does not capture it...seeing all my favourite folk...the dealers who come to this show each time, and new favs, all the great ladies (and gentlemen (to be fair to those guys that brave this world)) that visit us here...what a true and rare blessing! The only problem is that it just goes by in a blur...I found myself just wanting more time...more time to talk with each person that stopped by my booth, more time to look around and take it all in, more time to shop, (never enough of that!) and more time to enjoy what brought us all together for that amazing day...
Once it was over and my husband, sons and my older son's sweet girlfriend (did you get a chance to talk with her at the show? She helped me out all day while the menfolk played a round of golf) got everything packed up ready to head for home, we stopped at Full of Life Flatbread in Los Alamos...remember I mentioned finding that special restaurant wherever we find ourselves??? This is definitely one of those...so good and so perfect to complete the day...gourmet flatbread pizzas, (grilled shallots, sun dried tomatoes, fresh basil...oh, just the memory makes me want to get in the car and head on up there!) and homemade toasted marshmallow s'mores...oh my oh my!
No time to rest after the show, because then it was time to get ready for our younger son's college graduation...sigh! Did not think I would be so emotional (oh really? this from the woman who sniffled uncontrollably when dropping him off at pre school) We were very blessed to share a family celebration where we laughed a lot and shared great memories of our son's growing up (a little embarrassing I must admit, but he took it all with a good heart)
Then on to the CALM antiques show in Santa Barbara...two days setting up and three days to meet, greet and chat...what a pretty show...I always feel like some of those dealers have got it SOOO together...and some of them are what I want to be when I grow up! If you got a chance to come by, did you see Kymberley's booth...3 Fine Grains...stunning! I kept going back over and over to ooh and ahhh... And then Dan Marty's Maison Au Naturel...all I can say is...I really NEED that industrial shelf and bin unit...(okay maybe not need...but oh how I loved it!)

Catching up now, my sweet husband and I are away from home, resting (sleeping!) and restoring...enjoying undivided attention...talking about all sorts of things that matter...planning, dreaming and preparing for a busy summer ahead...

Blessings to all of you...thank you for stopping by and chatting at the shows...thanks for your kind emails and comments...keep em coming! I enjoy spending time catching up with you guys...

Thoughts at the beginning...

Let's share together some of the things that get our hearts going...flutter, flutter, flutter! What gets you up in the morning...what is it that fuels your latest passion...
For me, it is...
Family! Ah...my wonderful dear husband... helpmate, best of best friends, soul mate, fellow dreamer of big dreams, seeker of the best in me, pusher from behind when needed("get out there and do it for goodness sakes!"), my forever love!
My two sons! When did THEY grow up? Wasn't it yesterday we were playing in the sandbox in the back yard, reading Lord of the Rings at night before bed...playing video games, hockey and golf, doing nights and nights of homework (usually at the last minute)...when did it become wonderful long talks over dinner and wine, family "vacations" completely remodeling a very old cottage, cooking phenomenal meals together and finding the best little local restaurant wherever we are (but where did you learn to like the "nasty bits"? Yikes!)
Parents...my sweet mom and dad...my early strength and shield, they taught me so much...still do, God Bless them!
For me, my Faith moves me, though not as much as it should...but I am working on it.
Stories...people's life stories, books (ah Jane Austin!) Movies, the latest news article, my favourite blog from the internet (what were we doing before the internet?) history, science, philosophy...Art...they all inform my thoughts...
Creating things...did you ever look at something and think about what it could become? Just let me wander the aisles at any flea market, and I literally start bouncing up and down...did you see that ...what do you think of that... where (or how) can I use that? Right now I am thinking about the antique ceiling tiles I am going to make into.....? and what colour is that chair going to be?
Can you see where I am going...will you come along...I hope so...!