Springtime Remnants of the Past...now past...

Though I will be posting more of my thoughts...and photos... of the Remnants show...I (along with my sons, the brothers of Brothers of Industry!) would like to send our deeply felt gratitude to Judy Watkins...hostess, organizer, dreamer of dreams, and fearless leader...for undertaking this enormously daunting task...we as dealers face the "normal" challenges of setting up our treasures in many unusual places...at odd hours of the days...in all kinds of weather...with hopes that people will see our things and love them like we do (and hopefully buy some of them!)...Judy, and her sweet friend Judi Powers (owner of the lovely property we are so fortunate to have been able to use) go above and beyond the scope of those challenges to take on this whole huge undertaking that is Remnants...bless you, both of you, and keep on dreaming and doing...you are truly inspirational....!!!!

Back in a few days to posting, (after I catch my breath a bit!) but in the meantime...here are a few photos...one of the barn the night before the show...in the calm peaceful quiet of the evening...and one, a little vignette of my space (the beautiful workbench has an amazing patina...sort of a greeny grey over a warm weathered wood)  I used antique Weck Jars ( canning jars originally from Holland) for display pieces mixed with beautiful ironstone compotes....enjoy...

And to all of you...a grateful thanks for coming...chatting with me, and taking home a few treasures...it was such a great show! and you made it so!
fondly,
Kate!

(and I am linking to White Wednesday...a little late, but thanks for stopping by!) and I am just adding Vintage Fridays to my blog as well...glad to have found you!

and here we go!

First of all, let me share that this weekend....YAY!!!....is the Spring time Remnants of the Past show in Nipomo!  We have been so excited about this upcoming show...it is my very favourite among many favs...Judy Watkins organizes this show twice a year, and the dealers who come and share their treasures are my favourite dealers as well...I have often bought from almost every single one at one time or another!  If you can...take a moment to follow Judy's blog over the last few weeks and you will see what I mean!   Oh SO MANY wonderful things...I am almost hyperventilating as I write, and I know I have been up the last few nights...both thinking about my space there...(I am inside the barn just as you come in....) and also thinking about how I can make enough time to get around and see everyone before the show is over...it just gets so busy and goes by SO fast!   Be sure, if you are coming up, to get there early!  Judy has added some new dealers so there is even more to see, enjoy and take home for your very own!  I want to share one of my favourite things from last show that I brought home....that wonderful linen settee!  Sigh...Doesn"t this space look inviting?  these things are from my friends Sidney and Sandy...and they are right next to me in the barn...

And I am adding this to white wednesdays....

I also wanted to mention that the last few weeks have been a bit of a journey for me (not my normal crazy busy self getting ready for Remnants...instead I have been visiting doctor's offices and small surgeries and all, just for a little something noticed while having my eyes checked for new glasses...and I have a grateful heart for the hands, eyes and efforts of all those involved in this little process (especially my good husband, in whom I am truly blessed), and a thankful heart to God for having His hand in this whole thing...timing, results, people, care, and more...
all this to say...Do NOT let "little things" go...thinking, I will take care of this later, when I have more time (and when does that ever happen?)  be "care-ful" of others and yourself...be proactive...and along with these things, DO things to help take care of yourselves...excercise, REST (oh yes! this is important!) RE CREATE...all the best to you all,
kate

bits of whimsy...

It is always fun to have the camera (or in most cases, my cell phone...(note to self...how far we have all come from our little kodak cameras!))  out to catch little moments, quick vignettes, and whimsical fancies!

snapped a quick picture of a table full of goodies....just before I started organizing them for sale this last fleamarket...my sons help me by putting everything out...then they go shop and I get to work organizing it all into little vignettes...but I thought this looked fun just as it was...a little chaotic!

Just lately, my good husband and I have been chatting about trying experience things a little differently, view with an author or a painter's eye...capturing stories, and imagining...And part of that is doing things out of your normal routine...
We have had the interesting experience of being without television for several months (part of the long story mentioned in a previous post)...& we have been reading quite a bit (could not be happier about that!) and then sharing with each other bits from books we are both reading (just now he is reading a "a Brief History of the World" and I just finished "The Dressmaker" (good writing style, fairly good storyline))  I am trying to decide what to read next...hmmm....
I am quite enjoying this!  But on a side note...what is everyone doing about the sad demise of bookstores?  It seems they are all closing down.....it just does not seem the same to pop on to the internet to browse for a book as it is to grab a cup of coffee...wander the aisles and settle on a few good reads....I am seriously starting to miss that!
Anyway...more later...here is to seeing and expressing our creative visions...
And I have to say, I am always inspired by all of you who share your creative vision during  White Wednesdays ...thank you!!!  Kate

Sunny Blue Skies & Happy People...Alameda Antiques Faire

Isn't it amazing what a little sunshine and blue sky will do for peoples' spirits?  It was such a pretty day on Sunday and apparently many many thousands of people thought so to and decided it would be nice to go flea marketing at Alameda... my good sons and I were there, fresh from Texas, and meeting some amazing folk!

 Though I will admit we were a little tired from the adventures of the previous week, we packed up our trailer and drove on up the coast to San Francisco to join in the fun and sun...

I have some favourite dealers I like to visit early in the day for their treasures, though it is not so easy to do that when I am selling there as well!  My sons and I TRY to take it in turns to walk about and see things, (picking up a treasure here and there)...and I REALLY enjoy visiting with all our friends who share in this gypsy life!  (Hello Tim & Lisa, Coco & Fred, Bombshell Betty....!)

Once the day begins in earnest...it is time to get down to "business" which for me, is about meeting new folk and sharing stories about the things we have in our booth...I am (admittedly) a history wonk...and you can count on me to find out what that funny looking thingy is and what in the world it was used for...

Thanks to our new friends as well for stopping by our booth to say hello!  The three fabulous ladies from the 3 Speckled Hens came by ...and how much fun were the Farmyard Darlings!...and Katrien from voilagallery...amazing designs!
Getting to know all of you makes this "job" a real pleasure!  THANK YOU! and Happy April!

Home Again, Home Again!

How amazing was this last week....!

First of all, can I say how much of a rare gift it was to share this time in Texas with my sons, my husband and my older son's girlfriend...we all had an AMAZING time! We shopped, shopped, shopped and then, shopped some more!

Brothers of Industry

Brothers of Industry

Prize for the Largest Find!...Moooo!

 And in between shopping (and drinking bottles and bottles of water, ) we ate barbeque (and an occasional Shiener Bock to go with that bbq brisket) & blue bell ice cream, we attended a book signing party for Rachel Ashwell at an awesome antiques shop called Leftovers, we ran into SO many good friends (if you want to find the Californians in the middle of a 90 degree hot and humid day in Texas, look for ANYPLACE with a fan or air conditioning!) and we made many new friends...among them, Debbie (and Cat Daddy!) from Talking Trash...  Donna from DH Interiors & Vicki Davis from Texas Rose
And let me just say...we found some Fabulous things! 
And oh, we needed to. We have 5 shows (yep, 5!)coming up in the next 4 months along with our usual flea markets up and down the California coast...my brain was buzzin' all day long, thinking about the looks I wanted for each of those shows...a soft green palette warmed with wood for the CALM show in May...an urban farmhouse look for Remnants of the Past in April...and that is only the beginning!   Then there is the Farm Chicks show in June and the LA Gift mart in July.....What can I say?   I am really, seriously, unbelievably excited....
For now, the truck is loaded up and we are on our way back to California...next stop Alameda for the Alameda Antiques Faire...Find US...in C3 & C4 (we just found out today, Friday!) on Sunday April 3rd... promise it will be worth it!    and a quick link into White Wednesdays 

Treasures on the Truck!

Gone to Texas...

For many of us, (and you know who you are!)...twice yearly our thoughts start to turn toward Texas...not because the blue bonnets are in bloom, though they are stunningly beautiful sweeping over the fields in painterly patterns...and not for the Bar B Que (though, seriously, yumm!) and not even for the big Texas welcome, BUT because, twice a year...April and October (and a good week or so ahead of that...) Round Top and Warrenton Texas...and literally every field and dance hall in between host hundreds of thousands of us as we search for that perfect chest of drawers, that amazing chandelier that you just KNOW will look fabulous in your bathroom (and yes I AM looking for one of those!), and that curious...just what is that? thing that you simply must have!  Dealers come from around the US and  Europe to bring their treasures to share with the rest of us...Its overwhelming...its gorgeous...its long days...it can be hot & humid or rainy/muddy...its people, people, people, and its FUN! (if you like being overwhelmed, and people, and traffic (how can a small country town, population 77 manage hundreds of thousands?) and if you like "the Hunt"....then I imagine, I will see some of you there!!
I will post a few photos of some of the wonderful dealers and their finds next week as I am able...internet permitting!
I am  linking with Faded Charm for white Wednesdays...thanks as always for visiting!
In the meantime, may your week ahead bring you productive days...rest full days...joy with your loved ones...trust and comfort in the midst of it all!
all the best,
kate

sunshine and progress!

It is a beautiful day today!   Sunshine, clear skies, and warm...what a blessing...We have not been in our house for quite a while (long story...not necessarily blogworthy, but suffice to say we are in the midst of a lot of work here and a lot of meals out, sigh...) but today is one of those days that make me hopeful that the work WILL get done, the rooms will soon be filled with homey things again, and the scents of the garden (the jasmine is blooming right now...delicious!) and of home cooked meals will soon be ours again...
If I have been remiss in keeping the blog going, (oh, and I have)...I excused myself to myself by pointing out the many tasks that have overtaken my days...but really, it is so necessary to keep all this in perspective...and I had a little flash last night in my quiet time...(love it when you get that little nudge) as to what is of lasting value, worth and purpose...and the busy ness just is not it!...caring for others, listening to others, helping to make them feel cared for and valued in this life, being able to say "yes, send me" when called...that just means so much more...
SO  to each of you...how are you all doing?  How is life treating you...is it sunshine and progress, or is it busyness and trials...?  Either way, I am here...how can I be a friend?