FUN COLLECTIONS, TRAVEL, FLEA MARKETS

Hello Friends:

A busy week, I'm on a short trip South (family business) and one or two flea markets.  I hope to do a little bit of "antique flea market shopping" in a new territory for me.  I hear Florida has great markets.  I'll take pictures and post on my trip for you.

As you know the "Antique Flea Market " season starts with the biggest market in the world, "Brimfield"  over 6000 vendors set up in this country little town in Ma.

I had been there two times once as a vendor and another time as a visitor.  The best market is now starts on Thursday, you always see one or two movie stars, TV decorators, and all kinds of collectors.

It is an overwhelming market, but if you do what I suggest you will enjoy and find the rarest antiques in your life.  I hear this year is all about "industrial" and "mid century furniture".

1.  Wear comfy shoes.
2.   Take "grandma's grocery car"
3.   Wear a hat and sunscreen.
4.   Take rain gear, (NE weather )
5.   Take lots of small cash bills (bargain always)
6.   Visit first: the May market, and the oldest, be prepared to wait in line for at least an hour.  I saw Oprah and her entourage there. 
7.   Take a backpack carry water, nutritional bars and snacks.
8.   They have people that will carry big pieces to your car for a fee, so you can continue shopping.  Also the have a great mail service.

9.   Visit a few markets at a time, you cannot see it all in one day.  It pays to get organized and take pictures.  Try to go two days, then two days in July, and two days in September (great weather).

10.  Enjoy the people, dealers and amazing finds.

Have fun and let me know what wonderful items you bought.  This year is all about RH, PB, Wisteria, and of course chippy, cottage, Paris antiques.
great patina letters and more letters, have a wonderful time at Brimfield.

xoxo

martha

Memories knobs, new finds and a mason jar

Hello friends:

Just finished these great knobs for a family.  They wanted a knob for each city they visited during the last vacation.They came out very well.

 

A great find, some old books all in matching red, and some silver knives in a cute little tray.  Great estate find.

I also made a beautiful painted mason jar "distressed" for my lilies.

I just painted the jar with my favorite ASCP and distressed a bit to make it look vintage, then place my first Lillie's and voila!!  A tutorial is coming soon.

love to you all

xoxo

martha

 

Memories of my mom

Hello friends:






How was your week? Hope all is well, around here, we had a beautiful week, the weather was very nice.
Mother's day is a fun holiday for a lot of people, and a time to think about the most important person in a child's life.
I realized how important my mom was after she was no longer here.
I miss her voice, and seeing her. I wished  I had spent more time with her while she was well, but I'm thankful that I had her around me until she went away to a beautiful place.
I look at the pictures once in a while, and I talked to my uncle, that
had a special relationship with her. I love to hear stories about when my mom was single, and as a young girl, etc.
My mother was my guide, my friend, my teacher, my advisor.  She encouraged me to go to college, and to start my own business. I did this with her daily encouragement, as a lot of you know its hard to start a business.  However, I did it together with her daily encouragement.
My mom loved antiques, our home had beautiful pieces that she bought or refinished. She loved lace, handmade clothes, travelling,
cooking, reading, and taking care of her family. 
I believed I was too closed to my mom, but I didn't care, she taught me so much, that only a mother can teach you.
I miss her now more than ever, time goes so fast, and once they are gone, there is no coming back.
I'm so glad I had a nice loving mom. She sacrificed a lot for her children.  She went without for my brother and I. Always thinking of us.   We had our disagreements but we always "kiss and make up". I'm so blessed because I had a great "mom".  Rest in Peace, Mom, you did a great job.

I wish all of you moms a happy day, don't take anything for granted. Life is unpredictable, and always love your children and if your mom is alive, remember, its very hard to say goodbye to your mom. 

Have a happy wonderful day


xoxo

martha

Nate Berkus

Hello friends:

SURPRISE  LOVE LOVE NATE!!!!!!!

Another busy week around here, just when we think we are catching up with work, painting, decoupaging, clay tags, knobs, furniture,Etsy.
 I'm so excited about the next issue of Ki's Flea Market Style magazine and Nate Berkus. He is on the front cover.  Go over to pinterest where she pinned a preview.  Here is a little bit to get you motivated:

Source:  Pinterest

Source"  Pinterest
Source Pinterest

Here is the link for more, just wonderful inspiration   http://pinterest.com/mspmag/vintage-style-ki-nassauer/:  The magazine is up for sale, but its hard to find. I just grabbed the last issue at my supermarket.


Now you know that my daughter had a drink with Nate while on vacation on MV. She called me
and I said hello to him. He was so sweet and nice. I told him how much I enjoyed his shows, and we chatted about his vacation a bit.  My daughter of course was sitting next to him. She said he was so good looking, much better in person than on TV. He loves "junking" on his vacations, and they shared a nice evening. I was very happy with the phone call.  Of course he loves Nantucket also, and finds lots of junk there too,.

The funny part about all of this is that my favorite decorating program when my daughter was little was Nate's Mom's decorating program.  "From Trash to Treasures"  She was a regular and always had the best shabby chic projects.  I loved her, I was living in the MidWest and enjoyed the programs   From Trash to Treasures went away but Nate came on TV. and one day he had his mom, and I couldn't believe it that she was my favorite decorator and this was her son. It is a small world.
I loved shabby chic for years.and years.  I'm looking forward to the article and hope you enjoy it too.

XOXO

martha

One of my favorite decorating tricks

Hello friends:

We all have favorites, some of us love chairs, some love old doors, cupboards, rugs, furniture and more.  I love to decorate with many things of course antiques, shabby, very rustic and handmade. I also use maps everywhere, I make door knobs with maps, I decoupage drawers with old maps, I make lampshades and more.

Here is some inspiration:





the cutest child's room the maps add to the room.

 

My knobs

 

 

my lamp shades

 

 

Another lamp shade I made with an old map.

 

Hope you enjoyed the inspiration and if you find an old map, decorate with it and send me a picture to feature you on my blog,

 

HAVE A HAPPY WEDNESDAY

 

MARTHA