I'm in Love With.......

New friends, I have a bad (good) habit of making new friends.  I love to meet new people, learn what their strengths are and fill them in to my life! Hopefully, I can fill in their life with my strengths, too! I have worked with Fresh Style and Southern Lady Magazines a few times in the past months and, somehow, ran across this girl's blog. I guess I should introduce you and not call her, this girl. This is Amanda. I don't know how I found her blog, but you should find it, too. She has a lot of insight and is an amazing writer. We have a lot in common...not the writing part, mind you. It was really funny how I was stalking her in a way and then realized she works for Fresh Style as a stylist. I think my name has been mentioned over at their offices a time or two. I've loved working with Ande and the gang. They are amazing! Side note: you can now get Fresh Style on your IPad or Iphone. Yes, that's right, go ahead and download that now.

Back to this story! I posted on Facebook that I would like to go to the Country Living Fair. I have been playing with the idea for a couple of days and saw a picture of one of my favorite vendors, Ms. Wendy's Antiques....that's what I posted, pics of her booth. I was dying to go and see her things. She has an amazing eye and I love all that she has! Apparently, Amanda liked what she saw, too! She reached out and next thing I knew we were planning on leaving at 8am the next morning! We also planned to be home by 5pm that afternoon. (that didn't happen) We exchanged cell numbers and met in the parking lot at Bass Pro Shops in Leeds and next thing we knew....well, she knew....EVERYTHING about me! I didn't shut up! I swear my throat was sore that afternoon.

These adorable chairs were the hit of the fair! Everyone was snapping pics of these! 

Not sure what this is? Anyone know? We found it in the Stash Style booth. They had some major cool things. We were freezing and both bought something from this booth to warm us up! Check out my army jacket above! Amanda got a cute long sleeve t-shirt. This booth is also where we found that amazing sign! ^^^

Chandeliers and corbels are a few of my favorite things! Who can guess what came home with me? If you guessed the corbels, you were right! ;)

     

See this load of flash cards? I die. I had already spent 20 minutes going through a tiny, (compared to this), box and picked out 7. #ilovepaperandephemera

I had to find this girl! We were running through the end of the booths and I found Jeanne from Junxtaposition. She pointed me toward Lucy at Bel Monili. We have become fast, virtual buddies and we have our own hashtag.... #lucysunite Check out her jewelry, it's divine!

Just a few more pics from the booths that we loved. Last year I made it through the show in four hours. Mind you, I didn't see half. This year, I was there for 6 hours and barely made it through half. Two days, people, you need two days! Not to mention I missed Beth and Heather in their Country Living Fair Stage debut!! A few more pics as I ran through the last circle. Got to see Jenni and Jared again. Love those two! So encouraging and inspiring!

     

     

Architectural Corbels

I've always loved corbels. You will find intricate detail on many corbels and some will have no detail at all. I'm drawn to the more detailed ones. These are very popular right now in home decor. You will see them under top cabinets or under a bar top.  Check out some of my Pinterest boards for lots of ideas! I love to see them for shelving or as an entry table. If you can find them large enough, you can use them as a table. A friend of mine, Layla Palmer, you may know her from her awesome blog, The Lettered Cottage! She has just moved into a "new" cottage! I am going to love watching her re-do this cute house. She called me last week looking for corbels for a desk. You can see the post of her inspiration here. I found several options for her......but, none that were perfect! She has another idea for her work corner and I'm sure we will see it soon! I still have her on my  when-I-find-some-cool-ones list because I know she may need some for another spot and she has a friend looking, too! I really enjoy helping people find that perfect piece! My favorites are one-of-a-kinds. That's why I like architectural salvage stores so much. They have an ever-changing inventory and I  know that eventually, they will have that perfect piece!

While looking for Layla, I found a few loves of my own! Southern Accents has a few singles.

They usually come at a better rate. Most have a project that requires two. Me? I would hang a single one on a wall and be DONE! I may still add a couple of these to my collection! One may have my name on it...I need to check on that! I did notice after I had Garlan going all over the store taking pictures for me, these were featured on their facebook page!

 They also added these....I love these. I want to cut these and re-make them! Or just add to them.....

They have more simple lines, but I think in a kitchen they would be beautiful under top cabinets. Of course, you would need really high ceilings!! (not at the Hansel and Gretel house :()

This morning I get a text from someone with a 423 area code. Signed Tim. Woah....do I know a Tim? I couldn't think of one that would have corbels! I tell him I love them and he tells me he is in Sweet Water, Tennesse.......my MOM! Yay! I asked her to be on the look-out for me last weekend. She was on an antique junking trip of her own! I was so excited! I called her and asked if she would pick them up for me. Did a little dealing and decided to buy all 5! I know I can use them or hook them up with a new home!!

I did buy these last weekend in Atlanta at the Country Living Fair. I just got them out of my car this morning to take a photo. I have NO idea what I'm going to do with them! My husband would say they would be good fire wood! rude

A few other pictures of corbels. These are concrete. Can you say h-e-a-v-y!

These are from The Depot. They need a bit of TLC!

Do you like corbels? Have you used them in decorating? Maybe you have some in your barn, like me, and just haven't decided the perfect place for them!

Country Living Fair in 4 Hours or Less!

It was a whirlwind trip! I had planned it weeks ago. I wanted to go over, take a girlfriend and leisurely shop the Country Living Fair in Atlanta. This did not happen!! Emma decided she wanted to celebrate her birthday and go shopping. Oh, I had a shopping trip for her! (wink, wink)

I have this 12 year old that will be a 13 year old this Thursday! (yikes, how did that happen) She made lots of plans for the weekend.

She would have friends over before the gala at school and then they would all spend the night...we would roast marshmallows. On Saturday, we would go to the mall. Nothing has changed with 13 year olds. They want to go to the mall. No money? No matter! Just walk around and try on clothes and test makeup! Well, that put a big dent in my plans! I negotiated with her and told her I would take her and a couple of girls to Atlanta to shop. She was impressed! We would get a hotel and shop at Lenox Square! eeeek....so much fun! I only had one stipulation. They had to go with me to the Country Living Fair. They seemed to be ok with that. I wanted to leave at 7:00am. We all know that is impossible when you have 9 teenagers spending the night. They probably didn't go to bed until 3:00am! After dropping them off and picking up things forgotten, we were on the road at 9:00am! Ok, so I won't get to meet up with the HomeTalk crew and I will barely make it to the Rust-Oleum demo on how to re-vamp that ugly tile in the bathroom. No problem.....

We got to the fair and they were very confused. It's outside? What is there to do here? How long do we have to stay? If we can check in the hotel at 3:00, we can leave at 2:30? Oh no, girls. This is my part....the rest of the weekend is yours! I did give them a $20 bill and told them to find something small and I would make a necklace. They said the only things they could find were $100 dollars! I think I have some divas on my hands! We split up and I did my best to keep from seeing them! I knew as soon as I did, they would never leave my side and I would hear, "Can we leave?", over and over!

I did get to see Jenni and Jared Bowlin. Oh my goodness. These two, I love them!

Jenni has a great eye for vintage and does a great job styling her booth. They had this adorable stamp of a farmer with another stamp that said farmer....It had my name written all over it! ;-)

I got a new light...imagine that! It's a reproduction, but, oh, I love it! Where will I hang it? Your guess is as good as mine! Suggestions, please?

I found a great booth with lots of architectural pieces. I got some corbels to add to my collection.

They had lots of wooden Christmas trees. Remember this one I had made several years ago? Seems like everyone is making them!! I still love them!! I'm working on a different design. I will get a few made up and show you soon! (hello, Christmas is around the corner!)

I also got a couple of these for Lucy Lockets! You might see them in the Etsy shop soon!

I had been texting with Beth at Unskinny Boppy and we finally met up by the tower of pumpkins. She was talking to Ben Ashby and wanted me to meet him. It was love at first sight! (for me, anyway!) He is amazing. Have you seen HIS magazine? Serious style. It's a gorgeous magazine and the guys on the cover? You might know them from the Amazing Race or The Fabulous Beekman Boys on the Cooking Channel? They were signing their cookbook over in the pavilion! YES!! But, I had to find a copy of the magazine. I threatened to steal Ben's. He just laughed....I was serious! Beth had gotten her copy from Junxtaposition and thought they might have another copy. They did! I bought it! I got the Beekman Boys to sign it! I had my picture made with Beth's camera! Yay!!!! I didn't catch Ben Ashby again. I would have loved to get his signature, too. :( Beth and I told him to come to Alabama and we would show him around!

My girls saw me at this point and were ready to GO! I didn't even make it around to all the booths. I'm so sad and I need to plan my time better. We did make it to the mall and got new makeup and some clothes.

We also got to play with a Microsoft Surface. They were doing a demo right outside the Windows store.

 Everyone was happy at the end of the day. I'm pretty sure that's all that matters!