Bella Rustica and a Junk Challenge!

My purchase for the day. I loved this old roll-up map turned chalkboard!

Bella Rustica for me was-a-last-minute-hop-in-the-car-why-not little trip. I found out about the show a week before and then had so many people saying I HAD to go! Fellow junk lover, Beth Bryan, from Unskinny Boppy literally tagged me on facebook saying it was a Lucy Farmer match made in Heaven! I knew that moment, nothing would stop me. I posted that I was heading up there and my cousins from Hendersonville, TN said they would meet me! Yay!! Tracy and I are kindred spirits. We could hang out for days and get so many projects done. Leigh is her younger sister and loves a good project, herself!

My business card basket

As I was driving up, I took the scenic route. (and made business cards) The land in Tennessee is so beautiful. The rolling hills and farms make me want to slow down and enjoy the ride. The tractors you get behind help the slowing down part! Traveling down the one lane dirt road to get to the barn was comical. I was a little worried that for one, everything would be gone (lots of people were leaving), and two, how would I ever get out of there!

The barn itself was worth seeing. It was a big, green, well taken care of barn. Several stalls had merchandise and the artists were sitting outside working on projects. As you passed the stalls it opened up to a bigger area and the vendors created their own "stalls". Gorgeous booths created by very creative vendors.

photo: Rhoda, Southern Hospitality

I made it to 3 booths before Funky Junk Donna was going on stage. I skipped the rest, ordered a BBQ sandwich and sat down for the lecture. I missed quite a bit of it....the line for the BBQ was LONG! I made it in time for her to introduce the Blogger Junk Challenge. Donna invited several bloggers she asked to help with this segment. She needed a couple of volunteers from the audience. I was chomping at the bit to get up there! Tracy and Leigh looked at me and screamed GO! I jumped up and before I knew it I was hauling tables and lamps around to create a vignette! Of course, I loved it! It was very similar to my stint on the Nate Berkus Show. They wanted us to create a room from things we found from the booths outside!

This is Rhoda, Sandra and myself pulling it all together. Did I mention how hot it was that day? We were steamy!!

Photo: Rhoda, Southern Hospitality

Rhoda and Sandra already had a table they wanted to use. It was definitely our inspiration for the look. We had a bit of a struggle with no backdrop. We were outside, there was a tree and a lot of bumps in the grass.......not to mention, the natural slope of the ground! We found this wood screen and pulled and pushed things around to get it out of it's home and into our space!

Before:

After:

This is the final outcome! It really came together great at the end! We had so many beautiful things to choose from. I had a blast working with these two. They really have great ideas. We all had similar taste and I think that helped. I want those lamps!!

The other group had the inside room. It was pretty dark inside the barn and the light was bad because it was behind them. I loved what they did. It was very different from ours and perfect in so many ways!

Did I mention both volunteers were Lucy? How crazy is that? 

Left to right: Lucy, Donna, Angie and Myra

Thanks Rhoda for letting me borrow your photos from Bella Rustica! Otherwise, they would all be blurry and dark!
We would like to thank all the vendors that let us "borrow" their wares for our room. I linked up their facebook pages. Go ahead! Check out the goods and like them!

Lamps: Blue Goose Linens
Wood Backdrop/Screen: Carters Creek Station Antiques
Bird Painting and pillow: Maxine Q Jewelry
Table and large bench: Olde Things New
Turquoise frame, 2 iron chairs, silver tray: 2Storeys Antiques
Pillows: Vintage House Dressing
Blue Bench: CeCeCaldwell's Paints

Disclaimer: this information is to the best of our knowledge and there might be an error.....or 2!

Barn Sale at Milky Way Farm in Pulaski, Tennessee

Oh my goodness.....I'm so excited about this barn sale! The farm is called Milky Way. Isn't that the best name??? My friend, Beth, just asked if I was going. She called it a match made in Lucy Farmer heaven! She knows me too well! She is a smarty, too. You have to read her blog!

Bella Rustica is a cool event. Not only will there be tons of goodness to shop from, but they are raising money for Agape, a ministry that supports children and families through adoption, foster care and family preservation. 

Now, you know I have just moved. You may also know that I moved from a rather large house to a much smaller house. I am a collector. I have more than I need. I have a barn full of really cool stuff. (I should be having my own barn sale ;)) I can't wait to get up there. I want to see and feel and the goods that are for sale. I also will get to see some blogger friends that I haven't seen in awhile! Rhoda, who moved to Atlanta from Birmingham has a great blog, too! She is renovating a house. She's always working on something awesome and has a giveaway or two, if you keep up!  

Several bloggers will be there with booths. Donna from Funky Junk Interiors, is going to be there and she is the guest speaker. Now, I just want to be there all weekend!!! I can only go on Friday. I have other plans for Saturday. I can't reveal those because it's a surprise and I can't be spoiling it here on the ole blog!

I know there are so many more wonderful bloggers and I can't wait to meet them! Gina from The Shabby Creek Cottage. She's giving away a $100 gift certificate to Southern Accents tomorrow! You should enter! I wish I could win. I'm spending way too much money there!

Bella Rustica