An Outstanding Day at The Chapel Market

I can't put into words how fantastic this day was. I had the key to the chapel (now that sounds important, doesn't it?) since I was the last one to leave. (Oh yeah, we didn't start setting up until 8:30pm) I was planning on meeting Layla at 7:55am. She didn't want to open to the vendors before 8am and we KNEW there would be a line down wrapped around the building! As we drove up, I got out at the street and walked up the hill. Kevin and Layla needed to take care of a few logistics before going in. There was that line! (and it was looooooong) Take a look at this photo that Abby, from Southern Makers took from the bottom of the hill.

What an exciting feeling to have put this event together over the past few months and see that all of the efforts were worth it! I think we all knew, but you still have doubts, right? Layla from the Lettered Cottage has such a genuine personality and has a huge following because of her enthusiasm in everything she does. I knew it would be a success!

There were lots of vendors and volunteers milling around inside. Lots of early shopping going on! I sold 4 Lucy Lockets to vendors and volunteers that morning! They all wanted something to wear for the day! I can't tell you how incredible the feeling was that someone wanted to wear my jewelry during this show! (blush)

This is a shot of me that Rhoda of Southern Hospitality took in the booth before it opened. I think I was working on Kari of Thistlewood Farm's earring! She ran over with a jewelry emergency. One of her jump rings went missing and I didn't bring my tools, so we used twine! One thing a DIY'er is good at....improvising!

We were set up at the back of the Chapel. We had a corner and were the last booth to stop by before leaving. Well, until you got to the door and then you got to see the Southern Makers booth. Save the date for 5.3.14. That event is not to be missed! They brought a goodie bag for everyone. I think I heard them say they had around 300 and ran out pretty quickly! (There were a lot of people there!) I love that I grabbed my tiny Alabama chalkboard at the last minute and they ended up using it. The amazing chalk lettering artist, Rachel, did the lettering. I mean, who would think, "grab a bag" would be so cute?? Love this sign and I think I could've sold several! Be on the lookout, those may show up soon!

Shaunna from Perfectly Imperfect was across the lane from us. Right before everyone was coming in, I decided to pull out my camera! A little too late, but I snapped a few from where I stood!

Turned around to snap a couple of our booth in it's glory. It would be picked over in just a few minutes!
Our booth turned out pretty amazing! We were working on it until around 1:00am. I wouldn't trade it, though. I'm so thankful to Southern Accents for letting me bring so many things to The Chapel Market. It's amazing how well my jewelry looks with the architectural accents! (wink) Heather came to represent the store and we worked magic in those few hours! How about that tree in the corner? Isn't that thing amazing? We couldn't make up our mind where we wanted it.  We needed the height and that was the perfect piece for that corner!

I got a quick pic of Miss Mustard Seed's booth just as the first group was coming in! Some had been in line for over an hour!! Dedication, I tell ya! You can see Layla's booth in the back corner!

I tried to grab Kari, Heather and Laura's booth. I did get Heather helping a customer! The booths were filling up quickly!!

This adorable sign was not even a snippet of the gorgeous flower cart Evan of Evan and Company created at the center of the Chapel. It's so hard to stop and take photos! I need a photographer to follow me around. That would make blogging so easier, right??

This is my friend, Beth. Her cute hubby took this photo of us right before it got crazy in there! She is also the Diet Coke fairy!! I was standing there around noon and thinking I could sure use something to drink, anything, but preferably with caffeine and I swear, I looked down and there was a COLD Diet Coke! I almost screamed! I looked around and no one was there...then, I saw Beth. She was walking toward the front of the Chapel and I ran up and told her she was my lifesaver!! She rocks. Check out her recap. You will find lots of great photos, the Lucy Locket she swiped, not to mention, it's hilarious! (stealing cotton is so much more fun than buying cotton) Stay tuned since she may just be doing a little Lucy Lockets giveaway soon!!!

As happens in the South, especially Alabama, when the football games start coming on, everyone finds their way in front of a tv. Auburn had a big game this weekend and it was the team the local crowd wasn't missing! Around 2:00pm things really started slowing down. That's when I started socializing and shopping! (shhh, don't tell)

I quickly grabbed one of Mary Kay Andrew's new books, Christmas Bliss! Can't wait to dive into that one! I told Heather she should get one too and she ended up buying 3! I won't say who they were for, they might just be gifts!! (wink) She wanted to grab a pic to add to the wall of fame at the store!

And then there was this.....Do you see the green, rusty, chippiness on this set of drawers? I  know, I almost licked it! I eyed it at the beginning, but didn't know how full my pocketbook would be at the end of the day, so I let fate play it's hand. If it was there after the show, I would let it organize all of my gorgeous pieces of hardware in the Lucy Lockets workshop! It was in Urban Farmgirl's booth, but this yumminess belonged to Maple and Magnolia. She and I started a little negotiating and guess where this bad boy ended up! You guessed it! It's in the workshop, it's empty, but it's in there! 

This is the group! So thrilled to be squished between all this talent! What a wonderful day to be able to spend it with such creative people! If you didn't get to come, look for it again next year. We don't know for sure, but we are all crossing our fingers there will be a second The Chapel Market!!!

We grabbed Layla in between her getting us coffee (angel) and resting her feet (how dare she) for a quick picture. I think those smiles say it all! 

Truly an amazing way to end the day. I understand why they live in this adorable neighborhood. If the sunset looked like this everyday with the Chapel at the top of the hill, I would move right in! (forget moon glow) ((just kidding)) (((I met with the builder today))) ((((eeeeeek))))

Going to the Chapel Market

Oh wow, what a weekend! I think I've been working toward this weekend for months and months. I remember exactly where I was when Layla called to ask if I would come to her vintage market and bring goodies from Southern Accents. It would be held in The Waters at Pike Road in The Chapel. She was calling it The Chapel Market. I knew right away I was in. I needed to run it by Garlan, but I was sure he would say yes! We love to work with Layla on projects! I was in the mantel/door warehouse at the store looking for things to take to pull for a few clients. I only had my phone and a pen. Not sure why I had a pen and no paper, but I picked up a plinthe block and started writing down the details on the back! 

 The couple of nights before I left, I worked on a few giveaways, business cards and a prism and leather necklace that was a hit at the show! I worked for weeks making so many one of a kind necklaces and cuffs. I had no idea if it would be enough or way too many! 

 I took this picture of the chapel as I was heading back over to wait on Southern Accents to bring everything. Kathy and Eddie hosted us at their house for dinner. It was amazing! Their house was absolutely beautiful and the food was delish! I never did get that dessert! darn it!

As soon as the truck got there we started unloading everything and moving it all around. There was A LOT to be unloaded, placed and priced! I think they got there around 8:30 and we were walking out the door at 1:00am. Thank goodness for Cindy!! She offered to let me stay at her adorable cottage for the night! I can't thank her enough. I didn't take any photos since I walked in so late and was up and at 'em the next morning so early. I will have to visit again and give you guys the tour. Her house is fantastic!!

This is a shot of the room from the front of the chapel. The calm before the storm!

I picked up this tractor spring in Chattanooga a few weeks ago. I love how many cuffs it will hold!

Garlan saved this end of a beam from Southern Accents for me to display a single cuff. I love the color and wear on it. There is a dowel running through the center. It's a cool piece that otherwise, would have been thrown out! 

My favorite way to display necklaces! These drawers are from an old cabinet. Each clipboard/drawer has rings to hold ledgers. The marking on them is very interesting. I just attach each one with a screw and voila, the perfect display! I used both sides of the lattice for this show. 

So many fun things in the booth! That bright light is from a lamp that was snatched up immediately...actually, before the show really opened!! The wood shop was busy last week making Christmas trees, signs, and those wood ornament giveaways! We call them our calling card! They are the perfect way to take a piece of Southern Accents with you! 

 Thanks to Ashlee for letting me use her fabulous dress form! Isn't it amazing?

We were thrilled to have our friends from Southern Makers there! Andrea and Abby used a lot of architectural pieces from the store. They sponsored the event and we wouldn't have had it without them! Such a huge supporter of the area and really looking forward to the next Southern Makers event! Mark your calendars for 5.3.14!

 Stay tuned for part two of The Chapel Market! Lots of fun and people the day of the show!

I've got to quit stripping.

It's so bad for me! Plus, I'm horrible at it. I make zero money.

I'm stripping these corbels for Layla Palmer. She asked me to help her look for corbels several months ago. I found these in Tennessee and they are fabulous, but she wanted them stripped. I should have taken them to Cullman immediately. Instead, I waited until the last minute and tried to do it myself. I went to Lowe's and bought all the supplies.

I took it all over to Ashlee's....she would know what to do. We sat in her driveway: me stripping, her making some AWESOME teacher gifts. Watch her blog this week. I bet you will see them there! (wink)

I was struggling. We went inside for a sandwich and I got a phone call. It was Garlan asking me about an ad for the Southern Makers event book. I told him my dilemna. He tried to say I told you so, but I stopped him and he told me to get to the store and he would put them in the strip tank. Ahhhhh....hero!

I packed my bucket real quick and headed north!

I was planning on meeting Layla and Kevin at 3:00 to help with a project they are working on...check out this post to follow along with this particular adventure! The corbels are for something totally different! ;)

I went straight to the wood shop and Roger helped me tell Rojelio that I needed these corbels stripped. I pulled 4 out of a garbage bag and he threw them in the tank. Wow. Really? He wears and apron and these really thick long gloves so his skin won't burn. I was over there with my camera in one hand and phone in the other. Roger told me to step away from the tank! I decided one weapon at a time!

I'm not sure why Rojelio doesn't have his gloves on here. He needs to be careful! Dipping and stripping? much easier!

He was dunking them and using a bucket to pour the stripper over the corbels.

 Wow, can you believe how it just bubbles up? I just wanted to reach in and peel it all up! I can't wait to see them come out of the tank!

I left them with him and went up front to meet up with Layla and Kevin. I was surprised to see Myra, from My Blessed Life, come in! She had her sweet baby boy with her. He is SO cute! She was meeting them, too. We spent the rest of the afternoon out at the wood warehouse with Ryan finding, measuring, and pulling wood. Loaded it all up for them to take home and realized it was too late to get the corbels. We told them all about the Southern Makers event and they are planning on stopping by...so, we will deliver that weekend! A fun day. I really love helping people find their treasures at Southern Accents.

Christmas Mantel at Hansel and Gretel

I always have so much fun decorating my house for Christmas. Since we have moved, I have been chomping at the bit wanting to get all of my decorations from the storage units. It really stinks to not have my Christmas closet anymore! Shelves to the ceiling held all of my rubber maids! I also kept 3 trees in there! Only one was out of the box and standing. Now, I have to drive a few miles down the road and load up the car and a trailer and then make another trip to get it all to Hansel and Gretel! I really didn't mind this year since it was a new house and I could re-do everything! I had lots of fun over Thanksgiving weekend when my fellas were off in the woods hunting. I had the house all to myself and got so much done!

I have this HUGE fireplace. It's like chateau-in-the-mountains-huge! I can literally stand inside! I didn't really have an idea of what would make it onto this monstrosity. The area from the mantel to the top is not very big. It's just really wide. As I was opening all the boxes on the porch, I found my Penny McAllister collection. This stuff is gorgeous, y'all! I absolutely love it. It's all handmade and since she passed away a few years ago, my pieces have become even more special to me.

The window painted like a santa belt and believe spelled out is courtesy of my talented sister, Natalie! She made this for me several years ago and it's one of my favorite pieces!

A close up of a few Penny McAllister pieces and my favorite wood Christmas Tree!

There is a smaller den off the kitchen at Hansel and Gretel. We use this room a lot. It's where homework gets done and dinner gets eaten! I wanted some real garland for this mantel, but haven't found any. Maybe someone has extra and they want to share? Or maybe, I could actually go and buy some. hahahahaha, I'm still in my pj's and it's 2:15!

This mantel has a few things on it from my first decorating attempt. That window...it's one of my favorite pieces, the clock, the 4 and the small foundry pattern were all there before. I added John Connor's first kill. It was hanging over the mantel last year with a Santa hat! Oh, that shed was there before, too. I just moved it over to allow for those fun trees to have a spot! 

The two frames are from one of my favorite frame makers, Leah. That santa is part of my collection that is in another room. I needed a space filler and he fit the bill! I picked up those two small reindeer in Tennessee at Marshall's. I am loving reindeer this season!

I'm linking this Christmas mantel to:

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!