Queen of Carts

I may not be the Queen of Tartes, but I've just crowned myself the Queen of Carts!!

I've been hunting for an Antique Parisian Style Flower Cart for the past 15 years,

 and have finally found one...practically in my own backyard!!

 My life is now complete!! ;)

(Til tomorrow)

 This incredible cart was built circa 1890 and was used on the streets of New York City!

It's the epitome of Fleurism!!

(Believe it or not that's really a word!)

From Trash to Treasure

I'd like to share with you a project that is dear to my heart...There is a dump in Managua, Nicaragua called La Chureca where thousands of people live! The girls as young as 9 years old are sold into prostitution so their families can get first pick of the garbage! There is a mission organization called Forward Edge International that encountered this atrocity and had a vision to give these girls an alternative by creating a place of refuge called Villa Esperanza (Village of Hope). Here the girls are given their own bed, new clothes, food, health care and education in a beautiful sheltered environment. Check out www.forwardedge.org if you would like more info on sponsoring one of these little treasures!! Here's a picture of my sponsored child...her name is Kenia, she is 13 years old and enjoying her new promising future...

 Check out this pic of the dump...

Imagine smelling putrid garbage, smoke and dead animals 24/7!!

Check out the incredible new homes designed for these girls!!

There are currently 23 precious girls who have been rescued from the dump!!

Your decision to help can rescue dozens more in need...

To Paint or not to Paint...

Oh my...it's sometimes so hard to decide if something is going to be ruined in value by painting it! I just ran across a cute 100 year old tea cart that was in bad need of refinishing, but thought it would be so sweet painted white instead. I checked around to find out these beauties sometimes fetch up to $2000, but my heart told me to follow my passion of a total makeover!! Well, I did and I love how it turned out!!

Check out these before pics! 

Do you think I made the right choice??

I've got another project up my sleeve...stay tuned!

New Projects

I wanted to share some new projects I'm working on...

I ran across this old cane chair at a Thrift Store and my mind went wild with

ideas to transform it! Check out the before and after pics!!

At the moment it has landed in my daughter's bedroom...

 but you just might find it for sale some day!

Check out this other awesome find...

I'm not sure how popular Grandfather clock's are these days,

but when I saw this one, I immediately envisioned it

as a Shabby Chic Granddaughter's Clock!!

 I found a beautiful door fragment from a salvage yard to adhere to the front panel...

 Gave it a white washing...

Distressed it a little...

Quite a transformation...wouldn't you say!

Can't wait to see what treasures I find next!! 

Fall Show Mania

Wow is all I can say! I'm finally coming up for air since the Monticello Fall Show began over a week ago! I'm having to say goodbye to so many of my favorite things ;( I have to constantly remind myself that that's what I'm doing this for...it's not a museum ;) !! Here are some pics of some new finds that I'm excited about...check out this beautiful buffet I found...It looks 100x better white than the ugly dark wood I found it as...

 Just sold a cute old goat cart before I could even take a picture of it!

 I replaced it with this really cool vintage wheelbarrow...

Check out this awesome vintage horse velocipede!

Wow! What a unique find!!

 Found another donkey and cart!

Can't wait to get some space to display it!!

 Check out this very unique retro "pink" laundry tub!!

I checked up on it's origins, and Sear's sold these in 1949 as a

laundry room sink that has a cover so you can take advantage of more counter space!

Come to find out there are people out there who go gaga over these

and I've never even seen one before!

That's it for now...

Hope you have a great week!

Monticello Fall Show

I can't believe it's already time for the Big Fall Show!! What an awesome experience it's been to be a part of this special event! The caliber of creative talent is mind boggling!! You won't want to miss this jaw dropping sale! Here are a few pics of my space...it took 4 guys to carry in the Antique French Iron Gates in the backdrop!!! They better sell cause I really don't want to have to carry them back out!! ;)

Hope this wets the appetite!

Camas Antique Faire

Wow! What an awesome day it was at the Camas Antique Faire!! 

Thanks to Debbie & Laurie of Worthy Goods for all your hard work in organizing

 such a great day!

The weather...the crowds...the vendors...were all done to perfection!

Here are a few pics of my booth before the crowds arrived and stripped me clean!

It was so nice to leave with less of a load!

Looking forward to doing it again next year!!