I’m such a fool for vintage linens.  I especially love heirloom fabrics with hand embroidered details, or cottons with a touch of ladylike lace.  Vintage tea towels remind me of something I’d see nestled on top of my grandmother’s vanity beside her silver comb and mirror. 

So when I spotted a stack of vintage tea towels at a local antique store for a few dollars each, I purchased three to create some unique pillows for friends who are about to have little ones. 

Just like a bride, I think every nursery deserves a touch of something old and something new.  So I created these tea towel pillows  – they are sewn together with a crisp cotton  vintage tea towel, a scrap of accent fabric, and some modern trim. 

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With all the rain we’ve had lately, the weekend sunshine convinced us to forget all of our obligations, and get out and have some real fun.  The Mister and I took off for Dry Creek Road in Healdsburg to mix and mingle with friends and the rest of the tourists who journeyed to Barrel Tasting Weekend in Wine Country !

Barrel Tasting Weekend is an annual tradition where visitors are offered a pour straight from the barrel before the wine is bottled.  Many times the winemaker is on scene to educate and answer questions.   Everyone is so friendly and social, smiling from ear to ear.  But I’m thinking that has a lot to do with the scenery and free flowing wine.  :-)

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“Zippity do dah, zippity ay.  My oh my what a wonderful day. 

Plenty of sunshine coming my way.  And these two people won my giveaway! ”

#197  Krista at Rudd Family Circus

#423 Lori H. 

Winners, please email me your full name and mailing address and your copy will be in the mail this week !

For those who didn’t win, you can find out where in the world to get Flea Market Style right here.   

Wishing you all a blessed Sunday.   This is what we’re up to this afternoon.   Sniff, swirl, taste, repeat.   Pictures coming soon – if I’m not asleep by 6 o’clock p.m.    :-) 

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One big item on my ‘To Do’ list this spring is to dedicate some space in my garage or yard to all things garden related.  I confess my garden supplies are in a jumbled state right now with no organization or centralized plan.  It’s sad really. 

Lately, I’ve become fixated on the idea of a wall or bench to store seeds, watering cans, pots and garden tools.  One of the ideas I am actually considering is building a potting bench.  I’ve just got one teensy hurdle – talking the Mister into yet another spring project.   He protests, but in truth, resistance is futile.  :-)  

Meanwhile, these images inspire me to really get going before the upcoming planting season. 

Better Homes and Gardens, March 2009

Source Unknown

From ‘It’s Complicated’

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Every time I go to antique fairs, I am always drawn to those pieces that someone has glazed with a bold color.  My entire house is filled with mostly dark wood tones or white painted furniture, so this time, I thought I’d have some fun !

As you know from this week’s sordid tale about stripping paint off furniture, I had my little heart set on giving my previously white Craigslist dresser the look of a French antique.   With spring drawing very near, I thought it a good time to add a pop of color to our home.  To me, turquoise is a color that is simultaneously vibrant and calming, and a reminder of coastal waters by the sea.

You’ll recall the ‘Before’ with the multiple layers of white chipping paint, and here is the dresser after it was mostly stripped of it’s paint. 

Here is the patina dresser, given a romantic new look, and refinished in this fresh new color.  

I just love this piece now.  It looks like something I’d want to buy from an antique shop!  To achieve this look, I invested in new knobs, some appliqués, and some paint.  (Sources below)

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