Friday, February 22, 2019

Use the Pretty Dishes!

Pretty pink floral print dishes make my heart go pitter-patter! My sweet mother-in-law has some of the prettiest mismatched serving dishes and I just love them! When I comment on one, she is always telling me that she found it at a garage sale or thrift store, usually for less than a dollar. They aren't in perfect condition, but we use them on a regular basis at her house, and they make my heart happy. 

A few weeks ago, I was at the thrift store and passed up 5 dinner plates for $3.00, that were so pretty, but I said "I don't have room for more dishes..." 
vintage pink floral dishes

Early last week, Jeff's mom mentioned having a Valentine Party. I decided to make a strawberry trifle and she pulled out a pretty trifle bowl for me to use. She had got it (for free, but that's another story) at an estate sale in the community a few years ago. She recalled Mrs. Meadows bringing her desserts to the community and church functions in this same dish and she was so glad I made our dessert in her pretty bowl. I had taken my ingredients to their house the night before and had a basic glass trifle bowl, but it wasn't anything special and I certainly didn't mind using her pretty bowl instead.  

For our party, we used the pretty napkins, a vintage tablecloth, and had flowers on the table. I made paper conversation hearts and hung them from the mantle and chandelier. We enjoyed the time with the ones we love. Our party wasn't really "pinterest worthy," but it was real life and a good time was had by all! 

A few days before our get together, she commented that she didn't know if it would work and didn't know if everybody would get to come. I told her it didn't matter of there was 4 of us or all 10, we would still do it and it would be fun. (We had 9 for our Valentine Party!) 

We eat supper with Jeff's family regularly - on another night, she got out the pretty blue bowls for us to eat spaghetti. It was just three of us eating in the pretty dishes, but it made the food taste just a little better; a little fancier than the everyday dishes. 
use the pretty dishes, that tell a story, and make you happy
It got me to thinking - why aren't we using all the pretty dishes more? It's been reported that the millennial's and younger generations do not want their Mother or Grandma's dishes or other items we think of as heirlooms that will be passed down. Thrift stores are reporting being overrun with household items as the older generations are downsizing or estates are finalized and that these items are hard to get rid of. What we once thought was expensive china or dishes that we say are being saved for "special occasions" aren't really that valuable after all. So why are we hoarding these things away in the cabinet, collecting dust? Why not enjoy them, while we have a chance? 



This is my Grandomther's china - I confess that I had to dust them, just to take this picture and I think I've used them once in 17 years. They've only come out of the china cabinet when I've painted it and maybe one holiday. We should really change that...

We visited with a sweet customer at the last Mineola Antique Fair. She told about her grandmother who loved scented powders. She took her a bottle on each visit, but her grandmother didn't seem to wear it often. When the granddaughter ask her why she wasn't using it, she said she was saving it for "special occasions." When she died, her cabinets were full of the powder and only two bottles were open. She ran out of special occasions, long before she ran out of powder. 

 I've been thinking about that conversation and recent experiences -  You know, I do have room for pretty dishes, it's just occupied with dishes / things that don't excite us. The peach pattern dishes we have are ok, but not vintage-y and fabulous. Simply put, they are practical, but nothing special. You know what I'm going to do? As I'm shopping spring garage sales and at the thrift store, I'm going to gather up my own collection of pretty mismatched dishes that make my heart happy. When I get that set, I'm going to load of those peach dishes up and donate them! I'm sure someone out there loves peach lattice dishes, it's just not us. 

Along the same lines, I've purchased or made some new clothing items for myself recently. Are they always practical for what I'm doing? Not always. 
I felt kind of like a fancy farm girl with my (faux) pearls, rust and romance tee and flannel while feeding cows this week, but it was fun and this new sweet suga-love took a felfie (farmer-selfie) with me. 

This world needs more happy - let's live an inspiring life and enjoy the things we have, instead of muddling through waiting for the special occasion. 

Let's use the pretty dishes, wear the scented powder, wear the things that make you feel pretty, let's fix the dessert and use the dishes that have a story to tell and evoke memories. While we ate that strawberry dessert, our family recalled memories of the Meadows family. While I didn't know them personally,  I do remember my side of the family baling hay on the property when I was a kid.

Spend the time with the people you love, tell the stories, enjoy the things you have now, for we aren't promised tomorrow. 

Do more of what makes you happy

Now excuse me, I'm off to hunt for some pretty dishes! 




*Please eat dessert responsibly ;) Everything in moderation and according to your health requirements or you might run out of special events, quicker than you want to. 






Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Slightly Obsessed with Flower Trucks!

Okay, I admit it, I'm obsessed with flower trucks! I even have a Pinterest Board dedicated to Flower Trucks. Check it out to see some fun inspiration and garden ideas. I really wish Jeff would let me plant flowers in one of his old trucks, but I seriously doubt that's ever going to happen.


I created this turquoise truck with pink flowers as a "Goodbye January" graphic and it kinda went crazy on Facebook and then I decided it needed to be on some shirts too.



I had already started on the Rust and Romance flower trucks when I created the one of above and then we already had the red flatbed truck with flowers. Oh and then there is the Vintage Soul shirt with a vintage truck and flower!


Read more about the Rust and Romance theme and how it resonated with me on this blog post. 
Have I mentioned my daffodils and jonquils have started blooming?!? They are a couple of weeks early, but we are excited to see them.




Which Flower Truck is your favorite? 

(All the shirts are in my etsy shop now or I'll have them at the Mineola Antique Fair this weekend. The flannels and plaid shirts are all one of a kind, but I can always make more of the t shirts, if you don't see your size.) 

Friday, February 1, 2019

Rust and Romance

Recently, I saw the words Rust and Romance and they jumped off the page at me. For a long time, I've wondered what ties my wedding business and love of vintage lace, flowers, and  treasures with rusty junk, old pick up trucks, and our recycled / repurposed garden together. How do I describe my rusty creations and romantic wedding bouquets? What could a tag line for my shop be? 

I was immediately inspired to create this Rust and Romance graphic to put on shirts. It combines a rusty old turquoise truck, lace, burlap. galvanized buckets and crates of flowers, chippy peely wood background, and lights. 



I loved this picture of a navy burlap and lace bridal bouquet on one of our Farmall tractors. 
Our rusty gazebo - if you are new here, our gazebo was pulled from a trash ditch (yes, really) and we have had a blast decorating it each season with repurposed and second hand finds. The only thing purchased new is the lights and hummingbird feeder.
Shabby, Chippy, Vintage, Love
Our booth at the Mineola Antique Fair (open the second Friday and Saturday of each month.) 

vintage market booth space
Still debating on whether "Rust and Romance" should be on the shirt or not???



turquoise burlap and lace bridal bouquet
A rusty meat grinder became a garden container for this pretty succulent. 

repurposed garden containers for succulents


Rustic Romance Repurposed Clothing
 Miss Gussie - my rustic, vintage, camper trailer with all the romantic lace and shabby details.

 With my love at one of our shows...


  Well, I think Rust and Romance is just the description I was looking for! Don't ya think? 

The Rust and Romance shirts will be available soon.

Custom wedding bouquets and most clothing is available in my etsy shop or some of the items (plus so much) can be found at the Mineola Antique Fair.