Beautiful Market finds.

It's late and I'm exhausted.

After the last four days, I am ready for a long nights rest.

I worked today...and will be going in for the next four days...ugh.

Before going to bed, I wanted to share the beautiful bowl I found at the Market.

 One of the booths was filled with items from France. This terra/clay bowl was something that drew my attention right away. It's HUGE! I love the worn paint, and gorgeous designs on the rim.

 Another booth had this wonderful architectural tin piece. The patina is amazing!
I don't know where it will go, but it's the most fantastic color!

 I brought home a few pieces from the market that didn't sell in our booth.
We plan to re-do the corner fireplace in the future, and I'd like to use this cute mantel.
For now...it's holding a cage, cloches, a sign painted by Paula at Castle and Cottage Signs, and two of my most favorite pieces of vintage lace.

 Mr. Lakehouse painted the mantel, and I distressed it just a little. 
We plan to pull off the ugly "pretend" rocks, and replace them with planks of wood, painted white. Like Michelle at Emerald Cove did recently.

I hope you are enjoying your week.
Summer is slipping away.....enjoy what is left.

Anitque/Flea Market Sunday.

First of all....THANK YOU all for your prayers for my daughter and her family.

We still haven't heard anything, but Melissa told me that she and Kevin have been experiencing "peace" about the entire situation.

I SOOOOO  appreciate everyone one of you for keeping us in your prayers.

Well...we did it!

Laurie, Pam and I did the Antique/Flea Market on Sunday.

One of the tires blew on the horse trailer that was packed with "stuff" for the show.

That caused a little delay..but everything worked out, and we were on our way to Allegan.

Mr. Lakehouse let me use his truck, and it was FULL of market items.

 Laurie and I floofed, and poofed, and floofed some more! It took a little while, but was alot of fun.

The day of the show, Pam and I sat in the corner and goofed off. We let Vanna(Laurie) take care of sales.

It was a fun day....but....it will definitely be my last show!

I used to do shows all the time(years ago), and really do not want to sit under a canopy on a beautiful weekend, when I could be out on the lake, soaking up the sunshine.

Having my little "booth" up here at the lake is more my "speed".  I can do things at my leisure, and work as little or as much as I choose on my booth, and the items I sell.

I did have a "fun" day, and am glad I got to spend time with Laurie, and Pam(who is a little crazy).
I hope you had a nice weekend.....

Prayer is needed once again.

Here I am again...asking for prayer.

My youngest daughter, Melissa went to the doctor today to hear the results of the ultra-sound on the baby.

There was an abnormality in the heart.

Mel went for blood work this afternoon, and then has appointments set up in Ann Arbor with a high risk specialist.

The first reports may be pointing to Downs Syndrome, or even Spina-bifida(sp).

 One doctor said that this is all just precautionary...another says differently.

We are praying for good results, and great reports.

 This is Melissa's third child...Maddie and Charlotte are fine. Mel did lose a baby about four years ago, so she's a little nervous about all of this.

 Kevin is strong in his faith, so he and his family are all prayer warriors.

I KNOW without a doubt what prayer can do!!

You were all so gracious, and supportive last winter....and I thank God for each and every one of you for your prayers for me!!

So...I come humbly.... again...asking for your support.

However this plays out.....we are going to trust the Lord.

Thank you all!!!
and
God Bless!

More market "stuff".

Okay....now I remember why I don't do shows anymore. SOOOOO much work.

I must admit, this is kind of fun tho.

It would be a whole lot easier if I didn't work at the pharmacy. Getting up early and going to bed way past midnight is getting to me.

I'm sorry for not responding to your wonderful, and encouraging comments lately.

I will once the show is done. I will probably be on here for a whole day catching up.

While taking a break this morning, I thought I would share with you what is keeping me busy of late.

A shop up here is going out of business, so I stopped in to see what Sherry had left to sell.

These awesome flour sacks were only 30cents apiece!

They make really cute pillows, don't you think?!

 Since the market is so close to Lake Michigan, I'm thinking maybe someone would like a seashell garland.
This shutter was one of the items I snagged at the last market. It needed to be sanded and distressed to achieve a worn look. With the addition of the garland, it looks pretty beachy.

 I LOVE props!! they add alot to your set-up. These French bridal veils will be hung for a little romantic feel to one of the corners of the booth. They were pretty easy to make, and the tulle is really inexpensive.

 I LOVE sack cloth!! they make pretty lavender sachets, and the scent is easily dispersed through the fabric.
They require lots of hand sewing, but that's fun for me.

So, this is what has kept me busy lately. Just a few more days, and my sweet sis, Laurie, and I will be floofing our heads off, getting our booth presentable for the market.
Hope all is going well with ya'll!!!!

Getting ready for the market.

Good Saturday morning to you all.

I've been busy pricing items for the market.

I hope we do well next weekend.

This scale is larger than most kitchen scales, but it's awesome!

 Lavender, linens, and lace add a soft touch.

 These little butter pat plates are so sweet with the little violets on then. I can just imagine a pat of butter with a little viola resting along side.

 Ironstone soap dishes are favorites of mine. Add a little French page to them, and they are good to go.

Apothecary bottles, and little white pitchers are also favorites of mine.

If the parfum bottle doesn't sell, it won't break my heart.

A pretty Bavarian side dish holds vintage lace, rosary's, and a lovely cameo.

There is much more to tag....old wall baskets, a birdcage, enamel ware pieces, flour sacks, and more pillows and lavender sachets.
I'm hoping this all fits with Laurie's beautiful pieces.
I'm super excited to set things up! I have to admit, that is something I'm good at!
The best thing for me will be spending time with my sweet sis. She's an amazing person.

Sun porch love.

It's Friday afternoon, and I'm busy floofing the sun porch.

 I hung the ticking curtains, because Mr. Lakehouse decided to cut down most of the Trumpet vine that was growing on the window.
I didn't really mind, because there is another mammoth one growing on the corner of the garage.

 This is my favorite place to sleep in the summer.
It won't be long, and we will be closing off the porch.  It's just too cold in the winter months.

I will definitely miss this room.

It's a wonderful, peaceful place to sit and read.
I'll keep this little place open until just before the snow flies....then it's "closed for the season".

Early morning bliss

What a glorious morning here at the lakehouse!

There is not a cloud in the sky.

I got up early, and went out on the dock.

 I squished down into the settee, and closed my eyes. I wanted to experience the morning with all of my senses.

I felt the sun on my face...warm and comforting.

 This might sound hokey...but I could actually smell things more with my eyes closed.
Do you realize you can actually smell water?  Here at the lake, the air carries several scents...the freshness of the water, a hint of gasoline from all the boat motors, bait(night crawlers), flowers, and the wonderful fragrance of rosemary and thyme.

 It seems like the birds sounded louder while my eyes were closed.
I heard the soft splashes as someone was on the water in their paddle boat.

 I also heard the familiar squeaks from the oars of a rowboat. That always reminds me of my Grandpa. He would get up early, and row out onto the lake for hours of fishing. I could hear him as he rowed away from the cottage, as I lay in bed, waiting for Grandma to call us for breakfast.

 When I opened my eyes, I saw everything around me a little clearer.
The work of the spiders that seemed to connect everything together on the dock.
Each of their webs a work of beauty.

It made me think about God, and how He connects all of our lives together.

Relationships that are past...the present...and the future.

My love of living at the lake was birthed at the cottage where my Grandparents lived.

My Dad's love of nature.

And now, my granddaughter Zoey, and her fascination for bugs and spiders.

If you look closely at each picture, you will notice a web somewhere in the picture.
Even the slightest pieces in nature have a meaning, and a purpose.
I love the way God connects us.....even with spider webs.

Vintage pillows.

Helloooooooo........

After my last post about the dry spell, I decided to get off my bum, and do something creative.

There is a possibility that my sweet sis, Laurie, from Heaven's Walk, and I will be doing the Antique/Flea market at the end of the month.

With all of the vintage linens, lace, and buttons I have here at the lakehouse, I decided to put together some pillows.

This one took a lot of time, because of the hand sewing...but I love how it turned out.

 I collect linen dinner napkins. They make the nicest pillows. With just a few shell buttons, you can get a pretty pillow put together in no time.

 Don't you just love the design?! Simple, yet beautiful!

 For this next pillow, I cut apart a vintage piano runner. The large piece of cotton lace is gorgeous! I added two more narrow pieces of trim, and a few buttons....and ended up with this.

 The scarf was linen, so it has that wonderful aged look.

 Using vintage table clothes is one of my favorite ways to make pillows. They are colorful, and so cute! I have another one cut out of the same cloth....and will add a narrow piece of lace trim down the center of the ruffle.

 The next piece reminds me of the milky way. I just love old white buttons!! If you have any you would like to sell, I would definitely be interested in buying them.

So there you have it. Just a few of the pillows I'm working on.

I would like to have at least a dozen put together for the market.

If we end up not renting space, I'll just put these in my booth!

Have a great week everyone!!!