VINTAGE HOME Lifestyle's Barn Sale

Cathleen at VINTAGE HOME Lifestyle in Healdsburg had a barn sale this weekend and we stopped in to introduce ourselves and do some shopping. She is a fellow blogger, and we have been communicating with each other. It was nice to finally meet her.

Here is her barn behind her 100 year old farmhouse. It was just begging to be explored!

Inside was filled with wonderful vintage treasures, like painted furniture, candles, soaps, plants, and accessories. Cathleen refinishes all the furniture herself. She is also a genius at merchandising her store. Everywhere I looked, I discovered something special.

Like this candle that she wrapped in upholstery webbing and tied with an old skeleton key. How cool is that? I loved it so much, I bought them all!

And these bottles that she labeled with old French paper and tied with a crystal prism. She has her own line of soy candles and bath and body products that she originated in her Farmhouse kitchen!

How adorable is this wreath?

Cathleen made this bulletin board. I love the hotel silverware and bistro dishes.

Another inside shot of the barn.

Outside, this old bicycle has been re-purposed as a planter.

Cathleen and Mr. A trying to get two tables in an SUV for a customer. Believe it or not, they did it. It's a good thing we showed up when we did!

Cathleen and I posing in front of a beautiful painted china cabinet.

It was so much fun meeting her. I plan to visit again when she has the next barn sale in February. No doubt the barn will be filled again with more great old painted pieces and found objects.

Be sure to check out Cathleen's blog here and her online store here.

Lavender Burlap Sachets

For Christmas, I made burlap sachets filled with our French Lavender. My first "batch" turned out great but I wanted more of a jute colored burlap instead of the lighter version above.

See the difference? Either way, they both smell amazing!

We planted over 200 French Lavender of the "Grosso" variety this time last year. This is how they looked by June. We harvested too late in August, but the perfume was still super strong.

The lavender sat in our garage for four months! The perfume never faded though.

Eventually, I found these burlap pouches on Ebay and remembered the fleur-de-lis stamp from my scrapbooking days and voila; a lavender filled sachet!

I was so proud of the first batch, so I ordered more from the same Ebay company. The second set of pouches were the color of burlap. We filled 4 dozen bags all together and still only used one bunch of lavender!

Don't you think these look better?

Whatever, it was fun making them and I enjoy the lavender scent which is so incredibly strong.

A Birthday Luncheon

Sister-in-law Ann hosted a birthday luncheon for her Mother, Pat in December. She used her Lenox plates which was her wedding china. Layering the plates on gold chargers created a formal setting, but she then used a casual tablecloth in orange with burlap runner to create a more casual feel. She used orange Gerbera Daisies for the centerpieces, as well as tangerines in the jars. Her silver is Royal Danish by International Silver. So beautiful!

Notice how the napkins match the pattern! Ann has 24 plates in the "Autumn" pattern. Gump's sold them in the 1950's for $5 each. Her grandfather drove over 50 miles to San Francisco once a month to buy one plate at a time for her grandmother! When Ann married, she registered this pattern and added the rest of the pieces.

The Birthday Girl!

Lunch is served!

Hazel asking nicely if she can have some birthday cake! Apple Cake with Butter Rum Sauce!

Hmmmmm! Good! Only the finest china for Hazel!

Recipe as follows:

Apple Rum Cake with Butter Rum Sauce

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

3/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp. salt

4 T. butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

2 cups grated unpeeled Granny Smith apples

Sift together the dry ingredients and set aside. Cream together the butter, sugar and egg until light and fluffy. Add apples and blend with the dry ingredients.

Pour into a greased 8 inch square pan.

Bake 400 for 30-35 minutes

Cut into squares and serve warm with the Butter Rum Sauce

Butter Rum Sauce

1/2 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup half & half

dash of ground nutmeg

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

3 T. rum

Combine butter, sugar and half & half. Cook to boiling, stirring constantly. Lower to medium and continue to stir until thickened, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly, then add nutmeg, vanilla and rum. Server warm over cake

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I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for "Tablescape Thursday." Be sure to check out all the other wonderful tablescapes.

I'm also joining the potluck party, "Foodie Friday" at Designs by Gollum. Check out all the other dishes at the potluck.

Collecting Shell Art

I have been collecting shell art for many years, but didn't realize it. I have always been attracted to little trinket boxes made out of shells to hold earrings at bedside. One day I looked around and realized that I had more than a few items of this art form. Here are a few of the pieces in my collection.

The shells on this vintage lamp have turned a lovely amber color. It sits on a desk with the box above and a sea shell frame that is new. There is a big difference between new and vintage.

This frame from Z Gallerie is new.

However, these bookends are definitely vintage.

A rare example of vintage shell tramp art. I was told this is French.

This wonderful old lighthouse night light was a recent find. The shells are glued on cardboard.

Another recent find is this shell mirror. It probably started out as a picture frame. Also known as a "Sailor's Valentine."

This shell art lantern arrived today from Wisteria. It is much larger than I thought! Although it isn't vintage, it will be great up in the wine country on a warm summer night.

This is the first in a series I am doing about collecting, featuring my own collections, as well as others. I am fascinated by what people collect and am always interested in learning about what makes something desirable as a collection.

So.....What do you collect?

Antiquing on New Year's Day in the Wine Country

It was a dreary, rainy day in the wine country today. All the stores were closed, except the three antique collectives in Healdsburg. It just felt like the right thing to do - hunting and gathering. We started out with an old fashioned breakfast at a local diner, then on to exploring every nook and cranny at "Healdsburg Classics".

As soon as we walked in the door, we saw Mike, the owner. He is always good for a story or two. I love his Irish brogue.

The inside is enormous and filled with collectibles, antiques and just plain junk. But one man's junk is another man's treasure!

I especially loved these weathered columns. I passed them up though, but found a wonderful hanging lantern and eight dinner plates from the same dealer.

I love this crystal sconce.

On the way out, I admired this lovely old fountain. Wish I had a place for it.

Across the street is the Antique Harvest Antique Collective.

It was much warmer in here, thanks to this wonderful pot belly stove.

A little chicken wire cage filled with herbs from Ron Morgan Antiques. He has a space in this collective and is well known around the Bay Area.

He even has his own book!

Down the street is Myra Hoefer Design, a very upscale shop specializing in French antiques. Unfortunately, it was closed. Myra is the wife of Wade Hoefer, a very talented artist.

I'm crazy for these Anduze pots and have tried to buy them from her, but they're not for sale! The painting on the burlap chair is an original buy Wade.

Inside the store.

Over to Mill Street Antiques. It's more like a garage sale in here. Although, we have found some wonderful treasures here. Like a matching pair of cement columns we now have sitting outside our living room in Asti.

On our way back home we passed by lots of vineyards. The fog on the hills was so moody, I had to stop and take a picture.

This old sign is so retro!

Back home, we admired our finds. I bought these plates--perfect in the wine country with the grape pattern. As if I need another plate!

This lantern may go in our entry at home. Otherwise, I'll have to add it to my "collection" of light fixtures. Another weakness!

What a great way to spend New Year's Day.