this 'n that...

Just want to mention a couple of items ~

First, one more inspirational story from the Barn....

This is my friend Beth Johnson.
Beth has been very, very sick - she has been battling recurring Lyme disease for many, many months - in and out of hospitals - stuck (no pun intended) in the house with an IV pole tethered to her - lots and lots of pain. Her one desire was to get to the Remnants of the Past Antique Show, and even ordered a couple of dog necklaces from me that she promised to come pick up in person. She and I had been emailing back and forth, and though she was in the hospital still as of the Wednesday before the show, I set aside her treasures, not fully believing she would be well enough to make it to the show.
About mid morning, as I was chatting with customers, someone tapped me on the shoulder from behind - there was Beth! She said she had "ripped" her IV out of its port and told her husband Brad to drive her to the Barn. I was blown away and honored that she would go to such lengths to shop! Not only did she shop with me, but she bought loads of vintage ribbons and trims from Beth Descala in Booth 7. Beth later emailed me to tell me she was back in bed, on the IV, but happily surrounded by trims from Beth's booth - she is making "corsages" for all of her friends to wear on their winter coats!

Here is Beth in action....

...she says her IV pole is the perfect glue gun holster!

Great job Beth!




Now a couple of days ago I was honored to have been nominated for the Kreativ Blogger award by my friend Jermaine - you can visit Jermaine on her GORGEOUS blog French Kissed here.
Here's the plan: I must tell you Seven Secrets about myself, and then nominate seven bloggers who's work I admire. So off we go.......

1. I was on Wheel of Fortune in 1979 – the host was Chuck Woolery. I kept hitting bankrupt, but when I finally was ready to solve a puzzle with over $5000, good old Chuck told me I was $75 from a new car.....so I went for it. (wouldn't you?)

You guessed it.
Bankrupt.
Boo.....
(as if it wasn't painful enough at the time - I have it on tape - my kids loved to play it for their friends, so I have been able to re-live that scene over, and over, and over, and....)

2. I was once a singing waitress at Johns at the Beach in Santa Barbara. It was the 70's - they were all trained opera singers.
I was not.
I was an experiment - to see how "pop" would go over.
So-so.
But it was a lot of fun.

3. My favorite flavor is this....

4. I am not a great housekeeper, but I am obsessive about making my bed EVERY DAY. There can be dust-bunnies swirling around in every corner and a ring around the toilet bowl....
but my bed is made.

5. I have donated my hair to Locks of Love three times – mostly because I am extremely lazy about getting to the salon....

6. I hate food from the sea....

7. My favorite artist is Andrew Wyeth. This print, Wind From the Sea, hangs over our bed – it used to hang in my mom’s living room.
She knew Dennis loved it too.
I once went with my mom to a Wyeth exhibit at the de Young in San Francisco - to see those nudes of Helga that created such a stir...

And finally, I would like to nominate the following women and their fabulous blogs:

Arlene - I just love your writing style....

http://www.heartrockshome.com/heartrockshome/

Carol - not one, but TWO blogs....

http://poeticpumpkins.blogspot.com/
http://oldwillowfarm.blogspot.com/

Rolane - love your country, laid back style...
http://barnbarnbaby.typepad.com/vb/

Shari - you constantly inspire me...
http://sharifrench.blogspot.com/

Judy - my friend and encourager....

http://remnantsofthepast.typepad.com/remnants_of_the_past/

Judith Claire - you have been an inspiration to me for 25+ years.....
http://danapowershouse.blogspot.com/

Jaime - my sweet baby girl - the most gifted writer I know - I am your biggest fan....
http://jaimeclewis.wordpress.com/

There you have it! Thanks again to Jermaine for encouraging me and for the new gift of friendship.

Ta ta.....
Pammy

ornamentation.....

My friend Shari French, lovely Sandpoint artist with Southern Charm, kindly offered to take some of my creations with her to the Tacoma Dome Holiday Food & Gift Festival. I've told you about Shari before - she makes beautiful jewelry (like this) and her booth set-up is to die for!

I never miss an opportunity to *share* my wares, so I told her yes, YES! Unfortunately, I left most of my jewelry with Kriste in California, and Judy was taking some of it to the C.A.L.M. Antique Show in Santa Barbara this weekend. So I decided to whip up some of my ornaments, since I had all the materials at the ready to do so. This time however, I chose to "age" them and use handmade wire hooks to hang them from, instead of ribbon. I love them! What do you think?

All are made with my signature antique music, which is sandwiched between beveled glass - in all kids of shapes and sizes.

You know how I love words and quotes - some will make you giggle....

...and some will speak to your heart.

Shari also asked to take some of my bottles, so I am giving her all that I have left.

So if you are in the Seattle area, and want to shop for unique treasures, go on over to the Tacoma Dome and visit Shari....

...and tell her *hi* for me!

Thanks Shari!

Pammy

Remnants of the Past - a smashing success!

What a fabulous day we had at Remnants of the Past Antique Show in Nipomo, California. The setting was divine, the weather was perfect, the vendors were excited, the customers were happy, and our hostesses were The Best!

My weekend started on a great note early Friday morning when I stopped by my friend Merle's house to borrow some old crates to use in my display. Not only did I find the crates sitting on her front porch (right where she said they would be), but she left me a note of welcome tied to a maple branch (from her magnificent Japanese Maple that she knows I adore!). It touched me so much that I had to incorporate it into my display along with the old lug box from her dad's vineyard....
On to the show....Judy thought of everything. From a cupcake (from Amy Bakes Cupcakes) in the early afternoon that she handed out in cute little cartons (I think she knew we all needed a little sugar pick-me-up by then!)....to her fabulous lasagna dinner the night before the event. Judi Powers, owner of the property, and Judy Watkins, the Wonder Woman who puts on this show, have a pre-show soiree for all of the vendors. It is held down at Judi's house on the property (which is a whole other blog post altogether - one of my most favorite spots on earth) and the spread she lays out is a feast for both the eyes and the tummy....






The attention to detail was amazing - like this Scotti dog image on top of the warm pastry/brie appetizer...in honor of Gus, Judi's beloved Scotti who roams the yard.

Tables filled with tired, but well fed vendors....

Two tired Judies the night before....I call them *Judy-squared*.

Time to check on last minute details before going home to sleep.....

Two fresh and ready-to-go-Saturday-morning Judies - aren't they stunning????!!!

Girls in Pearls...Judy, Kriste and moi in our booth.

There were SO many wonderful people who made my weekend special - here are just a few...

Meet Kimberly and Melissa in their gorgeous silver/white booth. Kimberly owns a store in the Sacramento area called Bungalow (www.bungalowvintage.com) and she purchased a bunch of my necklaces to sell in her shop. Thanks Kim!

Kellee from Susan Branch Studios was there selling Susan's books and calenders....


Woodstone Marketplace was there with their wonderful lunches...

One of my favorite people is Bonnie Crawford of Birds of a Feather in Cambria, Ca. I loved and shopped her store for years before I got to know her. Bonnie has been dubbed Queen of the Smalls and has participated in the Remnants show from the beginning - she also carries my line so I love her even more! Her shop is filled with vintage treasures....

...like this old fashioned ice cream display...




Gray Hartley - winemaker extraordinaire! I was talking to a customer about how to use my wine collars (of course I had forgotten to bring a wine bottle to use as a display) and Gray happened to be walking by just then. I called over to him, "Hey Gray - you wouldn't happen to have a bottle of wine on you, would you?" - and he said, "as a matter of fact I do!" And he brought out the cutest little bottle of his world famous (and I mean that - click here) Hartley-Ostini Highliner wine! It sure pays to know your local winemaker.....
Dennis says thanks, Gray!



Here is Patty Kodenko - isn't she adorable? She didn't want her picture taken but I pestered her until she agreed - I wanted you to meet her and see her fabulous treasures! She does the most amazing mosaic work, but this is what caught my eye...

Thanks Patti - I just loved everything about your booth!




I already mentioned Amy Bakes Cupcakes....they were incredible!



I know I told you about my friend Carol Smithback and her one-of-a-kind pumpkins...now you can put a face to the name!
Here she is in front of her pumpkin cart....

...and here she is again with her *elf* Charlotte Hartley (who just happens to be married to Gray who you met earlier) How cute are they???? I swear, I didn't see anyone without a pumpkin on Saturday....she had a very good day.

And finally...our booth! Well la-de-da.....look at those hops Judy displayed so beautifully.

lots and lots of treasures....

and then there was my little corner...

It was a marvelous show - a highlight for me was meeting friends who have been following my blog so faithfully and came just to say hello! I was delighted and honored to meet Jermaine of French Kissed who I have followed and enjoyed for several months. She came all the way up from Santa Barbara for the day just to visit the show. It was as if we had known each other for years - my new BFF!
And what a small world it is - a young woman asked me if I was in a show in Rathdrum, Idaho. Uh....yeah. Apparently she stumbled onto the Vintage Barn Show while on vacation and bought some treat jars from me - then stumbled onto this one in Nipomo! She plans on making both shows a regular destination from now on!

And finally...I was determined to bring home one of Carol's pumpkins. I even ordered it ahead of time - that's how sure I was that I could get it home. I decided to pack it in my carry-on luggage - along with my camera. When I got to security at Santa Barbara Airport, they kept rolling the conveyor belt back and forth.....back and forth...back and forth...with that bag going through the x-ray machine. Then a second TSA official was brought in. Then they took it off the belt, opened it and unpacked EVERYTHING. Then put all of it through the x-ray again. So it seems that when I closed up the suitcase after packing, my camera ended up directly on top of the pumpkin, and in the x-ray it appeared to be an electronic device inside a rather large, round container made from organic material. The TSA gal was a peach - started giggling after realizing what it was....however, the people behind me waiting to go through were not smiling.

I did get it home in one piece though, along with these two little turban gourds.....

A final good-bye to Gus Judi's Scotty who was the official greeter....I am already excited about the Spring show....stay tuned!

I'm off to take a nap - I'm exhausted but extremely happy!
Thanks for tuning in...
Pammy

p.s.: a hearty THANK YOU to my baby girl Jaime and her darling husband Jacob who planned and set up the music - it set the mood perfectly and created a lovely atmosphere!

Remnants of the Past....happens this weekend!

Well it's finally here! This coming Saturday, October 10th from 9am-4pm is the not-to-be-missed Remnants of the Past Antique Show. By far, this is the most beautiful show I have ever participated in - in the most beautiful setting. It is held in and around an old barn, surrounded by lemon trees on the Dana-Powers property in the magnificent foothills of Nipomo, Ca. The amazing woman who is responsible for this gorgeous show is my friend Judy Watkins, and it is in her booth that I set up shop. With help from another friend Kriste, (who also happens to be the one who schleps my designs from shop to shop in California and who was the first to encourage me to sell my soldered jewelry - love you K!) we set up, shmooze and sell to the hundreds of people who wait for this show to open. The vendors come from all over the country, and the way they display their wares is something that you need to see with your own eyes - words don't do this show justice.

Here is a glimpse into that fantasy land of vintage and antique treasures from past shows....

Judy's booth - where I will be!

a few of Fred & Coco's lovely treasures from France....

I love how the sun pours in through the barn walls...

Here is one of the more unusual items you will find at the show (and also one of the most popular!) My friend Carol Smithback "engraves" pumpkins! She will have a booth set up right outside the entrance to the barn - DON'T miss it! To find out more about Carol and her fabulous work, click here or here.

I am also excited because I am unveiling my newest designs! I have been inspired by my friend Shari French to play around with finishes - so not only will my cones, crowns and paper dolls (see here!) be new, but I have a new line of jewelry that has a very distinct vintage look that I think you will love (made from large - 1.25" glass wafers)...not to mention my new rosary-inspired statement necklaces! And you've just got to love my new displays....

(that's me when I was four years old - with my dress on backwards - on a sugar high!)


My vintage nod to the good old U S of A!...(I found an ancient copy of the sheet music for God Bless and Save America and paired it with a snippet from the US Constitution)

So my bags are packed - the big one is for the important stuff like displays and such...the small carry-on will have whatever I can squeeze in to wear...

Just a simple change of clothes and a toothbrush is all I need....it's all about the product!


I hope you will be able to join me....but if not, come back here soon and I will post pictures from the show as soon as I return to my attic....

Happy Trails to me....see you at the Barn!
Pammy