Family and Fayetteville

Spent a marvelous week with my son and his family at Fort Bragg, NC early this month and truly, there is nothing like being around your grandchildren to make you forget your workweeks and just enjoy their hilarity.  It was hot hot hot weather and hotter than Florida, we even had a tornado touch down but all was fine around us.  T-Rex visited the field and walked around the quad to say hello.

The twins could barely see through the costume as it really was an adult size, but they had a ball wearing it.

Big sis climbed on top of barriers and roared like the big T-rex she was.

While the raviolis were in school and dad was at work, mom and I took a visit to the newly revitalized downtown Fayetteville. Wow, it is lovely and designed to walk around leisurely, stroll among the little shops or stop for a freshly brewed coffee or tea or even freshly squeezed lavender lemonade which was perfect for the 104 degree day.  Kerry has talked about a shop she adores that was located in this newly revitalized area and we went for a visit.  It is called "The Promise".

The Promise specializes in primitive design and owner, Trisha, has a marvelous decorative eye for display and a love of her faith and both are beautifully shared within.

This bright "Son" yellow door, warmly welcomes you into this small yet every inch of space filled with wonderful pieces.

Antique and vintage furniture is used to display little vignettes of primitive pieces married with tiny white lights and found objects.

Placards abound with words of love and scripture that reminds us of God's love and how we should live our lives gently and with love.

 

Lovely angel statue is nested among greenery.

 Wire baskets and planters, birds and lanterns are everywhere and all are priced most affordably.  

Owner, Trisha, warmly shares her faith with the many placards that share the Gospels.

Swans and bird cages of all sizes are offered.

I fell in love with the many lanterns that were filled with nests and eggs, tiny lights, and other found objects.  If I had room in my luggage, I would have come home with three of them in different sizes to fill with my own found items at home.  Perhaps with my next visit.

Tiny wooden birdhouses and decorative metal shelves of all sizes are offered.

My favorite items though, are her price tags.  She has added a primitive look to them and added scripture in a lovely calligraphic script.  I had more joy reading each tag she assigns to her pieces and they gently call you to "buy me".

Trisha and "The Promise" are not on most social media but she does have a Facebook page that she will occasionally add photos to.  If you are ever in the Fayetteville area, you must make "The Promise" a visit.

Next store to "The Promise" and on the corner of the street is a charming shop called "The Door Belle".

Delightful windows are dressed with vintage clothing and accessories.

Racks and racks of clothing in all sizes and genres abound.  You can also find a few sassy wigs and church hats to match.

Tables are filled with lots of kicky, fun and vintage footwear.  Prices were good and you could put together several outfits on a budget.

We walked all over the downtown area visiting antique shops and when the heat was at its highest we found a marvelous Tea shop called Winterbloom Tea. 

They had a sandwich chalk board that announced Lavender Pink Lemonade so we popped in for a tall cup of that brew.

O M G. This was so good and icy cold with a rich pink lemonade color and flavor laced with the sweet taste of lavender.  

We nursed these as we walked back to the car and headed for home.  

This was such a lovely day trip to the pretty little revitalized community.  I hope, dear reader, that you have the opportunity to visit downtown Fayetteville and experience their shops and hospitality.  Blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch.

Holiday Open House at the Queen

Can you believe that the Thanksgiving holidays will be kicking off in two weeks?  I can't and the way the holidays fall this year, we actually lose a retail weekend.  Those of us in any business are scrambling like mad to get Holiday Open Houses off the ground and then, of course, we want to visit every one ourselves.  Part of my holiday madness is due to spending a week in Anchorage, Alaska visiting my son and his wife and their three children, my raviolis.  It was a wonderful visit and one that I sorely needed following the passing of my husband in September.  To be surrounded by those who love you helps heal a broken heart.  

Had a great weekend for finding treasure and in between the hunt I was pricing and setting items up in my booths.  With my main living area looking like the holidays have thrown up in it, I was happy to get most of it out of the house and in the booths.  I spied a sweet transferware piece on the Vintage Village facebook page and asked "the vintage hag" to hold it for me until I returned from Anchorage.  When I came by the shop on Friday, I found a lot of treasure that had to come home with me.

Pretty little chippy child's rocker is perfect for the upcoming holidays.

Keeping this baby for myself.  I adore vintage tinware pieces and this US Kreamer is a keeper.

Ditto with the treenware, these two antique butter paddles are fantastic.

Sweet child's feedsack dress will be in my booth next week.

Gorgeous flow blue soft paste platter and a sweet pewter salt and pep set.

The transferware piece that instigated the buying frenzy. LOL  

One of my Christmas displays in my main booth.  Trying to get ready for the Queen of Hearts - Buford Open House on Thursday. Is there ever enough time?

Filled the hutch with pretty plates.

Mercury glass piece are a popular seller.

Pretty primitive Christmas pins and other decorative elements.

Delightful light up Candyland house will enchant children.

That pretty little chair at the start of this post is now decorated for Christmas.

Mica snowballs are fun decorating elements.

Sweet mica house and snowballs on a silverplate tray makes a nice holiday display.

I almost kept this pretty Victorian quad plated bowl.

My best find this weekend, a gorgeous Victorian quad plate tea/coffee service set in excellent condition.  It is in my Victorian booth waiting for someone who will take it home.

My Victorian booth almost ready for the Open House.

I repurposed wool sweaters from Goodwill by felting them and then turning them into stockings.  This was a fun project as I was able to get about 6 stockings of different sizes out of one sweater.

These were so much fun to make and I like the idea of repurposing thrift store sweaters into holiday stockings.  I'm gonna try and catch up on my blog reading this week as I have been missing the posts.  Wishing everyone a wonderful week and blessings to you and those you love.  Sea Witch

Road Trip Part Deux - Athens Antiques

I’m afraid the days have gotten away from me again. I won’t complain as I have been blessed with a rich and full life full of wonderful friends, old ones and new ones and ones to be met…road trips for antiques, cool junk and whatever catches my eyes. Following my visit to The Factory Antiques in Statham, I went 8 miles further up the road and stopped in Athens Antiques. My sister and I met two delightful dealers from Athens Antiques at the Statham outdoor market and had to make a visit. Keep watch as you travel down the road just before you get into Athens proper as it can be easy to miss. It’s not that the location is difficult, the building has a big sign, but it is set back with trees in the background so you can easily drive by it and have to do a turnaround. Lots and lots and lots of wonderful things reside within and the building is much bigger than it looks from the outside.

If you are looking for traditional, elegant pieces, then you must visit Athens Antiques. In addition there is artwork, lovely transfer ware pieces, civil war items…lots of true Southern antique pieces.

Wonderful, large advertising piece. Showcase item for a home or office.


Your favorite tea or coffee always tastes better when served from a pretty silver set.
My favorites, wonderful primitives.

I'm afraid my camera battery ran down before I could take more pictures. Still, these should whet your appetite for true antiques with Southern charm. I did walk away with a lovely Victorian Battenburg parlor piece. Antique Battenburg is dear to come by and when I can find it, I have to have it. Athens Antiques is worth the drive to visit. You won't be disappointed.