Main stream and new introductions

Hi Everyone,

We have finally had a teeny tiny dusting of snow here in the South suburbs of Chicago and I am hoping that we don't receive anything else til we get back from Michigan in about 8 days. One can always hope . . . 

While out running errands early today, I stumbled on something kinda' cool. For a couple of years we have been proud to say we were part of the new revolution of the standard antique market industry. When referring to antiques these days, one also needs to include words like vintage, shabby chic, mid century, industrial and retro as they are integral parts of the industry today, 2012.

This has made it into mainstream as evidenced today at the new Whole Foods store near us. Take a look at the cool checkout lane lights.

Yep, vintage soda bottles! How cool is that? Then down the aisle they had these for sale . . . 

Yes, boys and girls, canning jars and wildflowers, the exact items we have been showing for our  shabby chic/ rustic farm/barn weddings for the past couple of years. This store also has beautiful tin ceiling accents and tons of worn wood, patina finished pieces, a real shabby feel. Guess we have arrived, if the building industry is shabby-ing upscale stores!

I have a sneak peak for you on our newest line to be shown at Grand Rapids next week. After serious contemplation, I decided to design a line of totes, not purses for practicality reasons. Seems there are a slew of bags out there, all about the same size, so I have a new line of really use-able tote bags, shabbied up with gorgeous laces, fabrics, beadwork, doilies, vintage jewelry and handmade flowers.

Here is a corner of the first tote . . .

And the second one . . .

That gauze rose is to die for in real life. These totes are very generous, 13" W X 14"H  X 7"D with additional handles, ready a million different uses. If work continues at the current rate, there will be 4 new designs of these gorgeous new totes and if they make it through the MI show I will put what ever I have left on Etsy. You know you are on the right road when you take your new project out in public and several people stop you and ask about it! (Just another reason to move into the Trader Joe's, but I digress . . . ) So it is a serious push to get all of the it done, new runners, new journals and new totes. 
Back to the mill, more later,

Suz 
the Muze

Introducing . . .

Hi Everyone,

Well, as promised, more new items are finding their way here and without further adieu our newest tassel in the family, Scrapper

This tassel was literally a culmination of all the scraps I found during my big workroom redo. A piece of lace here, scrap of shredded muslin there, leftover piece of ribbon found, each time I added a scrap, it added a dimension to this tassel. Pretty soon I was in awe to how gorgeous these guys turned out. Kinda' shabby, kinda vintage and a whole lot of fun, that pretty much sums up Scrapper, coming to a show near you in the near future.

Back to the desk,

Suz 

the Muze 

We are going to NA DA again ! ! ! !

Hi Everyone,


Last year I waxed on and on about the small but incredibly, breathtakingly beautiful event we did call NA DA Farm Event, a very prairie holiday. I have talked about it to everyone at every show we did and I am back at it again, because . . .


I just received a confirmation email from Anne Marie and Jason at NA DA Farm that we are confirmed for the May NA DA Farm Event on May 18 & 19, 2012. Yippee ! ! !  We couldn't be more thrilled and you will be too ! It truly is the best vintage, shabby flea in the area.


You remember NA DA don't you? The beautiful setting . . . 

The charming visitors, feathered  . . .

and non feathered

the sun, the wind, the fun of it all. It truly is a spectacular event like no other. Anne Marie and Jason are promising more of everything, more vintage, more antiques, more primitives and of course, more cupcakes!


This year is kinda special in that NA DA just received a special honor being named one of the BEST flea markets in the country from the reader at Flea Market Style magazine. Quite an honor indeed! Last year it was the Midwest Living magazine article and now this. Way to go guys !

If you haven't gotten your copy yet, run to your favorite magazine store and get a copy now. It has way too many cool new things to list here including the flea market listing.


So mark your calendars for May 18th and 19th for NA DA Farm Event, 2423 South Woodlawn Road, Esmond, IL 60129. It is only 45 minutes West of Geneva IL. So very easy to get to and so worth the drive. Not all the details are available just yet so stay tuned in for more information.


I have sooo much work to do . . . 


Suz 
the muze
our Etsy address  All My Musings

still getting ready

Hi Everyone,

Our trip to Waukesha was wonderful this past weekend. We showed at the Waukesha Expo Market and we were amazed at the quality and the type of vendors we encountered. The best of collectible vendors were there with very good quality finds. So many types and cool things to look at, a very fun market to see.

This show is run by Jeff Herbert, who I have to admit is the most proactive, in your corner, go get-em' show organizer we have ever dealt with. Nice doesn't even come close to describing Jeff, he is just magnificent. He is careful about choosing vendors and as a result has the friendly, warmest and neatest vendors all in one space, a round space to be exact.

He hired a new caterer this year for his events and boy can they cook! The real homemade chicken noodle soup was delicious and the pulled pork sandwiches to die for. Such a welcome change from normal venue fast food vendors. We all know it's about the food during really long days.

So, we are back home and still creating for the big Holiday show in Morris on the 18th and 19th of November.

This involves making tags, boxes, wine bags and cards just to name a few of the many items we are going to offer this year.

We are also going to bring along a lot of our frames, only much smaller ones.

A lot of these are on easels for desk use.

They make great gifts, just in case you were wondering.

More pictures to follow, off to bed for now,

Suz
the muse
All My Musings
630.917.8777

the NA DA Farm Barn Event

Hi Everyone

Thank you for being so patient about the farm event post. Busy week with catch up and filling custom orders on top of life !

As I hinted before, the setting for this event is just spectacular to view. The prairie setting is so calm and tranquil . . .

the gardens spectacular

so we had to get ready for what we all hoped for, a huge crowd of shoppers that would enjoy this wonderful setting.

It was so helpful having lots of help setting this event up. Ana Koval from Lock 16 in LaSalle and her son Peter handled the huge load of vintage furniture and rustic primitives. Here's Peter. George and I setting up the tents. Candy was so kind to be snapping all these wonderful pictures as we had our hands full.

After 2 hours, we were ready and boy, did we need to be ready for this . . .

We had a steady stream of folks from start to finish. We jokingly told everyone that our 2 tents were part of the pre-show as they had to pass by us to get to the barn part of the barn event. Here's where the line continued past our place, we are all the way to the left of this picture but you can see the line trying to get into the barn.

We had several new things we showed here.

Some of our new boxes

our new word sticks

part of our brown paper package line with new holiday tags

and our new paper trees

The tree on the left is handcrafted from antique hymnal pages. They both stand about 12" tall.

A big thank you to everyone who drove out, stopped and chatted, took home goodies and made us felt welcome. We had such a great time and can't wait until next year.

Thanks for stopping by today but I must get back to creating. Til next time . . .

Suz

the muse

630.917.8777

a wonderful Sunday in Wisconsin

Hi Everyone,

After a very long week in the rain, we finally finished up all of our items, repacked the vehicles and headed back to WI, Cedarburg to be specific.

As mentioned before, we have fallen in love with the Cedarburg area and the people we encounter. It promised to be a sun filled day for the Maxwell Street Days event and we started our journey on Saturday afternoon to take advantage of the Saturday early set up. It is so much easier on our weary and tired bodies to set up a day early and then get a good nights rest.

I thought you might want to know what goes on to get the store up and going. Here's how it happens . . . first you find your spot.

This is space 128 .

The steel marker in the ground has been there for decades and the rules state that we get 12' from that marker to our right.

Well, here's what we start with, a blank empty piece of ground. The van in the background belongs to Karen and John Hanna, real sweethearts and our great space neighbors at 129. They arrived before we did.

We back up the overloaded vehicles,

who packed all that stuff anyway ? Man, that's a alot of things . . .

Let's get going, we need a couple of tents . . . big tents, did you see all that stuff in the previous picture ?

Oh boy, we are about to get a store front (after 3+ hours and a whole lot of work). We worked until about 6 PM and then called it quits for the night.

By 5 AM the next morning, it looks like this. Complete with a very heavy coating of frost on everything, inside and out.

It is still pitch black outside and VERY cold, only 34 degrees. We woke up at our hotel in total darkness as there was an electrical outage, causing us to scurry in the dark. Can't say we looked our best this day, but on the other hand, the store looked good. We love how folks react to our note boards at the right front of the tents and of course, the huge truck full of coffee bags on the left.

The sun came out, they opened the gates at 7 AM and the crowds rushed in. We saw new customers, received great visitors and met new friends, like these ladies. Remember, it is only 8 AM in the morning,

You gotta love the Wisconsin spirit, a glass of Miller in one hand and a pitcher in the other, I think that makes any event more enjoyable! We laughed so hard with them, they love the open drinking policy at public events and we love the sights we see.

So by 5 PM, we were back to this look . . . amazing what goes on in just 24 short hours. Time to get on the road and travel South. 

The good news was we were not the last ones to pack up and leave, a little victory for us each time, we hate being the last ones to leave a venue. We will see you next Spring Cedarburg around May 28th or so.

Today back at the homefront, we started on preparing for the NA DA Farm Event this coming Friday. It promises to be spectacular and we couldn't be more honored to be included. So much work to finish in so little time.

Back to creating . . .

Suz

the muse

All My Musings

630.917.8777

on the road again . . . still . . . .

Hi Everyone,

and I guess welcome. Boy, has this been a long and not so productive journey. Our website, http://www.allmymusings.com/ is still not up and running (if you know a great and REASONABLE website site designer, call me !) and this is the next stepping stone to keeping in touch with all of you out there. So grab a cup of coffee or tea, here's where we are going . . .

We are on the road again, this will be the 19th weekend in a row. This weekend, October 2 we are going to visit the great folks in Cedarburg WI, for their Maxwell Street Flea Market. A little history on this event besides that it is just phenomenal ! The Fireman's Park where the event is held is located just north of historic downtown Cedarburg, population of about 12,000. There are over 1100 spaces available and everything from soup to nuts and us ! The proceeds over the past 45 years have funded the Cedarburg Fire Department and they have very up-to-date equipment and services without any cost to the taxpayers from what I understand. Attention Illinois . . . oh never mind, they wouldn't get it.

This event also has what most Wisconsin events offers, plenty of adult beverages. On our first visit, we observed folks walking around carrying 6 packs of 16 ounces Schlitz in cans, using the six pack holder as a wristlet corsage bracelet. But, as one resident said, 'Hey, it's Wisconsin, what else need I say ?' Cracks us up. But, not a foul word, no one acted out and everyone was in a great mood, sounds like a perfect venue to me.

So, pack up the trucks, we are headed back with new goodies in tow. We will be in the same space, 128, that would be halfway between the Cow Palace and the Grandstand, beer vendors at either end! and of course, lots of food, most importantly bratwurst.

Some of the new items in our little adventure this week will be our vintage boxes, available in 3 sizes, small, approx. 10" x 2 1/2", medium, approx. 11" x 3" and large, approx. 12" x 4 1/4". Great for accent pieces, gift giving or storing keepsakes in.

Here's a couple of pics . . .

This is the polka dot box, topped with stained gauze netting and sitting on glass white with black polka dot ball feet . . . this is medium size . . .

Next, this large size one has a vintage feel paper with crinkled stained gauze, an old wood fitting for a handle and the cutest camel bone feet ever!

look at that foot ! (I'm in love !)

I have designed about 7 of these, all different patterns and finishes, so far.

Also, I will be showing my new tags off, perfect for naked books, gift giving or a great accent as well, this is old rose . . .

Also, we have a full stock of both burlap cork boards and poultry netting boards ready as well to show, about 60 pieces, every size from 4" x 4" to 24" x 40", including a wire hexagonal, you should see George's hands from that one, sheesh!

We are headed to the one and only NA DA Farm next weekend, October 7th and 8th. Check here for details, http://www.nadafarmevents.com/, promises to be another unbelievable vintage event!

Off to create something . . .

Suz

a muse
All My Musings
630.917.8777