A GREAT DAY.... in Southern Iowa!

This is the larger style... it measures 36x23, 35 inches tall and is 238 pounds...

These are sooo fun! Lynn surprised me, with them... I am puchasing the 'lot', and may have a dear friend, wanting them...if not... they will be on my Fall Harvest Sale.... Oh My.... They are the most Darling Things.... {bins... from an old factory... on wheels... oh my...}{ can't ya just see them, with glass, fitted on the tops... in a kitchen... a Very Cool Kitchen....}

This is, the Darling Little Sink... How incredibly Precious...

Fun Stuff!

Headed for What Cheer Flea Market, this mornin'... it was really Fun! Had great success at a sale, before I arrived at the show... Found some of theeee most amazing vintage lace... oh my.... boxes of it! {I Love to sit and fondle vintage lace... I am a sick person....} Then, on to the show! I hooked up, with Southern Iowa Pal, Lynn, and we combed through the show, via the little Ford Truck! Lynn was kind enough to think of me, at a Farm Sale, way down deep, in my Dad's old stomping grounds, near Chariton, Iowa, last week.... and bought me a huge, round Stock Tank...I have always wanted to make a fountain out of one, I'm excited, to give it a try! Lynn, and his sweet wife, Leah, don't live far from What Cheer... so, I went to their Farm, after we shopped 'til we dropped!

We ran into so many friends at What Cheer...Gary, Chery, Jeff, Nicole, Dan, Connie, Eva, Pat, Aletha, Don, George, Tom,.... I could go on and on... My phone was ringin', as trucks pulled in the gate, with 'my kinda stuff' on them...My friends, giving me a 'heads up'... What cool folks!

I didn't get a huge truck load... but... I don't need a huge truck load... I have tons of great stuff, here at home, I need to get ready for Gold Rush...However... that never stops me... I found a neat Old Harvest Table... a gnarly Dry Sink...Thee most darling, teeny, tiny sink, that is sooo ornate... {I'm going to try and make it work, in our bathroom...if not... a Lady followed me, around the track, and wants to buy it, if it doesn't work... It is... a very 'Good Thing'...} Several Ironstone pieces... a darling galvanized 'Chick Incubator' {Thanks, Lynn} a cool, old birdbath... 2 gnarly concrete mushrooms...and all sorts of wooden spoons... and... all sorts of 'dibby dabbies'... it was a Fun Day! I still haven't eaten a bite... it's 10:30... oh well... I'll scrounge something up....

Hope everyone, had a most Wonderful Thursday!

Barb C.

{Thanks to Tom, Paula, Tom and Cathie... for the invite...Sorry, I was such a 'Goddess'... only time to switch vehicles... not a shower! Sally and I, much enjoyed the visit....}

{ Paula and Cathie... I'm Ready, for Night on the Town... Sally, Too...We'll 'Turn it Loose!" {ah... there is a list of 'Girls' we need to call... oh my...{ Gail H. for one...} Cedar Rapids may never stand the strain....}

My Love to Ya'll... {See, Lynn... I told ya, I could pick that 'South of 80' drawl, up, in less than a few hours... I do... Love the South...} Ole... Aye?

To Wanda... from "Gatherings"

Wanda left me a very nice comment, about Peg..... tho, she doesn't know Peg, well... was so supportive, and kind, to worry, with me, over the last few weeks... Thank You... Wanda...{Gatherings} I truly, want to Thank, Everyone, who has phoned, and e-mailed... You are all, so very Amazing...Words can not express... I want you... all... to know... You... are also, in My Prayers... Prayers matter... God Bless... Barb C.

Can You See It... Amazing Quilting... Who Could Walk Away... {not me...}

You all know... I have an illness.... yes, a dreadful illness... when it comes to quilts... I was in one of my favorite 'haunts', today... and I was literally, dragged, to the area where this amazingly quilted wonder, was hiding....I simply, could not leave, without it... I wish I had a great camera... and could somehow, show you, the Soul, in this Old, Old Quilt.... It is worn... even the tag, the previous owner had on this beauty, said, 'worn', on it... All the better... it was loved, and kept someone warm... it is a 'workhorse', too... Bless it... I know... I say this, all of the time..."If it never sells, well, so be it, guess I'll have to keep it myself.".. how sad...{what ever!} If you knew me, you would know, I truly mean it... I only buy things I love, but... offer them for sale...{and, always, try to keep my prices very fair... just cause I love it, doesn't mean, it's worth a Mil... I want others to be able to enjoy, this wonderful, old stuff... and not have to be a 'Brain Surgeon', to do it...} {it's all about staying alive, and putting wonderful, soulful treasures, into the hands, they were always meant to rest in...however...if, they linger...well... maybe... it's my hands, they were meant to find... there is always love, and respect, waiting for them, here...I truly don't use this, as a 'sales tactic'... Oh My... If it were 'all' about money... well, I would have quit, a long, long time ago... as my old friend, Deb, said, during one of my Sales...."You are all Crazy! This is way too much work...and not near enough Money!!!" {then she stomped away...} I stood there, smiling... and shook my head...watching her ... { She was a 'Corporate' Gal...} and my reply... "well hell... tell me somethin' I don't know"} Back to the Quilt...It is wonderful...Stop by, and check it out for yourself.... It'll sing to ya! Barb C.

Ironstone... Thread...Handmade Lace...What do they have in Common?...Ah... Everything...

Oh my.... Yes... they are such little, teeny, tiny treasures... but... without them... well... all you sense, is a huge void{ or, maybe, 'something is missing'}... Funny... it really 'is', all, in the 'details'... Do, sweat the 'small' stuff... it is 'that' , that really makes the difference...

A Great Day!

Yep... I was back in the Saddle Again... Took a road trip, with Mustang, Sally... and all was right with the world! Bill B. had called me about some vintage concrete, he had brought into his, and Mike's fun shop, on 5th ave. in Marion, {Antique Warehouse{Bill... 319-360-5524... Mike... 319-389-3707 Mike} It had been way too long since I had visited... They have all sorts of new stuff in... They do such a great job! I bought a gnarly piece, for a friend, who will love it, and, some Milk Paint, that Mike carries... I was going to make my own, just like they used to do, way back, but, thought I'd try this! Then... Sally and I headed south... Stopped at Rug Cottage, and Barntiques... Saw all the sweet Gals there! Nancy, her Darling Daughter, and... Sweet Caroline! {I love those Girls! The shops were Great!... and... I bought more 'Sweet and Hot Relish'.... {I am soooo addicted!} Then... on to Sisters'... Ran into Sweet Sharon {Sweet Repose}... Stephanie, {Stepanie Brandenberg Studios...and ... Fern Hill}, and, of course, Barb H. and Darling, Deb! {Sisters' Garden}{It was like 'Old Home Week'!} All the stores were buzzing...We are so very blessed, to have so very much, here in Iowa... Great Shops.... Great People.... Creative Spirits... Oh My....! Then... I hit my secret places.... found some wonderful treasures... Sally, was not thrilled with my packing job... {she thinks she's a Mustang.... and not a Clydesdale.... Oh well... she'll get used to it...}... { if you are part of this family, you earn your keep...we all pull mighty heavy loads, some days... but... we also have a lot of fun, too...} I am on the run, the next 2 days... {Sally will sit these trips out... It'll be 'Arnold', all the way.... He's a little Truck... but... he has 'Muchness'!} I have a speaking engagement, on Friday.... I need to get ready for that... oh my... time does fly! We are already in August... I heard the first Cricket, in the shop, day before yesterday.... a sure sign of Fall.... oh my.... My head is Whirling... {nothing new}... So many obligations... time... is moving so incredibly fast.... Oh well... It is... What it is... I gotta tell ya... Remember the premonitions I had, about Peg.... and Lyme Disease..... well, Peg just called... her tests are back.... It wasn't 'Lyme'.... It was another 'tick borne illness'... {another blogger warned me about this, last week} I just knew, it was 'tick' related... When something wakes me up, from a dead sleep, and I sit, straight up, in bed... It usually is fact... She is on the road to recovery... Thank God.... and...all of you, too....Prayers Matter... Thank You... Barb C.

Wedding Cake Topper....

This is an old topper, I bought several years ago... I had it in the Shop, and it didn't sell... so... It now is in the Old Witwer Dairy Cupboard, that takes, almost, an entire wall in the dinning room{ Witwer Dairy, was a local Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Dairy. The Witwer family owned many farms, in the area... the old, 8 foot wide, by 7 foot tall Cupboard, came from one of their stores... It is a real 'work horse' in the house...oh my....}The Topper is quite large, about 14 inches tall, and is from the early 1900's... It was in this wonderful old dome, when I bought it... The dome has kept it in beautiful condition, over the years... I spent the day, helping friends move... We got much accomplished... I'm on the road, the rest of the week... John and I were asked to help some other friends, tomorrow afternoon, so I'll make fast tracks, in the morning... I'm pretty tired out, so I'll be hitting the sack... Hope Everyone has the most Fabulous Wednesday! Barb C.

Old Books....

Plain old Me.... spent the day, on the business end of a weed eater, and push mower... It rained, but, the weed whip didn't seem to mind... And if I waited to do this, when it isn't raining, well, it wouldn't get done...John thought I was crazy... but, the week is piled up, with so much to do... there was no choice... Had some nice Gals, pop in, and do a little shoppin'... they didn't care, that I looked like a drowned rat... I had some of my Mother's business, to attend to, this afternoon, didn't get any antiquing done... So, I thought I'd share two of my favorite old books...

This book, dates from 1825... It's actually an arithmetic study book... George Washington carried one just like it, when he was young... There are study problems, about riding horseback so many miles, in a day... and how long it would take, to get from point 'a', to 'b', 'c' and 'd'... It's all beautifully written, by the student... I have always treasured it... The book was a gift, from a dear friend, when I first opened the Shop...She had bought it at an auction, for a few dollars... amazing....

This book, is from 1849, and I adore it... It's on Horticulture... it has the most beautiful homes, and gardens, of the day, as well as diagrams of gardens, and conservatories.... oh my... I bought this, in Newton, Iowa, while meeting Pal, Jo, from Carlisle, Iowa... We had such a wonderful time, that day... I almost put the old book in the shop... and, maybe, I will, someday... Just... not today... I have cupboards full of old books... several old copies of Gone With The Wind.... The Great Rebellion... A 1912, Handwritten Diary, of a young farm girl, in northern Iowa...a book on Potions, and Perfumes...several old, Victorian Scrapbooks... Just all sorts, of mostly mid 1800's books... The cupboards are overflowing... I never have much time to read them, but, on occasion, one will call out, and we'll spend an evening, together...

I'm helping friends move, tomorrow... Then, back on the road, Wednesday and Thursday...

I visited with Peg, today... she says she's doing fine.... Still no answers...The Boys are back, from England {Leftovers Antiques}... Looks like they had a wonderful time....Brought back some really cool Garden Stuff! I'm pooped... It was a long day....

Hope Everyone, has the most Amazing Tuesday...

Old, Old... Early Iowa Walnut Stepback Cupboard...My Heart Melts...

This is the Old Cupboard, Barb O., had called me about... Thanks Sweetie... John has it crowned, now, I am just going to feed the old walnut... It is very dry.... I love this piece... It has the most unusual hand champhored panels.... it carries that wonderful, 'old', scent, inside...{the image makes the bottom door look strange... it was just slightly open, it fits perfectly} Someone, really worked their heart out, building this Beauty... It must have been made for a very special person.... It's all square nailed... the shelves have been cut into the sides...there is no, foot damage.... it's been kept dry.... It's 2 pieces... and... it boasts, 16 panes of the gnarliest, old wavy glass, on the top...I would say, it's from the mid-1800's... It's quite the Old Cupboard... The size is wonderful, too... not too deep... not too wide... and around 7 and a half feet tall... a Dandy! Allyson, has it on hold, trying to squeak out a spot, for one more cupboard, in her house... I know, I could surely find a spot...{in her, or my house... There's always room for another Wonderful Old Friend! Hope everyone has the most Beautiful Sunday... Barb C.

Lamb Rug... and, a thimbleful of Saturday's Gatherings

I picked this wonderful old rug up, a few days ago... and Love it... It's about 30x72 inches, and would be stunning on a living room wall...or above an old bed... What could be better... Children, Flowers, and Lambs...Simply Sweet.... Worked in the shop, pulled weeds, ran to the grocery store, made deliveries, hit a few sales...And, sold some stuff! Had a pretty good day at the shop, for as little as I was actually there... I was blessed by the nicest people, that stopped in.... I get feeling, like, sometimes... I never want to come home... When I'm in the shop... I really don't want to be there... Like I want to take an eraser, and the shop, being the chalkboard, and erase it all... I'd just sit there...with a blank slate... Then, I have a day, like yesterday... God must have known, I need a Stream, in the Desert... and sent a flock of Angels... one by one.... They all went on and on, about the shop... Even the husbands, were entranced, it seems... The children, loved it, as well...and didn't want to leave...It made me feel good... I felt, 'Muchness'... I picked up this little sack full, at a sale, on one of my trips, back and forth, yesterday... Love it all...Found all sorts of stuff... had to come back, for the truck... oh my....

A Morning Walk....

Went for a stroll, this morning, around the shop.... I ran into this gnarly 'Gold Coin', Parlor Stove... I picked it up, a week or two ago at a farmsale! My mind was racing, with all of the cool things, that it's ornateness, could embelish! Everything from, a massive iron footed, footstool {using just the base}to using the footrests, for cool towel bars! Evidently, I wasn't the only one who saw great potential, in the little 'Gold Coin'....a very sweet Couple, bought it yesterday, and have all sorts of ideas! I so love Morning Glories. They, I have decided, are my favorite flower.... I love the wild, and unruly way, they live their life... You may plant their seed, but, they will determine what they will cling to, and what direction they will travel... A very independent little plant....And when they, Smile... in the morning, with their stunningly beautiful, velvet flowers... adorned by the delicate heart shaped leaves, and welcome, the new day... oh my.... they always put a smile, on my face, as well...

Even the little Gnomes were in wonder, this morning, with the heavy dew, that blanketed everything!

The Sun, just kissing the rusty old iron fragments...

God.... I love this time of the day....Thanks... for letting me see it....