What I Got The FUSO for Valentines Day!!!!!

 Got a nice early start...for Nashville... then..as we crossed the Missouri line...and the Des Moines River......The Tire said.... I'm Done!!!! It was a 'drive tire'....so...We were at a stand still...

I had Allyson and Vikki, drive on, to a Truck Stop...and they found a Tire Man...

Vikki asked if the man was handsome....I said... He Looked Like an Angel to Me!

We are in our AMAZING...Beautiful Room...at the Opryland Hotel...Safe and sound...A Margarita, under our belts... and ready to turn in....

The Fun Never Ends!!!!!

Love to Ya!

Barb C.

Nashville Bound!!!!

Lookin'Good!

The Truck is LOADED!!!!! Huge Thanks to John, Justjn, Jr. Josh, Katie...and even Mark got in on a little loading!

I Overslept!!!! Gotta Go!!!!! Ye Haw!!!!

HAPYY VALENTINES DAY!!!!!!

LOVE!!!!

BARB C!KISSES!!!!

Paul Bunyan is a BIG DADDY!!!! {The shop is DESTROYED!!!!!!!}

He Left Me....Softly....

I wasn't going to do this...
With all the Chaos... I thought...maybe...after 24 years...and an hour... I could get through...losing Dad... without tears... and such Deep Sorrow...
Not happening...
As I listen to this Beautiful Song... Dad, couldn't have left me, any other way...He Loved Me...Too Much...To Watch Me...Begging Him... To Please... Stay....
 I have always deeply regretted, I wasn't at his side, holding his hand... when he went away....
God knew...as did Dad...I could never have let him go...

Down to The Wire!

Got as much as I can, done... The Mid 1700's Corner Cupboard...is Ready to be Loaded... It's a Very....Very Heavy Cupboard... It looks....Amazing....

I have totes, ready... filled with all sorts of Soulful Treasures...Everything, from Tarnished Silver...to Gnarly Apothecary Jars... I have heard one Positive report, from Nashville...after another....It's going to be an Amazing Group of Shows....Still Plenty of time, for you to make plans! It's an easy day drive, from the Cedar Rapids area....If you Fly...they have Shippers, at the Show...I always have many things, from my booth shipped, to their new homes! Everyone, is getting WIRED! I'm too busy...to think about the Electricity.... But....as I told Peg... No matter....how exhausted I am... as soon as I walk into the Heart Show, set up... The Adrenaline get pumping... and I Truly FLY!!! It's unbelievable... I don't get back to normal, 'til I'm home, for a few days....Then....I Crash...and Burn...

I can't wait, to see everyone.... to see, all the Amazing Antiques....

To be WOWED, by the Show...

{I guess...I am...a little excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!}

oh dear...

Barb C.

FOCUSED!

I Love this Song....Should have it Leading....Always... An Irish Prayer...
Seems my Butt's always Smoldering....
I was told recently, by a dear friend, I get a bit 'Sharp'...while setting a booth...and, preparing for a Show... I was taken back, by that...even...a bit hurt...
I thought about it...for a minute... Then...said... I get 'Focused'....When it's 'Show Time'....not much will trip me up... I'm at a dead run...and...if your in my way... move....
My Mind is days ahead, of where I'm standing....and... that may seem 'Sharp'....
I was visiting with Patty, {Fern Hill}... this morning...she woke me up... I overslept...{fell asleep in the recliner...stumbled to bed, at 4... to find, the cat had mistaken my nice clean, made bed....for the litter box... So...I stripped the bed... did laundry... and Polly and I went back to bed....then...I overslept...}
I have built my booth...a hundred times, in my mind..a hundred different ways....Patty says she never sleeps, before a Show....It's stressful, on so many levels...
Finding...fixing... cleaning....packing...loading... fitting...tools... displays... rugs...walls...truck...driving...time...hotel... unloading... decisions....decisions...decisions....and...Money...with each of these points.... I could list all of the 'fires', that go along with each of them...and...that's just these few points...don't get me started, on CATS!
I Have to Stay, Focused....or... everything will unravel...and...I can't afford to Unravel... Our Lives depend on this....
I Love What I Do...When, I think about giving up....The Angels, reach out...and pull me up...and tell me, this is my Gift....I'm good at this...and God has given me this talent...and Keep Running...They have Plenty of Water...and a long arm...So...a bit 'sharp' I shall be...and...I'll keep my eye on the Ball...FOCUSED!!!! I'll relax... after the Dealing is Done...
I'm getting the truck finished today...{at least all of the smalls... I can't load any more 'Bigs'  'til the Corner Cupboard gets done....
Images...tonight...
Love...to You...
Barb C. {a.k.a. Sharp}

The Dog Candy Dish...

Oh My... A Dog...and Candy Hearts... Who could ask for More...?

{Thanks Lynn...for Going the Extra Mile! and retrieving it!}

Well...It's Starting...

Never fails.... Just when you think, you have everything set, in order... ah... the best order, this Chaotic Woman, can possibly have...{actually... as 'Fly by the Seat of My Pants', I am... I usually pull it all together, quite well....{multi tasking, is, my long suit...} It's very Ugly, and nerve racking, for the innocent by standers...I am, quite sure...}
I ordered my receipt books, and business cards, {these are mandatory, at Heart of Country....In my very first contract, with Heart of Country, it said "Dime Store receipt books, are for Dime Stores...not, Heart of Country"...That Libby, was a very Classy, and Amazing, Business Woman... and knew, how much the smallest details Matter....I sure miss her...I called on her, advise, a few times, over the years... She was a Huge Inspiration...} since the flood, of '08, when my favorite printer, closed... I haven't found anyone I wanted to use...but... I had to get these done, for Heart....}I went through a nice woman... a couple of weeks ago...it's been hurry up, and wait.... I told her, last week, I needed them, no later than Thursday, of this week..."No Problem".... I called her back, on Monday... making sure.... she said...well... she would be sure they were here by, Friday.... {see...I'm leaving Monday.....early...} I said, that is a concern... if there is an issue... It's Friday...no work week left...She assured me...no worries... {I had already had...many 'worries'...with these...}
I received the invoices, as promised... at 8:30, this morning.... 500 of them.... all loose... not booked... I grabbed a handful... and threw them, on the dining room table...
See...this...is a Frickin' Problem...I don't have time, to mess with single receipts, when people are waiting in line... I called pal, Steph...and Blew...{I e-mailed the printer, first...and asked her, to please call me...she did, after I had Vented, at Steph...and Peg...oh my...a good thing...} Steph called her printer... they said they could 'book' them... so I bailed in the truck... got lost... trying to find them.... then, when I did... they told me, they couldn't do it.... It would cover the Logo... so...I guess... a clip board... and a little more hassle... I also had to go pick up sacks...and tissue I had ordered, from another local company, this week.... when they brought the box of sacks out... I looked at the box...and asked if they would please open it.... It had been a bad day... nothing was going right...so, before I accept these...ahh..let me see them.... Sure enough... they were 1/3 the size they need to be.... I can't get the right size, until Monday, afternoon... But...See... I'm leaving...early...Monday....MORNING! {everyone, I was dealing with... knew this...} {these were supposed to be in, Wednesday...} I had the Gal helping me,  Google the Hotel's address... and they are shipping them there...they should be in Nashville, by Tuesday....I bought 'in stock, ugly, bags'... Just in Frickin' Case!!! THE FUN NEVER ENDS!!!!
I wasn't going to have any wine, tonight... I'm on my second Tumbler!
{I was very Kind... and Patient...with everyone... today...Bless Their Hearts...}
 Steph and Peg, took the Brunt...{and you...} { Peg was ready to kick butt...She knows EVERYTHING... a good thing, she wasn't here...what a Spit Fire!...Steph and I, are Much Alike... and when we get Lemons ...we make Amazing... Lemon Ade...We just get tired...of squeezing all the frickin' lemons... Man....}
{ I'm still packing...and pricing...and cleaning...and loading...and getting the Truck in Shape...{thanks John...and Mark N.,...oh my... }

Barb C.

Heart of Country Bound ....Treasures

early hooked, or needle point, cat pillow....this came from the Amana Auction...and is very cool... it's covering a down pillow....

Advertising Tin Sign...this came from Gail...She said it was probably from an old Soda Fountain... it Advertises 'True Fruit Soda'... it's at least 3 feet wide... very cool! { and in super condition!}

I'm taking this early Wool Wreath...I didn't know it, til the other day, when I was cleaning it...It's Shadow Box, is Hand Dovetailed...I have never had one, that's this nicely constructed.... 

I bought several Amana Sheared Rugs, at the auction... and got them all cleaned, packed and ready to go! {love the colors!}

Little Pink Wall Cupboard...a real Sweet Pea!

Got this Wonderful Hooked Rug, from Gail.... Gnarly as can be... it must be all of 6 feet long...It's edges are a bit frayed... so, I called hooked rug, Guru...Colleen... wondering if I should trim it up...or leave it alone... She said...Leave it alone... so...I did!

The rug is laying on the Old Amana Sofa...{it's all hand made... the rolled ends, are hand planed...and square nailed...Walnut...about 7 feet long...} I danced with it, into the Shop... where I could get it cleaned up.... Man... It's heavy... after I got it inside, and set on top of the dry sink... I remembered...the massive spring filled cushion...lifts right out... oh dear....It has cleaned up beautifully...I Love the way, the arms, roll... like a sleigh bed... It's in very good condition, for being well over a hundred years old...I got the back, all spiffed up, as well... Like 'em!

The shop...is nearly impassible...Stuff...and totes... everywhere... it is...what it is....all good...

Barb C.

Cool Stuff!!!!!

I was running Hard, yesterday...Gathering... oh my gosh.... Pal, Gail... had some amazing stuff...she's allowing me to take, to the Heart.... 2 Kick Butt, Iron Candle Sconces...{perfect, flanking the Spanish Entryway!!!!} {oops, I haven't told ya about that yet!} A pair of Vintage, Concrete Gargoyles, from an old house, in Marion, Iowa... A Most Unusual...Iron Parlor Stand...{Possibly Railroad...{very, very cool...} The, below, Darling Print... titled, "Good Morning".... Some wonderful textiles...Amazing Stuff!!! {Gail, has the Best Eye....and...she took me to Lunch...to boot!!! at an Amazing Restaurant... Am I Blessed... or What!!!} Angels....

The phone wouldn't stop... I ran home, and unloaded.... {it was flippin' Cold....I thought I was going to Freeze!} Then... I loaded stuff Mark had purchased, to take to him...and met Dale, at Marks... as, Dale was kind enough to help me load the Spanish Entryway, and massive Store Doors..., at Fern Hill, in South Amana... Mark rode along... for extra help....Then... He and I got to talking... He offered to send, some of the Most Amazing Architectural Fragments, with me... that he has just, decided to sell!!!! Oh My Gosh...This Load is going to be STUNNING!!!!! I'll have the honor of representing awesome Treasures... from the Best...of the Best!!! 

I couldn't hardly sleep, last night... My mind was in Construction, and Engineering, mode... I will have some very interesting things, to build, and make work...not to mention...putting 10 pounds of sugar, in a five pound sack...{Sorry, Pat, {Privy House Antiques, Burlington, Iowa...} I had to tone your little saying down a bit! Here are some of the pieces I'm taking...

Paul Bunyan {10 feet tall 4 feet wide mid 1800's, dry white, step back cupboard, built, to scale, for a Giant!}

The Mid 1700's Corner Cupboard {awesome}

Mid 1800's Hanging Corner Cupboard...{one of my Favorites...}

a small Wall Cupboard, in soft pink...{oh...ah...'Salmon'}

8 foot Harvest Table!

9 foot Hardware Store Nail Bin

{ I love this piece... It's 'Iowa'...and would be Useful, in so many ways...}

The Wonderful Photographers Developer, and table, it rests on...BIG

{and Rare... I am using it like a big, round...spinning showcase... this thing is incredible}

1870's Amana Wardrobe

Wonderful 7 foot Amana Empire Style, Sofa

{ this piece, is one of my favorite things going.... I Love it...It can be used, with, or without, it's clip on, back... I would hang the gnarly, ticking covered, elegantly curved back, above a bed,  as a wonderful headboard.... then, use the Sofa, at the foot of the bed.... It has a French, feel to it... with  rolled, Sleigh Arms...oh dear...}

Spanish, Heavily Carved, Double Door, Wine Cellar Entry...

{this thing, is Perfect, for the Booth.... 8 feet tall, 4 and a half wide}

{I'm guessing it was for a Wine Cellar...the doors are short, but have never been cut down....They are all hand carved and hand planed...the beautiful carving, above the doors, has a tiny heart, in the center... how perfect is that! ahhh...Perfect!}

Heavily carved, Gorgeous, Door and Window surrounds....oh my...

A Pair, of the Most Wonderful 6 Foot Tall, Terra Cotta, Spiral Twisted Columns...

These are Absolutely...Blow Your Mind....{they have worn, chocolate brown, and mint green paint....oh my....}

I'll have 4 Massive Doors, plus, two, early paneled doors, to frame up the booth....

I'm getting all the smalls packed, and loaded, today...or in the Morning...

for Smalls...

I'll be taking...a Sampling, from the Shop....

Ironstone...Staffordshire...early glass...hand made lace....Heavy Apothecary and Lab pieces...

early books...gnarly upholstered stools...cake stands....sewing items...Lots and Lots!

It's going to be a very...very....Full Booth...

I'll try and get some images today, or tomorrow...I'll keep grabbing, as they are dragging me to the FUSO...Like Steve Martin...in 'The Jerk'...".all I need is this chair.... that's all I need... This chair...and that Lamp... The chair and the Lamp...That's all I need... and that Urn....The chair...the lamp...and the Urn".....

You get the Picture....

Love to ya!

Barb c.