winter whimsy

We're expecting our first big snow tomorrow, conveniently on Saturday. I'm afraid I might cover every surface in the house with bottle brush trees and deer. So far they are confined to the mantle, but it could happen. I feel the temptation lurking, waiting to pounce.

Enjoy your weekend.

xo, Jen

seed to stem

You know how I love anything related to nature, so when I heard about Seed to Stem in Worcester, (Massachusetts) I had to go. Filled with natural objects and curiosities, it's one of those stores that's really loved by its owners. You know what I mean?

Fun and interesting, science and nature and art.

Everything beautifully displayed.

Filled with air plants, succulents, and cacti, in a marvelous variety of containers.

A year ago I closed the doors to my own nature-inspired store. I know the hard work that goes into a store like this--time, money, effort. You have to be passionate about what you're doing. It's about sharing something you love as much (if not more) as it is about selling.

Inspiring, educational, beautiful, weird, it's all here.

Cute, and he doesn't eat the birdseed.

I fell hard for this starfish fossil, so it came home, along with the little air plant in a geode. For someone, like me, who hates to shop, this is a great place to buy gifts. A bit of fresh air in the polluted world of buy, buy, buy. Do you have a place where shopping is enjoyable, positive, not a chore?

Something fun on their Instagram page.
Seed to Stem website and blog here.

brimful of Brimfield

Brimfield Massachusetts Antique Show

Three times a year, 21 fields, more than 5000 dealers.

plenty of whimsy

vintage pottery

big green cupboard, old map, and night crawlers sign 

(I'm moving in)

plenty of painted, chippy, shabby, cottage, garden

sweet white and green tete a tete chair

duck hunting boat

best industrial fan

so many great old windows

plenty of reproduction signs, but I think this is the real deal

one more look at the perfect hybrids of cottage charm and industrial salvage

Based on one visit, I think the best way to approach Brimfield is like an anthropological expedition, or perhaps a carnival---fun, weird, and try not to spend all your money on ring toss hoping for the life size teddy bear. There is high end, low end and everything between. Worlds collide--mint julep v budweiser, hot dog v. lobster roll, Neiman Marcus v Old Navy...

 It's fun to just wander. Fields I'd been told were the best were kinda disappointing. Fields I'd never heard of were interesting. There were nice dealers and snooty ones. Prices seemed generally fair--not bargains, but not outrageous. Beware of reproductions. Wear comfortable shoes.

upcycled potting bench

Nice surprises: Good industrial and architectural salvage at reasonable prices. Well done upcycled furniture. Prices on old painted cabinets, pie safes (especially at the end of the week). Kicking myself for passing up the big wideboard cabinet in old pink paint for $200...

I'll show you what I did buy in my next post.

around here

It's all about the kitties these days. 

And small deer are appearing everywhere. 

Also the occasional bear.

Soon a tree, which the kitten will assume is a new toy for her.

blue green red orange yellow

What color teapot did I buy?

wood slice paintings

My father was a collector of many things, and my favorite was his wood slice paintings. They remind me of him and of California, where I used to live. (Some of you may remember, I wrote a bit about them here.)

Some were made for tourists  in the 1940's and 50's, when the development of interstate highways and motels made road trips a favorite American past-time. Most are from the western states.

Cabins and lakes were a favorite subject. This one is pretty typical.

Many are of mountains.
I inherited my Dad's collection and have hung most of them in our Catskills house.

The oldest ones I have are of the Cliff House in San Francisco. 

They are probably from the late 19th century.

I've sold a few on Etsy, and through there met a collector, E.G., who loves them as much as my Dad did. This is a picture of the oldest one in his collection--it's from 1895, and it is a beauty.

From unknown Arkansas historical collection.

E.G. sent me this picture from a World War II Japanese internment camp--they are sawing a log to make wood slices for paintings. Seeing it added a new dimension to the paintings for me.

There's not much information about them, even on the internet, but E.G. hopes to write a book about them. He was told they were a German tradition from the Black Forest, where they are known for elaborate carved plaques. He is a photographer, so could take pictures for the book.

Desert paintings are rare. Here is a desert painting from E.G.'s collection.

My Dad only had one of the desert.

 Some look like they were done by Sunday painters, not for tourists.

I view them as folk art.

 They are sweet little slices of history. Souvenirs, memories...

 I have had so much trouble with the new templates (see Comments), I've reverted to the old one. Sorry for any frustration this may have caused!

Hope you have a great weekend--I will be cleaning out the store.

Jen

pinup potholders

I'm back from the Catskills, and I took bundles of pictures of water, rocks, wildflowers, frogs, beetles...but I know what you really want to see is the potholders!

 I've given you a glimpse of them before,

and due to your strong interest in them (so many comments!) I took pictures of all of them. They were such a hit in the store the last time I got them, that I had to get one more batch before I close.

Happy Independence Day!

They are made by Meagan, who lives near Boston and who has an Etsy Store, Fussy Gussy (here) where she sometimes sells the potholders, and other fun things. And for you crafty types, she sells the fabrics here.

Enjoy them. I'll be back with rocks and water soon!

Jen