What Was the Best Ever Shabby Tole Hamper

I found this amazing shabby, tole hamper at a neighbor downtown shop, The Thrifty Patriot, and was so excited about incorporating it into my bedroom. Look at that sweet rose bouquet painted on the front. 

I only have this picture from their Facebook page, because while I was gone for a girl's weekend at the beach,  my husband wanted to surprise me by freshly painting it. And he did. Have I mentioned, I don't like surprises. 

Laugh or cry and never let them see you cry, is what I often say. 

You'll see it soon for sale in my space at The Shops at 123 Hay Street, freshly painted and sans the rose.

Pink Flamingoes

 I just love these shabby old concrete flamingos. Lucked up on them at an estate sale last year. They had some cracks, but BA fixed them. Just now put them in the front yard. Sometimes when I really love something it takes me awhile to put it out. I know that sounds odd. Wish I was a better photographer, they are the palest of pale pinks with some yellow and blue. The planter area looks barren, the calla lilies are just starting to come up and I haven't filled in with any annuals.

Dream and Wind Catchers by Laurie Shoemaker

 

Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with good and bad dreams. The dream catcher, when hung over or near your bed swinging freely in the air, catches the dreams as they flow by. Good dreams pass through the dream catcher, slipping through the outer holes and slide down gently so that ofttimes the sleeper does not know that they're dreaming. The bad dreams, not knowing the way, get tangled in the dream catcher and then perish at the first light of day.

It was love at first sight when I saw the beautiful dream and wind catchers made by the artistic, Laurie Shoemaker. I have always enjoyed reading Laurie's blog Heaven's Walk and admiring her photography. Then came her lovely, shabby take on a native craft I have always loved.

 

I worked up the nerve to ask Laurie to consider making some for my store, and not only are these beauties for sale at White Trash & colorful accessories, but she was gracious enough to photograph each of them. I want to take every last one of them home to my house.

Southern Pink Azaleas in the Secret Garden

 On the right side of our house, is a sliver of yard hidden unless you walk back there. There's a wonderful assortment of azaleas, heavy on the pink varieties with some whites and reds, that starts at the street and goes to the fence leading to the back yard. A paved path starting at the edge of the house leads you to the beautiful back wrought iron gate (one of three).

 This year after our unseasonably cold winter, they bloomed more beautiful than ever. In the fall we put up this trellis at the start of the path (a new inexpensive one, as I'm always selling the vintage ones I come across) and planted some knockout roses. And this spring, we placed some hostas on the left side, where there is almost no sun, under some Camilla trees.

We lost 8 trees last year and the stump by the gate is one of the dead ones we had to have removed. The cute sign is from a downtown neighbor store Greg's!

 Tucked back here is a cherub garden statue. I found as a set of three, but only kept one. It's hard for me as a vintage seller to sometimes not keep it all. There is also a 3-piece cast iron garden seating set. This is a very old set and the heaviest one I've ever come across. I love it's patina now, but know that soon (like my front yard swing) it will need painting to keep it from being damaged by the rust. I'm seriously considering a soft pink color, although I love the white.

 Since taking this picture I've placed a concrete urn on the tree stump. It was one of two I'd bought 4 years ago when we first bought this house. The flanked our front sidewalk on low brick wall. The first year there were about 16 attempts at stealing or vandalizing them, each time leaving them in pieces. After my sweet husband pieced them back together each time, one was eventually unsalvageable. So moved the other back here. I have no understanding of people's disregard for other's property. I'll admit to having cried the first couple of times I found them in the street broken into pieces.

 It's cool in the constant shade. Anytime I'm working outside, I take my break over here in this private spot.

Southern Snow

It seldom snows here in Fayetteville, NC. When it does, it's beautiful and makes time stand still. Since we aren't used to it, most everything shuts down for the day or two we have it. 

This picture is of the vintage wrought iron swing in our front yard, taken through our living room window. While I love it's perfect time worn chippy shabbiness, it's off to be painted soon because the rust is starting to eat at the metal.

Looking forward to a warmer weekend.