Kitchen Finds

Decided to move things around in the kitchen.

I found these two "new" vintage alabaster lamps

and had the oil painting re-framed.

(The original frame fell and broke to pieces one day.)

Three new little pots of baby tears

came home with me last week so I needed

 to find a spot for them as well.

Don't forget....

June 1st is this Friday

and this month's 

Favorites on the First's

theme will be to

SHARE YOUR GARDEN!

So start snapping photos 

of your favorite garden spots.

Can be yours or one that inspires you.

Old or new posts welcome of course!

Just be sure to link up 

and join in on the fun on the 1st!

Feel free to grab this button and share!

Latest Crush

Vintage porcelain balloon molds

I love white ironstone...

... for its simplicity.  

It's sturdy, reliable,

 and practically 

indestructible.

   Unpretentious,

pure utilitarian 

whiteness.

(And the crazing makes a piece all the more charming, right?)

Which is probably why

I fell in love with these old

vintage porcelain balloon molds.

Aren't they cute?

My newest crush.

They make me want to draw smiley faces on them!

Do you collect something silly like these too?

So sorry....

I am so sorry

that I have not been 

around to visit 

your lovely blog ...

 to see what you have 

been up to lately.

I am also sorry

that I have not had time

to return your comments.

That makes me feel really bad.

My design job has 

kicked into high gear for the

last four or five weeks

 and we have been

trying to get things ordered 

and in place before school

is out and our kids 

are home again!

You know how that goes,

once summer starts ---

all your inside projects

get put on hold.

We don't want that

to happen so we

have been on a roll.

Which means everything

else has been put on hold

or pushed to the

"back burner"

as they say.

So I just wanted to tell

you that this is temporary

and I will be back soon.

Hanging in there!

Taking one day at a time.

Thinking of you

in the meantime.

Some pics of the green

yard and new spring growth

to share with you

today.

xoxox~

Alison

What has spring done in your yard this month?

Antiquing in Iowa

We went antiquing in Iowa 

in late April.

We shopped

antique malls and shops

between the Iowa border

and Des Moines.

So much fun!

Found Things, Des Moines

 Here are some photos

I snapped during our trip.

Lots of interesting

things to be found in this

extremely friendly state!

This was taken at the Junk Jubilee 2012 in Des Moines at the state fairgrounds.

 Found Things in Des Moines.   Link

More at Found Things... lower level independent vendors.

The Rusty Pumpkin, located on the lower level at Found Things.... super creative owner
and display artist extraordinaire Laura makes all things vintage look hip! Link

Found Things.... owner Diane is the BEST! Make sure you tell her I sent you
to see her awesome shop! She is super friendly and knowledgeable and will share
Des Moines highlights with you to make your trip there extra special. 

A booth at the Brass Armadillo Antique Mall in Des Moines. Link

These next few photos were taken at West End Salvage, link here.

Cool place to visit, four floors of salvage items for your next project. The building has a first floor
bar and coffee shop and is soon to be the newest featured business venture on a new series
on HGTV! So watch for owner Don Short and his store on TV soon.

West End Salvage

So if you are ever in Iowa

be sure to look for antique shops

wherever you go.... 

they are not

to be missed.

Willows in Dubuque, Iowa

Last month

we went antiquing at

 the Junk Jubilee

at the Iowa state fairgrounds 
in Des Moines.

Several of my favorite vendors
were there to include....

Willows 

from Dubuque. 


Oh my heavens....
they had a phenomenal
collection of things.
Should have taken
photos of their booth.

Here is a picture of their

sweet shop. 
If you are ever in their area...

make sure you stop by there and visit

Michelle and her mother, Mariann ---
two of the nicest ladies you'll ever meet. 









They have the greatest things.
I could buy their entire inventory. 


It's almost like they are
my personal shoppers

for treasure-finding 
every single thing 
that I would want to buy for my home.
And they have done it
without my "list". 

Here are some photos 
of their shop right now. 
Wish I could get there.












Luckily they travel a lot
and appear at local shows here in Illinois
where I can find them without
the long drive.

Here are a couple things 
I bought from them,

to include my most treasured purchase 
from the entire weekend!

These are little silver-plated English riding boots with heavy porcelain liners.
They are called "whiskey measures " made in England. They are 3.5" high. 

Look at all the little details!

Seriously,

please visit Willows

on Facebook and check

their summer 2012 schedule.

With a little luck 

they may have a show near you

so you can shop 

with these lovely ladies too.

Almost forgot! They sold me this engraved julep cup too. 

And this little group of British marmalade pots.
 

Thanks Michelle and Mariann.
Hope to shop with you both again soon.




Willows
Dubuque, Iowa