Decorating Tip

We moved things around quite a bit this year when decorating. No plan at all, the kids all brought up boxes and got to decking and we switched things up. We wanted to move the junk tree, but trees take up so much room there aren't many places for them.  Then I thought why not leave off some branches and just put it right up against the wall? 

Now, I'm thinking they should actually sell half trees! More people would have room and less money for the tree.  One is probably available somewhere.

But of course, you make your own half tree by just leaving off branches.  Now my junk tree fits perfectly in a new space and doesn't obstruct the traffic through our dining room.

I thought maybe someone else could use this idea too.  I'm sure it's not original, but it was to us here.

You can see the original junk tree posts here and here.

Off for more baking, wrapping, scurrying....

A Scrappy Advent Calendar

 Well here is the opened and counted down Advent Calendar I posted about here. I took pictures of it before I sent it off.

 It has all been opened and taking up it's residence in my friend's home. ♥

It is a complete hodgepodge.  And I love it that way. :)

"Hodgepodge" is a great word, isn't it?

I made all the tags by collaging bits on book pages, then I decided to back them in vintage music pages.  I used hymnal pages and words along with vintage wall paper. 

I used a tag punch to create the tags from the larger collaged pieces.  Then I added the buttons and words.

So each envelope (that you can see in this post) held a tag and a "dangle".  I wasn't sure what else to call them as they aren't quite ornaments.  They are though, indeed, dangles.

There is a little of everything included in the dangles.  Vintage belt buckles, rhinestone pins, buttons, new beads, silk sari ribbon, crocheted bits, ball chain, vintage jewelry pieces, a soldered necklace pendant, and on.....

With all the little bits and what-not that I have, I could make a lot of Advent Calendars!

I hope this inspires you to make one for yourself or a friend! 

The August Garden in September

I took pictures of the tank garden back in August, but since I couldn't post them, I thought I would now.  I have lots to say about all the flowers, but I'll just let that all go for now, ha! :)

So, here is the photo bombardment!

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The "new" tub really filled in!  You can see it here before.

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It's been a great year for the tank garden (you can see how much it's grown from a few posts back).  There was quite a bit of experimenting as always.  Things that didn't work well, things that did, and so on.  I'm already planning for next year and the mums haven't even bloomed yet!

Have a great weekend!

The Country Market by Pilger Nebraska

My sister in law, along with her husband and two boys, host a big event up by Pilger Nebraska called The Country Market.  I think this may be their 5th year of running this event and I've not been able to attend it until this month! They really have a good thing going here!  The Country Market runs the first Saturday of the month from July to October.

The Market is held on the grounds of what once was a Highway rest area maintained by the state of Nebraska.  Now it is private property, but it's beautifully maintained and has lots of space for vendors and parking!

Here's the welcome booth manned by my sister in law's mother.  This is a family affair!

I know you'll think this is great too...lampshades hanging to alert people to the guest book. Is your mind spinning with how you could use this idea?

I thought you may enjoy seeing a bit of the market.  Since I'm attracted to the old...that's what I took pictures of, but there are also lots of food vendors, crafts, and some home business booths also.  Pretty much a bit of everything.

Gourds!

I have two chicken feeders ready for me to fill them with fall decor...waiting in my laundry room.

This was new to me: using washboards as cupboard doors.

I will always stop at zinc lids and rusty enameled pails.  Then remember that I have enough of them. (Can you have enough of them?)

A wainscoating cupboard...this could fit in so many places...

Sweet chair ready for your home!

Always...must peruse the vintage jewelry....

Sweet!

I didn't have the time to stop and ask what kind of tree these branches came from or the price, but I thought they were really neat.

Great desk chairs.

This is a great use of a broken chair...turned into a shelf and place for hooks.

There was  nice breeze and people were mulling everywhere enjoying themselves!

I liked these a lot!

I usually see the flowers made out of mismatched glass pieces but these metal tray flowers were neat!

Concrete stepping stones or bird baths.  These were really nice.

A little of "this and that" on a great white table.

I wish I had a place for that embroidered bird picture.

This vendor had purchased  a lot of these aluminum signs that had been stored in an old barn.  They were advertising pieces that had been used in a newspaper in Wayne, Nebraska.  They were unique!

Nice patina on this cupboard door.

 ♥♥♥Buttons♥♥♥

Plenty of crates and boxes to choose from.

We ran into my mother-in-law and other sister-in-laws up there.  They enjoyed some fresh squeezed lemonade. :)

Another gourd vendor...I loved this antler turned handle on this gourd.

Lots of spoon rings!

Spoon bowl bracelets.

This is a shot inside the trailer of the makers who brought the spoon jewelry.  They had their equipment right on site to resize and work while there.

This is another shot inside the trailer of the jewelry makers.  I didn't have the time to get names and information on the vendors.

I always think Kitchen-Klatter and Workbasket magazines are fun to look through.

♫ There was music...which was sooooo neat for the atmosphere. ♫

Places to enjoy your lunch while listening to the music.

 The windmill hammers down the rural atmosphere for a Country Market!

 These were the goods I took home: a wonderful homey embroidered picture of a cottage and two metal screen covers that I believe were used to cover cream cans.  I plan to use them as towel holders or to hang vintage fabric from for display.

 They have a couple of photo booths set up for fun pictures. (My 10 year old is there also on the right side.) You can take your own or there is someone there to take them for you and then they upload them to the Country Market  Facebook page.  All is free of course!  (I did my own photo editing.)

These two will always dress up when given the chance. :)

If you are local, check out the The Country Market facebook page and be sure to mark your calendars for the first Saturdays of July, August, September, and October!  You can still make it to the October event this year!