More new Shops to love!!!

Hello again! our team is growing and growing!

Just had to feature some more of the shops that are joining the team!

QuinsippiMercantile.etsy.com John from Quincy Illinois brings us wonderful ephemera. It is so fun to see the old ads! He also features Glassware, China and more! I am hopeful that you will click on his shop and welcome him to the group!

pennylanevintage.etsy.com Lyndsey joined Etsy in the last part of '09. She has not had any sales and her photos are fantastic! I hope you will give her some love and include her in your treasury's! Lindsey... we are glad you are here!

vintageNsome.etsy.com is brought to us proudly by Omoy from Atlanta! We are glad to have her join the group and bring us some fun 80's fashions! just how fun is this blazer! I hope you will click on her shop and find the Havana dress! LOVE that!

annielakevintage.etsy.com Victoria, we are glad you have joined us from Ft. Collins Colorado! So many fun fashions and just check out all of these velour pants!

Mariana at SexyStitches.etsy.com brings sweet nightie and Vintage undergarments to the team! We are glad to have you with us! Can you believe our moms used to wear these pieces on a daily basis... Some may still! ( too fun to see)

Teri at myZembla.etsy.com is new to the group ! I hope you will stop by the shop and browse amongst the wonderful fashions and accessories!

fun in Chicago!... some "not to miss" spots!

On a typical Springlike sunny day in Chicago, I had the great pleasure to head downtown with a friend!
Our destination, after a Cubs game at wonderful Wrigley Field, was North Clark Street!
If you ever visit Chicago, this area is a MUST for the vintage lover!

Our first stop was to one of my favorite shops in town, Brimfield.

Julie, the owner, named the store after her favorite tartan and you can see from the awnings outside the shop...

just what will delight you as you arrive inside. Julie has done everything in plaid, vintage blankets, skotch coolers, suitcases, pillows galore! This shop is a feast for the eyes!

As you enter, you are automatically drawn in as her walls are lined with vintage finds, some in their original condition and some upcycled.

Glassware glowing with tea lights, old books, leather furnishings, antique trunks, suitcases...

and a wall full of beautifully folded woolen blankets.

In the center of the shop is a full sized canoe filled to the brim with pillows, some made from burlap coffee bags, while others are signature "Hudson Bay"! Restaurantware and enamelware are stacked as high as the eye can see!


There is a wonderful back room as well.( unfortunately I didn't snap a photo of this room) it is kind of an outdoor room. The back of the shop is open air. I believe it was the old loading dock in the buildings previous life. Currently, it is filled with white painted furnishings, pastel accents and some artfully hand painted creations on canvas. Tall ladders abound and pretty coverlets are folded neatly to the sky! Garden pottery, chairs and birdbaths abound! I love how the outdoors is "in", in this room. It is a "painted furniture lovers" paradise!

Granny Square blankets are also in!
(I knew it, because I have been searching for them myself for the past several months!) Julie and her friendly staff have piled them high on yet another tall ladder! Oh how I wish I had 12 foot ceilings!

Since opening her doors last May, she has expanded to her "man shop" in the lower level of the store.

Cowboy boots, clever uses for vintage ties and belts and locker baskets and so much more...All are just a delight to behold!

I love the old battery lanterns and the plaid covered stools!

And, that wonderful piece on the wall behind the couch is to die for!

Her prices are surprisingly reasonable for a shop in Chicago. This shop is an inspiration to vintage lovers and sellers alike! Upcycling is her passion. You see it in the wonderful chairs that she reupholsters using vintage Swiss Army blankets. You will find (my phrase) "Scout Couture" throughout the shop! Lots of khaki and army accents too!
Julie specializes in custom work! She is a talented shop owner and a very kind soul!


You can follow them on twitter brimfieldchi and they are just getting their blog up and running as well! Their Website is http://brimfieldus.com/ for additional views of the shop! Brimfield‎ 5219 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640-2101(773) 271-3501‎

Next door to Brimfield you will find a creatively curated shop called SCOUT. This shop is full of Vintage "Industrial Chic" pieces. The Shop owner has purchased some thermos' from Brimfield, next door, and has upcycled them into lamps! What a great look! You will find ingenious use of vintage maps and charts, old carts and tables that have that great industrial style. Makes me long for a loft in the city so that I could repurpose one of the tables into an island for a kitchen!

Adjacent to "Scout" is "White Attic".

A bright and colorful shop that specializes in Refinished vintage furniture and custom lamps.

You can pick up a fresh candle and admire the freshly painted finds!

There are other great shops in the area, many more to see including: Gethsemane Gardens

a tranquil spot featuring outdoor gifts as well as indoor home and garden decor!

The gardens are located just up the block from Brimfield.

About a block and a half south on Clark street you will find a shop called ROOST!!! This one was too much fun and this is about the time my camera "died":( This shop would be much like how I would set up a shop if I could!I wondered in the shop about 6:20 pm and the hours were til 6! The kind gent that was working was happy to have the company and didn't mind the late arrivals at all!I left about 6:45 and people were still entering and buying after that! A smart way to do business if you ask me! Roost 5634 North Clark StreetChicago, IL 60660 (773) 506-0406‎
So much to LOVE in the Chicago area and I am told that the Brown Elephant Shops are wonderful resale shops and are located in the area as well. for more information please check out the link about Andersonville! happy hunting! martha

Voter on Etsy!

I am featured in the VOTER!!!! oh my gosh! I NEVER thought that would happen to me. I hope you will vote for my garden sheers! http://www.etsy.com/voter_list.php?ref=voter&room_id=101

WOW a red letter day!

Today I was fortunate enough to have been featured in 16 treasury listings at one time.... Eleven for one shop, one for another and yet 5 more for my handmade shop!

It is wonderful to be a part of such great teams like the vintage Etsy Society Street team and the Team Etsy Project Embrace sites! great folks and wonderful shops.

please use the etsy search teamepe and VESTies to find out more about the shops!

Here are links to all of the shops that featured my shops today!

...............................................TREASURY'S......just how lucky am I!...........................................

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=119598 :) vintageaccoutrements.etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=119716 thanks zwzzy.etsy.com (alternate) http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=91477 thanks dreamyvintage.etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=91634 ty lauraslocumpainted.etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=91942 theVintageApartment.etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=91760 thanks editionbw.etsy.com :) http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=91783 this one is mine! http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=91826 thanks littlebugjewelry.etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=119867 :) rainypenguinvintage.etsy.com http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=120015 thanks sigmosaics.etsy.com EPE http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=119933 thanks taylorseclectic.etsy.com

Lending a Helping Hand

In several weeks I will be conducting an Estate/Moving sale for an old friend.

A wonderful gent who lost his beloved wife last fall asked if I would help him to have a sale after I said I would be willing to help in any way!

Often times one will offer their help and the person just will not ever call, but Bill did!

I am glad to volunteer my time as he needs to sell his home and belongings so that he can travel to his childrens homes around the country and eventually settle somewhere closer to one of them.

He and his wife were antique dealers for many years and they have accumulated so many wonderful things.

I am NOT being paid and I don't mind. It is a pleasure to get to know him and to see his lovely collections first hand!

If you are in the area on the 7th 8th 9th and 10th of April, I hope you will stop by the sale which I will be listing in the chicago area on Estatesales.net !

There will be some wonderful friends helping me out along the way! Many have stepped up to help on the days of the sale too! What wonderful folks! thank you to you all!

see you there!

martha

Plenty of Wonderful Items available NOW at a 50% Reduction!

50% off

all merchandise in

The Secret Garden

&

The Gathering Room.

Sales begin at 50% off on Monday, March 8^th at 10:00 a.m

Many Fall and

Christmas items will be for sale for

50% off beginning

March 8^th through April 3^rd

Fixtures and supplies are now available for sale.

There is still plenty of beautiful merchandise to choose from!

INCLUDING:

Dressers, Tables, Cabinets, accessories, Home decor, Birthday decor, lamps, urns, Vintage books and linens, Framed Antique Etchings, Clocks, Florals,Candles, Vintage Windows, Garden accessories, Desk accents and SO MUCH MORE!

Although we must say goodbye to The Secret Garden and The Gathering Room

for now, our love of antiques and home décor will carry on in the front shop.

Get a piece of the Secret Garden and The Gathering Room before

they are gone.

Thank you for your continued support as we move into a fresh future.

Submission for the CoolmomPicks site and Etsy Valentine collaboration!

I just love creating my little art work, so naturally when the opportunity came up to submit a design to the wonderful women at the Coolmompicks.com site, I thought I would go for it.

The proceeds from the sale of the "color it yourself" Valentine's will go the the Childrens Heart Foundation!

Such a worthy cause...no matter who is chosen!

I hope you will consider helping the cause!

This year, color your own valentine!

thanks bunches,

martha

opendoorhandmade.etsy.com

opendoorstudio.etsy.com

Opendoorhandmade.etsy.com is open for business!

I have recently opened my newest shop OpendoorHandmade.etsy.com.
There you will find many handmade items. I have begun a "line" of greeting tags.
The line includes my original artwork in little collections ...
"it's your birthday" , " your home"," wedding day", "wild things", " project pink", "be mine", " couture collection", " Easter blessings", "be well"... and many others!

I hope you will stop by to see my original illustrations. Each is painted with watercolor and then pen and ink line drawing over top. Each illustration is signed and dated and can make a cute little art collection... just add a frame!

My lines will be growing to include cards and other handmades.

I will be adding my handmade scarves as well, once i get rolling.

I hope you will stop by and see what is new!
martha

The Easiest and Best Chicken ( or beef) enchilada soup

Ok...so this is not my pic... I never have time to take one... but next time I will...but, imagine this soup in a vintage fiesta bowl...cause that is how it would look at my house!

This recipe can be adapted various ways. You can make it with beef broth ( and ground beef) or Chicken Broth! You can make it in a crockpot to come home to something warm, or in 20 min on the stove... as easy or as complicated gourmet as you like
I will lay out my recipe and write adaptions next to the ingredients you can switch out!

my family enjoys this down the the last ladle full!
here goes

Yesterday I made it Chicken Enchilada

1 48oz box of Chicken Broth ( organic if you like) or 2 small broth cans ... can use beef here...could use bullion if you have it.
1 can white or other type corn ( undrained)
1 can Rotell or other type of diced tomatoes with green chilis ... you could chop your own of both
1 can black beans drained and rinsed ...you can add any other type of bean here
1 1/2 packages of taco seasoning ... any type works or you can figure out the spices and make your own
Chicken I used one large "can" of chicken but ... you could use precooked strips cut in pieces or fresh or beef or chorizo too

optional...if you have time at the start you can saute in a dollop of EVOO ( so rachael ray) 1 onion and potatoes diced. and several cloves of garlic ... this is nice for a hardier soup ... I tend to toss just about everything but the kitchen sink in

NOW... dump all of the top 5 ingredients into a sturdy pot, I have a dutch oven type pot... or now would be the crock pot time
if you have not yet cooked the chicken ...now is the time BEFORE adding it to your soup then add the cooked chicken ( or other meat) Season to taste... let it simmer for 20 min on low or until bubbly and steaming hot... stirring whenever you pass the stove.
serve with
tortilla chips
fresh cilantro chopped
lime
sour cream
cheese ( I like cheddar... but you can use any you like)

If you have the ingredients on hand ( which is easy because you can keep them all in your cupboard) this makes for a WONDERFULLY good soup that your family, friends and neighbors will LOVE!

serves 6

Yet another suggestion... if you have tacos and by any chance have any extra.. of fajitas...toss that in to the pot!
ENJOY!

RELAX!

In a word..RELAX !
That is what I am hopeful will be my motto for 2010!

I tend to be a bit laid back but I am hoping this year to begin anew, cherish family and friends and enjoy all that is around me


This year I hope to feature more photos of my home, studio and garden...
and share some fun ideas for decorating your little corner of the world.
I hope you will come along with me!