Architectural finds and show pictures

We're restocking and twirling the store for summer after our first ever Rural Society Antiques and Garden Show. I have posted lots of pictures from the show on my Facebook page as well as the show's page. We hope you will join us there to stay as current as possible on new acquisitions to the store and exclusive hot of the press announcements! (For example, a change in our hours for the summer beginning June 1st.)

I thought I would use this post to show you some of the architectural pieces making their way into the shop. We're always on the look out for pieces like these in addition to old garden statuary or fountains, cupolas, weather vanes, vintage wicker and antique garden urns (which we have 9 of right now).

Do you incorporate architectural pieces into your home or garden? If so how? Please post a picture of it on my Facebook wall, we would love to see!

Below is a picture of the gold glittered star wreath hanger we featured during Christmas. I am repurposing it this month for Memorial Day with a red, white and blue banner spilling out of a vintage paper wreath. I might dig out some patriotic post cards to attach as well or maybe a banner with a red German glass glitter sentiment written across it. I have about 5 of these hangers available of you want one for your front door too.

Questions most asked during Bryn Du show

Good Monday morning to all!! I am sitting in my kitchen with my feet up after the long but fun weekend. Alas my feet are not in some gorgeous shoes as pictured above. Mine are encased in thermal socks and slippers as it's just 58 degrees and raining today. A breeze is filling the curtains (if you follow my blog then you know that's one of my favorite things) albeit a chilly breeze. I just can't bring myself to turn the heat on! For goodness sake it's May 17th! I want the windows open so I can hear the cacophony of birds. They are singing a joyous chorus for the arrival of flowers, lilacs, dogwoods and more. Either that or they're just as cold as me and they are yelling about it. The robins are particularly happy about the rain. An adult one is furiously searching around my side porch under the window box for worms. A loud and apparently hungry youngster is not far behind spurring her to keep searching. She found one and hopped all around her little chick waiting for him to open his beak...but he just keeps squawking. He must be cold too.
Before I get to posting photos from the weekend show at Bryn Du (above photo is of the Laundry Cottage on the grounds of the Bryn Du mansion...this is my "space") I had to share the answer to the second most asked question from the three day event. The first was "where is you store?" and easily answered. The next question was asked almost as many times "what is the music playing?" or "do you have this cd for sale?". Not answered so easily as I compiled the song list myself using tracks from several of my favorite artists. When I start naming them most people say "Who?". If your speakers are on now then you are hearing some of the grooves via Playlist's pop out player at the bottom of this page. Unfortunately, Playlist does not have all the tracks so I substituted some others for you to enjoy on my blog. If you want to hear the ones from the show you can preview and purchase them and burn your own cd here. If you decide to purchase it's just $1 for each song. Maybe I should start a bootleg cd biz? Uh, no...very much illegal and rightfully so.
So, to answer the question, here are the song titles and their artist(s):
- If I Had You by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli
with the Quintet of the Hot Club Of France
- Tears by Django Reinhardt
- My One And Only Love by John Coltrane
- Je Rêve Encore by Paris Combo
- Hard Time Killing Floor Blues by Skip James
- Sugar Blues by Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- You belong to me by Carla Bruni
- La Belle Dame Sans Regrets by Sting
- Loretta by Townes Van Zandt
- Summertime by Preservation Hall Jazz Band
- September Song by Chet Baker
- La Mer by Django Reinhardt
- Stella By Starlight by Ellis and Branford Marsalis
- If I Needed You by Townes Van Zandt
- River of Tears by Madeleine Peyroux

Hope you enjoy them! Now, I am finally going to go enjoy my copy of April's Jeanne d' Arc Living magazine. Hoping that summer get-away feature warms me up! If you're new to my blog first, Welcome! and second, more information about the Jeanne d' Arc magazine can be found here.

Bryn Du Antiques & Gardening Sneak Peek...

In about 2 weeks we'll be packing up our special stash of great finds for the Antiques and Gardening Show at the Bryn Du mansion in Granville. Check my side bar for dates and times. ((Round up your girlfriends! On opening day there is a brunch preview for early bird ticket buyers!)) All details are on the Bryn Du Antiques website. Since I'm like a kid at Christmas for these things (it's so hard to stockpile inventory at home for them, I want to take it all to the store as soon as I find it!) I thought I would let you peek at a few of them. Just a peek now...*****The shop will be closed on Thursday, May 13/Friday, May 14/Saturday, May 15 (I will be there Wednesday loading truck and trailer, feel free to swing by.)*****

More Bryn Du photos...

more starfish strands coming to the shop...they looked so good hanging in multiples from the branches of these trees, especially with this vintage Florida set

THORNVILLE SHOP CLOSED THIS WEEK, Please come see us at Bryn Du!!

Busy, busy, busy...

My apologies for being absent from the usual blogging. It's been crazy busy! Which is a very good thing and my thanks to everyone for the continued support. We hope you enjoy urban farmhouse as much as we do!

All kinds of new shipments have been arriving just about every day. Some via UPS, Fed Ex and my truck, which is still full as I have been unpacking and pricing the other arrivals. More fantastic finds will arrive tomorrow and next week. Some will wait in the wings specifically for the Antiques & Gardening Show next week and some is already out at the shop, disappearing fast and getting rave reviews. (Your feedback on our products is very important to me and influences future purchases. Please let me know if there is something you love and don't ever want to be without or if you felt that "um, not so much" feeling. Thank you!)

I also brought in some fresh herb, washed zinc-look terrariums. They are overflowing with basil, oregano and thyme. They smell simply intoxicating! They are wonderful Mother's Day presents, something she'll enjoy all summer. If she would rather be cooked for than do the cooking,not to worry! We have loads of other simply perfect presents for all the special moms in your life.

We stopped at Bryn Du this week to look in the "Laundry House" which is where we will be set up, inside and out. The building is beautiful, I could easily live in it. Below are 2 photos I took with my phone of the inside of the front room...just wait until you see it transformed from storage area to a "Bryn Du urban farmhouse" beauty!

We've been scouring the state for all kinds of garden statuary, fountains, urns, wicker & more for your garden or patio (or inside!) Only one little teaser picture...don't want to spoil all the surprises!

Brought the sunshine with me...

(photo credit - 15 year old Zach Maughmer)

We are back in beautiful Ohio and it looks like the sun has followed us. I wish these guys could too! They DID follow us through the bay on two of our day trips. If you have the opportunity be sure to hitch a ride out to Egmont Key (a beautiful, uninhabited island) with Captain Frank and Captain Hans.

Janet did a wonderful job holding down the fort and also managed to find time to "hunt & gather". She scored LOADS of ironstone, vintage cottage style lamps, a tall, carved dresser and more. She also tells me she has lots of other goodies she is squirreling away for our 3 day show at Bryn Du in Granville. Be sure to check us and 20+ other collectors out in May, click the logo to the right for details.

I have been through 8 different Ohio counties in the last 24 hours and have a truckful of finds parked in my driveway. Some coming in to the shop and others being revamped and restyled for their May debut. I also have been ordering all kinds of new goods. The laid back charm of old Florida has seeped back into my veins and has inspired several of the orders in addition to a desire to redecorate my whole house! Now where is that husband of mine..."Honey? Do you feel like painting the living room this weekend? Honey? Hello?? Do I smell fresh cut limes? Hmmm..."
(photo collage from "A beach cottage" blog...not Florida but Australia, very inspiring...be sure to visit for some wonderful photos of her beach cottage makeovers and more")