Autumn Street Fair Preparations

Busy working on a few things for the upcoming Autumn Street Fair

in McMinnville, TN October 6

This colorful bunting will be available as well as some burlap buntings

Natural canvas table runner with white ruffle on each end

87" long x 13 1/2" wide

Lampshade covered with muslin ruffles

Burlap owl pillow

Canvas purse with owl applique

Natural color twill apron with muslin ruffles



Natural twill apron with ruffle trim and burlap owl applilque



Another shot of the banner

Cute headbands that are reversible and made from very colorful prints

Ruffled apron

Have you figured out that I love ruffles yet? 

Hope to see ya at the Autumn Street Fair Oct. 6

I'll be sharing the booth of Nancy McNeal and Joanna Carden

The Strawberry Patch Barn Sale - Definitely Worth Blogging About!

As I entered the driveway to

The Strawberry Patch Barn Sale

in Hartsville, TN

I saw this display and

knew that I was in for a treat!

 

And here she is ...

The Strawberry Patch Barn Sale!

It was a HUGE barn stuffed full of all sorts of wonderful finds!

If you have never been to Hartsville, TN to this sale you must put it on your calendar.

Their spring sale is the last weekend in April

Their fall Barn Sale is the second weekend in September

If you love all things vintage...

YOU. MUST. GO!!!

(Sorry for the blurry photo above)

I'm in love with this cute vintage camper

I think she said it is a 1967

It's like a playhouse inside.

I want it.

I have absolutely no place to put it.

I dream about it.

Is that wrong? Probably.

It's just so stinkin' cute!

 I love this funky upholstered chair.

There were precious buntings everywhere!

Am I dreaming?

 All sorts of goodies in and around the camper

More cute goodies

So much wonderful inspiration in one place that it's hard to take it all in!

Just look at that cute little camper kitchen.

Just like going to Grandma's when you were little.

 More beautiful, vintage finds.

Love this too...

This is one of my favorite photos of all (besides the vintage camper)

I love the color of the dresser and just the whole collection of things.

Of course, anything aqua usually gets my attention pretty fast ;-)

Hope you enjoyed the photos!

Of course, it's not like going in person.

But, I just had to share with ya!

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Chair Re-do

I was given this chair a year or so ago.

It was a pitiful sight but I thought it had good "bones".

Although some folks thought it should be sent to the dump,

I could just see a wonderful upholstery / painting project in the future.

 

I went to http://missmustardseed.com/ and watch her tutorials on painting and upholstering.

Miss Mustard See has wonderful turotials. If you are interested in this type of thing

 

it's the perfect place to get some great tips.

So..... I started ripping off the old fabric and trim and getting her ready for paint.

 Let me tell you.

This chair had a million (I may be stretching it a bit but it FELT like a million) staples!

 

I spent a lot of time with a flat-head screw driver and some needle-nose plyers pulling staples.

And I sweated alot. A whole lot.

I was pulling staples while we were having a heat wave this spring.

Temperatures were 100+ for days!

When I'd get tired of pulling staples I'd watch the tutorials again at http://missmustardseed.com/

Repetition...that's what it takes for me sometimes. I'd watch Miss Mustard Seed's videos over and over.

 

Just look what a can of Annie Sloan Old White paint

and a coat of Annie Sloan Clear Wax

can do for a pitiful mess of a chair!

Covered in a drop cloth I bought at Lowe's for $7

It's far from perfect but I'm sort of proud of my FIRST

re-upholstering / painting project!

I'm just looking for something else to paint - I did have some paint left over you know ;-)

 

I'm linking up to:

 

Miss Mustard Seed

Complete randomness

It has been a long time since I have been able to post.

Not sure exactly why, ,but I could not "sign in" to my blog for some crazy reason.

Therefore, I am way behind on posting photos. So this post is just complete randomness.

So random that it's making me nuts!

I just want to get this posted and move on and be more organized.

These are some hats that I monogrammed for Bev...

And a hand embroidered day gown for Bev also.

The hats and the gown are for a friend of hers that lives in China.

A "made in America" gown for someone in China.

 This hand smocked bonnet and bishop dress were made for a friend of mine to give as a gift.

Not sure if she has given it yet so I won't reveal who it is for. I sure don't want to spoil a secret!

This cake applique tea towel was such fun to make!

I'm sure I will make another one reallly soon.

($15 if anyone is interested)

Ruffled apron out of coordinating prints ($30)...

And a ruffled apron out of vintage fabric ($30)

Casual Wedding Reception in America...

There is something to be said about details. Little details. Some people would say that is "the small stuff". But when it comes to event planning, those little details can be what sets it apart. July 21 we held a reception for Clint and Linli Boyd who had just returned to America after a wedding May 20 in Hangzhou, China. We had such a great time visiting with everyone. We wanted everything to be simple, fun and relaxed...just a good time to visit with friends and family and a time to introduce Linli to everyone that she had not met here. The Lord has blessed us with so many wonderful people in our lives that we had help coming from all directions! Thanks to everyone that helped. It means the world to us!

Our gang...Clint, Linli, me, Kirsten, Terry, Julie, Bailey and Chris

The Wedding Day is Finally Here!

The wedding day started early morning with lots of folks in the honeymoon suite for pictures.

Linli's makeup artist and a team of photographers kept everyone busy.

We had a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.

This is a way for the bride and groom to show respect to their parents.

The wedding party was all there.

We met some of the sweetest people that day!

 

Told you there were lots of photographers! They followed our every move.

Precious Sunny is in the far right of the background. She hung with me and Terry all day.

I love this girl! She was right there translating for us and helping us understand what was going on!

Thank you sweet Sunny for everything! I want you to come to America to meet the rest of our family!

Clint & Linli with her parents. Wonderful people!

Wish we could have spent even more time getting to know them better.

  

On the balcony of the honeymoon suite. The view was spectacular!

Do we look like we have been drizzled rain on?

 The beautiful bride (and our new daughter-in-law), Linli outside at West Lake

Clint and Jacob Walling. Jacob's grandfather, Darrell Walling, was one of the elders at Westwood Church of Christ before his passing. Jacob lives in Chattanooga, TN and is in China teaching English.

Clint and Jacob actually MET in China! It was wonderful to get to spend time with Jacob and

get to know him. He was a big help to us that day! We appreciate you Jacob!

 Linli and Clint...

 With the bridesmaids...

 Jacob took a photo of me and Terry (told you he was a big help to us)!

The guy on the boat was taking a photo of us while we were taking a photo of him! Too funny!!

This archway was beautiful. My photo doesn't do it justice..

 Some things were actually in English for us tourists!

 More of the bride and groom...

Looks like he's thanking God for sending him Linli! Love this photo!

Kissing balls of beautiful roses before they were placed down the aisle...

A couple of the sweet bridesmaids at the guest register prior to the ceremony. 

The register was a beautiful tree that each guest put his fingerprint on and

then wrote his name on the fingerprint! A beautiful keepsake for the bride and groom.

It drizzled rain most of the day and it was unseasonably cool. Really a blessing!

Much better than being wet with sweat all day.

Notice the girls had put on shirts over their beautiful dresses to keep warm.

 Cupcakes, fruit, soft drinks and juices were served outside immediately after the ceremony.

Just enough to tide everyone over until the big reception.

 Love the sweet paper cones filled with babies breath

This cute little girl is indulging in a cupcake before the ceremony.

 Scriptures were etched on the windows in both English and Chinese.

I love how they used the trunks with the American flag as a way to

bring both countries together.

 Clint waiting on Linli's father to escort his beautiful bride to him...

 Here comes the bride! 

Linli changed into a second wedding gown for the actual ceremony.

The Gospel was presented to everyone.

The ceremony was done in both Chinese and English.

It was absolutely beautiful! A big thank you to Josh Davis for doing the English translations!

 Exchanging rings...

You may kiss your bride!

The wedding party...

 

 John and Jennifer Hardin are doing mission work in China. The are from Henderson, Tennessee.

What a sweet family! Clint and Linli study with them.

Linli's parents Xu Liangqi and Sun Lvyi, Bev McGee (from Murfreesboro, TN)

the happy couple and me and Terry

I suppose that is enough for now. I don't want to wear out my welcome.

I'll finish off the wedding post next time with some random shots and reception photos!

It was an absolutely beautiful wedding of two people that God truly has put together!

Oh yes, it rained showers of blessings after the ceremony! God is so very, very good!

Blessings,

Patty