All over for another year Lucketts Spring Market Day 2

All buttoned up - fortunate that I only live miles away from Lucketts - we closed up the tent and will pack out tomorrow. After a long weekend - this is a wonderful thing, not having to deal with all the very tired vendors, the  to-ing and fro-ing of trucks, etc...

 Unfortunately, threatening weather, gray and gloomy, kept the crowds down. I will have to say I would have better enjoyed music that was 'sunny' and upbeat today - but the music the band played was more suited to a 10pm quiet bar crowd - or even a spa - I could have fallen asleep getting a massage...
Lucky for me - my friend Joanie brightened the day! She stopped by and we wandered and shopped while Lauren watched the booth.

Some goodies under my tent - my new line of jewelry - Bohemian Bling and the clothing rounder overflowing with fabulous vintage clothing. Sales today consisted entirely of jewelry and vintage clothing.

A sweet side chair and the 'Princess' settee. I created these pieces for 'myself ', then for the Gateway Gallery, then for Lucketts. 

My mannequin family - staying out of the rain today. Berthe on the left, Shirley in the red violet gown, and Bob in front. Elmira is hiding behind Shirley - I didn't realize she was camera shy!

Our favorite plant guys - Steve Ritz is along for the 'fun'... Paul Roomsburg is head plant guy at Valley View Greenhouses. When it's quiet at Lucketts, Steve takes out his guitar and Paul takes out his fiddle and they treat us to some great old time music. Bob comes under guise of helping me - but he really just wants to hang with Paul and Steve.

Suzanne and I got to visit two different times today - in the morning and then at the end of the day. Here we are clowning with my vintage umbrellas. 

 We were both thinking dueling Magritte here...

Touche! 
I always have a great time at this market - and even manage to find some fun goodies. I'll blog about them in the next few days. For now - it's time for my weekend to start! Oh wait - that'll be late Monday afternoon - after we pack out of here...

Glad I can tuck this one under my belt for the year. 
Yes, I am already planning for the next show -  the White Elephant in Purcellville - June 7,8 & 9.
Hope to see you there!
xo, Liz

Lucketts Spring Market Day One

Just a quick post...

These ladies made the end of our day! 

The shoppers seemed lighter than normal this year - perhaps it was the hint of rainy weather to come? The day started with rain - but cleared up enough to get things set out - later than I would have liked - but what's a girl to do??

The rain came in around 2:30/3:00 and pretty much cleared the fields - to be expected, but much to our disappointment - but what's a girl to do? We took some time to better organize the rounder of vintage clothing - as well as try to get some of the pieces priced. 

My pitch for the day had been "The good news is - all of the clothing is clean and here - the bad news is that most of it is un-priced - so you will have to ask". 

The ladies above stuck it out through the rain and came shopping at our booth as we were closing up. I wouldn't have thought of turning them away - we had a great time - they had fun trying on hats and a few pieces of clothing - and even went away with some goodies. Thank you for ending the day on a high note ladies! 

Bittersweet Design Studio at Lucketts Spring Market

It's here again - where did the year go?!

 Getting ready for the show this year held a new twist for me. Instead of redoing tons of furniture

 we were hand washing tons of vintage clothing!

 After we solved the usual ?what piece goes where? the tent went up (I wrote the instructions down this time...) Lots of goodies are now

 all buttoned up inside and await our touch tomorrow.

The Mannequin family came along - that's Bob snuggling Shirley - Berthe and Elmira are just out of the picture to the right - as is Matilda.

 an entire rounder *squee* of vintage clothing - so much - that the lingerie had to move to a T rack!

My fabulous crew - Kristen English, my hubby Bob, Lauren Hunt, Kenny Kopp, and Sydney Francis.

Wanna see me??? The Spring Market runs from 10 - 5 both Saturday and Sunday. I will have my new pile o' arm candy - Bohemian Bling

A fabulous combination of Uptown/Downtown Friendship bracelets, Beaded bracelets, and Vintage bracelets

Just in time for all those arm baring styles of summer - but also my favorite sleeve length - the bracelet length!

Bare it all - but accessorize with Bohemian Bling - Vintage funk with an Uptown flair!

When you are self employed - there really is no such thing as a vacation Part 3

We had finally had enough sun, so on Friday - a gray day anyway - we did the staging for all of our goodies purchased at the 'Park and Flea' and other places.  I also had Ginna model all of the clothing.

Here she is in one of the cuddly vintage robes  :D.

First we started the day with a yummy breakfast - blueberry pancakes, bacon, and fruit salad.

Another soft robe - this one has an Asian motif - and is short, where as the pink one was longer.

A very cool 60s button down maxi skirt, all sort of 'business like', and a polyester, vertical striped shirt that reminded me of my Dad's referee shirts.

A wildly, wild synthetic jumpsuit - in neon paisley.

And an amazing dark gray with black trim day dress.  Fabulosity!  And I have to ask again - how does she manage to fit in all of these things???

Back to School - cool desk lamp, alarm clock, microscope, suede handbag, and some 'wise' owl jewelry.

Some wonderful housewares - a Bakelite meat fork and fondue fork, Ocean City salt and pepper shakers, some small pedestal bowls, a fab deer cross stitch.

Some bar paraphernalia - of course I had to buy the Jim Beam ceramic bottle - saluting the Elks!

We found some time to visit the Island Library and take a look at their new addition.

But did they know that all the spindle are upside down???  Oops!

A last stop at the beach on Saturday - it started raining at 5 pm - and continued so hard through the night that we couldn't go out to get our last ice cream treat.

Yards turned into duck ponds!  Before we knew it - we had to leave.  A brief week and it was all over except the memories.  We stopped by the 'Park and Flea' on our way home - because of the rain it was less well attended than last week - and sadly we could not say goodbye to Ethel - because she was unable to make it.  Goodbye for another year - maybe more...

xo, Liz

When you are self employed - there really is no such thing as a vacation Part 1

Although the first day we managed to squeeze in a whole bunch of both!  
First the "Park and Flea" - that was work - but fun work.  You can read more about that here: http://bittersweetdesignstudio.blogspot.com/2012/08/take-time-to-listen-take-time-to.html

This is just a preview of some of the goodies we found at the Park and Flea.
Then ------- off to the beach!!  My daughter and I spent the afternoon on the sand and in the water. 

Afterwards we stopped and picked up our key - off to the grocery store for a few provisions - then down to the house to 'move in'.  It was a cute little Chincoteague's Fisherman's Cottage - this is another story...
After moving in - we had dinner - leftovers that we brought with us (home made pesto and pasta). 

Then back up town to the Roxy Island Theatre - to see 'The Most Exotic Marigold Hotel'.  It had been on our list to see - and there it was!!

We both agreed that we could see it a second time around.  This theatre is the same place where the 'Misty of Chincoteague' movie premiered.
We topped the night off with double scoop waffle cones at the Island Creamery.  Marsh Mud, Iced Nirvana, Salted Caramel, and Cake Batter.  Oh my!  Pretty good 'work' for the first day :)

Modeling day - all of the clothes needed to be washed - and then modeled.  Before they are listed, there also have to be repairs made, then they are measured and described.

 A pretty light blue gown

 A sequined (felt like chain maille) 'Audrey' Breakfast at Tiffany's dress

A gorgeous brocade gown - how is it that all of these clothes fit her???!!! Ginna was very patient with her modeling assignment and did a fantastic job as usual.

That's all for now - part 2 coming soon!  xo, Liz

Vintage Clothing gets an airing

Lights and darks were sorted.  Lights washed first on warm, gentle, and then hung out.  Darks were treated to the same special treatment.

Twice within the past few weeks I have gone over to my friend Jennifer's house to help her start to organize her barn.   She has tons of room to work out there - but because she started her business after they moved into the house - these areas were filled with family stuff - moving boxes, noodles, legos, kinex, soccer balls and net, and other toys that her boys had grown out of.  

While all of this was going on - she was establishing a very successful business selling vintage furniture, home accessories, and hand made items at Old Lucketts Store http://www.luckettstore.com/ .  
If you go - her space is on the first floor - from the front doors - go straight ahead, before you go under the buffalo into the big room - go right - the's her space - look for items marked OWL or JDH.   
Needless to say the areas in her barn were also crammed with moving blankets, Christmas  and Halloween, lamps to be rewired, stock for the store (hmmm.... sounds like my place huh??). 

                  Some lovely day dresses, skirts, a maxi dress, and maxi skirt.  FUN!!

A sunny yellow dress from Hawaii, 2 pretty day dresses, and some cute tops.

From the other end...a lovely blouse, 2 day dresses, a crop top, baby dress, groovy hot pink dress, and more.


Just like me - when you are OVER something you  are OVER it!  Jennifer was more than happy to pass along all sorts stuff that she has sold in the past - but was OVER it!  
Well lucky for me - these lovely items were just some of the spoils of my labor.  Of course my daughter and I will try them all on and see what we are going to plunder - the rest will be listed in my vintage Etsy shop - and I will take them to the Luckett's Spring Market.  I also have 2 sets of parsons dining chairs, and some tables to re-do for my space up at It' Bazaar, or to take to the Luckett's Spring Market - http://luckettstore.com/events/50-spring-market.  (Take a look at the bottom of the page - two photos of my space from last year show up on the left - #s 7 and 8 down from the top!).

Do you have a favorite piece of vintage clothing?? Share your item below!


More pics later!!
from breezy, sunny, Virginia,
Liz

Off to Paris, France this Autumn

The sweet size 4 coat was found at a yard sale outside of Gettysburg, PA last summer.

 The barrettes are vintage mid 1970s - and were mine in high school. 

How cute are these?
This is what some fashionable little girl will be wearing in Paris, France this fall.  I just shipped them off last week.  Very exciting!

Makeover at Bittersweet Design Studio

This is currently where my 'to be worked on' furniture is being 'held'.  :( 

The messy beginnings of my tools/supplies area - but hey - at least there is an area!

Shelf installed and filled with autumnal colored items to be added to my Etsy shop.

It has to get worse before it gets better. 
Right - really it does, doesn't it? 
This is the view just a foot or two into the shop, looking towards the back. 
It actually looked worse just a week ago!

A lovely glass and wood display case for displaying beautiful items - however, now it stores shipping supplies.

OOPS!  My shipping counter - which got cluttered up while working on the smaller room of the shop...
I'll fix it, I'll fix it - I promise!!!

The smaller room - where all of the vintage jewelry, purses, shoes, hats and clothes will be, as well as vintage suitcases and other accessories. 

Number 2 clothing rack and shelf in place.  This rack currently holds clothes from my daughter Virginia's 'mid-retail' experience.  Cute stuff that is available for sale and will also be at the Town Wide Tag Sale held in Purcellville, VA the second weekend in October. 

Number 1 clothing rack and shelf in place.  This photo pleases me to no end!  All of the vintage clothing (wait - I have to preface that - the clothing that was already out in the shop) is hung and organized. Some of this is listed on Etsy and some is waiting to be listed.  From left to right:  negligees, outerwear, evening wear, day wear, casual.  

Back to the main room -- A cabinet that I found at My Mother's Closet in Keymar, MD.  Look for a post in the future about how I 'restored' this pretty thing.  It is filled with items that are already listed in my Etsy shop.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/bittersweetdesign.