The Work will Teach you How to Do it

 is an old Estonian proverb. And so very true. These are just a few pics of of the work we have done on house in the woods.

 Our nephews' Kenny and Rusty, replaced the wood board walk from the drive to the steps, with flagstone. The sloped wood walk was too slippery for a house in the woods.

These two talented young men also put in this rustic flagstone path from the boardwalk to the shed so the owner would not be walking through dirt.

The boardwalk connects the side and front porch with the deck.

Bob, Kenny and Rusty replaced the front door.

A closet - exciting, I know!! Ginna and I spent some quiet time in here on July 4th. We were the only two working at the house this day. Amazing what a fresh coat of paint will do isn't it?

Friday the 5th was really crazy. We had people everywhere.

Sydney and Bob in the kitchen/dining room. I was there too - painting quarter round.

The plumber and his helper were here.

Bob and Kenny replacing a piece of plywood with heartwood pine. 

Bob teaching Sydney how to use the nail gun.

Saturday the 6th was quiet again. It was just Sydney, me and Ginna working at the house today. Look who was here to greet us!

Ginna stained the new flooring to match the existing. Once we clean all the joint compound dust off of the old floor it will look great!

And matched it by the steps as well. Where's Sydney? Outside hosing down and washing all of the first floor windows.

Putting the finish down in the laundry area, kitchen and dining room. I fail to remember the exercise in isometrics this is - I always find muscles I had forgotten about. The kitchen area had stick down tiles that we peeled up to reveal the very same floor that is in the dining room. We used a pad sander to take up the leftover glue and some crud. 

Amazing what a day makes. Hectic and crazy busy the day before, stuff everywhere. Today - quiet and an empty room with a pretty floor. A tenant will be moving in shortly. He will truly enjoy living in a rustic house in the woods.

It has been a long couple of months getting this place ready. There are a few details that still have to be taken care of - but that will come.

Time for bed, 
I am one tired girl! Until later, Liz

Loyalty Red Barn Tag Sale - Come join us!!

The next BIG event on the horizon is the 

Loyalty Red Barn Tag Sale

14872 Loyalty Road Waterford, VA 20197

this Saturday June 22, 9am-4pm

and Sunday June 23, 11am- 4pm

 8+ vendors fill out the entire upstairs of the lovely barn you see in the photo above. This event is held once a month - you will find the schedule and contact information below.

This is my space - Bittersweet Design Studio - and it is CRAMMED!! Vintage and vintage style shoes 

 Love seat, side chair, awesome 1950s lamp, sweet side table - please forgive some of the clutter - we finish setting up tomorrow

 A rounder of yummy vintage clothes

 A wide variety of feminine lingerie

 AND a dressing room to try them on in - YES! I said dressing room!!! 
Two large picture frames set with fabric create 2 of the walls, the barn the third, and a mirrored door/bench/'dresser' that my husband made creates the fourth 

 Books, crocks and glassware

My new line of jewelry - Bohemian Bling - a fun collection of arm candy - buy one piece and add to it as you go along - or buy a curated set!

 Mid Century Modern desk, vintage desk lamps, Handibreeze fan, buttons and trims

 Dishes - a mix of blue patterns, glasses and goblets

 more kitchenware and guest towels

 This is Holly's Hoard - lots of fun stuff - Holly has great taste and a great eye

 A great collection of stuff for the dudes

 and for the ladies

 in the kitchen

 a fabulous dinette table

 a tribute to the beach and sailing

 more pretties for the ladies

 This is Diane and Amy's space - Daisy Designs and The Tattered Princess - they are still in the process of setting up too. They have fun upcycled furniture and other goodies

 Nora of Hunt Box Antiques has this fabulous Art Deco Sales Counter - I don't think I could let this one go! And lots of other great finds (currently under cover)

Gay from Hunt and Gather has a great eclectic mix of goodies - this industrial cart is one of them

and more of which you can see here.

Maureen and Dinna - Donnelly's Digs and Junk for your Trunk respectively -  were still in the process of setting up. Maureen has a great collection of furniture and smalls, Dinna has furniture and smalls too, as well as fun, hand painted glassware.

*LIKE* us on Facebook at

www.facebook.com /LoyaltyRedBarnTagSale

Tag Sale Schedule:

June 22 - 23

July 20 - 21

August 17 - 18

September 21 - 22

October 19 - 20

November 16 - 17

Please join us. We hope to see you here!

Until then, Liz

Sometimes it is all about the shoes

We had a picnic to go to today and I wore a particular pair of sandals because I thought a vintage partner in crime - Holly - was going to be there. I wanted her to see me wearing them - because these were her Mom's.

 I saw both pairs in her space at the Loyalty Red Barn Tag Sale - yes there were two different pairs - the other ones are white - lucky me!! And of course I had to have both pairs.
Oh anyway... so, I picked my outfit by starting with these fabulous sandals.

I was recently in New York City and just down the street from the job I was working on is the Lexington Saree Palace. Suffice it to say, I did not stop with the tunic above...
I know, my daughter would say "But mom, it's not the same color purple - The sandals have more blue in them and the tunic has more red" - I hear ya honey - but do you see me with my fingers in my ears - "lalallalala I can't HEAR you". Besides - the two were separated by a pair of off white linen pants. So. There.
Of course then I had to accessorize - out comes my new pile of arm candy - some of my latest bracelet designs AKA Bohemian Bling.

L to R: Rhinestone bracelet made with silk Sari yarn, Serene Buddha stretch bracelet is made with amazonite beads, purple quartz toggle bracelet with a few small charms - yes that top charm does say "I love shoes". The Sari yarn bracelet ends with two heavy silver beads and closes by twisting around the opposite braided strand. I am having a blast making all of these and adding styles as I go.

I found the Sari yarn in an antique mall and I could not pass it up - it was just too gorgeous!
The beauty about these bracelets is that you can just keep adding more. 

On my other wrist - L to R: dark pink vintage rhinestone bracelet I found at It's Bazaar, a linen cord and silver nugget bracelet - thrifting in NYC, and the braided curb chain/Sari silk bracelet, Pier One. 

The food and company at the picnic was great - my husband said that the grabber was the invite - Pig Roast and Meatfest - a sure way to get guys to come. Unfortunately Holly couldn't make it - but I wanted her to see - that sometimes it really is all about the shoes!

Sweet!
until later, xo, Liz

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