returning .. and moving forward

i took a break .. from writing .. and realized life does indeed keep moving .. i tried to slow it down .. i pretended the mornings didn't begin .. the days didn't end .. i tried all the tricks .. maybe if i don't care, maybe if i don't change clothes, maybe if i don't shower .. maybe i can pretend .. pretend she is just on a long holiday .. on a vacation that never ends .. i have to ask how long she has been gone .. its a tough bond to break .. that of a younger brother and an older sister .. Sister & bubba .. didn't want to let go ..

wanted to preserve the moment .. stop the clock .. the moment i ceased to care ..

its a long journey back .. after being spun into the past at the moment of death of a loved one ..

i love you Sister, but i gotta let you go ..

if you are reading this .. you out there .. i will be back shortly..

love ya'
troy

and the winner was .. live from Canton

deep apologies for not notifying ya'll of the winner of our FOLK MAGAZINE give-a-way.. long story for the delay ..

and the FOLK MAGAZINE years subscription goes to ..... Maura @ Lilac Lane Cottage .. who has the most inspiring blog .. you must stop in and read her ..

canton has been good this weekend.. the weather is stunning and the crowds are thick .. got to see friends alice hanson and donna leblanc and her daughter.. gonna share a few pics of our booth with you .. enjoy .. sorry so short ..but connection here at canton is really the pitts ..

love love love this beautiful french boudoir lamp ..her wire frame body is so wonderful.. also notice the mirror we did with the vintage rose wallpaper behind the silvering ..

the tablecover barely made it through the first day before selling to a very happy customer .. as did the sweet little tufted chair ..

these pillows also sold the first day ..

as of this evening, the rocker is still available at $59 ..

our new pillow cabinet in use .. it was a pain getting it into the booth, but it has worked so well ..
tomorrow promises to be another beautiful day .. wishing you and yours the best day ever. excited i get to see my aunt bobbie and cousin stacy tomorrow .. yea!

love you..
troy

last chance! GIVE-A-WAY .. FOLK MAGAZINE subscription ..

we are getting the van and trailer loaded and heading to Canton this afternoon .. come see us in the new lock and leave ARBOR BOARDWALK, right off hiway 19 entrance .. we are in space #7 .. second booth on the left .. go to our facebook page and like us and get a coupon for 15% off your entire purchase .. you must print the coupon and bring it with you .. here is the link .. 15% off Coupon ..

PLEASE .. don't forget to add your comment to the FOLK MAGAZINE post and enter your chance to win a years subscription to this wonderful magazine .. here is the original post and where you would need to leave your comment to be included in the drawing .. FOLK MAGAZINE GIVE-A-WAY ..

here is a pic from our November/December show that i never shared ..



look forward to seeing you in Canton ..

I will draw the winner for the FOLK magazine drawing later tonight .. very late ..

love ya'
troy

cantons coming! & our FOLK MAGAZINE give-a-way ..

last minute canton details getting rounded up .. wanted to share a few things ..

a wonderfully fun center table drape i made from an old crocheted table cloth .. then i coffee dyed the entire piece .. i love it ..for set-up at canton, i am draping it over an old round oak dining table and then surrounding it with a few vintage french provincial chairs i have .. then stacking the table with old books and a wonderful lamp ..also isn't that chair the most?

i brought it as far to the floor as i could and accented it with a bottom ruffle that got a top stitch .. at each corner there is a bow ..

close-up view ..

i am loving it ..


this is our new pillow display in the works .. lining it with vintage floral wallpaper ..

don't you love this old rocker .. it was painted brown when we found it .. rod painted it white and then we distressed it .. it is very sturdy and hand made .. you can see where they carved the wood to make the stretchers and the arms and back supports .. very nice ..


a few wonderful old quilt we found and a vintage shaw walker swivel office armchair ..

come see us at canton ..march 1-4 .. at the new arbor boardwalk, space #7 ..

also, don't forget to comment on our FOLK MAGAZINE GIVE-A-WAY post to gain an entry into the give-a-way and a chance to win a years subscription to this wonderful magazine ..

off to gather ..

love ya' Troy

GIVE-A-WAY & gettin ready for canton ..

don't forget about our FOLK MAGAZINE years subscription Give-A-Way .. click on the link to read all about it and enter for your chance to win a years subscription to my new favorite magazine .. FOLK MAGAZINE GIVE-A-WAY..

we are getting things pulled together for canton .. i just completed a couple of pillows that are part of a new line of things i started working on for the upcoming Petticoats on the Prairie show we will be doing in waxahachie, texas on the 17th of March .. click here for details on that show ..

here are my pillows, what do you think? ..

they are shams and fit a standard bed size pillow ..

my favorite one is the one in back ..

i have never tea dyed anything before, and just started learning .. these two will be at Canton ..

as will this chair and a few others ..

and this wonderful little french ottoman .. which i am going to test and take just like it is .. if it doesn't sell, i will re-do it ..

please be sure and comment and on the FOLK post and get our entry into the years subscription of FOLK MAGAZINE .. you can also follow them on facebook ..

you can also follow Junk Exchange on facebook now .. here .. ..

love ya'll ..
Troy

an american story .. FOLK

it doesn't get more American than clearly seeing a vision and setting out to make that vision a reality .. through the long hours, the doubt, the sweat, the stress and the welcome exhilaration when you finally see that dream come to fruition.

it doesn't get more American than standing against the odds and continuing on with your dream..

for that we should salute the folk at FOLK Magazine ..sharing the American story.


i know you have heard of the magazine .. FOLK made its debut in the fall of 2011. i know without a doubt the first image i saw of FOLK had me from the start .. it crept in and warmed my soul on an otherwise dreary fall day ..

(i love that cat!)

i felt a connection, which is what most everyone who have read or thumbed through this magazine have relayed to me .. there is a genuineness to the staff that goes deep .. its about sharing, helping and soothing ..

it's all your creative thoughts on paper and the people there to assure you, you are just as creative as anyone ..

it reminds you it's ok to put peanuts in your coke ..

it's ok to take your shoes off in the company of strangers ..

it's ok to say Yes Ma'am and No Sir ..

it's the sound of a slamming screen door ..

the smell of dill on a summer day ..

the feel of sunlight streaming through the screen on the back porch ..

the wave of a neighbor as he walks past your home ..

FOLK is about US .. You and Me .. share your story.

the kind FOLK at FOLK magazine have presented the chance for you to win a year of FOLK .. to enter this GIVE-A-WAY, just leave a comment here and share the give-a-way with someone ..



I will choose the winner of the years subscription to FOLK Magazine on Wednesday evening Feb 29th .... late .. as I will be setting up at Canton .. come see us ..
Arbor Boardwalk, space # 7 ...

love ya'
Troy

edited to add ..
P.S. Just in case you have not heard about this magazine .. please go LIKE their facebook page and take a look around .. you will adore them just as the current 6000+ likes do .. here is the link .. FOLK MAGAZINE FACEBOOK PAGE ..

see what i saw ..

seems things have been on a whirlwind since we finished Canton last month .. we took a quick trip up to visit family in illinois on a wednesday.. rod drove straight thru ..normal/bloomington, illinois .. had a small family pre-thanksgiving meal on a friday and came back to texas on a sunday .. then had a small thanksgiving meal with nephew and great niece and great nephews .. it was fun to spend time with family .. but i have done very little for the upcoming canton .. however, i have scores and scores of vintage Christmas to fill the booth with .. and lots of furniture finds .. so come out and see us this month .. should be one of the most enjoyable months of the season .. we are located in the new lock and leave building connected to the entrance of the Arbors .. you can't miss it .. we are booth number 7 .. and we will be there on Wednesday ..

now to show you what i saw when i was in illinois .. i couldn't let the trip go by without getting a pic or two to share ..

if this doesn't get you in the Christmas spirit, I can't think of what will .. enjoy ..











can you imagine? all i can think of is where do you put this stuff when it's NOT Christmas? and of course, how much we could sell all of those for .. lol!

love ya! hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving ..
troy

the way of Canton ..

we just finished the October November Canton and it was one for the record books .. in all aspects .. a local police man said it was the biggest crowd at Canton since 1996. .. after 20+ years of doing Canton, we finally have one of the premier spaces at the market .. at least i feel that way .. the new lock and leave building has a feel all it's own .. it was the first time in 20+ years we have been able to leave the grounds on Sunday afternoon before the sun went down .. it was the best show in a long time for us .. everyone loved the new space and commented so .. it felt like home ..
the way our booth looked on thursday morning ..

the way our booth looked sunday morning ..

considered the main entrance to the Canton First Monday grounds .. off hiway 19 .. the new lock and leave building in the distance .. we are the second booth in on the left .. space # 7 ..

a burlap and muslin lamp shade i created .. the base of the shade had an approximate 24" diameter .. i had it lit for a pendant shade ..

our pillow cabinet .. it's an old pine wardrobe .. perfect for the shams and pillows ..

the booth on saturday morning .. i tried to change the booth up every morning .. it was fun moving it around to give it a different look and seemed to pay off ..

a chaise i covered in vintage lace tablecloths .. inspired by curious sofa ..


slipcover cabinet i had Rod create for the shop .. made using an old wardrobe .. cut out on the end .. chalkboard on each side of the opening ..

if you want to see more pics of our booth check out the pics in our facebook album..

hoping your month is filled with happiness and love ..
love ya'
troy

finding it ..

finding JOY today can be difficult and frustrating .. however, i have a secret that works for me and wanted to share it with you .. though it is now effortless, i work real hard at greeting each day and each gift, surprise or show of affection with a silent "Thank You, Father" ..sometimes i even shout it .. and i can't begin to relate how many times i have used that phrase these past few weeks .. even though it seems every other day brings a new pain and a little less brain power .. i feel very blessed ..

junk exchange had decided this month would be it's last show at canton .. the shoving and loading and unloading of furniture and setting up of displays was just getting harder and harder to do, and canton was building a new lock and leave that would have made it difficult for us to maneuver into our parking space late on set-up day, which is when we like to get there to avoid the traffic of set-up ..

we applied for a space in the new lock and leave and figured if we didn't get in, then this would be our last show .. there were only 10 spaces and hundreds of applicants for the 10 spaces and honestly, we didn't hold out much hope .. we thought it would be nice and of course felt our merchandise warranted such an honor, but there were literally hundreds of applicants .. we were notified the middle of this month we were accepted .. SO ..Thank you, Father!!! .. our NEW LOCATION is in the NEW lock and leave building now known as ARBOR GATEWAY .. we are SPACE # 7 .. how lucky is that? Thank you, Father .. what this means, is we can set up our booth like a shop and lock it up at the end of the show instead of packing it up like we have for the last 20 years ... Thank you, Father...

see this statue? if you have ever been to Canton, you know where this is .. it is located directly at the main entrance off hiway 19 .. see the building behind it, that says THE ARBORS .. well, you can't really see that NOW .. now, there is a big building in front of that entrance .. that is the ARBOR GATEWAY .. we are in space # 7 of that NEW building .. so easy to find .. Thank you, Father ..

this month we also participated in a local show organized by the Shopapalooza Ladies called "Fall into Christmas" .. it was a fun event and we made some nice new contacts .. and met some wonderful people ..rewerked furniture .. texas pickers .. Thank you, Father ..

below are a few images of our booth at that event .. it was a one day event ..



so Rod has been busy building us display pieces for the new space and the sewing room has been a whirl of excitement with fabric flying through the air .. we also have at the end of this month the Junior League of Waco show "Deck the Halls" .. Sherry is doing that show .. and Rod is doing Canton and I am going with him ..again, Thank you, Father ..

you must come to Canton this month and see the new booth space .. junk exchange has found some incredibly lovely pieces to fill the space and i know you will love the new look .. we will be bringing things for sale that we have not offered before due to the unpredictability of the weather .. now with the new lock and leave we feel secure paper goods, fabrics and lamps and shades will not get damaged ..

each day is like a new chapter in this amazing book .. Thank you, Father ..

well my mind has gone totally blank on what i wanted to say .. so i will close with Thank you, Father and give you all my love ..

Troy

sexy hangers ..

we have decided to add vintage lingerie to the items we offer for sale.. we feel it will add something to the boudoir theme we have going .. i remembered i had some of those vintage padded lingerie hangers stockpiled, but we must have sold them because i sure can not remember where i packed them or placed them.. i thought about what to do as i didn't want to hang sexy lingerie on just any old hanger .. so i came up with this ..(when i say i came up with this, i honestly don't remember if i saw it somewhere and it just kind of stuck in my mind and therefore i felt it sprang - springed? - sprung? - from my twisted, confused mind .. but i thought it was cute, so if i stole the idea from you, my apologies)

i think it sets off the lingerie quite nicely .. it is a simple wood hanger wrapped in strips of hand torn (how else?) cotton muslin and accented with a simple bow at the throat of the hanger, finished off with a dangle-ly charm made using a vintage key and a swivel ball hook ..

i began with these simple wood hangers .. we see them everywhere down here in Texas ..

then we had some excess torn strips that were destined more for the trash than another project as they were too thin for the ruffles on our pillows ... so i made use of them here ..

we have a stockpile of vintage keys .. we usually place them in our popular junk bags and sell them 5/ $1.00 ..

added the key to a vintage swivel ball hook, from the fishing department ..

and it made a cute little dangle ...

then tied it to the throat of the hanger .. directly underneath the bow ..

now isn't that the sweetiest little (yeah, i said sweetiest) .. hanger ? .. you could even soak the muslin strips in rose water then dry them for an added touch .. me .. i just sprayed them with some tea rose .. which always reminds me of my momma ..

enjoy the day .. love ya ..

Canton Sept / Oct 2011

i love Canton in the fall .. and this past weekend did not disappoint .. we had lovely weather and generous crowds .. everyone seemed to be in a good mood .. and it was such a pleasant time ..
sweet queen anne dining table, dressed with a vintage cotton tablecloth in pink and green .. flanked by a pair of shield back side chairs with tapestry damask seats in cream and eggshell ..and a pair of oak side chairs dressed with our vintage inspired cotton muslin slipcovers .. available here ..

vintage side table chalk painted in cream accented with vintage toile wallpaper on the top and at the drawer front ..

another view of the dining table and side chairs ..

a pile of slipcovers .. topper and skirts ..

pillows of muslin accented with a block printed burlap patch and featuring raw edge ruffle of 3" .. available here ..

mr & mrs pillows .. 16" square .. a popular item for us .. featuring an envelope back and 3" wide raw edge ruffle ..

basket of kings crown burlap / muslin pillow sham ...

love the bench .. perfect for end of your bed .. deep hand tied tufts .. accented with vintage wallpaper and featuring storage areas behind the small doors across the front ..

the dollhouse large enough for a bookcase .. had a stack of old books to display, but forgot them at home .. lucky for you this item did not sell and is available at our shop location at laSalle shoppes antiques & craft mall ..

love the fall look of the ginger jar .. it's a pattern by masons but i forget the name at the moment ..

love it when girls / ladies gather and love on our products .. makes me want to be more creative ..

more loving from our customers ..

a pair of pumpkin head sweethearts greeting the cooler weather to come .. may all this month be special for you and you enjoy the road you travel ..

love ya'
Troy