How Do YOU Spell Success???

What an a m a z i n g $ale @ Unique Antique
for Bits 'n Pieces debut!!!

"Mr. Ed" had a little boy stop at our booth during set~up!
"Look, Mommie...ROBOTS"!!! Too cute!

That grin on "Mr. Ed's" face speaks volumes!!!
His tin men, "Oz" and "Gunsmoke",
displayed with his handmade tool boxes and wooden crates.

Sewing machine cabinet, a few Samsonite suitcases
and the "Little Miss Muffet" stool
were displayed at the back of our booth.

Antique occasional tables
and the remainder of our suitcase collection.

"Mr. Ed's" Tin Men display !!!

The right side front of our booth.

Once the Christmas Tree was brought in,
I moved the suitcase display to fill the void
on the end of the park bench and keep the area light!

The left side front of our booth.
This is the view that most people saw as they entered
our booth from the entrance of the building!

Display of the antique Tea Cart and Dumb Waiter!

So~o~o. . .
how do YOU spell s u c c e s s ???
* Is it in the total amount of $ale$ at the end of the day?
* Is it in the lesser amount of items
   you have to re~load to take home?
* Is it by the amount of thrilled customers who leave your booth?

If you answered "YES" to any of the above,
then you know that "Mr. Ed" and I
* had $ale$ that exceeded our expectations!
* easily re~loaded the car and truck!
* and met some of the nicest customers
   throughout the entire day!

Bits 'n Pieces debut was a h u g e  s u c c e s s !!!

Thank you to all who came and made purchases,
complimented "Mr. Ed" and I on our booth
and made our debut a memorable experience!!!

The next Unique Antique will be in the Spring of 2013!
Will Bits 'n Pieces be a vendor @ the Spring Market???
Time will tell!


Until next time. . .

Bits 'n Pieces Nearing Completion!

Dear Ones,
On Crooked Creek, has truly been a flurry of activity!!!
As "Mr. Ed" and I are nearing completion...only 5 work days remain until Bits 'n Pieces joins Unique Antique Market!!! 

"Mr. Ed" has made some of the most amazing boxes. . .

his "unique" tin men. . .

 

some recognizable from the Golden Screen. . . 

 

 

others from the longest running Television Series. . .

and swinging Betty and Bob.

Once the saw dust and spray paint mist cleared. . .
I became one with the sewing machine . . .

 

 

 

and made a "Little Miss Muffet" stool!

Simply slip~covered for easy cleaning!!!


Next, I moved to some vignette display ideas
for Autumnal vintage inspired merchandise!

 

 

Robert Douglas Hunter still life prints

combined with vintage wooden spools, wooden double recipe box, footed wooden bowl and some supporting accessories!



 





 

While my creativity was flowing,

I decided to design a "unique" hat for the event!

 

Using a few bits of florals and berries. . .

 

and a piece of vintage lace. . .

I decorated this bewitching hat that will  eventually become part of a SPOOKtacular display!

 

I'm thrilled to say all the burlap stars are finished and hanging on the tree!!!

Yet, ladies, there is still much to complete!

 

 

 

Inventory, pricing, photographing, packing, loading...

I do enJOY this and look forward to the event each time

"Mr.Ed" and I participate!

 

So~o~o. . .

that being said. . .

it's time to get back in the Art Studio On Crooked Creek . . .

and prepare for Bits 'n Pieces debut!

 

#5 days and counting. . .

 

 

Until next time. . .

Glowing Bronze Orbs. . .

Before my arrival On Crooked Creek,
"Mr. Ed" and I visited this side of the Prairie to be with our son.

During one such visit,
our son took us to some unique shops in Old Town. . .
where I was quite smitten with this darling vintage dresser!

The price was reasonable for the quality.
I knew it would be a "perfect fit"
for the small guest room in our "dream home",
BUT. . . "Mr. Ed" said, "NO!"
End of discussion!!!

Or, so I thought.
Shortly after our visit to see our son, I got a phone call.

Our son told me he was having the dresser delivered to the neighboring town. "Mr. Ed" was to pick up the dresser at the local Hardware Store. My Mother's Day Gift that year, the dresser set in the Guest Room at the "dream home" and here
On Crooked Creek!

When I acquired an heirloom cherry side table from my Dad,
the matching end tables were moved to the lower level Family Room. Much to the surprise and delight of our son, the dresser was moved to the Living Room to fill the voided space!!!

An Autumnal vignette is simply a Mother's Day Gift from my son
combined with a cloche of glowing bronze orbs !

Until next time. . .

Coming Full Circle. . .

Coming full circle
              in the life of a Sunflower
                         On Crooked Creek !



Dried Giant Yellow  Sunflower Head
from the Sunflower Patch On Crooked Creek!

What began as a seed,
planted by "Mr. Ed" in the Sunflower Patch,
grew despite the severe drough on the Prairie,
and now is dried and ready to be harvested for next years crop !

 Except. . .
I have one more use for this dried Sunflower head. . .



Dried Giant Yellow Sunflower
from the stem side.

before it becomes harvested seed
                                On Crooked Creek !

A  Sunflower cloche !

Seeing these last year in the Land of Blog,
I vowed to try to make one for Fall
this year On Crooked Creek !

When "Mr. Ed" took me out to the garage,
I was giddy with excitement at the sight of the drying heads!

On Crooked Creek,
                the life of this Sunflower
                                          is coming full circle!


Until next time. . .

FYI:
You can view the variety of Sunflowers
grown On Crooked Creek  in a previous post Feed The Birds
by clicking on the title!

www.astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

 



 

On Crooked Creek is joining our dearest hostess, Marty @ A Stroll Thru Life for a Fall Cloche Party ! Be sure to visit and see all the amazing ways to creatively use your cloches!!!

Bits 'n Pieces. . .

Our Annual Trout Fishing Trip to Bennett Spring State Park was truly a much needed retreat for both "Mr. Ed" and I! As always, "Mr. Ed" returned home with his fulfilment of Trout Fishing and his limit of Trout!!!

My time of mediation, seeking guidance and direction for the coming year has been answered with a very clear w a i t ! I, truly, am filled with anticipation as I watch the unveiling of His plan in my life!

Autumns Arrival begins the preparation for family gatherings and the onset of holiday hosting. A traditional part of preparation, On Crooked Creek, is to make any furniture re~arranging or re~grouping changes. Many times, this is summed up in one word. . . editing! In the past, to aid in editing, "Mr. Ed" and I have held Garage $ales and Tag $ales. However; this year, On Crooked Creek, will join the 18th Annual Unique Antique Fall Market!

"Bits 'n Pieces", the name chosen for our newest combined venture will showcase "Mr. Ed's" handiwork. Since his retirement, "Mr. Ed" has been busily making a variety of carpentry items using drill bits and pieces of materials into useful and decorative home decor display items.

My creative medium of choice is still largely using decorative scrapbooking papers. My direction has taken a slightly different approach from creating handmade greeting cards to preserving vintage pieces into creations to be artfully displayed.

Throughout the Land of Blog, you dear ladies have been encouraging me to become re~acquainted with my sewing machine. Although I still "greatly dislike" sewing, I have found using fabric has opened a new creative outlet for designing decor and gifts.

"Mr. Ed" and I have no idea where this adventure may lead, but the journey is one we are enjoying together. On Crooked Creek has certainly been a flurry of activity as we strive to have ample creations for our "Bits 'n Pieces" booth @ Unique Antique Fall Market.

As more items near completion, I'll be updating and posting for your viewing pleasures! Those of you who are local followers On Crooked Creek, I invite you to come experience the journey along with "Mr. Ed" and I. We hope you'll visit "Bits 'n Pieces" !


Until next time. . .

Pumpkin Vines & Gourds. . .

Dear Ones,
"Mr. Ed" and I have returned from a much needed restful Annual Trout Fishing Trip to Bennett Spring! NOW. . .we are busily making preparations for an upcoming adventure!!! I'll be sharing more about that in a future post!
I'll be making my rounds trying desperately to "catch" up with what's new in your spot in the Land of Blog!I've missed you, dear ones!
Fondly,
Pat

An Autumnal centerpiece
calls for pumpkin vines and gourds . . .



 


This past Summer,
On Crooked Creek,
"Mr. Ed" made a custom box for the round dining table.

Dear Ones,
before I had finished decorating it with bees and honey. . .
"Mr.Ed" was taking measurements
and making another custom box for the rectangular dining table!!!

 


I had him stain this wooden rectangular box
with  golden oak to compliment my heirloom dining table.
After two coats of stain. . .
and two days of waiting for the stain to dry. . .
I began filling the box with pumpkin vines and gourds!

To fill the box from the bottom up,
I had to remove the dowel rod handle.
The bottom is filled with a magnolia leaf swag,
atop the swag is another pumpkin vine and gourd swag.

 


I added black ~ eyed Susan's,
additional pumpkins and gourds!

I adore how the hues of the pumpkin vines and gourds
mimic the color palette of the plaid Autumnal tablecloth!

Just a note:
A special word of thanks to my dear friend, Pat @ Back Porch Musings!  Pat does the most amazing things with her home decor and gave me the inspiration needed to fill my Autumnal centerpiece! (Click on the link to see her magnificent Autumnal dough bowl!!! )
AND...ladies, I am ever so grateful to the many creative talents of my dear husband, "Mr. Ed" who continually inspires and allows me to create spaces in our home...here On Crooked Creek!


Until next time. . .