Finally My First Batch of Pillows!

I gave myself a deadline of May first 

to get my pillows in my booth!  

Didn't quite make it, 

but I did get a huge first load installed today.  

I finished stuffing 53 pillows today...

and 49 went in to the booth!

Plus...this adorable wall hanging...a vintage classroom

find from a local thrift store.  I couldn't pass this up...50 squares of burlap with the outline of a state and either the state bird or flower...it has so much charm. 

Its looks as if the students made it.  It is barely hanging on...dry rot has taken its toll, but I had to have it!!  Perfect for a backdrop don't you think?

On to my day in the basement...

 

Two orders of bulk feather and down pillow inserts...

waiting in my basement.  

The stack of boxes was over 6 feet tall!  

Huge boxes almost 4 feet wide.

Here they are!  Bagged and ready for their trip to the booth!

Put a few more fixtures in a couple of weeks ago....

trying to get everything ready for

my vintage and antique finds and of course "the pillows"!

I have beautiful German grain sack pillows in production now, along with some adorable printed

vintage French flour sacks, 

which are similar to our American sacks.  

I also have found some

awesome Burlap style bags from Canada!  

All coming soon!!

Hopefully one day soon, I'll figure out how to take a good pic, 

and transfer it here with better resolution!

There is a lot to learn!  :)

Don't forget the victims of recent tornadoes!

They need our prayers and assistance!

Blessings,

Martha

My "Mothers"

Gwendolyn

Mother's Day is tomorrow!  A good many of my friends on facebook this week have been honoring their mothers by replacing their profile pictures with one of their mother's pictures. It has been so much fun to see all the mother's faces smiling at me.  A good many have been vintage...with pearls and dark lipsticks and curled hair do's!   My mom is still beautiful at 78, but her picture above, in her late teens, is my favorite!  My mom has always been there for me, nudging me, helping me, baby sitting in the early years...now it is my turn to return the favor.  I pray for her to be blessed with joy and health and happiness in these later years!
 

Onieta

Her mother, my maternal grandmother was such a wonderful woman.  Racked with Rheumatoid Arthritis and bound in a wheel chair most of the years I can remember, she lived such a hard existence, but never complained.  She died in my late teens and never met my husband or her great-grandsons!  I would so love to have her meet them!

Emma

 

 

My father's mother lived in West Virginia.  We would visit her every summer and see her when she came to Georgia to visit us.  What a strong woman!  She was born in 1897, outlived her first husband, divorced her second husband, (my grandfather), out lived her third husband, survived breast cancer and a mastectomy in the late 1940's and lived to be in her mid 90's!  She worked, played the stock market, owned rental properties and always told you what she was thinking!  A true survivor she was!

I honor my mom and my grand mothers and thank each of them...as they are all a part of me!  

Last but not least...

I honor Mother Mary...

our spiritual mother and ask that she pray for us all and intercede on our behalf!

Happy Mother's Day to you all!

Live, Laugh, Love...be AUTHENTIC!

Blessings,

Martha

Respect for Mother Nature

Praying for the survivors and those lost in the recent tornado outbreaks!

Not sure when I became so scared of bad storms.  From an early age, I hated thunder storms!  I guess once I had children of my own, I have felt such a responsibility to protect my family.

I am neurotic when it comes to storm prep.  I pack everyone's medicine, make sure my teens have shoes and jeans and whatever things they want to keep shoved in a backpack.  I have taught my children where to look for safe shelter if they aren't at home. 

I am something of a joke with my family and friends.  Most of the time, the storms coming from Alabama into Georgia weaken before they reach our North Georgia area and everyone gives me a hard time.  But this time was different.  Three separate storms with tornadoes passed within 10 miles of my home and ten total tornadoes made their way across my state!  Georgia wasn't spared, but my heart goes out to Alabama!  It could have been my family and me looking at destruction!  We have been blessed.

I am horrified by the pictures I see and wonder with an F4 or F5 tornado if we would have survived...even in our storm room under the basement stairs !  I respect Mother Nature and her awesome power and am so very grateful that we are safe!  

Please pray for the families and communities effected by this tragedy!

Life is Precious!  Don't take it for granted!
Blessings,

Martha

Word in the Hand: Sabbath

Word in the Hand: Sabbath: "The light went out. He was the Light, so that was weird; the paradox of being and not being was hard enough when he became human but this wa..."



As we celebrate Easter today, I ask that you open the blog post shown above.  Truly an inspirational piece, the author draws us in to think about Christ and His physical body.
He is Risen!  Happy Easter!  It is a time for rejoicing and renewal!
Live your AUTHENTIC LIFE!
Martha +x

So much to do, so little time!

Lakewood 400 starts tomorrow! 

The third weekend of every month is an Antique lover's dream,

if you live in the North Georgia area!

Furniture everywhere...

Shabby Chic and repurposed vintage finds....

A little bit of something for everyone!!

Hope I can get down there...I'm only 45 minutes away!

So much to do in my own two booths.

I may have to wait until next month to go back.

Hope you enjoyed these pictures from the Lakewood 400 blog!

http://www.lakewood400.blogspot.com/

Have a great weekend!

Live Authentically,

MARTHA

I'm a Magazine Hoarder!!!

I can't help it...there are several things I am drawn to.....

Sea Shells, Rocks, Old Books, Home Decor books, 
Fabric and Magazines!!!  

Last year I ran across one of the most beautiful 
magazines I had ever seen...

but every site I found it on, 
did not offer subscriptions to US residents.  

The magazine in question? 

Jeanne d'Arc Living....absolutely beautiful!  

There are several sites now that wholesale the magazine and

offer US residents an opportunity to have this magazine....

I have received two so far...the third one is on its way as we speak...I can't wait to see it!

I bought my subscription from 
Lori Miller of Round Barn Potting Company...

check out her blog...
she is a master of product merchandising!

One day I would like to visit her beautiful store..in Minnesota.....after the snow melts!

http://roundbarnpottingco.blogspot.com/

Here are some more pics from previous Jeanne d'Arc Living magazines....makes me drool!

 

I'm drooling...are you?

Anticipation.....can't wait for the mailman!

Have a wonderful week!

Martha

Repurposing At Its Best!

Something fun!  

While I am in the process of creating my 

new grain sack pillow business, 

I am also trying to put together a craft room / office.  

I recently found this old doctor's exam table at a local thrift store and just HAD to have it!  I forgot to take a picture of the before....but we put the outer covering back on it so you could see what it looked like!

 

My husband and son starting ripping and tearing 

and pulling out old tacks.  

Two layers of vinyl, and really old foam later.....

a perfect top to work with!  

I was so afraid the foam might have been glued down...

but yay...a clean top awaited!  

 

Still trying to decide what to do....

I can see there was a layer of green paint 

before this cream one...

I may just scuff it up a bit and go with it.  

As for the top, I'm thinking of some sort of modge podge project and a piece of glass! 

Lots of storage and a fun credenza to boot!

I'll share pictures of the final project when I get it completed!

Things are moving along with my new booth at 

Gateway Antiques in Dahlonega.

I'll have more pictures to share soon!

Live Authentically,

Martha