Life as I know It

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San Luis Obispo, California, and South Bristol, Maine, United States
Author ~ Illustrator ~ Lecturer

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Some Remnants of the Past


I've always wanted an old gypsy cart, like this one that sat just inside the entry gate.


Dear Friends,

Thanks for your sweet words of encouragement! I love hearing from you and hearing about your families, your gardens, your cooking, and your adventures, too.

Last Saturday, I got to meet a few of you in person at the wonderful children's bookstore called Curious Cup in Carpinteria, California. Thanks for coming and for supporting Kiona's great community resource–a small, well-considered, independent bookstore.


The Green Vase is a small antique shop located in Arroyo Grande, California, which is near our home. The owner, Connie Cetti, has great style and flair.


The Green Vase featured this charming kitchen stool (I love it)

On Sunday, I got to spend a little time at the great vintage show Remnants of the Past created and managed by Judy Watkins. In years past, the show was held in the old barn at the Dana-Power's Adobe, a land grant homestead in the same family for over a hundred years.

You couldn't beat the ambiance of the old barn, but with their move to a bigger venue in the small city of San Luis Obispo, Judy and her team have done a great job.

After being featured in Country Living magazine, the show at the barn exploded and imploded–there was no way the small country roads and limited access could accommodate all the folks who wanted to attend. So Judy moved to the Alex Madonna Expo Center (yes, as in Madonna Inn) just a couple of miles from our home. Lucky us.


I think this is an old washtub, which has been fitted with a fountain bubbler. Funkalicious!


The Girlshop had lots of unusual things, such as...


Bouquets of cattails with nests woven into them.


Another booth featured old garden tools, beach toys, and an array of frogs (flower holders). Don't overlook the sculptural qualities of these things. My girlfriend Jane Hogue has a smashing display of flower frogs mounted on a wall in her home.


Shopping the booths.


Somebody has decorating courage, aka guts! These are a statement, but I don't know what the statement is, perhaps Fourth of July? Anyhow, they were cute.


I find it amazing how much blood, sweat, and tears the hard working dealers put into designing their booths.


I thought this was a pretty neat idea. The dealer used an old window to "frame" some botanical prints. Why not press some ferns and leaves, mount them on heavy rag paper, and do your own version?


Serendipity's booth featured some repurposed sinks filled with sculptural succulents. Serendipity is a great (and huge), idea-filled shop in Arroyo Grande.


Sometimes you had to peek behind things. This is a great, painted planter from Judy Sorenson of Sorenson Farms Antiques in Arroyo Grande. 


The big, well-designed outdoor booth-tent of Atelier de Campagne enticed everyone inside.


I am a sucker for those simple, ribbed tubs. They make such great display pieces.






Love these gorgeous French baskets

Over the Ocean's colorful accents and furniture would be a great addition to a beachy house.


Uh oh. How did I forget to write down the name of this dealer? I LOVE the Thornton's Ferry Social Club sign and could envision it in our Maine cottage.


And Judy arranged for some "celeb" appearances. We welcomed the creative Matthew Mead and Jo Packham of Where Women Cook, Where Women Create, etc. and shoot, I MISSED HER! She has been an inspiration to our creativity for decades. Come back Jo!



Ok friends, so now it is back to my manuscript, which I hope to finish in the next week or so. In many ways, it is tough to let go of the fictional world you create. The characters in my book have become like family to me and to my critique groups, The Cambria Writers Workshop and Kiddie Writers. Soon I will bid fartheewell to my young heroines and hello to a new chapter in my life.

Sending love across the miles,

Sharon

31 comments:

Vee said...

Oh that venue looks fantastic. One could spend hours wandering around. I'm wondering if you did snag the sign or if you decided that you could find a "social club" closer to your Maine home. Fun to see Matthew here instead of at Linda's where I usually find him.

Annelies said...

Oh how wonderful for you and maybe ( just maybe) I might be lucky enough to attend some day. But I sure enjoyed that you "took me along". It was so much fun!!!

Julie Marie said...

Hello Sharon... oooh, what a wonderful time you must have had, I love all of the goodies you have shown!... did you buy any of those darling cattails with birdnests woven in? I LOVE those!!!... how creative!... wish I could have been at your children's bookstore, it sounds delightful!... if you get that gypsy wagon, I hope you put on your traveling shoes and come visit me!... xoxo Julie Marie

jaz@octoberfarm said...

oh boy...i could have done some damage there! i almost bought one of those gypsy wagons to turn into a guest house and i always regretted no getting it.

Susan Freeman said...

What a fabulous tour ~ thank you so much! I would love to visit each of those spots. Since I cannot, I appreciate the inspiration!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

Blondie's Journal said...

What a wonderful event...sometimes I get overwhelmed by all the treasures, does that happen to you? I love the old gypsy wagon! How fun!

XO,
Jane

Anonymous said...

Sharon, the show looks wonderful! I love the cattails with the birds nest woven in! The gypsy wagon reminds me of the Wizard of Oz - My favorite movie-Thanks for sharing everything.
Martha Ellen

Unknown said...

Hello dear Sharon,
Thank you for the sunny day of flee market shopping!It all looks scrumptious! Keep us posted on the publication of your novel!
love to you and Jeff from the east!
Deb

Dog Trot Farm said...

What a wonderful venue Sharon, delightful eye candy. The wing back chairs would have been perfect seating for the Queen's Jubilee. I can't tell you how much I enjoy your books, have two on my nightstand, lots of ideas to share with my grandbaby Travis. Might you be speaking at any of our book stores here in Maine? Hugs, Julie.

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

Thank you so much for taking us along! I had such fun and I'm going to have to go back and "STUDY" each and every picture...
Have a FUN week,
Big Hugs to you,
Donna

the REAL girl said...

OH, I so wish I could have gone---I went to the last one and got to see Susan, but could not come to this one, but happy you were there!!! Thank you for the photographs....it helped to be 'virtually' there!
XO
Joann

Lemon Verbena Lady said...

Maybe the chairs were for Her Majesty for her Jubilee! Maybe not!:) You go to so many fun places, dear Sharon. Get back to that manuscript! xxoo Nancy

Lori ann said...

dear sharon,

you are a true gem and carpinteria was blessed to have you. i can't believe i missed remnants, oh well, next year!

sending love up the coast,
x lori

Thea said...

those blue skies! what a lovely day for antiquing! I sure wish I was there last weekend! xo thea

Judy said...

Oh Sharon, I missed you!!! Thank you for coming and I hope to see you next time. xoxo Judy

Susan said...

That's just what I needed this morning--and antique/flea market trip--Since it's a rainy week here in Seattle, I much preferred the virtual one you took me too!
I just love the antiques I've collected and like to imagine who had them before me, what kind of home they had, and were they as cherished as they are now. Thank you for a trip down memory lane, dear friend. XOXO

rebecca sweet said...

How has this fantastic looking event escaped me for all these years? This looks incredible and I am SO going next year - what a fun, fun place!!! Thanks for the heads-up, Sharon. Hope all is well with you! XOXO

Pat said...

When I saw those chairs, - first thought was "Rule Britannia" -

Your day looked to be brilliant - wonderful sunshine and so much to explore.

Now you have me running out to our pond and looking at the cattails - our redwing blackbirds like to build nests amongst them...

Dee/reddirtramblings said...

Darling, you've inspired me to run up to Guthrie to see what antiques I can place my hands upon. Hugs to you!~~Dee

Kay's flowers said...

The season is ramping up for the vintage sales all over. We have a few coming up here that I'm getting excited for. The tour of the antique show you went to was delicious. Will be looking forward to your your adult book.
Many blessings,
Kay

Nellie said...

Thank you so much for that antique shopping excursion. This is the kind that is much easier on my pocketbook!:) tyugina

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

What great places you visit. Always new ideas. Thanks for sharing. Hope the manuscript is coming along!

Donna OShaughnessy said...

Many thanks Sharon, it takes awhile to load all those ohots and I appreciate it so much. Tomorrow the old sink in our barn goes in the garden for my succulents!

Cher' Shots said...

Thanks for the great little tour.
'hugs from afar'

Diane said...

I would love a gypsy caravan like that it is beautiful. Diane

Pondside said...

What a great afternoon that must have been! I'd love to meander around a show like that one.
We are coming down off the wedding 'high'. I had a good laugh with the SLO branch of the family at the fact that I could tell them, from up here, about an event that you were at earlier this year. Small world!

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Sonia said...

Thanks for sharing ...on my next trip down to SLO I want to visit the anitque stores in Arroyo Grande...ran out of time last trip! Hope to get back to the area next summer!
Miss Bloomers

Bedroom furniture said...

Good day,
Some Remnants of the Past
Astonishing work! This is the type of information that should be shared all across the internet.

Vicki Boster said...

Oh Sharon - what a feast for the senses!! Such wonderful photos- I would love walking around those places-- my pick of the treasures----- the vintage French baskets! This was a lot of fun Sharon-- what a glorious day!!

I am in love with the children's bookstore-- what a lovely little place! And your antique store next door--- I'd have to stay away from there---- so many temptations!

A beautiful post--
Love
Vicki

Bernideen said...

So many great ideas you have shared!