Reader's DIY

Robin Stanfield sent me the most amazing DIY. I just had to share.

Start with a console table...

Add a little faux orange snakeskin...

Attach with spray adhesive.

It's getting exciting isn't it?

And Ta Da!!!
Can you stand it?
Hurry, what can we cover with fabric??!!
This is what I need for a desk in my room.
Aren't you impressed?

Robin is a fantastic designer in town. If you need a little glamour in your life e-mail Robin: robinstanfielddesigns@gmail.com.

If You're Happy

If you're happy and you know it
Count your money

If you're happy and you know it
Count your money

If you're happy and you know it
Then your wallet will surely show it

If you're happy and you know it
Count your money

The Barn Sale was a huge success!
Thank you to everyone who came down to the beach to see us!!
Want to do it again in the fall?

(And yes, I am just kidding, it's not all about the money)

Dear Oprah....

Please don't leave me!!!
What will I do with myself from 4 to 5 every afternoon?

I have been watching you since I was 21. Back then I thought your name was O-frah.
Think of all the things I'll miss...

Book Club

Your favorite things...

Road trips with Gail. I have loved them all!

And your trip to Australia? Amazing!!

You rocked this dress!!
I would love one in blue..maybe turquoise or periwinkle...
That would probably help me weather my loss.

I do have to say I am really enjoying your new network.

My thoughts on OWN?
Your Behind The Scenes show is my favorite.
The Judds are just plain crazy.
Who knew I would like Shania Twain so much and I can't wait to see Sarah Ferguson.

I really don't want you to go, but if you must, do you think you could find me a spot on OWN? (And by "spot" I mean my own show) Thanks Oprah, for everything.
These last 25 years have been amazing.
xoSissy

Snacks &, Shopping - The Perfect Day

Don't forget...

Some items I am bringing to the sale....if I don't change my mind...

And these lamps... only a different - better shape. These are for sale right now on Etsy for $250. Lucky for you we weren't smoking crack when we priced our items.

And there will be some of this....
Hope to see you Sunday!!
Sissy

Fiesta Time

We all need a little color...

And even better if it is Mexican color.

Embroidery....

Fabulous textiles...

Layers and accessories.

Doesn't all the color make you want your own little piece of Mexico?

Lucky you! New in the booth - vintage Mexican dresses.

Hurry, they don't last long!!
Do they remind you of college?

P.S. Melissa, you left a comment on "Old McDonald had a Store" asking for some general shopping info and I want to answer you, but can't find your e-mail address. E-mail me at siskotte@ec.rr.com. Thanks! Sissy

Chair Recovery

I have a problem. Well actually I have lots of problems, but this is the only one I am willing to share with you.

I have been sprucing up a pair of these chairs for the big sale.
The problem?

Now that they are recovered I don't want to sell them!!

The butter soft white faux leather is just too good to be true.

They make me happy all over, but I have found it is much harder to make money when you keep everything. Oh, the dilemmas I face on a daily basis. What would you do? Keep? Sell? Make the price high enough to ease the pain of separation? Do you even find my chairs attractive?

Old MacDonald Had a Store

Sorry if you are getting this again. Blogger was down and when it finally came back up it thankfully brought back my post it had deleted but lost all my comments!! Bummer!!

I seem to be spending a lot of time in barns these days. Ann Schutte from Birds of a Feather, took me along on a little shopping trip yesterday and we ended up in some interesting and smelly places. I would tell you where they are but: 1. I have been sworn to secrecy and 2. Ann blindfolded me which made it really hard to drive.

Our first stop was a barn-ish looking building with a smell that could wake the dead..or make you think someone had died. Seems this store was right next door to a chicken farm. We were in the country, folks.

Then it was on to a real farm. Ann was most excited.

Here I am trying to concentrate on my shopping, but some of the other customers were pushy, loud and smelly. Of course I couldn't really blame them because they were...

Pigs. Yep, no kidding. Shopping right along side of us were good ole pigs and wild boars. Do y'all have nice shopping places where you live too?

A little negotiating while wearing my favorite find of the day, a faux fur hat. Very faux. I think Ann is still disturbed I actually put it on my head. Are you grossed out? It's O.K. I can't wait to wear it in the fall. I know it will bring me lots of joy.

Are you wondering what all the shopping is for? Well my booth, of course, but also for the big Barn Sale! Ann and Hooper are having a big sale and I am joining in.

Some of Ann and Hooper's stash.

The stool, the table, the tray..I love it all. I also love how they styled everything to look fabulous.

Me? Not so much...This is a quick picture after I unloaded the car and hurried off to pick up carpool. You'll have to come to the sale to see more...

And make sure to check out Birds of a Feather for more info.

It Takes a Village...

Remember this mirror? I blogged about it here and here. Quick recap: this is the Atoll Mirror from Ballard Designs. Last year about this time I decided to get one. One problem, Ballard had quit making them. After calling and e-mailing and having all of my readers call and e-mail they brought it back. (OK, they were working out some shipping issues and would have probably brought it back anyway, but I like to think my readers did all the work)

So you know I ordered one immediately right? Wrong. After going back and forth and agonizing forever, I bought a giant, fabulous, Starburst mirror from Wisteria. Loved it, but couldn't get the Atoll out of my mind.

picture from Shelter

Then Julie from Milk and Honey Home e-mailed me. There was an Atoll mirror at the Ballard outlet near her home for a great price, did I want it? OMG! Did I want it? Heck yes!! Can you believe how nice bloggers are? She picked it up for me, trusted me to send her a check and had her sweet husband drive it to my sister's house in Atlanta. Where it sat, seven hours away, torturing me. I was so close, but couldn't get my hands on it.

picture from Milk & Honey Home

So for Mother's Day I told my husband he didn't have to buy me anything. All I wanted was for him to find a way to get that mirror to Wilmington. And he did!! He called his friend Watson who has a business partner who travels back and forth to Atlanta. This man, who I don't even know, got the mirror from my sister (she drove it out to his warehouse) and brought it back to Wilmington. Watson delivered it to me on Friday. And guess what? It is better than I expected!! How often that does that happen? Yippee!!!

Sometimes it takes a village to get what you want.
Thank you to everyone who had a part in the Atoll Mirror Saga, it made my Mother's Day very happy!!

P.S. Can't wait to show you mine. It is going to hang over a desk in my bedroom. Now I just need to find the desk!!

Bat Chair Update

Thank you to all my readers who took the time to send me the scary info on bat poop. And I do mean scary!! After doing some research I was scared to death and afraid the bat chair and I were not meant to be. I was out in the country doing some other shopping and decided to stop by the barn and see if the chair was as bad as I remembered. I had also been shopping in a chicken coop the same day and I am easily confused and prone to exaggeration when being descriptive. Good news! Milton's barn was clean as a whistle, cleaner than my home, and no bat poop in sight. It was another chair from the chicken coop that was in desperate need of a cleaning.

So guess who came home with me? Doesn't he look good. A little polish, a damp cloth and a good vacuuming and he is almost good as new. And that's my vintage fabric that finally showed up from Canada. Isn't it great? Well it would look great if you could see the pattern a little better.
(please excuse the junky photo. Things are coming and going and piling up everywhere)

I also happened to find bat chair's twin....

Can you believe it? See it here.
It was sold at auction and I only missed it by 4 years!! At least that gives me hope that I can one day find a mate.

Don't Mess With Mama

Just to clarify, because there has been some confusion..I did NOT post the video of myself dancing. Do you know me at all? I didn't even know Bill was taping my dance lesson. When I first saw it I couldn't decide if I should laugh or cry. I decided to laugh at myself, after cringing, and was just thankful Bill didn't post a video of me snorting crack, beating the children or God forbid, paying full price for furniture.

Since Bill so generously shared a special video that he knew I would want everyone to see I wanted to return the favor. The only problem is Bill doesn't dance and I don't know how to download a video from our Flip. Not to worry, just in time I remembered Trash Bag Dad. Haven't heard of him? Trash Bag Dad is Bill's alter ego. He LOVES to dress up and play Superhero when he is at home.

Trash Bag Dad
I am so proud.

And in the future...
Don't Mess With Mom!!
xo Sissy