With all the snow I have had time to play with some of my new "goodies" from
the shop, Chartreuse and co, in Buckeystown, MD. The offerings are a mixture
of traditional, industrial and modern vintage. If it's old and cool, it'll be at
Chartreuse. I started Flea Market Chicks about 5 yrs. ago as a way to justify
my "junking" expeditions. Little did I know that I would end up with
my dream job. Shopping the world over looking for one-of-a-kind vintage
treasures to share.

I have the privilege of belonging to a delightful group of creative women who
offer a once a month tag sale, in of all places....an 1900's dairy barn. As you
walk up the pathway, you are greeted by a cheery "chartreuse" door. Walking
through the doorway transports you into a "vintage wonderland"! Dazzling
chandeliers, opulent silver and scrumptious upholstery abound. Even now,
after being there for nearly 2 years, I am giddy when I first open that green door. Before I can even think about preparing (fluffing) my space to get ready for the
next sale, I MUST look around the whole barn (both floors) to delight in all the
amazing finds that the other girls have brought in. I am usually in awe of the
talent that surrounds me! It's one thing to search and find the perfect vintage
piece of furniture. Creating a vignette that makes you want to "move right in" is something else. These gals have a way of displaying their "wares" that astounds
me. Truly "magazine" worthy.

If I have peaked your interest...check out my website ttp://www.fleamarketchicks.com/ and click on the events calendar for more tag sale details.

As I have said many times before, I am in love, love, love with vintage paper. I recently ran across these spectacular rolls of gilded embossed vintage wallpaper. These rolls might be a little ragged, but yet they are still elegant and regal. Reminiscent of a time when wallpaper was hand-printed and embossed. Long gone are the days when hand-crafted was the normal production method. As I look at these french blue and gold tattered rolls I start to image the room that they adored. A dining room with 12ft. high ceiling immediately comes to mind. A spectacular crystal chandelier hangs above an ornate scrolling rococo style table. Velvet upholstered dining chairs surround this magnificent table providing comfort and "joie de vivre" at the same time. Many bottles of French wine and divine food have been consumed while friends and family have dined, enjoying both the company and the room. The most important question of all....what am I going to do with this little treasure?????

Lighting up dreary winter days...

As I sit here with my fourth cup of coffee for the day, yes I have caffiene issues, I look out my window to see gray dismal clouds. I know how important snow and rain are for the earth, but I have to say...they just bring me down. I look forward to the longer days of summer when the sun peaks through my shades and wakes me up.

This love of sunshine and bright spaces easily explains my love of lighting especially vintage lighting! I believe that every room should have a daring chandelier or light fixture from the past prominently featured for all to gaze upon! I truly believe that I have spent more on lighting my house than the actual house itself. Many is the trip/vacation that I have returned with an amazing fixture only to scratch my head in deciding if I have room to install it. Did I mention that my daughter's playhouse has a chandelier? Enough said....I'm a vintage lighting junkie! If we ever move, I'll have to buy at least a dozen fixtures to replace the vintage lights that will go with me to the next house. Ladies..."the fixtures do not convey with the house." You know what I mean?

This love of lighting lead me to design and create lampshades out of vintage bank deposit bags that I found in Roundtop, TX last spring. Standing in a muddy field, I saw a treasure trove of real lighting potential! The couple I bought the bags from couldn't believe I was going to try and make lampshades with the ratty old stuff. Hey, where there's a will, there's a way! I haven't found a challenge that has scared me yet....my favorite saying is after all, "How hard can it be?"