do you FREECYCLE???



Well, the weekend was pretty much a bust for me. I had such grand plans...the weather was going to be gorgeous...I was going to take in the Na-Da Barn sale and the apple orchard. Get a little yard work done on Sunday and try to scoop up some treasures at an auction.

But none of that happened.

(Ok, I guess I gotta confess...I need to ammend my previous statement. I didn't get to go to the auction I had dreamed about all week. I had to miss it. Along with a gorgeous dresser I had my eye on and about 1000 other things. But...I settled for a 3 minute stop at an auction I passed on the way home Sunday. But alas, all the goodies I wanted were at the very end and with bright sun and 86 degrees on a gorgeous fall Sunday, I was not waitin' around! So still, I consider the weekend a bust.)

As it always seems to happen, my plans came to a screeching halt when we got "the call". You know those calls...they usually come in the middle of the night and wake you out of a dead sleep. They are never, ever good news. I mean, does anyone ever call at 3am to say "Hey, you just won a million dollars!!". No, they are usually more along the lines of "someone is on their way to the hospital".

Of course, my call was the second one. My Mother-in-Law has Multiple Sclerosis, and she had a bad fall in the middle of the night. She was able to call for help, but it ended up she had 2 fractured vertebrae. Ouch. But she had a procedure that worked quite well, so she is home and feeling much better.

Today I am just out of it. I feel laaaaaazzzzzy. And that is so unlike me. It was a long weekend, to say the least. I am usually a go-go-go til midnight kind of girl.

So, I am cleaning to pass the time today. Deep cleaning. Closet by closet. Room by room. It is so liberating to get rid of "stuff". I am not a "stuff person"...so when I decide its gotta go...its gotta go now!

I just posted a few things on Freecycle, and it occured to me...I wonder if anyone in blogland does this, too?

Do you Freecycle?

Or have you even heard of it before??

Almost every city has a local chapter, you can find out by visiting their website...Freecycle.org.

I am always amazed how most people I mention it to give me this look like "what the heck is Freecycle???" so I thought I would share the love and tell you about it just in case you were one of those that just gave me the puzzled look with the head tilt that indicates you think I mean "recycle" instead of "freecycle". 

Freecycle is about find new homes for things...without sending them to a landfill. I give away the craziest things, and they always find a home. It takes minimal effort, I just post on the website what I am offering, and someone emails within minutes to say they would like it. Once I choose who it getting it, I give them my address and they come pick it up. It is out of my home and on to a new one! And to be honest, I usually leave it on my porch or in my driveway, and they pick it up before I even know it.  

So far today, I have given away 3 gallons of paint, a huge pile of wood scraps, 6 sweaters from last year, 2 purses and a bag of the lotions that come in perfume gift sets. Oh, and a garbage bag full of fabric scraps!

 Not bad for a couple hours of work. And the people that receive the items are usually so very grateful. Most are looking for things because they are out of work, or just can't afford things they don't "need" to buy. Some are crafters and like getting odds and ends for supplies, and I even have a local Playhouse that takes tons of stuff off my hands as we reno our house, like old doors, windows and paint. They use it for sets...it was so weird to go see My Fair Lady this summer and see our things up on stage!

Of course, I do give things to friends and family, and save some for our annual garage sale bash, too...but Freecycle is such a great way to go if you want something gone...pronto.

So, I just have to know...does anyone else out there Freecycle??

I just gotta know.

weekend ideas for my Chicago peeps...

It is going to be a gorgeous weekend here in Illinois! I can't believe it is going to be 86 degrees and sunny today! Hello?? October?? Where are you? I am in the mood to get out and about this weekend, so thought I would share a couple of things I am agenda for my local friends. (Or any of you that are ready and willing to jump on a plane and meet me for some fun this weekend!)

My weekend plans also include taking in an auction or two, a local small-town fall festival and of course another trip to the apple orchard!

So many of my Chicago customers were asking me at my show last weekend about the apple orchard in my area of Illinois they had heard of...and I promised them I would post about it so here is goes.

Ok, now I know there are apple orchards everywhere.

I have been to quite a few around my area. But if you are anywhere in the vicinity or Northern Illinois, you must...and yes, I mean MUST...take a day to visit Edward's Apple Orchard in Poplar Grove, IL. It is an apple orchard like no other.

The family that owns this gorgeous farm has been offered every decorating magazine spread known to man...but they refuse every one. They want to keep it 'local'....not too 'commercial'...and to be quite honest you can go there on a Wednesdday afternoon and every parking spot is full. I can't imagine what it would do to the feel of it if suddenly the country roads were a traffic jam because of their new-found magazine fame. I love that about this family. They are humble and gracious. And that is what makes people come back year after year.

It is a gorgeous country drive...I love all the pretty farmhouses along the way...but once I get there I am lost in a little dreamy wonderland for a couple of hours.

The first thing that comes into view when you arrive is the owners house. Isn't is dreamy?? I am so in love with it. Do you ever look at a house and wonder what it would be like to live there? Trust me, with this one, I do. I am a house-dreamer. I admit it.

It is officially my dream property. Gorgeous farmhouse. Huge barns.

And an adorable Golden Retriever named Ollie and an old truck that sits in the driveway. Seriously, how could you not want to move right in??

This apple orchard is part of family tradition around Northern Illinois. Families have been coming here for generations...but a couple of years ago it was almost destroyed by a tornado. The huge old barns were lost, as was the original famrhouse.

Not wanting anyone to lose that sense of tradition when they came out to visit, they rebuilt the farmhouse and barns just as they were, using as much salvage as possible from the wreckage.

Isn't it amazing they could rebuild??



I am always in awe of the inside. It is massive, and the way they reused the old barn wood was genius! Love the signs...but the best part is now there is a big window where you can watch them making the apple cider they sell. It is soooo good. Nothing like the cider from a store. It is like eating a whole apple. Pure love, I tell ya!

And these sweet ladies make the BEST fudge. I am sure it is some sort of sin to leave without trying a piece...or a pound. So worth every extra minute of the treadmill.

(On a design note, this orchard has the BEST light fixtures! I know, so weird to notice things like that, isn't it, but there are barn lights everywhere!)

This is the porch outside the restaurant. I loooove the light fixture.

There is so much to see...you can pet the goats and ooh and ahhh at their babies...and there are baby cows and pigs, too!

Or you can take a ride out to the orchard to pick your own apples to take home. There are even pony rides for the little ones!

Ooohh..my favorite part...make your manly-man husband feel like a total fool by making him stick his head through the turkey and take lots...and lots of photos of him! He will love it...I promise!

Oh, and I almost forgot the BEST part! There is nothing better than taking home warm apple cider donuts that they make fresh all day...and of course some freshly squeezed apple cider. And have you tried the Autumn Beauty apple yet? It is like candy. So sweet and fabulous!

So if you are out and about...perhaps taking in the Na-Da Barn Sale today...make the extra drive to Edwards...you will LOVE it! I promise!

Na-Da Barn Sale...this weekend!



I am so excited to attend the Na-Da Farm Sale tomorrow! I am busting with anticipation...I can't wait to take in the displays...see the gorgeous merchandise...maybe get a little Holiday shopping done early!

I can't wait to see the magic Anne Marie has worked in her barn! I didn't get to attend the spring show, but from the photos I saw, it is going to be fabulous!

Are you going???

Hope to see you there!

FINALLY! my cabinet is done...

Whew!!...when this past weekend came to an end, so did my 'show season' for the year. All I can say is...WHAT A YEAR it was!!

It was amazing...each and every show was a success because of you, my local Illinois friends. It was so fun to paint all that furniture, and see the faces and the families each piece went home with.

I cannot give you a THANK YOU big enough, really. You have no idea what it means to me to be fortunate enough to do this year after year. It is only because of you that this little adventure is a success, so from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

Now that the 'summer selling season' is past, I am taking a little time out for myself. Yes, I will be selling online very soon...so stay tuned for that...but I need a little time to breathe.

Gone are the 16-hour work days so I can meet delivery deadlines. Gone are the days of spending 3 days a week checking out every sale, auction and thrift shop I can find just to have enough furniture to offer my customers. 

* sigh *

I never know what to do with myself that first week or so when I find myself so...free. But, I have a long list of things to get done for myself, and I am soooo excited! I am going room by room and checking each task off my list.

First up?? My bedroom cabinet re-do.

Anyone remember a couple of months back when I acquired this cabinet??



It needed help. It was a terrible 1970s shade of olive green...and antiqued. Normally, I would love a treatment with green paint and a little antiquing...but you would just have to see this one in person.

Bad. Very bad, my friends.

And someone took out the original glass only to replace it with...

green. plastic.

What the heck??

*sigh*

The 1970s was a painful era in decor.

But thank goodness the original mirror was intact, because I love a mirror with a little wear to it.

 I shined her up with a little fresh white paint, distressed the edges just how I like 'em and gave her doors new life with a little chicken wire and a linen curtain.

In one giant leap she went from 1970 to 2010.

I love her.

Oh, and I apologize for my photos not being the best. I suffer from a severe case of "No Patience" syndrome. My sweet hubs tore cartilage in his shoulder at work last week, so I lost my furniture-moving partner. The patio was as far as I could drag it out of the garage by myself, and of course I couldn't wait for help...I needed the pics NOW so I could drag her into the bedroom and fill 'er up!

I proimise *pretty* photos when my bedroom makeover is complete!

I can't wait to move her into my boudoir today. She is going to be filled with fluffy white towels, extra sheets and pillows and old quilts outside our master bath.

Project #1 checked of the list.

Next up??

My guest bedroom needs a new look, so I am off to dream up a new design!

Happy Wednesday, my friends!