Patina White

british invasion

hello hello! i don't think you can throw a stick these days without smacking a magazine, tv or computer chattering about the upcoming "wedding of the century". century? really? that's a 100 years of expectations to live up to!

i recently experienced my own british invasion of sorts. that being country living...british edition. i could easily move right into any {1} of the pages of this eye candy filled publication. have yourself a little gander {below}.

keep calm & carry on...

originally created as a poster by the british during the second world war...it's popularity has exploded stateside. i too, am inspired by this catch phrase. my home sports a poster in a favorite shade of robin's egg blue shown {here below}...

and in my kitchen resides this postcard that recently found it's home in a punchy container of wheat grass {below}. i tend to think of them as words to live by.

i also happen to be very fond of the union jack flag. i love it in it's traditional colorway as shown {above} but also found this pillow {below} in tone on tones irresistible. which is why it now rests on my club chair!

something else i am finding simply irresistible these days is a newcomer to our household. after {5+} years of loyal service it was time to replace my beloved mini cooper. not an easy thing for me to do as it was my pint sized workhorse. just ask anyone witnessing me unloading her @ shady hollow. visual aid. think circus clowns pouring out of an itty bitty car.

but her "lil" sister is making the transition a bit easier. and though technically no longer a british produced icon...i am loving the british "wannabe" in our driveway. or in this case {below}..field. summer can't get here fast enough!

now i know i couldn't possibly hope to compare my british invasions with the likes of the nuptials to be exchanged in a few short days...but give me a 100 years and then we'll talk. 

cheers...toodle pip...ta-ta...{that'd be good-bye}!

easter greetings!

hello everyone...just a quick note to tell you happy easter! 

wishing you a day filled with faith,family & friends...

a frozen flea

hello show & tell friends! it's hard to believe but just {1} short week ago today this is what one of the first flea markets of the season in minnesota looked like...

and this is what was waiting in my garden {below} when i returned home. a b"icicle". note the little sprouts of green fighting to make an appearance despite the chilly temps!

yes...mother nature can really throw us a curve ball or two. ask flo of mel's diner her thoughts on snow the end of april & she'd likely give ya a spunky...

which leads me into one heck of a "pig pen". this gathering of recycled metal junkyard pigs {below} won't be flying off into the wild blue yonder just yet. they are gathered together inside a vintage wire catch all. ok. just a fancy way of saying trash bin!

junk roosters - big & small - are ready to strut their stuff @ the opening of shady hollow. i took a moment to pose with 'em just to give you an idea of the scale!

they are a small part of the wares that i have been collecting and creating to showcase in just over a month @ the grand reopening of shady hollow flea market. hey! incase you'd like to know the exact days we are open this summer....click {HERE} to be whisked away to my calendar.

until then...let's celebrate this earth day by thanking mother nature for keeping us on our toes. she's anything but predictable. now i hope that a nice warm front is the next marvel she has instore!  we've been waiting!

have yourself a wonderful weekend!

goldilocks & the {3} chairs

hey everyone! check off another W.i.P on the list! a rustic burlap bag + chair i showed ya awhile back have finally come together...making this goldilocks giddy w/ delight! read on for more of the fairytale.

{too much}. ok. i have to admit that this chair with it's quirky fabrics & play on patterns had me somewhat intrigued as is. i looked @ it on two separate occasions at our local thrift shop before springing the whole $7 asking price. 

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{too little}. i decided that the fabrics must go. i wasn't warming up to the idea of keeping them + had a vision that included something a bit more updated. a burlap postal bag i found awhile back seemed like an appropriate contemporary option. so i thought i would strip her to the bones & start over. i discovered that the original muslin back was pretty darn cool as is. and i was also tickled to find under all the layers of fabric, straw + batting a fantastic old grain-sack base!

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{just right}. like i said...i saw no need to do a thing to the back.{score!} the rustic tacks + tatty nature of the raw edges were perfectly imperfect. after salvaging the grain-sack for another project, i wrapped the original batting w/ the burlap bag. quick, easy & didn't require 1 stitch. just some duct tape. every handy-girl's reliable stand-by. 

 

i think mama, papa & baby bear would give me their paw's up on this one! for now...this fairytale ends with my "just right" chair tucked into the corner of another, larger W.i.P. otherwise known as my office. hopefully i will be living happily ever after in that room very soon. the fairytale will continue so be sure to check back again for more of this story!

onto the next bowl of porridge!

monkey see...monkey do! {a shadow of itself}

happy friday all! not so long ago i started a new category - monkey see...monkey do - where i draw from subject matter around me & do my own inspired spin-off.

well a favorite necklace from my collection happens to be behind the creative spark to reinvent a "shadow of itself".  monkey see...

a shadow of itself...the silhouette {below} provided the vision i needed. though i admired the turquoise i knew i could create something equally as interesting in another media.

with that...i did some metal-working combined with a vintage button + smokey hued pearl chain which brings us to the...monkey do...

i knew i would never part with the original...and this "shadow of itself" will be a hard one to put up for adoption. but share & share alike...i would like to think it will premier @ shady hollow's grand reopening in may. or possibly a shadow of the shadow?? guess time will tell!

wishing you a wonderful start to your weekend!

 

what i wore...easy rider

happy day everyone! the wheels of invention have been turning & i have a whole lotta of half-started {half-finished - sounds more productive} projects in the works but nothing quite ready to share. so how's 'bout a little what i wore segment to buy me some time? because there hasn't been a time yet that i have left the house half-dressed...though it's a distinct possibility the way "i roll".

aaah spring. that means one thing in our household. it's about time to break out the harleys. and since mine is sitting on the floor of the workshop in umpteen pieces...{seems hubby has his share of half "finished" projects as well}...i thought i could still look the part.

what better place to start then with a pair of dem boots. dem meaning old gringo {what else!} and topped w/ a layered bounty of garments + accessories. now back to dem boots. old school film here folks. these babies look like they fell right off the set of the american classic movie - easy rider. 

you probably have picked up on my love of a few key labels.

• old gringo boots. 
• 3j workshop tops. 
• and miss me jeans.  

so it won't come as any surprise that this ensemble is made up of all {3}. predictable. but i did throw a curve ball in there. a jacket by montanaco. a treasured gift from my wonderful in-laws. it's "tough girl" look is softened with velvet and ruffles. a rosy scarf helps too!

a light load of necklaces {only 3 today!} + my aviator sunglasses accessorize the get-up. those shades stir up memories of another classic tv moment, CHiPS. bill likes to call me "ponch" when i wear them as he thinks i bear a likeness to eric estrada's tv alter ego. now if i could just score me a shiny badge! 

so this easy rider will hop on her imaginary motorcycle. riding into the sunset to put the finishing touches on those project "halfsies". giving me the whole story to show & tell about! thanks for riding along...

make it a great day!

a walk on the green side

hey everyone! we are anxious for spring in the great northwest corner of minnesota. sandals are ready to jump into action. chirpin' robins are back. hubby takes 1st motorcycle ride up & down the lane braving the brisk air for the love of the sport. the yard could benefit from a "tidying up". {long winter...cold doggie paws means enter @ your own risk.} . 

all of which makes me so ready for fresh pops color. a trip to my favorite local greenhouse - bergen's - provided the much needed fix i was looking for. of course i had my camera in tow & wanted to share a few glimpses of my walk on the green side. 

1st snapshot inside the door...pretty in pink. {below}

the sheer size of their operation is more than impressive...have a gander @ the sprawling selection of bedding plants {below}

holy coly batman! i do believe they have a shade of coleus {below} for everyone's taste. and the way they are laid out was reminiscent of a patchwork quilt. love it!

hand's down the showstopper {below}. this lily's colors were over the top fab.

how's about a fern...or two...or hundreds?

a sunny side up here {below}

i'm a fan of succelents....

 ...they are so very intriquing to me. each one different & full of character. this one {below} is quite the "mother hen".

if you need a house plant....they've got ya covered. you may need a bigger home for one of these potted giants. 

this little pixie {below} sits under a gazebo amongst her very own nursery.

so make room in your garden for the fairies to dance! it won't be long and we will all have the pleasure of spending a little time digging in the dirt. i can't think of anything i'd rather be doing @ this very moment. especially when the first order of business outside is for me to take care of lucy's "business". the end result should keep me walking on the green side {safely} all summer long!

a big thank you to bergen's for colorful show & tell inspiration!