Flea Market Style: Let's have a Party!!

Flea Market Style is hosting a neato torpedo flea market party. They want to see all your treasures you've acquired from your weekend flea marketing, thrift shopping, and tag or yard sales ventures. So, every Monday all participating flea marketeers are going to have a show and tell....why Monday's you say...well, most of us do our hunting on the weekends! These will be treasures that have recently been acquired or long-time loves...they want to see them all! So, hop on over to http://fleamarketstylemag.blogspot.com/2009/10/lets-have-party.html#comments every Monday to see who is participating and get ready to drool over some amazing finds. ....of course, you know the ShabbyVilla will be participating!

The QUEEN of Shabby Is BACK!!!

In January 2009 I was deeply sadden to learn Rachel Ashwell filed Chapter 11 and closed her Shabby Chic stores....to me it was a true indication that no one was immuned from the recession. But my blogger friends....the Queen of Shab is back! On October 20th she opened the Rachel Ashwell Shabby Chic Couture store at 117 Mercer Street New York and still has the location in Santa Monica. And look at her new lines of furniture...spectacular!







I just wish I lived close enough to visit her gorgeous stores! Until I can make the trip to NY, I'll get my fix by buying her new book.

Hope you have a wonderful day...its a gorgeous FALL day here in Virginia!

Show & Tell...Some of my Favorite Things!

I'm in the process of purchasing a new home and occasionally walk around to see what will make the move or not....here are a couple of items I think are keepers. This transition from one home to the next will take some time since I will in all likelihood sell my current home (this is the house you see flashing when you visit our store...yes, its an 1885 Victorian Farm house, with a guest cottage, pool, potting shed, outbuildings all surrounded by 6 acres of gorgeous land) So, I'll maintain two homes for right now...YIKES am I crazy? But this need for a second home is being necessitated for several reasons which are somewhat personal and complicated...I will go into that another time. This has been a very difficult decision but one that I think will in the long run make my life more content. So, here are some items that I think will make the move:

I adore chippy paint so these will make the cut....


I also love pictures...I don't think I have a wall where you can actually see the paint...lol. Look at these pretties! The first two are hand painted water colors.I also cannot get enough of signs or advertisement pieces...the tea room sign is HUGE, probably 4 feet long. This pic really does not do it justice. The smokers sign I bought last weekend..I'm not a smoker but I just love the look of it...it used to be in an old movie theater. Anything with rust is typically a keeper as well. Look at this galvanized tote...I had the little grey flower pots and they just goes perfect with the tote don't you think?
I recently bought a slipcovered couch and half a chair with the most amazing light linen taupe color. Here is the chair that goes with it....do see the taupe in the fabric? The slipcovered couch is the solid taupe you see in the fabric color...both the couch and chair are in storage until my move.

Here are some lamps I've collected along the way...I also have some alabaster ones that will look incredible with my new sofa and chair. Other items...look at this vintage bookend with the Victorian woman at both ends! I bought it to sell but it still resides in my bedroom!

Can a girl have too many mannequins...my friend Kelli named her Maryann Margaret. Look at the vintage swimming cap...just FAB!

Love chalkware..these two plaques are so unique! I've never seen a set like these...I gotta tell you I have quite the collection of chalkware. Some will stay and some will go...
Barkcloth purse...YUMMY!

So, that's it for now...I'm working diligently every night to get ready for a show this weekend! Hope you have a great day!

To Sell or Keep?

Always the 10,000 dollar question.....I just brought home some treasures and I'm soooo struggling whether to keep or sell them....oh, I love them so much! I know many antique dealers that buy items because they know they can make a profit. Not because they love the items but solely for the purpose of making a profit. Okay, now don't get me wrong...I do make a little something on my items and really the money I make just goes to purchase items for my house. And I just absolutely love the thrill of the hunt. Its really a never ending cycle...buy something today and it will be replaced by something better tomorrow. So, the bottom line really and truly is that I only buy items that I LOVE....so, I thought over the course of a couple of days I would share with you some of these treasures....I'm still unloading so have a little patience..and keep in mind, I don't have them all nicely displayed because I literally just took them off the truck. Let me know what you think...these are items that I'm tittering on the fence with...to keep or to sell, to keep or to sell!! Let me know if you interested in any items...perhaps you can make the decision easy for me...lol!


Oh my...look at this adorable patio set...it would look just fantastic in a breakfast nook! AND the color is just wonderful. Has four ice cream chairs and a glass top...look at the swirly top!

This corner TV armorie is not old but it sure looks it...love the color and fading paint color and its just the right size to put in a bedroom or family room!

Doors swing open like shutters and then when your not watching TV they can close and VIOLA a beautiful piece just by itself...and you don't have to see the horrible electronics!

Now, this hunt board is the piece I'm really struggling with...again, its not old but it has such a great look...hand painted terracotta pots with geraniums adorn the front and side...top is green and distressed. So very pretty and functional!

Not the best pics but you get the idea....more to come! Hope you enjoyed the eye candy!

OMG~ I have a Dresser Fetish!

I didn't realize until I came home last night with a new (well, really old, but new for me) dresser that I have a fetish for hand painted dressers from the 1800s. Take a look at some of the ones I've purchased lately for my house. Dressers are just fantastic for decorating...especially in bathrooms, bedrooms. porches and sunrooms. Even though I have absolutely no room in my house for any more furniture I just can't stop buying them. But come on, this has never stopped me in the past so why start now...LOL...you can always find the perfect spot! Take a peek at some of my favs!

This little pink one sits in my doorway and is typically where I take photos of merchandise for the ShabbyVilla. Just love the pink roses and the door handles...YUMMY!

This black dresser, which resides in my bedroom, is very much like the pink one above but has a different painting style.

And lastly, I purchased this green dresser yesterday...aren't the pink roses 2DIE4...and the color just screams COTTAGE CHIC!

So...what do you think of my AWESOME dressers?

Psst....I have a secret in the upcoming months so stay tuned...it has to do with a big change in my life and in all liklihood will require me to edit some of my treasures...of course, if I decide to sell my treasures, I will offer them to you my friends.... see anything you like?

Dreams DO COME TRUE....

Yes, they do...go visit Jennifer at the http://www.theoldpaintedcottage.blogspot.com/ to see her year long home renovation....and what a beauty it is! Sometimes DREAMS do come true...yours can too! Now run off and visit Jennifer's big reveal and let her know the ShabbyVilla sent you her way...you will not be disappointed! Jennifer...congrats on your beautiful new home....you have something to be certainly proud of....

It was LOVE At First Sight.....

Yes~ it was LOVE at first sight! I was cruising an antique store and walked around the corner...and there she was...in all her glory...my heart went pitter patter...and right then, I just knew, she was coming home with me! Did I have room for her....NOPE...did I care...NOPE...instant love girls, instant love! Look at the beautiful BARKCLOTH with the amazing ROSES...yep, it didn't matter the cost..she had found someone that would treat her well and admire her for all her beauty. She now sits in my bedroom for those nights that I want to curl up and read a great book.....so comfy and cozy....the perfect ending!

OMG~ am I crazy or has this happened to you? Please tell me I'm not the only person in the world that has fallen for something and just had to have it!