An Antique Flower Bucket Stand and an Inspiring Girl

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great week!

I wanted to share a few pictures with you of an antique flower bucket stand that I recently found.....

I was so excited when I found it, because I knew it was going to work great as an end table,

and would be great for taking product shots....

I love this color of blue....

I will show you the rest of the stand next week....

Also I will be featuring the shop I purchased it from very soon.

On a completely different note.....

I wanted to tell you a little bit about Erin, my sister's best friend from high school.

This is a picture of all of us at my sister, Liz's wedding....

Erin is the girl on the far right.

Erin and her fiance, Kevin entered a wedding giveaway on a news station in Montana..

Who ever gets the most votes wins a wedding package.

To enter the giveaway you have to tell why you would like to win.....

Erin and Kevin, have a large amount of medical bills, and haven't been able to afford to have a wedding.  Erin, suffers from lupus, she also takes care of her dad who suffers from lupus as well.

Erin is a very courageous and beautiful girl.

I was inspired by her attitude at my sister's wedding, you wouldn't have ever known she was a girl living with lupus.

If you would like to read more about the giveaway, you can do so by visiting 

the KPAX News site.

You can vote everyday and it ends April first (I am a little late posting about this)

When you click on vote, you can watch the videos.

I believe Kevin and Erin are #12

You can also watch their video, and learn a little more about Erin and Kevin.

Thank you guys!  

Lilacs and a French Fireman's Bucket

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great Monday!

I wanted to share a few pictures with you that I took of some lilacs I purchased from Whole Foods and my french fireman's bucket.

Most of you already know I grew up in Montana....

 Lilacs grow like weeds in Montana.

When I was a kid I didn't really care for lilac bushes all that much....

I thought they just looked like a plain green bush... 

Well now I think differently about lilac bushes...

I do however wish they would bloom all summer long, but I guess that is why they are so special when they do bloom.

I decided to make use of this bucket to hold the flowers.

I found this french antique fireman's bucket at the flea market for my shop.

I couldn't pass it up, as it is red...

Red is one of my favorite accent colors to use in my home.

This bucket has a handle at the bottom of the bucket, that made it easier for the fireman to throw water on the fire....

Since it has a handle at the bottom of the bucket you can't use it to hold flowers sitting on a table.

However it can be used as a vase if you hang it from something....

I chose to hang it from my orchard ladder and fill it full of lilacs.

I can't wait for my lilacs to bloom.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by.

I hope you all enjoy your week!

Take Care,

Maria

Roost Clock How To~Faded Plains

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are all having a great week!

I wanted to share some pictures of Andrea's wall clock with you today.

Andrea made a wall clock just like the Roost Clock I have above my mantle, and shared how to make it on her blog....

photo courtesy of Faded Plains

I couldn't believe how much her clock looked like the Roost Clock!

Don't you think she did a great job?

It only cost Andrea $27.00 to make.

photo courtesy of Faded Plains

To read more about Andrea's clock and how to make it,

head on over to Andrea's Blog,

Faded Plains....

I love Andrea's style, you will love the way she decorates her beautiful farmhouse.

She is such a talented girl, she can do anything...

(After just learning how to sew, she made slipcovers for her couch.)

I wish I could just sew a pillow : )

Faded Plains

I love Andrea's Shop too...

Faded Plains Etsy Shop

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Take Care,

Maria

The Antique Gardener in Sutter Creek, CA

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all having a great Monday.

I wanted to introduce you to my talented friend, Aimee Peterson.

Aimee owns a shop called the Antique Gardener.

The Antique Gardener is located in Sutter Creek, Ca.

Aimee also recently started a blog, called The Antique Gardener.

It is a real treat to just visit Aimee's shop.

She carries a wide variety of antiques and plants.

You will find a wide selection of antique doors in Aimee's shop as well.

I took a few pictures of Aimee's Shop to share with all of you.

Aimee's shop is in the neatest old building, which I believe is over a 100 years old.

I hope you enjoy the tour...

This is only a small sampling of Aimee's shop and garden area....

Aimee sells a wide selection of Guy Wolff's Pottery....

an antique cupboard from Europe

a zinc topped chest

French lavender soaps.....

This pine cupboard is one of my favorite cupboards in Aimee's shop.....

I love the walls in this room....

I hope you enjoyed the mini tour of Aimee's shop and garden....

Aimee has also asked me to bring a few things down to sell in her shop....

Thank you Aimee....

You might find a few items from my shop while shopping at the Antique Gardener.

 If you happen to be in Sutter Creek, be sure and stop in, Aimee would love to meet you....

I hope you also get a chance to welcome Aimee into the world of blogging.

The Antique Gardener Blog
Aimee also teaches classes at her shop....
Spring Class Schedule
Aimee also rents out the garden for weddings, showers, and parties 
Weddings, Showers, and Parties info

The Antique Gardener

80 Main Street

Sutter Creek, CA 95685

209.267.5551

 p.s. I also found this mantle down at The Antique Gardener.....

I hope you enjoy your Monday!

Take Care,

Maria

Shelter Box

Shelter Box is an organization that helps save lives in time of disaster.

They provide emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it most.

If you would like to find out more about Shelter Box and or Donate you can by clicking on the link below.

Shelter Box


If you would like to read more about how For Japan With Love got started...
click here.... Ever-Ours

White Flower Farmhouse Winner.....

A picture of Lori's Shop, White Flower Farmhouse

Hello Everyone,

I first wanted to say thank you to Lori from White Flower Farmhouse  for taking the time out of your busy schedule to do an interview with me.  Thank you Lori,

 for generously donating a $100.00 towards the giveaway.

The winner of the $200.00 gift card to White Flower Farmhouse is....

Pam, from White Ironstone Cottage!

Congratulations Pam.

Pam said,

"I love Loris shop, I

would love to buy more from her love her baskets and ironstone"

xo

Pam

photo courtesy of White Ironstone Cottage

Pam has a beautiful home and blog!

White Ironstone Cottage

Congratulations Pam!

Thank you Lori!

White Flower Farmhouse Shop

Frugal Farmhouse Design Blog

White Flower Farmhouse Blog

I also wanted to say thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway!

Take Care,

Maria

Japan

a picture of our daughter, Nicole

Hello,

I just wanted to write a quick post today....

 I haven't been able to stop thinking about the people in Japan.

I can't imagine what they must be going through right now.

We actually moved to Japan right after we got married.  My husband was a horse trainer for a club called, Amaha Horse Club.  Our oldest daughter, Nicole was born in Kisarazu, Japan.

It was an experience we will never forget.  I will never forget how nice everyone was to us while we lived there.....

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the people in Japan...

Take Care,

Maria

Vintage glass bottles and a new puppy

Hello Everyone!

I hope you are having a great week.

I wanted to share a way to add a bit of color to your house.....

I love displaying vintage bottles, they add nice pops of color, especially to a mostly white house.

Here I made a display with vintage french wine blottles.

Bottles are a great way to add color to your home when you don't have access to fresh flowers.

I carry these antique french wine racks and vintage french bottles in my shop, however I also wanted to tell you that you can get vintage inspired mug racks for a great price at Vintage Station.... My Aunt Mickey's shop in Oregon.

They are really neat.

On another note.... I wanted to share  a picture of our new puppy, Rambo....

Remember when I posted about going to Montana?  

My dad sent one of his dantiff puppies home with the kids as a Christmas gift.

A dantiff is a cross between an english mastiff and a great dane.

He is definitely well loved....

Here is a picture of his dad, Bazzle.

Isn't he cute?

Hope you are all enjoying your week!

There is still time to enter my White Flower Farmhouse $200 Gift Card Giveaway.....

You can enter by clicking here....

White Flower Farmhouse Giveaway...

It ends tomorrow night at midnight.

Have a great Wednesday!

Take Care,

Maria