Seasons of Change ..

Sweet Magnolias Farm is going through a Season of Change ...

A Little ....

If you will ...

In the last few days Abbey and I made a very serious decision to close our 2 shops at Treasures N Junk Antique Mall.

Our Reason .... we live quite a distance from the mall... 120 miles round trip....

And at a nice round sum of $4- and up per gal of gas this began to cost us $200- just for 4 trips a month over there.

Which meant it really limited our ability to go over and work our shops to the degree and standard that is important to both of us.

Yestereday we placed a sale up of 30% off all small items (meaning everything but furniture) and the furniture some has been sale priced and others are still full price.

We were both sad to give our notice as we will miss the whole T&J Family... and I mean family because that's exactly what they are !

It's been such a blessing to be part of T&J for the 6 months we have been there and look forward to visiting on our annual shopping days in the future.

In the meantime we are making some decisions on where we will be offering our wares ...which of course will be much closer to home ...near Temecula, CA.

As soon as we find a new place to offer our wares we will keep all of our wonderful friends, aquaintances and customers up to date.

Thank You to all who supported our shops at T&J ...we are looking forward to the future and the Wonderful Blessings God has in store for us !

P.S. our offering will be available at T&J through approx. the 20th of April !

Romancing The Farmhouse ...

Every House ...Farmhouse or not needs a little softness and romance ..

A sweet feminine touch that gives the home beauty and fills it with the sense of scrumptious goodness...

Abbey and I have talked much about the subject of decorating the home and how times have so drastically changed...that now the Man of the home has become more involved in home decor.

It wasn't very long ago ..that the Home was the womens domain ..She primped and decorated it to her liking ..and the man of the home was glad to let her ..

We've gone back over the ages when in the 1800's floral wallpaper ..long draperies ..floral carpets and decorative furniture adorned the home ... and jumping ahead to the 1940's ..the home was filled with cottage florals and pastels ..Even the 60's and 70's all filled with flower power ...and neon and burnt orange ..still lent a feminine touch ..but as time has passed..life has changed and so has the idea that the woman adds the touches of femininty to the home ...

Oh I know for many of us ..we still have those awesome men in our life who aren't flower, lace, shabby, chippy, or pastel challenged like others I know. We are so blessed !!!

I personally feel a little feminine touch to the home ...bring a sense of peace, and gentle kidness and warmth ..that no other style or touch can bring ..and I'm so glad to have the feminine touch part of our home.

This last month ..I was inspired by all the Feminine touch gals out there ..that were creating their beautiful and lucious lace pocket pillows ..and I was spurred on by that creativity to create my own pocket pillows with my own design and feminine touch ...

Here are just a few that I've completed ..

Each One ...Custom Designed..Each one a One of a Kind ..

I just began listing the above pillows in our Etsy shop today ...Click HERE to enjoy our Farmhouse Finds.

Add a little Feminine Touch to your Home Sweet Vintage Home !

I'm linking up with Faded Charms ..White Wednesday

If you find you find your having trouble leaving a comment ... well my blog just has issues ...I'm in need of desperate blog help ... vintage Susie are you back from TX ....??? I need you !!!

Thanks for stopping in and feel free to leave me a convo. in my Etsy shop if you would like.

In the meantime enjoy my posts until I find a fix ...

Cottage in The Garden ...This Friday and Saturday

Looking for a somewhere to go ?

Wanting to head for the coast ?

Why Not make plans to take a Drive South this weekend ..either Friday or Saturday ...

And Spend the afternoon ...At "The Cottage in the Garden" A vintage Sales Affaire

Our Dear Friend Shirley Castellanos is hosting a very sweet Vintage Affaire on her beautiful property !

Several Artisans and Vintage Vendors will be offering their wares, both days 9-5

Christie Repasy of Chateau De Fleurs

Rita Reade of Mammabellarte

Lori and Jamie Martin of Two Wild Roses

Sandra Lee of Under the Sun with Me

Lisa Loria..bringing day dreams to life ...

Are just to name a few that will be offering their wares..

After Visiting and picking up some of your favorite finds ..take a drive along the coast and have a beautiful dinner at one of the restaurants along the coast line and afterward dip your toes in the ocean ...while the cool ocean breeze softly sweeps across your face and the mist in the air kisses your nose.

Be sure Say hello to our dear Friend Shirley ...and all the others ...we'll be busy here at the farmhouse working on new offerings for our next show coming up at the end of April ..More on that later !

More Vintage Girl Necklaces just added to our Etsy Shop

A Glimpse of Sunshine passed our way yesterday and gave me a small window of oppurtunity to get my newest "Vintage Girl" Necklaces photographed so I could get them listed in our Etsy shop.

You see it's been a rainy week here ...and it doesn't look like it's going to quit for a few more days ..so when I saw the patch of sunshine yesterday I quickly jumped to action.

10 of my newest "Vintage Girl" necklace designs are now listed in our Etsy Shop. Each one Custom Designed and Sweetly Unique.

These make Great Gifts for the Vintage Lover. Rather your looking for Birthday, Thank You, Just Because, or Easter and Mother's day are coming up.

Here's a sneek peek at the 10 of them and to visit each listing personall Click HERE to visit our shop ...

"Pearl and Rustic Charm" Vintage Lock Necklace

"Rustic Elegance" Skeleton Key Necklace

"Cross My Heart" Key Necklace

"Pearly Mae" Key Necklace

"Bathed in Blue" Key Necklace

"Spring Fling" Key Necklace

"Rhinestone Glamgirl" Key Necklace

"Fleur Bleue" Lock Necklace

"Auburn Rose" Key Necklace

"Heart of Gold" Key Necklace

It's such a joy to create these necklaces ...each one a true work of the heart. I have a few favorites I wear myself and Inevitably each time I wear them I get complimented on how Beautiful and Unique they are. And that always makes my day !

Being Inspired by found objects and cast off pieces is truly a love of mine. I'm sure not to give up any time soon !

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"Enthusiasm is excitement with inspiration, motivation and a pinch of creativity" Bo Bennett

Change and Success ....

Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally. ~David Frost

Success can be a beautiful thing when you love and believe in what you do !

Rita Reade and Christie Repasy are the embodiment of that word and to them more than they realize it comes Naturally just as David Frost so Beautifully stated

In the weeks after our Last Chateau De Fleurs Vintage Marketplace ..

Rita and Christie were faced with some trying decisions and new directions that were a must to be taken

Even with concerns, fears, and even a heavy heart they forged ahead and put their backs into a new direction, a new path, a new way and put all there vendors at the top of their list when making their decisions.

Chateau de Fleurs in 1 yr has grown into a beautiful Marketplace ..so much so that a new venue was needed to have it. Finding a place as quaint, Beautiful and Serene as Christies property would have been thought by many to be challenging as her home and studio are amazing ..

However these 2 strong, courageous women have forged ahead and found an amazing place to expand the marketplace in ..

Just off the 15 frwy .. 3 miles south of Temecula,

Where Beautiful Rainbow Country begins ..

Down the country road and under an Umbrella of Antique Oak Trees ..amongst a carpet of lush green grass ..where the breeze is lovely and the living is easy !!!

Chateau De Fleurs Will now be known as .. "The Vintage Marketplace at the Oaks"

So Mark Your calenders for June 4th and 5th, 2011

We'll see you all at our new home sweet marketplace home!

Need a Good Laugh !

Looking for a really good Laugh ...

Meet the couples of SOS Estates ....

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Dr. David Jeremiah ... he is the pastor of Shadow Mountain Church in El Cajon, CA Each week his Bible teachings can be seen on I believe the inspiration channel.

The Church has an amazing group of actors and actresses that create skits that parallel his teachings ..many times serious and many times very funny.

One of the actors and Actresses that do the skits that are truly amazing in my opinion have now created a series of skits to go with Dr. David Jeremiah's Bible teachings on Marriage.

AND

They are absolutely hillarious !

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE HOME PAGE OF SOS ESTATES.

At the top of the home page it says watch videos ...and there are 5 different videos to watch all hillarious !

And it's completely amazing how the same two people can so drastically change with each get-up they put on ...

You'll have a wonderful laugh I promise ...

A sparkling day at Glitterfest ...And the week leading up to it

Abbey and I had a Sparkling Day at Glitterfest ..

Which was such a blessing with the week leading up to it...

Our Sweet Scout, she's our 16 Yr Old Golden Retriever ..had a last minute medical emergency on Thursday afternoon.

Golden Retrievers are prone to many types of tumors, some cancerous and some not. Our Scout is blessed thus far to have non cancerous tumors. However the tumors don't always choose the best spots to grow.

One of her tumors began growing on her back leg. Right in the spot she lays on it. Well over time it contiuned growing and she continued laying on it and in time the skin wore thin ..and the tumor started to bother her and a week ago she bit into it ..

Some of the tumor protruded through the bite ..we went to the vet and our option was to take her home bandage the leg and hope the skin closed over it.

however by thursday the tumor had split the skin wider open and about the size of a baseball of tumor popped out. So we rushed her back to the vet. At this point our 2 options were surgery or to put her down. We weighed our options..being 16 she's well over a 100 yrs old in dog years ..However she has no other medical issues, she see's fine, hears fine, walks fine, Eats us out of house and home still ..she's just a little slower getting around and that's to be expected ..

We decided that if it was one of us even in old age we wouldn't opt to let someone die because of cost. So Friday she went in for surgery. The Dr. assured us her heart sounded great and he knew she would come through it just fine. Saturday while Abbey and I spent the day at Glitterfest Papa Fred picked her up ..and she's doing wonderfully.

She's walking with help ...and bright eyed. She was so happy to see Papa when he picked her up. We have had her and our other GR since they were 6 wks of age and they have never been away from us in all these years ..so we knew it would be stressful on her being away from home.

Her leg is amazing looking smoothe and Beautiful just as it was before the tumor grew. Of course right now she has about a 6 inch incision stitched up down it ..but with time that will all heal ..her hair will grow back and she'll be all better.

Rather Scout lives another 5 months or year or two ..whatever time she has left with us we are so grateful for ..and as far as the cost goes it was worth it. God Blessed the work of our hands Saturday at Glitterfest so that Scout could have more time with us and us more time with her.

I'm sure you have heard the saying "when it rains it pours" ..will that's the kind of week we had leading up to Glitterfest ..While scout was having her tumor issue ..the Seals in the transmission of our truck decided to not work anymore. Meaning we were losing transmission oil constantly. Being it is our only vehicle ...We had to find transportation to make it to Glitterfest last minute. We ended up renting a Pick-up truck from U-haul... since we could only rent it for 24 hours and had to pick it up Friday evening that meant we had to have it back Saturday evening and since glitterfest ended at 4 yesterday and we had over an hour drive home and had to unload etc ..I literally made it back to the uhaul center with 10 minutes to spare.

Everything worked out beautifully ...God provided in every way possible for us ..from bringing Scout through surgery ...to providing transportation for us ..To Blessing us at Glitterfest with a beautiful day and Beautiful people !

And Speaking of Glitterfest ...Here are pictures of our table that I was able to take right before the doors opened and everyone came in.

Abbey and I were thrilled with our set up for this spring show. Lot's of White's and Creams ..with just a touch of pink ...A Soft, Sweet Comfortable Farmhouse and Cottage table ..

The attendance yesterday was amazing to say the least ..the aisles were amazingly full, tables lined up 3 or 4 women deep ...for the first few hours ...and steady all day long.

We kept busy from open to close ...and I was unable to get around to get pictures of any of the other tables ..and outdoor spaces ...

All I can say is everyone's tables and offerings were amazing and if you haven't been to Glitterfest ...make sure to mark your calenders for October .

Thank You to all of our customers/friends...we appreciate your sweet words, we love chatting with you, and it makes our hearts smile to know the work of our hands adorns your home.

Lastly ...for those of you who missed out on getting our Glittered Roses..as we Sold out of them in the first hour and a half ..feel free to contact us directly to place an order for them, purchase them through our Etsy shop ..or Visit our Shops at Treasures N Junk to purchase them ..although they won't be available at our shops for a week or so ..as my little hands have to get busy making more to take over there as I literally took every last one I had to the show yesterday and you gals took them all home ...

Wishing you all a Beautiful week ahead ..Looks like a nice stormy week here in So. Ca. for us.

Sneek Peek ...Glitterfest tomorrow !

It's almost time ...

The hours are counting down to Glitterfest ...

Abbey and I worked on putting our display together today and will load our truck later tonight.

Here's a Little Sneek Peek ..

Join us at Glitterfest tomorrow from 10 to 4

click HERE for more info.

Would you like to be a Good Samaritan ?

As Abbey and I have been preparing for Glitterfest this week ..Japan has been heavy on our hearts...

As our hands work busily on beautiful pieces of artwork ..our thoughts go out to the Japanese ...as many of them now are left with only the clothes on their back ..if that.

Even in this econonmic downturn here in the U.S. that we have faced ..we are so unbeliveably forturnate and blessed ..

To know that tonight my bed awaits me with warm blankets .. that tomorrow when I arise I will be greeted to cupboards and a refrigerator full of food of my choice and liking ...

In Reality I have no worries, no Concerns, I am so blessed today.

It's such a joy to see sweet miracles like this sweet baby girl that made it through a tsunami and was rescued amongst the rubble ..what Joyous hearts her parents must have today ..!

We can all rejoice and help the Japanese by even offering up $1-.

I say a $1- because maybe that's all a person has to spare and maybe they don't even have that to spare but it's on their hearts to give it. Give what you can your heart will be blessed and God will bless you in return.

If you would like a Safe place to send your donation, a place that you can trust will do right with your donation and will help the people of Japan to survive the days, weeks, and months ahead and will be their to see them re-build ..then please make your donation to:

SAMARITANS PURSE

Click on Samaritans Purse above to be directed to their donation page.

Samaritans Purse Project..

The story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:30-37) gives a clear picture of God's desire for us to help those in desperate need wherever we find them. For 35 years, Samaritan's Purse has followed Christ's command by aiding the world's poor, sick, and suffering. We are an effective means of reaching hurting people in countries around the globe with food, medicine, and other assistance in the Name of Jesus Christ. This, in turn, earns us a hearing for the Gospel, the Good News of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Samaritans Purse is headed up by Franklin Graham

It's that time again ...Time for Glitterfest ..

It's that time again for the long awaited Spring "Glitterfest"

Abbey and I are working to bring you a wonderful variety of offerings ...

New Altered Key necklaces...

If you missed our wreaths at the Chateau sale last weekend ..we'll have a few available for Glitterfest.

Romantic lacey vintage Luggage ...

Altered Romantic high Heels and baby shoes....

of Course our Paper Roses ..this time offering them in Pink and White as well as our aged style and yes all of them dipped in German Glass Glitter ...

Our Farmhouse Romance Aprons...

and our Romantic lace Pocket Feather Pillows which we sold out of at the Chateau Marketplace...

Plus a few vintage offerings mixed into all the above and set in a fabulous display !

SOoooooooooooo why not join us Next Saturday March 19th in Santa Ana, CA ....click the Glitterfest Image below to find out more about it ..

We can't wait to see you there ..and remember the festival is only 1 day and the hours are 10-4....

Good Gracious What a Day ..AND Picts. from the Chateau !

Gracious What a day ...!

Well the day started out with me working on some new lampshades ..

Them I saw our sweet Scout , Our Golden Retriever out in the back yard chewing on her leg.

This being a bad thing because she is 16 yrs of age and has a large tumor ( non cancerous) on that leg. Well by the time we made it out to tell her not to chew on it ..she had broke the skin and the tumor tissue was popping on throught the broken skin.

So Being that this family works off of one vehicle and that one vehicle was being used at the time by Papa Fred and he was an our away, we had to call him to come home so we could take her to the Vet.

Well we made it to the vet and the long and short of it is ..that she's too old to have surgery so she came home with us and we'll be bandaging that leg from now on ..in hopes that maybe the skin will close back over the tumor and if not we'll cross that bridge when it comes..

However the Journey home was not lacking in it's own excitement. !!!!

While Abbey and I were traveling down a very busy 4 lane road with a very narrow center turn Lane ...The truck dies while driving it and being in the fast lane I luckily made it into the center lane. We frantically called papa fred ..asking what to do and while discussing that ..I tried to start it and WA LA ..it started ..so now we were off again and decided to take a back way home instead of the freeway for fear it would die on the freeway and we would be pulling a steep grade on the way home. Thank the good Lord we made that decision because sure enough it Died again and no less this time on a 2 lane road right smack dab in the middle of the lane ...!

Abbey and I directed traffic around us ..and eventually Papa Fred and my BIL came to help us ..but not before 2 nice Gentlemen stopped and helped us push it to the side of the Road. It's nice to know there are still "Gentlemen" still around willing to take the time to help. It Restores your faith in Human Kindness.

Well needless to say we made it home and the old truck will be headed to the mechanic tomorrow to figure out what in the world is wrong with it ... It's a head scratcher. It dies in the middles of driving it but starts back up 15 minutes later and you can drive it again ..I'll sure be interested to know WHY ?

So My Plans for the day and My Goals weren't met ... and I've heard it said before and have said it myself many a time ..it's a good thing that we don't always know what a day will bring !

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So I thought as I was sitting here unwinding tonight that I would share pictures of all many of the Chateau De Fleurs Vintage Marketplace Vendors and artisans from this last weekend .. Feel free to click on any picture in the slide show to view a larger version of the slide show.

The Shops are full once again !

Our Two shops at Treasures N Junk Antique Mall are once again Full !

Abbey and I took a Mega Truck Load to the shops yesterday and literally worked from opening to closing ..!

And Being that T&J's is closed on Tuesdays ...you'll be thrilled to know that everything in the pictures below is just as it was when we left last night ...So if there's a treasure you see you want and your local head on over to T&J tomorrow ....

In The meantime Abbey and I are beginning work on our next event Glitterfest which is March 19th ... Not this Saturday but the following Saturday.

I'll be posting more picts from our last marketplace and more on glitterfest in the days ahead ...

Wishing you a Blessed week full of Joy, Kindness and a Happy heart.