LIBERTY ANTIQUES FESTIVAL - FALL 2015

Back in Phoenix, I enjoyed visiting the gang at Sweet Salvage, a chippy-chic, rustic fun antiques & vintage collectibles monthly pop-up shop, and occasionally, I would also attend the Junk In the Trunk Show - a bi-annual Vintage Market in Scottsdale. But here in North Carolina, when it comes to a vintage market event, I head to the Liberty Antiques Festival - which happens rain or shine! Unfortunately, it's rained rather than shined both times I've gone (back in April for Spring and this weekend for Fall) - but the die-hard antique collectors and pickers still attend... with galoshes, raincoats, canes and a buggy - (a few key Carolina wardrobe items I may needs to invest in!)

 The Liberty Antiques Festival is held just twice a year, with 400 dealers from more than 25 states, that pack a 100-acre farm near downtown Liberty, North Carolina. It's an adventure to dig through the past to find today's treasures from early American primitive decorative arts consisting of: 18th to 20th century furniture, paintings, pottery, glass, clocks, toys, military items, advertising memorabilia, decoys, jewelry, quilts, folk art - truckloads of antiques and collectibles, most all "in the rough." Here's a peek at some of what I was able to go through yesterday, along with my trooper of a husband Jeff...

 

 

As in Arizona, touring these charming rustic events can be a wonderful source of inspiration. The pic on the left was one of my fave vignette moments...

 

And although some vendors may be a bit 'grumpy' (as was this vendor above) most of the people are happy to share their back stories to many of the items they've collected to sell...

 

You can also be inspired by some of the vintage palettes like this lovely shade of green shown above...

This medium Greek Key concrete planter (on the right) I actually scored back in the Spring - and now I shifted it from the back deck to the front stoop for fall (pics to come!!) -- but they still had some others at the festival this Fall...

 

Not kidding when I said rain or shine!!

Below is a "birds'eye view" (click here for video) from the Liberty Antiques Festival, just this past Spring 2015 (but on Friday, which was also the last day of HPMKT)

 

 The north-east may have Brimfield, but the Liberty Antiques Festival here in North Carolina has been voted the Best Antiques Show in the Mid-Atlantic Region and it has drawn even famous Hollywood celebrities such as Julia Roberts and Bruce Willis! (read more about Liberty, NC here)

 And it's not that far of a drive from the Triad, Raleigh, or Charlotte...

 Liberty Antiques Festival info:

September 25 & 26 2015 

& Upcoming Spring Festival Dates: April 29 & 30, 2016

Location: Pike Family Farm - 2855 Pikes Farm Rd, Staley, NC

Event Hours: 8 am to 5 pm, Friday & Saturday

Admission: $7, Adults; children under 12 free

Parking: Free

Food & Beverages are also available - great for lunch!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by --

and if you're in town, today or next Spring, give this antiques festival a try!

 

 

Welcome Fall With These 14 Fall Inspirations

Summer officially ends today, and we're well on our way to shifting into the next season - probably the best of all seasons: Fall!! And this year, Fall will most definitely be extra special around here. Last year, Fall was a rush of flying out to North Carolina to find a new place to live, and head back to AZ to pack, then fly back to our new home - unpack and start getting settled in - the week of Thanksgiving, Fall flew by so quickly, we barely had time to enjoy it, but we are grateful for the move back east. Living here in North Carolina, we will really be able to take in natures beauty, with leaves changing color, the crisp fresh air and even family coming to visit in November (can't wait!!)  and I'm sure you too can't wait for all the goodness Fall has to bring. In case you need a little nudge to get you in a "Fall state of mind," here are 14 inspirations to get you started...

1. Bring the outside in with fresh cut Fall leaves - source 

2. Get your soup on! It's soup season! - source

3. Yay! Boots & Sweater weather!! - source

4. Go on a Fall bike ride - source

  

5. Must try: caramel apples from Donna Hays - source

6. Slow sip some apple cider, called a Jack Cider Cocktail - source

7. Have a Fall picnic in the park - source

8.Take long Fall walks - source 

9. Time to fire-up the fireplace! - source

10. Gather pumpkins!!! - source

11. Convert your summer she-shed into a pumpkin shed - source

 12. Welcome Fall at your entry - source

13. Slow down for a Fall drive - source

14. And have long talks out by a lake - source

 This weekend past, the hubs and I ventured off to a nearby park for a nature walk, and I can just sense it is going to be as picturesque as a Pinterest picture when the leaves start to turn...

Salem Lake Park in September - photo by (hubs) Jeff Davids

Thanks for stopping by and bring on the reds!!

Welcome Fall!!

10 Things To Do In September

 Before the month is over, and you end up at the end of it saying, "Now why didn't we do that?" or "I wish we would have..." here is a list of ten thought starters to kick off September and the fall season with...

Get your closet ready for that first crisp fall day - Use a simple garment rack (easy to find at HomeGoods!) to fluff and air out furs & coats.

Check boots for needed repairs - Update your wardrobe with a new bag for Fall.

1. Wardrobe Refresh - Layer the latest trends into your key essentials with a few consignment updates or thrift finds. Try a new nail color, lip color - or if you're really brave: try a new hair cut & color. Check boots and bags for needed repairs - or donate altogether. Try on jeans, sweaters and coats - replace as needed. Wash all fall scarves - but send wool ones, along with winter coats, to the dry cleaner to refresh.

Just moved? Clear garage clutter - purge, donate, and use totes for storage. If you have time & funds available - paint the garage & seal the floor.

2. Control clutter - Rather than try to find storage space for everything you own, rethink: if you didn't wear it or use it this season, seriously consider donating clothing or decor items to a church thrift store or a homeless shelter. Extra towels, sheets or blankets can be taken to an animal shelter. Include clearing out the garage, to make a warmer space for your vehicle this winter vs. digging out of the snow. After clearing clutter, consider taking some like new items to a consignment shop to sell - or have a fall garage sale.  

Soak & clean brushes to remove summer bronzers.

3. Check expiration dates - from the fridge, to the spice cabinet, to the pantry, to the medicine cabinet - and even cosmetics. Purge those summer pickles, last year flour to cold medicine, and stock up on cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, soup, tea and NyQuil. And while you're at it: clean hair & makeup brushes - good to soak in warm water & baking soda + air dry. 



 
A simple shift to shopping thrift can create a space that's light and bright transform to

dark and moody.

 4. Seasonal Decor - stash the fresh greens for harvest gold, shift from lighter weight cotton & linen to heavier weight velvets & knits and layer layer layer -- from throws to lighting. Replace summer baskets of shells for bushels of corks or pinecones, bowls of yellow lemons for red apples, and bunches of hydrangeas for branches.

 

Update builder basic white doors, or renew faded front doors - view more on my previous post at: Painting Interior Doors Black

5. Plan Paint Projects - Painting season is here: temps are ideal for outdoor painting (furniture renewal) as well as interior paint projects too. Want to dive into furniture renewal? Hunting can be just as fun: shop local and salvage discarded furniture finds at thrift and consignment shops. Now is also a good time to paint your doors & trim -- or turn that storage room into a guest room!

View 10 Striking Fall Colorful Plants to Grow In Your Landscape featured at homegardengreen.com.

6. Renew Gardens for Fall - It's time to pull dried foliage, spent flowers and trim trees. Start to downsize plant containers to store for winter. Refresh your curb appeal by giving the front door & trim a fresh coat of paint and flank the entry with a pair of mum filled urns or containers. Remove those cucumber vines, peppers and summer herbs plus cut back tomato plants to make space for hardy vegetables like broccoli, cabbage and lettuce. You can even plant bulbs now, such as iris, for next Spring, Aerate your lawn and seed now - watering once a day, 30-60 mins. for 2-3 weeks for a lush green lawn next Spring.

Bake an American Classic: Apple Pie, featured at SheKnows.

7. Get set to bake - You know all those recipes you pinned last Fall and Christmas season? Gather them up, print out 5 to try, check for ingredients, and plan time this upcoming season to bake them - Send breads as gifts, make pies for desserts, and bake cookies to give to neighbors. 

Have your HVAC system checked - you never know what hazards my be hidden.

8. Seasonal Home improvements - Plan ahead now before the drafts kick in: replace weather stripping at doors, replace damaged screens (before opening those windows for the brisk breeze!), change air filters, add insulation padding behind electrical switches, and speaking of insulation: if you have a room on your house that gets too hot or too cold, it's possible you may be in need of extra insulation in your attic. September is also a good time to plan getting carpets cleaned, before holiday guests arrive later.

View my 10 Fall Tailgating Ideas post at Hadley Court design blog.
(Go Gators!)

9. Plan outdoor entertainment time - From attending tailgate parties & picnics to your kids soccer game to flea markets, carnivals, and jazz festivals -- Disconnect: get off line - get outdoors and live... because if we have another winter this year as we did last year, you'll regret not taking this opportunity to get out in the fall - before you hunker down for winter.

 If you're in the desert, head up to the Red Rocks of Sedona - If you're on the east coast, plan a road-trip up the Hudson Valley.

 10. Travel - Plan to take a road trip - Explore your own state, take in the fall foliage splendor up the coast, go wine tasting in the country, -- and if you live in the country: take a trip to the City -- New York City! Besides the many photos you'll take, pop by a bookstore to buy a book (about your destination) as a keepsake, and pick up a fall leaf to press in it - for a personalized souvenir of your trip.

I'm so excited for Fall! How about you?

Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome September!

New Day

New Month

New Chapter

New Page

New Wishes

New Hopes

New Dreams

Welcome September!

Winter & Spring seem to last forever -- While this Summer seemed to have just flown by!!

I know it's not 'officially" Autumn just yet, but something about September just signals a seasonal change!

Before you know it, goblins will be knocking on your door, turkey will be in the oven,  family will be visiting, Christmas trees will be trimmed, and we'll be toasting the New Year to come!!

 photo from LoveThisPic.com

I hope you have an enjoyable September

Thanks for stopping by!