Yep, that’s me. Pretending all is well when change swirls around me in every direction. But I’ve always embraced change, so I’m good, right?

It is well with my soul.

How did the Shunammite woman whose son had just died say those words? So assuredly. So determinedly. So accurately. (2 Kings 4:8-37)

She knew that God was in control. And she knew God.

That’s where I believe I am now …walking by faith and not by sight. Clinging to the One Who loves me unfailing and has a purpose for my life…a purpose only He can help me find.

April 30, 2024 marks the closing of a dream come true. I’m saying goodbye to Burlap & Lace, and to be perfectly honest, it feels sooo good. Not in a way that I’m glad to be done with this business. No no. More like, I knew to do this a year ago but stubbornly held on. And God allowed me to do so. But not without consequences. That’s just how much He loves me. He disciplines me. To make me stronger and more sure of His voice. I’m thankful beyond words.

As I’ve sorted through inventory the past two weeks- selling some, donating some- I’ve had time to do things I haven’t had time to do in years because of how much time I spent on my business.

I’ve had amazing hours of communing with friends without rushing off to do ‘the next thing’. I’ve cleaned out my refrigerator! I mean cleaned out my refrigerator! I’ve cooked meals, gone out of town to visit family, heard some really good sermons, engaged in much-needed prayer, slept…and been quiet…and relished the breezes of Spring. I’ve planted flowers in the yard, worked alongside neighbors on community projects, sipped tea slowly and laughed with my bestie and didn’t worry that the laundry sat undisturbed for hours.

And now I’m preparing to spend the next two months holding new grandbabies in my aging arms and playing backyard games with my grandkids too big to carry. Life doesn’t just seem good. It is good.

I’ve been asked over and over what I will do now. Where will my creative outlet be nourished?

Honestly, I don’t know. And I’m okay with that! I feel a blessed calmness like never before.

But before I close this chapter of my life, I want to say to each of you who have journeyed along over the years…thank you for the memories. Thank you for the support. Thank you for loving me through the topples (some of them literal!), and thanks for inspiring me to be all that God has created me to be.

He is worthy to be praised. He made you. He loves you. He has not left you alone to figure things out. He is available to you. Seek Him. You will find Him when you search for Him with all your heart.

Until we meet again,

~Blessings,

Connie

Today is your Birth Day…the day God gave you to me and your dad. He created you to bear His image, and for a specific purpose…His specific purpose. I know deep within my soul that He gave you to me because He knew you would always be there for me… giving me Scripture truths to consider, holding me up when I needed a lift (both physically and spiritually),and being my JoyBoy for as long as you have lived on this earth (33 years as of today). How blessed I am by you, my son.

God knew you would marry this woman and have this child…the child who exudes your joyful personality and thereby warms my heart daily. And how we prayed for this “daughter”, joking throughout your high school years that we were praying you would marry a nurse to take care of you as you seemed to be accident prone from the time you could walk! And this daughter (now ours to claim also) is just that! A nurse with the highest calling … to be your wife and his moma. I breathe out my thanks daily for her, and for him.

God, in His ultimate creativity, bestowed His creative spirit within you…so much so that you now design, manage, plan and create for a company who notices your gifts and allows you to use them well. And again, I am thankful.

My son, the way you love and care for your own son makes me so proud. Through the love you share with them, I am so blessed.

And the way you love, care for and serve your wife? Well, you remind me of your father, and I couldn’t be more blessed there either. Thank you for loving her well, and for giving yourself up for her. Thank you for being all that God has created you to be…loving her and putting her needs above your own. Daily.

So here’s to you, my JoyBoy…on your 33rd Birth Day. Go – continue to be all that God has called you to me. And remember always that your moma is praying for you, and believes in you. I love you. Always.

~Moma

I’ve been reading and studying a book by John Eldredge titled Resilient. He got my attention with the first chapter when he said,” Mental fragmentation is one of the classic symptoms following trauma. Five minutes after brushing my teeth, I don’t remember if I brushed my teeth. I pick up my phone to text someone, and in the four seconds it takes to raise my arm, I don’t recall who I was going to text. I can’t stay focused on one task very long; I flit from thing to thing.”

I put the book down, staring blankly out the window across from my chair. He just described where I’ve been since June.

I thought I was suffering from sheer exhaustion. But because I tend to look at everything first through a spiritual filter (called the Holy Spirit), Eldredge’s words resignated deep within me. Not to mention his suggestion that the weariness of spirit I was feeling was actually an attempt by my enemy, Satan, to cause me to lose faith. And I was allowing the foothold he had gained to sap my strength. Eldredge suggested that the strength that prevails first comes to us as the strength not to quit.

I won’t spoil the good read for you (and I do encourage you to read Eldredge’s book) but I want to tell you that God is speaking to me directly through this man’s writings. Before I started reading it, I actually told my husband that I was worried that I was losing my faith….the very anchor of my soul….my saving, life-giving, keep believing faith.

I love Jesus with all that is in me. That I know above every other thing I doubt. So when my faith began to be attacted, I nearly panicked. “Your current emotional state – does it reflect your confidence that Jesus is absolute Lord of everything on earth, galaxies to governments? That his church is center stage, not the world? That Christ is going to get the final word?” , Eldredge asked. My gut hurt with my answer.

I began to realize that I am in this great big story that Jesus wrote and cast me in as a principle character, and yet I can’t figure out where I am in His story, or why He would even want me to be a part of HIS story! Knowing where I am in His story is critical for my survival, Eldredge writes. And my heart knows it to be true.

I’m still reading. I’m returning to my Jesus, weary of heart and soul, seeking and asking Him to revive me and to help me stop and get my bearings. I am especially asking Him to unfog my mind so that I can concentrate. And as I read His word, His story, and see my place in it, I am beginning a veryyyyy slowwww journey toward home again. I may be crawling, but I am returning and seeking the living water that will refresh my soul.

Eric and I are going to host a group in our home beginning October 10, 2023, meeting informally from 6:00 – 8:00. We will share a meal with you, share our story of why we are desiring this type of fellowship when so many other things are pulling on us, and we will pray and encourage each other not to lose faith….to find the strength that prevails.

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” I want to be fully committed to Jesus. Do you?

Come join us. I’m weary just like you. But let’s lock arms and bend our knees, asking and expecting the Lord Almighty to grant us this strength that He offers…to prevail.

~Blessings,

Connie

I think I’ve finally found the quote for my tombstone.

One friend told me (with a few explitives added), “Connie! You’re like a dog trying to lay down!!! ” What she meant was, “Connie, you change your mind and go round and round in circles without stopping to settle long enough to know if the place in front of you is the right place to lay down!”

It’s been true of me most of my life. I second guess my decisions, unsure if I am making the right decision at the right time. All because I don’t do the first thing first. Pray. Listen. Know myself. Know my passions. My God-given passions. And be okay with who I am. Because the world will adjust.

I used this stencil above the mantle in a space I had once. I outlined the words with tree branches and daisies. I loved it all. Nothing of it was for sale except the mantle, which I just parted with last week after years of hauling it around from space to space. Why? I liked it! No other reason was necessary. It made me happy.

These grandchildren are now my greatest passion. I literally thrill at time with them. Each of the four are uniquely designed and each of them has gifts and a calling from God for their lives. Ephesians 2:10- For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. My desire is to help these precious children be all that God has designed them to be by being all that God has called ME to be.

And so it’s no surprise that I’m not surprised… at my decision to keep my very small space open at Marketplace on Locust a bit longer than I anticipated.

I am a designer at heart.

A lover of people first and design second. Which is why being “me” means taking time with my grandkids, loving them and creating with them, and it also means spending time creating and designing home decor for Burlap & Lace.

With this decision comes the opportunity for me to bring in more upholstery pieces- items that are unique, one of a kind and detailed to suit the cottage and farmhouse appeal that has become my style. And at the end of the day? I’m gonna be the me that God uniquely created. And as the world adjusts to me being me, I know I can never have too much happy.

Thank you Ilse Tolles- you know all the reasons.

~Blessings,

Connie

This man, I love. And together with him we have built a life that we love. That life includes our children, our grandchildren, siblings and parents still with us. And to that point, a new day is on the horizon for Burlap & Lace.

After numerous injuries over the last three years, I have finally made the hard decision of downsizing Burlap & Lace with the end result being terminating the business altogether. While I am not sure when that end will actually take place, the process has begun.

This is where it began for me in 2017….a sweet brick and mortar shop in downtown Brevard, NC. Many of you will remember my days there, welcoming you on the porch of my shop. And over a journey of years and seasons, I landed at my stopping place, Marketplace on Locust.

Owner of Marketplace on Locust, Ilse Tolles, has completed the picture for me of what small business should look like. And she has done it so well that I have embraced my time in her shop for the last 4 years, thinking I would never leave. But with my last diagnosis of 2 spinal fractures due to overuse of my back, the decision finally had to be made.

Beginning sometime in April, I will downsize to a very small space at the back of Ilse’s store, with the idea being to phase out completely at some point yet to be determined. I cannot thank you enough for enjoying this journey with me through the last 6 years, and honestly for over 15 if you count the times I had booth spaces elsewhere before opening my own shop.

I am excited to discover where this transition takes me. And wherever that is, I know it will be good. Because all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose. Don’t you just love that?!? HIS purpose and not mine. Makes me smile.

Come enjoy my small space with me- still at Marketplace on Locust and open 10-5 Monday through Saturday.

~ Blessings,

Connie

My husband is a very smart man. He knows me so well, and when I get to the end of my rope, he knows how to grab hold and pull me back to get my footing stabilized again. Like now…

In my quiet time this morning, I was reading in a book by Kevin Deyoung, Crazy Busy, and stumbled (quite purposefully, I’m sure) across these words: “…busyness can ruin our joy.” He first described busyness as this, “…we are distracted. We are preoccupied. We can’t focus on the task in front of us. We don’t follow through. We don’t keep our commitments. We are so busy with a million pursuits that we don’t even notice the most important things slipping away.”

Ouch. Mr. Deyoung just described my life of late. And although the description was dead-on accurate, it didn’t make me feel any better. He had just put onto paper exactly what is happening to me at present….I am allowing my joy to be ruined.

This is how most weeks look in my world….a truck full of furniture and “fun” things heading into my spaces at the Marketplace on Locust. It is in this space of time each week that I am content in the moment. I love designing spaces that people can wander through, finding joy for their own day perhaps by being in a place that offers smiles, friendship, good deals and lots of home decor items just waiting to be discovered. But when I get worn down, worn out and simply worn to shreds (due to my own doing/overdoing), my joy flits away as fast as it came. And then I go searching for how to create more time in my days….to do what I love to do.

Like baking – (and oh, by the way, take notice of that cake plate! I bought it from a vendor at The Marketplace on Locust!). I used to stop my “work” everyday around 3:00 and head to the kitchen where I would begin prepping dinner, making desserts and getting ready to entertain friends or family.

And it was never ONLY about the food! Notice the dishes those delicious goodies are settled on….items hand-picked from antiquing with my sister, or shopping on my own at thrift stores. I love a good find, whether I’m bringing it to the shop for you or taking it home for myself!

And then there’s that “other” thing I’ve come to enjoy…upholstery! I see fabric now as an opportunity to move my design skills to a different level. Not only do I like coming up with the perfect pieces for my spaces, but my brain starts flowing in colors, patterns and setting the perfect scene for you to come explore at The Marketplace on Locust. Which then involves shopping, which then leads to painting furniture to go with the fabric I’ve just discovered. The cycle of busyness is moving rapidly in a downhill motion, picking up momentum….

Until I head outdoors into our yard and catch a glimpse of a quieter kind of beauty. B-R-E-A-T-H-E. Breathe deeply child. You’re about to have your joy unraveled by all the things you love doing. And you. Don’t. Even. Realize. It.

Relationships are being put on the back burner. And for what gain? More fatigue? More money? More accolades of your creativity? More exhaustion of mind, body and soul?

That web was spun overnight in our yard. With one swift sweep of my broom, it was gone. All that hard work, yet some spider was suddenly homeless. (I know, just writing that makes me feel bad all over again.)

So maybe all my hard work won’t be swept away overnight, but….it could be. And then what do I have left? Broken relationships? Unmet friends? Bruises on my arms and legs from carrying furniture too heavy to be lifted by a little ‘ol lady (me)?

And his voice comes back to me, ever so gently…”It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, Connie.” And then I pick up my book from my morning quiet time and read: “Margin is the space between our load and our limits. Planning for margin means planning for the unplannable. It means we understand what’s possible for us as finite creatures and then we schedule for less than that.”

Me? Schedule LESS? (I need some air, a paper bag to breathe in, anything!) “Yes, Child,” my Father assures me.

The view was something I could not have planned. But I was still enough last night to notice it. And to breathe it in.

So here is my declaration, the way I purpose in my heart to get back to the things God has given me to do instead of doing all the things this world expects me to do….

1. Spend time with God daily. He is my life. It is because of Him that I have breath in my lungs and can create anything from a good home to a good booth space. And in my busyness, I have neglected the Giver of Life.
2. Spend time with the people I love….my husband and children first of all, because THEY are the first gift God gave me when He gave me the desire of my heart to be a wife and mom.
3. Spend time cultivating relationships I have abandoned. My parents, my siblings, my friends. They matter.
4. Write, write, write. Not because I think I have anything important that the world needs to hear but rather because by writing I often tell myself things I need to hear. I have pushed that creative and God-given outlet off the stove altogether (never mind putting it on the back burner!).
5. Keep creating the spaces I love with zeal and new insight, but stop letting those spaces “take on a life of their own”, as my husband knows all too well that I can do. When that creative outlet comes before the first 4 things on this list, I have flung my joy totally away. I crash. And others get caught in my spinning out of control. Nobody wins that race. But we all get hurt in the crash.
6. Last, I am giving up social media altogether. (It’s okay, really.) I have let other people’s comments (or lack of comments) drive me to places I would rather not admit that I’ve gone. I won’t miss my own rants, and truthfully, you likely won’t miss me! If you enjoy my blog posts, then subscribe at the bottom of this one. You will be notified whenever I write. And my writing will still include the pictures and stories of my time at The Marketplace on Locust, but I pray it will also include far more important things that awaken your senses to the hope we all have available to us by a life with Jesus as your Savior.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. But margin is important (that space between our load and our limits).

My load has become too great, and my limits have been met. I am turning back to the Source of my strength and my creativity. In that place, I will find again my joy in this journey. And be sure I will be sharing that with you.

~Blessings,

Connie

It was quite a year for us – 2021 – and if we are not careful, 2022 will take on sourness as we groan over Covid still lingering with us, having to wear masks, argue over whether vaccinations work or they don’t….and half a dozen other “worldly” things that take our attention away from the enjoyment of every day life.

Don’t get me wrong….I realize all too well that those things take our focus sometimes. But I want to encourage you to step away from the ho-hum drum of life, the anxieties of things you may have missed out on while quarantining, and step back, breathe a fresh breath, and find joy….in THIS year’s journey. To do so, I wanted to step back in time to last year in my own life, and share with you a few things that make me want to enjoy THIS year to the full. And in doing so, I pray you will take a stroll through your own memories of 2021 and look ahead to this year with a new anticipation of joy.

We were blessed to have our children and grandchildren come for a visit last June. We hadn’t seen them in two years, so you can imagine at their young ages what a refreshment this was to us! During their visit, our old dog wouldn’t eat….until our granddaughter figured she could hand-feed him and he would nibble from her hands. The trick for her was getting his food from the can that was nearly as big as she was! No worries there…she found a way. And I laughed at the sight of her.

Back at their home, they kept the moods light as they mused….Covid keeps us quaranatined and you and daddy can’t go on that date? We’ve got you covered! At home theater! And again, I laugh.

We all need to find some joy, some laughter and some smiles with all that is happening around us these days. Perhaps, like me, you just need a moment to remember what makes your heart happy…

God’s glory displayed in the early morning sunrise as I walked out my front door…

Hikes with my hubby….

I pray each of us will step into a new rhythm this year. May God give you eyes to see, ears to listen and a heart to love your way through every day He gives you.

~Blessings,

Connie

My husband is a very smart man. He knows me so well, and when I get to the end of my rope, he knows how to grab hold and pull me back to get my footing stabilized again. Like now…

In my quiet time this morning, I was reading in a book by Kevin Deyoung, Crazy Busy, and stumbled (quite purposefully, I’m sure) across these words: “…busyness can ruin our joy.” He first described busyness as this, “…we are distracted. We are preoccupied. We can’t focus on the task in front of us. We don’t follow through. We don’t keep our commitments. We are so busy with a million pursuits that we don’t even notice the most important things slipping away.”

Ouch. Mr. Deyoung just described my life of late. And although the description was dead-on accurate, it didn’t make me feel any better. He had just put onto paper exactly what is happening to me at present….I am allowing my joy to be ruined.

This is how most weeks look in my world….a truck full of furniture and “fun” things heading into my spaces at the Marketplace on Locust. It is in this space of time each week that I am content in the moment. I love designing spaces that people can wander through, finding joy for their own day perhaps by being in a place that offers smiles, friendship, good deals and lots of home decor items just waiting to be discovered. But when I get worn down, worn out and simply worn to shreds (due to my own doing/overdoing), my joy flits away as fast as it came. And then I go searching for how to create more time in my days….to do what I love to do.

Like baking – (and oh, by the way, take notice of that cake plate! I bought it from a vendor at The Marketplace on Locust!). I used to stop my “work” everyday around 3:00 and head to the kitchen where I would begin prepping dinner, making desserts and getting ready to entertain friends or family.

And it was never ONLY about the food! Notice the dishes those delicious goodies are settled on….items hand-picked from antiquing with my sister, or shopping on my own at thrift stores. I love a good find, whether I’m bringing it to the shop for you or taking it home for myself!

And then there’s that “other” thing I’ve come to enjoy…upholstery! I see fabric now as an opportunity to move my design skills to a different level. Not only do I like coming up with the perfect pieces for my spaces, but my brain starts flowing in colors, patterns and setting the perfect scene for you to come explore at The Marketplace on Locust. Which then involves shopping, which then leads to painting furniture to go with the fabric I’ve just discovered. The cycle of busyness is moving rapidly in a downhill motion, picking up momentum….

Until I head outdoors into our yard and catch a glimpse of a quieter kind of beauty. B-R-E-A-T-H-E. Breathe deeply child. You’re about to have your joy unraveled by all the things you love doing. And you. Don’t. Even. Realize. It.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Relationships are being put on the back burner. And for what gain? More fatigue? More money? More accolades of your creativity? More exhaustion of mind, body and soul?

That web was spun overnight in our yard. With one swift sweep of my broom, it was gone. All that hard work, yet some spider was suddenly homeless. (I know, just writing that makes me feel bad all over again.)

So maybe all my hard work won’t be swept away overnight, but….it could be. And then what do I have left? Broken relationships? Unmet friends? Bruises on my arms and legs from carrying furniture too heavy to be lifted by a little ‘ol lady (me)?

And his voice comes back to me, ever so gently…”It doesn’t have to be all or nothing, Connie.” And then I pick up my book from my morning quiet time and read: “Margin is the space between our load and our limits. Planning for margin means planning for the unplannable. It means we understand what’s possible for us as finite creatures and then we schedule for less than that.”

Me? Schedule LESS? (I need some air, a paper bag to breathe in, anything!) “Yes, Child,” my Father assures me.

The view was something I could not have planned. But I was still enough last night to notice it. And to breathe it in.

So here is my declaration, the way I purpose in my heart to get back to the things God has given me to do instead of doing all the things this world expects me to do….

1. Spend time with God daily. He is my life. It is because of Him that I have breath in my lungs and can create anything from a good home to a good booth space. And in my busyness, I have neglected the Giver of Life.
2. Spend time with the people I love….my husband and children first of all, because THEY are the first gift God gave me when He gave me the desire of my heart to be a wife and mom.
3. Spend time cultivating relationships I have abandoned. My parents, my siblings, my friends. They matter.
4. Write, write, write. Not because I think I have anything important that the world needs to hear but rather because by writing I often tell myself things I need to hear. I have pushed that creative and God-given outlet off the stove altogether (never mind putting it on the back burner!).
5. Keep creating the spaces I love with zeal and new insight, but stop letting those spaces “take on a life of their own”, as my husband knows all too well that I can do. When that creative outlet comes before the first 4 things on this list, I have flung my joy totally away. I crash. And others get caught in my spinning out of control. Nobody wins that race. But we all get hurt in the crash.
6. Last, I am giving up social media altogether. (It’s okay, really.) I have let other people’s comments (or lack of comments) drive me to places I would rather not admit that I’ve gone. I won’t miss my own rants, and truthfully, you likely won’t miss me! If you enjoy my blog posts, then subscribe at the bottom of this one. You will be notified whenever I write. And my writing will still include the pictures and stories of my time at The Marketplace on Locust, but I pray it will also include far more important things that awaken your senses to the hope we all have available to us by a life with Jesus as your Savior.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. But margin is important (that space between our load and our limits).

My load has become too great, and my limits have been met. I am turning back to the Source of my strength and my creativity. In that place, I will find again my joy in this journey. And be sure I will be sharing that with you.

~Blessings,

Connie

It’s a new day in your life….the life you are writing in invisible script. So how will your story unfold….today? For eternity?

I’ve pondered the same question, more since this pandemic began than ever before. For suddenly, I don’t go….anywhere! Or see….anyone! For this extroverted person, I have at times felt I was literally going stir-crazy! So I have decided to get back to some basics…things I used to enjoy but have stopped doing, and I also decided to learn some new skills during this stay-at-home time.

And what of putting some things of meaning in our lives?

The sign above is made from my dad’s old drafting board and then covered with the pages of an antique book: Tom Sawyer. Seemed fitting for me….between Tom’s story and that of his friend, Huckleberry Finn, I would say that I often think of my life as a huge adventure, much the same as those two had! And then I ran across this quote….and it fit. I’m hoping to hang this in our loft space when it gets remodeled (soon, I hope!)

If it’s in our home, it’s because it means something to me and my husband. I have been spending hours with Joanna Gaines’ book Homebody, drawing out one room at a time as we are beginning to remodel our home. The book is perched upon my great-grandfather’s old tool trunk, turned upright and nestled in behind our loveseat. The small sign is a reminder to me of two things: (1) that God commands us to be still (Psalm 46:10) and to know Him and (2) that my friend, Melissa Ward, took a chance on me a long time ago and invited me to set up a booth space within her shop. Thank you, friend!

So since we are home more these days, I decided to start learning some upholstery skills. This sewing stool was a gift from my parents upon my college graduation. As I tore off the old, fading fabric, it wasn’t without finally seeing the labor my mom underwent in upholstering it for me some 30 years ago! And she didn’t have the tools we have today, so indeed it was a labor of love! I hope to use it also in our loft space.

Another love I have is to refinish old furniture pieces to sell in my booth space at Marketplace on Locust in Hendersonville. That was my intent with this sideboard/buffet, but it may just stay at home with me a while longer!

Can you say that your home has always been a gathering place? Ours has been….from our family, to our son and his friends during college, to home group gatherings to neighbors stopping by. We miss those days, but truly believe “there’s no place like home”. Soon, we will get back to the gatherings. Until then, stop in and shop my space at Marketplace on Locust and start getting your own home space ready to receive friends and family soon too!

Years ago my husband and I put together this sign depicting places we or our kids had lived, or places we might as well have lived as we’ve traveled there so often. During this season in our lives, it felt good to paint it again and bring it back to life. And to give thanks for all those places, and the people that we met there.

We might be getting older, but also getting wiser! We have chosen to enjoy nature so much more during this pandemic time! Our oldest son built this birdhouse with his grandfather (my dad) years ago. And every year since he was about 11 (he’s 35 now!), we have hung it and had birds nest in it. This particular year, we watched the parents feed their babies nightly and were present to watch the fledglings leave the nest. Had we been in our normal crazy routine of life, we would have missed that! What have you witnessed during this time that you otherwise would have paid no attention to?

Except for the newly sprouting buds and those sweet chirps from the birds, we would have thought that Spring had passed us by. Sad to say, but in a way I always gauged Spring by my merchandise at Marketplace! It is absolutely my favorite time of year, and I missed not decorating there, but I chose to use the time to decorate and enjoy our home instead.

I’ve had my own struggles during this time….just ask those closest to me. But as always has been the case in my life, God has proven to be more faithful than any trial I feel I am passing through.

Businesses are beginning to open back up, and I have to admit there’s a part of me that is ecstatic and a part of me that is mournful of that fact. The obvious exciting part (if you know me, you get this) is to see people again and to get out and about. But the mournful part of that is not being able to hug them, and just be who God created me to be in that way. That part will come, but bear with me as I do my best to refrain that part of my personality. It’s just not like me to see you and not squeal and let a hug pass between us.

In the days and months that follow, I pray we will all be kind to one another, enjoy the smallest of moments as they come, embrace the one(s) we share a home with and don’t be afraid to offer up a smile. I’m looking forward to when we can be together again (so brace yourself for that hug!). Until then –

~Blessings,

Connie

“Settling in” is definitely something that brings a snug and cozy feeling to my heart, and that is exactly what I’ve been doing in the last few weeks of February at The Marketplace on Locust. As I have moved into a larger, one-room space, I am creating a one-of-a-kind, ever-changing space for you to come enjoy and to gain inspiration from. Every week will usher in fresh new ideas, inspiring vignettes of how you can stage your own living spaces and a surplus of home interior goodies – everything from furniture, to art work, to lamps and every imaginable piece of home decor. Let’s take a tour of the “firsts” that have been designed with you in mind!

Every home needs a desk….whether in a living space, an office, a bedroom or a loft….creating a space that is both unique and functional is important! This kidney-shaped desk is all of the above, complete with a bookcase built into the backside! Plenty of room for a computer, desk pad, calculator or whatever makes your office space “work” for you!

This coffee table is a re-purposed antique piece with so much character and charm that it barely made it into the shop instead of into my own home. Solid wood and tall enough to house beneath it a basket of throws for those cold winter nights or a magazine basket. Stack a few old suitcases beneath it for appeal and extra storage!

This charcoal grey table works well in place behind a love seat or small couch. Would make a nice server with space to house dishes and silverware within the cabinets and drawer. Or what about a TV perch? Use the drawer to store remotes and the side cabinets for those candlesticks you never have a place to store!

There are several antique trunks in my space this month….all restored and perfect storage as well as just pretty pieces to adorn any room.

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Spring is on the way so why not start thinking of ways to outfit your home with some of the beauty of the season? This antique basket of lavender is guaranteed never to lose its shine! Use it outdoors or in….And the cloche is a perfect way to transform your dining table or side table from season to season. Seen here with a few antique plates and some white birds to welcome in the season. And how about hanging these tin pieces filled with succulents on a porch or in a bathroom? These beauties will never need watering!

The vintage love in me just can’t help but come through! Try a dress form in a corner of your home and transform it seasonally to keep vintage appeal alive and fresh. Seen this month in linen white fashioned with touches of silver necklaces – all for sale! And this scalloped bookcase is meant to fold but has purposefully been screwed in place to avoid mishap! Just keep that tidbit in mind when looking….easily stores should the need arise! Don’t you just love the chippy patina!?!

Buffets used to be standard fare in homes “back in the day”, and they are making a comeback as more and more we turn to entertaining in our homes again. And even if entertaining isn’t your idea, these pieces are the perfect landing spot for an over-sized TV or for your music ensemble! This particular piece, however, is perfectly outfitted with dividers in the top drawer for your utensils.

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Seating options for your home and porch should include both style, fashion and comfort….so expect to always have a choice at Burlap & Lace that meets all three of those criteria!

Try styling a guest dresser with a vignette of vintage pieces perfect to delight the eye and entice the guest to a good night of sleep. This styling is brought to life within a vintage hat box filled with old gloves, an antique book, some greenery and of course, ironstone! You could even add fresh flowers to the bottle vase for your guest!

Don’t forget to adorn your walls with fun, interesting and decorative items! From this whimsical cow painting to the birds nest candle mount or the wooden arches or mirrored door, nothing charms a home more than a bit of wall decor. I try to incorporate a bit of architectural salvage accompanied with practicality in every room of my home. Unsure where to begin? Ask Ilse, the owner of Marketplace on Locust, for help as you browse through the entire store. She is a designer like no other and always ready to help you put together the perfect ensemble for any room in your home or office!

Mark your calendar for Saturday, March 28….the Spring Open House will be from 10-6 at the Marketplace on Locust and everything in the store will be 10% off! Can’t wait to show you what’s coming to the space of Burlap & Lace for that Spring event! Until then…happy shopping!

~Blessings,

Connie

Have you ever been standing, gazing into thin air, as if you were asleep?  You were very much awake, but in a trance-like state, focused on the enormous task before you and how little you felt you were accomplishing?  Possibly, you wonder why you ever began!

That’s where we find Zerrubbabel (now that’s a mouthful!). He had been having a conversation with an angel, and apparently, he had to take in what all had been told him….

“Then the angel who had been talking with me returned and woke me, as though I had been asleep.  “What do you see now?” he asked.

The angel and Zerrubbabel continued their conversation of what had suddenly become visible to the eye, and what it all meant.  Zerrubbabel had been given divine direction to build the Lord’s temple.  He must have become a bit discouraged that the work was extensive, and that he was laboring alone (or so he thought) to do the work set before him.  But the angel spoke to him….

“Zerrubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it…..do not despise this day of small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin….” (Excerpts from Zechariah 4)

Wow.  My take-away?  Don’t despise what the Lord has given you to do no matter how small it looks to you in the beginning.  He is surely working His purpose out in and through your obedience to Him.  And that is key….obedience.

So with that in mind, I have decided to focus on “smalls” in this blog….those seemingly insignificant pieces that adorn your home and work spaces.  The fact is, without those small pieces, the rest of your very large space would appear dull!  (Boy, that could preach too!)

At least once every day, you and I take an article of clothing from a hanger.   But how often do you and I use silk hangers???  These beauties are a thing of the past, yet every closet/home should possess at least one!  Why?  They absolutely will not wrinkle your freshly ironed clothing, they have nothing on them to snag or tear the fabrics you place on them, they work for any item because you can slip a pin into the hanger to hold a skirt in place….I could go on and on.  And oh yes, they’re pretty!  Suffice it to say, these are new and fabulous.  You should take one (or two) home with you!  Oh, and did I mention that they make great gifts?!

Let’s talk tissues….what has become of putting those much-needed items in a pretty shell to hold them?  These two are beauties for sure.  I really like how the one on the left shows through the color of the box!  But oh, those roses on the right….

Who doesn’t need more storage?   These floral canvas tote boxes are ideal for the car, the closet or to put by a chair.  Guess what?  They will also hold a tissue box!  Just sayin’….

 I admit I’m missing my granddaughters more than normal today.  I’ve had several “Mimi”s come in today with their grandchildren.  These little enamel cups and bowls are the perfect size for them to enjoy “baking” or having a tea party with.  And the good news?  They can’t break!

Need a small gift to let that special friend know you are thinking of her?  This may be just the ticket!

These zipper bags come in four sizes and just as many patterns.  Perfect for carrying a cell phone, credit cards and keys in, or makeup in the largest size (it’s lined to wipe clean!).  Lightweight and pretty….the perfect combination!

 I keep a bottle of olive oil on my kitchen counter for easy access.  This holder would be a gorgeous accent instead of a plain bottle!  And I love that Biscuits Tin!  I had to ask my English friend what our equivalent to biscuits are….any idea?  How about cookies!

These etched sherbet dishes are the perfect size for a taste of dessert!  Lovely, yet practical….again, a great gift idea or a wonderful addition to your own kitchen collection!

Who remembers these potholders?  These particular ones are quite special because they are hand-crafted locally by a 13 year young man.  This young man’s grandmother saved old socks from when her children were small, made the dye herself and then crafted the loom for her children in their youth to use in making potholders themselves!  Her grandchildren are now reviving this past art with their grandmother’s help while having fun “going vintage” with me this summer!  Don’t miss that each one of these crafted items has a uniquely different design woven into it!  (And my personal testimony is that I have taken one home to use and wash…..all of which worked beautifully!  They are made from socks so of course they launder well!  Thicker than most, they also won’t allow a burn to the hand when using them.)  And again, a great gift idea for anyone on your shopping list!

The season is ripe for picking flowers to bring indoors.  Choose from a collection of vases and allow the beauty of the buds to enhance the use of the vessel.  And don’t let your imagination wane….anything can become a vase!

I often marvel at how well-thought-through were the older household items.  Take these silver encased glasses for instance.  The silver is not only attractive, but it holds the chill of the beverage!  The glasses remove for washing.  Yep, I’m tempted to take these beauties home with me!

Some small things are just plain cute!  Love all the vintage planters, and succulents are hard to kill so I’m liking these even more!

Thanks for considering the “small” things this week.  Drop by sometime and I’ll show you a few more of my favs!  Until then, remember that obedience to the “small” tasks God has given you matters.

~ Blessings,

Connie

 

I think it’s the flowers.  Or maybe it’s the things that remind me of the beach.  No, it could be the spring breezes turned warm under the heat of the sun.  Perhaps, just maybe, it’s a reminder that almost a full year has circled the calendar since I opened Burlap & Lace in its current location.  Let me just suffice it to say…..summertime’s calling me….and I’m listening.

I’ve come out to the porch to blog this afternoon, rain finally giving way to sunshine after weeks on end of deluge.  And the coolness of the breeze brings a surprising pleasantness to the day.  So I’ve snipped back flowers, tip-toed through the dandelions overgrown in the grass too wet yet to mow, and I’ve chatted with friends on the porch.  It’s a lovely day in every way.

This is my perching post today.  Why not come join me?!?  Check out the succulents and plants….all for sale at Burlap & Lace!  Think my scrabble wish for them to “grow up” will work?  Sure hope so!

Most of you likely dream of tides at the beach and flowers in the spring, but do you wake up having dreamed of how to use this tobacco bookshelf in a new way?  I did!  I think it would be fabulous on a porch with those garden succulents and inspirational books and magazines that make you want to sip lemonade and view your magnificent garden after a hard day’s labor!

I finally gave up on dumping rain out of my wagon and brought it into the dry.  And how neat that I can just pull it out when the rains stop!  Love these pinks with the red of the wagon….

Step into the cool with me for a minute and take a peek at these great chenille pillows!  What I love most about them is that they are made from bedspreads….so if they need washing, just slip the covers off and throw them in!  They come out just as beautiful as before!  These pillows are statement pieces for sure.

Stephanie is rocking it this month!  Her English style soothes the senses.  Come browse her room and see for yourself!

So much I love in her space, from the furniture to the smalls…..

Stephanie has displayed two pairs of lamps….ideal for any room in your home.  And don’t overlook these ladder back chairs….great accent pieces in any room as well! French Country never looked so good!

This wardrobe is my newest addition this week.  In near-perfect condition, it’s the perfect piece for the guest room that always needs more space, the bedroom that doesn’t like clutter (tuck it away in here!), or the kitchen/dining area….yes, you heard me correctly!  Hang those table linens, use the tie rack for hanging up odd utensils rarely used but handy when you need them; store that crock pot and other cumbersome items on the shelf and tuck away candles, cookbooks and other odds and ends in the drawers.

Take in the above shelf….perfect for the kitchen, the bath or the bedroom.  Small books will fit between the posts if needing a bedroom piece, and perfect for displaying the things you need daily like cream pitchers in the kitchen and toiletries in the bath.

When you’re all done browsing, come sit on the porch and take time to still your soul.  I may even join you there!  And until we meet again….

~Blessings,

Connie

“Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.  And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”  So  Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.  Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job…”

Read the whole account.  The book of  Job.  Forty-two chapters.  Ah, come on.  You’ve read far more books with more chapters than that!  And this story is fascinating.  Attack after attack come to Job from Satan, all allowed by God.  For what purpose?  To do Job good in the end.  “Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…”

Ever wonder if God may have said to Satan concerning you, “Have you considered my servant Ann, Joe, Bob, Sally (insert your name).”  The story, the whole account, makes me strive to be that someone that God allows to be sifted…..because He knows that though doubts may come to me with the trials set before me, there will be no denying Him….not His power, or His sovereignty, not his goodness and certainly not His love.

This past week has been that way for me.  Trial after personal trial….causing me to stop and listen to the Lord.  To know with all certainty that I am where He wants me to be, doing what He wants me to be doing.  The journey has been (and truthfully always is for me) eye-opening, heart-awakening, gratifying to be sure.

“Have you considered my servant….”  Ummmm….great question.  I challenge you to be someone to be considered!

Knowing that Burlap & Lace is a gift in this season of my life, one that I enjoy so much sharing with you, let’s move to the items here in the shop worth considering for your home, work and life spaces.

Mirrors!  So many here to choose from!  Many have been marked down so let your eyes linger over them for a moment.  And let me show you one more….So while you gaze into that mirror, consider some of the things reflected in it!  And then move on with me to the next consideration at Burlap & Lace …. furniture pieces!

One of my favorites is this bookshelf with leaded glass sliding doors.  Why should you consider this piece for your home?  Because it can literally go in any room in your home….as a bookshelf, yes.  But in a bathroom….imagine those rolled up or nicely folded towels on the open shelves and your more personal items hidden behind that fabulous glass.  And in a closet?  Tuck away the more personal items in baskets hidden behind the glass doors and put your shoes on the shelves!  And the kitchen….ah, “now I know where to hide the toaster and blender I seldom use” comes to mind.  And cookbooks on the bottom shelves, or your grandmother’s china!  Again, limitless ideas!

Newest addition to the shop is this amazing wardrobe.  Such a great find!

French country more your style?  Romantic cottage?   Then this is your dresser/buffet/TV stand!  Recently reduced to move it on out ….

Are you a bit more contemporary?  Traditional?  Look at these great pieces!  All reduced recently as well.

For the home, the porch, the bedroom, the office….bet I can help you style your home!  So let’s talk accessories now….there’s a sale going on through May 12, then prices return to normal….

Because there are so many smaller items here, I encourage you to drop in and consider it all in person!  (Besides, that way we get to visit!)  From your walls to your floors, porches to baths, get that imagination flowing.  And while you think on decor, consider that you just might want to be someone that God says of, “Have you considered my servant…..”.  Think on that today.  I know I am!

~Blessings, friends.

Connie

Home.

With this view, we honestly don’t need anything more, but my vintage soul simply loves to decorate so off I go on my hunt as we continue what has become our “constant” re-do project for the last 13 years!  And I want to share my finds with you, because I’m a huge believer in shopping local!

Let’s start with my finds from Gravy, located on Main Street in Brevard….This gorgeous antique table was a “stop, turn around, purchase” find.  We really haven’t started our bedroom renovation yet, but I know I want a sitting area in the corner by the window so I’m happy to start with this piece.  And interestingly enough, the lamp came from Gravy years ago (thanks Sandy and Alicia)!  Still a mainstay in our home.  The enamelware pitcher came from Country Creations….not just a florist!  And the pillows?  From Burlap & Lace!

I could be embarrassed to show you our rustic orange counter tops, but at least I’m working with them in this vintage-styled home!  I have tried so many utensil vessels and finally found this piece (also from Gravy).  In fact, some of the utensils came from there as well!

The last Gravy find of late was the sign (I actually purchased this one from The Tin Roof, but the artist has relocated to Gravy)….you really should check out this local favorite spot!

Now for more about Country Creations, located on S  Broad Street in Brevard.  Sheila McCall, owner, opened up booth spaces in her floral shop years ago, and I was blessed to have one of my first spaces there.  I make her shop a weekly stop as well, so let me show you why…Sheila has some amazing vendors.  The platter came from Stephanie’s Creations, the booth that is located in the window space there.  And to let you in on a secret, when my foot was broken, I was blessed to find Stephanie for so many reasons.  I began purchasing some of her painted pieces for Burlap &  Lace, as I was unable to paint myself for about 5 months and her style was so similar to mine that I couldn’t pass her work by.  (To be honest she paints better than I do!)  Stephanie will be bringing more of her English Style to Burlap & Lace beginning in May, as she will be styling one of the upstairs rooms for me!  Please stop in both here and Country Creations to see her work….I’ll be surprised if you don’t take a few of her pieces home with you!Underground Salvage is another “must go” stop and shop place for me.  The bench came from there….perfect indoors or out!

The door was another Underground Salvage find….perfect to cover a doorway in our home when company is visiting and we want to block off the bedrooms from the den area.  Still need to go back there to find the perfect hardware for the handle!

Now I want to move from my home to Burlap & Lace and let you see some of the “local finds” that you will enjoy when you come shop here!

 

Springtime has come to the mountains, despite those departing March winds that still want to linger!  It’s time to get your porch spruced up after the winter months….wicker is back in, in case you haven’t heard, and I have rocking chairs, settees and tables….all perfect for both your indoor and your outdoor spaces.  Toss a chenille pillow on the chairs and you’re set!

 

As those flowers start popping their blooms, be ready with unique vases on hand to receive them.  Enamelware always makes blooms seem more vibrant, as the white accents any flower.  Why not take home this most unusual twisted iron vase?  Inside glass tube comes out for ease in washing.

 

Just a few more ideas for your spring flowers above….and until they actually start their show, try a few artificial ones!

 

Spring also makes me think of birds, young love, porch entertaining and …. yes, another way to display those blooms! (Can you tell I love flowers?!?)

 

While setting your table, think of creative ways to display your cloth napkins for your guests and your dinnerware prior to and after serving….the above rack is an old record holder!  Another fun way to display is by using an old spring or garden rake….As you can see, shopping local can be beneficial as well as FUN!  Can’t wait to see you next time you’re out and about locally shopping  Brevard!  Until then,

~Blessings,

Connie

When anyone tells me to “pick your favorite”, I struggle.  I  have a LOT of favorite things!  And I just finished telling a customer how much I loved something she noticed in my shop, then I laughed and thought how egotistical that sounded!  But of course I love what is in my shop!!!  All of it!  That being said, however, I do have some favs and I thought I would share those with you today, as well as the story behind the love.

Let’s start with the picture above….sitting atop a splintered wood desk I placed a rusty grate I found on a picking spree.  When asked what I was going to do with it, I had no idea.  But when I found these succulents it all began to come together!  If you’re like me and don’t have much of a green thumb (I killed the succulents my sister gave me for my shop when I first opened!), try a few artificial ones.  They make much less of a mess and look so much like the real thing!

But I am a bit of a nut about live plants as well…..especially ivy cause it’s really hard to kill!  This old organ stool came from my grandmother’s house and I absolutely LOVE this piece. Maybe because of its memory, but I adore the chippy paint as well left from her artist days…

When I can combine antique with new, I’m thrilled.  Lynn Driver’s artwork keeps me happy in my little shop….and this bicycle was a special request she did for me.  How perfect that it has teal and pink combined!  Oh, if only I could find it a new home.  Maybe mine!

Honestly, I’m trying to find room in our home for all these favs!  The washtub stand would be so perfect on a patio with a bowl of ice and drinks, or a potted plant for those of you who can keep those real beauties alive and well!  And the bird pitcher and bowl …. what’s not to love about them both?!?

I found this antique spice box and fell in love with the patina alone!  What would you use it for?  I think (once again) some succulents, or to store jewelry in.  How perfect it would be for travel.

Admittedly, I have spent a lot of my life around gold pieces (I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s) and I have tried to get past it!  But for some reason, this plant urn called my name and I couldn’t resist it!  Paired with black it gives off a rather classy look, don’t you agree?  So I’ve added it to my list of favorites this month…

My husband says I could warm our home without actual heat just by lighting all the candles!  So I’m a natural hunter of candle holders and these two pair are just as different as can be.  The white ones are a light metal; the pink and green (my two favorite colors, especially when paired together) are ceramic.  So unique that I had to get both sets!

I forgot to brag on this beauty!  Wouldn’t you love to dine on a table with these lit up?

Candlewick glassware is my new favorite find.  I decided to pair these two pieces on a desk….one for paperclips and the other to hold sticky note pads and pens!  But maybe you would prefer using them in a bath to hold soap?  Or as actual dishes….the smaller round one for lime or lemon slices and the larger one for butter….or maybe put the round one on the oblong one and you have a chip and dip plate!  The ideas are limitless, and the candlewick pattern makes it a bit more special than plain glass, yet they match any decor!

Because I love books both to read and to display, I have a great collection here, held together on a desk by the innards of a chicken feeder (a rusty one of course!).

And before I continue with the pictures, let me go backwards a bit to say that almost without a doubt my favorite things will include the following:  flowers (especially daisies and hydrangeas), birds, books, rusty things, chippy things, glassware, baskets, candles and prints that tell a story.  So on with the photo gallery…. starting with….

Baskets and containers

Prints/art that tells a story

Flowers and chippy make a great combo!

I also love things that were intended for one purpose but work so great for another….

Old drawers make fabulous displays for your wares, rusty oil pans make great dish holders, an old tackle box makes the perfect jewelry box, a wine bottle holder gives your rolling pins or towels a lift, and an old washer is a great plant stand!

And pink….well, pink works whenever for any reason….because I love it!

My love of birds is evidenced here, there and everywhere!

More rust for you….old scales work great in so many places….indoors and out!

Sigh…..I think I’ll find a place for it all!

Come see why I love what I do and know you are the best part of that reason!

~Blessings,

Connie

I cannot lie….although the snow is quite beautiful and serene, the winter season  is the hardest for me, and this winter, in particular, has been so.

 

As you may or may not have heard, I broke my foot on October 2 and the healing process has been long and extensive but I praise the Lord that it IS healing….still!  I am now on a bone simulator to help speed up the process, and I am  in my second week of wearing two shoes!  (no more boot!).  What that wonderful boot did for me, though, was to cause other body parts to be sacrificed in their mobility abilities.  (That’s a tongue twister!)  So….I am now in physical therapy two days/week through March!

And just yesterday this was the sight in the front yard of Burlap &  Lace….the promise that Spring is coming!  And how like God to give me a PINK flower to boost my morale!  Pink is absolutely my favorite color (I know, so girl-like!), and I don’t mind showcasing it.

 

And with Spring comes what has become my “I can’t wait for it to arrive” moment…Vintage Market Days of Asheville!  And if you’ve followed me for long, you know this will be my third event there.  So what does that mean?

That despite 20 degree weather, snow and ice, I will be painting and getting ready for  March 16-18, 2018!And I will be hunting down the chippy, worn, rusted beauties to adorn my booth space….

 

AND, I will have pillows made from vintage linens….

 

And other rare, but handmade goodies from vintage chenille….

and then there will be the usual surprises in furniture  pieces, tableware, garden delights and so much more!

So what does any of this have to do with my expansion at Burlap & Lace?  And what IS the expansion I am talking about????

Beginning February 8, I will be opening on extended days and hours.  These will be posted on Facebook, but go ahead and plan on seeing me more in the months to come as noted here:

Sunday:   CLOSED    Monday:  CLOSED  Tuesday:  12:00 – 5:30    Wednesday:  12:00 – 5:30    Thursday:  11:00 – 5:30    Friday:  11:00 – 5:30  Saturday:  11:00 – 7:00

In March, I will be CLOSED for two weeks in order to be at Vintage Market Days and then to dress up the shop again to reopen.  Those two weeks will be the weeks of March 5 and March 12.

Now don’t worry…..Just follow me on Facebook and my hours will be updated weekly until after Vintage Market Days when I will land on a permanent schedule through the end of the year.  I still need time to shop for great finds, paint those great furniture pieces and wall art, AND change the venue weekly at the shop so that you nor I get bored!

 

Until we meet at Burlap & Lace, you’ll find me dreaming of warmer days and spending a lot of time sprucing up my garden room…..simply to delight my heart!

~Blessings,

Connie

Possibly the most frequently asked question about my business is…”Where do you get your things to sell?!?”  And my answer has become that of my late grandmother, “Can you keep a secret?”  I watch the customer, wide-eyed, slip closer as if they are about to hear the most wonderful secret in the world.  Nodding yes, I whisper to them, “So can I!”

Now, I say that not to be mean, but let’s face it….would you go into any other retail store and ask that question?  I think not!  But what I will tell you is that I shop and shop and shop to bring you the absolute best items I can find at the absolute best prices.  Which leads to my second most asked question….. “Why are you only open 3 days/week?”  And my answer is some rendition of the fact that in order to bring a new and creative look weekly, I take a day to shop, a day to paint and a day to re-create the rooms of this ‘ol house, which leaves three days to be open.  Because Sunday….is my time with my husband and a time to rest and refresh!

In line with all of that is the fact that not everything in my store is true vintage.  Much of it simply has a vintage appeal… in other words, I try to always have new items here as well (such as the paintings from local artist Lynn Driver) and gift items galore for all occasions.  Which brings me to my most current secret revealed.  (Lean in closer….you don’t want to miss this!)

It’s certainly no secret that one of my beginnings was in having a booth space at Country Creations in downtown Brevard.  I still shop there frequently for my own home decor.  I remember and appreciate the effort that vendors put into their booth spaces (myself included!), and I like to support those vendors in every way I can.  And while I do not make it a practice to consign other vendor’s wares in my shop, I do look for other vendors whose tastes are much as my own, and you better believe I will scoop up their wares whenever I can!

On one such venture into Country Creations, I noticed a new vendor had acquired a space there and I was immediately drawn to her work.  Much of it had a shabby chic appearance, some of it crossed over into French Country and Farmhouse styles.  But all of it was quality, and I was impressed.  So I began to purchase her items…..and I took her card, intending to give her a call at some point.

Weeks later, I was surprised when this lovely vendor actually made a visit to my shop!  She  introduced herself and I am sure I practically fell all over her in my excitement.  Fast forward a month later, and herein lies my secret revealed….

I purchased my first piece for Burlap & Lace from Stephanie’s Creations…and there began what I hope will be yet another lasting relationship for my sweet little business.  As I said, Stephanie’s work is quality, and totally in line with my taste in decor.  And while you can certainly also find her creations at Country Creations (and I encourage you to do so!),  you will begin to see some of her pieces here as well.

There are many things in this life that I consider blessings.  One is Stephanie Schuster, and God’s timing in bringing her to me.  Because as much as I love finding and painting my own furniture pieces, it is no secret at all that this season in my life (i.e. broken foot) has kept me from being able to do the shopping and the painting that I love so much.  So hats off to Stephanie’s Creations!  Let me show you her newest addition here… a gorgeous French Country chair….to use with the desk, or alone in a bedroom, sitting room, family room….why any room!

So as you shop at Burlap & Lace in the future, help me welcome Stephanie’s Creations to her second home in Brevard….and remember to shop her booth at Country Creations as well!

‘Tis the season….and I’m feeling generous, so while I’m on a roll I’ll let you in on just a couple more of my secrets….I love ironstone and I love linens!  So to be sure, you will find those pieces in my shop year-round…

I also love being in the kitchen at home….it’s where the best conversations take place and the sweetest things are made…. so items to help you entertain or simply just enjoy being in your own kitchen will always be found here!  While I really don’t enjoy wearing an apron, if I must..I will always choose a vintage one!  And why not have one for every season?  I have several Christmas ones to choose from here.

And glassware….these fun polka dot glasses are new….perfect for those before dinner cocktails, iced tea or any cold beverage!   And mugs!  I love my coffee and so I purposefully have a variety of different mugs to choose from at my house. Why not have the same here for you to choose from?  These holiday mugs are new as well….and quite special!

Next secret….(can you believe how much I am revealing to you?!?)….I love birds, plants and anything that has to do with the outdoors basically.  So again, these things will always grace the shelves of Burlap & Lace, and I will endeavor to always show you new and inventive ways to use/display them.

Last secret of the day is that I love thinking outside the box.  While you may see the same items in the shop week to week, you will rarely see them used the same way.  This vintage tree stand for instance…what a fun candle holder for your holiday table! And as Christmas ends but Winter lingers, why not replace the candle with a glass or globe and add some sprigs of greenery on the bottom and some pine cones within the glass?

Now, for some of my favorite additions this week…..

My grandfather, when he was living, made these as toys for my boys.  I’m not sure if they enjoyed them more or if we adults did!  They are button toys made from wood and string.  Come in and ask for a demonstration!  They make great stocking stuffers and are a fun diversion from the electronic toys of today (i.e. the only noise they make is the giggles from those using them!).

Burlap & Lace tote bags have arrived!  Great for tucking in your car and having as you shop!  Also perfect for books, travel toys and a whole host of other things….only 5 left so don’t wait to get yours!

My newest “fun” addition to the holiday kitchen is this dip sleigh….the elf is actually a cheese spreader!  Simply add your dip to the sleigh, put the sleigh on a white plate filled with crackers and you’re ready to entertain those hungry guests!

Got a grinch in your house?  Cheer him/her up with this fun sack wall or door hanging….

And just because Christmas comes and goes that doesn’t mean you have to put away all your decor.  This snowman is perfect for your door through the winter months and gives a hint of spring with that birdhouse….love this!

Why not keep a stocking on hand for that unexpected guest who is blessed to come to your home this season? And you have have extra blankets to warm you by the fire (and a tobacco stick ladder to hang them on when not in use?).  And don’t forget that architectural salvage pieces are always among the decor options at Burlap &  Lace….they simply bring an essence of time past back to the present day and make great conversation pieces for your family and friends who visit.

So I leave you with this….Spring will surely come, but until then, drop in at Burlap & Lace for daily surprises and much-needed peace during the busiest time of the year.  My prayer is that you will always feel welcomed here, and find a place of soothing relaxation for your soul.

~Blessings,

Connie

I’m taking a walk down memory lane this morning…counting my blessings and the many things I have to be thankful for.  I’ll start with the greatest blessing of all…..salvation through my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Because of His great love for us, my HubE and I can celebrate 34 years of marriage minus a huge, ugly burp in the middle.  But even with that burp stage (divorce), God faithfully restored all that was lost, and has made our marriage so much richer and sweeter.  I praise Him for that.

The birth of Burlap & Lace as a storefront occurred in March of 2017.  From its humble beginnings at the 500′ office space turned storefront to the amazing 1915 home it now embodies, the journey has – to this point – been far more than I ever would have expected.

From the receipt of my first dollar at the first space to my first dollar at the second space, it’s never been about the money, but more about the people I have met.  And for that I am incredibly thankful.

The name Burlap & Lace, if you recall, originated from the story of my sister and me.  (Read back on the blog for the story of that journey!)  To this day, you will find remnants of those items in the shop.  But as my youngest child likes to remind me, the shop will always be vintage-inspired because “Mom, you ARE vintage!”.  I smile at that truth.

And if you haven’t met my sister until now know that she has been with me throughout the whole journey, and I thank God for our friendship and love of everything cottage, farmhouse, antique, rusty and beautiful.  From ironstone pitchers to architectural pieces, we share a love for the very things that make our houses more into homes for us.

While you might not wear these antique boots today, why not stuff some flowers in them and use as a doorstop?  Pretty unique idea and you can change the flowers out seasonally!

While I definitely have vintage decor to choose from, I have introduced some newer items this season that would make fabulous gifts….

Wine bags….paintings by local artist, Lynn Driver…

Calligraphy wall decor, snowmen from vintage fabrics & buttons – both crafted by local artisans…. beer soap (don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!) and candles by Inglenooks Soaps….

Pillows and fun decor…..and still, there is room for the truly “old” vintage and farmhouse appeal as well….

choose from a variety of hankies, or a random ornament package…

Window buntings and kitchen Santas….

Fun kitchen decor (or go ahead and use these tree baking tins), and homemade signs by yours truly.

And for those of you who want to capitalize on the benefits of a year-end sale just beginning, let me whet your appetite with an array of Fall items and home decor items marked down 50% from the already reduced prices….

Linens… and lamps, furniture and decor…

And maybe just a little bit more….

See anything you like?  Capitalize on Small Biz Saturday and shop local!

And from my home to yours, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving…

~Blessings,

Connie

Christmas is a favorite time of year for me…..the smells of pine, fir and balsam as we tromp through the fields in search of the perfect tree… digging out the stockings to hang by the chimney (or from the banister)….searching for the perfect gifts to give….all of these things help to make the season one of remembrance for me.

Last week was a highlight at Burlap & Lace as I literally decked out the entire house (minus one room for my Fall Sale) in Christmas attire!  New items will be added throughout the rest of this month and next, so don’t assume you have “seen it all” from one week to the next!

Vintage, of course, is in play in nearly every room.  From the whimsical Santa to the elegant choirboy of the 60’s, and not forgetting the reindeer from the 50’s that light their way through the darkest night – you will find plenty to make you smile and to bring a memory or two.

Lynn has been painting for me again and I love showcasing all she has done!

As you think of decorating your own spaces this holiday, think of ways you can add whimsy alongside practicality….for instance, take in this green door that came straight from a local camp!  It’s the perfect addition to a bedroom to allow guests to hang their towels on.  And when not in use for your guests, throw a garland over the top and add a stocking for wreath to add decor and fancy to your room!  Even the vintage hamper is a great addition, allowing your guests to feel at home in your home this holiday!  Why should they have to stuff their dirty clothes back into their suitcase before their trip is over?

Need a hostess gift for the office party?  Why not choose from the items in the kitchen?  Lots of stemware, serving dishes and pitchers to choose from….

Need a different suggestion?  Why not choose one of these festive wine bottle holders?  No wrapping necessary!  Or pick a stocking and fill it with a variety of small items.  Wouldn’t that be a wonderful surprise for any host or hostess?!?

Holiday pillows add a touch of class to any location….from a bed to a chair to a shelf!

Pick a dress form and set it in any room for added fun!  This one is ready to serve you!  (By the way, there are numerous holiday aprons to choose from as well….fun to wear OR to decorate with!).

I would be amiss after all this “show” not to reveal to you the real reason I celebrate this season.  Jesus Christ…..who was “in the beginning” and came to earth in the form of man…with one mission…. to purchase my life back from the death sentence I had because of my own foolish ways.  Because of His death, he paid the ransom for not only me, but you as well!  And because of my faith in Him, I can claim eternity with Him as He reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords over all creation!  To Him be the glory….forever!

~Blessings,

Connie

So many things inspire me, but none like the known loves and passions in my life….(1) my love for Jesus Christ (2) my love for my husband (3) my love for family (4) my passion for creating & decorating (5) my passion for writing and telling a good story…

So let’s begin here…my passion for creating and decorating…  Though recently inspired by Joanna Gaines (truth be told I only learned about her and Chip this past January while inn-sitting and getting more than 5 TV channels!), my passion has deeper roots than this past winter.  Since I was quite young, I thought it “fun” to mess up my room in order to be made to “clean it”, which to me meant rearranging all the furniture, reorganizing the desk drawers and making a fun new creation to hang on my wall.  Call me weird, but these times of room cleaning at a very young age are among my favorite memories.

So let’s bring it closer to home…to today, or even this moment.

Sitting at my computer, I am blessed to be surrounded by  “a few of my favorite things”, and it hit me that perhaps all you need to inspire you in your own home is just that….a few favorites.  So let me help you get started!  See the pencil/pen cup?  My sister, also featured in the picture above, and I were doing one of our favorite things together…antiquing…and as we got up to the counter to check out, I spied that cup and asked if it was for sale.  “That thing?”, the owner laughed, then offered it to me for $1.00.  It boasts of pink, green and flowers….what’s not to love about it?!?  So now it has a new home.

I love architectural salvage, and anything dented and rusted.  So when I found this old money box, I thought it the perfect thing for my desk, with a picture of my sweet HubE perched on top and an antique frog for holding his latest “note” to me (yes, he leaves them daily with my coffee cup).

Often my finds just outright make me laugh…as was the case with this cow!  Found at The Tin Roof in Traceylee’s Southern Junkin Princess’s booth, both the picture and the pillows were a “must have” purchase.  My husband has worked in agriculture all his life…specifically with cattle…AND, his grandma had a pet milk cow named Bossie.  He totally understood my desire to add the photo to our bedroom, with our otherwise wall of family photos…

Let’s take a look at this picture…years ago I began a wall of my favorite photos….so that when I lay in bed at night, I see my family and remember….times shared  and how thankful I am for each person and moment.  The bench beneath is a “find” I actually tried many times to sell in my booth spaces of past, and finally decided it was meant to come home with me!  Someone had previously carved the word “meek” into its top slat.  Meekness (which was an attribute described of Jesus) means power under perfect control…a reminder to me of Christ’s power living in and through me.

Baskets beneath the bench hold books for my precious granddaughter…at a low enough height that she can sit on the floor and enjoy them, or bring them to Nana to read to her.  The spool is simply a decorative piece added, as is the grey wine box…also from Traceylee’s booth!  The bowl and pitcher were one of the few things I have left from  my childhood room.  At Christmas, it holds vintage Christmas balls!  A few of my favorite things…

When looking for pieces for your home, start with things you have and love and build from there.  This metal “wallflower” has been in our home some 30 years, inspired by my love of flowers, yes, but also my passion for metals and architectural pieces.  My husband’s grandmother used to collect pitchers, and while she must have had more than 5 dozen, I have only 5…and I use them all!  My coffee creamer goes in one every morning, and the larger milk pitcher I save for when we have guests.  And the vintage tins actually hold what they say….at an easy reach while adding a decorative touch to my 70’s kitchen.

Let me stop here to add this disclaimer…if you live in a 1970’s or 1980’s home, don’t think you have to shovel down to the bones to redecorate.  Start where you are, and add touches bit by bit.  There will be time and money down the road (after you save….and wait…and add anticipation…) to do a total makeover!  In the meantime, find what you can or must live with and build.  For example, I have orange counter tops, and while orange is not at all in my list of desired colors, I have found ways to incorporate it into my overall scheme while downplaying the fact that I have orange counters!  Such as adding touches of blue…

And even a dusty pink antique cookie jar, which pales against the orange.

My antique lamp, in white, doesn’t formalize things, but rather softens the color and draws your eye away from the o-r-a-n-g-e.

It also allows me to bring in a touch of something else I love…hobnail.  These glasses were found at a thrift store where I paid ten cents apiece for them.  They are now the perfect glass for me because the hobnail keeps my arthritic hands from sliding down the outside as it condensates from the cold liquid inside. I may actually get to keep these in the family for awhile!

I don’t really have a china cabinet, but my entry cabinet is the perfect storage spot for some of my favorite things….a wine decanter and glasses from my grandmother now sit ready to use at our home for communion with friends and family.  You will always find aluminum pieces at my home as well….they are quite useful and also make attractive decorating pieces!

Think outside the box….you’ve heard me say it over and over again.  I love to display pieces that make me happy, such as this table scarf and platter.  But we don’t have a lot of room, and we needed a place for our dog biscuits…so I just combined them all into one fun spot…just inside the front door for easy access and an attractive entryway.

My friends at  Southern Chicks know me well, both for my Burlap &  Lace store, and for my own home finds!  And they know, too, that often what I purchase for our home may one day end up in my booth space because I like change so much!  But this piece I may never part with!  It now holds my storehouse of china and glassware that I have accumulated since working at the Bed & Breakfast on Tiffany Hill…things I bought to entertain with in my own home after enjoying it so much at work!  And see the lamps?  Antique store finds at only $5 each, but without shades.  Trick of the trade….buy white shades at a thrift store (these from Goodwill for 50 cents each), then spray paint them whatever color you need!  I painted mine black to draw in the furniture tones in the den that offsets the entryway.  While I would love to paint every piece of furniture in our home, my husband (rightly so) puts a big “no” on some items, and we already had a lot of black furniture pieces so I decided to leave them and work with them… for example, in our guest room….

With all black furniture, I decided that this would make the perfect “architectural salvage” room…as both my boys love the same and I reason they will likely be our guests most often!  I stole the ladder idea from a friend of mine…then chose a family photo of us all and hung in black frames between the rungs.

This cedar trunk was left behind in my grandmother’s attic.  I was drawn to it because it had crackled white chippy paint on it…and check out those feet!  I LOVED this piece!  BUT, I wanted to use it as a toy box and wasn’t sure if it was lead based paint so I attempted to sand it off and start over.  Fail.  So I attempted to add stain to make it “worn” and just reasoned that I would leave the paint alone otherwise.  Fail again.  All that did was produce a very ugly creamy brown color.  So I did the unthinkable….I grabbed my spray paint cans of brown and black and went to work on this piece!  And I LOVE it!  Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?

I started Burlap & Lace by making signs…wall art of many descriptions.  My son, in college at the time, took hold of my love and began painting his own creations.  For a surprise, he left me this 3-piece tree to sell in my booth….NO WAY!  This piece is center in our den, and probably will forever be!  I simply added my own interpretation of window and stars to capture the “starry, starry night”, then splashed a few colored bottles around and called it good!  And looky there….orange is again brought into the scene, but toned down by greens and blues and yellows!

I hope you’re not tiring of my home tour, but I have a purpose.  Hang on…it’s coming!  Just a few more pictures & ideas to share…

Don’t be afraid to mix the old with the new!  I began buying silver platters and creamers for my son’s wedding, but afterwards decided they made lovely pieces in my home as well.  And the coke crate is from my husband’s grandfather’s store of years gone by.  I wanted to use it, but was unsure how until I needed a place for washcloths!

Baskets are everywhere in my home..you can use them for everything!   And while struggling to find something to use in our bathroom but not yet ready to tear out the sink and start from scratch, I came across this corner shelf at Southern Chicks and grabbed it up!  Weeks afterwards, I was in there again and another vendor had the same cabinet for sale…so I bought it for my booth so you couldn’t say I wasn’t thinking about you when I was shopping!  Two other things in this picture to notice…(1) the round enamel plate.  I love enamelware, and use it in every room; (2) the picture….I bought the frame years ago at Gravy in Brevard, but had no use for it…I just loved it!  Then years after I found this tin photo, just the size of the frame!  The picture made me smile…not sure why, but some things don’t need explanation to create a warm place in your heart.  So when you find something you like, something that makes you giggle or smile, perhaps it’s meant to go home with you…for a later time! Don’t be afraid to store some things away…the challenge is not to do so in excess!

I appreciate old wood…even discards that no one else sees value in.  This piece, topped with my prayer scripture for about 9 years, was the first piece I made for our home.

Try turning books backwards to show the worn pages instead of always stacking them with the binding facing outward.  This shoe form was a bargain at $3, but I didn’t buy it for the bargain it was….I bought it because of the name “Joy” on it!  What a reminder to me….

A garden planter becomes a holding place for my business cards and price tags…

A vintage ironing board sits by my rocker as a different sort of table, complete with a coaster for my morning coffee, a favorite picture of my boys-now-men, a lamp atop yet another metal box, and my mother-in-law’s table scarf to soften the overall look. The chalkboard was made by my son and framed in my grandmother’s discarded frame.  Now it is my morning inspiration spot, placing whatever God has put on my heart to learn or remember upon it.  You can’t see it here, but I have an insulator turned upside down to hold my chalk!  You will find those in my booth this month as well…

So to Burlap & Lace we go….here is that corner shelf I told you about!  And many items of silver (all for $16.95 or less….unheard of!), wood and insulators, as promised.

Baskets to choose from, and vintage tablecloths as well.  At $14.95 each, you won’t find tablecloths anywhere at this price!

This vintage table would be perfect in a bathroom makeover…simply add the basin (why not an antique bowl with the pitcher sitting beneath?) and faucets and you have a dreamy new addition!  Or if you don’t want to go that far in your redecorating scheme, do as I have done here and put this piece on a deck with ice and drinks for your next barbecue!

For a few more weeks you will find wedding ideas and items for sale.  But get them quickly because new ideas are in the making for mid-June to usher in summer’s sizzle!

Let me leave you with one last view of the booth …  hopefully to inspire you, but also to encourage you to start with that one “favorite” item in your home and begin to do what you have been too overwhelmed to begin up until now.  My motto?  Think outside the box!  If you see something you like but are unsure what you could do with it, email me or write a comment here.  I love a good challenge! And stop in to the Tin Roof to check out the other vendors as well.  Like me, you may end up with a good starting place just by finding a cow!

Laughter is good medicine.

~Blessings,

Connie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burlap & Lace will be ringing in the New Year in early January by designing “Spaces of Intrigue” in and around your home.  Every month in 2016, I will feature creative design venues as well as offer decorating techniques and tips, motivating you to re-purpose items in your own home that may have been neglected or discarded for way too long.

Not only will items be showcased here on my blog that are for sale at my shop (located in the window space at Main Street Market Shops in Brevard, NC), but I will walk you through my own process of Spring cleaning and renovation in our mountain home/retreat.  My desire is that we will enjoy this journey together, and at the end of the  year, we will have finished and delighted in many successful and fun redecorating endeavors.  I even hope you will share your own pictures and success stories with me!

To start off our journey into January, Burlap & Lace will be welcoming in the Bliss of Winter with ideas and tips for creating a fabulous and cozy kitchen and dining area.  Having put all of the holiday baking and festivities behind us,  we will explore ways to get our kitchens spruced up again and ready to welcome in friends and family throughout the coming year.  Not one of us will have time to give a glance to the winter blahs because we will be too busy having fun in our kitchens!

As you tug down the Christmas blitz and bling,  pull on those creative juices to look at your rooms in a whole new light as we approach 2016.  My suggestion?  Guard against the temptation to simply put everything back in order just the way it was prior to decorating for the holidays.  Let me help you tackle one room at a time to get a new look and outlook for 2016.

So take the next two weeks to simply breathe after the holidays, but get ready to push up those sleeves and duck your head into those kitchen cabinets with me.  I dare you not to enjoy this adventure!

Check back here around January 6th…. we will start with a window view into my own cozy kitchen straight out of the 70’s and see what can be done to add vintage charm and appeal and to gain an updated look….in your kitchen as well as in mine!  And if your kitchen has been recently updated, no worries.  There’s always room for some tips on cleaning out and reorganizing!

See you in the New Year!  Blessings to you and yours.

~ Connie

 

It’s official….Fall is upon us and the smell of molding leaves beneath my feet as I stroll through the forest mingle with the drops of rain gently falling around me.  Ummm….what’s not to love about this season?!?

So as October ushers in, this month’s booth is dedicated to the two men in my life I am most proud of, excluding my husband….my two sons, Britt and Mitch.  Both have October birthdays so it was only fitting to dedicate this month to them.  And both  have inspired me in ways that I hope you will visualize this month as you wander through my booth space.  From scripture quotes to rusty hinges, these things tell stories of my strong men and lend me to smiles every time I visit my own booth space.

As you walk through Burlap & Lace this month, you will see things that totally encompass these fine young men….from duck decoys to architectural books, saws and other odd tools to mechanical parts and all kinds of architectural salvage.  The cool thing is, though, these items make their way into any home if you just know how to use them!  So let’s get started on our tour and see what might interest you along the way!

Ok, so what’s with all the school items this month?  And of all things, an abacus?!?  Well, my oldest son is a math whiz, and toys such as this were not just toys to him growing up, they were building blocks shaping him toward the mechanical engineer he is today.  So don’t be surprised if you see stacks of books among the shelves this month!  They remind me totally of Britt, my oldest son.

While my youngest, Mitch, was not so captivated by reading the books, he certainly did show a love for design at an early age.  No wonder, then, that he is headed toward being an architect as he finishes graduate school this coming year.

Of late I have had opportunity to talk with my oldest about the days of teaching him to sew….yes, it’s a manly thing to do, especially if you are a pilot and totally self-assured of your manhood!  This old Singer caught my eye as the perfect thing to perch on a laundry room shelf, or to tuck right atop the stacks of books in your library.  The colors, though not obvious in this photo, are rich with the design of this antique machine.  What a talk-piece this is!

When my sons are home, there is always a pot of coffee brewing.  Some of our best autumn chats are around the woodstove, cups of steaming black liquid in hand (well, mine has a touch of cream added to it).  This changing table  has been renewed to make an adorable coffee bar for your home.  The front bar detaches, and I can so envision it with baskets tucked on the bottom shelves to hold coffee cups, table linens and so much more.  The drawer would be wonderfully fit with the old wooden silverware tray that you see standing up on the top of the bar…perfect for those spoons, tea bags if you are a tea drinker, or to hold sugars to sweeten the brew!

And those caps tucked into the drawer….baby ‘boggans for that child’s ears as he/she strolls with you through the carpet of leaves this Fall. These were hand-crocheted by Britt’s wife….and see how adorable on my precious granddaughter….

Nothing speaks of Fall like  Thanksgiving, and while we are more than a month out from that special occasion, I couldn’t resist getting the table started with these adorable pumpkin plates!  The rosebuds tucked inside the wine goblets (silver inlaid with gold) are napkins!  What a great display for your Thanksgiving feast!  And best of all?  These plates are plastic!  The kids can’t break them, so go ahead and enjoy them for many years to come!

I love the effect that shutters add to a wall….standing against a shelf, or hanging alone….and the wire rack you see behind the old washboard is an oven rack…but what a great backdrop for displaying framed pictures of your kids, or just as it is here….a unique display in a laundry room!  Add a few clothespins to the wire rack and you can attach photographs or love notes or even lost socks….the sky is the limit with this one!

These bar stools swivel for good coffee conversation!  Sturdy, distressed and waiting for you to perch with cup in hand!

This is probably my favorite addition this month….these shoe inserts with the pull out heel knob make the perfect hanger for a hand towel in the bathroom, or for a robe in the bedroom.  Secretly, I am hoping these don’t sell!  I would love to see them in my own home!

So what is it about me and feet this month?  When I found this cobblers shoe form with 4 shoes, I knew it was coming home with me.  I think it was the baby shoe form that grabbed at my heart strings.  Yes, it’s a bit rusty, but that’s the intrigue of it!  Again, this is  a piece that would cultivate conversation in just about any room, but I see it perched upon a stack of books.

And the milk glass goblet is something else I especially am fond of this month.  I would put it on my desk to hold pens and pencils.  How about you?

This cozy table would fit nicely in a corner where you need a lamp and a place to put your coffee cup.  The drawer is perfect to hold your glasses, a notepad or even your cell phone charger!

While there is a selection of books to choose from, there is also the coolest “book” shelf beneath them!  Made from real books, this is another “must have” to add to your bedroom or den.

Unique is this cup and plate holder!  The pegs actually have space to hold a platter above the cups.  Here, I have attached hanging candles to give some ambiance and glow to the dinnerware above, but rolled dishtowels would also work nicely in the upper basket.

Two of these stools stand proudly here this month….perfect seating for the workbench, drafting table or kitchen bar.  And check out the metal fall basket perched on top….I actually would use this in my bathroom on the back of my commode to hold toilet paper!

Don’t overlook these bags hiding in the window-front.  They are burlap table runners….perfect for your table setting!

From fan blades to old trunks (the black one tucked behind the blade), there are pieces just waiting to grace your home and bring a hint of salvage mixed with cottage charm….

And what about these racks?  With clothespins for pictures or napkins, make them a perfect “fit” in your home.

And there are at least 2 decoys here this month…one for each son!  Duck hunting with their dad has become a tradition….so if these don’t sell, guess where you will find them next month?

And what about that antique popcorn popper?  Bet you can still tuck it inside the fireplace for a crackling, yummy Fall treat!

This bench is begging you to have a seat!  Perfect for that Fall yard!

And as you walk out of Burlap & Lace this month, don’t forget to look up!

Even the screen door laced with branches and lights is for sale, and wouldn’t it just grace your patio?  Or even hung above your bed….what wonderful ambiance this would offer!

So Happy Birthday sons!   Thanks for giving me good things to talk about!  I love you both so much….

Happy Fall Yall!

~Connie

Growing piles in my husband’s shed prompted the idea….
A Burlap & Lace Home Sale seemed to be just the ticket to clear out inventory and reorganize for the months ahead….so that’s just what is in store at my home on Sunday, August 30 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.

But as I pondered on the idea, I reasoned that I shouldn’t just offer these great prices on my home items, but on the items already in my booth space at Main Street Market Shops!  So I have drastically slashed prices there too in order to make way for some really great, new things upcoming!

This beautiful piece didn’t even make it in the front door before it was bought!

But don’t worry…there are still fun items to choose from at Main Street!  Lamps, lamps and more lamps….not any priced for more than $30 and most under $15!  Better hurry in…at these prices they won’t last for long!

And there are some fun new furniture pieces as well….

So whether you shop at Main Street Market Shops, or come to the home sale/yard sale, you are sure to go away happy!

See you soon, and happy shopping!

~Connie

 

 So here’s my disclaimer….I’m not polished, but I’m genuine.  I’m the burlap.  Meet the lace…

This is my sister and my best friend, Sandy.  This month’s for her ’cause it’s all about shades of blue.  As small children, our Papaw loved to shower us with dresses….red dresses…. because red was his favorite color.  A memorable story in our family was when Papaw proudly donned us with these beautiful red dresses, to which Sandy pouted and exclaimed (and probably stomped her determined little foot!), “But Papaw, I like BLUE!”  The story stuck, and so has her love for the color blue.  It’s her birthday month, and while I didn’t get this blog posted in time for that celebration, today, 8 days past her birthday, I am celebrating her…the lace, and the sister I love so much.  So enjoy the blue, Sandy, and may it make you smile.

Papaw called Sandy his “littlest angel”.  So again, Sis, this one’s for you!  It’s a garden angel, but you could so easily put it indoors as well.  The butterfly that adorns her dress makes this piece a delight!

These shutters inlaid with tin are romantically beautiful and would be gorgeous hung in front of french doors, a patio door, or on a bedroom wall above a bed.  They almost didn’t make it to the shop!

 

June always makes me think of summer, how ’bout you?!  Every summer for as long as I can remember, our family vacationed at Myrtle Beach in a house that sat on the ocean front.  It was called the Shoreline, and although I never saw a starfish there, these pretty ceramic ones made me remember those days.  The flip flops and beach towels are situated perfectly in a bait bucket, waiting to be taken to the beach for a day in the sun and surf!

So much blue, and so much fun!  From the lace dress form to the trunk filled with fern, to the starfish on the wall and the enamelware pans….everything this month makes me smile and remember my sister in one way or another!

This stars and stripes lap quilt makes a pretty table cover as well.  Two vintage, wicker plant stands await your front porch or back patio! Let these sweet ceramic birds on a plate adorn your table as a pretty centerpiece.  Farm to table napkins, bread basket, teacups, vintage ice bucket, side table…..all need a home.  Why not yours?!?

Until next month….blessings.

~Connie

 

Moma love….there’s nothing like it!

My mom can run circles around any other mom there is or ever has been, and she has taught me so much about so many things that I wouldn’t even know where to begin the list.  So I’ve picked one attribute of her thousand talents to showcase with her this month….her organizational skills.  And I have chosen to call it (for myself) organizational bliss because it is truly so wonderful at the end of a day to feel organized….in my thoughts as well as in my home!

 

I just love this organizational board, and was tempted not to share it with you this month so that I could keep my ever-growing pictures of ideas, my to-do lists and my pictures of my family on it!  But tempted as I was, I have chosen to “let it go” in my booth this month, hoping that whomever takes it home to be theirs will love using it as much as I believe I would!

Let’s start with a little office organization, since that’s the area I first came to love from my mom’s skills.  Unlike other little girls my age, as a child I would wonder into mom’s office to “play office” with her, using her adding machine, a notepad, pen and a fake cash drawer….all set up in her office on a cardtable just for me!

As I have grown, I still love perusing the isles of office stores looking for organizational treasures.  My love for vintage wares led me to find this metal file tray not long ago and this enlarged paperclip, both to which I was instantly drawn!  The rusty tins in the background are actually bread boxes, but I can envision them keeping my office shelves looking great while adding useful storage for pens, pencils, adding machine paper rolls, you name it!   The basket sitting atop them would be ideal for adding outgoing mail and for clipping keys to the hooks.

 

The bath is my next focal point, and I must tell you that this Pears Soap print in the vintage frame is a particular favorite of mine.  Sitting beneath the print is a table that would fit perfectly in a bath, holding towels beneath.  And if a bath doesn’t suit you for it, then why not put it in your den area to hold magazines?  The hobnail lamp and black shade make a stunning ensemble, don’t you think?

 

 

Moving from bath to kitchen, take a look at this vintage kitchen table, in near perfect condition!

This is sure to be my favorite piece this month…and with it we will move into the kitchen, which as an adult has become my favorite “play” place!

Any mom boosting cookies when her kids come home from school is sure to win a hug or two, but when the children get to pop open the turkey for them, why what could be more entertaining?!?

Choose from an assortment of kitchen goodies this month….from platters to chargers, to ice buckets or wine racks, canisters, wisks, baskets….the list is long and the choices many!

Have you seen the trend with the roosters?  I happen to believe they are charming little creatures…at least when you find them in the kitchen!

This baker’s rack holds some of my favorite finds this month….baker’s rack included!  As a reminder, you will never find a NFS tag in my booth!  So don’t forget to look at the things you would normally view as display pieces in other booths.  The large vintage Sunbeam bread box sitting on the top shelf is perfect for holding your recipe books.  And I still use vintage tins in my kitchen to hold snack bars and cookies.  The picnic tote on the shelf brings back fond memories to me of Sunday afternoon picnics with my grandparents.  And the enamelware tub on the bottom shelf would be the perfect holder for those summertime beverages on your deck, don’t you think?!?

Don’t let your imagination stop in the kitchen, though.  This vintage trunk – again, almost in perfect condition – would house blankets in storage for those winter wonderland days.  There are actually two trunks to choose from this month…so check them both out!

As you leave the booth, why not take a load off in this chair, and grab a business card to give to a friend?  Let your mind settle into organizational wonderland, and meet me back in a week or two on the Facebook Page for Main Street Market Shops to see what new items have been added.  Until then, happy organizing!

~ Connie

 

 

As 2015 peeks its head around the corner, itching to burst through the door we just closed on 2014 with its never-met goals and unfulfilled dreams, my hope is that each of us will look ahead with anticipation and joy of what is to come and let go of what now lies behind.

Burlap & Lace is entering its 2nd year, and my prayer is that it will be a year of fulfillment in more ways than I can ask, think or imagine.  As I have pondered on how to let you in on my dreams for the new year, I thought I would begin by letting you in on a secret…. YOU are a part of my dream….and together, we are entering a year of celebration!

There have been (and will continue to be) many people who have impacted my life in one way or another.  At Burlap & Lace this year, I will be highlighting those people who have had an influence on me and who have helped shape who I am today.  In January, though it may sound a bit egotistical, the celebration is on myself and the fact that I am entering into my 2nd year of business.  For that reason, you will see many of my roots showing up this month….

This is the house I grew up in, and I can tell you it still looks very much the same as it did when I lived there from the early 60’s through the early 80’s! My room was on the back right side of the house on the 2nd floor.  The day my mom and dad painted the closet doors lime green and installed bright pink shag carpet made for one happy pre-teen girl!  To this day I continue to love that color scheme, and for that reason, you will see a lot of pink and green in my booth this month.

January is also my birthday month, and as tradition would have it, my sister baked me my favorite chocolate pound cake with caramel icing when we met at my parents home for my celebrated day.

That she always doubles the icing so she can fill up the hole in the center of the cake for extra helpings makes me smile.  She’s my closest friend, and as you have already read if you’ve followed my blog, my largest supporter for Burlap & Lace so of course we had to get in a little bit of shopping during our weekend!

 

And then there are my parents –

It goes without saying that I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them.  No, not just “here” as in alive, but not “here”, where I am spiritually.  They laid a solid foundation beneath me when I was a child, partly in the way they lived their marriage out before me and partly in the way they always kept God as center.  God has continued building on that foundation and will continue until the day I die.  My parents have been tremendous supporters and believers in who I am , always encouraging me to write and to explore my creative side.  My love of crafts was largely due to Mom’s owning her own business when I was in my early teens and seeing her thrive at what she loved doing.  The overflow was exampled in her love of the people she served with her talent.  Dad was always her avid supporter, both emotionally and financially.  Mom and Dad – thank you for your encouragement and your love without fail.

There will be many others you will meet along the way this year…but starting with my roots seemed appropriate enough.  So let’s explore what Burlap & Lace has to offer you this month!

One of my “finds” on my treasure hunt with my sister was this beautiful linen tablecloth.  I knew it would be the perfect match for the table that was already among my treasures!

From my Sweet Exchange evening in November came a find I was ecstatic about. This oval table (below)  was a “discard” from a friend, but all it took was a little paint and some love to make it my favorite addition to this month’s booth.  Although its original use was as a side table in a den (it had a lamp pole attached in fact!), I envisioned it immediately in a bathroom as a wonderful place for towels and toiletries.  With the addition of a silver tray from the 60’s to adorn the pink glass bowl holding hand towels, you have everything you need right at your fingertips.  And if you’ve never tried Meyers Soap, you will be hooked on this particular scent.  Cradled atop a vintage soap dish and lit up with the pom-pom lamp behind it, this whole ensemble would complete a bath with one stop shopping!

One thing my husband will tell you is that I like light!  This lamp was a major “gotta have it” when my sister and I went shopping.  I had already purchased the lime green shade, and this lamp with its floral motif was the perfect fit beneath it!  Set atop a small table, laced with a pink and white doily, what a pretty addition this would make to any room.

And just in case you want a more galvanized look, this lamp would be my pick…

The flower is a removable magnet, but I happen to think it’s lovely adorning the lamp itself!

While I could easily leave pink and green to themselves, I have mixed in a touch of orange to set off the other two colors this month.  This painted pallet shelf is small enough for a bathroom, but would make a nice coffee bar addition as well.  You will also find many selections  of hammered aluminum scattered about.  These bowls and platters are easily dressed up or down, depending on your serving occasion and need.  And why limit them to the kitchen?  This large tray would make the perfect setting for perfume bottles, toiletries or to show off a bedside lamp.

My love for the natural outdoorsy look plays into every booth, as does a splash of burlap and lace!  You will almost always find a selection of baskets and metal pails or containers tucked beneath a table or inside a cabinet door, or perhaps even hung on a wall.  I find their unlimited uses almost always match their diverse shapes and sizes.  For instance, a metal locker basket tucked underneath this small side table makes the perfect place for rolled up towels in a bathroom.   Moved to a shed area and lined with a piece of burlap, it’s the perfect setting for terracotta pots awaiting potting season!

As you may remember about me, I don’t put anything in my booth that I am not willing to sell!  The louver doors (there are 2 here this month) make nice backdrops for a room that needs a screen to break up the monotony of a dull wall.  In my readiness for spring to come early, I have sprinkled in a few containers that would make interesting vases….from the scientific beakers to the silver urns… and added a few bowls to house anything from food items to decorative finds.  The black shelf unit is metal and can be used indoors or out, for anything from lamps and books to plants and garden shoes.

You will also find a generous smattering of glassware and kitchen items in practically every booth display monthly.  Cooking is a joy to me, and the presentation of the food is every bit as important to me as the taste, so look for table coverings, china, cookbooks and fun tidbits sprinkled about.

 About all that’s  missing at this point are the wonderful displays of wall art that are soon to come….be on the lookout as the month progresses!   And thanks for sharing the celebrations with me as we enjoy 2015.  Who knows?  You may just be a part of one of my blogs in the months that follow!

Blessings,

~Connie

 

 

 

 

It’s time.  No really….once the last bite of pumpkin pie hits your belly on Thanksgiving Day, it’s time to think about decorating for Christmas.  You know it’s true.   Or start that early-bird Christmas shopping at least…

Tomorrow night is the Open House at Country Creations Florist (where Burlap & Lace is housed), 5-7 p.m.  Don’t miss it!  Just to whet your appetite, take a peek at what’s in store for you there…

Vintage stockings are hung by the chimney with care (well, hung on the wall anyway!)

    

         Wreaths, star lanterns…ooh, the things that await you!

Look high, look low….there are hidden treasures inside every nook!

Why not adorn your table with stemware…crystal no less…at a crazy price!

These hand-crocheted baby caps will keep that head snug and warm….perfect gift for that newborn through toddler!

 

And don’t forget those gift tags!  Dig through cause there are tons to choose from!

Why not light up that coffee bar with these containers for all the beverages to suit your tastes this holiday season?  Add the pineapple window lights to a window or a counter top!

Maybe a wreath for your table, or a vintage bait bucket adorned with a tree?  Oh, so much to see!!!  See you there!

~Connie

The holidays are upon us, and my hope is that you will “Let me entertain you” with all the settings for a Thanksgiving table, a coffee bar set-up, the makings for a cocktail bar, or simply with the ingredients for that perfect movie night!

 

In true vintage fashion, my boast this month are these amazing metal cabinets.  They are small enough to fit into tiny spaces, yet large enough to create some great entertainment areas in your home!

 

 

With a pallet shelf hung above, this cabinet holds incredible coffee bar potential!  And why limit it to just that?  There is room for your rolling pins, cookbooks, hand towels and aprons as well.

 

Lest you be one of those shoppers who has been taught to “look but don’t touch”, I encourage you to break with tradition and open those cabinet doors and drawers!  Both are brimming with ideas for housing your glassware, serving trays and other necessities that you want within reach but not necessarily displayed outwardly.  And those vintage peculators you find there?  Yes, they work and have the plugs tucked inside!

And why not toss in a mirror-turned-menu-board to whet your guests appetites and have them savoring those upcoming meals during your gatherings?  There are three styles to choose from this month:   the simple vintage mirror (above),a traditional chalkboard-turned-menu-board that has room to house your rolling pin, and a divided window that has room to display your appetizer, entree and dessert choices all in one location!

Let this padded board serve as a holder for your recipe cards, those soon-coming Christmas cards, or family photos that will delight all during the holiday gatherings.

 

For the more “spirited” crowd, grab some glassware and a shaker and start the party rolling!  Or choose from several different wine bottle holders to grace your table or counter top.

 

This metal table expands on both sides to create more space for guests, and a cozy table for 4-6 during those times when there are fewer mouths to feed.  The drawer has silverware compartments and a place for those cloth napkins to rest when not in use.  Take a peek inside!  Surprises await you! (Oh, and the window menu board is hung above as a simple reminder to “give thanks”.

 

For some, once the Thanksgiving turkey is gobbled up, it’s time to hunt down the perfect Christmas tree and start gathering decorations for the next holiday gathering.  From vintage Santa cups, I have created some wonderful adornment for your meal table or just about anywhere you want to display them!

 

This lovely berry wreath can be used as a centerpiece on your table, or hung for some holiday color on those winter drab walls….let your imagination flow!  Think “entertainment”, remember?!?   I personally think that pairing the Cheerwine with some popcorn for movie night sounds like a good idea….

 

This metal chair and bowl is a fun way to “pop” up some fun when serving that popcorn!  Small enough to fit atop a kitchen counter, or sturdy enough to stand on the floor next to the couch, your family is sure to gather round it!  And while they last, there are a select few movies left (viewed, of course), for just $3.00 each.

 

Want to really “light up” the holidays?  Try plugging in this vintage-style wreath and see what smiles light up your household!  Absolutely my favorite “wall” display item this month!

Enjoy the season of entertaining others…and while you do, don’t forget you could be entertaining angels unaware!

~Connie

 

 

 

 

 

Maybe I’m the only human being on this earth that thinks we should stop and smell the leaves before hanging up the Christmas stockings….and while you can hardly find Fall and harvest finds in the stores for the Christmas displays already being put up, I want to embrace the season a bit longer.

 

While I personally do not celebrate Halloween, we do –  after all –  live in Transylvania County!  Why not load this pumpkin with candy and have a ready-made treat for your friends and family?

Add a little Fall flavor to your kitchen with this cutting board and teapot!

Ummm, I can just smell the fresh apple cake as it comes from the oven, and what better thing to have on hand to put it in than this glass cake plate with its own lid!  And if you are interested in some vintage flair, why not add some red to your kitchen or garden with this stool?

While I love the different foods that the holidays usher in, there is nothing more pleasing than to set your table with candles, apples, straw and apples and let the aromas add to the pleasing eye appeal.  There is so much to see this month that you really do just have to come take a peek!

News flash:  Vendor night/open house at Country Creations is from 5:00 –  8:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 16th.  Why not come in for some cider and check it all out for yourself?

See you there!

~Connie

 

Thoughts of my youngest son (young at age 23!) came to mind as I set up my “new” booth for the month of August….”Industrial Vintage” was the name I chose to give it.  With a mixture of metal, glass and wood, I thought the name was justly deserved.  But my son being the architect that he is…well, would he agree on the term?!?   I think I’ll let my readers decide!

 

The creaky old ironing board was fitting…and somewhat reminiscent of my great grandma’s days.  And the washtub held significance all it’s own….from days of my Nanny soaking everything from clothes to garden veggies in it.

While the vintage school desk was unlike anything I remembered (and it should be noted that even I am vintage at this point in time!), it sparked a smile upon sight and I knew I should include it!  The vintage books add the charm of my own 4th grade days spent pouring over books …

 

 

And who doesn’t remember watering vegetables in the garden with a grandparent?!?  I sure do!

 

As the ideas began to flow and the items began to pile up, my thoughts went to the days of my own youth when Mom would have homemade cookies awaiting us after school… I’m sure she spent the greater part of her days in the kitchen just awaiting our arrival, and she was always there with a smile and a reassuring hug when the day didn’t go so well… “We’ll figure it out”….I never felt alone growing up!So whatever your tastes are today, journey back in time with me to see what I think was a bit of “industrial vintage” just waiting for its place in time!   I am sure the burlap and lace added then what I believe they add today…a touch of romanticism to an otherwise industrialized world of  work.  Enjoy the journey with me!

~ Connie