Welcome to My Blog

Welcome to my blog! My hope is to pass along ideas you will enjoy using in your homes and in your lives. No, I am not Oprah, giving you life advice or Nate Berkus redoing your pantry. My point of view is more practical if not occasionally foo-foo. Decorating should be fun and you should change your decor often. My ideas and vintage finds will help you do just that. Oh, and you may get some fun personal and family stories. We are a small family but we do a lot!



Since I started my blog a couple of years ago, I find I am writing more about "ideas" for your life. Or at least, things that happen in my life! Hopefully I put a smile on your face and help you set your dinner table.




Friday, September 26, 2014

Mary Lisa at Behind The Picket Fence

      Mary Lisa Plays Store at the July, 2014 show, Behind The Picket Fence, in Costa Mesa. What a fun time! BTPF is held four times a year. The next show will be on November 8. The location is the Piecemaker's parking lot although this is not a Piecemaker's show.

     This is one of the best shabby style shows in Orange County and a beauty to shop. You will recognize the "cream of the crop" vendors from many venues in Southern California. You will find home furnishings, decorator items, one of a kind creations and so much more.

     I have not been offering many furniture items lately but this show has inspired me to include a few tables and chairs in my collection. As usual I have lots of lovely silver and tabletop beauties. 





      In November I will have a good selection of one of a kind chalkboards. As usual there will be many in my favorite color, white and I am adding some new colors for fall and winter. These chalkboards are not only popular, they are decorative and useful. I use one in my foyer when I entertain to welcome my guests with ever changing messages. They make great menu boards too.

     With football season getting into gear, why not keep up with several game scores to satisfy all your gridiron guests? You could write each teams score in color chalk that matches their team colors.

      By November I will have a good selection of silver plate flatware for your holiday entertaining. For years I have loved using mismatched pieces for both casual and dressy occasions. Try to coordinate patterns from the same era and keep the pieces in scale. For real formal meals I still use sterling from either an heirloom family set or my own wedding flatware.

     The dog bookends from the 1950's are so adorable. They are basset  hound heads with a faux wood background. They would be adorable in a boys room or in your husband's office.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Look What Will Be at Behind The Picket Fence June 28, 2014

   
Silver is my thing and I will have many beautiful pieces at Behind The Picket Fence on June 28 in Costa Mesa. A nice selection of serving pieces and flatware await you. There are a couple of lovely pieces from the early 20th century. Mid-century trays and vessels are also packed for the show.
     There are many patterns of flatware in silver plate. I rarely buy sterling pieces. Sterling is more expensive of course but I have a different reason for not offering much. The price of silver is rather high right now and has been for some time. There are many shoppers who are looking for cheap prices to sell and have melted down. That's their business but I am in the business of preserving the beauty of the past. The thought of turning a piece of hundred year old silver to dollars upsets me very much.




       The very large spoon in this photo is a dressing spoon. I found this one at an estate sale in Virginia last year. They are fairly common in the East and South but I have rarely seen them in California. You have to love the tiny whisk broom with silver plate handle. It was inside an amazing jewelry box dating to Victorian times. I pointed it out to the seller and she said it was included. It would make a sweet boudoir accessory.

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Getting Ready for a New Show

    Here's our cat, Lola, helping me "play store." It's been a while since I put the EZ Up canopy in my living room. Yes, I live in Southern California where the weather is almost always beautiful but the living room is convenient and there are no lawn sprinklers to go off at 5 AM. Sometimes I have to really look at my inventory and decide what "fits" a particular event.
 
     On June 28 I will be at Behind The Picket Fence in Costa Mesa. This will be my first time with this group so I want an especially pretty booth. Doing an actual practice run seems to work well for me. My family loves the idea of a "store" in the living room! The only catch is planning for this time when we will not be having guests.





     These wonderful chalkboard pennants fit most any occasion. They have a nice white border which frames your message. I like to use colored chalk and add a little flower here and there. The pennants have a hook on either side that makes hanging easy. I found these at a store in Mechanicsville,Virginia. I bought all they had and wish for more.















     If you come to Behind The Picket Fence here's where  you will find me. There are lots of silver items as usual and some fun decorating accessories for your home.

     The picket fence desk is one my husband built for me years ago. It is very functional and cute. It is also very heavy. I have not used it for years because of the type of shows I have been doing. Now it reappears. Don't  you think it is perfect for this venue?

     Stay tuned for more of what I will have to offer at Behind The Picket Fence on June 28.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

I'm back.....again!

Wow, I just noticed my last entry was in May of last year. It has been a while. Here it is Spring in Southern California and it is time to get back to blogging.

After several years of being "bi-coastal", I am back in my beloved and chosen home of Southern California. There are still East Coast trips to find fancies for your home and there are still those quick runs to New York for some fast shopping. But for the most part, I am home and I am loving it.

This past weekend was the end of a seventeen year run for The Groves Antique Market in Irvine. It was always my favorite venue to sell and shop. I loved it even more that the famous Rose Bowl Antique and Flea Market. There were no commercial vendors at Irvine. There were no awnings to put over your RV, there were no pots and pans, there were no pet supplies and there were no packages of 50 pairs of socks.  Beautiful antiques and vintage goodies awaited shoppers every month. The Groves will be missed by many.

Since I had left the Long Beach Antique Market years ago and most recently decided to leave the Rose Bowl Antique Market, The Groves was the only big show for Mary Lisa Plays Store. You know, I am fine with my decisions. I love searching and selling antiques and that I shall continue to do. It will just be at different venues and on a less restrictive schedule.

When I started this many years ago, I did boutique shows. Shows where the vendors were juried. And that is what I have decided to return to. The first of these special shows will be Behind The Picket Fence on June 28, 2014. It will be held from 9 AM to 4 PM in Costa Mesa at Piecemaker's. Yesterday I started planning my booth and today I will start shopping for wonderful pieces to share with you. Please come by and chat and shop!

And everyday you can visit Vintage and Market Finds at One Kings Lane. Not only will you find me, there are many antique vendors from across the country with great finds. You will find some amazing items at OKL. It is a Flash Sale sight so I suggest if something catches your eye, buy it immediately! It will be on sale for a short while and there are literally millions of buyers looking at the same moment. 

Come back to my blog often to see what I have found. As always there will be decorating ideas and social stories. Life is a ball and I enjoy sharing the adventures with you!