Willow Nest : Burton,TX

my sweet friend Carol Ross takes some amazing photos of many precious things, one of my very favorite images she uses is, PINK ROSES, does it not just say spring? Romance? Valantines? LOVE? I could go on and on…

This is a huge day for me, January 11,2010… this is my first photo, that I took, with my camera that Geff fixed, that LuLu brought back to him to fix when she was here last spring, that Christie my sweetie, just today showed me how to get my pictures out of my folder and put them HERE…it does indeed take a village.  I am so excited… and amazed. Of course I have no new photos to share, as I am only able to master one thing at a time… to do just this. If you will bear with me I am going to do several posts this week..  pulling up older shots to get real comfortable with this process, next I will learn how to take a photo of my booth and get it on the very same day, like all of you amazing people out there. OH by the way  our sale continues at Winnie and Tulla’s where all our things ae white and all 50% off. We are headed for the Red Barn this weekend… one of Texas’s best antique shows.. we have some really amazing  pieces for this show, a nice large farm table, a big french inspired cupboard….a canning bench, a beautiful statue of ST.Joesph, and one of Jesus… I think you will like our mix.  come see us. Love Linda

I am going to be Chatty Kathy this morning.. I need to tell you about the month of Jan. 2010…. it’s going to start off with a bang.. we are ready for a great New Year… have been able to buy on our travels, have fresh merchandise and will be showcasing our wares at the following shows…. This weekend we will be at the Austin City Wide Sale….. we are joining some of our favorite friends, Jon and Peg from French Vanilla will be there, I think you will see Hector and Susie, and the lovely Linda Parker…. it’s sure to be a great way to start the New Year…. easy to get there, right off Riverside Drive… come see us!

We are having our first clearance sale by joining with Gloria and her group of vendors in Athens, Sweet Pea is hosting this great sale on Jan. 6th thru the 9th… our things will be all white things, and all at 50% or more off the original price….. this is a great sale for all you white lovers… check our the Winnie and Tulla blog for more info…her vendors are all having great savings on items as well…. we are serving ALL WHITE FOOD, I am in charge of this department!We will start with white grape juice and champagne… and my personal signature… WHITE MASHMELLOWS…. yeah!!1 everyone should have one a day! Keeps a smile on your face all day….

On Jan.16&17 you will find us in our own back yard, at the Red Barn Show… as you know this show is the one that kicks off the season here in Texas and many of your very favorite vendors will be at this beautiful well attended show. Come for inspiration and new ways to feather your nest for the New Year…

Like so many people we too have become caught up in the whirlwind of activities that rob you of the simple daily joys and beauty that surround each of us.I have not learned to use the camera, I have not taken time to get my lessons on the computer so I can create the kind of blog I want , I have not planted my traditional paper whites to enjoy for the season….and for the first time in 20 years I am not having a Christmas open house. Why all this neglect? We have been driving all over the country doing shows… and while that has been an amazing experience it has also zapped us. I did not even get a post up about Silver Bella, which now seems months ago, when actually it was just 4 weeks ago… we had an incredible time, got to see our old friends Denise Sharp and Amy Smith from the N.W. and spent time with Carol and Gwen and Karla and Debbie of Curious Sofa who we would be joining for Miss Frenchies in Kansas City.(that was this past weekend) you can see photos on ,http/karlascottage@typepad and the Raised in cotton blog spot listed on my friends section. Anyway that too was a wonderful show… so very much talent in one building.. we were so hoping that we could meet their expectations and all those lovely ladies were so concerned that we would do well, as we had come from so far away… it is so sweet to see the care and love that is extended to one another.. it did put into focus for me the very important message of  doing what you love and the money will come and it did….. thank-you very much Kansas City.. but more than that I spent the weekend with people who I enjoyed being with and who cared about us…. you will see that I was loaned a fur coat by Gwen as it was so so cold and I now have Texas blood running thru my veins and was chilled to the bone until she loaned me not only the coat but a hat and gloves to match…. now that is special! Debbie came around with hot coffee in the morning and I don’t know how she did that as she was so busy, and Carol ,our neighbor was oh so helpful….. had tissue I needed among other little things.. her booth was so inspiring. You will love the photos!!!!! Anyway back to my message of smelling the roses.. these past two shows we have left a day early so that we arrive  fresher and also so we can stop and visit friends and see family, I got to spend a very sweet time with my son and his wife and my adorable darling ,smart, helpful grandchildren.. Nicholas was a big help he even swept…. he did say “Nana why did you put all this hay and snow and glitter all over the floor, you made such a mess” And how do you answer that? We went down to the Country Club Plaza early sun. morning, nothing was open and we had one of our traditional nature walks Poppy (Ludmil) broke the ice in the river and showed the boys how it cracks open,we threw pennies in the fountain… Nana would not give up one of her dimes…. we talk about eating nutritious food, and using our manners and being grateful for all we have. We will make simple recycled cards for Christmas and tree decorations when we meet for Christmas at my daughters… this was why we moved to Texas to have this kind of time with our family and to see this beautiful country.( Kansas, not so beautiful in the winter) …. although the people are…. one last little sharing story.. we had gone to  lunch,  a mother was also having lunch with her triplets, who all had red hair.. a rare sight indeed… one little boy needed to go to the bathroom and she said come on all of you I can’t leave you alone , that’s when I stepped in and said I would be glad to watch over them while she attended the little guy,  she said “oh bless you” I spent the next 10min. in the most amazing dialogue with three yr. olds I learned about their dog Molly who is old and deaf..  sleeps upstairs..  when they put lights up for Christmas their house looks like a gingerbread house…  they have a fish who is huge and too big for his tank…. the mom came back I filled her in on all that we spoke of , she smiled , so proud of her little wee redheaded boys, as she should be. I was simply so happy that there are still places where one mom can help another with complete trust and knowingness that all will be fine…… now I need to go put my lights up and make my house look like a gingerbread house.

Merry Christmas to all and too all a goodnight… I have always loved that sentence…

I have a case of the jitters… we are on our way, we are half way there… I am putting glitter on things here in the hotel room just hours before the show! I have answered calls all day from friends and family.. now how far is this,answer:870 miles, how long?answer; it s  THREE HOUR show!!!!when do you set up?answer: three hrs before the show we get to go into the ballroom… yes it’s a ballroom…. we only have a 10×10 space, it has been years since we did a 10×10…. I have so many things… BUT… we laid it all out in front of the store, and it did work… so I need to take a deep breath….. BUT.. three hrs!!! for set-up!!!!! For those of you who know me well , you know I do not ask many questions… some one asks us to do a show, I think, that sounds fun, sure, count us in…. when I hang up Ludmil ALWAYS… ALWAYS… asks me, how many vendors, do we have a wall, electricity, how do they advertise , do we unload at our space or far away, how about trailer parking, what is the attendance like.. I never never never ask all that even after all these years.. I just say Ludmil ,we are going to do Silver Bella, some really talented, amazing people do Silver Bella…. and some of our old friends from the North West do Silver Bella,that’s all I know and all I need to know… we’re going! Little by little after the deposit has been sent and I have started gathering my goodies,I find out all there is to know,it does not change a thing for me,I am still excited and still making all my charts and plans, but  Ludmil feels so much better because he has some answers. We can’t wait to see you. At our Urban Market show this past weekend many people said they were coming to see us, I can hardly wait.Go check the Bella web site for answers to all your questions, I have to go glitter…

A little sidebar, I am miles away from where I was born oh so long ago…… things so seem to go in a full circle don’t they.

p.s. thank you lovely people who came and visited our booth at Urban Market… we love seeing you!

Ludmil and I love this market… Jackie the promoter is wonderful, the customers are always excited and fun to work with, we have great fun with all  our friends who do the show with us, the weather is always warm and sunny…. it simply does not get much better..so come Nov. 8th, this SUN. and shop with us….at the Houston Urban Market….

We are bring more than we usually do, as the last two times I have not had quite enough… that’s how popular this show is!! I also am doing one of my very favorite things, and that is Christmas.. it is time, even though it is still so bright and sunny here in Texas it’s time to “DECK THE HALLS”.. I have made some very sweet things, that I am eager to show off… one ,is a tag that is designed to hold a gift card… you know the ones teenagers, and college students always seem to prefer….. and I also have some sweet snow angels that I am very fond of.. I have been very busy in my little studio.

Must give sweet Ludmil a big thank-you as he made me 4 custom units for my studio, all designed to go with the wallpaper covered cabinet I got from Gloria, at Sweet Pea , and it has made such a difference in my room… I have been busy sorting , tucking ,filing and primping , it all looks so orderly now…thank-you sweetheart it has made a huge difference.

Come early to Houston… there are always such great things from all of us that get swooped up in the first 30 minutes..see you soon…. Love Linda  P.S. while I am at it I should probably mention that we are on our way to Silver Bella in Ohama, Nebraska, have not been there before and we are truly jittery about being asked to do this special show with so many really talented people.. I have saved back lot’s of glitter and bling for this.. we will be there Nov. 13… it is just one dazzling night of fun and then it’s all over… I will tell you all about it when we return.