Dime Store Chic

Craft Show Season is Taking Over!

Hello, My Friends!~~

For the first time, this year, I am participating is three craft shows, and they are all happening within thirty days!

That in mind I have been crafting vintage Christmas goodies and storing them in every available nook and cranny in our house, mostly in the basement, in my studio, and where ever I can find a spot.

Well, this weekend we brought everything into the dining room so I can price and pack them for each show.

Here is what our dining room looks like:

 

It is challenging to photograph everything, as most of it is packed in bins and tucked under the tables. The goodies in the photos are some of the highlights. I have been crafting since May and feel I am ready, I think. Ho ho ho!

The first show where you will find Dime Store Chic, is The Northern Virginia Christmas Market on November 13-15. It is the largest craft show I have ever participated and this year is my first time. My booth (#210) will be tucked in a fun part of the show called "Vintage Alley" which showcases those of us crafters and artists who re-purpose vintage goodies into one-of-a-kind creations. For more info click HERE.

And the following weekend I will bring LOTS of vintage Christmas crafty fun to The Vintage Home Market in Richmond, VA, on November 21-22. This will be my second year participating in their super awesome November show! For more info please click HERE.

And to wrap up the craft show schedule I will join my BFF Suzy of GeorgiaPeachez Wreaths and participate in the Trinkle Hall Holiday Craft Show in lovely Williamsburg, VA on December 5-6. We have a large booth and I guarantee we will have it packed full of shiny and bright holiday cheer! For more info please click HERE.

So, if you are in the area, please stop by! XXOO, Beth

The Shed Project: Part One

Hello, My Friends!~~

Down in our little corner of Virginia's northern neck we have a vacant lot across the road from the waterfront Great Wicomico River cottage. In late July we decided that it was time we did something with it. The lot had been vacant for thirty years and was used for disposing of leaves. We had the lot partially cleared, preserving the mature willow oaks, maple, and other trees while having the underbrush, ivy, leaf piles, and unhealthy trees removed.

The plan is to put a utility shed (pre-made) and a garage/workshop on the lot while still preserving the rustic, woodsy nature of the lot. The phase after clearing the lot was to order and bring in the utility shed which will serve as my vacation place studio.

We ordered a 10 X 20 foot playhouse style building from Old Hickory Buildings. We had it painted and with a greenish shingle roof. We also ordered larger windows at three feet square each.

Here is my craft shed coming down the road at the end of it's 150 mile journey from Farmville, VA.

The driver, a very proficient fellow named Adriel, managed to get on the lot and back the shed near its final destination. Then all of the bells and whistles on his fancy truck and trailer lifted it up and began to slide it to the ground.

Adriel then took a fancy small trailer called a "mule" from his larger trailer and jacked it under the back of the shed and rested wheels on the front corners.

He drove the shed up onto the crushed stone bed we had prepared for it. Let me tell you that raking flat 5 tons of crushed stone into a perfect and level bed in the late summer humidity was no picnic. But it was so worth the work after seeing how nicely the shed fit there.

You can see that my husband and father were completely fascinated with the whole process. Hubby kept stepping in to assist whenever he could and he loved it.

Here is the shed in place and with a metal bench I painted, Rock City birdhouse, and two solar lights on the cozy front porch.

The interior measures 16 X 10 and is unfinished but not for long!

We will spend the fall and into the winter wiring the shed for electricity, putting in insulation, and installing drywall and flooring. This will happen while hubby's workshop/garage is built on the other side of the lot.

And when all is finished, I'll have a fun studio at our lovely vacation home! Please check back later to see the progress of our shed project. Until then hop up on the porch (which will get real steps in place of the cinder block) and sit a spell!

See you real soon!~~XXOO, Beth