FALL!

New Designs.  Lots of fun things with graphics and fonts I've never used.  Ohhh, and glitter liners!  Fun wilderness themes!

New Decor.  I moved my furniture around AGAIN.  I think I love it now.  Also, have rolled out some new products and made a little bargain corner with odds and ends.  In order to work more efficiently I've changed my hours.  I'm closed on Monday and Tuesday for my printing and production schedule (though people can still schedule pick ups if desired).  Wednesday - Friday I'm open 10-5:30 but people can schedule appointments after hours.  Saturday 10-12 with availability until 3:00ish on most days.  Sundays I'm closed and not available.

Feeling Inspired

I love to thrift shop, create, cook, design, garage sale, craft, buy junk, shop.  And I love to blog about it all, which I haven't had time to do lately.  I've been doing some of the things I love and I'm finding I need to do more of them in order to stay happy and creative and in love with my work.  Here and there I'm catching bits of inspiration and I certainly visited a place this weekend that is jump starting my desire to get more creative.

I introduce Minster's latest shop, Lucy's.  I don't have the full scoop on the who, what, where and when of Lucys and I don't know owner Holly Bertke's whole life story.  I don't know who the heck Lucy is (daughter, gal pal, dog, imaginary friend?) But I do know that Holly is super nice, super talented and has created a beautiful new place to shop. 

Holly refinishes furniture, will do light upholstery, and repurposes items.  Also for sale are some great smelling candles, paintings by various artists, really cool-looking rustic (but chic) wood tables hand crafted by her uncle.  

It's a bright, pretty fun place.  The first thing I spotted was the pink couch (LOVE).  Then there is an upstairs loft which has less frilly and bit more masculine offerings.

Visit Holly yourself or check out her facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HomeofLucy

In other news, I haven't exactly been withering away in the office.  Had some fun, eaten at some new places and have some designs going that I really love.  Not a bad summer.

NASCAR

Okay, I'm not a Nascar fan (Adam is) but when you get free tickets to something you go.  Thanks to Adam's buddy Ty and Maggie who gave us a reason to get outta town.  As a bonus the next day we went to the Florence Antique Mall!!

Here we are at the track in Kentucky

Georgia Peach themed Shower

Pretty peaches, coral and mint

Love a matching envelope

The host Caitlin had various southern sayings in frames incorporated into her decor.

Another cute one.

Organization

My old boxes were boring.

Handwritten labels. Worst of all some boxes were black, some blue - horrors!

Mod Podge Strikes again!

I had a old children story book (thanks Kathy for that donation).  It was falling apart so I used the colorful pages to cover the boxes.  

Fun and entertaining graphics.

Labels

I've been doing a lot more labels lately.  This bride, Jenn, purchased her own chevron bags and we designed a blush colored label to dress up the bags.

Mission Commission Garage Sale

When you know of a reception hall bursting with treasures you go to the sale.  When it's across the street you go multiple times.

A box of vintage trim and lace.

Vintage Doctor style bag

Also a silver tray (in bad need of a polishing, vintage boxes of vintage (mostly boring though) stationery.

Mirror Score!

Awesome mirror and one of those fussy "make up table" chairs.  I'll probably ditch the pillow and make a plant stand.

A perfectly good projector screen

Adam and I argued about one. For $1.00 I wanted it.  I thought maybe a friend would want it but if not I'd do something with it (someday).  Adam said we had one in the shed at home.  I didn't believe him.  Turns out we now own two projector screens.  Two.  I'll say it, "Adam WAS RIGHT!"

My favorite

When this guy was sitting on the table at the tail end of the sale I owed it to him to take a second glance.  I even picked him up and he had a lot of heft.  He was a nice solid piece.  For $0.25 I couldn't say no.  Mom said, "what are you gonna do with that thing?"  Even she admitted that he looks great on the kitchen counter.

Excited

Another design getting me excited for fall and invitations in general.  I'll be sharing more of this one after the event.

Living Simply Soap

A great shop in Tipp City, Ohio.  Please visit!!  Tanya has tons of great scents, handmade in her historic building in downtown Tipp.  These cute little guys are perfect wedding/shower favors.

Good Eats

Enjoyed lunch at Dickies BBQ in Columbus.  Not a fancy place by any means but we couldn't stop eating the delicious ribs.  We couldn't even find room in our stomaches for the free ice cream at the end of the meal.

A better photo of Adam

A favorite photo of my husband.  Taken at the Green Thumb in New Knoxville.  Delicious food there too!!!

Garden!!

Jenkins poses near my basil bush.  I'll probably be selling tomatoes, hot peppers for the brave and bouquets of basil here in the next week or two.

Family

And finally, what makes it all worthwhile.  Spending time with these crazy people.  A fun day at my sister-in-law's birthday party.  (I think this was the "normal" photo of my in-laws - lol)

A horse walks into a bar and says . . .

"Hey! "

Yeah it's been awhile.  I haven't been updating because I've just been too busy to find the time.  With the beginning of Summer I thought it a good time to update what is happening at the store.

One of the 5 Brides getting married this weekend.

Another Regula Spectacular Party.

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star was the theme of this baby shower.  We used a kraft box as the mailer and lined it with gold glitter wrapping paper.

Party

Some folks in Columbus threw a very special Grammy theme birthday party.

POW

That super gold envelope was a hugh impact.  The Jim Morrison stamp?  Matched perfectly in color and theme.

Inside

Photos of the various stages of the life of the birthday girl!

Baptism

My sister-in-law Miss Trish became Catholic this past Easter.  That's the best photo I could get of the action.  That's my youngest nephew Joey photo-bombing.

Firewood?

A huge tree on my parent's neighbor's property was in danger of falling so they cut it down.  My brave niece Brianna was happy to show just how huge this tree was.

Tissue Paper Flowers

My beautiful niece Ashley makes amazing paper flowers.

A Pretty Morning

Walking back to the office.

The usual suspects

A jar of Mod Podge and an old dictionary can mask many things.

Mini Project

I wanted to use this desk as a wrap desk counter.  The problem?  The back of the piece was not meant for the public.

After

Here's the desk with the vintage dictionary pages covering the negative spots.  Not awesome but better.  It's a fun look.  I might try to find a vintage map to use instead.

Flat

A sweet little notecard.

NUDE!

Yes, nude card stock.  It's such a pretty shade.  And a popular one for 2014.

Fun

My newly discovered favorite thing to do.  Spray paint is so easy, cheap and fun.

Before

An ugly beat up ceramic bow.  Purchased for half price at the New Bremen Garage Sales.

After

Pretty gold bow.  Not bad for a $0.12 item.

Another fun envelope.

I know envelopes get thrown away.  But it's so fun to get a colored envelope in the mail.

Peep Show

Oh la la.  This is all you're going to see of this gal.  I'll show the rest after the event.  This one is a surprising favorite for me.  I don't usually like a lot of colors paired together but I do love this one.

Sparkly

You can't tell from the photo but there is a tiny little gem over the brides engagement ring.  I suggested it and then worried that it would look cheesy.  But I used such a mini stone that it worked perfectly.

Popular Color Combos

Soft and Pretty

The Regulas are at it again!  She's trying to find the perfect color combination for Grandma June's party

Yes!

A bold envelopes, a pretty liner and lots of punched flowers.  It's a pretty one.

Teachers Gift

I did several great teachers gifts this year but this one was a new one and in my opinion a great one.  (Pinterest inspired of course)

Classroom Banner

This is a 2 x 5 banner.  Printed on a poly plastic vinyl this is a perfect banner for a teacher to use year after year.  If she tires of it she can roll it up and store it until she needs it again.  

Progress

The day card across the street is growing.  It's fun each day to see something new happening outside my window.

Safety First!

We have a railing now!  My clever father created a sweet little railing out of a large bulky railing that was given to him.

Coral

Salmon geraniums look great with the blue door and the muted grey.  They really pop.

June 2014

Still need to add an awning and maybe some large pots on either side of the entrance.

Before

I'll never get tired of comparing the before with the after.

My canvas

Here's the table after a particularly interesting bridal appointment.  A couple came from Columbus to visit me.  They enjoyed seeing our little town and we had fun discussing a new "save the date" idea that I haven't seen yet.  I can't wait to get started on this one.

Ready for the Post

White envelopes are great too.  Especially when I get to print fun graphics and use a nice stamp.

Baptism Invitation

Ole!

An Old El Paso jar begs for a make over.

Tape

I taped up the parts that I did not want to be gold.

I don't have a photo with the lid but I thought it turned out pretty cute.

Staples

I tried spray painting a row of staples.  It's a subtle look and might be really pretty for the right design. (I was just goofing around here)

Why Not?

If I'm going to paint staples, why not paint the stapler.  lol.  I was a bit over-zealous with the spray so it dripped in a new places but it looks better than the grey plastic.  Someone stop me.

Wedding!

I printed the programs and also got to attend!  My good friend Patti's son married at the Orrmont Estate in Piqua.  Beautiful location!

Patti!

Rather than walking down an aisle the wedding party approached the guests from the house.  Must have been nerve wracking for the bride but a nice change to see her coming towards us rather than past us.

Us

Here we are enjoying ourselves after visiting the candy bar.

Day of Golf

Adam (yes ADAM) purchased a pink shirt.  I don't think I need to say anything else.  lol

Business Card Holder

This is also where Mom keeps her keys when she visits.  Pretty and trophy like with a marble base.  ($1.99 at Agape Thrift Store)

Vino

I've been doing lots of personalized wine labels.  This one fits perfectly over the Versailles Winery label.  That photo (by CLOU Studio) is perfect with the red wine.

Pretty

A box full of coral vintage ribbon is always a pretty sight.

Happy Summer!

My niece and parents after her t-ball game.  Hope to do more of this.

Happy Mothers Day!

I'm blessed with two fabulous mothers.  This first photo is In honor of Mothers Day weekend, which is also First Communion Weekend for a niece and a nephew.  

As many in my life know, my mom is an avid baker.  Her lenten promise to not bake was laughable.  She sure tried.  I enjoy this photo because it's my mom.  Carrying baked goods.  Something I've seen my whole life.  Sugar cookies, jelly roll cake, angel food.  She never forgets my faves.  Or anyone else for that matter.  If I'm talking about a friend mom will say, "ohh, isn't she the one that likes my butter cookies?"  or "you remember so and so.  He's the one I bake apple danish for."  Her secret ingredient is love.

Aside from feeding me, she feeds strangers at soup kitchens.  She also helps me at the store at moments notice even if she has far better options for the afternoon.  She claims to enjoy cutting 500 pieces of ribbon and squirting glue for hours at a time.  The only payment she accepts is a hug.  She fetches me cake at bridal shows and keeps me entertained with her chatter.  She talks me into moving furniture and can whip up a set of curtains in an hour.  She prays novenas for everyone, even strangers.  She's funny.  She's wonderful.

Now let's shift gears and discuss my other mother.  Her secret ingredient is wine.

I joke about the wine.  She enjoys her drink but her secret ingredient in life is also love.  She will do anything for anyone and she does it with ease.  She can handle a roomful of children and not break a sweat.  She doesn't bake but her pot roast is amazing.  And if you want to know the name of anyone, ANYONE in town you only have to tell her where they sit at church or where their fathers, neighbor's kid works and she'll say, "OOOH, that's probably so and so."  She just remembers everyone.  She's got a quick wit, a mean croquet swing and her faith in God gives her piles of patience.  

It's such a blessing to have two mothers and two "homes" to visit on holidays.  Hope you enjoy the weekend with the mother figures in your lives!!

Happy Easter!

Thanks to all my clients (newly recent, recurring, imaginary and real).  I feel so blessed this Easter for so many reason.  Though I have to say that my focus hasn't been on God or the beauty of the Easter Holiday.  I've been busy and overwhelmed with the new store.  

I want to thank all my lovely clients for being so patient as I've settled into the new place.  The blessing of having an open storefront is getting to meet and help more people than I did when I ran things out of my little house.  The downside is that it's been a struggle to keep on schedule.  I know there are a few gals itching for me to get them their proofs and I appreciate their kindness and patience while we've been working hard.  We (meaning my "saint of a mother" and my "not so much a saint but still pretty great" husband) finished several extra large jobs this week.  So my schedule is going to be less hectic and I will be able to connect with these excited brides again.

I'm looking forward to celebrating Easter with family, especially Saturday night as my sister-in-law and friend will be baptized into the Catholic faith.

Next week I'll be back on track.  Plus I want to share my 2014 New Bremen Garage Sale finds with you.  It was a lack luster year, unfortunately.  I scored some cheap tension rods, boring lighting and other practical items (boo).  But that was good since I saved a bunch of money on things I wanted to buy anyway.  GIven the choice between spending $3.00 on a tension rod at walmart or getting them for $0.25 - I'll happily lug those from your garage to my car.  And, I'll spend the $2.75 on a piece of pie from the Pie Shell.  

It wasn't a total bummer though.  I now own a rustic birdcage and have a few new things to spray paint.  A lamp shade for $0.25 will be good for a fun low-cost project.  The weather was beautiful and I got to enjoy my friends for a few hours.  So that was great.

Happy Easter to everyone.  Enjoy your cadbury eggs and what the heck, bite the whole head off of that chocolate bunny - you deserve it!

Closed Saturday

Sara Paper will be closed on Saturday, April 5th so I can attend the funeral mass of my husband's Uncle Gene.  

I apologize for the inconvenience but of course these things can't be helped.  You are welcome to contact me during my regular hours of:

Sunday & Monday - Closed
Tuesday & Wednesday - 11-7
Thursday 10-6 & Friday 10-5
Saturday 10-12 or by appointment

A Fleeting Moment of Spring!

"It's a moment that I'm after, a fleeting moment, but not a frozen moment."
                                                                                              Andrew Wyeth

This morning I proudly showed off my outfit to Cindy at the post office.  I'm wearing my capri pants from last year.  They fit and with this spurt of warm weather, they feel awesome.  Sure, I have my winter coat hanging on the hook because when I go home tonight it won't be capri weather anymore.  And tomorrow I'll probably have to use the snow shovel before I flip the open sign.  But for today - I'm wearing capris.  As an added bonus - I could button the pants - which means I'm roughly the same weight as I was last year.  So this is a great day!  Enjoy yours!!

Cocktails and Veils

My table at Romers in Greenville for their Cocktails and Veils bridal show.

My "cowboy"

My date for the evening.  Our table ended up being right next to the folks who rent Carriage Rides so people were mistaking Adam for being with their booth.

The Reason for the Hat

A self haircut led to this.

Michelle's Macarons

Someone with decidedly MORE hair is Michelle Adams.  She makes delicious macarons in the New Bremen area.

One of my favorite gals

Allisa Thobe from Thobe Vintage and Antique Rentals in Versailles.  He husband Rob and my husband enjoyed a quick trip to Maid Rite BEFORE we all went out to dinner.

Speaking of Great Food

Tonia from Signature 7 in the Columbus area, mailed me a nice package of her decorated oreos.  These were something special, especially the carmel ones with the pink salt!  Adam and I fought over those.

My twine holder

Don't you just hate it when your twine as a mind of it's own?  So do I.  So I made this handy dandy holder.

I took a simple tin (purchased for $0.50 at Agape) and punched a hole in the lid.  The ball of twine fits perfectly.

I added a matching eyelet to protect the rough edges and then strung the twine through.  No more tangled lost edges of twine.

I splurged on this tin (a whole dollar) but it's got a cute lid attached and works great as a temporary planter.

I also like using vintage dinnerware. I bought the bowl a few years ago and found the matching plates only recently.  It looks cute on my buffet.

Feeling Creative

I bought this little jar of paint back in October and just started to goof around with it.

Before

This was how it was when I found it.  VERY battered but I really liked that look and sort of regretted painting it the boring black. 

I painted this piece a safe and solid black and added the cute knobs.  It needed something extra but I couldn't find the time to do it.

I decided to brush a very light smudge of gold on the decorative parts to make them stand out.  I still need to add back the other knobs and maybe brush some gold on the edges somewhere else.

See - even though this was in back shape it had lots of character so I'm trying to get that back.

Adding a bit of gold to these really spruced them up.

And I love how this little piece looks.

Notecards

I recently did an order of cards for a client and liked these so much I made some for myself.

The vintage cheery teapot makes me think of a spring morning.  I love this new paper I'm using too.  A bit thicker with some texture is great because these are just flat (not folded) note cards.

Happy Spring

Another fun graphic for spring.  Can't wait to get our bikes out.

Wait, it's almost March?

My new years resolution, to blog more consistently, was a lovely thought.  The blogging calendar I had drafted was paved with good intentions.  Just not realistic.  Between bridal shows, snow, a ribbon cutting (unfortunately I didn't think to take any photos of that fun night) snow and lots of new brides - life has been busy.  Cheer up - Spring is almost here.

A New SIGN!

This was a group effort in design but then all credit goes to Dad for his scroll saw skills.

And a NUMBER

Now I don't have to say, "I'm in the unmarked grey building across from Ranly Cabinets."

Bridal Show

At the Galleria in Celina.  Ava Lynn Creations made this beautiful tablescape.

Also at the Galleria

Venetian Gardens also played with table ideas.

Did I mention Snow?

And lots of it.  Shoveling seemed to cut into my work day.  This is a pretty view from the back door.

The Old Office

Nothing much happening here.  We decided to not bother moving things back into this space. This spring (or summer) we'll replace carpet and paint!

Samples

I've been mailing samples to out-of-town brides.

Old Lamp Before

This is a metal frame for a lampshade, stripped of it's former fabric (and rescued from the shed - I'd nearly forgotten about it).

After

Pages of an old dictionary and a generous helping of Mod Podge gives it a new look.

Pinterest Inspired

Curtains for my countertop made with garage sale hankies.

Breakfast of Champions

I passed up my usual drive-by sausage biscuit and cheese at McD's for a delicious breakfast with Crafty Friend Kat.  Green Thumb in between New Bremen and New Knoxville on Route 66.

Pretty

Notecards tied with bakers twine and a button.  Cute gift for a cute little girl.

Beautiful

A lovely vintage note from good friend Andrea (who does impressive calligraphy, as you can imagine).

Also

She's also a fabulous photographer. I'll share her photos of my shop in a separate post.  Here is a photo of her taking a photo of a mirror, which shows me taking a photo of her.

Buck a Bag

Here's what a $1.00 gets you at the Francis Stallo Friends of the Library Book Sale in Minster. (located conveniently down the street from me)

A gals gotta eat

Generations Cafe, a somewhat new restaurant in St. Marys.  Delicious grass-fed beef burgers and perfect fries.

Where everyone knows your name.

And a beautiful bar.  The owners did extensive remodeling.  It's got a fun, village pub like atmosphere.

My handsome date

He looks deep in thought.  His thick hair is gone.  An at-home trim turned into an at-home haircut.  Then when I pointed out a piece of hair that he missed it a faulty guard turned into a  razor shave.  He's completely bald now.

More Cards

Cute "campy" notecards for Brittany.    She owns Living Music, a music therapy practice and she played beautifully at my ribbon cutting.

Another night out.

We grabbed some friends and tried Mulligans Pub in Piqua.  The main draw was deep fried bacon, which was delicious served with a side of sausage gravy.

What Joy!!

This little guy was all smiles and enjoyed himself and his food with abondon.

PINK BATHROOM

I must brag about the pink bathroom one last time.  Adam very patiently hung everything exactly to my specifications.

Tissue Flowers

The beautiful flowers given to me at my Ribbon Cutting are gone.  Until spring - these flowers, made from old sewing patterns, will have to do.

CLOSED FRIDAY & SATURDAY - Bridal Show Weekend

Just a "heads up" to anyone who might want to stop in over the weekend.  I'll be CLOSED on Friday and Saturday due to Bridal Show season.  

I'll be participating in a Business Open House on Friday at The Galleria in Celina.  Deb, the boss lady in charge over there is cooking up a fabulous batch of samples for local businesses.  These folks will be touring the facility in order to get ideas churning for company parties, meetings and whatever else people need.

The vendors will be keeping their booths up and we're inviting the public to come on Saturday for a Bridal Open House.  This is a FREE event and sure to be worthwhile to prospective brides and grooms.  The Galleria is a really nice facility and the folks there are passionate about serving their customers and making events special.  I know Deb from Perfect Party Catering is always looking for recipes, design ideas and she has her chef work up Vegan and Gluten Free dining options.  I'm personally looking forward to making some new connections with potential clients (not to mention trying out a Bavarian Ham Skewer and sampling the Chesapeake Citrus Tilapia).  

Check out the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/217977185040089/

Hope to see lots of people there!

Catching Up

Not even a full week into my resolution to blog more and I've already fallen behind.  No matter.  I can catch up.

The vast amounts of snow here kicked me into the kitchen.  A fresh loaf of banana bread hits the spot when it's below zero temps.  Then I was inspired by my Aunt Ann and sister-in-law Annette, to make snow ice cream.

With unlimited amounts of snow available to us I got creative with flavorings.  First the basic vanilla.  I was surprised at how good it tasted.  It was just milk, sugar and flavoring mixed with snow but I guess simple ingredients make for a good product.

Next I added some hersheys since I know Adam prefers chocolate.

In a second batch I got creative.  A portion of it I added Rose Water (purchased from Jungle Jims for a special cookie recipe (which I never even got around to making).  Adam was stumped on that one and ultimately not very impressed with the taste.

Another portion I used kool aid which received better reviews.

Finally I broke into the liquor cupboard and used a chocolate chili liqueur (also purchased from Jungle Jim).  That wasn't super impressive but by this time we were sick of ice cream so I didn't proceed with the rums and whiskey (or the ancient bottle of Watermelon Pucker).

p.s. the dogs were not impressed with the ice cream at all.

Vendor Shout Out - Thobe Vintage & Antique Rentals

One thing a business owner learns quick is to make friends and network with other business owners.  I have gained some great friends that I probably wouldn't have met if it wasn't for my business.  I tend to be a wallflower and prefer to sink into the background at larger gatherings.  As a result I don't always make the sort of effort I could.  I'm probably missing out on some fabulous people and that is a shame.  And something I hope to change about 2014.  

The day of her Open House

Luckily there are fun outgoing people who sometimes shoulder the load.  So it's fitting I should introduce one of my newest (and outgoing) friends, Allisa Thobe.  Allisa and I share a love for vintage.  I heard about her business on Facebook.  In fact, my aunt learned about her on Facebook and messaged me to suggest that I "like" her.  I believe I even went out on a limb and messaged her and introduced myself.  Funnily enough her husband Rob was helping our HVAC guy in our new place.  Allisa replied back with enthusiasm.  She was already cooking up business plans and was arranging an open house at her home.  She invited me to be a part of it and it was a memorable day.  

I drove up to her home which is situated perfectly at the end of a residential block.  Behind her home is  a great big barn/garage just stuffed full of her great inventory.  They had a charming little set up in the backyard.  Allisa went all out with a rented tent, port-potties, a food service and a collection of really talented vendors, of which I was proud to be included.  

It was decorated beautifully and with bright skies, no one believed the weather forecast of rain.  But guess what - that rain hammered down on us not once but twice.  Poor Allisa, her husband Rob (and I believe her mother) were soaked to the bone as they ran around helping the vendors protect their things.  A gracious and considerate host till the end.  I was sold.  

Allisa and her hubby are a class act.  I've spent time with them socially and they are just a fun couple who genuinely enjoy their lives.  This show in their business dealings.  Not only that, they have generous hearts.  When a local gal wanted to spread word about a disease that was taking her life, Allisa jumped in and put her heart into a quarter auction and donated the rental of her inventory toward a special photo session with Corynna Strawser and her family.

This couch makes a stunning achor for an amazing photo.

Without further ado, I give you information on Miss Allisa and her business . . .  

Thobe Vintage & Antique Rentals
48 North Olive Street | Versailles, Ohio 45380
937-423-4167
www.thobevintagerentals.com
(NEW website in the making)

. . . . . . . . .

Hours of operation are primarily by Appointment Only

. . . . . . . . .

Some of Allisa's inventory

We know that a Wedding can be a very costly event. So we are here to help you spend a little less on items that most don’t have a desire to keep after their wedding. We rent out our one of a kind and unique items to help give your wedding or event that special little touch you are looking for. 

My husband and I started this business because we had the same theme when we got married. We fell in love and one of the things we truly loved doing together were to go out on what we called “Our Adventures”. We go to auctions and antique all over from state to state. So we don’t just shop and hunt in just one area. We travel all over for our finds. We meet amazing people and see amazing places. 

More Inventory

After we got married and started settling in our home. We found that other family & friends wanted that same theme for their weddings and events. After being asked if we still had our items and if they could borrow them, we thought why not do what we love and make a business out of it. So next thing we know we have business of our own and we are making others dreams come true for there special events.   

We have now been in business for almost 2 years now. Last year we had 7 wedding and this year we have already booked 9 and they are still coming in. We hope to keep growing our business in a very big way! We have some amazing ideas for 2014. 

My long term goal for this business is to be a stay at home mom and do a job I am truly in love with. Right now we both work full time jobs and just do this business on the side. So that is why we are primarily by appointment only. Otherwise I would be out in our shop 24/7 doing project after project as my mind never stops turning with ideas. 

The thing I like best about my business is that I truly love what I do and when you truly love something I believe your passion shows in your work.

To narrow down a favorite piece in my inventory I really don’t think I could do it. Well I really can’t because I love each and every piece and it’s hard to even sell some of my pieces to make room for new to make my customers happy. I began to have a bond with some of my pieces with the touch ups and or work that I do on them as well. So in a sense you begin to get attached. 

Allisa and Rob enjoying my mom's cheesecake bars at my Friends and Family night.

Other info about my life:  I am 26 years old and I grew up in Arcanum and moved to Versailles because I met my amazing husband Rob. Who I truly adore.  He has such a passion for antique and vintage items just like I do and it’s something that we can enjoy and love together. He is great with his hands and has an amazing talent of inventing and making some great items. He loves working with wood and tinkering in his barn. We have now been married for a little over 2 years. We have two dogs Ziggy & Zipper who go with us everywhere and enjoy traveling with us on "Our Adventures". We are so very lucky to have an amazing set of family and friends that support us in every step we take and we are truly blessed I thank God everyday for the all the amazing things he has brought in my life. 

. . . . . . . . .

Thanks Allisa for being a part of my blog today!!  I urge everyone to visit and "like" Thobe Vintage and Antique Rentals on Facebook and follow Allisa and her amazing ideas. 

https://www.facebook.com/ThobeVintageAntiqueRental

Programs, get your programs

 A collection of the different styles of programs.  Stop in for a quick peek of the various options or make an appointment to see everything else I offer.

Snow

Pretty snowflake design with swarvorski crystal embellishment

Simple and Elegant

A trifold program on shimmer text makes for an easy to read program.

Panel Program

Printed front and back on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of cardstock and then trimmed to a slimmer 6x11 sheet.

Traditional Fold

Traditional style, unique and color specific design.

The graphics follow along into the inside of the book.

Square

This is a multi-page booklet, tied together on the top fold with a satin ribbon.

Happy Snow Day - Updated

The holidays are over and it's back to work - fueled by the excitement of New Years Resolutions still yet to be broken.  One of my resolutions is to be more creative.  While moving to my new location I took the opportunity to purge some things that I no longer use.  During this process I couldn't help but notice all the items I picked up over the years with full intention of crafting just for fun.  I know I kicked them around the office for awhile before tossing them in a box to get them out of the way.  Then I totally forgot about them.

So today I started out by shoveling snow (exercise!) and firing up my new Keurig (Gloria Jean Hazelnut) and decided to see what this Mod Podge was all about.  Using this pinterest link I decided to do a wood transfer.

Not willing to commit to a large piece of wood I selected a piece of wood shim.  If it looks cool maybe I'll do a bigger and better one.  

Here's the photo I'm using.  Several of my favorite photos of Adam and I.  A basic copy or print is all you need. 

I painted a layer of Mod Podge and placed the print face down on the wood.  Now I have to wait 24 hours to wash it off and see if it worked.  Fingers crossed.

I was pretty careful to dampen and rub the paper off of the wood and it was not looking promising.  When it dried it was hazy and bits of paper still stuck to it.  

So I thought - what do I have to lose?  A piece of paper and a junk piece of wood?  So I ran it under the faucet and washed the stick.  Suddenly my images appeared nice and strong.  But I think I rubbed the semi wet paper too hard and in different parts my image was rubbed away.

You can see how this looks "kinda cool".  Not exactly as good as I expected but considering I wimped out by using a cheap piece of material it was a fun trail run.  I liked learning which photos work best.  For instance I like how the top photo (which had a light background) just sort of faded into the wood.  Photos with a busy background didn't look as good. 

The stick now lives on my little memo board behind my desk.

Next time I'll "go big or go home" and choose a great photo and a great piece of wood.  This is an easy project with lots of potential.  And pretty cheap if you have a pile of junk wood at your disposal.  It was free for me since I had a long forgotten bottle of Mod Podge, a box of shims and a foam paint brush already in my stash.  Brides looking for that rustic look might consider doing something like this to create custom table numbers, or a cool bar menu.  After all, anything you can print on a laser printer will transfer using this method.

Family, Friends and Faith

And lots of food. (and champagne)

Adam and I were blessed to have a great many family and friends turn out for the last minute and informal Open House.  We decked the halls and opened the doors.

I can't tell you how pleased we were at the end of the night to be eating the last of the delicious food and looking around this beautiful building remembering all the joy that just took place.  

Thanks to my first visitor Laura (who couldn't make the party so stopped in earlier in the morning) to the last guest to leave (thanks Tasha for helping with clean up - you weren't the first like you wanted to be but you stuck it out to the end).  It was so full of people Adam and I realized we barely got to stand next to each other all night.  We also had cards, calls and texts from those who couldn't make it.  So many gifts of wine and champagne - we lost count.  

Thanks to Mom, Mike and Janet, and my sister-in-law Annette who supplied the food (I only had time to purchase a couple bags of chips so they really saved the day with the food).  Miss Shirley from the Cottage Cafe stopped in with her amazing cinnamon rolls.  

We even had an appearance from new friend Edna Wise, who raised a family in this building in the 1960's.  She toured her old home with her friend and former neighbor who lived in the house next door that has since been torn down.

Add in a lovely toast from my mother-in-law and a special blessing from Father Tom - well, I'm not embarrassed to admit that that this simple little party was the best night of my life.

Snowy Day

All Decked Out

The All Night Party Crew

Munch, Bob, Annette and Brucine

Trouble

Adam with cousins Mark and Jace

Tree and Vintage Bulbs

They aren't a couple

Rod (who belongs to Anette) and Abi (who belongs with Munch)

Versailles Peeps

Beautiful cousin Paula and Adam Lavine (he also answers to Greg)

More

Vintage Bulbs and Agape Glass Jars

Janet and Annette

Last night I was Janet's favorite.  :)

Folks

Dad, Neighbors Dave and Sue (who makes delicious wedding cakes) and Uncle Bill

She Needs a Name

My favorite decorating piece.  THis wire dress form is much prettier in person.

Crafty Friend Kat

My good friend Kat (from the Thankful Ewe yarn shop) and her children.

New Friends

Fabulously funny Allisa and Rob Thobe.  Allisa does vintage rentals in Versailles.  Rob helped with the HVAC.

Display

The display rack that my sister-in-law Stacy helped me paint.  (It was a huge pain in the butt to paint this guy)

More Trouble

Brucine (again), talented Brittany Sheer (she does music therapy) and her husband Gregg.  And the real troublemaker, father-in-law Mikey

The Best

Me and Mom.  She happily scrubbed my floors the day before.

Faith

Fr. Toms powerful prayer book and holy water.  We have been blessed.

Pink Bathroom Decor

Vintage bulbs, vintage jar, vintage velvet ribbon, vintage printing blocks

We'll leave the lights on for ya.

I didn't want to unplug her at the end of the night.

Work Space

Love my new area.  This vintage mantle once lived in the old building across the street.  

Ugg

This is how the same area looked earlier in the week.  

Saturday Morning

Got up the next day and "went to work".  Instead of snuggled in jammies and parked in my home office I had to get up, get ready and tackle this. Never been happier!

My First Event

The beginning is coming!  In fact I got a head start when I hosted a group of Minster ladies.  When my sister-in-law's mother asked if her group could visit in October I suggested that November would be better.  By then I'd "for sure" be ready to host them.  Well, the joke was on me.  I was not ready but the ladies were good sports about it.  Adam and I gave them a tour and shared with them our stories of renovating this little space.  I did bring in some furniture and my designs so they could learn more about what I do.  I'm looking forward to seeing them again in December when I'm properly ready and all decorated up for the holidays.

I'll miss my current office.  Let's face it - you can't beat the commute.  But this cozy space is ready to be a living room again.  Lots of memories in this place.  Happy, excited brides.  Sometimes every seat was filled with their family and friends.  Tense mother-daughter squabbles with stressed brides happened every once in a while.  I'd pretend to get something out of my paper closet and then would hide for a little while.

I enjoyed visits with newly born babies and their tired mothers ordering birth announcements.  There was secret-sharing as other clients planned surprise parties or special moments for an event.  

There were even sad visits with clients asking me to design a memorial for a loved one or wanting to order thank you cards after a funeral.  A few tears have been shed around my table.  It was an honor to be a part of those moments.

I won't miss the late night work sessions or the dinners with my husband after I shove piles of work out of the way.  This whole last year we ate off of TV trays or standing in at the kitchen counter.  I won't miss planning my meals around bridal visits.  Some scents linger and not in a good way. ("no Adam we cannot fry up a pound of bacon or dehydrate habeneros tonight - I have a bride coming over")  I'll be happy to not worry about keeping the one bathroom in my house always "company ready" or penning up crying dogs in the back of the house.

I'm looking forward to new memories in the new place.  I'm excited for new connections and new friendships to happen.

My Current Office

I do love this cozy room that has the layers of 8 years of business.

Sneak Peak

It's got a long way to go but I'm excited to have some stuff in the new place.

Fake It Till Ya Make It

Not opening day worthy but it served the purpose of the ladies visit.

Outside Looking In

Current Chaos

Boy won't I be a happy gal when this little paper closet grows into an area 8 times it's current footage.

More Chaos

After we cleaned out the summer kitchen we stored all the "good" stuff.  It's a year later and now we have to dig it out.

Garland

Looking forward to featuring this garland in the new store.  Thrift store crochet string and scrapbook punches and a table of kids is the secret recipe.

Dictionary Pages

The pages of a 1955 dictionary enjoy a new life. 

Feeling Sappy Today​

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable —

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

I spent a portion of last week sick on my couch missing life.  (though I did enjoy watching two seasons of Bomb Girls on Netflix - a great Canadian tv series about women during WWII) Today I feel great and am especially feeling thankful.  I'm geared up and ready to roll!

The excellent or praiseworthy of my life.

Joseph Michael

My wonderful mother-in-law holding the newest member of our family.

Miss Scarlette

One of my many October Birthday Buddies.  I love watching the kid's face when they are being sung to.  It speaks volumes about their personality.

Her uncles

While the cake was being cut, Scarlette's uncles used her birthday gifts to make an extra guest at the party. 

Italian Cream

My good friend Kathy made me a delicious cake for my birthday.  I froze the extra slices and will be enjoying cake well into the new year.

Break Time

Kicking back to check out the new lighting at the store.

One last look

I think this might be the last peek of the store before we open.  The finishing touches are starting!!!!!!

Trim Work

The corner trim pieces look like little soldiers.

Twins

Dad's birthday celebrated at Buds Pizza.  My niece Brianna scored a mustache from the junk machines and turned into Dads twin.

Dad's Talents

The beautiful custom trim in the store, crafted, stained and installed by dad.

Cut throat competition

A serious game of chinese checkers requires concentration.  A fun night with my brothers family.

A Beautiful Mess

So thankful for fun projects that inspire me and make me proud.

Don't forget the dogs

They are essential and keep me company when Adam is hunting.

AND WE'RE OFF!!

Happy "No Shave" November everyone.  I'm thankful for this guy but it's gonna be a long crazy month.

Friday Fun!!

Curly & Andre’

Add Curly to the list of out-of-town clients I've never met in person.  It's been so long I can't remember who pointed her in my direction.  Our first project together was when I designed the birth announcement of Curly & Andre's daughter Capri in 2009.  Since then we've done multiple projects, communicating with each other between Columbus and New Bremen.  

Shortly before Curly began wedding planning she moved to Arizona which pretty much ensured that we'd not meet in person anytime soon.  Not that I was opposed to commuting to Arizona to show her my samples.  I could have used the break and then skipped over to visit my friend Margie (hey girl!) .  Turns out we didn't need to visit in person.  Curly had a very clear vision and with the help of pinterest, and online proofs emailed back and forth, we got it done.  Plus, Curly wins the award for "fastest replier of emails".  This girl is driven to accomplish!

Thanks Curly for your business!  You and Andre looked amazing and I'm so happy for you. I had to laugh when only days after you returned from the honeymoon you were in party planning mode again - I'm looking forward to designing the birthday party invites for Miss Capri!

One of the Nicest Couples I've Never Met

Andre’ & Curly Foster
September 21, 2013
Queen Creek, Arizona

Invite and Envelope

That's right, there's an envelope there.  Curly found a cute idea on pinterest.  Clear envelopes.  I checked them out and turns out they are USPD Approved.  A clear poly envelope with sealing strip.  Looks awesome and unique.  Note: Curly did say that it took longer for some of them arrive in her guests' mailboxes.

Shades of purple and shots of gold were the colors of the day.  Playful dots embellish the elaborate font. 

Bold

That's Curly.  Splashy, bold fonts.  I used a stretchy gold cord to keep all her pieces together.

Fun idea

Note the fun line on the bottom.  "I promise to dance if the DJ plays ______"  Cool idea that helps set the pace of the party. 

And she partied with her beautiful bridesmaids!

Curly was very into details.  I happily emailed the monogram to her so that she could have this awesome backdrop made.  The designer did an awesome job of combining the elaborate monogram font and signature dots with the backdrop design.

Andre' in the house.

The good-looking groom enjoying the night.  Looks like a fun crew!! 

More details!

Curly played on the Arizona locale with salsa and chip favors.  We designed a little monogram card that fit over the top of the salsa.

Love this.

Take a clear poly-bag.  Fill with essentials and add a fun bag topper.  I have a feeling some of the guests needed the kits after their fabulous night.

Credits:

Photography: http://www.artisticimagephotography.com

Backdrop: Etsy Shop, MySweetDay
 http://www.etsy.com/listing/119265793/photo-booth-backdrop-custom-step-and 

"Wood" you like to see the progress?

The flooring is being laid, the interior doors installed.  Adam is finishing up various tasks.  I even bought towels for the bathroom.  Yes, things are really moving.  I still couldn't say when the official "day" will be.  I cancelled all my November vendor opportunities in order to focus on setting up the store.  All the coupons I distributed at the bridal show are good for the month of December.  While it seems we're very close to opening the reality is that there is still lots to accomplish.  Building countertops, trimwork, final plumbing, installing the kitchenette area.  Then we have to move in the heavy equipment, purchase final furniture and make it all look pretty.

Peach

Re-Loving Pinky Peach tones.  New flowers are from Hobby Lobby. 

Bridal Show

Old Suitcase. Mom's doily. My work.

Bridal Show

I bought this purse at a flea market a good 15 years ago.  I haven't used it as a purse for ages but I couldn't get rid of it.  It works great as a brochure holder at the bridal show.

Floors

Beautiful wood laminate creeping in.

And Doors

This hallway is looking smaller, but more finished.  Need to put door knobs on the shopping list.

More Floors

A view of the front door and archway.

And more doors

Still not "loving" the shade of blue but it does look nice.

Rustic - Before

I picked up this abandoned vanity on the side of the road with the intention to paint it.  I drug it into the house to live until the store is ready.  I have to admit the weathered patina is growing on me.

Rustic - After

I've had my eye on this little decorative knob for a while now.  They went 50% off at Hobby Lobby and into the basket they went.  Still need to clean up the vanity and touch up the really bad parts but I'm loving the way it's looking.

Chic

A close up of the rustic chic.  I paid $10 for the pair of knobs and they work perfectly with my stuff.

Future Project

I picked up this guy at a thrift store in Lima (the one next to the dirty book store).  It has little wheels and looks very vintage, with the exception of the badly damaged dry erase board.  I'm going to cover the board with either cork, fabric with batting, chalkboard paint or remove it entirely and put chicken wire in the frame.  This will be a great display board.

Some of my Best Ideas (aren't mine at all)

Time and again I've said that I'm lucky to have so many great clients with great ideas.  I totally hit the jackpot with the Regula Family.  Three sisters (Lindsey, Brandi, & Brittani) getting married in two years - SCORE!!  Even better was the fact that the Regula girls (and their patient mother Deb) were lots of fun and loaded with great ideas.  

Their weddings are over and the brides are settling down into married life.  However the partying nature of the Regulas can't be stopped and a Surprise 30th Birthday Party was in order for Brandi's husband Bryan.  

(side note: I LOVE knowing secrets but I stress that I will let something slip so I'm always very happy when the cat is out of the bag)  

Anyway, nothing ordinary for these folks.  From her temporary home in Canada,  creative Brandi put together a full bash with all the details.  

(another side note: This couple became engaged at a post game Buckeye Party (Hineygate for all you OSU fans in the know).  I saw it on the U-Tube. The Danger Brothers let Bryan sing the Brandi song -  "Brandi, what a fine girl, what a good wife you will be")

With that history behind them an obvious party location would be a Buckeye tailgate at "the Shoe" in Columbus, Ohio.  An OSU win against San Diego State and partying with the Danger Brothers?  What could be better?

Thanks to The Regula Family for their continued business.  It's been a pleasure helping you on your special occasions and I admire your flair for entertaining.

Man Up!

A fun popular pocket style invite.

The Inside

Total "man theme" with fist bump, the "man up" logo and a mystery brown envelope.

Maybe you are sensing a theme

The envelope please!

Inside the little envelope was a clue to the fun ahead.  A little card and a fake mustache (Brandi sourced those herself so I didn't have one).  

The Happy Couple

Birthday Boy Bryan Zofkie and his beautiful (and sneaky) wife Brandi.

Cute Sign

And cute beer flavored cupcakes.  Made by 

It Takes The Cake - Wapakoneta

Party Favors

Brandi had me design a cute bag topper to go with her "hangover helper" favors.

Something new

Brandi wanted a fun photo booth element to  the party.  We designed a backdrop using all the graphics from the invite.  Since a large scale backdrop print can be pricey we put our heads together.  I printed multiple sheets of 12x18 prints and Brandi spray mounted them together to make a cost effective and fun backdrop.  Mission accomplished!

The Regula Crew

Some of the Regula clan.  Funny, I've never met any of the men.  I assumed they existed and here they are!

OMG

A fun-looking crew.  I'll bet you guys are a blast!  The Birthday Boy is wearing the football hat and I laugh. Every. Single. Time. I see it.

The Danger Brothers

Manly Men

Credits:
   The Danger Brothers
 It Takes the Cake

Stuff

I have no clever title.  I'm tired.  I probably only saw Adam a total of 5 waking hours this whole week.  I ate at McDonalds more than I care to admit.  Full disclosure - Today I showered for the first time in three days.  Day 1 - I didn't bother because I knew I was going to be painting later that morning.  After working I headed back to the office and got busy there.  Then I accidentally feel asleep.  When I woke I knew I I was painting again.  I gave the world the courtesy of brushing my teeth and I hit the road.  When Adam saw me he carefully asked if I was working at the store and I said, "yes, but this is pretty much how I look now so get used to it."  I painted then stopped in at my insurance providers office (they didn't recognize me)  That night I worked late finishing an order and crashed again.  This morning, however, I cleaned up proper and I'm back to myself.  Tonight is date night! (which, btw, will involve a trip to Menards - I've turned into my parents aaaggg!)

All kidding (and complaining) aside - Adam and I are excited because the end is in sight.  Or rather the BEGINNING is in sight.  We're looking forward to everything that this new space will offer.  And that makes all this effort worth it!

PINK

The pink bathroom!

Sub-Floor

I didn't know that ANOTHER layer of flooring would go between the first floor and the finished floor.  We're extra nice and sturdy now!

Favorite Room

The original hardwood has been stained and looks great. 

ei-ei-ei-o

Some of the food at our Oktoberfest Parade Party.  We're located right along the parade route.

The Lone Pumpkin

I purchased 5 pumpkins to display outside.  Then I forgot to bring them inside on Saturday night.  Only one survived.  The rest (I assume) were carted away by overzealous Oktoberfest partiers passing by.

The Door - Round 1

I loved this paint color in the store and in inspiration photos.  It's a departure for me as  I was leaning towards a safer deep (almost burgundy) pink.  Still, I liked it.  In fact looking at this photo I almost love it.  But in person it just "wow" me.

The Door - Round 2

In the end I went a little darker.  Still not in love.  This won't be the last color but I'm keeping it until next year.  Maybe I'll celebrate spring with a lighter pink shade.

Trimwork

This is a rough draft of how the baseboards will look.  The original trim over the windows and doors featured a pointed piece.  Dad kept the original to use as a pattern and decided to use the look in the baseboard trim as well.

Here's what I love

After we pulled up the wood floors (and then "we" decided to not reinstall) we were left with a lot of wood.  Rough, old, painted wood.

Here's a close up

Layers of paint would make a person like me think a "rustic" look would be the only option.

But after running the wood through a planer the other side of this same piece of wood looks (and smells) like brand new wood.  It's a lot of work for dad but a huge savings for me.  (thanks dad).  After it's stained and installed I'll have beautiful woodwork that will last for years. (With a quality I certainly wouldn't have been able to afford)

Invites!

Miss Carli has the most, most fun mom.  I've been blessed to do her invites for the last 3 or 4 years. This year Carli celebrated her 9th birthday by throwing out the first pitch at the Toledo Mudhens Game (this bit of info was printed on the die cut baseball insert).

Matching Envelopes

I love the extra step of adding design elements to the envelope.  Finished off with a Disney postage stamp - it's a fun playful package.