...flea market friday april :: nashville vintage (tuesday edition)

i know, i know...i'm a few days late...or early, i guess.. but look at this!

 

isn't this the cutest!? every post is made better by a cute animal! 

ANYWAY...

a couple weeks ago we went to the nashville flea market...again (where i met this black mountain cur puppy). :) This time, we were on the hunt for something specific but here are a few fun items we found along the way...

 

if i had endless amounts of cash, & there were tons of these...i totally would have bought them, and lined my back deck with them...

the coolest old dollhouse EV-ER! too bad we don't have kids...yet! this would be a great up-cycle family project!

majorly in love with this sign! if i had massively tall ceilings this would have been AMAZING in my hypothetical enormous craft studio above a huge bay window! thats hypothetically speaking of course!!

super cool old crates! i loved the unique "choc-ola" stamp! the vendor wanted waaaayyy too much for them though!

o-o-o-o-o-o-ohhhhh the overalls... never seen me more over-alls (on men) anywhere besides the nashville flea market...and some over-all wearer has MASSIVE wedgies! its really kinda funny! and it cannot be comfortable!

 

sweet old follow spot...

yummm!!! fresh produce!

meet carl...he worked for the vendor i bought my new coffee table from! definitely a "good 'ol boy!"

and this...is my fabulous new coffee table!! it was an industrial cart, probably used in an old furniture factory. but now, its home is my living room! i'm so so so so excited! i love this look, and have been searching for one for months! places like Restoration Hardware, Pottery Barn, and Z-Gallerie have carried them...but in those stores, they run between $700 & $1500!! can you imagine!?! Even at the flea market, they are hard to find in good condition for under $300(because the vendors know their value!), but i held out & snagged one for even less! i'm totally smitten with its worn boards, massive center wheels, and unique metal band that runs lengthwise! mine is taller than most, and in great shape!

can you say "enamored?" 0:)

then i found a FAB vintage fan...and the best part...it still works!

the cord was in rough shape,

and the blades needed some major 409 help...so logically, i disassembled the whole thing!

i cleaned all the pieces, and wrapped the entire cord with electrical tape, that'll do...at least until i have time to replace it.

i'm ALWAYS adding to my vintage book collection...and these were only $2 each!

plus, i found some awesome extras in them! from names, to primary school assignments dated back to the early 1920's!

can you imagine paying $0.68 for a text book?

this cool frame was also a great find... i loved the unique 3 panes, and the rustic-ness of it!

you know you're a photographer when....

                                               ...even your dog sets up framing for you

on another note: we planted peonies when mom & daddy were here! so pretty! i can't wait til they're in full bloom!

z was tired after a long day of flea-marketing & fire-wood chopping!

...31 bits : nashville philanthropy

"31 Bits Designs is a socially minded business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty. By giving our beneficiaries access to the international market, they are able to earn an instant income, providing homes, food, and education for their families. Our program equips women by providing literacy education, financial and vocational training, holistic care, and strong support systems, empowering individuals to further their careers and attain social equity."

                                                                 ~ from the 31 Bits website

 Ugandan women craft beads out of recycled paper from posters, magazines, flyers, and anything with color! this incredible company has helped create a purpose for these women, who may have had no hope before partnering with 31 bits.

 the knowledge that buying a piece of jewelry through them could be putting food on someone's table is cause enough for me to get excited...not to mention how intricate, beautiful, and incredibly unique the jewelry is! the company has provided a way for people to host a "party." much like a Mary Kay party, or a Scentsy Party, someone can host a 31 bits party! You simply fill out an application, return it, the company sends you a box of jewelry, you host your party, then return money and the remaining jewelry! it couldn't be easier! it's a wonderful to share community, and fellowship while coming around a fabulous cause. check out this cool video to see some of the women who benefit from this!

i LOVE to entertain. i love to decorate. i love to cook. i love to bake. and i really love to have people over with whom i can just share life. the other night, was one such evening! early in the week i created a menu. i visualized where i could display the jewelry. i set the table. i cooked. i baked. finally, the day of the party, my amazing hubby helped me clean the whole house! (not only were friends coming over, but my parents were coming in from the OC very late the night of the party...and everyone knows you HAVE to have a clean house when mom is in town!)

the menu for the evening was:

~ brie en croute: brie with brown sugar, walnuts, and currants wrapped in puff pastry

~ spinach salad : with homemade balsmic, orange, honey and shallot vinaigrette

~ homemade spinach & artichoke dip

~ homemade pita chips

~ small chicken bites sauteed in a little EVOO and seasoned 

(these were really just for some protein on the table!)

~ pesto & parmesean pinwheels

~ pesto, proscuitto & parmesean pinwheels

~ mini nutella pinwheels

~ mini cheesecakes with Lemon curd, 

raspberry preserves, or blackberry preserves

a HUGE thanks goes to 31 bits for creating such a wonderful marketing plan for these Ugandan women! we sold lots of fabulous pieces, and i cannot wait to get the money back to them!

follow their blog here: 31 bits blog

here are a few fun images that catch the spirit of the evening!  and a peek into my living room!
**(please forgive the dreadful lighting! i forget how dark and tungsten-y my house gets at night!)