Packards' Holiday Open House

Thanks to my mom, dad, kids, and 4 loaded trucks/cars... we got the booth loaded for the Holiday Open House beginning today.  Once the huge furniture was all in, the real fun began with me adding sparkle.  Except for a couple key pieces, everything is BRAND NEW to the booth!  I will show some photos now with some explanations of a few of the items.  In the upcoming weeks I will be adding more, so check back often.  Hopefully you can find some things to help with your gift giving.  As I always try to do, there are items from $2.50 on up, so I'm sure you could find something in a good price point for ya!  Enjoy!

Not sure where to begin, so I think I will just start from one end of the space to the other.  This is looking to the left of the booth.  I made another slipcovered wingback chair.  

The lines of this chair are a perfect blend of classic wingback but with a very clean modern silhouette.  Loved how 'she' turned out.

 I wanted to do a non-traditional tree... and so these branches in an old urn planter fit the bill!

 Are you familiar with german glass glitter?  It is a phenomenal type of glitter... reminds me of what mercury glass would look like if it were all crushed up.  The glitter actually has a patina.  I made letters and numbers in this glitter to use as banners and ornaments or even to use as tags for gifts.  You could collect the monograms for your whole family!

 I think the little red snow shovel (child's size), above, would look adorable on a front porch or even by your Christmas tree.  Below, is one of my favorite 2011 ornaments.  They are angel wings made of antique hymnal sheet music. 

 On our trip to Destin this year, I found many treasures that I knew would go into my Holiday booth.  I found a bag of antique chandelier crystals.  I sell them in a set of 3 and there are 'drops' and 'french pendants'.  They are already in a white gift box in case you want to gift them too.

 And here is a magnificent dresser I found.  The curves are amazing.  I painted it in my new favorite shade of grey blue and the hardware is original and is in graphite grey.  It has many imperfections which add to the beauty... and my kids would vouch that it is s.o.l.i.d!  It was the single hardest piece to transport.  Whew!! 

 Also in Destin,  I was in the back of my favorite antique store there loading a door out there back exit, and saw a few old boxes with Amish symbols on the outside.  I asked the clerk what was in side.  She just said, "old bottles".  I looked closer and discovered they were old 1/2 and whole pint glass milk jars from an Amish Creamery.  The box was deteriorated, the bottles dirty and some broken... but I bought all they had.  I will keep many to use decoratively and as juice glasses for our B&B and my sisters have snatched up a few, but I still had some to add to the booth.  Do you need some?

 More of the german glass glitter ornaments/tags.

 I have a pinetree that drops these miniature pinecones, so I dusted some with the glitter and left others plain and bagged them up for sale.  You can get some if you love the littles.

 I have a new hutch in the booth, it has been a while since I have had such a large piece, and these hutches always go so fast.  I took the doors off, I think so many antique hutches are only dated my the doors.  Removing them makes them more up to date and functional.  Classic in a dining room, but would also be great in a bedroom... the bottom as dresser storage and the top shelves could hold books or stuffed animals for a child's room.  Possibilities are endless!

 More old bottles, that cleaned up beautifully.  The swingtop bottles are all functional and could hold your favorite drink or would look wonderful filled with holiday candies.  The bottles pictured to the front left are my favorite!

 These are the 1/2 pint milk glass jars that are perfect as juice glasses... swoon!

 This chalkboard is the window frame out of an old house or church.  It must have had an old lead glass window or art piece in it.  The frame is HUGE and heavy.  I want to keep it, seriously I do.  I make no promises that I won't cave and bring it back home.  Probably the only reason I did take it is because it was a BEAST to restore and convert into this chalkboard and I was a tad angry with it... I can hold grudges.  My husband saved my sanity and made it work.  It incredible!

 I'm sure you have noticed my 'sheet music' theme.  These wreaths are made of old hymnals and I loved them so much a actually DID keep one.  Proud of myself for setting one aside.  They are quite large and would look great over a mantle for the holidays, or truthfully year round!

 I have a diningtable for sale too.  It has 3 additional leaves, so it could seat many people.  It is old and has had many treatments over the years.  I painted it out white and did not try to 'erase' its past life, I think the layers are what make these older pieces so beautiful.  The six chairs go with the lines of the table perfectly and I covered the seats with an upholstery grade natural linen. 

 And I'll leave you with a few pics of the table centerpiece.  Just tons of different glass strewn down the middle, could not be easier and visually it sparkles!  The table runner was made by simply taping pages of organ sheet music together.  Add a few natural berry twigs and pinecones and the look is gorgeous!

Tons of vendors were at Packards yesterday... the parking lot and back loading door was packed, so I think you would have tons of fun shopping this weekend at the Open House.  Thanks!!