our heartfelt thanks

there were so many of you who wrote to us and left comments expressing your condolences and sympathy over the loss of our mother on sunday. we read and treasured every one. your love and prayers were felt, and we are grateful.

thank you to everyone who took a moment to send us your thoughts; it meant a lot to us.

after a difficult past two months, kristi and i are both ready to get back to work. spring is here, finally, and our moods are hopeful and sunny, along with the california weather.

we were able to go out hunting today and found some things that we are thrilled with...

this is a tiny 'sneek-peek' at an oil painting we found today.

by the time we got home today, we had run out of sufficient light to take really good photos, but we are going to take pictures of this and put it in our web boutique tomorrow.

this is an original oil, dated 1902, in a heavy, deep and ornate gold frame.

it got a little hairy at the sale where we found it because after we had decided we were buying it a lady said she wanted it, too!

well, we had our mitts on it and our money out, but it was a little awkward. like kristi says, at estate sales, thrifts stores and flea markets, if you haven't committed enough to have it in your hands yet, it's still fair game, so we felt like we were the rightful new owners.

(for heaven's sake, if you aren't sure about something, hold onto it while you mull it over, right?)

i found this just as it was being put out at a thrift store the other day, and didn't hesitate for even a second before scooping it up.

i drew a lot of attention and there were a lot of comments as i walked through the store carrying it...isn't it funny how much more attractive something is as soon as it is in someone else's hands?

this is an old birdcage in a shabby french-blue color. it has crusty dirt which needs to be cleaned off and will need to be straightend out in a few places, but we love it and think it is fabulous.

it always amazes me when people think you ought to do something to the original, wonderful old finish. one lady told me 'that will be great painted!'

i am sure i looked at her rather blankly.

we also found an incredible old painted dresser. we looked at it and fell in love, but weren't sure we could swing the finances right now (but it was an incredible price!)

we actually came home, thought and talked about it a few minutes, and then drove all the way back to the store, hoping and praying that we didn't hesitate just a few minutes too long.

happily, it was still there.

we love the original old hardware on this piece.

the appliques are old and original to the piece...there is beaded applique work that runs from the center pieces along to the edges. all the pieces are intact.

we are beside ourselves over this find.

again, a lady who saw us buying this told us how great it will be 'refinished' and that it was a shame it was in 'poor shape' (read that 'chippy') !

we were stunned...

we didn't have a vehicle to cart it home with us today so left it in the store for pick up on friday. as the store clerk was taping the 'sold' sticker on it, she said 'i just hope someone doesn't take this off of here and buy it themselves. they do that sometimes, you know. but you have your receipt, so you'd get your money back.'

!!!?!!!

kristi and i looked at each other and both went faint at the thought of losing this!

so, my smart big sister said, 'well, then, we'll just take the drawers with us!'

i really want to keep this piece for myself. i think it will be so great as a serving buffet in my dining room.

i will post pictures of the whole thing once we get all the pieces in one place!

it was a good day for us.

despite our sorrow over losing our mom, we know that activity and work are good antidotes to sadness and the blues.

we are looking forward to a busy and productive spring; we have begun to add new 'spring' items to our shop and can't wait to get it filled to overflowing with fresh, great new stuff!
~karla