Would you like fries with that?

I said on my last post I may be taking the night shift at McDonald's to pay for this hoard.

Take a gander & you'll see why!!!

We shopped EVERYWHERE!

From Winnie & Tulula's, The Tin Rabbit, & every yard sale between Nacogdoches & Fort Worth.

You know there were no husbands on this trip! 

When we got home Dawn set everything out on the dining room table so we could wallow in the beauty of it all.

Then she started creating little vignettes & taking pictures. 

 I'm so glad I'm not the only goob in the world that does this stuff.

This little sequined tuxedo must have been for a dance recital or something.

 I could not resist it, for the tarnished trim & fabric alone.

Price tag....$10

 And these sweet communion medals, only $3 each!

My Cupie Cone made by dear Ann.

She now hangs over my bed!

My first Christmas decoration of the season.

The stone angel....Ann. The crown she is wearing was a gift from Karla. 

Still obsessed with Interior Alchemy, Dawn & I both searched high & low for treasures to fill our cabinet of curiosities.

The turtle shell came from Debbie too, we picked up antlers, hornets nest anything nature inspired!

(sorry Jodie or anyone else who is 'nature phobic')

I found the most amazing book from a thrift store,  it's loaded with engraved illustrations, poems & songs.

Really a great find for $9.

The rusty scissors from a yard sale, $1.

I picked up this Victorian jacket at a little shop along the road.

Surprisingly it wasn't all that black lace that attracted me,

it was the perfectly, imperfect hand stitching on the inside!

To me that is art.  I think it would be beautiful displayed in some way, perhaps a tattered collage.

I uncovered this cool, Victorian lampshade in Debbies booth at W&T's.

I'm not sure what I'll do with it yet, but I just love the stained & tattered muslin shade & the wonderful trim.

I think I've mentioned my box obsession before.  I just can't pass them up, this beauty came from sweet Deb!

Dawn unearthed this enormous roll of paper in a shed behind a country estate sale. 

It'll live on a ledge in my studio.

It reminds me of Theresa Cano.

Dawn & I had such fun in that short amount of time.

Leaving her family, traveling all this way to see me...well it was a real gift.

But she didn't come empty handed.  Ann & I each received a beautifully altered box filled with lovely bits & pieces.

My box was embellished with a copy of the same tin type she gave me for my birthday.

Two old friends, how perfect!

We each got a sleeve off of lacy vintage wedding gown.

 Some of her lavender scented egg soaps, & this teeny tiny tin type.

Oh I love tiny things too!

But the best gift of all came on Sunday morning.

When I woke up it was as if Santa had come down the chimney  & fluffed my mantle!

Yeah,

she 'feathered my nest'!

Thank you girls for one of the greatest weekends ever!

Tattered Trash & a Feathered Tin Rabbit!

Whadda weekend!

It was all amazing from the minute I picked my sweet friend Dawn up at the airport until I dropped her back off 72 hours later.

We started out Thursday night hooking up at the book store with blog buddies Lori & Pat.

You think we found anything to talk about???

The next morning after getting the kids off to school we headed to Athens to see Gloria's awesome shop Winnie & Tulula's.

Anyone recognize that crazy girl in the window?

My favorite trash talking girl Debbie!

I think the writing on the window has this girl pegged!

Eclectic, quirky & romantic!
This girl makes me laugh so much.
When I wasn't laughing at her stories I was buying up all her amazing stash!

Gloria has turned this old historic building into one of the best stores I've ever been in!

Linens, clothes delicious food, she's got it all.

My friend Daphnes beautiful bags!

Gloria calls this 'Paris Apartment'.

Some of Dawn's treasure's.

I bought up so much good stuff that day.

I'll show you next post.

After a big lunch & a lot of shopping it was off to see

'The Tin Rabbit'.

The drive to Melrose was truly picturesque.

Rolling Texas hills, small farms dotting the landscape & the amazing fall colors surrounding us. 

Even the weather that weekend was perfect.

When we turned into the gravel drive there was a lot of

Ohhs & Ahhs!

The property consists of their sweet cottage, the shop & Ann's 'famous' greenhouse. 

He has put an enormous amount of work into their home & shop, swapping new doors with antique.

By the time we arrived it was dark, & everything was lit up with thousands of white lights. 

It was so breathtaking it actually brought tears to our eyes.

I'm not a bit embarrassed to tell you this, I know you understand.

Ann's greatest gift is her fearless way of putting things together.

Whether it's the way she decorates her home,

or creating art. 

I just love everything she does!

I'll stop writing for a minute & let the pictures speak for themselves.

Are you tired of looking yet??

No?

 Here's some more!!!!!!!

 It is absolutely the most beautiful home I've ever been in!

Ann is such a precious friend & such a sweet soul.

Needless to say a few lot of the treasures I showed you are now in my possession!

I'll be watching for the postman so I can intercept the Visa bill.

Stayed tuned for my next post titled....

'Lisa gets a job at McDonalds'

were I'll show off all my goodies!