Bring out the Swans...it's still raining!

Hand Poured Soy Candles in Vintage Swan Pottery Vessels

All of this spring rain has surely put a halt on any outdoor picture taking I've wanted to do this last week...or two! On a brighter note, the time inside has given me the opportunity to get a little more organized and I did happen to get a few more individual inventory shots of my rentals.

In the photo above I'm showing two of my vintage pottery swans that I've hand poured scented soy wax into. These are available for rent for entry tables...etc. They will burn for your entire event or longer and will  greet your guests with a pleasant aroma of your choosing. I stock all of the popular fragrance oils and can order by request....such a special touch for your special day or event!

A chipmunk sipping rain water from a leaf that had blown up on our front porch

The daily rains have also forced me to slow my roll and to try to enjoy a somewhat slower pace...giving me an opportunity also to notice that there is another world existing right under my nose that I'd ignored for quite a while...

A fledgling wren I found in the herb garden

I love my work, but I also love living out in the country and farm life. It takes balance to do it all. I'm still working on that...and focus! 

This summer, I'm making it my goal to live a balanced life. I'm blessed that I can and I'm very grateful! I love my life on the farm and my design and rental business that I run right here from home. It's the very best of both worlds. 

As I look out my window now...it's raining...again, but, that's okay.

Vintage Rental...The Total Package

I'm a week past the sale and still recouping from the time spent daily on all the details involved in putting it together......at any rate, the show went off without a hitch with the exception of a rain shower on Saturday but I think considering the weather we all did fairly well...just the perks of doing an outdoor show.

Cabin Creek Antiques

Stressed Out Furniture and Hennessee Home

Brown Eyed Suzy

These are four of a dozen vendor booths...all were so well done!

Today, I'm finally back on a regular schedule both at home and at work. This upcoming Saturday marks opening day for my rentals to begin...

Garden Tea Anyone?

Because I'm doing this part-time only, I will be doing things a little differently than a lot of the rental companies...I am offering packages so that you can take your rented items to your venue and set them up just the way you choose them. 

Choosing random items, just because you love them won't guarantee that you always find good uses when you are in stressful situations...The best stylist will leave things out if it's not going to work and that's wasteful on two accounts. For most of the people I've already talked to they don't know what they want exactly unless they see it all together. 

Pinterest has been both inspirational and confusing for young brides, especially, because they are running around everywhere looking for every item from every idea they've seen. Most aren't able to afford to buy all these things or have the time to make what they want for their wedding. This is why renting is such a wonderful concept!

I'm interested in renting my handmade and vintage inventory out as props for photo shoots mostly and for receptions and parties. I will never have a bizillion of anything but I already do have many very special items that will add instant charm to your photo or event. 

For example, the items from the photo above will  rent as a whole unit with interchangeable teapots, table linens and miss matched cups and saucers to personalize it, but basically this setting will be what you see here. This particular setting can be used for family photos, engagement photos or a little girls tea party, set with a small tea service ...can't you just see little legs dangling from those chairs?

Of course, if you just wanted the table or a chair or two for something entirely different, and they are available, it's entirely possible! 

I also have multiple spots here at the farm for your photo sessions with a list of wonderful local photographers if you don't have anyone in mind. 

Multi Tierd Bird Serving or Center Pieces 

My catalog, which is still evolving, will have individual inventory pieces as well as the whole unit sets in which to choose from. Renting sets will save time and money which is two of our most valuable assets. 

Of course, if requested, I'm available to style your photo shoots or events if you have a particular need other than what I've already come up with, and we can help with delivery if necessary as well. I'm also on board with making things, if I'm able, that you need...But, mostly this will be a self service rental company for those wanting something simply beautiful that stays within a reasonable budget. 

I'm still quite a ways off with getting everything photographed... but it's evolving and I'm not quite so overwhelmed now that I've gotten started.

I will post more photos here as I get them done, and also on my Vintage Rental Pinterest board, but if you are a local, I hope you will make an appointment to see in person the items in the showroom. 

Open for appointments, beginning Saturday, June 1st 2013. 336-905-0386 

My Vintage Rental Inventory is Shaping Up Quickly

Time is ticking fast now...I've got eleven days to be completely ready for the sale. I'm almost at a place where I can't do much until crunch time...

So...this week I'm focused on my vintage rental inventory. The showroom is almost finished and I've started photographing the pieces. I hope to have a good start on the catalog by the weekend of the sale...hoping. I'm also trying to figure out my catalog and rental system...I hope there is a software system out there somewhere.

I'm having the best luck finding nice pieces to add to the things I already have. I wanted these vases you see on the table, that I saw at an auction yesterday...they threw them in a box lot with the candy dish and a set of 8 green glasses. I probably wouldn't have even bid on the candy dish but I really, really love it!  I've never been much of a green person, but it's grown on me the last year or so. I love green mixed with crystal.

When I first started toying with the idea of vintage rentals I found this table and several other small vintage wedding items all in one place, that seemed to me like a sign that I was onto something meant to be. This will be a beautiful piece used as a serving or gift table.I'm thinking I may paint the chairs now. We'll see.

This was one of the first centerpieces I made when they became popular a few years ago. I've always used it to display vintage jewelry on. I set the figurine on it just to be sitting it somewhere while I was moving things and now I think I really like it as part of the centerpiece.

I don't really know how I accumulated so many vases....and I have two shelves also of green glass and brown glass...oh...and milk glass.  No lack of anything for flowers!

About twenty years ago, I bought my first piece of aluminum. I still have it on my mantle. I remember the man told me that it was going to be really collectible one day and that I should buy all that I could. Well, I bought and then sold some of it...now, I'm buying again. I love it.  It is really fun to use and so pretty for a very vintage wedding.

This is just the tip of the iceberg...remember, I'm a hoarder. I have tons of stuff and you know I'm always looking for more.

I'm shooting for June 1st as opening day for rentals. I should be ready for the most part to begin setting appointments for consultations and for rentals.

Come out on the 17th and 18th for a preview at our Country Marketplace at the Ranch show and sale. We are having two more vintage rental vendors along with those with antique, vintage and handmade things for sale.

...and come back here for more photos! Hopefully the weather will warm up and I will be motivated to set up outside for some styled shots...that's what I'm looking forward to!

Our Vendor List for Country Marketplace

I am getting very excited about our sale in May.  Last year, I was actually a little afraid that no one would show up to buy anything. I started with a handful of my closest friends as vendors, did a little marketing and hoped for the best. It worked and we had a good turnout. Whew! 

This year we have a bigger vendor list. I learned a lot from last year and am working hard to make this another good event. 

Here is our vendor list:  

Crane Farms - Winston Salem

Crane Farms on Facebook

Crane Farms Blog

Cabin Creek Antiques - Lexington

Cabin Creek on Facebook

 Goat Feathers - Winston Salem

Goat Feathers on Facebook

Stressed Out Furniture -Linwood

Stressed Out Furniture on Facebook

Loriginals - Thomasville

The Brown Eyed Suzy - Salisbury

The Brown Eyed Suzy on Etsy

Hennessee Home - Winston Salem

Hennessee Home on Facebook

The Blackbird Box - Lexington

The Blackbird Box on Facebook

Vickie's Jewel Box-Lexington

Vickie's Jewel Box Auction Site on Facebook

Ranch Dressing - Thomasville

Ranch Dressing on Facebook

Website

....and two more on deck from last year if they can clear their schedules.

....and one more good friend if she can get a day or two to finish some projects

And...we have Sweet Scoops and Beyond...to serve up hotdogs, ice cream, tea and lemonade on Saturday!

So, it's looking to be another good sale here at the ranch! Ya'll mark your calendars and plan to come!

See you then!

Save the Date

One month away....

We can't wait! Stay tuned for vendor profiles and photos.

Coming soon!

Chapter Three...Vintage Rental

My sister and I in about 1966

Here I am in my third year in this business and true to what I said on my ABOUT page when I began this blog, I am trying on lots of hats until I find one that fits...

I'm now wearing the vintage rental hat. It took a year and a friend drawing me a picture for me to realize that I should give it a try. A vintage rental business provides brides, event planners and photographers with unique vintage props and antique furniture for weddings, events and styled shoots. I also want to offer my skills as stylist as well if anyone has a need.

Last year we had a cute engaged couple stop by and ask if they could have their engagement photos taken in and around our barn. We were happy to oblige. It so happened that the day they were to have their photo shoot was the day before our occasional sale and I had lots of the overflow of vintage furniture and other goods out under the studio shed. 

The photographer, Amber Belangia of ASB Photography, hadn't been here until the day of the shoot and as I watched her I could see her cogs turning as she surveyed what we had to offer. She went out behind the barn into the woods...

She went across the road to the cow pasture... 

I just absolutely love this one! 

She went in the barn, and up to the loft... 

and I was pleasantly surprised that she made several pictures at the studio and among the junk! 

Did you notice you're see through a mirror view? So cool!

And I realized, we are at no loss for weathered farm buildings here to use as a backdrop either!  

These are just a few of the photos from the afternoon and I think Amber did a wonderful job! I now realize that we have the potential to provide more in the way of props and opportunities. I'm getting very excited! I can't continue without thanking my friend Lee from Stressed Out Furniture for making the suggestion that I should look into doing rentals. She and another new friend, Cindy from Cabin Creek Antiques, and both from my Design Junkies group, are also just starting their vintage rental businesses as well.

By the time we have our Country Marketplace at the Ranch sale on May 17th and 18th, the showroom will be ready and I hope we will be well on our way to having a completed inventory portfolio including styled photos for inspiration...I'll also have PLENTY for sale that weekend under the shed, and probably under a tent as well, so don't think I've stopped junking or selling...I've set June 1st as the official opening day for rentals to start. Consultations will be by appointment and at your convenience so I'm not going to set days or times.

There will be more to come as I progress. In the meantime you can check out more of Amber's photos on her Facebook page, website and blog.

Thank you Andrea and Robert for letting me use your sweet photos! And thank you Amber for sharing you talent with us! 

Secret Service

I am taking a rare minute of solitude to update my blog and do a little "splainin"...that's southern for explaining...and it usually involves a long story.

If you know me, you know I thrive on change! My husband won't walk through the house in the dark for fear of running into something I've moved...or moved back. Some things, I like to keep the same and never change...like my hair and favorite clothes. I keep my hair long and in a ponytail the majority of days.  I love wearing t-shirts, jeans and boots or flip flops...depending on the weather. But, the rest of my world pretty much changes, or evolves, as I prefer to call it, fairly often.

So, now I guess you are wondering what I'm about to throw at you so I'll just say it in plain English. I'm changing up Ranch Dressing again. No big surprise, you say...I know!  Remember the part you just read about my husband afraid to move around in the dark because I may have moved something, or moved something back? Well, I'm rearranging at the Ranch...AGAIN... and moving some things back where I started.

It's no big deal really, but I thought you should know...I'm not going to keep regular hours after all. I'm going back to appointments again. This worked beautifully in the beginning and who knows why we ever try to fix things that aren't broken...but we get carried away with how good things are and just assume they can be better...speaking for myself anyway.

For being such good sports about this I'm going to tell you a little secret...we are getting ready to offer vintage rental for weddings, photo shoots and other events very, very soon. You'll be able to view our portfolio and see our vintage props in person at our Country Marketplace at the Ranch sale in May.

I'm very excited...and also very busy! I will post more about the sale and the vintage rental as we progress!