Today's Plunder...

We had made a plan to go over to the Blue Ridge Parkway today, and view the leaves, hike underground at Dixie Caverns, shop in the antique malls, and have a barbeque supper someplace.

Then Kevin's boss decided to make him work instead.

So I was sad, disappointed, a little annoyed, and generally grumpy this morning. Plus I woke up with a headache.

So to cheer myself up I took Dodge and headed to Yanceyville, NC (near my childhood home down the road) where they have a community yard sale most weekends during nice weather. I got myself a smoked sausage biscuit and a hash browns, and went shopping at the yard sale vendors.

Then I went to the Junk Shop next door, and I was starting to feel better so I went to the local charity shop, where I found the mother lode.

Here's a few of my findings:

For me -


A tin of old sewing notions. I also found four or five necklaces mingled in with the sewing things. I got it for $2. I don't sew, so I don't know what I am going to do with it; except stash it and tell myself I will eventually sew something.


From the junk shop, a blue insulator. My favorite color.


A very old strand of faux pearls with a nifty clasp. From the same yard sale as the sewing notions.


From the charity shop, a 40s black velvet hat for my collection. So cute.


A lovely tam, which I will probably wear a lot this winter.

And, for the shop:


Two really cool 50s - 60s bags: white wicker and a very.very.very. cool tapestry handbag.


A dead stock apron, in sweet blue and white.


When the lady at the charity shop saw I was buying a bunch of old stuff, she said she had, in "the back", two sets of old pjs with the tags still on them. I asked to see them, and so she brought them out: 2 sets of cotton 1950s pjs, tags still attached, and in perfect dead stock condition. I had to pay a little more than I wanted, but I could NOT leave those there! So adorable!!


Several sets of frilly, lacy and romantic, and very old, gowns and robes.*swoon*





I am still annoyed that my mountain plan was wrecked, but I am somewhat comforted by my excellent finds.
And the delicious sausage biscuit. Mmmmmm.

Ruche Fall "Lookbook" Wishlist.

My favorite indie fashion website is Ruche, and fall fashion is my favorite; and the two combined just made my heart go pitter patter....

(Click the link below the photos to buy.)


These shoes are to die for. Look at that cute velvet flower on the toe!


I am a sucker for velvet. Love this bag in mauve.


This print trench coat is so unusual! I have a coat similar to this but it's a shorter coat, and in a brown print instead.


This pleated coat has 1910's vibes. Love the dusty lilac color...


Be still my beating heart... (Click here to buy)


Love this whole look.


The sweater coat is so cozy looking!

There are so many other gorgeous things at Ruche right now; I suggest you take a look at the Fall "Wanderlust" Look Book and see for yourself!

The Last Sundress Of The Season....

I bought this dress when I was visiting my sister who is attending Regent University in Virginia Beach. It's a classic Laura Ashley cotton sundress, done in a 50s style. I love it. My sister, on the other hand, said it looked like something she would have dressed her American Girl dolls in, when she was a kid. She said it was too "cutesy". I agree; it is kind of "cutsey"; but I need something cutesy for when I am in a cutsey mood. So there, Noelle.

Anyway, today it was warm - in the upper 80s - so I figured I'd enjoy wearing it on what will probably be the last really warm day of the year; since we'll be getting chilly here at the end of the week. I took my camera, and Dodge, walking in the fields here on our farm.









Dress: Laura Ashely; thrifted
Shoes: American Eagle; thrifted
Hat: Liz Claiborne; thrifted
Locket: Vintage silver plate locket, thrifted

Etsy Shop Update and SALE

A little shameless self promotion here..... hey It's my blog so I can promote a little bit, right? Hee hee

It's closet cleaning and wardrobe switching around time of the year; I've been doing it in my own closets and drawers and I am doing it in my Etsy inventory as well.

You know how they say you should toss anything you haven't worn in a year? Well, I have stuff that has been listed in my Etsy shop since DAY ONE and I guess nobody is interested in it, so I won't be renewing those listings.

Plus, I am kind of trying to give my shop a face lift and a certain "vibe", which entails ridding it of certain eras - like the 70s. And the 80s. I am just not going to do the 70s and 80s anymore, unless it is the 70s Victorian revival stuff, like Gunne Sax, Jessica McClintock, and Sarah Coventry, etc. Polyester = buh-bye. A lot of this stuff has already been pitched (dumped on eBay/stashed in storage for a later vintage fair or something).

As a result, I am having a "purge sale" in the shop. Many dresses are on sale, and I am offering free shipping on some, as well.

Plus some items are on sale at a "final reduction" price. Because once they're gone, they're.... well, totally gone. Not even coming back for next year. Buh-bye.

I am shooting for a really girly-girl, Victorian inspired, sweet and pretty, sappy kinds of items only shop. A shop for the hopeless romantics. Not the hip and modern, funky and bold ladies. (Nothing against it, because I love that too!) I just need to focus. I am also trying to free up some space (and time) for adding more Shabby Cottage decor and housewares after Christmas. Cutting back on my clothing is a start.

I have been working like mad to try and improve my photos (not always successful but I am trying).

There is no sale going on in shop #2, however. It's still too young and getting going. I still have piles of stuff for listing there; I just need to get motivated in the photography department. I've been really discouraged about my cruddy pics but I have only the one puny camera for the moment.

So anyways if you want to check out the free shipping items (free shipping is only to the USA; I can't afford to offer free shipping internationally, sadly.) the sale items, and the final reduction items, click over to my shop Carolina Roses.

And as a special treat to you readers: Convo me if you're buying AND a follower of this blog and receive a FREE GIFT with your purchase. :)

Thanks for listening to my little commercial/blurb and do have a great rest of your weekend! :D

Preparing For Winter

"Preparing for Winter".

It sounds so old fashioned, like something Laura Ingalls would do in the Big Woods, or something.




I find myself "preparing for Winter", even on this 75 degree, sunny, beautiful day. I just left the garden with a five gallon bucket of tomatoes and green peppers and I have to go back for more green beans.

But a few days ago the walnut trees dropped all their leaves, and the mornings are chilly..... so I know these warm days and fresh veggies are numbered.


I love it when the last of the hydrangeas turns that lovely dusty rose color....

It's time.....

......time to start cutting and stacking firewood, and collect kindling for the wood stoves; plus clean out chimneys and replace the fire bricks inside the stoves.

Time to get out the horse's blankets and clean and repair them; plus order new ones for the new horses.

Time to "put the garden to bed" by plowing it under and bringing in loads of compost to spread on top; to get out blankets for the bed and cozy afghans for the sofa.



Time to put away all the summer clothes and bring out the sweaters and jackets and Carhart, to have my suede and wool vintage coats dry cleaned, and find my fuzzy slippers and cuddly bathrobe.

Time to plant bulbs, mulch flower beds, put away porch furniture in the barns, stash air conditioning units, and replace screens on the storm doors with glass.

Time to park all the tractors and farm equipment we won't be using till next season in barns.



Time to start stashing Christmas gifts.

Oh yeah; and it is definitely time for hot cocoa and pumpkin recipes. I want to make Paula Deen's pumpkin cheesecake real soon.

What do you do to "get ready for winter"?





I've canned more than I ever have this summer. I ran out of space on my large pantry shelves and now I have jars stacked on the floor in the pantry, three and four thick... I don't have an exact count but it is a bunch; probably over 50 quarts of green beans, at least....

An Apple Pie Kind Of Day

The trees are still green, the flowers are still blooming, the garden is still producing, and the weather is gorgeous and warm.... a typical "Indian Summer" day here in Virginia.

I was canning green beans and saucing tomatoes to can; prepping green peppers for freezing, and making apple sauce, when I thought I'd also bake up a quick apple pie.

Just to make it seem more like fall.











It was tasty.

A Very Cute, Shabby Chic, No Sewing Required, Vintage Hanky Project

I caught a glimpse of an antique booth on a blog I was reading the other day (don't remember which one) and I saw a great idea for my stash of vintage hankies.

I had bought a box lot of vintage and antique hankys at an auction last year; hundreds of them. I didn't know what I was going to do with them but I figured ideas would present themselves and I could not pass up the bargain at $5.





This one - in my office/den - I made from blue, green and turquoise (and some pink) themed prints and solid colored hankys.
I also did one in my dining room with white linen embroidered and cut worked hankys that is smaller, for the single window.





You don't need a box lot of 100s of hankys to do this. I used 10 for the double window and 7 for the single window. I also buy hankys at yard sales,thrift shops, or estate sales for a dime or as much as a quarter. Or you can buy larger lot of them on Etsy or eBay.



Fold each hanky in half, cross ways. (You might also want to press them.)



Tie the corners of each hanky together; using however many hankys you will need for whatever you'll be making this for.



Like so:



I personally used the ones I made as window valances; but I originally saw them draped on a shelf. You could also use these as wedding decor, or drape them on a stair rail at Christmas; or anywhere you need a little vintage hanky "flag bunting" fun.