Miss Mustard Seed Book Signing

Last week on December 11, my husband and I had the opportunity to go to a book signing at

 Summer Cottage Antiques in Petaluma.

Marian a.k.a. Miss Mustard Seed

 was signing her new book

  Inspired You.

We traveled part way down the evening before and the next day hit a few shops before the book signing.

You might be asking why I would travel almost two hours to meet Marian.  Well, about 3 years ago I was introduced to her blog by a friend.  I have followed Marian's journey of building her business.  Her story and projects were very inspiring to me.  I was interested in starting my own blog but was a little overwhelmed at the thought.  I wrote to her a few times and she very kindly answered back, encouraging me to go ahead and do it.  She told me all I needed was a few pretty photos and a brief sentence or two, and that it would help to grow my business.  So when I heard that she was coming to Ca. and not too far away from us, I was anxious to go.  It was also nice to meet and visit with fellow bloggers.

Here we are together in front of a display selling her line of Milk Paint.

Marian with Gen from Gracefully Worn  who stocks the Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint at Summer Cottage.

Michelle (owner of Summer Cottage ) & I.

Kate-Centsational Girl , Marian-Miss Mustard Seed, Maria-Dreamy Whites .

Even the husbands enjoyed visiting with each other telling fish stories and sharing building tips.  This is Jeff, Marian's husband and my husband, Danny.

And finally, here is Marian, signing my book.  If you have not had the chance to purchase your copy, I highly recommend it.  It is full of beautiful photos of Marian's home, tutorials and words of wisdom.

Thank You Gen and Michelle for hosting the book signing.  Thank You Marian for all the inspiration.  Thank You Maria and Kate for your blogging examples.  It was so good to meet many others that night, including a few (Michelle & Maria) who are where I was a few years ago and want to start their own blogs and businesses. If I can do it, anyone can. 

And Thank You Danny, my wonderful husband and business partner for the chance to work together every single day!

After almost 2 years of writing my own blog and owning our own store for a year, we are so happy to be able to be following our dream.  Please visit us on our Facebook page and like us there, Follow us here on the blog and come see us at our store,

The Vintage Bricoleur

3750 Taylor Road

Loomis, Ca 95650

Inside the High Hand  fruit sheds.

Soon I will share some photos of the beautiful store Summer Cottage Antiques in Petaluma.

Terry (one of the bricoleurs)

Remnants of the Past Part 2- Spring 2012

This is Part 2 of my Remnants post.

(one more after this)

In this post I will share some of the other dealers and their spaces.

You have already met my nice neighbor Debra, from Debra Hall Lifestyle.

A Beautiful Mess

Kymberley and her Mother

The Olive & Rose

Ormolulu

Dreamy Whites

Maria, Nicole & Bethany

Queen of Tarte & Platanitis

Melissa Blue

Jo Packham of Where Women Create

Eager shoppers

My beautiful helpers.

Debra Hall & I.

I have one more post with some favorite pics of our space and then we will move on to other things.  This show takes place twice a year, it is our best, and we plan and work for months before hand for it, so that is why there are so many pics!

If you missed this last show, be planning ahead for the next one.

October 20 &21

Make your reservations now! :)  You don't want to miss it.

We are already setting things aside........

Terry (one of the bricoleurs)

What a difference!

I love learning new ways to make this blog better.  One thing that I would like to learn more about is the photography side of things.  I don't like things to be complicated and to take a lot of time.  Therefore when I take pics for this blog I usually don't edit them.  I just do the best I can, and go for it.

But...

I have not been competly satisfied with some of the shots I have taken in the store since we opened.  The space does not have a lot of natural light and so some turn out looking yellow.  I thought well, I guess I will just have to learn how to edit. (which to me means "time" and I don't have tons of extra "time").

So...

 I was visiting with Maria from Dreamy Whites, and she gave me a few tips.  I can really see the difference and the pics look sooo much better. 

You tell me what you think...

Before

After

Looks better, huh.

Before

After

You can see the individual colors so much better!

Even this,

The blue of the cabinet is more true to life in the second pic.

Much better.

I have had fun taking more pics in the last week or two. 

 What do you think, do you see a difference?

Thanks Maria!

Terry (one of the bricoleurs)

Memories of a fun day Junkin' with Friends

The other day a group of us got together for a day of Junkin' in

Sutter Creek and Jackson.  I was with

 The Green Mum,

 Old Soul Studios,

 The Olive And Rose,

 and Zelder Antiques.

We started our time at

The Antique Gardener and met

Dreamy Whites

 and Trish Everett.

It was so fun to all be together and to chat.  Some had never met face-to-face before and so there was lots of visiting, getting to know each other better.

Maria & Sandy

Trish & Zizi

Aimee treated us to this.

This made the day fun.

Maria, Melanie, Jacque, Zizi, Trish, Aimee, Sandy.

Melanie & I.

Beautiful display at Aimee's.

Mini Fairy Garden.

This antique plant stand was great.

The day was full of learning from each other. 

Thanks Maria.

From Sutter Creek we headed over to Jackson and hit a couple of fun places.  The car was beginning to fill up with treasures.  We stopped and had a late lunch.  After a few more stores we loaded everything up.

  It barely fit, but no one complained because it is fun to come home packed to the gills with great finds.

Don't ask.... :).

So, Thank You girls.  I had a fun day with you all.  Let's do it agian!

Terry (one of the bricoleurs)