Let's Talk Vintage: We Picked the Pickers in Nashville!

Well hello my vintage lovin' friends! It has been AWHILE since I have posted for y'all.  

Today's "Let's Talk Vintage" post is not really a

link party... being that it was the Pickers I was blogging about, I just had to give this post an LTV title.

Feel free to leave a comment so I can

click on your blog and comment back!

We were in Tennessee for my Step-son's wedding.

It was a beautiful no, make that GORGEOUS wedding!

And I do have to tell you I may have picked up a slight southern accent ever since we took a side trip to NASHVILLE.

We had a day with extra time to kill so The Hubs

thought we should try and see Mike Wolf's store. It was a little bit difficult to figure out, 

I have to tell you. Once the GPS told us we had 

arrived, we still couldn't tell which store front

it was from the car. We heard a bus tour going through

and the driver announced "Antique Archaeology" so we

knew we should just find a parking spot and walk around.

 Bebe and the Hubs checking it all out. Mike's store is two or three shops down from here.

It was located in some old brick buildings that were 

the industrial factory type. 

We knew we had arrived when we saw the 

car door pointing the way!

This is what you see when you first walk in.

There is cool stuff everywhere,

 even Mike's trademark bicycles, 

hanging from the ceiling.

It didn't take me long to notice this checkered shirt and "matching" guitar.

Also really cool was a dress Loretta Lynn wore onstage.

There is a photo next to it with her wearing it. You can 

kind of see it at the bottom of this photo.

Then there was this awesome Dolly Madison Ice Cream and Soda sign. It was picked in NJ. (Rootin' for the home team!)

And who wouldn't love an American Icon like this. Seeing it

made us remember we have one made of heavy duty cardboard that we've always wanted to frame.

This collection of apothecary jars caught my eye.

It was neat because I started remembering different episodes where these items may have come from.

And if you look real close, you may even think Elvis is in the building. I love the old microphones.

This is the check out desk. So much to see!

We ended up with some fun touristy items... a t-shirt for Bebe and I, a hat for the Hubs and one of their PICKERS license plates. Total touristas! 

We really enjoyed our quick stop there and then headed off to Broadway St (Ave?) in downtown Nashville for something to eat. I highly recommend the restaurant Merchants if you are not in the mood for loud Honky Tonk.

 Plus, you can watch everyone go by on the Beer Bar pedal Trolley cars next to Honky Tonk Central. 

It was totally crazy and worth a view!

(And the food at Merchants was delicious!)

Let's Talk Vintage #78: Almost Ready - A Sneak Peek at Our New Shop!

Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

We're glad you're here.

 

This where you can link up and show off your latest finds, vintage DIY projects, collections, old photos, family heirlooms, and even vintage things you sell.

 

 

Today I'm giving you a sneak peek

into the new brick and mortar shop!

It is located in what used to be an old
barn... and this stone wall is a perfect
backdrop for vintage things.  

 

 

I've been perfecting my chalk painting abilities.
Learning a few lessons here and there!

So, above is a before and after shot of my first piece of furniture. The harp phone table had really great bones
but the seat cover was a 1950's teal and vinyl piece. It really was awful with the mahogany finish.
(And I forgot to take a full BEFORE photo.)

 

I used Parisian Gray chalk paint from ACMoore, found

a great stencil on Amazon and wonderful French

script fabric with keys at JoAnn Fabrics.

Bebe loved it so much she kept asking

if she could have it! I'm finding out

with a lot of pieces that I wish I had done

these makeovers a long time ago!

 

(There is the check-out counter which has a sordid past life, we believe, as I wrote about here.)

This is a wide shot I took a last week.

 You'll see in another photo below, how
much more things we have filled in.

 

My partner in crime friend, Kathy, has

brought in a couple of her pieces. She made over
a dresser turned buffet, and vanity.
The room really started to take shape.

 

 

Last week I showed you this pedestal table I

was painting. I used the Parisian Gray again along

with an antiquey white chalk paint from Lowes,

then a French stencil. The table had a neat

raised trim along the edge and I went over

that with the same white, giving it a little

bit of contrast... I loved this table too and

wanted to keep it! But, I can't... so into

the shop it goes.

 

 Here is the latest photo which shows how much more we
have added to the shop.

We just acquired this piece over the weekend.

The hubs gave this piece a completely different look. Except the knobs. They were already there.
In this case, we made our own chalk paint
using calcium carbonate and some oops paint.
I found the Martha Stewart stencil on clearance
at AC Moore.

And yes, that is some LuRay in the cabinet.
I had extra pieces when my Mother gave me
the plates she wasn't using. I decided this
cabinet was too cute for just any old plates.

 

We've painted several pieces with chalk paint.

Note the coffee table above... it is from my

living room! I just had to paint it as it has a

glass top. I absolutely love it now! 

As soon as I paint a piece, I instantly love it.

Below is the new name of my brick and mortar shop:

Just 25 hours until we open!

Thanks so much for coming along
on my mini tour!

 

 

Now - here are this week's features:
 

 

Having worked in local television for 16 years, I just

loved this floor lamp by Lynda Creates! Wow!

 

 

and Joy at A Vintage Green shared some

of her finds and I loved this vintage

telephone! I see an industrial pattern here

with this week's features!

 

and last but not least with an industrial flair

this week isJulie of Renaissance Mermaid and her happy

accident jewelry art. Amazing how this piece

just fell into place. 

 

Remember, if you were featured today or in any other LTV post, feel free to grab this "My blog was featured!" button and place it on your blog.

Now it's your turn: 

An InLinkz Link-up

Linking to:

Vintage Charm

Let's Talk Vintage #74: New Jersey's Batsto Village

 

Welcome to Let's Talk Vintage!

 

This is where the party is...

if you love old stuff.

 

Today I am sharing our family

trip to New Jersey where we

met up with my Dad. We

usually try to find something

fun to do. A place to explore,

a place where we can learn

something. It's just what we 

like to do, when we visit (who

Bebe calls) "Pop Pop!"

 

 

So, over the weekend we took

Pop Pop to Batsto Village,

which had it's beginnings

around 1766.

 

 

It is a place that takes you back

in time...when you walk through

the village and go into the

restored buildings.

 

Batsto began during an era

of iron ore and glass making.

 

Homes were made for the

people to live in and other

buildings were created:

 

Gristmill

Sawmill

Blacksmith

Wheelwright

 

Batso played a vital role during

times of war...(remember the iron 

making ability.) Cannon balls

and other military items were

supplied to the Continental Army

during the American Revolution.

 

 

The workers of the village were

paid in "Batsto Money."

 

Which could only be used in...

the General store, etc. 

(Photo courtesy of the Batso website)

The General Store was open

six days a week. 

 

There was some definite eye candy...

 

 

Lots to see to get a glimpse of what life

was like back then.

 

 

Love these old display cases.

 

 

 

Just look at these awesome bins!

Mirrored fronts!

 

Look at this early mannequin!

 

 

In the center of it all was the

mansion, where the owners lived.

 

It is quite a vision.

Very different from where the

workers lived.

 

 

It was owned by the Richards Family,

then Joseph Wharton,

of Wharton's Business School

of Philadelphia.

 

He added the tall tower

and made some other

changes.

 

 

The entry fee for Batso is free,

as it is owned by the state of NJ,

but specially guided tours of

the mansion were by ticket only.

($3.00 for adults)

 

Unfortunately, I was not

allowed to take pictures.

 

(This is Bebe trying to get a peek before the tour started.
Look how large the windows are.)

 

I was so disappointed because there

were some neat things I would

have LOVED to have shown you.

 

But there was also a walk-thru tour

inside the Visitor's Center.

 

 

That's where we saw several

displays with amazing antiques.

 

 

I was happy to see that I

 have a set of sock stretchers

just like the ones in this case.

The pair above is mine, which

are small, for a child.

 

Since this post is going on

awhile, I'm only going to show

one more thing... part of the

glass making display.

 

 

This "End of Day" glass

chain was so neat!

Where they used the last of 

the glass  on this piece.

 

And that brings me to the end

my fun afternoon at Batsto Village

in New Jersey!

 

Can you tell I like old stuff

and the history behind it? 

 

************** 

 

Now for this week's features:

Brooke of Creative Country Mom
Check out her wreath
project... using vintage lace!

Penny of Penny's Vintage Home
set up an adorable Alice in Wonderland
Tea Party for her Granddaughter.
So sweet!

Kelly at  Homespuns & Hayfields shared a craft room sneak peek.  We all love those! She's off to a great start with these wonderful cabinets.

Wanda of Victorian 1885
shared her spring deck and patio
area of her new home on the island
...in a rain forest! Love the
window on the garden shed.

Dianne of Deanie's Stash made over
this vintage suitcase... if it's
pink then I'll probably feature it!

and Stacey at The Farmhouse
in the Field shared how she 
hand painted this $5 chair.
Her tips and advice were great!

Thanks to all who stopped
by to link up and to those
who follow along each week!
 

 

If you were featured, be sure to grab

this Let's Talk Vintage Graphic

for your blog side bar or for your post.

 

 

Now it's your turn:

 

 

An InLinkz Link-up