From The Road: Vintage Findings

Brett and the kids and I packed up late Monday morning and headed west to Shawnee, OK to help celebrate the opening of Sips Kafe, a swanky new joint in downtown Shawnee, that our good friends from college recently renovated. I made sure our trunk was empty and our suitcase light just in case we happened to stop at one of the many flea markets I've seen along the way!

Their new place is beautiful and the excitement in the air was infectious. We bumped into some college friends and our kids played together on the stage while we caught up on life (in between a few 'careful's and 'be gentle's). Then we got outta dodge but not before stopping at my favorite thrift store in Shawnee, aptly named Thrift Store. There's always something. I found the four pieces at the bottom of this post there.

We stayed at my parents' house that night and then Brett kept the kids so I could peruse Rink Gallery without any distractions. It was my reward for finishing up Modern Patchwork and I was so excited to be away from a computer screen and out on my own. I'm sure some of you moms understand that feeling of freedom but I still have to talk myself out of feeling a little guilty for being by myself. I think I have a two hour timer that goes off in my subconscious and tells me I need to get back to my kids. Anyone else have that?

Brett is really great about letting me indulge in flea market stops on road trips. He's always ready to pull over and keep the kids entertained for as long as possible and I try not to push my luck. We've got a good thing. As far as the kids go, they are totally on board with browsing as long as they've been fed recently. They're like hungry little lions when we go too long between road trip snacks.

This lovely set of burnt orange, mid-century school chairs were a surprise at the back of the last antique store I visited in Bethany, OK today. It was across the street from Southern Nazarene University and sort of around a corner. It's run by a sweet old man with charm so thick you want to take him home with you. He gave me a nice discount since one leg was missing it's knob on the end. Apparently, it's been used at University Hospital and the School for the Deaf. It's been stamped December 2, 1960. I love knowing a little bit of it's back story.

The letters and number are from an old gas station or kiosk and I am one short of an 'XOXO' display for Valentine's Day. (Keep your eyes peeled). The material is a really wide skirt that I have every intention to cut up to use for curtains or a pillow. The Fisher-Price barn was a deal but it has no animals. You remember how Ruby feels about horses, right? Apparently the barn needed a little glam so she used the vintage enamel flower brooches as substitutes.

These were from the quickie trip in Shawnee. The plaid summer romper reminds me of something I had when I was a kid.

I love the unique collar on this dress, too. I'm so thankful to live in the Midwest where treasures like these are not only possible but affordable! It makes a tight budget more exciting, right?!

I am kind of excited about heading home and getting the house a little more unpacked and arranged after such a long stint with holiday decor and traveling. These pretty, vintage chairs will end up in our kitchen with a little breakfast table that I've yet to find. It's all going to come together soon enough and finally feel like it's ours! I'm planning on sharing projects as I finish them and doing a house tour in February.

What are you most looking forward to this month? It seems like everyone has a goal or resolution they're focusing on for 2011 and the optimism and potential is a little intoxicating to me. Do you have a little list or do you prefer to see where the road takes you?

xoxo,
Rachel