Heather Bullard

Hello...

Hi there everyone. This week has been slip, sliding away. Have you ever had one of those weeks where you feel like you hit the ground running every day? Blink, and it's almost over. I bet you can relate.

On Friday I'm hosting a ladies luncheon on my patio so I've been repotting plants, cleaning cobwebs, hanging my drop cloth drapes, purchasing an 8 ft work table to use as a buffet, begging The Man to drag it home (asap) and general spiffing up. All this in addition to my normal work day has made the time go by lickity split. There's nothing like a party to kick you into high gear with your spring cleaning!

I'll be sure to take some photos to share with you. I've sort of been avoiding my camera lately. I think it's because we're about to start production on our next issue of Flea Market Style at which point it won't leave my hands for months. Guess I'm saving all my energy/motivation/inspiration for that. Good excuse, yes?

Dream Big

What's your dream? Do you have one? Is there always that "one thing" you think about doing somewhere in the back of your mind? Maybe it's to open a charming French coffee shop or start a line of children's clothing or perhaps even a yoga studio. Do you have one?

I might be a little late to the party here but Kelly Corrigan has said it like none other. I must admit, I haven't read any of her books and didn't know who she was but when I came across her video for the first time this week I could not get it out of my thoughts. It stirs my soul and makes me want to Dream Big. 

If you have a lingering dream that won't go away take action. Dream your dream, make it happen! I for one am encouraged to continue to persue mine. How about you? Do you dare?

Remnants of the Past

 

So, what are you doing this weekend? Do you have any plans? Are you looking for something fun to do? The reason I ask is because this Saturday is the Remnants of the Past Antique Show. Trust me, you will love it. Do you need me to list the reasons? Ok, just for you:

• An amazing group of vendors with incredible merchandise & vignettes. 
• Delicious cupcakes from the adorable Amy Bakes.
• A stylishly green-generously giving theme to benefit Habitat for Humanity.
• A gorgeous location set among the orange and avocado groves.
• Country Living Magazine will be there shooting a story.
• Luncheon goodies and yummy snacks from Woodstone Marketplace.
• The weather forecast calls for a beautiful sunshiney day.

Need I say more? I think a little road trip might be in order. Time to gather your girlfriends or sweet talk your hubby into a day of antiquing and delicious treats. We'll be located inside the barn with an overflowing space on the dance floor. Hope to see you there!

And The Winner Is...

 

I'm completely amazed at the response to my Giveaway! Thank you all for entering and sharing your wonderful thoughts on how inspiring Rachel Ashwell has been to the world of home decor and the vintage lifestyle. She is truly a pioneer in that regard. And now the winner!

Julie M ~ The Little Red Shop said:

Oh, what fun...and what a lovely giveaway. Shabby Chic Interiors is at the top of my wish list! Have a beautiful week, : ) Julie M.

 

Congratulations Julie! Please send me your address so I can get your prize in the post!
 

Rachel Ashwell Visit & Big Giveaway!

This past Saturday I drove down to San Diego for a book signing event with Rachel Ashwell at one of my favorite antique shops Vignettes. The owner Lori has the most amazing little jewel box of a shop filled with eye candy galore. To welcome Rachel they had festooned the front door with swags of muslin, seashells and tulle. So PRETTY!

Inside there were decadent petite fours, handmade marshmallows, chocolates and bon bons served beneath a blooming French ballgown.

The shop was filled with tattered velvet chairs, rhinestone crowns, gorgeous jewelry & antique furnishings. Everything a girl could ever hope for.

Oh how I wish you were there with me. It was so much fun.  I was thinking of all you lovelies while I was there and have a special Giveaway just for you! Since I already own all of Rachels books I bought one for you!

And here is Rachel signing your book in which she wrote...Enjoy The World of Shabby Chic, Rachel Ashwell.

 

Someone was kind enough to take a photo of me too. Usually I'm behind the camera and therefore rarely get photographed. Hello everyone. 

And here's the darling Lori who generously offered to donate a wonderful prize to you too!

She wrapped it so beautifully that I didn't want to open it to photograph the contents for you.

But I know you're curious because I sure would be!  So I gave in....

Now to recap...the winner of the Giveaway will receive the following:

• An Autographed copy of Shabby Chic Interiors
• La Bonne Vie Burlap Down Filled Pillow
• Reusable Damask Tote
• Eiffel Tower Ornament
• Vignettes Faded French Grandeur Tee Size L
• Gold & Silver Wrapped Shabby Chic Chocolates

To enter just leave a comment on this post.

Because I'm super busy this week I'm going to run this Giveaway through the weekend and announce the winner on Monday the 19th. Thanks for entering friends and Good Luck!

Antiques Week Part Three: Neutrals

For my final Antiques Week post I bring you Neutrals. Creamy whites, warm browns, ivory and alabaster can be seen in practically every single vignette. Here are a few that caught my eye.

This beautiful bedding below is designed by Judy Hill. She is an absolutely charming southern woman with that trademark Texas accent. Her booth is always impeccable and her style is both elegant and casual. I bought a pretty ruffled slipcover from her for one of my chairs. Love, love!

 

I love the pale gray color on this potting bench and the adorable cubby in the next photo. I believe they were from Shelly's booth who I mentioned in my last post.

I would have happily brought home each and every one of these dishes but I had to stop somewhere. Plus it will give me reason to go back. Any excuse right?

And I don't know why I didn't ask how much these English street signs were. They're pretty cool and would look great in a kitchen. Or on a street. But I think that's been done before. ;-)

And there were cubbies of every shape and size available too. I can't count how many chicken nesting boxes I saw. Really, a LOT of nesting boxes. Funny, but before I had chickens I probably wouldn't have know they were nesting boxes. Because I've been a City Slicker for most of my life. Not any more. The great display below is from Tricia of Red Door Antiques.

Well, that's the end of my Antiques Week tour. If you still can't get enough of great looking junk you can see more from Holly who did a few posts on her shopping trip and Theresa who happens to be the Queen of Texas Show Information. Thanks so much for coming along with me!

Antiques Week Part Two: FRENCH STYLE

There is definitely no shortage of gorgeous French antiques at the Texas shows. And I for one never grow tired of seeing them. Many of the creme de la creme of dealers come from all across the country to sell their finds. Most of these dealers travel to Europe during the year for their inventory and have shops and design centers in areas such as Houston, Atlanta and Dallas.

At dinner one night I met a wonderful antiques dealer from Dallas who decided not to go to France this spring just so she could come and shop the Marburger Show. That speaks volumes doesn't it?

Oh how I adored this dining table and chairs. Notice the seats? Notice the dreamy color? What you don't notice was the really big price tag. And I mean seriously big. As in new car big.

This beautiful vignette of antiques was from Gwen McClure of French By Design. She's based in the Kansas City area and has impeccable style. Her bottles are on the cover of the current issue of Somerset Life. So pretty!

This tattered French chair above was from Shelly of Sweet Pea Home. She actually had a matching pair and they were marked SOLD before the event even started. Seems she couldn't bear to part with them and kept them for herself. Can't say as I blame her. ;-)

If I had thought of it, there could have been an entire post just on chandeliers. I have shot this building countless times on my trips to Texas. It's always dazzling!

I really enjoyed all the garden antiques and vignettes. There were old faux bois planters, large troughs, iron plant stands and objects d'art for your garden landscape and many were planted so beautifully.

Well, that does it for this addition of Antiques Week Part Two. I think my wrist now has carpel tunnel from uploading all these photos. I sure hope you enjoyed my take on French Style. Let me know what you think. Would love to hear which pieces you really liked. Up next...Neutrals!

Antiques Week Part One: Color!

I'm back from my whirlwind trip to Texas and had a fantastic time! We filled an entire 20ft trailer and truck bed with everything we bought. Lots and lots of great stuff. Will share that with you when the trailer makes it back to California.

In the meantime, I wanted to share with you some of the highlights for me. First up...COLOR! This post is for all you gals out there who crave some color in your life.

There were plenty of gorgeous vignettes with bold, saturated, vibrant colors. And believe me they stood out. I found them utterly refreshing among the sea of neutrals.

Aren't these yellow leather chairs unbelievable? They were from my friend Susan Wheeler's booth. She'll also be at Farm Chicks this year. Can't wait to see what she brings.

Pillows are always a quick way to inject color into your home and there were so many made out of gorgeous antique textiles. Just beautiful.

What do you think of the pop of the orange walls? I think it makes an incredible backdrop to their furnishings and is something completely different.

And I adored the chippy turquoise paint on this antique urn. What a statement piece that would be! Which brings me to my last colorful photo....

I really wanted to bring this enormous lobster home for The Man but there wasn't any space left in the trailer. Ahhh. And, he would make me hang it up in the house. So the photo will have to do for now. Until we buy a seafood restaurant.

Hope you enjoyed this dose of color inspiration! Don't worry lovers of white, neutrals and grays...I have something for you too. My next few posts will be just for you. :-)