Favorite Finds: Etsy Style

 via paule trudelle belle mare

First Things First

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! It not often today, that people can say they've been married for nearly 60 years. You guys have stood the test of time and then some.  Truly, 5 kids. None of us angels. Dogs. Cats. Even turtles at one point.  Many moves (at least before I was born), carting small children across the US to different work locations. Changing a gazillion diapers. Volunteering for umpteen organizations. Raising money for worth while causes. Broken bones. Living away from family. Making your friends your family. Seeing friends and family pass away. Seeing grandchildren and great grandchildren born.  Living life to the fullest and through it all, together.

We raise a glass to you and say, Salute and L'chaim! (More at the bottom of this post.)

It's OK To Pick Favorites

Cross my heart and hope to die.....ok, maybe not, but it really is ok to pick favorites when browsing on etsy. If you haven't been bitten by the etsy bug yet, here's the scoop. Etsy is an worldwide online marketplace for wonderful things that are made by hand, vintage or supplies to make really great stuff. Etsy is made up of shops owned by individuals or small groups.  There is a plethora of product (how'd you like that alliteration?) from places far and wide.  Caution: proceed to etsy at your own risk. You may not be able to leave. Please, by all means, while you're there, do visit our own little shop- Bates Mercantile Co.  

Now, onto the task at hand. This post isn't about our shop on etsy.  It's about other shops on etsy and the things I've discovered of late, that I really, really like. I hope you like them too.

1. Lovely little cahiers to carry to jot something down, covered in pretty Italian paper.

Via nauli

2. Lemon-yellow showers tea towel.

Via homesteading roasters

3. Colorful cloud brooch.

via an astrid endeavor

4. both impressionist and modern art that speaks to me.

via siiso

5. Chinoiserrie Earrings

via jewel rush

6. A piece of art that reminds me of me (twenty years ago! ha!)

me and my dark hair and mole above my lip. me cutting my own bangs. 

actually been leaning towards cutting a new fringe lately.

via paule trudelle belle mare

7. gorgeous vintage french dresser (made even more beautiful by my friend Susie)

via harris marks home

8. Cute little 'couple' of egg cups

via a needle in the hay

(These are so darn cute, I'm starting to think I may have included them in my favorite finds before!)

Do you shop or window shop on etsy? Are you amazed at the things you find there? It's like a candy store for adults. If you have any favorite finds from etsy, feel free to share them in the comments. I love to discover new shops from your recommendations.

Suggested Reading

A couple of my blogging pals have written posts that I think are really worth reading. 

First, Paige's post over on Little Nostalgia is about business and the 'art' of pricing or the 'justification' of pricing.  This is something that many business owners grapple with, I certainly have and do.  Here's rub though (and this took me too long to learn), if you're in business for yourself, you are in fact in it to some extent 'in it for the money'. You are trying to earn a living. You are not in it for your health or to be a charity case.  If you grapple with this at all, head on over and to Little Nostalgia and read Paige's post. I'd also just like to add, apparently some people missed the age old lesson 'if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all'. (You'll find my take on things in the comments under Paige's post).

Secondly, Bonnie at {PaperKeeper} has written a beautiful post about the loss of someone too young who was full to the brim with promise.  It would be a wonderful tribute to her student and friend Rachel, if we all took something away from Bonnie's post...whether it's to support others, be kind to others or live with all the gusto we've got.

Side By Side

As I mentioned, today is my parent's anniversary. Love this picture I got of them at the beginning of the Summer.

We couldn't have asked for better parents.  Really and truly. You're always there no matter what we need. What more could we ask for?

This is for you. (by the way, it takes a few moments to begin so be patient). Click here if you're reading by email.

We'll be celebrating later on their porch, to be sure.

Hope you're all having a great week.

Ciao for now,

24 And So Much More

Just Us

Today marks twenty four years married for me and the G-man. I truly don't know where the time goes.

It seems like just yesterday. OK, not yesterday. How about last week? OK, not last week, but certainly last year. OK, maybe not last year, but it definitely doesn't seem like 24 years ago that we walked down the aisle. It really doesn't.

It looks like a long time ago, but it doesn't seem like it.

Here we are....newlyweds. G-man makes it look like a robbed the cradle, but I didn't.

I show you these two pictures to prove that I've been a crafty gal for a long time. I made my own headpiece which had beautiful opalescent beads on the front (that matched the sequins on the bodice of my gown) and a seriously 80s floral spray on the side.

I also spray painted the hats my maid of honor Tina and bridesmaid Robin wore. I'm not kidding. I spray painted them and nobody was ever the wiser. We also lucked out and found their dresses off the rack at Macy's and they both fit perfectly. They were meant to be.

I guess kind of like us.  We fit perfectly off the rack too. No adjustments needed.  We clicked right from the get go. 

We met when mutual friends Gavin and Nadege were going to see Rocky Horror Picture Show and we were all mashed into the same car. We've been together ever since.

It's been a pretty darn good ride so far.

Sure we're a little older.

Sometimes a little wiser.



We've made a lot of memories and have more to make.

We're a little heavier and have more wrinkles.

Mostly, we're just as happy as when we started and more importantly, happy to  be together.

Pretty much, we're still just us.

I wouldn't want to go through life with anyone other than you Babe.


We're at the end of more thundershowers. They're nearly done. It lashed rain. Wishing it would be kind enough to pour down on Colorado to stop the fire. 

Hope you all had a great weekend. Ours was full of yard and house stuff, a little swimming in the pool and breakfast at the 401. It was all good.

See you on the flip side.