End of Summer Party!

Saying Goodbye To Summer In A Fun Way

I was so wrapped up in catching up on things at my desk this week, that it totally slipped my mind that yesterday was Thursday. In fact, it was the Gotta Have It - Gotta Blog It Thursday that wasn't. You see every two weeks I'm a party hostess, and I invite all my friends who have online handcraft and vintage shops and blogs to link up. It's a gathering that certainly all about fun, but it's also a place for these independent, small business owners to mingle and meet new people; a place for artisans, craftspeople and bloggers to spread the word about their stuff. It's a place for those of you who hang here at the Muse to see all the variety of things to discover on this biggo world wide web.  Alas, this week, due to my confusion about the days of the week, we're partying today. Friday. Which also happens to be the last day of summer.

I hate to say goodbye to Summer. I admit, Fall used to be my favorite season until we bought our little home with the pool (a life long dream by the way....aaahhh, a pool). Now, I can't get enough of summer because it equals pooltime, so it saddens me to say, that although I was hoping to get another dip in, I may have swum my last swim this year.  Insert 'I Love Lucy' wwwaaaaaahhh. 

All in all though, I can look back on Summer and say, it was good. It was chock full. It was what Summer is all about. Friends, family, enjoying nature and good weather, and of course good times. So before we start the party, I'd like to tip my hat to the season that just was. A season that included: NYC, a wedding (or two), margaritas in the pool, 4th of July Lobster Bake......

......Sunday drives, flowers galore, sunsets to match, said goodbye to a dear friend, hay bales ready to roll, a photo challenge on the Muse, visitors from Dublin, more visitors from Dublin and our most recent visitors from Dublin, Beantown, just a little singing and dancing and a boatload of full throttle fun.



How was your Summer? Was it low key or jam packed like ours?

Hey....did you see the September Giveaway? It's ridiculous. Really. I don't want you to miss it. Actually, what I don't want you to miss is the chance to win $180+ of handmade & vintage goodness. Go here to enter!

Ready to party? Remember, even if you don't own an etsy shop or online business and you don't blog, you are still invited to this party. It's a fun place to window shop and see what you might have been missing until now.

If you are linking up, please read the Rules of the House before doing so:

*If you take part in the link up, you will go on a list of participants and receive an e-mail from me (from the address pbates at speakeasyinfo dot net) when the next link up party is underway.

*If you like Mercantile Muse enough to link up at the party, I ask that you follow too. There are several different ways to follow in the sidebar. 

*You'll also find Bates Mercantile Co. here: facebook, pinterest, twitter. It'd be great to connect with you any way I can.

*Don't link and run. Be kind and check out each other's links. It's all about supporting each other after all. 

*Will you share a link to the party? It benefits us all--- blog, tweet, facebook, share on your etsy team if you're on one, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page) and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome.  Everyone is welcome here, so be sure to tell your friends.

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Be sure to check back next Monday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It might even be you.

Time to get our party on (if you're reading by email click here).

Freeform Friday

If this song isn't stuck in your head from the Summer playlist, I don't know what is.  And yes, I admit it, you could have seen me on the dancefloor a few times this Summer, singing, dancing and of course, doing the universal sign for 'call me'.  Just the like the US Olympic Swim team. Personally, I think I like the underwater robot the best. Click here if you're reading by email.

Happy Friday!

Ciao for now,

What I Found & Heard at the Party

via knitwedding

Who Told You I Was a Party Girl?

OK, the cat is out of the bag. I love a good party. The start of our current Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up Party is not exception to the rule.  The first link had me drooling on my keyboard.

Thanks go to Lynette for dropping by with Cauliflower Prosciutto Casserole. Love cauliflower, love proscuitto. Add to that some cream and cheese and now I'm in heaven.

via sweetposydreams

Gar's eyes rolled back in his head when I mentioned this recipe. We'll be excited to try this one. You can get the recipe from Lynette on her blog Sweet Posy Dreams!

Isn't the color of this knit lariat by knitandwedding fantastic? Coffee Milk.

via knitandwedding

Whatever you call it, it's one fantastic neutral. Knitandwedding also has a wonderful selection of lovely shawls and shrugs. I think this one is perfect for spring and summer over a tank.

via knitandwedding

Delicate enough to be cool over a tank, but still keep you warm on as the evening air sets in. Plus it looks way too cute with tank and jeans (not that there aren't other ways to wear it!).

Check out this eency weency book pendant from HaleysPaperLove! Teeny tiny always ups the cute factor as far as I'm concerned.

via hayleyspaperlove

Hayley started making these after being urged by friends and customers at the last craft show she attended. What a great way to use up scrap paper!

Leslie, from 925Maille, makes use of chainmail in her pieces and I really adore it. Whether it's a chunky chainmail bracelet set with a delicate pearl, or a more substantial accent like this abalone, it all works together beautifully.

via 925Maille

The lines of the chainmail bracelet, combined with the opalescent waves in the  the abalone have me saying gorgeous.

Talk about a happy tote. Oh, I know why.......

via minminsa

Yasmin, of MinMinsa lives in Barbados! Hello sunshine. Hello island life. Hello happiness.

Update. Barbados isn't the only place producing bright, happy colors! So is the South of France! Lovin' this new line from Cari-Jane Hakes of HybridHandmade. Cari's shop and blog are among my favorites. 

via hybridhandmade

I wait with baited breath for her What I Caught In My Net posts. Always amazing.

The party brings lots of guests and one cool things is we all get to meet new people.  Alas, Beccra found her way from Darwin, Australia, to Louisiana and then to Mercantile Muse.

via trueblog

I love the way the world wide web makes this all possible.  Stop by Beccra's place Trueblog and show her some blog love, won't you? And while you're there, if you have a remedy for fire ant itch, would you please share it with Beccra?

Thanks for linking up everyone. It wouldn't be a party without all of you!

Makin' Me Smile

Kat Ezat, was nice enough to pick my print as one of her four faves from her blog's StockTake link up!!! Thanks Kat! Be sure to add your latest shop item to Kat's StockTake and you might find yourself among her favorites next month. Cool stuff.

Have a fantastic Tuesday. The sun is shining here. I started my day with tea and brekkie and then a little early more raking before hitting my desk. It's a Spring ritual. The snow drops are up, the purple vinca is blooming in spots, and tiger lilies and other things are already pushing through the earth..........this too makes me smile. 

Ciao for now,

A Merry FREE Printable & Link Up Party

Do Like The Sign Says

Eat, drink and be merry. I love that saying no matter the time of year, but especially at the holidays.

I think it speaks to me because it reminds me of some of my favorite times with family and friends; of gatherings I hold dear to my heart. 

I hope it speaks to you in the same way. 

I created this free printable in Illustrator and would like to give a nod to the graphics fairy, who was nice enough to share the pine and pine cone clipart for free. If you haven't stopped by her blog, you really should. 

If you'd like to download this FREE printable wall art, click right and save the jpeg image below to your computer, OR download the pdf here. 

You Are Cordially Invited

It's party time again!  Grab one of the Irish coffees from the buffet, and be sure to top it off with some real whipped cream.  Then settle in, get to know the other party goers, and if you have an online shop or blog, be sure to share their links. If you don't, browse around. You won't believe the wonderful things you'll find in the shop link up and the great reading you'll find on the blogs.

Now, go and enjoy yourselves.

It's pretty easy. PLEASE READ THIS before linking:

*After you've linked up, take a look around Mercantile Muse. We'd love you to follow if you're so inclined. 

*Post one link. Two if you link one under Gotta Have It (for shops, crafters, artisans, vintage sellers) and one under Gotta Blog It (for bloggers).

*Be kind and check out other's links that catch your eye. You never know what may come back to you for supporting small shop owners and bloggers.

*Share a link to the party. If we all share, the party will get more traffic which benefits us all-- blog, tweet, facebook, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page)  and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome. 

*Leave a comment and check back Friday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It could be you!

First up, the shops.

And last, but not least, the blogs.

Make it a great one in your corner of the world, and I'll do the same from my little corner office and studio.

Adios amigos,