A New Adventure for the New Year

 In an old warehouse....

on the edge of town....

is a thrifter's paradise...

and I now have a booth there!

It is called Rustiques, run by Liz and David....

He's the creative mind with great decorating, thrifting and upcycling skills, while she has a head for business. Together they have created a huge emporium of eclectic vintage treasures. I am so happy to have a booth in this fun place.

Here's a peek at the inside of Rustiques, and then I will show you my booth.

I want this door!

I want these clocks!

This is the White Room and it is filled with gorgeous items all different shades of white. It is the room where David shows his great decorating style.

And just behind this mantel is the room where my booth is. I have half of the room right now but hope to someday soon take it all!

The great rust table is not mine, it is the room divider for now. The items in front of it are mine.

If you are local in Wayne County, New York, and want to visit, Rustiques is located at 235 Murray St., Newark. They are open 9-5 Tuesday-Sunday year round. I like those hours! There is a Salvation Army next door and two other thrift stores on the street so it makes for steady traffic.

David said there is already a following there and Rustiques has become a destination for those visiting the area. He is constantly thrifting and picking for great items to fill the warehouse up. Before I rented a booth I would run into him at barn sales and have watched him in action.

I got a peek at some of his stash behind closed doors and there is no shortage of great treasures still to be put out.

Although winter is not the best time for thrifting with limited places to pick, I am always looking for new things to fill my booth.

My Etsy shop (on the sidebar) is going great and I am constantly re-filling it to stay above 500 items. Better SEO that way!

In the Spring I will decide if I am going back to Ye Olde Schoolhouse Country Store, closed for the winter. It was my first adventure in retail. You can read about it in my post titled Spreading My Wings.

I see a lot of pickin' and thrifting in my future to keep up and I couldn't be happier about that!

AnnMarie xoxo

I am linking up with these fun blog parties:

Let's Talk Vintage

No Rule Weekend Blog Party

Vintage Charm Party

Share Your Cup

Best of the Weekend

Anything Goes Pink Saturday













Take His Hand Into the New Year

It is January 13th and I am finally writing my New Year's post. I have been wanting to write this since I read the December 31st devotional in Our Daily Bread.

The image it left in my mind has become how I am looking ahead into the new year.....taking His hand in mine and following His lead.

The devotional talks about how when we are about to cross a busy street with a small child, we put our hand out and tell them to hold tight. We would never depend on their grasp to keep them safe.....it is our grip on their hand that holds them and keeps them safe.

In the same way, it is not our grip on God that keeps us safe and secure, but the power of Jesus' grip on us.

"28  I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one." John 10:28-30

Sometimes I wonder how people without a grip on Jesus' hand make it through each day. It is through our trials that we have to lean the most on Him. When we have made Him Lord of our lives, we know He is in it and taking care of everything whether we can see it or not. It is a huge burden lifted.

For the aunt whose niece is in a coma from a brain anuerism at 43 years old....

For the pastor and his wife whose son is facing criminal charges and jail time....

For a man fearful of the tests that may show medical issues....

In all these situations, Our Father is on one side and our Lord and Savior on the other, gripping on to our hands and not letting go.

Grab His strong hand....the hands that formed the oceans, that gave the sun it's light and the stars their brightness.....

.....and take it into this new year with a childlike grip so that you are assured that no matter what happens He has His firm grasp on you and will never let go.

"No, In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39

AnnMarie  xoxo

P.S As I have been writing this my vehicle has been towed away on a flatbed after not starting this morning and being jumped by a roadside service. Thankfully it was in my driveway. I had a bunch of things  I had to do today, and some things I just wanted to do. I guess the Lord had other plans for me, as I was able to sit down and write this post.  Leaning on Him......

I am linking up with these great blog hops.....

Spiritual Sundays
Amaze Me Monday
Pin It Monday Hop
Wednesday's Adorned From Above Link Party

New Year....Brave New Me!

So I finally took action and a step of faith, went out on a limb, out of my comfort zone, over the top.

I got new eyeglasses yesterday......yikes!

I look in the mirror and ask myself...."who is that?"

Still getting used to my "new" look.

Every start of a new year I get the bug to update, improve, slightly change and better MYSELF (throughout the New Testament scripture tells us to examine ourselves).  Partly how I look. Partly my attitudes, thoughts, perceptions, actions, etc......

The last part is a little harder and more time consuming.

The cosmetic outside stuff is easier and a quicker fix.

I only get insurance covered eyeglasses every two years so my choice has to be near perfect. Since I wear glasses all the time, my choice determines how I look everyday. It is me. It says who I am and what I know about style. And I am stuck with it for two years!

I have worn the full spectrum of eyewear styles over the years. This year I wanted to be different, funky, edgy. I had to fight myself to stay away from the safe choice.

I have worn this style for the past 6 years, wanting a soft, lighter look....

Here is my brave new look.....

I know....it's gonna take time to get used to!!

Hopefully in two years I won't look at this blog and say "what was I thinking!"

Okay, now to get to all that other inside stuff I have to work on......check back in two years to see how I'm doin'.....!

Have you made any significant changes since 1/1/13?


AnnMarie :)

 

Looking Forward and Still Looking Up...

In the past week I have heard so many say how they are glad 2012 is over and hopefully 2013 will be better.

Like the New Year's resolutions we make this time of year, I think we all say something like that every year too, don't we?

With so much sadness in our own circle of family and friends and the nation's sorrow over the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings and the two fireman who lost their lives in the ambush in Webster, New York, it is the hope in each of us that helps us look forward to a new beginning in a new year.

I have my hope in the Lord and so I can look forward to a new year and all that HE has for me. If I keep my eyes looking up toward heaven (striving to live a holy, obedient life) I know that I am on the right path.

Sadly, today I am closing The Button Lady Shop on Etsy, that was opened in October 2010. I am unable to do the crafting and sewing anymore to make my vintage button items. If you own one of my items, it is now a one of a kind collectors piece!

NaNa's Things on Etsy just celebrated a one year anniversary in October and is still going and growing into 2013.
I am working my way back up to 300 items and so I have been thrifting and hunting for great stuff to list. I love all kinds of vintage things so there will be a nice variety, from wicker doll chairs to jewelry to kitchen items, home decor and baskets. You can also find some of my vintage button items there.

I am thankful for the past year, with all it's triumphs and woes and look forward to what is in store for 2013.


Hey, at least 2012 ended with a white Christmas and lots of snow in Upstate New York.... finally!!

That's my light up snowman buried in the snow!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

AnnMarie :)