A little trip to Simple Simons and Miss Tiggy Winkles ...

Another Day and another test so that the Big test can be taken .....

Well all this took us near downtown Riverside this morning ..and we decided we needed a little treat ...

If you haven't been up to downtown Riverside you ought to make an afternoon of it ..there's some great eateries ..shops and antique malls to stop in at.

First of all we visited Simple Simons ..if you've never had their lunch ..well your missing out !

They just re-opened 2 months ago after a fire ..and the lines were out the door today just as they used to be...luckily we arrived at about 11:30 and didn't have too long of a wait ...

At Simple Simons ..Susy the owner ..started out small ..I used to go hand in hand with mom to her original little sandwich shop ...and it was always a treat to get a peanut butter cookie ..because susies are the best ...of course I can't eat them now due to nut allergies ..which is so sad ..I do miss my peanut butter ..but ....today I got a beautiful Gourmet ..and I mean Gourmet Devils Food Cake ..it was like a large Chocolate Moon ..and it was delicious !!! ..And of course I got my Turkey on wheat Sandwhich ..which may seem quite ordinary ..but not at Simple Simons ..they make from scratch their bread which is fabulous ...their Turkey is outstanding ..and their Pasta Salad is to die for ..I wish I knew the recipe for that ! They have ton's of gourmet sandwiches on every bread possible ...and the atmosphere is really enjoyable ..reminds of what an upper end New york eatery would be like.

Then after lunch we did a hop skip and jump just a few storefronts down to Miss Tiggy Winkles ...Run by Susies Sister ..Cian ..and I hope I spelled that correctly.

Miss Tiggy Winkles has been around just as long as Simple Simons ...and yes hand in hand with Mom I went there as a little girl too !

Tiggy Winkles is filled with wonderful unique and fun finds ..I can't imagine anyone not having fun walking through...and I'm always hard pressed to leave empty handed ..which once again didn't happen today ...

Thiers a small clothing section cian has ..with wonderful pieces you don't find at your local everyday store ...yet very affordable to purchase ..and I ended up with a new sweater ..which I love !

I thought you might enjoy a few shots inside ...so here we go !!!

This Chandlier ..is just stunning ..my pictures just don't do it justice at all ...

O.k. these next 3 pictures cracked Abbey and I up ...we thought this was too funny ..it's a box of bar soap ..now read the label and the box ...

I'm not sure this is quite the way to go about conserving water in my book ..but it's awfully funny isn't it !!!

This bath and body product line is so cuter ..."Boss Lady" ...

Doesn't it just make you want to start buying western stuff !!!

Oh and this is what a good majority of us need ...I'm going to have to drink this for a really long time ..I'm not sure a cup will take care of things ...LOL !!!

Oh my gosh there were all sorts of these teas ..If you have an issue there was a tea for it ...!!!

So not being married myself ..I thought this was hilarious ...!!! Only becaus you don't know how many times I have been told I'm not missing out on anything ..but I'm betting they didn't feel that way when they got married ..so I'm figuring this is really how I'm supposed to feel about it ...LOL !!!

This Blue display ...was stunning ...Abbey and I loved the flowers ..with the dangling silver centers out of them ...and all that blue glass is just breathtaking ...

These calenders were so unusual ..and I just loved the graphics on them !

The sweet little glass glitter bird on it's perch ..I have to admit inspired me ...and my hands are aching to dig into some clay and get sculpting ...

This Dress is just beautiful ...isn't it ...One day many moons ago I would have wore that ..but today I'll leave it to those a bit thinner and a little taller ...

I Loved this artistic angel ..I have to admit it reminded me somewhat of Lisa Loria ..she has a very artsy flair in her work ...and I can see her taking off on a piece like this and just sending it over the top into a perfect quirky land of happiness !

Well this was just a few shots ....there was so much more in the store ..but I would have ended up with 100's of pictures ..if you are looking for some unique Gifts ..or right now some wonderful Halloween pieces ..make a trip and visit Miss Tiggy winkles... I'm waiting for Christmas goodies to arrive ..every year ..I find some unusual pieces ...!

Well we had a nice day ..after eating and playing ..we headed over to the shop ..unloaded a truckload of boxes and other goods ..and our plans are to start putting it all together tomorrow ..that is if nothing happens to change our plans again ...LOL!!!

Hey I've learned the best made plans can be unmade in a hurry ..I try to never count on things happening when we actually plan them anymore ..At least it keeps things interesting right !

Well here's hoping I have lots of picts of the shop to share with you all tomorrow.

Just a quick update and prayers please ...

Todays' visit to the Dr. didn't really bring any answers or conclusions ..just more concern and uncertainty about what may be wrong....

Papa Fred had a routine visit to his Heart Dr..last week ..and was promptly sent for a catscan to check out an issue with pain he was havingin h is chest from a fall he took 4 years ago right after his bi-pass. The catscan didn't answer that question as of yet but led the Dr. to call us within a short time of getting the results back and tell us that there was something severely wrong with Papa's gall bladder and that he needed to see his M.D. ASAP ...so we did and another test was scheduled ASAP and upon having that test done ..the results were not good in fact they couldn't get a result ..due to things not functioning ...So that technician sent us on to the next doctor ASAP which was today ...and the Dr. is very concerned now after reading the results from the test yesterday he couldn't say what is wrong but he mentioned a few possibilities of which one I cannot even begin to write .....so now we are awaiting the more invasive test which I'm sure some of you are familiar with where they send a camera down the throat and do an ultra sound to see what exactly is going on.

And of course they scheduled that STAT ...so needless to say it's got us a little stressed, nervous and on edge wondering what may be going on. And it looks like with all the pre-op things they need to have in order to do this last test it will be next week before it happens ..so we will have a little wait which isn't always easy.

Our prayer is that it ends up nothing and that Gods healing hand will take care of what the issue is ...and of course if this is a course in life that has to be taken we pray for it to be the least of all evils some stones that need to be removed or the Gall bladder removed ...

No matter what the outcome we know God's hand and mercy is with us. Each time we have crossed some difficult waters he has held us up and gave us the strength to move forward ...and brought us out on the other side stronger for having gone through it...and I know he will again.

Please say a prayer for the healing of my Dad. He's had a hard road to bare the last 6 yrs. From his bi-pass to corotid surgeries ..it seems he's ended up with about 1 surgery a year for the last 4 years ..and it's been hard on him.

I'm sure there are many people worse off ..so by no means am I crying how bad things are ..just the opposite ..we have been so blessed ..each problem that has arisen has been caught in time to save his life ..and I give all the glory and thanks to God ..and the Doctors that he has filled with wisdom to heal and correct our delicate bodies .

However God says in his word that we are to call upon our brothers and sisters in times of need and prayer ..and we ask that you say a simple prayer for our dear Papa ... He's an absolute blessing to us ....and we love him so dearly ..!!! It would mean a great deal to know that Prayers were being said for him ...

Thank You dear Blog land Friends ...it's nice to have a place you can come in Good times and tough times and reach out to the world for the simplest yet most powerful thing on earth ...Prayer !

Another Day Delayed due to the Detours of Life ...

Well ...once again we have ran into a little detour ...Our much anticipated excitement of putting our shop together will be delayed another day due to unforseen issues...

Yesterday Papa Fred had another medical test ...and what was supposed to only take a short time turned into several hours and the result was that his body just wasn't functioning properly for the test to work.

So today he's back at the Dr.s to see what all this means ...and we think there may be one more test they do which is a bit more invasive and they save it for last ...but we're not sure what the Dr. will have in mind.

God has alway taken care of Papa ..and I'm sure he will again ..seems the medical issues he's had over the years have always been caught just in time...which has always been such a blessing. Basicly we just need to find out what's going wrong and see what needs to be done about it ...and then God will do the rest as always !

In the meantime ..we're hoping to get to the shop tomorrow ..but all rests on today and what next appts. are when and where ...Hopefully I'll have a little update I can share this evening ..

Wishing you a Day full of sunshine dreams ....

A New Week a Fresh Start ...

A new week and a fresh start ...or should I say a really Tired Start !

Last week was a busy one. Our Plans to get over to our new shop and finish decorating didn't come to pass as we had hoped. There were a few little happenings with papa fred and Dr.s appts last week that were just a weeeeeee bit more important and thus we are running a bit behind schedule.

The weekend was taken up too ..I know I mentioned many weeks back about the big Estate Sale we had been going to. It has been ongoing for a few months now. An old store building that was sort of a goodwill of it's day had been closed up for over 20 yrs with all the merchandise left inside. Also a bus barn just up the street that was loaded top to bottom and side to side ..and every week they would unload what they could ..and we showed up every weekend for the new offerings. We ended up with alot of fun vintage and antique junk ..and right now it's piled high just about every which way you turn around here. We are So ready to get it priced and over to our new shop ...

By the time Yesterday(Sunday) rolled around we were exhausted and ready to rest ....

Today ...ah Monday ..the beginning of our work week ...and that's just what we have been up to. Getting all of our offerings and props ready to go over to the shop on Wednesday (as they are closed on Tuesdays) ..which will be a relief to me. To finally get everying in place and in order and looking beautiful .."that's important"

I thought I would share a little peek at one of the props Abbey and I have been working on...Our Collaborative thought process brought us to a conclusion that the top back area of our shop needed a little beautification ...and we wanted to do something different yet along the lines of farmhouse style ..and a little modernized general store look to ....

So we came up with lining the top back of the booth in layered vintage wood frame windows ...and of course we couldn't end there ..

We decided we wanted our name in one and some descriptive words that tells a little bit about us and our style of offerings ...

So here's a peek at how the windows came out today ...Of course they'll look so much better once we get them in the shop and of course I'll share picts with you all of them all up and looking their best this week.

So here they are ....

This will be the basic layout of how they are going to line the top of the shop ...
I loved ..creating the font for these ..thinking about old window fronts and how the lettering would have looked in the day ...Oh how I miss seeing beautiful window fronts ....

I know it sounds funny but I love to see our name on pieces ..I guess it's because I truly love the name we picked for ourselves ...it repressents what we do and who we are just perfectly ...

Theirs a wonderful feeling that antique wood frame windows evoke ..I can't explain the feeling of warmth and home that overcomes my inner being when working with them and touching them...maybe it's because growing up we always had wood frame windows in our homes ??? All I know is that today's modern metal frames just don't have the same appeal and never will to me ..after growing up in a 1930's home ...a new home will never have the charm ..the romance...the endearing qualities of one that is vintage... Abbey and I dream one day that we'll be able to find ourselves home again in a vintage farmhouse or cottage ...and then our souls and hearts shall be the utmost contented ...

Farmhouse Romance .... Home Goods... Vintage Living ...and you've arrived at ...

SWEET MAGNOLIAS FARM

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I'll keep you all posted as to the day we wrap up over at the shop ..and share lots of picts with you all ...later this week ...

Wishing you all a lovely fun filled and joyful week !!!

Glitterfest Success ..The Beginnings of a new Shop and Home again.....

Well ...I'm finally here ...and I must say a Big Thank You to Whimzy ..Diane and Cheryl ..did a Beautiful Job Hosting Glitterfest Once again ..and for it being our First time to journey down this Glittered Past ..we must admit we Enjoyed it thoroughly and it was a success !!!

Abbey and I were met by so many faces we knew ..it was like a small home gathering even though the crowd was huge.

We were thrilled to meet so many new wonderful gals ..and make new aquaintances ..

By Saturday Night Both of us were exhausted ..ready to come home and put our feet up and that's just what we did ...

Now rested up somewhat I thought I would share some picts for those of you who didn't get the chance to come and for those living in far off places ..of our little 8ft x 30 inch table ..in it's completed fashion just minutes before the doors opened ...Enjoy !!!

Abbey and I (Sara)

(pictures above Thanks To Rita Reade of Mammabellarte)

Our totes ..Aprons...Jewelry ..Lamps...and Paper Roses ...

We added flicker flame bulbs to our antique chandelier ..Loved how it looked !

Our Paper Roses dipped in Glass Glitter were a hit we nearly sold out of them !

Our pumpkins were a hit too ....I was so worried we weren't going to have enough ..but we did Thank Goodness ..!!! These sweet little punkins ...flew out all morning Long ...

And All those that are left ...well they can be found ....

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By Visiting our new shop in the Treasures N Junk Antique Mall in Ontario, CA...

We got up the morning after Glitterfest and headed over to the mall to begin work on one of our new spaces we are taking ...

I was so tired yesterday that we painted the walls ...and I got right to work painting the floor ...then realized I had forgotten to add the wall technique ...Now whats a girl to do but think of a way to overcome this mistake knowing time was not on her side .. Soooooooo

I opted for two plastic bags ...1 tied over each shoe ...and in I went ...I was about in tears and so was Abbey and Papa Fred ..as I crinkled and cracked ..and the bag stuck to the floor ..making me look like our dog scout lifting her feet in disgust when the lawn gets wet ...

Betsy and Alyssa ..were laughing too and of course had to take pictures and send them to Jana the owner of the mall ..at the new dealers antics ...LOL !!!

Well my plastic bags worked and that's all that matters plus we had all had a little giggle which is good for the soul anyhow !

We did manage to get some of our furniture in place and brought in our pumpkins and Paper Roses ...

There's much more to come later in the week ..we have lots to get done. So give us till next week to get things all wrapped up and then by all means come visit us !!!

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Today ...we've just been Home Again ..it's a Beautiful Day ...Honestly looks like a Winter day in January out ...and snow flurries are forecast for the Mountain regious surrounding us ..Strange weather but I'm loving it ..I'll take a cold winters day anytime over a hot scorcher !!!

Today we've tried to get our home back in order once again ... all the work we do ..really takes it's toll on our home ..and home is an important place we must remember ..a place to retreat and gather ourselves again ..

Wishing you all a Blessed week ..full of smiles ..happy Hearts and Lifes sweet dreams ...

Blessings ..Sara

P.S......I didn't get pictures of all the other artisans at the show ...Honestly I was just a bit overwhelmed and didn't get around like I had hoped ...But too see a bunch of wonderful pictures ..visit Rita Reades Slideshow ..by clicking HERE