Local Color

From the beautiful old courthouse on the square, to great eateries and quaint shops, Crown Point, Indiana, “the next town over”, is one of my favorite places to visit.

Majestic Victorian homes are sprinkled throughout the older part of town, and businesses like Papa's Deli, Old Green Shutters Antiques,  Scoops Ice Cream Parlor and The Front Gate dot the square, making Crown Point a great place to spend the day.  Treasure hunters will enjoy two large antique malls and numerous small shops within walking distance of the square, as well as six thrift shops nearby.

The town also boasts the old Lake County Jail, made famous by John Dillinger’s escape in 1934 (using a gun carved from wood), and even more famous as the place where Johnny Depp recently filmed the movie, “Public Enemies”. Both events were a pretty big deal to local history. ;)

Johnny waves to the crowd just outside the old Lake County jail. I just remember being irritated that my favorite thrift shop was closed for a week as a result of filming. Priorities people.

 OK, moving on...

The ever changing inventory at Old Green Shutters, at 118 S. Main Street, is always worth a peek. The owner has exceptional taste and her displays are a great way to get new ideas for your own home.

I love their selection of lace and linens.

Got a bright idea?

 

 

 Need a piece or part for your latest project? They probably have it.

Another great display.

The real reason I adore this shop. TO DIE FOR HATS!

Lace on Parade.

The Button Cabinet

From Rustic, to Pretty...

There's just so much to love at Old Green Shutters.

While I was visiting Old Green Shutters, I met the energetic owner of a shop from just across the square. Marilyne Hamstra, of Dutch Girlz Dezigns, at 125 N. Main, took me on a tour of her gorgeous new shop, which offers floral and interior design services.

One of the things that makes Marilyne's shop so incredible, besides the sheer beauty of it, is that she & her son did everything you see themselves. They took it from a huge empty warehouse to an elegant and charming retail space. Marilyne's background "flipping houses" as well as her experience in restoring one of Crown Point's historic homes, lends itself to her latest endeavor in interior design.

While the overall feel here is elegance (rather than primitive)...the rich colors and dark patinas appeal to my sense of history and beauty.

A large turn of the century pram, filled with dried hydrangea, is a focal point in the window display.

These old instruments, situated just so, were perhaps my favorite display in the store.

Looking for an experienced interior designer with impeccable taste and the energy to tackle the big jobs? I'd call Marilyne.
Just looking for a relaxing afternoon? Visit the wonderful array of local shops in Crown Point, Indiana. 
Until next time...

Hidden Jewels

Today I want to share one of my favorite local haunts with you. I’ve seen a lot of primitive and antique shops over the years, and we are very fortunate to have one of the best I’ve ever visited, right here in my own hometown.

Spring Run Farm is located on the outskirts of town on the Jensen family farm. The setting is just lovely…you’ll find the shop surrounded by beautiful flower gardens, farm fields and mature trees. The shop’s striking mix of perennial plants comes from neighboring business, Gardens on the Prairie, which is right next door. If you’re a gardener, or just enjoy beautiful gardens, you’ll definitely want to stop in. Both businesses are located on West 169th avenue, just north/east of Lowell, Indiana.

Spring Run features a fabulous blend of early antiques (the real deal), one of a kind hand-mades, primitive décor and garden accents. I really love that the shop has something for every budget…from high end antiques and heirloom quality art, to the ever changing bargains in their sale area.  I highly recommend making Spring Run a destination if you’re ever in the area.  You can thank me later.

Although they don’t typically allow photos to be taken inside the shop (to protect the privacy of their artists), proprietresses Elaine and Angie Jensen, graciously allowed me to do so earlier this summer. Of course they both insisted that the shop wasn’t at its best on the day I was there. Personally, I’ve never seen a “bad day” in this shop.

This patriotic vignette greets customers as they come through the door.

 They do an amazing job with display, wouldn’t you agree?

The shop carries an extensive line of textiles, linens, and window coverings.

Always a fabulous selection! Great colors!

A wonderful early cabinet filled with new textiles.

All handwoven in the USA.

A duo of early painted firkins and a new primitive doll.

Another picture perfect vignette featuring a great old chippy farmhouse cupboard.

Candles displayed in a reproduction apothecary.

This miniature antique cabinet might just be my favorite thing in the shop. Just look at those colors!

Here's an early stepback cupboard with solid doors in a wonderful faded yellow paint.

This very primitive table setting features reproduction yellow ware and antique accessories. Love the faux fireplace!

An early child's or hired man's bed filled with reproduction pillows.

Spring Run Farm is open Thursday-Saturday from 10-4 pm, and is closed January-March.

I hope you've enjoyed the tour. Do stop in if you get a chance, and tell them I sent you! Until next time...

Good Things, Good Company

Hello friends, this post is shamefully overdue…but I’m itching to continue our conversation, so let's just jump right in and pretend not to notice. I have been mulling over a few topics and can hardly decide what to tell you about first.

To start, I want to share some really exciting news. So many times, good things come when we least expect them and from the most unexpected places. Many of you are probably familiar with Mercantile Gatherings Magazine...for those that aren’t; it’s a fantastic publication featuring primitive homes, decor and art. I have been a fan since the very first issue.

I started this blog at the coaxing of a dear friend and had no aspirations of being writer, ever.  But some things are just meant to be. My blog, after only two posts, was noticed by the editor of Mercantile Gatherings Magazine. Soon after, I received an email telling me how much they liked my writing, and an invitation to become a feature writer for the magazine. Well of course I said, “YES!” Wouldn’t you?

My first article appears in the fall issue of the magazine. I’m more than a little tickled with it. See that? That’s my name, right there on the bottom of the page.  *twirl*

The weather here is hot, hot, hot...the kind that makes you want to draw the shades and stay indoors. And even though the lazy hazy dayz of summer are upon us, we have been anything but lazy.

Mr. Kattywhompus has been busy in the garden and I have been busy freezing and canning the baskets of beautiful fruits and vegetables he brings in daily. He & I have a long standing agreement. He grows it, harvests it...and I take it from there.

Other highlights since we last chatted include, our oldest son moving out on his own, and moving in a new puppy. The last time we had a puppy in the house was twenty years ago. Did you know that puppies take an inordinate amount of time?  In between mopping up piddle, and teaching things like "sit" and "down", I have been hitting the tag and estate sales pretty hard. I have some wonderful things to share with you in my Etsy shops-so be watching. We also managed a redo of our living rooms, which I'll be showing you in an upcoming post. In the midst of all of this, we celebrated out 31st wedding anniversary with a trip to central Illinois and took in the Third Sunday Market. The vendors from several of our favorite booths were gracious enough to allow me to photograph their displays. Enjoy!

Mary Leichtenberg of "Bear Your Heart", from Washington, Illinois had some fabulous summer themed vignettes. My pictures don't begin to do them justice. You can find Mary at "Step Back in Time", on Main Street in Washington.

 

I loved Mary's patriotic Americana themed vignettes, complete with baseball, campfires, and flags popping up everywhere.

The thing that drew me into her booth, besides the eye catching display of vintage children's watering cans, was THIS adorable vintage swimsuit.

 Here's a close up. Just look at the ruffled bodice and the adorable print!

Here are a few more fun shots of Mary's booth.

You know how you kick yourself for passing up that one piece that really catches your eye? 

Here's the one that got away...

I don't know what there was about this funny little shelf that fascinated me...maybe it was all the spools.

The spool shelf and other wonderful primitive pieces were offered by Glenn & Joann Smiley of "Homestead Antiques", also from Washington, Illinois.

Here's another shot of Glenn & Joann's booth. Aren't the colors wonderful in this wool braided rug?

Market day was gloomy and rain threatened most of the day. The dreary weather didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the crowd. They were there to shop. What did WE actually buy? A big bag of salty sweet kettle corn, a little doll quilt, a vintage "puzzle ball" pinny, and a couple of juicy, ripe melons. Mostly it was just nice to hold Mr. K's hand, sticky with sugar, and browse. He's still good company after all these years.

It feels good to be back. I have missed all of you and I hope you've missed me just a little bit too. 

Until next time...

I'd like to introduce you to one of my favorite artists, Michelle Palmer. I just adore her little nature sketches on muslin. I've purchased several from her Etsy shop to be used in my spring projects. Choosing which sketches I liked best was the hardest part.
 

If you haven't already peeked at her blog, I hope you will. And while you're there, be sure to enter her give-away!  Michelle is generously offering a fabulous drawing of MiMi Mouse to one lucky reader.
Maybe It'll be YOU!

Sweet Beulah Land

The photo in my header is of my mother. It was taken on her first day of school. Her sweet little dress was hand sewn by my grandmother. I always smile when I see this photo, because my mother confided to me that she was embarrassed because she was wearing homemade underwear beneath her dress.

Beulah Irene Gill was born and raised in central Illinois where she helped cook and serve meals to the hired men on her family farm. It was good practice for feeding her own large family during the lean years of the great depression. At Gran’s well attended funeral service there wasn’t a person there who hadn’t eaten a meal at her table. She was well known for serving hearty and delicious country fare. Gran taught me how to bake bread and cookies, preserve food and make homemade sour kraut, among other delicacies. As we cooked together, I can still remember her telling me, “I only put good things in there”. It showed.


My grandmother was my hero. She was an angel of mercy in her small community, providing meals, distributing clothing, and tending to the sick, while raising eight children of her own. Although Gran never finished high school, she was trained as a nurse. When the local doctor couldn’t come fast enough…neighbors called on Ma Dalton. She delivered over one hundred babies, losing only one. It still made her sad to talk about that “one” 40 years later.

Gran loved people and never spoke unkindly about anyone. She was saddened when folks didn’t do as they should and always said, “We’ll just pray for them”. She read to us from her bible, sang hymns and taught us how to fold our hands and pray.

Gran sewed on a treadle sewing machine for as long as I can remember. She made quilts and teddy bears for every baby born into the family…and everyone was family. When I was a girl I watched as row upon colorful row, her nimble fingers braided a room size rug, fashioned from her father’s old wool clothing. Nothing went to waste.

As a child, Gran’s house was my favorite place to visit. I recall hurrying up the stone lined path, the “smack” of the screen door, and then my own mother’s voice calling out “Mom?” Gran greeted us in an apron and a smile, always asking, “Are you hungry?” no matter what time of day it was. Then we were off to the garden to pick strawberries, or green beans…or maybe a bundle of daffodils.

In the winter, if there was snow, Gran bundled us up and took us sledding. She slipped plastic bread bags inside our boots and woolen socks over our hands to keep us warm and dry. In the springtime she led us through the woods and pointed out “Jack in the Pulpit, “Dutchman’s Britches” and “Snowdrops”. She taught us how to identify trees and songbirds.

It was at Gran’s house that I had my first taste of a Burger King “Whopper” and heard The Beatles singing on the radio (although she didn’t approve of their long hair). Gran pointed out “fairy rings” in the grass, taught us to make daisy chains and to dance the Charleston. She read to us from “The Tall Grass Zoo”.


The thing I remember most about my Gran was her love of children. She was always surrounded by them; from wiggling, squirming babies to teenagers…they naturally gravitated to her. She sat at the “kids table” at holidays, and always had a babe in arms. I recall the squeak of her wooden rocker as she soothed my oldest son. I am thankful that she got to hold each of my babies and pronounce them, in turn, “brilliant and beautiful”. Gran holding my youngest son is one of my last and best memories of her.

My Gran was kind, loving, smart, funny, creative, frugal, and industrious...and until the last, her gentle hands were never still.