Kentuck Festival

Some things are just worth the wait! This weekend Emma and I drove down to Tuscaloosa for Kentuck Arts Festival. Heavy on the folk art side of things, the festival features regionally renowned artists like Butch Anthony, Lonnie Holley and Charlie Lucas. My favorite happens to be the freshly made kettle corn and lemonade. Yes, it costs you an arm and a leg, but I assure you, money well spent.

I have visited this festival for three or so years now, and each year i find myself brining home something new. Besides greasy fingers (from the kettle corn) and a few Amos Kennedy prints, this year I picked up a dotten platter collage by Elane, which is currently perched snugly beside the unnecessary amount of vintage trinkets Emma and I scavenged from

thrift stores on the trip home.

OH! I have some music to impress.

The Jompson Brothers, played for a bit as we strolled through the booths @ Kentuck, and hot damn the lead singer had a pretty voice. I do recommend you listen.

Cupcakes Cobbler and Notebooks

This past weekend my friends and I celebrated Labor Day. To be honest we could not have asked for more perfect weather. It was a constant 84 degrees, and there was not a cloud in the sky. All of my closest friends drove up to meet in Birmingham at my Lake house in at Inland Lake. A few highlights of the weekend included a GREAT new card game i learned called Dutch Blitz, if you are not familiar look it up.....it is great.

It was also two of my friends birthdays. Ray and Rhami both received some hand made goodies from Gavin and I. I made Ray a handful of crafted notebooks, and a mustache, and Rhami got one of y favorite journals. There was cupcakes, M&M's and cobbler galore.

Above is a little sneak peak of part of my new display for the buttons I have been making. I recently purchased this dress form for only 10$ from craigslist. Wow...I love craigslist. I also started something new. I made SCRABBLE magnets to sell at the craft fair. They were a huge hit, but I need to sell them as groups of letters and words instead of just individually. I displayed them on an antique tool box I found in my grandfathers closet. Alright and one last thing.

I have just been introduced to the new crazy flavors of M&M's...and boy let me tell you the dark chocolate, pretzel and coconut M&Ms are oodles of goodness in your mouth. just trust me on this one.

Bigger in Texas

Texas was incredible! As they say everything is bigger in Texas, and let me assure you everyone including the visitors who leave Texas. I had never eaten out so much. We went out to eat
for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Good thing I was visiting friends so we could always split meals. There are some super unique shops and restaurants in Houston. If your planning a trip anytime soon I insist you check out these favorites.

The Bead SHOP
2476 Times Rd., Houston, TX, 77005
in Rice Village

This place was amazing. Thousands of beads spread out all over the tables. And for pretty cheap, only a couple of cents for some really nice glass beads. The guy that worked there had a pretty extensive collection of Hindu sculptures. I bought a few evil eye glass beads... I'm still thinking what to make.

Ruggles Cafe Bakery

Im pretty sure these were meant for children, but we bought some regardless. If you buy a cookie for $1.00 they give you your very own icing to ice your treat. I went all out of course, plus they were delicious.

Ruggles GREEN
& The Path of Tea

Ruggles Green offers delicious menu items that incorporate organic, all-natural, hormone-free, preservative-free, products that are always delicious. I ordered the veggie burger with sweet potato fries. Then walk right across the street to the tea bar and order a frozen green tea. It is like heaven in a cup.

United Way Thrift & Flash Back Antiques

The United way thrift store had SO many vintage nurse dresses donated this past weekend. All of my friends tried on a nurse outfit just for fun. I wish nurses still wore these vintage white dress outfits...how much fun! Close but is Flask Back antiques. I could not afford anything in the store, but it is totally worth the trip.

OH and I have some SUPER exciting news to share... It's not set in stone yest so I don't want to spoil the surprise, but I will tell very soon.

Road Trip

source
I have been waiting for a good road-trip. This weekend I will be headed to TEXAS with two friends. Houston, Texas to be exact. Texas is one of the few states I have not visited. Does anyone live in Houston, or know some good restaurants/ thrift stores to visit? Here is a simple list of things to keep you occupied while on a road-trip, If I may.

1. make a few really good mix tapes

source
2. pack a snack of apple chips and Izze! (my favorites)
source
3. Bring a doodle book...and plenty of markers

source
4. a very comfy pillow

source
5. And some really killer shades.
source

source


What is your favorite road trip accessory?

Pearl River Blues

I literally have 25lbs. of blueberries now stored in my fridge! Yesterday Gavin, and his little sister, and I went to pick blueberries at Pearl River Blues Farms. We visited Pearl River Blue's Farm last year and we absolutely loved it. The farm has over 3,000 blueberry bushes, chickens, a veggie and flower garden and wonderful friends. If you have never gone to a farm near you and picked either blueberries or strawberries I highly recommend it.

Pearl River is an organic farm so they don't spray the field with any pesticides or herbicides. You can eat as many berries as you want right off the bush. And did we ever. Gavin and I remembered not to eat a lot because we knew we would be filling our bellies with berries.
Right now is perfect blueberry picking season, so research a blueberry farm near you!

Gavin and I will freeze most of the berries and eat them year round. I'll post my favorite blueberry recipe tomorrow. It is so much fun getting to know farmers in your area, we even brought
home one dozen fresh eggs.

Has anyone else gone blueberry picking?

Spring Vintage Photoshoot for the shop

Yesterday I ventured out to the beautiful outskirts of Tuscaloosa with two of my lovely friends! Mary Catherine Moody modeled clothes for my shop while Rachael Roberts photographed. Mary was a great model, and made it pretty easy to get great shots and still have an amazing time. All of the clothes you see below are for sale on my Etsy site. Mary and Rachel both have incredible websites and blogs. Mary is a fashion designer and a very talented artist and model, check out her blog here. Rachel Roberts took all of these amazing photos. She is available for wedding, event, and individual photography. Just shoot her an email. renegaderoberts@gmail.com

Or you can check out her great work here.

I hope you enjoy these photos. Which ones are your favorite?
OH and don't forget, everything you see is available for purchase at
The AppleSeed.

Thank you so much to my wonderfully talented friends for making this photo shoot a success.