Magazine Give-away

Well, it wouldn't be right if I didn't offer to give away a copy of our new magazine, would it?

In case you haven't seen it, here she is:

Leave a comment and I will draw a winner on Friday!!

Do You See What I See?

The countdown is on. Just over a month until the much anticipated release of Flea Market Style Magazine and I can't wait to share it with you all. Here is a little sneak peek of Sophie's playhouse feature - that I also got to write - and it is a little pinch me I'm dreaming moment to see it in this form. I can't wait to hold the magazine in my hands! When will that be, you ask? The magazine will hit shelves on February 23,2010.

To find out where you will be able to find the magazine and see answers to other frequently asked questions, follow this link.

To see even more of the magazine (courtesy of Matthew Mead), go here!

Show and tell...at the Bonanza.

I had the best time at Ki Nassauer's Junk Bonanza in Minneapolis! I shopped, ate, met other bloggers and readers. I shopped till I dropped and cursed the fact that I was flying with only one suitcase; and I kept my eyes and ears open to absorb as much knowledge as I could and commit all the treasures to memory. Of course the other thing that was "open" was my jaw as I dragged it around the event and marvelled at all of the creative displays and awesome junk that I couldn't afford to ship home.

Because it is late and I still haven't unpacked my wares, I will share a few photos and sound bites and do a better job as the week rolls on about the stories behind the photos.

The Flea Market Style table:

Putting Matthew to work:

Ki emceeing the Blog Party (more on that later):

What I probably should have bought:

Above the clouds...where I've yet to come down from!

More, much more to follow...when I can keep my eyes open!!

Ready, Set, Launch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After much back and forth collaboration, many emails exchanged between our blog designer (Danielle, the Design Girl), and a whole lot of writing of posts, the new Flea Market Style Magazine blog is up and running!!!! I am so excited and relieved, I could do a cannonball into my pool !!

When you arrive at the blog, you will soon see it is not a place you pop by and leave quickly. No ladies and gentlemen, there are many, many great posts to read (Ki and Matthew will be contributing regularly) which will truly give you a great glimpse into the making of the magazine. For those of you who are wondering, "Huh, what magazine?" -well, check this out. But don't stop there! Head on over to the blog and take your time browsing buttons and archives and please, oh please, leave us a message. We would love to hear what you think.

While you are over there, check out how to join our blogroll, and have a look at our Frequently Asked Questions page, where we did our best to answer your questions about the magazine. Don't forget to take a button while you're at it. And if you're so inclined, anything you can do to help spread the word about the magazine (and blog!) will do wonders to helping ensure Flea Market Style will be more than a one time special feature. We look forward to sharing this journey with you and we know you will be thrilled with the end result.

Now, come on over!!

Butterflies and Flip Flops...

Remember me? The normally prompt and predictable author of this blog who wrote posts on a a regular, timed basis? Well, I'm in there somewhere, and I certainly have been doing enough writing...

In fact, I have been rather glued to the keyboard lately, trying to get the new Flea Market Style blog up and running in time for that promised mid-August release. As those of you who are bloggers know, there is a whole lot of work to setting up the infrastructure of a blog, especially when one wants to have an archives of posts to support the hype once new readers find it! So, forgive me for my tardiness and instead allow me to share a sneak preview of just some of the hype surrounding the new Flea Market Style Magazine.

We have received our first bit of press about the magazine in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. As I told Ki, it is now beginning to feel real to me ( though writing for my features has helped, too) and my stomach had butterflies and did flip flops when I read this:

The Trend: Flea Market Style to Debut

In fact, it just might answer some of the questions you have had about the mag. Oh, and the photo images accompanying it hint at one of the most beautiful features in the magazines. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this magazine is definitely more coffee table book than magazine - it's that beautiful!!

**There is one tiny error within the article, though. Can you spot it? No prizes, but for those who like seek and find puzzles, this one's for you!

A Visit...and The Cottage of the Month!

Getting down to business!

You might have guessed I had a busy week! For those who are familiar with this blog, and for those who are new here, I had a little taste of "living the dream" this week. Matthew and Jenny Mead, of Matthew Mead Style, arrived on Monday to shoot Sophie's playhouse for the upcoming magazine, Flea Market Style. We also did some more fun shooting of another spot I cannot yet reveal. Even I had my moment before the camera, and we had a good laugh at just how unphotogenic I really am! As someone who usually scampers away when a camera comes out, it was a bit daunting to pose for such a professional! Matthew and Jenny were as lovely and down to earth as I knew they would be and put me instantly at ease. I can honestly say I was sad to see them go. That is all I am going to reveal for now, as I am saving the real behind-the-scenes peek at Matthew and Jenny's visit for the new Flea Market Style blog...coming soon!!

Now, I want to send a huge thank you out to Jennifer at The Old Painted Cottage for featuring my little house as her Cottage of the Month. When Jennifer suggested it to me I was so excited; as anyone who is a fan of her Cottage of the Month site knows, getting the nod from Jennifer is a serious honour. Jennifer has had her own beautiful home featured in the pages (and on the cover!) of Romantic Country magazine, and is presently renovating another California cottage, which all of her fans are waiting with bated breath to see. If you haven't checked our her gallery of featured homes, you are in for a serious treat. Pour yourself a nice cup of tea and be prepared to be glued to your computer screen...as you take the tour of some gorgeous "cottages"!

Thank you, Jennifer!!

By the Pool Transformations...

Remember this little treasure? Found at a real, bonafide junk spot? Well, look at it now, doing serious lifeguard duty:

The handyman was busy, too, building a changing area so wet feet don't have to track through my house. This is the before photo:

And the after:

Need to see it up close?

I made this little light holder, junk style, because I was trying to copy Ki and her infinite creativity:

Oh, and I gave a make-over to this little beach chair. It used to have Bratz fabric on it (ick!!) so I removed it and sewed up this striped Sunbrella fabric and painted the frame. I also picked up the vintage cooler for $10 at a thrift shop. It is my favourite shade of blue:

I will be unplugged for a few days while I enjoy some summer family time, and will return any emails as soon as I can. I want to thank everyone so much for the kind wishes and comments you gave me with regards to the new magazine. Ki, Matthew and I are overwhelmed and thrilled with the outpouring of support and excitement over this endeavour. Flea Market Style magazine will not fail to please, I can guarantee you that!! We will bring you more updates and answer any questions you have once the blog is up and running...we are aiming for mid-August.

Watch for it!!

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Check out Kimba's fun blog DIY blog party. I joined up, and so should you!!

On the Cover of a Magazine...

Well… not exactly, but I do have news that is so exciting I could pinch myself (if only I could find an inch…hah!).

Now, let’s make this clear: this is not news that affects just me, but also all of you – especially those of you who love the following:

a)vintage style

b) flea markets, thrift shops, occasional sales, salvage shops and yard sales

c) Matthew Mead and Ki Nassauer

d) magazines and

e) all of the above plus recognition for bloggers like you - finally recognized for the inspiration you so willingly share with your peers and the online community!

Without further adieu, I happily announce (as I squeal inside with excitement) the wonderful news that Matthew Mead and Ki Nassauer have pooled their incredible talents as style and junk experts, respectively, to produce and create a new magazine titled,

Flea Market Style – a 144 page newsstand magazine, chock full of vintage-style decorating, projects, collecting tips, special features and more - to be released in early spring, 2010. The magazine cover (at left) is a mock-up and the actual cover will be revealed when the magazine is released!

Now, normally this would be enough to send bubbles of anticipation through me (I love a great magazine), but here’s the icing on the cake for me: Ki and Matthew have invited me along for the incredible ride, and entrusted me in the role of Editor-at Large!! In fact, as I hinted, I will be in charge of bringing the point of view of the blogging community to the magazine and shining the spotlight on some incredibly talented bloggers, on-line shop owners, and Etsy artists. I will also be interviewing and featuring some of your favourite design celebrities to get their take on vintage/flea-market style and more. Matthew and Ki are also pleased to have Heather Bullard on board as a contributor.
Now, I will need someone to lean on for a second as I process this last detail: Matthew and Jenny Mead will be visiting yours truly this summer to photograph pockets of my home! I am beyond thrilled to not only be a part of such a wonderful magazine, but to be able to be a fly (probably a pretty pesky one) on the actual wall of a magazine photo shoot. It is almost more excitement than I can bear!! The only thing better would be if Ki could come along, too!!

Now, lest you think you will have a long wait until you hear more about this magazine, you should know me better. Matthew, Ki and I will be creating a new blog devoted to the making of Flea Market Style Magazine, where you will be invited to follow along on - via snippets of photo shoots, junking adventures, Ki’s Junk Bonanza, and the overall production process. I am so excited to be part of a magazine for home-owners who strive to decorate on a budget, using and repurposing items that are just waiting to be rediscovered and given new pride of place in their homes. I am also excited to fully engage this wonderful community of bloggers I have become part of and I hope you will follow us along on this exciting journey and feel a part of the finished product. We hope to have the blog up and running by mid-August, and we will let you know as soon as it happens.
Ki, Matthew and I truly hope you are as excited to have this new magazine hit newsstands as we are!