Talented Time Travelers in Focus #15

And now it's time to take a peek at some of the travelers who took the trip for Time Travel Thursday last week.

I just love New England architecture.

Rob and Laurie @ Handy Man, Crafty Woman share that same interest.  Be sure to visit them so you can take their grand tour.

Have you ever had a project not work out the first time or two you tried it?

Liz @ Designing Domesticity had that problem with her terrarium.  But she followed the wisdom of the old cliche "if at first you don't succeed"...

and look what a cute addition it now makes to her little lounging nook.

One of the most exciting aspects of decorating is transforming "blah" to beautiful!

Amanda @ The Penny Parlor did just that with her mirror makeover.

Chelsea and Allison @ Decor Roomies decided it was time to assist some of their college buddies with a living room redo.

Yep, these guys definitely needed a feminine touch!

The final results reveal that everything benefits from a woman's touch.  ; )

Signs of fall are springing up everywhere with Karen @ Never Enough Thyme Creations.

Wouldn't you love to have one of these charming decorations of your very own?

You can!  Just visit Karen for the details.

Often the best encouragement you could ever receive comes from fellow bloggers.

Jeanne @ Selep Imaging wants to know whether her old hutch was a good score.

Be sure to let her know what you think.

 And as always, great job, Time Travelers!

Happy 72nd Birthday, Dad!

A man of honor, courage, and devotion...

then...

and now.

I love you, Dad!

Simplify, Simplify, Simplify - Linky Party Details

That's one of the main things I'm working on around here—simplifying my life!

So...

in keeping with that theme, I've simplified the rules of my Time Travel Thursday linky party.  ; )

1. To participate in the fun, link anything in any category you choose—cooking, crafting, decorating, DIY, gardening, home improvement, sewing, shopping, travel, vacation, etc., really pretty much anything applies, 'cause time doesn't stand still.  Right?!
2. Once you've published your Time Travel post, link in with that specific URL—not your blog's main URL—and link back to the Brambleberry Cottage within your post, or somewhere visible on your blog. 
3. Please remember to leave a comment.
4. The link will be up by 9:00 p.m. (hopefully!) Wednesday nights.

See.  Simple!

And I would LOVE IT if you became a following friend—if you aren't already—and grabbed my party button to help spread the word!

Time Travel Thursday #16 - Just "Milling" Around

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT ALL THE DETAILS FOR THE LINKY PARTY HERE!

Welcome to the sixteenth Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Good!  Here we go.

1910

I grew up in a textile town in the South.

1910

As a matter of fact, the textile mills–that dotted the landscape throughout the Piedmont region–made North Carolina famous for a season.

1922

Gibson Mills, depicted in the three vintage postcards above, was in a neighboring town to the one I lived in during my childhood.

And while the town where I grew up was actually created around a mill–that was the largest manufacturer of towels in the world, for a time–that mill is not the one I've chosen to focus on.

The mill above, now known as The Depot at Gibson Mills, no longer produces textiles, but it's very much a hub of activity again today.

It has been given new life through the businesses and shops that it now houses.

Boasting over 85,000 square feet and 460 dealer booths, its antique mall and design center has become one of my absolute favorite shopping destinations. 

This fun booth–loaded with fantastic primitives and just plain old cool junk–is the space of a friend of mine.

You could spend hours, right here in Tammy's "Refunked Junk" booth!

If you prefer country antiques and collectibles, you'll find them at The Depot, as well.

One of the things that makes this place such a delightful shopping experience is the great care the vendors take to make their spaces so inviting.

Have you seen anything yet you would love to have?  ; )

If your style leans more toward newer home decor, you won't be disappointed with the wonderful selection you find here.

Truly, there is something to satisfy everyone's taste at this incredible shopping venue.

But come prepared to spend the entire day, if you really want to see everything!

Sharing all this wonderful vintage goodness @ Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie Thursday.

Tips and Tricks Tuesday #16 - Change is on the Horizon

Change is coming to the Brambleberry Cottage!  Stay tuned for the details.

Welcome to WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN the sixteenth Tips & Tricks Tuesday linky party here at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Before I address that huge question mark I'm sure is flashing above your head, I want to show off the talent of last week's participants.

If you're anything like me, you have tons of old sweaters that you're starting to sift through, as the weather gets colder.

I've been pondering whether I should just get rid of half of the ones I own.

Last week, Karly @ Jellybean Junkyard gave us a great tutorial on how to make a stylish cowl out of an old sweater.

Thanks, Karly!  Now I know what to do with at least some of those castoffs.

How often have you received a gift and just knew it wasn't going to work?

Michelle @ Dream Home DIY decided her gifted "HOME" sign just needed a face-lift.

Now it joins the many other transformations she and Justin have performed to make their starter home their dream home.  ;)

I think it would have driven me batty to have punched out each of these little bats, pushed a pin through each of them, and then to have glued them, one by one, to a book page.

Thank goodness, Gail @ CAN'T STOP MAKING THINGS had enough patience to do so. 

The results were incredible!

At first glance, you might think that this spiral is made from a piece of jewelry that has been twisted.

It's actually an amazing embroidery technique that Zeshuregi @ Creative Mind shared last week.

You'll want to visit each of these talented tipsters to get the full scoop on their creations.

And now, I'll address the changes coming to the cottage.

I'm in the midst of a BIG project that I'll be sharing with you very soon.

Since I'm already spread so thin, the wind blows right through me (huh, don't I wish!), I'm reducing the number of parties I host here at the Brambleberry Cottage to just one.

Time Travel Thursday will be the only weekly party that continues. 

Ask the Yankee and Tips and Tricks Tuesday will no longer be linky parties hosted here.

However, if you get stuck in a project, the Yankee will still gladly assist.

And, whenever I have a handy dandy tip or trick to share, I'll do so on a Tuesday night.

Be sure to come back tomorrow night for the Time Travel Thursday linky party, and share your awesome talent with the rest of Blogland.

See ya then!

Talented Time Travelers in Focus #14

It's time to bring the talent of select participants from last week's party into sharper focus. 



I've used vintage doilies in various creative ways for years, but I've never thought to use one as a shawl.

Amazing how romantic the look is, isn't it?

We have Robyn @ the pink peony of Le Jardin to thank for this lovely idea.

I lived at the beach for many years.

 And during that time, I don't think I ever saw a coastal tablescape I liked any better than this one, created by Gail @ Victorian at Heart.

How many different uses could you come up with for a vintage beauty like this?

We'll just have to wait and see what Melanie @ THE frosted GARDNER has up her sleeve for hers.

What woman doesn't love jewelry?

I know I do; and I've grown quite fond of the gorgeous works of art created by reworking vintage bits and pieces.

These beauties are the handiwork of Betsy @ My Salvaged Treasures.

If all creepy crawlies were as cute as this one, created by Taylor-Ann @ My Modish Mood, I probably wouldn't mind them nearly as much!

Do you think this fun scarecrow would keep the birds away or invite them to stay?

That's the question I posed to La Vie Quotiedienne.

Who says pumpkins need to be orange?  Not me!

And not My Crafty Moments.

What do you do when you don't have time to carve your pumpkins?

You find a unique way to dress them–like Noreen @ The Idea Attic did.

We all have things that seem to lift our spirits when we see them.

For Terry @ Antique Attic, it's this vignette of vintage goodies she created around a picture of her parents on their wedding day.

As always, great job, Time Travelers!

Time Travel Thursday # 15 - The Yankee Candle Experience

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE DETAILS FOR ALL THREE LINKY PARTIES HERE AT THE COTTAGE!

Welcome to the fifteenth Time Travel Thursday linky party at the Brambleberry Cottage.

Are you ready for our next trip back in time and into the future?

Then climb aboard!

One of the most delightful places I visited–while in New England this past summer–was the Yankee Candle flagship store in South Deerfield, MA.

The complex was so much larger than I had anticipated.  Thankfully, the site map, given to me at the entrance, was most helpful in my navigation.

Even prior to stepping one foot in the door of the place, I knew it was going to be a wonderful experience.

You know what they say about first impressions!

Just take a look at the grounds!  Seeing all that beauty outside, what would your expectations be?

I like beginning any new adventure at the beginning.  So, I thought brushing up on the history in the Yankee Candlemaking Museum was the perfect place to start.

I was fascinated to learn that this whole business was built from a humble Christmas gift, created by a young man for his mother in 1969.

The venture quickly became a family-and-friend operation.

These three plaques, that hang in the museum, give an overview of the business history.

Just click on the images above to enlarge them, and read the interesting facts for yourself.

Being a bit of a history buff, I found myself lingering in the museum...

taking in all the wonderful antique and vintage candle-making items, as well as, the incredible old case good pieces.

Even if I had not had the time to go any further, this one section of the complex...

–with all its amazing treasures of antiquity–would have been a very special treat to behold.

But, I found that with every area I visited, it just kept getting better.

Whether ones tastes are decidedly country...

cottage farmhouse...

or an eclectic mix, with a European flair...

there is something for everyone there!

I was so excited to discover this particular light fixture.

I happen to have the perfect components–in one of my barns–to make its twin...

or at least its brother!

And these adorable can-dleholders will be a future project for sure!

To say that this store is a virtual Disneyland, within a candle shop, is not an exaggeration.

There's fun to be had by all–regardless of age or gender.

Whether you create your own jar candle...

or simply enjoy the various holiday sights and sounds,

you are sure to enjoy every moment you spend at the Yankee Candle flagship store.

Sharing the history and all the fun vintage finds at Suzanne's for Vintage Thingie Thursday.