Summer is Fading But Viva is Cooking!

Just a quick note to let you know that while the summer in winding down (and I'm getting ready to deliver a boy to college) Viva is in full swing with two fun events coming up.

A Taste of Favorites is planning a wonderful event at the Sister Bay Anderson Farm Museum on September 20th.

All of our Favorites will be set up with their wares, demonstrations and food as well as a fashion show that will be sure to entertain..... more to come!  We will all be raffling off prizes and know that your ticket money will go directly to the Museum to help them continue with all of their special efforts in preserving this wonderful place.

The next event that we are planning is the Winter Wonderland Event.  We will be shutting down Viva two days prior to the show, which is Oct. 23 and 24, to totally transform the shop into a holiday dream (which to us may seem like a nightmare those two days before!).  The very special part of this sale is that 10 percent of our sales those days will go to Help of Door County which focuses on families in crisis.  It's a very hard working and important part of our community.

Don't hesitate to call the shop for any questions!   Hope to see you all at these places.

What Elkhorn Looks Like at Viva

First of all, I wanted to share this picture with you.  Look at this flower bed!  This is it's fifth year and boy has it kicked in.

More silver... if you've been in the shop you know that we always keep a supply of mixed silver and only charge 3.00 per stem.  Fresh supply!

Not exactly Elkhorn, but this is the new Pine Cone Hill bedding on our hanging bed.  Cottage Toile with gingham and floral accessories.

Ironstone tea pot mixed in with other great pieces.  Always  bringing in Buffalo china to mix with the ironstone.

I don't exactly know what this piece is but it has wonderful feminine curves and I imagine it was possibly in a store to display scarves or even children's clothing.

We found some great vintage wire baskets and put the pool balls in this one.  This reminds me of the baskets at the public swimming pool.  I guess I'm vintage.

Love these old heavy duty hooks that are holding some cool new euro shams.

This three tiered planter is a display delight, but I will be parting with this one.

More vintage restaurant ware.... I haven't come across this pattern before.

Baby shoes in different sizes.  I will do something fun with them for our Help of Door County Christmas Show.

An adorable patio set.  I like to spray these older iron pieces with acrylic to seal in the chippy paint, it also gives it a warmer patina.

I adore these old heavy iron chaise lounges.  They came with some very groovy 1970's cushions which either we are going to redo or let the customer choose on their own.

The Big Flea

This is the reason I had to open a shop in the first place.  I love the hunt!  John and I went to the Elkhorn Flea Market this past weekend just to find treasures for you.  We braved the 94 degree heat, dust, bad food and all so that I can could bring these things to you.  Notice the bugs on the windshield that sacrificed just for you.  John gave up an entire weekend just so he could help me work for you.

I know..... and I won't mention that we spent the previous day and evening watching "Julie and Julia" and enjoying dinner at Cafe Coquette!

We hit the inside booths first and scored time after time.  I found these cute restaurant bowls and towels.  Look how polite I am waiting my turn.

John found these vintage pool balls.  These are fun to put into jars or baskets and just have out.

A snippet of Elkhorn.

This guy ROCKED!  See those two chaises behind me?  The covers are way outdated but the loungers themselves are HEAVY iron and gorgeous.  Score.  I also bought other wonderful outdoor table sets and planters.  He was a gem and helped us pack the truck at the end.

John always tries on hats.  He doesn't care if it's a man or womans hat, tiny or flamboyant, he just puts them on.  I can tell you that we get an obnoxious case of the giggles when he gets started.  

Oooh, oooh and oooh!  I am digging out old children's shoes that are all the same style but different sizes.  That white high top look.  I asked John what he thought and told me that he knew I would do something great with them.  Then rolled his eyes behind my back.

Somehow we packed it up without an inch to spare.  You'll have to come by the shop to see all the treasures and I will tell you this was one of my best excursions ever.  My husband donned me with a very special motto:

"My Wife Can Find A Needle In a #%@!stack"

The end.

Friends of Viva Trunk Show..... The Test.

What a glorious day Friday was!!!!  It was pure magic and good will all around.  How better to prep for the big day with friends and family just showing up to help get the gardens and grounds at their best for the very special trunk show?

My parents just popped in and said what can we do?  Are you kidding?  Dad took to mowing and Mom minded the counter and customers while I ran around like the scatterbrain I always am...... of course they know this about me, hence the showing up....

God bless Peter.  He pulled in on a day when he has other responsibilities to fine tune the gardens since our tents would be set up throughout.  

I found this really great old hanging bassinet.... wouldn't it be great to hang it from those birch branches and put the two ferns I just happened to buy in it?  My husband John had the solution... Dan you get on my shoulders and Peter you get on his, and that way we can hang this thing in a snap....  then much more manly discussion on how it could really work.  I disappeared!

I reappeared and look!  It's done! (that's my favorite guy, John).  Thanks honey!

This show is going to go off without a hitch!

SATURDAY MORNING 7:30 AM.....

The term raining buckets comes to mind.

Erin from The Patricia Shoppe making a run for it

Diane and Pat... Monticello sells the loveliest clear garbage bags... one size fits all.

After we all gathered we spent a good chunk of time just wondering and debating.... postpone until tomorrow, set up inside or just wait it out and hope?  

Ladies, we are setting up inside! 

That's when the "testing"began.

If you have been in my shop, you know that it winds around and I have several rooms.  We all chipped in and moved inventory, tables and beds.  Voila!  Set up complete.

While the commotion continued, John served up pastries.... sweets always help.

Robin of Ginger's table just jumps in and starts setting up.... can do!

Thersa from Magic Jacket easily transposes the room into Magic Jacket goodness with a wonderful display of Mona's hand painted shoes

She is also my yoga instructor, advising we just acknowledge our situation and accept it. 

I'm trying.....

Here's Carol setting up our Neesh jackets.

You know what Carol does?  She comes in at nine, when I'm at my most frenzied and says "what can I do?"  I calm myself rattle off a list and 10 minutes later, done.

10:00 sharp and here come our wonderful customers.... it's getting a little crowded with five shops in one, but we're making do......

ANOTHER TEST

Hey! The sun is coming out!!! Let's haul it out now and fast!  Really not too bad because our tents were set up the night before and Carol and Mom can put the shop back together!

Then the 40 mph wind gusts.  

My racks of clothing were tipping into wet grass and mud, tent tops were splashing off the rain that had gathered into the tops, jewelry displays were history. 

My friends from Ginger's table called uncle first, and I followed quickly.  The Magic Jacket was set up in a pocket where the wind did not effect them, so they stayed out.  

After everyone setting back up in the shop, the winds started dying down and Janice from the Savory Spoon decided to serve lunch outside as well.  Want to know what I had for lunch?  Fennel and caramelized onion quiche with salad greens, peach iced tea and and blueberry torte for dessert. (this would explain a few things)

This is finally where the fun began and we all settled into doing what we do.

I wish I had a better picture of Savory Spoon.  If you look to the right, you can kind of see the linens from Provence covering the table where we ate under the arbor.

We had lots of very special visitors that day!

Mary Ellen from Turtle Ridge.  Isn't she gorgeous?  Again, in all the frenzy I didn't get good pictures of inventory.  She make that most fantastic leather handbags and accessories.  Please click and see her work...  I've been told that you don't belong to Door County until you have one of her bags.  (she graced me with one).

These hand tied bouquets form Flora were sure a bright spot.  Helen's adorable daughter was selling these.

Diane and Pat from Monticello.  Again, no good shots of the gorgeous cashmere shawls, dresses and handbags she brought.  See how happy we are now?  Blueberry tart.... mmmm.

Debbie on the far left and Theresa, right from Magic Jacket visiting with old friends a customers

A sampling..... Magic Jacket

Isn't this fabulous?

Erin from the Patricia Shoppe with her side kick Paula.  Cute, huh?

Very cool vintage style wallets.

A sampling of jewelry from Patricia Shoppe.

Fun from Gingers's Table.  There was so much to see and so many different styles.

AFTER THE TEST....

Big smiles and lots of fun.  See you next year..... with a huge tent delivered and set up, able to withstand any conditions.

The End.