What's Your Style?

Valerie and I are constantly looking for new inspirations for our homes and the store. We LOVE magazines and books. In fact, if you look in just about any crook or corner in either of our homes you'd find a pile of magazines with corners turned down for future reference or if we really like it, we tear it out and bring it in to share! I was recently looking back through a book entitled, Found Style by Mark and Amy Bulter. You might recognize that name, because at the Flea, we covet Amy's fabric designs and patterns. Anyways, I actually read my design book's text and was reading this one's when I got an idea. In this introduction it talks about finding your style. He says that true "style" should come from years of assembling your home with the things you love. The latest color trends, bedding and furniture can come and go, but if you truly want a home to feel warm and comfortable, you have to be patient and you have to be selective about your purchases. He says it is definitely easier to hire a decorator or to go into a new furniture showroom and buy an entire set, no doubt. But, where is the true fun in that? Valerie and I love to scavenger everywhere from the Goodwill to an Antique Mall. While we say we are looking for the store, we are also keeping hawk eyes out for our own homes. You just never know when that perfect chair, needlepoint or sofa (my weakness) is going to be there. So why am I carrying on at this point you ask? Because I was telling Valerie about this whole story the other night and we both agreed that the Flea was a nice combination of her style and mine. Which brought about an interesting idea. We are often asked by customers, "Is your house just filled with all this same stuff?" The answer to that questions is no. Some of it for sure, but usually it all sells out before we get it! We each have our own individual style that creates a great look for the Flea, and hopefully inspires you to make your home tell its' own story. I can describe my home as a mix of eclectic, modern country. Valerie I would describe as a bit more formal french country (just drool over her exterior and you know there is some french inspiration!), but she also has a flair for finding the most fabulous unique items. My favorite in her house is a metal sign hanging in her kitchen that says ____ number of days without injury from some sort of factory. How cool! Back to my point, we have decided to let you into our homes via a series of blogs. Don't plan on it coming out tomorrow, but soon. We hope you enjoy taking a peek into our little lives at home and what inspires us as we continually "assemble" our homes for our families.

Littlebutter Beans

Coleen Verner has brought into our store a venture we've never tried before, that of "girly" little things. From carefully hand-tied hair bows, to adorable felt pins that look yummy enough to eat, she has a little something for every little girl. Great for stocking stufffers, or just because, there's a wonderful selection for you to choose. We sold several bows to happy Mommies today infact! She also has some fun hand painted items, bowl fillers and package ties to complete your Christmas decorations.
The wall of bows she has is sure to make you smile! Boy, I sure wish Mailey would wear one, just one!
She also invented this handy dandy little gadget to go around doorknobs to protect those dainty little fingers we love to kiss!

Jennifer Rollins Trunk Show

Jennifer came into our store several months ago with one of her lovely creations on her shoulder. Needless to say Valerie and I jumped at the opportunity to tell her about our trunk show series and hoped that she could make a batch of her homeade goodness for the store! She's worked herself crazy and has provided us with the most amazing selection of purses! The details are amazing...vintage buttons...Amy Butler fabric...oooo....which one do I select for my winter wardobe? She also makes the most amazing aprons for Mommy and Me and is trying out kids clothes. We hope to have her featured more often after Christmas with all her lines. Come see what we have now, because it will only be in the trunk until Saturday.

Lyamarie Trunk Show

This week's feature is full of beautiful jewelry by local artistsan Lyamarie. If you frequent the Market Day on the Newnan Square then you just might remember her. She always sets up on the corner across from the Bank of Coweta. She has a wonderful selection of bracelets, neclaces and earrings for your fall and winter wardobe, even a lava rock neclace! Talk about hot... So come on down and support this week's trunk show artist!

Trunk Show- Georgia Jewels

Dawn Sullivan with Georgia Jewels is our first featured trunk show artist. Already today we sold several pieces of her jewelry! It's no wonder either, with her prices you are sure to find a gift for a teacher, friend, co-worker or yourself! She also has an adorable line of children's jewelry. So please come by and check it out! She'll be featured only through this Saturday, November 10th.

Flea Christmas Part 3

This blue piece was a Valerie find...isn't it fabulous! It really shows off our white glitter houses, bottles with vintage ornaments and capiz shell plates well.
We have a nice collection of mercury glass candlesticks and decorative mercury balls this year. We also have a fun collection of glitter shell ornaments, sand dollar santas, starfish santas, and shell ball ornaments for those wanting a "coastal tree" this year.
Here's a view of our vintage inspired glass ornaments in a wonderful color palette of cool blue, pink, turquoise and silver!
A vintage Christmas would not be complete without a bowl full of vintage glass ornaments. Come sort through our selection for those special additions to your holiday decor.

Flea Christmas Part 2

Here are those beautifully crafted Belsnickle Santas. We have ornaments in these too! These cuties are bendable santas. They are hanging out in the mail bins that are full of letters to Santa that Olivia and Brice made. They'd be great hanging out in your tree, wreath, cabinets, around a doorknob, on a bookshelf....you might actually need more than one!
Here is a sampling of this year's Cody Foster "Backyard Friends" collectable snowmen. They are nestled in with our variety of bottlebrush trees. We've got green with colored balls, white on white, and really pretty green with frost. Priced at $12 and under, you can have a nice assortment to add to your mantel.

Welcome to The Flea Christmas Part 1

Here are those cookie ornaments that look straight from Martha Stewart's kitchen...yummy!
This is our new "kid's" christmas section. Complete with adorable felt animal ornaments and huge glitter dot and striped ball ornaments-best part, they are made of plastic not glass! We also have a line of kids clothing, aprons for Mommy and Me and some super cool jewelry and belt buckles in this section.
Here's a view of the primitive Christmas section. We have plenty of belsnickle Santas, flicker candles and vintage inspired clip ornaments back here.
Here is a mommy apron...don't all husbands wish we'd cook in this fabulous tule dress, strapless no less, and apron. "Honey, the roast duck is ready...."

Getting Ready for the Holidays

The ghosts hadn't even walked the streets when we at the Flea starting making the seasonal changes. With Art Walk early this year, we decided to take advantage of the captive audience and reveal our winter wonderland prior to Main Street's Open House (which is Sunday, November 11th from 12-5PM). Making changes for us is way more than unpacking, pricing and placing. There are vinettes to design and cozy little nooks to create. We want to inspire you throughout our entire store, which we really feel we captured this year! From vintage inspired ornaments, to the cookie ornaments that look fresh from Martha Stewart's kitchen we have a little something for everyone. So come on by soon, because this year our rule was to order a wide range of Christmas merchandise, but only order the minimums. So all we have is on the floor!

These pictures are of the unpacking and pricing process, which by the way took close to 5 full days, all employees working extra hours, and Valerie and I ......well more hours than we want to admit...dreams don't come without a price, but it is so very worth it now as we step into the vision come to life!