Wednesday's What If's…"What If Tomorrow, We Could Become Something Different?"

I don't know why that title struck me as my fingers hit the keys…sometimes, I just go with it! And tonight, was one of those times! I'm pretty tense just watching the elections..and then I remember that my Heavenly Father watches over every single thing that happens in my life!
So when things happen in my life that may seem commonplace or 'everyday' to someone..they are most definitely not commonplace to me! They are significant and they mean the world to me!

Which is why I'm thrilled that Birmingham Home and Garden Magazine is including us in their new issue of "Gallery Hopping! If you had asked me a year ago what I would have wanted for my shop…this would have been my answer! I started dreaming about this and praying about this at least a year ago…and now, here it is…and I am just hoping to live up to these artists standards and help them to make their dreams come true! I have truly wanted this for Mulberry Heights Antiques for such a long time! The results of having such incredible artists in the shop has been overwhelming! 

Thank You, Birmingham Home and Garden Magazine for including us in this issue!!

Love their "Gallery Picks!"

I couldn't have picked them better myself!

And the map…for crying out loud! I've always wanted to be on a "map"! Seriously, our "neck of the woods" has ALOT to offer!

And I truly love the fact that they included Emily's work in this issue…especially the piece in Amy Belden's house! Amy is a jewel! She has been in a lot lately and we've had such a great time discussing art with her!

What a beautiful home she has! 
Such a lively, fun environment! Just like her personality!

The only thing I wish they'd done differently, would have been to let me showcase my own artwork of Emily's in my home! I swear, it could be a gallery in itself! It's a little embarrassing..the amount of her work that I have…but it sure is pretty!
Shall I show you the pics? Hmmmm….maybe one day soon! 
Hope we can all have a fabulous rest of our week! I know I will at least be enjoying some delightful food as I am leaving today for New Orleans with Holly and Brad! I can't believe I haven't even seen their first house since they've been moved in to it! I know we helped them find it..but this is different! Wish me luck as we hang curtains…photograph the"Yellow Kitchen" and attempt to antique shop, clothes shop, jewelry shop and eat ourselves into oblivion tonight at Susan Spicer's restaurant, Mondo!

And that's just the beginning!! 
New Orleans….The Big Easy...
Here we come!!!
 I will keep you posted on the assortment of other divine eateries that are on my bucket list! And as always, the places we find that are irresistible to shop in! That is my goal these next 3 days…to be totally fun and enjoy my middle children! This should be a really fun trip!
(not to make you feel sorry for me…but would love your prayers as I have a really bad ear infection and a staph infection! Oh my!)
I deal with ear stuff all of the time…too in depth to go into…let's just say, I am NEVER without an interpreter in my shop if it can be helped thanks to hearing loss…now it's a whole lot worse! Just ask Pattie and Ellen!
Have a wonderful rest of your week...

XOXO

Are You Known By The Company You Keep?

If I heard my mother tell me once while I was growing up I heard it 1000 times! "You are known by the company you keep, Carolyn!" And you know what? She was always right! 100 percent of the time! 

( that doesn't mean I always made her proud…but hey, that was a long time ago…)

Therefore, I feel pretty good about showing you yet another one of my friend's/customer's homes that is also featured in a popular magazine….this time it is the home of D.A. Tynes…

She is someone I've admired for a long time and someone whose taste I would love to emulate! 

Take a look at her elegant but understated designs when it comes to Christmas decorating!

This is truly spectacular!

From the time you ring D.A.'s doorbell until the you leave her home you are surrounded by gorgeous antiques and a welcoming environment!

The fresh greenery, natural colors and textures all help to make this a dreamy Christmas!

Talk about pure gorgeousness! I mean, really!
I wish I could blink my eyes, twitch my nose, cross my arms, nod my head and make it happen!!

( I guess you have to be my age to get that one, don't you?)

No matter…

Hope you all have a wonderful week! I for one am using this beautiful magazine to help in my Christmas party planning! The Christmas cards are almost finished….the party list is made…even the menu is decided on! Guess there really are perks to being an "Empty Nester!" I get to have time to focus on things like this! Not much time…but some time! That's good enough for me!!
And, just so you know, I keep some pretty good company these days…
I would hate for you to worry about me!
All of that to say, we are in GREAT company this month with Birmingham Home and Garden Magazine!

They are Gallery Hopping! 
Seriously! 
We are considered an art gallery of sorts now and I for one am so excited about it I can hardly stand it! Take a 'look see' on our next post, please!! Thanks so much for your loyal support! I truly appreciate it…
Now more than ever!!
If you get a chance, please check out this issue of Victoria Magazine as well as, Country French! You will not be disappointed! I am forever grateful for your sweet support of Mulberry Heights Antiques as well as Vintage Mulberry…the blog! You cannot imagine how much it means to me!
XOXO!!!

Another New Artist At Mulberry Heights Antiques

Labor Day meant a day off for us at Mulberry Heights Antiques…However, that all changed when I got an email from Lauren Dunn that she was bringing her art to us even though her beach trip was cancelled thanks to Hurricane Isaac, I was thrilled! 
We've been blessed to carry Emily Ozier's art as our featured artist but now we are carrying Lauren's as well and also talking to another lady and I can't wait to finally have several artists in the house! Receiving new art of any kind is always fun and is always a reason to celebrate!

 I felt like I was at an art show when I walked into my shop today!

 It was so much fun to see the new art work and see how well it mixes with Emily's fabulous art! 

 To see Lauren's work and to know how well it only compliment's Emily's art made my heart glad…and that's a very good thing! Besides the fact that both of their artwork makes Mulberry's antique pieces look that much better!

Proverbs 15:13

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

I'm truly hoping that having several artists in our shop will only benefit them all…as well as create a wonderful "following" just as having other antique shops open up on both sides of my own shop have only created better traffic flow for me….my goal is to promote the art I love, enrich the beauty of my shop along with my antiques and by all means make Mountain Brook Village a "destination shopping experience" because of  ALL that we offer! Whether it be with art, gifts or antiques…we want to promote our Village and make shopping with us a truly wonderful experience! All the way around!

I really do hope your weekend was wonderful! Mine was really nice….it was a lot of selfish Alone Time which was fabulous…and you can see that here! But truly, I'm looking really forward to my alone time with Jim at our beach house starting in just a few days….

Oh, Happy Day! New Emyo's Are Here!

They're Here! Emily's paintings are here!

It's as if a much needed breath of fresh air waltzed into Mulberry Heights Antiques today!

When Emily and her husband walked in the door we greeted them like they were long lost relatives! 

We were super excited and these paintings couldn't have come at a better time! It's so hot here in Birmingham that it's as if life has come to a stand still of sorts and no one is venturing out much…however, today seemed to be different and there were lots of customers milling about and enjoying our Sale and then in walks Emily! With her precious, tiny belly only slightly revealing that baby #6 is arriving in October mind you! "How does she have time to paint like this?"

I know some of you are thinking that! Because I often think it myself! No matter! She just does! Take a look at these gorgeous paintings and hopefully they will start your weekend off with a bang!

(Please excuse some of my bad photography in the birdcage series! They are truly phenomenal and some of my most favorites I've ever seen of hers!)

This wonderful birdcage series of paintings are sold separately but I sure do love them all together! They are the result of an inspiration from a Maya Angelou poem "Caged Bird" which you can read below.

These last 3 paintings are the ones she let stay with us along with the new ones! Hope you will take a look and don't let any of these incredible works of art get away if you've had your heart set on purchasing one for yourself!

Caged Bird

BY MAYA ANGELOU

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind   

and floats downstream   

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and   

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams   

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream   

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied   

so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings   

with a fearful trill   

of things unknown   

but longed for still   

and his tune is heard   

on the distant hill   

for the caged bird   

sings of freedom.

 I hope your weekend is wonderful and that you enjoy a great Fourth of July! We will be spending ours with our daughter and her husband in New Orleans! Hope to have a lot to post about after that!

Still Life!

That's what I need right now!

After cleaning out several closets yesterday, moving all of my winter clothes upstairs AND color co-ordinating my own closet…I'm exhausted!( my mother would be so proud!) My youngest child is leaving this fall for college and he decided to clean out his closet as well! Needless to say we will make a trip to our church's Thrift Store first thing this morning!
 So now you will find me staring at wonderful images of still life as they are so calming! Loi, from Tone on Tone referred to still life paintings recently on Teresa's blog from Splendid Sass and I was so glad to find someone that loved them as much as I do!

 I for  one have always found them incredibly beautiful when done correctly!

 I used to feel old before my time because I liked them so much! Silly, I know…but I did! No matter…They have a quality all their own and I guess it just takes the right person ( or persons ) to know what that is!

Just look at these beautiful figs! My love for figs is ridiculous!! I think they are exquisite and I'm anxiously awaiting the day when I can pick mine this season! My trees are practically falling over this summer with figs! Finally! It's only taken about 4 years! Maybe this summer I can make Fig Preserves! I sure hope so!

Also, starting today we are also completely re-doing my shop from top to bottom! I can't wait to see the end results!

So even though life may be topsy-turvy the moment… hopefully I will have a beautifully clean closet and a shop to die for when all is said and done!
And then I can focus….on
 Still Life!

Nothing but calming Still Life!

Even if I sometimes feel like this "wayward" peach!!!

Looking at these beautiful photos of still life will always be something to treasure!

And it sure looks like this picture above is not only a still life of pears…it's a McCarty bowl! My favorite!! My everyday dinner ware! My favorite thing in the world to collect! hmmm…do I feel another post coming on here?…..no, I will just enjoy it's beauty!

Just as these cherries in this beautiful glass dish make me smile…

So do these incredible eggs and this beautiful white flower…

 And you know it goes without saying that this picture of the starfish, shell and sandollar simply make me who I am…they make me happy and they remind me of my family and my life…Maybe I need a still-life painting of this in my house!

Be it fruit, vegetable or flower…or even a sea shell…still-life is definitely for me! And I'm looking very forward to the first moment I truly feel….

STILL….

Did it first start when Emily brought us her Still Life paintings?

No, my love for still life paintings started eon's ago!! But I sure do love Emily's and I can't wait for her arrival!

We've only had 2 still life fruit paintings from Emily…I'm hoping for some more…she arrives in two weeks with more paintings before baby # 6 arrives! Oh my!! Can you imagine! She is truly amazing!

Hopefully we can schedule another fabulous Open House like the one we had last summer for Emily either right before or right after this baby joins their family! Check it out..you just might want to make the trip! It's worth it!

For now….I'm going to enjoy a "Still Life" of my own….with my

 own glass, my own flowers and my own incredible husband…

 at our very favorite restaurant…

It truly doesn't get much better than this!

Bottega!

But before I go…I must show you my own still life picture I took of my tomatoes last summer…I'm definitely proud of it and my new batch of tomatoes looks to be as good if not better this summer!

I hope you have a fabulous weekend…and I hope you get a chance to be STILL for a minute or so! I, for one am longing for it!