Caroline Ceramics

Several years ago we met a girl named Caroline!

In fact, we were the first to carry her work in Birmingham and we were thrilled! While she was showing in my shop she recounted a story of a boy she had met while at the beach! 

Little did we know at the time that they would literally become the perfect pair! 

Caroline grew up in Fairhope, Alabama and graduated from Ole Miss where she quickly launched her Caroline Ceramics line and the rest my friends is history as they say!

Flower Magazine did a story on her a while back as well as other publications that borrowed our pieces that we had in stock for their photo shoots. 

We were thrilled for Caroline to get the recognition that she deserved. 

Her work is intricate, delicate, time consuming and most importantly a true gift that was given to her by her Creator. She creates beauty and shares that with others in the form of her gorgeous ceramics and now her paintings that incorporate her ceramics as well.

Of course, once she and William started dating seriously we knew she would be leaving Birmingham and moving on to Raleigh, N.C. where she now resides with her sweet husband and most recently her precious daughter , Leavie. What a sweet, sweet family!

Luckily, Flower Magazine captured this ideal wedding in the perfect setting…nothing is better than a wedding in Highlands, N.C. I might be a little biased as my parents have a house there and we see many a wedding party walking down Main Street or going in to the receptions at The Old Edwards Inn.

Not a detail was missed. Do you see the handmade cross woven into her bridal bouquet? She lovingly gave one of these crosses to me and my sweet friend Pattie that works at my shop. We have treasured them!

I love how Flower Magazine and Bryan Johnson captured all of the details that made up this fairy tale wedding! If you haven't seen the article yet you really need to get the latest issue and truly study it!

Every guest was sent home with one of her gorgeous handmade pears…all 207 of them! 

This garland takes my breath away!

This cake is truly phenomenal! What a gorgeous replica of Caroline's handmade roses cascading down this yummy Salted Caramel Cake by Lush Cakery in Atlanta.

Can you even stand the beauty in this tall vase? Can you even imagine the talent behind it or the joy the recipient had when receiving this as a gift after the wedding! How fun!

And then they left….and they left in style! I would not expect anything less from them! 
I'm so happy that Caroline's dreams have and are coming true! 
She is truly a special girl and I'm forever grateful that I got to know her early on in her career! 
Thanks to my daughter! 

You can see it in an original blog post that I did years ago.

It's not often that I can say we truly had this first! But we did!

Here it is in my original blog post about Caroline's pottery when it first came to Mulberry Heights Antiques! You can see it HERE!

These are samplings of pieces we've had or are currently carrying. If you see anything that catches your eye we ship things weekly and are happy to do so!

Each piece is truly stunning!

I would be lying if I told you that I haven't kept any of these for myself! I thought about showing you pictures of the pieces in my house but may save that for another day! 

I have also had the pleasure of giving some of her work as gifts to special friends and dear family members. 

They are always treasured!

These tabletop crosses are stunning! 

I have them displayed on books, etc. in the shop.

The ring dishes and bud vases are the most wonderful gifts to give! 

And of course, her special vases are remarkable and come in many difference sizes and shapes!

But the truly remarkable one is Caroline herself! This girl makes me smile whenever I think about her! In fact, I truly miss her! Maybe she would come back to Birmingham for a show one day? I guess it never hurts to ask! Congratulations, Caroline! On your special wedding and now for your precious, beautiful baby girl, Leavie! Did you know Caroline also has a blog called Leavie Rose?

You can read all about her and then some on her personal website that you can see HERE!

Hope to hear from you soon! 

I've been gone way too long and I miss you all!

"Reehly, Caroline? Your'e Really Back! Welcome Home!"

If you know me well at all then you would most certainly know that my favorite saying is "Really, Kevin?" 

I often ask my husband why I started loving this saying and he quickly reminds me that it is a Chick Fil A commercial! 

I quickly acknowledge with a shake of my head and my mouth making the O shape….and mutter, "ohhhh."

So, when Caroline and I discussed her coming back to Mulberry Heights Antiques I couldn't resist the urge to say, "Really, Caroline?" Ok…her last name is Reehl so that makes it a bit more fun and funny to me! 

I am assuming everyone else thinks it is as clever as I do.

 ( you know what happens when we assume, though, right?) Ok…I'm digressing….

It was a "no brainer" decision for me when Caroline contacted us. You see, we used to carry her beautiful pottery and then she met this wonderful, handsome boy and moved away to be near to him…can you blame her? 

Now, they've recently married and if you get a chance you should check out her blog to see the most incredible pictures of wedding parties and the wedding itself! 

It was actually held in Highlands, N.C, which is where we just came home from. 

Not a prettier place for a wedding in all of the world in my opinion!

After hearing from Caroline we quickly jumped on the idea and with much gratitude we began to carry her incredible pieces of art again! They are spectacular! I do not feel like my pictures have done them justice but I can promise you that you will not see anything that compares to Caroline's work!

Her fabulous table top crosses, bud vases, and ring dishes are all very good sellers! 

They are wonderful gifts as well as highly collectible items!

One of her latest items is the "Liza Jane" vase with the fabulous gold flowers! 

Isn't it just spectacular? 

Especially right here at the holiday season! What a wonderful gift it would make! 

We love how it stands out on it's own!

Just as the tabletop cross stands out…

Either alone on a stack of antique books

or resting on it's own on a glass top table! 

It is stunning every which way!

Pattie and I were so pleased with the way all of her pottery blended so well with our antique mirrors and candlesticks…and also with Melissa Payne Baker's paintings…mixing all aspects of art is a great way to showcase them in your own home. 
You can see Melissa's website HERE!

I personally would take any and all of these pieces into my own home! I have several of Caroline's pieces that I've either collected or been given over the years…I treasure them!

If you are having trouble with that person in your life that has everything this Christmas…trust me on this one, you cannot go wrong with a fabulous piece of Caroline Reehl Ceramics! You can see her website HERE!

I loved how this picture of the Straight Up Gorgeous Vase and The Lady Vase turned out mixed in with our boxwood balls and marble river balls all in a dough bowl! Leave it to Pattie's great imagination to try this out! It makes Caroline's pieces pop for sure!

the Lady Vase….

the Straight Up Gorgeous Vase!

So, I hope you've enjoyed seeing just a glimpse of Caroline's incredible work of art with ceramics! Let us know if we can help you with any gift ideas or just starting a collection for yourself!

Have a wonderful weekend as we "Fall Back" yet once again!

I personally cannot wait for that extra hour of sleep!

Take Care!

Just What The Doctor Ordered! Highlands In The Fall!

Have you ever been to Highlands, North Carolina?

Have you ever seen reflections like this? 

This was so breathtaking in person! 

I hope I've conveyed it with this amateur picture to show it's true beauty! 

We went twice that day, it was THAT beautiful!

( oh, and I forgot to tell you…we forgot the camera the first time!)

I feel like I should say in my best Southern drawl…"bless your hearts for even reading this!"

Let me just say that this post starts with a HUGE disclaimer! I love Highlands…I love the scenery pics we took…I love the food pics we took but I spared you from those! However, to get the full affect from being in a place like Highlands…the pictures I chose truly do represent why my parents, their friends and our family fell in love with it in the first place! This post is a bit self indulgent…but then again, what post isn't if it is truly to make you fall in love with what I fell in love with in the first place?

Sit back and enjoy if you can!

My parents and their friends bought their home on Apple Mountain several years ago…time is flying by so quickly I truly don't remember the year but I remember that I was there to help…we looked at a lot of homes and once they had chosen one the fun began! Decorating a home in the mountains is amazing! You get to pick out things that you TRULY love and wouldn't normally have in your everyday house. 

It's Mountain Style! 

The pictures I have taken on this trip of the inside of their house are all from sitting in this oh, so, comfortable chair to the left of the fireplace. With my camera phone….I wish I had gotten up to get my "good" camera but I was way too comfortable!

So, use your imagination and picture really good lighting! Because the view outside of their back deck is amazing! But it just doesn't accomplish that in these pics!

My favorite place to sit in the whole world…besides my front porch of our beach house is right here! 

Funny thing…we have had to sell our beach home and put it on the rental program…so, getting to enjoy this quiet retreat meant even more than I had thought it would!

Yes, there sits my best friend! ( not really! ) my laptop…it is the perfect place to sit and catch up on what each and every one of you are up to! 

And here…we start the real adventure! 

We used to drive up this mountain all of the time! It's been years! But look at how truly gorgeous it is! The view from the top was amazing…looking at this lake below! 

I don't even know what lake it is!

This property on Satulah Mountain in Highlands is simply breathtakingly beautiful! We used to brave everything to drive up and snap pictures. 

This time…I felt old and not as brave and very protective of their privacy. 

Then, I also realized that the beautiful home has been torn down. Why?  I would love to know! The property is stunning…the stone walls are exquisite and the barn is just divine! 

If only you could've seen the home!

Then, on Saturday we set out for the Blue Ridge Parkway! Oh, what an adventure I thought it would be! And it was! Especially the getting lost part! But we won't go there! Just enjoy the pictures of the leaves and hurry through it! I know it's too much scenery! 

I did love the sun rays shining through on these pics!

And I really loved seeing this American flag flying proudly at the very top of the Blue Ridge Parkway!

Believe it or not…after the Blue Ridge…we ate a huge lunch at about 2:30 so we felt like we needed to hike! And hike we did! We hiked Whiteside Mountain until I couldn't hike anymore….then, we cooked  out the best steaks you've EVER had in your life from Dusty's in Highlands…there is nothing like Dusty's meat…and he has so much more! He told us today as we stopped on our way out that he has been there for 63 years! That tells you ALOT right there!

Whiteside Mountain was beautiful!

I couldn't believe there were icesicles there!

 But there definitely were and I wanted you to see them!

On Sunday I knew exactly where we were going after a day spent in the car on Saturday! Not that I didn't enjoy it! I did!

But…I knew I wanted to go to Summer House! My favorite shop of all time! Highlands or not! They always do a fabulous room in the Cashiers Mountain Showhouse and now they have a permanent show house of sorts set up!

I took a few pics for you to see…it's not that it's the best thing in the whole world…it's that it is the most beautiful and practical thing…especially for a Mountain Home! I loved this curtain fabric and really want to use it in our upstairs!

The kitchen was wonderful!

 Especially the hidden microwave cabinet! 

( like I've said before, it's the little things that make me happiest! )

I fell in love with the artist they carry! 

Her barns and canoes are fabulous! So are her florals!

How great is this porch!?! We loved it! 

We actually loved the size of the house and everything about it!

And this fun bench! Only in the Mountains!

Of course, we had eaten yet ANOTHER huge lunch before going to the Summer House which meant ANOTHER hike! This time…it was Glen Falls! So fun and so pretty! 

But be prepared! You can't go in "cute" clothes! 

Thankfully, we were in Highlands at the peak leaf season in my opinion! 

Oh…and peak waterfall season as well!

For our last night there we decided to check out a few of the spots we've been wanting to see…and some my mom recommended!

The first one being the cemetery….yes, you heard me. I LOVE going to old cemetarys and my mom knows how much I love them and how much I love photographing each moment…I can't believe we hadn't already been here! 

LOVED the beautiful flag flying high in this monument/cemetary!

Our search was for "Dead Eye" Potts! A lot of things in Highlands are named for him..so the search began!

Isn't this place incredible?

"God is definitely in this place!"

There is not much out there that is prettier to me than an old tombstone…one that tells the story…there are a lot of stories in this cemetery. One day, I am going to just sit there and study them. Now THAT would be a wonderful day for me!

And finally, we found old "Dead Eye" himself!

Next, we set out to find the fabulous Inn At Half Mile Farm that Jim's parents always stay in! I can't believe we'd never seen it before! It was ALL that and THEN SOME! Just take a peek!

It was a dream setting!

The grounds are phenomenal!

I'm thinking….if we are having to sell our beach house..and if my parent's mountain house isn't available…this is the perfect get away!

The Inn At Half Mile Farm!

And I know for certain that one of the most perfect dinners anyone can experience in Highlands is at On The Verandah! Simply divine…and loved the romantic setting!

There are a lot of fabulous restaurants in Highlands and On The Verandah has definitely stood the test of time! My pumpkin ravioli last night might just me my new "Turkish Delight!"

If you ever get the chance to go to Highlands or Cashiers, North Carolina…run screaming and do it! They are both fabulous places and there is so much to do, see and eat! You will love it! I haven't even gotten to mention the fabulous Old Edwards Inn! It's one of our MOST favorite places! Just go! Just go experience something new! And enjoy this fall…it's going by way too quickly already!

Thank you to anyone who reads this! I have been way too busy…I should definitely stop and smell the roses and read each and every one of your fabulous blogs! I certainly do appreciate your friendship over the years and the time that it takes to peruse a silly girls musings in a blog like this!

Happy Tuesday!