Last Chance To Enter

The countdown has begun...

Today is the last day to enter the Farmhouse Livin' Giveaway.

Drawing will be held and announced tomorrow, September 1st.

(September 1st? Where did August go?)

Click here for details.

Good luck to all!

Until tomorrow...

Have a pickin' good day,

Cindy

Were You Raised In A Barn!?!

Did you ever hear that when you were growing up?  

You always knew your response should be a gentle "No".

Source: houzz.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Now ask me. Go ahead and ask me if I was raised in a barn. I'd answer, "No, but I think it would be have been a good idea". You see, I have a love for barns. They are a symbol of the life I try to embrace...down home simplicity. These days, I wouldn't mind living in a barn. Renovated barns can be quite the lookers.

Look at this red beauty with its grand entrance welcoming guests to come on in and sit a spell.

Source: houzz.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Here's an evening view. Can you imagine all the natural light that pours in during the daylight hours!

Source: houzz.com via Cindy on Pinterest

And you can't beat that solid stone foundation underneath it all.

Source: houzz.com via Cindy on Pinterest

And look at this barn. Who doesn't like the weathered and worn look of barn wood?

Source: houzz.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Let's throw in a silo with this one for some extra fun.

Source: houzz.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Here's a new home. This look was achieved by using salvaged timber from a barn.

Source: busyboo.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Can't live in a barn? Throw a party in one!

Source: partyperfectblog.blogspot.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Or use a barn as a backdrop for a gathering of friends and family.

Source: weddingwhims.tumblr.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Ahhh...for the love of barns! Do you want one now? I do!

My pickin' best,
Cindy


Don't forget to enter my giveaway!
CLICK HERE

Am I Versatile?

Am I...versatile? I must be versatile cause Kara over at Hobbies of a Homemaker says so. And if Kara says so, then it must be.So thank you kindly, Kara, for passing The Versatile Blogger Award my way. Now go on over and say 'hey' to Kara! Tell her that Cindy, the Old Time Picker, was quite insistent and said you had to go make new friends. Here at Old Time Pickers, one can never have too many friends, good ones anyway!

So after accepting The Versatile Blogger Award, the blogger must...

1. Thank the person who gave the award and link back to them in your post.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

3. Pass this award along to 10 recently discovered blogs.

                                              

Seven things about me...
1.  I had another blog before this one. It was Country Blessings at Lakewood. Some bloggers who knew me from Country Blessings don't realize that I am now here at Old Time Pickers. I started this blog after opening my shop.
2. My hobby is gardening. I'm no pro at it, but I so enjoy being able to grow flowers and vegetables. Love the outdoors and my back yard. It helps to have a small lake out back. Can't beat that view!
3.  I now sell online, but I have had brick and mortar shops in the past. Years ago, I had a country shop called  Peddler's Point, which had vintage items and antiques along with new country treasures. My next experience with a brick and mortar was my gift shop.
4.  Fall is my favorite season and I'm so excited that it is just around the corner. I love the crisp air, the vibrant    
colors, and the sound of the leaves under my feet.
5.  I was a kindergarten teacher for awhile and then became a director of a college. I should have stayed as a kindergarten teacher. Definitely more my style.
6.  Except for pickin', I'm a homebody. Usually don't want or need to go out and about. I do a lot of socializing and meeting new people while out pickin'. It's a fun outlet for me.
7.  I have a thing for barns. Love them. Can't explain it. It is what it is.

Now moving onto the ten blogs that I have recently discovered...
1.  Our Country Home
2.  Salls Country Life
3.  Wild Rose Vintage
4.  Homespun Simplicity
5.  A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen
6.  Rindy Mae
7.  Excuse Me While I Buy This Junk

Whoops...that is only seven! I can count, truly I can. The other three blogs that I intended to mention don't accept awards so if you are a follower and would like the award, I'll be happy to pass it along.
(I have some wonderful followers who have no blog link in their profile so I am unable to follow them back if they do have a blog.)

Until next time...

Have a pickin' cool Monday,
Cindy

Weekend Finds

These are the finds that we were able to gather up this weekend to add to the shop. 

-Plenty of wooden boxes/crates...Anglo, Regent, 2 Chokola, Grolier Encyclopedia, 

and Dictionary of American Biography

-Rustic rake and pitchfork

-Stove top food warmer painted a soft green

-A primitive box with a mirror attached to lid

-A wire milk crate and a cute stool

-And for me...a white teapot for a photo prop and 2 graniteware pans 

to add some farmhouse flair above my kitchen cupboards

Don't forget to enter my giveaway. Click on the giveaway photo above for all the details.

That's it...for now!

Best Pickins'

Cindy

Not On the Waiting List Anymore

I went and signed up yesterday morning. They put me on a waiting list. 

Really? I'm on a waiting list? Hey, I don't do well with waiting. 

Apparently, I need a personal invitation to be included.

It was Pinterest, the newest internet craze, who put me on a waiting list. On their website, it states...

 'Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.'

What good is that? For me, it's all about organizing. I see crafts I'd like to try. I find decorating ideas I'd like to attempt. I discover recipes that look absolutely yummy. What do I do? I bookmark them all. And then what happens? Nothing. I'm a visual person. I need the photos to inspire me in order to proceed. I have hope that Pinterest will solve that problem. 

So I went from being on the waiting list to now having an account as a generous blogger sent me a personal invite. Kathy, over at A Delightsome Life, was so sweet to take the time to send me an invitation. Please go on over and pay Kathy a visit. You will be happy that you did. The name of her blog says it all. 

I want to thank you, Kathy, for helping this disorganized internet gal try to get some order into her online existence. So for now...

Have a pickin' cool online day,

Cindy

Top Ten Reasons I'm a Picker

Why, oh why, am I a picker?
Being a picker is something that has naturally evolved over time and has become a perfect fit for me. 

After some reflection, here are the 'Top Ten Reasons I'm a Picker'.

1. The Thrill of the Hunt - There is a new exciting adventure around every corner

2. A Connection to the Past - Every piece has a story, some are untold

3. The People - From the average Joe to the over-the-top characters (include me in over-the-top)
  

4. Giving a Found Piece a New Chance - Landfills are full enough, been green for years

5. Honoring my Heritage and Kinfolk - Come by this naturally from those before me

6. Each and Every Day is Definitely Different - Barns, flea markets, yards, fields, and who knows what else

7. The Simple Life - No complicated corporate life for me

8. Adds to My Personal Style - Don't have to sell everything, can keep some of those pickin' cool finds

9. Educational - Don't have to say 'what the heck is this' as much while learning the ways of our ancestors

10. Involves Blood, Sweat, and Tears - Yes, believe me, all three (though the tears usually involve uncontrollable laughter)

There's my top ten reasons I'm a picker!
And why do you pick?

Cindy 

A Farmhouse Livin' Giveaway

Hmmm...what to giveaway? I want it to be a farmhouse livin' look.

Should it be rustic? Should it be pretty? 

I've poked around all my pickins' until I found the perfect solution. 

And here it is...a rustic and pretty giveaway!!!

How about a little rustic berry basket? 

And how about a pretty McCoy pitcher with four matching mugs?

You can leave the basket as is or jazz it to reflect your personality.

Use the basket on the kitchen table, in the craft room, or as decor in the garden.

Or here is an idea. Use the berry basket as a berry basket...LOL!

The pitcher and mugs with their pink and blue band design shout farmhouse fresh! 

So the giveaway includes what you see here...one berry basket, one McCoy pitcher, and four McCoy mugs.

The McCoy is vintage and has charming imperfections. One mug has a tiny nick on its bottom.

So what do you need to do to win? Easy peasy!

1. Leave a comment on this post. You must be a follower to win so let me know in your comment if you are already a follower or if you are a new follower. Please make sure I have a way to contact you if you win.

2. Second chance to win is if you post about the giveaway (your blog, facebook, twitter, etc.). If you do so, please leave a second comment on this post.

Contest is open until the end of August. Winner will be announced on September 1, 2011.

Contest is only open to those within the U.S.

Good luck everyone!

Cindy

Sneak Peek & Giveaway

A pickin' we did go this weekend. So here is a sneak peek. Not bad. Not bad at all!
You can't see it all in this picture as it is packed solid. I have stuffin' skills!

There are some pretties all wrapped up and tucked away inside barrels, crates, and boxes. But looky there at the coffee pots at the front of the pile. I am keeping the little cutie on the right and will sell the beauty on the left even though I want it, too. I have to keep telling myself 'Old Time Pickers is in business to sell the treasures they find'. I pacify myself by keeping an item or two from a pick and selling everything else. 

Now I want to talk about the Giveaway. I need to determine what great piece would be perfect for you gals to win. I will have to ponder this just a bit. Should it be a kitchen item? How about something involving storage? Or would one be happy with a barn find? Oh, the possibilities!

Give me till tomorrow. I'll have a decision by then. I promise.

I'll announce all the pickin' cool details!

Until tomorrow...

Have a pickin' cool Monday,

Cindy

Big Pickins' This Weekend

Planning on doing some major pickin' this weekend. At least that is in the plans.

I'll be on the lookout for anything associated with farmhouse livin' that has a pinch of rustic charm, a tad of country cute, and a bit of vintage industrial from down on the farm.

I'm a thinking that if it does turn out to be a big pickin' weekend, I'll just have to do a giveaway. Why not? It's the perfect time with summer soon coming to a close. And fall is anxiously awaiting a grand entrance.

So...the plan is...I'll go pickin'...and if it is successful...I will do a giveaway!

Everyone, please, cross your fingers for a big pickin' weekend!

☺

Best pickins' to all this weekend,

Cindy

She's A Beauty

Here she is. Isn't she a beauty?

Barn wood. Made into a tote.

Simplistic. Yet, so magnificent.

This is a favorite piece of mine.

And ya know what? I just sold her.

I had to box her up and ship her out.

I know the new owner will cherish her.

What is not to cherish?

The thing is...I can't stop thinking about this barn wood beauty.

So now the wheels are a turning and a churning.

I've got some of this.

And I think I can get some more.

Hmmm...can I make one just for me?

And then make some more for others to purchase?

After all, this would be a labor of love.

Making barn wood beauties.

Best Pickins'

Cindy

Cratin' Some More Love!

Pickin' over the weekend uncovered some crates, crates, and more crates. Love 'em!!!

And look at this one...

It has the word 'French' on it. Ooh La La!

A gal just can't have too many crates! So perfect for Farmhouse Livin'!
Will be adding some to the shop soon!

Have a pickin' cool Monday,

Cindy


Barn Finds for Sale here!

It Was A Little Lame...

A little L.A. lame

Over the Top and 'Really?' lame.

I caught a peak at the new show 'Picker Sisters'. Not so much a show on true picking. More of a show on two L.A. interior designers stepping outside of their element to buy something...anything...and then handing it over to someone else (Alan, in this case) to do the really hard and creative work of upcycling it all.

Alan is the genius of the show. Please just give me Alan, thank you. 

Bottom line...this show was more about two L.A. designers on the loose.

 And sorry, but this picker was a tad bored with it all. LOL!

Have a pickin' cool day,

Cindy

Crate Love!

I LOVE CRATES!

Organizer, Storage Solution, Display Piece…So Country Crate Great!

Need to display your pickin' cool collection of bottles?

Store and stack those books!

Get attached to the unknown story...just imagine...Mrs. Louise P Camp?

Throw in this n' that and then throw in some more!

Crafters' solution to some organization...no more 'Now where did I put that?'.

Ahhh... a wine rack with some style.

And how about a shelf...all primitive and rustic.

Now what is not to love about a crate? Show 'em some love!

Best Pickins'

Cindy

Some Crates Still Available in our Shop!

Slim Pickins!?!

This is what we were able to bring home from the flea market this weekend. 

Would ya consider this as slim pickins? 

Plate Rack

General Store Paper Roll Dispenser

Hay Hook

Wagner Crate

GE Heater

I was thrilled with our finds. It's not always about quantity. I'll take quality any day.

Now to decided what to keep and what to put in the shop.

☺

Have a pickin' cool Monday, 

Cindy

Out Back Snapshots

Butterfly enjoying my garden.

Unfortunately, there are very few butterflies this season.

View of the lake from the damn.

Our house is out of view on the right.

Rustic oil can by the salad bed.

Like a little vintage whimsy in the garden.

A moth questioning my picture taking.

If you're in my yard, be prepared to be shot with a camera.

Kit Kat visiting with a turtle that is passing by.

Friendly encounter by both.

A busy bee. Always busy. 

Wish I could accomplish as much.

And here is Gertrude. Don't know if Gertrude is a boy or a girl.

Just looks like a Gertrude to me!

It's a lovely life out back!

Have a pickin' cool weekend,

Cindy

Not Again!!!

Yes, it did happen again.

One of my favorite things to do is go pickin'...for vintage, primitive, shabby, and farmhouse chic. The other thing I love to do is gardening...tending to vegetables, herbs, flowers, and shrubs. Pickin' satisfies my need to have a fun business and to follow in the footsteps of my kinfolk. Gardening fulfills my desire to connect with nature and to return back to the basics.   

So what is the problem? Well, one of my loves is becoming hazardous to my health...LOL! I'm allergic to a lot of plants and many other things in the great outdoors. This year is especially bad for me. Once again, I made a trip to the doctors to receive my standard steroid shot and pills. I'm writing this with vision in my right eye only. My left eye is totally swollen shut.

Hubby says gardening is not good for me. For me physically, he may be right. But I garden for my emotional well being so I will continue and try to be careful even though that is difficult. We live in the country and can't completely control the wild and unruly.

I'm just thankful that my pickin' pursuits have not caused me any problems...yet.

Have a pickin' cool day,
Cindy