Annual Fall Drive

Each year, around the first day of Autumn, my cousin and I take our annual Fall Drive. We've been doing it for years - ever since I got my first car. The first stop is always to pick up a Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks, and usually includes local craft shows, a few farm stands to pick up gourds and pumpkins and a tour through the beautiful countryside to enjoy the changing leaves.

This year we had a few specific places we wanted to stop.

Garrison Village in Niagara on the Lake was our first destination. Their weekly farmer's market included a small antique sale and I knew I'd find a few good treasures. While there, we came upon a shop called Refuge. I had never shopped it before and I was so excited to find it! It's a beautiful collection of vintage finds, and really is a shop where you could find just about anything for just about anyone. 

After that, we made our way to 13th Street Winery where they were hosting a Handmade Market. 

It was a lovely day.

Really, it's Fall in a cup.

As you can see, there were so many great finds!

These donuts were from Willow Cakes and Pastry in Niagara on the Lake. I picked the second from the right, on the top. Are you ready for what it was?

It was covered in caramel with Toblerone bar on top, and filled with caramel cream cheese filling.

It was to die for.

Here's a little peak into Refuge. Be sure to stop by when you are in the area and browse her wonderful collection.

And finally 13th Street Winery. It's so clean and simple and it reminds me of a perfect modern farmhouse. It was a great location for this Fall's Handmade Market.

And there was wine... And butter tarts in their bakery.

And food trucks!

Vintage Tag Sale Gift Certificate Contest

With only two weeks left until The Grower's Daughter Vintage Tag Sale, my list of things to do is thankfully getting smaller.

For the next two weeks, I'll be hosting a contest for a $25.00 gift certificate that one lucky winner can use at the sale!

Here's how to enter:

1. Share the following link on your blog or Facebook page.

The Grower's Daughter Vintage Tag Sale

2. Come back to this post, or the Facebook page which can be found here (Facebook Event), and leave a comment letting me know where you've shared the link. Be sure to include your name.

On Friday, October 11th, I will draw one person from all of the comments left on here and on the Facebook page and the winner will receive a $25.00 gift certificate.

The gift certificate can only be used at the sale, in the full amount.

Only one entry on the blog, and one entry on the Facebook page per person please.

Good luck!

- Maria

A Sunny Weekend

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

It's been a beautiful, sunny weekend. Yesterday I spent the morning walking around Balls Falls, getting some photos of the boys and my cousin's family. Then I stopped by The Market Stand and picked up some gourds on the way home.

The rest of the day was spent trying to get some things accomplished around the house. Trying. I really just felt like curling up on the couch with a book in the warm sun.

My mom popped in and brought with her a pail of these gorgeous Hydrangeas. They're just beautiful.

Our living room couch sits perfectly in the afternoon sun. The whole room is bright and warm.

I love all of the interesting and quirky varieties of gourds. Each one is different. A simple basket with a few kinds is an easy way of adding a touch of Fall.

I even pulled out my knitted throw and washed it. It's always nice having a few blankets handy for curling up with now that the weather is cooler.

Oliver clearly had the right idea...

I added a few cuttings to our night table. I also picked up a new lamp on Friday. It's smaller than my other alabaster lamp and quite a bit more yellowed. I thought it looked nice with a linen shade. I happened to have that shade on hand, but I've got my eye out for one that's a bit bigger.

Here's one of my favourites from yesterday.

Vintage Tag Sale

It's that time of year again!

On the 12th of October I will be hosting my annual Vintage Tag Sale.

Come shop the shed for amazing antique and vintage finds, unique gifts, home decor and other curiosities.

Produce and seasonal decor will be available at The Market Stand, and Bremfield's will be serving hot coffee, apple cider and fresh baked goods! 

Fall hand-tied bouquets will be available for your thanksgiving table and you can place your order now for your fresh baked pies and pick them up the morning of the sale!

Also, just a few minutes away is the Two Brothers and A Barn Sale. It's literally down the road. Make it a day trip and shop the Vineland and Balls Falls Craft Shows, both with in 10 minutes from the sale.

Here are some photos from our last sale.
The Grower's Daughter - Vintage Tag Sale

Join the event on Facebook here.

This year, due to the need for more space, we've found a new venue:
The Corner of Regional Road 20 and Victoria Ave
West Lincoln, Ontario
L0S 1C0

See you there!

- Maria

Autumn Shelves

Autumn... It's finally here!

Oh, how I have been waiting for this wonderful season to arrive.

In celebration, I added a few pieces of brown transferware to my kitchen shelves, as well as our first pumpkin and some quince.

What are some things you look forward to in the Fall?

The Market Stand

Fall has arrived at The Market Stand!

This is my sister Becki, her husband Nate, and their handsome son Levi. 

This past summer they started The Market Stand on their property in Fenwick. You can find everything from seasonal local produce, baked goods, flowers and farm fresh eggs.

Becki sources local fruits and vegetables that are in season from local farmers each day. The Niagara Region boasts an abundance of produce throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall months, so the stand is always changing.

The Market Stand is stocked with everything you need to welcome Autumn! An assortment of garden mums, pumpkins and gourds are ready to transform your porch for Fall. Apples, pears and squash are are perfect for those crumbles, pies and soups that this season calls for. Pick up a package of homemade ginger molasses cookies, or a sweet, gooey butter tart made with real maple syrup for later with coffee. Place your order now for fresh baked pies for Thanksgiving!

They're located on the corner of Highway 20 and Victoria Ave in Fenwick and are open Monday to Saturday from 8 to 6.

Stop in and bring home some Fall!

   

My mom does all of the canning (using the local produce from the stand) as well as all of the baking. What's available is always changing. There's always an assortment of cookies, and fresh butter tarts though and occasionally you can pick up a warm apple crisp or a pie, but they never last long.

My dad keeps the stand colorful with an assortment of mums and cut sunflowers, all of which are tucked among his ever-growing collection of antique implements.

Follow The Market Stand on Facebook for updates on what's in season and available!

A New Bench and Living Room Rug

I woke up one morning about six months ago to a lovely red bench sitting by my front entrance. Ryan had already left for an early meeting and was ecstatic when I called asking how it had appeared. He was on his morning walk when he came across it. Seeing it's potential, he came back home, grabbed the car and drove to pick it up.

It's been sitting in my basement waiting for the perfect fabric.

Today I finally got around to recovering it while Willen was at school. It wasn't hard and I'm very happy with how it turned out.

I found a pretty charcoal toile fabric on clearance at our local fabric store. It was $8 a meter. I purchased some with the intent of making a couple pillows or something simple, but when I got home, I realized it was meant for my bench.

The bench has it's original label and was purchased in New York.

It's a Chippendale style bench that had been covered in this lovely red fabric.

I first removed the seat, and stripped it of it's fabric. I took off two layers, but only stripped down to the last professional recovering.

There will still 3 other fabric layers underneath that. You can see the slightest hint of the original fabric. I liked it the best out of all six.

I've never really done much covering, so I just did a simple fold of the corners and stapled the fabric in place.

This particular toile felt very appropriate with Autumn coming.

It was a very simple update, but it makes a huge difference.

I also found a rug for our living room. We haven't had one for over a year. I had an idea of what I was looking for, and had been looking but hadn't found anything that was a inexpensive enough without being cheap.

I finally found this one on clearance at Home Sense. It's a sisal rug with a fabric trim and it's 6' x 9'. It was on sale for $148. I was beyond excited. It does a good job anchoring the room.

And since I have the bench at the front entrance for now, I moved my parlor table back to it's original spot beside my chair.