Shopping and inspiration: Antiques in Hancock, MD

On the drive back from a weekend in Cleveland, I got the urge to stop along the way and do a little antiquing...and found some great stuff at Hancock Antique Mall in Hancock, MD.

My favorite spot was definitely the Lill booth--the owner had set it up super cute, with all kinds of teapots and china and glass trays and lovely tea things. I also considered getting a shabby chic sort of carved wood frame mirror but it looked like it needed some repair...and there were some pink goblets to match the bird bowl that I wish I had picked up too. Might require a return trip!

 

From top:

Dep pink bowl with birds on side: Lill

Popegosser china dessert plates: Lill

Kentucky Cardinal apples sign: Lois

Nippon handpainted dip plate: Lill

Blue marble trinket box (with cockatiels on it!!!): Lill

Vintage hankies: Lill

Micro floral tapestry vintage pin: Val

Metal coaster set: Lill

Car coasters: Lill

Omg I was SO excited to find the cockatiel box especially. I happened to go back to the Lill booth after my round of the entire antique mall...I was really looking for vintage hankies and teacups so I overlooked it on the shelf somehow the first time! This is definitely my favorite new piece.

In other news, welcome to fall! I was half-surprised to see the leaves on the sidewalk yesterday, even though the weather is getting noticeably cooler.

 

 

Might be time for a road trip to enjoy all the pretty fall leaves :) Or more apple picking!

Tea time (and Happy Benito Juarez Day Observed!)

On Friday, Brie and I both took off work to enjoy an afternoon tea (at Sweet Simplici-Tea in Sykesville) and some shopping. Well, actually we had been meaning to do this since March. There's a story to go with it...

Several years ago (probably 2006?) when Brie and I used to work together, we were supposed to go to one of those multi-day offsite regional work meetings that make you want to stab yourself in the eye. We were seriously dreading it and trying to think of reasons to say we couldn't go, so we looked up the date of the meeting on the calendar with the idea that we'd find some obscure holiday we just HAD to be away to celebrate. The only thing on March 21 was Benito Juarez Day. Neither of us had ever heard of Benito Juarez (turns out he is a former Mexican president) but it sounded good!

We ended up still going to the dang meeting, but every year Brie reminds me when Benito Juarez Day comes around in March...so this year we wanted to actually take the day off and amuse ourselves. And then I was in Europe for most of March so we rescheduled it for May 3. Now I just googled Benito Juarez Day and was stunned to see that someone else must have had the SAME IDEA!

In any case, tea was lovely. The most awkward part this time (usually something really awkward happens) was just me stupidly burning the crap out of my tongue drinking the tea as soon as it was poured.

  

 

The scones and quiche were friggin awesome! After tea, we enjoyed some shopping on Main Street in Sykesville at Alexandra's Attic and A La Mode Boutique...and later we somehow ended up buying shoes at DSW (because you always need more shoes). All in all, a fun day!

 

 

Happy Benito Juarez Day to you too!

Shopping and inspiration: Tea at Strathmore

Just before Christmas, my friend Brie and I went to the Strathmore Mansion in Bethesda for afternoon tea. We've started a tradition of going to a fancy tea once a month. I love seeing how the tables are set up all pretty for tea, and trying interesting (sometimes weird and gross!) tea sandwiches and pastries.

 

This tea had some delicious raisin scones, and tasty little veggie curry half-moons. Most of the other sandwiches were a bit too weird for me, but the tea itself was pretty good. Unfortunately, they don't give you a tea menu to choose from so we only got to try the one kind of tea.

The mansion itself is beautiful and had two great art shows up--Grayscale and the 79th Annual Fine Art in Miniature exhibition. I spent some time checking out the exhibitions, exploring the mansion, and of course, enjoying the wonderful gift shop!

 

 

 

Some fantastic shopping finds from the Strathmore gift shop!
Faux fur scarf: Dana Herbert. Blue-gray "Vienna in Teal" velour scarf: Powder. Book of labels: Galison. "I love not camping" and "Guess where I'm tattooed" emery board sets: Anne Taintor. Bird and flower stud earrings: Far Fetched. Lotus square earrings: Jo La Collage.