Three French Hens: Ahhhh Bella Rustica--what a sale to remember !!

How does one describe
BELLA RUSTICA ???

First I must tell a little story.

A couple of years ago I was sitting at the desk/counter at Three French Hens when through the door from the lobby walks in an attractive lady dawning her beautiful auburn hair and bright smile. WELCOME I announced as I do to everyone that honors us by visiting our shops.

She stands there in a silent look of sort of bewilderment.

I ask "are you out looking for anything in particular"?

She responds with a "I have been looking for this place for a while". Thinking she had been lost I apologized and said I thought we were rather easy to find. NO silly--that is not what she meant at all. Her response--"no no-I have not been lost-I mean I have been looking for a while for a shop that "gets it".

A shop that fulfilled her need for creativity--for repurposing great old vintage items-a shop that loved aged finishes and respected rust- that put as much heart and soul on the display of their treasures as anything else.

The next thing I know I am in a big ole conversation with a kindred spirit. My new friend had recently moved back to Tennessee from Texas. We talk about Round Top--we talk about great barn sales and then my new friend poses the challenge....we need to have a Barn Sale here !! OMG--would that ever be the best?!! I read about these wonderful events on blogs-I drool over the photos-I dream of meeting The Barn House Boys-I fantasize about getting Heather Bullards autograph-etc etc.

Have you guessed yet who my new friend is?????

YEP--that precious smile on the right is my wonderful friend Linda Lindley. That woman that walked through Three French Hens door a couple of years ago that had a vision.

A vision that was INCREDIBLE !

She was such an inspiring leader.

AND....that other beautiful smile on the left belongs to Art Woods.

Art also works for AGAPE and to say he was a huge help is such an understatement.

He worked for EVERYONE ! Willingly-with loving heart-true passion and diligent determination to make this first Barn Sale the best for everyone.

These two faces ARE the reason Bella Rustica was

THE BEST !!

The sign of a successful show is when numerous people ask--

"how many years has the show been going on"?

Amazement filled their faces when we would respond-this is a first !

We certainly hope the first of many more to come.

So now come with me-

let me take you to BELLA RUSTICA

( our fearless leader -Linda Lindley is oh so talented herself. Here is the beautiful re-purposed footboard painted to become our Welcome sign)

Linda borrowed this sweet ole dresser from the yard at The Roost.

What magic she created !

Entering the Big Tent filled with abounding talent...lets go see !

Isn't the "pink" bike to the left awesome..another treasure from the yard at

The Roost.

Bella Vintage Designs

SassyTrash-- a blogger I have admired for some
time. Her merchandise just blows me away.

KariBeth--

a sweet young woman that designs gorgeous jewelry who has had her designs purchased by Anthropology

Jenni Bowlins space was filled with vintage yumminess !

Coffee Bag Coutoure

Kim Hanaeur-designer of fabulous repurposed jewelry

Brenda from Gypsy Moon

Brenda owns a sweet store in Watertown Tennessee and the artist of unique paper mache art pieces such as the AWESOME moon she is holding

Now take a look at our Barn Neighbor to our left

Michelle...aka-Vintage Junky

Buy Vintage-save the World-Michelle's moto...

I could not agree more !

Michelle has a wonderful eye- incredibly talented in her numerous handmade treasures.

Just wonder...how many burlap lampshades did she sell?!?!

And to our right-neighbors from Old Tyme Marketplace

Beth and Wendy are from NC and did I L O V E their space

All the contents-their talent in display

and especially the two of them-precious ladies !

I think a road trip is in our future to NC !!!

Why oh why didn't I buy this tub ?!?!

Sadly our camera's battery died ( thanks to Mary we at least have these pics)before I could get pictures of the other great vendors-will add when I can borrow from others .

Now to what we created !

First meet the "gang"...plus Art !

As mentioned earlier, Art Woods works for AGAPE and was our adopted Rooster :>)

left to right

Blake Harris-- Art Woods-- Debbie Antes--Stacey Harris-Fish -- Mary Runger

First let me take you in to our "Spooky Room"

as we refered to it

Created with her magical maven touch Mary Runger assisted

by one of our wonderful dealers Jodie Hailey

shows how we can take vintage items and evolve them in to a Spooky Loveliness.

After seeing so many chest of drawers and other items on many blogs painted with the Union Jack flag we decided to pay homage to our great country...the USA. Planning the show several months earlier we found it ironic and very appropriate that we have an Americana area one week after the tenth anniversary of our great country being attacked on 911. There is nothing prettier than the red white and blue !

Nothing says America like a car door off of a 65' Mustang ! Art comes in all forms and when Debbie and I spotted this on our great trip to the 600 mile yard sale we both squealed with joy.

We had so much joy explaining to the salesman at the scrap yard that

NO..this wasn't for our husbands

NO...it did not matter that "the windows are in perfect shape"

NO...neither one of us own a 65' Mustang

But YES...it would become wall art !

Didn't it turn out great ?

...and no the poor fellar still does not understand !

We have said before how we love to re-purpose items. Notice the red light hanging.

That is the top to an old chicken incubator that we had wired to light.

Isn't it just fab !!!

Would make a great light over an island or pool table.

Our booth in the downstairs of the booth was approximately a 10x60

Therefore we hads LOTS of room to play and display much loveliness !

The opposite end of our space we chose to go with a more romantic-shabby chic look

with a splash of handmade art signs and crosses made by Blake Harris

Below is a gorgeous vanity painted in a yummy shade of lavendar and white-waxed to aged perfection

Art by Blake Harris ( son to owner Stacey Harris-Fish...a proud momma )

Blakes pieces were a big show hit !

Blake can do custom pieces-just give us a call.

This show was an absolute blast in every way !

One added gift to us at Three French Hens and The Roost is event photographer Autumn Lynn Photography is teaming up with us to work together on some endeavors. We are so very excited so at this time you get a real treat !

No more of my amatuer pictures--

Autumn provided us with the next several.

Enjoy and please go check out more of her work at www.photosbyautmnlynn.com