Mary Poppins Carpet Bag

So I thought I might talk today about display.
When we do the show booth, each wall has a 4ft ledge across the top where we create a vignette that shows a 12 x 12 layout or speaks to the product that is shown on the wall below.  Most pieces come from our houses, with the exception of a few pieces that I rented this time from Ruby Rose, my local vintage store.
This is one such ledge at the show.
The bird print is mine, of which I took the glass out in case it fell down (you never know when someone with a motorized cart is going to run into the booth wall), the artist pallet came from Ruby Rose.  The paint brushes and books are mine and the large photo is blown up from a small black and white photo that is part of the Trousseau line.  Totally my favorite ledge in the booth.

When I got home on Friday at 6:30pm I had to unpack everything in less than 24 hours because of a party we were having at our house on Saturday night.  Hence the title of this post...it was like Mary Poppins carpet bag, things just kept spilling out.

After the clothes, I started on the display bags.  So much to put away but when I pulled out the pallet I knew I was going to have to buy it, not just rent it.  And after a few minutes everything came together for a fun display on my mantel.  Big white corbels, old books, the artist pallet and paint brushes.  Some little wooden pins from a children's game and a real birds nest.  I am not sure I would have ever thought of it had Deb not put together the ledge in the booth.  Super simple gathering of items with similar colors that all work together to make a great mantel vignette.  I do know Valentines day is coming next week so it probably should be a red theme  right now, but there were no red valentines in my suitcase!

Next...

Okay, so remember when I made the glass dome with the butterflies?
Here it is at the show advertising the color rubbings...

And now at my house.

Don't you need a few of the new standing clips?

I have a cabinet in my small entry way and decided to change it up and make it a neutral/black color scheme so the butterflies would fit in and really be a focal point.  So after a bit of gathering from the junk cupboard...pulling anything creme, black or metal that would fit in the spaces, the shelves now support the idea of the curiosities dome.

Items I frequently use in displays: metal frogs to hold vintage pictures, clocks and old books.

Anything in multiples is good, especially when grouped together.  You can make a powerful design statement with ordinary items when they are in quantity.

Love adding quotes to give a bit of soul to a display.
I have a stack of quotes on the same kraft paper.  I switch them out when I need a new personal pep talk.  I also took a small frame that fit the space and adhered it directly to the cabinet with foam tape to frame the quote, just to give it a little more importance.  It really brings the eye to the space and  almost says, read me.
The 1, 2, 3 jars are from Anthropologie and the books with the gold lettering are from an estate sale ($1 each).

The quote reads:
"When we talk about settling the worlds 

problems we're barking up the wrong tree.

The world is perfect.  It's a mess.

It has always been a mess.

We are not going to change it.

Our job is to straighten out our own lives."

-Joseph Campbell

An the last thing I will mention is books.  I can never have enough little books.  I particularly like small black leather books.  Really doesn't matter the subject, just that it is small enough to fit with the collection.  In the booth they were stacked backward so the pages showed but here the black leather works.

And the last item from the show.
The new Vintage stand with a beautifully created book by Sande Krieger.  You can see inside the book here (prepare to be inspired because no one does a mini book like Sande)

So my take on the stand since I don't Sande's fabulous book.
I cut a piece of book board to fit the width of the stand, painted it black then added a quote I created.

The stand has a small hole right below the flat part.  I used an S hook from this set and added a bit of junk just for fun.

I know the stand doesn't come out for a bit but if you are interested in the quote just send me an email (paula@2gypsygirls.com) and I will send you the PDF.   Just type "This is the Day" quote in the subject line and I will know what you want.

Update: Many of you have questions about the new Vintage Stand after this post.  It is 13" tall and 5" wide.  It retails for $19.99 and is being released in the second wave of products with Trousseau, which means April/May.  Sorry about the wait! 

I hope today's post gives you some inspiration to try something different.  It doesn't have to be expensive and you might not even have to leave the house.  Just think... one color story, the use of multiples, or inspirational quotes.

cheers for a great day!
paula