The Vintage Chateau: July 2016

Saturday, July 30, 2016

Antiques at the Midway Mercantile

An historic building houses the Midway Mercantile Antique Store up in the Utah mountains. This shop is both a delight and a source of frustration.

First, the good news. If you like poking around a shop crammed full of every variety of antique this is the shop for you. There is room after room to explore.

Furniture is literally piled on top of each other! But, it's all good furniture. I found everything from Country French, to Mission, to Scandinavian to ornate Victorian pieces.

And I'm always on the lookout for dishes,

especially ironstone.

There are some truly lovely pieces of art,

as well as vintage clothing.

Yes, Lynette, the owner has a good eye and lots of quality merchandise.

Now for the bad news. The store is hardly ever open, not even when the hours are clearly posted. I have driven over multiple times to browse yet found the place locked and deserted.

My other complaint is that the merchandise is not priced. When I finally got inside, nearly everything that I looked at had no price tag. That is a red flag to me. The shop owner can then make up any price right on the spot! Having been in the antique business myself for 15 years I know it's hard to keep price tags on everything. They do fall off or customers pull them off. But this store had fully 50% of things not marked. When I jokingly mentioned this to the owner, she said they had fallen off. Hmm.

So, if you find yourself on Main Street in Midway AND you happen to find the Midway Mercantile open take a peek inside. You may find a real treasure, just be prepared to ask about prices.

I like to join these parties

Show and Share @ Coastal Charm

Amaze Me Monday @ Dwellings

Masterpiece Monday @ California Coastal Home

Inspire Me Monday @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia

Inspire Me Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch

Be Inspired @ Common Ground

Share Your Style @ No Minimalist Here

Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage

Home Sweet Home @ The Charm of Home

Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

The Scoop @ Cedar Hill Ranch

Home and Garden Thursday @ Delightsome Life

Simply Sweet Home

Share the Wealth Sunday

Metamorphosis Monday @ Between Naps on the porch

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Beehive Centerpieces

I'm lucky enough to get to spend my summers in the mountains of Utah. I also get to be involved with a charity function while I'm here. Senator Orrin Hatch hosts a golf challenge fundraiser each year in Park City and part of the event is a ladies luncheon hosted by his sweet wife Elaine. Elaine Hatch is one of my mother's dearest friends and Mom and I have been asked the last couple of years to help with the luncheon.

This year we chose "Utah the Beehive State" as our theme. The industrious honey bee has long been the symbol of Utah and we thought that would make for some fun centerpieces.

Did you know that the little straw or wicker baskets that honey bees call home are actually called bee skeps? Skeps have been in use for about 2000 years but they actually are not the best for the bees and these days are just decorative.

I found several skeps at the Las Vegas Gift Show last winter and embellished them with a hang tag and some cute honey bee ribbon.

The tables are long and rectangular so we'll run some woven burlap ribbon and sunflowers down the length of the tables.

The attendees receive a gift bag that I decorated with a vintage beehive graphic.

Among other things the gift bags contain some local Utah chocolates from Utah Truffles located in South Jordan, Utah

and some jars of honey from Layton, Utah.

Here are the graphics I used on the tags and bags.

The Utah Family Foundation helps families in need and they are the recipient of the proceeds.

I'm honored to be a small part of this fun event!