MONTICELLO REDO

Donna and I spent the afternoon moving out of the front window at Monticello, adding treasures and fluffing our other two spaces. We had the good sense to move small pieces of furniture out of the space right behind the window so that we could move the monster cabinet just a few feet into it's new home. If I have to say so myself-that was a good decision both for our backs and the cupboard looks great in it's new home.  After putting in new smalls-it occurred to both Donna and I that both spaces are in need of major overhauls and fresh product-so no more resting on our laurels-time to get to work and really refresh the spaces over the next month or so!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Today is a day of rest and reflection! I read an article today on the internet about a young woman who went into the hospital for a supposedly routine operation and left with all four of her extremities amputated. She fought a courageous battle and as a result is alive and rebuilding her new life. It makes me so thankful for what I have and to appreciate the moment-because we don't know what the next moment will bring to us. I hope as diversity knocks on my door- and it will-I will be as brave as this young woman!

I want to thank all of our wonderful friends and supporters who came to help make the sale at the Tarte Barn another success. Isabelle from Maison Douce was a life saver on Friday night as Donna and I were scambling to get last minute details done! She also brought cookies for the show. You can't get much better friends than that who show up without being asked to pitch in where ever needed. Betty from Sammy Girl, gave us time before and during the show. And the always be there to help you JOE from the Barn House Boys, came out and gave us Thursday and of course helped on Saturday as well. I owe him 2 margaritas for hauling the big cupboard across the field for me and smashing a BAD spider living under it! I am missing one BH boy whose name will not be mentioned in public-but he needs to know I miss him! Carrie and Katherine from Manor Bourne who set up at the flea market-also brought wonderful treats to share with our shoppers! And finally our fantastic Natalie from Sparrow who brought her to die for pumpkin, butter cream cake. Yes-I did eat my piece of cake for breakfast!! If I missed anyone-here is a BIG THANK YOU!

Bridgette Otto of the Oregonian did a wonderful article in the O section of the Oregonian, highlighting the work of Cindy, Queen of Tarte and our Barn House Boys, Joe and Jermonne. Congrats, Kudos and Hugs for the well deserved recogintion and attention to your hard work, design talents and artistic flair! We are so proud of you!!!! XO Diana and Donna

OOPS

Okay-I know you are asking where are the sneak peak pictures and pictures of the barn sale? I know you are saying, "Diana-you are always soooooo good at posting teasers and pictures of the event-what happened?" Or, if you have been following the blog since it's birth-you would know that like many things that require attention to detail-I might not always be johnny on the spot with forward thinking details like-1. MAKE SURE YOU CHARGE YOUR CAMERA BATTERY BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE. 2. TAKE THE BATTERY CHARGER WITH YOU SO YOU CAN CHARGE IT IF IT IS DEAD AT THE BARN. 3. CARRY AN EXTRA CAMERA BATTERY SO IN CASE YOU RUN OUT OF BATTERY POWER YOU HAVE AN EXTRA ONE. 4. OR TAKE YOUR NIKON AS A BACK UP!!!!!! Alas none of those seemly small details entered my mind as we rushed to finish the barn-and if you haven't guessed it-the battery was DEAD-not even enough battery to turn on the camera let alone take a picture! So I am sad to say no pictures of the actual event. I am going to the barn this week and will take some pictures of the cupboard project I bought at the flea market and it's journey to a new and fabulous life. [Everyone at the flea market laughed and taunted me when I bought it-they are just going to have to wait and see what they missed. [Don't you just love a good challenge?!] Wish me luck!

PS-LIFE REQUIRES US ONCE IN A WHILE TO HAVE A GOOD LAUGH OVER OUR OWN FOIBLES-WELL- I HAD A GOOD LAUGH OVER MYSELF AS I WENT TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY OF THE DEAD CAMERA. THERE WAS A REASON FOR IT BEING DEAD AS I DISCOVERED-LOW AND BEHOLD-TO MAKE THE CAMERA WORK-I MUST PUT THE BATTERY INTO THE CAMERA. OBVIOUSLY, I HAD THE GOOD SENSE TO CHARGE IT-JUST NOT TO PUT IT BACK IN THE CAMERA-HA HA HA. WHAT'S A GIRL TO DO WHEN SMALL DETAILS LIKE THAT FALL THROUGH THE SIEVE-HAVE A REALLY GOOD LAUGH AT MYSELF. IT IS A GOOD REMINDER NOT TO TAKE YOURSELF TOOOOOOOO SERIOUSLY!!!!!  AS THE SAYING GOES-LIFE IS TOO SHORT. SAVE THE WORRY AND ANGST FOR THE BIG STUFF!

ANNIE, FANNIE AND ABIGAIL SALE AT THE TARTE BARN

ANNIE, FANNIE AND ABIGAIL SALE AT THE TARTE BARN

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009

9AM-2PM

20131 SOUTH END ROAD, OREGON CITY

ps 9-29-09 sneak peaks tonight!!!!

BARN SALE PREPARATIONS

ANNIE, FANNIE AND ABIGAIL SALE AT THE TARTE BARN

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2009

9AM-2PM

20131 SOUTH END ROAD

OREGON CITY

GETTING READY FOR OUR NEXT BARN SALE

Donna and I worked all day on Saturday getting ready for the next barn sale and putting the finishing touches on the 3-101 blog give away packages. I will be spending all week getting ready for the show! Hope to see you there next Saturday, as it promises to be a beautiful day in the country. See you soon!!!

MIXED MEDIA

It seems that fall always brings out the urge to create. I am not sure why that is-but it is true for me. Maybe it arcs back to a time when women had busy hands at night to help wile away the long evening hours. Maybe it is the heart and mind getting a jump start with holiday making. At any rate I tried my hand with a multimedia approach to covering the tops of two trays-one on glass and one on an old wood wicker lap tray. I used old paper, painted on top of the paper with acrylic paint, stamped some letters, sanded with very fine steel wool, and finished with a coat of tobacco glaze which I put on with a foam brush and then used a wet paper towel to rub off the excess glaze. I did one more sanding with steel wool and will put a matt varnish finish on them so they can be used. I am not sure I would do this project on glass again, as every time the paper got wet with product-it lifted the glue from the paper and glass. Bummer! I have always wanted to do mixed media on canvas--------so my next adventure into art may just be that!

THE WINNERS

AND THE WINNERS OF OUR 101 BLOG GIVE AWAY ARE:

CARINIA BLOGARINA

BARKING DOGS

PRIMITIQUES 'N POETRY

CONGRATULATIONS!

PLEASE SEND US YOUR MAILING ADDRESS TO MY EMAIL AND WE WILL GET YOUR 101 SMALL TREASURES OFF TO YOU IN THE MAIL.

email: dianalleitner@AOL.com

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WEEPING BECAUSE YOU DID NOT WIN-WE WILL POST PICTURES OF THE FINAL GOODIES SO YOU CAN HAVE A REALLY GOOD CRY!

DON'T FORGET YOU ARE ALL AWESOME WINNERS IN OUR LIVES! XOXO DIANA AND DONNA

AND THE WINNERS ARE.............

NOTICE WE HAVE 3 - 101 BLOG GIVE AWAYS TO ANNOUNCE. WE GOT 136 DIFFERENT RESPONSES TO OUR 101 BLOG CELEBRATION-SO THAT KICKED IN THE THIRD GIVE AWAY. DONNA WANTS TO DO SOMETHING FUN TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS SO YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING FOR THE RED CARPET AND DRUM ROLL! THIS WAS TRULY FUN!  TO BOTH DONNA AND I, YOU ARE ALL WINNERS!!!!! THANKS FOR BEING A PART OF OUR BLOG FAMILY. XOXO DIANA AND DONNA

THE CGM REALLY DID KNOW HOW TO DO THE BLOG!

A HA-THE CMG [CHIEF GOLF MAVEN FORMERLY KNOWN AS DONNA] SAID SHE COULD NOT DO A BLOG FROM HER COMPUTER-BUT I AM HERE TO SAY THAT I AM SITTING AT HER COMPUTER DOING A NEW POST-SO FROM NOW ON SHE WILL PUT HER TWO CENTS WORTH IN ON OUR BLOG. YIPPEE-SKIPPEE

THE 101 BLOG GIVEAWAY SNEAK PEAK

As promised, a sneak peak of small treasures that may come your way if you are one of two of the lucky ones chosen for our 101 blog give away! Keep those comments coming and we will draw names after we compile all of your names and the many opportunities you have to get your name entered more than once. [ I am beginning to think that might take me a little bit more time than I first thought!] I am going to Donna's for the last chance summer barbecue and will get her piles that she has collected to add to the treasure trove. I might even sneak into her studio when she is not looking to see what elese I can find to add to the fun.

OKAY-I JUST DID THE FIRST ROUND OF ADDING UP FOLLOWERS AND COMMENTS. WE NEED ANOTHER 25 AND THERE WILL BE 3-101 BLOG GIVE AWAYS. WE'LL KEEP THE LINES OPEN UNTIL 10:00 AM MONDAY AND WILL ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS MONDAY EVENING. KEEP THOSE COMMENTS AND SIGN UPS COMING! GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

ANNOUNCING 101 BLOG GIVE AWAY

Well that was a long 48 hour tomorrow promise to get out the information about our 101 blog give away! Let's just say that life got in the way [and truthfully-I had not come up with a great idea about what to give away]! And then I did! I started thinking about what we love and what we do-mostly smalls-so this little light bulb went off and I thought what about giving away 101 little things that Diana and Donna love. So here is the deal-leave us a comment and we will enter your name. Share this with a blog friend and have them tell us who sent them to us and we will enter your name again. If you are a follower, you will get your name entered again and if you become a new follower, you will get you name entered again into the pool of names. OH DID I FORGET TO MENTION THAT SINCE THERE ARE TWO OF US WHY NOT GIVE TWO 101 BLOG GIVE AWAYS AWAY! Everyone will have lots of opportunities to be one of two 101 blog giveaway winners! OH-THIS IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!! CAN HARDLY WAIT TO GET STARTED GATHERING AND PACKAGING THOSE 101 SURPRISES. WE WILL KEEP THE CONTEST OPEN THROUGH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2009.

PS WE ARE LOVING, LOVING, LOVING ALL OF THE GREAT COMMENTS AND NEW FOLLOWERS. IT IS LIKE XMAS OPENING PRESENTS WHEN WE RUN TO THE COMPUTER TO SEE WHO HAS SIGNED UP. WHAT FUN! DONNA SAYS IF WE GET 101 COMMENTS AND FOLLWERS WE WILL ADD TO THE FUN AND DO NOT 2, BUT 3 101 BLOG GIVE WAYS AWAY. NOW HOW CAN ANYONE RESIST THAT? DONNA AND I HAVE ALREADY STARTED MAKING PILES OF SMALL TREASURES.

I HAVE BEEN BUSY AT THE BARN HOUSE HELPING TO GET THEIR SEASON FINALE READY TO GO. AS USUAL IT IS GOING TO BE FABULOUS SO IF YOU HAVE THE TIME-NO MAKE THE TIME-IT WILL BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO COME OUT TO THE BARN HOUSE AND SEE WHAT THE BH BOYS HAVE IN STORE FOR YOU!  KEEP THOSE COMMENTS AND FOLLOWER SIGN UPS COMING-WE LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!   I WILL POST TOMORROW [REALLY A 24 HOUR TOMORROW SNEAK PEAKS AT A FEW TREASURES THAT MIGHT COME YOUR WAY!!