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Vintage Barn & Rusty Bird- I heart you

I LOVED the Country Living Fair.
By far my most favorite booth was The Vintage Barn (along with The Rusty Bird).
This booth was just too, too . . . . wonderful. Right up mine and my sis’s alley so-to-speak. Decorated in that vintage farm chic that we absolutely go ga-ga for, being farm girls at heart and all that. Growing up on a farm and now longing for one of my own should count for something!
I love the Vintage Barn’s motto: For the love of Farm.
Oh, yes, kindred spirits.
Kraft paper and old sheet music covered the metal poles to their canopy, old weathered boards, rusty metal, wrought iron beds, pieces of fencing, bird nests, tiny eggs, burlap and fabric aprons, vintage fun charms for necklaces and whatnot, feed sack bags, way cool tees, swags and burlap & ribbon bunting, bits and pieces of this, that and the other all served up by such warm, friendly ladies. I would definitely have to say the warm attitudes of the ladies running the booth was part of the draw- not to mention their way-cool farm-girl attire. Oh, how I wish I had taken a picture of the ladies! Ruffles and lace with cowboy boots and aprons . . . . one dear lady even in a pink crinoline. Way too cute!
Virginia from The Rusty Bird was a DOLL! We chatted with her on Friday and mentioned we’d be back again the next day- when we stopped back she remembered us! And again on Sunday! What a sweetie! Her handmade bird nests were way too cute and oh so reasonably priced. I loved how she added little doll plates, huge buttons or small silver trays under her nests to add just an oh-so-elegant, extra touch of whimsy. She even had itty bitty nests with little eggs nestled in spoons!
I wish I had taken more photos of their booth- it was just so, so . . . . MY style! I only have this one- I loved the set up with the chair, books and little bird nest in it’s homemade cage so I simply asked if I could take a couple of pictures of it.
I have had a bit of fun deciding how to display the bird nests and eggs I purchased . . . . here’s a photo of one of my nests on a pedestal plate- my creation (yes, I made the pedestal- neato & cutesy, isn’t it!). That little birdie is a candle holder I picked up at Dollar Tree for a buck. I left the tag on the bird nest- Virginia makes her tags out of old sheet music with “The Rusty Bird” stamped on it- I love the look with it still on the nest- so it stays. I've nestled my itty bitty nest (with itty bitty egg) in an old sundae glass . . . . it looks darling!

Since coming home, I’ve already checked out their website- I’ve got my eye on one of their aprons. My biggest disappointment was that I didn’t purchase one of their way cool Vintage Barn Tees on Saturday- they were out of my size on Sunday. I tell you what- if I could have squeezed myself in a medium I would have tried! The tees are listed on their site too- there was a CL fair discount- hence my wanting and that desire for instant gratification- I so wanted to wear the shirt on vacation- oh well . . . . I’m putting it on my wish list . . . . the apron too.

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1:57 PM, 2009-Sep-21 .. Posted by gabbie427

I love the little bird's nest on the pedestal. How adorable!!! Oh I definately think I would have loved visiting this booth with you. It looks like it is right up my alley as well.

Sounds like you had fun!!!

God's Blessings,
Amy Jo

the vintage barn/the rusty bird

1:10 AM, 2009-Sep-24 .. Posted by Anonymous

what a lucky duck you are to get the opportunity to go to the country living fair!!! yes, i also {heart} the vintage barn and the rusty bird :)
christina g

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11:17 AM, 2009-Sep-24 .. Posted by Anonymous

Thanks Amy. I Blogged about you on OUR Blog!! www.barnbarnbaby.typepad.com YOU ROCK!! Come visit us at our show sometime in N Idaho!!
Rolane
The Vintage Barn

Tithing

7:56 AM, 2009-Sep-25 .. Posted by Lynne

Amy,
I know this is off subject, but my husband and I are taking a class at church called 'enough, discovering joy through simplicity and generosity", also the title of the book being used.
It is written by a minister. He talks about tithing, and he defines tithing as giving 10% of your net income. He does not tithe on taxes as he never receives that money. He does not tithe on social security deductions as he will be tithing on social security as he receives it.
He doesn't mention the question of employee paid retirement savings plans, like a 401K. This is money that you do not see until retirement age. It would also be difficult to even know what 10% is as the value can fluctuate, and for some people they have lost 70% of that money. In another bible study class, one of the participants is an attorney. He said if he knows his client is a Christian and they are preparing a will, he will suggest that they stipulate that 10% of retirement savings be tithed at the person's death.
The author of the book we are using also says he and his wife give above the 10% net. They have a separate savings account that they put money into, and they then have money to give as other needs come up during the year, like giving to mission trips.
I was just wondering what you think about the 10% net instead of gross, or if it matters at all.
We have been steadily increasing our giving each year for about the past 10 years. By the author's definition, we are above 8%, and it may be possible for us to go up to 10% in 2009. We do have other giving separate from the tithe goal, and this is primarily money that we give to Compassion to support a child we have sponsored for over 10 years.
I was just wondering what your thought are on this.
Lynne

Lynne-

6:04 PM, 2009-Sep-28 .. Posted by YPAmy5

This is interesting. I have always been taught the “First Fruits” way of tithing- which is tithing on your gross income as that is what you are paid. The author makes some good points about taxes etc. I’ll have to discuss it with my husband and get his opinion.
We have already made provisions for 10% of our estate to be tithed in our wills. So I do believe that to be a good thing.
If one is able to give above 10%- I believe one should do so.
I’ve had an idea mulling around in my head for awhile about having “Do Good” money—perhaps making and selling some crafty projects with the sole purpose of using the money earned towards helping others in ways I am not always able- like giving to good causes, people in need at various times etc. Like a family that needs gas cards to travel 60 miles round trip daily for radiation treatments for weeks at a time. Or the neighbors who need groceries to make it until the next payday, sponsoring a youth for camp . . . . and such. Those spur of the moment needs that go beyond “regular” charitable giving or that every December charitable giving . . . .
In my reality- I don’t believe that net vs. gross is a big deal. The big deal is being a Cheerful Giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). If you tithe on gross but resent it- then are you right and just? If you scrimp and save to be able to give on the net and are excited to do so- are you a loser and bound to be reprimanded? And what of the other 90%? We are to be good stewards of ALL that God has given us. I believe He cares very deeply about the 90% we keep and how we spend it as He does about the 10% we give. If we are not good stewards of the 90% does it matter that we tithed on our gross income? I doubt it.
Basically, Lynne, I think that whatever you and your husband both agree on and feel led to give good. I think that too many people make net vs. gross a bigger debate than it has to be. To be honest- I don’t believe it to be an eternal issue.
God Bless,
Amy W