Welcome to Century Farmhouse®!

The Final Winter Market!

As I write this, I'm awed by the fact that it is indeed the end of the Winter Farmers' Market in Milwaukee, and that must mean that winter has ended, too.  It is about time!

This Saturday, April 30, is the final day of the Milwaukee County Winter Farmers' Market for 2010-2011.  We'll be set up outdoors....please let there be sunshine!...but as always, parking is free and the food is fabulous!

 

Century Farmhouse will be celebrating Customer Appreciation Day with a free travel-sized bar with each soap purchase of $10.00 or more, so plan to stop in and smell the great scents, and buy some soap!

Market info:

Milwaukee County Winter Farmers’ Market (MCWFM)

Tommy G Thompson Youth Center

Ag Village, Gate 5, State Fair Park

640 South 84th Street

April 30, 2011

Saturday morning 8:00 am – 12:00 pm

Regardless of other events at State Fair, Parking for the MCWFM is always FREE

For more information consult www.mcwfm.org and www.facebook.com/mcwf

Join us!!

-Ann Marie

 

Beyond the door...

                                                                    In December I posted a photo of the new (old!) store counter that my builder created for the studio out of old doors.  I love old doors!  So imagine how I was intrigued to find a romantic cupboard created out of a beautifully detailed old door - actually doors, as the sides are parts of a door as well.  And best yet, I found this cupboard for a song in a surprising place!  The antiques at the Chicago Botanic Garden's Antiques and Garden Fair are usually quite unique and quite pricey, but this cupboard's former owner had used it in her shop and was going for a new look. 

The adventure doesn't stop there, either.  We couldn't find a way to get the piece home as our vehicle was loaded with our display and soaps, and the shipping costs were extremely high.  What to do, what to do???  Many, many thanks to Jodi and Carleen at the Botanic Garden for finding a spot to house the cupboard until I could pick it up on Tuesday morning. 

The drive to the Garden was relatively uneventful if wet on Tuesday morning, but on the return trip, the weather grew icier the farther north I came.  The skies rained ice on Tuesday, and after it was finished, our county experienced 70 accidents due to the slippery roads.  Further north, the storm resulted in more accidents and power outages.  Tuesday was a nasty day! 

So, the cupboard is finally home in the studio and is very pretty against the sunflower yellow walls.  Notice the lacy ribbon details, the dentil moldings, the lower compartment door cut into the piece, and the door knob that still turns!  Although it is now sitting next to my desk, it will eventually find its home in the retail area of the studio.  Stop in and see it!

-Ann Marie

Antiques and Gardens, again

We've finally unpacked the last of the soaps and display from our booth at the Chicago Botanic Garden's Antiques & Garden Fair.  The weekend (April 14 - 17) was beautiful, and quite successful, and we enjoyed every minute of the Fair.  The Garden was green, daffodils and forsythia were blooming, and although Saturday saw both rain and snow, we saw crowds that braved the elements to join us in the West Greenhouse.  We were so busy that there was barely time to take a few photos to share with you, but you can see more photos on the Stella Shows Facebook page.

 

 

The main lobby of the Fair is decorated every year with an over-the-top display, and this year was no different.

 

 Just around the corner from our display was Heather Lane Pottery.  I call this "happy pottery," as the colors are cheerful and bright!  Don't you just love that cute little bunny?   

We again brought lovely daffodils from The Flower Source in Germantown, Wisconsin.  The plants were about 7 inches high with no flowers when we picked them up on Tuesday.  By midday Thursday, they were blooming as you see them, and the flowers kept growing - the beautiful yellow flowers were giant-sized by the end of the show, and everyone thought they were made of silk.  The light and humidity in the  West Greenhouse hallway is perfect for forced bulbs!

Butterflies Guest Soaps celebrate spring!

 

Two places at one time

Temporary Studio Hours

While we are in Chicago at

 the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Antiques & Garden Fair,

studio hours will be: 

Wed. April 13: 10:00 AM – 2:30 PM

Thurs. April 14:  Closed

Fri. April 15,10:00AM – 2:30 PM

Sat. April 16: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM 

Find us at the Garden...West Greenhouse, Booth 518!

 

In the Garden

Next week the Chicago Botanic Garden once again hosts the Antiques and Garden Fair that so many people have been looking forward to.  We are so excited to be part of the Fair this year.  It is always beautiful - over-the-top-gorgeous, as a matter of fact - and we cannot wait to be there! 

The Garden will be alive with the beginnings of spring plantings.  The tents will be alive with beautiful displays, guest speakers, American & European antiques, and garden-related gifts.  You'll find Century Farmhouse in the West Greenhouse, Booth 518.

A sneak peek at some of the lovely soaps we'll be bringing:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition, we'll have gift packages of soaps, new lavender gifts, the lavender wands, and a brand new book!

Join us!