Archive for November, 2010

Look What I Found
Scott Simmons blog about antiques
http://www.scottsimmonsantiques.com
and specifically kitchen collectibles at
http://www.jannorris.com/category/kitchen-kollectibles-scott-simmons-on-vintage-items/

Jan Norris’ Food and Florida
http://jannorris.com

Bored?  Looking for something to do?
Check out Treasure Coast Happens for everything that’s going on!
http://treasurecoasthappens.com/

Giordano’s Floral Creations
Partner Business
http://www.giordanosfloral.com/

Sandy McAlister’s Blog (#19)
All things Florida!
http://mcalisterpropertiesflorida.blogspot.com/

Becky’s Country Cottage
Becky has Booth #39 in Laura’s and an ebay store.
http://stores.ebay.com/Beckys-Country-Cottage

Humane Society of St. Lucie County
http://www.hsslc.org/

Tara Biek Creative
http://tarabiekcreative.com/index.html

Weatherbee Nursery
Partner Business
Everything for landscape and garden
701 East Weatherbee Road
Fort Pierce, FL 34982-8537
(772) 464-6880

Hope you made it to the Craft Show at IRSC on Saturday, Nov. 20.  Several of our dealers combined their items and talents to create an awesome display of country chic!  Becky’s Country Cottage #39, Carol #18, Marilyn #19, Susan’s Country Accents #4, and Andrea #60.

Carol has the wonderful ‘white’ booth (#CLK) at the base of the stairs and just finished decorating it for the holidays.  It’s breathtaking.

Carol is originally from Long Island, NY and worked in her father’s dry cleaning business through her school years.  After meeting her husband of 47 years, she worked part time in his family’s bridal salon, selling and making gowns and veils.  After their second son was born, she became a stay-at-home-mom and a bit more.  When they bought their first home “The Cottage,” the bank said it was uninhabitable.  Ready to ‘get her hands dirty,’ Carol learned how to use a paintbrush, hammer, saw and more.  She even collected 5,000 bricks from a construction site and laid a patio all by herself.

So it was with mixed emotions when they sold their dream house and moved to Florida in 1980.  After being a realtor for several years, Carol missed using her creativity.  She discovered Coral Springs Craft Guild, became a member, and learned so much about crafting.  Over the years she also joined Southern Handcraft Society, and became a regular at craft shows.

When her crafting started taking over her small home, she and a friend launched “The Ivy Cottage” in Wilton Manors.  Only about 800 square feet, but they loved it.  They found that customers wanted to buy the display pieces which were mostly castoff furniture painted white.  With the addition of more and more furniture, they quickly outgrew the shop.  As luck would have it, a 2,000 square foot shop became available just five stores down.  At first concerned they might not be able to fill such a large space, they did, and ended up expanding again!

By this time her two sons and their families had moved to Fort Pierce.  Carol and her husband missed watching their seven grandchildren growing up, so at the end of the shop’s lease, she retired and they moved here.  Her husband was still commuting Fort Lauderdale, the grandkids were in school, and Carol was bored.  What to do??  Lucky for us, she decided to get her hands dirty again, and the results are fabulous.

For the next couple months we want to share all the amazing things Fort Pierce and St. Lucie County have to offer with our winter visitors and year-round residents who may not be familiar with some of these.

The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum
http://www.navysealmuseum.com/
The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum is the only museum dedicated solely to preserving the history of the Navy SEALs and their predecessors, including the Underwater Demolition Teams, Naval Combat Demolition Units, Office of Strategic Services Maritime Units and Amphibious Scouts and Raiders.  Located in Fort Pierce, Florida – the birthplace of the Navy Frogman – the Museum promotes public education by providing the opportunity to explore the history of the Navy SEALs in an atmosphere of respect and honor.
Virtual tours on their website are great, but no substitute for being up close and personal!
Reasonable admission fee.
By purchasing at their gift shop you can support the museum.
Editor’s note: My favorite is a t-shirt that states:
When it absolutely, positively must be destroyed overnight!
Call 1-800-HOOYAH!

The Manatee Observation & Education Center
http://www.manateecenter.com/
The Manatee Observation and Education Center is a waterfront wildlife observation and nature education center located on Florida’s east coast in downtown Fort Pierce. The Center lies just west of the Atlantic ocean and overlooks the nationally recognized Indian River Lagoon, a saltwater estuary and Moore’s Creek, a freshwater creek and historical resting spot for the Florida manatee. The Manatee Observation and Education Center’s primary purpose is to promote understanding and responsible actions for the fragile ecosystems of the Treasure Coast and their inhabitants.
Admission is a buck.  Check out the Calendar of Events, many activities (free and very reasonable) for adults and children.
Editor’s note: Manatees are not in tanks, they roam freely – best time to view in Moore’s Creek is during the winter months.

A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery
http://www.backusgallery.com/
The A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery, a 5,000 sq. ft. public visual arts facility, was established in 1960 by A.E. Backus, the preeminent Florida landscape painter, and a group of local art enthusiasts. The A.E. Backus Museum & Gallery features the Nation’s largest display of original paintings by Alfred Ernest Backus. Four additional exhibition wings feature changing exhibits of artwork by contemporary Florida artists. Located in historic downtown Ft. Pierce, a mere 2 blocks from Backus’ longtime home and studio and adjacent to the location of his original studio.
Small admission fee, free admission on Sundays.
Editor’s note: Next door to Manatee Observation Center, ample free parking provides convenient access to other area attractions, casual waterside dining and boutique shopping downtown.

Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Ocean Discovery Center
http://www.fau.edu/hboi/OceanDiscoveryCenter.php
The Harbor Branch Ocean Discovery Center is the public gateway to Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University. The ODC houses interactive exhibits, small aquaria, a video theater, and other displays exploring the marine environment and depicting the research efforts of the Institute. ODC exhibit content is developed in close coordination with the Harbor Branch project managers by a team of award-winning educators and media specialists.  Exhibit content is continually evolving to showcase the ongoing research and conservation efforts of Harbor Branch and to give visitors a close-up look at the emerging technologies used by the marine research community.
Editor’s note:  Free admission – but drop some $ in the donation box and lots of cool stuff in the gift shop.

We’re happy to welcome our newest dealers
and the variety they bring to Laura’s Emporium.

Be sure to stop by and visit their booths . . .

UPSTAIRS
Win’s Booth #25
Deanna’s Booth #27
Midge’s Stitches Booth #12 specializes in embroidered gifts

DOWNSTAIRS
Betty’s Booth #85

Wondering what the heck that means, aren’t you?

Well, now I know it means matchbook collecting, thanks to Mike Prero’s website The Matchbook Vault (http://matchpro.org/index.html).  I also know why he calls this the ‘Vault.’  It’s solid gold.  Wit and wisdom are combined to take the reader on a trip through American history by way of the matchbook.  Practically unknown by those under 25, the rest of us have ‘closed cover before striking’ to light cigarettes, campfires, gas stoves, candles, and sometimes just to light the way.

While matchboxes originated in Europe, the matchbook is a uniquely American invention.  You’d be hard pressed to find a better chronicle of America . . . its people, places, values . . . than these seemingly insignificant pieces of colored cardboard.  Politics, sports, restaurants, wars, tobacco, dogs, movie stars, world fairs, cover girls, railroads.  If it existed – it was immortalized on a matchbook cover.  Although basically unchanged since 1894, a dazzling variety of types and sizes, fine artwork, unique advertising, and cross-over collecting make this a life-long and limitless hobby.

And what does The Matchbook Vault have to offer?  Everything.  Since I’m recommending the website you know it has tons of information, it’s easy to navigate, etc., etc.  From the Overview to Treasure Hunting.  Mike’s enthusiasm for phillumeny is boundless and his reality check is a refreshing approach to collecting as a whole every collector should read.  Click on any of a multitude of clearly marked buttons and you’ll discover facts, tips, lists, how-to’s and much more.

And if you’re like me, you’re looking through the junk drawer to find matchbooks that may have been there forever.  Maybe you’ll find a treasure, maybe not.  But you’ll have a little bit of history in your hand.  Visit http://matchpro.org/index.html and
Tell ‘em I sent ya’
Victoria