Pinterest!!

The Nest is now on Pinterest!!!

I am obsessed with pinning tons of great decorating ideas. Why not share them with you all?

We will be pinning anything from new product, display ideas, to fashion styles that we love.

We can't wait to show you what trends we are enjoying :).

Follow us!! :)

http://pinterest.com/thenestonline/

Family First....

Wow, I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted...so sorry for that!  Life has been and continues to be a bit of a whirlwind.  I hope after the holidays it calms down because I need to catch up!  I normally don't share much about my personal life on here but I guess I feel I need to give you my excuse for not posting often and why the website doesn't have new product weekly which is the way I had hoped to have it. 

So my first priority before these things is taking care of my Mother, which I have been doing for a few years now.  But this year the amount of care she needed increased to everyday, all day so my priorities had to change.  I could no longer manage to keep the physical store open and now just try to have a few open houses a year.  I am happy that I had the website established as it is nice to still feed my creative side.  So I just get done what I can although I am not always satisfied with that, it's is just the way it has to be for now.  I was trying to add new product weekly but that has not been very easy to do lately so as my friend always says, It is what it is.  I know I will have no regrets later on in life for the sacrifices I make now even though some days are not always easy. 

Thank you to all of my local store customers for your continued support when I do open my doors for an open house or on a whim.  I always worry that no one will show up but you always do and with such nice comments which I appreciate.  And thank you to my web customers for finding my site in the big world of cyberspace.  I am always amazed how people have found the site and your nice comments as well.  I try to convey the same service and feeling online as I do in the actual brick and mortar store. 

I wish you all a wonderful Holiday Season filled with warmth and precious memories.

Amy

Fall Inspiration

Bailey (Amy's Niece is posting this week!)

Fall is my absolute favorite season. Something about the weather getting colder and the leaves changing colors puts me in a great mood. This past weekend, my family and I went for a drive to see all of Mother Nature's beautiful fall colors.
I hope these photos get you in the mood for some fall decorating, carving pumpkins, and going on drives of your own to see all of the beautiful trees.

There's nothing that compares to fall in Iowa.

I've been antiquing!!!

I've been out gathering some fun finds for you!  My husband & I left town last weekend for our anniversary and I persuaded him to stop at a few fun places to find some great stuff!  He's not into junking at all but was a good sport and didn't complain too much!  Then later in the week I hit the flea markets that were set up in a nearby town that has a huge festival each year...it was a hot day but I found some fun finds!

For some reason jars are my weakness...there are many times that I just have to walk away because I have accumulated to many.  But I couldn't leave these behind!  I love the shape and zinc lids of these Ball Freezer Jars.  I can think of so many uses for these beauties...can you?  You can find them here and here for sale on the website.

Here's a fun grouping of things I found...I especially love the galvanized canteen...I believe I also have a weakness for all things metal or that are the color gray!!!  You can find all of these items on the website unless they have already been snatched up by someone!

Here are some sweet pillows that were lettered by my niece and sewn by my sister!  Love them and they will soon be added to the website!

A few of the treasures I found at the flea markets!  Scales seemed to be the find of the day and yes I caved on this jar...it is sooo cool!!!  These items will also be added to the website very soon.

Here's a peek of one of the new bags that just came in!!!  Love, love, love these bags!!  They will all be added soon too!  (I guess I have some work to do;))

Remember a few posts ago when I was showing what was blooming in the garden...well, the Sweet Autumn Clematis(or beast as I call it) is in full bloom!!!  There are white blossoms everywhere and the sweetest scent is in the air!

Hope you have a wonderful day!!

Amy

A little Inspiration...

I did a little photo shoot to show how some of the products new and old can be put together.

I hope these photos inspire you!

Have a great day!!

Amy

Surprises in the Garden...

Our summer has been extremely dry here in Iowa and so many things have suffered in the garden.  The flowerbeds at the store(now warehouse) have been very neglected this year.  Besides lack of rain, I have not had time to weed them and they are a mess!  I go over everyday to feed the kitties that still live there and it was a nice surprise to see some new life in the garden.

This is a plant I bought at a yard sale years ago and was told it's name is Snow on the Mountain.  There is a groundcover by that name but this is different.  It starts as a spindly green sprout in the Spring that comes up anywhere it pleases, then in late summer the white varigated leaves and tiny flowers appears on a tall green stalk.  It is normally at least 18"-24" tall but this year it is maybe 10" but still very showy.

 These next two photos are of my Sweet Autumn Clematis or the living beast as I call it.  It grows so thick and wildly that it is hard to control.  For some reason it has decided to spread itself where ever it wants to and has kind of become a pest.  But it is such a nice addition to the garden at this time of year when it blooms white and sends it's wonderful sweet scent into the air.  It is just starting to show a few blossoms and I will be sure to share of photo of it in full bloom later.

The Chinese Lantern...a showy addition for Fall and a great addition to your Autumn displays.  These were planted by my husband's grandmother, Odetta, that used to live here.  They pop up all over every year and if you are not carefull will take over. 

I love when these decide to bloom.  Surprise or Resurrection Lillies, as they are sometimes called, pop-up at this time of year and truely are a sweet surprise!  These were also planted by Odetta or possibly her in-laws that lived here prior to her.  If you are not familiar with them the green foliage grows tall and proud in the Spring then slowly dies back as Summer carries on.  Then once you have forgotten the the plants exist they pop out of the ground to say hello.  A vary old fashioned flower that is often the only thing left behind at an old homestead where all buildings and other signs of life have been torn down but these beauties often remain. 

Here they are in the middle of the yard.  I always mow around the foilage in the Spring to make sure I will be treated by these blooms later on.

Have you checked to see you what if your garden has any surprises for you?

Enjoy nature's beauty! 

Amy

A peek at my style...

I thought I would share a little peek around my home.  I love little stuff, I always have, so I created small vignettes of things throughout my home.  Some of the little treasures belonged to my Grandmother's some I have just picked up here and there.  The photos are not the best as I have alot to learn with my new camera but I hope you still enjoy a little part of me!

 I bought this amazing window from Barb(Simply Iowa) a few years ago at a show before we moved into our new home.  I knew right where it was going as soon as I saw it.  I have quite a few of her gatherings throughout the house that I have purchased over the years.

I found this vintage bowling pin, that I love, years ago while antiquing.  It moves around alot but I always have a special place for it. 

As you can see I love muted colors, different textures, weathered elements and anything that has soul.   I never know what I am looking for I just know it when I see it or it just speaks to me.  And this philosophy is usually what I follow when I am gathering goods for the shop, I simply buy what I like and it seems to all flow together in the end.  I always hope you love what I have found as much as I do.

I hope you enjoyed this little snapshot of some of the things I love and hope it has also brought you some inspiration for your home.

Enjoy!

Amy