Thanks Linda, that little set-up sure gives me a lot of pleasure. It makes me smile when I look at it, and maybe feel just a tiny bit of the magic that surrounds fairies. I have stuff from GW that I want to add to it soon, just haven't gotten to it yet. A tiny birdbath, that purple fairy tree I posted about a week or so ago, and some other little things. I love the 'hunt' in GW to find things for fairies, or my gnome garden. Susie, you just come on down. I was out playing ball with the dogs while ago and thinking of you. We've got blue skies and supposed to be in the 70s this week. Phoenix actually doesn't "do winter". LOL. We have two seasons here....HOT and Not Hot. Unfortunately the HOT lasts about 7 months or more!! As for sunshine, guy on news the other night said we get something like 340 days of sunshine!!! And folks wonder why I love GREY skies. LOL. They are an absolute treat for me, along with rain. hugs, Karen

They don't have a website, but you can order and get a catalog by e-mail from Cape Cod Violetry. E-mail is violets@cape.com. If you have just a few plants, purchasing the soilless potting mix may be enough for you. I haven't used it myself, but I know many people that use it exclusively with great success. Shipping is very reasonable. With the number of shows at this time of year, it may take a bit longer to get your order, but that should abate in a few weeks. They also have a very complete line of pots of all sizes. Barbara

Wow! Great info. I know that I can't go treasure hunting for too much for the build given that we now live in Houston, but I'd love to hit an architectural salavage place to find some door knobs, hinges for French doors and old tiles for the fireplace. I'd be happy of I could just have some old door knobs & not just reproductions. Of course, they may not match up with the way the modern doors are drilled, so it may be a pipe dream for a new house. I think y'all are convincing me to hold off on doing conventional built-ins by the fireplace and hope I can find some unique pieces to be fitted in, later. Eastern European really piqued my interest because I have a collection of Matryoshka dolls, lacquerd boxes and "laser" crystal pieces that I picked up on my trips to Moscow (in a famous flea market on the outskirts) which I would like to display. Have any of you used soapstone & where did you find it? The websites for Slabco, Classic Granite & G&L Marble show pretty slim pickings. I know there is a place up in VA where some is still mined & they have imports. Is there anywhere closer than that? I forgot about the rock slide, but it should be cleared by the time we would do any serious hunting for items. If anyone thinks of a neat place I should look at, just pop it on the thread. Ummm, I looked at Mapquest & Knoxville is only about 150 miles from TR, so that is a fairly easy daytrip (plus, traveling through the mountains should be lovely.) We're only finishing the main level and my sewing/crafts room on the lower level for now. Once we get there, I can take my time to find stuff for the rest of the lower level. Good to know that one can buy furniture at High Point and not have to take immediate delivery. Years ago, DH & I took a little day trip down there when we were up to Raleigh for Thanksgiving. DH grew up in Wadesboro, NC & went to school at NC State. Mom lived in Raleigh before she passed in 2006. We've been to Winston-Salem a few times to visit Reynolda House and to go hiking in the general area. As a matter of fact, several of the daughters of my 6 times great grandfather moved with their families from PA to NC to help found the Moravian settlement in Wachovia, so I must have distant kin in the Carolinas. OK, its late & I'm rambling. We talk to two more builders tomorrow to go over their preliminary bids. Its finally starting to seem real & we could be in our "forever" home by the end of the summer.

Pastel M&M's Small colored/clear plastic eggs Dried lavender flowers Fine/medium pot pourri Silk flowers taken off their stems Dried flowers/large petals - delphinium florets or rose petals are the ones I've used Small/medium size natural rocks - a more natural/organic look but come in many colors Large beads if you could buy in bulk so not as expensive Look in the bulk section of your grocery store. There are many things that can work - just pick a color you like or mix a few different ones together. Anything dried with a texture can look interesting. I've used flavored whole coffee beans and they impart a nice scent in the room for awhile. One idea I like altho have never done yet is to plant some grass in a container and put tealights on it. Seem to recall it may have been Martha Stewart's idea. Perhaps there were small colored eggs on it as well. I know Michaels has quite a few vase fillers such as the glass marbles, shells, rocks, etc. Oakleyok, I love your painted pinecones! So many possibilities for color.