On the B List this week is...
And what could be prettier for Pink Saturday
over at How Sweet the Sound than this pretty blog?
It is full of lovely little treasures.
Planning an evening at the opera? If so, you might want to stop by the Bella Rosa Antiques Shop and grab you a pair of these-
Meet the very pretty Jillian. Isn't she just the picture of loveliness?
Maybe it's the red hair (of which I'm partial to since I am a mother of a red head.) Red heads have an advantage over the rest of us. They possess an auroa when they enter the room. I wonder if that's how she gets such good deals? Let's talk to her and find out.
So what is your secret to finding so many fabulous antiques, Jillian?
"Well, besides having an “eagle eye” and patience, I’d say the best way to find antiques is to go where the dealers are. They’ve done most of the hard work already! Sure you’ll pay retail but sometimes you can find deals with vendors who like to buy a lot and sell quickly (slightly cheaper) to make room for more. I can run off (for some Mommy free time) to an antique mall and move as quickly as possible through the dealer’s booths. By now, I know who buys what I like and spend more time in their spaces."
What's the best or single most important piece of advice you can give us on finding antiques?
"Buy what makes your heart go pitter patter. At least, this is how I find inventory for Bella Rosa. I can actually hear myself thinking “ooooh yeah!” and “there it is!” as I quickly pick up my latest find and add it to my growing pile. It did take me awhile to get into a groove for the website but now I know what people like. If you’re interested in trying out antiques for the first time, it is simple. You’ve heard it before, BUY WHAT YOU LOVE. It really works. You’ll find a way to incorporate you new found treasure into your décor or collections. If you have a shop like me and an item does not sell, you have an antique that you liked from the start."
Do you have a difficult time parting with your finds and not keeping them in your own home? "Believe it or not, not too often. I think I have become unattached. Being surrounded by my finds all of the time is enough for me. I enjoy each piece for a little while and it goes off to a new home. Then I find more and the cycle continues. I tend to sell the pretty things and collect some of my basics like LuRay dinnerware and antique books. I’m also very nostalgic and hang onto things that were once owned by a relative or a friend."
Will we ever get a peek inside your home?
"I have shown the inside of my house on occasion. More so when I had my first blog, Jillian’s Pages. I am not crazy about my décor even though friends and family say they like it!. If it were up to me, I’d redo many of our rooms as soon as possible but since I’m sharing it with Dear Hubs I have to be patient. We moved in five years ago and I think the first renovation on the 70’s kitchen wore him out. Plus, watching a toddler is very time consuming!"
Go follow her blog here! You will be delighted with beautiful antiques and stories like this:
"This pair of toe shoes is one of my most valued treasures. I wore them on stage during The Nutcracker, to dance a Fairy Doll Waltz, and a pageant or two.
Plus all of the dance classes and rehearsals."
"I remember sewing the ribbons on myself in high school, excited with the anticipation of breaking in a new pair of toe shoes.
Nothing could make me feel more graceful or more beautiful than when I was dancing "en Pointe."
Very special shoes, indeed."
And a very special blog...
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