A Folk Artists Thoughts...

"My Does the Time Fly By..."

2010-08-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

Well It Seems That As Soon As I Turn Around I Missed Summer, Not the Heat and Humidity, Just July? I Know I Have Been Busy Working on New Folk-Art Pieces for Fall and Orders for All the Different Venues I Sell Too; But It Seems to Me That As Soon As The Fireworks Go Off, Time Flies.
It Has Been a Great Sumertime Here In Nashville, TN. We Have Overcome a Flood, Overwhelming Heat, and Everyone Has Been ReEvaluating Life and Objects More and More... This Past Week I Took Time For My Self and Re Designed My "Art Room" What A Task It Was! Now I Feel More Invigorated and Excited To Make More New and Interesting Things. ( I will Share More About That Later...Still Trying to Get It All Back In the Room, Hahahahaaaa)

I Took Some Time Off and Went to Northern Michigan, Playing in the Lake, Eating Rasberry Pie, Getting Out on the Ski Boat, and Yes I Actually Went to The Pool This Year! Other Than Just Playing I Have Been Dilligently Working, Too. I Have Put Some Fun Summer Knomes, Mushrooms, Moss, and Alot Of Quirk In My Shop-Booth #309 at Gaslamp Antique and Decorating Mall. http://www.gaslampantiques.com/ Starting Putting Some of the Soon To Be Overdone, Owls This Season and a Few Garden People to Start It Off. With Great Reviews to Start I Can't Wait to Show You All The New Look I Have Come Up With This Year, It Will Be Great! I Just Was Finishing Up the New Cover Pieces for the "Busy Bee Trader's" Cover Artwork for Phillip's General Store's Open House to Be Held On September 17th, 18th and 19th...I Will Be There That Friday Night Signing New Pieces That I Made Just For Billy's Open House!
Well Thats a Little Glimpse Into How My Summer Has Been Going, Hope You All Have Had Just A Good Time As I Have! Take Time and Enjoy Each Day, Because Believe Me The Time Does Fly By...

Have a Great Day! Jason

"It's Six Months 'Til Christmas...!"

2010-06-25T19:48:00.001-05:00

Well I Almost Let the Day Get By, But Had to Let Everyone Know....It's Six Months "Til Christmas! Growing Up Each Month My Dear Sweet Mother Would Always Count Down The Months and Annoy Me and My Sister, Amy To Death. It Was a Growing Joke Each Year and Now I Miss It!
I Was Actually Outside Today In this 90 Degree Heat Working on Ornaments and Snow Covering Snowmen. Ever Know When You Think of a Childhood Memory and Get Emotional, Today Was Mine! I Started Laughing So Hard I Cried...It's June 25th, Well All I Could Hear in the Back of my head was...It's Six Months 'Til Christmas, That Is My Thought and Memory for the Day!

I Hope Each and Every One Of You Can Enjoy Such A Thought Each and Every Year that Brings Us Back To Childhood and Loving Our Mothers...Have a Great Day and Thanks for Listening to My Sappy Memory That Makes Me Smile...Especially on June 25th!
Well Funny Thing, Last Night Before Dinner I Talked to Mom on the Phone...She Brought It Up, and We Laughed and Laughed and Laughed a Few More Times. It's Always Fun to Have Those Little Things To Remember the Best of Times!
"Countdown" Begins...

Jason

"How About a RC Cola and Moon Pie...."

2010-06-18T08:11:00.000-05:00

This Time of the Year...Summer Has Arrived, Kids Are Out of School, Pools Are Open, Picnics Are Planned and I Am Ready For A Festival to Start Off the Season. When the Temperature Rises and Historic Bell Buckle is All a Buzz, You Know Its Time to Celebrate the South's Two Most Beloved Icons...RC Colas and Moon Pies!
The "16th Annual RC Moon Pie Festival"
Will Be This Saturday, June 19th 2010
from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Bell Buckle, Tennessee.
http://www.bellbucklechamber.com/

The Day Will Begin with 1000 Runners Taking Part in the 15th Annual RC and Moon Pie 10 Mile Run. The Festivities Continues with 50 Art and Craft Booths, Live Music and Cloggers. Food Vendors Will Offer Such Fares as Turkey Legs, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, and "Deep Fried Moon Pies. The Fun Filled Day Will Continue with the RC Moon Pie Parade which Will Wind Through the Historic Town with "Mr.RC and Miss Moon Pie" Leading the Way. Following Closely Behind Will Be the "RC King and Moon Pie Queen, RC Prince, and Moon Pie Princess." This Year's Recipient of Honor is a Middle Tennessee Family Who Lost Everything in the May 1st Flood! The RC and Moon Pie Festival Will Be Requesting a $1.00 Admission/Donation Per Person. "Every Single Dollar Collected Will Be Given to This Family to Help Rebuild Their Lives!" They Will Be Given The "Royal Treatment" for The Weekend with Free Lodging and Dining During Their Stay...
For the King and Queen's Arrival, Bell Buckle Will be "Beefing Up" Our Security. The Black Stretch Limousine with Tinted Windows will be Surrounded by the Bell Buckle Secret Service Foot Patrol. An Army of Six Children will be Dressed in RC Cola Can Costumes, Moon Pie Hats, Sunglasses and Ear Pieces. The "Royal Family" will be Escorted Safely to Captain Rodney's Main Stage for the Official Coronation.

Taking Center Stageas Always, is the Wildly Popular RC Cola and Moon Pie Games! The Games Include the Moon Pie Toss, Watermellon Seed Spitting, and a Hog Calling Contest. The Perfect Ending to the Day Will Be when the Royal Family Cuts and Serves the "Worlds Largest Moon Pie" to Their New Court. In Bell Buckle We Say, "Let Them Eat Cake" with a Big, Gooey Smile!
I Hope Everyone Who Can Attend Makes Their Pilgrimage to Exciting Bell Buckle Tennessee. I Had to Go Up There This Week to Take Pictures and Get the Story to Share to Y'All...All I Can Say Is; That This Town Is Intoxicating With Its Energy and Excitement! With Moon Pies Stacked to The Ceiling at "Phillips General Store" And RC Colas for Days, This Weekend Thousands Will Be There. Now I Can Honestly Say I Know Why Bell Buckle Was Nominated To Be One of The "Best Towns in America Contest!" I Will Be There With A Big Smile to Enjoy The Annual Activities.
Have a Great Day!

Jason

"Summer Kick Off...@ Roses and Rustics"

2010-06-02T19:56:00.003-05:00

Well This Week Has Been A Real Short One, With the Holiday Weekend Past. I Am Starting Off the Summer Fun With An Open House @ "Roses and Rustics" Vintage Goods and More! A Fantastic Shop of Jane Zavala, Photographer, Antiques Dealer, Creator of Wonderful Objects and Art! I Was Honored When She Asked Me If I Wanted to Put My Folk Art Creations In Her Shop...I Just Love Her Whole Look. Minimalist Yet Artsy and Very Current and Now.
http://www.rosesandrustics.com/

I Went In an Added a Little (Hahahaaa) Red, White and Blue to Start Off this Summer With a Bang! Made Many Things, Uncle Sams, Rabbits, and a Couple of Stawberry People, Too. Had Fun Creating Sachets Lately...Loving the Lavender I Must Say. I Came Up With Some Great "Vintage Photograph Sachets" Premeiring at This Open House, I Woke Up One Night and Said, "I Know Just What I Want To Do, It is So Jane's Shop...So I Got Up And Ran To The Workroom To Start My Process. I Think It Turned Out Great, Even Down To The Handmade Tags That Look Like an Old Photo Would Be!

I Even Made an "Uncle Sam" That Will Be A Door Prize Drawing For A Lucky Person! Lots Of Good Antiques, Candles, Jewlery, Furniture...and Much Much More to Offer At This Event.
I Will Be Guest Appearing, Signing Items and Showing Off Some Of the New Creations for This Summer!
Thursday June 3rd From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hope To See You There. I Will Be Adding More Photos Tommorrow Night After the Big Day Event, Too.
The Sale Runs Thursday June 3rd, 4th, and 5th 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each Day!
If You See Anything You Want On Here, In The Pictures...Just Let Me Know I Can See If They Are Still Available and Send or Hand Deliver To You!

At The Gaslamp Antiques and Decorating Mall They Now Have an On Line E-Magazine...I Was Lucky To Be Interviewed For It This Weeks "Dealer Q and A"...Check It Out-Enjoy!
www.gaslampantiques.com/magazine/
This Weekend Is The Annual Charity Event I Do With the "American Cancer Society" Called "Shooter's Ball" Held Here In Nashville TN. Wait Until You See What All I Am Doing, It Is Going To Be GREAT!!!
I Will Do A Whole Post On it After This Saturday's Event. Lots of Famous People Will Be Attending, Other Than Just Me and My Friends Too...LOL
Have a Great Day!

Jason

"Summer is Near...Let's Have Fun!"

2010-05-21T10:58:00.000-05:00

Well Summer is Near...Soon as "Memorial Day" Comes I Think the Next Few Months Fly By! I Am Always Entertaining and Enjoying Each Holiday Season, Whether With Friends or a Client, Even Making My Folk Art Creations Themed (Of Course!) I Try To Enjoy Life More and More. So Come on Summer I Am Ready to Have FUN!
I Did an Article for "Nashville Lifestyles Magazine" ~ Summer Party Spectacular. "Red and Blue Are a Hot Summer Party Theme, Even Beyond the Fourth of July.

Summer's Here-We Know That From the Heat. Why Not Plan a "Picnic Party"-Without Burning Sun, Bugs or Stress? With These Simple Tips and a Few Great Accessories, Everyone Can Have a Super Summer Party.
Nothing Makes You Think Summer Like a Picnic with a Red, White and Blue Theme, and you Can Enjoy This One Indoors.
Remember Years Gone By When We'd Pack a Quilt or Tablecloth in a Basket, Along With Food and Treats, and Head Out to have a Great Get-Together? Just Plan It with a Twist- Use Your Memories and bring them Inside for a Spectacular Event.

Jason's Summer Party Tips

Tablecloth or Quilt-
Use These Simple Covers for Your Table or Buffet. Soften Up The Look- Instead of a Stuffy, Starched Cloth, This Makes Summer More Carefree and Comfortable.

Baskets or Crates-

Great for Holding Napkins, Dinnerware, Fruit and Finger Foods. Use an Old Strawberry Square Basket to Hold Cocktail Napkins or Groupings of Fresh Fruit for Your Guests' Enjoyment. There Eisier to Carry Around than Cocktail Plates, Too.

Vases-

To Create a Simple Centerpiece, Pull Out a Grouping of Vases and Use Electrical Tape (Found at the Hardware Store in Red, White and Blue ) To Make Them Looked Like Striped Fireworks. Just Tape On Varying Stripes and You Have an Amazing, Quick Party Trick! You Could Even Style Your Drink Glasses This Way, If You Really Want to Have a Festive Look.

Signature Drink-
I Really Think That Nothing Is More Refreshing than Lemonade. Fresh-Squeezed ( Or Even Pink ) Lemonade Can Be Spruced Up with Fresh Cut Strawberries or Lemons- With or Without the Vodka, Depending on Your Guest List. Or, Serve a Little of Both! Also, Fix a Big Pitcher of Water With Fresh Mint. Very Soothing.

Party Favors-
A Box of Sparklers, AN Old Fashioned Nut Cup Filled With Fruit Instead of Candy, Packaged Gourmet Brownies or an Adorable Patriotic Bunny in a Clay Pot Would All Make Charming Gifts for Your Guests to Take Home to Remember Your Party.

Pillows-

A Good Way to Make Your Home or Porch Look More Summery is to Place Some Appropriate Pillows out. Star Shaped Designs in Ticking, Stripes or Outdoor Fabrics Make a Patriotic Impact.

Enjoy This Summer and Show Your Patriotic Spirit- Throw a Picnic Party in Red, White and Blue- Its a Guarenteed Great Time! Pull Out The American Flag for the Front Porch and Enjoy a Glass Of Lemonade and Reflect on "Day's Gone By!"

Jason Parker Counce

http://www.jasonparkercouncedesigns.com/

Photography by Amy Meyer-

Amy@AMeyerDesign.com

http://www.nashvillelifestyles.com/

Please Check Out My Storefront Shop When in Nashville,TN. at "Gaslamp Antique and Decorating Mall".
I Have Just ReDone and Put Out Some of My Patriotic Creations, Booth #309. Thank You.

http://www.gaslampantiques.com/

Have a Great Day!
Jason

"Less Is More..."

2010-04-20T20:04:00.000-05:00

Well I Thought I Would Say That I Always Love to Go To A Great Antique Tag or Estate Sale...Less Has Always Been More Exciting! Then This Year I Was Asked If I Would Come to An Estate in Kentucky To Appraise it and Do An Estate Sale, I Said "Why Not What Else Did I Have To Do!"

Let Me Just Say When I Got There I Didn't Know What To Expect, My Mouth Almost Dropped...There Was So Much Good Stuff My Heart Was Jumping For Joy!!! This Was a Mass-Collection of Over Three Generations; A Treasure Trove of Antiques and Wonderful Reproduction Furniture, Fine Art, Oriental Rugs,Silver Serving Pieces and Flatware, China, Glassware, Lamps Quilts, Antique and Modern Decorative Accessories Galore! The Gentleman Had Great Taste, Although I Never Had Met Him; I Could Tell He Was a Character, Liked To Entertain, and Have Extremely Nice Things Around Him.

This Home Was Converted From Originally Being a Church in the 1800's, First Walking Into The Parlor With The Large Carved Wooden Door. With A Sitting Area That Has a Baby Grand Piano and All These Great Needlepoint Chairs, French Tables and an Empire Mahogony Center Table with White Marble Top. Then We Moved To The Dining Room, With A Handsome Double Pedestal Mahogany Dining Table With Banding and Eight Chippendale Style Chairs. Then I Look Up, To My Amazement There Is A "Waterford Crystal Chandelier" ;and A Ton Of Cut Glass and Silver Candleticks on the Table. A Fine Antique Reproduction Sheraton Style Sideboard Held A Silver Tea Service, Etched With A Monogram.
Let Me Say That The Artwork Collection Around The House Is Astounding, With Oils, Lithographs, Watrcolors, 50's French Oil Paintings (Lucien DeLarue, Maggie Cazau, Antoine Blanchard) and 70's Sterling Strauser Paintings ,Too - All From A Famous Gallery in Nashville "Lyzon's".
Moving On To The Kitchen Where Cabinets Were Filled To The Brim With Over 100 Waterford Glasses, Sets and Sets of Dishes- Coleport, Noretake, and Haviland Limoges,Too! Then to the Living Room, There Were Many Styles of Furniture Victorian, English Georgian, American, Primitives, and Asian.

Now Onward to The Two Bedrooms Where a Stately Spool Bed Sat In One, and a Depression Era Bedroom Suite Sat In The Other...All In Pristine Condition.
Then I Was Asked If I Wanted To See The "Upstairs" This Was Like Stepping Into A Movie, It Was An Etire Room Packed To The Ceiling With Three Generations Of Items All Perfectly Packed, Placed and Preserved in Time! There Was an Early Wardrobe I Opened Up And It Was Full, Class Candlesticks, Old China, and Quilts. Then Turn Around to See Over 100 Lamps of Every Era! Then I Saw Old Trunks and Was Anticipating the Unearthing of It, First One Had Old Memorabelia, Pictures, Notes and Victorian Clothing. The Next Steamer Trunk Opened To Find A Perfect Crazy Quilt and Matching Sham All Handsewn and Beautiful.
That Was Just The Initial Visit or Two...Then Came The Reinforcements, I Had To Call In My Friends for Help! I Told Billy Phillips He Was Going To Help Me, and Asked Barbara and Dann Wells To As Well. So That Was The Beginning To This Story, Now A Month And a Half Later We Are About to Have The Sale This Week!

ANTIQUE ESTATE SALE
520 West Park Street
Guthrie, KY. 42234
Hours:
Thursday, April 22nd 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. - Price As Marked
Friday, April 23rd 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. - 25% Off
Saturday, April 24th 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - 50 % Off

We Have Moved, Hauled, Cleaned and Transformed This Estate Sale To Be Better Than Anyone Of Us Have Been To! First Off We Moved All Of The Furniture Downstairs, Then Unearthed Everything Upstairs and Placed It In The Appropriate Spots Down Stairs. Making Each Room Look Better Than An Antique or Decorators Shop!
Hope To See You There and See All The Amazing and Wonderful Collections of Years Gone By!
Have a Great Week-

Jason

"Should I Fall Behind...Wait For Me!"

2010-04-16T19:10:00.000-05:00

Yes, I Can Honestly Say I Had To Take Time Off For "Good Behavior!" These Past Few Weeks Have Been Busy For Me and Fun All At the Same Time. I Have Had Many Friends and Followers Ask Me This Past Week...Why Am I Not Blogging As Much? I Can Only Explain What I Have Been Doing...

I Helped Billy Phillips Get His "Springtime Open House" Ready, and It Was Such a Big Sucess! I Was At The Opening That Friday Night To Sign All Of My New Folk Art Pieces I Made Just For His Shop- "Phillips General Store" in Bell Buckle, TN.

Then Early That Next Saturday Morning Headed To The Airport To Take A Well Deserved "Get Away". Went Down To Tampa, Florida...Then To Siesta Key, Followed Up At Universal Studios For Some "Big Kid Fun", As Well! My Heart Almost Stopped When We Were Driving Closer and Closer To Universal...I Could See In The Distance The Tip Tops Of The Buildings That Will Be The "Harry Potter" Area...It Will Be Amazing, I Have To Go When It Opens Up! It Was So Exciting To See What I Saw Over The Years In All The Movies Come To Life Right In Front Of My Eyes, WOW!
Also In This Mix of Busyness...I Have Taken On An Estate Sale To Top All Estate Sales. ( I Will Be Posting About That Later This Weekend!) Working For Weeks Trying To Compile and Pull Together Three Generations Of Antiques and Stuff ! I Had To Call For Help, So Billy, Barbara and Dann Came To The Rescue and We Will Be Putting It On Next Week!
Oh Yes, I Am An Uncle Now...My Sister Amy Had Her First Child Named Owen Matthew Meyer...He Also Is The First Grandchild So My Mother and Grandmother,"Mama2" Are Beside Themself With Happiness, As Am I ! I Was So Excited I Had To Go And See What High End Coutour' Baby Bags I Could Buy For Me...I Have To Look Stylish When and If I Take Him Out! Hahahahaa My Sister Allready Told Me That She Bought The Most Modern Orange and Chrome Stroller for Him ~ Just So I Could Play, Too. Well Lets Just Say He Will Be Spoiled Rotten, Just Like Me!
Well I Have Rambled On and Caught Up For Lost Time...I Was On The Treadmill Earlier, Listening To My Ipod When A Great Song Came On..."Should I Fall Behind...Wait For Me!" By Faith Hill ~ BREATHE That Was What I Felt Like And Hope You Will Wait When I Catch Up!
Have a Great Weekend!

Jason

"Alice In Wonderland ~ Spring Open House"...

2010-03-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

Well It Is The Morning Of The Annual "Spring Open House" I Have Been Doing For Many, Many Years Now At "Phillips General Store" in Bell Buckle, TN.
Billy and I Have Been Friends For More Years Than I Need To Count, Comming Up With Fun New Ideas On How To Make Our Open Houses More Memorable...This Season We Went With "Alice In Wonderland!"

I Have Been Obsessed Making "Tags" and Sayings to Tie Onto Everything! Bunnys On Boxes, Bases,Paper Mache' Eggs, Even On Mushrooms,Too. The Windows Were Done Earlier In The Week and Do They Look Good! One Is "Alice At The Bell Buckle Tea Party" and The Other "The Mad Haberdashery!" All Done With Antiques and Funnery...
I Thought For Over 30 Years Growing Up And Visiting This Fun Place; That Bell Buckle Was Such A Great Small Town...Now It Is Official! The Have Made It In The Top 10 "Single Best Town Contest" Sponsored By Kraft Singles and Disney!

I was visiting Disney Family.com

A Stitch in Time Single Best Town Contest Finalists...All We Need To Do Is Go On The Website, Sign Up And Vote Once Every 24 Hours To Help Them WIN! Forward This To All Your Friends, Lets Support Small Towns Everywhere!

http://family.go.com/best-town-contest/finalists/a-stitch-in-time-23703/

Now I Am Headed On Down The Road To That "Single Best Town" BELL BUCKLE For The "Spring Open House"....Hope To See You There.

Have a Great Weekend,Too-
Jason

"Spring Cleaning!"

2010-03-14T12:42:00.001-05:00

I Went Out Antiquing and Found An Old Metal 1940's Sign That Said - "Washing"...Thats All It Took!

My Mind Started With All I Can Do With This,

'Theme'. My Version of "Spring Cleaning!"

I Could See Many Things Working Together, Clotheslines, Metal Washtubs, Old Wooden Clothes Pins and All That Would Be Washed...Then The Obsession Started, I Went Home and Started Pulling Together a Collection of Vintage and Antique Items. Quilts and Feather Pillows, Ticking Fabrics, Homespun Aprons, Old Transferware and Ironstone Dishes and Platters...Then to The Drawing Board. I Have an Over All Idea, Now To Make It "Over The Top!"

I Imagined Spring Flowers Starting to Bloom, Tulips, Daffodils and The Smell Of Ivory Soap. Brings Back Memories Of The Days Mom Would Hang Out The Quilts and Blankets Each Spring To Freshen Them Up. My Grandmother Always Used Her Clothesline In The Back Yard When I Was a Child, The Old Fabric Clothes Pin Bag Hung Out All Spring, The Wind Would Blow the Clothes Dry and Leave Them So Fresh and Earthy. I Always Loved The Back Yard at My Grandmother, "MaMa2's", Lots of Moss and Rocks and Every Spring Her Whole Yard Was Covered With Purple Violets-Her Favorite, And Yellow Daffodils Bloomed; Planted So Perfect Around the Bird Bath! This Reminds Me Of Spring...A Few Years Back She Gave Me Her Collection of China Dishes She Cherished So, Violet Pattern. I Will Always Enjoy Using Them Too...They Were Only Used on Easter Growing Up, So On Her Big Birthday I Threw a Dinner Party for All The Family and Used Her "Violet" Dishes To Set The Table...She Was Very Pleased! Commenting On; She Knew I Would Enjoy Using Them More Than Anyone-They Were My Favorite. I Know Now That If You Comment On Anything To Your Grandmother, She Listens and Never Forgets!

Now Back to The Springtime Display...I Gathered Up Blue Glass Canning Jars To Use As Vases, Along With A Trip To The Store...Old Dutch Cleaner, Ivory Bars of Soap, And Old Fashioned Bags of Laundry Soap, Too. Now To Pull It All Together, I Had To Finish Shopping for the Other Things I Just Didn't Have on Hand. A Few Wooden and Metal Washboards To Use as Trays, Old Wire Dish Drainers, A Few More Wooden Clothes Pins Would Complete The Look.
I Went to The Garden Store and Got a Few Forced Bulbs of Tulips to Use in Old Concrete Planters and My Glass Jar Vases,Too. Loaded Up The Car and Went To Create A Feeling of Spring at My Booth...Here's My Version of "Spring Cleaning!"

Many People Have Been Asking Me About Where Do I Sell My Folk Art I Make...Here Are A Few Spots on My Website http://www.jasonparkercouncedesigns.com/ "Look Under Retail Shops,and Also Try http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/

This Time of Year I Am Frantically Finishing Up the Orders For My Loyal Shops Across the Country and Here in Nashville Tennessee,Too! Working Late Hours Painting Paper Mache' Easter Eggs; Adorning Them With Old Ribbons and Millinery Flowers. Sewing Up Bunnys of Mohair, Cashmere and Old Cotton Batting... Making Them All Springy and Easter Styles,Too.

Hope Everyone Has A Great Week!
Enjoy-

Jason

"Wonderland in Bell Buckle - Tennessee..."

2010-03-07T10:17:00.000-06:00

Well I Have Been Off in Wonderland...
Busy Creating, Getting Inspired, and Just Enjoying-"Having Fun!"
Getting Ready for Our Annual "Spring Open House" with My Friend, Billy Phillips at His Store in Bell Buckle Tennessee. Yes It Is an Odd But Quaint Town, Where Everyone In Town Knows Each Other...And Can Spot Us "Visitors" A Mile Away! This Time Of The Year When Spring Is In The Air, The Forced Flower Bulbs Are Comming Up To Greet Us, And Daffodils or Buttercups Are About to Bloom; It Is Time To Have The Spring Open House...At "Phillips General Store!"

Revisiting Yesteryear At The 1870's Dry Goods Store That Is Filled With Unusual Antique Treasures From Traditional to Whimsical. There Is Always Lots of Fresh, One-Of-A-Kind Merchandise Being Held Back, Just For The Spring Show. Billy and I Will Be Transforming the Store All Week In Anticipation of the Friday Night Opening...March 19th, 20th, & 21st 2010. The Theme This Season is "Alice in Wonderland!" We Have Been Anticipating This For Months and Months, Working on This Time Old Classic Tale We All Know and Remember So Dear.

I Have Been So Inspired Looking Through Old Books, Reading the Story Again, Even Shopping To Find Inspiration,Too. I Found An Oversized Coloring Book from 1973...My Heart Started Jumping, I Was So Excited and Inspired, Just Like I Was a Child Again! This Whole Idea Billy Proposed To Me Many Months Back, Got My Thoughts Flowing. What Do I Remember About the Story? Everyone Has There Own Memory and I Think We Will Inspire You All In One Way Or Another. Just Wait Until You See The Two Display Windows...This Will Be Mezmorizing and Invigorating...

I Have Created My Own "Folk Art" InSpired By Alice Just For This Open House...Working On Rabbits, Alice's, Chesire Cats, Queens, Hats, Boxes and Much Much More...I Will Be In Town Friday Evening Signing All My Pieces Just For The Collectors Of My "One Of A Kind' Creations,Too!

Got To Get Back To Work....Or I Will "BE LATE..." For A Very Imporant Date!

Friday March 19th - 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday March 20th - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday March 21st - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Hope To See You All There!

Jason

" Love is in The Air..."

2010-02-14T12:34:00.000-06:00

Today Out of All Days Is a Time to Reflect, Love is in the Air...

Its Valentines Day!

Not Only a Time to Enjoy the Ones You Love, or Your Sweetheart, or What Truely Drives Your Heart ~ Your Passion! I Have Been Really Busy These Past Few Weeks Creating "Folk Art", Buying Antiques and Getting It All Together For The Antique Show I Just Finished Up Last Night.

I Can Only Say, "I Love What I Do!" It Was An Amazing Show-"Antiques at Music Valley" Right Here in Nashville,TN. Many Dear Friends, Customers and Just Nice People Attended, With Such Encouraging Words and Inspiration!

My Best Friend Billy and I Pulled Together The Booth and Tried to Be Minimalistic. (Ha Ha Ha ...Well It Was For Us!)
An Over All Look Was Very "Garden" Inspired, Mixed With Architectural Pieces, Folk Art, Bunnies and Bears, Birds and Birdcages, Textiles and Quilts, Even Good Classic Country Furniture!
Enjoying What You Do Is Such A Pleasure, I Love It!
"Wishing Everyone a Very Happy Valentines Day!"

Have a Great Week, Too!

Jason

"Snowfalls in Nashville..."

2010-01-31T12:45:00.002-06:00

I Have Been Working on So Many Great New "Folk Art" Items to Share Soon! Having Such a Busy Week, As We All Get...It Was Nice To Stop And Enjoy A Little Quiet Time.
I Was So Excited the Other Day on Friday, Woke Up and No Snow? Went About as Usual... I Was Collecting the Items From the Workroom Cupbord Shelves To Create Some, That Day. I Had My Arms Full, Turned Around and Looked Out The Window to See Snow Falling!
I Grabed the Camera and the Pup's and Went Outside to Take Some Pictures of the Beautiful Snowflakes.

It Was So Nice to See in the Back Yard My Statues, Benches, and Urns Just Starting Out With the Winter White Look. It Was So Odd to See the Snowfall Keep on Comming Down with Not Much Hesitation. I Was Working Some, Looking Out the Window More and More. Only to See It Getting White All Around!
Yesterday Was Serene As Well, When I Awoke There Was "Peace and Quiet". Not a Sole on the Road or Out, Then All The Neighbors Started to Appear as The Day Went On...Dogs Being walked on Their Leash, Kids and Some Sleds, And Us Adults Having "Snowball" Fights!
Its Been Quite a While Since Nashville Has Had a Snow This Big, All Said and Done it Was About 7 Inches of Snowfall, But So Well Worth The Wait! It Made Me Along With Many Others To Stop a Moment, Look Around and Just Enjoy the Day!

The "Antiques At Music Valley Show" is Fast Approaching...

Hope to See You There and Enjoying All the Great Antique Shows In Nashville This February!

http://www.musicvalleyantiquesmarket.com/

Hope Everyone is Enjoying Where They Are,

and Have a Great Day! Jason

"Today Is a BIG Day..."

2010-01-22T17:47:00.000-06:00

Looking Back I Can Not Believe I Am At A Milestone in My Life As Today! I Enjoy Life So Much and Am a "BIG Kid" at Heart, Lots of Energy and Imagination, Almost to the Point of Sillyness. I Am Who I Am...And a Mere Forty Years Ago I Came Into This World Ready To Take It On! I Was a Premie'; Weighing in at One Pound and A-Half...I Have Since Caught Up, LOL I Was Ready To Start Living and Enjoy All That Is Out There.

Mom Always Said to Me, "You Are Here For A Purpose...I Feel It is For Good!" I Try to Use My Creativity to Make People "Smile!"Growing Up in the 70's Have Always Feuled My Love Of Creating, Crafting, Gardening and Using What We Have. My Family Instilled in Me the Sense of Accomplishment in Making It Myself and Enjoying the "Simple Pleasures in Life!"

Today I Enjoyed My Morning Looking at Antiques, Junque' and Treasures at the Tennessee State Fair "Flea Market." Sifting Through All the Booths of Unknown Items, Looking for Items To Transform into Wonderful "Folk-Art" Masterpeices. One Item I Found Was an 1880's Bible, So Beautiful, Well Worn and Incredible Images on a Hand Written Peice of Paper in the Front. I Will Enjoy Looking at It!

Today I Also Met Up With My Sister, Amy. She Is About to Have a Baby Boy in March. The First Grandchild...Let Me Just Say, "He Hasn't a Chance in This Family- He Will Be Spoiled Rotten !" (Just Like ME!) I Am Helping Her Some With The Baby's Room , and Had to See The New Modern Crib That Came In. So Exciting!

Well Folks I Will Let You Know How the Rest Of My Birthday Turns Out, As Of Now, "It Is a Perfect Day!"
My Motto to Live By:
"In All Things Be True; And Try To Be a Better Person Everyday!"

Have a Great Weekend!
Jason

"I Am Ready For Spring Flowers!"

2010-01-17T11:05:00.000-06:00

Looking Back at The Wonderful Show I Did Last February in Nashville At "Antiques at Music Valley", I Had To See What My Look Was Then and Now For the Next Show!

I Was Absolutely Amazed to See What Billy Phillips and I Could, "Get So Much in Such a Small Space!" That I Had To Share Some of the Pictures With You,Too.

All The Fantastic Antiques, Folk Art, Garden, Textiles, and Springtime Holiday Items Were Bursting at The Seams... We Both Have Such Fun Setting Up the Whole Look, I Hope You Enjoy it With Me!

I am Such the Attention to Detail Guy...I Even Separated All the "Jelly Beans",and Aged Them Before Using In The Displays. Searching For Just The Right Primitive Furniture, Garden Urns, Old Metal Fence Pieces and Bunnies; Is My Passion. Then When it is All Pulled Together I Add My Favorite Finnishing Touches, The Flowers!

I Have Always Been an Avid Gardener, Must Have Been From Always Being at the Family Farm Growing Vegetables All Summer and Planting Flowers in The Fields. My Favorite Flower (Weed) is "Queen Ann's Lace, Classic! But For the Show I Used Many Tulips and Forced Branches, ALong With Fresh Pussywillow Stems.

We Look Forward to Having Another Great Show, Next Month in Nashville,TN...Can't Wait to Show Everyone All The Fantastic Antiques, "Folk Art" I've Made, and Collections of Wonderful Everyday Items, Too!
http://www.musicvalleyantiquesmarket.com/

Have a Great Day~Jason

"In All Things Be True!"

2010-01-15T09:33:00.000-06:00

In Character, In Manners, In Style, In All Things,
The Supreme Excellence Is Simplicity.
Longfellow 1807-1882

It is a Wonderful Day Today...The Birds Are Singing, The Sun is Shining, and I Have Been Working for Months on My "New Plan" for 2010! When I Said I Wanted to Devote All of My Time and Energy To My Artwork-Folk Art This Year I Meant It...
Today Is an Exciting Time For Me I Am Starting Out Selling My Wares on a Wonderful Website That Focuses on the Handmade. http://www.theprimitivegathering.com/

I am Overwhelmed with Exuberance and Have So Many Thoughts, Ideas and Projects to Work On! I Have Never really Taken the Time To Sit a Moment and Come Up With A Game Plan for My Visions. With Me Stepping Back, Looking at What I "Really" Want to Do Has Been Invigorating.

Last Year I Saw Myself Getting More and More Elated When I Was Creating in My Workshop, My "Folk Art". I Know We All Have a Purpose and Are Here For a Reason...I Think Mine Is To Make People "Smile" When The See My Art! Not For The Money or The Fame...Just For The Excitement of Enjoying A Vision of My Creations. I Always Have Had a Very Vivid Imagination, Now I Want To Put It To Good Use.

I Haven't Felt This Way Since I Showed My Artwork At The First Show I Did in Nashville. I Was So Pleased I Hand Stitched, Painted and Put Together "8 Pieces", Only To Be Bought By The First Person That I Spoke To. I Was In Shock That Someone Wanted The "Whole Collection", Very Humbled and Pleased That I Made Something That Others Appreciated As Much As I Did. It Was So Funny Too; I Still to This Day Remember I Said "I Guess I Am A True Artist Now, I Sold Out and Have Nothing Else For The Show...What Do I Do? Go Home and Make More Now!" So I Stayed Up All Night To Have At Least One Piece for the Rest Of The Weekend Show. Those Were the Days...The Beginning of My Career!

Over the Years I Have Been Very Blessed and Lucky! Back When I Was Just Out Of High School I Started All Of This Creating "Folk Art" Full Time. I Have Sold My Folk Art to Shops Across The Country and Abroad. Being Lucky Enough To Sell My Wares Though The Museum of American Folk Art, Galleries in New York, Hawaii, and California. I Was at That Time Making So Much, Like a Factory That I Got "Burnt Out!" I Chose To Take My Creative Ideas A Different Route For a While, Doing Buying For a Furniture and Gift Shops, Interior Design and Event Planning.

Now I Am Back To My Roots- "Full Circle!"

Thanks For Listening to My Thoughts and Aspirations. I Am So Pleased to Be Doing What I Am Doing with My "Folk Art" That I Had To Share My Thoughts With You Today! Have a Great Weekend and Check Out The New Venture at "The Primitive Gathering!"

Jason

"Spring Is In The Air..."

2010-01-13T13:23:00.002-06:00

YES, Spring Comes Early in Tennessee for 2010! I Have Started Early in Anticipation for the Nashville Antique Shows in February I Will Be Involed In... So I Did My Booth in "My Look"...Folk Art, Primitive, French, Industrial, With A Little Modern Twist and Themed it ALL NATURAL! Tones of Brown, Cream, and Blue-Greens All Say; Change In the Season Is Here!
Check Out My Booth #309 When In Nashville! http://www.gaslampantiques.com/

An All Natural Look for Springtime with My Form of "Recycling", Vintage and Antiques! Started Out With Old Metal Sawhorses that Are a Rusty White with Vines And Leaves Appear to Be Growing on Them; Are Topped Off With An Old Painted Green and White Wooden Door. Made a Grand Table to Set the Theme! A Textile Quilt from the 1860's in the Backdrop with Tones of Cocoa Brown, Black, Grey and Indigo. I Think it is a "Butter Churn" Pattern, Thats What Some of My Fellow Antiquers Told Me...Is Fantastic, Yet Modern Today!

Old Wood, Wicker and Metal Vibe Well, "Like People of Different Intrests Can Still Work Well Together if You Have an Open Mind and Are Placed Together!" Hahahaa

An Assortment of Old Ironstone Dishes, Pottery, Baskets, Glass Cloche' Domes, Even Real (Hollowed Out) Natural Eggs and Herbs ~ Rosemary! ( Real, Faux', and Dried, By Me!)

Folk Art Knomes Hand Sewn and Painted Waits Sitting Atop a Felted Cabbage in an Old Flowerpot and Wood Base, Adorned With Antique Millinery Flowers, Crafted By Me!

One Of My Favorite Finds a 1930's Bird with a Nest Sitting on a Log Planter, Sits on an Old Ironstone Plate Protected With Its Tall Glass Cloche' Dome. I Added Some Natural Excelsor and Candy Eggs to Complete the Look. A Great Old Redware Clay Baking Bowl With Two Handles, Covered With a Wire Mesh That Resembles "Chicken Wire" To Me...Filled With My Own Dried "Rosemary Herb Potpourri."
Simple - Dried - Spring

A Grouping of Odd Flowerpots Always Make Me Smile...It Brings Back Memories of Being Asked to Go Out to The Shed and Get Some Pots to Plant Some Seeds In; to Put in the Windowsill At My Grandmothers House, "MaMa2". Yes, That Is Still What Everyone Calls My Grandmother! Funny Story About The "Nickname" Given By Me, Oh So Many Years Ago...I was About 2 1/2 and My Mother, Grandmother and I Were Going to Our Favorite Grocery Growing Up, H.G.Hill's. I Was In The Shopping Cart Being Me, "On Stage!" Some Lady Asked Me, "Who Is This?"...I Answered; "This Is My Mama and This is My MaMa2!" So History Was Made, Not to Mention I Was The First Grandchild and Still Put On A Pedestal To This Day By My Grandmother. I Love Her Oh So Dearly! She Actually Is The Reason I Am "Who I Am Today!" Growing Up I Was Always Told I Can Do Anything I Set My Mind To; Believe Me It Is Oh So True and Endearing. I Learned to Sew, Bake, Garden, Paint, Write, Create, Dream, Have Self Confidence, Never Be Afraid, Always Be Positive, Do It Yourself, and Do It Big...All From My "Mama2"! Now That I Had A Heart Felt Memory I Will Get Back...To Decorating for Spring, at Hand.

Use The Unexpected When Decorating for Spring and Use What You Like!
Grouping Old, Odd Flowerpots Are an Easy Look. They Can Hold Candles, Nests, Eggs...Imaginations the Limit! Even Little Vintage Dish or Saucer With a Small Glass Dome is "Calling for a Cupcake!" I Like Spring Scents to Liven Your Home Too...Forced Paperwhite Bulbs, Fresh or Dried Rosemary.
One Of My Favorite Candles "Crepe Myrtle" By NOUVELLE I Buy at A La' Maison on 8th Avenue! I Just Found Out That New Candles Just Arrived There Today In Scents Called; New Orleans, Delphenium and Grapefruit Blackberry! Cant Wait To Get Those,Too! http://www.shopalamaison.com/
Old Music Sheets, Even Player Piano Music Rolls Echo's for the "Fabric Songbirds" Made Out of Vintage Quilt Top Pieces.
I Found This Old Metal "Egg Separator" That Held 6 Dozen Eggs With The Original Paper Holders Inside. I Added Some Eggs and a Paper Music Sheet That States; "I Need a Home!"
Well I Have Enjoyed Pulling Together Some Ideas and Sharing My Springtime Ideas; Even a Little Reminicing...Now Think Spring and Have a Great Day!
Jason

Also Check Out My Website of Shops I Sell To Along With The Upcoming Shows and Events!
http://www.jasonparkercouncedesigns.com/

"Todays the First Day to Blog"

2010-01-08T12:05:00.000-06:00

Well I Have Been Asked By My Friends and Followers of My "Folk Art", Do You Have a Blog? Now I Can Say I Do... I Am of the Old School Mentality, I Still Talk on the Phone, Handwrite Letters and Say Hello to Strangers I Might Pass Along the Way!
This Year is A New Beginning for Me. I Have Decided to Focus on My Artwork, Antique and Craft Shows...Along With the Shops I Sell To! I Have to Face It; This Is My True Passion is To Create! I Have a Very Vivid Imagination and Ideas That I Have to Express; Through My "Folk Art" and Holiday Creations.
I Was So Excited to Find My Inspiration for this Spring Line in the Most Unusual Way. I was Out "Junk" Shopping When I Saw this Pile of Quilts (Always My Weakness), Looking Closer I Saw Some Indigo Blue Fabric That Was Like A Beacon. I Pulled it Out of the Stack and To My Surprise it was an 1800's Denim and Ticking Quilt of Red, Tan and Blue. That Was Exciting Enough But When I Looked at the Back I Flipped Out...It Was a Handloomed Linen/Hemp Stripe of CoCoa Brown and Robins Egg Blue-Green, I Saw the Whole Look Right Then! I Was Worried About the Price, So I Asked and Could Get It! I Saw The All "Natural" Look for My New Line to Start Off 2010!
I Have Been Working for Weeks Hand Dying Fabrics, Sewing Bunnys, Birds, Mushroom, Knomes...Painting Bases and Paper Mache' Eggs. This Season I Have Done the Easter Eggs With Old Ribbons and Millinary Flowers That Open Up to Hide Candy or a Present In, So Vintage Looking!
I Will Be Doing The Antiques at Music Valley Show in Nashville TN. at The Tennesse State Fairgrounds February 11-13th 2010. Check Out www.musicvalleyantiquesmarket.com
Thursday 6 p.m.- 9 p.m., Friday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
My Dear Friend Billy Phillips of "Phillips General Store" in Bell Buckle TN. is Going to Be Doing the Show With Me...We Both Have Been Collecting Many Wonderful Folk Art Pieces,Antiques, Primitives, Textiles, Garden and Vintage Holiday, Too! Just For This Show.
Well The Birds Are Singing Outside My Window, Just a Good Sign That This Small Winter Snow We Had This Week is Going and The Spingtime Weather Will Follow. Have a Great Weekend and I Look Forward to Blogging This New Year! Jason