Small Spaces, Big Ideas

Have you ever seen a double decker bus transformed into a vintage dress shop? How about an old train car gone chic? Here are two ladies that had a big idea for their small spaces.

Photo by Leela Cyd

In Portland, Oregon Erin Sutherland transformed a 1965 double decker British bus into a vintage dress shop called Lodekka. The bus is a 1965 Bristol Lodekka. “Lodekka” is a made-up word to indicate that the bus is low to the ground and has a “low deck.” 

Lodekka carries vintage clothing and accessories for women, shirts, shoes and furnishings for men, knick-knacks and ephemera. If I'm ever in Portland, Oregon you can bet your bottom dollar that I'll be hopping that bus.

In Essex, MA Lily Ellis transformed an old train car into a fabulous chic shop called Etta Place.  Etta Place was a companion to the American outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Although Lily is no outlaw (at least I don't think she is), she certainly has an adorable train car to hide out in if she is. 

From the moment you walk in you feel as if you are in your own home surrounded by many "pretty things". Jewelry, handbags,toys,linens,antiques and grandma's juice glasses; oh, and don't let me forget the yummy treats in the penny candy nook. 

If you're in the area you must make Etta Place one of your stops, I think you'll agree that Lily has a big idea for her small space. 

Ding, Ding, Ding, We Have A Winner

It's been a fun filled weekend, tons of wonderful stops to share tomorrow, but for today ..."Ding Ding Ding" We have a Winner!


Thank you all for submitting your special family traditions. From making pies, canning strawberries, running for a cause, to yearly family gatherings I thoroughly enjoyed reading your submissions and now have some great ideas for traditions that would be fun to start with my family. Thanks! 

Congratulations Christine Cohen
Christine Cohen wrote: "A family tradition we have is heading up to Ogunquit, Maine. We always do the same thing...lobster rolls at Barnacle Billy's, ice cream and sea-glass hunting in the cove, then a walk on Marginal Way. I have pictures of me with my German grandfather at age 1 in a carriage there. So this has been a 40 year tradition for me...just writing this makes my heart sing!


Enjoy your Vapur water bottle; and Keep Hydrated this summer!

I Loved It, So I Hung It

Remember last month when my sister gifted me with Sam, the designer that transformed my living room into a more functional space? Well, one of the projects that has been lingering since his visit is a photo / art montage for the back of  my couch. That's quite a project that requires, time and patience. Both of which I do not have. So this past week I was on the hunt for something temporary to put behind the couch until I could tackle the picture project. 

Now, when I say hunt I mean "let's go into the back yard " and see if there are any relics that need excavating. Since I live in the woods I always seem to find things buried in the dirt. Apparently years ago people buried their trash, and now I'm finding it. Kind of fun. So off I went, gloves in one hand, and shovel in the other to see what treasure I'd find......and then there it was. The flat steel rim of a wagon wheel. I had some leftover garland that I had made out of sweaters so I started to wrap it around the wheel, and suddenly it became ART! I know that art is  subjective, so if you don't see beauty in this it's ok, but  I loved it, so I hung it.


If you need a designer to help you hang your art, here's Sam's information
617-791-5953


If you need an excavator to find your art you can always contact me ;-)

You Know Its Meant To Be When...

I'm not the kind of person that likes a project to remain unfinished for long. Typically if I'm needing something in particular I start my hunt with positive " I Will Find It" attitude, and I usually do. Although this seems to work about 95% of the it didn't happen when I was searching for a lamp for my side table. I searched for quite some time but came up empty handed. 


This past weekend I decided to make a stop at a local second hand store. I had a good feeling about this stop, I felt I was going to find the lamp I was looking for. As I browsed around I looked at several lamps, but none said "I'm yours". As I was leaving my eye caught a glimpse of this beauty, a Pocahontas Water Bottle that had been converted into a lamp.

Now here's the crazy thing; Pocahontas Spring Water Co. was originally started by The Smith family in 1901. In 1963 the LeColst family purchased Pocahontas Spring Water Co. Today Donny LeColst, and his family still bottle water from the same natural spring that was discovered in 1901 by the Smith family. Donny is not only an acquaintance of mine, but has been delivering water to our office for over ten years. When I saw this lamp I knew it was meant to be. It had all of the qualities that I was looking for; it was unique, an antique, and had a story to go along with it. 


Now it wouldn't be right to finish the post without giving you a little nugget. Pocahontas's water is the best water that you'll ever taste. They pride themselves on having 100% pure All-Natural spring water, with absolutely no additives. At their facility, which is located in Peabody, you can see the source first hand. You can also bring empty water bottles and fill them - ONLY 25 cents for a gallon jug. That's crazy! What a savings, and I can assure you that you will enjoy the experience because Donny & his brothers are quite the characters.


Pocahontas Spring Water Co.
Pocahontas Spring Water
163 Rear Lowell Street
Lynnfield, MA 978-265-5910
The Self Serve is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

_________
*DON'T FORGET*
This is the last week to enter the Vapur water bottle contest. Leave a comment  OR go to I Stopped Along the Way's Facebook page and tell me What Your Favorite Family Tradition Is. Good Luck!

Set Sail

Several months ago, when the weather was much chillier than it is today, I made a stop in Essex, MA at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum. Originally what caught my eye was a 83 foot schooner called the Evelina M. Goulart; because this is my mom's maiden name I had to stop to find out more about it. 


The Evelina M. Goulart was built in 1927 by Arthur D. Story in the Story Shipyard(now the Essex Historical Society and Shipbuilding Museum). She is one of seven surviving Essex-built fishing schooners and the only one to be virtually unchanged from its original configuration. 

As I poked around the museum's shipyard I looked across the way to H.A. Burnham's shipyard. H.A. Burnham has been building boats since 1635. Harold Burnham, a 28th Burnham, master boat designer, shipwright and sailmaker now carries on this craft using modern day technology, and age old techiniques that were handed down from generation to generation.

At the time of my original stop they were in the process of building The Ardelle, a 50' schooner. When I saw its frame it reminded me of a whale's ribcage. I wondered if that's how the original shipwrights got their inspiration, from a whale. 



Photo by Dan Tobyne




Photo by Dan Tobyne

This past Saturday, June 9th, H.A.Burnham launched the Ardelle. Although I was unable to be there I understand that aproximately 2,000 spectators gathered to watch. Here is a must watch video of the launch. I can imagine the excitement that Harold Burnham and his crew must have felt seeing The Ardelle finally take center stage in the Essex River. 

Are You Drinking Enough?

Ok, so when I decided to post two days a week versus five I thought it would be a breeze. What I am finding out is that the routine of posting daily is actually easier. With the beautiful weather we're having I am thoroughly enjoying my days and evenings; so much that I am loosing track of what day it is.


Tonight we celebrated (a little late) "the last day of school, and the beginning of summer". It's an event that my sister started a few years ago. We all meet at a local beach, eat tons of pizza, take a bunch of pictures, swim, and  laugh a ton. Tonight was no exception, we had a really great evening. 


As I got into the car I noticed that it was almost 10 pm and I still had to write my blog post. Although I'm making daily stops here and there it still takes me some time to get it all together, and seriously who can get much together at 10pm after a day in the sun and an evening at the beach? Not me! So here's what I came up with, A GIVEAWAY! 

Now we all know that we should drink plenty of water. Some people say 8 glasses, others say 10, some say it depends on your age, your gender, your height, weight, blah , blah, blah. I'm not going to get tied up in the details, all I know is that water is a must, I know it and you know it too. Without it we can experience headaches, weakness, and even crankiness. No Thanks! To avoid dehydration I think its important to always carry water with you during these summer days, so my giveaway will help you do this.


VAPUR Water Bottles! 
I have four of them, two my best friend gave me and two I purchased on my own. I love them!!, and here's why:


1. Extremely Compact & Portable
2. 16 0z. Refillable Design
3. Eco Friendly
4. Cool Color & Design
5. Dishwasher Safe
6. Freezable


How can you WIN one? Easy! Leave a comment  OR go to I Stopped Along the Way's Facebook page and tell me What Your Favorite Family Tradition Is. 


I will randomly pick one reader to win 2 VAPUR Water Bottle.


Good Luck & Keep Hydrated! Compliments of VAPUR!

Oh, What's A Buck?

What can $1 dollar get you? A whole lot of fun that’s what!

The other day I stopped your local dollar store. As I browsed isles of …“oh what’s a buck isles” I spotted these colorful water squirters.

I picked up 4 (ok so it’s slightly more than my buck theory) along with a few bright pink “oh what’s a buck” flamingos, and a couple  “oh what’s a buck” water noodles and I was ready for some summer fun.

I happily placed the pink flamingos on my lawn, and cut the water noodles into sea anemones  (for one of my under the ocean summer craft projects). The squirters got placed in the shed….until Sunday when I was relaxing in my hammock. It was really hot and I got a light bulb idea. WATER SUIRTER FUN! So I rounded up the troops, filled a bucket of water, and gave each of us a squirter. Minutes later we were deep in battle rounding the house, hiding in bushes, and running for our lives. We had tons of fun.

So that’s what $1 can get you, well actually just a bit more unless  you want to just squirt yourself, or want to terrorize everyone but yourself.

I'm Open Uncle Billy

I hope you all enjoyed the long holiday weekend while consuming mouthfuls of hot dogs, hamburgers and other wonderfulness on the grill. It was nice to have a few days off, to visit with friends, and to have friends stop by. I always think that I'm going to get tons done during these long weekends, and then I find myself just laying in a hammock reading a book, or taking a stroll on the beach. 


On Sunday that's exactly what I did, I went to the beach and took in the all the sights, smells, and sounds. As my lovely took a dip into the water, I couldn't help but notice a group of boys shouting "I'm open uncle Billy". As I watched it was clear that they were playing a game football Frisbee. I really enjoyed this scene, it was the epitome of summer, of independence, of family, of fun! Uncle Billy ruled the beach that day, making each child feel like a champ. What a day, what a memory they'll have!


How about you? Did you have a day that will go down in the books? A memory that will make you smile for years to come?