You know when you get wind of a certain event and you just KNOW without a shadow of a doubt that it’s going to be the very best thing since sliced bread? That’s how I felt as soon as I heard about the Chapel Market that The Lettered Cottage was hosting in Pike Road. Based on the crowds I had seen at a yard sale they hosted with Rhoda a few years back I knew this was going to be HUGE. And man, was it ever.
The doors opened at 9:00 am, and when I arrived at 8:30 there was a line wrapping around the building and down the street waiting to get inside.
I called my friend Heather from At the Picket Fence who was inside the building and asked if I could sneak in a bit early. Thankfully she agreed. First I want to apologize. I’m so sorry to everyone who waited in line while I snuck in the side door early. To all those people shooting me daggers as I walked past and jumped ahead let me say this– I promise I didn’t buy anything before the event actually started so you didn’t miss out on anything! All of my time was spent hugging and screaming and meeting new/old friends that I have been online buddies with for a long time but never met before, like Mary from Urban Farmgirl (who has our picture together on her camera!)
I did get a shot of her gorgeous booth before it was attacked by the shoppers.
I also got my hugs in with Heather, Kari and Laura and snapped some pictures of Shaunna before their booths got bumrushed.
I visited my good friend Lucy from at the Lucy Lockets/ Southern Accents booth and took a ton of photos of all the goodness they were serving up..
I drooled a little over these vintage linens in Shaunna’s booth, and not I totally regret not snatching them up when I had the chance. Bummer. 
Miss Mustard Seed’s booth was stacked with all sorts of gorgeousness. In fact the entire room was filled with treasures untold. I can’t even begin to describe it all but you can play a quick game of i-spy and figure out how many tears you need to shed if you were not able to attend.
So. Many. Tears.
But first I need to have a word about these cotton stems.
I’m not sure how to put this delicately, but…. These exact same things are free if you do a little roadside observation and don’t let a little thing called “laws” or “trespassing” get in your way. I’m not ever condoning illegal activity here folks, but… yeah. I will say that about 15 minutes into the market this entire box full of stems was TOTALLY EMPTY. So kudos to all you law-abiding citizens out there who get your cotton stems the respectable way. I applaud you!
Moving on…. let’s direct your attention away from my law-breaking self over here to the other corner of the room where I got to meet the lovely Mary Kay Andrews! She signed two books for me, which was so great because I have ZERO patience for standing in long lines for book signings at big box bookstores. I was just third in line for her book signing here, which were much better odds for me! She was incredibly nice and even took my card and complimented me on my photo. Mary Kay, if you’re reading this, please don’t tell anyone how my real life self doesn’t look as good as my business card / facebook profile photo self. Andplusalso, I cannot wait to dive into Christmas Bliss! Kisses! 
Here I am with half of my friend Heather from At the Picket Fence. Seriously, she has lost about half of herself over the past year and she looks AMAZING. So, so proud of you, lady! I love this girl to pieces, and I cannot wait to see her presentation at the Country Living Fair on Saturday! 
Here is a glimpse into Kari, Laura and Heather’s booth. I agonized over that red and white checked quilt and now I have remorse over not buying it. What was I thinking??? Ugh, Laura, if it’s still available please email me! Can I put it on layaway until the next Chapel Market?
Here is what the place looked like within about .002 seconds of the doors opening. And I am not even joking about that.
It was like an episode of Supermarket Sweep with about 500 contestants all running to grab their favorite items off the shelves. I just stood back and got out of their way. I don’t do well in panic-attack inducing crowds like these, so about halfway through the first hour I offered to be a gopher and make a coffee run for the girls in the Thistlewood booth. They all enthusiastically agreed that some refreshments were needed so I headed off to find them. 
It took driving down the road about 5 miles to this cute little country store in the middle of nowhere, but by golly I found hot coffee for sale! I stocked up on bottles of water and diet cokes to hand out to some of the other vendors and distributed them like the good little Diet Coke Fairy that I am. Isn’t this store CUTE?? I just love back roads in Alabama. You never know what you’ll stumble upon. 
After my coffee/ coke distribution I finished up my shopping for the day since I had to be headed back home for a Patty Griffin concert later that night. I met the kind people at Southern Makers Booth and contemplated how I could go about stealing this Alabama shaped chalkboard right out from under their noses.
Instead I headed over to Lucy’s booth, where I was able to swipe this SUPERFREAKINGGORGEOUSAMAZINGLYAWESOME Lucylocket from her! Be prepared for more info on it along with (hopefully!) a discount on her beautiful jewelry soon. I had admired this necklace at Haven, and when I saw it again I knew it had to be mine. Thank you, Lucy, for letting me have this piece of awesomeness to wear during my presentation at the Country Living Fair.
I just know that it’s going to be the rusty amulet that gives me secret vintage powers over my captive junk-loving audience. I will wear it with pride!
I also snagged three of these zinc pennants from Miss Mustard Seed, since I learned my lesson the hard way about passing up galvanized bunting when I see it for sale. Look out, Christmas décor… this time I’m prepared. 
Over in Perfectly Imperfect Shaunna’s booth I scored this cute little acorn wreath that looks like something I would totally like to DIY but I know I don’t have the patience to DIY so I just bought it instead… I bet you know what I’m talking about, don’t you? Sometimes it’s just easier to pay full retail.
After saying my goodbyes to everyone and escaping outside to the cool, non-panic inducing open air, I stopped by the Acres of Hope Booth and met the lovely husband and wife team who are making masterpieces like this out of reclaimed wood. I got this for Garrett’s newly remodeled bathroom, which I cannot WAIT to show off to you guys. All proceeds benefitting a very good cause!
And my final “souvenirs” from the day were actually ones that I acquired the good old fashioned way—I stopped on the side of the road on my way out of the subdivision and picked up three of these odd brain looking fruits from under this Spanish-moss covered tree. Google tells me they are actually Osage Oranges, but they look like big green brains to me, so I’m going with brain fruit. Three in a bowl will make a great Halloween decoration this year! They are pretty sticky, though, so I hope they last another week. 
s
And that’s where my five finger discounts come to a sticky end.
I am SO hoping for a Chapel Market 2014, but I’m also hoping it’s opened up to vendors outside with tents instead of all inside one tiny (albeit beautiful) chapel. Excellent job, everyone!
Credit – Beth Bryan