Well, we did it. We had ourselves a Chapel Market!
(Chalk lettering by Rachel Odom)
It was a whirlwind couple of days, so I didn’t get pictures of everybody or every thing, but I did manage to capture some photos of the heart of the market.
It wasn’t the vintage goods…
…or pretty little things.
It was the helping hands and feet…
(Little Golden Fox & Maple and Magnolia)
(At The Picket Fence & Southern Hospitality)
…and the joy that spread from ear-to-ear for two straight days.
(Thistlewood Farms & Finding Home)
It was the vibe that instantly felt so fun and familiar…just like my vendors. 🙂
It was having home in my booth, from 9-5.
It was tucked under a fedora, and surrounded by flora…
It was the conversations that started over here on Friday…
…and just kept winding up, and around, and in, and through here on Saturday…
(instaphoto via Evan G. Cooper)
Under the tent, inside the chapel, and swirling from hug to handshake- the heart was really everywhere around the stuff last weekend.
Well, maybe not in Marian’s shoe…
..she had a run in with some fire ants on Friday- boo!
And if I could only post one photo that best captured the heart of The Chapel Market, I would post this one:
Those gals.
*sigh*
They really dove heart-first into this event.
If you were there on Saturday, you probably met one or more of them at some point throughout the day.
Total.
Angels.
It was what they planned on Friday night though, that will always stick with me the most. I will never forget the sights and sounds that spilled from room to room and porch to porch at Kathy’s house that night. (Kathy is holding the dog in the photo above.) She and the gang had all the vendors and volunteers over to her house for supper. We had all just spent the entire day setting up our booths and running errand after errand in preparation for the market on Saturday. It was 5:30-ish, when 20 or so of us climbed up those front steps- tired and dirty, happy and hungry. The sun was setting, and the house glowed golden with all it’s lamps and lights. Deep-dish casseroles and salads topped with strawberries stretched clear from one side of Kathy’s kitchen island to the other. Music meandered everywhere, and the sound of laughter lived in that place. It was Wonderful. We all settled into different spots with our plates and plasticware, but we were Together. In front of the fireplace, overlooking the garden, standing at the kitchen sink- we were Together and it was Wonderful. Steaming spaghetti and setting myself right again, I felt connected to something so Real, and like every thing was going to be okay.
Isn’t it remarkable how sometimes on the way to fulfilling one dream you are blessed with one that you didn’t even see coming? It’s so important to count up those unexpected blessings as we add up the width of our lives.
I went into this project thinking that this would be a one-time market, I just seem to work that way, and we’re *hoping* to be on our way to Haiti to pick up our little one around this time next year. But so many precious people in Pike Road (including the mayor, whom I had the pleasure of meeting at the top of those steps on Friday night!) are already talking about The Chapel Market 2014.
…and you know what happens when those Pike Roadians get together. 😉
PS- One more thank you to my incredible vendor-friends! Urban Farmgirl, Evan G. Cooper, Lucys Inspired, Southern Accents, Southern Makers, Mary K. Andrews, Perfectly Imperfect, Thistlewood Farms, At The Picket Fence, Miss Mustard Seed, Finding Home, Acres of Hope, Maple & Magnolia and Poppy Pedals. I love y’all and can’t thank you enough for making The Chapel Market so pretty and fun! XO
Lovely tribute. How I wish I could have come. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations on a successful day, Layla! Treasure the memories.
Thanks so much for posting those behind-the-scenes photos! They are so much fun to see! I didn’t actually get INTO the chapel due to long line and my short time frame but I got to see “downtown” at The Waters and meet your husband, Kevin, up near the big tent. It looks like the market was a huge success! Congratulations on your adoption news!
Congratulations on a wonderfully successful event! I so wish I could have made the trip, but I can say I thoroughly enjoyed following along on Instagram:). It looks like you all had a great time! Kudos to you for inspiring your own community much like you do for the blog world. While I for one truly hope there is a Chapel Market 2014. I know for sure your little one will be so blessed to have you & Kevin!
If you decide to move ahead with the Chapel 2014 & you’re looking for a helper I would LOVE to volunteer:)
I’m one of those Pike-Roadians who would gladly help you put on another one! (I can even lend a hand watching your hopefully soon-to-be little one!) I so enjoyed finally meeting you after hearing such great things from Dad and Paige and even Sophie. Everything was beautiful and such a fun occasion! I loved driving people back and forth on the golf cart and talking about where all everyone was from. It’s amazing how far some people came! And all of us are pleased with our purchases for sure!! 🙂
So hoping I can make it from Canada next year! Absolutely in love with that little Chapel! The entire neighbourhood looks like it jumped from the pages of a wonderful storybook! And of course all the fun treasures I know I will find 🙂
Maureen, I feel totally the same! Are you East or West? I am far West, I’m trying to figure out if I should drive or fly….I’d rather drive, with my truck…and maybe a trailer 🙂 It’s on my ‘bucket list’ now! Hope you make it too! 🙂
Layla,
Although I live in Montana, and couldn’t come…this year :)…
I had to pop on over to the blog to see how it went! So glad to see a post today, it sounds wonderful! Good for you- always cheering for you and Kevin!
You know what I thought when I saw that picture of all those women? I immediately thought, “I want to be friends with THEM! I want them to call me when they find something great, and share my finds with them. I want them to come over for coffee and share good news and bad news with them. I want to sing with them in church. I LIKE these women!” It’s interesting when you see that in a photograph. It must have been amazing to have been there in person!!!
Ms V, I have to say that I do feel immensely blessed to have this group of women in my life! After reading your post, I wish you could come and hang out with us too. The more the merrier, you sound like you would fit right in!
Please, please do another one. I missed it for work (though I was working at a beautiful vineyard in Georgia, Wolf Mountain!) but I really was so sad to not attend and meet all these inspirational people!
I have been waiting anxiously to see this post. You did a magnificent job of pulling this all together. Congratulations to you for pulling off such an amazing event. You are SO talented. Wish I lived closer but I am in Maryland.
You captured it all so perfectly – especially Friday night! And the picture of your ladies – is amazing! Thank you again for the blessing of being part of all of this! You are amazing Miss Layla!
We had such a great time! The neighborhood was beautiful, the Chapel was gorgeous and everything inside that had been set up by the vendors was magical!
Sounds like an amazing community event!
We loved the market!
Great Job!!
Sounds ideal! Oh how I wish I could have made it this year, but my calendar was already booked. I would LOVE to have the opportunity to visit The Chapel Market 🙂 And, maybe we would get to meet your precious little one! I’m saying a prayer now for your precious child…Life to the full! Melissa
Wanted so badly to come, hopefully next year! I would love for you to post some pics of your booth, was dying to see it!!
Well, I didn’t really have a booth. More like a little corner full of stuff just randomly thrown into it- LOL! You can see it in the distance in the photo of Marian arranging her (gorgeous, well-planned) booth! 😀 I think Rhoda (at Southern Hospitality) posted some pictures of my corner yesterday though if you’re interested in seeing what it looked like. 🙂
It was SUCH a wonderful event. Please go for TCM’14! I could envision white vendor booth tents spread out all over that green hillside and lake!! The Town of Mount Laurel hosts an annual spring and fall festival with vendor booths (free entry) and has such a wonderful turnout. The crowds you could draw would be unbelievable!
GREAT idea!!!!! 🙂
The Chapel Market was Ahhhmazing!!! It was so nice to meet our blogger friends and the shopping was great. I sure hope y’all do this again!!!
Wendy
Mississippi
I’m still basking in the warm glow of fun, fellowship, (delicious) food and most importantly precious new friends! Thank you Layla for coordinating and hosting such an amazing event. It truly was a privilege to be a part of it! Thank you to The Waters community for welcoming us in like we were one of yours! I hope to bring my family back down that way soon, to truly have time to visit our old stomping grounds again and I for sure will be stopping by to visit my new friends! 🙂
Blessings!
Heather
God Bless your little HEARTS!!!!! Look at all those beautiful smiles!!!!!
A church full of angels………………….is there anything better????? Y’all looked so radiant!!!! Gosh, I wish I could have driven up. Maybe next year. I better start saving now.
Ter’e
The tears are flowing again. such a sweet post. Such a special weekend. Such great friends. And nothing in the world like new friends Love you all.
I had such a great time at the Chapel Market. It was so much fun and in such a beautiful setting. Absolutely loved meeting you and your mom. Let me know if you want to meet at the Southern Living Idea House when you come to Nashville.
xoxo
dana
Absolutely LOVE this quote of yours – thank you so much!! Might have to pin it and or paint it on wood or SOMETHING!?!!
“Isn’t it remarkable how sometimes on the way to fulfilling one dream you are blessed with one that you didn’t even see coming? It’s so important to count up those unexpected blessings as we add up the width of our lives.”
What an amazing time this must have been! Thanks so much for sharing! XO
What fun! Everything looks beautiful!
so sad I missed this, but what fun it’s been reading everyone’s recap posts! We had the very important job of cheering on those Auburn TIgers amidst my Texas Aggie family… and happily it was “mission accomplished.” War Eagle!
xo Heidi
Layla, I so hope you can do this in 2014. I did not get to come this year, but maybe next year. It looked like a fantastic event-not too big, not too small!
By then, you should have your little one in tow, and we can catch a glimpse of him/her! 🙂
blessings!
It was a great event. It spurred me to get together with my best friend who lives in Prattville and we had a wonderful time at the Chapel Market. Thank you so much for organizing the event!
I was sooooo glad to see something like this come to Alabama and people actually showing an interest in it. I love your little neighborhood too. It reminds me so much of Seaside. Now, if I can just figure out a way for a poor smuck like me to live there!!
Ohh what a wonderful market!!! How I wish I could have been there!!! Thank you for sharing in the lovelies!
Oh, so so so happy for you! Sounds amazing!!!
It was wonderful, Layla! I came from Dothan to get some wooden books,which I love, and went home with lots of other goodies! I don’t know how I missed the $25 quilt because I would have bought that! It was crowded, so I am sure I missed other goodies too, but I went home with plenty! Thank you for all your hard work. I hope you do it again! I will come and help if you need volunteers!
It was a wonderful event, and I cannot wait for it again next year. Thanks for putting this together!! (It was also really cool to meet you in person…I started following your blog when I lived in Colorado several years ago, and have since moved to Pike Road!) Love your style…love your blog.
Oh Layla, I had such a great time at Chapel Market. It was such a pleasure to meet you. I have enjoyed seeing everyone’s posts about it. It’s amazing to see in the photos how much stuff was sold and gone by the time I got in which was about 10:30. But I’m so proud of the treasures that I was able to take home with me. I’m hoping it’s an annual event. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers with the adoption.
I convinced my husband to turn our vacation in a junkin’ one with the main goal to attend The Chapel Market. (That man is a saint 🙂 I have been reading and inspired by your blog for a while, and when I saw the opportunity to get some of your great finds, I couldn’t pass it up. We loved the event! Our treasures–curvy wooden pieces and silverware containers–have already found a place in our home. I can’t wait until next year!!
Layla, what a wonderful wonderful event. It looked like so much fun from your posts, Marian’s and KariAnn’s. Wished I lived a bit closer. So wonderful to hear about all the great people and you all working together. I’m also so happy that you’ll be picking up your little angel around this time next year too. x
there’s nothing better than the moment that an “idea” becomes a real thing, full of people and food and laughter. happy for you.
these pics are amazing girl. I would have loved LOVED to have been there. who knows maybe next year. hoping it’s a different weekend though. it was my little chick’s birthday:/ can’t miss that.
Enjoyed the afternoon so much! It was so much fun, even though we got a much later start than planned! But it also meant we missed the crowd…heard the morning was pretty busy! Hope it will be annual event. We would definitely come back next year!
Layla, you brought a tear to my eye . . . . I am so grateful to have you share these experiences with me here in RI . . . . Thank you for showing me what love and gratitude are all about . . .. xoxox
That looks too fun…congrats on a successful market!! It looks fabulous 🙂
All the pictures turned out beautiful, and I can tell there was certainly a variety of gorgeous vintage finds. Loved reading about Chapel Market and seeing it in picture form!
Layla, your dream just might end up being a yearly event! It warmed my heart to read your description of the whole experience. I would love to make it down there next year. I’ve been wanting to travel to Alabama to see where my ancestors started out. They were some of the early pioneers of Alabama. Those ladies on the steps look like a warm bunch of ladies and the sale looked amazing! I love the little dog too. Wow next year you’ll be blessed with a little one in your life!
Congratulations on a great event! The pictures are beautiful and it looks like it was a wonderful time!
That all sounds delightful! Glad it was such a success!
Ummm….I thought her t-shirt said ‘Property of Johnny Depp’. How cool would that be?? I think I just came up with an idea…..hahah…
Just beautiful pics and looks like a lot of fun and work. Would have loved to have been there!!!!