Market Monday and MY series of unfortunate events...

I only got a couple photos of items I took to the booth this morning.  I will explain later in this post, for now suffice it say... it has been one of those Mondays ;)

I love this stool.  It is quite large, perfect for sitting.  But I actually use high stools like this, in my home,  for another purpose entirely.

 I love to have little 'end tables', that take up minimal floor space but provide a perfect place for a drink, etc.  I have a multitude of antique stools, serving as end tables, in almost every room of my house.  Very functional!

 Cute story:  I went to a garage sale a few weeks ago.  I purchased a few things and then noticed a box full of Country Living Magazines.  I love this magazine!  I asked what the huge box of magazines cost.  The gal grinned and then said I was welcome to take them for free, if I made one promise... when I was finished looking at them that I then passed them along to someone else.

Perfect!  I am SO enjoying reading (and of course drooling over the pictures too) through these older edition magazines... so far the oldest one I have found is 2003.  They still have such great ideas!  This box is huge and FULL, so as I look through a 'bundle'... I will deliver them to my booth.  Each bundle is FREE for the taking.  The first person that happens in my booth and is interested enough, can take them home with them.  As simple as that!  Promise KEPT!

I've been looking for an antique buffet for my kitchen.  I found this one but it was too small.  BUT I thought it had such beautiful details... and I thought she deserved a fresh look.

Here she is BEFORE:

 This back piece was missing veneer and had a split in the wood all down the right side... it could not be saved... but thankfully the overall piece did not suffer in its removal.

 And the varnish and hardware had been exposed to moisture at some time...

The AFTER:  heavily sanded, 2 coats of primer, and 2 coats of paint.  A light distressing brought out all the gorgeous... simple... details.

These are my favorite style of antique pulls.  I had to sand the hardware to rid them of the rust.  Then I spray painted them in flat black.  The finishing touch was a glaze of Burnt Umber to 'warm' them up to compliment the original wood tones that show through the distressing.  Perfect!

And...

So...

This is where I explain why so few items were photographed this week.

I'm sure you've notice by now that I love, LOVE, to 'stage' my photos.  It is a creative outlet for me... showing the different ways to use an item, showing different arrangements, etc.

Today, I was innocently pulling some antique bowls down from my kitchen shelves...
and SMASH!
I simply heard the avalanche over my head and froze... as 4, FOUR, of my most beloved antique McCoy bowls hit my head and shoulder, knocked my camera out of my hand and then smashed to pieces on the floor.
Tears were shed.
Oh yes they were.
I realized moments later that when I grabbed a stack of larger bowls from the shelf to use as 'props' for the buffet photos... I accidentally pushed the smaller 4 bowls too close to the corner of the shelf and they slipped right off.

My children ran into the kitchen when they heard my screams of 'first pain' as the bowls landed on top of me... and then my sobs.  My camera laid in pieces in the floor.  My sweethearts picked up each little piece and tried to match them to which bowl they went to.  I actually USED these bowls... nothing in my house is too antique or precious just for display.  But now I am going to try and glue them back together and maybe they can still be utilized to hold things in my studio.  I love them so!  

I pieced back together by camera and actually took the above picture.  I breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed to be OK.  But as I tried to take pictures of the other items I was taking to the booth after the smashed bowl fiasco... nope.  I can't get it to work.  Changed out batteries, can't seem to see anything obviously wrong... but it seems the bowls and my badly bruised noggin and shoulder are not the only 'unfortunate' results of today.  

Thankfully, 7 hours afterward... I think my tender emotions for 'things' has adjusted and proper perspective is winning, grimace.  But its still OK that I have a little ache in my gut, right.  Cause they sure were cute!

Market Monday

stub*born,  adjective :

1.  having or showing dogged determination not to change, in spite of good reasons to do so.

2.  unreasonably, often perversely, unyielding; bullheaded.

3.  difficult to move, remove, or cure.

I called my biggest project this week... 'a big ole brown stubborn hunk of wood'... repeatedly.  Yes.  I was reduced to name calling.  I'm not proud of it, but it helped me not shove it hard on its casters right down my back porch steps.  Whew.  It was a toughy... for many reasons.

 I bought this dresser quite hurriedly at an Estate Sale a few weekends ago.  I loved its little details.  And I adored it huge round knobs.  But what I did not look closely at is the very damaged veneer, and the paint splatters all down one side.

I had an initial vision for this piece.  That vision went right out the window... quick!  I started by gluing all the puckered veneer.  Huge task!  Then I sanded the entire piece thoroughly.  Then I primed the whole piece, triple priming all stains.  Finally adding two coats of paint. But when I took a real close look at the paint... it was 'shedding' in spots.  Ugh.  So I decided to just sand it all down and start over.  But when I started to sand... most of the paint was adhered very well!  Go figure?!  Why after all the prep work the paint wanted to 'stick' in some places and not others is beyond my understanding.  But when I quit fighting this piece to make it do what I wanted and just decided to see what would evolve... I ended up with one of my favorite pieces to date.  It may be 'naughty kid' syndrome... you know... that 'child' that takes ever so much work and in the end is forever adored.  That is what this dresser is for me.  Adored.  And please take note of the knobs... even THEY went all stubborn on me and some wanted paint... others?!  No.

 I sure hope someone loves this piece as much as I do!

 Today, I also delivered lots and lots of canning/jelly jars to my booth.  If you could see my cabinets in my laundry room (packed FULL of old jars) you may wonder where I mustered up the willpower to let these go... but I make no promises that I won't snatch some of these back if they don't go quick. 

 Several pedestals added to booth also.

 This piece is gorgeous!  It is oval and it has just enough of a 'lip' that it could hold loads of fruit or nuts like a bowl.

 These sweet pottery pedestals were gathered from a friend of a friend.  I think they are darling.  The smaller sizes would be adorable holding a single cupcake.  But thinking outside the box, they could be a jewelry pedestal.

 The small pedestals have a single little bird on them, the larger size has two.  Precious.  Agreed?

 Large silver and silver plated bowls.  I went to a bed and breakfast and she used large bowl like these in her guest bath to hold hand towels.  Very versatile.

 Teeeeniny cups and saucers.  Shhhh, I kept one of these for myself. 

 Speaking of itty bitty... this is the smallest pitcher I have ever come across.  The ornate scrollwork and scalloped bottom is darling.

 Time was tight to take pictures of all I delivered, be sure and go take a look at the booth this week to see all the updates.  I'll leave you with a few shots of the reorganized booth.  Have a great week!!

A Day Late... and growing pains!

First things first... a 'before and after'.

I found this chest at an estate sale.  I loved its shape, inset drawers, and the scallop on the bottom and sides.

But it had its share of problems.  The transfers on the drawers were peeling and the inside of the drawers were in awful disrepair.

 I thought it would look great with a fresh coat of white paint and once it was painted... I handpainted some French Numbers on the drawer fronts.  I added antique hardware to finish it off.

 I distressed the edges lightly and did not add any glaze as I loved its cleaner look...

 To remedy the inside of the drawers... I lined them with old Organ Sheet Music. 

 This would make a gorgeous entry 'table'.

 Speaking of 'numbered' goodness... I found these canisters.  Love them.

 Next I have this old drawer.  The wood on this is so incredible!

 It has a label pull.  This would work well on a bathroom counter to contain different jars full of cottonballs, swabs, etc.

 It could also be hung on a wall to display art. 

 Do you need a little stool for your bathroom for the kids to wash their hands?  This little gem will work just great for that.

 Stool no.2 has all the character that is impossible to recreate.  amazing.

 I am so drawn to items that are 'over the top' ornate... gaudy even, grin.  This art easel started out brass and shiny.

 I simply painted it with cream paint.  I did not add glaze because I loved its clean, fresh feel now!

 Then with something this detailed, I love the contrast of adding a vintage floral print... tattered all along the edges, no frame... gorgeous presentation!

 A friend showed me these silverware chimes.  I was smitten.

 My personal favorite spoon, grin.

Now with several of the items that I delivered to the booth this week spotlighted...

I move on to the 'growing pains' part of my post title.

I have never thought of 'growing pains' as being an all negative thing.  In fact growing is usually a good thing, right?  But rarely does ANYTHING growing, especially at an incredibly fast rate, not have the need for at least some amount of discomfort.  And discomfort... some days PAIN... is officially a part of this new venture of mine.  

My husband will want to pinch me when he finds out that I have posted this photo on the www!

It is our garage.  And in our family, the garage has always been more his domain.  Several months ago this garage, under Shawn's management ;), was organized and spotless... it is how he is wired.

And here is a photo taken moments ago, as it sits under new management... mine.  UGH!

 Embarrassed as I am right now... to me, this photo represents long hours of hunting... and future items for my business.  But I also must be honest that items do not move fast enough... for several reasons.

#1 - First and foremost... I need a larger booth at Packards!  I find it quite comical that just a couple months ago I was nervous at the prospect of needing to fill, and refill this space.  I have learned REAL quick that one space is not near what I need to move my items.  Now the hard part... getting two booths, in a good location, at least semi next to each other.  The owners promise to work on my request, I hope it can be worked out SOON!  I have so many items I can't wait to show you!

#2 - I need a painting space/booth.  Laying a tarp in the middle of our kitchen is a tad inconvenient.  My family may... just may use a word different than 'tad', grimace.  So Shawn will be making me a painting booth in this corner of the garage... it will make things go so much faster.  Yay!

 #3 - I need a studio.  We have the space, but my 'vision' for this space is slow going.  We have started the planks... slowly but surely.

So there it is... pains, obstacles, and hopes that things can continue to grow.

In the end... suffering growing pains already, just a few short months after opening... seems to be a good problem to have!  Thank you!