I am closed for the month of July to paint. I have been looking at our house with a very critical eye.  Sometimes taking photos really helps.  We get so used to seeing things that we don't really see them. 

And, it has been quite a while since some rooms have been painted, including the living room and dining room, which really needed freshening up. I had no desire to change the color, because I didn't want to have things reupholstered or have to buy furniture because the walls no longer worked. As boring as it sounds, I just wanted to use the same wall color, so one coat would do the job. 

I could remember the name of the color and the brand of paint we used when we had it all painted several years ago.

So, I went to our friendly Ace Hardware store and told them the paint colors.  They were able to look them up and reproduce them and bonus!!!, they did it in Benjamin Moore Paint which they sold to me at the same "buy one, get one free" sale price of their house Kensington and Clark paint, which FYI, is rated #1 by consumer reports. 

And because I needed 2 gallons of wall paint and 1 gallon of trim paint, I could get another gallon FREE, I ordered the paint shown in the bedroom photos above.  It is called Lucky Charm by Kensington and Clark, but it is almost identical to Benjamin Moore's "Smoke".

If you are like our children, you are probably incredulous regarding the size of our bed. Yes, it is a full size. On the other hand, I am the only one who can use the bed spread which was my mother's. It is muslim with chenille crewel work embroidery. It is a bit fussy for me, but nice and summery, so it will work for a while. 

Since painting is the chore of the month, any blogging I do will be about, what else?, painting!

The shop will be open today, Wednesday, July 16, from 11-2, since I have books to ship, and some customers coming in by appointment: 815-978-3071. Then it's back to painting an upstairs bathroom. No rest for the wicked.

Full speed ahead

So much going on, as has always been the case when we approach May.  And the end of April, beginning of May, 2014, even with children all grown, is no exception. 

This weekend, April 25 and 26, is the Vintage Shop Hop. And so we have been getting ready for that, although not nearly as ready as I would like to be. Thank goodness Devola and Tina are part of Just A Second and have provided some terrific goodies for garden and home.  

You can see a few concrete garden goodies, and there are plenty more out on the deck.
There are also some wire pieces and rusty industrial items which can accent garden areas. Can't you see that tractor light sitting on your patio amongst some purple and orange potted plants?

We have adorned some beautiful, made in the USA birch twig wreaths with burlap and vintage pins, etc., for your front door. We even sprayed a few in aqua, gray, or white to give you a bit of a choice. And we have this large barbed wire wreath that would look absolutely terrific on a barn or the side of a garage. It's heavy, so it needs a sound structure for its home.

And speaking of barns, it look like Bessie here escaped and is peeking in your screen door!
She would be perfect on your porch or hanging on your kitchen wall - nice and light so easy to put anywhere. Warning: the screen is pretty rusty and full of holes, but still looks terrific.

 As is often the case, most of our items are one of a kind, although there may be two "Bessies" if time allows.

Check out these state line vintage shops in Illinois and Wisconsin who are all Punch Card Participants. If you get to a least 16 of them over the two days and get your card punched, you will get entered in the drawing for a $500 worth of gift certificates for a vintage shopping spree. See you this weekend! Looking forward to your visit.

Inspiration, lots of work, and transforming a table

Picked this up (literally) on a very cold winter morning before my walking buddy and I went for our morning walk. She helped me get it into the car (spider eggs and all), put up with my stopping at home to unload it, and helped me get it into the garage.

What follows is the tale of what we vintagettes must do to bring an item to the point where we can sell it.

This is what it looked like when I brought it in, (minus the spider eggs and nicely aged and worn hardware). Then it was sanded and the drawer was removed and the first coat of paint was applied.

What is not evident are the slightly water damaged wood feet (under the curved part of the leg), the drawer bottom, which was in 3 separated paper thin layers that would not support anything, the bottom layer of which caught under the drawer when opening and closing.

Then, when I looked more closely at the drawer, one side was completely split from front to back.

I think you get the picture:  imagining a finished product is easy (sort of). Attaining that finished product often requires much work and/or money  before it is ready to be shown off. I (or John, or someone) must glue the side back together, cut and fit a new drawer bottom into the existing grooves, fit the dove tails back together, (some "tails" of which are also split), paint and sand lightly, and paint again, etc.

My inspiration, in this case, is a table I found on a blog (and I cannot find it again:() when I was browsing.

It, too, has damaged feet and a scuffed and imperfect finish, and this is the feel I want the finished table to have (even though it is nowhere as ornate as the table pictured.)  I am hoping it will be at Just A Second this weekend while Stella & Notte's Spring Celebration is happening, March 28 and 29. You can be sure I will post it if I am successful.  Looking forward to your visit.

A Change of Scene is a Good Thing

Yes, a change of scene is good, but what makes it really special is the new little person who joined our family on February 19.  Catherine Ann arrived as the first little girl after two boys, and it is a good thing.  

When the oldest, Andrew, was told there would be a new baby in the house, but that it could be a baby brother or sister, he proclaimed that it would be a girl, because he already had a little brother and didn't need a another one.

 And obviously, they think this tiny little person is quite special.

Nana put a sign on the door of the shop, packed up a few girly outfits, and a bit of nursery decor and headed west to Salt Lake City.What a nice change of pace: cuddling a new baby, and cooking for a family of five instead of for just the two of us, walking outside in sometimes 60 degree weather, visiting with daughter Elaina and being around a couple of very active little boys, who actually couldn't wait for papa to arrive because he is a lot more fun.

And, of course, we had fun dressing little Catherine.

 

And did we mention that she has shoes. One of Elaina's friends has a girl who has outgrown some shoes and she sent a couple of bags of them to Elaina for Catherine. Apparently people love to buy shoes for baby girls. 

It was certainly a full 10 days and we were a bit sad to say goodbye. We won't see them again until May, and there will be such a change by then. 

I do wish families were not so separated from each other. It was really nice to grow up and raise children in the same city as our parents where we could just drop in, as could they, have coffee, go to lunch, etc., but, we will be grateful for messages and emails and photos - until we meet again.

Giving a new look to the shop, Happy Valentine's Day!, and Cabin Fever

I have been working on setting the shop and getting ready for spring. Using a headboard as wall art is easy when it is aluminum - nice and light. This one is for a full sized bed. It was shiny gold, but I spray painted it, so it resembles copper with a bluish green patina. Would work very well in a garden as a focal point and as a structure for climbing plants.

Also, on the wall (beside multiple nail holes) is this old shadow box with vintage satin and lace baby shoes. The shoes are a pale peach color as is the rose in the plated sugar bowl and some beautiful, never-used note cards that were issued by Avon as part of its President Club series. They have delicate embossing around the edges and are over-all very sweet. I wish I were better at note writing. It means so much to take the time to communicate with the special people in our lives. 


 

Speaking of special people, Happy Valentine's Day to you all.  In the valentine spirit, this terrarium was transformed from a shelter for a snowy evergreen and vintage brass reindeer to a display of valentine treasures: a vintage red, velvet-lined, silver tone trinket box; a heart ornament; and a red and white transferware creamer with twigs, all perched on a white paper doily.













Speaking of twigs, we have a few twig arrangements. 
Cups and vases and pitchers have become miniature aviaries attracting at least one bird. They help us look forward to the end of winter and to the possibility of spring.



And finally, speaking of spring, let's welcome it with a great vintage market coming February 21st and 22nd, at Stella & Notte, 1416 N. Main St. in Rockford. 

 How's that for trying to tie together a few non-related themes?

Winter Doldrums, Cabin Fever, and an Indoor Market

Is this frigid midwest winter as difficult for everyone else as it is for me? I slept until 7:45 Sunday morning - don't remember the last time I did that. I sat around in my robe until after 1:00 in the afternoon, since we were not going to church until 5:00. I really want to hibernate.

I was working on a couple of promotional pieces (in my robe), one for myself, an ad for a monthly newspaper, Market Street Press.  Lisa, the editor, publisher, ad salesperson called on me a couple of times, and I decided to give it a try just in time for her Valentine's Day edition.  I added red, my favorite color to an ad I had originally placed in a neighborhood newsletter. I had wanted to use the business card ad shown on the right below, but, it is not as easy to read.

The second project was a postcard for Jeanine who has a new business called Stella and Notte. It is another vintage store.  Jeanine has decided to have a winter indoor market event in her big bright beautiful space with street-lined display windows. She named it, what else, but, Cabin Fever. Jeanine already had the artwork, so after downloading a new appropriate font, I designed the card.

I will be helping her get the store set up for the event.  Markets are fun because you get to hang out with people who share your interests. It motivates me to find new products, develop a theme, work on a display, and hopefully attract new customers.

With Cabin Fever, I will work on a lodge theme with rustic and outdoorsy projects, introducing some spring-themed items since March will be just a week away!

There will be some new and interesting vendors  with hand crafted and, of course vintage goodies. And, we are hoping all of our blog followers who live in the area will put this event on their calendars and join us the weekend of February 21 and 22 from 10-4.

With the cold blizzard conditions descending upon us, a huge pot of chicken soup made, and the shop closed on Monday and Tuesday, hibernation will continue. Stay warm.

Happy New Year, Downton Abbey Fans

 

Breakfast is served. Breakfast time, anytime, it's tea time. And what nicer way to serve it, than in this Ellgreave English china teapot.  Note the hanky in the background.  It is part of a delightful hanky, lace, and girly print garland, hand made and perfect for a wedding, tea party, shower, or any other girly function.
 

Oh, and don't forget the wee ones with this English Royal Doulton delight: Bunnykins  child set of dishes, cup, bowl, and plate. Judging from the mark on the back, these are from the 80's and they are in beautiful condition.

 

At breakfast, you will also want this English plated toast rack. Toast your bread, cut it on the diagonal, and place in rack. Serving it on a crystal/silver pedestal stand serves two purposes: helps stage your table and catch the crumbs. 

Dip your toast in a soft boiled egg served in the vintage stainless egg cups shown behind the rack.

Note the cruets in the plated mini carrier, perfect to accompany your salad luncheon.

And, of course, we have decanters for your post dinner sherry or brandy by the fire.

All occasions call for a "chapeau", a nice little vintage wool hat complete with hat pin, plus a feather or veil.
White gloves and scarf complete the picture.

For the occasional trip to London or the sea, don't forget your train case, complete with long handled bakelite or plated clothing brushes. 

Silver, crystal, finery of any kind help make your Downton Abbey experience memorable.

Enjoy Downton, and visit Just A Second to enhance your decor with a few bits of England.