Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Welcome Florence



This is Flo. She's a sassy gal. A gum-snapping, grit-kissing kind of Flo from Mel's Diner. If you are too young to know what I am talking about, please just smile and nod.




I have heard the whispers of Annie Sloan's new color, Florence for some time now. It seemed like it was months away. It was a great surprise when I heard that it was available. Right now. Yay for me!


It is quite a color. Not quite as shocking as ASCP Provence was to me the first time, but pretty bold. 


I had just purchased a few pieces at a thrift store and was dying to try this color. I couldn't quite figure out which one to start with. I didn't quite have the nerve to paint this lovely Frenchy piece, even though I tried, I quickly wiped it off.  I was skeert.




I also bought this smallish table, that somehow I have no before picture of. This one is before the stencil happened.


I wanted to add a little fun, so I stenciled a harlequin pattern in a dark gold to the top. After distressing, 
I went straight to dark wax and think its yummy!




So, what do you think? Do you love Florence?



Linking up here...








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Saturday, June 16, 2012

And Then I Built a Farm Table...

I love farm tables. 
  


For the last few months I have had a farm table in my space at Restoration Emporium. One I built, one was a Craigslist find that I refinished. The first one I built for my family. I called it the "Manners Table". I built it when my husband insisted that we teach our four boys manners. It didn't work. I sold it. Hopefully it works in its new home!


Last month, I wanted another one for my space but couldn't find one already made and decided two days before the sale to build one. There may be something wrong with my brain, this is a BIG job! Seriously kids, don't try this at home. My hand was swollen for 4 days from drilling all of the holes with my Kreg Jig. Ouch! Something wrong with me...


I modified some plans from Ana White to use with some turned legs I had on hand. Yep, I have several sets of table legs on hand... doesn't everyone? If you are just beginning to learn how to build furniture, Ana's site is fabulous. I like to say that I learned to build from Ana White and how to paint from Miss Mustard Seed. I like to say that because its the truth. And telling the truth is a very good idea. Just ask my children :-)


Here are some pictures of the table in progress. I will write an actual tutorial soon. I believe in my heart that everyone should build a farm table.









So, everyone go buy a Kreg Jig and a set of table legs and lets all build farm tables together.

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Tuesday, June 5, 2012

My Day at Luckett's

This post has taken me more than a month to write. It almost seems silly to me how emotional and personal this visit to an antique store was to me. An antique store! Really? I am in and out of antique stores several times a week, they are not new to me and never make me weepy. But this was different. This was Lucketts.



In April, I was blessed to be able to spend the weekend with my two best girlfriends celebrating my friend Alicia's birthday. I have never laughed harder than I did that weekend. After more than 20 years of friendship, the laughing material runs deep and wide. We had spiral perms and bangs that defied gravity together in the 80's. These are my girls. We have history. And now I need to break up with them, they hate antique shops. Luckily, I have another sister-in-law, a good sister-in law and she was happy to come along. Thanks Lila! 


I flew in and out of DC. When I discovered I was only 30 minutes from The Old Lucketts Store, I knew I had to go. I needed to be there. It's a fantastic store, full of beautiful antiques, but it was so much more than that to me. Miss Mustard Seed sells her treasures at Lucketts. 


It seems ridiculous to me really. I have never been a fan or a groupie. I was never the girl with posters of movie stars or bands taped to my walls. I was in the marching band. I was involved in musical theater. I played sports. I wore sensible shoes. I went to church. 


I found Miss Mustard Seed's blog during a dark time in my life. My husband was sick and the doctors could not find what was wrong. They threw around big, scary words like cancer as if they were talking about breakfast cereal. They must have done a million tests and he was certainly well medicated, so much that he was not able to function well or think clearly. They suggested the Mayo Clinic. I would dress carefully when we went to Dr's appointments, I would think about what I wanted to be wearing when the Doctor told me that my husband had cancer. These were terrible days. We have four very active boys. We have a restaurant. I was terrified. The thought of all of that on my own was overwhelming and I couldn't breathe.


I wasn't able to sleep well and was waking up early, like 3am early. I started reading blogs and found all kinds of great ideas and things to do. I have always loved "projects", the before and after has always been thrilling to me. My favorite blog was Miss Mustard Seed, here it is just in case... The things she transformed were amazing and inspiring, and quiet. I could paint furniture at three in the morning when I couldn't sleep and not wake my family. I could be creative. I could breathe.


So my visit to Lucketts and Miss Mustard Seed's space there was more than a trip to an ordinary antique shop to me. It was, in a way, a visit to the generous lady who has freely offered so much to so many. From Marian's booth, my sister-in-law bought me an old, wooden shoe form made into a card holder with a twisty fork as a memento of my visit. I love it.




The entire shop is packed full of beautiful things. It was all a little much to take in, so much inspiration in one building. It is a good thing that I only brought a carry on bag on my trip, I could have easily filled a truck with the treasures I found there. It was room after room of amazing, I was thankful for my camera. Here are just a few of the beautiful spaces...






And these were from Miss Mustard Seed's space.



It was an amazing day for sure. Thanks for sharing it with me.

PS...After nearly two years, my husband is recovering from his mystery illness, and I have discovered a love for painting furniture. All is well.

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Friday, June 1, 2012

June is bustin out all over at Restoration Emporium

It's 3:30am Friday and I am awake finishing up a few mirrors for the sale at Restoration Emporium that starts in a FEW HOURS!! What is wrong with me??


I also realized that I have not posted any pictures of the things I have brought for this months sale.  All I can say is, I am wiped out!! Parts of me ache that I didn't even know were real parts. I need a vacation!


If you are in the Kansas City area, you should come by! The things in the store this month are ah-mazing!




































If you come by, be sure to say hey! I have two spots in the shop, one upstairs and one down so Lord knows where I will be, but I will be there! Pin It