c h e c k o u t    s t a t i o n

Yesterday Saint {my husband} took the kids to a movie so I could get a jump start on my week. I have so many little things to finish up before Junk Salvation this weekend. I am not that organized right now {I need to get on this} but I figured if I had a "checkout" station at my booth I could hide stuff behind it, like nails, extra cards, receipts, calculator, etc. This station will not be for sale, sorry! In fact I think I will keep it in my studio shop permanently. The checkout station will be in the back of my booth, not front and center as shown here.

When I purchased the dresser it was missing the two top drawers, so it was a steal {and an ugly emerald green}. At some point I will have wood cut for where the bottom of the drawers were, but for now I stuck some baskets in there.

{backside of station}

I also made some bunting and a mini chalk board sign to spruce it up a bit. 

I think I will take a chair from my home to have behind the station as well {not that I will have a moment to sit down}.

I hope post everyday this week with new stuff going in the shop everyday.

linked up
http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
http://missmustardseed.com/2011/11/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-2/

f a v o r i t e   h o u s e   f r i d a y

{and a bonus furniture redo}

Today for fhf I am handing it off to Michelle {contributing writer for mcc} to show her own home. 

My Home

We've lived here in  Snohomish {in Washington State} for 6 years.  We celebrate our 6th wedding anniversary next Friday.  We love where we live and enjoy being able to walk to the bakery, library, park and restaurants.  I love after a long week in the car commuting we can park the car and not get back in until Monday morning.
Our house has been a lot of work and at times a bit overwhelming.  It was built in the 1960's so no where near historic like Alison's amazing home but we do the best we can, are happy with our progress so far and are still optimistic of the things yet to be done.

Here is the house when we bought it in 2005.

And here this summer after we painted, added a new roof and lots of new plants.

Here is the view of the yard when we bought it. 

.

And this summer.  We repainted the shed (it needs to be torn down and rebuilt but that's a few years down the road).  We've added a lot of new plants.

And here is a shot of the sad front room when we bought it.  But I had a vision!
Here you'll see the before shot, after I bought my favorite console for $50 on craigslist and painted it white.

And here is the front room now.  My husband took beautiful pictures of the girls and had them blown up and printed on foam core.  Aren't they beautiful!!

As you see we did these prior to Abigail's circus party (you can see the birthday print on the other wall).

I love seeing the pictures of my beautiful girls everyday!!

Thank you Michelle. Anyone want to see what I have been up to this week? I have been a busy lady getting ready for my vintage home show.

Also, I have had several people ask me to come check out the studio this week, and I am so sorry I had to decline. The space is a mess {kind of a pretty mess} but you can't even walk through it now and I have even more to stuff in {two of the dressers are being picked up in the next few days anyway}.

I like things neat and orderly, without a lot of clutter. So my space looking like this stresses me out a bit. 

Remember this dresser I put on "claim it before I paint it" a few weeks ago. No one claimed it and I was glad. I needed one more fun piece to take with me to Junk Salvation. I wanted to paint it grey because I sold all of my other grey pieces. I added the big fun glass knobs {these are my new favorite} to totally glam it out.

{before}

{after}

I also made a "bean wreath" for fun, not sure if this is going to stay with me at home or go to Junk Salvation for sale. Are you going to visit me at my booth next week? Please do I want to meet you!
linked up
http://missmustardseed.com/2011/11/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-2/

l a s t   b u t   n o t   l e a s t

Oh my friends, I am busy, really. So last week I was a nut and tackled four dressers and this week and next I am getting ready for Junk Salvation. I am questioning my sanity of painting everything by myself, what was I thinking??? I am making a dent in my pile though. The shop looks a bit crazy right now. I have such a mishmash of stuff in there {some custom, some going with me to the vintage market}. Nothing really "goes together" in the space right now, but hopefully it will start to look pulled together soon. 

I wanted to show you a dresser I did for Marissa last week.

{before}

{after}

For this dresser I used Annie Sloan {AS} Chalk Paint paint in Old White {three coats}, lightly sanded, distressed edges, then a coat of clear wax {AS again} then a mix of dark and clear wax {AS again}. I wanted to mix the light and dark wax together so it wouldn't be so heavy going over the white paint. I did one final coat of clear wax, and added back the knobs I painted black.

I still have to line the drawers but I think it pretty.

Tomorrow I will have a guest post from Michelle and maybe show some of the other things I have been working on for the vintage show {if I get my act together}.

Thanks for your patience in my lack of posts in this super busy time at MCC. 

It is so busy, that my mind is fried and I can't think of a cleaver way to end this post!

{linked up}
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/
http://missmustardseed.com/2011/11/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-2/

t w o   d r e s s e r s

{before and afters}

Well actually I did four dressers and a shelf this week {one isn't totally done}. I over did it a bit, I am tired. Plus it is my daughter's birthday so we are super busy, and a couple of us in the household have been under the weather.

Let's just say I am ready for the week to be done. I am glad my daughter picked mexican food for her birthday celebration dinner for tonight. I am going to have myself some chips n salsa and a margarita 

{or two}.

I showed you earlier in the week the petite dresser for Jennah.

I finished another dresser for Rae, same color, different shape and different knobs.

{ before }

I also finished this dresser-turned-media center for Bijal. She wanted red {I picked Martha Stewart's Lady Bug, a great red}, did a glaze and distressing finishing off with a wax.

{before}

{in person not as bit of a "bright red" as shown in this picture, don't worry Bijal!}

I won't be doing four dresses and a shelf in one week again. I have been crabby stressed about getting them done and I think my husband wants his sweet wife back. I will be really sweet after I have my margarita tonight!

linked up.

http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/

i f   o n l y   i    c o u l d    k e e p    t h i s    o n e 

{but that would officially make me an antique dresser hoarder, and i painted it for Jennah anyway!}

I am doing 4 custom dressers this week. One more than I would normally take on- but I am crazy. I am actually making progress on all of them and I am thrilled with how they are turning out.  

I kind of figured I would add in one extra custom order this week, and only do one next week. Then I need to focus on Junk Salvation, so the studio will be closed for appointments for two weeks. I really need to focus on getting ready for this show, you should see my pile, it is out of control {maybe next post I will show you and you will really think I am crazy for taking on this many projects at once}.


{Before}

I finished this sweet dresser for Jennah {it would look cute in my bathroom, but again it is for Jennah!}

Here is what I did.

Pretty much everything that is in the shop now is either sold, custom order, or going with me to Junk Salvation {this is why I am closing the studio for two weeks starting Sunday}. 

Not only have I been painting I have been buying a ton. So don't worry, when I open the studio back up in November I have so many projects to finish and add to the shop. Just wait, I got some amazing things that I can't wait to transform.

linked up
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/
http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/2011/10/a-chalk-painted-chest-all-things-furniture-link-up-14.html

f a v o r i t e   h o u s e  f r i d a y

I am typing this post with one hand today. I am holding the most adorable six week old orange kitten. He slept curled up in my arms all night last night. 

We don't have a name for him yet but I am in love, he is a major sweetie and doesn't want to be alone. He was hanging around with me while I painted yesterday. I will have pictures of this little guy soon, but we need a name. Any suggestions? We have two other cats {yes now we have three cats, and we are done, no more-we are cat people}  that are named after Boo and Pumpkin. We are not sure if we should stick with the halloween name theme for this guy though.

I found a house for fhf. I love the exterior of this home, and the view! I am mostly showing this home for the structure, not the decor {except I really do love the decor in the kitchen and dining room}. Not that the decor is bad {of course it isn't!} it is just not spectacular {don't tell anyone I said that-now I feel bad}.

{amazing right!}

Here is the description.

Stunning light filled Craftsman perfectly sited to capture the beauty of Lk WA, the Cascades & Bellevues skyline. Amazing period details & a thoughtful 2004 remodel blend wonderfully in this 1908 gem.Chefs eat-in kitchen with high end stainless steel appliances & large kitchen island perfect for preparing gourmet meals or having a cup of coffee as you watch the sunrise over the Cascades. Completely remodeled lower level beautifully finished. All with in blocks of Madrona's shops & restaurants
The link can be found here.

Have a good weekend! 

g e a r i n g   u p 

{for my first flea}

I wanted to do a quick post about what I have been up to this week. First of all, I had a hard time getting going earlier this week. I did a lot of buying and not a lot of painting. The buying part is very important to my business, but it does stress me out when I am not using my time to be in the studio painting. I feel then I am rushed the rest of the week to get my pieces done. I am still trying to balance my custom pieces, with pieces that I design for the shop, and now I have the Junk Salvation Show Nov 4-5th to stock up for.

I came to the decision to not paint for the shop this month. I will be doing either custom pieces {I have six to finish this month} and pieces specifically for Junk Salvation. Whatever doesn't sell and I bring home from Junk Salvation will go right into the shop. Part of me doesn't want to sell out at the flea because I will have an empty shop {I shouldn't say that right, I should be happy to sell anything!}.

Anyway, my shop looks a little weird to me right now. I have been selling so much {again so great, not complaining!} that I have been having a hard time keeping it stocked.

Well, sorry for that really long, overdone explanation of what I have been doing this week. I am working out my thoughts as I type here {blog therapy}.

I did a french provincial set in Annie Sloan's Paris Grey, and added fabulous knobs.

I also painted a farmhouse table in Annie Sloan's Duck Egg, and added the same knob.

{random thing about Duck Egg, it is very very similar to BM's Covington Blue, a little softer version. I painted the table in my livingroom yesterday and I could have moved it right in there and it would have matched everything almost perfectly}.

This table was a "trade" with a client Bri, who bought a white table from me and we negotiated the price down with her trading me this table.

All of these tables are going with me to Junk Salvation, so if you want them come on the Friday {Nov 4th, and pick them up from me}

Also, I am going to do a "vlog" one of these days. You want to know what I have been waiting for honestly {besides going in a thousand directions everyday}....I needed to get my roots done. HA! It had been two months and ya'll would be like... is her hair blond or brown or both!? Gee whiz am I that shallow....darn....I guess so. Well maybe I just like you and I am just keeping it real. 

{unlike my hair color}

linked up to:
http://www.mysimplehomelife.com/
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
http://mommahenscoop.blogspot.com/
http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/
http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/

Hello! I feel like I haven't shared anything fun with ya'll in a while. I have been kind of in a funk mood the last two days. I have a huge pile of furniture and accessories to paint {yes a very good thing} and most of it is not going in the shop or custom pieces but pieces I am taking with me to Junk Salvation Nov 4-5th.  I kept looking the the huge pile and wasn't sure where to start, so I didn't . But I went to my Wednesday morning Bible study and I left with encouragement and motivation to start on my "pile".

That is what is going on with me, I did paint my first coat on five pieces today. Yippie for me!

I do have a fun guest post for you today.

Todayís guest post is from Susi, a writer for Arcadian Lighting, a must-shop resource for beautiful†light fixtures and lamps online. Visit their website and cool blog for more information. Enjoy!

There is something cozy and comfortable about cottage style that is perfect for the bedroom. Cottage chic embraces a simple palette, vintage and antique furnishings, country inspired textiles, and a relaxed style. Here are 8 cottage chic bedrooms to inspire you. Enjoy!

It's a Wannabe Decorators Life via

Classic cottage chic means a palette of white, creams, tans and white washed pastels. This bedroom has those in spades. Love the button tufted bench at the foot of the bed. Tons of style!

It's a Wannabe Decorators Life via

Tiny but chic, this cottage bedroom is colorful and charming. White washed woods against brighter pops of color and bold patterns feel fresh. Love the upholstered poofs next to the bed.

Sarah Richardson via

Pale knotty pine paneling looks chic in this cottage bedroom by Sarah Richardson. Palest blue on the bed and bedside table add subtle shades of color while a red and white pillow adds punch.

House Beautiful via

White painted furniture and lighting is always chic in a cottage bedroom. Love the faux-bamboo four poster bed in white. Cheery yellow stripes and blue stools add pops of color. Pretty lamps adorn the nightstands, but the white chandelier above the bed is the light fixture that steals the show here.

It's a Wannabe Decorators Life via

Bolder accents, like red and blue, are great ways to add color to a chic cottage space. Love the red against the pale blue and white striped floor. A grain sack runner on the dresser ties in more red.

House and Home via

This chic cottage bedroom has a modern twist with an abstract painting and white ceramic deer head. The blue and white palette is a classic combination for cottage style.

Habitually Chic via

Tons of white is a trademark of chic cottage style. Using black accents grounds the space and adds contrast. Ticking stripes are a perfect pattern for cottage rooms. Love the unusual wall sconce above the bed.

Country Living via

Chic cottage style embraces vintage and antique finds, like this collection of landscape paintings. A mix and match attitude toward furnishings is classic cottage chic.

Like what you see? Discover more lighting fixture ideas at Arcadian Lighting today!