Thursday, October 27, 2011

Red Hot Furniture....

I spend many mannnny hours painting furniture. My signature color is Benjamin Moore Linen White. Everyone loves it, as do I. 
But I want to expand. I want to offer more choices for everyone. More styles of furniture, and different looks.....and COLOR!
Occasionally, when I find the right piece I do it in Aqua. It's always a hit and finds a good home as does my Fresh Butter Yellow.
Every time I am at my Benjamin Moore paint store I sift through the paint chips to find just the right new color, so often, that I need to find a way to recycle them (bookmarks maybe?). Fear and what ifs prevent me from venturing forth and buying THE color I love in that moment.....
"if it's not broken don't fix it right?"
 I need to break out of this safe place I have created for myself and my customers.
One day I was feeling kind of well, spicy.... and hit upon a color.
The perfect Red.
I took a chance and did a cute desk Dean had just found for me.
A few coats of paint, heavy heavy distress and my custom glaze.
OHHHHHH so FAB!
I adored this desk. I looked at it constantly through the day, each day....until...
The oh so fabulous Domestic Goddess just happened in (a week after the desk was finished) and snatched it up.

I'm happy it has a great home, but I do miss it. (still)
I searched for "just the right piece" to do in the same color.
And then found this....
Same color, less distress a bit more refined with an Asian feel. It's in my shop window..check it out!
NOW.... I just brought in yet another piece that I am feeling Red for....it's an old washstand with lots and lots of spindles (verrrry difficult) and it's just the right kind of piece that would great in a bathroom. In Heathers (from PRV, wink) farmhouse perhaps?
But is Distressed Red too bold for a bathroom?
Yesterday I finished it, all it needs is a coat of wax.
What do you think??


Tuesday, October 25, 2011

"Girls Night Out" Introducing The Domestic Goddess Line: Candles and Cards, by Tiffany Palisi

The first Friday of every month is not surprisingly called "First Friday" in Boonton. It's the night businesses stay open late often hosting some sort of Theme or event.
 (read booze, food and give aways...um, yay)
First Friday of November is coming next week.
Our theme this month is "Girl's Night Out". 
Most of the businesses in town will be holding events and give aways meant to give all you girls a little bit of local fun.

I will be celebrating "Girl's Night Out" in SHV with Chocolate Martinis and Lots and Lots of Chocolate Desserts (all made by moi)

In addition to (and much more important than) the Chocolate excess,THE Domestic Goddess Tiffany Palisi will be launching her new product line.

You are all cordially invited:

At Savannah Hope Vintage 906 Main St, Boonton

I hope you have the opportunity to come out and meet my friend and enjoy some Chocolate Decadence. Chocolate martinis, cakes and candies will be overflowing.

Her candles smell so FAB U LOUS I want to eat them.
She creates them all (read she actually blends the scents and hand pours the candles herself), and has put thought into their impact on our world, using recyclable packaging and clean burning wax.

Her cards are understated and ooze the love and joy Tiffany puts forth in life.
If you can't make it to Boonton November 4th you can check out her products online here:

"DG" is one of my most favorite people. She has a heart bigger than anyone I know and always ALWAYS focuses on the good in the world.
 (not to mention a total babe!)
So please please support her and her new products they are sure to be a hit not only at SHV but everywhere!


Thursday, October 20, 2011

What's New (repurposed)

Several Months ago, at a local auction I came upon a box of vintage sheet music. 
I had to have it to add to my "ephemera stash".
I had no clue what I was going to do with it......but I was determined to have the winning bid.
I bid, I won....
The sheet music sat and sat.

While getting ready for the Art Walk (and Fall/Christmas) shoppers I wanted to offer something new....something I made(other than furniture that is)
I pulled out some sheet music and starting thinking...
I have seen vintage sheet music used for so many different things. Fabulous Decoupaged shelves like the ones Heather at postroadvintage.com creates.......OR
the cute paper chain garlands made by Claire at www.etsy.com/shop/MontclairMade
So soooo many cool fun things out there.
Then it hit me.
A while back I purchased "chip clips" from my friend and the oh so fabulous Domestic Goddess TP yes this DG  ( thedomesticgoddessfiles.blogspot.com  )        
  she had the genius idea to take clothespins and stamp them with cute sayings and sell them as chip clips. We are on the same page as far as reducing waste and the lowering the use of "forever" plastic in our lives.
 These chip clips are great, I love them.... soooo I stole her idea (thank you DG) and decoupaged the sheet music to clothespins.

I am also in the process of making bows (like the ones we all buy by the bag at Christmas) and package tags too!  I want to offer a cool repurposed alternative for gift wrap.
Lets face it Christmas is such a time of excess. We often spend more than we should or can afford just to make the holiday special. And then we spend some more on gift wrap that we use to make the boxes look pretty, only to have it ripped off and thrown in the trash.
It's wasteful, and really not necessary.
I challenge all of you to make different choices this Holiday Season.
(and in your life)

(packaged in 100% biodegradable glassine bags)

As an example:
This past Saturday I went to a bridal shower. I can't remember the last one I had been to. I was invited because I am "Deans other". Quite honestly, I was shocked when I got the invite. I mean I know his future niece but I am really kind of "optional" as far as the "should" of who to invite from his family.
I was really happy to go, very excited. Of course I went on the registry and choose things from her list. It was fun. BUT how do I wrap it? For me it is no longer an option to go out an purchase one time use wrapping paper.

Soooo I scented the sheet music (hey it's from the 40s it does not smell that great) and wrapped all of her gifts in sheet music and kraft paper and added vintage seam binding as ribbon and used the handmade bows and tags.

The boxes were a hit and Carolynes mom is going to reuse some of the sheet music for her photo album.
It was such a hit I decided to offer premade decoupaged boxes with the vintage seam binding ribbon, bow and tags for sale to use for small gift wrapping. (think jewelry boxes)


Sooo Have fun, think outside the box....




"You Must Be The Change You Wish To See In The World".... Mahatma Gandhi.