Annie Sloan Chalk Paint...At this point, it's a love LOVE thing..

Back in September I wrote about the new paint I had been using. It's an English Paint called Annie Sloan (real person) Chalk Paint.
It is the hot paint right now, and I wanted to try something different. I was getting bored with Linen White everywhere.
I read a ton of stuff that was on the web about the paint. But in a fashion true to who I am I dove right in and painted a piece.The paint goes on easily and is very well....chalky. So far so good. NOW the sealer. A wax with a very creamy type consistency, unlike anything that I had used before. I prefer the "aged look so I went right ahead and covered the piece with dark wax (YIKES) thinking I could just rub it off as I do with my glazes.
WRONG without getting into details....It was a gunky mess! and impossible to make better. So I tested that paint out (it says you can paint over anything. So I painted right over it!
Well....after about 3 to 4 tries the piece was covered with layers of paint....lol.
And I was still  far from skilled at using this new product.
So I read some more.....
AH Haaaa...you have to put clear wax on FIRST then use the dark wax.
At this point I am hardly an expert however I am inspired by all the other furniture refinishers who use this paint. Soooo I have leaped outside the box (so long Linen White) and have gone color crazy!
I am having a blast and if you check out my facebook page you see all of the pieces.
I am layering colors and mixing odd combinations. I'm loving it!
My goal is to have the back room of my shop not so much of a furniture storage but more of a second display area of finished pieces so I can have a nice combination of BM Linen White (and Aqua and that fab Red I do) and more chalk painted pieces showcasing all of my techniques that I have developed over the last 2 years.

I hope you will pop in and check it all out....or maybe drop in on Tuesday afternoons when I have my open furniture painting class.
I'll be teaching my Benjamin Moore techniques for the month of March.

Why Keep The "Vintage" in Savannah Hope Vintage

The truth is I could not make a living selling Antique/Vintage.

I tried.
So slowly, without real thought my little shop has evolved into a place where vintage, one of a kind and handmade items coexist.
I have been a collector of American China, Pottery and Glass since the early 80s. And at times have had some collections with well over 50 or 60 pieces. There was a time when "the hunt" was filled with excitement and anticipation. I hit garage; tag and estate sales every week end hoping to find a rare piece or needed addition to my sets.
Over the years I have learned a lot about American dinner wares and while most of my collections have been sold I still have a soft spot for the likes of Stangl and Blue Ridge, Cambridge and Heisey, Weller and Fulper.
These days the excitement comes not from "the hunt" but from taking some of these things that I have already aquired (that in todays market have little to no value) and repurposing them creating something new and usable.
And so with the evolution of my business over the last year I have often thought about dropping the "Vintage" from Savannah Hope Vintage. My business entity is Savannah Hope LLC so any "tag" word after that is just that...a tag word.

I would love to support more and more artisans who like myself feel a real need to recycle, reuse and reinvent that which has already been created and "consumed" in an effort to reduce waste.
But these days business has been slow....and while I hear many positive comments from wonderful creative people.......I just can't seem to reach the point of making enough to support Savannah and I.
I'm not giving up, I promise. BUT right now in an effort to continue to offer NEW things to all of my customers I have decided to bring in more vintage.

I am "Destashing" my vintage pottery, china and glass and linens.
Expect to see items not only repurposed but bunched and tagged so hopefully you will follow my and my artists lead and create and repurpose....or enjoy them in the original form.

So while I have contemplated dropping the "Vintage" for now it will remain.

Stop in to see and feel the changes that are happening and support my business.....not necessarily for me but to foster and sustain the truth that in an effort to save our planet we must consider our deliberations and our impact.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss and The American Forests Fund

I've written about First Fridays before.

Each Month Boonton Main Street retailers all stay open late the First Friday.

Typically we have a theme and everyone goes all out to make it a great night.

(read PAR  TAY)

This month for (the very obvious) Valentines theme I had a local photographer in and created a "kissing booth". He photographed people of all sorts kissing or hamming it up.

It was a fun night!

But next month.....we honor Dr Seuss!
I'm so sooooo excited!

It would have been his birthday on March 2nd had he not passed in 1991.
Dr. Seuss was a man who I admire on so many levels.
He was a visionary and an environmentalist with a tremendous sense of humor.
When Savannah was small every year we would dress up as the same thing. (well one year she was a bride and I was the bridesmaid...but I think it still counts)
Savannah was probably about 4 and we were both the Cat in the Hat.
I think if you ask her today....what she remembers most...it would likely be mom singing Disney tunes (most specifically one from The Little Mermaid) us dancing "the hustle" in our undies and "Horton Hears a Who". It was a favorite of mine (which means it became a favorite of hers) and I spent many a day reading and doing every character in a different voice. It still makes me smile.
Dr Seuss had an uncanny knack for taking a serious complicated intense topic and bringing it down to it's simplest form. So the smallest of small could understand.
In 1971 he published a genius book called "The Lorax".
Back then many were called "ecologists" and I include myself on the simplest level. You don't hear that term much anymore
 (arrg this is a you know your old when... moment) but what you do hear and see is real change in the way people view our Earth and the "stuff" in it.
The Lorax was the spokesperson for trees (because the trees had no tongues).
The lesson was simple...put thought into what you are producing...because while it is filling a need, you must consider the harm it is doing too.
For as long as I can remember I have considered....and while it was not really planned, it is no surprise that my business is one based on recycling, repurposing and reusing.
So it is oh so fitting for me to honor Dr. Seuss for the lesson he tried to teach about our Earth, the trees and corporate greed and destruction.
Thus my THEME for First Friday
(and the whole month of March) is
"The Lorax" and his monumental reminder:

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's NOT."

I am working on creating tee shirt bags from repurposed tees that were donated to me (by the oh so beautiful Domestic Goddess) and ones I have had or found in thrift shops.  I will make as many as possible in the next few weeks.
These bags signify an alternative to paper shopping bags (formerly known as trees). They are unique, one of a kind, and can be used over and over (and washed with regular laundry).
I will be giving out these bags for a small donation (5.00 or more)
100% off all monies raised will go to The American Forests Fund.

You see the truth is I have believed for a very long time that I can and do make a difference in this world.
And I encourage all of you to consider....
you too can make a difference.

I have also set up a listing here if you cannot make it into my shop on First Friday or all month of March. I will ship your tee shirt bag to your address listed.

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's Not"
The Lorax   by Dr. Seuss

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Tee Shirt Bag. Assorted Styles.

100% of all money goes to: 
The American Forests Fund.

Quantity

1 bag $5.00 USD 2 bags $10.00 USD 3 bags $15.00 USD 4 bags $20.00 USD 5 bags $25.00 USD

shipping address