Someone Pinch Me

So, I went for a run/walk yesterday. A community near me was having a yard sale and a great old estate near me was having a barn sale...all in one day! The estate was full of incredible furniture, mirrors, really cool things like an antique book press and massive mirrors, but I would need another house to store them all, so I settled for small items. So many bargains...three hours later, I had to run back to get the car. Here's what I purchased:

Folding rulers:

Very heavy, and very old candlestick (I'm going to paint it because even though it's kind of cool as is, there are some chunks missing).

Two file card drawers...love. They don't have solid bottoms...what would you do with them? Any ideas?

Beautifully detailed and very heavy lamp and choice of two lamp shades (Umm, $5 for all three):

Cool middle Eastern heavy brass cup:

Beautiful vintage linens:

And my favorite piece: a small old dresser swing mirror. I have no use for it, but want to paint it and put it in my shop....what color? Pale pink? off white? pure white? Any ideas?

Also, found some very cool vintage jewelry and an old brass pot. Some of which I will definitely keep and some are going into my shop. Some one pinch me please; I must be dreaming.

Just a Little Inspiration

I've been working simultaneously on three different projects (yes, my house is a disaster zone), but it feels so good to get in the groove and get things done. Here is the last of my Old World plaster projects, which I finished last night. I call them desktop blocks and sell them in my shop. They are made from scraps of wood we had in our garage. 

I love using these little blocks to try out new techniques and colors. These three have a color wash of gray over the plaster, which gives them a dreamy quality.

So, what else have I been working on? Well, here are some hints...

Linking to:

Got Scrap Lumber?

Well, I do and since I had the joint compound out for my switch plate project, I worked on some other projects for myself and my etsy shop while the paint, joint compound, and varnish dried.

Here are the French-inspired key holders (now finished) that I showed you in an earlier post. 

I also made a new version of my French laundry sign ... this time with the plaster technique.

Then, I had some scrap wood from my laundry signs so I created some French-inspired wall plaques:

... and a few sweet little, shelf or desk top blocks...all with the plaster technique! I might have plastered my stove if it was close enough! I'll show you the desktop blocks in my next post, okay?

So, yes it was a very productive week, but I still have a hall table and picture frames just waiting to be painted and a mirror waiting to be hung. Sigh, will it ever end?

The Art of Presentation

Well, I just finished my order of switch plates for the beach house in California. See how productive I was? But, even after the last coat of varnish dried, it wasn't complete.
Packaging and presentation of the finished product is very important for me. I want each of my customers (no matter how small or large their purchase) to feel as if they are opening a gift.


This one was a tedious packaging feat as I had to wrap each plate and outlet cover in bubble wrap to protect the Venetian plaster finish and the added embellishments.

Wrapping each switch plate in gift wrap would have been so much work, so I opted for bubble wrap and ribbons. To make it look extra special, I decided to use some leftover tulle I had from a project. The clear bubble wrap against the soft green tulle made a lovely presentation (if I say so myself).

Speaking of boxes, here's the box I sent Somerset Home magazine when they asked me to send my switch plates for publication. Since it was an art magazine, I decided to go all out and paint the exterior of the box!






Even my little packages get a special treatment...such as these. 
 Sometimes I use vintage hankies to wrap items and other times, tissue and lots of pretty ribbon!

If you have a shop, what do you do special for packaging?


Linking to:
http://makingtheworldcuter.com/2011/09/making-the-world-cuter-monday-37/

A Few Very Cool Finds

Found some pretty little things today on my way to mail some orders. 

First up, this gorgeous tray...won't that look beautiful when it's painted off-white and antiqued...look at these beautiful carvings. Might have to keep.

Second, these cool spools. I have a few of these, so these will probably end up in my Country Tag Sale shop.

And, cool beans...I believe these were pestles to grind something...corn? medicine? Who knows, but they're cool. I think they almost look nautical.

These may decorate my house for a while or go into my shop. 
Linking to:

Old World Plaster Technique

So, this is what I've been up to ... covered in joint compound and making a mess of my kitchen. Yes, I know I have a craft space, but I really needed room to spread out and make a mess and my little corner just wasn't doing it for me.

I've been working on yet another huge order of switch plates...this time for a California beach house. My client purchased the switch plate below and wanted matching ones to go throughout the house.

I talked her into a couple of different looks, so I am busy creating. In the mean time (and while I had the joint compound out), I tried working on a few other projects. 

I used the scrap lumber above and a few of my findings to create these key holders (not quite finished yet, but you get the idea) below. I made one with a grayish background and the other with a white and ivory background. 
 To get the joint compound from that ugly gray to a slightly lighter gray and ivory, I mixed in acrylic paint to get the desired effect. Here's a site about the technique, http://www.surfaceswithpaint.com/plaster_finishes.htm (because I honestly tried to take photos and they just didn't work out). I just use the technique on a much smaller scale and tend to clump my plaster a little more so it looks very aged. I also rub a dry brush over it or glaze it so it catches and highlights the texture. Once I get the drill out, I'll secure the findings to the wood scraps and sell these in my etsy shop. But, right now I've got to finish this order.
Linking to:
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/
 

Camping Out

Did you miss me? Ha! Didn't even know I was gone, did you? We just got back from a little camping trip at the very tip of Virginia's Eastern shore. It's beautiful there and we had perfect weather, but I'm tired and avoiding unloading the car. My oldest son and I drove back in the wee hours of the morning. My youngest and my husband are still back in Virginia fishing.
Here are some scenes from our little trip:
Our kitchen area - notice the coffee maker...can't live without good coffee and camp general stores do not have good coffee.

Boys being boys -- getting the girls soaked...

Sunset on the Chesapeake Bay

My friend's husband made this firepit for everyone out of an old drum barrel. He put every guy's name on it...hmm, I just realized that there are no girl names. I still think it was really cool, though.


Now, time to get back in the swing of things