Showing posts with label Pretty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pretty. Show all posts

Saturday, January 14, 2012

~A Token of Friendship~

This month I have been thinking about Valentine's Day, love, and the blessings of true friendship. I am very fortunate to have wonderful friends in my life who personify Proverbs 17:17. I wanted to make a little token for each of them...and then, decided to make a few extras for you...or your bosom friend.
 
 
I hope you'll stop by Early Work Mercantile to see my latest offerings. 
 
Until next time...
Rhonda
 

Sunday, September 25, 2011

What I Did On My Summer Vactation (OR where the heck have you been?)

Some of you might be wondering just what happened to me over the summer...I've really missed being part of the blogging community these last few months. I've missed seeing what you've been up to, your projects, your photos, your offerings...I've missed YOU. I really appreciate my faithful readers...THANK YOU for sticking with me, I hope you'll return again and again.

I can't believe it's fall! Seriously, summer flew by so quickly that I almost feel like it never happened. We were just incredibly, incredibly busy here. It seems like we went from one project to the next... 

There was a lot of painting, remodeling, and exchanging of spaces. My studio moved from a small crowded room on the main floor of the house, to two large rooms on the second floor. My old studio became a cozy little sitting room just off the master bedroom. 

This may not sound like much to some of you, but with the exception of moving the heavy furniture, I did most of the work myself.  The moving, sorting and organizing of supplies was probably the biggest part of the project. I made myself go through every button and spool and was relieved that my family didn't call the producers of "Hoarders" when they saw what was packed into my tiny studio. Mr. Kattywhompus said it reminded him of a clown car...where no matter how many clowns emerge-there's always one (or two) more. *sigh*

The changes have been a dream. I not only inherited a bigger space, but three more closets and room for an office, packaging area and permanent spot to take product photos. I was able to move most of the inventory for my vintage shop into one space, and still have a pretty and functional area to create. Of course during the move, I wasn't able to get a bit of work done...but I feel like I will be able to be much more productive now that everything is in one space and more organized.  I also have plenty of room to host gatherings with friends, which has happened a couple of times already. :)

As the mother of three sons, I've lived in a world flooded with testosterone for over twenty years. Now that the two oldest have their own place, I lost no time in creating what they refer to as "The Pink Room".


I really wanted a pretty (and comfortable) chair to sit in by the window and stitch. It's pretty now, but it certainly wasn't when I found it. I'll tell you in my next post how I PAINTED the upholstery and transformed this Craigslist find. You might be as amazed as I was at how easy it was!

In my new space, I even have room to to create vignettes with all the little pretties I've collected over the years.


Surrounding myself with things I love inspires me.


Fabric at my fingertips.


Pretty storage all in a row.

The "Hoosier" makes great storage (but was a booger going up the stairs).
Needfuls near the sewing machine.

On the tabletop, a sweet stemmed dish, a gift from my mother-in-love. Each time I made her a grandma, she brought me a pretty piece of glassware. One day I hope to gift them to my daughter-in-loves. The little kitten was a Mother's Day gift. I can still picture four year old Nash, standing by my bedside at 5 am, with a tiny gift wrapped box. :)


Favorite things...vintage rabbits, Tasha Tudor storybooks and shiny dragees unearthed at an estate sale by my friend Joan.


More Inspiration...

Everyone needs a helper...

Supplies...

Another corner...


A turn of the century, white cotton day dress and antique ladies pocket watch, gifts from my Momma.


I have one last project to finish in this room. I want to paint my worktable a creamy white. It's a big round claw-foot table that we've had since we were first married. Right now the finish looks like this...it really needs a makeover.

 
Well...I hope you've enjoyed the tour. I look forward to sharing the rest of my summer with you...including a tutorial on how to paint upholstered furniture, a special outing with friends, my first big feature story in Mercantile Gatherings Magazine and what I am looking forward to for fall. Until next time...Rhonda

(Please forgive my crazy spacing...blogger seems to be buggy tonight.)

Monday, November 15, 2010

Ordinary Days

It's been a busy week. Between attending the Simple Goods show, hosting a group of homeschoolers, teaching a friend to sew, blog deadlines, surprise parties, and doctor appointments, I feel like I hit the ground running and haven't stopped. Tomorrow I will sit with a friend who has just had surgery and later in the week I will enjoy luncheon with a group of high school classmates. In between my daily chores I'll try to squeeze in a little stitching. These are the ordinary things that make up my days. As my Auntie used to say "It's better to wear out than to rust out."

I love Ohio...and Simple Goods was, as always, a primitive feast for the senses. Of course they don't allow photos to be taken inside, so you'll have to trust me when I say that it was wonderful. I saw some really beautiful old things and some new things made to look old. I talked with some talented and lovely people. I coveted a red wool petticoat that sold for $400...out of my budget for petticoats, but marvelous all the same. I didn't actually buy very much. My biggest purchase was some old striped floral fabric, perfect for making sewing rolls. 

I also bought this tiny grain painted box from Derek Schmidt of T.F.C. Folk ArtI added the funny little strawberry on top. It's not attached, I just like the way it looks perched up there.
  One of the things that has kind of become a Simple Goods tradition is that Emily brings a fun and creative project to share with us. This year we spend the evening before the show playing with paper dolls. This project was so much fun that I think I might try it on my own sometime. Here's what I came up with.
~A masked mermaid and a Victorian dog/angel~
~Downtown Granville, Ohio~
Another tradition is a trip south to Granville, just a short drive from Mt. Vernon through the picturesque rolling, farmland of Ohio. Granville reminds me of the fictional town of Stars Hollow, and just might be the cutest place on earth. You won't find Luke's Diner, but you will find great coffee at The Village Coffee Company. In Granville the people are friendly, the shops are wonderful and the pie is homemade.
One of the main reasons for our pilgrimage to Granville is a visit to Green Velvet. 
The entrance hints at what you'll find inside.
Green Velvet is luxurious, and sparkly...a girlie girl's paradise.
The shop was all decked out for the holidays season.
~Spools of beautiful ribbon at Green Velvet~
~Pastel Vintage Glass Ornaments~
~Wonderful soaps and perfumes~


~More Sparkle~
We always try to stop in at some of the really great antique malls on route 70 near Springfield, Ohio on our way home.
Look at this great storefront seed display.
~A wonderful early basket~
 Doesn't this this old blue cupboard have a fabulous finish?
I found this small chest which will serve as a jewelry box after it's painted. It has two working drawers and the top opens to reveal a nice bit of storage. 
And suggestions on what color I should paint it?
 And last but not least...This little wooden tray once painted, will become a sewing caddy.
I have lots more to show you, but I'd like you to be awake for it.
Until next time... 

Monday, October 18, 2010

I have a secret...

Shhhhh...come closer so I can whisper in your ear. Even though I adore primitives...there's another side to me that you may not know about. I have an alter ego. I'm a girly girl who loves pink, ruffles and all manner of pretty things. 

When I come across an ancient box of old lace or a button tin at an estate sale I just can't resist. Can you?


I love putting together these little inspiration kits from bits & bobs that I've collected on my adventures.


Don't hate.


Maybe you prefer blue?



 Or Aqua?


Old lace?


Or just something sweet?


What's that? You like pretty things too? Don't worry, your secret's safe with me.


These pretties and others, coming soon to an Etsy shop near you.