closing doors and another opens

It's always very sad to me to see local small businesses close.  When I was 7 months pregnant I remember reading that the Shops of Yesteryear in downtown Mt. Airy was shutting its doors.  I had had visions of walking downtown and strolling through the many dealers' shops with my little girl. 

Then New Market, the "antique capital of the world," just 5 miles away, has slowly gone downhill in the last few years.  Really, since Mealey's closed.  Leila and I decided to walk around New Market last week and I couldn't believe the number of local shops that are no longer there.  And I remember when Mealey's was bustling and such an amazing restaurant.  (not to mention the previous owner had built the most adorable, quaint little bar in a separate section of the restaurant which was only open a few months before they closed!)

Then today, I got an e-mail announcing that the Den of Antiquity, one of my favorite places to find authentic, well made antiques and collectibles, will be closing as of April 27th.  I had talked to the owner about the slow business just a few months ago so I am not entirely surprised.  I just wish we could support these businesses more.  I think often we forget they are there when shopping.

Leila and I walked downtown today since it was so gorgeous and I was able to speak to the owner again.  Definitely a hard day for her.  I purchased a great vintage chair which she is holding for me and a few other things from her:

sheet music to incorporate into my work

vintage Valentine cutouts also to incorporate into projects

handmade soaps

BUT, the news here is not all negative.  After feeling bummed today about another business closing I was so stinkin' excited to read in the Gazette tonight that Mealey's now has a new owner(s) and will be reopening in April!!!!  Some things are lookin' up!

Also today, Leila took a 3 hour nap!  So, that meant 3 hours of painting...........heaven.  I am beginning to think my need for a studio is beginning to out weigh my want. 

  

Sneak peek of my current project:

happy Friday, everyone!  shop local if you can :)

rainy day

It's a dreary day....what better way to spend it than to paint and be creative all cozy indoors:

So, I have been thinking a lot lately about how darn much I love our little girl.  So many questions run through my mind throughout the day.  I find myself saying "I love you" probably at least 25 times throughout our day together.  ( I know, am I smothering her :/?!)...I wonder how much that will change through the years.  Does she know that she has me wrapped around her little finger?  Will this love continue to grow or does it plateau ever?  What will it be like when I tell her she has to change her clothes when she tries to wear a way too short skirt to high school? 

Ohhh, I guess these are all natural thoughts a mother has.  All I know is that I often just feel like that quote by Elizabeth Stone:

"Making a decision to have a child is momentous.  It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside of your body."

So true.

And, I am adding a little melted crayons to my current piece....we'll see where this takes me.

I purchased this set of cookbooks for a few dollars a few years ago at the Harper's Ferry Flea Market.  I really bought them because I loved how sweet they are in size, color and pattern.  Written by Helen Evans Brown, who apparently was pretty popular on the West coast in the 40's and 50's, I am wondering if they might be worth anything after doing research on her (not that I would want to part with them.) 

These books were published in the 1950's and I happened to pull them out to get a little inspiration for my next painting.  I might have to sit down and really read them and learn more about her now that I know they are special.

a fab vintage sofa, paintings in progress & a sofa for sale...

Leila and I were crazy painters yesterday...both so excited about our projects in progress.  Hers on the floor above and mine below.

this piece will be done this week....it is on a cotton shower curtain and incorporates pattern, color texture.  There is a vintage ribbon wrapped around it and the blue "ruffles" come from a baby's swimsuit that my sister passed down to me.  Unfortunately, it had been worn one too many times to be used this summer... 

And, we have been in the middle of a mad scramble to get this vintage leather Davis sofa in its new home: our living room.  We have wanted a leather sofa to deal better with our dog hair issue and to give use more room, however we didn't want just any leather sofa.  We needed something on the smaller scale with style and good lines. 

Went to Chartreuse and again it did not disappoint. Had my eye on this and the price was a steal... (courtesy of vendor Sue at The Treasured Hunt ...Chartreuse has several "vendors" who sell.)  I texted my husband a pic of it and called him at the office but I didn't hear back.  Sigh, I had to let it go.  When he got home on Friday night he told me he thought I had bought it. YOU WHAT?!?  My heart sank and I immediately e-mailed the owner of Chartreuse asking if it was still there.  Of course not....it had been purchased that day.

However, it was fate.  Apparently the lady who purchased it decided it didn't work in her home and had to sell it.  Score!....on that note though, we are selling this piece:

Make us an offer!  I admit it, I did paint the upholstery after seeing the steps on this blog but now that we are moving our sectional into the playroom to make room for the leather sofa, this has to go.  It is otherwise in great condition and was handed down to us from my parents.  It measures 58" wide and is 32" deep and can certainly be re-upholstered.

a dresser made over

Leila having a good ole' time with her buddies!

Was excited to find on the designer Emily A. Clark's blog the exact same dresser made over but just in a different shade and new knobs.  The dresser above came from my husband's grandparent's house and I just loved it and knew it had potential. 

I have the matching tall dresser which I plan on painting a yellow for Leila's playroom.  But for now, here is the finished piece we are now using as a console in our living room:

I actually did buy new, modern knobs for this but they didn't fit the holes so I ended up just painting the existing antique looking ones a gray/blue....am loving it:

frugal and fabulous

We live in a small abode but it is cozy and it is home.  We've decided to sit tight, ride the housing market crisis out and wait to move.  Until then, it has been "operation make use of every square inch of space we have" in the Sullivan household.  Which means I have sold unused pieces of furniture on Craigslist, donated odds and ends, rearranged and spiced things up some to change the mood of the spaces.

My sister in law gave us this piece of furniture below.  It came with a door on it but we removed it and used the wood for something its shape was perfect for. (more below)

We added shelves to the piece and painted it...good as new and tons of storage!

in process

I rearranged our bedroom and absolutely love it now.  Used the door from the cabinet as a base for a head board...covered it in batting and this fabric.  Found it at JoAnn's...40% off, a total steal.

But, it really needed to be secured more and screwed directly into the wall.  It also needed a bit of something else to make it less "vanilla" and plain jane and more custom.  I wasn't sure what to use to cover up the screws....until I found these vintage earrings at Den of Antiquity in downtown Mt. Airy:

a bit hard to see from the photo but they add just the right amount of sparkle...just took the backs off and hot glued them directly on the screws. 

Using the green earrings for another project I have going on...will post pic when done.

chartreuse II and more

today "amber" took on a life of her own and my original vision is way skewed.  But, that's the surprise in painting....you never know what will happen.  Almost done.

13 months

got away for a bit this afternoon to get my

newfound Chartreuse fix:

Walked away with a $3 frame that needs some love, but will be fabulous when done!  Will create an oil painting on wood for this....