Things Are A'Changing Around Here

Hello all!  So, I have been sitting on some news about some thoughts about changing our dynamic around here.  I didn't really know how to put it since I was feeling a little sad at first.  So, I will just blurt it out in true Michelle fashion.  We are closing the shoppe.  This is the last weekend that the shoppe will be open on a regular basis.

Now, that being said, I feel that I should offer somewhat of an explanation.   When we opened the shoppe, I started taking on custom painting jobs since I had more room to spread out and paint.  I would work on them alongside the pieces I was working on to sell in the shoppe and my booth.  The custom painting side of my little business has grown and grown to the point that I am now squeezing in my pieces to paint alongside the custom pieces.  There is only so much time and we have cut into our open hours over the past few months to give me more time to get the pieces finished.  Besides the painting, I also have wholesale clients that I have to create products.  Not to mention my #1 employee has been pretty busy with his own work!

So, the decision was made for me to go to full time painting.  I will still keep my booth at Winchester Antiques and there is always my etsy shoppe that will be restocked more frequently since I won't have to watch like a hawk to make sure items are taken down if they sell in the shoppe.  We are planning some pop up type shoppe sales closer to Spring when it is prettier.  I will announce those here and on Facebook. I will still paint at the shoppe and we are hoping to carve a little studio for the Mr there too.

This is bittersweet for me.  I am thrilled to still be doing what I love.  But, I loved having the shoppe open.  We have made so many friends through the shoppe... we see some of them more than we see some of our family.  I am excited to have a little more leeway in our schedule.  Some weekends we have missed out on doing things since we were open. Even though change is hard, I do like it.  I like just enough change so things aren't boring, but right before chaos ensues *wink*

I am so blessed to have been giving this opportunity and to still be doing something I love, albeit in a different facet.  Thank ALL of you guys that have supported me in my little dream.  I can't say that enough... without your support and kind words of encouragement, this wouldn't have happened.   This isn't goodbye... like I said I will still be there, so pop by and say hi.

bye for now~

A Crib

Hello all! We (or at least I did) had one of those sunshine and rainbows sort of weekends, even if it didn't start off that way.  Can I confess something?  I loathe having yard sales.  Really.  I love to treasure hunt and buy and I had a great time selling at Bella Rustica, but a yard sale.... notsomuch.  I am really not sure why... maybe it is because I will still have to deal with the leftovers.  And, the getting ready for it isn't fun either.  In spite of all that, we had gorgeous weather and we all stayed outside and painted (Mr. Hughes) and read library books (me and the hyena) in between visitors.  Plus, we sold some stuff that was taking up space, including a rocking chair from the nursery which is slowly becoming a big boy room.  We decided to quit the sale on Friday and spend all day Saturday doing fun things like getting pumpkins and cupcakes and hunting for old toy trucks.  Yesterday, one project that was dependent on us selling the rocking chair was practically finished and I will show you later this week.

Whew... wordy!  I bet you are wondering what that crib photo is for... not us.  baby hughes was quite concerned when I was painting it... his was identical to this one.  A sweet couple that bought a dresser from me this summer contacted me and asked me to paint a crib.  I remember looking at Mr. Hughes and being like... uhhhh... I don't know.  But then, I warmed up to the idea and told them to bring it!  Since I hand paint everything and hand sand as well, I knew those spindles were going to be some work.  I used no VOC paint since I knew that it would probably be gnawed on a little *wink*  I am really pleased with how it turned out and I am pretty sure they love it too... I made her promise to send me a photo of the room all set up.  They bought the Rose dresser:

I love this piece with all its little details.  I can't wait to see it in the nursery!  I am always thrilled when I know that I piece I painted is going into a nursery.  There is something special in knowing something that you did is going to be around a new little soul.  I think this nursery is going to be so lovely!

Well, it is sunshiney today too!  I think we will get out and enjoy it when the hyena awakes.  I have some finishing touches on a personal project that I will show you later this week...it may turn into a tutorial of sorts... don't expect much though.... I am terrible with directions!

bye for now!

Color Inspiration

Hello all!  One of the things that I always wanted to do for as long as I can remember is name colors.  I even entered a Crayola crayon naming contest when they introduced the "new" colors back in the 90s... maybe the 80s... Anyhow, I find color inspiration everywhere and I am constantly drawn to certain shades.  I am not a red girl at all, but blues and greens... Yes please!  Oh yeah... I also like greys *wink*

I gathered together some of the things I collect... mostly old... well, all old except for the sweater.  And, I only wish I collected JCrew cashmere *wink*  Stained ironstone, tweed suitcases, mercury glass, vintage maps, Portuguese aqua flower pots, and silver with a rich patina inspired my very own color collection.

At first, the idea was to use these shield shapes as a way to show my custom painting clients a sample of my finishes in case I didn't have a piece here to share with them.  Plus, they are fairly portable.  The shield shapes are actually antler mounts.... so not into antlers...

Then, once day, I was picking out swatches to give a client for a bed that I was to paint for her and I realized, that paper swatch didn't look like what the finish was going to look like... it was a different sheen, it was on paper, not wood, and it wasn't distressed at all.  So, I played around with a few wooden tags that we had and my custom swatches were born.

Then I needed to have a tasteful way to let visitors to my booths know that I offered custom painting services.  I found a few old cabinet doors that Mr. Hughes picked up to paint signs on and painted them a grey from my Mother Dough and silver leafed that great raised detail.

Mr. Hughes helped put it all together... and came up with the genius business card holder.  I am really pleased with the way it looks. I named my most often used colors after my favorite things.  I didn't have my Mora clock in the suitcase photo since it is tethered to the wall to keep a certain little man from knocking it over.

I may be no Martha, but now, Vintage Junky has its own color line!  Obviously, I will paint a piece any color for my clients... they aren't limited to these colors.  This was just a fun way for me to put it all together.  I am thinking I may add a few more in the future or change them out for seasons or whatever inspires me at the time.  

Okay, back to work... it is nap time!

bye for now!

almost forgot.... I got my vinyl decals from Leen the Graphics Queen.  She was the second person I worked with... the first was less than satisfactory.  She got me just what I needed promptly.