24 Olive Street

Changes

I mentioned in one of my last posts that I was feeling the need to make some changes for 2015. Not 'resolutions' (I don't really do those) but just changes I need to make in the coming months to basically keep my sanity.

Unfortunately, one of those changes is that I've decided to leave Paint in my Hair. I love being a vendor there but I've found that I just can't keep up doing it all by myself and having 3 kids who are still relatively young (esp my little one who's just 3 1/2). It's especially hard when my husband has crazy hours at work...which seems to be the norm lately. I might still consign pieces from time to time but I won't have a booth anymore as of the end of this month. It's not something I wanted to do but rather something I needed to do. I began realizing just how much time I'm spending that is taking away from my little one. In just a year and a half she's going to be going to Kindergarten and I just don't want to waste that time with her. Plus, with having Crohn's it's just become too physically demanding for me at times and I'm finding that it's taking a toll on me health wise.

I will still do a couple shows a year, the next one being Fancy Farmgirl Vintage Market in Moses Lake, WA in May. I had a lot of fun at that show last year and I've become good friends with Shannon who runs the show. It's also a way for me to spend time with my son who comes with me to help. Plus, it's a 1 day shows and those are so much easier to do for me (esp when the show is out of town). This year the show is going to be over twice as big so I'm really looking forward to it! So that's what I'll be working on over the coming months.

However, I won't be doing Junk Drunk again this year. I love this show as well and Candice is just plain awesome. But with shows that are out of town I really need to start looking at what is feasible for me cost-wise. Yes, I do it partially for the fun of it. But I also need to make money. But you will definitely see me there as a customer for sure!!

This year I would really like to open my Etsy shop back up. It's been way too long. Part of the problem I've found over the past year is that my creativity is being zapped simply because I'm exhausted. And that is the main reason I need to cut back on having a booth and doing certain shows. It's quite a bummer to want to create but have no gas in the tank to do it so to speak.

So this year I'm going to spend more quality time with my little one. Spend more time being creative. Spend more time doing things that I love.

it's been a while...

since I've blogged.

Busy, busy, busy. Typical life, right?!

I had started a post last week. After we lost power on Saturday, then subsequently the modem went out & we were without internet til Tuesday evening.

But then I got busy with other stuff. Ya know, typical life :)

Oh, and then my little one got up from her nap and I noticed her entire hand was blue.

Blue.

What the crap??!!

And I went upstairs to find this...

You see, my 2 yr old and my 12 yr old share a room.

And someone...ahemthe12yroldahem...left an entire pack of Sharpies within reach of the 2 yr old. So she apparently had a little fun during nap time.

I wanted to cry.

This was the dresser that I had just refinished for their room. Thankfully most of the "painting" was contained the one drawer front. And while I got a lot of suggestions facebook on how to get it off none of them really "worked".

Magic eraser took off the marker but also rubbed off the finish. Alcohol was less effective in getting the marker off and rubbing off the finish. And since I wasn't going for a distressed look for this piece it will need to be repainted and re-waxed.

Oh joy.

Cause I don't have enough to do!

The marker eventually came off her hand...after many washes.

And speaking of furniture, I've been working on lots of new stuff for my space at Paint In My Hair (as always) and one for myself.

I originally picked up that buffet to refinish and sell but we're in desperate need of a nice piece of furniture for our family room. So once this is finished it'll be our new entertainment center. I really didn't have the time to work on something for myself between working on furniture for my space, 2 shows coming up (see sidebar -->) and going out of town for Craft Weekend in - eek!! - less than 4 weeks. Not to mention sports that are starting back up.

But it was taking up valuable space in my garage so I had to work on it to get it out of there. I shared a work in progress pic on facebook yesterday. I can't wait to share the after pics!!

When a dresser has great wood drawer fronts this is my favorite thing to do. The "shell" was painted in graphite with dark wax.

This cute vanity is painted in Paris Grey with clear wax.

There's also a cute chair :)

I also added some more of my flower clips. These are pretty popular. They're great for your hair, clipped on a hairband, on a bag, wherever! There's also a few new bags in some fun fabrics :)

I'm hoping to open my etsy shop back up & I'll be adding cute stuff like these bags & flower clips along with other goodies!

We had some nice weather over the weekend (mixed in with rain) but today is all rainy so I'll be working on a cabinet/hutch that *fingers crossed* will be in the store tomorrow!

11.12.13

What a cool date. Bummed that we were running behind this morning & didn't get a chance to take a pic like the one I did last year when it was 12.12.12....

I realized this morning that I had no eggs. My pantry is barren. I haven't gone shopping in quite a while. So it was McD's for breakfast...and since we haven't done that in months I didn't feel too bad about it :)

Oh well, next year I can get one when it's 12.13.14. Or maybe I'll just take a pic tomorrow....ssshhhh, no one will know! haha

Last Saturday was the Monroe Street holiday open house and since I had some big pieces go on to new homes I took a few new pieces down to the store.

I painted this buffet in Chateau Grey & used clear wax on it. I love this paint color because it's more of an olive green than grey (or maybe a combo of both??). I love the color!

The guy I bought this buffet from was a super nice guy with a very heavy Italian accent (apparently he had just moved here recently). And he said he was suprised when I showed up to pick it up because he said he didn't think this was a piece of furniture that a 'younger' person would like. I said 'oh, I'm going to redo it and it'll look totally different!' But I got a kick out that :)

And I really wanted to keep this dresser that I painted in Provence with clear wax. I left the drawer fronts in the original wood color because I loved the design on the bottom drawer (that I realized after I took the picture is half covered!).

But since this little 'business' of mine is basically funding our Disney trip...I want to go to Disney more than I want to keep the dresser ;)

I also marked down several pieces in my booth...mostly smaller furniture pieces and my fall items.

Yesterday we headed out to the mall to do some Christmas shopping...well, Christmas shopping in the sense that I wanted to see what clothes fit my daughter (what sizes) and what else the kids wanted so I can let Santa know :)

We found these cool remote control helicopters...

I found some cool slippers & my daughter found lots of stuff at Aeropostle she liked (of course!)

I can imagine wearing those zebra slippers at my next scrapbook retreat :)

And the most favorite thing that I found at the Hallmark store...

It's a countdown to Christmas 'radio'. For every day it plays an old fashioned radio broadcast & music! And you can hook your iphone/ipod up to it! I seriously need it. I may heading back to the mall this week to get it...cause if I don't I know I'll regret it.

And I'm sure Addie & I will be heading back to the mall anyway this week for some shopping! I've probably mentioned it before but 2 of my kids have birthdays just after Christmas so I have to do the shopping for that as well. So I usually do all of the Christmas & birthday shopping before Christmas...because after Christmas there's just nothing left in the stores.

But for now I have some grocery shopping to do so we'll be able to eat again!!

holiday open house

Today's the day! If you're local to Spokane or the surrounding areas be sure to head down to Monroe Street for their holiday open house! All of us vendors over at Paint In My Hair have all been working on their booths and there's so much Christmas-y goodies & great sales!!! Most of us were at the shop last night setting up and there are so many great things to see!!!

Several vendors are having specials in their booths. All furniture in my booth is 10% off - today only. I have a couple great dressers along with some smaller pieces and a new bookshelf I just took there last night. I've also marke down all of my fall items.

Here's just a few things from my booth that I'm pretty excited about :)

I love this wreath! I took a lighted wreath, added some vintage ornaments, a few silver glitter swags, & the 'merry' sign. I really need to make one for myself now :)

The photos are a bit dark...it was about 9pm when I took them last night :)

I found this vintage punch bowl a while back. It has all of the cups along with the hangers for the bowl...and some vintage ornaments to dress it up!

I also replenished my flower clips & added some new clips as well. Those seem to be pretty popular. I love 'em cause you can put them in your hair or on a hairband but you can also clip them on a bag, purse, whatever you want to dress up.

My favorite is this old sled. And on it is a wreath made with red chevron burlap ribbon.

So be sure to head down to Monroe Street today! It'll be sure to get you in the Christmas mood!!

24 Olive Street has moved!!

Now that it is 'official' I can share my happy news that I am a new vendor over at Paint in my Hair! I am so excited about this opportunity to spread my wings a little bit so-to-speak! I've admired all of the fabulous furniture & other goodies that are available at PIMH for quite a while now, not to mention a few of my favorite fellow crafters/junkers are also vendors there. 

It's going to take me a little while to get all set up & get my space exactly how I want it but I thought I'd share just a few pics I snapped of the progress so far (and a few of my new furniture pieces that I just finished up)...

I love how that charcoal grey hutch turned out (already sold). It's a little rough around the edges & a bit more rustic (which I love) but it's a great piece. Originally it was the same color wood that you can see on the inside of the top part. I painted it using the same color paint as I did on the headboard bench project. It has quickly become one of my favorite non-chalk paint colors for sure!

I love how that vanity turned out (painted in ASCP in Paris Grey with clear wax).

You can kind of get an idea of what it looked like before (on the left)...

This is typically what my side yard looks like at least 1 or 2 days a week...furniture being sanded, prepped, painted, waxed... I would use the inside of the garage but let's just say there's more projects waiting to be finished so not a lot of room in there! My husband hates it. What can I say...until we win the lotto this is going to have to do as my 'workshop'! hehe

Like I said, it's going to take some time to get my space looking the way I want...but for now it's a start :) I'm going to be working on it some more this week (and taking in more stuff) so by next weekend it should be all set up...fingers crossed!

And hopefully now I can start getting my storage unit cleared out so I don't feel like I belong on an episode of Hoarders ;)

Lots of goodies waiting for a makeover!!!

Of course, once it gets cleared out a bit you know I'm just gonna fill it right back up again, right?!! Ahhh, the life of a junker :)

I'm also gearing up for Pickin' on the Prairie next month. If you're local you don't want to miss this show!!