Before and After - Frenchy Stuff Meets Restoration Hardware

I really like French furniture, even the 60's French Provincial furniture. When I was a little girl, it seemed everybody had it in their bedrooms except me. Well, I have painted and sold quite a bit of it the last few years. I've painted many dressers and chests, but I recently found this secretary and I don't remember ever seeing one quite like this.

I decided to try something a little different rather than painting it white or my recent favorite, french grey. Have you seen the new Restoration Hardware catalog? I have just been drooling over the soft neutrals. I recently bought some Restoration Hardware paint called Cappucino. I decided to give it a try on the secretary and a little antique French bed. I painted the trim in a soft white for a subtle accent. Then I distressed a little and glazed them both creating a "patine". Are you ready to see the result?

I would have loved to have had these in my bedroom when I was little. Heck, I would have loved to fill my daughter's bedroom with these when she was little. Granddaughter Sweet Caroline is only 9 months old...her bedroom is already full. So these have made like Elvis and left the building. Now they are on display at the shop!

I am linking up to Thrifty Decor Chick, Faded Charm and Tools are for Women Too.

Thanks to all our wonderful hosts!

Homer's Not Laughin'!

There was a time when Homer WAS laughin'. Homer Laughlin, that is. He was laughing because dishes produced by the Homer Laughlin Co. in the early to mid-1900's were bringing a pretty penny, I must say. He won't be laughing this coming weekend. If you love Homer Laughlin dishes (which I really, really do) now is the time for you to pick up some up at really bargain prices! When I say bargain, I mean low prices plus 25% off to boot for Friday and Saturday Open House at Bloom and Bee Swanky, 210 S. 5th St., Waco, Texas! The shop will be closed Thursday to prepare for this event. There are always many vintage dishes at the shop, but here are some photos of brand new items...ahem...well, of course, they're not brand new, they're vintage, but they've just been taken in to the shop for this special Open House!

Brittany, including lots of dinner plates, cups and saucers and fabulous

cream soups with double handles!

One of the Marilyn patterns with pink rims and muted flowers!

Another beautiful Marilyn with brighter colored flowers!

Homer Laughlin Nautilus in the Dubarry pattern, one of my favorites!

They are all priced individually, so you can get just one or you can get a ton! Come on, dealers, you know you want to.

And, while I'm at it, just a few photos of some of my stuff at the shop:

Gorgeous antique European bed!

Antique iron settee and table (also available, matching

iron arm chairs).

Love this little revolving bookcase.

Intricately carved chest with pretty iron hardware.

Is there anything more useful than a vintage oak accountant's

desk? Small enough for an apartment,

deep enough to hold computer equip,

or for a tighter space, a little vintage typing table, painted pale yellow.

Huge vintage religious print in ornate gilded frame.

And more dishes-vintage blue willow....

and brown transferware.

How about this antique painting on reverse glass?

I love to paint abstract paintings and mix with old stuff.

Like this black cat with judgmental eyes...

....these black and white flowers and at the top

left corner you can see just a tease-lips of another

painting....

...this blackbird just sitting atop a beautiful

chest that would make a great place to

put your flatscreen! You must see!

I apologize for the quality of the photos, but please consider this was just a peek! I also have many antique lamps, a few pieces of mid-century modern furniture, vintage jewelry and glassware, my paintings along with my handpainted domino and scrabble pendants and, of course, some unusuals! I'll be taking in a few other pieces of vintage painted furniture this week. Just been hit with inventory taxes, therefore many other pieces of my furniture have been marked down. So please come take a look this Friday and Saturday!

Spring Open House!

More to come. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ballet Shoes Watercolor

I kept way too much stuff from when my daughter was a little girl. She is now 30 years old (I can't believe it) and some of the keepsakes have been transferred to her home and her children. Toys, art projects, costumes, dolls...so many memories take us back as these treasures are returned to her care.

She started taking ballet and tap dancing classes when she was just 3 years old. Above is my favorite picture of her taken during her recital days. I am going to paint this portrait one day. I am, I am. Sadly, I did not keep her ballet shoes. What happened to them? How could that have happened? Years later, I painted this watercolor. I placed it in a frame made from old boards and took it to the shop recently. It reminded me that I really wish I still had her sweet little pink-painted-white ballet shoes!

Thanks to Kathleen at Faded Charm for hosting White Wednesday!

Recent Shop Photos

Bling - a - ding - ding

Found this little cabinet to display "clustres" of vintage rhinestone brooches, earrings and shoe clips. Of course, I am no expert on vintage jewelry....Amy is. She has amassed a huge collection here. But I do like what I have gathered! And everyone knows I like to put vintage shoe clips on my crocs....

Perfume Bottles

I have always loved old bottles. In fact, my first memory of a toy was an old bottle I had found. My cousin tried to break it (just for meanness) and I hit him with it. Needless to say, I was in real trouble for that. Anyway, here are some old perfume bottles I have found. The sunflower one is pristine, but the other two have chips. I think they are beautiful nonetheless! They will be at the shop soon.

Open House at Bloom

The entrance to the shop where the girls

draped sheet music. So pretty! Two of these

columns are still for sale.

Primitive tabletop writing desk. SOLD

I love this great vintage wine tasting table. So handy

for a small area like a wine cellar or grotto...but open

up the leaves, it is HUGE. Hey, that is a nice cabinet

overhead for a flatscreen TV.

This display has my new Schnadig marble

topped chest and my French plate rack with

chalkware Cherub top. Cute antique phone.

Whose is that?

Love the way they displayed the stuff on my

primitive metal corner shelf.

Primitive blue table with drawer.

This table used to be red and white, but I painted it a pretty French grey.

It has a marble top and fabulous hardware and bottom shelf. Love the statue.

Would make a great kitchen piece, or bedside table that could double as writing desk.

European bar cabinet with inlaid wood.

Has upper cabinet with pullout shelf and lower cabinet with drawers in between.

So much storage.

Here it is with upper doors open. It is mirrored

and lights up when the doors open. So pretty with

barware that sparkles in the light and mirror.

Freight dolly under cute settee. If somebody

does not buy this dolly soon, I'm going to have

to make a huge cushion and use as an ottoman!

Antique church railing from Belgium. Would

make a great king size headboard, wouldn't it?

I painted this desk black and embellished it with a

little gold paint, a technique that proves to be one of my favorite finishes! Love those botanical prints over it!

Christmas on the Avenues

This Saturday, December 12, 2009, Downtown Waco will be celebrating Christmas on the Avenues and many shops will be open late. Some of my art and art jewelry will be on display at Bloom and Bee Swanky which will be open until 8:00 p.m.  Amy is having refreshments and live entertainment!  Carriage rides will be available for travel between participating shops.  What fun!

Somebody save me!

Please somebody save me from keeping this fabulous French armoire! I want it....but where oh where would I put it? See at Bloom and Bee Swanky.

Storage!

Love this antique spool cabinet. Once again, Hubby had to rebuild!

White Elephant

So busy getting ready for Bloom and Bee Swanky's Holiday Open House. For details see www.beeswanky.blogspot.com. One of my projects was this old earthenware elephant table. I just love it now that it is all white! Can't wait to see it in place in the shop. I'll post photos later this week of the shop after it is all dressed and ready!