Thanks Dads...

Our friend Vikki at the shop just lost her Father unexpectedly this week, please remember her in your thoughts as she picks up the pieces and reflects on the past.

This shot is my wonderful 'Pops' and his pal Scratchy fixing the loo at Granny's house. I love you 'Pops'...you can never say it enough, life is short...and thanks for the life. Sharon Kay

This is me...

OK, the crazy gals at 'Chippys', I'm afraid are starting a trend...be afraid...

This is a shot of me after the accident, I lost my arm in a dumpster, you can't trust those lids...don't feel sorry for me though, I was doing what I love...and no that isn't a diaper...it's a Depends...

Hmmmmmm...

And where do you get your adventurist spirit from...say no more...my Dad. At 80 years old, you never know where you will find him AND where did you get your love of old things...well, I won't show you a shot of his basement...it goes without saying...at least it has a path...

To restore or not to restore...

I've been in love with shabby ol'lampshades for years. Some I purchased to tear apart to see just how the gals in the sweatshops actually made the shades and some I just love, holes and all. This one will never be remade, by me anyway, I just love it's golden hue. I have discovered many secrets as to how they made some of the embellishments, like the rosettes and their varieties and the vibrant colors you wouldn't believe under all of that faded elegance. When I redo a shade for someone, they always say, I want it the original color that it is...WELL...if you peal back the fabric on the wires, you will see that many of the original colors were robins egg blue and fuchsia pink, not the muted tans that the sun and time have subdued. But the fantastic shapes are an amazement to me...who came up with these designs back in the day, some so difficult and time-consuming to hand-sew...must've been a man...

To paint or not to paint...

You know, it's a funny world out there in the land of shop owning. This great little buffet has been a sleeper at two shops now. It is adorable, so small, with a great finish, but it just won't sell...what's a girl to do??? I reflect back on a piece, a Victorian chest of drawers with a beautiful serpentine mirror, had it for two years and a no sale. Beautiful refinished golden oak, but dated...soooo, I took the plunge and forced myself to paint it white, doubled the price AND...you guessed it, sold the very next day. I really don't like to be put in this position, but when you know the piece will sell if you paint it white...what is the big deal. The big deal is I can hear every man on the planet scream..."NO, don't paint the wood." Like I ever listened to 'THEM' anyway...but again, it would look great in MY house. Do I sacrifice my own love of this vintage patina or do I fold to the masses(us girls) and paint it white...this is hurting my brain!!!

Love old built-ins...

The great old cupboards of the day were such great works of carpentry, can you imagine all the dry goods piled in there. Why is it that every piece you acquire, you go through the pains of imagining the piece fitting into your own home??? To quote 'the man phrase'...now where can I put that? But alas, you need the money more than you need another cupboard...but the old wallpaper...and the extra space...I could put all my soap making supplies in there...alright, alright...it goes to the store. Sometimes you are just so hard to deal with...but it won't be cheap, so there!!!

Let the garage sales begin...

Sometimes you can really score...most people will just pass on these beauties cause of the work to recover, but not us die-hard "ooh, I love it just the way it is" nuts. I gave the guy my cell # and told him to call if he hadn't sold it by 5:00...YIPPEE...mine and for $50.00 bucks for the set!!! Sold them a week later at Sister's Garden to some lucky gal, but boy did they look cute in my parlor for the night. A little hard for Scratchy to perch on though...

How about a trip to the beach...

Well, not exactly...but you can have a little bit of the beach in this vintage toilet seat cover, we are testing your sense of humor here...just love the funky flea market scores, sad thing is I remember these from back in the day when my Grandparents moved to Daytona in the 50's, what a great place for the Grandkids to vacation for the summer.

Now the question is...how do I work it into the shop???

Let me hear it for the awwwww...

I did mention the 'other job' right...well, 25 years as a master pet groomer, semi-retired for 11 years, you can't quite give it up. The love of the lil' furry beasts started my career, but today I am down to a select few (small dogs only), second job status, but by popular demand I started back up...you can never find a good groomer these days. My shop 'Doggy Style' is based out of my lil'pink chateau, in my spare room...painting/grooming studio and Scratchy loves it...new hair to sniff (and bark at). But I get to stay home with this set-up and enjoy the beauty of the day in my cozy environment.

Just shots of some of my buds and last but not least 'SCRATCHY', not too happy at having the facilities so close to home...cramps her style...

A moment in time

As I clicked on a new email message, this wonderful quote from another new friend appeared...
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life."-Mary Oliver

Thanks so much for the quote Nina--www.ornamental.typepad.com as these Sunday morning musings ramble on...

I plan to watch the iris bloom at my little pink chateau...