Black is beautiful...

There are just some pieces that you have to paint black, Some are very primitive and some so elegant, that black is the only choice. I think it is so great that we are combining black and white and the naturals in our homes to give it our personal signature. Every piece I drag home gets evaluated for saleability, in our area, as to which will sell best. These are some of the pieces I have up at Sister's Garden. The black buffet just replaced one that recently sold. Buffets are hot, in white or black. Their decorative lines just work for a multitude of functions, not just a buffet. I have seen bathroom sinks, kitchen islands, multi-media centers and coffee tables made out of them. But on my primitive black pieces, I put no finish, cause I like the fact that the flat paint collects all the dust of antiquity and sanded way down, it just looks like an old finish. I also rub the finish with terrycloth to kind of buff it a little. Have I mentioned that I love my job???

Groomer Has It...

Have any of you seen that new reality show 'Groomer Has It'...well, we all aren't that nutso. It's all about the dog, as far as I'm concerned, when you have to start dying your dog pink, you have crossed the line. But the show is different and I'm sure reflects the big city groomer, with all of the gay boys as top groomers, don't get me wrong here, I love gay men, they have the best taste (and the most money) and usually the only men dogs will accept coming near them (man fear)...it's their feminine side. But I am also skeptical of a judge that is smeared with make-up and belongs to the Actors Guild...what is that all about...has she really expelled anal glands...come on...reality...NOT...

I love playing with paint...

Experimenting with paint finishes is better than Play Dough, at least you make real money with paint. The thicker the paint, the more it cracks and the use of stencils to apply drywall mud adornments is so much fun too. There is no end to the fancies you can apply. This is one of the reasons I like having my studio right in house in the spare bedroom, easy access and I can walk away for coffee and it is right there waiting to be finished. But this is not one of those studios that is going to win an honorable mention for organization. How can you combine dog grooming and furniture painting and maintain that "I know where everything is" look...right. We had to do a ramp up the front porch, city code, for wheel chair access, when we had a store in the house, but it has turned out to be perfect for me and my lil' pink wheeler to drag all the stuff in. Yeah...my little pink wheeler, used to be red, but years of service outside, has faded it to pink...and yes I get alotta crap about it...such is life...

My lil' Pony

Don't ya just love this little steed? I loved these as a child, could rock for hours on my trusty ride. I am selling this little fella on my website, with great trepidation though, from my garden to yours, but sometimes you just have to let go. It really doesn't go with my lime green concrete alien, something missed in translation there. Maybe it's the innocence of childhood being over-ridden by adult foolishness OR maybe it just doesn't match my pink chateau. Whatever, it is on the block...bbye

Spread the Junk...

Great minds think alike...is what I always say, anyway my new found demented friend Lauri from "Chippys" (she wears the badge proudly) sent me a surprise package the other day...what treasures to be had. We all have a little pirate's mate in us don't we...the love of the chase out in the brisk air seeking treasures from all over the land, getting a bargain...or a steal(dumpster/curbside). Taking booty where it may be offered(or not)and finding simple pleasures in it. You can never have enough junk...I mean booty...argh...check out Lauri's home shots on their blog, it's great and notice the little one-armed, crack-head baby doll...she used to live in Iowa, before the accident. Thanks Lauri, I will treasure my booty!

Such grand style...

Just had to post the shots of the piece in prone position. What a great concept...to lay the children down for a nap after tea...or to take ones afternoon nap after an arduous day of walking through the garden or by the surf OR just to stretch the corset out...and they called them the good ol' days. But what simple pleasures...I wonder why this was called the *love seat*...???

A man test...

OK, for all you gals out there that happen to be happily married...I have a little question for you. If you were all excited about this wonderful piece and you sent caution to the wind and brought it home...how many of you would have a husband that said, "I love it, you aren't going to recover it, are you?" That's right...welcome to my land of bliss, cause I can have it and you can't. OK, maybe I am a little eccentric, but that is the thrill of it, living on the edge of reason. So let's talk reason, just look at this piece, what grand form and what that fabric (original) must have been like in it's heyday. But what of the patina now, faded grandeur, wear and tear, history in the making and to top it off, this little gem has drop-down arms so you can rest in leisure munching macaroons. I love it just as is and it makes a grand statement as you walk in my front door. Most would recover, but I like the grand ol'gal AS IS.

Note...thanks to the gentleman that designed this grand piece, but I have to wonder of the ulterior motive behind the drop down arms...uh huh, you got my drift...

To keep or not to keep...

OK, I caved again and against my better judgement, I took this great chair to Sister's Garden, even though it looked fab in my parlor and was even comfortable, it was also approved by the dog. But alas we have to pay the rent, so, off it goes...this is soooo not fair.

Black, white...black, white...

I was so tempted not to paint this piece and finish stripping it, it would have such an exotic look stripped, with no finish...but alas, I caved. It was just saying BLACK to me, so here is the finished product. Nobody knows what trials we go through to paint or not to paint. Scratchy has to check it out, quality control you know.

Take me away...South

I am soooooooooooooo tired of this cold, damp weather...I long for a warm toilet seat...I swear, I will never,EVER complain about 95 degree weather again. Just to open my windows and let the warm air surround me. It encourages me outdoors to work in the yard and frolick with Scratchy...ok, I am making myself sick now. Do you think Lorie and I could fix up this traveler and head to the tropics...well Texas anyway. What a great adventure to head to the fleas in this retro beast...ahhhh, someday, if my fingers ever thaw...we still have no heat in the store. Such is life...