Barb always amazes me at the new stuff that is always filtering into the shop and of course once you bring in something new, you have to rearrange everything...you know how it goes...the domino effect.

The Truth Is Out There...

Everyone needs a mascot, right...McDonalds has Ronald, Kentucky Fried Chicken has the Colonel, Subway has Jerid so we have Mulder. In order to gain recognition today, you need a mascot. Mulder is the groundskeeper at the chateau. This is Mulder's centerfold layout from UFO Magazine...quite a hot little number, has a huge fan club, everyone wants him. When he's not avoiding the paparazzi or the men in black, you will just catch a glimpse of him lounging around the grounds (literally). I try not to indulge him (I think he's a him)...

SCORE...BOOTY...

Had a friend call me today that does tag sales, she had a house that she has been emptying out off and on for two years, an old man lived there, who used to bring everything home from yard sales when the people didn't want it anymore...so you can imagine the piles. He also had an orchard back in the day, so the yard was filled with tools of all kinds, buckets and wheelbarrows and ol'timey garden tillers, rakes hoes, every tool imaginable. I have never seen so many scales before...you name it and it was there and this is after all the good stuff was hauled to auction. Pam and I crawled through coon poo and rotten boxes finding treasures all along the way. So here are the shots of the booty for the day...let the cleaning begin...YUCK...coon poo...AND TICKS...eeeeeeeeee

Happy Mom's Day

Enjoy your day Mothers and be proud to say that someone calls you Mom...it is our greatest treasure.

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*...???