I SPY

Happy Tuesday! It's a beautifully sunny and warm fall Michigan day and I am appreciating this slow and mild transition into fall around here.

 I haven't been doing much painting for clients anymore. I found that I was getting too busy and too old to squeeze those projects into my weekly work schedule.  I miss the satisfaction of an old piece of junk transforming right before my eyes, but I don't miss the stiff, sore back the following day/weeks/months ahead and I still get plenty of practice with prepping pieces for my booth. I bought this dresser below with good intentions to flip it, but Brecken desperately needed additional storage in her bedroom so as soon as it was dry, I hauled it up to her room where it is now crammed with socks, socks and more socks. :)

I threw several dryer sheets in each drawer and febreezed them before she moved stuff in, but it still has a rank smell of must, mold and dirt. Perfect for all her sport socks. Maybe I can get away with washing them less often. 

 I thought I'd try to the ombre look. It took some trial and error but I settled on the darkest greige color (bottom drawer) and lightened with white paint as I went up. I loved the hardware and kept that on for a nice finished mid-century modern look. 

 I've been at my booth lots in the past couple of weeks. There's tons of new items that I recently purchased from a neighborhood sale in which the homeowner was selling items that she previously had at an antique/consignment booth. She was going out of business (getting too old and injured as well) :) and I swept up lots of her treasures. I had a fun time visiting with her and comparing notes of 'being in the junk business'. Here are some pics of my booth below:

Only a couple of pallet pumpkins leftover from the 'patch batch' last year. Get 'em before they're picked!

 Found this beauty in town too, Needs some repair work done to the seat, but cover it with pillows, put it in a corner and it's an adorable addition to a nook or office corner. 

 Now, for the frequently played game of "I SPY". I snapped these this week Monday at Not So Shabby-so make sure you stop by sometime soon to spot these favorites and perhaps find a gift for someone or a must-have character piece for yourself.
(These are pics from random booths throughout the store):

A whole box of starfish! These were a great deal for a beach house. $4 each! 

As you can see, the store is stocked with lots of vintage furniture, architectural salvage, handmade items and gift ideas. Make sure to swing in soon. 

I've also still been having fun making custom sign orders for clients/friends. Keep me in mind for that too. Thanks so much for your continued support of my business. I appreciate you!

Next blog....farmhouse remodel pics! I got to snap pics this morning of a year long project that is wrapping up shortly...almost got choked up driving there for one of the last times this morning. It's been a fun one. Stay tuned... See you back here for that. 

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Monday Musings

So, I'm not really a bandwagon person, (WHAT?? I totally AM!)-and I am shameless to admit, I have followed this blogger-turned-New York Times-best selling writer for several years now. This may be the best book I've ever read. It's raw, it's real, it's powerful and passionate. Beg, borrow or steal it from a friend as soon as you can. 

That's my book review for this Michigan Monday. :)

I'm still doing a fair amount of furniture painting for my booth at Not So Shabby but haven't been painting anymore for clients. My busy schedule forced me to cut out one of the irons in the fire  and that was the one. It didn't take too many 'notes to self' to semi-retire from that aspect of my business. My hamstrings, back and neck were reminding me daily that I wasn't as young as I once was and my therapeutic massage bills were eating away at my profits! Ha! Here is a desk that Ken and I found at an estate sale up in Ludington this summer while on a bike ride. We came back in the van and loaded her up along with several other HUGE pieces that are still waiting for their make-overs in our garage, which I'm hoping to tackle yet today. 

 I just brought that one to the booth last week and think it's still available but I'm heading there today to see what I need to restock. The sign below was a custom order, and I had enough wood to make two. I have done this saying in different style fonts and is still a heart warming phrase to hang just about anywhere. although most young moms have ordered it for their baby's nursery. 

The "Make it Count" sign was a custom order for a dear friend battling stage four colon cancer. She is is such a role model to me in so many ways and her prayer for this journey of beauty and pain has been to plead with God to make this trial count. He's already used her countless ways in my life to challenge me to love deeply and give people the benefit of the doubt, which hasn't always been easy for me to do. 

I had an incredible time last week up north with these wonderful women. We had scheduled this trip months ago to be our "mourning our college kids departures" but it ended up quite the celebration as opposed to the pity party we were marketing it to be. Lots of shopping, eating, wine tasting and laughing!

 Traverse City, Michigan and the weather couldn't have been any more perfect. Indian Summer at it's best!

 Breck celebrated her Junior year Homecoming with this group of friends that she has been close with since day one in middle school. It's been so fun getting to know the parents of these kids through the years, who have become great friends and a consistent source of lots of bon fires, dinners and get-togethers. (Brecken is the first girl on left in first row).

 Sneak peek at a farmhouse remodel project that I've been assisting with for over a year. Emily and I have become good friends during this process and I'll be sad to see this one wrap up. I hope to snap some pics before they move in sometime in the next few weeks. Chip and Joanna move over-Emily and Christy are the new show in town. :)

 

 I haven't been posting as faithfully as Brecken's varsity volleyball has occupied lots of our free time and we aren't complaining about it one bit. I must confess, it's been kinda nice having something force us out of the garage on our workshop Saturdays to attend all day vb tournaments. Lots of quality time with Ken and other vb parents. I wouldn't trade it for the world, knowing how quickly these next two school years with her will fly by!
I am adjusting shockingly well to Kennedy being in California. I miss her terribly but am so happy with her adventurous spirit and am living vicariously through her as she hits the beach each week (and hopefully the books from time to time) too. She's doing great and I appreciate all the prayers you guys have lifted up for me during this exciting and scary transition. 
Have a great week!

 Breck's vb team. (She's second from left).

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Transitions and Treasures

Hi Guys,
I had this blog drafted and all ready to go a few weeks ago and forgot to publish. So here it is, setting the stage for the latest post. 
READ THIS ONE FIRST-THEN GO TO THE ONE BELOW. :0
It's already been one of those days! Ha!

 It's been so long since I've posted here. I was doing incredibly well all summer keeping busy with work and play but the week is finally here in which I am coming to terms with the fact that our 'family years' are over as we knew them.

We are flying with Kennedy out to California tomorrow to get her settled into college at Azusa Pacific University near LA. She is so excited for this next stage of her life that it makes me excited for her, but that's not to say that these past two weeks have been without any tears.

 You Moms who have been there before me, know exactly what I am feeling and you precious Moms with little ones get it too-as I have felt true empathy from you as well.

My bestie, DC came over this morning with a new book for me to read on the trip and a glass jar marked "tear jar" that I must've given her when her oldest girl left for school two years ago. I barely remember doing that, but what I do remember is how much I admired and looked up to how DC made the transition from Mom to supportive friend without much fanfare or without filling the tear jar full. :) 

I am praying expectantly that I will be able to  manage a hug and a good-bye without stealing Kennedy's joy and faith-filled excitement as she begins this next adventure. 

We were able to take one last memory making family trip-just the four of us last weekend to Six Flags Great America which was just the quality time I needed to wrap my head around this transition. 

 Please pray for Brecken as she will be here with us for two more years without her confidant and best friend and will have to put up with all my shenanigans and drama on her own. 

The three amigos waiting in line for the 10th roller coaster ride of the morning-the only one my nauseous stomach made me sit out for.

 After a fun-filled day and night at the amusement park, my girls were good sports and willingly went along for a walk down memory lane at my Alma mater-Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin which was too close to the park not to stop by and relive my 'glory days'. :)

My very first dorm room Freshman year was unlocked and open and this is the same mirror where I teased my 80's hair and tucked it in a banana clip every morning. (Arrrrgggh, remember those)??

 Here's my sorority floor-I had to recreate a pic I have of my friend Joelle and I doing this. I have to admit this wasn't quite as easy in my 40s as it was in my 20's. I needed Brecken to help hoist me up there!! :)

 I had to take Ken and the girls to Ron's Place-a favorite bar/restaurant where we spent plenty of Tuesday and Friday nights over the years. The girls were less than impressed with the few scattered memories of my years at Carthage but they seemed to be having fun regardless. 

 Munchies and Virgin Pina Calodas at Ron's. Times have changed (and I'm thankful for that). :)

 Thanks for putting up with my flashback photos, and now for some pics of some treasures at Not So Shabby. I did a walk through last week and snapped some pics of the pieces that caught my eye. Head in there sometime to see some new items and booths!

 New rustic clock in my booth and lots of great new pillows. 

 I brought this desk/vanity in just last week. The mirror needs to attached with brackets on the back but it is in great condition and neutral enough for any space. 

 This is a brand new booth and vendor. I loved everything about it. Seriously puts my booth to shame and makes me want to step up my game but I just seem to run out of time whenever I am thinking of a complete makeover. Check this out sometime. It's in the very back row. Just beautiful!

Until I return... Hope things are well with you Champs. Thanks for journeying through life with me and making me feel less alone in these transitions. 

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