Creating a Vintage Life

Beautiful bags, and a good cause

2012-02-07T19:12:00.000-08:00

Please check out these gorgeous cosmetics bags! All proceeds go to Lea and Cassidy's mission tip to Haiti-you can read all about it, as well as see their bags here on their blog.

Their bags are functional and beautiful, and you can feel great about your purchase!

Too Soon for Spring?

2012-01-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

I find it ironic that I started working on my spring decor during the first snow fall of the year. I know it's January, but I'm craving whites and greens with wood contrasts...kind of a la Pottery Barn. Here's what I have so far!

Have you made any changes in your decor in the new year?

.....From Holiday to Winter.....

2011-12-30T13:43:00.000-08:00

I have to say...the past two months are a blur. Sure, the holidays are always busy, but I just can't believe that there are less than 40 hours left in 2011!

I truly had intentions of beautiful holiday decor. I've been looking at Pinterest and Blog World since Halloween! Oh, the vignettes in my head, which never came to fruition!! Sadly, as sometimes happens, I returned from a week of work travel and threw some decorations around the house. Nothing I wanted to photograph and share this year.

Instead, I thought I'd show some close-ups which I will attempt to transition from Christmas into Winter scenes. I would say I'll take "after" pictures...but I'm learning not to over-promise!

I hope you all have a happy and healthy New Year!!

Why I haven't been painting furniture - Part One

2011-10-23T18:28:00.000-07:00

I have two beautiful tables waiting to be painted. They're gonna look great when they're done!! But they will probably have to wait until it gets colder & not so nice outside...a luxury I can make use of thanks to the low VOC of AS Chalk Paint! Here's the first in my series of day/week trips explaining what I've been up to which doesn't include painting furniture...the first explanation comes from stunningly beautiful Newport, RI!

Do you blame me for making the tables wait??

Stay tuned for northwest New Jersey and some gorgeous fall foliage!!

My Fall Decor...as inspired by YOU!!

2011-10-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

I have had so much fun on Pinterest, re-pinning all the wonderful pictures from blogland. After several trips to Marshalls, the dollar store, and some great flea markets, I took a shot at achieving a look of my own. I finally had time to take some pictures today...here they are!

Peek-a-Boo, Sydney!!

The front porch is still a work in progress, but I hope to have some pictures soon.

Thanks for your inspiration! Hope you all have a wonderful week.

Fall on the way!

2011-10-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

Well, it was almost 80 degrees here in New Jersey, and it's actually going to be hotter tomorrow...but I'm still going to work on my fall decorating, and hope to have pictures for you soon!!

In the mean time, take a look at where I'll be getting some of my inspiration...Jess at Scarlet Begonia Vintage shows us how to throw a party with vintage Halloween embellishments...enjoy!!

True work in progress

2011-09-18T17:52:00.001-07:00

I am not an interior decorator...no kidding!! I read the beautiful blogs of blog land, and I am inspired on a regular basis...and I have so much fun using my home as my personal styling lab! I get such a kick out of going back and looking at old photos when I had items that I loved, and was trying to use them to get the look I wanted. I'm getting close - but I have fun thinking what my rooms will look like next year...when the current pictures will be the "befores"! I thought you'd like to see the evolution, so here is my front room when I just began using flea market finds and refurbished items to decorate:

These are some picture I submitted to a contest held by Romantic Homes Magazine...I did not win :) but I had fun staging and working on the room...

...And here's what the room looks like today (next year's "before"):

My dog Sydney is usually very camera-shy, and runs whenever I try to take her picture. However, let me try to take some styling pictures, and she wants to be part of the action! Go figure...

Do your "befores" make you smile?

Have a great week!!

Lavender Crush and Soft Linens

2011-09-10T17:33:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I began collecting soft, fine linens. I displayed some, but most, I kept in a cupboard, awaiting inspiration for a good use. Some time later, I fell in love with the scent of dried lavender buds. You can guess what happened next :)

I had so much fun with lavender sachets, I made some smaller sachets in different shapes using flour sacking and old buttons:

My whole studio smells like lavender...

...would it be weird if I decided not to sell them??

When the Power is Out....

2011-09-05T16:38:00.000-07:00

About the only thing that WAS working when Irene knocked out my power for FOUR DAYS last week was my camera. I never realized how dependent I am on electricity!! No lights, no TV, no internet (that was the worst), no Keurig coffee-maker (no, THAT was the worst!!). The second it stopped raining I ran to Starbucks for their instant "Via" coffee...which by the way, is not to bad in a pinch!!

I did a lot of painting and rearranging in the house, and then eventually went and stayed with my sister, who had power. Seriously, on day 4, when I realized I was going to face another night in darkness, quiet, and no internet, I started to lose it!!

Here's how I kept busy at home...

Moved all my multi-colored china out of my cabinet and replaced it with all of my white-only pieces

Painted everything in sight

Painted and stamped some drawer pulls (I've been wanting to try this)

Arranged a few vignettes

Re-read one of my favorite Mary Kay Andrews books

I am so fortunate to have won a contest she ran last year, and received an autographed copy...so cool!!

....and experimented with romantic candle photography. That got old quick...it's very different when you can turn the lights on when you're done!

I know I was fortunate...I had no damage or flooding, and life got back to normal pretty quickly. However, I will most likely invest in a generator and a crank radio...not even getting the news is brutal!!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend!!

Good night Irene!

2011-08-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

I miss Blog World!! And I have pictures to post, but unfortunately I am without power or Internet (this post comes courtesy of Panera). Hopefully I will be up and running soon. To all my East Coast friends who were affected, I hope you are all safe and well,

Mona Kay

Blissful Home Decor...My New Line!!

2011-08-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

I've been waiting a long time for today. It started with an idea, some inspiration, and a purchase of LOTS of burlap....followed by late nights at the sewing machine, and later nights tossing & turning, wondering if I was ever going to see this idea through. But...here it is...the beginning of what I hope will be a product line I continue to enjoy as much as I have for the past several weeks (even with all the worry!).

Introducing Blissful Home Decor!

My Etsy shop is still open (Mona Kay at Home), so since these items CAN be shipped (unlike my furniture), I have currently linked Blissfully Refurbished to my Etsy shop...makes it easier to accept PayPal and provide shipping. I would love it if you would check it out!!

UPDATE: The winner of my market research give-away, as generated by Random.org is...CLARA!! Congratulations, Clara, please e-mail me at blissfullyrefurbished@yahoo.com, or FB message me with your address and your choice of item!

Bertha - A Dirty Girl

2011-08-18T16:01:00.000-07:00

Hello Blog World...I'd like to introduce you to Bertha!

As you can see, she's VERY DIRTY!!

I know that like me, you can see her potential...those curves, those lines....those claw feet!

However....

...she's just so dirty!!

Thank goodness I plan to use ASCP, so won't have to spend too much time prepping. Still, the inside is going to be a little tricky...

Love these stamps!! I wish I could somehow preserve them...they're stuck inside.

I'm feeling ASCP Country Grey...any thoughts? I haven't decided yet, and I'd love your input!!

Don't forget to enter my GIVEAWAY!! Only 2 days left!!

French Country Cottage

2011-08-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

In the mood for another give-away? Check out Courtney at French Country Cottage...you'll love her blog, and what she's giving away!!

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

Don't forget to leave me a comment on my giveaway post to be entered for one of my new items of your choice!!

Xoxo
Mona Kay,

Market Research Contest/Giveaway!

2011-08-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

Well, I went on a little shopping spree at the local fabric store, and bought YARDS of burlap and muslin. I've been wanting to add some soft items to my shop to add to my painted furniture. I had some ideas...and last weekend I played with them. Before I list them on my shop, and make the rounds to the local brick and mortar shops, I am holding a contest/giveaway for my Facebook fans, and the talented ladies in blog-world...who better to tell me if I'm on the right track??

So...have a look at the pictures below. Then leave me a comment here, letting me know if you like and would purchase these items (please "follow" me, if you don't already!). You don't have to comment on every item (unless you don't like one, then I'd really like to know!). On August 21, I will randomly select a participant (commenter), who will receive the new item of her (or his?) choice!

Lavender-filled sachet, 4"x4" $5.00

Hand-stamped pillow with scrolls, 12" x 11", $10.00

Lavender-filled sachet, 5"x4" $5.00

Hand-stamped pillow, 11" x 10" $10.00

Lavender sachet, 4"x4", $5.00

Lavender sachet, 4"x4", $5.00

Bee & Burlap pillow, poly-filled, 15"x10" $12.00

Hand-stamped pillow, 12" x 11" $10.00

Thanks for stopping by...and for helping me with my market research!!

Ruffle Love

2011-08-05T16:10:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love blog-surfing?? I do..all the talent inspires me. For some reason this week, I alternated between blog-hopping and Etsy window shopping, and I found myself with a serious craving for ruffles!! If it wasn't the ruffled laundry bags from Freckled Laundry's Jami, and her gorgeous new hallway, it was Raggygirl and her yummy burlap and ruffle table runners...I bought this one.

Ironically, at the same time, I found myself looking for a bag to keep my portfolio in so it won't get messed up...and I remembered...I (sorta) know how to use a sewing machine...and I own one! Here's what I threw together...hardly any finished ends, but it's just for me, and I was impatient. Besides, I tell myself I like the rough, unfinished look ;)

Yep, it's a pillow case. A Rachel Ashwell pillow case!!

Sorry some of the pictures are so dark...did I mention that I'm impatient?? I didn't feel like waiting until the weekend when I could work during daylight...sometimes after my day job I decide to start a project IMMEDIATELY!! ....which usually means at around 7:30-8pm, when everything else is finally done :)

So....how'd I do??

What have you been in love with this week??

I am linking to:

....and

See you there!!

I Am Soooooo Into "The Graphics Fairy"!!

2011-07-30T11:04:00.000-07:00

If you're in the blogging world, you probably know about Karen, "The Graphics Fairy". I use her graphics all the time in my website, my blog, for some of my backgrounds, etc. The majority of my headers have been created from her images:

I recently created a website, and used one of her beautiful wreaths to create my header:

...And another button/header:

My new favorite thing to do while I'm relaxing in front of the TV is to combine Karen's backgrounds with her images sometimes with text:

I even created a collage picture frame for a picture of a beloved pet:

Karen's generosity is well-known throughout the blogging world...she tirelessly posts image after image for all of us DIY-ers to use, free of charge. And speaking about DYI...check out her DIY page for ways some unbelievably talented crafters make use of her graphics! Maybe I'll see you there...

Oh yeah...I also created my signature using her graphics!

NOTE: I used the free software Photoscape to create my headers & collages using Karen's graphics.

No More Hot Legs!! (Except in Shorts)

2011-07-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

Well, it was 107 degrees on Friday in New Jersey, and 95 degrees yesterday. Today it was 89 degrees and humid...it's too hot for an over-heated lap-top, and this evening I was sick of it burning my skin while I was blog-surfing. Time to put some of those salvaged fabric scraps to a good purpose!

I used some materials that I had left over from a custom bag I made for my sister...and I rough-stitched some pieces of my favorite fabrics...

....and there it is! I know my computer will be hiding it, but I'll know what's underneath!

Mona Kay

Where Bloggers Create: My Studio Evolving

2011-07-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

I purchased Pottery Barn's largest dining room table about eight years ago. I was just beginning to cook a lot, and I was hosting many dinners for friends and family. I don't remember the dimensions, but I do remember that the folks at Pottery Barn made me measure my room twice to make sure the table would fit...apparently that model was returned A LOT.

When I began my business a year ago, I needed SPACE! My house is small...I have a garage, but in New Jersey, there is only a small window of time when one can work in a little room with no heat or air-conditioning...and besides, I was storing all of my unfinished furniture in the garage. In addition, I was beginning to collect interesting pieces for my home as well as my shop, and my rooms were getting more crowded...not less....I was becoming desperate for work space.

In the spring of last year, I found myself in front of my beloved dining room table, eying the 12 x 12 room which was only used about three times per year. I was moving toward the unthinkable decision...I was going to sell my dining room table. It sold on Craigslist in one week for $700....half the price I paid for it.

I immediately sunk the money into my fledgling business, and began to set up my workspace. Chippy and vintage cabinets were purchased, a much-coveted library card cabinet was run down (I followed the dealer to a flea market & grabbed it), furniture was moved from other rooms in the house...and I finally created a couple of "inspiration boards". I fell in love with my new studio, and arranged my materials and tools in a way which pleased my newly creative eye. When I found a complete set of vintage seltzer bottles in their wooden caddy, I sold the bottles, and kept the caddy, sanding it down to a buttery smooth finish, and arranging scissors, pens, rulers, etc. in its divided openings. A salvaged drawer holds business cards, stamps, and notepads. The library card cabinet hides spools of thread, bits of lace, and other small items. When I saw a large, picnic-style table with a matching bench at an estate sale, I left a low bid...then fretted and worried all day that I would lose it. I got it...and had to take it apart at the sale to get it in my car. I sanded it and waxed it but DID NOT paint it...very unusual for me. I get a thrill every time I run my hand across its soft, satiny finish....working on it is sheer pleasure.

I have been fortunate enough to create a space that I love to use. It is still evolving...but here's what it looks like today:

I am linking up to:

My Desert Cottage

I can't wait to see all the studio spaces from the very talented women in blog-world. Thanks for looking at my pictures, and if you're linked to "Where Bloggers Create"...I can't wait to see your space as well!!

Mona Kay

Armoire Upgrade

2011-07-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

Well....I looked and looked, but I can't find my "before" pictures of the armoire in my bedroom. Picture a large, very dark, wood box with two plain doors, and you'll get the idea. Anyway, it was a real eye-sore in my blue and white bedroom, but with all the items I was painting for my shop, and some custom orders I needed to complete, it remained dark for a long time. However, over the holiday weekend last week, while in the middle of other pieces, I hauled it out & got started on it.

First it got a coat of Paris Grey. Then I took a look at those plain doors, and, inspired by the look of a striped grain sack I added some detail.

I love to tone down a coat of paint by mixing Annie Sloan Old White paint with her clear Soft Wax, and rubbing a coat of this mixture onto my pieces. I used this technique on the armoire, and it gave it a washed effect, almost like faded linen. I know there's no "before" for comparison, but here's the after:

It looks quite nice in my blue and white bedroom now! It's a real improvement.

One of these days, I'll work on my bedroom, and then I'll be able to show you how it fits in!

Mona Kay
I am linking to:

Use a coaster!!!

2011-07-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Didja ever look at something in your house...a vignette, an arrangement in a nook, a piece of furniture...and think, "I need to change that RIGHT NOW"? I do this all the time...especially if I've been procrastinating with a project, or if I'm not sure of the change I want to make. I've been brooding over my coffee table for MONTHS now....

....but I just wasn't sure what I wanted it to look like. I knew I was sick of the heavily varnished, pumpkin-color pine, and it really is a pretty little table...the possibilities abounded. I look at it every time I sit and watch TV. Two days ago, when I was in the middle of two other projects, one for a customer, and a large armoire for my bedroom, I was resting while I waited for paint to dry. Suddenly, I couldn't stand it another second. I jumped up and dragged the table outside, grabbed my sander and stripped the top down to unfinished pine.

Miss Mustard Seed has some truly beautiful pieces with stained wood tops and painted bodies which I just love, so that is where I started, by staining the top.

Sydney, my two-year-old Border Collie, didn't run from the camera for once, so I included her in the shot :)

I thought some detail on the top would look nice, so I decided to add some small stenciled scrolls.

I painted the legs and the body with Annie Sloan's "Old White", then mixed Valspar Mocha Glaze with Annie Sloan's Soft Wax (Annie Sloan makes a soft Dark Wax too, but I was working with what I had).

I brushed this mixture generously over the Old White to give it an aged and textured look. I've read several ways to do this, and I highly recommend Annie Sloan's how-to book "Quick and Easy Paint Transformations". Here's how it turned out:

Et Voila!! Finished, right?? Well....I left it for quite some time, because I wanted to wax the top, and the stencil paint takes a long time to cure. And the longer I looked at it, the more I decided that the dark top just wasn't for me. After all, I'm always painting brown furniture another color! I needed a way to lighten it, but I wanted to keep the detail of both the beautiful wood and the stencils. Back to mixing paint and wax....

I mixed equal (by eye-ball) parts Old White and Soft Wax, and mixed it into a paste with the brush that I reserve for waxing. I painted and wiped, painted and wiped...rubbing and removing, until I got just the "washed" "limed" look I wanted. I also brushed a little undiluted Old White on with a "dry brush" (very little paint on the brush), and wiped to the consistency I wanted. Here's the final result:

Once again, the before:

And the after:

I'm so much happier with this table...for now!! Now, about that pesky sideboard in my window.....

I am joining Miss Mustard Seed at:

And linking to:

Join me there!!

Mona Kay

My Sister's Sanctuary

2011-06-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Usually, I can't wait for the weekends so that I can work on whatever furniture is waiting to be painted. On a typical Saturday, I sit with my coffee alternately watching my puppy and the birds having breakfast, then hit the garage sales/flea markets, and come home to work on whatever piece is waiting in line.

This weekend, however, I had been to a garage sale in my sister's neighborhood, and decided to stop by. I've been wanting to photograph her garden and deck for ages, and this time I had my camera. None of my furniture got painted this Saturday, because once I sat down, I didn't leave for quite some time. Here's why:

The best thing about my sister's deck is the hummingbirds....there's dozens of them! They are so used to my sister and her husband, that they typically fly right in front of their faces, and chatter to them. I'm just not quick enough...I couldn't get any pictures. However, they have multiple birds and other wildlife...check out this woodpecker!

My sister put out some peanuts to coax out the chipmunks...

So...can you blame me for not getting to work painting??

What did you do this weekend?

Mona Kay

From plain old brown to Paris Grey Fabulous!

2011-06-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

After falling in love with Annie Sloan paint, and making friends with Patty Seaman of Classic Wall Finishes NJ, I couldn't WAIT to try the paint on furniture for my own home. I had purchased some gorgeous pieces at an estate sale a few weeks ago, and after I lived with them for a while, I decided that they definitely needed to be lightened up.

While the pieces I have painted so far have needed NO priming, sanding, or other prep, this unit turned out to be a nightmare of an exception. You can't see it here, but the original stain bled right through the first coat of Old White. I stopped painting, and opened and applied a coat of water-based sealer...and the stain bled right through again. UGH!! So I went to Home Depot and consulted the people at the paint section, who advised me to use an oil-based sealant. Unfortunately, this meant working outside, as the fumes are terrible...and it was 90 degrees here in NJ. I waited until 7pm and then hauled it outside and gave it two coats with the oil-based...I ended up wearing my spray paint respirator because the fumes were terrible, so a word of advice...NEVER use oil-based sealant in an unventilated area!! After that, applying the Old White on the inside, and Paris Grey on the outside was a pleasure! The only pain in the neck was removing all the hardware and taping up the glass doors. But...NEVER get in the way of a determined woman who wants a piece of furniture painted!

I wanted to add some detail to the Paris Grey frame so that there would be some contrast with the doors. First I sanded some areas to distress them, then used Valspar Mocha glaze (Lowes...can't find it at Home Depot), and wiped it on with a rag, using a light touch and a new portion of the rag when it got too dark. That looked very nice, but I wanted more. I experimented with mixing Old White paint with Annie Sloan's Soft Wax (I love this stuff), and wiped this on the frame, not too heavily, working quickly before the paint portion dried. I was thrilled!! Here are the results:

Remember that little bench?

That's a story for another post :)

I am linking to "Show off your cottage Monday"

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

2011-05-20T17:13:00.000-07:00

Annie Sloan, where have you been all my life?? It just goes to show, you shouldn't craft in a vacuum. That's why I love all my blogging friends!

Like many in the furniture restoration world, I absolutely LOVE Miss Mustard Seed, and Mustard Seed Interiors. Well, this evening, I was multi-tasking...that is, I was watching "How I Met Your Mother" on TV, and looking at Miss Mustard Seed's blog. If you've ever seen her blog, you know that it is full of tutorials, and gorgeous pictures of her latest creations. Her description of a "Paris Gray" color bureau caught my attention, and I started doing a little research...which lead me to her post on Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!

Imagine how delighted I was to find that there is a North American supplier right here in NJ!! I called and spoke to Patty Seaman of Classic Wall Finishes. Patty and her sister Karen Donnelly, are both artists. Classic Wall Finishes was one of the first three stockists of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint in the United States. Patty spent a great deal of time with me on the phone, patiently answering all of my questions, then telling me a little about Annie Sloan's "Soft Wax", with which I was unfamiliar. We set up a time for me to come by and pick up the colors I had ordered, and I got to meet both Patty and Karen. These lovely, talented ladies set themselves apart with their customer service and sincere interest in helping their clients. I left with some great ideas, and the wish that I didn't have to sleep, because I was so excited to start painting I knew I wouldn't want to stop.

Here is the first piece I completed for a client. Here's the before:

....and after, painted in Annie Sloan "Old White". She did not want any distressing - and I have to say, with the lovely, charming detail of this bureau, it's not even necessary!:

The paint has such low VOC that I did half the piece inside...that was the 98 degree weekend. The wax has a strong enough odor that Patty recommended using in ventilated conditions, and I agree. By the way, the wax is soooo luxurious; easy to rub on, and leaves a lusterous, protective finish. I put three coats on the top of this dresser, and two coats on the rest, and used maybe 20-25% of the 500 ml can.

I am seriously seeing this dresser finished in Paris Grey, most likely with the wood top sanded and waxed but left natural. I may not even sell it!!

I'm also eyeing these in Paris Grey...PURISTS, BEWARE!! You are not going to like this!!

Stay tuned...

What projects are keeping you busy??

Mona Kay

I miss white...

2011-05-15T06:11:00.000-07:00

After a little more than a year of collecting vintage pieces from flea markets, estate sales, etc., and using them in my home decor, I had hoped that a specific style would emerge; perhaps a Miss Mustard Seed meets Katies Rose Cottage. Nope. I'm having trouble settling down & landing anywhere!

Recently, I added several beautiful pieces from a wonderful estate sale. I love every piece...

But a funny thing happened. I was was looking at some photos I submitted for a contest at the beginning of the year, and I was surprised to discover...I MISS WHITE!!

I never would have thought it! I honestly believed I was moving away from my monochromatic first love...expanding from the philosophy of "if it doesn't move, paint it white". It seems I am mistaken, and perhaps I have more of a preferred style than I knew. It's a bit of a relief, actually!

So...what to do?? Some of the white furniture has been sold, and I love the new estate sale pieces...I see white paint in their future!! Until then...

...accessorize!!

Has your style evolved, or remained constant?

Mona Kay

You tell me....

2011-05-08T05:33:00.000-07:00

I'm on my third cup of coffee this morning, tired & sunburned, but excited from yesterday's flea market benefiting South Brunswick High School's Project Graduation. I had a booth to clear out some of my early (newbie) purchases which, as I'm gaining some focus and direction in my collecting/restoring, no longer fit my needs. My daughter also made the chalk-board sign above, which I added to my display...I gave out a lot of cards, and made a lot of local contacts.

And now, over my third cup of coffee, I am contemplating the balance; the net result. For a day's worth of work, I did not clear a big profit after paying for the space. I did not clear out a lot of inventory. However...I talked to a lot of people, many people "ooohed and aahhhed" over my bags (I needed that...I have a beginner's lack of confidence in these items), and I got my name out there in a local, and as far as I know, un-tapped market.

The best part of the day was the refinishing job I got doing a small table. I keep thinking about this gorgeous piece...it's a gorgeous soft, honey-toned wood (probably pine or oak) with vintage detail (turned legs, and a sweet little cut-out on each side). It is care-worn and scratched, and I can't wait to get my hands on it!! The owner and I saw completely eye-to-eye on the refinishing...she wanted a satin varnish, but when I suggested a soft, waxed finish instead, she was thrilled.

So...was it worth sacrificing my Saturday?? I think...YES!! I wish I could stay home and let my customers come to me...and maybe as I get better with on-line marketing, that will happen too. But I am a people person, and I really like face-to-face interactions. So I think there will be a few early weekend days...I can bring a sun umbrella, and forgo the late June-early September events (they're just too hot in NJ). I also really like the idea of supporting local efforts like the local high school.

You tell me...am I on the right track??

Junking Karma

2011-05-01T17:02:00.000-07:00

Like any rookie, I am still learning my way around the "junking world". I'm starting to know where to find the best stuff, what is timeless and what is trendy - who knew there were trends in "junk"? I'm learning where I can haggle, and where I can't (fundraisers, Goodwill shops). I learned early that junking people are nice, and that good manners can pay off in spades.

So this weekend when someone running an estate sale was a bit on the nasty side, I was taken aback, but I kept my temper (not an easy thing for me), and moved on. I hated to miss the cute little chair that I had spotted, but it was not meant to be. When the pursuit of an item stops being fun, sometimes even if I win the thing, I just never have a good feeling about it; it's so much nicer to enjoy the experience as well as the piece you fall in love with!

So I was surprised and delighted when I spotted a darling old chair at a garage sale in my neighborhood on the way home!! No Victorian tufted velvet, padded armed delicate piece.... I instantly fell in love with its character, its almost ugliness.

Imagine my astonishment when I saw the price!

The people selling it couldn't have been nicer; I stayed chatting after I made the purchase. They put it aside for me so that I could fetch my CR-V to load it up.

I don't even care how hideous the upholstery is...it is so delightfully vintage, and VERY COMFY!! I curled up in it this morning with my coffee and nearly went back to sleep.

I believe in garage sale/thrift shop/junking karma, now more than ever. I try to be patient and polite, which is usually pretty easy, because like I said, "junking" people are nice! I'm amazed at how many times I have to forgo an item which has stolen my heart, only to find a different, sometimes better one around the corner....junking is just funny that way.

What has Junking Karma sent your way??

Mona Kay

The Haul

2011-04-24T13:53:00.001-07:00

What happens when a person sells a bunch of stuff, clears out a ton of space in her house, has a free weekend, and the BEST ESTATE SALE EVER is on?? I'll tell you...that person comes home with a BOATLOAD of stuff!! I made three trips back and forth hauling my purchases, partly because it was too late on a holiday weekend to rent a u-haul, partly because each time I went back to load an item into my Honda CR-V, I bought something else!

I spied this sweet little cabinet in the corner of the basement, and it was love at first sight. I have a weakness for a chipped, dirty, old, beat-up piece that needs a little love.

This table was waaaay up high on top of a shelving unit, but I caught sight of the gorgeous legs, pulled it down, showed them that it was in pieces, and got it for $15.

It had all the pieces, so with a little wood glue, it will be as good as new!

I saw this gorgeous table pretty early, & asked for a price. When they said $100, I practically grabbed the blue masking tape out of their hands to mark it sold...I never handed $100 over so fast!! I STILL had to guard it, as so many people kept coming over and looking at it...I lost track of how many times I said "I'm very sorry, this is sold". Here it is, cleaned off & set up in my home:

The house was tiny & packed, so while I waited for room to move the table out, I decided to poke around in the garage. That's where I found these old doors. They, too, were filthy...it's a good thing it was warm and sunny out this morning!

I propped one up next to the cabinet once I got them home.

The last item I bought was a cabinet I had been eying from the minute I walked into the house. I literally had my last (I thought) item loaded in the car, and was chatting with one of the people running the estate sale. Next thing I know, I hear myself making a low-ball offer on the cabinet, which was accepted immediately! Maybe he figured since I'd spent my whole day (yep) at their sale, I was entitled to a discount, or maybe because it was 20 minutes until the end of the sale & he didn't feel like loading it onto his truck...but I took it home!! It was awful trying to get it loaded, and worse getting it out of the car & into the house (did it on my own...sorry Mom!!), but worth it...here it is all set up:

I stood on line outside in the rain for an hour to get into this estate sale, and spent the whole time wondering if I would come out empty-handed. Truth be told, I probably could have spent more time and money, but I ran out of both!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Mona Kay

Upcycling Fabric

2011-04-10T14:23:00.000-07:00

I have found the most BEAUTIFUL fabric at the thrift shops this week! Adding my Florida thrift shop finds, and I'm sitting pretty in soft cotton florals & stripes, and some gorgeous linens and other textiles for accents and linings for my tote bags. Here's some finished & unfinished:

What have you found this week or weekend??
Mona Kay

Lazy Weekend...

2011-04-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

It's funny...I couldn't wait for this weekend so that I could finish a couple of the tote-bags I've been working on....but now that it's here, I just can't get motivated. I did, however, re-arrange the front room, and my studio. I'm very happy...there's SOOO much more room in the studio!

Didja notice the library card catalog? It was last week's Craigslist find, & my new pride and joy (don't worry workspace table and sewing machine table, I still love you...)

Now I'm watching Tombstone on TV, & wondering where my excitement to finish my bags went. Oh well, there's always tomorrow....

What are you doing or putting off this weekend??

Love me a fabric flower!!

2011-03-22T16:19:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure when I got bitten by the Fabric Flower bug, but lately I'm obsessed. Luckily, there are a million tutorials on how to make them...here's an example.

Here's my first attempt:

And here's a "rosette" that I'm trying to finish...I need fabric glue, and I bought the wrong stuff :(

I literally woke up at 2am one night, and lay there obsessing. Finally by 3am I couldn't stand it anymore. I got up & browsed the internet, found a tutorial, and gave it a try with tissue paper.

I'm such a geek...I saved it :)

Now that I've made a couple, I have a new obsession...what can I do with them?? I've already bought some pins and barrettes, as they seemed the most obvious...but what I'd really like to do is make a bag, kind of like my new pillow covers, and put them on the bags.

I'm having a little trouble staying focused!

By the way...I'm also obsessed with my new workspace...I finished my "idea boards" over the weekend, and started tacking up random pieces that I'd like to work with. The table is my pride and joy...got it at an estate sale for a song, and refinished it.

What's your latest obsession??

Mona Kay

Craigslist Crush

2011-03-06T05:40:00.000-08:00

Oh, how I looooove Craigslist!! It's been a long, cold & snowy winter with no garage sales in sight....but Craigslist is always open!! Here are my two latest finds...I only had to travel 25 minutes to pick them up. Sooo worth it!!

It's raining today, but it was close to 60 degrees here in NJ yesterday. You know what that means....furniture painting and garage sales/flea markets are AROUND THE CORNER!! I think I can hold my breath....

Mona Kay

The Cabinet!!

2011-02-20T17:03:00.000-08:00

It's here, it's here, it's HERE!! And it looks like that office wall was just waiting for it!! No more words necessary....I'm in love....*sigh!

I hope to have a before & after of the wall where my "former" oak book cases used to be...I sold them on Craigslist this weekend! Stay tuned...

Hope you all had a great weekend!

Moving Furniture

2011-02-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

My sister is an expert at trolling ebay, and I am an expert at trolling craigslist and garage sales. We find each other a LOT of stuff! So she found me a beautiful antique cabinet which I promptly bought, without measuring or having any idea where I was going to put it. However, as usually happens, inspiration struck while I was watching TV, and I had to move some furniture NOW!!! Here's the evolution of the office:

I had JUST moved the white cabinet (my refurbished gun cabinet)from the front room:

But I wanted another nook with a rocking chair, so I moved it into the office. When I realized that the new antique cabinet would look PERFECT where the white cabinet was, I knew I had to move it - that's why it lives next to the desk now.

And ohhhhhh the anticipation.....

I can't WAIT to pick up the cabinet!!! I'll post pictures when it's in place :)

Up Early

2010-11-28T11:34:00.000-08:00

When I woke up and saw that it was 4:57am, I decided to get up even though it was early. I had been to bed early the night before, and besides, a cup of spicy eggnog flavored coffee was calling me.

It was worth it.

Here's the western view:

Some early birds:

And the first sunlit tree tops...

It was 27 degrees outside, but beautiful.

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my family, of course, for being employed, and to have a little spare time back to stop & smell the roses.

What are you thankful for?

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Mona Kay

Poor, neglected, blog!

2010-11-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

Hello to all of my talented blogger friends! I miss you all! It's the same old story, new job, family responsibilities, and my spare time went right out the window!! I have some wonderful pictures to show you of my finished display cabinet...I hope to post them this weekend. In the mean time, I've had a chance to look at all of your blogs, and it makes me realize how much I've missed looking at your talented creations!! Hopefully things will slow down a little, and I can become a "regular" again.

XOXOXO

Mona Kay

Refinished Gun Display Cabinet

2010-10-10T16:24:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to have finished the gun display cabinet that I purchased for $5 at a garage sale a few weeks ago!!

It's a beautiful cabinet, but the wood was too dark for me. I knew it was going to look great painted white!

I added the wood appliques (with wood glue) after sanding, but before painting...

I know....I just can't leave this corner alone!! I am having so much fun playing with it though...it's become my favorite trial & error area!!

What projects are you working on??

MK

I Love Marshall's!

2010-10-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when a girl can't find (or can't afford!) the vintage or antique items she wants, she just has to make do with repro. And that is why I simply LOOOOVE Marshall's(also Target, and Michaels)!! Here are some of my favorite finds, picked up for a song:

I actually did find the center dish at a specialty shop, but the other porcelain pieces are from Marshall's, and the clock is from Target.

I found these vases at Marshall's plus the bag of faux fruit for fill

I love apothecary jars, and this repro version from Marshalls fit in with my other assorted finds perfectly. I filled it with potpourri from Target.

I still love all my vintage finds, plus the thrill of the hunt...but it was lots of fun filling in my decor this week!

What made you smile this week??

'Til next time...

Mona Kay

Front Corner Continued

2010-09-27T16:12:00.001-07:00

Well, it's not like I was going to stop finding great "finds"...I should have known :)

By the way...the new blinds are coming tomorrow. I don't THINK I'll have a chance to make any changes before then!!

The cabinet is a gun display cabinet, but not after I add new hardware and door pulls and paint it white!

Also, apparently, the sofa belongs to Sydney :) Again, I should have known! Before this sofa, her little eyes barely cleared the window. She's so happy now! As you can see, this was before I draped the quilt over it...

And so the evolution continues...it's going to be a looooong winter when it gets too cold to paint furniture!!

Have a great week!
MK

Picker Interrupted...

2010-09-18T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hello to everyone who has been so nice to stick with me!! I have many distractions keeping me from what I love - I did not even hit a single garage sale this week :( I'm planning to get back on track in the next couple of weeks, but for now I need to focus on my day job so that I can eat :).

I am living vicariously through all your blogs!! Hope to have some pictures & fun stuff soon!

Mona Kay

Student Desk

2010-09-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I just can't seem to shake this cold...it's a good think I spent a long weekend two weeks ago working on so many projects, and last weekend moving everything into my new shed, and clear out my work space. I feel like I haven't left my sofa since, during free time - I hate head colds!

So here is one of my projects that I did before I got sick...transforming this little student desk. I almost ruined it trying to figure out how to use a paint sprayer (which I never did learn how to use), so I'm very happy to have it finished!

The den is still being transformed...I sold the coffee table in the picture & temporarily replaced it with the square Ikea table (which will most likely get a "farm table make-over" in the near future). I'm working on window treatments & wall decor, but I'm pretty pleased so far - it is very toned-down from vibrant reds in addition to the yellow.

Hope you all have a great week!

Mona Kay

In The Way of Junking...

2010-09-09T17:46:00.001-07:00

First it was the holiday weekend, which I spent hauling unfinished pieces out of my garage and into my new shed. Be a sport & look at my "unfinished pieces" page...I took pictures of everything :)

Then I got sick.

Then drama at my day job.

So...I miss my junking life, but have not been able to do anything while nursing my headache and brushing up my resume!

I'm enjoying reading all of your blogs & hope to update mine soon!!

Mona Kay

Humbled by spray paint

2010-08-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

Okay...you all know I'm new to refinishing furniture, and I rely heavily on my fellow, more experienced artists. Since I'm okay with asking a lot of questions, and have found a great talent pool, both on the internet and in the shops that I visit, I get a lot of good advice. So I'm hoping that SOMEONE, or MANY someones can help me!

I like Rustoleum spray paint, and I've used it on many pieces. After one disaster in my brand-new days, I've learned that prepping is essential, so I sand or strip before I apply the paint, and I've learned how to have a relatively light and even hand when I'm spraying. The pieces usually turn out pretty nice, and I've also learned when to touch up, sand down, re-paint, etc. So imagine my surprise when THIS happened:

I was astonished, since I hadn't done anything different, and had never seen this before. I waited 24 hours, sanded down the bubbles, and sprayed another coat on. The same thing happened! In desperation, I finally grabbed a brush, and sprayed & brushed, sprayed & brushed...that worked. But, holy cow!!!

Does anyone have any ideas on why this might have happened???

What crazy things have you run into during your projects??

Mona Kay

The Front Room - A Tale of Evolution

2010-08-22T10:01:00.001-07:00

It's not bad. It's the set-up of a beginner collector. At this point, the front room in my house was a work-in-progress, after I decided that yes, I am definitely interested in re-decorating with flea market finds, and following the utterly fabulous ideas that I have found on so many decorating blogs (see my blog roll).

Many items I purchase end up in my home instead of listed on my shop...I fall in love with them, and there they stay. An example is the round mirror (featured in an earlier post). Once I hung it on my wall, I knew it would be a very long time, if ever, until I parted with it.

Next, I said "so long for now" to the lamp in the above picture. I love it, but it's not working, and I can't figure out why. I must put it aside until inspiration strikes.

I refinished and sold the bureau (see my "Before and After" page, link above), and moved the dark bureau under the mirror. The contrast seemed to add a nice flair of drama.

While shopping at the Blu Daisy in Clinton, NJ (see my other blog, "The Vintage Years") I came upon this beautiful birdcage. Have you ever picked up a piece and knew that you had to have it...even though it seemed to make no sense?

Finally, I tackled the largest project on my list; the very first piece I acquired on this junking and restoring journey (and it was a curbside freebie, too):

I had some idea that I was going to keep it before I even started, so I went with a bright white, which fit my decor. Here's the finished piece:

That is the original hardware - I was able to get all that green paint off. Next time I will definitely wear rubber gloves when working with paint stripper.

The original top molding was a little plain, so I added wooden appliques. I painted them with an undercoat of black, a couple of top coats of white, then sanded the top for a distressed look:

Here's how it looks under the mirror:

And here is the corner today.

The chair is a "place-holder" for a rocking chair I would like to put in its place. Also, I hate to say it, but I have a feeling that the dark piece may need to go (and by "go", I mean sell, or move to another room - but I have a small house!)....it doesn't seem to fit. Any ideas?? Anyone think the contrast is okay??

Thank you to all you wonderful decor bloggers out there for your inspiration!! What changes have you make to your abode that you love?

Mona Kay

Heirloom White and Bright White

2010-08-15T18:12:00.000-07:00

I love bright white furniture, and am getting a reputation for painting anything that stands still. I am beginning to daydream about painting the oak tower-style bookcases in my family room white.

But now I have a new crush! I received a request from a customer for a distressed bureau in off-white. I looked around and found "Heirloom White"...which I found to be a little less yellow than "antique white" or "off-white". Very warm and rich-looking!

Hmmm....just when I painted everything a bright white! I wonder how the two would go together...

So tell me, do you mix and match your hues? Even white and off-white? I surely do like that heirloom white!

Mona Kay

How Many Days Without a Clothing Purchase?

2010-08-10T05:04:00.001-07:00

Okay...I've been thinking about this for a while. DO I NEED MORE CLOTHES?? One time I bought a pair of pants, brought it home, and discovered I already had that same pair-in the same size, so no excuse about gaining/losing weight. My closet is packed. Yes, I ADORE fashion, and love to have the latest looks, but with the both the economy and job security in the crapper, DO I NEED THEM?? What would I save per month if I just used what I have?

Inspired by my blogging friend Blythe Hopes Vintage's recent similar post, I'm going to act on this question - albeit passively, because I'll really be taking NO action. I am not setting myself a specific time frame, but I want to see how long I can go without purchasing a new item of clothing - shoes, and basics excluded. It will be tough with the season change approaching - I love fall clothes - but I'm determined to do this!

I just returned two pairs of pants and a sweater, so I guess I really started this past weekend...so that puts my start date as AUGUST 8, 2010. Think I can make it into 2011? (friends who have been shopping with me don't think I'll make it into September..but we'll see!!)

NO MORE NEW CLOTHES!! I'll keep you posted :)

MK

A Little Break and a LOT of Fruit Cobbler

2010-08-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

While I love junking, and the garage sales, flea markets, etc. sometimes a break in routine is just what I need. While I did hit an antique emporium liquidation sale ("finds" to be shown in a later post), I mostly worked on some of my own items, and around the house. By Sunday night, I was ready to do some cooking - above is the chicken and sausage jambalaya I made for dinner.

My blogging friend Prior recently shared her peach cobbler recipe, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

I bought a basket of peaches, but didn't feel like I had enough, so I added the frozen blueberries and strawberries that I had on-hand:

These ingredients were added & mixed in:

Here is the end result:

We're going to be eating it for a while!

What do you like to do to break up your routine?
Mona Kay

A Vintage Mirror Dresses Up an Empty Wall

2010-08-01T15:31:00.000-07:00

I bought a beautiful round mirror with an intricately carved wood frame at a barn sale at the beginning of the summer. I couldn't wait to give it a fresh coat of paint and hang it...unfortunately, there were pressing projects, and then, of course we got a heat wave which just wouldn't break. I usually start watching the weather on Wednesday, and immediately begin planning projects if I see that the temperature is going to be lower than 85 degrees. The mirror was top of my list this weekend.

Does anyone know a better way to protect the mirror portion when painting the frame?? This was the best I could come up with...it looks so funny...

I am very good about wearing my filtering mask (spray-painting kicks up quite a cloud of particles) - I highly recommend it when sanding or spray-painting. This frame only needed two coats.

There was more over-spray than I thought there would be...you can see it in the middle of the mirror. I took a razor blade to it & cleaned up any residual paint.

The mirror is pretty heavy, so I used a dry-wall anchor to hang it. The mirror portion is scratched and a little foggy, adding age and shabbiness to it...I just love how it dresses up this space!

It does, however, remind me how desperately the yellow bureau below it needs to be painted! For now, the vintage linen runner softens it a little. The lamp in the picture needs to be polished, and perhaps touched up with a little paint on the fake brass part...there just aren't enough weekends, but I'm never bored!!

What projects are on your list?

Mona Kay

Inspired by Porcelain

2010-07-25T17:22:00.001-07:00

How many times have you bought something simply because you love it - without having any idea how you would use it? All the time, if you're like me. This week, I had the delightful experience of finding a use for such an item, and it validated my purchases of things that I love....not that I was planning on stopping!

I recently treated myself to some luxury hand-made soaps:

Then I realized that I don't have a single soap dish...all my soaps are liquid. I was planning to buy a decorative soapdish, when I thought..."wait a minute...I've been collecting pretty dishes for months now. I MUST have something!" A quick search uncovered this pretty little thing in my cupboard:

Isn't it adorable?? I was so happy to have put this beauty to use, that I vowed to look for more porcelain, and to get the pieces that I fall in love with. That decision lead to this purchase at an estate sale over the weekend:

And this:

And this:

And these:

That soap dish makes me happy every time I see it.

What "finds" bring a smile to your face?

Mona Kay

How to Refinish a Sofa Table

2010-07-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

In the quest to continue brightening my decor, I finally took on the sofa table I purchased for $10 at a garage sale. It didn't look bad as it was...

but I am in love with bright whites these days. That table's days in its original state were numbered.

Recently, I woke up to temperatures which didn't feel like the surface of the sun.

I knew it wouldn't last, and I also knew that this piece was going to take some time, so I got to it.

The table had a pretty heavy varnish which was going to take some heavy-duty sanding - too much for hand-sanding.

Because I want to be respectful of my lungs, I bought a particle-filtering face mask when I started refinishing furniture. It's unbelievable how much dust flies!

All this dust must be wiped off of the piece once it's sanded. That's a bigger job than the actual sanding - but it must be done! I used a dry cloth, then a damp cloth. Some people use an air compressor to blow off the dust - an excellent idea, but I don't have one yet.

I purchased a paint-sprayer, but I'm embarrassed to say, the think has kicked my behind so far...I'm still playing with it. I ended up hand-painting this piece. It needed three coats of bright white paint, but it was worth every brush stroke!

Another step in the journey of changing up my decor! Next step...the vintage bureau.

What were some of your early or memorable decor changes? I love to get inspired by talented people!

Mona Kay

How to reupholster a footstool - please critique my method!

2010-07-12T18:23:00.000-07:00

I bought this cute little footstool at a garage sale - it's an inexpensive catalog-store type item, and it originally had a brocade upholstery. Cute, but not my style. When I saw this black and white paisley material, I couldn't wait to pair it with the dark wood of the footstool...but to my surprise, I got tired of it quickly. It could have to do with the "re-do" of the nook described in my earlier post, which called for a lighter look. Here's how I achieved the look I wanted:

I removed the screws from the top (or lid) so that I could work with it separately.

Using a pair of needle-nose plyers, I removed all the staples from my previous upholstering.

To re-cover the lid with new fabric, I cut a piece using the old piece as a template. If you decide not to remove the old fabric, you can use the item you are reupholstering as a template, adding 1.5 -2 inches of excess fabric around the entire perimeter so you have enough to staple to the back. Pull taut, but not so tight that fabric will rip or wrinkle, and staple. The corners can be tricky - try wrapping them as you would a present with wrapping paper - check the front for folds or creases before you staple.

One of the legs was a little wobbly, and the wood around the screw was stripped, so I added some wood glue to stabilize it. In hindsight, next time I will also add some wood filler, as the glue wasn't enough by itself.

I sprayed the base a bright white (two coats, about 1/2 hour between coats)

re-attached the lid, and voila!!

How'd I do?? For other newbies like me, I hope this was helpful. For those of you talented folks out there (and I've seen a lot of you!!)...PLEASE CRITIQUE!! I'd really love to get your feedback!

Thanks, and until next time...have a great week!
Mona Kay

Finally...an "After"!

2010-07-05T07:27:00.000-07:00

I love my "nook" where I sit with my morning coffee, watching both the birds at the bird feeder and my puppy playing with her toys. It's a great little area that I created by moving some things around and freeing up some space, changing chairs around several times, etc., but I was never truly satisfied...

I LOVE the rocking chair (a garage sale score...what else?). In my head, however, it became the "mocking chair" as it sat unpainted, day after day, with the thought of taking on this project in the heat of the summer overwhelming me. I also wanted to add a little table, and a mental inventory of my stock told me that I didn't have anything I could use.

Finally one morning at 7:30 am, half-way through my second cup of coffee, I couldn't stand the nook another second. A quick trip into my garage uncovered a damaged, but darling little telephone table which would probably never become "shop-worthy", With a few coats of white paint, however, it would be perfect for my purposes. Before it go too hot, I took on the two projects, chair and table. The little footstool was a re-design of a previous project, and took about 20 minutes - a "how to" will follow in a future post.

I've been dying to display both the lamp and the gorgeous Spode tea cup and saucer, and I'm thrilled to have a place for them!

A rummage through my vintage linen collection lightened the dark little side table, and added a little color to the white chair - no longer does it mock me! Now my morning coffee is a pleasure!

If it ever cools down...

2010-07-02T04:42:00.001-07:00

Oh, the line of projects!! I'm happy to have so many wonderful things waiting for me, but as I've posted before...July in NJ is no time to be outside sanding and painting! Although, it's 7:30 now, and quite cool...will I really take my coffee outside and paint that chair which has been staring at me for about a month?? Stay tuned...

Here's my list of projects...all the "befores" I can't wait to get my hands on:

Okay, that one's half-before, half-after!

Stay tuned!! I can't wait to show you the afters...if it ever cools down!

Happy July 4th!

Before and After

2010-06-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

I'm not much of a wimp (my daughter is laughing right now), but 90 degree heat in NJ coupled with 110 % humidity has done me in...I've wanted to sand and paint my rocking chair all weekend, but I'm not going out there!!

Instead, I am reminiscing with some of my "before & afters". Maybe I can start sanding at 8pm when the temperature goes down to 82 degrees...

Someday I'll have an air-conditioned and heated workspace...but until then, I'm at the mercy of the weather!

Til next time...stay cool!
Mona Kay

Early on a Saturday

2010-06-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

Lots of people go to garage sales. Some go early, some go a little more leisurely. However, as you can imagine, I am often met with surprise when I tell people that I set the alarm for 7am on a Saturday so that I can get to a garage sale by 8am (I have to have coffee first, after all); and people sometimes ask in disbelief..."WHY??" I never feel as though my answer: "to get to the good stuff first"; is very convincing...so I'm hoping that a picture is worth a thousand words...HERE'S why:

By the way, before I knew what it was, I was planning my usual restoration and distressed white finish (I just heard a collector somewhere hit the floor from fainting)...but don't worry...I will respect the piece and leave it alone, after cleaning and polishing it. Obviously, someone has replaced the knobs, which I frankly don't love on this piece...they look so wrong. I will do a little research and try to find original or copies of original pulls.

If anyone has any information that they can share with me to help me with my research, I would GREATLY appreciate it! If you are local, (South Brunswick, NJ) don't forget to check my other blog, The Vintage Years for upcoming garage sales.

Happy Picking!!
Mona Kay

2010-06-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't heard about the latest new venue for all things for the home, let me introduce you to My Blue Sofa, a free on-line marketplace and community for interior spaces and design, and all things home-related. It is free to create a shop and list items in that shop, and categories include antiques, garden, furniture for any room in the house, and major appliances. I also highly recommend the site's "Blug" (You got it, blog with a "u"), whose author, Arlene Grasman, provides consistently fabulous pictures of all different room designs from modern, to eclectic, to my favorite..shabby & chic.

I had the opportunity to learn more about their CEO, Manuel Garcia, who was kind enough to let me interview him. Here is a little bit more about Manuel:

MK: What do you answer when people ask "What do you do?"

MG: We do what we love. We run an online marketplace and community for furniture and decor lovers, and in the meantime we get to meet amazing people, connect with fabulous designers and so much more. We're definitely lucky enough to say we do what we love!

MK: What made you decide to create "My Blue Sofa"?

MG: It was about two years ago. My wife and I were planning our wedding, and buying furniture for our first home. My wife spent many hours on many websites searching for furniture and home decor items. So I started to wonder, what if there was a website where artisans, and small and distinct furniture shops could offer their products? That was pretty much the beginning of My Blue Sofa.

MK: Ideally, how do you see "My Blue Sofa" helping anyone who calls someplace "home"?

MG: Home is the most important place in the world, and we know how serious people can get when it comes to furnishing that special place. We try to make that process easier, simpler, more effective and add a little joy while doing it.

MK: What is your biggest inspiration/motivator?

MG: God, and my family. I like to enjoy God's creation to the fullest, and get inspired by the little details as well. I like to walk around with my wife and daughter, drink a cup of coffee and take in the little details that life provides. Inspiration is everywhere if we are careful enough to notice.

MK: What’s saved to your “favorites” tab on the internet?

MG: First of all, My Blue Sofa :) I've also got a devotional I like to read everyday (http://devog.wordpress.com). I've got mashable and techcrunch, and about 30 blogs on decor! So besides My Blue Sofa, my mornings are pretty busy reading.

MK: What keeps you awake at night?

MG: Many things keep me awake at night (I tend to be a night-thinker) but above all the responsibility to my wife and daughter are number one on the list of things that keep me up.

MK: What relaxes or soothes you?

MG: Laying on my favorite couch, and listening to a good jazz record with my earphones.

Having a bold cup of coffee in the morning while talking to my wife.

Watching my baby grow up everyday.

I also enjoy playing guitar and piano.

MK:What is your hope for tomorrow?

MG: I have the hope of building a better world for my little Rebecca (she's 2 weeks old!). The world our parents grew up in has changed so much, and a lot has been lost. We've forgotten manners, decency, honor and respect. I want my daughter to grow up in an environment that upholds these principles. It's a challenge!

Learn more about Manuel and all the great people who support this terrific venue by visiting the on-line market at My Blue Sofa. Happy shopping and decorating!!

Mona Kay

First Attemts

2010-06-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

Now that I have been collecting vintage items for several months, the challenge is to find a place which will showcase these items I've fallen in love with. Some are easy (a blue shabby cabinet which landed and stayed where it is, and I love it there), some are a real challenge (a rocking chair that I love, but for which I have not found the perfect place)! Here are some of my first attempts:

I originally had the green tufted chair in a nook, and while it looked great; I wanted to showcase it a little more. I'm happier with where it is now. One problem...now I'd like another one like it, and I'm not sure there's room!

Here's my "morning coffee" nook where I can watch both the birds at the feeders, and my puppy play with her toys. I didn't like the darkness of the first look, so I made the changes seen in the second picture. I love all of these pieces separately (there's the rocking chair)...but something is troubling me about this arrangement. I plan to paint the chair white, clean and polish the metal lamp, and "up-cycle" the shade (all garage sale or thrift store finds), but I'm not sure that this nook will stay the way it is now. Gotta play some more...

I love this shabby cabinet ($8 at a thrift shop), and while I've moved it around a little, it WANTS to live in the entryway. Fine by me! I'm still playing with what to put on top of it...

This is Sydney. She doesn't really get why I jump up from the sofa where I'm watching TV and start moving furniture around. Maybe she'll get used to it!

Well! These are my first attempts. I hope that practice makes better...I'm not shooting for perfection yet! Let me know what you think!

Mona Kay

Maybe I should stick to furniture...

2010-06-17T17:55:00.000-07:00

So far, I have broken two mirrors, the glass from a picture frame, and two globes for the vintage milk glass lamp that I grabbed at a spring garage sale. This is the second one...purchased at a different garage sale to replace the broken one. I truly couldn't believe my ears when I heard the glass hit the cement of my garage!

I love to work with old mirrors and turn them into something different (see below), but I'm not very good at preserving the glass! I have worked on two mirrors, and have had to spend the money to replace the mirror on both of them! So here's hoping I get better at handling mirrors!

While this piece was a little more time-consuming, it would be difficult to break. It's also difficult to move...I have to admit, there are a few little details I haven't figured out yet...storage and breakables are at the top of the list!

Speaking of storage, I left 4 wooden upholstered chairs at the curb while driving through my home town today. Anyone who knows me knows how unlike me that is! It is a true testament to my storage problem... I am considering building a storage shed, but I'm not sure that furniture (even unfinished furniture) will hold up through a NJ winter in something un-insulated and un-heated...what to do????

I've been purchasing less and less furniture, but there's a garage sale in my neighborhood this weekend which is featuring vintage furniture. Hmmm...I wonder what I can store in my living room...it wouldn't be the first time!

Since it's Father's Day this Sunday, I won't be at my usual flea market at the Princeton Elks, but I hope to return next Sunday. I will post the details on this blog, on Facebook and on Twitter.

Happy Picking!
Mona Kay