Thursday, March 28, 2013

And then ... the Chair!

It has been awhile since I talked about MOC.

The ORC took over my personal time and the MOC took a speedy stop!  You might recall I had plans to be done by Thanksgiving.  Of 2012.

Happy to announce I am back on track ... and the MOC is once again a focus!

Today ... the Star came home!


She is the last piece of furniture to get an update ... a little styling left and I'll be revealing ... 

All on a trek of mine to "re-create" a space that FEELS like this.



Working on final touches today!

xo,

kim


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

It's Easter this weekend. 
Which makes me think of Pinks and Greens and springtime.  Which makes me think of Summer.  
Which makes me think of Picnics.  
Which makes me think of Gingham.

Some people think Gingham is Old Fashioned.  I like to think of it as "Little Buffalo Plaid".  

And that, my friends, is NOT old fashioned!

I know you have seen this kitchen before.  I can't move on.

Source


Source

Which makes me think of SeerSucker.  
 New Englanders don't really connect with it.

We are culturally "SeerSuckered" into a vortex with this conversation.



Source


And bow ties ... I won't even go there in this post.  


Back to SeerSucker.


Source





Now that I have come out of the basement for my ORC ... the upstairs is getting painted ... 


The outside yard looks like a disaster zone. Melting ice and snow and firewood strewn about ... my dogs think firewood is a bone.


Do you see why I am already focusing on a SeerSucker Spring and Summer!


Do you ...
 Buffalo?
Gingham?
SeerSucker?

I am hoping to do all Three ... Hope you'll Come Back and Watch me Play!!

xo,

kim

Friday, March 22, 2013

A Day in Essex!

Last Week Alice and I trekked up to Essex for the Day.  It was Gross outside.  Don couldn't believe we were still going.  Here's how we felt about it:

Congratulations!
Today is Your Day
You'r off to Great Places!
You're off and away!


Essex was once the Antique Capital of The Country ... long before internet sites like 1st Dibs, OKL, etc.  

We got there about 11 ... and everything was pretty QUIET.  This town is so quaint ... once a shipbuilding town.  Still holding onto the beautiful Colonial Houses lining the roads where the workers used to live.  After quizzing a few shop owners I found out that once the shipbuilding moved on the town was sitting there with all sorts of history and beautiful homes ... and One Woman opened an Antique Shop.

The Power of One.  I am doing a little research on her, just for fun ... and will share what I find.

Now Essex boasts over 30 shops in a one mile stretch.

We didn't get to them all. 

Our first Stop ... and Favorite.


Andrew Spindler is a TREASURE.  He is exactly the kind of "shop owner" I would love to be one day ... and the kind I love to meet!

He handpicked everything in his shop.  And it all has a story.  Not just a "oh I like that" ... 



Of course he knew about things you say ... but I mean he had a story about it all!  Such a difference was immediately seen when we walked next door ... and although a nice shop, the lady didn't get up ... just a "let me know if you have any questions".  Hmph. 


Remember how I pulled down some DollHouse Furniture for a vignette in my ORC Reveal?  Well, this is what gave me the idea.

Fireplace BookEnds!


You know the salespeople that work on commission.  They hover like mad and make you crazy.  His attention was not this.  His attention was sheer enthusiasm for what he does and what he has.  And we wanted MORE!


I was a little worried about the unfriendliness of these antique fishing spears.  After Andrew spoke to me about their history ... I wanted them all!


Andrew shared the story of these "Tar boy" pictures with us and why Sailors were called this.  All about so much Tar in the naval yards ... tar on their coats for waterproofing, etc.

These Vintage Prints were sold to a Homeowner in Nantucket.  Lucky Person.  

I had never heard of such.  Isn't it fun learning!


I wish you could SEE the size and vibrance of this Macau.

GORGEOUS!

This piece was restored by Andrew and headed to it's new home in Palm Beach. Go Figure.


Artist Stark Davis. Born in Boston in 1885 then eventually moved to California and worked at Disney.  Don't you see it?  You can almost sense that this Guy is just waiting to speak!! 

I am a sucker for IronStone.  I didn't buy any. 



Then, I figured out we had happened upon a local and national Design Star!!  Andrew has been published in Boston Home and most recently, his home in Gloucester, Mass was featured in the German Architectural Digest.  This made me  giddy!



From the spread in Boston Home



These Gorgeous Astronomy Balls are about to be turned into Lamps.  Yep.


This Gal made me laugh.  Goddess of the Butt.  She and I might be related!


Curtain Tie backs.  I couldn't even asking my workroom to make curtains that would fit with these.  They were almost 10 inches wide!!


Fun Mercury Glass DoorKnobs.  Why not?
Then Andrew Introduced us to these and the Folly Cove Designers


The Gossip

Look at those ladies ... sharing the gossip!  And the sheer joy illustrated in the last lady ... she seems quite pleased with the info she has just obtained!

"The Folly Cove Designers were a group of 45 Designer-Craftsmen who worked together between 1938 and 1969 producing carefully wrought designs cut into linoleum blocks and printed (primarily) on fabric.  Their common interest was in producing solid designs and in good craftsmanship." Taken From the Cape Ann Museum.


Here a few more from Andrew's 1st Dibs page


The group was founded by Virginia Lee Burton, the celebrated children's book author and illustrator who wrote "Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel", "The Little House", and "Mabel the Cable Car", among other classics, which have never gone out of print. Production of these textiles ceased in 1968 when Virginia Lee Burton died. 

We did visit several fun shops this day ... but Andrew made it special.  What a treat that we met him First!!



Alice and I stopped for a late lunch and this was our view of the marshes.  Kind of cold and dreary ... but beautiful nonetheless!!

Such a fun day and so exciting to meet our own Design Star, Andrew!

Happy Friday!

xo,

kim

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Illusions ... Reality Check!

So the Big Reveal of the ORC was yesterday ... what fun and hard work took place over the past seven weeks.  I promised a follow up to give you a few more details.


Do you ever find yourself wondering ... What is Really going on around that room?  Am I looking at an Illusion?

Get Ready ... I am about to show you my Illusion and 
my Reality.
First ... This transformation wouldn't have been possible without these:

Paul and Joe ... My Illusion Wall


My GrandMother ... her Cookie Presses


My Chevron ... Chair Makeover


The Beast ... Tamed


Kerry Steele ... Abstract Art


CEKArt ... Elephant Art

The Gilded Tassel ... Chinoiserie Tray


My Tassel ... as a Tassel


Target ... Spray Paint (I got on Clearance!)


And a Whole Lot of Orange!

NOW ... the Reality ... 

Here is what I See when sitting at my desk.



Yep, the washing machine and dryer and my table for projects ... and lots of other Stuff!

Here is what I really see when I walk into the unfinished Basement ... 

My Illusion Office to the left ... the Rest Surrounds!


I still have a few little piles that need to be cleaned up ... 

The TV ... which is generally on for the White Noise and to cover the sound of the furnace! And all the other PRETTY machinery that makes the House Run!


A chair that I want to re-cover.  

Then I turn left and SEE this.  I smile ... and get to work!


So here's what you need to know ... It is possible to carve out a special area for yourself ... no matter what!!

So Go Get Your Space On!  Illusion or Reality ... 
you can do it!!

Now ... please go to Emily's blog for the 

Work with What you Have Link Party!


xo,

kim



Wednesday, March 20, 2013

ORC - THE Reveal!



What a FRANTIC six weeks it has been (okay, really seven ... Thank Goodness)!

Before I get going here with fabulous photos and the REVEAL... I have to say a HUGE thank you to Linda ... without her and this challenge ... I would probably still be sitting here.


Knowing what I know now.  This gives me the Shivers!!

I have been working in my basement for 5 years ... and truly hated going "down" ... so I tended to drag things up to the dining room or kitchen table.  This was a mess and kept me very scattered.  I am so happy to now have a place worth going downstairs for.  I smile whenever I walk in.  I really wanted and needed a huge punch of color and fun.  

My Inspiration Board



The Space is Dark ... There is only one little window that looks out to a metal drain in this area of the UNFINISHED (thus, my Illusion!) basement. I tried to LIGHT the area but kept getting flash back and reflections in the china hutch ... I hope you can appreciate the space with the low light!!

If you have a Brightness button on your computer ... Turn it Up Baby!!

To start at the Beginning ... 
An Unfinished Basement ... Drab ... Until Now!

Okay ... I'll keep my mouth shut and let the photos speak!


























I have a disclaimer ... my chandelier is not working.  I found out that the wiring was faulty.  I will be taking it to get re-wired and once it is working will show more photos to you with it Shining Bright!

The Beast ... Tamed
The Illusion ... My Reality
Happiness ... Achieved

Please check in tomorrow and I'll give you some of the details that made this space all come together!

And don't forget to check in with my Challenge Partners.  I am so blessed to be able to call them my new Blog Friends. These are some Talented Ladies, My Friends.

Go!  See!
xo

kim
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