Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Art Lessons


If there is one thing I keep learning over and over again, it's that every day is an opportunity to open up a new creative avenue for yourself. And to renew old ones, too. I've taken some time lately to put down the furniture painting brush and pick up my number 2 pencil, and go back to the basics of drawing. And you know what? My sketches are tighter and have more "artistry" than they have ever had before. No one was more caught off guard than me. And I had to wonder why this is. I haven't taken any new art classes in years, haven't been reading any art books or how-to tutorials either. You know what I think it is? The more creative avenues you delve into, the more you paint, or craft, or sculpt, or create something from junk, the more internal artistic layers you build. The trained eye gets better with each new creative venture, coupled with a deeper understanding of composition, light and color. The accumulation of visual knowledge and experienced hands merge on a blank sketchbook page. All of this being unconsciously done, of course, so really I just have to give Life all the credit for it. But, as an aside, today I painted the first piece of furniture I've painted in a week or so...and I think my drawing has really helped my painting. I felt bold and in control of what I was doing...how 'bout that?

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

workin it


WELL, after coming home from a trip to the local mall, I can see why my business is sluggish. It's sluggish everywhere! And holy cow! what sales they're having. They're practically giving stuff away with clearance sales to beat all clearance sales. And so goes the way of the small business. Guess it's time to slash prices...or is it? You know I look around at my little cottage chic shop, and it dawns on me what a gem my shop is. Great low prices for items that have been refurbished with style...the work is all done for our customers. And if you're on the recession budget, then no one should look any further than our doors for bang for your buck for furniture. Made to last, and remade with style. Nuf said.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Zooey CAN'T sing

okay...so, um, it's 2am and i've stopped working on those friggin "oh i'm going to work on ALLLLL these projects until they're finished!" projects. And, darnit, i'm tired. Sleep....i want sleep! But no, no sleep. Only painting. How is it possible that I can have five thousand parts to the 3 defunct paint sprayers that I have, but not the one part I need to replace the spring mechanism I just broke??? I adore paint sprayers and loathe paint sprayers. They are an ecstasy beyond milk chocolate and making whoopie when they work. But, they are like having a sadist give you a mammagram when they don't. Actually, I'd prefer to have my left boob squeezed in a vice than spend 12am to 1am trying to fix that darn sprayer. Is it clogged? Take it apart and flush it out. Nope. Reassemble. Is the little orange springy dingy inside clogged?? Take it apart. Blow air through the orange thingy holes and accidentally eat paint. Nope. *(*&^%$#@+ !! Put it back together. Is it that the paint is too thick? Take it apart and water it down. Reassemble and now it sprays...but...FOR GOODNESS SAKE! NOW IT'S ALL RUNNY AND OOZING DOWN MY NIGHTSTAND! DANGIT! And it's dripping all down my arm! Is there a dang sprayer in creation that doesn't drip! $#%@&#*)^! Damn Rachel Ashwellllllllll......urrrrrrgggggggh.
---------------
I've given up and am sitting on the couch like a amoebic lump crusty with dried white paint on my arms and legs, and I'm watching Zooey Deschanel sing in some live concert in an awesone vintage dress, shaking a tambourine. I love her. Is it just me...but, she can't sing. I lllloooove her style. But she CAN'T sing! (except for in Elf) Simon C. would definitely called her Performance "bad caberet, i'm sorry to say dahling...very pitchy at tiymes...squeeky and annoying". Squeeky and annoying...oh...like my paint sprayer!
my goodness how time does fly. Due to a detour near our shop The Shabby Attic, we have been slammed with yummy customer goodness. Lots of foot traffic! Capitalism rocks my crocks. I love a good detour.
So, i've been busy churning out painted furniture pieces until I believe I may actually have more latex enamel product in my system than actual blood. but it's the price you pay for having a fabulous store.
We are packed to the drop ceiling with new goodies and furniture and so my new goal is to not buy anything new to haul into the shop, but to clean out all my projects, sitting half-done, like ignored stepchildren...strewn all around my house. In the garage are cabinet doors that cry out for creativity. In the basement are beads and old jewelry junk that need repurposing (i'm glueing them to a mannequin head...it looks cooler than it sounds). In the laundry room is an old bassinette that is awaiting transformation into a funky doggie bed. But oh where oh where to get the time? NO NEW ITEMS! that's how i'll get my little abandoned babies of projects done.

I'll post them as I get them completed! I promise!

Thursday, February 25, 2010

winter blues

Well, there's nothin' like being trapped under 30" of winter snow to keep you unmotivated. BUT, for us creative types, it's good to be trapped indoors with our junk projects. And why not? I've cooked everything in the fridge already and I've watched Legally Blond and the Devil Wears Prada 5000 times now. So, I'm overhauling a cedar trunk that I trash picked ages ago, and using old table legs to make new chunky shab fab candlesticks. Just what the doctor ordered for the winter blues...bring on the junk! tune in for the results!!

Monday, January 4, 2010

goodbye 2009








ah...the bittersweet feelings of a new year...

now is the time to take down the lights and tree and decorations and say goodbye to 2009 and hello 2010. So strange to be in a new decade. I'm already reminiscing about this past Christmas and it was just a few days ago! well, enjoy the pics of the store and the holiday decorating we did. I just loved doing the christmas mannequins...