Saturday, July 23, 2011

Respite and a Lovely Girl

I haven't posted in a few days nor have I created anything new, but it was a well needed break. My creativity was hitting an all time low and I knew I was getting close to being burnt out. So now that my mind and body have rested, I hope to have a couple things to show you early next week. Hooray!

I'm also in the process of building an inventory of small items to open an etsy shop. I don't know if everyone likes selling or has been successful on etsy, but I'm really interested in trying it out and seeing what it will do for me. If you have any advice, I'd welcome it!

And just to make sure this post isn't all words, here's a book I bought at a yard sale awhile back. The cover really spoke to me.
I'm serious when I say she spoke to me. She was the inspiration to a more permanent drawing...a story for another day!

Loving,
Emily

Monday, July 18, 2011

Small Shiny Finds

I went with my thrifting partner-in-crime on Saturday to a couple shops in the Houston area and only came back with these 3 little silver-plated plates. Well I bought a couple shirts too, but no furniture or any ooh-ahh items. 2 of the plates are badly tarnished, but that's not a problem because they're get covered up with what I have in store for them.


The mirror tray was an estate sale find last weekend. It's pretty as is so for now I'll keep it as a mirror, but I think it'll eventually find itself with a different bottom. Or a different color frame. The possibilities are endless!
 

That's all to report from the thrifting front line :). Can't wait to see what you all found!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Picking Up Where I Left Off

No, I haven't forgotten about my freebie dresser! It's been about a month since I've worked on her, and everyday I walked by her I reassured her (and myself) that I would return soon. She looked like this when I picked her off the curb.

I felt bad telling her that since she was a keeper, I didn't need to finish her right away. But I'm back as promised and here's what she looks like after a few days work (just catching an hour here and there during Annie's nap or bedtime).
 

Doesn't look like much progress, but she needed a lot of cleaning and paint. And I'm pretty sure painting takes twice as long when you're working in a garage in Houston and it's in the high 90's. Sweat, cockroaches, and mosquitoes also tend to cut your work time short. By the way, when you leave a dresser in the garage for a month, dust builds and critters nest. I had to clean her out all over again and vacuum all the dust trapped in the nooks. And she might have been closer to being finished if a good amount of my time had not been spent reorganizing my work space in my brother's garage. My tools, rags, and paint cans were strewn all over the place and it was driving me crazy, but somehow I forced myself to ignore it. Then yesterday I decided I couldn't deal with it for another day. Now everything is neatly piled in drawers and baskets. I've discovered I have about 15 slightly used rags whereas before I had trouble just finding 1! Hurrah!

Isn't it funny how spending a little time to clean and organize can make you happy and excited to create more?

Loving,
Emily