Notes from A Cottage Industry

My very own personal Geek Squad...my Mom. (Who knew?!)

Oh ya, baby. (And I do mean that in the fondest of terms.)

I wanted to share this poster the other day with all of you, but my computer was acting up something awful. So awful in fact that I thought it was done.

Dead.

I spent more than five hours dinking around with it, trying to get at my precious Tumbleweed Cotillion files with no luck. Then, just as I was about to throw myself on the floor of my office and scream and cry, the Sewing Queen of northern Nevada (my Mom) called. I was holding back tears as I told her of my problems, and she began asking me computer questions.

Her: Have you done a recovery?

Me: A what? (Was this my Mom, who I had introduced to my cheesey little Printshop Program just a  couple of years back?)

 Her: A recovery. A system recovery...um...is that what it's called? Oh, you know what I mean.

Me:(Letting out a looooooong, loud frustrated sigh.) Yes, I know what you mean, and no, I don't want to lose what I have and start over clean, I want what I already had!

Her: Not that kind of recovery. Oh gosh, what's it called? Listen. Go to...hmmmm...let me think now....Control Panel. Is that right? No, no wait. Programs..was that right? Let me see here...

Me: Mom...(very dramatically, with an eye roll she didn't see on the phone or she would have smacked me.)

Her: Yes, yes. Hmmm, yes. I think that's right. Yes! Go there.

Me: Where?!

Her: Programs. Accessories, system tools..see, it's there! System Restore.

Step by step she walked me through and ...she restored my files and saved my day!

You know, it's pretty darned cool when your Mom, one and half months shy of 76 can give you techie support! (I guess what they say really is true,in pretty much any situation, just "ask your Mother." Thanks Mom!)

So, anyway.

The poster for our big faire is up above in this post (thanks to the sewing Queen!) and here's the scoop:

We're working overtime to make this upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillion our very best to date. Lots of fabulous vendors with great merchandise and inspiration galore! (We've got some out-of-towners participating as well! If you're interested in being a vendor at the show, click here.) Mark your calendars, we'd love to see you there!!!!

Stop and smell the flowers, and look cute all at the same time.

    Here is the fourth re-vamped chair, along with the sweetest little overnight case you have ever seen, all set for Junkee. When in doubt, add some flowers, I like to say. Okay, I don't recall ever actually saying this, but it works in this particular instance.

    I mean, come on. How cute is that little vintage folding chair all done up like that? Pretty danged cute, that's what. All vintage-y and weathered, and so dear at the very same time. I can see myself sitting on it at a Shakespeare at the lake concert, or using it in my home office for when a friend is sitting at the computer along side me. It folds up nice and flat for storage and it's full of charm.

    And that little suitcase! Oh, be still my heart.Can't you see it as a smart little airline carry-on? (It's the perfect accessory to a cotton sundress and a denim jacket with a pair of little flip flops, don'tca think?) I can see me actually using as it was intended- as my cosmetic or overnight case for a trip to PTown. Be-bopping onto the plane, looking all sassy and confident in an Anthropologie sort of way, rockin' that little suitcase the entire way to my seat. Mmm hmm, oh ya.

Uh-oh. I think I just may have decided I need to buy it. (I am, after all, headed to Portland in a week and a half.)

A boycott and chair numbers two AND three of ten...er..eleven.

Well.

   Thanks for all of your great feedback on thrift store price gouging, as alarming as it is. I had no idea that I would spark such a lively vent-fest about Thrift Store prices with yesterday's post!(And you had me laughing out loud with phrases like "the ladies in the back on crack" and "BadWill"!) I am truly shocked (and more than a little saddened) to realize it's a nationwide epidemic, and I think I can feel the rumblings of a major revolution here.
     As for me, I plan to boycott of the high priced Thrift Shops for as long as I possibly can,(starting yesterday!) and that should be quite a good little while since it's summertime. They need a reality check, not so much for folks like me that are re-purposing items to earn a living, but, more importantly, for people that need essentials at a price they can pay so they can get by in these tough times. I must admit I will miss chatting with Warren, our favorite Sally employee, but, so it must be. I can hit garage sales each and every weekend until the end of September. Maybe I can stockpile enough goodies to carry me through winter!
     Speaking of stockpiling, remember my collection of chairs? Well, two more completed, thank-you-very-much. (Please excuse the garage door backdrop- I couldn't get the chair through the tight doorway from my laundryroom to the kitchen. Oh! Special thanks to the Sewing Queen of northern Nevada for making the most incredible cushions!) That should have left me with seven to go, but...I discovered yet another chair ( a really, really cute Frenchie looking folding chair!) in the basement at 41 Taylor yesterday that I had forgotten all about.

Oh my. I really may need to find some kind of 12 step program for this. It's nearly as out of control as my "thing" for shoes.

How 'bout we put the THRIFT back in Thrift shop?

And the Good back in GoodWill.

Pul-eeease.

I want to know...What is up with my local GoodWill Industries and Salvation Army's increased pricing?! People, read the sign. It says GoodWill, not Nordstoms. (Actually, my daughter and son-in-law up in PTown now refer to it as "Greedy Will" and I fear they're right.)

Umm...have they heard not the news? We're in a recession here, people. Yes, indeedy. And yet, there appears to be no rhyme or reason for the pricing system at the biggest little city's thrift shops. (Ehem... and not in Portland Oregon's thrift stores either, according to my sources.)

I swear, it's like they let a seven year old loose with the price gun (which was set on $14.95) to tag each and every item (a minimum of 12 times with stickers that don't want to come off, ever.) in the small "home accessories" department. 

See a small kind-of-cute pitcher? 

$14.95. 

A large silver tray missing a handle? 

$14.95.

A pillowcase?

Um..you got it. $14.95.

My personal favorite was finding two nearly identical similar trays, one with a huge dent in it (not even usable) and one in perfect condition. Both of them marked...$14.95. When I asked why this was,  the cashier said with a shrug, "That's just because they are both trays."

Okie dokie. Gotcha.

Our local Salvation Army now runs "half off days" for those of us with "Sally Cards"and even then items are too high, and "Purple tags are not included" which covers about a third of the furniture. Sheesh.    

Oh, and the furniture! Don't get me started on those prices. I wish I had taken my camera with me last week, because they have a settee in there now for...$899. Now, I am not saying that in a boutique or special order furniture store the settee would not be $899 (or $1899 for that matter), but as I said before, we are talking GoodWill Industries here, folks. (Reminder-the purpose of thrift shops: For donated items to be sold with the proceeds to benefit charity.)

Or...how about the beauty pictured above? (First off- it looks so much better in the photo than in real life. The little legs are about 15 inches apart)...Why yes, that would be a photograph of what happens when you mate a dainty child's table with a 48" oak outlet kitchen table top.(I am guessing quite a lot of beer was involved in the creative thought process to blend these two items) Mmm hmmm. And, I don't even want to know what happened to the pedestal base for the oak table.

The price for this one-of-a-kind (we can only hope) table? Just guess. (And, don't let the $14.95  designer floral arrangement  placed on top of it fool you.)

No, really. Guess.

Oh, you won't believe it.

Sixty nine American dollars. (I told you you wouldn't believe it)

Any takers? I didn't think so.

And the clothes. All of the clothes in thrift stores should be one dollar each. Anyway, that's my thought. My gosh, they have enough denim and polyester in those shops to clothe the entire state of Rhode Island, with more on the way each and every day. I say, price it right and move it out. Let's help the charity that the thrift store was set up to support. (and give the shoppers a deal at the same time- what a concept!)

Anyway.

I don't know about you, but I feel much better after getting all of this off my chest. You know, for the most part I try to keep this blog on an up note, but, sometimes, I just need to vent about the little stuff that just gets to me.

So....I am curious to know if I am alone in my thinking or if any of you have had similar experiences in price increases in thrift stores in your area in the past year? Do tell!

Words to live by - week 128

There are no shortcuts to any place worth going.

One down, nine to go.

Mmm hmm. One. (Actually two others are nearly done as well..) The chair in the front of the group from yesterday's post is complete and ready to go down to Junkee.
Whatcha think, mon ami?

Apparently I have a "thing" for chairs.

...ya think, maybe? Hmmm. I never knew.
    I've been trying to tackle and reel in my out-of-control garage for the last week. You see, for the past eight months or so, my garage has been a storage space for the other Tracey and I, as we gather and work on thrifted furniture.
    41 Taylor has a nice huge basement that we are now able to use as our warehouse, so that means that I can have my garage back as...well, a garage. I started cleaning and clearing and moving things over to the new place last weekend. (Silly me, I thought I would be done in one day, but things were...um... a bit more out-of-control that I thought)

 Anyway.

That's when I discovered the "festival of chairs" that I had going on right here on Norman Drive. Yup, a virtual chairsapalooza. Check it out.  Ten chairs and counting.

My personal goal for this weekend is to get them all painted and outta my garage.

I'll keep you posted on my progress. Wish me luck.

Yet another shameless Gramma brag post....

...oh, you know you love them!
  I never got to post this morning, and then tonight, while checking out the family blogs, I found this clever and oh-so-terribly-adorable shot of the cutest little princess herself, and of course I was compelled to share!(Are my daugher-in-law and son creative photographers or what?!)

Someone's having a birthday!

    I'm a busy little bee this week, with my painted vintage furniture class going on tonight after work at the bank, over at Pickled Tink ...

...but I wanted to stop a moment to let you all know that today is the other Tracey's birthday! Please, pop on over to her lil' blog and wish her the best!

What's more exciting than having two grandbabies?

Three grandbabies, of course! Mmm hmmm, Carter is going to become a big brother next March!

(if you heard very loud squealing Sunday night around 9:00, it was me!)

Words to live by - week 127

Heaven is the place you meet every dog you ever loved.
One of my kind readers sent me this quote and I hope with all my heart it is true.

Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments, your thoughts and your prayers. I have read (and re-read) them all, and I am touched to have so much love pour out for Moose and me from all of our wonderful friends, both here and in blogland.

To everthing there is a season

Sweet, sweet old Mr. Bear was called home yesterday, and I was there, surrounding him with hugs and tears. He left a hole in my heart so large that I cannot find the words to share.

Moose and I will miss you so very, very much, you silly, willy, nilly, old Bear.

A painted furniture workshop

   Each week I get questions from readers on how to paint vintage furniture; techniques, tips and how to's, as well as paint recipes. Well, if you're anywhere near the biggest little city, I'm excited to tell you that I will be teaching another "hands-on" workshop with all of the hints and tricks to get you inspired and painting! That's right, attendees will be creating their very own take away project... we'll learn all the tips and tricks for priming, painting and antiquing furniture, accessories or cabinets. We'll practice it all on framed chalkboards to take home, and while we wait for our paint to dry between the steps, I'll be sharing more information and tips.
     The workshop will be held next Wednesday evening from 6-8 pm at the Pickled Tink Studio. You can sign up right on their website, or email them to register!

41 Taylor table scapes...

  

   The tablescapes we did up for the Open House at 41Taylor were to give our guests the opportunity to picture themselves having an event here, in the charming little cottage. Here are a few shots that will give you the feel...from engagement parties, or rehearsal dinners, to baby showers, to corporate meetings, or Bunko parties, we've got it covered....(any and all details will be handled!)

   ...and of course we offer plenty of comfortable seating, as you can see, one of the Open House guests made himself quite comfortable...(Oops! That's not a guest. That's my grandson! And, in case you're wondering....Miss Isabelle wasn't able to attend the party due to a prior engagement!) We are now in the fast and furious process of turning the front dining room and parlor into a vintage boutique to open this Wednesday! (Talk about busy....)Oh yes, there will be lots of goodies and treasures, and vintage furnishings to inspire.

41 Taylor update to come....

The open house event at 41 Taylor was successful, and we then spent half of Sunday prepping for this coming Wednesday, when our summertime vintage boutique opens. I didn't have time to edit all of my pictures from the event just yet, but luckily, I had time to share a photo of my two favorite little people on the planet, so today's post is not a complete loss.(If you know anything at all about me, it's that I was meant to be a Gramma!) You can see a few shots on 41 Taylor's new website and blog if you like...but remember, the website is still a bit of a work in progress!

We got them together again on Thursday afternoon, for a "Stand off" as Isabelle's Daddy likes to say. Both of them are standing and holding on to my coffee table, although I have to share that Carter stands on his tip-toes, so he is cheating a little bit in the picture. (He was over eight pounds at birth, while she was just under six and a half pounds) At six and a half months old, he's just a month older than she, but Mr. Carter is on the ...um...shall we say....larger side of the percentiles for his age group, while Miss Isabelle is a dainty, petite little cherub. (with a belly laugh you simply must hear to believe!Don't let her petite stature fool you, this girl is gonna be a diva!)

**Doesn't it look like she's thinking, "Exactly what do they feed you up there in the pacific northwest?!"

Words to live by - week 126

The true way to render ourselves happy is to love our work and find in it our pleasure.      Francoise de Motteville

Still in party mode!

The party continues!!!(Does that party hat look familiar?)
Last night I was busy gearing up for today's phase two of our 41 Taylor Open House launch party and actually never got two minutes together to post  on my blog... my favorite little man was in town for the grand opening, and...well, time just got away from me!
I promise to share pictures soon!

Nearly ready for our big debut....

  

 .....and so, here's another sneak peek at one of the partially set up vignettes. Remember, we're hosting two Open House parties instead of just one, and we hope everyone can make it! One in the evening, one in the daytime. There will be lots of yummy treats.(Mmm, did someone ask for cupcakes?) We'll be sharing some table-scapes for party theme ideas, and there will be a sampling of our products for the Tumbleweed Cotillion booth as well. If you live in the area, please, do join us!

41 Taylor
41 East Taylor Street
Reno, NV 89503

Friday, July 10, 2009
4:00-7:00 pm

Or, if you prefer...

Saturday, July 11, 2009
10:00 am-2:00 pm

Of course I'll be sharing pictures of everything later, but for now, it's back to work!

A little peek at the party preparations....

      ...A very little peek! I'm busy getting things ready for the Open House this Friday (and Saturday!) for our Grand Opening at 41 Taylor. It's all about the details, and there are so many of them! I know this picture is a bit of a tease, but I want you all to be surprised!
We had a little visitor at 41 Taylor yesterday...
.....luckily he left through the open window without incident.

Words to live by - week 125

Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.

                                                                         ~ Russel Baker

God Bless America!

Land of the free. Home of the brave.
FYI- My kiddos, July 4,1989...Ready for the neighborhood 4th of July parade.(Note** My son didn't really have a mustache.)
Happy Independence Day!

Booth renovations, itty bitty, pink and pretty cuppy-cakes....and new developments at 41 Taylor.

Just another typical week around here....
The other Tracey and I gave up the smaller side of our booth at Junkee so we could focus on 41 Taylor and (hopefully) keep the one side of our Junkee booth nice and full and refreshed from now on. (Hmmm, we'll see how well we do with that. Life seems to keep getting in our way.)It's nice and full for the moment at least!

I had a cupcake order this week for a sweet lil' tea party.....and we've been going crazy down at 41 Taylor. Oh, so many ideas!! We've decided (as of last night) that we will be showcasing some of our newest vintage finds and re-creations at 41 Taylor each Wednesday through Saturday from 10-4 through the rest of the summer (Sort of a mini Tumblweed Cotillion...a... Tumbleweed Jr. Prom so to speak!) and if you stop by, there just may be cupcakes too.

My cup runneth over....

    Oh, how I love this blog world! Truly, so many kindred spirits.
    Seriously, where else can a girl ask for opinions and advice on how to paint a sign and get so many great ideas,(Thank you all!) or share her deepest fears about being suddenly single at the mid century mark, or, brag on her grand babies (relentlessly!) without anyone complaining?! Only here, in our fabulous blogland.
    Yesterday in the mail, this wonderful present arrived from the amazingly talented Becky!(Yes, I got all teary eyed and weepy just opening the package and reading her sweet, sweet note.) Her fabulous note cards (such a talented artist!) and her 2009 calendar are just the most inspirational eye candy. Becky and I have never met in person, and yet, I feel like we know each other. We have so much in common, and a friendship has formed. Thank you so much Becky!

Only through the incredible internet is all of this possible, and I am so grateful for all of my friends, both in person, and out here in the blogasphere. Knowing that you read my blog just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, and really makes my day. I treasure your comments and notes more than you can know.

(lots of) work in progress!

    I have so many projects going right now that I am not sure if I am coming or going. I worked on the Open House invitations last night, as well as this sign (made from a twin sized headboard!)for our neighbor, Laurie, behind us at 41 Taylor. (There is a studio apartment behind our place, and it is darling!)

Anyway.

     I am debating...I still need to paint a black arrow on the sign, so people know which way to go to find the French Twist mini salon, but I am stumped as to how I want to finish off the sign though...maybe you can help me by giving me your input!
     Should I add black stripes around the arched trim molding across the top, and at the bottom for a more Frenchie look? Or, just add the arrow and be done?
Hmmmm....?