Curious Sofa Diaries

One Is Not Enough

2012-01-23T10:18:00.010-06:00

Wonderful ironstone in no particular order.

When I revamped my online store last fall, I knew I wanted to add a new Farmhouse category because of my personal love for humble household items. Little did I know that my passion started to show as I found myself adding more and more country ticking fabric, galvanized metal objects, raw wood pieces and the ever lovable ironstone china to my inventory.

9" Ironstone Pitcher, 45.00 buy here

If you are a regular reader of this blog, a piece of two of ironstone is sure to be somewhere in your home. Ask anyone who loves it and they will no doubt say that it is the simple design, the thick solid weight or the range of neutral colors that attract us to ironstone. Do we actually use them for food or water? Probably not. More likely you collect them for display the way a more modern family may show off artwork or books. Occasionally yes, we will fill them with seashells, Christmas ornaments or fresh Spring flowers and if you are lucky enough to have an XL flawless platter, it may very well make its way to the Thanksgiving table once a year. For now, I just love collecting, looking, and decorating with it.

Romantic ribbed styles mixed with primitive styles.

I was going to write a long narrative about where ironstone came from, how it has changed over the years, how to clean it, etc., but then I laughed at myself, "Who cares?!!" I love it because I love it. Pitchers, platters, bowls, plates or butter pats; small, large, square, oval, round; some chipped, some stained, some rare, some valuable- but always breathtaking piled on a shelf and always fun to hunt down at your favorite antique show. Enjoy the view.

Pair of Platters, 38.00 buy here

Who wouldn't want a wall to fill with all white dishes?

Large ribbed platter, 48.00 buy here

From the Curious Sofa archives, a collection of rare ironstone punch bowls found in Round Top, Texas

Yes, we love them stained too! 17" Ironstone Platter, 32.00 buy here

So many shapes, so many styles!

Always good to display against another neutral background.

Pair of Large Platters (No. 2), 58.00 buy here

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An Anniversary

2012-01-09T11:19:00.001-06:00

One year ago today I closed Curious Sofa, but to be honest, it seems like it was just yesterday. Since then, a day does not go by that I do not think of that last day or the many months prior to it when I knew I had a tough decision to make to close after ten years in business. I knew I would look forward to taking time off, but I also knew trying to figure out my next move or creating a new identity for myself would be a strange undertaking. After closing her store, my friend Elizabeth told me it would take a year for me to feel like myself again and she was right.

It was strange to feel so connected to a business; to know that others only knew you because of this thing you had created. For 45 years prior, I was a local Kansas Citian working at many jobs with many people but never did I feel so identified by what I did for a living as I had during the life of Curious Sofa. Perhaps that lead to one of the reasons I wanted to close. I wanted to believe I was much more than a retail store and of course we are all more than what we do for a living. As Americans we cannot help ask that proverbial first question at a cocktail party, "So what do you do?" Remember the scene in Eat, Pray, Love? "You Americans! You do not know how to live! You work too hard, you get burned out. You come home and spend the whole weekend in your pajamas in front of the T.V. You don't know pleasure. You have to be told you've earned it." Those lines pretty much sum it up.

It took me a full year of tying up loose ends with the store, doing a couple freelance jobs, and then finally buckling down to buy and sell for the website which was my plan and now I think I have found my groove. I have to say, I am really liking (dare I say loving?) doing my online store. I can still antique and buy great things for you, use my photography and graphic design skills, stay connected to readers and fans and all the while still work for myself. It can be very time consuming to make it successful, but it is not stressful. Today while antique shopping a former customer asked if I missed the store and my answer is always- no. I would not have closed Curious Sofa if I knew I would have those feelings. It was just time to move on.

I will say that the one thing that is strange now is not having any big plans for the future. Owning my own shop was on my mind forever and I finally accomplished that. Now, at 55 years old, I am learning not having a big dream to aspire to is not such a bad thing. I have worked at a lot of creative jobs, met some amazing people over the years, traveled a bit and was also fortunate to have been published a time or two so for now, I am totally content not having a big dream to haunt me.

Over dinner recently a girlfriend asked if I was happy. (Doesn't that question always stump us?) Happy? Most of us would say, "Yes... for the most part." 'For the most part' meaning we have nothing to complain about but there is always so much more we want for our lives. We get caught up in our daily routine and never think about what we really want or what will make us "happy", we just keep rolling through our lives out of necessity. Later that night, I thought of what I was trying to find after the store closed and what would make me happy for the New Year:
1. I want work that is not stressful.
2. I want to be with people that do not make me uncomfortable.
3. I want to avoid situations where I wish I were somewhere else.

These things would make me very happy. And I will say, this year I have been trying to live my life in that direction. Is it possible to do all that all the time? Of course not. But if I can try to achieve it 85% of the time, it would be a very good thing.

This week I am off to the the Atlanta Gift Market. I will be hunting for new merchandise to offer online and also shopping the Scotts Antique Fair (yippee!!!!) and although I am flying, I will be shipping items back and jamming what I can in my suitcase. I cannot wait to offer these items online for you in the next few weeks. I have also been asked to research merchandise for a museum's gift shop which will be different and fun.

Pearl and I now spend our days hunting down antiques on selected road trips. My spare bedroom is now my photo studio to shoot and manage the online merchandise. The computer is on one side and the tables, backgrounds and props are on the other. I am fortunate to have an enormous window on one wall to shoot everything with natural light. I have my routine down now loading the van with tubs of items I find, I carry them into the house, shoot three pictures of each, measure, tag them with a sku, add to the master log, load back into the tub and take back to the van. Then I make a photo and text list of all the items (trying to add at least 25-50 new pieces a week) and email that to my fulfillment company. (Yes, I hired a company that warehouses my products, downloads my orders and carefully packs and ships your purchases to you.) Then once or twice a week I drive the van full of new products to the warehouse. Back at home I download the images, resize and retouch each, then organize and load them to the online store while I try to write a cute and clever description. All the while hoping I got all the idiosyncrasies of html/web/cart systems right. Whew, like I said, time consuming but I have a beverage at hand while listening to the radio, Pearl by my side with my house slippers on and loving the solitude.

On my off days I do the networking thing. I try to let you know via Facebook, the blog and direct emails of the new merchandise I just added. I always have mixed feelings of doing this because I know we are bombarded by junk mail, online stores and businesses wanting you to buy things but there is no other way for you to know what I just added and it always works. It is the wave of the future as much as I know half of you hate online anything.

I still get emails from customers that had no idea I closed the store. Most are from out of town who only make it through KC once a year. I run into former customers who continue to say they miss touching, feeling and seeing my displays and getting Curious Sofa inspiration. I get that and I knew that would happen. Every once in awhile I run into someone who really cares that I have moved on and are genuinely interested in my well being and not just missing the shop, which is nice.

Most of my online sales are from followers across the country who found me through the magazine articles Curious Sofa was featured in and this blog. This year many have discovered me for the first time through the Martha Stewart Thanksgiving issue, Etsy and some from Better Homes & Gardens. Ironically, the local Kansas Citians are my smallest demographics. They still want me to do a pop-up shop or join the First Friday craze but I concluded it is just not for me right now. I even signed a lease at a local mall but freaked out at the last minute and changed my mind. The idea of creating the big wow again got the best of me. It's just too soon. I pondered selling at Marburger or Junk Bonanza this year too but again, the online store is less hauling, less overhead, more profitable and just easier- for now.

I do a little Google advertising and an occasional ad here and there for curioussofa.com but I am fortunate to have built a following despite some of that. This year I have been asked to join a new online marketplace (similar to One Kings Lane or Fab.com) which will be very exciting to announce when it launches. (hint: 95% vintage and featuring hand chosen 'stylemakers'). My goal is to keep hunting and gathering from Atlanta to Round Top to KC, expand the online store, maybe change the graphics and format to make it even more user friendly and add the crucial online networking links. I think BHG wants me for another project this year and I am also adding a new notch to my belt by doing DIY interior advice. I come into your home for 3 hours and show you what to do. Its been quite fun actually and the clients I have helped have been thrilled.

Earlier this year I felt like some of you must have felt when the kids went off to college and you became empty nesters, "What to I do now? Who am I!!?" I guess there is nothing wrong with getting so wrapped up in something that you lose your balance. Looking back I know I would do shop owning much differently now but we can all say that about something we've been through. I am still so proud of those ten years and all the items we sold, the events and the inspiration my staff and I created for our customers. I hope some business owner somewhere is reading this and wants to do the same for her community. It is an amazing experience and I only hope you have the success I did. I am so glad I did it then and now I am glad to be doing something else. I hope you follow along for what else is to come.

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Buttoned Up

2012-01-07T17:51:00.004-06:00

One pattern for the over achiever!

Due to my recent fascination with Pinterest, this online community has really got my wheels spinning on doing a project or two. Will I ever find the time to try my hand at some of these ideas? Probably not, but I can dream and file them away in the To Do pile. This image is what started my latest obsession:

From the Waterbury Button Museum in Mattutuck, CT

What stopped me in my tracks was the amazing patterns that were created to display these buttons so perfectly. It reminded me of an ancient mosaic or a design from a primitive quilt but more importantly it lead me to see if we all had the right patten (which could easily be conjured up online or drafted on our computer) any one of use could do this! As talented as I am at some things I have never been able to draw freehand which is why I more attracted to graphic design and this idea suites me perfectly.

Take a look at some outstanding examples of what to do with that button stash you have (and I know you do!)

Mother of Pearl on black felt is always dramatic.

Forget sewing, pin buttons to a foam core board.

This coloring looks like it was inspired by a Southwest design

At first glance this could have easily been seashells.

No color goes to waste.
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ALSO, last week many new items were added online and more to come tomorrow. Check back often or sign up to be the first to know here.

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The End

2011-12-31T10:08:00.004-06:00

Wishing you the best in the NEW YEAR!

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Noel

2011-12-25T09:32:00.005-06:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!

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Lighting the Way

2011-12-09T17:30:00.006-06:00

Those who know me well know I have an opinion on most any topic and when it comes to style, decorating or how things look, I have been known to pop a blood vessel or two over certain observations. Yesterday, my girlfriend was complaining that her husband wrapped their outdoor trees in multi-colored Christmas lights without noticing that she had meticulously decorated the front porch in white lights. This brought to mind my #1 pet peeve this time of year: bad holiday lighting!!! I told her I was going to do a blog post on how badly so many houses hang their lights when in reality, it doesn't take Martha Stewart to see simpler is better.

This is going to be painful, but take a look around:

This is the stuff that hurts my eyes! WHY, WHY, WHY, do people just gather any old strand, never thinking of the color or the size and hang them... wherever! Some are new, some are old, some are LED, some are missing; it's a train wreck and look at the time it took!

This is really what sends me driving off the road: see how the strand to the left just falls off into never land while looking for the extension cord. ARGHHHH!!! Stop the madness!!

Will someone please shoot the person who invented LED lights???!! Or, if you're using them, do the ENTIRE HOUSE! When did neon lavender become a Xmas color??!!!

AND ENOUGH WITH THE HEDGE LIGHTS!!! Polka dots are not Xmas lights!!! (hint: I know these are easy but throw a few strands of real lights over them or poke them down into the bushes!!!)

Where do I begin? Ok, sometimes a gaudy mess is good (see below) but the homes that use the blow up snow globes from Costco (shoot those manufacturers too please!!) along with the plastic soldiers AND the mechanical figures- sorry no words can describe how wrong this is. AND, AND!!! when you drive by in the morning and they're all lying there deflated!!! Egads, people!!! This is not a good thing!!!

Ok, my blood pressure is rising, I have to move on to GOOD IDEAS!!!

How simple and beautiful is this?? These giant stars are probably easy enough to find online and by just attaching long strands of white lights from them they make a simple and effective decoration which can attach to trees or the side of your house. How great for a neighborhood to do this between houses too!

This is how to wrap a tree. Thousands of lights and meticulous wrapping but o'boy the results. If only you do one tree and nothing else, this would be divine.

Now this is a mystery: This might have been a set or a Candy Lane somewhere but how effective to not use lights but add snow trim to the outline of your home. Some work, yes, but so are hanging lights.

I love seeing these in front of some businesses or parks but they would also be easy enough for you to do in your own yard. I would use all white lights of course or just one color.

Now this is how to do a big house: Although I am not a fan of the icicle lights either, these are done really well. (hint: Put a blow dryer on them to loosen them up before hanging.) Swagging the front garland perfectly also softens the horizontal lines of the architecture and the red bows are a nice contrast. Well done!

Now on the other hand, if you're going to go to all the trouble, then GO FOR IT! Who doesn't like to stop and look at this madness. (Their neighbors I am guessing.)

Humor is always good too!

Merry Christmas!

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A New Holiday

2011-12-04T11:20:00.009-06:00

Matthew Mead's personal cover of HOLIDAY 2011

True to form, our creative friend Matthew Mead and staff have given us another wonderful issue of HOLIDAY.

Over dinner recently with a few creative friends, I predicted (due to the state of the economy and my recent study of Pinterest) this year was going to be the DIY Christmas. Matthew, being light years ahead of us, obviously knew this months ago as he prepared this current issue.

In HOLIDAY you will find not only the lovely photos, ideas and recipes we have come to love Mead for, but this issue is layered with page upon page of instructions for decorating your home, packages, ornaments, trees and gift-giving food. Order this issue, gather the girlfriends, sisters or nieces and plan a day of crafting gifts and decor that will be valued for years to come.

A fresh and bright addition to the average wreath.
The magazine also shows a version with fresh limes.

How easy is this?! I loved the haphazard drizzle of the white icing.

No doubt inspired by European styling, this simple vignette
above shows less is more.

One of the many magnificent trees shown throughout the issue. This
pastel version adds a fresh spin by adding Chinese fans.

Designer/crafter extraordinaire Amy Powers loves to work in
miniatures and contributed these ideas above.

Another simple idea for the cookie exchange. Adding a
ribbon turns them into instant ornaments.

Feel free to test this recipe and send me samples for approval.

From the "why didn't I think of that" file: Using a
drop leaf coffee table as a tree skirt. Genius.

Look for this cover from Time/Warner on newsstands
or order direct here.

And from my own list of things to make, more ideas from my boards on Pinterest:

A new idea for the junky jewelry

Can't wait to hear what your husband would think if you suggested covering his precious taxidermy! But how great is this idea for when we find those tattered carcases at the flea market.

Now this is what I call a space-saver. Any old scrappy wood would do.

Taking paper and scissors to whole new level!

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Greg Johnson

2011-11-30T10:15:00.004-06:00

My good friend and artist extraordinaire Greg Johnson, delivered his 2012 calendars to my front door last night! Many of you have emailed me asking where they are, and now I am happy to present them to you. Hot of the press, self published and just in time for Christmas.

This 2012 calendar is filled with 64 uncoated pages ready for your note keeping and daily agenda. Front and back cover is embossed representing an old journal. The inside is designed with and antique journal in mind with ruled pages, weekly inspirational quotes and Greg's seasonal collage art. Don't wait. They will not last!

ORDER HERE

ORDER HERE

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The E Word

2011-11-23T08:32:00.010-06:00

The room above is pulled together with a great mix of styles: Modern cow hide chaise with chrome, Renaissance chair with tattered upholstery, primitive chippy paint pedestal, antique illustrations, leather books, raw-wood door.

In this day and age of collecting, junking, and re-purposing, it is easy for all of us to call our interiors "eclectic", but what is eclectic really? And how can we pull an eclectic interior together to be something more than just a glorified hodge-podge?! In the words of my mentor Carol Bolton, "It takes a lot of work to make something look undecorated." Amen sister. I found some images that I feel kick eclectic into a true decorator style.

Modern desk, retro style sofa, Asian table, Persian rug,
traditional painting.

Don't be fooled: eclectic style should be carefully handpicked; ask anyone who does it really well. What you assemble is very important: the textures, periods, shapes and styles may look haphazard, but keeping your eye sharp to see what will coordinate together is key.

Touches of black tie this eclectic mix together: Rug, bust, pillow and chair as well as the gold frames and crystal chandelier working together and the pink throw with pink art.

Yes, eclectic can be all white too: 50's chairs, modern table, contemporary art, crystal chandelier, ethnic chair, primitive handmade tables, industrial lamp.

Keeping it minimal can also be eclectic by choosing large objects with big drama: Graphic art, Buddha statue, leather club chair, ethnic fabric.

The room above is more of what we think of as eclectic style: a room full of every shape, size, color and style imaginable but still edited with a keen eye: Something gaudy and gold, something modern and clean, something worn and used; a pattern, a solid, square shape, round shape, wonky statue. This works above because of using items on a larger scale. I also like the giant branch in the corner to soften all these gallery-like objects. And notice how the giant mirror was left on its shipping frame! Love that.

Super minimal: Ultra-cool modern chairs sitting alone in a turn of the century ornate interior.

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Going Bold with Gold

2011-11-19T11:58:00.007-06:00

The black lamps above help keep the use of gold in
this room fresh and modern.

I've always been a silver girl myself, but lately I cannot help but be attracted to the glitz of gold. Maybe it is because of this time of year when leaves are falling and autumn colors are abundant. From your favorite jacket to setting your holiday table, try some gold to mix with your favorite items this month.

This week I have added 41 new products to the website and page one is full of ethnic brass trays, gold jewelry and cotton scarves from India. I'm inspired to add all of them to my neutral home and wardrobe, which would fit in just fine.

Moroccan Tray ready for your wall, $32.00

Looking stylish and cool; blonde hair, camel colored sweater
and layers of gold bangles.

Marquise Dangle Bracelet, $29.95

Cord & Chain Necklace, $34.95

Branch Earrings, $19.95

These Asian gold panels work well with a touch of pink.

One of five patterns available: Cotton Scarf, $24.95

How groovy is this? Paint a gold stripe on an old modern chair.

Tear Drop Ethnic Pendant, $28.95

And from the Curious Sofa archives, this picture of my living room from Christmas 2009 (as seen in Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Ideas)

Just in, gilded Christmas decorations:
Bottle Brush Star, $18.95
Antiques Beaded Garland, $9.95
Tarnished Gold Tinsel, $7.50
6" Mercury Tree, $16,95

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Metal Mania; Seven on Saturday

2011-11-12T10:31:00.009-06:00

How easy is this? Add a touch of lace trim or velvet
ribbon to any 'ol metal container.

I'm a lover of all things metal; be it silver, silverplate, wrought iron, galvanized, zinc, dirty brass or copper. It all seems to have a timeless, hand hewn quality to it that I love. And in our homes, I think we need a touch of it here and there. The new (is it old now?) industrial revolution that happened years ago shows up at most hip antique shows now too. Dealers are getting on board with zinc table tops, stripped down medical cabinets, buckets and farm implements used as sculpture.

Below I am introducing seven of 31 new items I added this week to curioussofa.com and I could not help but notice a metal story going on.

How clever is this? Metal Clip Hanger, $13.50.
Oh the possibilities...

This is one example of why we love silver if for display only.
The more the merrier.

Who doesn't love the thick and chunky version of hotel silver?
From the Victor Hugo Hotel, Paris, $48.00

YES PLEASE! Zinc encased bath.

Hanging Metal Wall Basket, $47.50

How to take a simple dress to another place.

XL Mexican Turquoise Ring, $74.00

Loving the raw ceiling tin as a headboard and
plumbers pipe shelving unit.

Mod Galvanized Tin Wastebasket $32.00

Feeling crafty?! Molded chair covered in coins.

Coin Necklace Silhouette, $42.00

And can we have a moment of silence for
how fabulous this piece is. Sigh...

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Seven Neutrals on Saturday

2011-11-05T12:03:00.008-06:00

.Plaster Urn

French 1920's Dress Form

Neutral Bead Vintage Necklace

Pair Crystal Base Lamps

Floral Oval Platter

Vintage Dressmakers Form

Holy Family Print

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Dishing it Out

2011-11-01T20:07:00.014-06:00

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A large graphic painting might be what you would expect to see hung on a black wall above this modern leather sofa but this melange of portrait plates is much more surprising.

I've been on a roll lately, hunting down and stockpiling great dishes and platters to sell online. Sometimes I stop in mid-purchase and think, "Does anyone really love these as much as I do?"- I sure hope so. When it comes to decorating my walls, be it living room, kitchen, bath or bedroom, I always run to my stash of wonderful old china plates to use with (or instead of) my framed prints. The English have been doing this for centuries of course by clustering shades of ironstone platters to the delicate illustrations (and colors!) of transferware to layers of tea stained dishes with flowers. They saw these pieces as art and hung them eye level to savor every day of the year. Below are some modern versions of dish display to borrow.

A GREAT IDEA: hand paint the branches and use old plates as flowers.

Above, a perfect example of how to hang a large grouping;
keep the space between all dishes the same. The rectangular platter used dead center keeps the display more interesting rather than all platters being round.

Above, available at curioussofa.com
Rare Rectangular Platter
Milk Glass Hands (hang them too!)
Large Ironstone Platter

Although these are John Derian glass decoupage plates, the idea is still there to hang 'em high up a narrow wall. I especially love using plates as art in the bathroom because anything water resistant is a good thing.

The delicate eyelet edges make this a romantic display and I love the mix of sizes here. Also hung perfectly with the exact space between each one, no matter the size.

Black transferware comes out of Grandma's cupboard and adorns this modern bedroom. Also note how they took the color of the wood dresser and matched it to the fabric on the headboard and bed skirt.

A low headboard gets some well needed drama above.

Above, available at curioussofa.com
Johnson Bros. Blue Trim Plate
Paris Blue China Plate
Blue Floral Plate
Floral Dinner Plate

Another good example of random placement done right.

A great mix of any 'ol hodgepodge assortment hung in a deliberate haphazard array although each plate looks perfectly chosen for its color and shape (and the big lamp helps balance the off-center placement.)

Of course using plates in the kitchen makes perfect sense. Romantic floral dishes seem just right with this vintage stove.

Available at curioussofa.com
Rare portrait plate of 1920's actress Beverly Bain
Set of Three, Floral Bone Dishes
Floral Salad Plate
Chronin Brand China Plate

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Seven Shiny Items on Saturday

2011-10-29T08:10:00.014-06:00

.One amazing sconce light is all this stairway needed for minimal drama.

Although I have never been the type of gal that wants to "get her bling on" I do love a little sparkle when it comes to adding a glistening touch to a display or home decor. Now that the holidays are catching up with us, its only natural to start seeing all the silver, mercury, glitter and glass throughout the stores. As my friend Karla Nathan says, "Everything is better with glitter!"

As I was adding more items to curioussofa.com, I noticed my silver items come and go quickly. Whether you actually use these for serving or hang them on the wall or pile in the cupboard, like you I do not think I'll ever grow tired of these tarnished items that give me just the glow I need. Below are my Seven on Saturday items celebrating my love of all things grey and glimmer. Enjoy.

JUST IN: Vintage Silver Sconce

When putting up another Christmas tree seems like another daunting task, hang a few mercury ornaments to your favorite chandelier for just a touch of the Holidays.

JUST IN: Set of Six Hand Painted Ornaments

Throwing red out the front door, this Holiday table using grey kicks holiday sophistication up a notch.

JUST IN: Vintage Silver Flatware Set, Service for 10

Another quick and effective vignette is done by loading the
ornaments in a glass hurricane jar.

JUST IN: Large pair of Mercury Star Ornaments

A simple twig tree and giant star add holiday to this modern decor.

Sometimes a fallen branch is all you need.

JUST IN: Mercury Star & Ball Ornament

What could be an easier and more dramatic centerpiece?

JUST IN: Vintage Divided Silver Serving Dish

This basement TV room sacrificed nothing in style by using a silver palette.

JUST IN: Silver Sconce

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Seven Ideas on Saturday

2011-10-22T07:32:00.005-06:00

Restoration Hardware has nothing on me this week (well at least not regarding these shades). Just in at curioussofa.com is this amazing, giant burlap pendant light below, which would be perfect over your farm table or kitchen island. The cord is long enough you can plug into a floor outlet or hard wire into the ceiling.

The interior above is the perfect mix of masculine bohemian and industrial. I'd like to sit our new handwriting lamp on that pile of books.

From the Curious Sofa archives comes this favorite image above that was once displayed in my office. From the master Carol Bolton, I first saw her use a gooseneck lamp as a sconce 15 years ago. My rare find below can be hung on the wall, clamped to a bed or sat on a table.

The Moroccan pouf is making a comeback and when I found the one below my hear stopped. Toss it off-center near your coffee table as shown above for added interest.

Finding the perfect little chandelier for the bath or hallway can be tough. This one below measures in at a small 11.5" high.

As I have been offering products on the website, I have been surprised at how many items appeal to me to add to our Baroque category (just another name for shabby chic.) I thought I was over that look but "it pulls me back in!" every time. Example: this lovely Victorian oil painting below has all the right dusty colors to use in a bedroom setting like the one above.

And my fascination with globes continues. Just when I thought I had seen every shape and size I scored this giant version below. I don't recommend cutting this one in half like the one above, but still a great idea for another one in not so good shape.

See what else just came in here.
And Halloween is ON SALE! 50-75% off.

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Mood Swings

2011-10-18T10:56:00.007-06:00

Bits and baubles, scraps and samples, tear sheets and postcards; there is nothing I love more than my drawers and old suitcases full of all the little paper mementos I have collected over the years. For one reason or another I have to save this, remember that, or refer to a little token that I just could not throw away. As the years add up, every once in awhile I go through all this ephemera and it inevitably takes me back to a trip I took, an artist I discovered or an idea I wanted to use. Now it seems there is a name for all these lovelies; its called a Mood Board.

I never gave all this mayhem a name before, it was just my box of scraps, but from Project Runway to Pinterest, creating a mood board is becoming a prerequisite for living a creative life. Whether you keep your stash in a special trunk or have it hanging on a bulletin board, compiling all these bits into an artistic melange is a wonderful way to keep the juices flowing. Take a look around at all the varieties and themes you can create and a few ways to display them too.

The mood board above is obviously a daily reminder of all
the things this person loves.

A mood board (or folder) of colors, fabrics, furniture and ideas is crucial when redoing your home or any room.

I love how adding the giant antlers at the top of this mood board helps break up all the rectangular shapes and gives the display more importance as an art piece.

Look closely at how four sections above this desk are 12" deep giving this mood board more dimension.

Your mood board doesn't have to be a mumble jumble of scraps. Keep all pictures the same size and hang evenly for more order.

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Seven on Saturday 10/15

2011-10-15T10:32:00.006-06:00

Miniature Liquor Bottle Collection

Try some fast and furious window shopping today at curioussofa.com. Many new items have been added this week and some replenished in other categories. Great new items coming soon as Pearl and I head South for a junkin' road trip. Stay tune!

Small Metal School Globe with a Zodiac base

I've added a lot of Random Silver Pieces for all of you crafters

Loving this Yellow Kitchen Scale for the island.

A great pair of English Botanical Prints

Wonderful display piece: Ivory Princess Statue

Back in stock! Large Wooden Angel Wings

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Modest Curiosity

2011-10-07T21:26:00.000-06:00

.I am loving the collection of amateur scenic paintings on this
wall above along with the traditional floral centerpiece,
primitive table and modern chairs.

FOR SALE: Paris Street Scene Print

Many of you wouldn't think of Curious Sofa as having a modern aesthetic and rightfully so. But as the years tick away and style trends come and go it is hard to not notice the mid-century mania that is going on. I for one just like good design period, no matter what year it was launched. And although a house full of modern style is hard for me to warm up to, I certainly like a touch of it now and then especially when it is a well-loved vintage item. I added a Modish category to the online store for this very reason. Adding just one touch of modern to your home can be all you need to acknowledge this fresh trend.

Black and white decor with sharp angles but yet a vintage crystal
chandelier hangs center stage to soften it just a bit.

FOR SALE: Add this Square Button Trim to a pillow
for modern drama.

Miscellaneous framed images hung simply over a small workspace.
Notice the antique rug taking it from serious to welcoming.

FOR SALE: Frame this Original Sketch to mix with other random art.

Notice the large hem of fabric at the bottom of the curtains and
how it ties in with the proportion of the pictures on the wall.

FOR SALE: This Jute Rope Pendant Light is a great
example of Farmhouse Modern.

I wish this was all the desk space I needed!

FOR SALE: Use a smaller Side Table next to a larger desk to
add dimensional interest and hold a small lamp or papers.

The giant sculpture on this table is great for everyday design.
Keep it or move it to a pedestal when having a dinner party.

FOR SALE: This Bamboo Mirror would look perfect in the room above.

Jean Shrimpton only needed these earrings below:

FOR SALE: Metal Hoop Dangle Earrings

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More than Seven on Saturday

2011-10-01T08:51:00.019-06:00

October! My favorite month of the year. Not only is it my birthday month but in the Midwest it is always the most beautiful of the four seasons. The weather has been 100% perfect here for nearly two weeks (which is unheard of) and this leads me to think we will actually have an autumn season and not zoom from 90 to 20 degrees while fall passes us in the rear view mirror. The leaves are turning early but more importantly the antique shows are popping up everywhere!! Nothing shouts fall to me more than all the harvest fests, outdoor shows and special events with artists and dealers selling their originals in the crisp, cool weather. Bring on the barn jackets!

Here's my latest good thing: Martha Stewart's magazine is featuring an item from my online store in their Thanksgiving issue!! To even be mentioned in 8 point type in this magazine is such a coup so for the last 60 days I have been stockpiling the antiques, hoping to have close to 500 items online by the time the issue hits the stands on October 10th. This could be the first time many readers have heard of Curious Sofa and I need to take full advantage of the press. Now that I am an online retailer, it takes a little extra work to draw customers in, but I am loving that I can still hunt and gather antiques and special items for you.

Take a look below at four of my ten categories and just a few of the new items I added this week (with another 50 to come right away). Check back often and happy pumpkin time everyone- go bake something!

German Grain Sack ----- Train Case ---- Basketball Trophy

Antique Bed Doll ------ Etched Teapot ------ Rose Postcards

Red Stripe Ticking --- Ironstone Egg Cups --- Crochet Coverlet

Paris Street Print - Small Vintage Globe/SOLD- Recipe Holder

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Seven on Saturday 9/24

2011-09-24T08:54:00.007-06:00

Almost October everyone!
I've received a few emails confessing you are missing a Curious Sofa Halloween, but this season I am welcoming one year off. The weeks of work it took for my staff and I to prepare... well, I just needed to skip it one time to regroup. Not to shake the holiday off completely, I did manage to find a few oddities to add to the online store. Just a touch of this and that to make your old decorations come alive again. Look around:

Loving these glitter pumpkins available in three colors. (Lavender, yes!!)

Large frosted votive glasses with removable spider web.

Crazy skull clips for the kids or hand black lace over the windows.

Back in stock: The Curious Sofa witches hand.

Thorn Garland (Picks too) covered with navy glitter.

Large or small Bleeding Candle Skulls.

And for the not so ghoulish: our popular ivory crackled pumpkins.

______________________________

See what's JUST IN online.

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Layer it On

2011-09-22T09:30:00.005-06:00

From my hero, Ralph Lauren, Fall 2011. Only he can make brand new clothing
look like it has been in your closet for years- which is a good thing!

Fall. Gotta love it.
The temperature is dropping which brings out the three little words I love most: hats, scarves and jackets. My chubby body predestines that I really should live in a climate that demands layering at least 12 months of the year. But I am in Kansas and the heat (and the wardrobe requirements) keep me hidden in air conditioning for most of the summer. When fall hits I feel like Stevie Nicks skipping through the fields with layers of clothing, high top boots and accessories flying. I can't get enough. Even my mood improves as I find myself doing more, smiling more, exploring more.

This blog does not post much fashion news as I can't experience that lovely art as much as I would like to. But now my life has changed as I am glued to the computer even more than I was before. Daily I am adding products to my website, looking at blogs, strolling through Pinterest and basically studying what else is out there. What a world the web has created and now I see why it has replaced some of our favorite magazines.

As I dust off my favorite boots while thinking of fall fashion, I had to share a trend I am spotting which has my wheels turning. Please don't be one of those women who say, "Look how skinny they are!" or "No one really dresses like that!" these images are for inspiration. Take note of the layering, the shapes, the textures. But for me, the exciting thing are the patterns! Lots of different designs integrated within one outfit. Plaids with stripes, paisleys with checks; some bold, some subtle. Taking a little bit of this and looking with new eyes at your closet (or thrift store) can update your wardrobe into 2012. Sometimes it just takes a new way of looking at things to make us as stylish as the runway. Enjoy.

From Missoni: these colors made my heart stop. Brilliant use of subtle patterns but the
colors tie them all together. This is why it works. And the floppy poncho thing seems
to be making an appearance this winter. (where is my favorite blanket to cut up?)

More subtle colors.... and scarves going on forever.

From Anna Sui: I am loving the patterns here too; a little bolder but the coloring keeps
them smart. A touch of ethnic/hippie/Indian which I love.

A more sophisticated mixing from Etro.

This ad from Missoni is what prompted this blog post. I just could not
believe the beautiful mixing of colors and patterns used here. Pastel snakeskin? Come on!

20 Questions with Matthew Mead

2011-09-18T09:23:00.022-06:00

The cover of AUTUMN with Matthew Mead.

#3 in a series from his HOLIDAY publications.

In a world of style copy cats, DIY decorators and design stars, there is one original still left nestled in Boscawen, New Hampshire and his name is Matthew Mead. Locals should know that not since Daniel Webster have they had such an important man in their midst and be equally proud knowing Mead runs his entire style empire from this town of only 4,000 residents.

Matthew Mead

Mead is a lifestyle and entertaining expert known for his mark on the publishing world with numerous books including Entertaining Simple and Matthew Mead’s Halloween. He has been a frequent contributor to some of our favorite shelter magazines, notably our beloved and deeply missed Country Home as well as Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, In Style, Victoria, and Country Living.

Mead's business, known as Matthew Mead Productions, Inc., is a full-service photo studio which produces all aspects of editorial and commercial photography. Mead (with wife Jenny and talented staff) create, style and shoot beautiful food, florals and seasonal crafts as well as colorful vignettes of objects, interiors, and entertaining; all of which are regularly featured on his website, blog, magazine and AP links. His personal website premiered in 2004 and is chocked full of images and ideas for us to use from pantry to patio.

Entertaining feature with Tricia Foley in the current issue of AUTUMN

• In 2009 Matthew was co-editor of the first issue of Flea Market Style magazine created in partnership with Ki Nassauer.
• In 2010, after leaving Flea Market Style he began his own, self-published and highly proclaimed HOLIDAY with Matthew Mead. A quarterly book-azine with Mead at the helm directing, shooting and styling all things that inspire him.
• In 2011, Mead produced two other issues and presented the success of HOLIDAY to Time Warner, Inc. who agrees to publish and distribute future issues.
• During the Summer of 2011 Associated Press signs Mead as their official food photographer.
• And in October of 2011, the Matthew Mead Collection will be introduced.

A new collection of homegoods offered by Mead premiers in October.

With the release of AUTUMN with Matthew Mead, I had to phone up my friend and ask him to take part in a special interview for the Curious Sofa blog. How he had the time to do this, I do not know but I am excited for you to learn a little more about this man. As you study all of his publications you can certainly see what he loves to look at, but lets see how he thinks.

20 Questions with Matthew Mead

DD: Matthew, thank you so much for doing this. I wanted our readers to learn more about you as it is so easy to hide behind the pages of your amazing magazine. Each and every issue is produced with exquisite taste, information and beautiful images.
MM: Thanks for asking me to be part of this post. I am honored to be on such a wonderfully inspiring and stylish design blog.

1. When did you know doing something creative had to be your destiny?
When I was a kid I had lots of time to grow my imagination; the four seasons, a giant forest behind my house, and lots of time on my hands. I also had a very creative grandmother who was instrumental in connecting me to creativity, so dreaming up projects and style ideas has always been a part of my life from my earliest recollections.

A vignette created by Matthew with antique blue transferware.

2. What medium in school opened your eyes?
I loved writing and that was a very important part of my high school years. I found art class a bit rigid and constrictive in its process as well as the teacher's ideas on a "right way" to do things. I really gravitated towards anything that gave me the ability to freely express myself without so many boundaries, so lots of creativity was really on my own time.

3. Many may not know but your new magazine is 100% self-published. There has been no Wall Street company in charge of content or distribution and especially no big funding. What was the biggest surprise you learned with self publishing?
Honestly, the distribution and the mailing process. I've never had trouble creating content but I am constantly baffled by how confusing the mailing of such a piece can be. I work with a small, but excellent team of people and when I say the editorial process flows smoothly, that just doesn't even explain how organically, free flowing and wonderful it is.
DD: That alone has to be worth everything. To have something creative flow without a hitch, especially in the early stages like your magazine is, shows how well managed you make things.

A comfortable vignette created by Matthew.

4. Tell us how the Time-Warner deal happened?
Well, I have made so many great connections in the years of working in publishing and while I have enjoyed every aspect of self publishing I knew I couldn't reach as many readers as the channels of a mega publisher. I approached some contacts with our product and with our numbers in hand it just made sense for all of us. Now my team can focus on content and the publisher can focus on fulfillment. We have a great, solid product that has a wonderful strong readership and it makes really good sense to partner in that.

5. Besides your own, what magazine must you look at every month?
There a many... but I am mostly influenced by European and Australian magazines; VOGUE LIVING, MARIE CLAIRE IDEES, COUNTRY LIVING UK... are among my favorites and most influential. I enjoy the fresh and unexpected approach they seem to always master.
DD: This is so true. World of Interiors is also one of my favorites. The Europeans just know how to add style without fuss.

The images above are representative of Mead's clean styling.

6. How do you know what readers want?
I don't truly. I live what I love and what I know and let my imagination lead... that is my process. And of course, I am influenced by colors, seasons and traditions.

7. You went quietly but boldly into being 100% in charge of your own work. Was there a moment when you knew you had to do it your way and leave corporate publishing?
I have always wanted to lead and gravitate towards lots of corporate work that allows it, so that was a good foundation. I know what makes me happy, what I love and that there is a large following of folks along for the ride. I worked a great deal on the first incarnation of Flea Market Style and after that experience decided that if I could master all of that, I might as well be producing and directing something on my own terms, branded fully with my style.

The cover of Mead's ENTERTAINING book.

8. The Matthew Mead business is only going to grow. What is the key to managing your staff to see like you and know what you want?
My team is great and talented and they allow me to lead... that is a true delight. In return, I respect each of them greatly for their talents and contributions. I couldn't do it all without them and am honored to work side by side with their know-how and creativity. And luckily, readers see the things that we think really work. We have some crazy days when the paint color, craft projects and props just don't fit the bill.

9. Fill in the blank: "If readers could see my home they would be shocked by___.
The woodwork. We live in a 1920"s bungalow with honey colored woodwork in some of the rooms. Natural wood is a challenge for me and while I love paint, my wife has put her foot down on touching the original finish. I have grown to appreciate it- but it's not really my thing.
DD: That is so funny as I usually hear it is the husband that will not allow the wife to paint the wood! I always thought it was a man thing.

10. Your current favs:
Color? It is fall, so brown, orange, russet... but in all of the shades and hues you can imagine.
Food? Slow cooked, layered flavors... rustic but also updated... sweet and salty desserts, heirloom beets with goat cheese and greens.

Pepita Nut Brittle Ice Cream as seen in AUTUMN

Beverage? Autumn cocktails featured in the fall issue. Powerful but meant to be savored and anything citrus.

Herbal Libations as seen in AUTUMN

Object? Enamel ware coasters in engaging colors. Mid century furniture. I try to found something modern in everything... like the graphic patterns of this very early English transferware.

Gizmo? My 50 mm lens.
Designer?

I love Tricia Foley and Thomas O'Brien because they both integrate modern and vintage so beautifully together.

Tricia Foley

Tricia Foley Interiors

Thomas O'Brien

Thomas O'Brien Interiors

11. In 5 years you hope:
To have grown my product line and continue with the magazine as a quarterly; self-published or with a publisher, either way.

12. What one designer or company has never disappointed?

Libeco Linens

Libeco Linens. I love their catalog and products and always look to them for high quality and great colors and inspiring visuals.
DD: You are right about this one. When I see their booth at market I just want to jump right in.

13. Where do you go when the well runs dry?
Shopping- flea markets, shops, anywhere where I can see new things, colors and new approaches.

14. If you weren't building your style empire, what would you be doing?
I probably would be an antiques dealer. This would keep me close to design without having to meet any deadlines.

15. What was the last inspirational thing that took your breath away?
This simple hand blown glass cup. Early American and delicate, wavy glass in just a whisper of form and material... very organic. Fragile, but beautiful.

16. Pick one: Junkin', Cooking, Shooting, Styling.
Shooting, because it gives me the ability to provide my perspective on all the other things you listed.

17. I know you to be Mister Calm, Cool and Collected; what was the last thing you had a complete meltdown over?
I was in a line at Border's book checking out after a very long day and well, my disgust with the slow service began to bubble over. I don't really have too much at work that does that to me. I have always found that living and working outside the box means you have to be super accommodating so I adopted that attitude a long time ago. I try to reserve my less cool moments for the mundane circumstances like bad drivers, long lines and maybe missed objects that I didn't grab at the flea market.

From Mead's HOLIDAY issue.

18. My work day is only made better by:
Emails from readers; people that appreciate what we do and are entertained by the experience of enjoying the pages of an old fashioned magazine. Many people reach out to me and that makes it all worthwhile.
DD: Can you believe you used the words "old fashioned magazine?!" Who knew it would come to this?

19. I wish my readers knew:
That I am open to all kinds of beauty. That I feel every object has something beautiful about it and I see it as my job to find that quality. The hallmark of my style is really mixing items from many periods... like this mid-century modern sugar bowl below with an early 19th century pitcher and a simple vase made by an artisan today.

20. You have always wanted to meet:

Dorothy Draper and Philippe Starck. A mix of traditional and modern... maybe set up like a Midnight in Paris scenario.

Dorothy Draper

Dorothy Draper Interior

Philippe Starck

Philippe Starck Interior

21. Just one more.... what do you doodle?

Oh my! When I saw Matthew's doodle I immediately wrote back and
said, "This should be a fabric line!" Can't you just see it!

DD: THANK YOU MY FRIEND! Much success and distribution in your future...

CHECK OUT MATTHEW MEAD'S WORLD:
Magazine Blog Website Books AP Pics

.............................................................

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Seven on Saturday

2011-09-16T23:15:00.006-06:00

Fun assortment of vintage pin cushions.

Greetings from lovely Minnesota! Pearl and I have been pounding the pavement for two long days searching and digging for some wonderful goods at the Junk Bonanza show. This is my second year to attend and it did not disappoint. Never before have I scoured a show like this one. The van is loaded and Pearl and I are pooped but I am excited to offer the new finds to you soon.

Until I return and post the new items, take a look at what was added this week.

Old mercantile signage.

Button sampler card.

Vintage Doll heads just in time for Halloween decorating.

Teeny, tiny Florentine box.

Pair of ornate brass frames.

Seashell heart box.

Natural shopper, Pearl and I on the grounds at Canterbury Park.

Pearl and I taking five after six hours of junkin' at Junk Bonanza. She had her picture taken a lot and might show up in the blogosphere this week!

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Seven on Saturday

2011-09-10T07:34:00.017-06:00

Antique, Large Silver Compote

This is a hefty size and perfect to display with seashells or Christmas ornaments.

It has taken awhile to get up to speed, but I have spent the last month sorting, shooting and posting over 80 new products on the website (and another 100 to come!). Beginning today, I will feature seven new items from my online store every Saturday to be known as 'Seven on Saturday'. The tubs of vintage items are finally seeing their way to you and I am out every week finding more. The categories have changed too so please take a look around.

Small Plaster Column

This little column can be used for any display as it is small enough to fit on most table tops.

Black and White Crochet Earrings

My favorite new item, hand crochet earrings. (Pink available too!)

Small Painted Side Table

I was thrilled to find a table small enough to ship.

Tissue Paper Roses

I want about 6 dozen of these in a giant ironstone pitcher!

Gold Halo Stand

My other favorite item that I will use at Christmas on my mantle.

Salvaged Balusters
Ok crafty gals, I know you know what to do with these.

...and so many more items. Please look around.

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Go Ask Alice

2011-08-30T23:01:00.016-06:00

I cast local actors Matt Weiss and Heidi Van who were perfect as Alice and the Mad Hatter. My styling past taught me actors bring so much more to the table than professional models, especially when it is such a styled story. (Not shown to the side, a giant green birdcage filled with black crows.)
ALL PHOTOS OWNED BY MEREDITH CORP/BHG. SHOT BY ALISE O'BRIEN, EDITOR ANN BLEVINS, FOOD STYLIST DIANNA NOLIN

Happy Halloween everyone. The issue is out!

Many months ago, I produced and styled an editorial for Better Homes & Gardens, Halloween Tricks & Treats magazine. This special edition issue is BHG's biggest seller of the year so I was honored to be asked to participate. The following pictures are from the feature story but the magazine is full of many other wonderful pictorials and ideas as well. Be sure and pick one up which are available almost everywhere now.

Read along as I give you some behind the scenes info on this shoot.

Above, the background of the title page was hand drawn by Diane Tompkins. I had asked her to just photocopy a mans shirt but she wanted to make it original! The inset shows the art I made for the party invitation (available for download).

I got a call just three days after closing the shop (January 12) from editor Ann Blevins at BHG. She had an idea of doing a Halloween feature around an Alice in Wonderland theme and wanted me to produce it. I admit, not being a reader, I didn't have a firm grasp on this classic fairytale so I rented every movie and scoured the internet doing endless hours of research to get familiar with it. Come to find out, a lot of ideas were out there as Alice has been recreated in every genre imaginable.

Ann also noted she wanted to use a different color palette than the normal orange, black and green so I chose a twist on those typical Halloween colors by using coral, dark brown- and teal and I was maniacal about it too making sure every bit of wardrobe, teapots, candles, food, and props fell somewhere in that palette.

The lovely staircase at the Simpson House.

Finding the location for the Mad Tea Party was one of the biggest challenges I faced. From Craig's List to Facebook, I sent out a search request to everyone to help with the hunt and finally someone reminded me of the wonderful Simpson House in Kansas City. This historic home was restored specifically to use for special events and many a reception and wedding have been held there. In this case, all I cared about was the staircase (for the shot below) but it also had an enormous kitchen which was perfect for the food stylist and three empty rooms ready to stage any way we wanted. It was also available for an entire week which was great because the mess of furniture, props, photo equipment, crafts and food we schlepped in would have sent any homeowner into a spin.

Small tables of varying shapes and sizes was my desire over one giant tea party table. Next came the layers of velvets and lace, teapots and teacups, platters and objects.

With only a few weeks of pre-production left, I spent a few days at various thrift stores gathering different pieces of clothing that could be manipulated into costumes for our two characters. The color palette was all I cared about so I pulled anything interesting in brown, coral and teal. The Mad Hatter's jacket was actually a two piece Dana Buchman suit for women and I had local wardrobe mistress Linda Flake redesign it into a tailcoat. We all met Linda for a fitting while she ripped and cut and rebuilt a pile of used clothes into these colorful costumes.

Doll faces I found at Round Top were glued inside giant paper flowers I sourced. I made the glitter masks from this wonderful glittered foam peel and stick paper I found at Michaels.

Next was the gathering of props; from thrift stores to flea markets to antique shops and even a van full from my own home, I gathered for three months this and that and emptied my garage to store tubs of props and furniture that started to accumulate. I also contacted about a dozen vendors asking for newer merchandise to help with the story so boxes and palettes of items were delivered to my front door. The Mad Hatter and Alice's chair proved to be the biggest problem to find. Alice's chair was so cool (a pale teal color satin brocade) which you can barely see in the story but here is a look prior to the final styling.

This crazy Victorian umbrella I found helped the actors get silly.

The masterful silhouettes on the wall are from local artists Diane & Madeline Tompkins. You can see their original art here on their Etsy shop.

I loved this little chandelier I made from antique sconce shades. I found these at Clutter in Warrenton and wired each one with a bulb. I added about 10 feet of cord to each so we could suspend it from the ceiling and I wrapped different colors of grosgrain ribbon around the cords. It is barely seen in the shot but it was really great, especially because it had all the right colors.

One of my favorite props was the owl statuary to the right.

Above as seen in the magazine; below what was not.

From my own camera.

Ann had the wonderful pumpkins above carved for the story and others stenciled using the custom silhouettes. I meticulously placed them inside the fireplace for this shot but we needed something else along side. So I ran to the thrift store the night before and bought about 30 hardback books and lined them straight up the fireplace- it looked so great but it didn't make the cut which always happens, you just never know what will work out.

From Diane's silhouettes I designed the art above to adhere to the backs of an 8x10 playing card. The background was a vintage shirt pattern I scanned and each one was printed on semi gloss photo paper and spray glued to the original card. Our goal was to make small things large and large things small and throw in a little wacky where we could.

Just one one of the many set ups the cast and crew made during the shoot. This was the master food shot on the giant buffet shown below.

Yes, it is a CAKE! The glorious Mad Hatter cake from Kansas City's master, Natasha's Mulberry and Mott.

When Ann said we needed a wonderful cake for the party I knew right where to go: Kansas City's own Natasha's. Cake designer extraordinaire Natasha Goellner and her mom Vicki have been long time fans of Curious Sofa. They even bought many of my furnishings to outfit there shop, so I knew she would be the perfect fit to design the Mad Hatter's top hat cake. Come to find out she was mad for anything Alice so they were very excited about the project. They also made the giant dice marshmallows, their famous macaroons, as well as skull and key cookies.

When food is involved in a shoot, look out. You can never have enough platters, plates, linens, serving forks, glasses, trays, and vessels for whatever the food stylist or editor needs. We had tables and tubs full throughout the house. This was the feature story so the food ideas and recipes were crucial to coordinate with the theme of the Alice party. BHG brought their food stylist and assistant in from Des Moines (and you should have seen their stash of stuff!). For two days they made and remade and tinkered with every morsel of well, every morsel.

An idea that came to me was to find a hutch that I could pile with tea sets and have it leaning to one side as the Mad Hatter might have done. I didn't want to pay for tubs of fine china so I went to a couple of thrift stores and found complete sets of cheap ivory dishes and then found a teapot here and there too. The cabinet was found on Craig's List. This vignette was one of my favorites.

The set up.

The image that was used above. We kept adding books under the right side of the cabinet to get it to lean more but then the dishes started falling out.

A set up not used in the issue: My own blurry picture above was a mantle full of owls I collected and a crazy branch I added to a teapot that was covered with teabags used like leaves. I stamped each tea bag with a picture of an owl too.

I loved the juxtaposition of the giant marshmallows with the tiny doll dishes I found.

Because this story was 13 pages long we needed to create various shots throughout the house to add to the spread. I suggested an area where the Mad Hatter would sew his crazy hats so BHG added a little top hat download to their site. I created all the hats you see behind him here as well as the little hat Alice wears. I gathered scrap fabrics from my personal stash of ribbons and trims, borrowed the mannequin from Raised in Cotton, found the sewing machine at an antique shop and once Matt sat down, this expression came naturally to him.

Lovely Heidi as Alice who announced she was pregnant that day!

Alice's top hat was made from the BHG pattern and then I printed out a clip art clock face on fabric paper, added the pleated element from an old thrift store blouse and glued everything together.

Even the little shots above were meticulously placed to see all the details everyone worked on.

So there you have it. Three months of planning, three days of shooting and about three weeks to pack it up, ship it off and write all the credits and sources. It was one big job but the project was perfect for me to hunt & gather all the unusual antiques that I love. My only disappointment was that the images were not shot with dramatic lighting to make it feel a little more halloween-esque. But then I learned the photography had to be iPad/app friendly so bright and crisp was what they needed.

Be sure and check out the issue, the app and get crafting!

The cover.

ALL PHOTOS OWNED BY MEREDITH CORP/BHG. SHOT BY ALISE O'BRIEN
EDITOR ANN BLEVINS, FOOD STYLIST DIANNA NOLIN

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I Spy at Anthropologie

2011-08-20T21:25:00.006-06:00

One of my favorite vignettes above; found objects
repurposed as graphic art or retail display.

Our second Anthropologie opened in Kansas City a week ago, so I wandered through yesterday to do my usual research. 15 miles away, our first Anthropologie premiered around 2001 and I was the first customer in the door! Sometimes feel I need to create a national Anthro club because I make a point to visit one in every city I find myself in. I have seen a dozen so far and each and every one has their own unique spin and ideas abound.

This new store is really different. I felt I should forgive them a bit because they just opened but then I thought, hey wait a minute, these guys are seasoned retailers- they shouldn't have a grace period! First, I had to look long and hard to see if they were even open. The front door is heavy, solid wood with no glass. Surrounding the left side of the door is about 8 feet of painted green plaster. The display windows do not start until the end of the space. Once in, I could literally drive a bicycle around the store which I am not sure is intentional or the results of a 'soft opening'.

Raw wood was the focal point; floors and display shelves were thick and chunky. Custom made industrial fixtures were used everywhere as well as the usual $4,000 giant antique tables and counters. Despite it being a little sparse without the usual jam-packed departments, going into an Anthropologie and not leaving with ideas would be impossible- so enjoy my discoveries:

The word was TEXTURE.
Found in everything: floors, rugs, storage, and shelving.

Ornate antique mirror.

Upholsterers webbing woven as wall covering.

Pleated sculpture on the ceiling:
not sure if this was paper or fabric.

Fall clothing also had many textures with lots of poncho styling:

And great display ideas of course:

I loved the graphic shape of the garden tools but also the
burlap wallpaper and unfinished painted edge over it.

Weld (or screw) an old wheel to one leg of a table!

A cluster of derbys made into a chandelier.

Only one bulb was hanging in the center.

One of the highlights above; a natural light courtyard was made against the back wall. I can't wait to see what they do here at Christmas time.

This shadow box with deer horns makes the perfect
display to hang accessories...

...and used here as a jewelry holder.

Probably my favorite idea I'll use some day: glossy white paint stops at an unusual spot to expose wood legs. So easy to do!!!

Color Full

2011-08-14T09:45:00.012-06:00

I love this large pink wallpaper pattern used against the tiny iridescent tile.

I was criticized recently for implying that "color offends me to the core!" Nothing could be further from the truth, but I can see how a reader might get that idea. I have never explained my love of an all-white palette because it has not always been that way.

Maybe wallpaper, maybe tile but the mix of blue patterns works against bright white.

The navy blue chaise compliments the turquoise pots.

I have been interested in design all my life. As a teen, I redecorated my bedroom every year much to the horror of my mother. I recall a rock-n-roll period with red walls and black trim. A year later I was into my Manhattan Transfer period with green and silver deco wallpaper. My first apartment was a full-on 50's theme using turquoise and pink with zebra trim! Then my Wanda Jackson/Dwight Yoakum phase turned my loft into a full-on vintage cowboy collection. A quick romance changed that decor into mid-century modern (because that was what he liked) with shades of pumpkin and okra accented with retro black furniture... and then I became a retailer.

The large map was obviously the inspiration for this color scheme.

Yellow is one of the hardest colors to get right.
This is used well by keeping it as an accent color.

In 1998 a friend of mine opened a large antique store in the country and she asked me to rent a large space from her and sell some of my stuff. Because she was a full-on interior designer, I knew her store would be a serious mix of lovely things and selling my junk was just not going to stand up to the rest of the store. I decided to jump head first into serious selling and invest into the line of Rachel Ashwell's Shabby Chic slipcovered furniture. This was purely a business move on my part. Yes, I liked some of the shabby chic look; mostly the faded floral sofas and rusty accessories but at that time the all-white thing was just not my style. But I thought if I was going to carry this line, I needed to be true to what Rachel had intended and carry her style all through my space to help sell the furniture. Rachel's first book had just come out and I devoured it from front to back a dozen times. Those of you who know me know I am not a reader. Turning page after page and reading line after line bores me to tears- I need pictures!! This is one reason I do not know more bloggers or designers because I never read their info, instead I am just memorizing photographs under my magnifier. But this book I read, over and over.

The book that started it all.

Suddenly I found myself shopping for anything that would go with the Shabby Chic fabrics: painted furniture, crusty mirrors, crystal chandeliers, iron candelabras. Once I got into a routine with it, I realized how much easier it was to go to a giant flea market or antique show and sift through all the dark merchandise and hone in on a white item. I got in a groove with it and started to like it all the more. I will always remember one customer walking into my booth for the first time and saying, "Oh my! This is like heaven!" I could see the reaction of the customers and how the white and ivory palette seemed to calm them.

This purple sofa was the first thing I spotted but then I
noticed the lovely, dusty lavender walls.

Suddenly I became known as the Shabby Chic gal but my own home was still dark and rustic (I was in my log cabin/Legends of the Fall stage now!). I eventually, left that first shop and opened Curious Sofa two years later. I decided to take a little of the Shabby Chic palette with me but because I was moving to a downtown area, I added a few urban touches as well. A year later a magazine called and wanted to shoot my house. That was when everything changed. Knowing I had to take full advantage of this press to advertise the store, I repainted my entire house white, ordered a slipcovered sofa, and added Curious Sofa accessories throughout. Afterwards I found myself being calmed by the white style too, so voila, a personal style was born. Throughout the last four years (and after other magazine shoots) I have changed the white walls to tea stained, then to shades of grey, but my neutral palette is still there along with painted furniture and vintage accessories.

There are a lot of bad pink interiors online but this muted version looks great
against the dirty gold bed. Over the top? Maybe, but if the headboard had been
pink also, it would have been all wrong.

Having a specific color palette was crucial to my style at Curious Sofa. Not only was it easier to shop for but it set the tone for my branding. I did use color accents in the shop by always adding accessories or themes based on the season. My explanation was always two things:

1. With a thousand pieces of merchandise to look at in a store, a neutral palette was just easier on the eyes and made the store appear less cluttered.
2. A neutral palette is timeless. Keeping larger items in your home neutral (ceilings, walls, sofas, rugs) was easier and cheaper to then accessorize with color.

Want colorful drama? Wall murals have come a long way.

Another great example of dusty color.

Now, all that said, I still love color but unfortunately (no thanks to the DIY decorating shows) many people use it badly! If I were consulting or talking serious about interior decorating, I have three rules:

1. Pick a palette for your entire home based on three colors. Now from this go lighter or darker but stick to it so your home flows. If you are using all neutrals then pick one accent. Example: Four years ago, I repainted the exterior of my home for Country Living magazine based the colors of three things I couldn't avoid:
1. The blue spruce tree in my front yard. (This is one of my favorite colors of all time!)
2. The red brick chimney on the side of the house.
3. The tan colored stone around the base of my home.

The colors I chose to repaint my home.

2. If you are not into neutrals, pick your favorite color combination but find a dustier version of the colors you love. A crisp, sharp color is just that- a little jarring. Look for the swatch that has a little grey or a dirtier version.

The red dot shoes a brighter version where as the dustier version is more soothing.

3. When looking at a few samples to use in your home, use them across the board. Line up your swatches and do not jump from the top color of one to the bottom color of another. I have never heard anyone suggest this, this is just my opinion, but it works for me every time. I think they blend better for some reason. Here is what I mean:

The red dots show jumping around your color swatches may not always coordinate well.
Choosing across the board might be better.

Now go out there and paint something!
__________________________________

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And, on newsstands now, Bedroom & Baths features (an old) picture of my bedroom, originally seen in Romantic Homes magazine, 2008.

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Cardboard Art

2011-08-04T14:53:00.001-06:00

Sometimes I just hate being a girl. It is only when I have a van full of stuff to schlep that this thought comes to me. Recently, when I participated in the Schlepp Sisters Show I was telling the other dealers that if I continue to do these pop-up sales, I have to devise a way to load, unload and display with the least amount of effort possible. I explained I was determined to find a cool and clever way to just prop up the storage box and showcase my items right from the vessel I hauled them in on. It is a painful realization when your age, body strength and occupation do not quite go together; which is what lead me to my recent search for cardboard display ideas.

My former staff would always laugh at me when I unpacked a box full of merchandise and was sometimes more thrilled with the packing supplies than the actual product. Opening a box from China, India or some other manufacturing country was always a delight to see because I often squealed over the unusual packing materials they used. To them, I am sure it was just filler, but to me sometimes it was soft or expandable or perforated with nylon and my imagination would soar! I have a small stash stockpiled here and there but rarely have I gotten around to designing with it. In the meantime, I still have plans....

At the Atlanta Gift Mart last summer, friend and divine artisan Wendy Addison made some amazing cardboard tassels to display with her products in the Tinsel Trading booth. I shot a quick picture knowing full well I would try to copy it someday (but unfortunately, still haven't). The inspiration was there as I devoured the random, rural and utilitarian style this (k)crafty item took on.

When painted white cardboard takes on an almost Antique Florentine feel.

The internet is now full of cool, clean and eco-friendly cardboard furniture for function or fashion. But I still love it used as an embellishment. Artist Noelle Rigaudie (as seen on Man Shops Globe) does amazing artisan pieces with it. Cutting, gluing and layering as if it were metal, clay or fabric.

Now if this cube had a back on it, a few tassels and trims, this might be right up my alley for antique show displays, but all of that is easy enough to add.

Just to show, recycling can be art and function.

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Road to Morocco

2011-07-31T21:46:00.007-06:00

Oh my- If I knew I could rent this Moroccan style tent, a Curious Sofa
Christmas Show would be in the works. IMAGINE!!

I'm in the mood to redo my home and all things Moroccan have been consuming my online search for ideas. Every time I scroll through interior images, my heart skips a beat when I see the patterns and textures of this North African country. What I love is their use of pattern of course; not quite Spanish and not really African but somehow a softer version that becomes a soothing melting pot of ethnic style.

Moroccan tile, left and right and Kathryn Ireland fabric center.

I am not ready to repaint my walls because I still love my greys, whites and neutrals but adding mosaic tiles and intricate printed fabrics is easy enough to do.

I'll be keeping my eyes open at flea markets and antique shows for any object
with this Mediterranean feel. Giant clay pots and textured pillows.

And maybe it is time to collect various tiles to add to my fireplace. Some
great ones can be found on eBay. I love how it is not applied perfectly.

Moroccan style does not have to be in reds and oranges.
This soothing palette is right up my alley!

Moroccan tile, left; vintage rug center; Kathryn Ireland fabric right.

Lovely gold trimmed tea glasses are also perfect for a votive or two.
I WANT!! this $998 table from Anthropologie. Yikes.

Imagine how garish all this would be if more colorful.
Notice how the pillows are stacked for the sofa arms.

So simple, but the ethnic feel is still there and the dark wood
ceiling gives the perfect contrast.

A great idea using different tiles up the stairs (especially if you can't decide!)
Adding a mismatched grouping behind your sinks or tabletop would work too.

All the detail in this little octagon table is somewhat romantic.
Large sections of different floor tile can be used at an entry.

The printed curtains are all you need here for a touch of Morocco. Kathryn Ireland
has fabric named Mexico meets Morocco which blends the two styles together.

A lovely, lived-in but decorated room by Kathryn Ireland.
Textiles, iron, pattern and prints all with a crisp white background.
Not too feminine, not too masculine- just right.

Home by Novogratz

2011-07-22T08:48:00.004-06:00

Art by Ann Carrington, who I had never heard of until watching the Novogratz.
This image made from pearl buttons!

As Design Star leaves us bored to tears, HGTV has finally taken a step forward with the addition of a new show HOME by Novogratz. You might remember these hip parents of seven equally hip kids from their show on Bravo a few seasons back. I was wondering if we would see them again and was happy to learn HGTV snagged them up. I am sure there is a story there somewhere as to why a second season wasn't added on Bravo, but I can feel the Novogratz hand on this new series, concluding they are more about their design than their entourage.

I am not always a fan of their design; its a bit glossy and modern for my taste, but I do love seeing through their eyes and I always learn something when watching this show. My years of photo styling have trained me to make things picture perfect so their haphazard, mix it up, no rules decorating is a big lesson for me.

I do love the diagonal stripes in this soft shade.

I dozen different styles but the palette pulls it together.

French settee re-purposed in modern black leather.

Vintage signage is big for the Novogratz.

A signature of theirs is also giant murals or XXL photography.

In the first episode on HGTV the down-right-gorgeous Courtney (not a speck of makeup- hate her!) meets two sisters to remodel their run-down beach cottage. When Courtney asked who their favorite designer was, they mentioned Betsey Johnson so this is where the design inspiration came from.

I couldn't help but watch the show and think what I would do with the girls $40,000 budget. The Novogratz team loves to splurge on original art (when giant posters would work in this case), colorful reproduction appliances (when repainting old would do) and expensive window shades (a Target brand would suffice). But they do pay attention to important construction details (rebuilding the staircase and refinishing floors) and they splurged on only one wall of expensive wallpaper to make a wow.

The metallic wallpaper from the first episode.

All in all, how they listen to a clients taste and tackle the project with their famous spin makes for interesting TV. Set the DVR for Saturday night.

Ready, Set, Go!

2011-07-13T22:02:00.006-06:00

Tomorrow is my first show since closing the store so I blew the dust off the tag gun, loaded 22 plastic tubs, piled a 14' box truck full of furniture and away I went to Westport. This week, three other dealers and myself schlepped and arranged and hammered and priced ourselves into a stupor. Be warned, this is a gonna be a good one if I do say so myself! We have it all: mid-century, romantic, rustic, country, vintage, old world, industrial, outdoor and indoor.... and well, what else is there?!!

Schlepp Sisters Antique Show
Thursday, Friday 11-7 & (and Saturday with discounts! 10-6)
1004 Westport Road
in the Olde Westport Shopping Center, (next to Half-Price Books.)
Don't miss it. GOODIES GALORE!

Here are a few exhausted pics at the eleventh hour (and there is still so much to show and it's still not all out!!!)

Can you stand it?!!! I've had this pair of scruffy vintage chairs and finally made them into something fabulous for this show.

Look for our signs all over Westport!

CHECK THE SCHLEPP SISTERS BLOG FOR MORE PICS!!

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Scrap Happy

2011-07-09T23:16:00.011-06:00

Do you remember awhile back when I wrote something about all those projects that keep piling up that we never get to? Well once again there is nothing like a deadline to blow the cobwebs off.

Next weekend I will participate in my first antique show since closing the shop and getting ready for it has been quite the undertaking. I am having a monumental purging moment so I literally hired movers to help me get the 10 large furniture pieces out of my house as well as half a garage full and another 18 large plastic tubs full of antiques. (and I still won't get to it all!!) There is something quite frightening about thinking you have priced the last of your stash then turning around and uncovering yet another box or suitcase full of stuff you collected from a flea market past. Egads... but what a fun sale it will be for you!

For nearly a year now I have stared at a plain, beige wing chair knowing full well what I wanted to do with it. Little by little I acquired old tablecloths, scraps of lace, embroidered doilies and finally (because of the upcoming sale)... got 'er done.

I can be a puritan when it comes to handcrafting something. Give me a needle and thread over the quick and easy glue gun any day, which was my intention in this case. But once I got started I could see a glue gun was the only way to complete this project. To be honest, hot glue holds a heck of a lot better than thread! This thing is indestructible!

Little by little rows of trim and lace were added to the base; measuring just how far a particular piece would go. Some were nice and stretchy making covering the curves easier and others were not, making it a bit more difficult to cover some areas.

I found this funky corset last year and knew immediately where it would go. And I have always been a sucker for suspenders, so why not add those too.

A large tablecloth was used to cover the entire backside.

I sewed a pocket here and there to insert a photo and every once in awhile when the pieces would not come together quite right, I camouflaged with a crocheted floret.

This will be for sale at the Schlepp Sisters Antique Event so come take a look. (But don't look too closely!) I'll post a larger, overall shot of this later but my house was filled with ugly tubs in the background!

The good side...

And while I was cleaning and pricing my own ironstone collection to sell, I finally did something else I had always wanted to do: patch a giant chip on one of my favorite bowls.

The bad side.

Occasionally I have stumbled upon a humble repair someone has done on a wooden bowl; you know the kind where they may have wrapped a piece of soft metal over a large crack and tacked it down. Or my favorite is when someone actually drills through the broken parts and wires them together- which I would have loved to do on this, but as you'll see, this is SO much easier!

I always loved this giant tureen but because of the large chip, no one ever bought it in the shop so I brought it home, turned it around on my shelves and filled it with seashells. But today, I decided to soften the broken edge with a patch of linen.

I frayed the edges on all four sides and glued down the fabric with Elmer's. Now if you want, a heavy duty clear, water resistant glue would be ideal and hold this forever, maybe even through washings- but do we really ever wash our ironstone displays much?! For me, this was just fine.

Tada! Ready for you to fill with anything your heart desires!
Hope to see you Thursday!

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Catching Up to Summer

2011-06-25T15:41:00.015-06:00

A new show Curious Sofa will be selling at; details below.

It has been almost two months since I have posted! So sorry.... Where have I been? Well, not resting as much as I would have liked to. The past month I have had a few projects going on and juggling these random events has put me in a bit of a spin. I am used to multi-tasking but it was always for one goal with the shop; now my hands seem to be in a million pots.

Signs I designed for the Estate Sale which helped to stop traffic.

- The most time consuming thing I have been involved with was managing an Estate Sale of the family home of a friend. She now lives in New York, so this winter I helped her get her father into a nursing home and then in April her mother died. Needless to say a hard time for her and many trips for us back and forth to the airport. I offered to take care of the family house; show it for the local realtor, condense and price everything for the Estate Sale, clean and prep the home for the new buyers and haul away leftovers for donations. My niece and I handled everything along with a few friends who helped during sale days. This week they close on the house so my work will be done, but it has been a l-o-n-g two months waiting for it to be over.

Piles and piles of stuff from the Estate Sale. How do people do this for a living?!!

- On May 1 I finished up a large styling job for Better Homes & Gardens Halloween Ideas magazine and a few weeks later the editor called wanting some help on their Christmas issue too. This time she needed me to prepare story boards for the cover images. I have to say I was loving this as I could sit at home, beverage and dog by my side and search online finding wonderful sources and images to help her pull the shoot together. Then in a panic she needed items made for the shoot, so as the weather hit 95 degrees outside I was buried in a sea of decorative papers, fabric and crafty notions making Christmas trees and red velvet pillows!

From Etsy, inspiration for Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Ideas issue.

- I have also been helping a friend furnish her mid-century home as well as a few other customers ordering sofas and other items from Curious Sofa.

The famous Barcelona Chair arriving to my friends home soon.

- I started listing items on Etsy, selling the same merchandise I have on my website just to broaden my customer base. And I still manage to post a little something on Facebook now and then too. It is so much easier than blogging so I hope you are following me there.

- New items for the website are piling up in my house but I have been too busy to shoot them for the site; but I will! I see now web sales work great when you devote as much time to it as you do your store. Most of these goodies will be for sale at the new show I am doing first before putting them online.

- My little camper sits in the driveway still untouched by white paint and new slipcovers. I promised myself I would take her out once a month but lately I've been too busy to bother. Maybe July 4th. I have been collecting a little this and that to redecorate and every once in awhile Pearl and I sit inside and pretend we are lakeside somewhere!

The design for how I want to paint the outside, eventually!

And on top of all this, I am itching to find a studio so I can start making jewelry, sew, paint furniture, take website pictures, do framing and projects and keep my artistic mess to one area. I could makeover my garage but I like to park in it- imagine! I could redo my basement but its creepy down there so I tried to load it all in my spare bedroom but I am suffocating! Any ideas???!! If only I had an air conditioned Quanza hut in my backyard! Now, that's a thought!

Wouldn't this be the coolest studio to have?

- I am also having some fun with Pinterest. I am still not sure what the heck it is but it is an inspirational place to just look and gather pictures, which is what I love. Somewhere in my new life I would love to be a photo editor!

One of the story boards I have on Pinterest titled White.

- Curious Sofa will rear her head once more since closing the store. My niece and I are hosting an antique event July 14-16 in Westport. We call our show the Schlepp Sisters. This was the very first name we gave our business when we opened a booth at Mission Road Antique Mall in 1996! Three other dealers will be involved too so stay tuned. It will be a good one as we all have different styles to offer. I am bringing many decor items from home, discounted online merchandise and lots of new antiques I acquired this year. I will show some of our items on Facebook days before the event. (Follow us!) Don't miss it if you live in KC!

Ralph Lauren, Spring 2011

2011-05-08T10:10:00.009-06:00

What I learned: Throw a giant textile over any coffee table for a new look.
Add giant trees to soften the corners of your room.

I came close to calling this blog post "Ralph Lauren: my personal porn" but then I thought of all the crazy Google searches that might come up. Every season I have to check out the master and see what he has been up to and this Spring, he is true to form. His home decor is open and fresh as well as the fashion and fabrics that make up the Ralph Lauren Spring 2011 collection. I did notice he has returned to his cowboy roots a little more than usual (not that there is anything wrong with that) but more importantly, so many of these styles can be easily attained by us with a little imagination and a lot of savings.

What I learned: Take an old blanket or rug and make your own cross-body
bag using straps from an older purse or thrift store belt. Notice the giant chokers,
almost belt size. Get crafting!

What I learned: Mixing a little Navajo with a little floral gives the perfect
masculine/feminine mix. (But we've always known that!)

"I've always believed one could live many lives through the way we dress and the places we travel to, even it just in our imagination. The world is open to us, and each day is an occasion to reinvent ourselves." - Ralph Lauren

What I learned: Reincarnate the butterfly chair! Making your own cover couldn't be easier.
Leather or not try sturdy denim, canvas or an old quilt with random stitching for interest.

What I learned: An ornate gilded mirror breaks up the casual, natural palette.
And I have always loved pictures hanging on a bookcase.

What I learned: It's all in the accessories!

What I learned: When blues do not match perfectly, it gives a 'collected over time' appearance.

What I learned: Western blanket and lace!
Am I crazy? Should we paint part of an old pair of boots with silver paint?

What I learned: Use a bowl for the bread, not a plate.

What I learned:
Keeping the palette neutral will make haberdashery dressing more feminine.

What I learned: Pinstripes and damask, hounds tooth and crewel!

" I like things that are worn. I don't like newness... I still wear old things. And I wear new things. And the old things that I love are non-fashion. There's a timeless quality and an unfashionable sensibility... they're utility, the things you wear to work in, they're the things that have sort of an honesty." - Ralph Lauren

What I learned: My passion for broken statuary can still be stylish.

What I learned: Add a little crochet lace to a tired old jacket sleeve.

What I learned: Patterns can blend perfectly in the right color combination.

What I learned: Fabulous clothing can be hung as art!

SHOP 24/7 at curioussofa.com

Something Fresh

2011-04-25T09:46:00.005-06:00

Online only: the new TradHome Magazine.

I've been struggling with something lately, ever since I got back from the Round Top, Texas antique show. I think my taste is changing and I am ready to move on to a different design sense. Not surprising. It's just good to do every few years and try to stay somewhat current with the times. I hope all of us change it up now and then from hairdo's to furniture to fashion.

I emailed a friend while in Texas and said, "OK, I think I am done. I think I am done with the shabby-chippy-burlap-ironstone thing." Just how much of it can we all have anyway? I found myself not drawn to it much anymore. Tacking a piece of burlap on a chair is a cheap and quick fix but we all know it doesn't feel so good. Stenciling letters on a burlap pillow can be equally appealing but again, do you really want to lay your head on such a thing? And once you are over 40, do we really want all our furniture to wobble with drawers that are hard to open? I am ready for user friendly and well built. But don't get me wrong, I am still in love with antiques, chipped paint and worn linens but I am ready to use these items in a new way and mix them up with some unexpected elements.

I pondered hooking up the camper and heading to a new antique show a few weeks ago but decided against it. Once I saw the pictures online of the show I was glad I did not make the trip. There it was again; images of rusty wire things, burlap covered whatever, chippy drawers or badly painted white something (or bright pink or turquoise!). I do hope dealers are selling these things because these shows are so much work but I want to shout to the universe of antique dealers out there and say "DO SOMETHING ELSE!"

What really prompted this blog post was the discovery of the new TradHome online mag. From the makers of LonnyMag comes a fresh look at the old Traditional Home magazine. Heck, this is so new looking, traces of Traditional Home are nowhere to be found! I was stopped in my tracks by these images from what they call the New Traditionalists designers. Enjoy.

Above, this fabulous mix of color, texture, shape and pattern.
A bit retro, a bit bohemian and fresh!

A lot of yellow but it works! I especially love how all the vintage items have been
reupholstered, cleaned and polished to look brand new.

And yes, I am still a lover of white. Mixed with black and pattern
and stone it gets an immediate 2011 update.

The blue painted cabinets turn this kitchen on its ear!
It looks designed but not untouchable.

Above; from the home of my friend and customer,
Hallmark stylist Andy Newcom. I love how he added the large
oval window making the vintage sink
and ironstone seem more regal.

Also in Andy's house, modern lighting used above an
older French table and antique accessories.

An Update

2011-04-08T10:19:00.009-06:00

I am going to honest with you all, I am having a hard time blogging these days. I know it is because the store is closed and those hurried, everyday shop operations are what kept this blog going for so long. I'll also be honest with you and tell you 90% of my former blog posts were to keep you current on shop news but especially to show you what had just been added to the store so you would come in and buy something. When sales were down, I could blog and voila!- business would pick up for awhile.

Crystal bracelet

Yes I am selling online and when I focus on it and add new merchandise I am thrilled with the response. I have met with my tech and discussed changes I want to make: a JUST IN category and a SALE category. I am also going to add a PROVISIONS category because I find so many great garlands, wires, trims and baubles and I know that crafting has now gone to a whole new level. I found I have a lot of artistic customers out there that need unusual hardware for their creations. I also love scavenging for these items. Changing the website from an idea to fruition is one thing because website work takes forever to implement! I knew this going in and thought I would have all the time in the world to work on it, but not so. I have a stash of great items from my trip to Texas and I will post those as soon as my current project is completed.

White Silicon Watch, perfect for Spring!

Closing down the store is still not over believe it or not. Some vendors are still sending merchandise to the Prairie Village store, some customers still do not know (those that might have visited KC once or twice a year) and there are still little 'business' issues here and there.

Pearl Votive

I knew I wanted to rest up after the shop closed and because of the lousy winter weather, I certainly did, but I guess not enough for my taste! The Better Homes & Gardens shoot will happen soon and I have really been hammering down on that. I hunted for my camper so I could head to Texas and now that I am back, I just want to crash. The BHG Halloween shoot is happening next week and I am really happy with the all the props, wardrobe and food that have been found. The editor even added another day due to all the wonderful items we need to shoot.

Wire Card Holder

I wasn't sure what life would hold once the store was closed or how I would make a living (and I'm still not!). I knew I had plenty of customers and friends who needed help with this and that. Some business owner/friends are overwhelmed and need help; some friends need my advice who are in the midst of remodeling their homes; I have some personal projects I can certainly cash in on if I choose to. Getting in the groove of a freelance life again is kind of strange. I watched Eat, Pray, Love again last night and I would love to take a year off and do whatever I pleased without any 'have to's' in the way. (who wouldn't!)

Umbrella

My best friend from grade school (yes, 40 years) lives in New York now and has been in and out of town all year due to the illness of her parents. Her mother passed away last Wednesday and because of all the strange circumstances she has asked me to clean out, redecorate and stage their home to sell. And believe it or not, I am in the mood to do my own home. Because the store is closed my home (and garage and basement and porch) have become the holding ground for all things and it is making me a little nuts. Are you like me? Once every few years I just have to get rid of everything and see empty shelves and life without piles of stuff.

Butterfly Clips

I am on a list at our local antique mall to get a large booth. I decided I really want to do this to please the local customers I left behind. I also find so many great, larger items I cannot sell online and I want to offer them to Curious Sofa fans. So far, nothing is available and I just can't understand why they won't kick someone out!!! Ha. I am hoping they have a vacancy by late summer so I can do the popular Halloween and Christmas display in there.

Bird Napkins

I hope to shoot some behind the scene images of the BHG shoot. I can't give too much away as they would not like that much but it will still be fun to give you a tease. Stand by for that. In the meantime, I hope all of you are supporting your local retailers, taking a day trip to an antique show and getting ready for Spring. Open those windows and let your home breathe!

Red Rose Pillow

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Wagons Ho!

2011-03-21T08:26:00.007-06:00

A 1966 West, 10' Camper
Pearl and I ready for our new on-the-road antiquing life!

I did it! I got my little camper in Warsaw, Missouri on March 19th, hooked it up and took a few test spins around KC, loaded it with necessities and hit the road. (That is the very condensed version of what transpired!) Pearl and I are currently in Round Top, Texas at the world famous antique show. I dusted off my boots, packed the bandannas and after many mechanical check-ups for my van and camper, we arrived here last Wednesday. We are spending our days shopping the fields, the tents and every podunk vendor set up on the side of the road.

I have been going to Round Top, on and off for ten years now and each and every time its a feast for the eyes, a lesson on navigation and a homecoming with friends. This trip feels like a new beginning now that the store is closed and I have less to worry about. I don't feel the added pressure of hurrying back home to be in the store or finding bigger items to make the trip financially worth while. Its also nice not to have to drive the fields with a 20' truck!

I am camped out at the Blue Hills Event Venue in Round Top, owned by Kansas City dealer Mike Peters. I sent Mike a plead to just let me park on his property and he responded with, "We have full RV hook up with guest bathrooms and showers!!!" Whoo-hoo! I am all set and did not have to deal with using the bathroom in my little camper!! He even had hired help to pull me in place and set up the water and electricity to my little home. I could get used to this!

Of course, makeover pictures to come.
(You didn't think I was going to leave it like this did you?!!)

Once I left home, the drive from KC to Wichita was not pleasant. The winds were at full force making me feel I was driving through quicksand. I was intimidated enough pulling this for the first time but once the winds died down, all was good. Pearl and I slept inside for the first time at a truck stop in Oklahoma and I found myself giggling as I cranked open the windows and snuggled with her under the covers for our first night on the road!

After we arrived in Round Top and unhitched the camper I drove around town seeing who was still open and ended up at Royer's having a beer with Bud the owner and Grand Marshall of this antique weekend. He caught me up on the latest news, telling me of Rachel Ashwell's venture with her new B & B miles away and then showed me pictures of his amazing home in Austin! OMG! Why someone has not featured this place in a magazine is beyond me. It looked like Uncommon Objects Gone Wild!

Since hitting the road, there have been many amusing anecdotes of which I will call the Curious Camper Diaries one day. (A new blog starting soon!)

To name a few:
- I forgot there are bugs and dirt while camping! How quickly we forget.
- Living in a 6' x 10' space is all about organization; lots of bins and bags and multiple hooks are needed to keep things off the ground.
- Do not be stupid enough to think you are going to completely redecorate your new abode on your first trip out. Learn how to live in it first. (This lesson was painful, you should see all the crap I brought with me!)
- If you camp near bathroom facilities, you will almost feel human.
- Be prepared to be without internet connection and living by your iPhone. (Second tough lesson.)
- Using propane to boil water brings a new found joy and a caveman-like accomplishment. (Even if it is for Ramen noodles.)
- Your beloved canine has no place else to go but in bed with you. Be prepared to sleep with paw prints and dirt.
- Have a local vet handy when your fluff-ball experiments with Texas rat poison. (Oh yes, mother and daughter now doing fine.)
- One minute you will love the simplicity of camping, the next minute you will want your MTV.
- Have many lavender sachets handy to bury your face in when a skunk wanders near your camper at night. (I thought I was gonna die!)
- ENJOY the junking and gathering great items for myself, the camper, the website and photo shoots.

More stories when I return!
TEXAS TREASURES WILL BE POSTED NEXT MONTH!!

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