Standard Time!!

Not too much to report this week .... but ... if you’re like me, you’ve probably spent some time preparing for Standard Time which begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday November 1st. Usually, I like to wait until I wake up on Sunday morning to run around turning each of my clocks back one hour. This way - I have plenty of natural daylight to properly perform the task. But just in case I get the urge to do the “fall back” thing at 2 a.m so that I’m not behind in the morning, I am prepared for that as well.

Each light bulb in my home and all 33 light bulbs (belonging to 32 lamps) in my shop have been checked and they are ready for action. So what does this mean for you? Well, it means that after you’ve had a wild Saturday at the Griz game followed by a crazy night of Trick or Treating - you might not be prepared to deal with that extra hour of night.

I’ve got you covered. My lamps are fun, quirky, unique, inexpensive and most important they come with free light bulbs and are already assembled.

Here’s to a big fun weekend filled with lots of cozy lighting!

Versatile Bakers Rack

Bakers Rack / Bookcase. I don't know if this piece should be classified as a bakers rack or a bookcase, but either way - it is simple, handy and loaded with good storage space.

Sewing ???

I'm getting ready to go to Joann's and pick up some fabric for my new pillow sewing project ... Wish me luck! Also ... here is a little sewing box I have for sale ... very cute!

Costume Shopping

I can’t believe how quickly this month has flown by. By the end of next week it’s going to be Halloween already and like all the other neighborhood dogs, Duncan is just crazy excited about the whole thing.

Instead of purchasing his costume from the local pet supply store, we decided that it would be more clever to see what we could put together using items from our shop. First Duncan wanted to be a lamp ... but then he decided that it was kind of claustrophobic, so he let me be the lamp and he’s trying out the primitive man mask.

Of course, there’s still a week left so we have plenty of time to decide on something for certain, but knowing Duncan, he’ll procrastinate and then at the last minute he’ll have no choice but to toss a tablecloth over his head and go as a ghost.

For any of you readers who fancy trick or treating as a piece of household furniture, we would love to fix you up with a smart, homey halloween ensemble. Just be sure to get here fast, because I’m pretty sure that home furnishings will be a popular theme this year!

Chair and a half!

It's not a love seat, it's not a chair ... but it is a super big, super comfortable and super stylish chair and a half! Beautiful fabric and meticulous condition.

Simple Upholstered Chairs

I have two of these clean lined, simple upholstered occasional chairs.

little red bookcase

Remember when bookcases used to be so simple!

Vintage Deacons Bench

Here it is!! The little pine Deacons bench I have talked so much about!

Lamps, rugs, and frames!

Spruce up your home with something a little quirky, interesting and different. In addition to lots of fun furniture, I also have an eclectic collection of home furnishings!

Friday - week in review!

This week all I have accomplished is to move furniture around in my shop and work on trying to fix a lamp. Through all of my shifting and sifting, it occurred to me that some pretty interesting things have come through the door and perhaps I should utilize my Friday Note for what it is intended ... to tell people about my fun furniture.

A guy brought in these simple barn wood frames --- and that is all they are, simple barn wood frames. But I’ve been popping them here and there, setting them in front of things and have noted how much more polished everything looks when it is framed. I had our Duncan demonstrate for us and you will see in this week’s feature photo what a difference a frame makes.

Just yesterday a consigner brought in a one of a kind charming little deacon bench. I tossed a hand woven rug over the back and it looks a lot warmer - kind of less uptight and deacon like.

I have a yellow and blue corner featuring a pretty slipper chair and a matching dresser and end table. None of these pieces came in together - but they have become fast friends and would love to move out and find an apartment of their own.

My big brown green fringed fancy vintage Gimbels Department Store sectional sofa continues to be a centerpiece and anchor my shop. I’m thinking that it is just one of those really good supporting actors, always there to make the other guy look good, acting as the springboard who shoots the other vintage pieces out the door.

Finally ... a transient group .... the lamps. These guys are kind of a motley bunch ... they arrive here sometimes needing a little work on their wiring and such. I prop them up, give them a shade and a shine and perhaps a top knot, then off they go, out to light up the world again. You have to be kind of fast to keep up with the coming and going of the lamps.

So there you have it ... a discussion about my furniture. Now, as for the quality, manufacturer and price, you’ll just have to come in and discover that for yourself. I’m only here to talk about their genealogy and feelings!

Clever little blue dresser

Simple clean lines set off of fun color and unique knobs on this little dresser.

Barstools wearing shoes?? Very funny

Since early September, my Mom has been bugging me to take a picture of all my barstools lined up wearing shoes. I don’t know why ... I guess she just thinks it would be funny. Here they are ... barstools wearing shoes, just in time for Halloween. I must admit, they do look kind of ridiculous -- and funny!

Now ... it's my job to somehow tie this in with a helpful, educational tidbit, and a reason to come to my shop, so here we go .... as long as the chairs are showing a little leg, lets go ahead and talk about seating heights. No matter what kind of eating seating you are talking about, you will be faced with the decision of what height to buy. Your standard regular chairs (far right, red heels) tend to be around 18”. Next in line is the counter height (red chair with cowboy boots and wooden chair wearing the Vanns Old Schools) appropriate for most kitchen islands and workspaces - these guys measure somewhere around 24”. Finally, your bar height (far left - black and wood chair, white Keds) will measure approximately 30”, these stools would typically be found at bars, around bistro tables and sometimes pushed up to an architects drawing table. It's a common mistake to think that barstools and seating heights is a standard one size fits all proposition but as you can see now, it must be as carefully considered as ... well ... your shoes!

As far as a reason to come to my shop .... these barstools turned out to be a better Halloween decoration than I ever would have imagined. Toss a coat and hat on your chair and you’ve taken it to a whole new level. I have a ton of fun and inexpensive chairs that would love to play dress-up in YOUR home!

Let the Holiday’s begin!

Fancy Purses!

It’s October!!! Hooray! I love October!

As my diligent readers know, September was dedicated to de-cluttering. Now that that’s done, there’s room to add some fancy in preparation for the upcoming holidays. Here’s a run down of what we need to get ready for.

First up is Homecoming, the mother lode for Griz fans ...

Then Halloween

Next ... Thanksgiving

and finally - December - a festive month in and of itself.

Before we dive into the whole furniture and decorating aspect of the season, it’s important to start with the basics - a purse. Everyone needs a new fun purse to sport around to special events and while I realize that I am coloring outside the lines here, (a furniture shop is not usually your first stop in the search for a purse) I simply couldn’t resist these pretty little beaded gems.

If you’re looking for a fancy way to carry your milk bones and money, swing by and take a peek at my collection!