Christmas Goodies

My idea of Christmas goodies aren't of the confectionary kind. Sure, I love decorated gingerbread men and spiked apple cider as much as the next gal, but my favorite kind of goodies for Christmas are typically made out of wood or fabric and most of the time have the aged patina that brings about feelings of Christmases long long ago.

Six o'clock last evening brought the end of the bidding wars on some gotta-have-ems at the online auction and today I got to go pick up my winnings, which to me feels like Christmas mornings running down the stairs to scope out my loot. Mark scoffs at the way I refer to my auction hauls as "winnings" considering I do pay for them. I've got to face the fact that he just hasn't been bitten by the auction cootie bug. Not yet. It'll happen though, mark my words.

Today I scored a black cast iron horse, two beaded purses, two vintage coloring books, a framed wall mirror that is super heavy, and some old sheet music, but my three biggest goodies were a pine corner cupboard, a red and green table, and the piez de resistance - a red and white antique rolling tool chest!

Ta da! Isn't it just too much? And the inside is darling with its penciled notes from a friend dated 1953. If tool chests could talk, what would this one say?

I haven't forgotten about my promise of a post or two dedicated strictly to auctions.I am headed to one tomorrow and I will try to remember to take some pics. In my clamor for more goodies I often forget to document my journey.

Signing off for now - may visions of vintage teakettles dance in your head.

Bella fortuna!

Christine

Stay Focused

Good Morning! I am enjoying an English muffin and a warm cup of coffee while I paint the drawers of the Basset piece. This could be a dresser, a credenza, a bar, whatever! Loving it. I seriously want to keep everything I work on, which isn't possible.

I have discovered I may have ADD when it comes to restoring furniture. I don't say that lightly considering my daughter, boyfriend, and his daughter have been diagnosed, but the signs are there for me. I move from piece to piece and have trouble staying focused on one thing long enough to finish it. It is something I am going to need to be on top of to keep myself in check.

Aside from some possible ADD symptoms, I think one of the causes of being so random is that I avoid finishing things because it opens up my work to criticism. If I don't declare it "finished" then nobody can pick it apart. Kinda wondering if it stems from my childhood. Yeah, that's right,  I went there. Seriously though, my parents had trouble with praise. They thought we would get a big ego or something. Granted, my French horn solos in the dining room probably crushed some eardrums, but I wish my parents would have lied and told me I was really great. I have always tended to flit from one thing to another looking for praise in my current endeavor.

When I don't get that praise, I assume I don't have the talent for it. But with this new business, I am accepting of the fact that I will make some mistakes,  I may restore some pieces that people don't care for, but that doesn't mean I should quit. I love what I'm doing, and I think I'm pretty good at it. I have an eye for color and great design. I can prove that I have an eye for quality because I tend to gravitate toward it immediately, on instinct, be it wine, or furniture, or clothing, or men!

My goal this week is to complete (fully complete) two pieces, and list them for sale. Keeping this goal will allow me to prove to myself that I am determined and capable and can be an amazing business woman. What are the things you struggle with both personally and professionally? Maybe we can help each other out.

Tante belle cose, 

Christine ♥

Building Blocks

My dining room has turned into my new studio where I am spending blissful days and nights transforming tragedies into treasures. My poor family is having to put up with countertops and tables full of supplies as well as eating their meals downstairs in front of the television instead of at the table. For me, having my own business to run is well worth putting up with the mess, but for them? The verdict is still out. For now they are being especially tolerant. When the weather turns around again in a few months I can transfer everything to the garage.

An interesting point I'd like to bring up is that I have been extremely hard on myself for most of my adult life. You know that voice inside your head, that recording that plays over and over when you get to thinking about how you're managing yourself? Well my recording has gone something like this: "You are lazy. You will never amount to anything. You quit everything and finish nothing. You will always be broke both financially and spiritually. You hold no value and you can't pull your weight. You are a burden to everyone."

Now, don't get me wrong. This is not the image I put forth in public. This (until now) plays only in my head and is on a loop. Here's the thing though - Since early November I have been talking back to the voice. No, not in public, but when I'm by myself I yell, "Back the fuck off!" 

I'm doing what I love to do right now. I'm doing what I have always wanted to do but never dared to do. I'm doing what my heart and soul ache to do - to own my own business and be in charge of my days and nights. I'm NOT LAZY! That has been the BIGGEST EPIPHANY! I have more energy than I've ever had. It's because I'm doing work that fulfills me - I am living my dream. The money I'm existing on may run dry very soon, but you know what? I can always substitute teach for a few days to catch up again, or find something to do where I can make a $100 here and there. Last weekend I worked at the grocery store talking to customers about wine! I love wine, and I love talking about wine so it didn't even feel like work. But what I really want to do is hunt for junk, turn it into something beautiful, and sell it back to someone who will tenderly love it.

This past week I attended several auctions and promise to dedicate an entire post or more to auctions. What a rush! I'm hoping I can help you, if you're interested, avoid the pitfalls that I've already fell into where buying junk is concerned.

A note about my photos before signing off: I'm refinishing an old Victorian style headboard and footboard. The footboard is the most ornate of the two. I'm making both of them into welcome signs perfect for a front porch. As you can see from the photos, I've had to do some patching. Holy wood filler! The worst of it is on the back though (that's what you're seeing in the photos) and I don't have to be very fussy with it because it's just going to be a sign on a front porch for gosh sakes. For those of you who give a crap, I've been experimenting with making my own chalk paints. I adore Annie Sloan paints but can't afford them and can't get them except for online because I live in the boonies. 

Much love to y'all and Happy Holidays. Kiss your kids! Kiss your partner! Don't kiss your boss (I did that once - I don't recommend it). 

Solo tu mi capisci!

Christine

my dining room