Thursday, August 28, 2008

Pink Friday



It's Pink Friday time again. This week is going to be fun ... The theme is " These are a few of my favorite things". A few of my favorite things are vintage flowers and ribbons. I was thrilled to receive a box of goodies I had ordered on Tuesday. Let's see what I can come up with .... Be sure to visit all of the boutiques at Make Mine Pink for Pink Friday, August 29th.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

It's Show and Tell Monday again ...


I was away last week and happy to be back for this Monday. I have been painting as much as I can in between doing things with the kids and hubby for our final days of summer break. This summer sure went by fast!!! Anyway, I got several things completed and ready to move out of my workspace. This dresser is for a client. It's hard to see but it's painted in the most beautiful shade of soft green, called Robin's Nest. I love when clients want a color other than white, especially if it turns out to be something I like. Then I use it on a few of my own pieces.












I also finished up several pieces I had been working on this weekend. A server, a small side table, and a coffee table, all painted soft white and distressed. They are going to the shop this week. I have been busy with custom orders so the shop has been a bit neglected. I like to add new furniture whenever I can and change things around to keep customers interested and coming back.





















Finally, I have been working on my packaging and presentation, both in shipping website orders and with my furniture. I never paint the inside of the drawers because it takes too much time and adds too much to the cost. Most of the time something should be done to the insides so I decided to line every drawer with pretty scented drawer liners (that I got at the Christmas Tree Shops quite inexpensively). It gives each piece a whole new look (and smell)!


Thanks for visiting ...

Wednesday, August 20, 2008





























I was in NY this weekend for the Gift Show. I feel so motivated and inspired every time I come home from a show, especially in NY. I was shopping for great new stuff for my website, my mother's (and my) shop and for my home party business, Flair. We had a very successful trip and found too much!!! More previews of new merchandise to come as it arrives. Oka b. came out with new styles of shoes... too cute!! I found fabulous vintage inspired Christmas things and the cutest pink feather tree ever... the photo does not do it justice!!! Besides being the cutest thing ever, it folds up for easy storage. It stands 2 feet tall, larger ones are available as well. I ordered wonderful vintage flowers and ribbons from an old millinery company. And the cute little handbags in the photo?? Not handbags at all but insulated lunch boxes. How chic and stylish are they? I'll share more photos as the items arrive. Thanks for visiting...

Saturday, August 9, 2008


I've Been Tagged by Michelle of The Raspberry Rabbits so here goes ...
1. I love shoes, all kinds of shoes. I especially love high heels but have no business wearing them (I really can't walk in them too well). The more funky and outrageous, the more I love them. I posted earlier this week about a pair I ordered in NY: they are leopard skin with a peacock feather flower on the toe with a rhinestone pin in the center. I can't wait for them to arrive!! Come Fall I am in cowboy boots. It's not really the thing here in shoreline CT but I just love them.

2. I became an entrepreneur at the age of 8. I used to set up at local crafts fairs with my goodies, my specialty at the time was paper weights: round rocks from Watch Hill, RI decoupaged with pictures of flowers and animals. One of my all time favorite Christmas gifts was a sewing machine when I was 9. So much cooler than a bike. I still sew now but my passion is painting furniture.

3. I don't love to travel, I'm more of a homebody. I go to places I'm comfortable with like NY or Atlanta. Otherwise, it takes a bit to get me somewhere but once I'm there, I'm happy I went.
4. I love where I am in my life right now. I just turned 42, which I thought would be hard but wasn't. I have two wonderful boys, 9 & 12, and a great husband. I have several businesses that I truly enjoy: Flair... a handbag and accessory home party business I have with one of my best friends, Cottage Flair (my website) and The Nosey Goose, the shop I have with my Mother where I sell my furniture. Life really does seem to come into perspective as you get older.

5. I HATE to cook! I am not good at it at all and I see it as an intrusion into my day.

6. I am terrible at keeping in touch with my friends. Thankfully, they all understand and call me.

7. I spend way too much time on my computer!!! but it's so much fun reading blogs and searching for stuff.
Now I am tagging:
Karla and Kristi of Polka Dot Rose
Sister's Gift Company
Cathy of Treasured Heirlooms
Susie of The Polka Dot Rose
Michelle of Rose Petals and Blooms
2chic4shabby

Monday, August 4, 2008


Show and Tell Monday ...
I have two things to show today .... the first is the piece of furniture I had pictured on a post a few weeks ago. I picked this beauty up at an estate sale. I painted and distressed it and it's off to the shop today. I just love the feet and the details at the bottom!


















My business partner and I spent the day in NY yesterday at Accessories The Show. She and I have had a home party business called Flair, for six years. We started our business two years before the home party thing became so common but we are still going strong. We sell handbags, jewelry, wallets, scarves, belts and any other fabulous things we can find. We had a very successful shopping trip yesterday. I wish I had more photos of the wonderful accessories we found. The cute red bag below called the envirosac, an eco friendly bag. It is made of nylon and comes rolled up to take anywhere with you ... grocery store, beach, etc. We bought loads of trendy jewelry, metals are very in. We also found great jewels in deep colors, reds, green, purples. I love the patent leather bags below, the inside is lined in animal print. And yes, animal prints are STILL in after all of these years. The perks to this business are that we often find cool stuff for ourselves. I bought two gorgeous pairs of mules for me ... one is leopard print with peacock feathers on the front with a jewel in the center. The other is black and white gingham with a huge rosette in the same fabric on the toe. I so wish I had a photo of those!!! Thanks for visiting ...