Decorating for a wedding on a tight budget

I just spent the last few days down in Ashland Virginia for the wedding of my nephew at the Center at Hanover Arts  .  I was asked a few months ago to do the staging of the wedding venue.  The couple was on a very tight budget, so creativity was what we all went on.  Photo below by Kathlyn James

I painted this antique frame for the Bride in
 Annie Sloan Chalk Paint - The Sun Glasses were
drawn by my grand-daughter age 7

Close Up...

There were a few others, that we used for introduction, menus and bar selection

a close friend of the family did all of the calligraphy 

The bar sign was made by hot gluing wine corks together

All of the grooms men and the fathers had these cleverly made
cork boutonnieres 

I had this great little helper...some of the table
cloths were a little wrinkled by the time they were placed
on the tables but  it was cheap child labor.

Oh no, oblong tables and round table clothes...well... pin them up
 and make them looked draped...each table came out a little
different

our staging area at the beginning we could see no end

Thank goodness I brought some white ribbon, I went
around clipping greens to hang around the outside of the building

Simple but pretty....I think these were actually on the
neighbor yard!

A simple sign placed at the roadway

The beautiful couple photo by Kathlyn James

They actually had a freight train come through
during the exchange of their vows! photo by Kathlyn James

I think I have ADD

Well, I know I have ADD, and what I am doing now is a brilliant solution to this disorder....Seriously.... I looked it up click on the link!

I finished painting the plant stand for the Art& Craft Show

Started working on this sweet dressing table

Shabby - up these by-folds for a client

Sold this table that I just bought

These were in the drawers

Thinking of using these some how...love them

Projects all over the place

Beginning of the Kitchen prep table

And that was just half of what I accomplished yesterday - Some days are just more productive than others!
!

How the tables turn Alice!

Years ago, we would spend every November in the mountains of Vermont hunting for unique pieces to fill our 150 year old farm house.    I found this little table at a flea market right outside of Okemo Mountain.  It was used in our guest room for years.  We since sold the house and my daughter took possession of the little table, until she no longer wanted it.  I took it back and decided to update it.  The table began to take on its own character as I began to paint.  I became possessed by the turning legs...and decided to have fun!  Let us call this table Alice in Wonderland!

the top is painted in Annie Sloan Palama

The trim is in Annie Sloan Old Violet

The bottom Shelf is painted in Annie Sloan Scandinavia Pink,
 and Old white, spindles in Arles and Duck egg

Second shelf in in Duck Egg with spindles in Old Violet,
 Palamo and Barcelona Orange

This will be apart of my collection at the Chester Arts and Crafts Fair - September 7 and 8th...

A Great Table For A Small Space

Today was wax day... for this great table!!

This piece is great for small space living area.  Sturdy pine structure with drop-leafs painted in Annie Sloan Old White and finished with wax for protection.

I have included several pictures in different lighting.  I will be selling this table at the 40th Annual Chester Craft Show  on September 7th and 8th.  My space is I:3 - Hope to see you there!

Before Photo - Pine drop leaf table

Everyone has a different distress level

 I have found with working with so many clients on commissioned pieces that everyone's distressed level is different .  So after learning my lesson and having to repaint pieces over, I now ask for a picture of their distressed level comfort zone...

One great resource is pinterest - This is my Chalk Paint Board

This piece that I am featuring today is for a new flower shop that opened on 1403 Grand Central Ave , Lavallette, New Jersey; the name is Flowers by Melinda.

This is the piece that was chosen for the shop to be used as a display

Love the details on this piece

I used Annie Sloan Old White

Drawers were all painted a ballerina pink  which is a combo of Old White and Scandinavia Pink

There is a sliding tray in one of the drawers that can be used for business cards

There she is in front of the surf board that floated in after Super Storm Sandy

If you saw yesterday's post I didn't get to the list.

My daily life as a furniture painter

I woke up this morning in a state of flux and not the mathematical type of flow...but the inconsistency/hysteric kind!  Running your own business can be tough, and taking just one day off can throw you into a tail spin.  Yesterday I had to be in NYC for schedule doctors appointments three(3).....

Waiting for the bus...

Wishing it wasn't raining as I would rather ride than walk the entire day

First of 3 doctor visits...Annual Girls Squishing Day 

Finally I met my husband for a glass of wine at Isola in Soho

Headed up town to meet a friend for dinner at Spiga in our old neighbor hood

Today my wake up call of things to be completed today!

Drawers for Flowers by Melinda in Lavelette Beach

Drop leaf table for the Chester Craft Fair September  7&8

Today, its back to "nose to the grind stone" what ever that means.....more pics to follow...