Howsewears

Friday, September 30, 2011

Building Character

Yes, Froggers. I have taken the plunge. I now rent some space in a funky warehouse in Lancaster, PA, called Building Character. It's a great place with unique items, and was recently voted the second best place to buy antiques in Lancaster. Pretty cool.
I'm very excited to start this new adventure. The name of my business is Howsewears and the tag line is "Wearable Art for your Home". I'm specializing in painted furniture with a twist, and custom signs (including subway art). I've slightly nervous, but if I wasn't, that would be a warning sign.
I also have a Facebook page, obviously called Howsewears. I've been so busy with my inventory that I haven't had time to work on my web site (howsewears.com), or the Facebook page, but they'll both be up and running, hopefully by the end of the month. So, feel free to "like" my Howsewears page.
Building Character also participates in the First Friday events in downtown Lancaster, with live music, etc. So if you're in the area, I'd love to see you! Stop in and say, "Hi".
Here are a couple of pics to give you an idea what my space looks like. I need to do some painting, etc. but it will come along. It looks somewhat sparse because the photographer, who is doing some advertising, has some items at another location.

It's amazing what you can do with chalk paint. These gourds turned out so cute! I wanted to keep them, but alas, I can't keep everything I do.

Here they are with the bureau I did. I like the combo.

And here is my tiny space. I'll get there. I'm pretty stoked, though. I have a zillion and one ideas for things to make, ways to decorate the space. Can you say, "drop cloth curtains???" But, this will do for now.

So, there you have it. I'll let you know how things go.
Fondly, Tami

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Oak Chest

Hey, Froggers. I've been busy getting more stuff ready for my NEW SPACE!!! Yup, I've taken the plunge. I've taken over some space in Lancaster, PA called Building Character. I am uber excited about it. My new business is called Howsewears- Wearable Art for your Home. I'll have pics of my space in a future post. Here's the newest item that will be placed in this funky warehouse:

She started out like this:

All in all, she wasn't bad looking.

She was a little roughed up.

She was missing the top key medallion, but never fear. I had a plan.

She needed some filling and sanding.

I started using some graphite chalk paint, having some idea of what I wanted, but I wasn't quite sure.

After much contemplation, a few sketches, several prayers, and some raw nerve, I started painting, using a dry brush technique and some old white chalk paint.

This was a lot of fun to do.

The key medallion was refashioned. I was going to just leave them off, but they added some character.

When I chipped off the existing 2 medallions, one of them was intact, so I used some mold n pour to make a mold, then I made 2 more out of Fimo clay. You can bake the clay in these molds, so that was incredibly useful. To unmold the clay would have distorted it too much.

Since the top didn't look too bad, I sanded her down, added several coats of mahogany Briwax, and buffed to a lovely luster. The top turned out so gorgeous, if I do say so myself.

The flaming is so lucious.

And here she is in her full glory. I'm kinda likin' her. But alas, she must take a trip to Building Character to find a new home. Do you like her?

Fondly, Tami

BTW, I'm linking to:

Somewhat Simple

Brambleberry Cottage

House of Hepworths

The Shabby Creek Cottage

Savvy Southern Style

Beyond the Picket Fence

My Romantic Home

Finding Fabulous for Less

Simply Designing

Coastal Charm

Chic on a Shoestring

Be Different, Act Normal

Remodelaholic

Sisters of the Wild West

Tip Junkie

Between Naps on the Porch

2805

French Country Cottage

Miss Mustard Seed

The Shabby Nest

The Southern Institute

Knick of Time Interiors

Today's Creative Blog

Primitive and Proper

A Diamond in the Stuff

My 1929 Charmer Blog

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Bar stool- Reverse Stenciling

Hello again, Froggers. The title of my post was going to be "stool", but being a nurse, it just didn't look right, so I changed it.
I started out with a plain oak stool that I bought at a yard sale for about $2. It just needed a few minor adjustments by tightening the screws.
I didn't get a full before pic but you've all seen them.
I wanted to do a pattern on the top, and as usual, I just designed a pattern, cut it out with vinyl, and painted over it.
I started out with a black base coat, because that's what color I wanted the design to be (you almost have to think backwards). I used granite chalk paint for this.

I tried to cheat and use contact paper instead of vinyl to increase my profit margin. The contact paper was a little too flimsy. It did work, but it required some more fussing than I wanted to engage in.

Then I painted over the contact paper with old white chalk paint.

Because I was working on a circle, and my design wasn't perfectly symmetrical, I forgot to "square it off" with the legs, resulting in some (*#$@Y#)% words (or at least thinking about them). So, I painted over it with black and started all over.
It's important to know that I always pull my vinyl up when the paint is slightly wet. The danger in doing this is risking letting go of your vinyl, having it flop back on your design and smudging it. However, those of us who make these kinds of mistakes just call them "new techniques" and call it a day.

Here's what the final looks like:

I'm kinda tickled with it.

Here it is after a light sanding, some clear Briwax, and some buffing.

Yeah. Pretty pleased here.
And, stay tuned for my tutorial on how to use vinyl with your subway art, replete with tips and tricks that I learned after making uber numbers of mistakes!
Fondly, Tami
I'm linking to:
Today's Creative Blog
Not Just A Housewife
House of Grace
The Tip Junkie
Coastal Charm
Blue Cricket Design
Night Owl Crafting
Handy Man, Crafty Woman
Flamingo Toes
Ginger Snap Crafts
Primitive and Proper
Restore Interiors
Primp
Domestically Speaking
The Shabby Creek Cottage
Beyond the Picket Fence
House of Hepworths
My Romantic Home
Finding Fabulous for Less
Chic on a Shoestring
Designer Garden
Sisters of the Wild West
Funky Junk Interiors
Miss Mustard Seed

Monday, September 19, 2011

Chillaxin' in Maine

Hey, Froggers! Well, you caught me at a great time because I'm refreshed from a week in Maine. Yup. It was the first vaca without the kids...well, young adults. We've empty nested (as "empty" as we can be, still paying 2 college payments, picking kids up for breaks, answering phones in the middle of the night about grades, a boyfriend, lack of a boyfriend, etc.). It was a FAB FAB FAB time. The weather was perfect, and HubbyDoc and I did a lot of biking, eating, resting, reading, and crafting (yes, he is a crafter as well).
Since I couldn't take my furniture along (although I almost made HubbyDoc bring home a dresser from a yard sale), I did some other crafting.
So, those of you who don't stamp, you may be bored with the rest of the post. But, for those of you who do, read on, 'cause I think you'll like what you see.
I learned a trick a few years back. I don't like all of my heavy, wooden stamps, and prefer to just have the rubber sitting around for me to mount it on an acrylic block and stamp away. Storage is so much simpler!
Needless to say, I have many un-rubbered blocks sitting around, like this one.

So one day, I was thinking, "They're wood, they're a clean palate, and they're small. They're PERFECT to decorate!" Then I did. Decorate. I love them. They can be tucked in anywhere in your home for a surprise little effect.

Here's one with Penny Duncan's gorgeous poinsettia.

This next one is done with Tim Holtz's embossing resist technique that is my new fave technique.

Same technique, different stamps and colors:

This one has the wonderful vintagy glitter from Stampin' Up.

And here's the back of the one above:

I used a vintage santa that I got from a site on-line. Gotta love freebies!

And, I believe they look nice as a grouping.

Don't you think that these would make lovely hostess gifts during the holidays?
Let me know what you all think. And, if you creative Froggers have any other ideas, please LMK!!!
Now I gotta go do some housework, bill paying, and furniture rehabilitation. I have so much to do today, that I put myself on a strict schedule. And, I'm actually stickin' to it, except for this little diversion. Back to work!
Fondly, Tami
I'm linking to:
A Diamond in the Stuff
Bella Before and After
Coastal Charm
Crayon Freckles
Embellishing Life
Hope Studios
Ladybug Blessings
Make it Monday

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Wax brushes

Hi, Froggers. I have been enjoying some much needed time with HubbyDoc and have neglected my blog. I know, I know. Send the blog police, why don't cha?
I have been reading about the Annie Sloan Chalk Paint (which I ADORE) and all of the accoutrements and I wanted to mention something.
If you're anything like me, when a new product comes along, sometimes I feel like I just HAVE to have it, especially when my Blog Idols are using it. Being on a fixed income- meaning that all of my income is fixed to going to college payments for 2, I can't afford to be getting the latest and greatest of everything.
Which brings me to wax brushes.
I do admit that when I started using ASCP, I just had to have that expensive Italian wax brush. But, being somewhat frugal (remember the dumpster incident?), I looked around for a similar brush. I checked several craft stores (you know, the ones with the coupons?). I couldn't find anything that looked like the Big Beautiful Brush that "applies wax so beautifully". So, I bought the Big, Beautiful brush when I was at Luckett's (finding it at On a Whim down the street). Miss Mustard Seed, in her tutorial, stated that the brush will shed some fibers along the way. She was right. Every time I wax (my furniture, that is), I have to pull some of those errant little hairs off of my lovely finish.
Then one day, I went shopping with my mom and daughter. We went to a local kitchen outlet that I have not been to in ages. EUREKA!!! As I was in the bakeware section, I noticed a pastry brush. Not as big as the Big, Beautiful Brush, but it was the same type of brush. The fibers appeared natural (which is probably important), so I bought it.
Verdict? I love it. Since I'm not always doing large projects, I don't always need a large brush. As a matter of fact, when my Big, Beautiful Brush is drying, I use this one. When I'm near it and can take a picture, I will.
So, Froggers, continue to think outside of the box.
And, I read somewhere (from a Frogger, of course), that an economical and safe way to clean your wax brush is to soak it in vegetable oil for a while, then clean it with Dawn detergent and hang to dry. I've been doing it for several months now, and it works like a charm!
That's it for now. I must go continue vacationing. Yeah!
Fondly, Tami
P.S. The Little Cheap Brush doesn't shed fibers any more than the Big, Beautiful Brush. Just sayin'.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Dumpster Diving

Well, Froggers. I have stooped to the bottom. Yup. Dumpster Diving. Well, I didn't actually go in the dumpster. I picked something up beside the dumpster. So, I think that doesn't qualify. Or does it?
You see, a good friend tipped me off briefly before church started 2 Sundays ago. He told me about a chest of drawers that looked like it was in good condition near his daughter's apartment.
And, yes. I did immediately look at my watch. Shucks. Church was starting in a few minutes. Could I just slip out without anyone seeing me?

I succumbed to internal pressure to stay. As my pastor was talking about God's love, I was thinking about Furniture Love. You know. The deal of the century. The piece that didn't get away? That great piece of furniture that you procured for FREE?

Would it still be there? Would it start raining and ruin what was left on the finish? Would someone else get there right before me and snatch it from my clutches?

As soon as church was over and I paid my requisite greetings to my Fellow Christians (although could they call me that after I hadn't paid attention all morning?). A streak was seen as I exited the building. Well... not quite. After all, I really can't run that fast.

HubbyDoc, Youngest, and I drove the Subaru to said location, and lo and behold, it was still there! Joy and Jubilation! We pulled out all of the ~~trash~~ items that were placed in front of it. We jiggled the drawers, rocked the base, and checked the joints. The only thing that was wrong with it was that the runner for the bottom drawer was broken. No problem. I'll just ask my dad to fashion the piece for me and I'll nail it in.

Now, here's the funny part. Since Youngest was in a hurry to go to lunch with a friend, and the Subaru would only hold the chest plus 2 people, I decided to wait for HubbyDoc to drive home, drop off Youngest, and then come back and pick me up. Keep in mind that we had just come from church.

Our church is very casual. However, this particular Sunday, I decided to wear my cute new sandals with heels. Once Hubbydoc went home, I was left, literally standing on a street corner waiting for him to return. In the rain. It was then that I discovered that perhaps I looked less like an innocent Furniture Stealer and more like a Hoochie Mama. As people drove by in my conservative, small town, I received looks like I've never received before.

So, just call me Hoochie Mama Dumpster Diver.

Here's the chest in its nakedness.

I love wooden knobs. They're so versatile.

And here's the transformation:

I painted it with a combination of Versailles chalk paint and Paris Grey. There are actually numbers on the chest, but there's not enough contrast for the camera to pick them up. I was a little disappointed that you can't see them well, but perhaps that's the charm of the look. Yeah. I'll pretend it was planned.