GETTING BACK INTO THE STUDIO

I've worked so long at having a booth and now that I no longer have it I've struggled a bit to really get back into my studio and focus!  I've been so used to being busy, busy, BUSY with full-on retail that settling down my mind has been a bit of a challenge.

It's so strange how you can slip right out of the groove of creating.

I've just been busy with life and then sometimes I forget the ongoing affection I have for working with thread and needle will never truly go away.

Nor will my love for painting!

I'm so thankful to be back doing what I love without the pressure of displaying and stocking a large booth.

It's funny though how you get out of a routine if you're not careful.

But...life indeed moves us forward and these days I work with a different kind of intensity and purpose.  I just love making something from vintage fabric finds, snippets of  old lace and forgotten fragments saved from another's life...

Working with my hands is so rewarding.

Sometimes change is hard.

Really hard.

Giving up my booth (and it's fabulous location in the shoppe) was tough.

Still...I knew it was the right thing to do.

  

In the Spring (thinking far ahead here!) my Mr. AGP Man is going to turn our small storage shed in the far east corner of our backyard into a painting studio for me.

I'm very excited about what I hope will be a very inviting space!

I've found it's just too difficult to try and paint (I can be messy) inside my current studio that houses sweet fabrics and trims!  Time to rethink my work space(s).

So...whatever is going on in your life...don't give up on YOU or those dreams spinning around in your head!

If you're like me, sometimes I just have to take time to refill my empty "heart and head" with fresh inspiration and then adjust my thought process in order to get through the tough days that sometimes crash into my life!

Blessings to you today as you make your way through the your own winding path...

Love to you...

Rebecca

~FOLLOW YOUR SOUL...~

Today I'm killing myself diligently working in my studio trying to organize my work space.  I must say that it has gotten completely out of control.

Seriously.

Way too much STUFF and now that I no longer have a large retail booth I have no need for all the extra paraphernalia!  I've loaded up four huge bins worth of JUNQUE and off to the donation center I will go this afternoon!  And I have a lot more reorganizing to go before I'm finished!  I'm already excited about the final outcome!

It feels good to purge. And weed out...

To give away.

To share.

To toss.

I feel like I can breathe again...(well, almost!)...

I somewhat liken working within my studio walls to the life of an avid gardener.  Just like tending the earth's soil and making sure it's nutrients are rich and balanced by the Planter, so goes my life as a sewer of fine things.  If I'm not careful, weeds of workplace disorganization flourish (from a lack of "pruning"?) and I end up with an abundance of dormant supplies (barren seeds?) complicated by the mind-boggling awareness I've wasted a lot of hard-earned ca$h.  It's impossible for me to create anything in a space that is overgrown and full of weeds.  I end up standing around and asking myself "where do I begin?"...

The Silhouette Cutter I purchased nearly three years ago is a great example of what I'm talking about.

WEEDS!

 I swore I just had to have it...  I've used it ONCE and it's gathered a lot of dust  since dragging it home!  That EXPENSIVE piece of equipment was NOT necessary for me to design the things I'm passionate about creating.  That fancy gizmo may be fabulous for someone else, just not for me.  At least not now anyway.  Honestly,   I'd rather have my $275 back!!!!

Choices!

Sometimes I make really silly ones!

I have at least another full day of work ahead of me before I finish "tilling the piles of fabric" in hopes they will one day bloom into a garden of lovely keepsakes.

I've asked God to help me tend to the field before me and pay attention to the fleurs budding within my own hothouse instead of staring at the plantings in another's...  

I'm following my soul.  It knows the way.

"It was already planted in good soil and had plenty of water so it could grow into a splendid vine and produce rich leaves and luscious fruit."  Ezekiel 17:8 NLT

Love to you...

Rebecca

~PERHAPS THIS IS THE MOMENT...~

The heat of the summer sun is blistering our aging deck and it's on days like this that I find myself longing for early spring mornings when I could take a quick, brisk walk around my neighborhood will Mollie (Yorkie-Dog).  Those cooler days came and went so fast!!!  Didn't they?  I escape the heat by enjoying my studio time and preparing for the busyness that comes as the holidays approach.

I learned a long time ago when you are in the business of creating and selling you have to work wisely and plan early!  If you don't you never catch up AND don't enjoy those very special days...

I snapped a few more pictures of my AGP Studio.  I actually had these closet doors in our guest room~but we turned that room into our office when my Mr. AGP Man changed jobs and no longer needed a large home-based office.  I love how they look in here!  Another pair of matching closet doors are to the left of the photos and I'll show them next time!

This precious old photo is of me, my sister, Faith and my brother, Bill.  I love how my tongue is sticking out!  I found it about a year ago in some old papers that belonged to my father and it hadn't been seen in almost 40 years...  I just had to include it with some of the framed vintage pictures that I love...

The vintage looking ceiling tile (at the top!) was refurbished a couple of weeks ago.  My longtime friend, Karen, gave me the piece (she's always giving me wonderful treasures!) and after painting it I added the scripture found in the book of Esther.  I need to be reminded sometimes that I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing with my life.

 I've had these photo storage boxes for a long, long time and I planned on painting them many moons ago.  I finally got around to it last week...  They were different colors and patterns and I wanted them to match.

I'm weird like that!

Each one is different!  My favorite is the one with the vintage shoe on the top!  I used this exact altered art image sometime back on a note card!

 Here's another one.  I love it, too!

I'll be back soon to share a bit more.  You can always visit me on FB...I'm there, too!  

Blessings~

Rebecca

~I JUST LOVE MY HAPPY LIFE...with a Wee Bit of CHAOS!~

Well...what do they say about having the best-laid-plans?  OMGOSH!  Everyday I think I'm going to get back here and type out a few lines and then my crazy-busy life takes ovahhhh and things take a nose dive.

I love chaos.

Don't you?

Yeah...me either!

Anyway...our Fourth of July was GREAT and I love being around my kids.  They've grown up to be the most amazing [[ADULT]] human beings.  I'm such a happy momma!

I've been working on my studio and trying to purge and reorganize my stash of fabulous finds.  My Mr AGP Man has done his magic once again and has worked tirelessly refurbishing some of the things I USED to love.  I promise to share pictures soon of where I create.  So much has changed even though I smile when I look back on old pictures of my workplace.

Finished this sweet vintage lace pillow for a longtime customer.  I still, and always will, love working with vintage and tattered laces and old millinery finds.  Gives me so much joy to work with my hands nearly pain free.  I'm sooo grateful.  Can't begin to tell you how much.

Now...here's something that will surely convince you that my life here in Middle-America isn't perfect!

At 3:30 today I left my La Chaumière de Briarwood bound for the eye doctor.  My new glasses are NOT working right so I need an adjustment (or whatever!).  I get into my SUV on this nearly 100 degree day and it won't start.  SERIOUSLY?  Soo....I sit there for a second trying to get the thing to turn over before realizing I had just walked through water and the sprinkler wasn't on.  Our sewer-check-valve had spilled my washing machine water all over the front yard.  I get out of the car, go back inside, call the hubbs and BEG ask him to come home early.  He's says OK (yipeee!) and 30 minutes later he walks in the door.  I'm at my computer when I hear this "What's wrong with the air conditioner?"  (As IF I would know!)  I respond with a "Umm...Hi Baber...don't know!  What's it NOT doing?  I just now noticed it was kinda gettin' hot in here!"  Hubbs then goes outside and realizes the A/C isn't working.  WHAT?  (Thankfully he was in the business many, many years ago and knows the trade.)  So...the man of my dreams (sickening, I know!) proceeds to change out the capacitor (we always have one on hand because it's gone out before!) while still in his dress shirt...whizzes me off to the eye doctor just before they close at 5pm then we hurry back home so he can check out the water problemo and jump my SUV!

Exciting life we have, isn't it?  All this in 1.75 hours.  WHEW! 

Promise to be back soon with something!!  And hopefully with less drama and more pictures!  :)

Blessings...

Rebecca

~REWORKING THE STUDIO~

 I've been working in my studio as free time permits (yeah...like I really HAVE any of that!) and last week made some serious progress mixing things up.  These days I'm all about working smarter, not harder!

I'm lovin' the changes!

For whatever the reason, I just can't get rid of this truly funky looking chest of drawers with it's oddly placed knobs.  Decided to keep the aging vintage piece (that's actually super sturdy and strong) and just add some vintage French graphics to the front.  Inside the drawers are layers and layers and LAYERS of old lace and at this time of the year I'm digging inside them non-stop!

Christmas Stockings

Christmas Pillows

and

Christmas Sachets

are coming...

See this amazing table?  I scored it at an estate sale a couple of weekends ago for only $30.  It has two leaves which makes it long enough to fill up the center of my studio.  I'm way past the point of standing while I work and so the new addition of the table makes creating so much more enjoyable.  The solid wood top was originally varnished, as were the legs.  I de-glazed them and painted the legs and table skirting with chalk paint.  I stripped the top with Klean Kutter spray varnish remover before giving it a coat of AS dark wax followed by clear wax.  LOVE how it came out!  I'm loving this natural bit of wood in the room....

Finished these two Christmas Stockings a few days ago and several more as well...  The one below was fashioned using the flounce of an early 1900s cotton dress...  Love using vintage clothing and working them into new designs for the home.  Some pieces are tattered and worn and simply beyond repair.  So...the salvageable parts are given a new lease on life for a new generation to enjoy!

I'm hoping to be busy for the balance of the year and I'm grateful for the work and the biz...

Hope your week is wonderful.

 Just had to stop in and say hello.

Love to you...

~~~~~CREATING A GATHERING PLACE~~~~~ ~*WHERE BLOGGERS CREATE III PARTY*~ MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE

At the top of the stairs in my

La Chaumière de Briarwood...

 Just to the left and past the door of my master bedroom...

 You'll find a sweet little room where I spend the majority of my time...

 ~*WELCOME*~

~~PLEASE COME IN~~

It’s behind this freshly painted, crisp white door I'm blessed to live out the best of my childhood dreams...

 

 

 It is within these simple and uncomplicated walls I'm able let my imagination soar and allow a lifetime of thoughts and ideas to take flight...

 It's truly "A Gathering Place" of sorts for all the deeply rooted passions and unwavering thoughts that continue to live inside my heart...

 My spirit thrives here...

 Surrounding my senses with vintage beauty, much of it created long ago by loving hands, inspires me daily...

 I take great pleasure in honoring the work of those who've lived, learned, taught and shared before me...

      

 I pray to waste-not each of their talents...

 Whether working with old laces, vintage images, ephemera or antique graphics, I strive daily to create with joy and purpose…

 I love antique clothing made with French lace…

and transforming baby shoes into keepsakes...

 Vintage ribbon…

 Vintage Trims...

 

 

  Lacy Christmas stockings...

 

Baubles, bangles and beads…

 

 

Vintage buttons and bells...

 Fragrant sachets and pillows...

And working with artwork painted long before my time...
 
I love vintage sewing goods...
 

 

Jars, bottles and all things glass!
 
I have a weakness for beautiful fabric...

 

And more fabric!

Old flowers make me swoon...
 
Vintage hats with millinery roses, too!
 
I absolutely adore my easy-to-use Euro Sewing Machine....
 
But my commercial home JANOME Rocks the house!

 Not sure anything will ever surpass my WHITE Serger!
 
I listen to great music stored behind these cabinet doors (especially great during the summer when I'm working on Christmas!)

It's also a great place to store my blank paper goods for card making...

Did I tell you I love vintage lace?

Oh yeah...I did!
  
Jars of old buttons and rolls of vintage ribbon just call out my name...
 
(Rebecca!  Get over here and save us from, um, well...that other lady that wants us!!)
 
Custom woven labels are the best!  I've had these for over 15 years now...

Printable fabric changed our world, didn't it?
 
Vintage lighting sets the mood!  It's a must have for me...but, these days I have to have a lot more of it...
 
I'm forever on the lookout for vintage buttons on their original cards...
 
And little containers to hold all my finds...

(And no...it doesn't ALWAYS look this cleaned up!  Are you kiddin' me???) :)

My life is blessed.  I know it.

I was inspired to create early on by watching my talented Grandfather...
 
and his amazingly gifted daughter, my Mother,
 
work their magic with paint and brush...
 
Not to be outdone, my Grandmother, uncomplicated and direct, taught me to stitch a fine seam...
 
My Father, deeply connected to the earth and all her beauty, gave rise to my love of language and the written word...
 
My Children, birthed when not much more than a wee girl, instilled within me true strength and courage.  Assisted by the Most High, they remain my proudest accomplishment...
 
My beloved, Steven, without your daily encouragement, praise and belief in me, without your support and love when others doubted (or said "Get a real JOB!"), I'd have surely failed.  Because of you my dreams have lived on...

You are the greatest of all my loves.
You are my hero.

And to God...thank you for...
EVERYTHING!

~~*~~

Thank you, Karen, at My Desert Cottage

 and the entire crew over at
 WHERE WOMEN CREATE 
 for allowing us all to showcase our studios, craft corners, cubbies and table-top spaces.  It's because of you our creations and our passions have a greater chance to live on and on...

For PINK SATURDAY I've linked up with Miss Beverly of How Sweet The Sound!  Please stop in a say hello to all the pink lovin' gals out there!   You will surely be inspired!

Thank you all for stopping by!  You bless me so much!

Love to you...

REBECCA