WILL FARMHOUSE LAST FOREVER....

When I attended the Dallas Wholesale Market a few years ago it was plain to see how much Farmhouse Style Decor had taken hold of the decorating world. Except for the extremely high-end showrooms there wasn't a single emporium/co-op that wasn't focusing on everything

F A R M H O U S E!

I guess we can all thank Joanna G for that!  Right?

Everything I was selling in my own booth began to focus on that growing trend. It was getting more and more difficult to find companies that marketed to the cottage/shabby/pastel style home and unless I went online to shop I found myself on the other side of my favorite shade of blush pink...

If you are a true lover of this style decor, I've found unless you shop specifically online, most physical stores do not carry it.  Even Target's once overflowing aisles that were full of Rachel Ashwell's soft, pink rose designs have dwindled down to just a few styles...

I walked into Hobby Lobby the other day and was BLASTED with all things black and white.  If someone is looking for ART (something other than a lettered sign or a cow) they will find only a few choices.

SIGNS.SIGNS.EVERYWHERE A SIGN.

One thing for certain, things change.  I remember when I first started my "home-based-biz" back in the early 1980's country style decorating was all the rage.  Country blue and mauve come to mind and for course ducks...and geese.  You had to have ducks on your canisters and heart shelves on your walls.

These days I have found that the palest of pink Christmas Stockings with vintage laces still sell the best for me (people will never stop having baby girls, I guess) while white remains a very close second.  This pale pink Stocking sold a couple of days ago...

And then just  couple weeks ago I filled a special order for 24 black and white checkered Lavender Sachet Stockings (Booties)...for a true

Farmhouse Decor Lover!!!

Just like bell-bottoms, everything is bound to cycle back again.  Right?

Love to you...

Rebecca

USING RECLAMIED WOOD FOR FARMHOUSE SIGNS

Signs are everywhere.  

Have you noticed that in almost every store you go into reproduced artwork has, for the most part, disappeared?  It's pretty much been replaced with signage and you can find it in all different colors and forms.

The most popular by far, at least for me, are simple wooden shapes painted out in flat white paint with black lettering added in different fonts.

All of the signs you see above were made from the remnants of an old corner cabinet.  Not old as in vintage...nope.  Old as in 1980's old when furniture manufacturers were just starting to really cheapen-down their offerings.

 Last weekend while out JUNKIN' my Mr. AGP Man and I found a chunky looking corner cabinet for a pretty great price and so we hauled it home. 

 The old thing wasn't worth redoing or repairing as it was pretty far gone, but the wood backing and doors were fabulous.  We knew ahead of time we would be purchasing it only for the wood and in no time the entire thing as dismantled and stored in our workshop for later use.

The back panel was in great shape and it was cut up into different sizes of rectangles to make the signs you see above.

I use flat white paint when making my signs, but I use a chalk paint brush to apply it.  This kind of brush gives the BEST coverage with minimal streaks and lines.  They are kind of pricey, but well worth the investment.  Just keep it clean and wash it often...especially if it starts to gunk up!

Blessings~

Rebecca

French Farmhouse Signs...Amazing Grace

A Gathering Place - Vintage Window
Amazing Grace

Hans Hofmann said
"The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak." 

Today I am all about keeping my life calm and seeking peace, grace and comfort in all things. 

 A Gathering Place - Farmhouse Style Signs

Miss Mollie - A Few Years Ago

This morning I sat outside for longer than usual while enjoying the presence of my fourteen year old Yorkie, Mollie.  My mind wandered for a bit, remembering the sweet days when she would chase the squirrels that lived amongst our many trees here at my La Chaumière de Briarwood.  Years ago, after exhausting herself, Mollie would gently inch her way back to me, her topaz colored fur covered lightly in a dusting of our famed Oklahoma red dirt.

She was full of life...and attitude.

Today she was happy to lay by my side as the great-grandsquirrels (no doubt the offspring of those she once tormented) played around her.  I can't help but wonder if she misses the days of her youth like I do or if she is content to rest and just remember...

I'm glad I've had her to love for so long.

~*~

"I do not ask that life shall be
Forever care and sorrow free,
Nor that some distant morning I
Shall not awake to grieve and sigh.
I ask but faith to stand before
Whate'er the future has in store.

Let me be one whose courage springs
From all the countless little things
Of joy and beauty which abound
Wherever man may look around.
Let me exult in peace or strife
That I have had the gift of life."
(Edgar A. Guest) 

Blessings...

Rebecca

~FRENCH FARMHOUSE STYLE CABINET MAKEOVER~

 

Well...do or die I was going to FINISH the transformation of this neat old cabinet if it killed me.  My Mr. AGP Man told me at 11:00 PM (that would be last night or Thursday!) he was going to bed.  I said I'd be there in a few...

Yeah...RIGHT!

(I say that a lot!  Just a FEW MORE....)

 Now it's early morning and I'm finally done with BOTH the pieces I showed you yesterday!

Remember this?

 This cabinet MIGHT have been great during the 90's when trompe l'oeil was really popular, but I'm not sure it would fit today!

(Remember when you could buy topiary stencils?  Country Inn & Suites had them all over their hotels...not sure if they still do today!)

After sanding the cabinet down (especially the front) I de-greased it and then applied a coat of beige paint (flat) followed by two coats of white paint (flat).

After the paint was dry (and after I put a roast in the oven for dinner) I distressed it before adding vintage French images. 
 

(Here's a tip...go to Graphics Fairy and check out her transfer techniques.  There are many to choose from and all but one or two I've used over the years.)

 After the transfer was dry I lightly sanded down the lettering before applying a light wax followed by a dark was in the corners, etc.

This piece is really too big to ship so it is destined for my booth instead of my website

(www.RebeccaVintage.com).

I'm working at the store where I have a booth today and this is going with me.  My Mistah is going with me to unload this one and the desk I showed you yesterday.

(Yep...I got it done too!)

Yeah, I know.  I'm kinda crazy like that!
But...if you felt locked up in a room doing NOTHING for nearly 10 months you'd be breaking out of the madness as well.  Listen...I'm just so happy I have my life back so work is GREAT.GREAT.GREAT!
(getting.better.everyday)

 I'll be back soon to share with you how the desk came out.  That one I just freshened up with white paint, sanded down the top and re-stained it.  A light coat of wax over the paint and it was done.

More than anything I'm so grateful to be able to return to what I love.  
 It was a LONG year....

More soon.

Love to you~

Rebecca

 
  

~FRENCH INFUSED VINTAGE DESK...Oooooh Lahhhhh Lahhhhh~

The year has just marched itself right along, hasn't it?  Can you believe we are in August already?  Where has the year gone?

I'm always saying that and the answer I come up with is always the same.

It flew by waaaayyyyy too fast!

When you are the proprietor of a vendor mall booth like I am you have to think ahead.  Otherwise you (and your sales!) get crushed by the big H. L. (your favorite craft and go-to store).  Fall is around the corner and so this week that is what I'm working on...

AUTUMN, FALL and HARVEST-TIME creations.

Hard to envision crisp, cool weather and falling leaves when it's 100+ degrees outside.  Still...must press onward.

I did take a little time out of my schedule today to finish up a fabulous old desk I had only managed to paint WHITE a few weeks ago.  Wasn't sure what I was going to do with it...just know that things that are plain-ol'-white just don't bring in the money these days...  Not unless the piece is extra fabulous if you know what I mean!  There has to be something SPECIAL attached to the item before people will oooh and ahhhhh about it and then pull out their trusty pocket book and lay down the ca$h.

This great old find was painted with simple white paint and then a vintage French letter was transferred onto the fronts of each of the drawers.  The top was accented with a vintage mailing envelope, also French (both available from Graphics Fairy).

Finished it up with a bit of glaze and wahhh-lahhhh....

DONE!

The desk was originally in incredible condition even though the knobs had been changed out at some point.  I know that only because there were remnants of 'one-hole-knobs' on the back side of each of the drawers.  The brass handles are OK...like them more now that they've been painted and aged!

Looking forward to the summer winding down.  Junkin' is so much MORE FUN when you're not suffering from heat stroke! 

Love to you...

~LOOKING AHEAD IN A NEW DIRECTION...~

I've always believed when one road ends, it's time to look ahead in a new direction.  As my hubby and I work on the last leg of our kitchen remodel, so comes the welcomed opportunity to return to creating, designing and decorating around the things I love.

Those things, too, have changed over the years.  Nothing truly stays the same for long, does it?

When I first started blogging it was all about my passion for painting cottage pink roses, my faith, selling my wares, the re-telling of precious tales about my Miss K (back in 2009 she was a wee girl of only seven), my Mr. AGPMan and the simple, sometimes complicated story of living our lives inside our La Chaumière de Briarwood...  Next month we will have called her home for 23 years~

As the years have pressed onward, so have we! Our lives are constantly evolving...new job in January 2014 for my hubby and with it came fresh opportunities to enjoy the things we've been blessed with.  I'm so grateful for a peaceful home, good friends and for over-the-top projects that are coming to an end.

Still...there are always things to do!  This morning as I surveyed my studio I realized she is in dire need of a facelift...  She needs to be de-floofed, cleaned up and returned to a more manageable space.  I continue to love all things vintage, I'm just working at achieving a bit more scaled back and refined look all across my home.  Our kitchen renovation has taken all of our focus for so long now and today I'm actually excited about paying some attention to the other rooms in our home...

This past weekend my Mr. AGPMan drove down to Dallas for the summer Wholesale Market.  Came back with wonderful ideas and tons of inspiration.  The talent behind the showrooms is simply incredible...  All the pictures I've shared with you (except the candles) are from one of my favorites...

Anyway...just wanted to say HELLO, catch you up on a few things and also say that LIFE IS STILL GOOD! 

Blessings and love to you...

~STILL SWINGIN' THE BRUSH...~

 ~MILK & CREAM SIGN~

During our kitchen renovation I've tried really hard to keep up with my business!  I've managed to continue to restock my local Booth, but my website has suffered terribly for a long time...especially so since Christmas.  With the completion of our remodel on the horizon (thank you, God!) I've had a chance to sit down for a bit and take stock in what I do...why I do it...and if changes are in order, prepare for them as well.

 ~BOULANGERIE BAR STOOL~

Things are always changing, aren't they?

My Mr. AGPMan and I are seriously considering doing something new that relates to selling my wares beyond my booth and online.  Not sure just how things will play out...but, at the very least it's exciting to consider something fresh and different.  As our plans unfold I'd love for you to tag along...

~MAIZE & BLACK~

It means lots of French Farmhouse style complements, furniture and bits of lace and finery.  I'm eager to get started.  I also want to revamp my blog and my website...but, that's going to take some big help from the Mr. and the Mr.'s son! :)

~FRENCH SIDE TABLE~

Yesterday I worked on more Signs, a sweet bar stool that needed a transformation and also a charming little side table I picked up at the local thrift...  All of them will be offered somewhere...Booth, Etsy and/or beyond!

~GREAT VINTAGE GRAPHICS~

More soon.  Thank you so much for stopping by...

~OLD FRENCH SCRIPT~

Love to you~

~EVERY LOVE STORY...~

 I've been keeping busy this week working on fun new website and Booth offerings!

Isn't this staying the sweetest thing?

"Every LOVE STORY is beautiful, 

but ours is my  favorite."

Just finished the outside of this vintage Suitcase!  

 LOVE the French Farmhouse look and feel to it!

Now for the inside!

These are busy days for me.

Trusting for a promising Fall.

Love to you...

~FARMHOUSE FINDS~

Promise...I'm still alive!  Just busy working and enjoying creating new things!  Just finished up the vintage style Candle Box you see above!  When I stumble upon great finds like this I just jump for joy!  No before pics...forgot!  UGH!  You should have seen it though...UGLEEEEE!!!!

I found two charming old toolboxes at a local sale a few days ago...

I love how they came out..both sold last night and that makes me VERY HAPPY!

This weekend we are taking our Miss K to the Oklahoma State Fair!  What fun!  Trying to decide if I'm going to ride the roller coaster.  Can you believe our girl is almost 11?  Neither can I!

More soon.

Love to you...