...: 2011

Friday, December 2, 2011

Happy International LoliDay!

Big hair,

big skirts and

pink afros..........can you dig it?!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Summer is Almost Over - Sigh!

Casting long shadows,

saying goodbye to bare feet,

Hello bunions...

Back to work!

Friday, July 22, 2011

I have a best friend. She doesn't tell me the things I want to hear. She says the things I need to hear. She pushes me to expand my artistic horizons and causes me to become a better artist. I love her dearly.

Recently, she and her husband celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary by renewing their wedding vows. As a well seasoned, southern, perpetual bridesmaid, I always do what the bride asks of me. Anything I can do to make it a perfect day for the bride!

She asked me to make table centerpieces. Oh boy! She wanted dress forms. The design meetings revealed many details to be incorporated. She provided me with paper mache dress forms, a yard of vintage pink satin, glass candle holders and feathers.

Here is how my love for her manifested itself:

Black Velvet Rhinestone Dress Form

My Favorite! Marie Antoinette White Lace Dress Form

Pink My Fair Lady Dress Form

Pink Satin and Pearls Dress Form

Pink Satin and Silver Glitter Dress Form

80's Style White Lace with Black Velvet Ribbon Dress Form

Another 80's Style White Lace with Pink Ribbon Dress Form

I needed to make one more, especially for her table. I was suffering from artists block and thinking how am I going to make her special dress form truly spectacular and use the large dress form she gave me. We called her "Big Bertha." Well.....ask and you shall receive! Along comes another artist friend who encouraged me:

Big Bertha No More! Now, she's Teresita! A Wonderful Pink Dress Form with a Pink Sparkly Crown!

Large Pink Dress Form - Teresita

Large Pink Dress Form -Teresita

Both friends decided that I should list my dress forms on ETSY! And so I did......

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

This is What I Do

I've been totally perplexed about what to do in my blog. I think I'm ready, at last.

My blog will be a little about my brick and mortar store, Neat Old Stuff.

And, a lot about what me and my friends create.

First, a lot of folks are CRAZY about their one of a kind treasures, and secondly, they don't want to be copied. I can respect that. I used to get upset when other store owners would copy my displays or decorating style. I finally got over myself and learned to accept the compliment. So, I'll include stuff that belongs to me (that is, until I sell it!). Okay, enough of that dribble.....on with the pictures!

I use pretty tins to distract you.


Here's how I hide furniture I've not been able to upholster yet. I used this chair as a table and messed with your perspective with this small chest of drawers.

Here's a work in progress. My first attempt at rolled roses.

French Provincial Chair with a ruched damask fabric cushion. I couldn't stand that it was brown and all nappy! I recovered, painted and distressed it.

Aaaaah! Much better!

Oh Gosh! This is one of my favorite pieces. I have a settee, chair and credenza that were oh so woody, but beautifully hand carved.

I found this wonderful fabric and had just enough to recover both the settee and chair!

See what I mean.....woody!

Being Creole, I'll throw paint on anything that isn't 400 years old!

This started out as window casing. I added a chalk tray and this incredible cartouche. Threw on my Neat Old Stuff signature paint.....Voila! a chalkboard.

Lampshade, hand sewn by MEEEEEE! And, a 1930's pinup girl. Did I tell you I'm crazy about Marie Antoinette?

This is a bird cage with a giant crown from the 1960's. I had to paint it and wire it into a chandelier. Did I mention I'm crazy about chandeliers?

The birds that live in my chandelier.

Another birdcage. This one has a bride and another chandelier! (Is there such a thing as chandelier therapy?)

This is a tag made by my BFF Teresita`!

This is a crown that my friend Annette made! Did I mention we have a thing for crowns?

At first we put this crown on one of Annette's saints, but we settled on Marie Antoinette! (I think it's perfect!) Okay, note to self, therapy for this M.A. thing.