2016 Business Resolutions

I can't say I was too sad to see 2015 go. I had started out in January like most people, excited about the prospects of a clean slate.  I wrote resolutions. Promised myself things would finally change. Well, change they certainly did, but not in the way I had intended them to. God had a different plan. Personally, my world was turned upside down. My life was significantly altered and all those "resolutions" I had penned in a small notebook at the beginning of the year, seemed far away, and almost childish.

But I'm glad to say, with Gods relentless help, I came through the other side and am now excited for the prospects of a year planned by God. That's the difference-it's how I approach it.

I know that God is in control and I'm going wherever he leads, BUT i also know it's important for me to take an active approach to my life as well, getting up and getting moving.  So, that's the direction I am headed in, onward & upward.  Just moving forward one step at a time and allowing God to direct my path.

That said, one of my steps forward is every Sunday i join my husband, (or soon to be husband on February 22, we are getting remarried after being divorced 14 years, lol, go figure, those are those "God has another plan" things I was talking about) in an "intentional work session". We go to Starbucks, grab a coffee (i get Hot chocolate) and we set up shop.  We work strictly on our businesses.  Coordinating schedules for the week, writing up estimates, writing this blog even.  Talk about dreams, goals and visions for what the plans are for the upcoming week, month, year and how we are moving forward business wise.  It started as a fluke but has now grown into a really rich time.  A time of focus and forward thinking.

So it is with that intension that I want to share the items I have done during the week.  If I have some creative ideas I want to share them.  As I keep moving forward with this, so does my business.  It puts things into perspective but also lets me see how far I have progressed.

Here we go.....

These are a couple items I finished this week:

I also painted and submitted two paintings that have since been approved and moved to our PaintNite library for purchase.  Magnificent Magnolia & Midnight Memories are the newest addition to my growing work in acrylics on canvas.

Come paint with me some night if you are in the Syracuse area! Go to Paintnite.com to find an event, use coupon code MARYM20 for $20 off and be prepared to relax and have fun!

I look forward to spending some time with you every week. Sharing some ideas I have percolating, projects I'd love feedback on and taking my business to the next level.  I am excited!

Please follow along on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest or here!

happy creating!

Mary

A Jazzed-Up Speaker's Podium

 Laura had seen me at the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival  and wrote  me a few weeks later to ask me about a really cool idea she had.

Laura is a high school English teacher and had a vision of creating a special space where her students could read their papers/speeches from.

She had gone online to price out a few stands and soon discovered that they were a lot of money for just wood.  Nothing stood out to her as unique or fun, so she thought perhaps we could build her something.  She has seen pictures of our dog food storage boxes and thought perhaps we could build something for her classroom.

With notebook & camera in hand we went to Home Depot to do some brainstorming.  After laying out many different projects/ideas in the isles, our design really started to take shape when we saw this column.  I wrote her with our final thoughts that night and by the next day we were back at the store finalizing our plan.

These were the items we left with.

We purchased the decorative colonial house beam first.  I loved the scoops and loops, rings and things and figured I could do a lot with it.  More so than just the fence beams we had originally thought of, and much more feminine that just building a box.  We knew we'd have to cut off a lot to make it the correct size but even with that, it still had more to offer design wise.

We then found these great pre-cut circles for only $5 a piece! What?! Can you say Jackpot! 

We also purchased L brackets, and bookshelf brackets to cover the L brackets after we connected the post to the base.

We also knew because the top circle would be at an angle there would need to be something that would keep the paper from sliding off.  We had tried a variety of trim pieces, but nothing seemed to go.  Then I had an epiphany-yes, right there in Home Depot!  I would use a Scrabble letter holder! Perfect, right?!

We measured the height and then made our cuts.

Then we secured the post to the base.

Then attached the pre painted shelf brackets to hide the hardware.

We then needed to attach the top.  Now, because this was going to be used by teenagers we knew we'd have to secure it pretty darn good. Which meant we'd have to screw it into the post as well as glue it.

The thing was I wasn't trilled with the idea of having screws in the center of my art piece and I wasn't excited about the prospect of covering them up with wood putty either.  There had to be something more...decorative.

Then I found these!  For just $2 at AC Moore I found my answer.  I would screw the disk into the post then cover it up with this applique-BEAUTIFUL!

After the center piece was secure, I then glued on the Scrabble letter holder and held it in place with painter's tape until it was dry.

I finished painting the piece and added Laura's chosen quote to the front.

"Go into the world and do well. But more importantly go into the world and do good."

This was the final piece. Front and back.

This was the first project we'd ever done like this and I have to say I was pretty pleased with the end result.  I'm hoping her students will love reading from it and perhaps it may take their minds off, if only for a minute, of the terrifying task of public speaking.

Here are the next two pieces on deck.  Can't wait to get started on them!

Sharing with these crafty blogs:

Keeping It Simple

Craft-O-Maniac 

The Blackberry Vine

Fun Little Painting Projects

These are just a few more "smaller" items that we created for the Syracuse Arts & Crafts Festival, then I promise, I will shut my mouth and close the book on this show.  

That is....until next year!

First up, this cute little toy chest (tire not included)!  

This was actually purchased from Micheal's Craft Store.  Not sure if they are even in stock anymore, but when I saw it, I knew it would be a wonderful addition to our craft show merchandise.

It was sort of plain on the front so we added the plaque for some visual interest.  Then I decided to do owls and birds across the front, because lets face it, who can resist little woodland creatures, right?  

Plus, owls are BIG this year people!  I sold out of all my "owl things" the first day at the show!  

So, paint an owl on something and it's sure to be very lucrative!

Next up, was this adorable school chair!  

Last month my friends and I went down to the Everson Museum's annual Flea Market.  We had a lot of fun!  I was really stoked when we found this pair of chairs salvaged from The Syracuse City Schools. 

The one on the left was in mint condition-the one on the right-we're still nursing back to health.  

I painted it as if I were painting a seat for my own little girl (who is older now, and probably wouldn't even fit in it or paint it purple with flowers for that matter). But I pulled out the purples and pinks anyway! 

As always I used Benjamin Moore paints; 

Seduction 1399 Snugglepuss 1405 Crocus 1404 Island Sunset 1346 and Pink Cherub 2079

I free handed the flower design on the top and coordinated with matching patterns.  The end result...

And the next piece was this remake.  

I didn't take BEFORE pictures! I really wanna punch myself in the face when I do that, but I still wanted to share with you the end result.  So, close your eyes and imagine with me...

It was a cold dreary night as Maggie and I headed down an old dirt road...no, not really, but I was just trying to create a little bit of drama while you had your eyes closed.  

No, we actually found this piece at a good old fashion garage sale. It had a large, unsightly veneer piece around the table top, just underneath the lip, which was split and chipped.  We immediately pulled that off.  Then the feet were broken, with only one large claw foot making it very unstable.  So, we sawed off the one remaining foot , which made it balance correctly.  

I then added a finial in the middle to secure the legs in place.  There had obviously been a piece there but it was now missing-so voila-an instant center piece from my basket of finials!

Okay, so that's it-for the 2013 Festival!  But, don't be too sad because we have more items on deck (or on my dinning room table I should say).  We have a couple antique rockers, a few LARGE mirrors, a desk, a dresser (although that's not ON my dinning room table, just beside it) and so much more (and yes just in case you're wondering my dinning room is a part time storage unit).

Another Syracuse University Fan!

Here’s that rocking chair I've been squawking about all over town!  When I picked it up from my friend Karen’s second grade classroom it was, shall we say, in dire need of some lovin’!  Or maybe that was the problem it had been “LOVED” to death. I’m sure it had been in her possession for quite some time, either that or her second graders are a pretty rowdy bunch (which, if you've ever experienced a second grader, you know it's a distinct possibility). So, she contacted me for an upgrade and you all know I never shy away from a good challenge.

Let me tell you something about my friend Karen, she is an avid SU (Syracuse University) fan and every year, without fail, she incorporates "March Madness" into her lesson plans.  Now, most of the time SU makes it into the highly anticipated basketball tournament (most of the time, being the key word here) but that doesn't stop Karen's loyalty. So being the die-hard fan that she is, she wanted the chair to reflect her team spirit. BUT, other than it having the universities colors (orange, blue & white) and the school mascot (Otto the orange guy), she pretty much gave me artistic range.  I absolutely LOVE when people give me artistic range. First off, that word is just sexy to me “artistic range” sounds so chic and sophisticated.  Secondly, I love when people respect my judgment, my work, enough to say, “Hey I trust you. Do your magic girlfriend!” So I did, and this is how it turned out!

I think Karen was very pleased with the end result! She wouldn't even let the kids go near it! Hahaha! We’ll see how long that lasts!  Good thing we’re such good friends-she can always call me for touch-ups!

Here are the next two pieces on the chopping block.  These I got over the summer at a garage sale; $15 for the pair! FANFREAKINGTASTIC! I live for a good bargain.  And the best part of these two pieces is that they are going to be my design choice and my color choice, free artistic range at its finest!

Happy Holidays all! Have a joyous time with your families! I know I will. Peace!

Happy Painting! Mary