LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN....

I was born and raised in a small town and no matter where my life has taken me I have always been most comfortable in that small town environment.  Moving to rural Montana there are a few things I have had to adjust to, can't buy diesel for the truck, the restaurant closes at 2 pm and I have to go 20 miles to do any major shopping, but here in Belt we do have access to all that really matters and these past few months I have had the opportunity to participate in our new mercantile and gallery, not only have I have been able to make things I love and people have actually paid money for these items, but I have met some wonderful local artists.  I never knew before Anne opened her store what talent was living amongst us and I have been fortunate enough now to have acquired a few new art pieces (okay, I know, you are thinking where am I going to hang new art, but I did find room).

My new pieces done by artist Kim Lockman of Belt, Mt.

 

I need to take some photography classes or maybe get a new camera, but I don't want to do either, so please accept my less than quality photography skills.

 

I do love quality art work and Kim's work fits the bill for me.

YARD SALES EQUALS NEW MERCHANDISE !!!!!

Had some great success with yard sales in the last few weeks and have already refinished a few pieces which will be headed to the mercantile in the morning.

 

A little three drawer chest that was unfinished with a little water damage when I brought it home, but after a paint and paper treatment, I gave it some new drawer pulls and now I just love it !!

 

Since I decided the first spool lamps I made I must keep, I have been on the hunt for more and got lucky enough to find a few.  I'm anxious to see if others share my love for these lamps.

 

Had to have the hubby cut a few weeds to dig out a full size bed spring, but since I was able to pick up the whole thing for the FREE he didn't complain too much.  I put some of the bedsprings to use and now a couple of new wine racks are now looking for a new home.

NEED SOME SHELVING ????

I have been in the storage mode lately so I dug through the garage and came up with a couple of items for some unique wall shelves.

 

An old wagon and old sled, clear coated with some shelves added will give someone a special storage piece.  These are headed to the mercantile.

ARE YOU GOING TO DO MORE FURNITURE ?????

I have been asked this question a lot in the last few months, so I went to the garage to find a few small pieces to work on and like anything I have to live with the item for a few days so they can tell me what they want to look like all anew.

 

These little tables have now been completely made over and I have been able to pull out power tools for this project, I cut down the top of the white table using my jigsaw and had to use my electric staple gun on it as well.  I married the little brown table and mirror to create a gorgeous little piece.  Of course both pieces got brand new paint treatments.

 

 

Now these two "tired" items will be someone's perfect accent pieces.

UP NEXT.........NOW FINISHED

I recently purchased a box of old lamps at an estate sale, not because I liked the lamps but because I once again had an idea in my head.  I wanted to marry a portion of these lamps with some old wooden spools I had been hording for awhile.

 

I am in love with these.  Two old things makes one new and unique item.  I purchased vintage light bulbs for them which for me is like the icing on the cake.  Love the filaments in the bulbs and this was needed as these are not lamps that you should put shades on. 

 

Now my issue is do they head to the mercantile for sale or do I keep them.  Decisions, decisions......

PERFECTING A CRAFT.......

I have posted a few times about my love of working with resin.  I have used it for many things over the last few years, but as with anything the more you do the better you become.  With that in mind I have been thinking about how I could improve on my resined canvases. 

My photography skills don't show the extra that went into this piece, but this canvas has 5 separate pours on it and was poured on an unpainted canvas.  I used decoupage to put all my pieces on the bare canvas and then poured resin sanding in between each pour.  Since I allow resin to sit for 24 hours between each pour it does require some time and patience, but the outcome is awesome.

The other thing I have had issues with when working with resin on canvas is the resin bubbling on the back side, but one of my late night thoughts gave me an idea.  I rubbed Vaseline on the back of the canvas and it worked perfect, although the resin still bubbled it was so easy to peel off.  I just love it when a late night thought actually works !!!