What is Slipware

I have recently rid myself of my booth and things that were not selling.  I am now going to spend some more time educating myself on local antiques and what is selling.  I noticed that a local auction was selling some slipware pottery and I thought what is slipware.  So I looked it up.  According to http://nautarch.tamu.edu/portroyal/slipware/slip-history.html  slipware has been around since ancient times and is a form of decorative lead-glazed earthenware.  The pots, ornamented with a colored 'slip,' are fired in a kiln.  Slip is loose clay and water mixed together into a creamy consistency.  It is usually of contrasting color to the body of the vessel.  


I also checked ebay to see what the prices were going for these pieces.  The ancient stuff was going for thousands.  The newer stuff under 100 dollars.  This piece from the auction looks older than what is being made now but it us not as ornate.  
  

Need to Know if you regularly move furniture like I do.

Happy Thursday to you all! Today on Before & After Basics, I want to discuss using wood filler to repair damage and fill unwanted hardware holes. This is a super important part of painting and refurbishing furniture, and can make or break your finish! The process I’m covering today is meant for pieces that will get painted in the end, so if you’re looking to spruce up an older piece of furniture, this is your first step. Let’s get started! — Barb

CLICK HERE for the full how-to after the jump!

Materials

• wood filler — I prefer Elmer’s
• wood glue
• putty spatula
• orbital sander/sanding sponges
• rags

Instructions
1. Make sure that the area you are filling is secure and free of debris. If you have any loose veneer pieces, remove them or glue them down with wood glue.

2. Choose a wood filler that best matches the project you are working on, and make sure it is paintable/stainable.

3. Apply the wood filler to the damaged area or unwanted hardware holes and even it all out with the putty knife. Most of the wood filler should be applied to the damaged part of your piece and not on the wood outside the damage but, especially with large fixes, there may be some overlapping. I have to say that after reading a few “how-tos”on using wood filler, I agree with some and — based on lots of personal experience — disagree with others. There are times where you need to go outside the lines a bit  in order to get that perfectly seamless look. (Just make sure that it all feels smooth to the touch when finished or it will not paint smooth.) Use the putty knife to skim across the surface and remove excess filler. It is really important to use a quality wood filler, especially when filling large damaged areas so there aren’t any shrinking and cracking issues.

4. Let it dry completely. Time will vary depending on the size of the area filled, but a hardware hole is usually dry in a couple of hours. Larger damaged areas may need a good 24 hours to dry.

5. Sand the filled area either by hand or using an orbital sander. After sanding the area, make sure it is completely smooth and filled to the surface of the wood. If not, apply more putty, let dry, and sand again.

6. Once the area is completely filled and sanded smooth, prime the piece. I have found that the wood filler and sanded areas accept the paint differently, so priming the piece ensures an even surface for a nice smooth paint finish.
7. Paint away!
Hope this is helpful for you all! See you next week!

Vintage Suitcase Decor Ideas

I always have a couple suitcases and trunks for sale because I just love them and here is why. 

Above images from creamylife

Both images from elementsofstyle

From poetic home

From A Beach Cottage

From ReadyMade

From apartment therapy

Above images from style carrot

From Retro Revival

Both images from Vintage Chic

From Ingenuity on Display

From Songbird

Both images from Decorator in a Box

The Lazy Woman’s Top 10 Tips for Saving the Planet

from Creative Ways to Upcycle and Recycle Junk and Trash | EcoSalon ... by Susan Goldberg

In the earth-friendly circles in which I travel, I meet a lot of extremely dedicated eco-activists. They are all outrageously well meaning, if a bit overly caffeinated. The fact is I tend to keep my distance from the true zealots – those endlessly earnest composting vegans, the ones who wear hemp, sew their own cloth diapers, and vibrate with positive energy. Instead, I seem to gravitate towards women who are more like me: well-intentioned but slightly slothful and just the tiniest bit cranky. Basically, I am committed to the Earth but reluctant to break a sweat. I would describe myself as “chill” except that my kids have forbidden me to use that word (unless it’s in the context of chocolate pudding). For low-key gals like me who want to make a greener, cleaner Earth – while still finding time to relax – I offer the following tips:

1. Resist the urge to procreate. This will protect the Earth from the harmful effects of 4,000 disposable diapers while saving 100 gallons of water each and every day. Also, it will save you 18 to 22 years of hard labor. As a side benefit, you will be able to wear clogs and use inappropriate, youthful slang without anyone criticizing you for it.
2. Stop eating mayonnaise. There is absolutely no way to get those jars clean enough for recycling, so just switch to mustard and call it a day. In the long run, the Earth will thank you – and your arteries will, too.
3. Buy a Toyota Prius. This will earn you such massive eco cred that you won’t really have to do anything else except stand around looking smug and virtuous.
4. Get a dog. Dogs are an excellent way to dispose of leftovers, and most of them will also eat junk mail, couch pillows, eyeglasses and other household items that would otherwise end up in landfills. Cats will perform many of the same functions, but on the downside…they’re cats.
5. Go to a car wash. This is counter intuitive and flies in the face of all that homespun, simple life, do-it-yourself rhetoric, but the fact is a professional car wash is much more water efficient than using a garden hose in your driveway. Plus, your dog – and husband – will find the car wash endlessly amusing.
6. Start buying Diet Coke in cardboard boxes containing 24 cans. This way, you won’t have to cut up those annoying, plastic six-pack rings. Also, you’re less likely to run out of Diet Coke.
7. Announce that you will no longer cook any endangered species of fish. Also refuse to buy chicken or milk containing antibiotics or PCBs or eggs that aren’t cruelty free. This will knock so many foods off your menu that you’ll be able to serve microwave popcorn for dinner without feeling guilty.
8. Designate one day a week as “Stay in Bed Sunday.” On this day you will use very little electricity, you won’t contribute to the out-of-control consumer culture, you will produce almost no waste, and your skin will look refreshed and wonderful.
9. Work at home if you possibly can. Telecommuting saves the planet from harmful automotive carbon emissions. Plus, it is sometimes possible to nap during the workday.
10. OK, I know that’s only nine, but frankly, I’m exhausted. And I really believe that nine tips are more than enough. Yessiree, nine tips are plenty.

Items For Sale

I just finished with some new pieces.  I am into a distressed phase of my life and its coming out in my furniture.

This beautiful wall shelf is priced at $100.  Its an antique white color and so beautiful I am so close to keeping it.

Next up a beautiful distressed antique desk $125.

Finally a mid century modern table; a piece perfect for a country french/farm style home.  An almost exact copy of one I just recently saw in Country Living. $50

Check them out at Antiques at Gresham Lake or contact via email.

Green Consumer Day

Woops! I missed Green Consumer Day.  But I still wanted to address it.  TreeHugger.com a great site on everything green has confirmed that buying antiques and vintage items is going green so my name is safe.  I am officially "green".   Also I have started selling selling these lightweight bags in my booth for a mere $3 or you can contact me via email to purchase them as well.

Picture obtained from the following link
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/09/celebrating-green-consumer-day-in-style.php?campaign=th_rss

Awesome Modern Light Bulbs - Green Too!

These light bulbs make me want to get rid of all my lamp shades and go straight mid century modern in my decor.  My one year old daughter got me looking at light bulbs because she is obsessed with the filament in the light bulbs.  Now I look for ways to delight her while she gets her diaper changed and this is one of them.  Too much information? probably but these are still cool.

Check them out online at http://plumen.com/