Inside Angels Attic

A Bedtime Fairy Tale

2012-01-18T20:55:00.000-08:00

Once upon atime, a mommy journeyed to a faraway village to buy an old bed.

This bedlooked wonderfully exciting in the sale ad and the mommy jumped at the chanceto own it. The mommy hoped that someday a little girl would feel like aprincess when she slept in this bed.

She excitedlyshowed the bed to her favorite furniture restorer, Mr. Jon.

“Isn’t thisan excellent bed! It is very old and I love all the beautiful carving that ithas. It has a couple of ouchies that I might need you to help me fix. What doyou think?”

Mr. Jonlooked the bed over carefully, wiggling all the different wood parts to see howstrong they were. Oops! Watch out! I don’t think those pieces are supposed tocome off!

Mr. Jon wasafraid that this old bed was too badly hurt. But he promised the mommy that hewould do his best and see if it could be fixed. Many, many hours went by as he workedon this bed in his workshop. He had to take it apart. He had to put it backtogether like a puzzle and sometimes he even had to carve new pieces! At long last, the antique bed had a new coatof creamy paint and was ready for a new home.

The mommy andMr. & Mrs. Jon took the special bed to many places - it was the center of attentionat a home décor store; it went to several very nice vintage shows. Many othermommies loved the amazing bed but somehow it never went home with them.

The mommy hadtwo little girls of her own, but they already had special beds. Then, oops, themommy found out that she was going to have another baby girl. Surprise!

The mommykept taking the awesome bed to all her shows, but she secretly hoped that maybeit wouldn’t sell and her own little baby girl, Summer, would sleep on it.

Suddenly themommy and her three little girls had to move to a faraway kingdom – way over to North Carolina!That settled it – she couldn’t leave the special bed behind.

So the bed wascarefully wrapped and made the long trip in a big truck.

As time wentby, Summer was finally old enough for a big girl bed and the night came whenthe mommy could snuggle her into thespecial bed. The mommy told her that Mr. Jon (who was also Summer’s grandpa –Surprise!) had made the beautiful bed just for her. Every night before shecloses her little eyes to sleep, Summer whispers, “My Boppa made this bed justfor me. I love you, Boppa.”

And everyonelived happily ever after.

All In Good Time...

2012-01-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

Hmmm, thought we could renovate our main floor bathroom over Christmas vacation. Eleven days off work and school. We'd have to work hard and have a can-do attitude, but thought we'd give it a whirl. Well, of course we didn't work on the actual holiday-days; so the days dwindled...

I'm happy to announce -
that we're still working on the bathroom.
On the Martin Luther King holiday.
Now I kid around that we should be done in eleven months.

Actually, it hasn't been too bad and we are taking the time necessary to do the job right. We still have another completely functional bathroom to use, even though we have to share it. So we aren't having to take our showers at the gym or anything. Too bad that Home Depot doesn't offer frequent flyer miles - they should be greeting us by name at the front door by now. I wish we'd started a number-of-trips-to-the-hardware-store log to see if we're creating any kind of world record.

Jon laughs at me, but since I am a very visual person I analyze where I can move forward on the fun, design stuff. That's why the new lighting is already installed, three of four walls are all painted, the fun towel hook that I've been saving for this room is up and waiting for new towels to arrive instead of the kitchen towel to remind Jon not to bang his head on the hook, and the glass apothecary jar full of soaps is already on a shelf (on the "good" side of the room!).

If you look on the other side of the room, there's a bit more work to do. Don't worry. I'll get there. I've already upwrapped the marble pebble shower floor tiles so I can try them with my bare feet. Important things first!!

What Design Shows Don't Show You...

2011-12-26T18:17:00.000-08:00

My house was in a 70's time warp when I moved in ten years ago and has undergone many changes.

I'm all too familiar with the nasty job of removing multiple layers of wallpaper - the soaking, the scraping, the mess, the patching... Having a little "vintage" in my style does not mean brown wallpaper in the dining room that features covered wagons pulled by oxen.

All the wallpaper is gone, but we are now learning a new skill. Removing a glued-and-screwed particle board subfloor. However, I'm not sure if many hours - make that DAYS - of painstaking chiseling, scraping, sweeping (all on your knees) qualifies as a "skill."

After putting off this last major project for many months, Jon and I are deep into renovating our main floor bathroom - and doing the work ourselves.

So that our new heated marble tile floor isn't two inches higher than the other floors in the house, the subfloor must go. (Also, tile cannot be installed over particle board.) The two layers of vinyl flooring were a cinch. But the particle board does not come off without a battle.

Hmmm, I don't think I've ever seen this demonstrated on HGTV...have you?
Back to work; I'm keeping my eye on the beautiful bathroom prize ahead.

Caution! These are not glamour shots.

Holiday decorating - off the grid!

2011-11-27T19:55:00.001-08:00

This summer I tired of the traditional red door on my white/black shuttered Cape Cod house. I was looking for something out of the ordinary, with some pop and flare, "off the grid."

The front door of my house is now a bright citrus green as is the wooden bench under the white pergola on the side of our property.

So instead of my usual holiday decorating with traditional wreaths in each window, I decided to simplify and modernize. On a recent visit to North Carolina, Kristen and I stocked up on ribbon at Carolina Pottery and I brought home some wide mesh plaid ribbon and some fun flocked polka dot stuff to give my traditional wreath a makeover.

I used these same materials to punch up a couple of hanging baskets. These are always full of flowers during the summer, but adding some evergreens, a candle with a glass hurricane, and some ribbon gives them a cute look for the winter months.

This one hangs by my patio.

The one hanging in the pergola.

The process, if you are interested...

I put them together indoors this year. No more frozen fingers!

A simple way to save twenty bucks on a polka dot candle (only try this if you won't see the candle close up.)

Vintage Treasures #2

2011-11-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures (see our previous post) from the show we did yesterday. These are some pictures from other vendors. Seeing what other people have created and how they display it is always one of the most fun parts of a show.

We didn't get everybody's names, so if you see your items here, please let us know and we will mention you specifically.

I wish I'd gotten a shot of the inside of this armoire! Adorable little curvy shelves.

Perfect for my little granddaughter, Summer, in her vintage Frenchie bedroom.

This ruffly lamp shade was one of my favorites and I was tempted to make it my own.

I'm giving away my age here, but when I was a child we had little candles like these at each place setting and we lighted them during our family holiday dinners.

Vintage Treasures

2011-11-06T08:41:00.000-08:00

Here area a few pics from our space at the Vintage Treasures Market from Saturday. Hard to get good photos in that bright overhead light - our apologies.

In just a bit we should be posting some others pictures featuring a few items that caught our eye.

As Promised...

2011-11-02T18:12:00.000-07:00

Here is what we call our "Chateau Trimoulet" cabinet.

Originally a Victrola cabinet, it was pretty sad when we rescued it. My talented husband hand painted the cabinet top on a Sunday afternoon with his other eye watching a Seahawks football game. Just think what he could do with both eyes!

I can see storing fine French wine (or a local and affordable Riesling)

and beautiful crystal glasses in it.

We will feature this at the Vintage Finds sale on Saturday.
(SOLD)

This was a new type of project for us -please tell us what you think!

Vintage Show Alert!

2011-10-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

Don't miss out on the Vintage Finds & handmade treasures Market this coming Saturday, November 5 from 9:00 - 4:00 hosted by Kathy and Jennifer Walker of Unexpected Necessities.

Angel's Attic will be there along with 28 other vendors and we are excited to be able to share some of our newest fun things with you.

Come for inspiration and ideas,

come get started on your Christmas shopping,

come out for lunch,

come treat yourself to something special!

Here are just a couple of projects we are finishing up...

An antique window "conservatory" with chandelier bling

Our harlequin dresser...

Try this in your entry way - a real eye catcher!

More to come, so check back with us this week.

Next?

Our Chateau Trimoulet cabinet.

House Junkie

2011-09-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

I confess. I am a house junkie.Some of us love bling, are foodies, seek out the last fashion.
Me, my kickers are shoes, jackets, gardens, traveling to historic places.
But close to the top of the favs are houses (and the decor within).
Been going to home shows, studying and drawing house plans since forever.

Vacations usually include touring a historic mansion somewhere along the way or just seeking out an old neighborhood to stroll through and take pictures. My three kids got used to this and seemed to enjoy the old houses full of family history and architectural features. Daughter Kristen http://sophiasdecor.blogspot.com has the sickness, too. Weird genetic house gene.

Kristen's latest adventure was to move her family to Raleigh, North Carolina this summer. Of course, when looking for a house to buy last spring, she drove around looking for the awesome vintage homes and knew that I would like to see them, too, when we came out to visit. (also trying to entice Jon and I to relocate, too)

In checking out the lovely neighborhoods of Raleigh, I found this little darling...

This house is telling me, "Come on in..."

This French Norman style house was built in 1939 by a couple who had saved for many Depression-era years to build their own home. Annie Laurie found an example of her dream home in a magazine and copied it. They lived in this house for all their remaining years - Annie until she was over 100 years old.

You also know you're addicted when you watch a movie (or buy it and watch it over and over) just to check out the great house. What a dream job to be a set designer for movie houses. And apparently I'm not the only one with this problem. Check out this blog: http://hookedonhouses.net

Seriously addicting.

It features many, many great movie houses and if you look carefully you'll see how these movie sets actually influence decorating styles and trends.

Remember this little English cutie from "The Holiday"?

Someone else spent some time on their knees painting a harlequin floor
(besides my husband, that is)...

I think I will call in work for a mental health day and stay in this room all day...

Not a movie house, just a little cottage rental in Australia...

seriously?!

Please send me here for a month.

So, goodbye for now to house heavens and their inspiration. Back to work on new creations to share as Angels Attic joins everyone at Vintage Finds and Handmade Treasures Market, hosted by Unexpected Necessities on November 5. See you soon.

A New B & A

2011-09-01T19:39:00.000-07:00

After a rather lazy junking summer, Jon and I found some good stuff!

It was a fun afternoon digging through an old storage warehouse piled high (and wondering if we were going to dislodge a mouse or something worse. Someone has an irrational fear of snakes and rodents!)

Some of the loot, Before...

We just finished rehabbing the old dresser - the one on the left. Hmmm, always trying to come up with a spiffy new idea. What do you think?

The Afters...

Maybe this would be cute in a foyer or as a bar...

Question - how come a great old piece of furniture always has more "issues" once you drag it home? This charmer has been stabilized, cleaned, and new cedar drawer bottoms added - PLUS the whole new look. It is important to us that we provide a quality product for you. This will be with us at our next sale, coming this Fall. See you soon!

Revived!

2011-06-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

Remember back in January when we wrote about the dilapidated table we found - Faded Elegance or Too Far Gone? We wanted you to have the end of the story...

It was a back and forth "discussion" about whether this table was too big a mess to be a table anymore or just tear it apart for the special details and moldings. Well, the table literally ended up as pieces in a pile in the garage. Our dear neighbor couldn't believe that it wasn't all just junk. (And secretly I thought she might be right!)

But my amazing husband resurrected this piece with skill and when it was done it was amazing!!
What an accomplishment for an amateur woodworker-who-can-do-just-about-anything.
She was sold at the Farm Chicks Antique Show (more on that fun event to come) last weekend and has started her next 100 years.

You Can Never Have Too Much Cute!

2011-04-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Our littlest granddaughter, Summer Dobson...modeling her new swimwear and waiting for summer to get here!

A Bittersweet Goodbye to Little Chair

2011-04-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

It is ridiculous. To be sad to sell a chair. Sniff. I was surprised to be emotional about letting it go.
Little Chair found a new owner at the Funky Junk Antique Show last weekend.

After pouring a lot of creative energy into this comfy chair, I was tempted to keep it.
But a sweet young lady fell in love with Little Chair and it was fun to see how excited she was to make it her own!

I'm about halfway done with another chair - sneak peek.

Wanna know?

2011-04-11T22:25:00.000-07:00

Wanna know what makes a good antique show? Like the Funky Junk Antique Show of last weekend...
Friendly, caring hosts - like Hollie and Jennifer and Nathan.
Who load up a vintage wheelbarrow with little tin Easter buckets filled with candy for each vendor and drive through the grange hall, announcing brightly "Happy Funky Sunday!" just before opening time.
Who care enough to provide a special gluten-free goodie for Jon each day of the show.
Who check in regularly "how are you doing" "we're glad you are here" "do you need anything?"
Who have selected a great lineup of creative vendors with amazing stuff.
Who always have a smile on their faces!!

If you weren't able to make it to the April show, don't miss Funky Junk Sandpoint on Labor Day Weekend!

LIttle Chair, All Grown Up

2011-04-02T11:44:00.000-07:00

Little Chair, Little Chair, what do you think? Do you feel lighter than air, fresh as a daisy, spic 'n span?

I really feel good that this project is done! (See previous posting for "before" photos.) Sometimes our projects develop an unfinished life of their own so it can be an accomplishment to finish a big one. Little chair might not seem like a big project but it was scary since I was borrowing a (new to me) paint treatment shared by Miss Mustard Seed and having a first go at reupholstery. And this was a gut job - stripped right down to the frame, where there are actually now four different hues of paint. This takes time, but really adds character to the wood.

Little Chair is going with us and will be up for sale at the Funky Junk Antique Show next Saturday and Sunday, April 9-10. Come say Hi!

I added a chocolate velvet damask fabric to the back.

And now I'm excited to work on two or three other awesome chairs that have been patiently waiting their turn. They'll have to roll the dice to see who gets the new, amazing fabric I found online for one of them...

Little Chair, Little Chair...

2011-03-12T23:56:00.000-08:00

What is your past?
Who built you? Who first took you home and made you their own?
Were you a country chair or a city chair?
How long did you languish ruined and forgotten in a barn? A garage? A basement?

Jon and I are always curious about some of the old stuff we find. You know how sometimes when you are shopping or "picking" you see something that you snatch up without hesitation?
A while back, we found this chair and I immediately liked its lines and curves and brought it home.

Then followed 18 months of sitting out in our garage. Waiting. Sorry, Little Chair. Now you are helping me learn some new tricks. Reupholstery. New paint techniques. You are going to be beautiful again!

As you can see, this chair is still a work in progress. But all the nasty fabric and stuffing (along with the 5 million little tack nails!) are gone and its had a good scrubbing. Time for the fun part...
I don't now how wise it is to write a tutorial on something I've never done before, but follow along as I share this project with you. More to come...

Warning! These are not glamour shots.

Ahhh, Nostalgia...

2011-03-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

A fun find this weekend...

this vintage children's cookbook.

First edition, 1955.

Practically perfect condition.

(Apparently the original owner didn't use it or this book would look like the shabby little kids cookbook that I loved as a child and is missing its front cover!)

Hmmm,I don't recall looking this put together when I was baking and I'm pretty sure neither one of my brothers wore a tie in the kitchen!

How about serving up a delicious grape float? Here's the recipe!

There are many fun old-fashioned recipes that I want to try again but one for "French-fried potatoes" under the Vegetables and Salads tab? Smile

I'm not a collector of cookbooks and I don't cook that much anymore, but looking forward to fun in the kitchen with the granddaughters!

Vintage Books

2011-02-05T21:11:00.000-08:00

Great for adding height and interest to your tables, bookshelves, vignettes -- these "antique" books! We've enjoyed learning how to create these and finding just the right appropriately vintage books to cover using this special technique.

We'll be selling them at our spring events...the Funky Junk Antique Show held April 9 and 10 as well as our first "home" event for 2011 - the Angel's Attic Spring Open House on Saturday, April 30.

Can I Blink and Have This Done?

2011-01-31T19:22:00.000-08:00

Sarah Richardson is one of my favorite designers!
For one of her television projects, she gutted and redid an old farmhouse in Canada (HGTV series) and I think she is now living in the house with her family. Sarah is great at adding vintage lighting and furniture to her rooms, which fits right in with the work we do at Angel's Attic. Of course I cannot begin to match her remodeling budget or talents, but the minute I saw her master bathroom it became my inspiration for the redo of our main floor bathroom.
Our current bathroom has a big jetted tub, which is rarely used and we need another shower in the house.
We haven't started the project - still in the planning, budgeting stage and beginning to gather the main elements such as tile, fabric, paint. Sarah planned her bathroom around the drapery fabric. Sarah paid $130 a yard for her fabric. Husband says too expensive. I agree. Especially now that I've found something very similar to what she used for a much more affordable price.
Right now I am looking forward to our new bathroom. Not looking forward to the mess along the way. Stay tuned...
Here is the inspiration...

And here is the more down-to-earth designer fabric...

No room for both a shower and a clawfoot tub so there will be some modifications. Plus, we sold the old clawfoot tub that we found on the property - the deer were using it to drink from. Seriously.

Faded Elegance or Too Far Gone...

2011-01-29T16:36:00.000-08:00

That is the debate here at Angel's Attic. We just picked up this "beauty" today - Linda was instantly in love but Husband thinks it is too late for this one. How sad. So we bought it cheap, mainly for the weath of old mouldings and bric-a-brac (or so I told him). For our spring shows, we plan to create a tremaux mirror, which would be a great use for the antique dentil moulding. (But shhh, I'm still secretly hoping for a miracle and to bring this table back to life.)
Yes, it time to start designing and planning for shows in 2011, beginning in April. More on that to come very soon. And watch to see the fate of this wonderful old table - either revitalized or repurposed, it will be a gem.

Winter Break

2011-01-23T13:50:00.000-08:00

Hello, Spokane! Yes, it is back to winterness after our vacation to Disney World in Florida. It was a lovely week with Kristen's family (which includes our three granddaughters) and several days with our son and daughter-in-law who joined us from Atlanta. It really is true - Disney is a great place to create family memories. It was delicious to see the excitement and delight of the little girls when they first glimpsed Mickey Mouse or one of the princesses. Jon, Kristen, and I also soak in the creativeness that is Disney - from their architecture and landscaping, ride designs, to the amazing shop windows.
It was hard to return to our regular lives and even harder to give up those breakfasts outside in the sunshine!

Summer got her first haircut and set of Ears, complete with fairy dust.

Lily Happiness!

Lily with some special characters.

Magic Kingdom

Gabby in Kermit the Frog Ears

Disney dining plan - yes, desserts like these for lunch! Our bad!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

2010-12-16T23:41:00.000-08:00

Jonathan and Linda at Angel's Attic wish you a wonderful Christmas!
We're looking forward to hosting our kids and grandgirls which means spiffing up the house a bit...
here are a couple of peeks.

Vintage Finds and Handmade Treasures Market

2010-11-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

I hope you had a chance to visit the Vintage Finds Market this past weekend, hosted by Unexpected Necessities Jennifer and Kathy!
There was a wonderful variety of goodies - from the ooh la la Frenchie chic to vintage '50's Christmas.
Jon and I came home inspired and with a gorgeous stained glass window!

Jennifer and Kathy

Shari with her wonderful Southern Charm jewelry.

Autumn at its Best

2010-11-07T06:35:00.000-08:00

Just have to share a few photos of our little "treaters" - little granddaughters all dressed up for Halloween and some pics I took of our house during the five minutes of sunshine we got while the leaves were still colorful and on the trees.

Gabby, her best friend Kathryn, and Lily - scary, huh?

Little Jillian on the Prairie

Gabby the beautiful princess with Lily the knight and little lion Summer.

Coming Soon!

2010-10-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

Since so many of you have asked whether Angel's Attic keeps regular store hours (which we don't), we've decided to feature a page here featuring some of our treasures. So if you fall in love with something and just can't wait for the next vintage sale to get it, you can contact us and make special arrangements. Happy shopping! Just look for the tab at the top of our home page (right here), next to the button named "Home"!

Pics as promised - sort of

2010-10-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

We promised some more pictures from our recent open house. Here are a few:

Unfortunately, we were so busy, we didn't take very many pics, so if you took some, please pass them on!

As an FYI, we have had several people contact us after the show who were interested in buying one of our pieces. Not to be too shameless in our self promotion, but if you see above or saw something at our show that you loved but didn't buy, please contact us. We may still have it, or may be able to make or acquire another one for you.

Thanks for Coming Out!

2010-09-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

Again, tons of thanks to everyone who came out to the Angel's Attic Autumn Open House yesterday! God blessed us again on sale day, providing a beautiful Fall day with plenty of sunshine and energy. It was an awesome time to see old friends, meet new ones and swap stories and treasures (Funky Junk Jennifer, there is an old chippy door that you'll see again!) :-)

We are taking a slow day today to recuperate, but hope to post a few pics soon. Once more, we are energized and full of plans and ideas for the future (too many too complicated ideas, according to Jon - I say if Anthropologie can do it, so can we!)

If you came to our show, please leave a comment about your experience. We don't have the chance to talk to everyone, so we would love to know what you thought!

If you missed the show but would like to join in next time, click here to be added to our mailing list.

Meanwhile, to get your next vintage fix, visit the Mad Hatter Vintage Show and Flea Market hosted by Junebug Furniture and Design coming up next weekend at the Five Mile Prairie grange hall in Northwest Spokane. This show is always a lot of fun and features a top notch covey of vendors. We wanted to take part this year, but a move in the family that weekend made it impossible. Maybe next time. Now we just hope to find a couple free hours to go there and shop...

2010-09-22T23:00:00.000-07:00

One unique, curvy desk for sale! Check out the before and after.

Perfect for your office or creative space.

Remember, be first or second in line on Saturday morning for the Angel's Attic Open House and you will receive a special gift.

Bye, Bye Snail Table

2010-09-21T22:59:00.000-07:00

Picked up at a Seattle yard sale, we affectionately called this the Snail Table.

After a little makeover that included some door repair, sanding, paint and new hardware, the snail is gone and this table is all grown up.

Tune in tomorrow for more "after" photos.

Or maybe just come by on Saturday, Sept 25 and see it all!

Dreamy

2010-09-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more peeks into the Attic as we get ready for the sale

on Saturday, September 25 from 9 AM to 4 PM.

Just One More Week!

2010-09-18T22:56:00.000-07:00

Hi! Just in from a marathon day of prep and display for the Angel's Attic Open House next weekend. Rustic Angel, Jessica, and Sophia's Decor have more new treasures than ever before! The attic will be full and we're spilling out and expanding outdoors.

Just for fun, the first person in line next Saturday morning wins one of these bubble necklaces, a specialty from Sophia's. Second in line will get a framed bird print.

We're still working on the displays but here are some quick photos snapped at the end of the day...

we're looking forward to seeing YOU!

Elegant or Rustic...

2010-09-16T18:11:00.000-07:00

Shabby pink birdhouse for a very chic birdie!

Some peeks at an antique floor lamp that we found last summer in Montana. Old and very unique! Safe to use - we replaced all the electrical wiring and socket on the lamp.

Please visit us on September 25 - Angel's Attic Open House!

And the Living Is Easy...

2010-09-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

Our four vintage adirondack chairs are basking in the late summer sun!

These little sherbet-colored chairs are child-sized, just perfect for your kids or grandbabies. Summer, you can't ride home in the trailer on one!

Wouldn't these look so cute at the end of a lakeside dock?

Like these on Flathead Lake...

They'll be available at the Angel's Attic Open House on September 25.

Sneak Peek Number One

2010-09-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

The Angel's Attic Autumn Open House is fast approaching!

So Jon and I are hard at work doing what we enjoy most -- finding unique items to revive and restore. We are expecially drawn to furniture. It is fun to create gems from diamonds in the rough. While it may take extra time, we like to add an artistic touch to make our pieces special.

Don't you love this cool, curvy desk! Here is a "before" picture. We're still walking around this piece and discussing the possibilities. We're taking time to decide but don't worry, we'll have it ready for sale at the Open House on September 25 -- don't miss it!

Come back here and see what else we're working on for the Open House. We plan to feature more "befores" and even a few "afters" along with some insider information on special offers and prizes at the show.

If you visited Sophias at last weekend's Funky Junk Antique Show in Sandpoint, you need to know Kristen will have even more fabulous finds for Angel's Attic! That girl really has a talent for finding the good stuff!

Please click the sidebar ad for more info and directions.

Pure Pleasure

2010-08-24T22:36:00.000-07:00

No, we didn't mix business with pleasure. Last weekend was all pleasure!

We combined a camping adventure on Flathead Lake, Montana with a morning shopping the Vintage Whites Market in Somers (just south of Kalispell.) Great stuff!

Jon was skeptical that we could get all thirteen fabulous finds into the car and still fit Gabby and Lily as well as all the camping gear. Ha! No problem for a determined woman.

Thanks, Vintage Whites for a fun morning!

The girls have been part of our vintage shows and shopping for quite a while and it is cute to see them developing interest in old things. Gabby, who is 9, actually watches out for antique store and museums.

An awesome antique store in Somers.

Just seeing this old "Rocket Tricycle" got Jon to imagining how different his life would be now if only he'd owned this trike as a child. (Astronaut? Rocket Scientist? Funky Trike Builder?)

And check out an opportunity to own this fixer upper? Glamping anyone?

Lily taking a breather at "The Barn" antique store in Bigfork, Montana.

On our way home Gabby found this crazy museum in Polson! Who could resist going inside a museum with a flying saucer on the roof?

The girls checking out a tin monster outside the museum.

Hmmm...I'm not feeling the "Rattlesnake Beauty." Just plain freaky.

A cool Bickensderfer typewriter from 1897. Just try to find the home row on that keyboard!

Fun to explain the charms of an old fashioned soda fountain to the girls.

A favorite! An old Huey helicopter complete with all the switches, gauges, and dials - to delight two girls and their grandpa.

Halfway home - take time to explore new places - like this store in Perma, Montana. No treasures inside but a cute exterior and a chat with the quirky owner.

We created a lot of memories on this short three day trip. One as simple as a chocolate pudding-stained little face.

Another fun show - as a shopper this time!

2010-07-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, we risked exposing our sunburns to the 86+ degree heat (see previous post) to visit the Latah Creek Variety Market, as shoppers rather than vendors this time. After completing the Vintage Barn show on Saturday, it was refreshing just to wander aimlessly around digging through other people's treasures. It was especially sweet knowing we wouldn't have to pack up and haul any of it at the end of the day! Here are a few pictures that we took. It is a little embarrassing that we have more and better pictures of this show than of the one we were vendors at, but when we are working a show we seldom have the free time to do the things we would love to do, like taking pictures - and shopping.

The Latah show is hosted by the Latah Partners, along with Chaps/Cake, which is sufficient excuse to attend the show in itself.

We want to especially thank the exceptionally nice ladies at Sisters, who gave precious little straw hats to our granddaughters to shield them from the heat.

Sweet Summer Event

2010-07-11T11:35:00.000-07:00

Vintage Barn 2010 was fun, warm, sunny - THANK YOU to our friends and followers who stopped by.
This was Angel's Attic's first outdoor show so we experimented and learned a lot of lessons. (Like should have brought a huge drink cooler full of ice water and wear more sun screen!) All of us are sporting some serious sunburn today.

We wish we could have taken some more pictures of the other great booths at the show, but we couldn't get a minute free. Even this photo of a portion of our own booth wasn't taken until near the end of the day when many of our larger pieces were already gone.

Angel's Attic is now taking a little summer vacation! But we hope to see you at our next Autumn Open House here on our property on Spokane's Mountain View Lane -- please reserve Saturday, September 25 from 9 am to 4 pm. We'll have more info and some previews posted as soon as we can.

Our granddaughter, Summer, helping Gramma with customer service.

Love this bed by Chateau Chic Antiques

Come out and Play at Vintage Barn!

2010-07-07T00:24:00.000-07:00

We're looking forward to a great Vintage Barn show this Saturday, July 10! Please come out to Rathdrum, ID for this fun, outdoor extravanza and enjoy warm sunshine, friends, music, yummy food and drink, and lots of awesome antiques and vintage finds.
Angel's Attic is bursting with new things. A couple peeks...

Our Vintage Barn hostess, Rolane...

Vintage Barn, Coming Soon!

2010-06-16T18:09:00.000-07:00

Ike for President! (Dwight D. Eisenhower, US President 1953-1961)
At a yard sale this past weekend we were lucky to find about 40 darling little posters hand made by a Spokane schoolteacher, vintage 1960's and earlier, used to teach very young students how to read. It was fun to dig through the box of old paper treasures to find old dittos (remember dittos?) of children's poems, Smokey the Bear coloring pages, a tiny leather-bound dance book from a 1927 Gonzaga prom, and a newspaper clipping with the headline from Saturday, February 1, 1969 declaring "Spokane Leads U.S. With Depth of Snow." (Hey, so what else is new?!)
We arrived home with things like a chair made in the 1870's, a very primitive but cute fishing rod that reminded me of something Huck Finn might dangle from his river raft, along with several old oars and paddles.
I think maybe we are celebrating the arrival of summertime here in Spokane (at long last). It set off a free flow of ideas for a theme at our next sale - the Vintage Barn Antique Show in Rathdrum, Idaho on July 10. We are really going to have fun and feature things that hopefully will make you smile and feel like a barefoot kid on summer vacation!
-Linda

This is my personal favorite from the teaching posters mentioned above. Notice the one on the right. Rude awakening on the way!
-Jon

Come see us again!

2010-05-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

We are excited to tell you that Angel's Attic will be at the Vintage Barn Antique Show in Rathdrum on Saturday, July 10! We made a family outing to their Show last September and were so impressed with the beautiful farm and quality of the vendor's goods that we asked if we could join them this summer. Lucky us, they said yes!
Stay tuned for an announcement of another Angel's Attic Open House here on Mountain View Lane this summer. We're working hard to find, collect, and craft great stuff to share with you. Here is a little before picture of an amazing old radio cabinet that Jon is beginning to revive. It is going to be gorgeous!

Love from our Gabby

2010-05-08T21:21:00.000-07:00

Who is Gabby?
Gabrielle - but everyone calls her Gabby - is our first grandchild.

The other day when she was visiting us, she found some wild narcissus growing on the hillside behind our house. I thought she was picking them to take home and enjoy.
Much later, when I went up to bed, on the night table was this little vase with the flowers, a lit candle (batttery-powered) and a love note...

"Happy Love and Kiss Day. From Gabby. Love You"

She had set up this little vignette on her own just to surprise us.
Made me feel all warm inside and very loved.

I love you back, Gabby!

Yes, Honey...I am washing your socks at this very moment...

2010-04-28T23:48:00.000-07:00

While I finally get some writing done! (My guy definitely knows how to do his own laundry but it is something I primarily do because of being a control freak about which of my clothes go into the dryer - it is better to just do it yourself than risk teensy clothes.)

An overdue BIG thank you to all who visited our Spring Fever Open House this past weekend! We're glad you enjoyed yourselves and found some new treasures. Fun to chat with others who like old stuff. Thanks, Ann, from Nestting, for being open and sharing your wealth of experience and knowledge to us relative newbies.

Truthfully, the time it takes to find and revive things, then put together a show can wear you out (not to mention leaving a mountain of dirty clothes when your time must go to other things). But the sweet compliments and enthusiasm for our home, attic, and collection is a big reward that helps us push on to do something even better next time! We were brimming with enthusiasm and spent most of an evening bouncing around design ideas for the next big show.

We had many questions about when Angel's Attic will be open again. We haven't set another date to hold an "official" open house but have decided to specially open the Attic this Saturday, May 1 from noon to 3:00. Thank you for calling and asking! (Its kinda like a secret sale for our blog readers.) See you Saturday? If you need directions, click here.

Its a week before Show Day and all through the house... aka Spring Fever Open House Preview #4

2010-04-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Its Sunday morning. My eyes are all blurry. My muscles are sore. My hands are painty. There's dirt under my fingernails. Fellow vintage vendors, you know what I'm talking about! IT'S ALMOST SHOW TIME! Kristen, Jon, and I have been up in Angel's Attic until 11:30 PM the past two nights setting up for the Angel's Attic Spring Fever Open House next Saturday (for the record, if you want to drive someone crazy, when it is almost midnight start singing a song from "Bambi" over and over until it sticks in their head and they start singing it, too).
Sometimes the hardest part is figuring out the "themes" and getting the main furniture pieces set up. Kristen loves to buy the biggest, heaviest pieces on the face of the earth - at least it seems that way when I'm moving them. But we're excited about how things are coming along - it's like a big puzzle bringing everything together. We thought we would share a few peeks with you before we head back up to the attic. (I'd love to show you a picture of Kristen on Friday night sitting in a chair in the middle of the driveway taking a short break to chomp down some Costco rotissiere chicken but she threatened my life.)

There will be lots of outdoor display to tackle next! So bring your energy and excitement with you (as well as your truck) and come have fun with us next weekend! Click on the ad at the top of the right hand column for details on when and where.

Funky, Junky, Fun!

2010-04-11T23:26:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the Funky Junk Antique Show this weekend! Hollie and Jennifer were very gracious and attentive hosts who made the experience better for everyone. Thanks to everyone who came out - it was a great crowd! Everyone seemed to have fun shopping and chatting. It was nice to connect with customers and other vendors who share a passion for old things, re-purposed things, pretty things, goofy things.
Here are a few things you would have seen in our space:

We especially enjoyed hearing from several people that have visited our blog. If you were at the Funky Junk show, please leave a comment to let us know what you thought. If you would like to be added to our contact list to receive emails about events that we will be doing, click here.

Spring Fever Open House Preview #3

2010-04-06T19:00:00.000-07:00

Here we have a few of the vintage linens from the Trunk that you'll see at the Open House on April 24.

Spring Fever Open House Preview #2

2010-04-05T21:13:00.000-07:00

Know what time it is? Time to mark your calendar for the Angel's Attic Spring Fever sale on April 24th!

Spring Fever Open House Preview #1

2010-04-02T23:18:00.000-07:00

We want to show you a few sneak peeks from our Angel's Attic sale on Saturday, April 24th. We are getting excited and hope that once you see a few hints of what we have, then you will be too. Keep coming back, as we will be posting lots more pics!

This is a true one of a kind. For more information about the sale, including when and where, please click here!

The Potting Cottage

2010-03-27T23:46:00.000-07:00

During the record snowfall of last year, our ratty old metal yard shed collapsed under the load.
Looking back, I say hooray! The shed was vintage 1960's, rusty, and UGLY. We kept it around as the only place to store the lawn mower. Trust me, vintage was not a good thing in this case.
Jon and I had been talking about building a new shed for a couple of years. We plan everything to absolute death! But now we ran out of procrastinating time since this mess was now in plain view from the street.

So after several weeks of hard work, my husband finished this cute building that we lovingly call the Potting Cottage (say it with a Cockney accent for good measure). He even hand-built a cupola to match the one on our house, figured out how to build the window trellis (without a plan), and made a birthday gift to me of this little sign that hangs under the window. I'm happy every time I putter around out there with my pots and dirt - and he is happy to get my gardening stuff out of the garage. Good things do sometimes come from bad.

Down To Earth Home For Sale

2010-03-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

Exclusive listing! Fabulous cozy home with unique features. Solid construction. Totally private location offers an uncommon feeling of security. This down to earth custom design is fully integrated into the terrain. Extensive low maintenance landscaping front and rear has a natural feel. Serenity abounds. Make an offer before it's too late! Our sign may not last much longer!

Kristen found this old realty sign while picking through an estate sale and it just seemed to fit with our root cellar. I used to be involved with real estate advertising, so... the copy came naturally. Sarcastic sense of humor added free of charge.

-Jon

Spring!

2010-03-11T15:39:00.000-08:00

We are excited to be experiencing an early Spring after struggling through two consecutive record-breaking, nasty winters. (Can you tell that I am NOT into snow and cold?)
So fun to be gathering the pots and seeds to get started on the best summer flowers ever. I think this every year! Maybe I'm a just a garden optimist.

This year I plan to plant more seeds than seedlings in an attempt to recreate some gorgeous flowers I had one season many years ago. Poppies, sweet peas, canterbury bells, balsam, bells of Ireland - all in a riot of color like the English cottage gardens I admire.

Have you heard about growing vegetables in your flower beds? I've seen this done even in large pots - sweet corn and leaf lettuce growing happily with bright annual flowers and it is cute, cute, cute! I'm hoping this will help foil the deer who think my sunflowers and cornstalks belong to them. Stay tuned...

It Couldn't Be That Hard, Right?

2010-02-23T21:35:00.000-08:00

So, we had decided to host our first Angel's Attic Open House. The attic space where we hold the sale needed a little spiffing up. We wanted it to keep its attic feel, yet have a cleaner, more upscale look and the plywood subflooring just wasn't doing the trick. Linda innocently suggested that we paint the floor. I thought that was a great idea, and it couldn't be that hard, right? Little did I know that a simple checkerboard pattern would be able to cripple my knees and reach it's malicious claws into my sanity.

Okay, so that may be a tad bit of overstatement, but if you have read my posts from this blog before, you know I lean a twitch toward the melodramatic when it comes to describing the trials and tribulations of our various projects. Just a twitch. I'm not apologizing for it; just explaining so we are all comfortable here. But I digress.

Like in an old black and white western, there I was, at sunrise, facing off against my opponent, the floor. Tool holster hanging from my hip a little heavy on the right side, hands poised with fingers slightly curled, hovering above my pencil and my roll of blue painters tape, I stared down this much larger adversary of rough wood. As tension mounted, nobody blinked or even dared breathe. Dust motes seemed to freeze in the air as the impending showdown threatened to consummate at any thundering instant.

Suddenly a sound erupts with a mechanical clash and wail. A strident voice of alarm exclaims "What are you doing? I thought you'd be half done by now." After climbing down from the rafters, I turn to my wife and mentally scramble to craft a reply. Donning my most calm and studious face, I say, "I'm planning my strategy." As an afterthought, I add "I've gotta fix that door. The thing makes an incredible racket when you open it."

Was I intimidated by this project? Ha! I scoff in the face of piddling little projects like painting a floor! I deride all floors everywhere! I mock paint and painting tools in all of their manifestations! I spit upon all of the progeny that paint and floors have produced, either deliberately or accidentally, in all of manifold time! I... digress again. This time I do apologize.

When painting a checkerboard or similar pattern, normally you paint the entire floor the lighter color, in this case a creamy white, then mask and paint the dark squares on top. This approach saves time and aggravation, so of course, we discard it. A somewhat rustic look was the goal, so wanting to see more of the underlying wood, we chose to minimize the paint buildup by masking and painting each color separately. Oh, and just because it wasn't yet arduous enough, we decide to turn the design 45 degrees to the angle of the room, compounding the difficulty of laying out the pattern by about a thousand times.

Being the supportive wife she is, Linda dives in and begins crawling around on the floor with me as we begin drawing lines and laying tape. After about ten minutes, she suddenly remembers another urgent project that she has to work on.

At this point you may be wondering why I have made such a big deal about this job. I mean, quit your whining and get over it, right? I would be right there with you if I hadn't been there, in that room, engaged in battle with an adversary armed with subtlety, hardened determination and splinters the size of chopsticks.

First, lines were drawn to show each square. Nose to the floor, tape was carefully applied on the outside of every white square. Then tape had to be pulled up and reapplied in those areas where I had not kept track of what color goes where. Crawling on my rapidly swelling knees, paint was brushed on. Tape was then pulled off in joyful anticipation of proceeding the following day to the next step, the black paint. I was finally making progress!

Having allowed the development of too much positivity, the project gods paid yet another visit overnight. Out come the rolls of tape again to mask the floor again, in the exact same place it had already been masked, as another coat of white needed to be applied again. The floor had seemingly drank the previous coat down, leaving virtually no evidence of my previous labor. Resolved to not be beaten, I put on my best Jack Nicholson grin, aka The Shining, and set about my work upon gnarly knots which have grown where my knees used to be. Just ignore any guttural muttering you might hear.

The black paint that follows requires an entire new set of taping, this time on the opposite side of the layout lines from the last stage. Eventually, paint applied and tape removed, I holster my paint brush and step off the field of battle to survey my victory. With the high of a difficult job well done flowing in my veins, I masochistically add an entire new phase to the project. If you have read this far, you may have picked up on the one unfailing urge that insists on having its way in my personality; I don't know when to quit. Like when I write. In this case, I decide that I need to add two more layers; a custom glaze over the black and white and a clear coat for protection. Bleeding knees be damned.

Believe it or not, the floor did eventually submit to my ministrations. If you visited our Open House, you saw the fruit of this labor. (PLEASE tell me you noticed the floor! Even if you didn't.) To get from the beginning of this engagement to the final surrender took a week of work. No kidding, an entire week. It also took five and a half rolls of tape, two pencils and two aging knees which are only now starting to straighten. The doctor thinks I may be able to walk again in time.

So what is the moral of this story? If there is one, it may be that nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Or maybe that nothing worth doing comes easily. Or... that a middle aged man ought not to be listening to his wife when she comes up with redecorating projects that sound too good - or too easy - to be true.
Keeping it real(ish),
-Jon

Just a Sittin' and a Waitin'

2010-02-05T22:32:00.000-08:00

...for Spring... and the Angel's Attic Spring Open House on April 24. There is a lot of work to do!

Treasure Chest

2010-02-01T21:03:00.000-08:00

I've heard of these kind of things happening to other people, but never to us. Someone becomes aware of your love of all things vintage, then contacts you saying something along the lines of "I know you like old stuff and I have this old trunk that has been in my family for years. I wonder if you would want it?"

That was today. A very nice woman who visited our Angel's Attic Open House last fall called to tell us about an old trunk that had been in her family for over 100 years. She said she loved the work I had done with the vintage furniture we had for sale and wanted to give the trunk to someone who would "know what to do with it". The trunk has seen better days, but has a lot of beautiful details and a rich patina born of many hands and much travel. It has stories to tell. To top it off, she then further surprised me by apologizing because she had accidentally left some old linens and things in the trunk she had meant to throw away. (!)

Very cool. Apology accepted.

We had a lot of fun digging into the trunk to see what treasures might be inside. The generous previous owner insisted that we are welcome to resell any of it if we want to. We don't know yet what all we will do with it, but if you are curious about what we found, come to our Angel's Attic Open House in April. I'm sure some of it will make the display.

Thank you, Sue!
- Jon

Small Town Girls Go To The Big City!

2010-01-27T20:05:00.000-08:00

January is the perfect time to go to the Seattle Gift Show.
Get out of town, eat out, shop, dream, plan...

Last weekend, Jon, Kristen, Gabby, and I went to Seattle and did just that.

Kristen and I checked out the new design trends and began to plan the Spring Open House. We are excited to start working on light and bright designs for spring and summer along with lots of plants and flowers for outdoor living.

There are so many wonderfully fun shopping districts to check out! Here is Watson Kennedy, located in a courtyard close to Pike Place Market - love the black and white awnings.

There's also a great antique store in the area that can take hours to explore - watch out for the stuffed rattlesnake. I have a thing for old script, so this little framed ditty caught my eye.

We hit the Ballard District in time for the Sunday Farmer's Market and strolled through some great shops like Lucca, Cupcake Royale, and Damselfly. Check out this elaborate Valentine theme shop window!

Back at our Bellevue hotel, Gabrielle was crazy for the indoor pool.

Of course time went too fast and we had to leave more to explore another time. How 'bout you? Do you have a favorite store to recommend?

A Taste of Jessica's Talent

2010-01-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

Wow, Christmas really takes over one's time! Had good intentions to post more of our Christmas decor but it just didn't happen.

Jessica is our resident textile artist and she delighted her nieces, Gabrielle and Lily, with handmade dolls for Christmas. Here is Lily's doll, complete with blonde felt pigtails! The little gathered skirt and tiny pink cape are reversible for more "outfits." The fancy little button hides a velcro fastener to make it easier for little fingers. Dolly came complete with her own coordinating blanket and pillow.

I wish we'd gotten more photos before the girls gathered them up and went off to happily play with them. These are unique dolls that the girls will hold dear for years.

Jessica is a whiz at finding new ideas and creating treasures out of old vintage fabrics - all without patterns or instructions. We are looking forward to more treats that she will have on sale at our next open house in April. And don't miss her "green" coffee sleeves at Coffee Social, 113 W. Indiana and at Boo Radley's at 232 N. Howard here in Spokane (they were a featured Christmas gift idea in a recent issue of The Inlander).

And, speaking of talent, Jon can do anything with wood! Here is a darling little wooden elephant pull toy that went to little Miss Jillian this Christmas.

-Linda

Can't take them anywhere.

2009-12-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

So we go out yesterday to get the yearly Santa pictures done with the girls. Silly me, I thought that's all we were doing. Somehow this simple task turns into a multiple hour shopping excursion with several car trips hither and yon. And of course, me as a captive passenger. I shouldn't be surprised. I don't know how may times Linda and I have left the house to make a "quick trip to the grocery", then somehow mysteriously end up spending an hour at Joann's Fabrics. I secretly don't really mind, but I just can't let Linda's evil schemes go unchallenged. So, as we traipse around town with a car full of girls yesterday, I grumble a bit. Linda says I play the curmudgeon to the hilt. Whatever. I'm a man in the midst of a wife, two daughters and five granddaughters. A very privileged and blessed place to be, but also a distinct minority. If I don't complain about being dragged around town shopping or whatever, how will they know that I love them and love being with them - even if we are doing something a tad too testosterone free? I mean, I missed the Gonzaga game for this? So, after receiving my due rebuke for my cumudgeonly ways, I thought of the best retort: REVENGE.

This is Linda, Lily and Gabby getting silly at Uniquely Chic in Spokane. I swear, I can't take them anywhere.

-Jon

Turkey Leftovers are Gone...Christmas Tree is Up

2009-12-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Sure, it is easy to say “Don’t let me buy ANY MORE Christmas decorations this year!” as you are in a ninety degree August attic sorting and organizing boxes.

Now its “But Honey, I’ve decorated the tree the same way for the past xxx number of years!”

So it is off to Mels for inspiration and Michaels for supplies. I’m excited about creating a whole new look with simple changes like new ribbon, a glitzy garland, change the dark red satin balls to shiny black ones. An economical Christmas tree makeover!

We crafted some little round mirrors and hung them from black organza ribbon. I'm sure they add sparkle to the tree but next time I will use larger mirrors. I also recycled the dried hydrangea blossoms from a fall centerpiece by spraying them with golden glitter (the result was subtle and natural). They were an easy replacement to the deep red silk hydrangeas from prior years. Angel joined the vignette in her original role as a Christmas Angel.

The little black lanterns were filled with mica snow and flickering battery candle lights. Hmmm, I wonder who I will nominate to turn them off and on once they are on the tree? [Three guesses... - Jon]

Still to come - decorating the mantle, staircase bannister, chandeliers....then the outdoor lighting and wreaths. My Christmas wish? That we don't get 19 inches of snow overnight a week before Christmas, like last year!!
- Linda

Pretty Pocket Pies

2009-11-30T22:19:00.000-08:00

Since apple pies are my favorite, I bought this little pocket pie "machine" at Williams Sonoma, just for fun.

There is a recipe on the box, but just mix up a batch of your favorite pie crust, peel and slice some apples, add sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pat of butter. (On our farm we had several huge Macintosh apple trees that provided many zillion quarts of applesauce, apple cider, and pies. I still search out Macs for my pies and sauce.)

It was easy - use the pie machine like a cookie cutter on the pie dough, then pop it in the machine, add apples (you can also use canned pie filling if in a hurry), add the top crust, crimp the edges closed and bake.

Fun! My double 9-inch pie crust recipe made 6 pocket pies. I think I will roll the dough out a little thinner next time so they are more flaky and delicate. Nonetheless, they were eaten in a flash!

- Linda

Another Great Weekend

2009-11-09T11:36:00.000-08:00

Kim, Kristen, Jon, Linda, and Jessica thank each of you who visited Angel’s Attic at Saturday’s Vintage Finds & Handmade Treasures Market in Nine Mile Falls. We enjoy meeting and getting acquainted with our customers and other vendors. Your positive comments are so encouraging and help ease the hard work of doing a show!

Thanks to show organizer Jennifer Walker of Unexpected Necessities for keeping everything running smoothly and the cupcakes and other goodies during set up.

The show had a lot of different vendors showcasing everything from vintage furniture to clothing made from vintage fabrics to handmade jewelry. Another great feature was the used book sale. If you like to buy books at a bargain, this was the place to go. Jessica and Kristen alone brought home four bags between them! Be sure to check it out next year.

Here we are (Jessica, Linda, Kristen and Angel) in our booth before the show.

Angel's Attic is now hard at work planning our Spring Open House and we promise new items which are bright, light and colorful. The search for treasures continues. Please check back with us to see what we find!

-Linda

An Angel Among Us

2009-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

How did an angel come to live in our attic? A year ago, my husband and I were helping set up Sophia's Christmas display at a retail establishment when I spotted Angel in another part of the store. Lit prettily by candlelight, she hung suspended above a mantel decked out for the holiday. A very unique piece. But sadly, I left her there – we all struggle with temptations to bring things home, don't we? Later, my husband secretly returned to the store and purchased her as my Christmas gift. He even managed to hide this rather large angel (she is about 4 feet long!) in the house for several weeks until revealing the surprise on Christmas Eve. Angel became the inspiration for our business name and anchored last summer's Farm Chicks Antique Show display before taking center stage in Angel's Attic. Many have wished to buy her and take her home but this gift from my thoughtful husband is staying put!
-Linda

Project #752 and Counting...

2009-11-03T13:41:00.000-08:00

Outside a local antique store I found this great project chair for only $16! I’ve never redone the upholstery on a chair but would like to learn a new skill. I love the details on this chair but am a bit undecided on the new finish. Wondering about a style I spotted in a magazine with a light, creamy antiquing glaze over a darker base color. It gives the wood a wonderful old European look. The fabric is an easy decision – a light linen look with a script design.

This is a chair that probably won’t make it into an Attic sale. One must indulge once in a while! I just hope I complete the project before the house is redecorated (again).

If you have any helpful advice on reupholstering, I'd love to hear from you!
-Linda

Scanning for Life Forms...

2009-11-03T13:01:00.000-08:00

I just had to show you how cute our granddaughters were on Halloween. Jillian is on the left in the costume (uniform?) that our daughter Jessica made. Maybe you have to have been a Star Trek fan to fully appreciate it, but I thought it was totally irresistible. Jess made it as authentic as possible, not only making a Next Generation era commanders uniform - notice the three pips on the collar - but she also made a mini tricorder out of felt to go with it. You should see the tote bags she makes for us! Next to her is Lily wearing a classic pumpkin costume that her mother wore when she was about the same age (3), Summer dressed as a "flower child" and Gabby looking scary with her glow-in-the-dark fangs and the glittering red cape Linda made for her.

-Jon

Foof? What foof?

2009-11-02T23:17:00.000-08:00

Knowing we are always looking for furniture to rehab, our son in law, Andy, offered us his old nightstand which he'd used all throughout his childhood. Originally a brown wood stain, it had seen better days with its surface scarred, water stained and well used. Despite this, it was easy to recognize its good "bones" and interesting details, so we accepted it and gave it an "extreme makeover". I thought someone might enjoy a fun, Frenchy look on this table. It could now take a respectful place in a bedroom or any room of the house.

Oh yes, Andy is a modern, no frills or foof kind of guy... do you think he'd like it back?

-Linda

Stool Pigeon

2009-10-29T18:00:00.000-07:00

It's an old idea. Take a vintage piece of furniture - in this case a small stool - then paint it to give it new life. Simple, right? When we bought it, the stool was covered with a dusty, crusted yellow paint which came off on my hands. My wife wanted this specific look that she had seen somewhere. As often happens in these sort of cases, the challenge is communication of what she wants from her brain to mine. I thought, "Sure, I'll repaint the stool for her, no problem." Little did I know that this small project will require sanding, priming, two coats of base color, black accents requiring both taping (the stripes) and hand painting (both stripes and dots), then a very carefully applied glaze, then a clear coat. I think I may have been suckered. Not that Linda would ever do that to me - of course not.

It was more work than I thought it would be, but I'll admit it was fun as well. I always enjoy doing things I haven't done before. However, unless we end up selling it to a multi-millionaire with a highly developed sense of the ridiculous, there is no way I can come close to recouping my cost in time spent. But I guess that would probably be true of most things I fix up. I try not to look too closely at the bottom line, being afraid of what I'll see. I'm not the only one, am I?

I wish I had thought ahead far enough to take a "before" picture, but here is the "after".

What do you think?
-Jon

Speaking of H1N1...

2009-10-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in the last post, Kristen came down with the H1N1 virus and couldn't work the sale on Saturday. Well, she had also been told that she couldn't have any contact with her 3 month old daughter, Summer. Her husband had to work on Monday, so Grandpa "had" to watch her. Believe me, I didn't mind. We had a fun time together. I may be an old softie, but there is nothing more endearing than a baby who smiles at you like she thinks you are the the most loveable and entertaining person on the planet. And there's nothing more peaceful than a baby asleep. I took this picture when she got here, asleep in her car seat. In fact, this entire post really was just an excuse to show you our little Summer.

While I am at it, here is our other baby granddaughter, Jillian (Jessica's daughter). She just turned 1.

Are we lucky or what?

-Jon

There's a First Time For Everything

2009-10-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

We want to thank everyone who came to our first ever open house. Angel's Attic was launched on Saturday and was a great success. We received a lot of positive comments about our decor inside and out, as well as the products we were selling. The weather even played along, giving us a sunny mild day. After the pseudo-monsoon of the previous Friday, the sun was a gift!

All wasn't goodness and light, however. Kristen (Sophia's) came down with the H1N1 virus on Thursday and couldn't finish setup on Friday or work the sale on Saturday. If you know her, you know how hard that was for her. She has been a driving force behind our beginning Angel's Attic, and is our principal decorator, so getting all of the feedback second hand had to be disappointing. She is also great with people, so we missed her dearly. Kim and Jessica did a great job covering the bases, but it would have been easier if all hands had been on deck.

We have also learned a few things since doing our first sale that will help us down the road. For instance, next time we will have more signs in more locations!

We are really looking forward to our next sale and wish we could do it right away. Unfortunately, the weather will probably not cooperate and the Attic isn't insulated or heated, so wouldn't provide the finest of shopping experiences. In case you were wondering - and I hope you were - our next sale is scheduled for April 24th.

-Jon