A Stool And Curio Cabinet in the Store Window

Here's a few projects I did for the antique store window display from my last post

First up a little curio cabinet

This little darling started life like this

I gave it a coat of chalk paint, added a couple homemade plaster flowers (tutorial HERE), used clear and dark wax and lined it with dollar store paper.  Then I put a water slide decal (tutorial HERE) on the back side of the door with a graphic from Graphics Fairy.  I priced this curio at $32.00

The curio cabinet is sitting on a vintage farm stool that I stenciled with a Paris graphic and is also priced at $32.00

And this little storage stool got a transformation too

I did a couple coats of chalk paint followed by clear and dark wax. Then upholstered in a tan fabric that I stamped with my vintage stamp set

Goodness, I priced this stool at $32.00 also.  Now you know what $32.00 will buy you in my booth......Everything lol!  

I still have a couple more store window projects to show you....Stay tuned!

  

Happy Creating

Carol

I'm Officially A Window Dresser.....Dressing The Antique Store Window

My stint as a window dresser   

I got the window at Orange Tree Antiques dressed today and it went so quick!  It only took me about 20 minutes.  I did a trial run and set it all up in my living room, so I knew exactly how I wanted it to look.

  

OH MY GOSH...Has anyone ever tried to photograph a store window?  It was so difficult, I had to go back at night because the glare was so bad during the day

Having a Shabby French window display is unique for Orange Tree Antiques.  I don't know if I've ever told you that I am the ONLY shabby vendor in the mall.  

The mall has has been open for 17 successful years.  This is due in part to the fact that the owner does not allow multiple vendors of the same venue.  So, there is only one book vendor, one vintage clothes vendor, one shabby vendor (ME), etc.  This means there is something for everyone because of the diverse array of products.

Next month Orange Tree Antiques is doubling in size.  They have leased the space next door and they are breaking through the wall.   

I'm in the store window for a 6 week rotation, then it will be another vendors turn.  I'll share the Before and After pictures of my window projects in my next post.

  Now, I don't think it's super duper great but, I think it looks OK for a newbie window dresser.......And having this much fun...Priceless!  

  

Happy Creating

Carol

Getting Ready To Dress The Antique Mall Window

Now I think I'm a window dresser!  

I have a booth at Orange Tree Antiques Mall in Winter Park Florida.  The owner had a great idea to rotate vendors for 6 week stints to decorate the storefront window...Guess whose turn it is?!

Here's a sneak peek:

I'll be doing the window this weekend and I'm in overdrive getting ready.  The window is 9X2, so it's pretty good size.

The back drop for one side of the window is my old garden arbor, it was totally rotted.  Note to self, wood in Florida, doesn't last long

I got a new vinyl arbor, but never threw the old one out.  I washed it up, scrubbed it down with a wire brush, cut the rotted legs off and used door hinges to hook them together.   

Now I have my arbor as a back drop for one side of the window

 I want to keep the colors black, white, and neutrals

The Paris Flea Market sign was stenciled on a piece of old siding

I found these wooden hangers at the thrift, painted them black, laid a piece of lace over them, and sprayed over the lace with white paint

I've made a bunch of the big white flowers to fill in here and there.  I'll show you how I made them in a future post, just incase you need big paper flowers for something?!

So, this is just a sneak peek, I'm working on many more pieces 

I've been so excited about this, but have no experience, so I'm hoping the window looks as good as it does in my head.  I'll be back soon with pictures of the whole completed window and we'll figure out together if I have a future in window dressing lol!

Happy Creating!

Carol

Introducing ...A Blog For Kids!

This is so adorable, your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews and any little person in your life will love this!!

Sew-Crafty Kids is the sweetest blog for kids!  It is filled with simple fun projects and video tutorials by

Jessie Mae and Charlotte

Oh My Gosh...These kids are Super Stars, they do the most professional and adorable video tutorials on everything from

Making POM POM Rings

To Learning Math Facts

And Constructing Toilet Paper Bird Houses

Here's how I know these adorable children

I met Jessie Mae and Charlottes Mom (Angelina) through blogging.  Her blog is JoJo and Eloise.  We commented back and forth on each others blogs for quite a while and then one day I mentioned on a post that I had a Mac computer.  She commented that she had just switched to a Mac. I told her if she needed any help to give me a call....So...She did, and we haven't quit talking!

I know you can all relate to similar experiences with meeting blog friends

Beautiful Angelina has 6!!!!!! children and home schools them all!  Super Mom also crafts with them and has taught them to sew. 

I hope you get a chance to share Sew-Crafty Kids with the little people in your life...I think these girls are going to be Super Stars..Hello Disney Channel, are you listening?....Then we can all say "I knew them when"!

Break a leg girls!  

(Angelina, would you explain to them that "break a leg" means "good luck" in show biz talk)

  

Happy Creating!

Carol

  

The Secret To Selling Frames

I sell a lot more frames than pictures in my antiques booth and when I did the series about selling antiques, "What Sells and What Doesn't", It seems many of you do too.

Pictures are hard to sell since they have to appeal to a customers specific style, color, taste, and decor.......

......But frames are a good seller!

  I previously used vintage sheet music or old copied pictures as a frame filler

The problem with filling the frames with anything, is that customers still thought I was selling a picture

So.....ARE YOU READY FOR THE SECRET????

Wandering around an antique store one day I saw a vendor had filled her frames with doilies....

Eureka.....Now the customers knew what was for sale.....THE FRAME, not a picture of sheet music or an old photo.  

As soon as I tried this I started selling frames like crazy!   I thought I would pass it on........I just can't keep a good secret!

Happy Selling!
Carol