Beans and Buttons

September Tag Sale Preview!

2011-09-15T08:08:00.000-07:00

It's our favorite time of year....It's fall!! I love the rich colors of pumpkins and mums and the wonderful crisp in the air...It's also one of the BEST months at Chartreuse and Co.! The barn is full of awesome stuff!

Here's a sneak peek at what Beans and Buttons will have!

A great black library/petite dining table....$169

Two upholstered cane-back sitting chairs..$209 each

Look at the raffia pumpkins with burlap leaves...love them!!

An incredible oak cubbie box complete with cork trim...how cool!

Handmade burlap pumpkins...these are one of my favorite projects ever!

Love them!

Architectural salvage candlesticks....what a statement!

Vintage remington typewriter...it doesn't get much cooler!

Assorted acorns with hand-stamped tags

A gorgeous refinished dining table....creamy base with dark walnut top....yummy! $295

Look at that detail!

A beautiful hand-crocheted upholstered chair in original state...even more amazing in person! $369

A pine step-back cupboard....the patina on this is beautiful! $349

Fun trick or treat boxes....imagine how cool they'd look full of candy corn!

A large office desk in amazing condition...I wanted this one for myself...$259

Architectural columns...so cool! $69 each

A gorgeous red step-back cupboard with original hardware...The black background on the shelves really makes things pop in it! $469

Small butcher-block table/desk...it's a great petite size!

A gorgeous creamy taupe buffet with refinished dark walnut top.

Look at this amazing set-up with the metallic pumpkins and beautiful vintage mirror!

Hand-painted dresser...so cool!! Looks like it came right out of a french hotel! $239

Vintage ledgers from Hanover Shoe Co.

Creamy taupe china painted black inside...$249

A great small black table...perfect side table!

Beautiful grey dresser with mirror...look at the refinished top!

Vintage wash basin...how perfect for the fall! Picture it piled with pumpkins and mums!

Hand-painted zebra children's table and chairs...$99

Gorgeous hand-painted armoire...$279

Hand-painted numbers dresser....awesome in a boys room! $219

We can't wait to see you there!

Chartreuse and Co.

4007A Buckeystown Pike

Frederick, MD

Friday September 16, 2011: 9am-4pm

Saturday September 17, 2011: 9am-4pm

Sunday September 18, 2011: 12pm-4pm

Today...

2011-09-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Gail from the Kramer Angle for this picture! It just seems to say it all...

We all remember where we were and who we were with the moment we heard about the attacks. We need to take time out of this day, without football and without domestic duties and remember all those that lost their lives.

Also, send some thoughts over to Anna at An Inch of Gray who lost her son in a flash flood over the weekend.

Come to Walkersville!

2011-08-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

Come see us at Wild Rose and Co. in Walkersville, MD!

Here's some of our current inventory....

A great creamy white curio with a soft neutral fabric lining the door.

This great petite dresser with a creamy top and a beautiful gray base...yummy!

A creamy white vanity....perfect for your little girl's room!

This petite curio, perfect for an entryway!

A smaller-sized sideboard...would fit just about anywhere!!

Come see us and the other vendors Tuesday-Saturday at 21 W. Pennsylvania Ave. in Walkersville!

August Tag Sale Preview!

2011-08-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

It's that time!....Tag Sale Time at Chartreuse and Co.

Friday August 19: 9am-4pm

Saturday August 20: 9am-4pm

Sunday August 21: 12pm-4pm

Here's a preview of what Beans and Buttons will have this month!

A beautiful french curvy creamy white dresser with original hardware: $299

A fabulous grey dresser with removable mirror and fun glass knobs! The top has been refinished to a dark walnut color...yummy! $299

French grey nightstand..awesome size: $99

Great repurposed hall tree....perfect for your entryway: $229

Fun black bookshelf with chalkboard baskets...Great for back to school! $179

A great organizer memo board: $49

Vintage movie projector: $59

Great handpainted barnwood clock: $129

Booksellers table with Fleur d' Leif: $49

Great french grey, white-washed buffet: $269

Handpainted and stamped lamp: $69

Two-drawer, two basket petite armoire....perfect for a kitchen, entryway, hallway....anywhere! $219

Handpainted french cabinet with antiqued finish: $239

Vintage general store cabinet with slotted drawers...amazing find! $159

Petite french grey curio with fabric-lined door: $249

Vintage window turned mirror: $89

Handpainted stool: $65

Perfect piece for a side table or small desk: $ 119

Creamy white nightstand: $109

One-of-a-kind handmade pulley bookends using reclaimed wood: $65

Memo board with reclaimed wood frame: $79

Green seltzer bottles: $39 each

Vintage 7-up box: $24

Vintage wood dumbbells: $12 each

Creamy white wine cabinet...just in time for the fall! $169

Creamy white nightstand: $109

Amazing solid oak cubby box with corkboard trim...great for a library! $269

Beautiful taupe buffet with refinished dark walnut top: $349

Black library/dining table: $229

Vintage Remington Typewriter: $59

Awesome white chippy cubby box: $69

AMAZING original design wood and metal console table: $299

Shelves made from reclaimed wood, metal pipe legs and locking wheels

Here's a preview for the

Beans and Buttons Kids space...

Great hair accessories and hats...great for Back to School!

Small white nightstand: $49

White storage bench: $99

Handmade pink tulle lamp: $69

Amazing white storage armoire: $359

Handpainted sweet green dresser: $209

Handmade memoboards for your little girls room

Assorted tutus and pettiskirts..Fun!

Handmade frames: $18 each

Handpainted armoire: $279

Fun activity books, notebooks, and accessories

Great storage lockers...perfect for a mud room! $109 each

Handpainted numbers dresser: $219

Handpainted bike nightstand: $69

Handpainted black and white zebra table and chairs: $99

Ruffle chalkboard runners: $20 each

Red and white distressed child-size desk: $79

Red desk chair: $32

Red nautical lamp: $45

Red chalkboard: $29

Come see us THIS WEEKEND

at Chartreuse and Co.

4007A Buckeystown Pike

Frederick, MD

Visit http://www.chartreuseandco.com/ for more info!

Buffet Before and After

2011-08-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

Wendy and I picked up this buffet at one of our favorite picker stores. It was such a beautiful piece, but boy did she need some work! It was missing one of the shelves, all drawer stops and one door stop. Plus, she appeared like she had been beaten with a variety of objects....pooooor buffet....

Since it is almost the fall, I decided to do this piece a nice creamy taupe. I've always loved the look of a painted base with a stained top, but boy did this top need help before that was even possible. I suggested the idea to Wendy and she said "nope, just paint it." But did I listen? Nope, I never do! (although I regretted it when I was covered in a thick layer of sanding dust from head to toe...I mean COVERED!)

Anyway, I sanded the top down heavily using 60-grit sandpaper. I recommend using a belt sander if you have one handy, but a regular palm sander will get the job done too. I then clean the top completely off and free of debris.

The base was then given three coats of an oops paint that we had color-matched.....Now it was time to tackle the top.

I first stained it using a coat of dark walnut Minwax stain.

I thought showing the current state of my stain can would help show my love for it!!

I then added a coat of Minwax Wood-sheen rubbing stain and finish in a Colonial Walnut color.

Finally I used my favorite colored wax for the top coat. It's Howard Citrus Shield Color Paste Wax in the Dark Oak finish. I got this wax from a local antique store but if can also be ordered online.

I use a heavy coat of wax filling in the grooves in the wood and then polish it back off after it sits.

It leaves this great shiny finish.

I then distressed the whole piece and she was ready for repair.

Wendy cut a new shelf. I added drawer stops and she was perfect!

Quick tip...If you have a drawer that goes too far back into a piece, then it probably needs a drawer stop. Yes, they make actual drawer stops, but no, you don't have to use them. My favorite things to use are upholstery tacks. They have enough of a nail head to stop the drawer, but are short enough to be easy to tap in place. Small screws and nails can also be used. Just use the old hole for the drawer stop as a guide for where to put the new one. Drawer stops are usually located at the front bottom of the piece where a drawer slides. Tap your tack/screw/nail into place and you're good to go!!

Here she is all finished.....ahhhh, i'm in love!

(can you tell that I work in my playroom???)

Check out my Link Parties tab at the top of my page to see what great parties i'm linking to!

Second Saturday Outdoor Antique Sale

2011-08-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Come see Beans and Buttons in Laytonsville, MD this Saturday for the Second Saturday Outdoor Antique Sale! It's going to be a beautiful weekend! Spend it finding fabulous vintage treasures!

Here's a sampling of what we'll have!

We will also be bringing a sampling from our kids line! Oooh la la!

SEE YOU THERE!

Lindsay's Tips for DIY-ing...

2011-07-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

"Do-it-yourself"

...a phrase that makes some excited, some scared, some intimidated, and others thrive on it..

(just take a look at all of the DIY blogs!!)

How do I successfully Do-it-myself?

I'll give you my best tips for making those projects work!

1) MUSIC! Have a great playlist handy. Turn on the tunes, pump them up and get crazy! Don't be afraid to use a "microphone" (paintbrushes work great). I find that having music playing makes me work better and faster.

2) Only work when you want to. Well, this isn't always the case for me, but I definitely find that I do my best work when i'm inpsired and really driven to finish projects. Some days you just want to hang on the sofa and catch up on your soaps...Indulge...Your work will be better for it.

Oh, John McBain....

3) Don't be afraid. Not every project you try will turn out looking like a Martha masterpiece. Don't be afraid to fail. Rest assured, more projects will turn out great than will not. And besides, if you don't like it, just redo it!

4) Make sure you have all of your supplies before starting a project. I can't tell you how many times i've gotten this great idea in my head, started it, then realized I didn't have what I needed. Then the unfinished project sits and sits and sits till I remember to get the supplies.

5) Relating to #4...make sure to have a list when shopping for supplies, especially if there are several random detailed items (i.e...medium googly eyes, thin blue ribbon, yellow thread, wood glue, pink spray paint, foam brush, one crystal knob, L-brackets...you get the idea) You will invariably forget something...save yourself!!

6) Go ahead and make a mess. Anyone who's ever seen me work knows that I make a BIG mess. I have ribbon falling all over the floor, piles of fabric....complete chaos, I mean a real mess. Go ahead and make that mess but put things back where they belong when your project is done, or you will forget you have them, trust me. On a similiar note, have some good ole' painting clothes. Mine aren't pretty, I mean...they are well-loved. In fact, in this business I have quite a few "well-loved" outfits! Wear something that you aren't afraid to mess up, especially when painting.

7) Paint where you can spread out, ideally outdoors. Thank goodness for nice weather because it makes my painting life so much easier! I take up to four pieces of furniture outside at a time. This allows me to spread all of the pieces out, then go from piece to piece painting coats.

8) Ask other people's advice...."What do you think this will look like in this color?"...."Do you think stripes would look good on this?"...But also look to the internet for inspiration. Blogs especially provide great inspiration ideas.

What are YOUR tips for successful DIY-ing??

Wine anyone?

2011-07-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

Wendy and I are always on the lookout for great round dining tables. Everyone seems to want them! They are much easier to put in smaller spaces than the traditional large oval or rectangle table.

Anyways...we picked up this table at a thrift shop. Nice simple round table but definitely needed some lovin'.

I first sanded the heck out of the top to remove the old finish. I knew I wanted to add a special touch to this table for the Lucketts Fair.

Wendy had done this awesome cocktail table a ways back...to see it look here.

I used the same concept for the dining table. I added the graphic using a printed template and transfer paper, then painted it in using black paint. Once the graphic was painted, I distressed it. Finally, I used walnut stain which really brought out the character of the wood and then protected it with a coat of walnut wax. If you've never used colored wax, I highly recommend you get yourself some. Best stuff ever created! It adds the color and protection all in one step. I found mine at a local antique shop.

We got the chairs from a fellow vendor at Chartreuse and Co. Wendy painted them black then hand-upholstered each seat with a striped tan linen. The chairs turned out so great! They had such a sophisticated look....

What do you think??

French Market Hutch

2011-06-21T08:05:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me apologize for the lack of posts...we had a few emergencies happen in our family and have been out of the blog loop....

Wendy and I participated in the great Lucketts fair this past May and it was a blast! Hot, but a blast! One of the pieces I did for the show was this French Market Hutch.

I picked up this hutch at a flea market. It was just plain white with medium-tone wood shelves and top. It was simple and fine the way it was but anyone that knows us knows that we don't do simple and fine!

I wanted to add some special touch to the piece, so at first I thought I would line the back with an antique grain sack, or burlap, or fabric...and the thoughts went on and on! My experience with fabric lining hindered my excitement for using it (it never quite seems to adhere to the piece like I want it to leaving unsightly bubbles!) So, I opted to personalize it with paint! I painted the white parts with a creamy white then went back over it with our stain technique. I also sanded down the shelves and top and darkened the wood tone.

Now came the hard part....I removed the back of the hutch, carefully laid out a pattern ensuring the it would fit between the shelves and hand-painted the design. After it was painted, I sanded the letters down for some age and again added the stain. The cool part was that the stain adhered a bit differently to the back panel creating a rustic wood kind of look. This is my FAVORITE piece that we've ever done! I was totally in love! So was a lady whose husband came back to secretly buy it for her....how cute!

What do you think....love it as much as me??

They just don't make it like that anymore...

2011-03-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

Working in this industry has truly made me appreciate the quality of all-wood, handmade craftsmanship. Particle board and pressed wood has replaced mahogany and dove-tail drawers and beautiful stained finishes. I especially love when I see one-of-a kind pieces made without the idea of mass production anywhere in sight.

One of my favorite hand-made pieces that i've come across recently is this AWESOME table by Sally Ry and Lala...The whole piece is made from salvaged wood! It takes true talent to take lumber, about to become mulch, and turn it into something so incredible!

Check out Sally Ry and Lala's Current Blog for more pictures of magnificent hand-crafted farm tables!

Awesome Handpainted Cocktail Table

2011-02-22T15:58:00.000-08:00

So, Wendy and I came across these awesome iron bases at a salvage store. We've been trying to find the perfect tops to make great cocktail tables. Wendy found these premade table tops at Lowes for $36. And the perfect size...What luck! We knew we wanted something unique to do the iron base justice. Wendy beat up the table top using any tool available and then used a blow torch to add extra character.

She then mimicked a wine label on the top of the piece, hand-painting the letters in black.

WOW!!

She then took a sander to add extra age to the table.

Finally, she stained the wood and added protection with several coats of poly.

What an amazing table!! It sold immediately. In fact, there were multiple people fighting over it!

Vanity/Desk Redo

2011-02-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

Wendy and I picked up this great desk (I call it)/ vanity (she calls it). It has gorgeous lines and is made with such quality. It's one of those pieces you get even more excited about buying the more you look at it.

I sort of remembered to take a before picture!

Here is the desk...

I dry brushed the desk with our favorite creamy white (coastal biege by Behr). Then I dry brushed the desk with "Light French Gray" also by Behr. I was getting that "coastally" vibe from it, but I really wasn't feeling the top. I was really seeing the top a dark stain to compliment the rest and richen it up. But, I had already painted it. So what's a girl to do? Well, experiment of course!! I heavily sanded the top layer of paint down leaving a decent amount. Then I stained the top, right over the paint. I applied 3 coats of stain and then allowed to dry for about 4 days. I LOVED the outcome! It had the richness of the stain, but had the character of the paint underneath for some added fun!

Happy Experimenting Everyone!

French Label Table

2011-01-26T18:29:00.000-08:00

Wendy and I picked up this neat little table at a used furniture store. It was in pretty bad condition, but had a great shape to it....Why is it that you always remember to take the before picture AFTER you've worked on something?!

I painted the table a creamy white...

I wanted to add something special to this table so I found a vintage chocolate label from the graphics fairy. I enlarged the image in Word and then printed it out. I traced over the opposite side of the image using a pencil. Then I taped the image right side up to the table and scribbled over the image with the pencil. This transfered the pencil tracing to the table top.

I then used a small paint brush and black paint to fill in the transfered image. That left me with this result. Very cute!

I added a french-looking stencil to the bottom shelf then distressed the whole table using 100-grit sandpaper.

Finally, I stained the table using Minwax dark walnut stain. I always recommend stain because it enhances the distressing and ages a piece perfectly. It looks just like it came right out of a french store!

P.S. Check out this post and this post for some more fun tables!

Designer Garden Party

Armoire Before and After

2011-01-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

Wendy and I picked up this armoire at a recent auction...It was pretty beat up but had AWESOME lines and great detail (the things we most look for in furniture). You always have to see past the cosmetics of pieces and envision what they can become.

I first painted the piece of soft creamy white. I chose to leave the hardware attached so it would blend into the piece and not detract from the great details.

I then sanded the edges with a hand sander to add that vintage distressed look. After distressing I hand rubbed the whole piece with dark walnut stain. Note: When using stain as your glaze/antiquing agent, allow ample dry time. Using stain gives a great look, but does take a while to dry!

Happy Painting Everyone!

The Journey of Unwanted Furniture....

2010-12-01T17:08:00.000-08:00

So Wendy and I spend a good amount of our time searching for, hunting down, bidding on and hauling furniture. We've been to ALL sorts of places in search of those perfect pieces...you know, the ones with great lines, in perfect shape and at a great ~~(sinfully cheap)~~ price. But as pieces come and go, I always wonder where they've been...who's owned and loved this piece of furniture, where it's traveled, in what great house did it live....A piece of furniture is just like a person full of wisdom, it's got a story to tell...

Wendy and I have our favorite auction that we go to on Mondays and we always come home with a full load of great stuff! The room is packed full of rows of furniture...Just how we like it...

At our auction 2 weeks ago we picked up some great items...

See that great two-tiered table to the left? Yep, we got that one...It was extremely dusty and obviously neglected and unused...Under all of that is a GORGEOUS table! See the booksellers table at the top right? Got that one too....what a perfect little table to hold books by a cozy chair. It just needed some love.

See the long console table under those small cabinets? We got that...dirty, scratched and quite the mess...but she's gonna be a beauty when she's done! We also got the little two-door cabinet at the far right on that table...what a great piece!

See the funky shaped table at that bottom of the picture? Well, let me say that this table was missing the bottom shelf, had two very loose legs and was in need of some major repair...most would have thrown it away! What did we do? Well we won it of course! Wait till you see what it looks like now! Fantastic lines and detail!

See the little cream chest of drawers? Look at the lines of that piece...absolutely incredible! In great shape with amazing hardware and would you believe that only ONE person bid against us?? Wait till you see how it looks now...

And see the little table on top of the dining room table? What a cute little piece...solid walnut table seemed almost a crime to paint, but wait till you see what Wendy did to it! It's amazing!

And then there was this piece....we had our heart set on it....we were already making plans for it, it was really speaking to us...what an AMAZING piece...An awesome old cart turned wine rack....Talk about history! Where did it come from? Was it in an old factory? What did it hold?? So many possibilities....boy did we want this one....but we got outbid...R.I.P great old cart...

So why do we love traipsing through all sorts of places scooping up other people's neglected, unwanted furniture? Because it's awesome. It's awesome to find pieces with so much potential that just need some love, and turn them into masterpieces that have a whole new life! New is boring. We thrive on originality. It's a thrill. We love taking something with so much history and adding more to it's story...even if it's just furniture! What's your thrill?

Keep checking back for the after pictures of all of these great pieces we picked up at the auction!

(And don't forget to become a follower)

The Lost Art of Holidays....

2010-11-16T10:16:00.000-08:00

So, fact is, that I LOVE Holidays...I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas. I love the whole atmosphere of Christmas, I love the shopping, the gift-giving, the music, the colors, the lights, the baking... I love how everything stops on the holidays. How, for just those few hours, nothing else matters but being with your family.

Unfortunately for the first time ever, my employer has decided to open on Thanksgiving and this just makes me sad. But most of all, it's makes me sorrowful for what this country has become...Have we really become so desperate to shop and eat out that we can't even stop on holidays? Have we become so estranged from each other, that we'd rather eat food that a restaurant's prepared or go to Target?

This holiday season I challenge everyone. I challenge you to remember what's important. Put down the modge podge and the staple gun, turn off the TV and just be with your kids and family. Read, play memory, draw, bake cookies. Do anything but rush.

Remember that the people that are helping you in restaurants, at Walmart, at the toy store, are all people too. People with families that they are just trying to feed and care for. Make sure to say please and thank you. Learn their name and use it. Be nice. Be patient. Be generous. Say "Merry Christmas".

Remember the people that help you....you don't need to buy a gift, just a simple thank you card is all you need, just so they know you appreciate all they do.

You never know when a simple thank you can change someone's whole day....

Have a great Holiday everyone and thank you for all of the inspirations you provide!!

First Dibbs Party at Chartreuse and Co. tonight!!

2010-11-04T09:44:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again. That awesome, sparkly, glittery, jingly time of year. It's true. We all love it. We love the smell of fresh baked cookies. The shimmering lights. The shopping. The presents. It's definitely true. Christmas is a phenomenon. A great phenomenon. So what better way to celebrate than with the Chartreuse and Co. first dibbs Christmas kick-off party! Tonight (Thursday) from 6-9 pm!!

The barn is loaded full of goodies (edible and decorative!!) We've got ornaments galore. Great decorations. Yummy food. And of course, LOTS of great vintage gifts!!

Stop by for some fun shopping, yummy chartinis (come on, how many stores do you go to that provide apple martinis while shopping? Seriously!) and delicious goodies around the barn!

Here's a sneak peek and what Beans and Buttons will have this sale!

See you tonight!

Something From Nothing: Part 1

2010-10-26T19:20:00.000-07:00

Wendy and I went to our usual auction on Monday. Typically we just go for the 4 p.m. furniture, but we had seen some smaller items in pictures that were of interest. We went early hoping to score those items but as auction luck would have it, we didn't get any of the things we wanted! Major Bummer! However, we did manage to accumulate what most would call of box of complete junk. We won various box lots for 50 cents, (all together our items totaled about $2) took out what we wanted and ended up with this box of complete randomness....

We had a plan for each item we picked out....Here is a closer look at some of the items....

A box of clear Christmas ornaments....

A Styrofoam ball.....

Three Sytrofoam lollipops....

And Two candlesticks...

Now being true junk/salvage girls, we created something from nothing!

The clear glass ornaments were filled with strips of sheet music and tied with a ribbon for a pretty addition to the tree!

The lollipops were unwrapped and put in an oversized mason jar...how fun to combine modern with vintage!

The styrofoam ball was wrapped with yarn to create one of these fun yarn balls....don't they remind you of a candy store?? LOVE them stacked in clear dishes!

And the candlesticks were paired with some great vintage Christmas plates to create cake stands! (Although we will be using them for ornament display!)

While standing at the auction for hours was exhausting and a bit disappointing, we still managed to come up with some great stuff! Moral of the post....ALWAYS look for potential in everything, everywhere you go! Happy Hunting!

Great Metallic Pumpkins

2010-09-30T11:53:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it's been a busy few weeks opening our new location at Wild Rose & Co. in Walkersville, Md. So please forgive the lack of posts!! For a great peek into Wild Rose, check out Miss Mustard Seed's awesome video tour!

Wild Rose & Co. Grand Opening

Come by and see us some time! I guarantee you'll find LOTS of goodies!

21 West Pennsylvania Avenue, Walkersville, MD 21793

Regular store hours: Tuesday-Friday (10am-6pm), Saturday (10am-5pm), Sunday (11am-3pm)

So, back to business....As i've said before I LOVE fall (although, as I watch my trashcan blowing down my hill today in the crazy wind and rain, I love it a tad less) There's no better representation of fall than pumpkins. Pumpkins have come a long way from the ever-popular and traditional orange. In fact, Wendy and I found Blue pumpkins the other day...and they are AWESOME! Also growing more and more popular are the fake pumpkins. They're great and everlasting! I'm really digging metallic looks lately so I made my own spin on the orange, fake pumpkin.

First, I picked up some great fake Better Homes & Gardens pumpkins. I particularly liked these because they had some weight to them and a great stem. I first spray painted them a creamy white. Then I used a foam brush and brushed on a layer of metallic paint (gold and copper I found worked best)

I wanted to add a special touch, so I created these fun fabric tags to hang off of the pumpkins. These simply involved layering fabrics then doing a quick stitch around to hold them together. Super easy but what an impact! I used French fall words and other numbers on the tags. Then I tied them on with brown or burlap ribbon. What fun!

I realize that I did not take step-by-step pictures so let me know if you have questions!! Happy Fall Everyone!

Check out the Wild Rose & Co. blog for links to all of the vendors!

Wild Rose & Co.

"Long Live Vintage"!!!!

2010-09-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

So, here were are again at another season change.....I feel the crisp in the air, the beautiful clouds in the sky...I love fall....it's my favorite time of year....Fall also gets me INSPIRED! You know what happens when creativity meets inspiration?? A LOT of great ideas! I've fallen a bit behind in my blog (being inspired means throwing yourself completely into those ideas :) ) BUT, look forward to all of my projects soon...

For now, here's Beans and Buttons' new

"Long Live Vintage" Line....

I took various tote/tool boxes that I found at flea markets, painted them and then added our newest slogan....such an easy project and

I LOVE them!!

I love old boxes/drawers....they have such great character and are so functional!

P.S....Make sure to become a follower!!! Thanks! :)
P.S.S....Thanks to Shaunna from Perfectly Imperfect for featuring our French Hotel Bistro Table!

Table Out of a French Hotel!

2010-09-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

As I sit here thinking about how great it would be to be at some great French Hotel right now....I figure I may as well show you what sent my thoughts in that direction!

Wendy and I picked up this round, 3-legged table at an auction this week. We liked it particularly because it had a large round top, larger than usual for a side table....sooooo, where did my mind go with this table?? Well, to France of course! I refinished this table to look like it came right out of the lobby of a French Hotel....

Unfortnately, Wendy and I have been cramming for the busy fall season so I forgot before pictures....but you can check here for step by step instructions! Everyone get inspired by that special French feeling!

(sorry for the messy background....those are ongoing/finished projects/kids toys!

I know you all know how I feel!!)

Taking a Lamp from Gold to Great!

2010-08-26T07:59:00.000-07:00

Wendy and I picked up two of these "lovely" gold lamps at an auction. Great lines, but rough colors...70's anyone?? I am such a fan of spray paint...it can add color to ANYTHING with a quick spray. My personal recommendation for spray paint? RUST-OLEUM Painter's Touch Ultra Cover...$3.48 at Home Depot. Trust me, you'll never try another kind again!

I sprayed the lamp semi-gloss black.

Then, of course, I needed a shade. I picked up some utility, linen-like fabric for $2.00 a yard a Jo-Ann Fabrics. I cut the fabric in to 12-inch strips, then pinned them together. (enough to go around the lamp shade with a bit left over) Remember, you will be using the reverse side of the fabric, so the seam will be seen. Be as neat as possible! I then sewed all of the seams. Once the seams were sewn, I put the fabric around the shade to measure size. You can not simply roll the shade on the fabric and cut out the outline. The seams will be very crooked! To do the back seam. Simply pull the sides together and pin a new seam, then stitch. The shade cover should fit back loosely over the shade. I was going for a bit of a messy look, so I tucked the fabric around the shade, pinned into place, cut off the excess, then used fabric glue to secure it to the shade.

To get the design, I took a graphic from The Graphics Fairy, printed it on printable cotton twill, then attached with glue and brads.

I think this lamp has a great vintage French look!!

I'm going to do the other lamp the same way....won't it make a GREAT pair??

Taking Away the Blues....French Bistro Table Makeover

2010-08-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

We picked up this table at an auction a while back. Good sturdy table with nice detailing on the legs. I also picked up this VERY blue paint at Home Depot....Darn you Home Depot for making colors look WAY different in your light! Anyways, I painted this table the previously mentioned blue. And boy was it blue! So, sadly enough, I had to makeover a table that I had already made over! Oh well, you live and you learn! The table had a nice flat, rounded top, perfect for some detail work!

First, I painted the table gray.

I really wanted the table to have that French Bistro feel, so I decided to paint the top just like a sign right out of a bistro in Paris. I stenciled the letters, then went back over them with a paint brush for a more hand-painted look. I also added some decorative designs to enhance the look.

I also added a design to the middle of the bottom shelf.

Once the lettering was done, I distressed the whole table using 100 grit paper around the edges and 150 grit paper over the whole table, including the lettering. Once the table was distressed, I rubbed a charcoal gray over the whole table. When using stain as an aging technique, I like to rub a heavy coat over a part of the table, let sit for a minute, then wipe it back off. This leaves just the right amount of stain behind.

Here is the finished product. I love it! Looks like it came right out of a French Bistro!

Happy Painting Everyone!

The Shabby Chic Cottage- Transformation Thursday

Table and Chairs Fit For a Princess!

2010-08-10T06:40:00.000-07:00

Sydney, Wendy's 4-year-old, was recently moved to her "big girl room" to make room for the new arrival! The room was done in a pretty hue of "princess" pink and an entire wall was painted with a grand castle. Sydney loves to have picnics, so a table and chairs was a must! Wanting to veer away from the harsh lines of a square table and chairs, Wendy and I set out to find just the right round table!

Finding two matching kids chairs can be a task, but alas, I came across these two adorable chairs at a yard sale for $5 a piece! I loved how the top of the back looked like a flower!

The table was a bit tougher. After several weeks of looking, I finally came across this table at Chartreuse & Co. for $20! Look at the claw feet!!

Obviously, the table needed to be painted! With furniture with so much detail, it was much easier to spray paint, so I picked up a few cans of Rust-oleum Heirloom White and painted a few coats on each piece.

Once the pieces were dry, I light distressed them. I then applied stencils to the backs of the chairs and the center of the table using a shade of pink.

Here is the finished product! I think it turned out adorable!! Definitely a table and chairs fit for a princess!

It's PERFECT for Sydney and her picnic friends!

Barn Door Signs

2010-08-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

I'm currently in the process of redoing my bedroom and was looking for some inexpensive artwork. I had seen a few different signs that I loved and wanted to create one of my own. I LOVE old doors, especially barn doors. They provide such great texture and detail...a perfect canvas for my potential artwork!

I found this barn door at a local salvage place for $20. It was perfect and even had a blue-ish paint on it!

I dry-brushed the door a creamy white.

I then stenciled one of my favorite quotes on the board. I used 3 inch stencil letters in a rustic font. Be careful of spacing when doing letters! Do a rough guess of where each word will be placed to make sure the quote is centered!

After the stenciling was complete, I sanded the whole door to distress the letters and the finish on the door. I also rubbed a brown glaze over the whole door.

Here is the finished product! I can't wait to hang this over the bed in my new room! When hanging something heavy over the bed, make sure to put any screws into studs!!

It was hard to get a good picture since the door is so large! Stay tuned for the revealing of my new room for a better picture of this sign!!

For some AWESOME painting on old doors, check out Molly Susan Strong!

Linking to....

Thanks so much to Amanda for featuring our Upcycled Photo Holders on her new Home and Garden Section of Craft Gossip!!! Check out our feature.... Home and Garden at Craft Gossip...Thanks again Amanda!!!

I was Featured and Given an Award!

2010-08-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

Staci at Just Sew Sassy has featured our Upcycled Photo Holders and Given our Blog an Award!!

Thank you Staci!!

The rules of this award are simple:

Thank the person for the award

Sum up your blogging philosophy, motivation, and experience using five (5) words.

Pass it on to 10 other blogs which you feel have real substance.

Well, those who know me, know that I don't sum up much in 5 words, so i'll do my best!!

Recreate, Repurpose, Inspire, Excite and Encourage

These are 10 blogs that I love! (But of course I love way more than 10!!)
Miss Mustard Seed
The Thriftress
The Kramer Angle
La Rose Sauvage
Molly Susan Strong @ Just Be
Primitive and Proper
Keep Home Simple
Crap I've Made
Living With Lindsay
Freckled Laundry

Thanks for the great reading Everyone!!

Upcycled Wall Photo Holders...

2010-07-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Let me start this post by saying that I LOVE photos.

I love to have them surrounding me in my home.

I strive to have them in every room.

I just love photos. The feelings they evoke. The smile they put on your face.

The memories they stir up when you see them. I simply love photos.

Another reason that I love photos is that they are free art work!

Photo displays are better than any art work you can buy because they are near and dear to your heart.

Knowing my love of photos, I am always trying to come up with creative ways to display them aside from the basic frame.

I am so excited about these upcycled wall photo holders!

I LOVE them!!

First, I started with some old cabinet doors that I got at a salvage store. (Sorry, I had already started to paint it when I realized I should take a picture!!)

I gave them a light sanding and then painted them a slightly off-white.

After the painted dried, I rubbed a dark cherry stain over the white.

After the stain dried, I dry brushed another coat of the white paint on all of the doors.

I going to have to apologize for the lack of pictures for the next fews steps...It was quite the hectic week!

Once the doors were dry, I sanded the edges for the distressed look. I then applied a brown glaze to the whole door.

I bought some magnetic clips from the office section at Walmart and spray painted them black. I created an "easel" effect using a piece of small trim from the hardware store cut to the length of the middle plank of each door.

With my love of photos, comes my love of mat board. I LOVE the finished look that mat board gives a photo. So, for each clip, I cut a piece of mat board large enough to hold a 5x7 photo leaving edge on all sides.

Once all of the pieces were cut, I attached them to the door using E600 glue. Once those were dry, I stenciled and distressed a design on the top of the door and applied picture hangers to the back.

I'm super excited about these frames! I'm hoping to have them for sale at Chartruese and Co. for this coming tag sale, but to be honest, they might end up staying in my house!!

Beans and Buttons would also like to welcome it's newest addition! Rylie Mae was born on July 14, 2010.

July is a HOT at Chartreuse!

2010-07-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

It may be hot outside, but Chatreuse and Co. is full of some cooooool stuff!

Beans and Buttons has some beauties this month!

Those beautiful Martha Stewart wing chairs (they retail for $1199 a piece, but see what a steal you can get them for from Beans and Buttons!!) Look at that great color combination in front of that awesome white buffet!

A beautifully painted china closet. What great size and detail!

A tall waterfall dresser with original hardware. You won't believe the patina!

A pair of great sitting chairs next to a black drop leaf table. This table is in incredible shape!

This dresser has already sold, but it's too beautiful not to mention anyway! Look at the three top drawers and the incredible detail on the middle drawer....I had a hard time parting with this one!!

Come see what Beans and Buttons and Chartreuse and Co have to offer at this month's tag sale! July 16th-18th! See you there!!

Also, Beans and Buttons will be making a special announcement this week! Stay Tuned!!!!

Much Ado About Nothing....

2010-07-01T14:53:00.000-07:00

One of the things we like most about being Junk girls is seeing the potential in things that most others would see as worthless or boring....

Here are some projects that I just finished up....

I got these old cheese boxes at a flea market. They were boring, just plain unfinished wood. I saw potential for something cool! So I stained them a dark cherry stain, dry-brushed white paint over them, then stenciled and distressed numbers on the top and side. What awesome rustic storage!

I also picked these canisters up at a flea market. They were just a set of 4 glass canisters with wood tops in a wood rack. Not bad the way they were, but somewhat boring. I white-washed the rack and canister lids then stenciled numbers on the lids. What fun! You can even use these as fun office storage or even in the bathroom to hold cotton balls! Remember to always think outside the box when it involves function and design!

I picked this planter box up at a yard sale a while back knowing something cool could come of it. First, I dry-brushed it with white paint. I then attached old casters to the bottom. I used textured spray paint to make some awesome handles for the side and then used chalkboard paint on a craft-store piece of wood for a decorative finish. What a cool, functional piece!! Use vases to hold fresh flowers as a great centerpiece.

Use the box for holding drinks at a picnic....What fun!! There a million uses for such a cool item!

Don't forget the upcoming Chartreuse and Co. tag Sale! July 16-18. Watch for a preview of some awesome Beans and Buttons items!

Martha Stewart Wing Chair Beauties!

2010-06-21T18:06:00.000-07:00

We were so excited today when we scored several great pieces at our Monday auction! Our personal favorites are these two beautiful upholstered Martha Stewart wing chairs in perfect condition!

Here is a picture of what they look like...

Look at them here used as dining room chairs....what an impact!

Look for these chairs on sale at the next Tag Sale! July 16-18...See you there!

Holy Lucketts!!!!

2010-05-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

Lucketts Spring Market....THIS WEEKEND!! Saturday and Sunday 10-5....

Come see what treasures are hidden in here!

Chronicles of Junk Girls....

2010-05-03T18:31:00.000-07:00

This is a long post, but one that other Junk Girls can relate to and I think will find entertaining!
I think it's about time that we really address the "magical" and "glamourous" life of a junk girl.....
I put the words in quotes because any true junk girl with a passion for trash to treasure projects will tell you that this life is more dirty, grungy and time consuming than most people think!

Let's first address auctions.....
1) Auctions are not pretty. While yes, you can find great scores and unique items, auctions are usually found in smelly buildings with muddy parking lots that leave you feeling substationally dirtier than when you arrived.
2) Auctions are lonnnnnng and tiresome. You scan the auctionzip.com pictures, read the descriptions, check out the preview the night before and get very excited about the possible treasures. However, usually there are 123480734957 items in between each item you want. You so desperately want that vintage oak table with the great knobs, but you must wait for each Hummel, train car, glass dog figure and box of junk to be auctioned off before you ever get to your precious table. By the time you get to your table, your feet hurt, you're hungry and you're a little itchy for reasons listed below.
3) Auctions are full of quite the variety of people. First, of course you have your dealers (we'll refer to them as the ultimate enemies) who usually bid on the nice furniture and put most desirables (you know, the ones that don't take 7 hours of sanding and painting) out of reach. Second, you have retirees who've made a life out of hanging out at the auction picking up all of the $1 items that no one else wants (We don't hate these people). We actually find them rather entertaining. At our Monday auction, we watched a lady drool sound asleep for over an hour. Needless to say, she didn't win any bids. Third, you have the folks that make you a bit uncomfortable with the "revealing crack" pants, excessive amounts of body hair, not a set of teeth between them and an odor, well those of you that have ever been to an auction know what i'm talking about! We like to call these people the "auction folk".
4) Auctions can be very disappointing! You wait an hour to get to those two pieces of furniture you've had your eye on. You set your price limits, we'll say $50 for each piece. The bidding starts, first bid $10, you're excited thinking "yes, maybe i'll get this for 15 bucks". And then the disappointment starts. You don't even get your hand in the auction before that piece is sold for $175. You walk away sad and empty handed.
5) Auctions can make you spend more than you wanted! I'll address this with a story.....Wendy and I attended an auction in Pennsylvania, a good auction with lots of desirable pieces. Well, others thought so too. The first table, beat up, no hardware, and possibly missing a leg, one we'd said we would spend $20 on, goes for $125. Really??? The bidding continues. Furniture goes for ridiculous prices. Finally, the small drop side table comes around....well let's just say I refused to come home empty handed and we spend $35 on a table that we couldn't even sell for that.....Ugh!

Let's next address the strain on your car....
1) Sometimes you think your car is bigger than it is. You buy 10 pieces of furniture and are sure you can get them all in with room to spare. After 4 pieces the car is packed. What's a girl to do? CRAM CRAM CRAM! You fit pieces together like a puzzle, scratch up the interior, rip the roof fabric and almost crack a window just "checking" if the hatch will close. Junk Girls make the most of their time.
2) Most pieces of furniture (again, the ones that have "character") usually have a lingering smell of "old". After loading your car completely, you get in to leave and the smell is overwhelming. I'll also explain this one with a story....Wendy and I went to an auction yesterday. We got this great trunk that I saw potential in. As I went to pull off the "batting" that was coming out of the cushion, I realized that it wasn't batting at all, it was LARGE amounts of cat hair.....Eww. Convinced that I could not put this in a closed up car, I kindly asked for scissors than ripped off the fabric and batting while the other auction attendees watched. I've got no shame.
3) Bugs. Yes, old pieces often have bugs. Again, i'll use a few stories to explain this one. After a day at the auction, Wendy and I were headed for more shopping. Out of the corner of my eye I see something moving. Nope, not a running bull beside the car like I prayed, nope, it was a spider. A big, hairy yucky looking spider crawling across the dashboard looking for one of us to eat. I scream, Wendy screams, then "thud thud thud thud". Yes, that's us running into the rumble strip on the side of the highway almost killing ourselves. We're still not sure where that spider is! How about the buzz you hear in the car but aren't sure what it is until a stink bug flies right into your hair? Also quite hazardous! Bugs are a very dangerous side effect of being a junk girl!

Next, let's take on the risk factor!
1) Old pieces have lead paint amoungst other terrible things. Do we avoid these pieces? Nope! We put on the stylish gas mask and sand away. A junk girl has no fear!
2) Sometimes you get that feeling that your breath's been taken away. Did you just see an awesome vintage dresser? Nope, the sand dust in your lungs just migrated. Rough....
3) Junk girls don't rely on men to move things! We'll use an example for this one. Wendy and I had this great 50 inch table that was extremely heavy! Wendy being pregnant couldn't help me move it, so I built up my adrenaline, picked it up like an umbrella and went on my merry way....Junk girls never let obstacles get in their way!
4) We deal with very dirty things. For example, Wendy and I went to a place with great stuff, but walked away with chicken poop on a purse. That can't be heathly....We just let it wear off with time...
5) You can find yourself on the other side of the law.....let's just say, i'm the only person I know that managed to get a parking ticket while at a yard sale.

Why do we put ourselves through this you ask? It's for the rush, the rush of seeing that piece that no one saw life left in just shine. The fun is seeing past the rough spots of a piece to the hidden potential. Being a Junk Girl is a passion. It's a remarkable outlet for creativity. It changes the way you think. Your mind is constantly looking at things going "What can I do with that?" Being a Junk Girl is a thrill ride. Why do I do this? Because I love it.

April Tag Sale Beauties!

2010-04-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

The April Tag Sale is packed full of great stuff!

Two beautiful french blue chairs upholstered in a creamy white linen.

A great rustic table/desk with a white-washed top.

Fun vintage accessories!

And of course our great window cork/chalkboards! We can do custom pieces too!!

A great white dresser with beautiful french gold hardware

A taller matching white dresser with original hardware....wow!

A blue distressed desk and fun spring accessories!

A custom potting bench made from an old door! Don't you love the rod on the top?? The potting benches are not for sale in the Beans and Buttons space this month, but we are always available for custom pieces! Just ask!! What a great way to bring vintage to the garden!

There will be a few potting benches for sale at the great Lucketts Fair next month! Keep checking back for more details!

Come see us this weekend for some great vintage furniture and accessories!

Jump Outside of the Box with Great Kids Rooms!!

2010-04-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

If there's one thing in life I truly look forward to, it's when the time comes around to re-decorate or for the new babies, newly-decorate our kids rooms. Kids rooms really allow the creatively to just pour out of my ears. I love how a kid's room just can't be over the top. There can't be too much color, never too much design, and nothing is ever cheesy!

My tips for creating an awesome kids room:

* Paint is your friend. Use paint with some painters tape and walls make a huge impact! In these rooms we did vertical stripes. A lot of work, but so adorable!

We handmade these valances in a great green gingham with ribbon ties

My brother-in-law built the toy box

The rocker was my husband's grandmother's

Creating great kids room doesn't have to cost a fortune!

Wendy made this great valance over the window, How adorable!

* Never worry that furniture doesn't match. Mismatching is ok, plus paint can do miracles! The most important thing is that it's durable and practical!

This dresser is near and dear to my heart. It was my grandmother's so we added a fresh coat of paint and some adorable drawer pulls and it's fit for a baby princess!

This dresser was given to my sister right about the time I was having my first daughter. A great coat of paint, some stencils and cute detail, and it's perfect for a little girl's room!

Wendy found this great amoire, painted it white with some pink detail and it's ideal for a baby's room!

* Kids thrive when their imaginations are allowed to soar. Add fun details and designs around the room. Don't be afraid to cover the walls!

We made sure to cover this room with hundreds of things to look at. My daughter loves to stare around the room and discover new things! We handpainted bugs, flowers and grass, used some great rub-on decals and magically it's like you step into a garden every time you enter her room!

In this room we handpainted a great tree! We used a shade of pink just a few shades darker than the wall color so the impact of the tree wouldn't be too harsh. We hand-painted leaves and flowers (each adorned with a sequin circle). A special touch, and my personal favorite, was the addition of the birds in the tree. Each bird was painted by a different female member of the family. I love adding sentimental touches in kids rooms.

*Mix and match colors and textures. One of my favorite parts of doing a kids room is finding all different accessories in all different places!

The butterfly quilt was found at Pottery Barn, the sheets at Target, the green quilt at Marshalls and the adorable ladybug pillow at Kohl's! I must discourage people from walking into a store and buying a bedding set completely coordinated. (This is ok for baby crib bedding of course!) Take time, look at different stores and group things together on your own. It will be a personal look and will make you feel even more proud of your room!

*Save money by making your own creations! You don't have to be a Picasso to add great personalized touches to a kid's room.

A Pottery Barn catalog inspired these adorable pictures! Not wanting to spend the $75 on the Pottery Barn ones, I created my own using some craft store wood blocks and paint! Simple and it only cost me about $6!

I want everyone to enjoy decorating kids rooms as much as I do! Be inspired by everything around you and don't be afraid to express your creativity.

March Tag Sale This Weekend!!!

2010-03-15T09:52:00.000-07:00

It's finally here....so much anticipation, so much snow, so much cold....it's finally here....SPRING is finally here!! Why not celebrate a beautiful weekend with some shopping at Chartreuse and Co. All of the dealers at Chartreuse and Co. have collected some great items and are ready for the fantastic colors of Spring! Here are some Beans and Buttons specialities...

A wonderful Spring display full of goodies anchored by AWESOME vintage garden potting benches made from old doors and windows....Bring vintage to your garden! What a great old ladder perfect for displaying spring potted plants...

Some great green and blue eggs....add to a vintage basket, a pot, a nest or even under a great cake stand (pictured to the right) for some spring fun! Look at those adorable stacked nests!

A tiered stand full of spring birds, eggs and fun green frogs! Don't you just love the colors and textures of Spring??

A fun yellow hand-painted desk perfect for a kids room!
For spring we've added some vibrance to our tin-holders...Look at that great Chartreuse color...perfect for holding spring flowers inside your house. Our tin holders have many other uses too...use for candy, crayons or sunglasses, the possibilities are endless!

What an adorable vintage eight basket plant holder...

A white egg basket full of moss balls...I love the texture combination with the fuzzy moss and the wire basket! We've also added some great brightly-colored frames...My personal favorite is the one with "The Girls" across the bottom...perfect for a group of friends or a household of daughters!

There's that honey-color hutch in perfect condition! Also a great white distressed side table....

An awesome vintage game table...look at that bench made from an old grain sack! What character!

Our custom Beans and Buttons shelf is full of goodies for March!

Don't forget to come see us at Chartreuse and Co. this weekend for the March tag sale! The Barn is packed full of vintage goodies!! Plus, we've added an extra day to this sale! Come Thursday night from 6-9 for the pre-sale party. Guaranteed to be full of fun, food (Carrot cake cupcakes with cream cheese icing will be in the Beans and Buttons space) and great vintage items! See you there!!

Check out http://www.chartreuseandco.com/ to see preview pictures from everyone in the barn! Plus, Silk and Burlap (http://www.silkandburlap.com/) will have their great cake bites from Snickety Snacks....a reason in their own to come see us!

We'd like to also give credit to our kids who are of course, a big part of our inspiration! "The Girls"...

Happy Spring Everyone!

Beans and Buttons is on Facebook!

2010-03-05T12:02:00.000-08:00

Beans and Buttons has joined Facebook!! Click to become a fan and be the first to learn about new items and upcoming events!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beans-and-Buttons/344561631706?v=wall&ref=ts

Coming soon for March!!

2010-03-02T09:56:00.000-08:00

We are so excited for the March tag sale! Finally bringing some bright colors and warm weather into what proved to be a dreary winter. Beans and Buttons has some great spring vintage finds for March....vintage concrete candleholders, bright serving pieces, an awesome garden stand perfect for planting those spring flowers, and much much more! Pictures will be available soon....so keep watching!

Chase away those snow blues with some Chartreuse and Co. shopping!

2010-02-15T18:32:00.000-08:00

Ok, so after a very long day of work at Chartreuse and Co., Beans and Buttons is finally ready for the February tag sale! We are so excited for the great vintage finds and creations that we're offering this month!!

A beautiful, and I do mean beautiful, black with gold detail dresser with mirror. What a great addition to any bedroom!

A great assortment of Beans and Buttons handmade hookboards. What beautiful character and charm! Functional and stylish!

A great red drop-front desk. Plus, a bonus shelf on top. How cute for a kitchen! What a fun game table! (of course, a vintage chess set too!)

That great pine hutch in it's original honey color. Plus, some great mason jar boards. Hang these in your kitchen for a fun way to hold utensils, especially those vintage wooden ones!

Beans and Buttons is full of great vintage furniture and accessories for February. Make sure to join us for the tag sale at Chartreuse and Co. this weekend, February 19-21! Let some fun shopping chase away those snow blues!

February Chartreuse and Company tag sale Items!

2010-02-07T14:18:00.000-08:00

Sneak Peek! Here are some of our fabulous vintage finds and creations available for sale at the February Chartreuse and Co. tag sale!

Fantastic assortment of vintage magazine racks!

Great white dresser with beautiful lines and rounded feet...

Vintage pine hutch in great shape, what a great size too!!

Beautiful collection of cake/baked goods stands, some found, some upcycled....

My personal favorite is this beautiful vintage gold light fixture adorned with a gold trimmed flowered plate, and topped with a glass dome!

And of course, what would a Chartreuse and Co. tag sale be without the Beans and Buttons personal creations...

Great hooks, some with chalkboards for those little reminders, made out of old molding blocks..

More great hooks made out of vintage porch balusters!

Keep watching for more items for the February tag sale at Chartreuse and Co.!

Let your Jewelry Decorate more than your body!!

2010-02-03T14:53:00.000-08:00

I was going through my jewelry the other day and realized that the most beautiful jewelry I have is hidden away in boxes! And then sparked the idea of creating jewelry holders that allow your jewelry to shine even when not being worn! These three-tiered jewelry holders are perfect for necklaces, bracelets and rings. Made from vintage plates, each holder has unique charm. Never have to sift through a jewelry box again! Come get yours at the next Chartreuse and Co. Tag Sale Feb. 19-21.

Awesome Old Windows!

2010-01-31T20:43:00.000-08:00

So the front of my fridge consists of a dry erase calendar and a chalkboard for writing memos. I must say that without these things, my life would be complete chaos! The problem is that the usual white boards are just so plain. Knowing this, Wendy and I have created memo, dry erase and chalkboards out of old windows! I love using old pieces in a new way and even better, making them completely functional! Make sure to come see the newest selection of windows at the Chartreuse and Co. Tag sale Feb. 19-21! These message boards fly like hotcakes so get yours quick!

O is for Organizing!

2010-01-15T09:13:00.000-08:00

So i've spent the past three days searching around my house for inspiration for just the right January blog post. The holidays are over, Spring hasn't arrived yet and it's just a dreary time of year. Then it hit me....Organizing! I recently read an article that said that over-organizing is actually less efficient than just being sort of mediocre organized. I find this to be so true! When I get that crazy urge to find order in my always chaotic house, I find that I all of the sudden know where nothing is! So i've come up with a few tips for those of us who hate clutter, but just can't seem to rid yourself of it....
1) Always have a place to put mail, but make sure to go through this mail at least once every two weeks to make sure important things don't slip through the cracks! Equally as important, have a different slot for bills to be paid. I found this great slotted organizer at Chartreuse and Co. in Buckeystown, Md. that has just that. I have a slot for bills, one for important papers, and of course one for keeping the ever-popular post-it notes!
2) As mentioned just previously, always have post-it notes or some sort of great jotting paper readily accessible. Not a day goes by where I don't use my pads of paper for writing down some important tidbit of information. Now, don't be afraid to steer away from the stereotypical, yellow post-it. Paper comes in incredible styles, shapes and patterns. Chartreuse and Co. actually carries some great vintage paper, that is useful and decorative. What more can you ask for!
3) Now, if you're like so many of us, you have the ever-increasing clutter of toys. The best way to deal with toys is decorative baskets and boxes. Make the toys just another aspect of a great room! My personal favorite is finding those beautifully fabric-covered boxes for all of those little toys that just seem to end up under your feet! Simply put the boxes stacked on a shelf or table and bam, you've hidden the unsightly legos, superhero figures and barbies! For extra fun, add a small hanging frame labeling what's in the box. These are useful when teaching kids to put away their toys!
4) One of the most important organizing tips is to get rid of things you don't use! If the kids' clothes are stained, toss them, if you aren't going to use that bread maker again, donate it...Get a hold of clutter before it gets a hold of you! Plus, it makes room for all of those great finds that you just can't live without!
5) And the token organizing tip.....Always keep part of a closet or cabinet empty for quickly hiding the eye-sore clutter for those guests arriving in ten minutes!

For those that come in my house, they think i'm quite the organizer. But the secret's out....i'm just really good at faking it! So I hope everyone takes these tips to stay inside on these cold winter days and organize that holiday clutter!