Corner Hutch

Are you tired of looking at furniture redos? I feel that is all I have done lately and for those of you that are here for something else I apologize! It has been a very busy month for me. I have had so many custom orders and sales that I literally don't do much of anything else. My design services have taken off and it is hard to find time to schedule.

 I know most of you are in the same routine. Do you have any words of wisdom to pass to me? I love being able to do what I love. Just trying to find a little groove.

I got to spend some time with my aunt and uncle from New Jersey on Tuesday. It wasn't enough time but I treasure it just the same. I am traveling to New York again in a few months so I plan to go to New Jersey and visit them and other family and friends.

The Barn Sale is creeping up and all the pieces that I have painted to go there I keep selling. So I will be buying more furniture in my future!!

This is a piece that I finished for the store. A corner hutch in a farmhouse style.

 

I love corner hutches! I would have kept it if I had a corner for it to go into!! It is such a space saver.

This takes the place of the black hutch that sold in two days. I hope this one stays a little longer so I can do some other things. (Did I just say that?!)

I well off to paint. I have a special order to get out! I will be showing you soon. I also have some crafts to share if I get the time to sit and write the post on them!!!!

Thanks for reading and being supportive!!

French Hutch

French Provincial furniture is the in thing. Every time I paint a piece of it I sell it quick, This was no exception. I don't know about all of you but it seems it gets harder and harder to find those great pieces. I think everyone is painting furniture these days!

If you have been around my blog long you know I don't like doing the same thing. It gets harder coming up with something different though. I knew I wanted to paint it black but that is sooooo boring. It sat painted black for a while.

Then my sister gave me an idea to paint the back in french script.

I chose "How Do I Love Thee" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning because well...it is my favorite!!

 I painted the inside white so the writing stood out great.Almost too great. It needed toning down so I dry brushed over it.

 

It stayed in the store for literally 2 days when someone answered my craigslist ad and bought it!

  

The customer sent me a picture.

She change it up a bit and I love it. She tea stained it and painted the shelves black.

Thanks Mellisa!!!

I love when customers send me a picture!

What do you think?

Primitive Cabinet turned Farmhouse {All Good Things}

Like I said I am running crazy getting ready for Bella Rustica Barn Sale happening the end of Sept. Donna from Funky Junk Interiors will be a guest there! So excited she is one of my favorites!!!
She will be sharing her ideas about turning junk into fabulous home decor! Go visit the link and take down the directions and be there!!!

I wanted to share this new piece with you.
It was very old and primitive. I used my Purdy brush and the rest of my Annie Sloan sample from the Haven Conference to finish it. Quite the transformation!

I also added these adorable drawer pulls! Love stars!!
Do you think it needs anything else or should it stay this way?

Exciting News!!!

Today the article in the Murfreesboro Post came out about the adorable store that I am in. My designs, art and furniture are all available here. 

Micucci Designs/dreaming-n-color (me)

Read the whole article:
Blackberry House Article

Lots of exciting things going on!!! Can't wait to share all of them with you!

As always thanks so much for following my blog! I appreciate all of you!!!!

A New Day

Sometimes when sitting in my office I get so caught up in my thoughts and creativity that I often don't stop and look up.

We all need to take a break once and awhile to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. That in itself can boost your talent to soar!

Nature and spirit go hand and hand for me. I feel it in my art and in my life. Today is a beautiful day in Tennessee. The sky is blue and there are many things to do. I have painted so much this week and today I will gather more things to sell.

I stopped for a minute to look out of my window and take in the sunny day. Then I was greeted by this little guy.

So my post today will wait so I can share this with you!

Happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued, is always just beyond your grasp, but which, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.  ~Nathaniel Hawthorne

Numbered Stools

If you checked out my post Wednesday, I put a teaser of pictures. I know it was mean but it was fun!

I got some really cool stuff pickin' and I also got some things given to me. Funny when people know what you do they love to give you things. Does this happen yo you?

Well I got two adorable stools given to me from a client. I just love them. They had been left in a garage and were pretty banged up. There also was some paint dripped on them. I really wish I remembered to get a before picture so you could see the difference.

Here is what they look like now after I painted and distressed them.

I knew when she gave them to me that I was going to stencil some numbers on the top!

I also layered several coats of paint so that when I sanded it the opposite color would show through.

I love the way it looks so worn. It would look great as bar stools for a farmhouse kitchen or how about a little end table on the side of a bed or sofa?

Another great feature is that they are stackable! So a great space savor!

I am really into numbers right now. What are you doing to your furniture? Do you embellish in a certain way or just paint? I would love to know!

Pickin' and Paintin'

Well it has been crazy around here! Sold a bunch of things for the Grand Opening of the store, getting ready for a barn sale, painting signs and re-purposing anything I can get my little hands on! Exhausted but loving it! To add to the craziness my hard drive failed so that is why I couldn't post!

So today I went pickin'! Drove all over and found some really cool things. Even made a couple of pickin' friends! Now of course that means more work around here paintin'!

My husband hasn't thrown me out yet but he might after he sees what I brought into this house! I need another house just for my junk treasures.

I am going to share with you a peek of some of the things I got today. Yes it is somewhat of a tease. I am sorry. I want you to be surprised when I am all finished and it is for sale!

We could play a game of who guesses it right!

Have I confused you?

What do you think they are?

It is fun to play along so please do! Don't want it to be too serious around here!

FRIENDS

My laptop got a virus and that is where I upload my pictures for my posts. Sorry I haven't been able to shoot them out! I decided to write a few lines of things I am feeling the last couple of weeks.

My mom told me when I was young, that if you can count your good friends on one hand you are lucky!

What makes a good friend?  

We all have our own definition of that. I feel very fortunate to have had some wonderful people in my life. I still have friends from kindergarten and believe me that is a long time and with my 30th reunion around the corner I got to thinking about friendship. I believe it is a two way street. It takes effort to keep a friendship. Some of the people I will see at the reunion I haven't seen in a long time but know it will take me back to a different time we shared. Some are still the friends I have today.

We all get busy and life changes things, but true friends find a way to keep it together. Recently, my long time friends have been going through a lot in their life. I think the only way you can help sometimes is to just listen and pray for them. Be there when they need you.

"If you're alone, I'll be your shadow. If you want to cry, I'll be your shoulder. If you want a hug, I'll be your pillow. If you need to be happy, I'll be your smile... But anytime you need a friend, I'll just be me."unknown

Some of my friends I haven't seen in a long time but as soon as the phone rings, it is just like yesterday and we can't stop sharing our stories! I have some friends that say the same things I do at the same time and them we laugh and smile because we know that's what friends do.

 Does this happen to you?

I feel it is a connection or bond that stays with you. It is renewed at different stages in your life.

Some of my newest friends are the people I have met in the blog world. I feel so lucky to have this other avenue. I would have never thought this possible but I really do cherish the friendships I have made here.

I cannot lie. I have had friends come and go. I have had friends hurt me too. I think God puts people in our life at certain times and we are there to help them or they are there to help us and then they are gone.

"There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will." unknown 

I work hard at friendship. It means a lot to me. I will do whatever it takes to help my friends. A good friend is a treasure and you should never take advantage of that. Sometimes they are the only person you can count on to get you through! Sometimes they are the only ones that understand you. It is selfless giving.

My friends have been an inspiration. Some have been like family. They make me laugh, and think, and challenge me to be a better person.

 I remember a song I taught my girls in scouts.

"Make new friends and keep the old, one is glitter and the other gold!" 

Friends are all gold to me! Thanks for being there. Thanks for being a friend in one capacity or another.

And if you are new here, I look forward to building a friendship with you too!

"Friendship isn't about whom you have known the longest... It's about who came, and never left your side..."unknown

French Provincial End Tables {Annie Sloan}

Annie Sloan paint should come with a warning! It is addictive. Although I still use other paints, I love the versatility this paint offers. Painting is quicker too!

Blackberry House will be celebrating the grand opening of the store on Thursday, August 9,2012. Polly had a soft opening to get a feel for what the customers are looking for. Apparently, what we have they love because it has been pretty successful without even advertising. The opening will be special with discounts, prizes and treats. Hope you all can make it!


I wanted to paint something new for the opening. This is the new addition to the store. French Provincial End Tables with marble tops.

Such pretty details. Polly got these for me the other night, I love the colors too. I painted it with Paloma and French Linen.

I left the marble as is because it was in such great shape. It needed paint though!

I have been on a french provincial kick lately. Can you blame me? Look at those legs! I dark waxed the details and it stands out more.


I wanted to show you my little helper. Actually he isn't little any longer. He is my faithful partner though!
Never leaves my side.

Love's to watch me paint but hates the smell of the wax! Do you have a critter at your side? He does keep me company, though it is hard to keep him out of the pictures!

The Worlds Longest Yard Sale {Hwy 127}

Well I didn't think I was going to make it. I have had so much going on and was shooting for Friday but that didn't work out. I was so bummed watching pics on Facebook of people picking and showing what the got at the sale. I couldn't take it any longer and decided to get up early and go this morning.

At first it seemed that it was just a bunch of junk. The junk I wasn't interested in. I started to think it would be all stuffed animals and children's clothing. I kept going. I know how these things work. There is usually a patch of goodness. You know, that one place where the angels are singing!

The weather was perfect. The drive in was heavy downpours but when we got there it was cloudy and breezy ...no rain!! I went with my friend Patti. So it was great company and so much fun! She got a lot of great things too!

I could have shopped all day. Lots of great stuff with good prices. I came home with a few things. Well maybe a little more than a few. It was hard to drive but so much fun to stuff everything in there!

Here is a sneak Peek!

BAD PICTURE!!! I didn't have any room to focus!!! Funny!