Brookline Street Studio is now Birch Paper and Home!

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Restocking



It's been a busy shopping week around here!  I've been restocking my spaces at From Out of the Woods and Mill City and have lots of new items to share.  Take a look...

Now at From Out of the Woods Antiques in Goffstown...

 I assembled this little table from a wooden ironing board base and a large galvanized tray.  I love the simple, industrial look and the flexibility to adjust it's height to any use!


I love apothecary jars!  I filled this one with a collection of nautical pulleys.

 
I also love old shoe factory racks...just take a look in my studio sometime!  This one required a good cleaning job, a complete sanding and a new stain/wax.  It is gorgeous!

 
Wreath I made from antique French dictionary pages. 

 
A couple of vintage photo albums.  Both are large and in never-used condition!

 
Chalkboards I made from old cupboard doors and metal bin pulls. 

 
 
And now for Mill City...
 
 
I restocked at this location twice last week! I actually pulled a few items from my own house to fill the space!

These two little tables were in my last blog post.  Both have metal bases and antique bread board tops.

 
This old catnip crate is huge!  It would look great with casters and a glass top as a coffee table.  And don't you just love the graphics?!


I've used this old wooden tool box to hold mail in my kitchen for several years.  Now it is ready to find a new use in another home.

 
I love this old chippy bird cage.  The bottom is missing, making it great to use as a cloche (or a light fixture?).

 
 
This old shoe rack is a great size.  The height is perfect for use in entertaining.  The wheels turn smoothly.  The bottom shelf is extra deep to hold dishes, wine bottles, etc...  I used a dark stain on this piece to give it character and presence.  Love it!

 
Stop on by!  Both Mill City and From Out of the Woods are open daily.  Hours are posted in the top right column of my blog.
 
 
Have a great week and keep safe in the coming storm!
 
Michelle
 
 
 

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Transformations


I had a busy week transforming old treasures.  Some pieces needed a little paint, others a new purpose, and some, well, a complete transformation. 

First, this mahogany bookcase.  A great piece in terms of size and shape, but dark and dull.  A couple coats of "cream" milk paint and, voila!  What a difference!

Before:

 
 
 
After:

 
 
 

 This stool got repurposed as a side table.  I removed the round seat and attached an old bread board as a table top.  A little white paint lightened up the base.  Now it's a great industrial piece you could use in any room!

Before:

 
After:



 
 
This large trunk is the perfect table height.  It's on casters and has lots of storage space, making it a great piece for any room.  It was originally dark green, so my first step was to paint it "stone gray."  Next to figure out how to make it work as a table.  I thought about having a piece of glass cut to fit the top, but you'd have to remove the glass every time you wanted to open the box.  Not convenient.  Then it hit me, why not remove the hinges and flip the top over?  A little sanding and staining, plus some great old hardware, and it's now a removeable tray!
 




This week I'll be working on repurposing some great barn sale finds.  Stay tuned!

Michelle

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Recent Finds



I haven't posted any flea market photos in a while because, well, I haven't had a really good haul.  Been getting there too late.  But it's sooooo nice to sleep in on Sunday mornings!  I have, however,  managed to amass a few fun items over the past weeks, so I thought I'd give you a little update.

Metal drawers...I can never pass them by.  Can you see these all cleaned up, rust scrubbed off, painted white?  The drawers all have adjustable compartments.  Great for a craft or sewing room!


I picked up this door a few weeks ago and just recently scrubbed off the dirt to reveal it's beautiful cream color.  I was shocked to find it in such good shape, actually, under all that muck.  My plan is to turn it into an entryway piece...a mirror...some hooks...a small shelf...maybe hung by barn door rollers?

 
 
This little cabinet is a great piece, as it is shallow and could fit pretty much anywhere you need extra storage.  I just finished priming it and will have it all painted up for the Townsend Harbor Market next week.  Grey?  White?  Black?  Hmmm...


Love this string holder!!!! 


Last, but not least, here are a couple of items that never quite made it to my studio:-)  I picked up both during the last 5 minutes of the Todd Farm flea market last weekend.  I'm loving this little typewriter.  I'll sell it eventually, but for now it's happy in my living room...



...along with this little adjustable table.  Looks like it was in a medical office.  The base is cast iron, nice details and low profile.  The top adjusts up and down and tilts, as well.  It's just perfect for the little corner next to my sofa!


Happy hunting!

Michelle

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Favorite Projects


Well, it's been a crazy few weeks.  The Barn Loft Grand Opening and Nashua Art Walk were this past weekend, so I've been burning the candle at both ends trying to get ready!  In the end, the last three pages of my to do list went out the window (yes, I may be a bit of an over-achiever), but the sale and open studio were successes, and I am thankful.

I have to admit I spent most of my time these past few weeks on Barn Loft projects, despite an injured hand (closed it...completely...in a car door...ouch).  I did, however, finally get the chaos organized in my studio after emptying out two large storage units in to it early in the summer and then, well, trying to ignore the mess until now. 

Anyway, here are some pics of my favorite projects from the past few weeks...

1.  Bench/hall tree made from old door and spare parts...


...the shelf is made from old floor boards and some reproduction iron brackets...the mirror is one-third of an old, folding, mercury glass mirror...

 
...these supports came from a two-piece hutch that was disassembled.  The seat is a salvaged oak table-top from a previous project gone awry...


2. Chalkboards, made from the old cabinet doors from my kitchen remodel and some antique bin pulls...

 
 
...what you see is the inside of the doors.  Sanded, painted with charcoal grey chalkboard paint, and adorned with an old iron bin pull used as a chalk holder...
 



 3.  Coat/towel rack made from old corbels and spare wood...


...I found a box of these "corbels" at Mill City Antiques.  I used scrap lumber to create a back and small shelf to work with the slanted tops of these pieces.  Love the look...think I'll have to make a few more...

I'll be back in the studio tomorrow, preparing for another show in a couple of weeks and exploring a few creative ideas...  Stay tuned!

Thanks for following!

Michelle