Cool Tool

It was my birthday last weekend and, not to brag (okay maybe brag a little), my boyfriend gave me the best present ever!!!  A planer!!!  Now, you may be tempted to think...really?  A planer?  Not very romantic...  Well, think again, because this is the coolest tool I've ever used!  Plus, it makes my job easier...it shows how well he knows me...and it demonstrates how much he supports me doing what I love.  If that's not romantic, I don't know what is!

So, I got down to work with the planer today...planing barn wood scraps, pallet wood (that's what I'm feeding into the planer in the photo above), pretty much anything with a rough side.  Made a mess of my studio, but had a ton of fun and managed to finish a project at the same time. 

I picked up this old factory cart at Mill City Antiques a few weeks ago.  No top, plywood shelves...definitely needed a face-lift.

Here's what it looks like now, with slatted shelves made from reclaimed pallet wood.  Makes a great little wine/cocktail cart!

 

 

Now for some close-ups...

 

Here's the top.  I love the character in the wood...a few coats of linseed oil will really bring out it's depth and character.

 

I decided to leave a rough edge on the lower shelves.  What do you think?  I like the natural element it brings to the piece.



Can't wait to see this piece with a finish on it!  I'll be including it in the Barn Loft Grand Opening, September 29 and 30.  The Nashua Art Walk is the same weekend, so you can visit Barn Loft as well as Brookline Street Studio and several other artists at the Lake Street Mills.

Thank you, Doug, for inspiring this post, for giving me the coolest tool ever (!!!!), and for being my perfect match:-)

Have a happy day!

Michelle

Now at Mill City Antiques!

I'm thrilled to announce that Brookline Street can now be found at Mill City Antiques, in Manchester, NH!  I moved in today and am thoroughly exhausted!  As invigorating as it is to create a new space...schlepping furniture all over creation is just plain draining!  On the up side, I ran into several friends while moving into my space; a couple from church, a dealer friend from Sage Farm, the other dealer-friend who tipped me off to this place (thanks, "D").  Honestly, I'm wiped out but happy.  Great day and great move!

Now...let's take a look at my space...

Okay, so I really am exhausted and must end here.  Go to Mill City!!!  You will not be disappointed!!!  It is located in the Waumbec Mill, 250 Commercial Street, Manchester, NH.  Open Monday through Saturday, 10-6, Sunday, 12-5.

Hope to see you there!

Michelle



Best Dumpster Dive Ever!!!!

I was moving the last few items out of my storage unit a couple weeks ago and....there it was...this gorgeous piece sitting sadly by the dumpster. (Do you have to actually go in the dumpster for it to qualify as a dumpster dive?)

Is it trash I asked?  Yes. 
Can I take it? Yes.
Yes? Yes.
Yes!

I had this piece in my car and off to my studio in about 10 minutes flat!  It's solid oak, over 5 feet tall, with 12 drawers.  And look at the hardware!

And a pull-out writing surface...must have been in a library.  Most of the drawers are divided into two halves.  The bottom two are deeper than the rest.  A couple drawers need to be reglued, but otherwise the piece is in excellent condition!

This is truly the ultimate dumpster dive.  I believe I heard angels singing Hallelujiah as I packed this gem into my car.  Needless to say, it's a keeper.  Yup, found the perfect spot in my studio.

Happy hunting!

Michelle

York Beach, Maine

In case you were wondering where I disappeared to these past couple of weeks, I've been in York, Maine, enjoying a beach vacation with my kids.  Free from the pressures of work and home, the constant running around from camp to sports to playdates, we enjoyed a beautiful week filled with...

...playing in the sand...

...and the surf...

...searching tide pools for treasures...

...and just hanging back and chilling out.



 Most of all, we spent time together as a family, creating cherished memories to last a lifetime.  Cadie and Tuck, I love you with all my heart.  I'm blessed to be your mom.

Create some happy memories today,

Michelle

BRIMFIELD!!!!!

Okay, I know I'm late with this post, but summer + kids = crazy!  The important thing is I actually got myself to Brimfield for the first time in three years!  I love this show!  I'll let my photos speak for themselves (well, mostly):

There is a bit of everything at the Brimfield show...

...LOTS of great industrial-chic stuff...

There was soooo much in this space to love!!!!

...I really wanted these drawers...but the budget spoke, and I listened...

You never know who you'll run into at this show...

...fun lighting ideas...

...and a few more things I just loved...

I missed you, Brimfield!!!!  Can't wait for September!!!

Happy hunting!

Michelle

Flea Market Finds

I finally managed to drag myself to the flea market last weekend!  Got there late, but still did some damage!  You know it's a good day at the flea when you leave with stuff tied to the roof!  Let's take a closer look...

Not one, but TWO old factory carts!  Great sizes and shapes!  I love the weathered color of the smaller one, though I'm tempted to see how it looks with a coat of dark wax.

Look at the color on these old machine pulleys!  Can't you see them in an old textile mill with a long leather belt around them?  Not sure of my plan for these yet.  I may stack them up and use them as a lamp base.  But I also love the look of them as is, sitting on a bookshelf.  Hmmm...

Another block pulley to add to my collection...this is a BIG one!

My boyfriend, Doug, spotted this great scale.  The arm is missing, but all else is intact.  Look a the enamel dial!  I love the shape, as well.  I've never seen one like this before.  I'm guessing it is a kitchen scale, but...

Doug also spotted these great andirons.  A dealer friend of his said they probably date back to 1910.  They are now residing in Doug's fireplace stacked high with white birch logs. 

Last, but not least, I grabbed this pair of gooseneck lamps.  Check out the ornate details on the base.  New wiring and a quick polish and these will be gorgeous!

Thanks, Doug, for helping me drag all this stuff home.  You're the best!

Happy hunting everyone!

Michelle



What's new?

What's new?  I discovered a local consignment store this week on my way to pick up my kids from school and made some fantastic scores!  Here are a few pics of the items I promptly dropped off at From Out of the Woods:

Look at this fantastic old wood box!  It's the perfect size for a bar set-up, mudroom storage, turn it on it's side for a bench...

Did you catch a glimpse of the two long divided tool boxes?  Fill them with serving supplies for your next party, herbs on a windowsill, candles and river rocks as a table centerpiece...

One more view...look at the slatted sides, the weathered top, the hint of old blue paint worn away by time...

I love this 17-pane window.  Black on one side, white on the other.



And this set of three drawers...wish they weren't red, but I can always strip the paint if they don't sell right away.  

Close-up of the gorgeous hardware!

I also took home a long 12-pane window with a weathered frame and a bit of old white paint...it's sitting in my living room at the moment, trying to find a home on one of my walls! 

I don't have pics of the two amazing mercury glass mirrors I grabbed for Barn Loft and the set of antique pine cupboard doors going to Brookline Street, but I'm sure they will show up in studio and/or show pics in the next couple of weeks.

I haven't had a good shopping post in a while because, well, I've been too busy to shop!  How wrong is that?!  But here are a few pics of recent purchases, here and there, consignment, thrift, yard sale...you get the picture. 

Fun finds!  Keep watching my blog to find out what I do with them!

Have a happy day!

Michelle