sticks and bricks

arts night out: sarah ahearn bellmare

2011-12-09T10:49:00.005-05:00

SO much SUNSHINE

well hello out there!

tonight marks the final arts night out event of the year. how does time fly so fast?

stop by to check out the whimsical, lovely work of local artist sarah ahearn bellmare. there will be a reception this evening from 5-8pm and the show will be up through the holidays.

sarah will be showcasing a series of fresh new paintings inspired by poetry, found photographs and vintage botanical illustrations.

she will also be selling an signing copies of her new book Painted Pages: Fueling Creativity Through Sketchbooks and Mixed Media (Quarry Books, May 2011)

diy wine rack

2011-10-01T07:02:00.003-04:00

hi all, so if you check in regularly with the s&b blog, you've noticed we haven't been online much these days- but that doesn't mean we haven't been busy! my family just bought our first house! and of course, it's a fixer-upper. while justin and marcella have been keeping s&b open and amazing as ever (thanks guys!)- i've been at the new house knocking down walls, hanging drywall and sanding floors all hours of the day. in between this work, i went down to 22 news and filmed a couple diy projects for their show mass appeal. click here to see the 6 minute video. i'm a tv star!

Event at Sticks and Bricks

2011-09-06T13:16:00.003-04:00

Please join us in welcoming Kate Payne, author of recently released book, The Hip Girl's Guide to Homemaking, at Sticks and Bricks on Tuesday, Sept 13th @7pm. We will have copies of the book on hand for purchase, or feel free to bring your own copies to get them signed.

Food will be potluck-style, so please bring something to snack on or sip. (Hip boys welcome, too!)
RSVP on Facebook, Hope to see you there!

wine box stand

2011-08-19T10:00:00.000-04:00

this little guy has been kicking around in my way for quite some time. i had initially bought it thinking i would redo it for my bathroom, but alas it was just a bit too big.

inspired by the crate front desk we posted about earlier this week, i replaced the drawer fronts with wine crate pieces.

when i deconstructed the sides, one of the pieces inside was an old yardstick. so fun to unearth the unexpected!

it was so cool, i decided to leave the sides open.

the top was pieced together with boards from a pallet we took apart. some pallets are hidden hardwood gems!

mexican kitchen island

2011-08-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

this mexican antique we came across in our hunting needed some serious tlc! the color is so great, we wanted to keep the original finish as best we could.

it's the perfect size for a kitchen island so we added some fun knobs on one side for towels and little hanging whatnots.

perfect for apartment living!

crate front desk

2011-08-17T11:52:00.002-04:00

sometimes there are those projects that just seem to speak to you and come right together out of your mind's eye into reality and this desk is one such project.

we have a love for old crates and can't seem to leave one behind when we come across them.

we removed all of the regular old drawer fronts and replaced them with graphic sides from the collection.

add some old metal hardware for contrast and voila!

Cozy, yet harcore, Kitchen Table

2011-08-11T18:04:00.003-04:00

I think this table speaks for himself.

Country Sideboard

2011-08-11T17:58:00.002-04:00

We took a heavy, prissy piece of furniture and turned it into a really cozy and yet tough sideboard. What a lovely place for table linens, dishes, and silverware!

monster cabinet

2011-07-22T13:46:00.003-04:00

i like when furniture has personality.

i think it's safe to say this meets that criteria!

i took an old trunk, turned it on it's side, added shelves, legs and the tin eye. now it's ready to store (eat?) whatever you need to put away.

fancy scraps

2011-07-21T12:22:00.001-04:00

i like when things feel indestructible. this coffee table totally fits that bill.

marble tile scraps with reclaimed cedar fencing.

no coasters needed.

dream desk

2011-07-20T12:05:00.000-04:00

there is never enough storage and organization in my life.

so a desk like this makes me woozy.

i can just imagine all our s*&t sorted so nicely. i'd be wishing for an audit- almost ;).

amazing folding chairs

2011-07-14T23:12:00.000-04:00

vintage+splashofmodern=amazing

even if this wasn't a folding chair i would be in love.

but they ARE folding chairs and i've been trying to for weeks to come with an excuse to keep them. maybe it's time for that second home ;).

window box

2011-07-13T12:05:00.000-04:00

an old bookcase
add one window, part of one door, 4 feet& funky hardware.

the spring handle is my favorite part :).

bathroom vanity

2011-07-12T12:16:00.004-04:00

we have a lot of catching up to do.

some of you may have noticed that i completely dropped off the face of interweb (is that what they call it? it's been so long.....). i'm tempted to list off excuses, but no one ever really wants to hear that. i do think it's safe to say that if being an artist means you are sometimes plagued with feelings of inadequacy, insecurity and lack of direction - then i'm an artist!

while all that is true, i have also been very busy. lots of custom work and fun projects so there is a lot to share. lets start with the first set of photos that sat on my camera for far too long. a custom bathroom vanity project.

the top is stainless, and we made the box and window to fit their dimensional needs.

the handle on the left is made from an old spring hinge cover and the one on the right is from some kind of plumbing fixture. the door & window had that lovely patina already- perfect for this project.

chalkboard cafe table

2011-04-27T11:00:00.000-04:00

this was one of those pieces that came together like magic in the workshop! the top was going to be for a different project, then we had a moment when we were organizing and one of us plopped the top on the base and voila!

the chalkboard top is so fun!

this is a base we picked up last year to potentially use over at the roost, but ultimately went in a different direction. and we are glad it did ;)

winged bookshelf

2011-04-20T12:29:00.000-04:00

this little bookshelf needed a little personality! i expanded on the spice rack idea i had recently.
and since it is spring now, i am all over the combination of turquoise and bright green.

these wings would be perfect for plants cascading off the sides (can you tell i am ready for the warm weather to stick here in new england?).

this is just a cute little one off chair i redid. so cute!

mud room bench

2011-04-15T10:00:00.001-04:00

i forgot to snap that ever so important before picture of this project...mostly because when i got it to the shop, it was in a few different pieces!

you may recognize it as something similar to grandma's old dinning room sideboard! the base was beyond repair so i cut it off entirely. liz thought it was the perfect sized bench. it took some convincing, but i agreed in the end and couldn't be more pleased (thanks partner!). a perfect place for all those shoes and such in your mudroom.

the crackle finish came out so cute on this piece. you never know what will happen when you do this finish and this time i think it's the best attempt yet.

dandy chairs and a swell table

2011-04-14T10:00:00.000-04:00

we picked up a bunch of office chairs recently. who knew what we would do with them but we thought we'd give it a try...

and voila! these boring old chairs are transformed into sleek and modern design gems with some graphic black and white prints!

they would make a great dining set to offset something more traditional like this super neat salmon table!

the mechanism on this table is just about the coolest thing ever! you grab either side and the leaf pulls out like a roll top desk. (this is where we wish we had a video for you!)

a detail of the leaf. i hope we can find many more of these! such a great table for a small space.

and here is a chair we pieced together. the old wooden chair's bottom was in rough shape so we cut it off, added some fun color and attached it to one of the office chair bases we picked up. two pieces that needed a new match!

trunk show!

2011-04-13T12:25:00.003-04:00

we can't resist a nice old trunk over here!

this one had a nice patina on it already, but we thought it needed a splash of color so we added these fun stencils all over.

this one is a perfect size for a coffee table but a little short so we added these cute little feet to raise it up to the correct height!

we salvaged the feet off an old settee. so cute!

eben a. kling

2011-04-08T14:52:00.002-04:00

arts night out is back at sticks and bricks! the long winter is over- i'm calling it.

enter eben kling. interesting, colorful, disturbing, awesome.

'retired astronaut'

'the birthday party'

'picking up the trash (sunday night)'

come by tonight between 5 and 9 to meet the artist and look at art!

2 chairs

2011-04-08T14:42:00.002-04:00

this coffee table was inspired by a customer suggestion. 'light industrial' (i checked that box at a temp agency once.... big mistake).

these two chairs were so lovely already- they just needed new upholstery. i didn't want to veer too far away from their traditional style, just to add something edgy.

these contrasting tacks were just the thing.

spice racks!

2011-03-30T12:04:00.002-04:00

inspired by matthew's custom spice rack, last weekend i went crazy making more!

i took all the various parts from chairs, table legs, cool wood scraps and architectural details we had been saving up. form meets function here (if not for your spices then for all those cool little tchotchkes you have hanging about!)

this one is so sweet with a little drawer! hmmm....time to rethink the kitchen design so i can bring one home!

bench

2011-03-25T13:11:00.003-04:00

this bench was made from an old headboard i've had for forever. thanks to some much needed reorganization in the workshop i didn't have room to store it anymore.

i cut the top off the posts (before i took this picture)

and used them as the bottom of the front legs. the square part is from another bed. the side rails are from wood that was kicking around the shop. the arms are from a broken windsor chair. and the seat is made from flooring scrap left over at the roost.

the pillows are old coffee bean bags.

put all together they make a handsome & sturdy bench.

crib table

2011-03-24T14:54:00.002-04:00

i love to think of us 'using all the parts of the animal' (you may have heard me say that before ;) )

a couple years ago i got an old metal crib at the auction for no particular reason. aka- i fell in love with it. i used the head and foot boards in my garden, a side rail for display in my shop, and another side rail for magazines in the roost. the mattress base was the final piece so when justin realized this glass we had fit so well on top we had to turn it into a table.

mike from bca added the angle iron legs for us and it's ready for your crib (i couldn't resist).

mirror madness!

2011-03-23T14:27:00.003-04:00

we have been going crazy the past few days making all sorts of mirrors!

these old wooden clamps have been around for a while. we were initially hesitant to do something crazy to them to completely change the integrity of them since they were so darn cool!
this was the perfect solution.

this old tin was salvaged from the ceiling at the roost during construction!

the frame of this one (and the larger one in the first picture) is some old trim we have had kicking around for a while.

and this one is just a great old mirror that liz fell in love with and just had to have for the shop!

vanity

2011-03-18T12:03:00.002-04:00

this bathroom vanity was a custom job for someone who was inspired by a trip to porches. (can't wait till that's me ;) )

i used an old door and a reclaimed 2x3 from the roost. i love the stripes from the plaster & lath and the monster quality to the rebuilt door.

the top is aluminum and should hold up for generations of hand washers (thanks to mike of BCA)

dream of life table

2011-03-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

i can't seem to pass up a cute little side table these days!

some elbow grease to get off that dark old finish and some spring blue bring it right back to life!

and yes - some more stamping! this time some lyrics from the ever inspiring oeuvre of patti smith - a little of dream of life.

bird chair

2011-03-16T12:00:00.000-04:00

we see these types of chairs all the time and i finally decided to give redoing one a go.

the design is actually really smart and easy to take apart and see how it works. i went with a bold bird print from IKEA. they really have a great selection of fabrics.

a little charcoal velvet on the back...

now it's ready for a new nest!

custom coffee tables

2011-03-11T13:10:00.000-05:00

clearly we've been catching up on custom work....

we've done this style table before once or twice, and it inspired someone to ask us to make one for their new living room.

legs from blue collar artisans, and crates from all over ;)

this table is a fusion of these great old sawhorses the owner picked up at brimfield, and an oak desktop we've had kicking around. we rubbed it with black wax, made a few adjustments to the dimensions and voila!

have a great weekend you.

spice rack

2011-03-10T13:26:00.000-05:00

this next piece is a perfect example of 'necessity is the mother of invention'.

a friend came in looking for a custom job- a funky spice rack that fits inside this very specific space. i let the idea marinate for a bit and this is what they ended up with. the dark wood stripes are an old sewing drawer and tip forward for storage of little bags. the grid is from an old coca cola crate and the rest is more bits of reclaimed this and that. time to cook!

industrial cabinet

2011-03-04T12:36:00.000-05:00

this fantastic cabinet was at the restore in springfield.

it was meant to be built into a wall, and was no easy feat to move- but i couldn't leave it behind.

it's a pass through medical supply cabinet. the doors are exactly the same on the back side (or is it the front?)

we added a nice plywood frame and put it on industrial casters.

made some extra shelves,

and took the old crusty paint off the inside.
now it's ready for the 'where to put it' debate. mstr bath to bed or dining to kitchen?

mid-century sofa

2011-03-02T13:24:00.000-05:00

i try not to do too much upholstery. it's just not really my thing. but sometimes.... i just can't say no.

when a friend sent me a picture of this broken couch on the street, i dropped everything and ran over to pick it up.

new foam, a few very solid repairs and i love it so much i had to set it free (my family would have destroyed it and broken my heart ;) )

look at that design- mmmmmmmmmmm.

the fabric is from ikea.

even the back is sexy.

rustic cabinet

2011-03-02T12:12:00.001-05:00

this project has been stewing in my head now for a while and i finally came across the right piece to bring it to life.

and here it is after!

you know we don't like to let anything go to waste, so i used a lot of scraps from the wood fencing we used on the exterior of the roost on the sides of this piece.

the double-tiered top lends itself to many different uses. i just love seeing the raw bark edge!

an old window and an old door cut down make the perfect pair!

the hardware may just be my most favorite thing! not sure where the steel one originated from but the black piece is an old spool holder from a vintage singer sewing machine. love!

the roost- bathrooms

2011-02-25T13:51:00.000-05:00

i love these penny tiles- like real love.

and this mirror that justin made, inspired by a table by boris dennier- thanks for showing us jon ;)

our attempt to make the insulting sign required by the health inspector more attractive.

and the next mirror justin made.

ooohh penny tiles. we scooped this fantastic trash at brimfield and took it down to the bare steel.

homemade baby changing station.

tested to 50lbs and no signs of strain ;)

the roost- wall of shelving

2011-02-24T22:22:00.001-05:00

one of the reasons working on the roost was especially fun was the commercial scale of the projects.

this wall is 12' tall and 16' long.

the crazy arm lamp works (of course) and the magazines are on an old metal crib side.

we used a variety of sizes and fittings of black iron pipe.

and local rough sawn pine.

the boards were all lovingly treated with a dark wax by robyn.

and we couldn't help but paint the basement door with chalkboard paint ;).

the roost- baked&such

2011-02-23T13:10:00.000-05:00

hey all! we're going to wrap up pictures of the roost this week. it's just so hard to narrow down the pictures. i spent so much time with every detail- for 5 months!

before of the upper level...

and now!

we built cabinets with old doors and wood parts from all over the place (a special shout out belongs here to justin babcock- thanks for all those materials j!!)

some doors open, and some are structural.

this is the before of our used grab and go case. adam asked me if we could make it work.... after he already bought it.

but make it work we did! i spent a dirty day in the crawl space salvaging the old tin ceiling that we used for the new facing & justin and i brushed off the paint on the metal wherever we could.

thanks for the great idea mike! (blue collar artistans)

a shot of our wine storage. old bed springs, new copper pipe.

the roost- tables&chairs

2011-02-16T20:44:00.005-05:00

tables!! we made a lot of tables for this little cafe. here's a sampling.

most of the tables are made with reclaimed chestnut and steel frames made by mike (blue collar artisans) this particular base is from a gumball machine.
the chairs we scooped up at brimfield and took them down to the bare steel.

detail of a repair on the big farm table.

the espresso bar & my favorite stools.

more chairs and little tables. we used old sewing machine bases for these.

the coffee table- it pulls apart for personal dining ;)
the legs are old industrial seat bases.

another side table in the comfy area. we covered this old crate side with resin to protect the paper- possibly forever. this stuff is crazy thick!

detail of the round table.

more crate parts protected forever by resin.

(all photos credit ilana panich-linsman)

the roost- lighting

2011-02-16T20:37:00.006-05:00

i'm a big fan of bottles. old/ new, empty/ full- you name it. when we started planning the roost i knew we had to use an ecclectic assortment of bottles for our pendant lights.

the bottles that made the final cut- clean and ready to go.

the cluster over the farm table.

the bottle tower in the window. (i was saving bottles for a long time ;) )

robyn and i picked up these light fixtures at the restore. we needed wall sconces and loved the idea of seeing them in such an unexpected way.

of course they are hard to photograph- so you may just have to come in person to enjoy these.

(all photos credit ilana panich-linsman)

roost interior overview

2011-02-11T15:36:00.004-05:00

so much for 'tomorrow'.... sorry about that! i got a flu-ish thing that knocked me down for a day. so here's a quick peek at the interior fix up. next week will be all about details details details!

the old liquor store after they moved 'everything' out.

and 45 minutes into opening day. i don't think it's been this empty since ;)
(photo credit ilana panich-linsman)

another shot of pop's

and another of the roost! (photo credit ilana panich-linsman)

see you next week! (photo credit ilana panich-linsman)

the roost!!!!!!

2011-02-09T12:40:00.006-05:00

hello out there!! so, we have been very absent here in cyberspace for the last couple weeks as we finished up the project we've been working on since august!

two doors down from sticks and bricks there was a liquor store for 15+ years (pop's). when they moved next door, my sweetie and great friend robyn decided to open a cafe there. lucky us!

for the next two weeks we are going to bring you pictures of all the sticks and bricks contributions- from the very large to the small details.

and we'll start with the exterior facade.

we made 5' sections of fencing with reclaimed stockade fence, local rough sawn lumber, and misc bits of wood we picked up here and there.

luckily we finished this part before there was 3' of snow on the ground!

we enlisted the help of our contractors to mount it to the building- because we're not that butch ;).

the signs were made by steelhead studios - 500lbs of fantastic rusted metal.

open 8am-11pm, i ate all three meals there yesterday.

for those of you not lucky enough to come in person- we'll take you inside tomorrow.

winter workshop!

2011-01-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

our friends from reclaimed crafts are back with a winter workshop - mondays in february and march!

get creative in the new year! create beautiful, functional items made with vintage, salvaged and reclaimed materials. on tap for this series: reclaiming vintage, wooden croquet sets; decoupaging with recycled maps, books, magazines, calendars and wallpaper; and creating napkin rings from vintage fabric and buttons.

we provide the space, materials, instruction and vibe. bring a friend or two! six, two hour classes, february 7th - march 14th. To check out projects, go to reclaimed crafts northampton. To register and for more info, jendieringer@gmail.com.

dresser lovin'

2011-01-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

not even the pepto-pink of this refinishing project could turn me away! the dresser itself had great bones and all in all was in good structural shape.

i wanted to create a finish with a lot of texture while not going too over the top with color.

it was a multi-step process for sure. first i stripped off as much of all that old paint as i could (4 layers!!!) . then i opted for a couple of different colors in the grey and blue family. a little distressing, a lite covering of a dark stain in places to pull it all together and some new brushed metal knobs bring this old piece back to life!

spool table

2011-01-19T12:40:00.002-05:00

this little side table was a labor of love! i've had this collection of old wooden spools kicking around for quite some time (meaning like 8 or so years give or take!). they've been lying around waiting for the perfect project and here it is!

i had the idea and let it just stew for a while as it all came together. i was working in the shop over the weekend and all of the parts presented themselves - as if hitting me over the head and saying "it's time!"

i love the idea of multiples repeating of anything (hence all those random collections that seem to have a way of building up!). it is sort of like a little cityscape of spools resting peacefully under a piece of glass.

turquoise hutch

2011-01-05T12:29:00.003-05:00

this hutch was in desperate need of a real makeover!

voila! i went with a rich turquoise color. i love the juxtaposition of of a bright, rich color against one of these older pieces of furniture.

i wanted to do something different inside instead of painting or adding paper. i had this great piece of vintage printed burlap laying around and the marriage of the two were meant to be.

the details on this piece are fantastic and with the addition of the paint, they really shine!

birdhouse

2010-12-31T10:00:00.000-05:00

i had so much fun making this birdhouse. it was a gift for some dear friends. they have this gorgeous old pine tree in their backyard that they want to hang lots of places for birds to roost.

i used a bunch of wood we had around the shop along with some old finials i had laying about waiting for a new life.

i hinged it for easy cleaning at the end of the season and treated it with some flat all-weather poly. i think you will be seeing more of these come spring!

carver side table

2010-12-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

look! i remembered the before picture ;-)

this sweet little side table was a great little project. i am currently in love with this new green we have at the shop. maybe it's helping ward off the winter doldrums!

it was just calling for a poem. i went again with one of my favorites, raymond carver's the best time of the day.

wall mounted jewelry case

2010-12-29T12:09:00.003-05:00

phew! we made it through all of the holiday madness relatively unscathed. lots of celebrating with family and friends, followed by a bit of a holiday snowstorm.

before the holiday, we had a customer present us with a challenge. we accepted with excitement! the project was a wall mounted jewelry case. we constructed a box out of hardwood and used this old window as the door. we replaced the top pane of glass with mirror on both sides and papered the other two panes.

inside there is all sorts of storage for all of the family jewels!

some nails and hooks to hang necklaces with some shelves below for bracelets and other things.

and a place to hang all of your earrings! we think there will be some more of these. it was a super fun project!

ornaments

2010-12-20T14:27:00.003-05:00

we are in the holiday spirit over here at s&b! i made a bunch of ornaments that are adorning the branch that lives in the shop!

one of the birds...

and one of the balls filled with bits of rusty nails and metal!

striped deco dresser

2010-12-15T12:04:00.003-05:00

deco goes modern! this deco style dresser has great bones. i wanted to give it a bit of a modern edge so i decided to add some bold striping in green.

the vintage hardware cleaned up so nice. it's still a perfect fit!

married hutch

2010-12-10T14:10:00.002-05:00

these two pieces have just started their new life together.

the top has been in the shop for a while- it's previous bottom was destroyed in a move cross country- waiting for a new partner.

when we got this new piece from an old kindergarten we kept our fingers crossed that they would be compatible.

we started sanding the paint only to find that the greens under the white were a perfect match!

congratulations to the happy couple!

arts night out: lisa orsted

2010-12-09T10:00:00.000-05:00

the final arts night out for the year is upon us this friday. my how time flies! we are super excited to be showcasing some new paintings by local artist lisa orsted - a series she calls geometrically golden.

the photos don't quite do enough justice to the paintings. there is such detail and texture that truly shines in person.

from the artist:

i am attempting to convey a sense of geometry and symmetry in each painting. with the addition of layers upon layers of brightly colored acrylic paints and always with a hint of gold. my intent is to create a work of art that is both pleasing to the eye as well as the soul.

please join us on this friday, december 10th for a reception with lisa from 5-8pm. see you there!

industrial lamps

2010-12-08T12:39:00.002-05:00

we recently came across a bunch of these vintage industrial desk lamps. they were well worn and needed some rewiring. they all have a different patina that we just couldn't bring ourselves to get rid of!

there are two styles - first the more pixar-ish small shade style...

and a larger, more traditional desk lamp style. the perfect gift for that special someone!

jewelery

2010-12-02T13:03:00.005-05:00

i've been having far too much fun with shrinky dinks.

so now we have key chains galore....

and some necklaces.

(sold!)

then, once i get started...

and the jewelery mess has begun,

(sold!)

it doesn't end for a couple of days.

freshwater pearls and copper pipe.

sterling chain and internal bearing clips.

(sold!)

oh, and more shrinky dinks.

of course.

prices range from 18-42 plus 5$ for domestic shipping. call during business hours with your credit card info if you're interested.

drop leaf table

2010-12-01T14:01:00.003-05:00

after stripping off the old finish to this sweet little drop leaf table, i just couldn't bring myself to paint it!

the wood has such a beautiful golden glow!

and of course a little bit of stamping was in order! a quote from kahlil gibran's the prophet was the perfect finishing touch!

white hutch

2010-11-19T13:11:00.003-05:00

this little hutch was cute from the beginning..

i sanded it down, fixed the sticky door, and carved some seed pod's into the door.

oh, and added this key latch.

i can think of so many things this cabinet would be perfect for....

lazy susan (maybe i should change my name...)

2010-11-18T12:56:00.003-05:00

so much for my big posting commitment! you'd think i know myself better by now....

this next piece has me thinking about thanksgiving next week.

i cut this pattern out of an old headboard ages ago for a project that ended up going in a different direction. it's been waiting for it's true purpose, and when i got this old busted lazy susan it found a home. the cut out corners inspire lots of spinning.... perfect for table top taco night.

it's finished with an excerpt from pablo neruda's 'great tablecloths'. let's eat!

telephone stand

2010-11-12T10:00:00.000-05:00

i think all of my grandparents had one of these old telephone stands in their kitchens with a big old rotary phone sitting on top. when i scooped this up, i immediately thought it needed a little fun to bring it into this century!

a little flower decoupage and a great charcoal grey and voila, just like new!

yeats wine rack

2010-11-11T10:00:00.000-05:00

this sweet little wine rack was a fun little redo!

a lovely avocado green and a splash of copper.

and of course, it was screaming for a poem! a little yeats did just the trick.

arts night out: ina iansiti

2010-11-10T12:08:00.003-05:00

this months arts night out we are featuring the work of fantastic local artist and our friend ina iansiti. a body of work she calls selfobject.

in the words of ina:

i am fascinated by the creation and representation of self in life and in art. in this series of self portraits, i use the traditional media of pastels and paints, combined with fabric and found objects, to explore a process that feels at times somewhat narcissistic. i am seduced by the lure of beauty, finding the distinction between being a beautiful object and creating a beautiful object. i am often self-consciously aware of the struggle between prettifying my image and using an exaggerated ugliness to create a representation of myself that feels in some sense authentic.

stop by this friday november 12th from 5-8 to see this show for yourself. certainly one not to miss!

grey roses armoire

2010-11-09T11:51:00.002-05:00

this armoire was screaming for one of liz's carvings!

she went with the roses pattern over a warm grey paint job.

we cleaned up the inside. it's a gorgeous cedar closet in near perfect condition. yummy!

green dresser/armoire

2010-11-05T12:21:00.003-04:00

dear readers! we are so sorry this week skipped by without a post again. if you could only see the craziness happening on our little workshop! today's redo is a sweet little dresser/armoire combo.

this green color is a new one we picked up recently and it's perfect here on this piece. there was some repair to be done on the drawers and a little loving here and there. i decided to stick with the original hardware as i like the juxtaposition of the classic against the color.

it's completed with a bit of alien monster paper for lining!

we have lots of new stuff to share next week. do stay tuned!

porch swing

2010-10-29T12:38:00.002-04:00

who doesn't love a porch swing? we recently found this and even with the impending change of seasons here in new england, we just couldn't resist!

we shored it up and gave it a new coat of poly to protect it from the elements. perfect for enjoying your morning coffee and watching the neighborhood pass by!

blue collar artisans

2010-10-28T15:35:00.002-04:00

we're featuring the work of mike from blue collar artisans in the shop this month. he does custom work for us all the time & we couldn't be more excited about the stuff he has brought in special for the month.

a serious bench.

this wrench is embedded in the wood, and a coat of thick pour poly was applied on top.

and old sewing machine part makes a perfect guitar stand...

this picture doesn't do his bench justice... the stone, steel and reclaimed wood..... you just have to touch it.

honey side table

2010-10-27T12:04:00.003-04:00

this little side table was too cute to pass up. i wasn't very excited about the top, so i decided it just had to go!

the sides of this table are this cool bark-like molding that adds a sense of enchantment to he piece. liz immediately started referring to it as the "pooh table" when i brought it into the shop!

that's where we get the name, the honey side table from. there is a secret stamped on here somewhere ;-)

the top was made from a couple of pieces of cool wood we had laying around the shop, finished naturally to enhance it's inherent beauty.

poem trunk

2010-10-22T10:00:00.001-04:00

okay so i just can't stop myself from stamping poems, words and quotes into pieces of furniture or other things we are making here in the shop!

this old trunk has a great patina, but needed some new hinges and a sprucing up on the inside.

cute little compartments to hold your cute little things!

for this piece, i chose touched by an angel by maya angelou. in thinking about what would be right, this popped to the front of my mind. as i looked at a few other choices, i just kept coming back to it. the process is painstaking, but becomes quite meditative and i just love the results!

copper top table

2010-10-21T12:00:00.000-04:00

we scored this fab table frame at the auction, but it needed something fun on top...

i had a bunch of copper flashing kicking around, so i spent a lot of time cutting it out and using liquid nails to stick it down. by a lot of time, i mean a LOT of time.

i added decorative tacks for fun and where needed and soldered some parts together.

and finally added the thick pour bar top to make the top smooth and easy to clean. now it's ready for drinks- maybe a nice martini ;)

warehouse tables

2010-10-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

we've had this warehouse table for a bit, but we wanted to make it a more useful size and height...
so we took the wheels off, cut it in half (almost) added a new end and some blocks to lift it up.

we stained and waxed the top. sanded and cleaned up the rust on the metal and feel in love!

we used the other half and the metal corner brackets to make another table that we like just as much as the first!

the legs are carved to fit into the brackets nice and tight and the whole thing was waxed. yum.

metal cabinet

2010-10-15T12:00:00.001-04:00

we have been loving us some steel over here.

now that i've found this attachment that takes the paint of old metal- you can hear the angle grinder going all hours of the day.

the whole cabinet used to be blue- now it's just the surprise inside ;)

many drawers

2010-10-14T12:00:00.000-04:00

sometimes this small shop brings out the best creativity.

all these drawers had just been accumulating in the back, waiting for the right project. i finally decided i should spend my time making something with them instead of moving them from one shelf to another every time i needed to get something.

i used up all the scrap plywood i had kicking around.

the bit of brown on the top is a repair where a part of the plywood had chipped- i fit in a piece of cherry veneer.

bits of paper from all sorts of projects.

oh, and the feet are from the dump. (aka put and take)

a new leaf

2010-10-13T13:28:00.005-04:00

dear gentle readers ;)
you may have noticed i've been less than consistent in my posting these last weeks. the truth is i've been incredibly busy working on a new cafe that will be opening up next door (practically) in december. while this is super exciting, i don't wanna neglect y'all! so for the foreseeable future i'm making a commitment to you (and to myself) to post every wednesday, thursday and friday about something fun and fabulous. justin is still here upcyling furniture in unexpected fantastic ways, and he's promised to help me. (thank god for justin!)

so for today, here's a quick before and after. and get ready for more!

the before.

and after. we used a 'brilliant blue' spray paint, modpodged this fab paper, and put on a coat of 'super glaze' bar top finish. these trays should be able to hold up to many years of messy tv dinners!

kitchen island (with bark)

2010-09-30T12:27:00.002-04:00

what's not to love about this custom kitchen island? we made the top from local pine (justin picked up 2 6' pieces at the flea market- lucky!) and finished it with a food safe butcher block wax.

mike from blue collar artisans made us this great custom wine rack (he's incredibly talented and next months featured artist- mark your calendars ;) )

they picked out adorable knobs to hang pretty dishtowels and lunchboxes.

and we made a paper towel holder out of black iron pipe and added a few more hooks.

time to host a dinner party!

papaya side cabinet

2010-09-23T12:44:00.002-04:00

there were a slew of new items that came into the shop that snuck in without a before picture again. this old commode as i am told they were called is one of those items, so here is the after!

i have been playing around with getting a good crackle finish and am extremely happy with the results here. the light papaya color perfectly accents the dark finish coming through. and look at that original hardware! it doesn't get much better than that.

a nice lining inside the drawers and cabinet and it's ready to store all your this and thats!

chair and table

2010-09-22T12:57:00.002-04:00

this chair was almost perfect when we got it. all i had to do was replace the cushion with new foam and yummy leather and sand off the old paint splatters.

now it's ready for a new generation of coffee and wine drinkers.

i picked up this old chair base at brimfield. it needed some sanding and a fantastic top.

luckily we had just the thing. now it's the perfect side table/ emergency stool.

classic sideboard

2010-09-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

this sideboard is such a classic that all i felt it needed was a bit of a face lift. it has such great lines and is a solid piece.

love the relief details here along with the likely original keyhole hardware.

painted this blue/green that made an appearance on a hutch earlier this summer. a little crackling and distressing finishes it off nicely.

and here's a little side table and candle holder that recently went out n the shop floor.

heartifacts by haley morgan

2010-09-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

we have a great new batch of earrings in from haley morgan aka heartifacts. haley takes all sort of old earrings and other recycled and repurposed materials and reimagines them into very funky, cool and affordable new pieces.

these necklaces are pretty fantastic. we couldn't quite get a picture to do them justice. you'll just have to come in and see for yourself!

custom hutch

2010-09-16T10:00:00.001-04:00

this hutch was a custom job for a client's massage office. it was built to house sheets and other necessities.

it's constructed from a combination of new materials, a reclaimed door and some molding that was torn off a customer's exterior home.

we went with a soft distressed white finish so it would not detract from the quiet soothing atmosphere of the office.

chairs and lamps!

2010-09-15T12:47:00.003-04:00

it's been a while since we've had some chairs!

this mismatched group speak to each other nicely as a set.

love this fabric. classic with a bit of a modern twist.

we also just finished these two standing floor lamps. this lamp has such great lines and is just so delicious with the aged green finish.

this brass one had such great patina we cleaned it up and let it be. both were finished with a coffee sack we got from a local roaster.

arts night out: edison rex

2010-09-08T12:41:00.003-04:00

these months just keep flying by! it's time again for another arts night out opening. this month we are very excited to have the fantastic edison rex debuting a new series of prints. the originals are also on display for the next few weeks.

aslandia is a new body of work inspired by mythology and motherhood. it’s a universal tale of parental protection and love retold through print and stitch, dark seas and fantastical creatures.

stop by this friday, september 10th between 5-8 to meet the artist and schmooze with some fine folks!

carver coffee table

2010-09-06T10:00:00.002-04:00

remember these old coffee tables? i am instantly transported back to childhood upon seeing it. so much so in fact that i nearly passed it up!

i had been itching to punch a poem into a piece of furniture ever since liz's magical mary oliver coffee table. this piece was just calling out for it!

i went with one of my favorites, the best time of the day by raymond carver.

a perfect fit for the nearing end of the season.

basket lighting

2010-09-02T13:06:00.003-04:00

inspired by a trip to brimfield in july (was it really that long ago???), we made some new lighting!

these old golf ball baskets make the perfect pendant lights.

this lamp has been in the making for some time. we scored this great base which is some sort of tire well welded to an iron pipe. it would have made a great weapon, but we went with something a bit more practical.

we added this old clamming basket to act as a shade exposing the bulb. hard to see it n the light of day, but it casts a very cool shadow against the wall.

copper edged farm table

2010-09-01T12:20:00.003-04:00

this is one of those projects that has been buried back in the workshop for some time now. we finally had some room out on the shop floor for such a large table so it was time to give it a go.

the result is rather dramatic. after much back and forth we decided that the proportion of the table just wasn't right. we opted to chop off about 6 inches all around giving it a slimmer profile. it will still comfortably accommodate 6 people at just shy of 5 feet long.

we stripped off most of the dark finish and went with a liming wax to lighten it up overall.

liz came up with the fantastic touch of adding the copper flashing around the edge. the perfect finish!

copper top cabinet

2010-08-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

this retro cabinet needed bit of a face lift when we found it.

we went with a really vibrant blue and gave it a bit of distressing.

we ripped off the old 1970's style linoleum and went with a copper top. we just can't get enough of metal these days!

a little touch of whimsy on the inside with this great paper and it's ready to hold some treasures!

fall craft classes!

2010-08-25T12:58:00.003-04:00

i can't believe i am even talking about fall, but here we are at the end of august! our pals jen and laurie from reclaimed crafts are back with a six week fall workshop.

details: 6 weeks / 6 classes

dates: wednesdays, starting september 15

time: 6:30 - 8:30

price: $150, plus $25 materials fee

projects: decoupage glass and ceramic tile coasters, napkin rings, and hooks/ holders using vintage wooden clothespins. materials include vintage fabric from the 50s-80s, reclaimed tiles, vintage maps, reclaimed barn wood and beadboard, reclaimed assorted papers, and possibly more.

how to sign-up: email jen at jendieringer@gmail.com to reserve your spot and for more details.

green dresser

2010-08-20T12:29:00.003-04:00

please forgive this upside down before pic- if you saw how small my workshop is though, you'd understand ;)

i am really loving this green right now. mmmmm mmm.

i'm glad we get a week to enjoy before this custom job is picked up.

sweet table and chair set

2010-08-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

i scored the above table and pair of chairs from a couple of close friends who were cleaning out a barn on their property. oh the treasures!

the fabric inspired the color choices here. i went to the fabric store looking for a bold and bright floral but of course was drawn to this one - not so bright but still bold!

these chairs actually belonged to a my friend's mother so i was thrilled to get the chance to bring them back to life.
sweet set for a small space!

crate table

2010-08-12T12:20:00.001-04:00

before liz left for summer vacation, she was furiously working to complete this piece. when we got it, we were told that it is a rather sought after piece of mid-century design - if it were in its original condition that is!

liz worked her magic and turned it into this fantastic crate table!

not only is it on wheels, but the sides fold down!

close up!

arts night out: mia cabana and oliver scott snure: ex libris

2010-08-11T12:15:00.003-04:00

we are very excited about this months arts night out opening here! our friends mia cabana and oliver scott snure create these truly magical sculptures out of books and found objects.

from the artists:

ex libris is literally translated from latin as “from the books.” books take on a life of their own when cut silhouettes and illustrations pop out of the pages to interact with 3-dimensional elements such as dollhouse furniture and vintage treasures. these miniature worlds, a collaboration between mia and oliver, are captured by oliver’s photography. books in this exhibit are primarily sourced from public library discards, giving what may become waste new form.

stop by this friday, august 13th from 5-8 to see the exhibit and mingle with us and the artists!

blue tin table

2010-08-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

this great table came to us in some serious need of a makeover! (and yes - the before picture escaped us yet again!) it is likely it had some version of an enamel top originally, but when we found it, it was covered in 1970's linoleum. oh the horror!

we decided the best treatment would be to bring back the old tin top with a modern twist. add to that this fantastic blue and voila - what fun!

-jb

mod sideboard

2010-08-06T12:12:00.003-04:00

i scooped up this sideboard last week. i had an idea to make this old fashion piece beam into the next century.

i went with a simple three color palette and did some striping, while leaving some of the natural wood exposed. my favorite part is the lone green leg!

in this shot, you can see the third stripe more clearly, running along both sides and along the top.

delicious if i do say so myself !

-jb

solid maple.

2010-08-04T10:49:00.003-04:00

and by solid, i mean like 150lbs.

this top had been in a basement for some time and was needing some love. i pulled out the old wood pegs (note 3 holes) so i could tighten the bolts that hold the boards together, sanded the top and used a bit of wax and poly to finish the surface.

then i used 1/2" black iron pipe to make very sturdy legs for this hefty top & left the peg holes open for the final look. now for some coffee.

best coffee table ever.

2010-07-30T12:38:00.004-04:00

i was in love with this metal base from the start.

after adding some italian walnut (?) from a discarded table leaf and refinishing the base....

i think this love is going to last.

tin chest and table

2010-07-29T13:20:00.004-04:00

we gave this table some reclaimed maple legs from an old pallet,

and some fun colors.

this tin chest was in great condition. we just cleaned it up, added some handles and painted the inside.

i kind of love the idea of using it for blankets in a bedroom- so unexpected. of course it would also be perfect cold beverage storage for a party.

chalkboards & tin table

2010-07-28T11:49:00.003-04:00

this refinish was inspired by my recent trip to brimfield (i was in heaven) i've done tops with galvanized tin before- but having an exposed seam takes it to a whole new level for me! i refinished the rest of the table with a little stain, sanding and furniture wax.

a while back i got a group of old paintings at the auction (and they've been used here and here)

but we painted the frames fab bold colors, and made chalkboards with masonite (the drawing is curtesy of my daughter- an aspiring fashion designer)
hope you enjoy!

dressing table

2010-07-26T10:00:00.001-04:00

i scooped up this dressing table last week that just needed a little lovin'.

i opted to go a bit classic on this piece, pairing it with a lonely chair we had hanging on the back and going with an olive green. the mirror on this piece is spectacular!

as i was painting, i realized the color is very close to the color my grandmother used once in the 70's. one day she decided she was sick of her dining room set, so she painted the whole thing. she loved it, but i've always wondered what the mahogany set looked like in it's glory. maybe that's where i get the redo gene from?

i love the way these two patterns play off of each other. now it's ready to find a new home!

-jb

hat tree

2010-07-21T14:16:00.002-04:00

on this next custom job my assignment was to make hooks for as many hats as possible.

since the typical design doesn't have many hook options, i turned an old coat tree upside down, attached the broken feet to the top & cut new pieces to mirror the pattern. then i made a new base with an old headboard and porch post top.

25 places for hats- mission accomplished!

shelf love

2010-07-20T16:09:00.003-04:00

last week i was looking around for some wood for another project when the pieces for this shelf appeared like a puzzle that was already put together!

i just love that little bit there where the old hinge used to be.

and of course, you can't make just one of something. i am a collector of things (who would have thunk it right?) and this shelf would be a great display for little treasures....hmmm....

that red board has been kicking around the shop for a bit now and those pieces of reclaimed chestnut even longer. sometimes you may not know why you are saving something, and when you use it, it is so gratifying!

-jb

blue dresser

2010-07-14T12:06:00.002-04:00

yay for bright blue,

carved roses,

and crazy knobs! (another drawer repair with an old painting)

arts night out: scout cuomo

2010-07-08T13:49:00.004-04:00

it's hard to believe that it is already the second week of july! this month for arts night out we are featuring the fantastic work of scout cuomo!

scout was inspired by the bird life at a nature preserve in our area call the arcadia wildlife sanctuary.

her paintings are quite stunning in person. please join us this friday, july 9th to catch a glimpse of this great series and schmooze with the artist!

plumber love fountain

2010-07-02T12:57:00.004-04:00

i have been imagining a fountain like this for a very long time....

when this great enamel tub appeared at the auction i knew it was time. many hours later.... it all came together!
if only you could hear it's tinkle ;)

florida chairs

2010-06-30T14:31:00.005-04:00

these two chairs we're nice and sturdy when they came to us. they just needed a little updating....

the before....

and now!

i used a sage paint on the wood plugs to match the piping.

sometimes a little shiny black is just the thing!