Poppyseed Creative Living

Team Work Did This

2012-02-02T08:39:00.000-05:00

Freedom Reconstructed from Freedom Clothing Collective on Vimeo.

Team work at Freedom CC created this. Some of the clocks are no available in our newly opened Etsy store.

Before & After - A's Wardrobe

2012-01-27T08:31:00.001-05:00

This wardrobe was in my client A's family for many decades and for the last number of years it was stored in her uncle's basement, almost forgotten. With A's vision and my rollers and brushes, we have managed to turn this old lady into a piece that A will love for many years to come.

Newest Poppy - Little Turquoise Desk

2012-01-25T12:10:00.002-05:00

Newest from my workshop is this cute turquoise desk. To be honest, when I first bought it I had a bit of a buyer's remorse as I wasn't sure that much could become of it. Unfortunately there is no before photo to share with you. I always think about this very important step when I am half way into the refinishing process. All doubt aside, I think it turned out quite cute, and is now posted in my Etsy shop and stored at Freedom Clothing Collective waiting to be snatched away and loved by the new owner.

Lampshade DIY

2012-01-20T08:49:00.001-05:00

I have wanted to learn to make a lamp shade for a long time, I have followed blogs, online tutorials, talked to people who are really good at it, but every time I got to it, something went wrong and I ended up abandoning the project. As a spirited crafter I found it really annoying that there was a seemingly easy project out there that I was not able to master. So I started looking for ways to make a lampshade and that will guarantee success. And I found it. I armed myself with a pair of scissors, jute twine, and old lampshade and lot of patience.

To start I removed the fabric from the shade and tied a knot at the top of the structure where one of the vertical bars connected with the top ring and started wrapping it with twine as tightly as possible making sure that the metal ring was not showing through. And then continued on to the body. As I reached each one of the spokes I wrapped the twine once around it and proceeded to the next. This way I made sure that each of the spokes was neatly wrapped and that the twine was secure in place without worrying that it will start sliding down.

I was quite happy with the outcome, but thought that some decor would be a welcome addition. So I asked Karen for some left-over fabric and buttons from her sewing projects and little abstract flowers/starbursts were created. The only remaining thing was to pair the shade up with an equally quirky lamp base.

And there you have it. The lamp is available for purchase at our store or online via Etsy.

If you find this entry inspiring enough to attempt to make your own shade, send me some photos of your work, I will be delighted to share it on the blog.

Trinkets and Treasures

2011-12-07T11:59:00.001-05:00

I love browsing through AAnthropologie catalogues and looking for inspirations. These guys do things so well. So, browsing through the most recent catalogue I came across these gorgeous candle holders named Trinkets and Treasures, but at the sticker price of $398 per stick you better treasure them for life.

As a maker of things, I studied the picture a bit and decided to make my own version of these lovelies so I headed out and sourced all the goodness that I could find to make an awesome candle stick. I decided that starting off with an old lamp base would be a good way to go, as the middle rod that would normally house the electric cord would offer good support for the body and would allow me to turn it into a lamp should I choose to do so.

I, of course, bought more trinkets than I could use, but building a stand like this is a creative process that takes time, each one of them went through several iterations before I landed on the final concept. Having a few extras helps as drilling through some of them is a tedious task, and they do tend to break from time to time.

So here is the end result - three candle sticks that I am quite proud off and some left over material for the next one.They may not look exactly like the starting point, but that was never the goal. The idea was to give them my own spin and make them unique in their own way. Oh, and the fact that they are made from locally sourced goodness makes them a bit extra special in my mind too.Let me know what you think, would love to hear from you!!

Freedom CC Team Visits the One of a Kind Show

2011-11-30T12:14:00.000-05:00

The Freedom team took a field trip to the One of a Kind show to support our artists and designers. It felt a little bit like a reunion - we got to say hi to our out-of-town designers that we barely get to see, catch up with those that have gone MIA in preparations for holiday madness, and check out a wide selection of their goods.It was inspiring to see the booths that each of them put together. These little habitats shed another light into their creative vision and resourcefulness (of course, upscycled and restyled materials were often used in the building of these nooks). Without further ado, here are some quick shots that we took to share with you guys!

atelier b., made in Montreal by Catherine Metivier and Anne-Marie Laflamme. We carry an extensive selection of their extremely well-made, sustainable line. Each of us owns numerous items by them and we're still wanting more!

Jen Kneulman is the power girl behind Freshly Printed: a line of organic tea-towels, aprons, and other kitchen wear. She prints at her Harbourfront studio with all natural dyes

Based in Montreal, Cindy Cantin makes incredibly well-made bags from wool felt and leather that she obtains from furniture factories. Learn more about her line by clicking here.

Another fabulous Montreal designer is Noujica. These. Scarves. Are. The. Warmest. And. The. Coolest. Cannot emphasize that more.

Krystal Speck makes colourful earthenware with imagery from nature. Her pieces bring a bright touch of the outdoors to your kitchen and home. She's based in Toronto, but sometimes scours Ontario farmlands for discarded wood, in this case, she used these remnants for this comfortably rustic booth.

Made just a few minutes away from Freedom, these mittens by SLO are becoming a common sight all around Toronto. Made from upcycled wool sweaters and lined with fleece for extra comfort and warmth. Check out these new ones for them little guys!

Julie Sinden boiled hats are almost like a collector item. It's too hard to choose just one, the colours and styles are just adorable and you can find one to match any winter coat. The best part, your head still breaths, no one likes a sweaty hat head!

Last but not least is Voyou by Lise-Marie Cayer, who is so sweet she got us free tickets to the show. This whole blogpost would not happen without her generosity, and yet ironically, Marsya forgot to take a photo of her booth. Truth be told, she was too distracted by her new winter coats. (They come in black and red, with tan leather detailing and huge pockets.) Good thing Karen snapped a photo while Marsya wasn't looking.

Email I got

2011-11-28T07:59:00.001-05:00

Last week I delivered the yellow dresser to a lovely young family that purchased it, and below I am sharing the email I received the next day...I can't even begin telling you how much this meant. Thank you guys!

"Thanks again for delivering the dresser, especially in a rainy day. We were so happy to have the dresser at home, it looks so nice and contemporary with that bright yellow color. Can you guess who was the most excited to see the dresser? It was not me, not my husband, it was my baby who is only 11 month old. She just couldn't ignore the dresser, she was pointing at it and asking me to bring her to it. She played with those flower knobs for about 20 minutes and couldn't let them go. She was pointing at the patterns on the dresser as well. She was still excited after we took her away from it. We were worried that she was going to be up all night from the excitement. Good thing is she finally tired out and fell asleep. I wish I had a photo of that moment, too bad my digital camera was not working for some reason. Thanks for producing such a nice piece. Keep on your great work!"

Tea Towel Art

2011-11-10T15:53:00.001-05:00

During my last trip to Australia this past January I came across a beautiful old buss scroll (the kind that is printed on canvas and that the driver had to manually switch for every stop). Well, the one that crossed my path was priced at $1,000 - which was way out of my art buying budget. So instead I bought a tea towel at a local St.Kilda store called Scout. The tea towel listed all the streets surrounding the store with the store's name being featured as final destination. At $18 a towel, I could not pass on it. Back in Canada I started scouting for a frame, and quickly came across an ornate beauty that only lacked the glass pane and some paint. And here you have it, my final art project at a fraction of a cost and just as cool. As the matter of fact, here is the total price breakdown: Tea towel $18 + Frame $5 + Glass $8 = immeasurable happiness!!

From Toronto to Calgary in Three Days

2011-10-31T16:33:00.000-04:00

If someone told me a month ago that I will find myself on the road driving across the country, I would not have though it possible. But it did happen and I am so grateful and appreciative for the opportunity. A friend of mine that I have met through work many years ago has decided to move home to Alberta. Since she has just purchased a car, the only way to get there was on wheels, and who wants to drive alone. It really did not take long to convince me to join in for the fun and before I knew it the plans were confirmed and the return flight from Calgary booked.We left Toronto on a rainy Wednesday morning right on time to get stuck in the rush-hour traffic. Normally, this traffic situation would be stressing me out, but since were were already giddy and laughing hard, the time went by quickly, and one and a half hour later we found ourselves on the open road headed North.

The plan was to reach Thunder Bay before nightfall as, as soon as the sun goes down, the roads belong to the wild life and there is the danger of running into a deer or a moose. Needless to say, that plan was a bit ambitions and with sunset we landed in Wawa, which meant even more hours spent in the car the next day.We set out from Wawa at around 6:45 the next day with the goal of reaching Winnipeg. The road led us past beautiful lakes, forests and through Indian reserves with souvenir shops and trading posts at each major intersection. At one of those we acquired the little hedgehog trinket for the dashboard and named him Lil' Chief Algoma after the region where the trading post was located.

We reached Winnipeg at around 9PM, completely exhausted and dreading the next day's drive which was to take us through Manitoba and Saskatchewan since everyone kept warning us about the boring drive through the Prairies. Granted, it was flat and long, but beautiful nevertheless and worth every minute of the 11 hours that it took us to reach Alberta at sunset.

Our final destination was Canmore, just one hour West of Calgary. As soon as we entered Tara's new apartment, we were ready for bed. When we left the condo the next morning to go for breakfast and a hike in the Banff area I could not have expected better views. This was nature at its best for sure, lakes were reflecting snow covered peaks of the mountains surrounding us. The air was fresh and crisp and Elks were mingling with people at street intersections.

One last thing before my departure on Sunday was to check out the turquoise waters of Lake Louise. It was early morning and it had just started snowing so, unfortunately, turquoise was not meant to be. What was there instead was a beautifully calm lake with fog that has just started lifting revealing the steep cliffs of the Rockies

Back in Toronto, sitting in front of my computer, I can't but think of the natural wealth this county has to offer and am thankful to my dear friend that I got to share it with.

New Poppies

2011-10-17T08:38:00.003-04:00

...and here they are, weeks in the making but finally here. All have been added to my Etsy shop. There are a few more unfinished items sitting in my basement awaiting their turn to be transformed. Hopefully I will get to it in the next couple of weeks.
Hope you like what you see.

Some thoughts to live by

2011-10-13T15:04:00.003-04:00

I have been browsing the net for some inspirational photos and stumbled upon the Peccadillo Collection website. Let me tell you,on this site, the inspiration found me. And not just that, I found these quotes that we should all try to incorporate in our lives, the words that will make any rainy day a bit brighter.
Tomorrow, I will post the "afters" to some of the "befores" that I shared with you a few weeks back.
Cheers

Black & White Fall 2011 collection by Mod Pieces

2011-10-05T16:16:00.002-04:00

Black & White Collection Fall 2011 from Lia Fagan on Vimeo.

Lia Fagan is the creative mind behind Mod Peices and a decor blogger extraordinaire. Her work is not that much different from what I do and while I focus on larger furniture pieces, Lia has directed her attention to lighting. Her Black & White 20011 Fall collection is a true testament to her talent and creativity. You will also be able to read Lia's tips on how to work random discoveries into your decor in the Sytle at Home blog where she just joined as the newest guest blogger. Congratulations Lia!

Keepin' busy

2011-09-28T09:09:00.002-04:00

Inspired by a photo from Pinterest I made these little personal Christmas trees, using 100% repurposed wood, unused drawer pulls and, of course, some paint that I have kicking around at all times. These lovelies would look wonderful on a shelf, in your cubicle or office, or as a little Holiday reminder in your kids' rooms.
I will be making a whole load of them for Freedom Clothing Collective, but will also make them available in my Tiny Poppies Etsy store. They should be making an appearance within the next two weeks. Would love to hear your thoughts!

Fabulous Etsy Find

2011-09-22T07:41:00.002-04:00

I did a post about this Etsy store about two year's ago and kept stalking it ever since. Finally, two days ago I made my long coveted purchase. It took a while until Marc and I could both decide on the pattern for our very first Wilderness Project as the artist calls it. And here it is, bold and beautiful in orange with subtle aviary pattern. I can't wait to have it in our house.

Up and Coming

2011-09-21T07:35:00.002-04:00

Here are the pictures of the two pieces I scored this past Sunday. I do have a general color direction for both of them, but that may change last minute - you never know with these things. I have already removed all the hardware from the glass door cabinet and it is ready for sanding and painting. That may happen today, depending on how other projects currently on the go penn out.
Tomorrow, I will reveal my latest Etsy purchase. Can't wait to share it with you.

Mr. Bear

2011-09-19T07:44:00.002-04:00

This past Saturday Freedom Clothing Collective attended the Barns Art Market at the Toronto's Wychwood Barns. One of the studios displaying their works was halohalo and they were offering silkscreaning demonstrations to the visitors. I really liked this print and thought how it would make a nice addition to my mini art collection by local artist. I may chose to paint out the frame in the future but for now I will just have to make do.
Tomorrow I will share with you two new gems that I came across this Sunday and that will soon undergo some much needed Poppyfication.

In the Works

2011-09-14T07:25:00.003-04:00

My friend's mom scored this baby for me last Saturday. I couldn't wait to start working on it, and here is the sneak peak of what is going on. The week is crazy, but I hope to have it done by the end of it when it will find it's not home at Freedom Clothing Collective - only temporarily I hope. There are a few more pieces in the works at the moment, and I am hoping to have them all revealed in the course of the next week or so.
Enjoy your Wednesday friends.

Before and After

2011-09-07T08:15:00.002-04:00

This time it is for my house. Two years into this adventure and this is the first piece I did for myself. Not that I had extra time to do it, but I decided to squeeze it in between two projects, as if I didn't do it now, another year would go by and other things would be given priority. The before picture is a bit fuzzy and I apologize for it, but hopefully you can see all the holes that were drilled and that I had to fill in. As it stands now, there are some knobs missing on the side doors and down the road I would like to change the pulls on the bottom drawer, but that may have to wait until i find something suitable. For now this will do. Next on the list for me is my coffee table, but that may have to wait, or not, will see how things go.

Mail from Barb

2011-09-06T07:40:00.005-04:00

And this is what arrived last week in the mail. A few notebooks, and a metal letter P along with a hand written note from Barb Blair of Knack Studios, who was and still is my inspiration. I entered her contest a few weeks ago, just for fun really, and who knew that I would be the one to scoop this sweet treat.
Thank you Barb, my ideas and thoughts will now have a new home in these cute notebooks that won't add an extra pound to my purse and the letter "P" will move into my studio as a reminder of the awesome career path that I chose to take thanks to you.

Green Works

2011-08-25T13:31:00.003-04:00

The month of July was full of excitements for me, not only did I get my first Etsy custom order, but I also got to be featured in a web commercial for Green Works cleaning products. Truth be told, I have been using the products for a while and when my friend Melissa told me about the opportunity to be featured in the web commercial, I jumped on board. It was a hot Tuesday afternoon in July when the shoot took place at my house and it was without a doubt one of the most awesome days of the Summer. The striped dresser in the video is the Etsy order that is now living with its new owners in Brooklyn, NY.
I would like to thank the teams from Green Works Canada and DDB Canada for this once in a lifetime opportunity and also give a big shout-out to the mighty director duo Nat and Greg from Peking for being super patient with me and giving me the confidence I needed to complete the task - you guys rock.

Poppies in the Spotlight

2011-08-21T20:02:00.002-04:00

A very exciting week is about to start in a few hours. Tomorrow, these beauties will be featured on the Toronto's morning show Breakfast Television when Live Eye cameras move to Around the Block, a local furniture consignment store. The owner, Warren Hales, was kind enough to share the spotlight with me and I am deeply touched by this gesture.
Tune in tomorrow morning at around 7am to CityTV and check out what the producers have in store for you, then visit Warren's store and check these pieces out first hand.

Introducing...

2011-08-19T09:00:00.003-04:00

...new color for the Fall, that I just can't wait to get my fingers tinted with. It is a warm marigold yellow, not to bright to make you shy away from it, yet strong enough to make you envision sunflower fields during the long and cold Canadian winter months.
There are three different pieces sitting in my storage awaiting a makeover (actually four, one of them being my dining room console). Each one of them worthy on this color, but I think will be a last minute decision as to which one will be the most deserving. Stay tuned...

BIG & FAT Thank You...

2011-08-15T15:50:00.005-04:00

...to the girl that I overheard exclaim to her friend on Saturday during the sale: "Oh my God, this is Poppy, I love her stuff" or something along those lines.
Thank you so much, you made my day without even knowing it!
Also, big thank you to everyone who came by Freedom Clothing Collective, to either shop or browse. You are the reason the store keeps getting better with each and every day.

Poppyseed Furniture on Sale this Saturday

2011-08-12T07:37:00.003-04:00

As part of the Bloorcourt Street Arts and Crafts fair Freedom Clothing Collective is putting the entire inventory of Poppyseed furniture on sale. Prices will be discounted by 10%-40% for one day only. Don't miss it friends! And of course, in addition to this, there is a whole load of goodness that will be waiting for you at the store. 939 Bloor Street West in Toronto is the addy. Also, don't forget that the street will be lined with vendors selling locally crafted art and general awesomeness. Hope to see you there!

Tiny Poppies

2011-08-10T08:16:00.003-04:00

Tiny Poppies is my new Etsy store where I will be selling my smaller creations, mainly plate clocks and chalkboards, but I am sure there will be some other additions as the time goes by. As the matter of fact, I am thinking of very cute light fixtures but need to finalize a few smaller details before they are ready for reveal.

Little Turquoise Desk

2011-08-09T10:08:00.005-04:00

And here it is, a little piece of heaven that got completed over the weekend. I had struggled deciding on the knobs and finally settled on the ones with little yellow birds that I have had for a while. I will be adding this gem to my Etsy store and it will be up for grabs real soon.

Stripes in the works

2011-08-08T08:48:00.003-04:00

I just can't seem to get tired of this trend and love peeling of the tape to see the character that each stripe will add.
I have been working on this piece for the last couple of days and will hopefully have it ready for full reveal and Etsy by the end of this week. With a full week at the store and two commissioned jobs on the go the next few days promise a busy schedule.

Before and After

2011-07-25T07:51:00.002-04:00

Small in size but big in character, this night stand was a joy to work on. It's new owner is a young Toronto artist who I know will love it for a long time to come. Thank you Erika for your vote of confidence!

Latest Poppy

2011-07-24T14:51:00.002-04:00

This dresser was a custom order from Etsy - my first - and I was so excited to receive it. After having tested several color combinations, the customer decided that this was the winning combination - white, gray, silver and gold.
It is all finished now and ready to ship off to Brooklyn, NY.

My New Slippers

2011-07-22T06:58:00.001-04:00

How ironic is it that I got my felted wool slippers that my Mom purchased for me on Etsy on one of the hottest days that hit Toronto in decades. In any case, they are gorgeous and I know that the they will make the long Canadian winters a bit warmer and a whole lot brighter.
Thank you Grazim for crafting such beautiful objects.

Latest Poppies

2011-07-15T09:32:00.002-04:00

Last few weeks were incredibly busy, at the store, at home and with many custom orders.
Here is a quick shot of two pieces that I just finished yesterday. When I took the photo, the green piece was still missing it's knobs, but now it is all done and ready to hit the Artscapes Barns Art Market tomorrow (Whichwood Barns at 601 Christie Street in Toronto).

Freedom CC welcomes Mod Pieces

2011-07-12T10:33:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago Freedom CC partnered up with Lia Fagan, the creator behind beautiful and up-cycled lamps. Here, in her own words, is Lia presenting her business...

"Hi, I'm Lia, the designer behind Mod Pieces, and I'm so pleased to be joining the Freedom Clothing Collective family!
I restyle vintage lighting, that has been cast aside by others, because I see the potential that lies within each piece. Every lamp is rewired for safety and restyled to become a one-of-a-kind, statement piece. Bases that have seen better days, are given a fresh, new colour and shades that lack wow-factor are recovered in new fabric.
Did I mention that no design will ever be repeated? That's right, in order to keep each piece original, unique & exclusive, each lamp receives a design that will never be duplicated. So, if you see something you like, snatch it up!
If you're looking for a custom piece, designed to suit your home, then head on over and check out my Lamp Orphanage. Each lamp is awaiting a custom makeover and a new home."

Freedom CC Presents

2011-07-08T14:43:00.001-04:00

Souvenir of Home
By Laura Fedynyszyn

July 8th – Aug 1st
Opening Reception: Friday, July 8th at 8 pm

It's obvious that Freedom CC loves Canada. We love Canadians, Canadian-made goods, we really are here first and foremost to cheer for Canada. It's only natural that one week after Canada Day, we choose to showcase a fantastic Canadian printmaker and painter who has just developed a whole series dedicated to Canadian wildlife.

In this series Souvenir of Home, Laura - a vegetarian - created life-sized lino prints of mounted animals on decorative papers and old maps to conjure up romantic images of an unknown and untamed Canadian wilderness. By juxtaposing the gruesome images of dead animals onto richly toned papers these works attempt to capture her feelings of both revulsion and obsession with taxidermy.

Come join us at the opening reception and meet Laura!

Before and After: Rosseau Clothes Rack

2011-06-30T08:27:00.002-04:00

In my post from yesterday, I have featured the before picture of the antique clothes rack that Karen and I picked up on our Muskokan adventure. Since then it has been painted with a beautiful shade of mustard yellow that provides a subtle hint of colour without the chance of overpowering whatever it will display. Clothes display rack may have been its original function, but we already have ideas on how to use it for other items. And there you have it, another project completed with many more to come.

On the Road: Muskoka

2011-06-29T07:25:00.007-04:00

Road trip! It all started at around 10 am on Friday, June 24th. Where were we headed? Rosseau, a small town north of Toronto, located in the heart of the Muskoka. What was the reason for this trip? I joined forces with The Remote Stylist in their most recent makeover project. I contributed 5 of my Poppies (up-cycled furniture) for their complete cottage makeover . Since both Karen and I are strangers to that part of Ontario, we relied heavily on our iPhones to guide us along the way, and so they did. Some 3 hours and 2 thunder showers later we reached the final destination, the "cottage", which we determined was bigger than the 2 of our houses put together. It stood tall and proud on the shores of lake Rosseau equipped with its own boat house. One week before the official launch of the cottage project it was evident that a lot of work was still to be done, but everything pointed to the fact that this will be one amazing showroom.

After we offloaded all the goodness from the van and as we completed the tour of the property, we set out on a more casual and relaxed part of our journey towards Port Carling. The road lead us past quaint antiques store where we found this amazing clothes rack (below), that will soon be a part of our store. It’s already interesting features will be embellished and brought to life with a coat of paint. (At this point we agree that it should be vibrant yellow milk paint, but who knows....)

We also visited a beautiful ‘Muskokian’ home furnishings and accessories store that offered all the goodness needed for a comfortable cottage living, aka. inspirations!! We’ll be working on bringing all the comforts of the cottage to Freedom. Before heading back we found a sweet little spot by the water to enjoy a late afternoon picnic with some wildlife companions. A perfect way to end a perfect road trip.

We’ll add some pictures of the remade cottage as soon as we get them … and as soon as it’s done!
Oh yes, and pictures of the milky yellow clothes rack.

New on Etsy

2011-06-28T07:43:00.002-04:00

..is this cute little desk that would look great as a console in a foyer as well as in a den, living or kids' room. Use it in the bedroom as alternative to a night stand, pair it up with a swanky mirror and use it as a vanity. With all the storage it offers, possibilities are endless. Small enough not to be in the way but with a finish that will definitely make a statement.
Available on my Etsy page or at Freedom Clothing Collective.

Owlies of Ontario by Kempton Jones

2011-06-24T07:32:00.003-04:00

A few days ago Freedom CC welcomed Michelle of Kempton Jones, the creative mind behind Owlies of Ontario and much other goodness, to the roster of the designers represented through the store.
Michelle names all of her Owlies after small towns and cities in Ontario that provoke a memory of sound and cool. They are made from designer, new or upcycled fabrics. Stuffed with polyfil (non allergenic) and made in pet free and smoke free home.

Michelle is of Japanese origin, and owls in Japan are a symbol of good fortune and luck.
The Owlies make great girlfriend gifts, house warming gifts, they are great just propped on a bookshelf or chair/couch. The sophisticated and slightly graphic outline of them make them work for adults as well as kids. Michelle has heard them described as plush art. Karen, Marsya and I are excited about being able to present Michelle's art to our customers and are confident that we will all have much success.

Re-Styled - Part 2

2011-06-23T13:47:00.002-04:00

Part one of the re-styled series introduced you to our project and i shared the before and in progress pictures. In this post, we are reveling to you the lessons we learned as well as Karen's vision for the final proudct.

Lesson learned:
"Always fix everything (ie. wobbles, cracks etc.) BEFORE you paint and put the finishing details on", is what we would have said initially.... but because we were both excited to get started right away, we did just the opposite. The result was a ‘fixed’ crack with some extra distressing that we both consider darling and part of this little guys charm.
This table had a bad crack on the surface, so we decided to take it apart and fix it to make sure it does not fall apart completely in the future. Also, while taking it apart we managed to fix the wobbly leg by using some glue and some mini shams. Re-gluing the table top and using screws made it more secure and stable. Filling in the large crack with wood filler was one option that would have made it look as though the crack was never there, but …. we all have “flaws” and those flaws make us individuals and are special to us. So we left it as is and designed around it.
This is all it took and Bob’s your uncle, so here you have it!
We call him Mini Bob.

Re-Styled - a colab with Koocoo Carrillo

2011-06-21T06:51:00.004-04:00

The adventures of two creatives with different backgrounds, different techniques and totally different styles coming together to re-purpose old unloved goods and make them fabulous and cherished once again.

My Freedom CC buddy and the designer behind KooCoo Carrillo clothing line (Karen) and I are teaming up to share ideas, inspirations and ‘lessons learned’ in this new collaboration series called Re-Styled. What will happen when my colour theory and “let me get my hands dirty” approach mingle with Koocoo’s “I can fix it” mentality and organic drawing style?

First on the chopping block: Half Moon Hall Table. Part 1
We decided to start off with a small project to get our bearings and give us some ‘starting off’ ease. Here are the lovely BEFORE and IN PROCESS pictures of our latest acquisition.
Problems that need fixing: wobbly legs, huge crack on the table top, and very dirty stain.
The post on the finished product will follow in a day or two, Karen is still working on her magic - we can't wait to reveal the final result.

HAPPY

2011-06-17T13:55:00.003-04:00

And how could it not be happy with this color and knobs. This dresser was designed for a baby's room. Painted in BM baby fern and antiqued with a coat of dark varnish, it is nothing short of fabulous.

I heart Instagram

2011-06-14T14:28:00.003-04:00

I honestly must have spent the last little while living under the rock and not knowing that this fabulous tool existed. My friend and Freedom business partner Karen got me totally hooked on it. And who would not love it when every picture you ever take can turn out like it was taken by a pro.

New from Poppy studio...

2011-06-13T09:44:00.003-04:00

...is this refurbished clock. What it took is a bit of paint, a new clock mechanism, some paper, mod podge and golden spray paint for the hands, and of course some patience and oodles of love. And here it is, a little something to make your time tick a bit sweeter.

Stripes - Part 2

2011-06-10T08:14:00.002-04:00

A few weeks in the making, some color tweaks and here it is, all done and ready to be shipped off to the Muskoka where Kelly Fallis of The Remote Stylist is redesigning a cottage that will be put up for viewing and sale in the month of July. "Stripes" will be one of the fixtures in the fun and playful family room. I feel so honored that Kelly and her team considered me for this project. I loved working on this piece so much and know that this won't be the last of this type of finish that I am doing.

New Poppy

2011-06-09T21:26:00.003-04:00

I came across this little treasure on Monday and tomorrow it is already going to a new home. New color and stenciling, something that I didn't experiment enough with, but think may do more of going forward.

Happy Friday

2011-06-03T08:05:00.013-04:00

Flickr

Kelly Oshiro Design

Bloesem

Ohdeedoh

And just in time for the weekend I leave you with these happy and festive images i found on Pinterest.
I am off to Keswick to participate in an eco event - I will be selling rain barrels to the friendly residents of the Ontario's York region.

Stairs

2011-06-01T14:11:00.002-04:00

I recently joined Pinterest and while I am still figuring out how this is supposed to work, I would like to share with you the beautiful photos of staircases that I found there. Typing this I have a clear view of my runner covered stairs, but am thinking that this yellow treatment may be just what I need.

Before and After

2011-05-31T08:07:00.002-04:00

On my recent trip to Aberfoyle I managed to scoop up this cutie and take it home. I wasn't quite sure what its future was going to look like, but then a special project came calling and in collaboration with an interior designer we agreed on this warm pink. So here it is. More on this project in the next few weeks.

In the garden

2011-05-30T14:39:00.003-04:00

I love this time of year as every morning I get to enjoy coffee surrounded by greenery and in complete peace. And one more thing, it only gets better from here, for a while at least.

Impromptu photo shoot at Freedom CC

2011-05-27T14:05:00.002-04:00

It was a beautiful sunny day in Toronto yesterday and the girls decided to bust out our new camera and put it to some good use. I think the pictures turned out stunning. Great work Marsya and Darci.

Stripes

2011-05-25T07:41:00.002-04:00

I had this piece sitting in my basement for a few weeks now and could not decide on the best color for it. I started with green and wasn't 100% happy that this was the best color for it. Instead of deciding to make it work, I stripped it completely and this is the new look I came up with. It is far from being done, but the general direction has been mapped out.

NYC

2011-05-23T16:37:00.003-04:00

I just came back from an amazing weekend in NYC. I have planned this trip with my childhood friend for ages, and it finally happened. Ivana lives in Washingotn DC and we don't get to see each other as often as we would like to, so this trip was special to both of us. We met on Thursday afternoon in front of our hotel at the corner of W 30th Street and 8th Avenue and wondered the streets of NYC for three days. We shared some good food, a couple of delicious drinks, met an old friend for lunch in Brooklyn and laughed a lot.

Blue

2011-05-17T08:24:00.003-04:00

I had this guy for a while but since it is rather hard to photograph because of all the glass I never introduced it to the world, until now that is. I will be adding it to my Etsy shop in a few moments.
Happy Tuesday friends.

Spray Painting and Accessories - Blog post by Lia Fagan

2011-05-13T15:32:00.002-04:00

As the last tidbit of the Restyling 101 Series, Lia Fagan of Mod Nest talks about do's and dont's of spray painting and offers a tutorial on how to make a perfect custom lamp shade.
Hope you have enjoyed the series. Lia will put together an e-book with all the information shared with you this week. You can request it by filling out the form at the bottom of this page. Have a great weekend everyone!

Freehand Painting - tips by Kristen Davis

2011-05-11T11:26:00.002-04:00

Today's post in the Restyling 101 series focuses on freehand painting. Kristen Davis from KFD Designs shares her secrets and discusses tools and techniques of her trade. Enjoy the read, and don't forget to tune in tomorrow for more exciting info.

Custom Upholstery - 5 secret ingredients by Spruce Austin

2011-05-10T07:29:00.002-04:00

Part 2 of the 101 Restyling series hosted by Lia of ModNest is focusing on custom furniture upholstery. In her post lovely Amanda from Spruce Austin outlines 5 important aspects of her trade. To learn more, check Amanda's blog.
Coming up tomorrow: Art of Freehand Painting by Kristen Davis

Furniture Distressing

2011-05-08T20:33:00.008-04:00

About a year and a half ago I decided to trade my well paid advertising job, for, what until then, was just a hobby. For the longest time I have been subscribed to Etsy newsletter and kept reading about people who decided to leave their 9-5 world behind and embrace a completely different lifestyle, and all for the sake of doing something they loved. In the beginning I admired them from afar and thought how I could never share their destiny, but after a while I realized that I really didn't have a lot to lose yet had so much to gain. So I took the plunge and became a self-employed furniture restyler.

As a part of this furniture restyling series that Lia Fagan from Mod Nest put together, my task is to focus on different distressing techniques I apply in my work, but if outside of this scope, there is anything else you would like to know when it comes to furniture painting, I would be happy to share my knowledge with you.
So here it goes….

Distressing is the technique used to give a piece of furniture weathered and worn look. It can't be argued that time in its passing does the best job, but for us with less patience and a desire for quick gratification, there are techniques we can use to attain the look much faster. Below I will discuss four of these techniques.

Distressing using sand paper:
The most discussed distressing technique is the one using sand paper, but there are also other ways of giving furniture that worn look. problem I have encountered with sand paper distressing is that it often leaves deep and unsightly scratch marks and the wear can look very intentional and fake. I use this technique only when I want to weather the edges of the piece (outlines of the drawers, corners, legs). When working with sand paper, you can either use a mechanical sander or do the job manually. I prefer the manual option as it gives me more control. In the end, it really comes down to your personal preference.
If you choose sanding as your technique of choice, make sure that the paint has dried thoroughly (give it a day or so). What can happen if the paint hasn't fully cured is that the sand paper will start pulling on it and larger chunks of paint may peel off. Sand paper comes in different grit designations – the lower the designation the coarser the paper. For most jobs using 120 grit paper will do, but for surfaces that were covered with several coats of paint I would resort to 100 or 80 grit.
For distressing you can use 120 or higher, depending on the look you wish to achieve.

Distressing using steel wool:
Using steel wool in your distressing project will leave a lot softer finish than using sand paper. I usually use a really fine grade (000 or 00) as I don't want to leave any heavy scratch marks in the fresh paint. I find that the best results come if you apply this technique before the paint has had the chance to dry completely and I typically do it as soon as the paint appears to be dry to the touch. The way to go about it is to just rub the surface with the steel wool pad and monitor the results. Make sure that you don't use the steel wool techniques on light colors as it will leave a grey residue that won't be easy to cover. Trust me, I learned this the hard way.

Distressing using turpentine:
I discovered this technique by accident. I was painting a dresser and wanted to finish it off with a coat of dark varnish to add some more depth to the finished product. I dipped the brush too deep into the varnish and too much of the product landed on my drawers. To remove the access varnish I rubbed it with soft cloth soaked in turpentine and after a while, the bottom coat of paint started wearing off leaving very subtle distress marks. This technique leaves best results if the paint hasn’t had the chance to cure completely.You will have to apply some force with rubbing until you start seeing results, but once you start noticing the wear, it will be really easy to manipulate. If you choose to try it out, please make sure that you use gloves and work in a well ventilated area, as the turpentine has a very strong smell.

Distressing using crackling medium:
Using crackling medium as a distressing agent was also one of the accidental discoveries and it will result in the most natural weathered look especially if you are going for a dramatic effect. When working with the crackling medium I like the wood to be either really dark or work with two contrasting colors. The key is preparing the surface well, remove all the dust and free the surface of any kind of residue. Use a foam brush to apply the crackling medium (you can get it in any craft store and some hardware stores (RONA)) and let it dry for about 30-40 minutes. The thicker the coat, the chunkier the finish will be. After the drying time has elapsed, you will be able to apply the top coat of paint. Make sure that you don't overbrush and apply it in one steady stroke. This can be a bit messy, but well worth the effort. Let it sit for a while (10-15 minutes) and brush the surface off with a turpentine soaked rag. The access color will wear away and the spots where the crackling medium was applied will reveal the bottom color.

Whichever of the described techniques you decide to pursue, make sure you give yourself enough time and be patient. Think about the fact that you can always repaint the piece and start from scratch if you don't end up being satisfied with the first attempt. Most importantly, have fun.

Restyling 101: Insider tips from the Pros - Blog series hosted by Mod Nest

2011-05-08T14:36:00.003-04:00

Restyling 101: Insider Tips From The Pros is a blog series initiated by Lia Fagan of ModNest and it will consist of 5 value-packed posts from 5 creative ladies who have each built businesses restyling furnishings & interiors.

We'll each be sharing insider information based on our own area of expertise. You'll get loads of tips, tricks, advice and secrets as well as some pitfalls to avoid.

The series will be running all next week on MoodNest, May 9-13. Each of us will publish one new post, on our own blogs, each day of the week (for a total of 5 posts). Lia will be updating the links in the post schedule as each post goes live. Be sure to check back every day and follow the link to each post as the week continues.

Thank you Lia for initiating this great series, and a big thank you to all the ladies that are making it possible.

Tomorrow's post will be by your's truly and it will focus on furniture distressing techniques.
Enjoy

Freedom Goodness

2011-05-07T19:33:00.002-04:00

A few days ago, a very kind man walked into Freedom Clothing Collective and dropped off two gorgeous frames for our craft projects. Above is one of them turned into a stunning magenta chalkboard. Exclusive to Freedom CC

Before and After

2011-05-05T17:58:00.003-04:00

here is my latest before and after. It was a lot of work, but I am happy with the results. Now it just needs a new home. Hope it finds one soon.

I just felt mega crafty today...

2011-05-03T15:39:00.002-04:00

...and made these clocks for sale at Freedom Clothing Collective.
At first I had some problems with drilling through the plates, but after the third plate I feel like I know what I am doing. Now possibilities are endless.

Green Living Show

2011-04-18T13:43:00.002-04:00

Long three days of the Green Living Show are behind me. It was hard but fun at the same time. Freedom Clothing Collective, that I am a proud part of, had an amazing booth and we are all very happy with the outcome.
Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what the booth looked like. We are all looking forward to the next opportunity to showcase our wares outside of our regular location at 39 Bloor Street West.

New Poppy

2011-04-14T08:10:00.002-04:00

This cutie came into my possession a few days ago, and with the Green Living Show around the corner I wanted to challenge myself and see if I could have it ready for display. I worked hard for the past few days, and here is the result.

New Color - part two

2011-04-14T08:01:00.003-04:00

And here it is, the actual presentation of the new color that i introduced in my last blog. It trully is as vibrant as it looks on the picture. You will be able to see this desk this weekend at the Green Living Show in Toronto at the Direct Energy Center. Setup is today, hope to be able to post some booth setup pics later today.

New Color

2011-03-30T08:02:00.002-04:00

I was a Lowes the other day and could not walk away from the paint color that caught my eye. It is Hibiscus by Valspar. I was looking for an adequate online swatch, but unfortunately it does not seem like its vibrancy can be reproduced on screen.
Instead, I will introduce the piece that is destined to receive the "tropical" makeover.

New Poppy

2011-03-24T09:11:00.003-04:00

This one has been in the making for a while but the time has finally come for this Poppy to see the light of day. I used a completely new technique that I discovered by accident while trying to fix a painting job gone wrong. I really love when this happens. This spicy pieces is now listed in my Etsy shop and I am hoping that it will find a new home some time soon.

Nina's Smile

2011-03-23T07:27:00.002-04:00

Nina's Smile is my Mom's Etsy shop.
As a retired high school teacher in Croatia, my mom had to fill her newly found "free" time with a new set of activities. Besides attending senior's college classes and brushing up on her English and art knowledge skills, she also dedicates her time to an orphaned girl (Nina) with developmental challenges. Under my mother's mentorship, Nina has experienced a life that she would not have been able to otherwise. Among many other things, he has learned to swim and loves ballet and theatre. The love she is giving back has inspired my mom to open this shop where she is selling her home made crafts. Partial proceeds from all sales will go to a bank account set up for Nina's future. Take a minute and check out her store that she lovingly put together.

Paint Experiment

2011-03-09T08:01:00.002-05:00

I had a potential job lined up with a very particular finish request, so before I accepted it I had to make sure that I am able to do it. So early yesterday morning I set out on a little paint experiment quest. And here is the result. I am happy with what I achieved and am very confident that I will have a lot of fun working on the actual piece starting some time next week.

In the Works

2011-03-07T08:23:00.002-05:00

Here is a sneak peek into a piece that I have been working on this past weekend. It is a larger 9 drawer dresser and it will take a while before it is completely finished and ready for reveal. I hope to have a full picture ready for the end of the upcoming weekend. Stay tuned!

New Acquisitions

2011-03-06T10:51:00.002-05:00

After a while I went on a little road trip yesterday in search of new pieces that may require some poppyfication.
Here is what I came home with. A somewhat neglected dining room sideboard that will require just the right amount of Poppy to make it shine again.
The little vanity (available with mirror) could also double as a small desk or entryway table.

Last Friday at Freedom CC

2011-02-15T08:13:00.002-05:00

Karen, Marsya and I were so excited on Friday as we had the opportunity to host exhibition opening for Jack Dylan, a Canadian illustrator from Stratford, Ontario who now lives in Toronto. After studying painting and Sculpture, he began work as a poster artist in the Montreal music community where he gained notoriety for his distinctive work. He now specializes in editorial design and is a frequent contributor to publication such as THE GLOBE & MAIL, TORONTO LIFE, and THE WALRUS.
The works of art will stay on display until March 8th and are available for purchase.

Tasmania - Part 2

2011-02-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

Saturday at Salamanca Market
Besides the beautiful nature that is probably one of Tamsania's best assets, it also has a very alive and thriving arts and crafts community. Every Saturday morning Salamanca Market attracts thousands of locals and visitors who come to enjoy local foods, music and shopping. Salamanca Place, the home to the Market, is lined with caffees and restaurants that offer delicious refreshments after the morning of shopping.
If roads ever happen to take you to Hobart, a Saturday stay and visit to the market is an absolute must.

Tasmania - Part 1

2011-01-26T00:42:00.002-05:00

I was away last week in Tasmania. Eight days were enough to tour the island, explore the wilderness and enjoy some down time in Hobart. The island is so quite but powerfully beautiful, a great place to relax and forget about the daily routine,
Here is a selection of photos. Part 2 will focus on Salamanca market.

My new feathers

2011-01-13T18:16:00.002-05:00

A few days ago I walked into, what may be my favorite store in Melbourne, Dinosaur Designs, and spotted this beautiful necklace. My mom, dad and bfriend (Marc) were there and witnessed me oohing and aahing over it. I was determined not to buy it that afternoon, but to ponder it over and go back at the end of my trip. But yesterday afternoon, as i was busy hanging out with my mom, Marc drove back to the city. In the evening as we sat down to have dinner, i noticed a familiar bag with beautiful packaging hanging off the back of my chair. And here it is, one of the most beautiful pieces of Australia (at least to my eye) will be coming home with me, thanks to Marc and my dear parents. Love you guys.

Brunswick Street - part 1

2011-01-10T16:13:00.003-05:00

Brunswick street is located in Melbourne's neighborhood of Fitzroy.It's the best selection of small cafes serving tasty food, alternative fashions and organic vegetable shops in Melbourne. People living in the area have a great appreciation for art and relaxed lifestyle. The best thing about this neighborhood is that it is unpretentious, tolerant and accommodating of all types of people. More pictures of this neighborhood to follow.

Veg Out in Melbourne

2011-01-09T01:28:00.002-05:00

Veg Out is an organic, chemical free garden run by volunteers. Formerly a lawn bowling green, the land has been permanently reserved for public use since 1881. They offer around 140 plots, where members, friends, families and community groups enjoy getting their hands into the soil. Many have little or no gardening experience, but they soon learn as advice, seedlings and friendships are readily shared.

Unlike most community gardens in Melbourne, Veg Out lacks rigid barriers between common land and each plot; the paths curve and meander; flowers, vegetables and artworks have equal standing; the rabbits, chickens, budgies and quails add yet another dimension; and the friendships that have sprung up between gardeners, artists and visitors make the gardens an oasis of calm in one of Melbourne's busiest tourist precincts.

My adventure starts today

2011-01-05T12:46:00.002-05:00

I generally don't make new year's resolution, but one that I plan on sticking to is updating this blog on a more regular basis. I will refrain from posting only the pictures of my work and will try to share with you images and things that inspire me.
Is there a better way to start but to take you on an adventure with me via this mini diary of my upcoming trip to Australia. While there my base will be my sister's home in the beautiful city of Melbourne and from there on I will see where the roads will take me.
Till later mates!

Before and After

2011-01-03T18:45:00.002-05:00

This number was my last piece in 2010 and I could not have imagined a nicer piece to work on. This was a custom job for a very sweet couple and I hope they are enjoying it today as much as I enjoyed working on it.

Poppies at the Seasons Christmas Show

2010-11-24T08:44:00.002-05:00

This past weekend was so much fun at the Seasons Christmas Show. Freedom CC booth was so lively and it attracted tons of visitors. Here are a few pics of the booth with Poppies surrounded by all kinds of goodness.

Freedom CC at the Seasons Christmas Show

2010-11-10T10:05:00.002-05:00

Hey guys,
I never thought I would be getting into Christmas spirit so early on in the season, but I am, thanks to being a part of Freedom CC.
In just over a week we will be participating at the 6th annual Seasons Christmas Show at the International Centre in Mississauga (November 19-21).
If you feel like taking care of your Holiday shopping early, come by and visit over 200 booths selling marvelous gifts, and please, don't miss booth #742 and get an instantaneous 10% off by just mentioning that you read about it at the Poppyseed blog.
Hope to see you there!

White hutch

2010-10-27T08:28:00.002-04:00

This beauty came into my life as I was helping a friend pick up a desk that he purchased and wanted to have repainted. She really did not look all that promising, but I saw past her tired exterior and took her home. A few coats of paint, lovely porcelain knobs and fabulous wallpaper interior have turned her into a beauty she is today. Hope you like it as much as I do. She is now listed and available for purchase in my Etsy shop.

New backdrop for Poppies

2010-10-22T08:15:00.002-04:00

For the past year I have been struggling with finding a backdrop for photographing my pieces and now I think my problem may be solved. At one of my trips to a local antique market I found an old barn door, all nicely weathered and worn. And then the next day I stopped by a local Restore store, just in time as they were getting rid of some old doors that are unfit for construction. For a few bucks for their donation jar, I walked out with two pieces that I stripped of some old paint and here they are. I am hoping to have my next piece in front of them before the end of the weekend. Stay tuned friends.

New Poppy

2010-10-13T07:42:00.002-04:00

I purchased this piece at the beginning of the summer and only now did it get the chance to see the light of day.
This is the first time I have used the driftwood finish and I like it.
This afternoon this beauty will be heading out to Periwinkle on Eglinton (Avenue) in Toronto.

One piece - Two looks

2010-10-12T07:04:00.002-04:00

Lia Fagan from Modnest approached me two weeks ago and asked if I would be interested to participate in this project. The idea behind is to find active listings on Kijiji and Craislist and offer two unique makeover suggestions for one piece at a time hoping that it will inspire owners and bargain hunters in offering those pieces a new chance at life.
Click here to check out what each one of us came up with.
Cheers

Poppies at the Toronto Clothing Show

2010-10-06T10:35:00.003-04:00

Two weekends ago Freedom Clothing Collective (that I have been a proud member of for the past few months) participated at the 2010 Fall Clothing Show in Toronto. We gathered some amazing consignors and took the store outside of its four walls at 939 Bloor Street West. Along came a few Poppies, two of which made their debut that weekend. We are still waiting for the judges to decide but are hoping that the "Best looking booth" award may be ours.

In Progress

2010-09-20T15:38:00.002-04:00

Not quite there yet, but soon. This lovely will make her debut at the Clothing Show this weekend where she will be used as a display surface at the Freedom Clothing Collective booth (#535). If you are in Toronto, come see us at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place. We will be there from Firday- Sunday.

Newest Poppy

2010-09-14T08:20:00.002-04:00

Hello friends, a new poppy just got posted on Etsy. This one really does not lack in fun. The color is green with golden yellow undertones and just right amount of distressing offers depth and that vintage charm. Hope you like!

S's Desk and Chair - before and after

2010-09-14T07:16:00.002-04:00

My new client S had this little old table and rickety chair that needed some love. A bit of glue and several coats of paint have transformed these two old, tired looking pieces into something lovely that S will enjoy for a long time to come. The knobs were picked by S herself and they could not be a better match.

N's bench and cabinet before and afer

2010-09-12T19:09:00.002-04:00

Here are the heros from few posts below in all their glory.
My next post will be a before and after on a small desk that I am just about to finish for my client S.

Small table - before and after

2010-09-10T10:08:00.003-04:00

When in doubt, I paint things turquoise. One can never go wrong with that color.
I sourced this cutie a few days ago, had some leftover paint and some spare time and here is the finished product.
Now off to take photos of finished goodies from a few days ago. Cheers!

Work in progress

2010-09-07T08:08:00.004-04:00

Here are a few photos of the two pieces I am working on now. Both are for my client N. I expect to have them completely finished and ready for reveal by the end of the week. Then off to a new project, a shabby chic desk for S.

Sneak preview

2010-09-02T17:55:00.002-04:00

Here is quick little shot of a piece that I have been working on for what seems to be an eternity.
I still need to finish and attach the doors and add glass panels, and that's about it, but this is what she looks like now.

C's dresser - before and after

2010-09-01T08:17:00.003-04:00

Here is the dresser I just finished for my sweet client C. She was originally interested in a different piece, but by the time she was ready to purchase it had already found it's new home. It didn't take long for me to find a suitable replacement and together with C's input this is what I came up with.

Newest Poppy

2010-08-31T16:34:00.002-04:00

This Summer has been busy, with so many projects and activities that I am only now catching up on painting. The hutch from a few posts down is still undergoing transformation, but from what I see so far it looks very promising
In the meantime, here is the piece that I completed yesterday and promptly added to Etsy.
I also finished a few custom projects this past week and before and afters will follow later this week.

Dandelion Daydreamer

2010-08-09T14:59:00.002-04:00

Please check out this lovely blog managed by and Irish girl living in the South of France. This morning the bright French sun inspired her to dedicate the post to all things yellow, and it just happened so that my yellow dresser made the cut. Thank you tons Sorcha.

This is what I have been up to

2010-08-06T08:56:00.004-04:00

Oh my, I just noticed that my last post was over a month a go. Where did the time go?
In the past few months I have been actively involved with Freedom Clothing Collective as one of the full time members. One of my roles in the team, besides working at the store and helping make it look fantastic, is to scout for new artists and artisans and offer them representation at our store. All these activities have put a bit of a break on my own creative activities, but that will now have the change. The hutch from my last post is going into production today and it may take a few days before I will be able to reveal it.
The pictures above are just some of the items that have landed at Freedom CC in the past couple of weeks. Hope you like ;)

Here is what's coming

2010-07-01T10:00:00.003-04:00

Happy Canada Day everyone, or if you are South of the border, I hope your preparations for the Independence Day are nothing short of glorious.
Here is a little something I stumbled upon last week. It doesn't look like much in its current state but it will once I am done with it. At this point I am thinking black with beautiful papered back wall, but that may change. Who knows. Stay tuned for a reveal one of this days.

Pretty in Chartreuse

2010-06-24T08:06:00.002-04:00

Believe it or not, I got the inspiration for this color while on a camping trip this past weekend when someone took out curry spiced hummus dip, strange no? But true.
I paired it up with some pink knobs and is ready to be shipped to someone's lovely home. This beauty can be found in my Etsy store.

Pink Marvel

2010-06-21T07:19:00.004-04:00

And here is my newest pink marvel. Where most would paint it white I opted out for the bright fuchsia pink. Unfortunately my camera can not catch the depth of the color, but I guarantee that it is absolutely out of this world. Drawers are lined with leftover wallpaper so not all of them are the same. A piece like this can definitely live with a touch of quirkiness on the inside. It is now available on my Etsy store page.

Newest Poppy

2010-06-16T08:01:00.003-04:00

And finally, here it is, the piece I started working on a few weeks ago is finished. It was a bit of a roller-coster ride to get it done, but in the end it all worked out. It is now available for purchase in my Etsy store. If the rain stops I am hoping to be able to finish another piece today and I am super excited about this one.

Where the wild things are

2010-06-15T11:12:00.002-04:00

...judging by the pictures, right in my back yard.
I went on a search for my next project and this thing popped right into my life. I just couldn't leave it behind and now I have to figure out what to do with it. It may start appearing as a prop in my furniture shots. Stay tuned and check for yourselves.