Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Mooching Creativity

I didn't have anything profound to say or show today, so I thought I would direct you to someone that did.









Has there ever been a better name for a blog??




She shows a quick, simple way to make a colorful cover for your cell phone (not that I would ever get around to it, but it seems like a cute idea if you've got the time.)






Sunday, August 29, 2010

Nashville Flea Market #2

It was another flea market weekend. My 2nd. I have to say, as the weather cools, it seems to be more fun. Last month it fell on the hottest weekend of the year. It was my first FM vendor experience, and my first time to cry from heat.
So, this month, my friend Cindy went with me. If she ever gets her blog up, I'll link to her. 'Till then, she's my mystery friend because I have no pictures of her. Cindy can handle the heat, likes cool old stuff like I do, and never wants anyone to cry alone. She also loves some good people watching - and there's no better place for that than the flea market.




I took more large furniture this time, and i sold it all!!





Well, all but this twin size red bed.
Cindy made these necklaces from chandelier prisms. Very cool.



Random little metal candle holder with scallopped edges. ( I really don't think "scallopped" is spelled right...)





If you've read my blog before, what do you notice about this picture????
The answer is here.



I love this vintage lamps. I pulled the one with the little angels aside - Lilly loves it.
Humpty found a new home.



I usually monogram these ribbon trimmed shades in the background - but I don't monogram at the FM.




Blue frame. I've got some bigger versions of this for my open house and CV.





What little girl doesn't need a pink jewelry box?
Evidently my little girl. I paint them all the time, and she has a white one with a broken lid.



There must be something offensive about this big polka dot frame. Everybody looks at it, but I brought it home again.
I know it's not the price - I had it cheap. It's gonna get a total makeover.


Pink side table/nightstand with the ghost of my finger in the corner.





My favorite thing this weekend was this table and chair set. I love the base of this table, and the shape of the chairs. A cute, little pregnant girl bought it. My neighbor will be sad, she was in love.




This blue headboard was a king size. It was the same robin's egg blue from my last post, but without the antique glaze.



It was U-G-L-Y when I bought it.



I think I could have sold 10 of them.



Now, on to the human interest portion of my post.
The flea critters.
Let me preface this by saying my "neighbors" were all very nice. Interesting, but very nice.
The couple next to us, would occasionally put a big tarp over their van, start the engine, and get inside for a while.
I have no idea what they were doing. I tried not to think about it when the man emerged from the van looking disheveled and dazed. Cindy had some ideas...




This guy, also one of God's children, had a most unusual mullet.
It had stripes, and lots of volume.

I was really disappointed in how the next picture turned out. You can't see the rope this man had tied to his daughter.
I understand toddlers and child leashes. I even linked up to a funny post about them here.
This girl was not a toddler, and he used a rope.
With a huge knot.
He tied it to his belt loop.
The little girl kapt getting frustrated. and dropping back behind him. He just kept yanking on the rope.
Cindy, who is also the director at my kids' preschool, was mortified, and sent me running after them for a picture.



That's all I've got. Now, back to sewing Christmas stockings...









Monday, August 23, 2010

Black and Blue

I started this blog post last Sunday night.
It's Saturday.

Last week I finished some furniture for a fabulous lake house. The homeowner is the client of a designer I love to work with. I love her style, and , lucky for me, she likes painted furniture.

She gave me a couple of inspiration photos/fabrics. The one below is from the master bedroom, for 2 pieces in blue.




Here's a few shots of the furniture before.




I'll admit, part of the reason this turned out so well is because the furniture had great lines, and was in good shape to begin with. They were pieces from the homeowners family.




The markings on the furniture said 1958.




I painted the long dresser a distressed black, for a guest room.





Poor photography, I know.

I painted the hardware black as well, and used an umber glaze.

I rubbed a coat of wax over the entire piece for durability.



For the night stand and tall dresser, I painted the hardware a creamy color.




Thank you United States Postal Service for the free box I used to protect my desk.

If you work for the United States Postal Service, I promise I don't make a habit of it.





I used a robin's egg blue paint for these, topped with a grayed down tobacco glaze.




The hardware was lovingly "beaten up".





The shower curtain in the master bath had a simple bird print, so I pulled it out for the side table.




I really love this paint/glaze combination.





This picture is to show the frame.

Not hot young men loading said frame.

I promise.



My husband, (also hot and young ) made the frame for the mirror. We used reclaimed molding, and I added the red finish. This will hang over the long, black dresser.




I'm loading my August Flea Market photos. I'm hoping it won't take me a week....

I saw some serious good flea market critters, and snagged a couple of photos on the sly. I'll share soon.

P.S. Don't forget to click on my "like" button if you are on facebook..I want to get enough folks to do some sales and giveaways. Pleeeez.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

New Facebook Link

I've added a new little gadget to my blog ...



If you are a Facebook user, click the like button to the right.





I started a Littlebits Designs Facebook page, and I will run specials that are first come, first serve, and exclusive to Facebook followers.



Don't worry - I don't farm, work for the mafia, or play bejeweled.

If you don't Facebook - you 're probably confused by that.

If you do FB, you know what I'm talkin' about....




David Hasselhoff. Knight Rider. Am I showing my age??



No, I didn't watch Happy Days in prime time. But I loved me some Fonzie in the reruns.


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Flea Market 101

I always shop at the flea market. I had never sold anything at the flea market.
A crowded workroom and garage encouraged me to give it a try. (Well, that and getting a lump sum tuition statement for my boys' schoolyear that made me want to drink bleach).

Here's a little taste of what I took - and, happily, didn't bring home.

Table and 2 chairs with pink birdies.


Random signs.



Memo board.



Stepstool.



Pink distressed frame with 3 openings.



This frame is much bigger than it looks in the picture. I actually did bring this one back home.



8 x 10 frame sitting on a side table I forgot to photograph.



A box and a bowl.




More signs. These suckers sold out quick. Who knew? I'll be making more.
Suggestions for witty phrases are always welcome...



Big memo board.




A teacher bought this for her classroom.



Vintage baby bed. I made some pink toile baby bedding to go with it.





Love my boys...



Robin's egg blue frame with teeny tiny opening.




Random stuff. This humpty dumpty lamp I love. It's from the 60's, and I love it's new color scheme.
One morning, after making the mistake of leaving humpty exposed on my desk, I awoke to find him with only one arm. I interrogated my kids as to where his arm went.
Lilly looked the most guilty.
I asked her very nicely where she put "the arm"?
She said "the big trashcan".
That's not really what I wanted to hear. Knowing the trash had been taken out, Todd and I spent a very romantic 20 minutes going through the garbage.
95 degree heat = super duper stinky garbage.
We didn't find it.



Pressed tin framed mirror, a pink wicker rocker (with pillows to match the cradle).



After sitting outside on the hottest weekend of the year( really), I came away with an education in the different species of flea market shoppers.
Some, like myself, just want some cool, old stuff.
Some want serious antiques.
Some want tube socks and out of date Avon.
Some just want to walk their dogs and shop simultaneously.
Some want to show off their tatoos, and tell you all about them.
And, some just seem like they might want some crack, a strong antibiotic, or maybe a defense attorney.
In the end, I sold pretty much everything. I think I might go back.

I found Humpty's arm. It was no where near the trashcan.