The White Weathered Barn

The NEST

2012-01-23T17:13:00.000-08:00

Whether you choose to decorate with a real nest or a crafted one, there is something about the nest that makes us feel warm & fuzzy. That is why it is used in so many decorating schemes, table settings, weddings, floral arrangements & gifts.

I have been in love with nests for many years...and birds, eggs, feathers and anything else with an aviary tie. I am looking foward this Spring to display my creative outlets that celebrate the nest. I feature bird-like art work & decor all year long, but there is nothing like the approaching Spring season to kick my obsession into high gear. I am also looking forward to featuring the works of other artisans as it applies to this theme. Nests never go out of style, nor do any works involving nature for that matter. I am lucky to have my own shop so that I can display my passion for nature for my own enjoyment as well as my customers.

Chirpity-chirp-chirp.

;)

Focus Focus Focus

2012-01-22T15:31:00.000-08:00

Okay, so yes I tend to be all over the place...my head is always filled with new ideas, inspiration and let's face it a little bit o' jibba jabba. So, let me just add to that internal list of resolutions I roughly sketched in my head that I will try to keep my blog focussed on inspirational design ideas & creativity all within The White Weathered Barn style.

So the number one thing that inspires me are nests!

They are stunning examples of natural architecture & heartwarming examples of the the amount of work that goes into preparing a home for youngin's.

Love Love Love.

TOXIC Scrub!

2011-12-27T14:45:00.000-08:00

Okay I was tempted to call this blog post "Are you fudging kidding me?" but let's just leave it simple. I have been using this product since I was a teenager! But let's have a look-see at its ingredients:

Water (Aqua), Juglans Mandschurica Shell Powder (Walnut), Glyceryl Stearate SE, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Zea Mays (Corn) Kernel Meal (Corn), Cetearyl Alcohol, Linoleamide DEA, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Lanolin Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil (Apricot), Sambucus Nigra (Elderberry) Flower Extract, Primula Veris Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract (Sunflower), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract (Matricaria), Ceteareth 20, Polysorbate 60, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance (Parfum) (Parfum), Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891)

so let's see what we got here??

Juglans Mandschurica Shell Powder : Walnut Powder
Glyceryl Stearate SE: a vegetable based emulsifier (keeps ingredients from separating)
Propylene Glycol: a cosmetic form of mineral oil found in automatic brake and hydraulic fluid and industrial antifreeze. In the skin and hair, propylene glycol works as a humescent, which causes retention of moisture content of skin or cosmetic products by preventing the escape of moisture or water. The Material Safety Data Sheet warns users to avoid skin contact with propylene glycol as this strong skin irritant can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: a foaming agent known to cause skin/eye irritation
Zea Mays Kernel Meal: (Corn Meal)
Cetearyl Alcohol: a plant based fatty acid used as an emulsion stabilizer & foam booster. It provides an emollient quality to the skin.
Linoleamide DEA: used as a foam booster & water thickener derived from linoleic acid. Studies have warned to avoid any products that contain DEA as it has been linked to cancer.
Glyceryl Stearate: a wax-like solid used to retain moisture.
PEG 100 Stearate: used as an emollient, an emulsifier and a moisturizer. It is a known irritant of eyes, skin and respiratory systems.
Lanolin Oil: isolated from sheep wool this oil is a natural skin protectant.
Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil: Apricot Oil
Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract: Elderberry
Primula Veris Extract: Primrose
Helianthus Annuus Extract: Sunflower
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract: Matricaria/Chamomille
Ceteareth 20: allows other ingredients to dissolve & alters skin structure allowing chemicals to penetrate deeper into the skin.
Polysorbate 60: an emulsion stabilizer & can cause detrimental reproductive effects, organ toxicity and cancer in high doses
Triethanolamine: or TEA is a synthetic emulsion stabilizer & skin surfactant (foaming ability), noted to irritate/damage eyes & skin, linked to carcinogens, tumours & cancer.
Carbomer: thickening agent & emulsion stabilizer. Noted eye irritant.
Methylparaben: a synthetic preservative & noted endocrine disrupter with connections to breast cancer, eye damage & male infertility.
Ethylparaben: a synthetic preservative & noted endocrine disrupter with connections to increased cell division in breast cancer patients, early puberty & male infertility.
Phenoxyethanol: a preservative & this is what the FDA says about it: "Phenoxyethanol is a preservative that is primarily used in cosmetics and medications. It also can depress the central nervous system and may cause vomiting and diarrhea". The FDA, which allows everything & anything has something to say about it?? STAY AWAY!!
Methylchloroisothiazolinone: synthetic preservative that may be toxic to your skin & immune system. Linked to organ toxicity & may be carcinogenic. Prohibited in many countries but widely used in the US (well of course it is). STAY AWAY!!
Methylisothiazolinone: a very strong synthetic preservative & known neurotoxin. May affect a developing central nervous system. Levels restricted in Europe, no regulation in US.
Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891): used as an opaque pigment. Currently under research as a possible carcinogen that causes respiratory/lung damage.

Lovely isn't it???
So..Gwennie (Beyond the Picket Fence) & I are working on introducing an all natural facial scrub into the range of products featured at the the shop. Beyond The Picket Fence creates small batches of product so they are always fresh & recommended to use within 1 year. Hence why you won't find chemical preservatives. Big companies use all those toxic preservatives for years of shelf-life. And as far as all those chemical emulsifier stabilizers??...pulleeze, if any separation ocurrs between oils & creams all you gotta do is shake the jar! Really? It's as simple as that FDA?? oh boy.

Our new facial scrubs will be packed with great grains, herbs & essential oils. Can't wait!!!

Stay Tuned!!

TOXIC Mouthwash!

2011-12-27T07:05:00.000-08:00

Active Ingredient: Sodium fluoride 0.02%
Inactive Ingredients: water, sorbitol solution, alcohol (21.6%), hydrogen peroxide, flavors, poloxamer 407, saccharin sodium, phosphoric acid, dibasic sodium phosphate, sodium lauryl sulfate, sucralose.

Sorbitol Solution: a hyperosmotic laxative
Alcohol: 21.6%?? eek.
Poloxamer 407: an additive necessary to allow the solubility of mint oils in water
Saccharin Sodium: (SIDE EFFECTS)
Phosphoric Acid: a chemical known to remove rust! In soda it causes tooth enamel erosion!
Dibasic Sodium Phosphate: sodium salts of phosphoric acid
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: a foaming agent known to cause skin/eye irritation
Sucralose: a synthetic sweetener made by adding chlorine to sugar

Best Homemade Mouthwash Recipes

1: Water, rock salt, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and mint juice (mint leaves juice concentrate).
2: Water, ground oregano leaves, rock salt
3: Neem oil & warm water. You can also replace neem oil with clove or olive oil
4: Green tea, licorice, echinacea and tea tree can also make the best mouthwashes.
5: Sesame seed oil is also used as a natural mouthwash with warm water

You can also explore your local health market for alternatives...so guess where I am headed??
THE MARKET, Greenport

TOXIC Toothpaste

2011-12-27T05:16:00.000-08:00

NOTHING TO SMILE ABOUT!

Continuing with my goal for healthier living..this may be the most eye opening or perhaps I should say mouth dropping information I have seen!!! I have been using this product for years...oh boy.

Active Ingredients: Sodium Fluoride (0.24%) (Anticavity Toothpaste)
Inactive Ingredients: Sorbitol, Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate), Water, Hydrated Silica, Glycerin, Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate, Flavor, Sodium Saccharin, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Titanium Dioxide

Okay, breaking this down now...

Sodium Fluoride: The number one active ingredient in almost all toothpastes!
(SCARY FACTS) (MORE SCARY FACTS) WTFudge?
Sorbitol: a sugar alcohol whose main use is as a laxative.
Baking Soda: Sodium Bicarbonate used as a mild cleanser & whitener
Water
Hydrated Silica: used as an abrasive, noted to breakdown tooth enamel
Glycerin: used to make paste creamy & to sweeten
Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate: removes calcium and magnesium from the saliva to prevent them from calcifying on teeth.
Flavor: ?
Sodium Saccharin: (SIDE EFFECTS)
Cellulose Gum: used as a thickening agent
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate: a synthetic surfactant (foaming agent) used as a detergent in car washes, as garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers & 90% of personal care products.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: a foaming agent known to cause skin/eye irritation
Titanium Dioxide: used as an opaque pigment. Currently under research as a possible carcinogen that causes respiratory/lung damage.

This is RIDEEKULOUS!!!

So today's alternative?? Baking Soda & Peroxide, an old fashioned & might I add extremely cost effective cleansing solution. I am however looking into other alternatives to flouride-free all natural toothpastes. Tom's of Maine & Burt's Bees look promising!

Toxic Bath: BOO!

2011-12-26T14:54:00.000-08:00

Well a red flag should go up when you can't even pronounce an ingredient in your bath & body products, much less two thirds of them. So here is a little self education on this morning's daily routine:
St. Ives Collagen & Elastin Shower Gel:
Ingredients:
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glycol Stearate, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sodium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Citric Acid, Polyquaternium-7, PPG-2 Methyl Ether, Phenethyl Alcohol, Methylisothiazolinone, Fragrance.

Really?? Methyl-what? Poly-who? Sulphate-say what?
So I am going to break this down...

Water: Ah yes water, well thank goodness we can recognize that one.
Sodium Laureth Sulphate: an inexpensive foaming agent & known skin/eye irritant.
Cocamidopropyl Betaine: a synthetic foaming/lathering agent & known skin irritant.
Glycerin: Okay so we can pronounce this one: it attracts moisture to the skin therfore making it soft.
Glycol Stearate: Used to "pearlize" the liquid.
Hydrolyzed Elastin: for skin moisturization & conditioning. Can be extracted from plant or animal.
Hydrolyzed Collagen: increases skin's firmness & elasticity (hooray!) however like gelatin, it is made by extracting the substance from by-products of beef, pork, and fish production, including the skin, bones, and connective tissue. (Boo! and totally gross I imagine.)
Sodium Chloride: NaCL, do we remember this from science class? It's Salt! and the only reason I can find to why it is present in cosmetic products other than making it taste good (heehee, just kidding) is to thicken the water content of the product.
Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride: a chemical derived from guar gum for its conditioning & thickening properties.
Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose: a plant based thickening agent & foam stabilizer.
Citric Acid: acts as a natural preservative created through a fruit fermentation process.
Polyquaternium-7: known for its antistatic properties, used mostly in hair products for creating a film or sheen.
PPG-2 Methyl Ether: used to dissolve other substances
Phenethyl Alcohol: a natural ocurring rose-like fragrance
Methylisothiazolinone: a synthetically made preservative WARNING: A known neurotoxin easily absorbed into the skin that can cause damage to the nervous system. Possible interference with the body's estrogen receptors.
Fragrance: There are no FDA regulations for companies to list the ingredients that make up their fragrance.

SOoooooooooooo, that is just one of the products used today. I am interested in finding out what else I bombarded my system with today. uh-oh

Solution to this problem?? All natural artisinal soap currently available in my shop created by Gwen Neucall of Beyond The Picket Fence.
Ingredients?: Distilled water, Sodium Cocoate (coconut oil), Sodium Palmate (palm oil), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Lavandula Officinalis (essential lavender oil).
Done!!!

Eau Naturale!!

2011-12-26T10:23:00.000-08:00

These days there is an increased awareness of what we put in our bodies when it comes to food choices and how the use of pesticides & preservatives can negativity affect our health. However, there is less focus on the kinds of products that we put on our bodies. The skin's main functions are to protect our bodies from harmful pathogens, regulate body temperature & prevent water loss. It also acts as a gateway absorbing vitamins & excreting toxins as well as the reverse.

Would you knowingly ingest a plateful of harmful chemicals & contaminates? Probably not if you knew what you were eating. So you probably wouldn't want to purposely spread similar properties all over the largest organ of your body, knowing it will be absorbed??? Ironically those products designed to improve the condition of our skin are made up of the very toxins & chemicals that damage our bodies.

What's wrong with this picture??? Well we all have the ability to inform ourselves on the dangers of such ingredients & healthier alternatives. This year one of my personal goals is infuse healthier choices into my life for my body/mind/spirit as well as my home.

Beyond The Picket Fence

2011-11-18T13:10:00.000-08:00

Meet artisan Gwen Neucall, owner of Beyond the Picket Fence all natural bath & body products. I "virtually" met Gwen while recruiting her for a Holiday Bazaar I was planning. While we never ended up meeting face to face, we have remained online friends for a few years now. A gal after my own heart, Gwen is all about pure & natural ingredients, even scouting some of those ingredients from local farmer's markets. LOVE THAT!!! Her products are blended with some of the purest essential oils used in natural bath & body products: Lavender (my fav), Palmarosa, Sweet Orange, Rosemary & Clary Sage to name a few.

I am impartial to The Working Woman's line of products. While you will certainly become addicted to all of her products, it is the Working Woman's line that speaks to me. After all, a gal who sews, paints, crafts & gets a little crazy with power tools needs the extra boost from the hand & body cream. Then again, the lavender soap is divine, as are the Twisted Lavender & Sweet Citrus bath & body oils. Anywho...you can see for yourself as I have featured a small sampling of her indulgences here at the shop.

And YET, just when you thought she couldn't develop her skin care line any further, she busts out with an all natural laundry soap & dryer ball line!!!

Even more new scents!!

2011-11-10T19:54:00.000-08:00

These 2 new scents are going right into our main line. I am not making this easy for you soy candle fans to have just one favorite. These make the perfect gifts all year long, even if that gift is for yourself! ;)

Sweet Olive is a culturally complex aroma of tart Japanese grapefruit, Fresh Osmanthus, and dew-covered watercress; followed by middle notes of rose, jasmine, and cassis while resting on a dry down of fresh amber and myrrh.

Sun Ripened Avocado fragrance is a rich creamy blend of fresh avocado with orchard fruits & berries combined with bountiful garden florals of honeysuckle, lilies, gardenias ; grounded with the earthy, woody floralcy of violets and sweet balsam.

Wedding Vow Magnets

2011-11-10T18:13:00.000-08:00

Another creative gift not just for those brides to be or newly-weds. Sometimes couples could use a little reminder of these desciptive words to celebrate their relationship. This business card sized tin comes with 9 magnets: Love, Honor, Adore, Kindness, Patience, Loyalty, Respect, Devotion & Cherish. Each magnet is made from a 1" glass bead..those used in floral vases. Custom words are available. Just drop me a line!

Beach Pebble Jewelry

2011-11-10T17:47:00.000-08:00

The North Fork has such beautiful beaches both on the shores of the Sound as well as the Bay. The bay side is where I find oodles of oyster, whelk & scallop shells, but the sound side has the most lovely pebbles. Ranging in sizes from grains of sand, to jelly beans, to nuggets, to new potatoes, to baked potatoes..(uh someone must be hungry)..to gigantic boulders. Anywho..for over a year I have wanted to learn how to bead around a component, but never took the time to learn, especially when I dislike reading instructions. Typically a cabachon gemstone is used as a centerpiece, but that can get expensive, especially when I am trying to teach myself how to construct these types of pendants. So while scouring for driftwood last week (Sound side) I started to look at the plethera of pebbles differently. Long story short, I collected as many perfected round & oval stones to try my hand at this beading technique.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOO, a stitch here a stitch there & voila!! I am so excited to be making these. I have so many seed beads and now I have a new outlet for collecting & beading! Yay me...and yay you too since you get to wear them when I finally cord them. Fun Fun Fun!

Life is good. ;)

Soy Candles: Update

2011-11-07T10:58:00.000-08:00

There is something to be said for sticking to your guns! I have always been a fan of the herbal, fruit & floral scents whether it come in the form of bath & body products or home fragrances. So when I decided to make some seasonal scents, I let my stomache do the talking. A stomache that was apparently deprived of cookies, cake & pastry! This is why we like to do a test run of new scents to see how well they are received. The result of our Pumpkin, Almond Rum & Walnut Maple Fudge was proven in how many people wanted to eat it rather than burn it.

So I have gone back to the drawing board & will be introducing "my" kind of fragrances.

Soooo, I have just put a test run of the following candles on the shelves:
White Gardenia...Guava Fig...Lemongrass Kiwi Cassis.

The White Gardenia is a classic soft floral. We have received a few requests for this fragrance so we whipped up a small batch. It is mild, not perfumey & really smells exactly like a fresh picked gardenia.

The Guava Fig is very interesting! It begins with top notes of Fuji apple slices, French cassis, and Kaffir lime leaves; followed by middle notes of Anjou pear, Rio red grapefruit, and sweet Valencia; sitting on bottom notes of Mediterranean fig, guava nectar, and Tahitian passion fruit. It is sweet & tart, but sophisticated. We'll see what y'all think.

The Lemongrass Kiwi Cassis is my new favorite & will definitely be put into our main line! It's a refreshing and uplifting fragrance that begins with top notes of fresh lemon pulp, orange rinds and tropical kiwi; middle notes of eucalyptus, cassis, green tea, and bamboo; well-rounded with base notes of cedarwood and vanilla.

I know you will love this one as much as I do...in a word, it's RidEEKulous!!!

Hand Painted Console Table

2011-11-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

I picked up this little gem from one of my favorite resources in Greenport. Honestly it was beautiful as is, but of course I needed to transform it to work with my little white weathered boutique. And so began the transformation. I knew I wanted to make this piece look like a European aged fresco. Off I went to White's Hardware in town to get some good ol' Benjamin Moore Paint. Beach Glass & Winterwood. My techinique is actually taken from an old water color class in highschool. The "dry brush scumble"...my favorite. Basically you barely dip your brush in the paint & wipe off any excess. Then you lightly drag the brush

across the surface...almost like you a buffing on the color. I "dry brush" painted the piece in Beach Glass & then literally "slapped" on some Winterwood in random areas. The less you try to paint, the better the application.

After the Beach Glass & Winterwood paint layers were applied, the console looked like a faux finished cloudy sky. A little too much color for the weathered gal. And then my signature technique which is to apply Minwax Stain in Ebony to "gray it down". The result is a richer aged patina that looks old world instead of painted. I chose these colors to go with my seaside decor, but you could do a combination of many other colors depending on your decor. Enjoy!

Oyster Shell Mirror

2011-11-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

While shell encrusted home decor is not a new concept, this was the first time I have had such a vast array of seashells at my finger tips. There is a small little beach on the bay here in Greenport that is a treasure trove for oyster shells. In mid-summer, you couldn't take one step without stepping on an oyster shell. So I started to squirrel them away in hopes to do something creative with them. So one day while rummaging through a thrift store I found an ordinary mirror. It was the perfect size for my first trial. (Meanwhile, may I interject for a moment to mention that this was my first & last project of this kind *). As I digress...

First I painted the mirror white & then loaded my caulking gun with some "liquid nails". Not only does "liquid nails" provide the strongest adhesive for this project but it is beige in color & blends in wonderfully with the shells so it doesn't look like exposed glue. Keep in mind that while your original mirror may weigh roughly 10-15 pounds, the more shells you add, the heavier the end result.

And away we go... First I randomly adhered the oyster shells around the edges of the mirror. There were definitely going to be gaps in between the shells so one by one I glued a whole mess of teeny shells (from another beach excursion) into those spaces. In the end, you have a mirror encrusted with seashells for your seaside inspired home. * So why was this the first & last project of this kind?? Countless hours of work, from picking the shells, to scrubbing them, to waiting overnight for each section of "liquid nails" to dry. It's a bit tedious, a little messy, & you need adequate space & time for drying. Soooo doing this all behind my little cash wrap was a little difficult.

Trash-to-Treasure

2011-09-28T17:12:00.000-07:00

Inspired by an artist friend of mine Debra Fuchs-Zimmerman of Warwick NY., I have created a wall plaque out of a broken decorative bookcase. I met Debra when I had my shop in Sugar Loaf. She has a fascinating talent for painting..well basically..anything & everything. It could be paint can lids, scrap wood, galvanized pails...really unexpected items. The bookcase I found was tiered with 4 shelves that varied in size. I have so far only painted the smallest one. I love the shape of these shelves & the beveled edge really gives the shape definition. I treated the wood with my signature "white-weathered" paint finish and then free-hand painted "fresh flowers" onto it. I really look foward to working on the larger pieces which will look absolutely stunning over a doorway, headboard or mantlepiece. Stay tuned.

Contemporary Series: BLACK

2011-09-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

Sure this is The White Weathered Barn, but these last couple of days it has been about BLACK! I have decided not to title any of my contemporary pieces as I think it is important for the viewer to see what they want to see. Art is subjective anyway, so why lead anyone in a specific direction. There is something quite therapeutic about doing contemporary art for me. I can tell you it certainly loosens me up & much like a diary or journal entry, I just start emptying my brain out on the paper. You never know what is going to manifest and it keeps the pressure off from feeling like I need a plan.

Yeah yeah yeah, blah blah blah...

in short, I enjoy this!!!

New Packaging for our Soy Candles

2011-09-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

Finally!!! I have been wanting to change our soy candle packaging for years now. And since I am all about weathered grays, silvers & obviously pewter I have decided to give our packaging a face-lift. We are still using our signature jelly jars but we have capped them with an aged pewter color instead of the shiny black. The label has been redesigned too. I have recently altered my business font to something that is very similar to my own handwriting. Since I hand-write every price tag in the shop, this new font seemed appropos. And believe it or not, it took me this long to actually put the words "soy candle" on the label. Despite adequate signage, every once in a while I am asked if the jar is filled with hand cream.

MEANWHILE, we have carried the same signature scents for some time now, the most recent one being "Hyacinth". Nothing says Fall better than Hyacinth right? hehe

I knew Jason & I had to develop some new seasonal scents but I was quite concerned about the "cliche" ones...but after gathering many samples & playing with combinations, we both fell in love with what will be our new seasonal line of candles.

All I can say is look out people, here comes Almond Rum, Frosted Pumpkin, Apple Butter & Maple Walnut Fudge!!! Yes I said the "F" word..FUDGE i say! And trust me, it will knock your fudging socks off!!!

Pewter..an all time fav!

2011-09-16T15:00:00.000-07:00

Our Vintage Pewter Collection has dings, dents & tons of charm! A favorite this year for the Fall & Winter Season, partner pewter pieces with flowers & berries for unique vignettes & lovely table-top designs.

Contemporary Artist..who me??

2011-09-05T16:40:00.000-07:00

I have been drawing since I could hold a crayon. I used to make cards for my Mom & Gramma for every special occasion. And like most children's artwork, the fridges in both kitchens were covered with doodles & drawings. I remember when I was really little, my Dad set up my art station in our finished basement. He took a hollow door & put it on crates or something..can't remember exactly, but what I do remember is the coffee cans that were filled with colored pencils, crayons & markers as well as several stacks of different kinds of paper. While most of my childhood drawings were depictions of "Snoopy & Woodstock" I was lucky enough to go to a highschool that greatly supported the arts. There I was educated on techniques & styles as well as Art History. I furthered my education in college with one of my favorite classes taught by the great Sheila Kriemelman. She is a stunning woman, incredibly talented & full of eccentricities. She really pushed me to pull inspiration from within & push the envelope. Most of my work was somewhat "off" if not out & out sinister/borderline disturbia...then again I was only 19 or 20...so you know..whatever right? Anywho, later on in life I spent 15 years as an interior designer. It has only been a few years that I have tapped back into my artistic life and somewhere along the way I became increasingly, for lack of a better phrase, anal retentive. I only focused on graphite & ink. The sharper the point, the more "tight" I was wound. i always shied away from acrylic/oil paints for fear I would not have enough control. But, this past year I was fortunate enough to meet an incredibly talented woman while I had my shop in Sugar Loaf. Marisol Diaz is a brilliant artist & art teacher. She too pushes her students to think outside the box. One of her specialties is water color painting. She teaches her students to treat the water color paper with random ingredients like coffee, tea & salt amongst a few. This helps her students ease any anxiety created by staring at a blank sheet of paper. I think this is a brilliant notion. I tapped into this notion when I decided just a few days ago to explore the art of water color again. It has been over 20 years!!! Say whaaaaat? While I have never been or considered myself a Contemporary Artist like my Aunt Terry, I am totally stoked to re-explore this medium that will allow me to "let go", even if just a teeny weeny bit.

I look forward to sharing more work with all you fine feathered friends. ;) Rena

Lovin' that Driftwood!

2011-08-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

Oh for the love of driftwood! A long time ago I had wrote an entry into one of my old blogs (now in la-la land) about my love for driftwood. Each piece of wood is an artistic expression of nature gently polished by the water & baked into a fine patina by the sun. AND...I am in love with the range of colors. My favorite pieces are usually contorted roots that are bleached almost silver. I use driftwood to hang draperies, to create decorative shelving & to feature as its own form of artwork. Yesterday, I visually raked the shores after Hurricane Irene knowing the waters would leave these precious gifts behind for me. I have bundled a variety of driftwood pieces together for those who share an affinity for natural decor. Each bundle is $10 each. A perfect accent for your seaside home or those who have a little space in their heart for shoreline decor!

Fresh Flower Addiction

2011-08-30T18:15:00.000-07:00

How lucky of a gal am I?? I am in complete & utter paradise when stuffing my face into a bouquet of fresh flowers, so when I opened my store next to Clawflowers it was an absolute karmic phenomenon. I can float through the air (like Fred Flintsone smelling a brontosaurus rack o' ribs) when fresh flowers are near by. Having an off day?...treat yourself to some flowers for a natural pick me up. Instantly add beauty to your decor by displaying some around the house. But back to why I am so lucky...any time Richard has leftovers, especially from a wedding, he is gracious enough to chuck me a few scraps...and by scraps, I mean "HOLLA, me just whipped up a stunning bouquet!" Me so lucky! ;)

Reclaimed Barnwood Signs

2011-08-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

Lettered signs have been popular for quite some time now but I was fortunate to meet "the queen bee" of all sign makers, Manon Von Uchtrup of Sugar Loaf, NY. She made signs for me while I had my store there & continues to make them for my Greenport store. Each sign is made from 100-200 year old reclaimed barnwood from Canada. Manon takes great care in sanding, white washing, stenciling & waxing every sign. Each one is one of a kind & costs $4 a letter. Our most popular signs are based on nautical references, popular destinations, inspirational words, farmer's markets, mind & body, french words as well as a few kitchy/campy well known sayings.

We also offer custom signs!!

Besides "Gratitude" being my all time favorite sign, a few of my other favorites include:

"more cowbell", "that's what she said", "it is what it is" & "wine:30" (which indicates the appropriate time for breaking out the bottles whether that be 11:30, 3:30 or 5:30..it's all "wine:30" to me!)

Order yours HERE

Wedding Momentos

2011-08-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

In just a few short weeks since the shops opening, I am gaining the reputation of being a great place to find unique wedding, bridal, shower & hostess gifts! How much do I love that??! I think I was a wedding planner in another life...the kind who has no contact with the bride for fear I might blow my brains out. These knives are from the circa 1915 Oneida "Bridal Wreath" Collection. While they were too worn to keep for my "elegant table-top" collection, I decided to adorn them a la "Daisy Chestnut" style (aka Jen Matlack). They make a charming wedding gift in itself or think about adorning the top of your already wrapped gift for an added heart felt momento. I only have 6 of this Bridal Collection. $18 each

I met my friend Jen on Etsy while recruiting her handmade items & innovative designs for my shop. We are absolutely soul sisters, or shall I say "Soul SISTAaaHs" as I often refer. She is the Queen Bee, Diva, closet hoarder (sorry Jen) of vintage silver finds. A partner in crime, she is my biggest supplier of silver what nots. But that is hardly all...she is a fantastic illustrator, writer, baker & one of the biggest "outside of the box" thinkers I have had the pleasure of meeting. Jen supplies my shop with "Foto Forks", illustrated Herb markers & Garlands, and soon (hopefully) Ode to the Farmer's Market greeting cards. (right Jen??)

See her goodies below!! You too will become a huge fan. :)

More Messages in Bottles

2011-08-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

I look at vintage bottles differently now since I live by the sea. I can't help but think of those old bottles with the boats inside & of course, messages in bottles washing up on the shore. Needless to say, I now have a "thing" for bottles that will allow me another outlet for my simple illustrations.

Bon Voyagie my friends!

Vintage Vagabond Days

2011-08-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

On the days the store is closed...that would be Tuesdays, I get a chance to rummage through my favorite thrift shops looking for treasures. I now call these my Vintage Vagabond Days. Since I love to repurpose ordinary what nots into unexpected thing-a-ma-jigs, each one of these days is an exercise in thinking outside of the box. Some of these days are just about finding beautiful objects. Below are some of my findings...

I have a "thing" for so many "things" that the idea of making a list of them seems arduous. I am sure the more I blog the more insight you will gain into my little obsessions. First up?? Etched glass!!! Personally I prefer delicate vines, swags, and flowers. When I saw these little cordial glasses my eyes all but fell out of my head. They were so teeny weeny that they didn't even hold an ounce. I'd liked to say that you could come to the shop to check them out but they sold and hour after I put them out.

I also found these fabulous dessert glasses. Perfect for a breakfast parfait or light desserts like yummy rice pudding or a light & fluffy chocolate mousse...ahhhh chocolate.

One of my obvious obsessions is vintage silverware. Pieces in perfect condition are reserved for serving, the other are converted into decorative items & momentos. Residents of the North Fork share a common understanding that life out here on the East End is quite special. It feels like you are always on a vacation..one that is filled with sea breezes, farm stands & farmer's markets, mom & pop shops, strolls on the beach collecting shells & tastes from the many wineries throughout. Having a charming "North Fork" is the perfect gift to yourself or any other North Fork Resident or homeowner. Each fork is carefully chosen for its unique handle design and hand stamped by yours truly. $10 each

Spoons offer a great surface space for stamping! MEANWHILE, as I mentioned above, the North Fork is like a peaceful retreat, uh..but not when I am banging out spoons. Outside my shop on the sidewalk I sit with my jewelry anvil & hammer and bang the crap out of a myriad of spoons. **BING** **PING** **TING** **CA-DING**!! (and its echoes). Those pictured right are made into adorable herb markers. Great gift for those garden lovers! $12 each.

To Shine or Not to Shine

2011-08-24T15:53:00.000-07:00

Oh you mean that is not the question on everyone's mind?? Hmmm Well just in case it was, here is my take on it. For me, the only time it is absolutely necessary to polish a piece of silver is when you are serving from it..I mean really, creamy half and half & cruddy tarnish?..delish! If you are like me however who uses vintage silver pieces for fresh flowers & plants, it is just as charming to feature time-worn age as it is for the item to spaW-kle.

If you do choose to use your silver as a planter, make sure you choose a plant that is pretty darn hardy. Sensitive plants may be affected by potential metal corrosion. My pick?? Sedums. Their roots grow on the surface, are drought tolerant & need little maintanence..that's got me written all over it. AND, let's not forget how cool the sedum plant is as all you have to do is pinch off a piece, stick it in the dirt & start a new plant. Me likey!

Message in a Bottle

2011-08-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

Teeny Weeny Vintage Bottles with a Message: Eternal Father strong to save Whose arm has bound the restless wave Who bids the mighty ocean deep Its own appointed limits keep O hear us when we cry to Thee For those in peril on the sea.

Bright Idea Bulbs

2011-08-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

Make that Bright IdeaR Bulbs! We are getting quite creative with our repurposed vessels. Thanks to Clayton Sauer of The Stirling House B&B who has purchased several, we have decided to widely feature them in our front window. Well they have certainly gained a lot of attention. We have displayed a set of 5 bulbs suspended from a fantastically gnarly (literally, not 80's surfer talk) piece of driftwood. We have since sold this display 3 times over. Thankfully, we finally had a storm that allowed us to forage some beautiful pieces so that we can fulfill our custom orders. Depending on your window size, you can opt for 3, 5, 7 (I always have to have odd numbers) bulbs. Each bulb is priced at $20 individually, but because you end up buying multiples we chuck in the artistic driftwood for ya, all ready for you to hang.

Our recent heist!

Inside the Shop

2011-08-19T16:58:00.000-07:00

And this is the inside of my little shop. Still trying to stock the place...not easy when you make almost everything, which is why I rely on some very talented friends as well! And here I was thinking the shop wasn't going to be big enough compared to my last one...not the case at all. Of course my work area is much smaller & there is no hiding it and since I am not one to finish one project before starting another, it is a trainwreck. Couple of beads, twine, dirt, plants, paint brushes, oyster shells, vintage forks, bottled water, rubber cement, windex, house keys, stapler, digital camera, drug paraphernalia..just kidding, wanted to see if you were paying attention. Blah Blah Blah. The shop does in fact have a nice selection of art & modern crafts, handmade jewelry & tasteful gifts. I am adding new schtuff every day and yes my fingers are not only numb but they have been worn down to the nubbin's. No manicures in sight for this "serial dabbler" (one of my many nicknames...you know, to go with all those mutilple personalities I seem to have!)

New Location

2011-08-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

And there it was..a cute little store front located a few steps away from the busiest intersection in Greenport, Main & Front St. And what better neighbor to have than Clawflowers owner Richard whom I met way back in 2004 while buying a great chunk o' hens & chicks. My husband & I moved to Greenport on July 19th & soon after we began the revamp of what used to be a Miniature Doll House Shop. We planned to open as soon as we could in order take advantage of the busy month of August. Pressure much? And away we go...

What to tackle first? Everything needed to be painted white...to the point where we could've just opened a 5 gallon tub of super white, attached it to a hose & shot it onto the walls, floor & ceiling. But as any painter or DIY-er will tell you, there is priming, sanding, caulking & the dreadful "cutting in". So far the biggest compliment we have received besides the shop being light & bright is the decorative treatment I created on the rustic floor. I of course wanted it to be "white" & "weathered" so I did this little trick of the trade. Want to hear it?, here it go...

Minwax Stain & a good ol' fashioned rag. I used colors Ebony & Ipswich Pine to recreate a kind of driftwoody look. Randomly & lightly doodle a few stokes of the stain over a thouroughly dried painted white floor. Then you just gotta kinda wipe it off, layering applications of the ebony & then feathering in the pine. I can't say for sure if it is easy for the average person to do as I spent much time as a decorative/faux painter throughout my design career. Anywho, it is worth experimenting on a piece of wood to get a feel for it. Always start with a lighter hand as you can always add more layers for a richer, more aged design.

That's all I got for right now my dears...more soon!

Previous Shop Incarnations

2011-08-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

I opened my first retail boutique in 2002 which was located in Westchester County. It was a combination interior design studio/gift shop and conveniently located steps away from my house in Ossining NY. Can't beat that with a stick! Ri-ight??!!

Eight years later my first Sugar Loaf Shop was launched in April of 2010. It started in a 400 sq. ft. studio with beautiful wide plank pine flooring & was totally adorable.

However when the opportunity to move into a larger space with better visibility arose one month later, I grabbed it. High ceilings.. 600 sq. ft.. with plenty of creative studio space...HOLLA!!!

Although this shop had cement floors, I painted them white (what was I thinking?) and spread out a few sisal rugs. Uh, did I mention that my shop was located down an exclusive alley that was all but a driveway of rocks & dirt? White floors? Exactly. But this larger space allowed me to have a full sewing area, a beading area, a potting area & a front rocking chair porch. However lovely my shop was, the commute was not. I drove 45 minutes each way , 6 days a week, for a year. When my lease expired in May I made a very tough decision to not only relocate my shop, but my life as well...the easy decision was where...none other than beautiful Greenport!

Finally in Greenport!

2011-08-16T09:50:00.000-07:00

Hello there cheekie monkeys! I am finally in Greenport!
I took this photo back in 2004 from the top step of the 59 Step Beach...not to be confused with the 59th St. Bridge in Manhattan which I can't help but fumble out. Anywho..
I had the pleasure of frequenting Long Island's South Fork (Hamptons & Montauk) as a teenager & a young 20-something. At 19, I sat on the beach in Montauk with my mom after visiting a bunch of charming shops in Sag Harbor contemplating what I wanted to do with my life. I mentioned that I would love to have a shop one day like the ones we had just visited. Despite graduating college with a degree in Advertising & a later degree in Interior Design from NYC, I opened my first retail shop/design studio in the Fall of 2002 in Westchester County, NY.

I only became familiar with the North Fork of Long Island when my in-laws took over The Morning Glory Bed & Breakfast on Main Street in Greenport. It was love at first sight. I mean really, what's not to love??!! Can you say permanent vacation?? For this ocean gal being by the sea seemed a far stretch at the time, but I finally made it!! It only took 7 years...well actually it took 23 years...but I am here at last!! Oooh toto!!
xo
Rena-bo-bina
*****
Breaking news!! I was just told that my favorite beach is referred to as the 67-step beach?? Whaa? I have counted those steps every time I have decended/ascended them. Hmmph! Last count was 59..whoops! Clearly I was distracted, but do you count the landings as a step??Inquiring minds want to know. Thanks Clay!!
*****
More Breaking news!!! While historical the beach is in fact referred to as the 67-step, there are indeed only 59 left...so at least I am assured I can actually count. ;)