Monday, July 3, 2017

Oh Ye, of Little Faith

BEFORE.

AFTER.

A new friend who runs an estate sale business.

Patience to wait until the last sale day, even knowing amazing treasures would slip through my fingers.

A pitiful, sad, ready-for-the-fire-pile little settee for my very favorite price -- FREE!!! -- with just enough of a graceful curve to turn my head.

Another talented friend who inspired me with her lovely, creative uses of the humble dropcloth.

Multiple washes and bleaches to soften the painters' tarp to a linen-y vibe.

A hired seamstress.

Dear Universe.  I would like some karmic points here, please. For truthfulness. Despite coming from a long line of embellishers and storytellers. Talking mainly about you, Dad.

COULD I have sewn it myself?  Probably. But WOULD I have? Probably not. So let's please overlook the part where I did not sew it myself.

Just a sad little broken down dirty rotten crying shame of an abandoned piece of furniture. Completely reimagined.

Happy heart.

And a fun new prop for Flower Farm's signature conversation areas. Braxton, my wedding assistant (who has the actual audacity to leave me -- leave me! -- in order to become a big deal in college this year, before the two of us get rich and famous for our awesome wedding and event shenanigans), thinks it's hilarious that I call our conversation areas "vignettes." He mocks me with that word somewhat regularly.

Life Lesson Number One.  Things, and especially people, deserve second chances. There is always something beautiful left inside, just hoping for someone to notice and believe.

Life Lesson Number Two.  There is something powerful and rare about hard-working creative women supporting each other, cheering each other's successes, and holding out a hand of friendship just when your hand was feeling a little lonely and empty. Thank you, Sashin of Antiqueology and Barbara of Be at Home MT.  So glad to call you my new friends. Same to you, Autumn of Events by Autumn, Johanna from Johanna B Photography, and Karen of Vinyl Krazy Mama.  I am so grateful to have met each one of you.

Even though I know you will each say I was nuts to post this awful photo in the driveway without styling it first. You are right. As usual. But I couldn't wait.

Life Lesson Number Three.  A down-to-earth friend always needs a fancy friend to show her things.  Here is my old/new settee's fancier friend. Yes. Another new vignette in the making, Braxton.

Silk! Tufted! Swoon!
Life Lesson Number Four.  If you are 51 years old and have a dad who will laugh and shake his head but still drive you all over creation to pick up your junk and treasures and haul them home for you, and a mother who will help vacuum and clean your junk that has seen better days, then you are awfully, awfully lucky. Love you madly, Mom and Dad.

Oh Ye, of Little Faith

BEFORE. AFTER. A new friend who runs an estate sale business. Patience to wait until the last sale day, even knowing amazing tre...