We're Moving!

I'm pleased to announce that Stiltskin Studios will be relocating our retail space to
Summer House Marketplace in the very near future!

Summer House Marketplace

If you've been to Summer House, you'll immediately understand why...

It's a FABULOUS space full of amazingly talented vendors
It's clean, smells nice, and is bright and open...all the things I crave!
Did I forget to mention it's also full of outrageously gorgeous items?

Whenever I walk in, I feel at home.
You know, like how you feel at Pottery Barn...you just want to sit down with a magazine and have a cup of tea and stay awhile...right there in the store.

Our initial plan was to close our existing vendor space and focus on our website and our Etsy business...we gave our notice and starting planning.

Fate intervened, and Summer House had an opening.

Who could say no to that??

If you are local or semi-local and you've never visited Summer House,
I suggest you immediately do so!

The "Before" photo...

My husband sent me a picture of this today...did I want it?
Are you kidding? Um, YES!

I'm thinking Louis Blue and Old White...refinish the wood top...divine.

What's with me and the desks lately?

I need to paint a dresser, I can hear it calling me!

I couldn't NOT share a picture of this gorgeous chair.

Just look at the color! And all that lovely tufting...sigh

I am going to try to keep the existing upholstery...
and paint the frame Chateau Grey...
some new gimp and brads...and won't it be gorgeous???

Still working on that charming Balloon back chair...the desk is finished and pics will be up tomorrow
Ready to move on to new wonderfulness!

Got some wonderful news lately!
We're moving to a new store in August...
I'll share where a bit closer to the end of the month

And...we finally took the plunge on renting a large studio to paint in/store furniture!

It's nothing to look at, and other than cleaning it up and adding a studio area for photographing,
we probably won't do too much, as it's will just get dirty with sawdust and paint!

I don't enjoy reading posts without photos, so you all have my apologies...

Photos soon, I swear!

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you...the dresser is actually upside down
and I flipped the photo (it was raining, what can I say?)

This is the desk that will go with my Balloon Back Chair.
I think it will be fabulous.

I am leaning towards Duck Egg. Or Emile. Or Graphite. Or maybe Grey. Or...

As we were loading these into the truck, my husband said
"I hate these chairs...you know they are orange, right?"

'Really" I said. "I hadn't noticed."

"You don't know how to reupholster" said the husband.

"and your point is?" was my annoyed reply.

So maybe I don't know how to reupholster...yet. But how could I leave these chairs behind?

How fabulous are they going to be painted and recovered??

Old White with linen covers. Or Paris Grey with white linen.

Swoon.

And how much do you love this balloon back chair??

The upholstery is original, but I think it's going to have to go...

This will be paired with the French Desk I also purchased this weekend!

I like the idea of Graphite...
but my old stand-by, Paris Grey would also be lovely....
or there is always Louis Blue...
hmmmm....If I had Emile, I'd paint it that color because

I LOVE IT!

This is the pretty dresser I got....

My husband was relentless with the grief over purchasing this...

"It's not vintage" he said...
"It's Lexington" I replied...

and retailed for about $1500 new....that was the end of the grief!

Isn't she so charming? Just look at all those curves!

I'm thinking Duck Egg or Provence, or maybe Paris Grey....

I scored this lovely mirror yesterday...and was giddy all the way to the car!

As you can see, the details are fantastic, and it is solid wood...

It will be for sale in my Etsy store...

I just can't decide if I should list it as it,
as a custom paint listing,
or wait until I paint it...

What would you do?

I have more wonderful finds to share with you...

(well, some don't look so wonderful right now, but will be wonderful soon!!)

I seem to be having one of those days where everything seems to be coming together and the possibilities are endless...it's wonderful and scary all at the same time.

It's hard to know what path to take, which decision is the right one...you never know for certain until after the fact.

Trust your instincts, right?

covet.

I did not paint these. But I want too....

I really really really want to paint a French Armoire...for keeps.
I have no room to store it, no time to paint it, and nowhere to put it when it's done...
But none of these things matter, right?

Your Heart's Desire

I decided to do something a little different today....

I want to bring everything wonderful home that I find...but space doesn't allow that.

I couldn't pass this set up when I saw it...it was tucked away in a storage unit, not even for sale

I must have looked very distressed over owning it, because the owner let me pay for it, and leave it for nearly two weeks until I could make room for it

I really didn't make room for it, but I wanted it with me before he changed his mind!

We started packing it away for a future project when I thought...wait!

Let's list it as a custom order!

Inevitably, when I list a suite, I get do emails asking me to separate it or requests for a custom order in another color.

Perhaps this will alleviate that.

But back to this suite...is it gorgeous or what??

I usually am not a fan of a room full of matching furniture but I would totally go for this!

I have a whole dining room to paint...maybe I should make that a custom, too, since I can't seem to settle on a paint color!

Bonjour, Mademoiselle!

Mon Dieu, this desk took us forever!

It was truly a labor of love, bringing this aging beauty back to life!

Can you believe someone covered that amazing wood with white latex paint??

I sanded...and sanded...and then sanded some more.

I'm sure glad I decided to sand back down to wood!


The bottom half is incredible; it's completely hand carved so each detail is just a little bit different

So graceful, don't you think?

I finally managed to get a few things done and listed...can you believe I did not purchase the side table and coffee table together? They are both Basset, and they are a perfect match!

The mirror was the inspiration here...
I wanted it to be neutral but still make a big statement...it's so ornate and beautiful!

I hand painted all the details with a tiny itty bitty brush...
took forever but I think it was worthwhile!

These pieces can be used in a variety of decors, which is why I love them.
They would look quite lovely in front, beside, and above my creamy colored Pottery Barn Comfort Collection couch, don't you think?

Stiltskin Studios Etsy Shop

We're moving locations at the end of next month...please visit our Etsy store for great deals on a handful of items!

I'm always willing to work with local buyers regarding delivery and great deals on combined purchases!

dancing with myself...

I feel a bit like I'm dancing with myself...or talking to myself, as the case may be.

I'm open to suggestions...would love more followers (gosh, sounds like a cult, avoid the Kool Aide!)

Blogging is new to me, so any input would be MUCH appreciated!

Oh, and we did manage to actually get some painting done this weekend (had to stop by ROBYN STORY DESIGNS) and get my paint and wax fix for the week!

New listings coming tomorrow!

Sorry to say I didn't get any painting done today...wish I could say otherwise!
Paying a visit to one of my fav shops tomorrow to pick up supplies and heading home to finish up four projects that are THIS close to completion.

Watch on Saturday for new listings!

New Goodies and a Dilema

I'm in the habit of perusing Craigs List each morning and each night. It's an addiction, I realize. Sometimes, I find treasures, though!

Case in point: this amazing set. It's Bassett, circa 1952. Versailles Collection.

So what's the dilema, you ask? I've been dying to do another large piece in a gorgeous "commitment" color, like Duck Egg Blue, or Provence. I found this server. Perfect.

I sent my husband to pick it up while I went off to my day job. An hour later, I start getting texts about a dining table and four chairs. Of course I want them!

An entire blue dining room is a BIT much...should I just go for it with the server and do the dining room separate? Do the whole set in Paris Grey and white? Black and sand sounds very elegant and French...hmmm.

Suggestions, anyone?

Lord of the Flies

Between my "real" job as a Marketing Director and this furniture business, it's a wonder I find time to sleep!

I keep reminding myself that the key to being successful when running your own business is working harder than you ever have. This is no time to rest on my laurels, as it were...and so I spend my evenings and weekends picking and painting, taking photos and listing on Etsy...and trying to keep my house from turning into Lord of the Flies.

Watch for new listings tomorrow, including a matching French coffee table and end table, as well as a lovely HUGE mirror...

Wish me luck!

Mirror Mirror on the Wall...

This is such an unusual mirror...I am unsure of the circa or pedigree...I just know that I LOVE it. I keep very few pieces (bad for the bank account and my tiny house!) but this mirror tempted me.

My tactic to force myself to pass it along to a new home? Paint it in colors that don't match my house!

If it's not sold by the end of the month, however, it MIGHT match the boys bathroom pretty nicely...hmmmm

We finally finished the four piece French Provincial Bedroom Suite! Huge projects like this one are, admittedly, not my favorite...but it was a labor love...it turned out SO elegant, don't you think?

We used Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint in Country Grey and Old White. I know Country Grey doesn't get much love, but it's such an understated, elegant color.

We're selling items nearly as fast as we can paint them...I realize this is a GREAT problem to have but boy, am I tired!

Here's our two newest Etsy offerings...they will also be available at the store on Friday.
You can view them in our ETSY store

And so it begins....it's early days, so please bear with me as I try to figure out how to make this blog look like I imagine it should!

Any advice/suggestions would be MUCH appreciated!

Why a blog? Why the heck not?

We hunt, we gather, we paint...and then we sell (hopefully)! If this interests you, this blog may interest you :0)

I'm looking forward to sharing our great vintage finds, our latest projects, before-and-after photos, and tips on furniture painting techniques...and I hope you'll look forward to seeing and hearing about all of the above!