My mother had to work a little harder to uphold this family tradition. With 5 kids in 9 years, she always had a posse tagging along. She loved to shop and so she just brought us, but taught us how pretty all the new things were, how soft things were, how fun it was to go out to lunch. And it worked, at least with the girls. As adults, shopping is our primary bonding mechanism. Well, other than eating and talking on the phone and taking art classes together.
I loved being at the mall with my mom, so I trained my kids the same way. The two older girls love to go shopping. At 13 and 9, they can shop for about 4-5 hours before they get tired. And then a quick snack or meal perks them right back up. In fact, this year, it was the 13 year old's idea to do Black Friday. She ranked all the ads in terms of relevance and excellence of coupon. Then she planned what we should buy and the route we should take. How do you say "no" to that kind of planning and preparation from a 13 year old? And I have to admit, with all the crazies having gone Thanksgiving night, it was calm and pleasant at 6 am on Black Friday. Parking was plentiful and people were cheerful. And I rediscovered JC Pennny. If you guys haven't been there for a while, you should go. They have really cute stuff at great prices. There was even one section where they sold bright color-blocked clothing that the kid and I were both buying things from. Since our taste and sizes are completely disparate, this was a major accomplishment.
Now what does Black Friday have to do with Gathering Branches, you say? Well so many people at the show asked me what I did, and I do a variety of things, so rather than try and tell you, I thought I'd just have my own Black Friday sale (even though it's Cyber Monday) and show you what I do. Or at least what I have been doing. (You never know where I will go from here and I have a few completely different things brewing in the brain.) Most of the prices here have been reduced for your holiday shopping pleasure. And as I love to window shop, please feel free to do the same. If you actually want to buy something, you'll have to email me or just comment below and we'll arrange something.
Annie Sloan Chalk Painted Items
"Cafe au Lait" Dining Table.
$225.00, reg $275
Solid wood with a self storing leaf. Turned legs
Done in Duck Egg blue, with accents in Pure White and Cocoa.
2 Coats of clear wax.
With Leaf in: 66L x 36W x 30H
With Leaf stored: 54L x 36W x 30 H
With Leaf in: 66L x 36W x 30H
With Leaf stored: 54L x 36W x 30 H
"The Fairest" Mirror
$85.00, reg $125
Vintage Mahogany Federal Style Mirror.
Done in Paris Grey, with a Pure White Glaze, then silver gilded.
Finally, Dark Waxed and regilded with a blend of Silver and Renaissance Gold wax.
2 coats of Clear wax and one coat of Dark Wax.
"Venice" Candlestick
$15.00, reg $20
Vintage Solid Turned Maple Candlestick.
Done in Duck Egg Blue with Dark Wax and Renaissance Gold gilding wax.
"Belgian Morning" Pair of Candlesticks
$22.00 for Pair, $13 each
Pair of vintage, solid maple, turned candle sticks
Done in a Pure White wash and then clear waxed.
Colonial Candlestick
$14.00, reg $18
Vintage Solid wood candlestick,
Done in French Linen and Pure White, Heavily distressed and Dark waxed
2 coats clear wax and 1 coat dark wax
"Begin" Original Painting/Collage
$35.00,
This piece was made in a class with Janet Metzger of The Empty Nest in Warrenton VA. It features vintage pictures, two separate color washes, hand painted detail and all over crackle and dark wax.
"Reykjavik" Candelabra
$20.00,
This is a 2 piece wooden candelabra. It is vintage, made of pine, and came from Sweden.
Louis Blue with a Pure White glaze for the stencil. Heavily distressed. 2 coats of clear wax.
"Solange" Vintage Lamp
$85.00,
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This was a treasure I just had to save. When I found her, she had tiny white gold flowers all over her and a beat up, flouncy old shade. Sweet enough to give you a toothache. But I loved the sleek glass body and the wrought iron base. So I pulled out the Mr Clean Eraser and got rid of the rosebuds. Then I chalk painted the base and waxed it with a custom iridescent charcoal grey wax. She has a new charcoal grey silk shade, all new wiring and fixtures,and a new chrome harp and neck. This lamp is ready to go for another 50 years.
Here's a few more unfiltered shots:
Jennifer Side table
$75.00,
This little table is lovely.
Vintage Solid maple.
Base coat in Old Violet with the top coat in Paris Grey.
Heavily distressed. 2 coats clear wax
14.5in L x 20.5in W x 24.5 in H
"Piper" Vintage Walnut Salad bowl
$14.00,
Food safe solid walnut.
Pure White striped exterior
Food safe wax outside and in.
Other Stuff I Have Been Working On
"The Loft" Vintage Industrial Chair
$45.00
This chair was used in a Philadelphia art school. Newly lacquered in a bright, industrial orange.
Maple seat. All original hardware.
"Cinnabar" Lantern
$9.00,
Durable metal lantern
Newly lacquered in hot orange-red
Suitable for interior or exterior use.
"S-Curve" Pillow
$30.00,
This is a custom pillow made from designer fabric with hand appliqued vintage doily accent.
Natural Down pillow insert included. Hidden zipper. Dry clean only
"Lavender Wings" Original Shadowbox Collage
$40.00,
I build all my shadowboxes myself. This explains why they aren't perfectly square or true. I up-cycle old frames into shadowboxes by building a box to fit the frame and then attaching the front and back with hinges. Then I add an original photo enhanced with hand made paper butterflies.
All boxes open and close.
"Hosta" Matted Original Collage
$70.00,
My photo collages are an original photograph (only two prints at most are ever made from any one image) paired with a leaf made from paper, soft pastel and colored pencil.
All leaves are the original paper. Nothing is done digitally.
All archival materials used, where possible.
11 x 14 in. image matted to16 x 20 in.
"Rounded Curb" Matted Original Collage
$70.00,
My photo collages are an original photograph (only two prints at most are ever made from any one image) paired with a leaf made from paper, soft pastel and colored pencil.
All leaves are the original paper. Nothing is done digitally.
All archival materials used, where possible.
11 x 14 in image matted to 16 x 20 in.
"Leaf Cradle" Framed Original Collage
$135.00
My photo collages are an original photograph (only two prints at most
are ever made from any one image) paired with a leaf made from paper,
soft pastel and colored pencil.
All leaves are the original paper. Nothing is done digitally.
All archival materials used, where possible.
8 x 10 in. image matted to 11x14 in. and professionally framed
All leaves are the original paper. Nothing is done digitally.
All archival materials used, where possible.
8 x 10 in. image matted to 11x14 in. and professionally framed
"Pavers" Framed Original Collage
$150.00
My photo collages are an original photograph (only two prints at most
are ever made from any one image) paired with a leaf made from paper,
soft pastel and colored pencil.
All leaves are the original paper. Nothing is done digitally.
All archival materials used, where possible.
11x14in image matted to 16 x 20 in. and professionally framed
All leaves are the original paper. Nothing is done digitally.
All archival materials used, where possible.
11x14in image matted to 16 x 20 in. and professionally framed
Original Photography
"Roof Tops of Rome"
$20.00
8x10 in image matted to 16x20in
All archival materials used.
"Forum"
$20.00
8x10 in image matted to 16x20 in
All archival materials used
"White Peony"
$17.00
8 x10 in image matted to 11 x 14 in
All Archival Materials used
"Ocean View"
$17.00
8 x 10 in image matted to 11 x 14 in
All archival materials used