HOO-HOO-HOOSIER?

This my friends, is what I have been waiting for. On May 1st I bought this piece for $60 for its storage possiblities and have had it at Linda's (painter ex·tra·or·di·naire) house waiting to be painted. I called her last month and told her I was ready and here it is. My beautiful distressed, taupe-ish Hoosier. I wanted it to store all my stamp supplies instead of the plastic drawers that have now overtaken the homeschool room/office. Almost all my stamp stuff fits in here, minus the stamps...I'll have to rethink that one.

The cabinet was cream with blue accents including handles. I think she did a beautiful job, it is beautiful and oh, so deep and full of places to store stuff.



From Wikipedia:

A Hoosier cabinet (also known as a "Hoosier") is a type of cupboard popular in the first decades of the twentieth century. Named after the Hoosier Manufacturing Co. of New Castle, Indiana, they were also made by several other companies, most also located in Indiana.

The typical Hoosier cabinet consists of three parts. The base section usually has one large compartment with a slide-out shelf, and several drawers to one side. Generally it sat on small casters. The top portion is shallower and has several smaller compartments with doors, with one of the larger lower compartments having a roll-top or tambour. The top and the bottom are joined by a pair of metal channels which serve as the guide for a sliding countertop, which usually has a pair of shallow drawers affixed to its underside. The whole assembly, with the counter retracted, is fairly shallow, about 2 feet deep; the width and height are generally about 4 feet and 6 feet respectively.

IMPOSTER?

This is the Louis IVI Sideboard from the Ballard Designs catalog. It is listed for $1,199 delivery charges not included.

Here is my version, $200 (already painted) from One of a Kind two years ago.

It has taken me my whole life to realize that beautiful furniture does not have to cost a lot of money. Of course mine would look even better accessorized like the catalog picture, but Ballard Designs catalog does not have four kids. Right now my bread maker is sitting on top of it and there is homeschool stuff in the bottom, one drawer is dedicated to tea samples and the other to coupon circulars and magazines. Life in the REAL world, my world!

LOOKS LIKE THE REAL THING, BUT IS IT?

I have had affections for all things Ballard Designs for years, but my wallet does not fit my appetite. Fortunately, their catalog is a great place for inspiration...Exihibit A

Ballard Designs Chaumont Console originally $999 on sale for $899


My "faux" Chaumont Console(becuase knock off is too strong a word) $115. The cabinet was $60 at a garage sale and I paid $55 to have it picked up, painted and delivered. It houses our 55 gallon fishless fishtank.

Stay tuned for Exhibit B Louis XVI Sideboard ...

HERE IT IS!

Isn't it beautiful? Compare it to the previous picture. I told you she was the BEST painter EVER!!!

Here is my new set-up at the store:

I am so excited about this! Can you tell???

BIG NEWS!

Remember last month when I was looking for direction in my business, well I have it. The ladies tea I participated in really encouraged me in my faith and business.

For a year and a half I have had shelves at a local gift shop. It has worked beautifully for me and my customers. It is close to where the previous owner had the tea shop, so it is convineint for customers and they can special order things and pick them up there. I visit the shop once a week and restock, until now...there is no more room on my three big black shelves. So, next week I am taking a whole booth, that's right 80 square feet to with what I want. That means I have lots of space to fill, enter hutch #1:

This beauty is being painted by the most fabulous furniture painter east of the Mississippi. She works wonders with paint. I will use the hutch to display my products (mostly teapots) and will also sell it. Have I ever mentioned I LOVE furniture? I mean REALLY love furniture! This will give me an opportunity to buy a lot of furniture and decorate till my heart's content. I have always loved decorating too and am grateful the Lord is giving me the opportunity to do not one but TWO things I love - tea and furniture. Oh and be a wife and mother, etc. etc. He is pretty AWESOME that way!