I went shopping with Kriste today and I kept pausing to declare how excited I am about the new studio space. I got a call while we were shopping, letting me know that I can sign the lease on Friday and move in. I feel like I’ve been let out of a box, but even so much more than that. Oh, to have a place to work that’s not my home! To have a place for boxes to be delivered and furniture to be dropped off and a dedicated space for videos and photos shoots and to teach workshops and have sales and whatever else I want to do! It’s incredible and I am bursting to be able to move in and get settled.
I don’t want to have a ton of permanent furnishings, but I prefer to have pieces that I buy, fix up, use for photo shoots and tutorials and then sell. That way I am always working with something new. But, I do need a few key pieces to work on, to store things in, to use for videos, workshops, etc.
I already have the t-shirt counter, a large oak hutch and a couple of shoe carts. Yesterday, I added this amazing counter to that list…
Yeah, I know. It’s pretty awesome. I found it on Craig’s List, if you can believe that. Here was the listing picture…
My parents went to pick it up for me. I asked my mom to call if the counter looked sketchy or not as good as the picture. She called me and let me know the counter was “crusty”, but she thought I would like it. She then shared that the woman I bought it from knows me from my blog! The woman is Angela from Rusty Love Vintage Rentals. She’s an antiques dealer, but also rents out the pieces in her stash to use for photo shoots, weddings, events, etc.
She bought this counter, but then found two more she liked even better, so she put it up for sale. I’ve been looking at it for a few days, but now I have a place to use it, so I bought it!
My mom was right, it is pretty crusty, so I need to clean it up and seal the chipping paint. I’m also going to look into having a piece of glass cut for the top. That will retain the pretty paint, but make it a useable, wipeable work surface.
Jeff is going to get the drawers working a little smoother for me and put the piece on casters to raise the height and make it easy to move around the studio.
I also found some cool things while we were out shopping, including this wicker steamer trunk from England…
…seven chairs to use for workshops (I’m looking for five more)…
…and some other cool things I still need to unpack. (That mustard yellow scale was just too tempting…)
Our house is in upheaval due to the installation of center air, so my mom and I will be out shopping tomorrow to look for more chairs as well as a couple of large tables to use as work tables. And I’ll be keeping an eye out for cool things for the online shop and the Chapel Market inventory.
I’ll let you know what I find…
43 Responses
Marian, you always find the most amazing things! Love all of these! So glad that the work studio came up. Much cheaper than a new home, and you can get away from it when you need to, instead of having work call your name from the basement.;-)
I’m coming. For a workshop.
Just so you know…
🙂
-b.
That counter, the color, unbelievable.
Love the counter, your new space sounds exciting! I’ll be there for a workshop too! I know of a place that you can get chairs and other stuff, only open fridays and sundays, 9-5 you got to get there early to get stuff, his front porch is loaded with stuff, West of York area. email me if you want the address.
I adore that chest! Instead of a glass top, Acrylic or Perspex would maybe be cheaper and more practical
Marian, God is taking you in a new direction through your studio space. Imagine the people He will send over the threshold of your new location. It is evident you have a new energy level; it shows in the tone and selection of your words in this post. Best wishes for much joy in your new location.
a very annoying guess video opens when i go to your site with no way to turn it off.
Oh, goodness. I’m sorry about that! I haven’t seen it. Do you have your pop-up blocker turned on?
I see the Guess video too – below every post. Thankfully, it hasn’t been auto-playing for me, though. 🙂
So is your new space going to be strictly a “workshop” for photo shoots and refinishing furniture or is also going to be a retail location? I’m no where near you, but curious… 😉
I’m thrilled for you, by the way!!
I am so thrilled for you! I guess this was God’s plan all along, you have the workspace you needed and I’m sure your dream home will follow! You do always find the most amazing stuff! Wish I lived closer I could go shopping with you! Can’t wait to see your space
Marian – we see you exploding right before our eyes!!! Congratulations on your new space…
Cannot tell you how excited I feel for you! My husband and I worked out of our basement and garage for years, and just this year in February, we were blessed to find a space in a small village on the National Historic Register, not too far from where we live! Oh! The delight to get the basement cleared out! I wake up each day so thankful and pinching myself that we have this opportunity to stage and create from our own retail space! Blessings to you…this will dramatically change how you do business and define “work” and “home.”
So happy for you!
So fun that you’re excited about your studio space! I don’t know how people “up north” survive with out central air. We pretty much go straight from heat to a/c somewhere around mid-march. 🙂 Of course, I’m a weanie and refuse to sweat. 😉
Oh! YAY! This is so exciting!!
How will you seal the chipping paint?
Would love to know how you seal the crust too! Loving this Soooo much! How I wish I lived in the US near you 🙂 exciting times for you, brilliant news 🙂
Congratulations!! How exciting having your own space and the fun of decorating it. Hope to visit one day
Congrats on the new space. I have a wonderful place if you don’t mind driving to Maryland Suburbs for work tables, shelving, desks, chairs…you name it! A HUGE warehouse full! Email me for details if interested. I just got a solid wood 6′ table (counter height) x 3′ and an old office chair for…$29.00! I think you would find it very interesting! Cannot wait for your place to open…I will come up there for a workshop for sure. Oh, and….HTTR!
Patti….is your warehouse open to the public? My son lives in Baltimore and we’ll be visiting soon. Sounds like our kind of place!! Would love the address and hours you’re open!!
Patti, I am from Baltimore and will be there soon on a visit. I would like to know the location of the
place you wrote to MMS about. Thanks.
How very exciting!! The big wicker piece looks like an old mill skep. Does it have metal bars on the bottom? They used to push them along a track in the mills. I have one and have all my batting in it….love them!! Used to be able to find them quite reasonably 20 years ago.
And Patti McCarthy….would love to know where your warehouse is in Maryland. I’d love to tell my son. He lives in Baltimore and we’ll be going down for a visit soon!
Oh, these are some seriously cute finds 🙂 🙂 🙂 That’s awesome…and huge congratulations on getting your own studio space away from home. That’s great.
My own dream is to work from home and quit my retail job….small steps… 🙂 🙂
Love and hugs from the ocean shores of Monterey,
Heather 🙂 🙂 🙂
I am totally psyched for you and your business. The counter is perfect. I am in Virginia, so am close enough to hope you will include at least a small retail space (pretty please.) Also, have you chosen a name for your studio yet?
Exciting things happening! 🙂
I do like that “crusty” counter though… It’s so you!
You are going to have workshops/classes? Woohoo!!!! I can’t wait!
Eek! Amazing stuff! I’ll definitely come up and visit.
OMG Marian!!! I signed the lease for my own painting studio/shop last Friday!!!
I’m so excited to know you are having your own studio, too!!!
I love the crusty counter!!! And the chairs are awesome, too!!!
Can’t wait to see the other pieces!!!
Here is to our success!!!
Claudine
How wonderful for you! I bet it will be soooo nice to get this out of your home. Separation will be a good thing! Home life…work life. Congratulations!
Ok I must have missed the post on the studio space. Well good for you. Is it far from your home? And what is the plan, just a work space or will you be able to turn it into a shop? So many questions 😉 I am so happy for you
I am so happy for you guys. Could Jeff please do a tutorial on how he installs the casters on the counter (or some similar piece)? I’m gradually adding casters to everything in my house for rearranging and/or cleaning and getting all the dust bunnies, cheerios, etc. Adding them to table legs is easy. For some of the dressers, and it seems your counter, it’s a little more complicated.
VERY EXCITING!! So happy for you!
Speaking of casters on everything, I recently discovered small furniture “sliders” that screw into the bottom of furniture legs. Kind of like putting felt tabs onto furniture for wood floors, but these are designed for rugs. makes moving any piece of furniture on a rug a breeze and no lifting to put the sliders underneath! They are permanent. I attached them to the legs of a large 4 ft square custom ottoman we had made for a client.
Oh that counter is amazing!!!!1204
So. . .inquiring minds want to know–how do you seal and preserve chipping paint? I just bought a wonderful chippy porch post that needs TLC–not stripping and sanding! Thanks–Linda
Marian – will your new space also be a retail store? I am from NJ and would do a road trip to shop in your store for sure!
Maureen
Oh, wow, Marian! Such great finds. I’m so excited about your studio space!
Yeah! Angela is a friend of mine – I was with her when she bought this beauty! My husband and I helped her load it – its a beast!. Small world!
Nice stuff. But I am dying to know how your AC is being installed. How much space is it being taken up in your house? Closets getting eaten up? Please spill! I still want to have AC In our house at some point. Thanks.
Are you gonna be teaching workshops in the new space? Because if so, I am so there!
And casters will be so cool on that piece.
The Other Marian
Yes, I will!
Emmitsburg auction has several vintage chairs similar to the ones in your blog. They are old and not painted… but I’m sure you could take care of that. The sale is tomorrow 8/31/14 at 9am.
Is there a monthly show in Emmittsburg, Md. I used to walk that town of shops years ago and still
remember how quaint it was. Also is the Colorfest still held in Catoctin each year?