Giveaway Winner and Holiday Cards

Congratulations Lisa in North Carolina!!!! She is the winner of my handmade pottery giveaway. I contacted her last night and this is what she said:


"I'm so excited to win such a beautiful prize! Thank you so much for providing this giveaway."

She won the blue seashell bowl, which I might add is my favorite too:

 

Thanks again to all of the lovely compliments of my pottery! I love to share my pieces with family and friends, so it is wonderful to extend it to all of you!! Thanks!!!!

Holiday Cards: 

My mother has been making cards, books and memory albums for years. Everything she creates is so gorgeous and personal. So I wanted to share the holiday cards she made this year...

A note from my mom:

I have always loved paper.   I like the way it feels in my hand and the sound it makes when I cut it with scissors.  My spinster Aunt Ruth, who was a first grade teacher for over forty years, taught me how to cut up old magazines to make collages and how to make my own paper dolls.  Because I love to create, but can’t even draw a straight line, I find using stamps, stencils, and paints allows me to make greeting cards, books, collages, and to re-purpose found objects.  Another thing I love to do is create memory albums for my grandchildren by chronicling their activities/accomplishments  during  a year and presenting them an album on their birthdays.   The cards shown here were simply made using the wonderful array of paper now available and basic art supplies that I just mentioned.  Some of the decorations on the cards were made during classes at two wonderful stores in Northern Virginia, Angela’s Happy Stamper, and Scrapbooks Plus.  The other embellishments are from my imagination and from my endless supply of scrap paper and ephemera.

Me:

Every year my son and I look forward to his memory album on his birthday. He keeps them on his dresser and we quite frequently flip through them for a stroll down memory lane. And I also look forward to our special holiday card every year...it is always something unique and makes me feel so special that my mom is taking the time to make a personalized card for us. I love you mom!!!  

What to Wear Wednesdays: Holiday Helpers

For the past 4 years I have been involved in my son's school program called Holiday Helpers. For the 1st 2 years we would ask for donations gently used or new for families in need in his school. Then we would have a wrapping party to wrap all that we received. After 2 years of seeing 'stuff' that was unfortunately not needed by these families, I decided to say something. Now we only collect money and gift cards. We divide the money/gift cards evenly among the family members, then we have our crew of Holiday Helper Shoppers to buy exactly what each family member needs. And since I don't have a girl I beg the coordinators, Carson and Jackie, to let me shop for a girl and they happily comply.

So yesterday with my envelope filled with $155 cash in hand, I went to the mall to get new clothes. My girl is 10 years old and this is what I got for her...

Can you believe I got all of that for $155.75!!!????!!! I hope she likes all that I picked out! Doing this every year brings me so much joy...now time for wrapping!

Tips for Navigating Craigslist

After a disappointing morning in an attempt to get a Craigslist find yesterday, I thought it would be a good idea to share my story and give some helpful hints that I have learned along the way. I traveled an hour to get what I believed was the perfect entry table for my home. When I finally arrived and saw the item, it was not the correct size and was extremely wobbly. The owner was not there and I had to negotiate with the room mate. Since I was already there, I offered way below what she was asking. The room mate called the owner and the owner said no, so I left. I understand you always have to see a piece in person, but if she had been upfront with me and said the demilune table was wobbly and given the correct size, then I would have saved my time.

So here is my updated checklist:

1. Ask as many questions as you can think of before picking it up, especially if they are not close by. Examples:

• Is this item sturdy? 
• Does it come from a smoke-free and if you have allergies pet-free home? 
• How old is it and does it need any repair? 
• Has it been in storage for a long time? 
• Are there any defects?
• If it is an upholstered item and you don't want to re-upholster, then ask...Could you send me a close-up of the fabric?
• I ask this every time...Has it been sprayed with a stain repellent? (but that may not be important to you)
• Ask if they could send the exact dimensions?  

2. If they are far, then it never hurts to ask if they can meet you half way.

3. Don't have some one else pick up the item before you have a chance to see it. My father picked up a chair for me and it was not at all what I was expecting, so it is best to see it for yourself. 

4. It never hurts to ask if the seller will accept less for the item. I am on a tight budget and most sellers are understanding because they just want to get rid of the item to free up their home. But, remember to ask politely and state your case. 

5. Don't feel obligated to buy it if you are in front of the seller. My friend ended up with a kitchen table and 4 chairs that she has never liked.

6. If you are not handy, nor have the time and the item needs a lot of work, then don't get it and think some day you will get to it. 

7. Be positive and be friendly!!!! I always approach my inquiries with  kindness. I was selling a really expensive door (it came with my home) a year ago and the woman that was inquiring about it was so rude and abrupt that I was uncomfortable having her come to my home, so she missed out on a deal and I ended up giving it away to my super friendly contractor.

But alas all's well that ends well!! At the end of the day I did get an incredible deal on CL and with the help of a good friend and my son (he provided entertainment in the way of holiday Carols). With lots of laughs on the way I got these beauties (which my friend who reads my blog asked me right away..."so what color are you going to paint them?"...heehee)...

Image from the CL posting

        

Image from the CL posting

And the color is going to be...

image via: roomservicestore online

White!!!!

It is going in my family room to store my sons mountain of Lego's and the room is already painted fun sunshine yellow...don't worry I will show the before and after asap!!

I have been navigating Craigslist for many years and have gotten many lovely items from it and plan to get many more. Hope my tips have been helpful and good luck!

A Holiday Pianist and Design

My son recently started piano lessons and loves it! After 3 classes he learned 2 holiday tunes and wanted to share...

My husband bought the keyboard on (you guessed it) Craigslist! Now that it is apparent music will be apart of my sons life, I am interested in getting a piano and of course it will be used. That means I will have to fit it into my decor, so I canvassed the net for pianos in interiors. This is just a handful of images I found...

Scripps Howard

Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac Home 

Traditional Home

Rothswchild Sargeant

Robert Hadley

Jeffrey P. Elliot

Martin Lawrence Bullard

All of these designs are gorgeous! But alas I don't have the space yet even for a stand up piano. When I do the addition on my home eventually (yes I know not the greenest, but as my parents age they look to me to step into their hosting shoes and I have a large family), I will add a piano and probably a stand up because my addition will not be huge and I am thinking paint...

source unknown

source unknown

So my plan is do an addition, keep my son in piano lessons (thanks goodness he loves it), purchase a second hand stand up piano and paint it a fun color! I can't help it, but I love color and lots of it!!!

P.S. My giveaway is still going on, if you wish to win a piece of my hand built pottery, then go here. 

Fridays Finest Finds

A side note:  A huge Thank You to all of you for the very sweet compliments about my pottery...it seriously  means a lot to me!! I am so happy to have you all join Fresh Quince as well and I look forward to hearing what you have to say. I will contact the winner next Wednesday evening and announce it on Thursday!!! Thanks so very much :)!!!! And for those that haven't had a chance to enter my pottery giveaway, go here.

Below are my top finds in DC Metropolitan's Craigslist....

Shabby Chic Dresser $100 (great bones and simply sweet for a girls room or could be painted a manly shade of teal)

Swoop Armchair $120 (simple and sweet, could fit with any decor really)

7 Piece Brown Sectional $70 (great starter piece and looks so inviting for an afternoon snooze)

With all of the money you save on the above sofa, you could do this...

Jane from Pear Tree House via AP

Black Lacquer Buffet $125 obo (great buffet for a chic space...light blue walls, large gilt mirror and tons of liquor on top ;). if you're interested in making lemon verbana vodka, go here to a previous post i did)

Gorgeous Gilt Console Table $200 (no words...this is incredible!!!!!!!)

Vintage Striped Velvet $225 (fabulous shape and could go in a cream with green living room very easily)

French Style Cane Sofa $600 (so very Wisteria...i would re-upholster the cushion in a white/cream/celedon green linen and add to the sun room i don't have)

Or you could paint the trim of the above sofa in white like chairs in the image below (great for a beach home)...

Image: courtesy Wisteria

White Upholstered Living/Dining Room Chairs $250 (2 armless and 2 with arms...would look gorgeous around a black round table)

Chippendale Sofa with Matching Chair $125 (it's the ball and claw feet that have me loving these, paint them cream and upholster in Pantone's 2011's hottest color - honeysuckle)

8 x 10 West Elm Chevron Rug $125 (it's chocolate and cream with an oh so delicious price...don't you agree?)

I could show about a billion images with chevron rugs looking amazing, but I really love the Miles Redd bedroom below...

Courtesy: Domino

2 Vintage Velvet Chairs $150/pair (re-upholstery and paint...need i say more)

The chairs above could look as gorgeous as the pink velvet chair in this image...

Rita Konig

Or the craigslist chairs could be painted black with mustard yellow velvet like these...

Faux Bamboo Desk & Hutch $225 (no harm is offering less for these beauties)

The desk above reminds me of the desk MOS painted awhile back, to see the post go here, they did a fabulous job as evidenced below...

 

Danish Mid-Century Armchair $178 (totally Mad Men)

Jonathon Adler Lampert Velvet Sofa $650 (wow...this is an incredible deal, you can't even get a large ikea sofa for this price. i see it in a guys hip living room, he could even get the coffee table way below and he's set, actually he could also purchase chevron rug above and he has an awesome living room for a little above $1000)

Lacquer Sofa Table $95 (great bones and just needs some touch up, but would be perfect behind a long velvet sofa)

Modern Coffee Table CB2 $300 (i would offer less, why not try)

Custom Jonathon Adler Modern Sofa $1400 (i know this is pricey, but you have to pop over to the post to read why they are selling it...some people have serious money. i don't think i need to add an inspirational image for this beauty...these people are already on the right track-nice orange lamp)

Green Velvet Sofa and Loveseat $900 (i would most def. offer less, but they are pretty hot pieces or break them up...i love love love the color green!!!)

Here's an inspirational image for the above sofa...

Source: unknown

3 Vintage Shield Back Chairs $90/all (great price and if the fabric is nice, then no need to re-upholster if it matches your decor)

Here's an inspirational photo for the chairs above, if you are tight on space then 3 chairs are perfect. I love the shield back...so Swedish...

And here's a similar chair from Wisteria for $549:

Swedish Rococo Painted Armchair $900 (had to add this Swedish beauty)...

Last, but not least...below are some great finds in honor of the Pantone color for 2011: Honeysuckle

4 Hot Pink Dining Chairs $200

Victorian Style Sofa $250

Shabby Chic French Settee $200 (the color is a tad off, but so cute)

Hope you are inspired to go buy second hand like I always am!