Charms, Charms, Charms

Our most popular workshop to date is Charms. Whenever we offer it, it fills quickly, and with really great people. Lisa and I start by showing same samples and offering some instructions. Then we let everyone loose to start collecting their components. We bring oodles of supplies, and are always surprised with the new combinations people create. I joke that we lure them into the studio with a few samples of things, and then gather all sorts of new ideas while we watch the energy escalate.

Here is Barbara flattening a bottle cap.

She had great success as she visualized some challenging people from her past on the top of each cap she smashed. Look at that grin on her face!
This workshop was still cooking at noon, after two hours. We had two Dremels going - one drilling and one sanding. Eventually the party ended. It was a good one! -- Beth

Happy Coincidences, Happy Customers

We love our customer friends, and get a big kick out of it when they start bringing in their friends, family and neighbors on future visits. Here is Val with her lovely mother. It was her mom’s first visit and she found her high school annual among the books for sale at the studio! Here they are with the page showing her picture. What a happy discovery! --Beth

Out and About

Doug and I were on a Sunday drive yesterday and I said, "Hey, let's stop by Barnes and Noble and see if our salvage studio book is on the shelves yet."

Look what we found! Well, we may not have found it exactly in that spot but that is where it ended up after we pulled it off the shelf and looked at it!

There was only one in the store. I hope that means they have been flying out the door.

We didn't have such luck at the other bookstore that begins with a 'B'. I will keep checking and write about them when the time comes. No pressure. -- Lisa

Organizing Event Highlights

We shared the before pictures of our annual organizing event. Here are some of the after shots.

Shelves working while standing up.

Sewing vignette.

Vintage iron stands are now standing message boards. A masher with a clip is now a picture holder.

Paper roll holders from mystery objects.

A wire brush holds pictures well, while a metal thingamajig dispenses twine.

Here's a striking collection from Amy's "black and white and read all over" display.

What a great combination.

We now have our book for sale at the studio! With all three of us at the studio today, we began autographing copies we sold. Our next autograph party will be Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. But of course, you can buy books any Friday or Saturday before then.

Thanks to all our customer friends who visited us today!

What we are up to...

We try to post tidbits on our blog more than once a week. We have a darn good reason why the week zipped by without a little something. Our annual Organizing Event & Sale is this coming Saturday, September 13 at the studio. So we've been busy preparing.

Here's Lisa working on an old window.

Amy is the mastermind of the wonderful displays in our studio.

Here's a shot of some of the new arrivals, with my "friend", the shop vac taking a rest in the middle of it.

Lots of new creations will be waiting for you. Hope to see you bright and early on the 13th! --Beth

Garden Art Galore!

We are always on the lookout for fun ways people decorate their gardens.

Labor Day found us at Colleen's house for an ice cream social. The inside of her house is always a treat for the eyes. She's a retired school teacher, and has a passion for different holidays. So far we've seen her arrays for Christmas, Valentine's, Easter and Halloween. Monday we felt completed, with the viewing of her 4th of July/patriotic displays. The sun came out, so we headed outside.

The white trellis and screen door look great as background props.

Lisa and I want to inherit these fab galvanized barrels.

Great white, chippy, peely columns

Her watering cans look so happy arrayed this way.

And nothing like a good, red toolbox for a planter.

Cheers! Beth & Lisa

Library Fun

We have a really fun relationship with the King County Library System (KCLS). We had a 5-city speaking tour this summer on Garden Art from Found Objects, Salvage and Really Good Junk. We went all over the place spreading the word about 'really good junk'. We recently learned of a KCLS blog post talking about our new book. Thank you to Zina for her kind words. And at the time of this posting there were 10 holds on the 12 ordered books and it isn't even on the shelves yet! Thanks!