'tis the SEASON' by opendoorstudio

Red and Green to delight!

Merry Christmas Decor D... HouseHoldWords $5.00	Wood Boxes Holiday Disp... grasshoppercaf... $22.50	Vintage Beacon Blanket ... BirdinHandVTG $255.00	Brass Stag Deer Figurin... GizmoandHooHa $44.00
Red and Green - Vintage... LaRouxVintage $18.00	Santa Claus is Coming t... ScreamingRockV... $24.99	Tom and Jerry Mugs Haze... OldVintageGood... $24.00	Yes Dear - Male Cardina... mingtaphotogra... $10.00
Christmas Red Art Glass... UneekGlassFusi... $58.00	Little Boy Bow Tie - Ch... littlegentlema... $18.00	Vintage 1960s Dress - D... zwzzy $60.00	Colonial Christmas Wrea... TheLinnetsWing $67.00
Mid Century Silver Trim... Circa810 $42.00	Crochet lariat infinity... yarnisland $20.00	Personalized Knitted Ch... eugenie2 $36.95	Chevron Christmas Bow T... LittleLadyAcce... $9.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Live Boldly: Not Your Usual Christmas Tree

Houzz- Kitchen Remodel, Bathroom Remodel and More »

Browse Window Treatments on Houzz- For Example:

Cellular Shades · Curtain Poles · Curtains · Roller Blinds · Roman Blinds · Venetian Blinds · Vertical Blinds · Window Blinds ·

My Pinterest  " Vintage Travel trailer"   board:

   ENVY!

photo from thesweetestoccasion.com

I adore this color palette! Love EVERY one! 

I am torn between the beautiful pallete here,  and tempted to add some Catherine Holm styling from the mid century... but... 

I am also loving the cabin style of a Ralph Lauren LOOK.

Could it be possible to do both?  To find a common color for the exterior of the camper, maybe with some handpainted touches... and switch the interior stylings out for the season or show we are doing.  Painting the interior White, with pops of color inside dictated by the accessories we bring on each trip.  Either way, I will have all Winter to browse the web and make a decission for the coming Spring.

Part 1: Home tour Opendoorstudio from The Vintage Bazaar

My interview with Katherine from The Vintage Bazaar in Chicago 

Copied from the Vintage Bazaar blog 2012  ... I have added photos to the original post for you to enjoy!

KATHERINE

9

  

First of all, your house is amazing. But I want to talk about how it was literally picked up and moved from one location to another at some point? I saw them do this with a house in my neighborhood when I was young. Totally surreal experience! Why did that happen?

Back in 1991 when we purchased our home, we loved all of the qualities of the 1930s cape cod but LOVED the fact that it seemed to have a “new” basement.  It was not until our elderly neighbor dug up the local news clipping highlighting our home on wheels that we realized its history.  In 1981 it was purchased for one dollar, put on wheels and moved to its location.

It reminds me of the 1940′s childrens book written by Virginia Lee Burton entitled “The Little House”.  I often show and tell visitors our little house’s story and say … ours was the Poster Child for the book!

I have been able to collect  more information over the years.  The former owner would frequent the vintage sales in my front  “secret garden” to share tidbits of information.

our "secret garden" front yard, through the  wooden door arbor we created from an old door.

   I  have found out that it was located only about 1/2 mile from our home and was rescued to make way for a strip mall and local grocery store. At the time of the house move they also moved our town’s implement shed, so that serves as my studio, our garage and storage space.

When folks stop by, they often tell us about the parties they went to in our home, they talk about it having been a two flat just years before we purchased it. 

Our bathroom AFTER the remodel, I designed the room and the tile floor.

The " new"  shower carved out of the closet, tile purchased on Ebay

 Repair men who come to work on our home say they know all about the electrical and plumbing in it. Seems it was built by a renowned builder that made a name for himself in the older sections of Naperville.  This was his home, and you know what they say about the home of a builder: never completed and short cuts all around!  

Look for part 2 of the 3 part post... later this week.

original photo by opendoorfinearts.etsy.com

Art in the Barn 2012

Several months back, I was with friends for our annual trip to Art in the Barn in Barrington, Illinois.  It is how we mark time and how we spend our birthdays together.  Art in the Barn...followed by lunch and a few beverages, lots of talking and laughing.  It is always a delight, and always too short and it makes me think how fast time goes.  Everytime we meet there, I can NOT believe yet another year has passed.

Art in the Barn is a staple of Barrington life.  It has been a festival to benefit the local hospital now, for 38 years. My mother used to attend regularly, her art teacher Dale Wilson, an oil painter, would show his beautiful paintings of the local barns and the countryside.  She could not resist picking up a piece or two to add to her ever growing collection.   The 6th year of Art in the Barn, a teacher from the High School, who was the folk club leader... Mr. Offet and I were strolling minstrels.  We walked among the artisans and show gowers... and played our guitars, and sang when we were so inspired.  

Fast forward about 12 years...Once we were all reunited and our children had grown, we were free to head out to enjoy our birthdays with one another.   Without fail my Sister Leslie, other "Sisters" Jinny and Lee, My daughter Aubrey,  good friend Cindi along with her husband Hank and other wonderful friends throughout the years, Sandy, Jan, Elaine, Pam and more...go back "home" for the festival.  We NEVER miss it.  Rain or shine.  

From year to year the same artists gather, sometimes there is a new artist or two.  This year, a favorite new pair of talented artists was a duo from MyNihilo.com,  a delightful booth, fulled with handmade fiber scarves, and handmade fused plastic totes along with other trinkets and baubles.  What made it even more delightful, was the creative use of  props in the booth.  Springs mounted on a 4"x 4"x6' pole to create a "coat stand" for items to hang from, corrugated metal for their sign, which was created using repurposed metal parts and pieces.   SO CREATIVE!  They had so many great ideas,  the use of old palettes and wood for much of their back drop... but the best part... by far, was the personality of these "Sister-in-Laws".  They could NOT be more darling.  Their quirky and fun sense of humor shone through in their work.  One knits beautiful, long silk scarves out of repurposed saris and silk that was sourced from other countries.  Colorful and lovely, I could not resist purchasing one (only $24)  and it is well over 118 inches of goodness!  

I loved them, and their work so much, that my girlfriend Jinny went back with me... after winning a raffle... (from which she chose the scarf) and chose a beauty!  Yet another girlfriend was browsing there for about a half hour before finding one she loved.  

The colors of the scarves and the originality of the display as well as the lovely personalities of the ladies in the booth, kept drawing me back!

Moral of the story.  Spend time with good friends, Find new friends and artists.  Support local artisans.  Find things for Chirstmas gift giving and help out locally.  ( The Art in the Barn festival proceeds do good works for the hospital.  These artists all donated a percentage of their sales to the cause, Art in the Barn is a festival that takes place in the Fall each year. Usually the 3rd Saturday in September) 

Who knows...someday maybe you will find ME there selling something I have created, Hand painted silk scarves, original watercolors and oil paintings ?  That day... the Circle will be complete.  Going from being a musician in the late 70s or early 80s to buying there for years, to showing there... would be a wonderful goal for me.

Be sure to click on the mynihilo.com link above to see where in the area they are showing!

               
Thanks for stopping by!
   martha
opendoorstudio.etsy.com

Photos of Michigan in the Fall