Viva's Vintage Market July 2013 a look back

Ok, so I have been without a computer of my own, for months.... still without one that works properly...but I thought I would add some views of this wonderful show!

Angie, former owner of Viva la Cottage in Sister bay, is the promoter of the show... it is a delightful group.  When we arrived on Friday night, they were not only allowing us to set up our spaces, but they were also setting up for a concert on the lawn.  We worked around them.  I had tons of help unloading.. some wonderful friends helped haul things from my truck and helped set up my tent ( could not have done it without them) 

Working the Americana and Campy theme... 

This sale takes place in Door County on the Baileys Harbor Community center Lawn.  Mid July... Watch for it next year! 

Door County Bound!

In a few weeks I will be making the trek up to Door County... first and foremost, I will be participating in Viva's Vintage Market!  I can't wait to see everyone!

I will be bringing "Mabel", our little travel trailer, with me and staying in a campground while scoping out the various artists participating in the Door County Plein Air Fest which begins the following week.

Tonight I pulled out my painting supplies. I have not picked up a brush in almost a year... here is the result of my 5x7 practice piece, after about 20 minutes...It is a view, from memory, from Clark Park in Fish Creek!

    I hope to see you in Door County July 20th through 28th

                 Cheers,

                      Martha

( it is available for sale for $45.00 plus $6.00 shipping. If you are interested, please email me at opendoorstudio@yahoo.com with your email and zip code and I can paypal invoice you)

Hoop Art ... How to.

I have been gathering vintage muslin and old embroidery hoops now for a while, always with the intent that I would someday create something with them.  

Gathering my old embroidery floss, muslin pieces, embroidery needle, pen, hoops, backing and my own creative thoughts... I started my project.  

My intention was to recreate a small version of a larger piece I found years ago, tucked away in an old trunk.  It is a detailed map of the USA.  In fact, it is an educational map and oh so cute.  The problem: it is very large and will not fit in my little travel trailer with room for other wall hangings.  

First things first,  with a pen, draw your illustration or the words you would like to embroider... think about varying your lettering, some large, some bold, others small and using small broken stitches... be creative.

I chose to draw a map of the US... freehand.. I didn't refer to a map so I am sure the scale is not exact and the Great Lakes are not properly placed... but that's ok... In my opinion, that is what makes it charming.  I thought to make the little dotted lines and arrows to show some of my favorite locales... as a matter of fact, those that I chose are places I have spent with family over the years.

 I chose to add a heart where we live, next to Lake Michigan,
* I added a little arrow to our favorite spot up north... you guessed it, Door County, Wi.
* I added arrows to the shore in New Jersey (Ocean City)/ East Coast...where we have spent countless summers with cousins, grandmas, aunts and uncles and friends.
* Florida: (thinking of Grandma and Grandpa Cleary) and trips to Disney World with family. And where Grandma and Grandpa Smith spent their Winters as snowbirds.
* Arizona: where my father and mother had a summer home in Pinetop... and my mother lived in Scottsdale after my father passed away... and now my nephew lives in Phoenix.
* The Rocky Mountains: where I spent my summers at Camp St. Malo, it was a magical place,  I was thrilled to have a chance to and take my children there several years back.
* California: where I was born and took the children in 2007, traveled to a family wedding first to Northern California, where i lived for 7 years... and visited Aunt Elaine's old property in Sonoma on what is now... Ravenswood Winery (so I guess I truly can call it my old "stomping grounds") Meeting  family  in Southern California. Touring wine country there with Tony and staying with loved ones in Lajolla.
 I have traveled to almost every other state in the Union... but have not had the attachments I have in those mentioned above.

Here, I added the Golden Gate bridge in California, a beach umbrella by the shore.... and embroidered a black border around the little pink heart near home.

As a companion piece, to hang in our little travel trailer... I thought to create a "See the USA" hoop. Here you can see how I created the design with a pen... and used the floss on the needle to outline and fill in the lettering.

Above was the finished product... before adding the backing.  I decided to add the Florida Keys to the map.  A place I would love to visit someday!

 I thought the USA would look cute in the red, white and blue floss.  Hmm... to line it in black or not?

 A little close up of my work... ok, so it has been a while since I've worked on an embroidery project.

 Both complete, outlined USA and ready for the final step, adding a felt or fabric piece as a backing.

I used pinking shears to cut out the colorful printed felt ( Michaels... such cute things they are making now!)  I used tacky glue to adhere the backing.  I will hang them from the little springs that are used to hold the hoop together at the top.  

They will look so cute in my little camper.  I can't wait to add little vintage pennants from antiques shops and roadside sales along our travels... They will add some fun to our travel wall, just inside the door of our little get away on wheels.

Please add a link below to YOUR project.  Flickr, or instagram links work well!  For MORE "hoop art" inspiration... click here !

oh... and for more vintage finds and to see our  ongoing "Travels in Vintage" ... or some fun and creative things I am working on...  follow me on  instagram  with  your smartphone.  @Opendoorstudio 

Cheers! 

        Martha

'Northern Lights ...' by opendoorstudio

Inspired by clcort aka lunchladyvintage's photo ! I hope you have a chance to catch the Northern LIghts sometime in your lifetime! They are gorgeous! Happy Wintertime!

The Northern Lights, pr... FotosbyCindy $20.00	Vintage Rhinestone Stud... ShopHedgerowRo... $26.00	Playsilk Northern Light... DesertDyeworks $13.00	Black Lace Circle Scarf... TheSilkMoon $25.00
Northern Lights Glitter... AshleySpatula $14.00	Perfect Mason Jar / Aqu... RollingHillsVi... $8.75	Northern Lights Photo, ... j2studiosphoto... $30.00	Holiday Garland, Birch ... sesameandsparr... $12.00
Black Friday Etsy Vinta... charliesnest $14.50	Black Friday Sale Vinta... LunchLadyVinta... $87.50	Vintage 1940's aqua... AkoVintage $22.00	Vintage Mid Century Til... VivaVera $14.00
iPhone 4 Case, iPhone 4... bomobob $30.00	Set of 25, Plastic Butt... Retransmission $6.00	Paper Globe - Large 10 ... bookBW $98.00	Miniature photography, ... ErinTyner $40.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

You will find OpendoorStudio set up at the Nook Friday November 30th through Sunday December 2nd.

   I will be bringing my Warm Woolen Blankets and lots of Plaid stylings.... something a bit different for OpendoorStudio.  It is sure to put you in the HOLIDAY mood! Come and Bring a friend and enjoy Downtown Naperville for the HO HO Holidays!

  Can't wait to see you there!

    martha

Home tour series from the original interview Spring 2012 with Katherine from The Vintage Bazaar

Part 3  

part 1 published on 11/11/12

What’s your favorite room in the house?

I spend the most time in my living room. It is flooded with light from the large southern windows and is my winter painting studio. I love my dining room but spend the least time in it!  Kitchen is great, is newly done and I love adding vintage touches where I am able… like adding little mirrors onto the chipped saucers and hanging them above the archway between my kitchen and dining room.  Something unexpected but brings a little bit of light to an otherwise dark spot!

What do people say when they visit?

They enjoy browsing around.  I have a story for everything. They love the creative touches and things they would have never thought to pair together. They love the bright pops of color and feel comfortable here. It is lived in and time-worn. I never use a coaster on a table.

Extended family and friends love gathering here for Christmas. They often wonder what I will have up my sleeve to decorate it with each year.  My Chromatic Christmas tree is still the talk of the town. Some call it my “rainbow” tree — ornaments arranged from top to bottom on a white tree using the color wheel as inspiration… all vintage and wonderful!

 

 

How long have you been re-selling?

I began in 1993.  I have been collecting all my life and needed an outlet.  My dad passed away on January 13, 1989 and on January 13, 1993 a new antique mall down the road advertised they were looking for dealers.  I took that as a sign… and I have had my hands in it since then! I have had booths at local malls and have done many flea markets including The Vintage Bazaar at the Dank Haus.

 

 I also throw open the doors of my “studio” on occasional weekends / catch as catch can.  I post the sales on myFacebook page.

 

 

What kinds of things do you sell at the Bazaar? Will you be selling at the markets at Aragon this summer?

I will be at the Aragon this summer for sure! I love bringing a feel of what you might find in my own home: Mid-century, scientific, schoolroom, colorful, bold, oversized vintage finds! Globes, boxes, industrial tables and chairs… color, color, color…. that is what inspires me!

 

What advice do you have for people out there on how to get your look?

Collect what you love. Use things in different ways. Don’t be afraid of adding bold statement pieces to your space. Think in terms of collections. Don’t over clutter but pull in things you might not normally find in a home, like the Lube drum side tables, cast offs from local schools and warehouses… just LOVE what you have and use what you love.

 

What’s one piece you got rid of that you wish you never threw away?

After getting married and having my dad pass away, I found I was pregnant. Everyone I knew was having little boys and I thought for sure that would be me, too. I lived in a townhome and had a storage unit. When my mother announced she was having a garage sale, I told her to go ahead and sell the little doll houses that my father had made for me.  

She did… and they sold to a neighbor. A year later I had a baby girl, and would have loved to have been able to pass that on to her. I called the neighbor but she had donated it to a charity. That is ONE thing I wish I had kept.

How has your taste evolved over the years? What did your place look like 10 years ago? 

I was really into “shabby chic” before it was given that name, everything white, feminine (my poor hubby) and roses all around! YIKES! I think I am still trying to sell some of that, but it doesn’t fit into the aesthetic I am going for in my booth these days.  Oh well… I can always donate it to the resale shop where I work!  After all, one man’s (or woman’s) junk is another man’s treasure!

 

Be sure to check out part one and two of the At Home interview with Katherine from the Vintage Bazaar in Chicago