the line to wait for entry, friday night
Denise' home adornments and Vintage finds Geneva, IL
Diane Passi's industrial stylings
Hot house Vintage, find them at the brooklyn Flea once monthly
Anne Marie's wonderful booth and handmade vintage finds!
5.23.2011
Warehouse Chic Style
My latest find!
Last week I traveled to Nada Farms Spring Boho Event!
It was a lovely evening!
My friend Mary Ellen and I began our trek heading through Dekalb, IL
While there, we found a darling little shop that was downsizing and moving across the street. Megan Morrison's was full of cute, fun, bright New and vintage items. There were some wonderful tables for sale. My eyes cast to a 9 ft vintage folding table in a chippy yellow patina. I had the sales gal pull the tag for my final purchase. Just as I began to pay, my eyes cast to an incredible industrial table.
6x6 inch posts, glass, bolts, wheels... LOVE !
i quickly switched my purchase to this one, thinking my husband and Son would need to help me pick it up in a day or two.
We took the trek on Sunday morning and picked it up, hoisting it out the front door and rolling it proudly down the street in Dekalb, home of Northern Illinois University.
Once home, we took it out of the truck and I had all intentions of putting it in my studio. I remembered a vintage set of folding chairs I had purchased years before. Wonderful, wood and comfy. I pulled one up and voila! I thought... Dining room table!
Our current table was round, I had thought of painting it white for many years... never did. It ended up being a pass through room and a catch all for all of my Etsy orders.
NOW it is a proud new dining room table, 2 weekends ago, I happened upon the vintage trough which I pulled from my supply room and added as an easy arrangement to the top of my "new" table.
What once was an industrial roll around cart... is repurposed!
Warehouse chic style at its best!
5.16.2011
5.06.2011
Cold Hearted Orb a FP etsy treasury collection
Cold hearted orb
That rules the night
Removes the colours
From our sight
Red is gray and
Yellow white
But we decide
Which is right
And
Which is an Illusion
5.05.2011
INTO THE GREAT BEYOND ETSY STORQUE FEATURE
Into the Great Beyond: Opendoor Handmade
Martha, a.k.a. OpendoorHandmade and Opendoor Studio, is a free spirit who lives what she loves — she is first and foremost an artist. By day she is Assistant Manager at a not-for-profit resale shop where she enjoys greeting all of her regulars, tends to the Vintage Etsy Society Street Team as Captain, and dreams of opening an art studio in Door County, Wisconsin, calling it, of course, Opendoor Studio. Until then you can ride along on her vintage travels from her blog!
Years ago I used to thrive on designer clothing and name brand purses, shoes and fashions. My job was as a pharmaceutical sales rep, catering to doctors and professionals. As I have grown up, I have realized it is not about the designer items, it is all about comfort. I am no longer in the industry so I have purged these things from my closet. I thought I would illustrate this mini collection of gift tags so that I can remember the days gone by!
Inspired by this post? Submit your own illustrations tagged "Into the Great Beyond" to theInto the Great Beyond Flickr pool and your story could be featured on the Etsy Blog!
4.27.2011
The Story Behind the "Great beyond " Etsy blog Feature!
Thank you Michelle from Etsy Storque for featuring me in " The Great Beyond" Series! I am so happy that the world is able to see my little " taglines" !
after all... Life is just one big " tagline"
here is mine!
This is the story I submitted to Etsy and What I Love about being an artist!
it is much much different than the feature on etsy! please read on!
..............................................................................................................
Having lost both parents at a pretty young age, I still long for the ability to ask them questions about their youth!
I remember calling my mom for her recipes and am so thankful I had her write some of them down. I still wish I could pick up the phone and ask her about her days as a child, about why she never went to the art school she pursued.
As for Dad... He was taken too young and there were so many things I would love to ask him. I remember his old leather suitcase, smelling distinctly of Dial soap and littered with hotel keys of places he had stayed and had forgotten to "drop the key in the nearest post box". I remember him asking me to sit on his suitcase full of perfectly folded business suits, to help close it after he packed for a business trip or when he taught me to tie a double windsor tie, standing on a chair, eye to eye... about the age of 7. He would give me a quarter to polish his shoes, while he would sit patiently in the chair and tell me of his travels!
All of these details are like little pictures stored away in my minds eye! It is from them that I pull the little images that I illustrate.
Life was simpler then. Carefree, full of Love, Laughter, Large family gatherings and friends.
Perhaps that is why I love the simplicity of my illustrations.
My Mother was an artist and about a year before her passing, I remember a conversation about some paper dolls she had made for the sisters from Little Women. "Each paper doll had a complete outfit" she would tell me. Each was done in watercolor with ink outline. She told me that is how she would bide her time when she was young. I had never seen them. I could only imagine how wonderful they were. She would describe her fashions and we would always wonder what happened to them
A month after her death, my sister went to clean out her home, Cleaning everything out, only the bare bones remained. When I arrived, I could not believe how they had sorted through the entire home ( I would still be there now... 10 years later... picking through the trunks, boxes and drawers) There was really nothing but the furnishings left. I tried to find some boxes or personal items that could bring me back to my history. To my amazement, in the back of the closet, long cleaned out, there...tucked behind a file cabinet... was a little manilla envelope. I sat down, opened it up and found dozens upon dozens of her illustratons. These had been what she had told me about! Mostly clothing for the paper dolls, So colorful! So beautiful! I could not believe a young girl could create such beauty and have such a vivid imagination.
It is from these beautiful images that I was inspired to create my little collections.
Fast forward about 10 years, It's Christmas and my son received a special little box of watercolors in his stocking. I saw it on the table and would pass it by. One day I decided to open it and pick up the brush. Without watercolor paper in sight, I opened my desk drawer and found some little manilla shipping tags. I began to paint! Hours went by and I was painting every little image that came to mind. So many thoughts of my childhood. Simple images... Reminiscent of days gone by, Vintage fashions, flowers, reminders of home, wedding cakes, special toys from my youth!
First laying down the watercolor then adding the pen and ink. I would paint whatever popped into my mind. It was like magic! I began painting my "Tag Lines" for family and friends, then for customers at the little shop where I worked. People would stop in for me to paint custom Cards and tags just for them... before their eyes! Seems I had drawn a following!
I decided to share them here on Etsy for all to enjoy! Each is a tiny labor of love!
Kind of like my little way of passing along my history to YOU!
Be sure to take a little time to reminisce and ask a loved one about a favorite recipe or about their travels as a youth. You will be glad you did...before they slip away!
4.25.2011
Counting down the days!
In the parking lot just outside the front gates taken while dropping off my first load!
Where has this year gone already! Seems I blink and another month rolls by. Sadly the weather still seems as cold and damp as February...but there is hope of warmer weather on the horizon!
I am counting the days. Slashing them on my calendar...until I am able to go to my favorite Flea market EVER!
On a Mid May Sunday morning. I will pack my car with all of the Flea market necessities:
Hat, Sunscreen, jacket, umbrella, bag, cart ( including a cute little handmade insert from Ki at junkrevolution) some water and plenty of cold, hard CASH! And Head north about 2 hours, to the Elkhorn Wisconsin Flea market.
Held at the fair grounds, this market is a NOT TO MISS if you are a lover of vintage of all kinds. If you are a seller, this is the place to set up!
Creativity abounds! I have found such wonderful treasures and LOVE to stop to chat with friends along the way. Some great sellers you will find there have shops on etsy too! ( finally ) Joan at anythinggoeshere.etsy.com is just one example!
She could NOT be nicer and her booth is to drool over! This woman oozes creativity!
I love Denise from Denise's Home Adornments and Vintage Finds in Geneva and Judy who has her own etsy shop now too! Janice ( as written in Judy's blog) has a great vintage style and you can find her working her off hours at Serenade in Wheaton, Il
I love to hit the ground running ( as Dad would say) and walk briskly down the isles.
I have my system down! I tend not to poke into the booths unless something really catches my eye and then I don't linger long! If the price is right, it's mine. Usually the sellers will allow you to hold your items there for most of the day. I will map the locations where I have purchased things, and will drive in at day's end to pick them up!
It is fun to shop with a friend but be sure the two of you are not gunning for the same things!
There is a woman who brings in lovely Zinnias and fills the little milk bottles to the brim with them. She sells them for only a few dollars and that is a stop on my list for sure!
Should you find yourself at that market... plan to spend the entire day until closing!
You will be so glad you did!
I hope to run into you there! I know you will love it!
Be sure to leave a comment if you have a favorite market in your area!
Have fun shopping for treasures this season!
xo,
martha
2.10.2011
'Grey February day !' by opendoorstudio
Where in the world is Spring! I can't wait until it arrives! I am on the hunt!
 size 5.5 black & tan Ju... $78.00 |  Vintage Deerhead with A... $15.95 |  Barn Owl 11x14 original... $100.00 |  Heart collector clutch ... $20.00 |
 vintage RUSTY GRAY plai... $38.00 |  Grey and Blue Japanese ... $10.00 |  30% Off Set - Paul Buny... $100.00 |  Earth Toned Leather & Y... $108.00 |
 10 Cat Toys in Earth To... $6.00 |  Snake Chain Pillow $55.00 |  creme caramel earrings $21.00 |  Vintage metal hand $39.00 |
 After Human Clay Stud e... $10.49 |  Elements Shea butter So... $5.50 |  Precious COLOR BLEND An... $95.00 |  Adult Crochet Mary Jane... $25.00 |
Some of my favorite items from some of my favorite shops!
thinking of the Grey Winter days! wishing for Spring... but I know all to well, it will be here before we know it and will speed by in the blink of an eye!
Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.
11.15.2010
Holidays!
I have taken some photos and done some etsy listing! Mixing up the look a bit to feel a little more " homespun" ...never thought that word would creep back into my vocabulary... thought it was replaced by " industrial " "mid century modern" " schoolhouse" " warehouse chic"... but, alas... it has returned...for the holidays!
I will be back to my regularly scheduled program after the first of the year, as far as photos are concerned!
I am hoping to be able to spend a little more time working on my etsy shop this holiday and with a little help from my husband, will be tidying up my shipping area as well!
Working on the Christmas " theme " for this year! Something hand made, I am thinking... and painted too!
oxo
martha
11.13.2010
Food for the Soul!
This morning was the first morning I have not had to get up and rush to my new "job".
Don't get me wrong, it's not like I don't enjoy my new position, It is just that I miss being my creative self.
Several months ago the little shop I managed, JB Winterberry in downtown Wheaton, Il closed it's doors after an 8 1/2 year run! It was a charming spot and full of beautiful vintage finds, home decor and wonderful friends and customers.
After its close, I somehow found a position in a local resale shop as assistant manager.
Yesterday a former JB customer arrived and said... your soul is not being nurtured here.
She went on to say... I miss your creative talents! The truth of the matter is ... so do I!
I loved the idea of working part time and taking time to paint my paintings. Having a little space in a local antiques mall ( Lil' red schoolhouse antiques) and tending to my Etsy shop. I had even been approached by the blog editor on Etsy ( Mary) to do a "quit your day job" feature! Much to my dismay, our family needed the additional income and more so... the benefits!
I took on the position of assistant manager in charge of shuffling other folks belongings around a tightly packed space.
I love helping others, I love the volunteers...but wish my creative side was being put to better use!
This morning as I awoke, I realized I finally had a Saturday ahead of me, without spending it a work (a Sunday, Monday and Tuesday too) All in a row!
I began paging through blog entries of friends and friends of friends... and realized that I missed that so much!
I long to spend a day in the country shopping for antiques with friends or visiting my sister, helping out an old friend with a move, sprucing up my little space at the antiques mall... taking photos for my etsy sites or maybe even making space for my car in the garage before winter!
How inspiring to read the blogs of these creative women! They give me hope that sometime in my life, I might be able to regenerate my creative side! The side that has been lacking as of late!
xo
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