Opendoor Studio

10.14.2010

Be Inspired!

Last weekend I was able to attend an evening event at NaDa Farms in rural Northern Illinois.

Arriving at the farm, We were greeted with a delightful entry way!

( 2 vintage doors with galvanized metal roofing)

created a warm welcome!

Anne Marie and Friends had a special event to celebrate the harvest.

Customers flooded the barn to grab unique items and ideas!

The guests were invited via blog and were greeted with Champagne as they walked through the beautiful vignettes.

Vintage finds and fashions abound! A feast for the eyes!

you be the judge!

Having fun with friends

and

Happy customers!

That's what it's all about!!!

10.10.2010

One more splended Fall afternoon!

This weekend My husband , my son and I went to Tony's secret stomping grounds. When we arrived the winds must have been about 50 miles per hour but after parking and walking down a short path we came upon... Fall...In all of its glory I might add. We wondered through the woods and arrived at a small trickling stream. It was quite picturesque. I have included some photos here so that you are able to come along with us on our adventure. Enjoy the rest of the season!

fall at St. James Farm in Warrenville, IL

Fall... ( taken from last years Aunt Martha's attic blog.. which I will be closing!)

It has been several months since my last entry. Things have been busy this Fall. Aside from celebrating a milestone anniversary... I have continued painting, working at Jb Winterberry, Collecting, and enjoying the beautiful colors of Fall.
My husband and I visited St. James Farm this weekend so that I had a chance to " paint out" while he read a book in the shade. What a glorious day it was. The Scents of Fall were in the air, but the temperature was in the 80's. Colors ranging from golden to brilliant reds and yellows. I can't think of a better way to spend a Fall afternoon ( aside from a great football game or the Cubs in the World Series...we'll not hold our breath for that one). If you have the chance... step outside and enjoy a little Fall for yourself!

( the painting on the left, mine, the painting on the right...GOD!)

Opendoor's Halloween at Lil Red Schoolhouse!

A glimpse of Opendoor Studio 's booth at Lil' Red Schoolhouse in Warrenville!

I'll be moving my booth to another room! Will begin the process today! I will post photos of my new space! Hope you will come visit Lil' Red Schoolhouse in Warrenville

10.06.2010

It's a Small World After All!

It's a small world out there! Recently I met a dynamic vintage seller at the junk warehouse in Barrington, IL , who mentioned to me that she had a little place on some beautiful acreage in Door County. When I told her my goal of being up there in the coming years, she said we should keep in touch through our blogs to see our development... until our goal of being in the "Door" is reached!

She envisions having Vintage sales there, I mentioned the same! MY goal is to someday open a studio there and call it " Open Door Studio". I hope we are able to keep in touch to see our progress!

It is a lovely place and I only wish I would have thought about purchasing there 8 years ago... when it would have been possible!

Martha

9.23.2010

A view of the "Studio"!

Just thought I would post a photo of my space!
My original art work and one of my favorite new finds... the lathe tool wooden tote!
Color is always a staple!

9.21.2010

Refreshed and ready for Fall!

Just viewing some lovely blogs I have discovered. Some are from friends I have met along the way and others are from friends I would like to meet!

I have been inspired to begin changing my space for fall and now I just need to root through bins and bins of seasonal items to find just the right touches!

I have never been one to want to decorate for Halloween too soon! I like to add those elements in mid october. I do love the feel, taste and smell of fall so I will be finding my diffuser, bittersweet, pumpkins and gourds to add to the festive look. This year I am putting a more modern spin on things!

Before decorating for this harvest season, it is my tradition to attend a most cherished event!...

This weekend I will be graduating in to "Middleagedom" .... To usher that in, some of my best friends will be gathering for our traditional "usher in fall" trip to "Art in the Barn" in Barrington. This is a place I began to go to with my mother when I was young. She was an artist and her teacher would sell there every year. It is one thing I loved doing with my mom. As I grew more independent, I played my guitar and wondered the crowds as entertainment, Kind of a strolling minstrel.

After that, I never missed this wonderful event. Now, many old friends and neighbors gather to celebrate the fall, Carmel Apples, Raffles ( and we love those) and ART!

For Me... it has been my ultimate goal to be an artisan there! I will do it someday... but for now, I love to browse amongst the various artists finds!

I hope you will enjoy your day in the country and be sure to usher in fall properly by tipping back a cup of hot cider and perhaps even bringing home some Apple Cider Donuts!

enjoy

9.02.2010

Golden Jubilee!

Hello gang,
This past weekend I celebrated a milestone birthday... not telling which one... I am sure you can guess! In celebration I had many friends and family join me for some fun in my garden!

our " hootinanny"

My great friends Rich and Jacquie from Small potatoes were here to perform. What a delight to have them here in my very own home!

Just a quick view of my place on party day!

Laurie, Martha, Lisa and Sandy

Family joined us, my father in law and sister in law, along with her family, were here to celebrate the day

Friends from all phases of life were here to join me ! My thought was, invite all who would one day come to my funeral... I am well but thought it would be fun to see all the people I love all in one place...together! and so it was!

I was so pleased that Lisa fromablastfromthepast.etsy.com was able to join me and I had asked Sandy fromJollytimeone.etsy.com to come too! We have gotten together individually but never as a group. About a month ago Sandy had met Laurie frombirdie1.etsy.com and I was unable to attend the lunch gathering... there is a funny story behind that one! ( they had not met face to face and both sat in the restaurant waiting for the other to arrive when they realized the 2 women sitting alone were waiting for one another)!

When I found out that Sandy would be coming for the gathering, I just knew I had to ask Laurie. Keep in mind that Laurie and I have chatted bunches on etsy but have never spoken in person. We had friends in common and our paths had nearly crossed time after time.... but I had never formally met her! When I was first thinking of the Vintage Etsy Society Street Team, I bounced ideas off of Laurie through convos. We had planned to get together but it had never happened. I did it, I decided to convo her and ask her to join me at my party!

One of the first couples to arrive ... Laurie and her husband walked in, carrying darlingly prepared skewers of tomato and mozzarella, complete with umbrellas dangling from the skewer ends. It was so delightful. I found out that Laurie had brought me a gift... the hose reel she had in her shop that I had been coveting! She shared a story that she had planned to meet me at an all night flea market in our area last week and had wheeled it there to find me. She never did and was having to wheel the reel all over the market...I bet she could have sold it 10 times over!

thank you to all my Family, Tony, Aubrey, Hannah and Colin... old friends,(Rich and Jacquie, Greg and Liese, Pam and Billx2, my sister and brother in law Ken)! My newer friends (neighbors Barb and Lonnie and the JB Winterberry crew) and my newest friends..(from li'l red schoolhouse... and Etsy), for sharing my special day!!

8.17.2010

Congrats to Vintage Frocks of Fancy for winning the weekly treasury Featuring "Undiscovered Vestie Shops"

Congrats To vintagefrocksoffancy.etsy.com for putting together this weeks winning treasury! She chose some wonderful finds from some of the more undiscovered Vesties shops!

I wish the shops featured in all of the treasury's good sales!

This week's Tuesday Treasury Challenge... "VINTAGE FREESTYLE"! YOU CHOOSE THE THEME... BUT BE SURE TO INCLUDE AT LEAST 10 VESTIES SHOPS. BE SURE TO TAG IT " VINTAGE FREESTYLE" and " tuesday treasury challenge"

ADD THE LINK TO FACEBOOK AND TO THE NING.COM SITE SO WE CAN ALL VISIT !

GOOD LUCK ALL!