Signs of Spring in the Backyard

Spring is finally here in the backyard.....

My Bleeding Heart and Coral Bells I brought over from my old house....

Little yellow Tulips, Ferns, Hosta and more  coming up in the yard....

And last but not least, Peonies, Blossoms and yard decor.

March Madness

I know that it has been a while since I have had any posts.
My computer has been in the shop, for what I had to spend
to fix it, I could have gotten a new one. But I love this old gal
and I am glad to have her back. Several pictures have been waiting
in my camera for a post. One is the retro metal dressing table that
I repurposed.

I replaced the laminate boards with mirrors, recovered the set with a damask fabric and
spray painted the metal silver.

I had a hard time with the spray painting because I was doing it outside. It
was either too cold, too wet or snowing. And the guy took a long time to cut
the mirrors. I think she turned out great.
I just sprussed up my spaces at Queen City for Spring and two big pieces have
already sold!

That's all for now, hope Spring is around the corner.

What's New in the Store

It is Saturday and I have to be at work soon, so I will make this
brief. Here is a quick look at what same into my spaces recently.

The stool that I posted before and after pictures of in my last post.

New cushion for my cane French Chair in a Robert Allen fabric scrapes I had
left over from another job.

This beautiful very long Antique Camel Back Sofa in a heavy pool velvet. A friend
sent me a text with a picture of this sofa that a friend of hers was trying to sell. My
upholsterer picked it up for me so I do not have before and afters.

Cute little Yellow Cane Chair with a bright floral sample fabric seat cover.

My auction purchases, an  Antique Round French Chair and a Faberge style
Tole Daffodil Lamp.

Hand Painted Asian Chinoiserie Black Laquer Mirror, sorry about the reflection
of the ugly rug.

Duralee Zsa  Zsa Fabric and ball trim for a needlepoint pillow project for a client.
More pictures of new things to come, there just never is enough time.

Before and After of the Small Vintage Stool in a Floral Sunflower Stool

Before and After of the Small Vintage Stool in a Floral Sunflower Stool.
This is a stool that I bought at thrift shop and brought home to work on and
redo myself. Once I stripped it and stained the legs, I realized that Marvin, my
upholsterer needed  to do the work for me. I found the trim and fabric at Fabric
Warehouse in Harrisonburg. and here are pictures of the process....

Love the yellow, orange, red, and brown chenille fabric with the matching trim.

New Year, New Beginings

I always love a New Year, last year I had a lot of changes,
all for good reasons. I closed my shop down after six years
of trying to do it on my own, I moved to Queen City Market
place with a couple of good spaces for my business and took
a space out at the Factory Antique Mall in Verona. I work a
couple of days at QCM and in the fall took a part time job at
with a high end mattress company. And I have a few days off to
spend some time finding new things to sell. I moved to a smaller
space, less expensive and in August my car died. I spent a small
fortune to fix it with the hopes of keeping it a little longer.

  So after a quiet New Year, I worked, and we are now into the second
week of January, things are already looking up. I sole my Duncan Phyfe
sofa, my before and after story here on the blog,  and the buyer saw it here
on the blog and drove over from Charlottesville to get it. Yes people do read
my blog. I received a nice inheritance check and I have been asked to come back
and do some decorating for the Campus View Apartments with Matchbox Realty.
This will be my third time or job with them.

  All this means that I am spending more time in my car, driving to Verona, driving
to Harrisonburg, driving my son back to VMI, driving to the mall to the mattress store.
Even though I had my 2001 Volvo fixed, I did not feel safe driving it. I had trouble
getting it started, it was stalling on me and it was like driving a rattling tin can. I threw
caution into the wind and after a lot of thought I took a trip over to Valley Subaru.

I traded in my beloved Volvo in for a Subaru Crosstreck. I wanted the same size
car but to be up a little higher, four wheel drive, and a really cool looking car.
They didn't much for my car, but I got a great deal on this car. So far 2016 looks
promising. Happy New Year.

Merry Christmas

A very Merry Christmas to all. Elfie and I had a
very quiet and relaxing day. Talked to my family
on the phone and got a little work done.

The Next Big Move, The Factory Antique Mall in Verona

 A couple of weeks ago I was purchasing a few items
out at The Factory Antique Mall in Verona. I was having
a conversation with Jason, the manager, when he was checking
me out about the fact that I was a dealer and had a couple of
spaces in Queen City Marketplace, I was trying to get a better
price on my items. He asked if I would be interested in coming
in to The Factory, a prime space had just opened up.
 The Factory is the largest Antique Mall in the US, I think. It is
just off 81 and gets a lot of traffic. I researched a couple of other
Antique Malls and decided that I needed more exposure, not just
the downtown traffic, so I took the plunge. This is a big move for
me, the last time I was in to Antique Malls was in Richmond at
the West End Antique Mall and The Chippenham Antique Mall.
 The rent is low, the space is 10 x 10 and I am on isle or street  14
close to the cafe, which is closer to the front. Prime Area!!!

The Factory takes 10% of your sales, they pay you on the 1st and the 15th and email
you when you sell something. A pretty sweet deal.

I moved in yesterday, an all day event, and decorated for Christmas. The open
house is Sunday. Some items I pulled from QCM but most of the items came
from home. Cross your fingers that this goes well, hope I have made a smart move.
I now have an Ebay Shop, and Etsy Shop, three spaces at Queen City and one at The
Factory all under the name Margaret McElroy Interior Design.