March Self Portrait

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon the #marchmeetthemaker challenge, but I am pretty proud of the outcome of what a few extra minutes each morning can produce.

I won't bore you with the detailed explanations of all the photos, but if you insist...then check them out at Instagram. I will say I have two favorites of this exercise. Second row/photo five, Third row/photo one. These two best sum up who and what fairview place is - a beautiful mess. Haha, I'm only slightly joking. It's easy to get caught up in the photos of perfectly manicured studio spaces, cute storage essentials, gorgeous product shots and so on. How a person can create such beautiful things and not make a complete mess? I find it completely refreshing to bring out my boxes of findings, a pile of felt and a glue gun and have half the room torn apart in a matter of minutes (I would imagine that the hubs feels completely refreshed when it's all put away at the end of the night ;).  So, moral of the story? Quit obsessing over the perfect photos and do what comes naturally!

#40: Vintage Supplies

After all the years of collecting/hoarding these beautiful pieces of vintage paper, office accessories and books, it's time to put them on the Fairview Place shop. For a while you were able to find these goodies at Kitsch, but for now they'll only be available online. My most beloved pieces are the Paper Parcels (above). Each pack comes with 30 carefully selected papers, which include flash cards, labels, envelopes, sheet music, maps, stickers, button cards, doilies, graphing paper, tickets, book pages, memo cards, postcards and more. They are great for making cards, Smash Books, scrapbooking, adorning gifts or just for collecting.

Other items include paper doilies, air mail envelopes, bridge tally cards, invitations, library cards, clothespins, books (with goodies inside that tell quite a story) and more to come soon. Most of the fun for me is finding the ephemera at estate sales and thrift stores and then making the perfect packaging for it.

Please take a look at what's at the shop and pass along! I'm always happy to do custom, or bulk orders (like if you want 100 pages of sheet music, I can make that happen) or keep my eyes out for something very specific!

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. Click here to read all about it and here to a see a gallery of pictures of everyone participating. 

Monday Musebles: Cleaning and Organizing

Some people (ahem...Mike...) might say I'm rather messy. I personally wouldn't consider it messy, maybe just a little cluttered. Or maybe an organized mess (does that fit into the same category as a functional alcoholic?). Anyway, I've been waiting a while to get all my craft stuff organized. I had to find the right furniture, then sell my desk and buffet table - both of which sold on Craigslist in less than three weeks!

I found these new storage pieces at Garden Ridge in Chesapeake. Unfortunately they were too short for my existing bins so I had to buy all new ones. Wasn't too upset though, it gave me a chance to go through all my supplies and purge a little. I have space for all my felt food packaging in one place, along with organizing all my packaging and shipping labels. Guess that means Fairview Place (via Etsy) is open for business again!

This plant stand I bought when I first moved here at an antique store out on Granby Street. I had actually left the store and drove halfway home, only to turn around and go back and get this! It was $14! I used it for all my shoes (with canvas bins), but now use it for my buttons and packaging station.

Mike's dresser is still in need of its makeover. I had this in mind, but since almost everything in our house has some sort of distressed look to it, I'm thinking about going NORMAL. Maybe this or this. I'm using this piece for all my paper/sticker/stationery/paper parcels materials and for the finished products.

I also got the pillows (#86) made for the guest bed, I have to say I'm pretty obsessed
with the patterns (even if Mike thinks the blue pillow is actually Batman material)

I typically don't use a lot of ribbon, but this year I plan on making a whole slew of the holly-day brooches. This ribbon (plus what I have in storage) will come in handy then and so will this dispenser made from a wine rack and dial rods. I'm feeling pretty satisfied that I can finally cross off #64: Clean and #43: Organize.

I'm participating in the 92 Days of Summer challenge. To learn more about it, click here.

Thrifty Thursday

I spent a lot of time trying to track down a mini stapler. Not the mini version with standard staples. A small stapler with small staples. Seems like a no brainer, right? Wrong. When I had finally decided to give up on the desktop accessory, I found one in a pile of office supplies at an estate sale. A mini stapler and a couple thousand extra staples for only $2! The stapler gods were definitely on my side at that moment.

I found this lovely brown handbag (do you know I'm still carrying around my Cath Kidston I bought in Thailand, MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO?!), for $5. Not sure I will be able to fit everything I deem necessary, but it's worth a try.

I was delighted by these travel maps and brochures dating from the late 70s and 80s. More than 20 printed pieces were in the bag marked $2. Some of the maps seem too good to cut up for cards, so I may have to sell on Fairview Place as is. I mean who wouldn't want a map of the the worlds largest shopping mall in Denmark?!

#12 Slapjack Vintage Goods

I learned about Slapjack Vintage Goods through Leigh Greer at Table 7. Leigh partners with Slapjack and River Front Rentals for weddings and parties (best idea ever - just rent the stuff instead of buying it!). Anyway, I put this shop on the list because I've seen so many cute pictures on their Facebook page and wanted to see for myself.

I didn't realize they were located inside of the Town Center Antique Mall, which was covered in my first 92 Days of Summer. Mike and I dropped in yesterday because I'm looking for a vintage hutch, china cabinet or armoire of some sort for all of my craft supplies. I didn't find exactly what I was looking for, but narrowed down my direction.

I would have to invest in some better storage bins...everything I have right now is stored in plastic shoe boxes. I do want something with a lid, and not open wire or wicker baskets though.

This is red is lovely! And the cupboards on the bottom would be nice to hide away the not-so-pretty bins.

I pretty much love everything about this room - down to the mis-matched handles on the hutch. I'm 100% positive I could not keep it that tidy looking though.

Cute piece from Joss & Main that I know Mike would absolutely love. For this I could just get rid of the bins and throw everything into its own drawer, but there'd be no room for any fabric in this piece.

Yes and yes. It'd have to be weathered a little to match my desk. But, does it bother anyone that it is so close to the bed?

 I was a little surprised to find this piece from Ikea. Again, I love the color and the yellow inside matches the guest bedroom! I'd probably have some excess supplies that I'd have to find a home for...

Monday Musebles/Better Block Wrapup

 

I don't think anything could have prepared me for what happened in the 11 magical hours of the Better Block. The crowds began to funnel into the shop at 4:45 on Friday night and didn't stop until after 9 o'clock. John and I met so many lovely people, got loads of compliments on our pop-up shop layout and decor and made some money in the process!

 Every person that came in the shop loved our atmosphere and the overall point of the the Better Block. We had a few people ask if this would be a weekly or monthly fest, and while we wished it would be, we had to explain that wasn't the case just yet. John had one property owner approach him about moving our pop-up (as is) to his retail location in Oceanview. The offer was kind, but the $1,600/month rent option really isn't up our alley. I was offered to set up our pop-up shop in some other places along the proposed Arts & Design District for a weekend a month and that seems a little more feasible at the moment.

Ideally, the Better Block wants the building owners to do some repair work and get more permanent retail, restaurants, etc. into the spots even if they aren't 100% of what they could be. Just make the immediate repairs and get some positive attention to the area. Mary Jo, who was the co-pop-up partner of Mary Cup of Jo was asked by one of the district's current business owners what it would take...$20,000? She said sure, that'll buy a kitchen. Obviously nothing happens over night, but if ideas are planted, hopefully they'll eventually sprout.

I feel like Saturday was more of the shopping day. Families came out in the masses, we were making sales left and right, people were giving the shop so much love John and I were beaming. I hate to sound conceited, but our shop was pretty amazing. John and Patricia's items meshed so well with mine, it just seemed like a real cohesive store.

We were luckily enough to not have to tare everything down on Saturday and were (kinda) given permission to stay a few days. We're waiting to hear what "a few days" actually turns into, but in the mean time, our pretty storefront stays as is and we're getting some free advertisement! I am still feeling exhausted from the whirlwind of the weekend. I have a stack of business cards, emails, notes and scribbles I need to respond to, a website and wedding invitations to finish up, and God, do I need to get to a gym! However, there's not one ounce of me that would have changed a thing.

Favorite quote of the weekend "It looks like my grandma's house in here."

Along with "This shop is the place to be!"

And "So you'll be here every weekend, right?"

From the cutest little old lady "I have so much of this stuff around my house...would you want some if I could gather it up?"

Many thanks to: Susie Sanderson, Cali Carpenter, Chris Holder, Melissa Taylor, Mike Mars, Ryan O'Grady, Allison Wermers, Bob and Kristy Pursell, Ari Durrell, Terri Boone, Tina, Barkley Brown, Pam Morrow,  Barney Mars & Deb Janezeck for use of their driveway and paint supplies, Victoria Farr for the beautiful lights, Michelle Odom for the pillows, Norfolk Printing for the awesome job on the maps, Andrew Howard from the Better Block, Ron Williams and Lori Crouch from the City of Norfolk and my awesome pop-up partners John and Patricia Wharton.

Also, to Jesse Scaccia & Hannah Serrano for being such an inspiration in Norfolk.

Thrifty Thursday

The tease of a photo my Mom texted me while in the store.

In a far away land called Amish Country (Berlin, Ohio), there's a place called Zinck's. It's a family-owned fabric and textile wholesale heaven, that I'm not sure I should even be sharing! My mom and I would travel the hour and half to this craft mecca to score some awesome deals. When I explained the Better Block project to my Mom, we both agreed I needed a Zinck's to help supply by pop-up.

Being the awesome Mom she is, her and my stepdad took a trip down to Amish Country one Saturday and perused the 17,000 sf warehouse for items for Fairview Place. From the photos she sent and pictures I saw on their website, it's definitely changed so much since the last time I was there. The duo spent an hour gathering up random items from my wanted: craft items list.

I was lucky enough to get a care package full of crafty goodness in the mail just a few days later! Everything from lace to buttons, pom poms to interfacing. I've already put most of the stuff to a good home in my Fairview Place pop-up pile....and what makes this so thrifty is that it was a "donation to the cause." Gotta love that :)

In a side note, I was explaining Amish Country to Mike - the buggys and homemade cheese, meats and awesome restaurants and shops. He's totally agreed to go with me the next time we're home, so I see a visit to Zinck's in my future! Woot woot!

Just What's Going On

M Studio has a great setup. Clean, easy, display makes it look like they have a lot of product...which is exactly what I need.

I realized that I have mentioned the Norfolk Arts District and the Better Block here on the blog, but I haven't really described my role in the projects. The Better Block is a revitalization project aimed at improving an area of a city that has a lot of potential. This area happens to be one block of Granby street, from Olney to Addison. 

Have lots of vintage ribbon and lace to sell, could use this format.

DIY display using tin trays, hot glue and candle sticks. Painted your desired color.

The week leading up to the event is used to clean up, paint, add art, make pop-up businesses and plan a weekend that shows the community what the district could be with help from the area businesses, landlords, tenants and general public. At the Better Block meeting earlier this month I was asked to help Kitsch and Glass Gardens in their retail pop-up for the weekend of April 12th. Our pop-up will be a mix of handmade retail, re-purposed terrariums, workshops and demos, a craft lounge and a locally-owned craft supplies store - i.e. Fairview Place.

Glass Ball Jars and bakeware to hold pencils, crayons, glue and markers.

Lots of paint brushes in old clay jars.

You can imagine I was elated for this news, and also a little apprehensive about how this whole project would come together. I have a decent amount of vintage and gently used craft supplies I've been hoarding over the years, but enough for a pop-up to show the community!? With the help of Pinterest and the estate sales I've been mentioning, my display actually is coming together very well.

Wire baskets full of fabric scraps. May do this, on a smaller scale.

Ribbon board, might be better for a "gift-wrapping station."

Tiered muffin or cupcake plates to display balls of yarn.

I plan on having a small sampling of a variety of crafty items. Thread, fabric, zippers, needles, embroidery floss, papers, ribbon, lace, yarn, needles, scissors and much more! The Better Block is still three weeks away, but there's no doubt in my mind it will be here before we know it. I'm looking forward to meeting with my fellow pop-up tenants this week to discuss more details of our Craft Lounge and start mapping out our plan of attack. Wish me luck!