Monday, November 24, 2008

Regional Contact

To see the cupboard pictured in the previous post in "before" condition, go to the CJOH website and watch our segment on Regional Contact. Just click on the link...it'll take ya right to it. http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20081120/ott_regionalcontact_Red_Door_081120/20081120/?hub=OttawaHome

Sellers Kitchen Cupboard


We restored this Sellers Klear Front 42 to "showroom condition". Although it looks light blue in this light...it is really gray...a perfect match for the flecked enamel along the edge of the work top. Unfortunately I don't have "before" shots of this one but it had the usual layers of paint to work through and had lost some of it's hardware. If you've had a chance to watch our segment on Regional Contact then you will remember seeing this cupboard in the workshop....it was being worked on when the TV show folks were in to film.
I think this one has to be one of my favourite cupboards...but then again they all become my "favourite".

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Cutting a Figure 8







If this cold weather hangs on much longer we'll be skating on the creek before you can say Jack Frost!! You will however need more than one of these prim wreaths if you plan on cutting a figure on the outdoor rink since we only painted up one skate per wreath....so we suggest that you hang one on your door to greet guests instead!! We love the way these turned out and hope to get a few more made up this week.
Let us know what you think....until next time...Keep Warm!

New Winter Creations


This is the snowman we have affectionately named "The Red Door Snowman"....he has been created with arms and without... with a snow shovel and without one...done large and freestanding or a tiny painted version on an old skate. It doesn't seem to matter how we make him up he's just as popular as all get out.
I will post a picture of the skate version a little later...for now I need to stoke the wood stove....brrrrrrr.
Cheers
Jackie

Sunday, November 9, 2008

So much to do and so little time

Okay...I should be busy working on shop stuff and not playing around with the blog. The dogs had me awake way too early this morning and instead of using this time productively to finish off half a dozen stitcheries for the shop I'm playing around finding our Fairy Names. I'm Tangle Goblinglimmer and Terry is Buttercup Hailfilter. You can read about us on the left of this page. Sheeeesh...I need a good swift kick in the pants....I should be producing....NOT procrastinating!!! :)

Wait until you see what we got at the Friday night auction!!!!!!!
Pics to follow...as you might have guessed....it is Deer Hunting season and I am again without a camera!!!! We scored the cutest vintage kitchen table, a child's bobsled, a dry sink that needs stripping and restoration and........(saving the best for last) A FLAT TO THE WALL CUPBOARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is amazing and VERY old. Unfortunately it has had a hard life and someone started to (unsuccessfully) strip it. Damn that cousin Ralph!! Looks like we won't be getting down to the nitty gritty of working on it until after the Christmas rush but we will keep you posted on it's progress because it is a rare gem that you won't want to miss!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Hoosiers R Us

Okay...so we are starting to look like a Hoosiers R Us franchise. We can't help it...it has become an obsession of sorts. Really now...could any of you turn this little gem away? It is 100% original....I mean all original hardware, original flour sifter, tambour, door fronts, everything! And best of all...it has never been tampered with....this is the original oak finish.
Usually we pick up stuff that good old cousin Ralph has repaired...you know the kind of repair I'm talking about....the "Don't worry about the broken hinge 'cuz good old cousin Ralph has one that looks almost like the original 'cept that it's got a few coats of paint on it and it's only an inch or so bigger but you'll hardly notice after Ralph works on it." kind of repair. "Oh, and while he's at it he might as well slap a coat a paint on her 'cuz he has a half gallon of chartreuse enamel left over from paintin' his motor home." So you can imagine our delight at acquiring this wonderful kitchen cupboard in pristine condition, because we just aren't usually this lucky. (This one didn't even smell bad.)
It looks great in the shop especially all decked out with vintage accessories.
Don't ya just love the hooked mat in front of it???? I may have mentioned that mat in a prior post...but it is just so folky it deserves a second look!
Stay tuned because we have a couple more kitchen cupboards to show off...they just need the usual 2 weeks worth of reconstructive surgery first...so don't rush off now...ya hear?
Cheers
From The Door


Please Step Back in Time

Photobucket

A Hearty Welcome to New and Old Friends...join us for cider by the fire.

Photobucket

A View of Our Shop

A View of Our Shop
Purchased from our local second hand furniture store (which by the way is chock full of possibilities for the vintage lover) this cabinet was a hideous green colour with rotten plywood on the backside. A lot of elbow grease and a complete re-working rendered it into this amazing distressed black/red cupboard. It's a BEAUT!!!

Another peek inside the shop.

Another peek inside the shop.
A nice mix of handmade, antique and found primitives combine to make this display. We purchase a few items from suppliers to fill in spaces....but the vast majority of our inventory is made by us...right here at 'The Door'.

Large Spindle Santa (formerly known as a table leg)

Large Spindle Santa (formerly known as a table leg)
Santa Spindles have become a shop specialty. They range from skinny to roly poly and from tiny hanging ones to massive freestanding newel posts. (Those are the big old fancy posts you can find at the foot of the stairs in big old houses like South Fork.)

Old Kitchen Cupboard Finds New Life

Old Kitchen Cupboard Finds New Life
We aquired the top of this cupboard at auction. Terry envisioned it transformed into a reproduction Pail Cupboard. When Terry envisions something...look out. With it's fresh coat of Wheatsheaf with Mallard Blue back the transformation was nothing short of spectacular. And yes...she planned that 2 mm clearance from the log beams. ;)

Another Make-do

Another Make-do
What do you get when you take an 1880's cupboard with the words "ye old preserves cupboard" written across the front in black Tremclad and pair it with a warped table with broken legs? Well...when you live in Terry's world you get this amazing secretary desk. The paint is Benjamin Moore Aura in Savannah. (What else would she use??)

It's a good drying day Margaret!

It's a good drying day Margaret!
Nothing beats hanging freshly dyed wool on the line. These bright yellows and greens will make fine additions to my next hooked rug!