The Red Door

Autumn Display

2009-09-19T17:55:00.000-04:00

Here are a few new signs that I painted recently. The side door was covered with them...but I wasn't quick enough with the camera and a few have since left the building.

Our candle collection has grown and now includes even more yummy ~~flavours~~ scents.

Hmmm...gingerbread or hot apple pie...I just can't decide!

And...the nicest part...they are made right here in Ontario!!

We love to be able to support local/Canadian artisans whenever we can.

That's right...more signs...I'm a painting fool these days. I hand letter each one with a brush...no stencils or markers for this outfit.

We tend to be purests about some things even if it means painting into the wee hours and guzzling coffee to stay awake. Goodness knows we do our best to keep the local Tim's afloat during peak times.

I meant to take a few photos of our latest glassware aquisitions but ran out of time....stay tuned for that. Thanks go out to our ~~number one picker~~ aka Mom for her keen eye and scoring some lovely Cranberry glass.

Come back soon....we have lots more work in progress.

Until then...enjoy the changing season!

Cheers....Jackie

Changing Seasons

2009-09-13T19:43:00.002-04:00

Can you believe it is nearly the middle of September?? We can't!! Terry and I have been busy in the workshop creating some new "Autumn/Halloween" prims and re-arranging the shop floor. With the approach of fall we just felt we needed to shake things up a bit and a change is as good as a rest as they say.

This afternoon we took down our summer hanging baskets full of tired petunias and replaced them with some sunny mums. Somehow just that small change put us into high gear as far as creating all things Autumn are concerned.

It won't be long now and we will have to put a fire on in the shop. Cooler, shorter days are on the way and you will find us huddled up to the woodstove with the tea kettle on.

Stop by if you find yourself out our way and plan to stay long enough to have a cuppa with us.

"If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty."

~Japanese Proverb ~

Until next time....enjoy life's simple pleasures.

Jackie

Good 'ole Summertime

2009-08-08T07:51:00.003-04:00

Summer? Right...that one afternoon when it didn't rain...that was summer. I suppose we shouldn't complain when we have a nice afternoon and spend it on a northern lake with a fishing pole in hand.

Hubby poses with a large mouth bass...or as my girls always called them..."Loud Mouth Bass".

ahhhh...Summer love. The girls plant a kiss on this wee one that we released to catch again another day. Some moments are just meant to be captured and this was one of them. A weekend spent at our camp with my family....life just doesn't get any better.

Gotta love the good 'ole summertime.

Blessings

Jackie

We Buy Junk and Sell Antiques

2009-07-12T18:57:00.007-04:00

Well....we've been at it again. Buying up crazy, broken down, abused stuff is what we do although, this time we may have outdone ourselves. This flat-to-the-wall is smelly and mouldy. It has lots of chippy paint but not the sort that can be salvaged and besides someone started to strip it and then had second thoughts. We have ascertained that it was originally a painted piece in that iron oxide colour that you can see exposed. I think we are going to have to down a couple of Marguritas before we get down to the nitty-gritty of transforming this one. Did I mention that we were on a roll and couldn't be satisfied to bring home only one junker? True to form, we couldn't leave this bed behind....never mind that the shop isn't big enough to accomodate either the cupboard or the bed. The big question as always is how to re-finish these and turn them into pieces of furniture other people would actually want to put in their homes. We don't usually shrink from the challenge but this is going to take some thinking.

Suffice to say that for today anyway we will begin with a thorough airing out and a good scrub and see if we feel inspired after that.

Hopefully the weather will hold out this week (enough rain already!!) and we can get started on one of these.

Stay tuned....I will post some close ups.

Jackie

Oh Canada!

2009-07-01T07:27:00.006-04:00

Happy Canada Day!

I was going to post a pic of our flag which I have flying over our garage....but because of the thunder storms last night it is hanging like a limp noodle this morning. Instead I perused the internet and have borrowed these wonderful images for your viewing pleasure.

In his speech at the national flag inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Lester Pearson said:

"Under this Flag may our youth find new inspiration for loyalty to Canada; for a patriotism based not on any mean or narrow nationalism, but on the deep and equal pride that all Canadians will feel for every part of this good land."

For more fun this Canada Day take the Canada Day Quiz...I'm not going to tell you my score...but it was darn near perfect.... ;)

http://www.canadadayquiz.com/questions.cnc

Cheers

Jackie

The Potting Shed

2009-06-07T18:56:00.004-04:00

It is June but the weather here is not very "June like"....only a chilly 15 degrees today and the sun has abandoned us. Rain showers stop and start as I try (again) to pot up my planters. The garden centres are busy places though and we finally have our hanging baskets up at The Red Door. What interesting prims do you put in your garden? Old chairs, rickety step ladders and vintage mirrors are all finding their way into our gardens. At the shop we re-purpose a broken old kitchen chair as a plant stand. Have fun and get your hands dirty.

Cheers

Jackie

Sweet Little Kitchen Cabinet

2009-05-03T21:45:00.002-04:00

This little cabinet came to us last summer for a quick fix up. The owner of this wee cupboard asked us if we could touch it up a bit....you know...glue up a piece of lifting veneer and slap a fresh coat of paint on the top. Nothing too difficult and certainly not a complete restoration. Well, not too long after that we got a call from the customer to say that since making a move the cupboard didn't fit into her new home and she wondered if we would we like to buy it. Ummmm....YES!!!

Our next decision was whether to leave it "as is", do a bit more fixer-upper work but keep the basic yellow cupboard with red trim as is or sand it down and begin a complete restoration. We have a hard time leaving well enough alone....a little sanding here and there lead to a bit more sanding and before you could say "Holy Art Deco Motif"....we had unearthed the original finish.

So here she is....back to her original colour and sporting the aforementioned art deco motif in taupe and black.

For those of you who may be interested....it is a small kitchen cabinet measuring a mere 36 inches wide and cute as a button! (at least we think so!)

Original Step Back Cupboard

2009-03-31T19:25:00.003-04:00

This is an original Upper Canada Step Back cupboard that we aquired at auction a couple of weeks ago.

All it really needed was a good cleaning. So here she is sparkling like a new penny! There's nothing like 150-160 yrs to give pine a patina ya just can't get from a can!

We don't often go to Saturday auctions because it's hard to be open and auctioning at the same time, but this one in Vernon was worth it. There were 2 step backs there....this is the smaller of the pair....the large one was gorgeous but we have to be careful not to buy something too large to fit in the shop. I think 6'4" and we are maxed out....in fact we have had to shuffle things around just to find a spot where the beams are smaller to fit things in. Big cupboards and low ceilings

are not a good combination!

We have another cupboard similar to this one...but it needs a little work....it was an impulse buy and we completely forgot to take it's height into consideration! Luckily for us there is ONE place in the shop where we can display it....however it won't fit in the workshop at all so we will have to

wait for the weather to warm up a bit because we'll have to do all the restoration work out in the yard.

I wish you joy in the simple things!

Jackie

Welcome Spring

2009-03-29T09:32:00.003-04:00

The robins have returned to Eastern Ontario, the sap is running and the Canada Geese are overhead in huge noisey flocks. These harbingers of Spring are a welcome sight to these sore eyes. Earlier in the week our old pellet stove started acting up and although the weather is much warmer now we still need to keep a fire on. This necessitated a trip to the stove store in Spencerville and along the way we stopped to take a few photos. I wonder how many sap buckets this knarly maple has seen over the years?

Find the joy in the simple things....Jackie

Having Fun Under the Mayan Sun

2009-02-28T09:58:00.003-05:00

We couldn't have asked for nicer weather for our late January getaway. Initially it looked as if we would have a dismal week of rain but the weather forecasters were wrong and we had an absolutely fantastic week in the sun!!

These pics were taken at the Coba Mayan ruins. This is a very cool place....our guide was great...and much to my surprise I actually climbed to the top of the big pyramid. I will post more pics later on....the view of the surrounding jungle was breathtaking!

On the home front....we spent the afternoon yesterday re-arranging the shop, dusting, cleaning and basically getting things spic and span after our winter hiatus. A sudden thaw and downpour caused a small flood in front of the shop....and yes it came in under the door...however it stopped before reaching any of the furniture. We are all mopped up and dried out now so if your looking for something to do this weekend to alleviate the winter blahs....come on out....THE RED DOOR IS OPEN!!

WINTER HOURS

2009-01-17T09:24:00.003-05:00

I was going to post a pic of Terry sunning herself on a tropical beach but I was afraid she would have my head!! So instead...I posted one of myself...don't ask me what I'm doing ...raising my glass in a toast perhaps???

Anyway....as we have sufffered in winters death grip this past week with temps in the vacinity of -36 visions of pristine beaches are dancing in our heads. Terry and I will soon be taking off for the sunny south to rejuvenate and relax for a week. This brings me to the subject of winter hours at the shop. In January and February (the ugly months) we don't keep regular hours. If you pop by we will be open by chance. As you can imagine trying to keep an 1800's barn warm in -30 degree temps in virtually impossible. So...if you do venture out and find someone there be prepared to keep your coat on as it will feel colder inside than outside.

In summing up, here's the skinny: January and February OPEN BY CHANCE

Specifically: January 27 - Feb 6 CLOSED for much needed sunny vacation

Regular hours will RESUME IN MARCH weather permitting

PLEASE keep checking in as we will be posting interesting pics and tidbits from the auction all winter long! We will be trying to get out on snowshoes whenever possible with "The Hounds" and we hope to share the adventures of Terry and Feu pulling the sleigh.

In the meanwhile keep warm!!

Cheers from The Door

Early Morning Walk

2009-01-04T13:57:00.003-05:00

The dogs wait, not so patiently, for us to get zipped up and hats pulled down. It was snowing lightly and was a crisp -10 degrees as we set out on a 7 km walk. I can't think of a better way to spend the day. The light fluffy snow hid patches of ice making the walking treacherous in places. In fact I went on my rear a couple of times! Good Times! How much do you want to bet I'll be stiff and sore tomorrow!

Happy Endings

2009-01-01T08:35:00.002-05:00

As you know if you follow our blog, or as you will soon discover if you are new here, salvaging furniture that is destined for the landfill is what we do best. Now this cupboard wasn't quite at the "set it ablaze" stage yet...but it had been quite badly abused by someone who thought the only good use for a 1930's Ontario made kitchen cupboard was to use it to store paint and batteries in out in the back shed. (yes...I know....sets off horrific visuals doesn't it??)

So you can just imagine how thrilled we were earlier this week when the new owner of the Knetchel Kitchen Kupboard sent us this lovely picture of herself and her daughter.....Thanks Carol!!! (we nearly teared up some)

Merry Christmas to All Our Friends

2008-12-21T14:13:00.001-05:00

We would like to thank all our customers and friends who have made 2008 an outstanding year for The Red Door. The response we have had from both the article in the Ottawa Citizen and our segment on CTV's Regional Contact has been just awesome. Kathy Donovan and the Regional Contact team did an outstanding job and we can't thank them enough.

We have some great plans in the works for 2009. We will be working on a Red Door newsletter chock full of great items for the prim/antique lover as well as continuing to show before and after photos of more great auction finds here on the blog. The drive shed is full to bursting with fantastic pieces just waiting to be rejuvenated and we can't wait to get started on some new projects!!

We wish you all a Safe and Merry Christmas!!

Cheers

Jackie and Terry

Regional Contact

2008-11-24T21:21:00.002-05:00

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

2008-11-24T21:05:00.002-05:00

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".

Cutting a Figure 8

2008-11-23T18:21:00.004-05:00

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

2008-11-23T11:14:00.003-05:00

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

So much to do and so little time

2008-11-09T07:21:00.003-05:00

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!

Hoosiers R Us

2008-11-02T22:02:00.004-05:00

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

The Pantry Cupboard Make-over Complete

2008-10-22T12:03:00.003-04:00

Well....here it is!!!

Hard to believe that this is the same old cupboard that was covered in thick gray porch paint!

If you need to refresh your memory...just scroll down a few posts to revisit the "before" pics of this piece.

After stripping and sanding we painted it in a lovely soft yellow.

Once dry we completed the make-over with our classic museum finish.

We think it turned out just great and hope it's new owner will be just as pleased.

At last weeks auction a reproduction dry sink was on the block...we looked it over...it was nicely done but somehow there was just something missing about it

We dithered over it and finally decided to pass on it. I'm sure someone took it home and that they were tickled pink with their purchase, but it just wasn't a "Red Door" find. It didn't have the warmth and charm of a truly old piece of furniture and that was the thing that was missing. It didn't have a history. It didn't have a story.

So this is the real deal folks...no repros here...just the warmth and feel of yesteryear.

Cheers!

New Display Window at Benjamin Moore and Hollywood Awaits!

2008-10-09T12:33:00.004-04:00

So you won't see us picking up an Emmy any time soon...but if ya stay tuned you might just catch us on TV!!

Yessireee...the local CTV channel, CJOH, came out to the shop this week to film an episode of their long running show, Regional Contact.

This show features area artisans and other interesting folk and I guess they figured we fell into one of those categories.

They especially liked the wardrobe as seen here on the blog and hoped to feature it on the episode....this was all well and good except for the fact that the wardrobe wasn't here but was in town holding a rather prominent spot in our Benjamin Moore paint store display window.

Saturday morning found us scrambling to come up with a replacement window display.

TAAAADAAAAAA!!!!!

The "Country Kitchen" window display was the end result of the ensuing pandemonium.

In order to save time and to minimize the inconvenience we were about to cause Denise and Carrie, the great gals at Benjamin Moore, we planned out the display right here in front of the shop. It looks great in their window and even met with the approval of shop cat and head mouser Mr. Binks. (shown seated in the display photo above....he drew the line at spending the next several weeks in town actually becoming part of the permanent display although he did however sign a release allowing his image to be used in this photo)

Our images however are probably on the cutting room floor as we speak and our intrepid cameraman is probably deciding that his impending retirement is not such a bad idea considering what he had to work with here at The Red Door.

We'll keep you posted re: Our TV Debut

Life in the Hand-did Lane or Blah Blah Blah

2008-09-29T12:01:00.002-04:00

Okay...just a short post to let you know what we've been up to.

Friday: Auction Night in K-town

The auction was as usual...amusing to say the least. Most of the usual regulars were in attendance with an ample dash of city-folk to amuse us. The newbies stick out like the proverbial sore thumb. We scored big time on a very old plank chair. It has the cracked chippy paint we love and has been distressed to perfection through years of wear. The auctioneer got a tad frustrated by the hesitating/waffling/newbie city-bidder and yelled "STOLE! to number 128!" As simple as that we had snagged it...newbie city-bidder began a stuttering protest that fell on deaf ears...but that's the thing about the auction....come with cash/debit or credit card and be prepared to bid 'cuz at Finnerty's they don't take cheques.

At this point I would normally post a pic of said auction deal of a lifetime...however I am sans camera at the moment. You see I don't actually have my own camera because around here ya can just borrow someones. The husband, who will be henceforth and hereafter known as C, has taken off to the nether regions of the province, bow in hand, on a 3 week odyssey to bond with the fellas and find himself a Swamp Donkey. This ordeal requires 2 wks prep time minimum...umpteen all-terrain vehicles, a couple of generators, enough filled Jerry cans to create a gas shortage in Eastern Ontario and (I kid you not) an apartment size freezer. In addition, C has commandeered every piece of technology this family owns...video cameras, digital cameras and even his lap top computer. (I know...WTH good will that be to him!! Can one connect to the internet by perching atop the highest Black Spruce in Nakina????)

The end result: no pics of beautiful prim antiques until early October.

Don't get me wrong...I quite enjoy this alone time...he works hard and deserves his holiday...but I can't live without a camera!!!

I nearly forgot to tell you about the cute wee humpback truck we acquired on Friday as well. (Ranting like a lunatic gets me off the topic at hand)

It is wonderful and will remain in "as found" condition. Picture to follow. (no kidding)

Saturday: The shop was open as usual...had lots of nice folks in. This was great considering the weather was cool and it mizzled off and on. At one point we noticed a flurry of activity over at the house which included vehicles being moved and Terry's husband and son (we shall refer to them as R and M) running back and forth. As we had customers in the shop at the time we tried to act nonplussed by their nonsensical behaviour....when the customers left M strolled in and shut the barn door....then proceeded to ask us if we could smell him...

It seems that as R and M piled wood in the woodshed they inadvertently trapped a skunk under the woodpile. Don't ask how that is even possible. They kindly extricated the beast after our customers had left, however we had to put up with the after affects of skunk removal for the rest of the day.

No pics of that...nor will there be any.

Lovely Oak Bakers Cupboard

2008-09-24T20:22:00.002-04:00

Well here it is as promised. At least I did promise one reader that I would get on with posting a pic of this fantastic old bakers cupboard. Terry picked this little lovely up at auction back in July when I was away on holiday. There were two cupboards in total but she has decided to keep the other one for herself as it looks like it was made to order for her kitchen. Made of oak it is a tad fancier than most of our acquisitions but the punched tin vent holes in the side help to give it a prim look. This is an actual old bakers cupboard that originally came from up Thunder Bay way. It would be nice to know the history behind the furniture but I guess we have to be satisfied with knowing the story will continue.

The Pantry Cupboard Make-over

2008-09-17T19:09:00.003-04:00

Yikes....I haven't posted or taken any photos in a while...and it shows! My goodness I must have had a case of the shakes when I took this pic...and all the others for that matter. This is the best photo I have of the cupboard as we start to discover the beauty beneath the thick paint layers. I love the honey pine colour but alas, she was a painted piece when we found her and a painted piece she will remain. A customer purchased it "as is"...so we are refinishing as a custom request and it will be painted to match her kitchen. But don't despair kids...we have a new oak hoosier in the shop and two more painted beauties to play with. One is a Klear Front Sellers, the other is a mystery hoosier, but maybe it's secrets will be revealed during the re-working. Is it too late to rename ourselves "Hoosiers R Us"?

Our Latest Cupboard

2008-08-08T20:59:00.003-04:00

This is a "before" picture of our latest cupboard. It is a very old pine pantry cupboard that has seen more than a few coats of paint in it's day. It has great old decorative hinges and was constructed with square nails. Unfortunately, the last coat of paint applied to it was this stiking dark gray porch paint. After I snapped this photo, Terry grabbed the heat gun to see how easily we are going to get the paint off. Well.....it will come off but not without some good old elbow grease. Then of course the next big question will be....what to do with it once we have the old paint layers off. HMMM....maybe the natural pine will look OK.....but I won't put those lovely Aura paint chips away too soon. Stay tuned for the rest of the Pantry Cupboard Makeover.

Cheers

Jackie

What inspires you?

2008-07-29T23:39:00.003-04:00

I've just gotten back from a few days away at my Dad's camp. It's a place without indoor plumbing, without telephones and without computers. Going there is stepping back in time...a peaceful time.

It makes me see everything in terms of rugs. For instance this sunset would make a great rug....or...wow, how cool to try to capture that reflection in wool...in a rug of course.
What about that sky? Could I dye wool to make that sky? It's a little pink and a little lavender and what about the white pines? Could I use lots of antique black with a bit of blue and pink and hook what I see?
What about a really big water lily rug?
Or just a rug with lots of water lily leaves....the fallen cedars would look good in a rug too.
A pickerel weed rug? Don't laugh...I was thinking about it. Pickerel weed would look good hooked in a wide cut primitive style. I was inspired by the things I saw and the things I couldn't see. I found this plant at the west end of a small lake...a long time ago when the area was logged, horses were used to pull the logs out of the bush. Along the north shore a team of horses must have fallen through the ice. My dad told us where to look....parts of the old sleigh can still be seen in about 10 ft of water along the north shore. The day we were there it was breezy and we couldn't see it because there were too many ripples on the surface but I can imagine what it looks like. I think there's a rug in that story too.

Look for inspiration everywhere and take a camera wherever you go.

'nuf said

Hooked Runner

2008-07-16T12:08:00.003-04:00

This runner looks great on the make-do secretary desk. The colours are a perfect match (completely unplanned). Sometimes it is so cool to work on a primi piece and then find other random pieces that just have a great fit and the look is just perfect. I guess the best plan is not to over-plan and let the creative juices flow!!

This is a fun little runner made for the most part with my scraps and a hit-or-miss border. 100% recycled wool, hooked in an 8 cut, it was quick and used up some odds and ends. Mostly experiments at the dye pot that didn't quite turn out as I had hoped found their way into this little mat. I think it's cute as the dickens!

Cheers

Jackie

A View of My Garden

2008-07-16T11:37:00.003-04:00

With all the summer flowers in full bloom I thought you might like to see my primitive garden. I say primitive because it isn't at all formal and you will find weeds but the Hollyhock, Lavatera, Daylillies and Bee Balm looked so pretty that I had to take a few photos to share. With all the rain we have had the garden is a riot of colour. The weeds have enjoyed the season as well and have gotten ahead of me as they usually do. Perhaps I need to stop and appreciate the Milkweed and Queen Ann's Lace as they seem so insistent upon having a place in the garden.

At any rate, this is a little colour to brighten your day.

Cheers

Jackie

Ann and Andy Chill Out

2008-07-14T20:31:00.005-04:00

Raggedy Ann and Andy spent this rainy afternoon chillin' in the rocking chair. This duo are sporting non-typical raggedy attire dressed in light green...so fashionable with their rust coloured hair!! Ann's tie and Andy's pants are sewn from black-green homespun. We put them right at the door because they are so very sociable and love to greet customers when they come in the shop. :) Prim dolls are so much fun to play with....a nice change to work the soft stuff in between refinishing projects.

If we get much more rain around here we will have to change our woodworking focus to arc building!

Take care folks and if ya live in this neck of the woods try to stay dry!!

Cheers

Jackie

Small Mustard Washstand

2008-07-09T07:40:00.003-04:00

This is an extremely primitive piece that is really old as the hills. I don't have to tell you that it was acquired at auction because you know us by now....it was either acquired at auction or hauled out of a dumpster!!! LOL I should have taken a "before" pic...but I dropped the ball on that...just imagine the most homely wee cabinet, extremely dirty and sporting a coat of flat paint in reddish-rust. Terry washed it up and decided to repaint it with our favourite old mustard, leaving it slightly distressed and then waxed. You will notice that the door is slightly askew...but that really adds to it's primitive charm. This is an oldie with square nail construction and rough boards slightly out of square. All I can say is it is 100% charming. Topped off with an enamel bowl and water pitcher it's rustic charm just can't be improved upon. Lucky for us that the folks attending the auction that night had absolutely no vision!!

Showy Lady's Slipper

2008-07-05T14:04:00.005-04:00

Last week, Kaitlin and I donned long pants and long sleeves on a day that was too hot and humid for the devil himself. Oh yes, I forgot to add that we were sporting rubber boots and had thoroughly marinated our gorgeous selves in Deep Woods OFF. We did all this just so that we could navigate our way through field, brush, thick woodland and finally swamp to bring you this special treat...a picture of the rare and in some places endangered Showy Lady's Slipper. We found some real beauties but we won't say where...

Cypripedium reginae

Did I Mention that June was Grad Month???

2008-07-04T08:25:00.003-04:00

Alannah, the baby of the family, graduated from St. Michael Catholic High School on June 24, 2008. Here she poses with her two sisters and Mr. Finner, a favourite teacher. Alannah was the recipient of the Hal Anthony Rotary Scholarship as well as the Founder's Award. The latter being awarded to a graduating student who demonstrates the Christian values upon which the school was founded....Kaitlin argues that Alannah would never have been given the award if the governing panel had to live with her..."she's probably wearing my underwear right now!"
Ahhhh, the joys of raising up 3 girls!! Is it any wonder my hair is gray??? LOL :)

Another Grad!!!

2008-07-02T11:23:00.003-04:00

Congrats Emily!!!! Terry and daughter Emily pose for a photo at Brock University where Emily received her Honours Bachelor of Phys. Ed. Way to go Emily...that's "our" girl. In addition to this fine accomplishment Em was also on the Dean's List. Emily is continuing her studies at Lakehead University in the fall where she will study for her Bachelor of Education. Another proud mama takes a fine pic on a glorious day!!! ....Terry cleans up real good too!!

Roadside Wardrobe Becomes a Unique Canvas

2008-06-26T21:38:00.003-04:00

Terry picked up this wardrobe along the side of the road. Yup...that's right.....it was sitting at the end of a lane way with some other worthwhile finds. You know the old saying...one mans junk is another mans treasure!!.....we really take recycling to the next level.

When Terry brought it back to the barn it was a musty old thing with a bad paint job and wallpapered panels. She stripped it down and sanded the dickens out of it. Before long it was ready for a coat of Yorktown Green and then the big question....what to do with the front panels once the wallpaper was removed??? Paint "Old Town Kemptville" of course!!! Using a copy of the towns centennial book for reference, Terry painted the town in a naive folk art style. The Presbyterian church and the Bank of Ottawa building are featured on the lower half of the doors while a pastoral farm scene complete with sheep and herding dog grace the top. This is truly a one-of-a-kind cupboard...stay tuned for more trash to treasure items coming soon.

Cheers

Jackie

Kemptville Saturday Night

2008-06-23T09:42:00.003-04:00

Welcome to a Kemptville Saturday Night!! We call this the "Congratulations Grads, Welcome Home Matt, Summer Solstice BBQ and Annual Christmas Tree Burn". It may go by other names where you hail from....but no matter where you're from we hope you appreciate that it is bound to involve lots of beer and the handiwork of a few of our favourite pyromaniacs. After all, if the flames aren't leaping at least 20 feet into the air you run the risk of biting insects (mosquitoes) infiltrating the party. Anything less would just be a smoldering mound and we would all succumb to smoke inhalation..... :)

June is Prom Month!!

2008-06-17T11:21:00.003-04:00

Friday June 13 was also Prom Night for my youngest daughter Alannah!

All three daughters pose for a pic before Alannah leaves for her evening. It certainly was a busy week what with Alannah's prom and Kait's grad on the same day....not to mention the fact that we celebrated Alannah's 18th birthday on Thursday. Needless to say I did absolutely nothing at the shop Thurs/Fri......oh well.....some milestones just can't be missed!!

Cheers

Jackie

The Red Door Celebrates...June is Grad Month!!!

2008-06-17T10:35:00.004-04:00

On Friday June 13 we attended the 132nd Convocation at Carleton University where daughter Kaitlin received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree in English and Art History. Both Terry and I are proud mamas this year as we watch our children graduate. (It's hard to believe really....since I'm not a day over 29....where has the time gone?.....) Kaitlin will continue her studies in September at University of Ottawa where she will be working toward her Bachelor of Education.
Congratulations Kait!!
Love Mom

Terry With Preston "The Little Iron Horse"

2008-06-07T09:21:00.003-04:00

Meet Preston! Preston is one of three handsome Canadien horses who own Terry. They allow us shop space in their barn but we know they are the real stars of the place. This photo was taken on Thurs. evening just before they went for a little ride.

If you would like to learn more about Canada's National Horse check out www.lechevalcanadien.ca This site will give you the history of the breed and there are some great photos too.

Life Outside of the Shop includes our Animals

2008-06-07T09:02:00.005-04:00

Even Willow the energizer Labrador is finding this sudden humidity a bit much. I thought I would get some gardening done this morning before heading to the shop but I'm breaking a sweat just cleaning up the kitchen.
The look on her face is saying..."no really you go play in the dirt with the mosquitoes...I'll just stay here." This is just so strange for her because she is an in your face, none stop, high energy, run like a deer mutt.

Good-bye Dear Friend

2008-06-01T18:05:00.006-04:00

SOLD

On Saturday morning our lovely kitchen cupboard left the shop to begin it's productive new life in a cottage kitchen in Quebec.

Selling a piece like this is really bittersweet. I know you must be rolling your eyes at that statement but for us it is true. In the words of auctioneer Ken Finnerty, "Where are ya gonna get another one!!"

Terry and I buy at auction, create and make the things we ourselves love. To say we get attached to the items we have in the shop is very true...we love what we have and what we do...that is what makes going to the shop fun and not drudgery.

When someone comes along and they too love a piece that we have worked on it is very gratifying. When they dig out their hard earned money to buy something we have worked on it really makes us feel honoured.

It is a good feeling to know that someone else fell in love with this old piece and that it will have a special place in an "old time" kitchen. We will miss having it with us but it has gone to a good home where it will be cared for....now we have a little room freed up for our next big "find".

Until next time...

Cheers

Jackie

Very Primi Bed

2008-05-27T21:37:00.004-04:00

I thought you might enjoy seeing a picture of this great old bed we found. It has lovely chippy paint....you can just make out a little bit of blue peeking through the green in this photo. Aside from washing it up it remains exactly as we found it and makes a great prop to display old quilts on. We have the bed rails but we don't have the space to set it up at the moment. It looks really great just standing in the corner! The colour is one we've nicknamed Great Depression Green...and best of all we didn't have to distress it!

Antique Dresser Finds a New Home

2008-05-26T10:30:00.003-04:00

This wonderful old dresser was acquired at auction on Friday night. It has beautiful grain and a fantastic bevelled mirror. We really didn't have room in the shop and were going to have to do a major re-arrangement to find the perfect spot for it. But, while we were trying to decide how best to display it this lovely lady made our work easy by deciding it should go home with her. (And she was even a good sport about posing with the dresser and agreeing to appear here on our blog!)
Randy gave us a hand with loading it up although in this picture it would appear that Terry is doing most of the work!! We aren't sure if he's pondering the meaning of life or scratching mosquito bites!!

Traveling Road Show

2008-05-07T18:48:00.004-04:00

The Red Door takes the show on the road!! The wonderful gals at our local Benjamin Moore Paint and Decorating store offered to let us set up a display in their window. Such a great opportunity for us...we were nearly speechless. The barn is a great heritage location that is chock full of character but we are somewhat off the beaten path. Needless to say we were thrilled to have been given an opportunity to showcase some of our work "in town". What with gardening season getting into full swing we decided to pack up our milk cart in the back of the truck and grab our birdhouses, garden stakes and signs and head to town....hillbilly style!! LOL
Terry posed as we loaded up...I thought she should ride shotgun in the back a la Granny Clampett but she declined....apparently she thought that was a bad idea seeing as how she even put on make-up for the grand event.
The 3rd and 4th pics are of the completed display...I probably shouldn't have tried to take a pic from the outside because of glare but I wanted you to get a feel for the view from the sidewalk.
Stay tuned for further updates!
Cheers
Jackie

A Few New Things We've Been Working On

2008-04-27T19:03:00.005-04:00

Now that the nice weather is here we've really been in the mood to make garden prims. We took advantage of the beautiful sunny day to make a display outside the barn and I just had to take a few photos for the blog.

The "Herb" sign is a stave from a barrel that Terry picked up along the roadside last weekend. I left the original pale yellow paint and just gave it a light sanding before doing the lettering. It looks brighter in the photo than it really is. It looks a little bumble bee like in the picture (the dark striped areas are actually the unpainted oak that was under the metal bands that held the barrel together). The rest of the signs are plain pine boards that I've crackled before lettering up to give them a nice aged appearance.

Terry constructed the rustic bird house from some rough sawn lumber that was up in the loft. She gave it a thin coat of Yorktown Green and then antiqued it with a little dark walnut stain. The roof and the star on the front were both cut from rusty tin that was salvaged from the Matt Arcand homestead house just down the road. The girl really needs to get herself some new tin snips before she loses a digit....and some heavy gloves wouldn't hurt either! A couple of horseshoe nail perches and it was complete.

The crow and birdhouse on the cedar rail will make great additions to any garden. I can hardly wait to see a set in the shop garden.

All in all a very productive weekend considering we were off our stride with not going to the auction on Friday night.

Well folks I'm off to get a little hooking in before hitting the hay.

ttfn

Jackie

Found Items and Make-do

2008-04-20T18:08:00.005-04:00

You can just never tell what interesting pieces will find you when you keep your eyes open. There is an auction in town every Friday night...we attend....always hopeful that a deal will come along but never expecting it. Because we don't expect to find anything exciting we are never disappointed when we come home empty handed. The small lantern, the crock and the pine box all came from the auction. Nice little additions to the display.
Once in a while we come across items that someone else is just tossing out. The drop leaf enamel top table and the yellow rocker that you see in the picture are examples of 'one mans garbage is another mans treasure'. Driving a bus isn't all bad....it puts me at the right height to see into dumpsters....and that is how we came upon both of these treasures. (And no...I didn't pull over and toss this stuff into the bus!! Although it did cross my mind, I came back later in the truck with Terry in tow.)
Much of what we do depends on our ability to envision an old cast off transformed into something wonderful again. A good example would be the portion of oak barrel lid that Terry used as a canvas for her adaptation of a Currier and Ives winter scene.
Just this afternoon Terry and Randy picked up a small barrel (the stave's will make great sign boards), and a butcher block that is beyond repair but it has great turned legs that will make magnificent spindle Santa's. All of this great junk was sitting at the end of a driveway waiting for someone with vision to come along.
Love what you do and be open to all the possibilities. Make every day the best day ever.
Cheers
Jackie

Hoosier Close Up Pics

2008-04-13T19:11:00.003-04:00

Here are the close-up pictures I promised. I'm so happy that we were able to save and restore the art deco motif on the cupboard doors.

We would like to thank all of you who have tuned in for the makeover and have even taken the time to email or comment on the work we have done. It's so nice to hear from others who own similar cupboards and are thinking about refinishing them.

Now we begin our search for original glassware (spice jars and the like) to really complete the project.

We spent the afternoon today back at our painting table. Terry worked on an original acrylic on canvas. She is doing a painting of an old farmhouse and barn that is just a stones throw down the road from the shop. It is really coming along nicely so I should be able to post a pic of it in a few days.

I worked away at lettering primitive signs. We sold a few over the weekend and I want to replenish my stock before we open again on Thursday....meanwhile I still have to finish the small hooking I'm working on. As if that isn't enough I will be putting in a few hours at our local greenhouse and driving a school bus in my spare time. Sheesh....I better get to bed early tonight 'cuz it's gonna be another busy week.

We'll catch ya later....

Cheers

Jackie

Hoosier Resoration Complete!!!

2008-04-12T20:50:00.004-04:00

Well folks, here it is. One week from the day it arrived in our shop the homely hoosier style kitchen cupboard has been totally refurbished.

We tried to match it's new paint colour as closely as possible to the original paint. The paint we selected is Benjamin Moore 'Aura' in Oat Straw. It applied like a dream and looks absolutely fabulous.

We are thrilled with the final results we achieved on this piece and have given it a place of honour on the shop floor.

I will post a few close-up pics shortly.

We hope you've enjoyed following our progress this week.

Cheers

Jackie

More Cupboard Restoration

2008-04-10T17:30:00.003-04:00

If you are thinking that the woman never sleeps...you're right. I suspect she spent more than a couple of nights in the workshop this week. (Just kidding.) Here she is fashioning new dividers for the utensil drawer.

The top photo shows the art deco motif that was hidden under a layer of white paint. Working on an old piece of furniture can be just like an archaeological dig....careful exploration can reveal wonderful secrets.

Tomorrow we paint it.

Stay tuned for the grand finale.

Cheers

Jackie

Update on the Kitchen Cupboard

2008-04-09T21:26:00.003-04:00

It has been a busy week in the shop. As predicted, Terry couldn't resist the urge to start working on the cupboard. In this picture it has been torn apart and hinges and hardware stripped. It didn't need major repair work...a little gluing and 'Bob's your Uncle'. The tambour required quite a bit of sanding and the linen that makes the whole thing hinge needed replacing and gluing. It was decided that we wouldn't strip it completely but rather give it a good sanding and repaint. Stay tuned kids as we continue to work on this great piece.

Cheerio

Jackie

Hooked Rug

2008-04-07T13:44:00.002-04:00

Thought you might be interested in another hooked piece.

This hooked rug is at the shop. You can just see it in the photo of the Hoosier cupboard.

Yesterday we did our spring cleaning...hauled everying about in the shop and dusted and cleaned. Once everything was spit-spot we rearranged everything including this rug which now hangs on one of the outer log walls. I like the new location...really shows off against the darker logs. It is a combination of #8 and hand cut on linen. I think I'm overdue for another big project.

....right after we finish the hoosier.

Cheers ~ Jackie

On the Road Again

2008-04-06T19:49:00.005-04:00

The above picture is my entry into the Memories of My Mother hooked rug exhibit. The call for entry for this exhibition went out in 2004 with the show set to open on Mother's Day 2006 at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre. Being the consummate procrastinator I had two years to design and hook the 2'x3' rug and I got busy at it Feb. 2006....the above photo was taken in March just before I bound the rug and shipped her out.

The rug has been on tour all of this time with things set to wrap up next year. Last week I received a letter asking if I would like to be part of the extended tour. Seems that an exhibit facilitator from western Canada would like the show to tour Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. This will mean that I get my rug back in 2012....how cool is that?!?!

Not in a million years did I think anything from my hand would be seen by so many.
Take care and enjoy your day!

Jackie

Hoosier Style Kitchen Cupboard

2008-04-06T08:28:00.013-04:00

We've become "Auction Junkies"...the only thing that gets us through the week is knowing that come Friday night we are off to the auction. Most of the time we snag a treasure for the shop...a wool blanket perfect for hooking with, a jar of square nails, or perhaps a child size pressed back rocker. (OK!! So the rocker was a bad idea...who knew it had a gazzillion coats of enamel paint on it!!) Well, did we score BIG TIME on Friday night or what?! We beat out 3 other bidders to win this fantastic Hoosier style kitchen cupboard. It is a Knetchel Kitchen cupboard made in Hanover, Ontario. We believe it to be early 1930's art deco, but will do a little more research on it. It has some minor damage but we feel confident we can return it to its previous glory. As you can see it still has the flour sifter, spice rack, roll top, and all the original hinges and hardware.

Check back often to follow the restoration.

First job is to get it into the workshop and give it a good scrub so we can see what we are dealing with. Cheers, Jackie

Mother McCabe

2008-04-01T20:45:00.003-04:00

This has really been a week for finishing up projects. This gal has been around a while. I hooked the wings for this doll probably 4 yrs ago...so long ago in fact, that I don't remember the exact date. At that time I cut, sewed and stuffed the body. She was then tossed into my hooking basket where she remained untouched until just a week or so ago. The wool that I had originally picked out for her dress is long gone...used for another project or more likely hooked into a mat. I picked through my stash of wool to find something suitable for her attire, and finished her off. A real make-do kinda gal. With buttons for eyes and a horseshoe nail nose, I think she's quite a looker. The wings are wired so they won't droop and have been completely lined. I've named her Mother McCabe...a primitive bio will complete her. She'll look mighty special hanging on the door of that Pail Cupboard. This picture was taken outside and man oh man was it a windy day...her hair is blowing straight in the air and she looks as if she is about to take off!! Perhaps that accounts for her startled look. LOL

I found another set of hooked wings in my wool stash...the second set are predominantly green...hard to say what they will become.

Primitive Rabbit

2008-03-30T18:55:00.000-04:00

Meet Mr. Radley...this primitive rabbit isn't just crazy for carrots he's raving about his radish crop too! He was sewn using cotton quilt batt that I aged with a spice mixture. He smells great and looks cute as the dickens. Mrs. Radley is sitting by my sewing machine patiently awaiting my return. Hopefully this week I will post her pic and bio. Too many things on the go it seems...I have a small matt on my hooking frame and a pile of 9 Patch quilt blocks calling to me. The quilt can probably wait since I started it before my eldest was born (23 yrs ago)...talk about UFO projects...that one takes 1st Prize!!!LOL

Cheers

Jackie

Awaiting Spring

2008-03-28T18:49:00.000-04:00

Okay folks....we are starting to get really anxious here.

Terry and I have soooooo many new ideas for spring but the weather is just not co-operating. We really need for it to warm up a little so we can get back to the old workshop. Because we haven't been able to get into the barn for a bit we have both been working on soft stuff ...quilts, pillows and stitcheries. On the up side I did see a couple of robins today and that is always a cheery sight after a long winter. I suppose all will be right given enough time....the sap is running and that is a good sign.

Cheers

Jackie