Roadside Wardrobe Becomes a Unique Canvas

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

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!!

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!!!

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"

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

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

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