This is Relaxing on a Sunday?

It actually is...was!

Even though I was wanting a nice relaxing Sunday...this is kinda what it looks like.

New Website...finally!

I know I haven't been blogging lately...

been busy building a new website + adding a video to it!

Horsing around with Chalk Paint...

I was invited to paint at a beautiful country cottage on

Palomar Mountain

the last two days by my client

(and lovely assistant)

Jana

(and all her furry friends).

Transformer...

A quick transformation...

While Jim was away...

...this little mouse did play!

Err...

work, toil, sweat, shoulder flare up, knees aching...

along with a very good sense of accomplishment!

More on china...

The usual plate spinning routine...

can only mean broken pieces!

Sometimes that's a very good thing Martha!

Something about those china plates?

I enjoy... 

looking at the designs and patterns on

china plates 

as much as I do a lovely vintage hanky.

Just like this gorgeous collection.

I love a final photo...

I don't often get them...

final photos of rooms I've painted in.

This project was for a talanted young Ineterior Designer in San Diego

Kelly Hinchman.

I started out with Kelly's idea, a sketch and a blank wall.

Just in this week...

Another busy week for Cerro Home!

Nothing new with that... 

except it usually means new pieces of painted furniture in one of my shops!

Researching my latest home project idea...

Painted sub floors!

I love them, want them, am going to do them!

At least in one room of our house!

Etsy Treasuries...

Don't know about Etsy?

MIA for good reasons...

I know I haven't been front and center lately...

not blogging, barely Face Booking...somewhat of a low profile...

A favorite garage sale find...

Months ago 

I came across two vessel sinks at a garage sale

brand new

still in the box with the hardware included...

$20 each!

There really is no place like home Dorthy!

On Tuesday

 I finished up my month long project in LA

getting the CMA showroom ready for the 

Home and Gift Market 

going on now through next Tuesday...

...it's so wonderful to be home!

Where does the time go?

Not much time for more than a quick peek

a quick post

on what's been going on with my creative self

in the last week!

A quick turn around + jumbled up photos

 QUICK...

because I took this project on for a customer

last minute

days before I had to head up to LA 

for the Gift Show set up...

I leave for that this morning as soon as I'm done posting this.

Just painting...it makes me happy...and a 33%off coupon!

I've been thinking lately about what makes me happy,

really happy!

I think I've mentioned once or twice before that I love all aspects of what I do finding+painting+merchandising+selling

There are other things I'm not so wild about doing on a regular basis,

mostly has to do with the technical end of things.

A day at the beach...making waves!

It was a nice little beach break 

from 

painting furniture...

...and making waves instead!

Just a little color change...

One morning...

while cruising through Pinterest

(which is easy to fall victim too and the morning is gone before you know it)

I saw this lovely piece.

I had to try this color combination right away! 

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Scandinavian Pink + Graphite

I'm making technical progress...woohoo!

PROGRESS...

feels so darn good!

As you may remember a few weeks ago I was distressing over

online presence here.

Finding time for the learning process and growth...

When you're told having your own business will take up all your time... 

LISTEN & BELIEVE

While I've been successfully in business for myself for well over 25 years...

starting over with a new venture can be consuming + exciting!

Even more so when you're a small business

and you are the one who wears

ALL the hats...

designer + painter + buyer + bookkeeper + technical support 

shop keeper + sometimes pick up & delivery (though I'm cutting that one out)

all while trying to keep the home fires burning 

(sometimes not so successfully)

Right now I'm wanting to step it up, widen my audience 

show my furniture pieces online...

that means I now put on the hat of photo stylist!

Miss Mustard Seed

Questioning where to go next...help me out!

I just finished up this collection of turquoise furniture...

loving the way it turned out and hoping my customers will too!

coffee table with decoupage squares

set of Stanley night stands with faux wood tops

Now the last piece to get to is the 8 drawer dresser in the background.

It's a beautiful cherry, and I'm stuck on what to do with it.

That's the quandary!

I'm Suffering Social Media and Online Presence Frustration!!!

I know I have to do it...

I actually enjoy the creativity involved...

...though the amount of time it takes to do it correctly and effectively 

is hard to find!  

A little music Maestro...

I recently came across and purchased a few music books 

at the rummage sale I posted about HERE

And while I see many crafty things to do with sheet music 

I thought I'd go on a little search to see what I could find and share

in the way of musical ideas and tutorials.

Perfect day for loving green...

Why do I love what I do?

There are so many reasons to love what I do...

...but let's just focus on one...

SHOPPING!!!