With a little bit of love . . .

Hi Everyone,

As promised, I was able to grab a picture of the newest creation my DH was able to finish before our North Shore Flea visit.

A little bit of background first tho. I really wanted to incorporate these windows into something more permanent when I found out who they were and where they came from.


And so our window frame story begins . . .

In 1880, in Grand Rapids MI, Charles Sligh had a furniture company that made furniture from imported Honduran mahogany as well as walnut, gumwood and maple. His pieces were unique in style and finish like this streamlined dressing table.

 The Sligh Furniture Company stayed in business for a little more than 50 years and after they closed, the huge buildings left behind went on to host a myriad of businesses.

 Over the years parts of the buildings required serious maintenance and remodeling and even a few of them were demolished. Our windows came from one of the Grand Rapids buildings. Today, part of the remaining buildings are home to some of the coolest antique stores, industrial goods shops and more. If you are ever near 445 Century SW, Grand Rapids MI, stop by Lost and Found Antiques and Buckley & Douglas, the most amazing new industrial store ever! Tell Mark or DJ, Susan sent you.

So I present to you the newest version of a tiny piece of the famous Sligh Furniture building, our window frame flower box,

I can see red geraniums or bright colored petunias or even a herb garden. Just so many possibilities.

The cool thing is that some of these boxes are on a mission and I will tell you more about that once they move and get to their new home.

Later,

Suz
the Muze 

A video to make you go Ah ha!

Hi Everyone,

Just a fast note to share a cool video that I received today from another artist. It makes you go hmmm.

There has been many a day when I know I should create but something or someone gets in the way. The longer you stay away from creating, the harder it is to get back to it. Ask any if us that do it for a living, it really is a sad truth.

So next time you find yourself in a slump pick one of these twenty nine ways to stay creative.

Enjoy  


http://player.vimeo.com/video/24302498?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0

Suz
the Muze

New lives

Hi Everyone,

Well, we are juggling more than ever, shows coming up, getting items made for the new venue, the find market event for October, custom orders and weddings. Then on Friday, I am training wild animals . . . not really but I feel I can do anything anyone throws at me at this point.

While treasure hunting in one of our warehouses, we came upon these guys.

Last year sometime, we got these windows from a fellow vendor , Hi Tom !, and was thrilled to find out they had been rescued from the Sleigh Furniture factory in Michigan. We got about 50 of them at the time and had forgotten that we set aside the ones that were broken or needed help. They are over 50 years old and in need of some serious TLC.

The thing with windows is they are like cats, they seriously have nine lives. While they may not be great for a building anymore, they are hugely popular with artists, beautiful for wedding settings, make great photo frames, room dividers, the list goes on and on.

These guys are going to become part of new flower boxes if my Chief Carpenter finds his tools this week. I also thought they might look really cool on the outside walls of the General Store at the find market event. So I have at least 3 ideas and I will probably have a couple with us this weekend at the North Shore Fleas market.

So stop in and take a little bit of history home wit you this weekend.

See you at the NSF

Suz  

the Muze

garden rivals

Hi Everyone,

Currently we are up to our alligators in coffee bean bags, making them into double wine bags for a charity event happening soon. We were so honored when they asked us the design a bag and tag for their event and with all the other stuff going on, thought we had better get out ahead of this project.

So, I have been nose to the grindstone and had not being paying attention to Mom's gardens until this morning when I noticed the 'glories' as we call them in full regalia.

They are called gloriosa daisies not to be confused with black eyed Susan's. Don't ask how I know the difference please. It is a painful story! LOL!

This is another group that if you don't cull them in the spring, they call a blitz in the garden and pretty soon, they are all you have! Her patch this year is about 2' x 6' and there are more little groups.

Pictures coming this week of new stuff I promise,

Here's the road:

August 11  2013  - North Shore Flea, Highwood, IL 

August 25  2013  -  Allegan Antiques Market, Allegan County Fairgrounds, Allegan MI

August 31 - September 2  2013  -  Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace with Warmfest at Broad Ripple Park, Indianapolis IN

Later,

Suz

the Muze