On selling our projects and talents

SOLD.

Gee... you'd think if you had something for sale, that you'd be happy to sell it, yes?

My sweet blog friend BJ from Sweet Nothings sent me this magazine with one of my movie stars in it.

 I just received the magazine so it's still extreme novelty to see my memory table in actual print! 

BJ loved the table so much she went and made one herself!

Isn't it awesome?

 

My table had since gone to our local restaurant, the Vedder Mountain Grille where I am displaying some items for sale.

And then I got the email.

"Hey Donna, your table sold on Sunday!  I'm happy and sad. 

Thanks again for all your beautiful things!"

I smiled, but I also had a lump in my throat. I could never bring my movie star home again.

 SOLD.

 I also brought in my GROCERY sign. In which owner Laurie deemed she didn't want to see it gone EVER so she bought it herself!

 SOLD.

And remember the mattress spring bb project?

The little bb with the #5 also sold there too.

Believe me when I say, I didn't have much on display at the restaurant. But it appears my handmade items are moving. And that is very encouraging!

 

picket tool box

 

drill handle tool box

So I'm gonna be a big girl and bring some more of my favs over. And with any luck, they will also sell.

I also promised to show you some decorating I'll be doing at the restaurant, so I'll work on a few photo shoots this time as we go along too.

One of my other dreams is to land writing assignments that love tutorials such as these projects offer. Because there's going to be alot more coming! So if you're hiring, sign me up! :)

 

Fear to succeed sure can get in the way. Here's to showing fraidy cats like myself how to chuck fear to the side and do what you love for a living already.

I mean, isn't it about time?!?

My movie star table (mag feature!)

 

So, my dear sweet friend BJ from Sweet Nothings congratulated me today. 

And I went, 'Huh'?

Remember this little number? 

Oh, I'm so proud of my little table! 

She's grown up so! *sniff*

I remember it's infant stage like it was yesterday. 

There was some table prom in the works, so this little girl needed a new dress.

Well, her artist got right to it and began to make one! DIY all the way.

 Many sandings later, her full potential started to emerge.

How can this be? Isn't she still a baby?!?

 I remember the day when she tried to get out of the house only wearing THIS. 

Now what kind of a table owner would I be if I had allowed that...

 Nope. We had to haul out the finest finery we could DIY up.

 And that's when she really started to shine in that special non glossy way of hers.

Such a little flirt!

 They just grow up so fast.

*sniff*

Well, looks like I need to get out the movie star glasses again.

My baby's in Romantic Homes, May 2011!

 I know. I KNOW!!!

I have a new Canadian anthem too. Wanna hear it?

"Ohhhh Canadaaaaa,"

Your distribution is way too sloowwwww...."

"I loooove you so much,

"But the snail mail must goooooo..."

Well, what a cool cool feeling. I hope you don't mind the teeny weeny bragfest here.

Just goes to show, you don't know where a pile of trash will lead, ya know?

And dear dear BJ that ran out to her corner store because she was so proud of me and now she's sending it tomorrow AM all the way to slowpoke Canada!

(we probably won't see it in our own newstands for another month or so)

 You remember BJ don't you? She was in the top 5 of the Copy Me Challenge with her wild and crazy chains and rusty metal, baby!

BJ, you're awesome. Thanks so much for sending me my baby's class pictures.  I can't wait. :)

You can check out BJ's sweet blog HERE.

Thank-you Justine and Romantic Homes! I couldn't be more honored!

I wonder who will be in what next? I just can't keep up with these kids! :)

My sick camera plus 4 magazines equals one awesome day!

First off, thanks so much for all your advice on the blog and Facebook about ideas for my downstairs office.You've given me so many wonderful ideas to work from! I can't wait to try a few and I'll be sure to keep you updated.

Moving along...

Guess most of you have figured out by now that I like to fiddle around with photography.

And you KNOW how important cameras are to a blogger. So what would YOU do if you found your camera very sick one day?

Check this out. I wouldn't know how to do this if I tried.

Know what else was equally horrifying? The photo shoot I was taking for the Copy Me! Challenge started cranking out pics just like this. Freak. Me. Out.

So I attempted a full blown photo shoot anyway. And it didn't work out. Everything looked pretty bad. Even the colours and tones were on their way out. So I borrowed a friend's camera to get by. And in no uncertain terms, I got it in both ears...

"GET THE CAMERA YOU WANT. NOW. TODAY. GO."

Such a nag. :)

You may say I'm pretty cautious about big ticket items. I wait and wait until I'm dragging myself along the ground complaining and whining and fussing about how awful my bad junk is to everyone that's within earshot before I'll budge and allow myself something cool.  And my friend had had quite enough and gave me one good final kick! Just what I needed.

So, my son and I set out to get a shiny new camera. The sales flyer showed us a great deal on one that was just begging for a new home.

And once we got there? Out of stock. NOOO! THIS WILL NOT DO.

I then asked her to show me ALL the brands, not just the one I asked for. Well now, I felt like that episode of I Love Lucy where all the chocolates go too fast on that conveyor belt.




Told you I was old. :)

Anyway, I burned away that sales girl's hours until they flicked off the lights in the store. She'll never forget me. :)

BUT. I got one I loved BETTER than the one I was after! I did it! I really really honestly went ahead and did it!

 Look Miss Mustard Seed! Even our cameras are friends! :)

I may wear ripped jeans and farmer jackets, but by golly, I have a smokin' Canada's Next Top Model kinda camera I do! This one fit in my hands just like a glove.

And when I figure out how to drive it, you'll be the first to know.

Gotta say, this was one of the last trinkets I had a goal to purchase to make some future dreams come true. I'm now working towards getting Photoshop and Illustrator for Mac.

Know what else I'm very proud of? This camera was purchased soley from money made from the blog. This is a true blue Funky Junk purchase. It took a long time to save for, but I did it! And I couldn't be more proud of that fact. I'm so very glad I waited and paid for it the right way. This means so much more to me than just a camera.

And right when you couldn't think my day could improve more, I landed these too. And bought the last 4 they had. :)

 Why? Because I'm totally beside myself that I can say I'm available on the newstands now.  EEEE!

 I still can't get over MMS on the same page. VERY VERY cool.

 Dear Romantic Homes... you rock! And have great taste. :) It's such an incredible honor to be recognized this way. And if I can do it, (with a point and shoot no less) so can you.

And for those curious, an editor from RH contacted me. So make sure every photo shoot counts.

Right... back to the camera.

 Guess a post is in order soon on how to buy an SLR. And what this baby all needs to stay happy. She's a little high maintenance she is... opposites attract, yes?

An impossible project brings a feature, win, AND giveaway!

 Most of you have seen my bedroom a bazillion times by now.

Please bear with me. I had to use this room for what this post is all about. :)

When I first decorated this room, I couldn't believe my nerve.Would I get away with this?!?

 I remember the doubtful yet curious comments when just showing the 'befores' of the components.

But I went ahead and created what was in my head and posted it anyway.

Nerves of steel I tell ya.

The room was a hit. So I continued to add additional unique components to it hoping they would be equally well received.

Which they were. Right down to this torn sheet lampshade I created in 5 minutes which derived from a need to cover up an otherwise dirty one for a Christmas showing of my home.

And where is this 'way out there' bedroom now?

HGTV.com in the 12 Creative Headboards feature

Romantic Homes, a blog spotlight in the Jan 2010 edition.

(yes, that's Miss Mustard Seed below me! And Fiona and Twig is in this feature too!)

(oh my GOSH)

The moral of this story?

If something scares you, try it anyway.

Step slightly out of your comfort zone each day.

Try something you've never done before.

Put together something you NEVER think will work. Then make it work.

Beg, borrow and steal from freebie piles with an open mind.

Choose 'uniquely you' over copycat decorating.

 Create to your heart's content, no matter what others may think.

Try what's in your mind. It's there for a reason.



There aren't many that desire to take these kinds of risks.

Hence, there isn't much competition in the risk category. So, why not be one of them? :)

Oh. And my impossible bedroom has been elsewhere. It won a contest in October.

And since I can't spend the prize in Canada,

some lucky American gets to go shopping.

Click the sponsor store button or  HERE to enter!

And, click HERE to try to win an iPad through BlogHer!


Merry Christmas, friends!

And thanks for your never ending kind support with all of 'my kind of' projects.You make a junker mighty proud. :)

Are you a risk taker with your decorating? 
What's the bravest thing you've tried to date?