A look back at 2013 and serious plans for 2014, part 1

As usual, I've been slacking in the blogging department!  It's been a crazy year for sure, but let's face it, that's NO excuse.  Spending New Year's Eve thinking about the past year and the one to come has me feeling like I'm ready to put my big girl panties on and jump!  Jump where????? Jump into blogging regularly, and growing my business by implementing some of my hair brained ideas...as usual.

I thought I'd give you a glimpse of what went down this year just to refresh you memory.....

Awesome Buying/Road Trip to New York (twice)

Solo road trip to TN for The World's Longest Yard Sale....1400 miles

Stopping all traffic in New York...hehehe 

Police Escort from the Holland Tunnel.....I only had 3 axles!!!!!

Discovering Succulents......gardening LOVE!

Running out of gas on an incline on a major Interstate.

First professional photo shoot!

Selling at Chartreuse & Co, The Tacoma Park Street Market, and The District Flea

Adding some new shopping partners!!!

Wading thru mountains of bird poop to score the most amazing vintage barn wood for projects.

I've stomped through mud, awakened before the roosters, gotten sun-burned in the flea market fields, negotiated one too many port-a-potties, been forced to drink home-made wine to get the "deal".......truly the list goes on and on. Some things I've forgotten, and some are just to painful to remember.....hehehehe. (Just broke my toe on a chair leg.)

Why do I do it.....easy.....I LOVE what I do! If I could redesign my own home every 3 months I'd be happy.  Well I can't do that, mainly because my family would disown me.  So.......I search high and low for the most amazing vintage elements to put into the homes of my customers and design clients.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the high jinx I have planned for 2014!!

Hope I brought  smile to your face....

Have a good one,

Robin

Say "Cheeeese"! We had a little photo shoot in the NEST

Even though I changed up the look of my blog last year, in true "Robin" fashion, I already feel it needs freshening.  I contacted an amazing local photographer, Courtney Reese and arranged to have a photo shoot at The Robin's Nest at the Chartreuse barn in Frederick, MD.

 

 

The morning of the shoot it suddenly dawned on me that I was going to be "shot" (he he) and I hadn't picked out anything to wear.  Ugh..."what to wear????"  Color, sequins, and comfort...my traditional uniform.  Nothing gussies up your look like a sequined t-shirt from J Crew.

 

 

Courtney set up her gear and snapped, snapped, snapped throughout The Robin's Nest.  It was so much fun to watch her and see what caught her eye.  I must say, I felt very "fancy" as birdy #3 often says.  Instead of going on and on in detail about the shoot, why don't I just show you some of my favorite pics.  After all, a picture's worth a thousand words....so....blah blah blah blah

 

 

 

 

 

I look forward to using these images in my business!!!  Thanks Courtney for such a fun day!!!

 

Have a good one,

Robin

A POP of color to make you Happy!

If you are like me, you are DYING ready for Spring!  I just love all the color that seems to pop up over night.  Those tiny little crocus blooms, tulips bursting with life...you name it, if it's in the ground I love it!!!!

Well I can't hurry Mother Nature along, so I have been inspired to create a little Spring Fever in my retail space The Robin's Nest at Chartreuse & co. Color is so "IN" right now in home furnishings. If I had a million $$$$$$ I would redecorate my house every month, right???  Well I don't and I bet you don't either.  Here are some fun ways that I brought color into my space.

 

Pillows are a perfect way to change up a space. It's an inexpensive way to redefine a room, making it look refreshed and current.

 

 

Mix and match colors, fabrics, designs and textures.  Toss on a chair, sofa or bed and voila    A Brand New Look!

It's AMAZING what a little paint can do.....

Buy painted colorful chairs...or paint them yourself.  I found this amazing 1960's drapery panel months ago.  I new I had to find a chair to do it justice.... so love this look. This chair can go in any room and make heads turn.

 

Colorful dishes, glassware, and table linens are another great way to create a fresh new look.  You don't have to buy a whole new set of dishes...just  add a few fun serving piece like this awesome chartreuse green ice bucket.

It's all about having fun with your rooms.  Don't take interior design too seriously.  Long gone are the days of having the perfect dining/sitting/living room.  Families today live in every inch of their homes.  Enjoy yourself and buy what you love.  Chances are...your family will love it too.

 

Have a good one,

Robin

 

 

 

 

 

Getting a little Holiday on....

For those of us in retail, this time of year is both a curse and a blessing.  I would hazard a guess that about 25% of my annual sales happen between November and December.  That being said, Christmas doesn't start in November for me. I literally start thinking about the Holiday selling season the January or February before Christmas....no kidding.  Even though my shop isn't usually open on Black Friday (see the frenzy to the left) I do have to be prepared for a giant Holiday Open House sale and two more sales at my space in Chartreuse & co....AND in my infinite wisdom and moment of genuine insanity, I added another location, The Old Lucketts Store.  The shoppers don't disappoint.  They want lots and lots of holiday merchandise.

 

I really do LOVE my job!! I mean it!!  Despite the broken nails, perpetually trashed vehicle, slight smell of must, I LOVE old vintage tarnished semi-falling apart lovely awesome junk...I mean treasure.  It's just hard to get excited about the holidays at home when you've been working on the holidays all year long.  This year I had the pleasure of crafting with my daughter, Bella!  That girl knows her way around some German glass glitter.  She now knows that you can get a splinter from real glass glitter, hence the term, "glinter"....Love it! And love her.  In fact she is the reason for this post.  Isabella, aka Bella is number 3  of 3.  I was Martha Stewart for the first two boys, but I've run out of steam.  I used to go all out for Christmas.  Literally 5-6 trees of varying sizes, baking my brains outs and decorations in every room.  Sooooooo....last year I really put a lot of effort into decorating my house after the shop closed for the year.  At least so I thought.....Bella had other ideas.  Bella the other day.... "Mom, maybe we can decorate this year instead of just a little bit."  Apparently I set the bar a little too high.  Gonna try to get it right this year for my Bella. 

 

 

Found this wonderful fresh wreath at a craft fair in Shepherdstown, WV.

 

A vintage pedal car fire truck filled with a cheat....a faux tree from my favorite local boutique Guten Tag.  It looks soo real, that's way I had to have it.

 

I'm trying a new approach....one room/space at a time.  Stay tuned to see if I can live up to Bella's Holiday dream!!!

 

Cheers,

Robin

 

Not so Christmas Gifts.....

 

I love Christmas, really I do.  However, I'm not a big fan of the Christmas themed gifts that I often receive.  But let's face it....red and green trees and stars look a little bizarre in the middle of March!!!

I gathered some of the items in my shop....gotta love a little self promotion.... that are soooo giftable.  Now and later!!!!



Tea towels....okay, so we really don't do tea anymore. But they are great in the kitchen and bathroom.  I had a customer who used them as window panels...fun!  A great hostess gift gathered around a bottle of wine with ribbon.  At only $14 each they are perfect to have on hand.

 

 

Jewelry is a given. I love the new hand-crafted dictionary and typewriter key pieces I just received from my Texas artist!!  They are stylish, chic, and affordable!! Gotta luv that!!!! From $20 -$38.

 

What's trending...owls, white...white owls???? Fabulous Owl Vase $26.95

Amazing Sweater Motifs...in Vases and Votive Holders.....priced from $14-$28

 

 

See anything you like??????

 

Find them and more at The Robin's Nest Holiday Open House

 

Chartreuse and co

NOV 4 - 6, Fri/Sat 9-4pm, Sun 12-4pm.

 

Have a good one,

Robin