Summer Windows, Here They Are!

 Photos by Courtney Scalzo


As promised, some better photos of my summer shop windows! My intern Ngoc started by painting the windows with regular acrylic paint. It's pretty easy to get this stuff off windows, you just get it wet and scrap it off. It's a nice little non permanent, yet lasting, idea to be used in your home on any windows or glass surface.

Next she made the backdrop for the blue window by painting regular poster paper (in a roll, bought from Michaels Craft store) with a sponge brush. I really like the texture feel of it, it reminds me of fabric. To achieve this she just watered down the paint. I bought the rope from Home Depot and the little nautical accessories were on sale at Michaels.

To make the coral, we just used 2 coffee filters, folded them in half, cut the tips off, and stapled for a dart effect. Then turned inside out, we poked our fingers in them by the staples to puff them out a bit before painting them with watered down acrylic paint. The white ones really remind me a of jellyfish. You could make a cute mobile or something similar out of them!

The white hanging balls were pre-made from Michaels, I wish they had LED lights in them, but they are simple and pretty alone. I used shells, coral, and driftwood from my own beach ventures to further accent, and threw the vintage sewing machine in there because it's so darn cool and works the fashion angle of the shop ; ).

That's about it. Like I always say, they look nicer in person, so visit soon!

Preview of Summer Lookbook

Had a fun little shoot last Sunday with Courtney Scalzo. I was hoarding vintage dresses in the back just for this occasion. I make look books once in awhile just as a little marketing tool.. to basically say, "Hey, look at all the cute things I sell!" Anyway, these cute things are for sale. Summer Lookbook will be posted as the photos get edited.

Making Barnacles, Decorating Windows

Just a few photo teasers of the new windows. It was first suggested by my friend that I do a nautical theme window display. Next friend suggested I hang some rope from the ceiling. I went from there. It always takes a couple ideas to jump start the creative process for me because there are so many possibilities! And it has to be an easily executable possibility. I was also most definitely inspired by Anthropologie as always. We used coffee filters to make a sort of art installation of "barnacles/coral". Stop by to see it in person!

The last photo shows a little preview of the other window. It can be tough dealing with 2 windows. They are also an odd shape. I want them to look nice from the front street view, but then also have things angle from the side view. You can see here we put up paper and painted it to imitate the ocean and then cut out cellophane in the shape of a wave. The cellophane was layered to give more color depth and texture, but it was too wrinkly for my liking, and not in a cool texture wave wrinkle kind of way. After about 4 attempts to fix it, my boyfriend took it down and painted instead! I'll post pictures of it in it's completion very soon.

My Week Recap 6/18/2012

1 & 2. Still trying to incorporate cleanse "principals" into my diet.. Basically eating a filling healthy breakfast and bringing a healthy filling lunch to my shop. I am loving kale salads for lunch. There are a lot of different recipes, but I really like using olive oil, apple cider vinegar and dijon mustard as a dressing. I add in whatever veggies I have, nuts (sunflower, pumpkin, almond), and dried fruit. I've never tried eating a sweet potato for breakfast before the cleanse. This one I popped into the oven (wash, prick and wrap in foil, cook for about 60 mins at 350 for it to be nice and mushy) as soon as I got up so it was ready for breakfast. I filled it with toasted nuts (pecans are the best!) and craisins, with cinnamon apples on the side.

3, 4, & 5. All finds (minus cat) from the annual city wide garage sale. All of these items are from the same house actually. Lot's of great little vintage fabric and vintage Christmas decorations. Also I couldn't pass up this 1935 baby name book!

I went to the little beach in Cold Spring, about 15 minutes south of us. Above is a cheesy photo op from that day. I forgot to post the rest of our photos, but we basically played fetch with Sterling and enjoyed the view.

My friend Jess is leaving me! She's moving upstate a bit but will hopefully be visiting Beacon often. Here is her and her favorite species at her going away party.

What are these crazy photos you ask? Well after the little get together for Jess, I was randomly invited to something called CoSM. It was a visual experience to say the least. My favorite part was walking up the road in the dark woods, with just hints of laser popping through the trees and dance music in the distance. Felt like I was in another world, no drugs necessary.

My Week Recap 6/11/12

Took the whole family (2 cats, 1 dog, 1 boyfriend) to the vet last week. Snapped a cute photo of Sushi attempting to hide.

Walked down to long dock park and spotted this snake wrapped around a branch. I'm not a fan of snakes, but they are interesting to look at, especially when they're just hanging out in a tree, far enough away to not bite me.

We're trying to get our dog into the idea of swimming. This kind of worked. More coaxing sessions to come.

We spent a long time watching ducks and their babies. Must have been at least 5 different families. Little bit of a cuteness overload.

We picked this cat up at the flea market (the one on the left to clarify) and gave her a new coat. Sushi seems to approve.

I dyed my hair blue! It's actually more green than this photo represents, but blue none the less. My boyfriend dyed it for me actually. Another skill all boyfriends should have. He's a perfectionist, so getting dye on all the little strands of hair is great for him to take delight in.

On Second Saturday after my opening I stopped by Alms & Terra.

Had some laughs.

Checked out the new lounge at The Roundhouse. (Also stopped by earlier in the week and I am very excited for another nightlife option in our little city).

Sunday I opened a little late so I could indulge myself in a Beacon festivity which happens to include delicious strawberry shortcake!

Sunday evening I stopped by to keep my friend Jess company while she served at Chill Wine Bar.

Art. Cupcakes. & Vintage. Oh My!

The art opening was a fun time. Lot's of energy in the air last night in Beacon!

We had delicious cupcakes made by The Cupcake Baketress in Beacon. Chocolate with a graham cracker bottom! You could smell the chocolate as soon as you entered my shop.. delicious.

Thanks friends for stopping by! Below my friend Jess is sporting a top she had just bought alongside her newly purchased, perfectly matching, spirit animal, artwork from Alms & Terra.

Lastly, here are a few photos of some new items in the shop. I have been getting bombarded with drop-offs.. late spring cleaning I suppose! It will take me some time to get through everything, but be sure to stop by and grab the newest stuff before it goes. Actually the first dress below went yesterday to a lovely lady from Austin. But, don't worry, I have the cutest handmade vintage dresses I will be putting out in the near future.