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!

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.

New Art Show and a New Window

I have a new art show every month here at Blackbird Attic. The opening is always the second Saturday of each month, from 6-9pm. On this night, Beacon becomes it's liveliest self, with lots of events (and free wine!) all down Main street. If you've never been to Beacon, this is the day to visit. Beacon Arts and Beacon Citizen are good sources to find out what's going on, but you pretty much just need to start at one end and walk your way down to the other. The middle gets a little iffy, but definitely make your way to the east end and you will be paid off with the majority of galleries, antiques, an awesome art covered building and a waterfall!

I could talk forever about how awesome Beacon is and is becoming,
but let's talk about my shop again ; ).

 

So tomorrow, the opening of Julianna Swaney's 'Secret Messages' art show is happening. You can RSVP and get more details here, but basically around 6:30pm I line a table with goodies like wine and cupcakes and along with that, you get to enjoy a little art viewing and a little shopping! I hope to see you; but either way here is a teaser of her work!

Also, how awesome is my intern Ngoc? She is both talented in the tedious side of a consignment shop and the fun-crafty-artistic side. I finally decided on a window theme and she is the perfect person for the job..  Here's a little preview of what's to come: