Well it is finally here, the season that I like the least!!  I do not get excited about the crisper, cooler air, or the magnificent colours of autumn with the changing of the leaves to their deep reds, brilliant oranges and bright yellows.  I LOVE the heat and humidity of the summer and everything that summer brings.  Hot nights, days lounging by the water, open toed shoes... you know the fun stuff.

So as fall creeps in and takes away my pleasure season, I curse it first than it very slowly works its way into my heart.  I start to appreciate the colours (even though not my favourite colour palette) as I clear the cobwebs in my studio.   I bring out the paints, turn on the radio (yup old school) to listen to the Maple Leafs (hockey season is starting and I get sucked in again hoping that the team will get to the playoffs and maybe win again in my lifetime!!) and get ready for craft show season.  

I still have a few pumpkins left, the craft kind that don't go bad, and i hide the ugly orange/brown colouring and bring some beautiful colour to them.  These are a few I did in the past to share with you.  They have all found good homes to be the centre of attention for a short while, as Canadian Thanksgiviing is just a few weeks away.

Should you wish to custom order one, please get your order into me by Sept 30 the latest for a Thanksgiving delivery.  

Cheers, and enjoy the weather and the coolness in the air!!
diane

Well I have finally had a chance to get back to Utica and the Coach House Studio to re-visit my booth!!... I knew I had to rearrange the space as it was cramped in there and awkward to access.. I think I should have brushed up on my fung shei!!

I have been a rookie before and was now a rookie displayer!!  With the help of Laura and her wonderful mother, I was able to rearrange my space to give it a lighter more welcoming feel!..  As you may notice, the beautiful coffee table and to be moved..it was just to big for the space and we found room in another overflow area for it.

Of course, it is still a work in progress... I have great ideas as I go through Pinterest pictures and see beautiful store displays, of how I would love my booth to me.. I just need to go for it!!  You see I even had trepidation in hanging up the old window... Laura's mom, Judy, just hoped on the ladder and knocked in a nail!!..  

I need to fear dumb things less and just go for it.. it's ok to have many holes in the wall!!... 
My house is the same.. pictures on the floor instead of the wall as to "afraid??" to hang up... what if it is not right??... so what.... just do it!!

anyone else feel like that?

Anyways, what do you think of the revamped look??  Hope you like and can drop in soon...
cheers
diane

A long time vision has come to fruition and in an awful hurry!!

Back in April I was selected to be part of a new venture of Laura Gray's vision.  While she was busy prepping her new "Coach House Studio", I was busy doing volleyball camps, appearances and private clinics (yes that is my other passion - inspiring the next generation of female volleyball athletes.  While I was in Ottawa in early August, I got an email from Laura half way thru asking what size space did I want to have....???? yikes!!! OMG..now what do I commit to??

I measured out all the various sizes and all the dreams of what I had been wanting to paint and do and haven't as of yet.  Then I put myself back to the Tony Robbins seminar that I attended in Chicago back in mid July.  I put on my big girl panties and said GO FOR IT!!!  I was not going to play small.  

Laura was asking us to come that weekend and start decorating and assembling the space...what?? I was in Montreal for the weekend and said I would come meet her on Monday...well Monday came and I was up for an 8am 2 hour practice... went home and started chalk painting all the pieces that have been waiting for me all these years!!! and I mean YEARS!!!!   I went Tuesday to look at my space and my eyes must have been wide as saucers!!!... Laura said I could paint, wallpaper, put in carpet whatever I wanted...this was 11 days before opening!!!  Did she not know that I had an appearance in Huntsville sports camp the next day, and 2.5 days of kettle corn selling. and tons of painting/waxing/distressing to do!!.

so I did what I have learned to do best over these past few years...
Let Go & Let God...
in my case, I asked my heavenly angels (my mami & ati) to help me come up with a vision.. it was nothing that I had expected.. I was thinking pink & black... they came up with heavenly clouds!!

Once I set my mind in motion, the universe answered:
- asked for  a china hutch on facebook, I was lead to a white wicker bookcase at the Restore for $20
-asked for another piece to display, one of the other vendors said she had a wrought iron type white arch unit with glass shelves that would look great for your glassware
-asked for guidance on how to paint the walls, Annie Sloan book had how to do walls that look old.. (Laura, a master interior designer, loved the look...phew)
-the only original piece I bought was the black rug to anchor the space!!

it all came together just perfect!!  thanks to my heavenly angels!!!
see the Page on Coach House Studio for pictures.