It is the season for tables

 We always feel like our business runs in seasons.

We naturally have the fall, winter, spring and summer seasons.

We talk about show season.

And, there is the phenomenon of seasons of projects. This season has been all about tables!

After acquiring several old drafting tables, Jeremy has the great idea to restore the bases and replace the tops. The end result were some pub size tables and some great desks. We have people who are using these in compact kitchens - perfect seating for four or as a desk where you can stand or sit on a stool comfortably.

 This top is actually original to the piece, but restored with some sanding, stain and a little top coat to seal it.

The best part of this table is the metal edge.

 This smaller version with the pallet top had just enough color variation to make it super interesting.

 Am I right? Great color variation!

This version shows off how attractive the desk version could be. We love the narrow drawers for just the right amount of storage.

Modern Farmhouse Style

We love farmhouse style and have been enjoying some of the modern farmhouse piece that we have been seeing in our favorite catalogs.

A customer visited with us about a table on behalf of her sister. The options we had available weren't quite right. However, we had some modern metal legs in our raw material piles. Fast forward to a very brief design session and we had plans for a table that combined the modern legs with a reclaimed wood top. So beautiful in the end!

A side note - these pictures were taken before the heatwave destroyed our flowers. You also get a true picture of our creative process - piles of wood and scraps of lumber. It's the real deal, friends!

Happy homes: Personalized Wine Barrel Head

Photo credit: Darroch family

Our heart is always filled to the brim when we get to see a project in the homes of our friends and customers.

A popular item at The Market is the personalized barrel head. We have made these for wedding, anniversary, and housewarming gifts. These have also been a popular way to say "family" and "home" in a space.

We firmly believe that objects can create a sense of place and define a structure as more than a house, but as a home.

Plus, isn't this arrangement swoon worthy?! Love, love, love it!

Entry table project

 This beauty began as a concept drawing from some friends and a request for Jeremy to build this custom entry table.

This was a project that Jeremy agonized over! He wanted to get it just right for this family and to be economical and, of course, beautiful.

In the popular farmhouse style, this entry table turned out to be functional and beautiful!

In fact, when it was near completion, we had several people want to buy it.

 We love the detail on this one! Even down to the natural wood in the bottom of the cubbies because Jeremy knew that little shoes might scuff the paint. Thankful for friends with a mind for design and you have to love the organization potential on this project!

Photo credit: Meitler family

Just the right amount of rustic and refined - this table found a happy home!

Farmhouse style sofa table

We are loving the fact that Farmhouse style is all the rage right now. The simple elegance of the classic blend of natural wood and painted wood goes is a perfect fit for our own home and what we like to create.

This sofa table was pretty outdated. We discovered that the top was removable. With a fresh coat of paint for the legs and some light distressing, we made it look fresh. The top was replaced with some reclaimed wood and was stained and lightly sealed.

We were so happy with the finished product and debated the age old question, "Should we keep or sell?"

In the end, we passed this piece along to a great couple who we met through The Market. We were so excited when they sent a picture of the table in their home.

What on earth did we get ourselves into?

This view may or may not have had me in tears a few months ago.

In full disclosure, at seven months pregnant and having the awesome opportunity to renovate a building and try to keep up with everyday life, I was a little overwhelmed. We had talked for several months about when to start phase two of the renovation of The Market. We jumped in after the holidays with a plan for the financing - things were finally in motion.

And then - we had a medical emergency that rocked us to the core. We dutifully followed through and kept the faith. In the end, it all worked out, but not without some sleepless nights and extra anxiety.

And, then, the clouds started to separate and we were ready for decisions to be made. With great patience, Jeremy would bring me to the building and we would talk through each decision. I would leave thinking, "what on earth did we get ourselves into?" and cry just a little bit.

These emotions might have also been fueled by the fact that when you renovate an old building and start from the bottom up, you eventually move to the second floor. It is at that point that all of the dirt and debris from maybe a hundred years or so filters down into the finished space. So, let's add this up - we were packing and unpacking from shows and in between, cleaning up construction dust and chunks of plaster and concrete. Fun times!

One of the best parts of having The Market is staging and showing off some of our great finds. During this season of renovation, we weren't showing off much of anything!

But, like most things, this crazy, out of control season passed. Fast forward a few weeks and when the new electrical was installed on the second floor, I was so excited. We had turned a corner!

Granted, we still have a long way to go. We have picked out paint colors and have some of the "bones" of the space in place. I can clearly see having events in our space and getting to a place where we can stage. We have even picked up a few special pieces that we have in mind for the space and we can't wait to show them off!

Helping us keep the motivation going is the installation of the fence on the north, east and south sides of the property. We got this in place early enough in the growing season that we can begin to design and plant the east courtyard area.

Yay for progress!

The Progress Principle in action

 Years ago, I stumbled on a book called The Progress Principle by Teresa Amabile and Steve Kramer. It was a great book about motivation and maintaining focus. My most important take away was that making progress on important goals is one of the motivators for employees. Over the years, I have found this to be true in not only working with others, but also motivating myself.

We are pretty certain that renovating a historic building is an exercise of patience and faith. We have big dreams for this space and have been wrestling with when to start phase two of renovations on The Market and putting together all of the pieces to make the next steps happen. This waiting is a little discouraging and there are times when we think that just haven't done enough or are behind our self-imposed schedule.

This week Jeremy had the brilliant idea to use Google Earth to look up older images of the building before we started any work. Wow! What a difference!

This was just the motivator that I needed to remember how far we have come (focus on the progress) and an important reminder of the fun work ahead.

The first collage shows a before of the front landscape and the next two show off our work so far - tree and fence removal, new windows, and new doors! A transformation!

The side and the back of the house show off just how much was hidden by the trees that needed to be removed. Removing the door to no where and the fiberglass wall of the shower (not kidding!) and just priming the siding were a huge step forward.

So, today, we are celebrating the progress, thankful for how far this project has come. And, we are hopeful for a quick start to the next phase!

Vintage finds: Vintage sacks

Vintage sacks used for flour, feed, seed, laundry, ballots or banking have a special place in my collector's heart.

I am finally ready to let go of some of my favorites and have been sorting and eventually pricing them for The Market.

One of my favorites - the Cheyenne Steam Laundry bag that we found in Denver. Check out the phone number!

What do you do with these great vintage finds, especially when some may only be in "cutter" condition? Some of my favorite projects are for pillows like the set we have in our living room. There are also some really cute potholders that I have pinned on my project board, but haven't gotten around to making. I am also a huge fan of making these into bags.

 We found this bag in an antique store. I couldn't pass it up because I loved the vibrant colors.

 A talented seamstress friend transformed a seed corn sack into a bag. I love the spaciousness and the great pockets she included. My mom has a matching version.

Another talented friend made this more modern version. I love that it is lined with a sweet "country" cotton fabric and the outside it essentially weather proof!