September 6, 2009

Custom Chandeliers For Every Room

Hello Weekenders -

AHHHHH a holiday weekend with no plans. I'm staying around the house and gonna fix up my blog - well, I'm going to give it a go as they say.

Went back into some old photos and pulled out some of my favorite Chandeliers - some are in my house today and the rest used to be here.  Grab a drink we're having a LIGHT SHOW!


This is one I truly regret selling, although I can't keep em all.  I've tried.

I especially like the medium size Chandeliers - everyone needs at least one - yeah?

This one was from the famous Greta Garbo Estate in Bel Air, California

This was in our Powder Room - I think it went to Australia

Straight out of a Castle in Hollywood

Everyone loves traditional

Left was also out of the Greta Garbo Estate - Right was used in a TV Show 
These Sconces have been used in many productions - they'll be  available here and on ebay as soon as I can!

This beauty is in a Bridal Shoppe in Nevada USA

Traditional with a twist
This one was used in a movie 
A little more traditional with some funky style
Next two were designed for a ceiling fans
This one reminded me of an antique cake plate - upside down

New made to look old and french - I love that

Next three great petite size
Rescued this one - found in pieces 
Left - cool french cage with all rhinestone center - amazing sparkle Right loaded with crystals
Favorite outdoor - iron roses on top

Romantic Frenchy
Left is in my kitchen - it's all white & I love it - Right is our signature style all funky beaded with old crystals - 

This style petite Chandelier is one of my favorites for baby gifts - I can't even count how many I've given and each one is custom designed just for this baby.


This one is on the Porch by the front door.

This crown Chandelier is on a ceiling fan in my bedroom. 

This Chandelier was used in a movie


Our signature style - in a petite size


That's my Chandelier Light Show for now - we've been doing Chandeliers for 15 years and these were the photos I have handy - hope you enjoyed the tour - 


Blogged to join and party with Susan - 


http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2009/09/welcome-to-34th-metamorphosis-monday.html


September 1, 2009

Vintage Chandelier & The Beach House Kitchen


Hey Good People,

Here's the Chandelier I worked on most of today - reminds me of Rain, and I must have rain on my brain because it's sooooo hot here, my city is on fire and we desperately need rain.
I love the unique style and design Mr Beachy creates and I wonder if you do too.


So, I'm staying inside these days catching up on things, trying to be a blogger, and cooking up cool light meals. My kitchen is small galley style, with 2 great front windows that I find myself watching the neighbor kids play while I snack...way too often.


Built in 1949 by the original owner I'm sure it stayed in its original condition for all these years till we came along. Everything needed attention, and we were determined to keep the original charm with paint, and all the tools you could possibly imagine. After we touched and fixed every single inch of this kitchen and returnd it to it's original good looks I was happy.

I figure this guys wife musta been my height because the cabinets are the perfect height for me. They're all original with beadboard doors, and I added the vintage glass pulls. Not nearly enough cabinets, but is there ever? Funny thing is - both of the painters that painted this kitchen STRONGLY suggested we go over to Home Depot and buy new cabinets, they just don't get it.


The countertop, backsplash and window ledge are marble, the sink is big, deep and not divided - I love that. Great for big pots. I also love the deep drawers and the pull out bread board.

The stove is old, and in great condition. I'll get that Wolf Range one day, just not this day, not this economy. This old guy works perfectly, it's white and chrome, oven, 2 broilers, center griddle, and one of the burners has a thermostat - great for slow cooking and keeping food hot. There's also some great drawer storage at the bottom. Besides that, I can't see how the old guy would ever fit through the doorway - I think the house was built around the stove.


The kitchen table is a cement pedestal table, usually you see them outdoors but I think it's cool for this kitchen - very easy to take care of. I found the chairs at my neighbors garage sale and recovered the seats in white - some kind of fabric that I can easily just wipe clean. The Chandelier is one of my favorites, and the blue neon sign says Marsha's est. 1996.

I made this sign out of an old chippy white fence picket and these chunky white letters. I've got the rest of the fence behind the garage waiting to be used for something. One day.





The tile floor is waiting for it's turn to be what it was originally - black & white squares. When I am in a kitchen with those big B&W squares I feel like I'm in a mansion somewhere, ya know? As anxious as I am, I am so not looking forward to the mess tearing up the old tiles creates, so this floor is staying a little while longer.

The Laundry Room is next and then through the swinging door to the Dining Room, which is pretty much what sold me on this house when we bought it 13 years ago.

Of course, every room has a unique "favorite" Chandelier created by us - the best part of this old place.

Thanks for coming by today -


August 31, 2009

Beach Morning, Pillow Slips & Vintage Holders


Good Morning All -


Most mornings Mr Beachy brings me a cup of coffee and my section of the Daily News, I turn on the morning show, grab the newest magazine I haven't read yet, and get to work.  Wish I could say it looks like the photo above but it really looks like this - rumpled and congested with the computer, paperwork and the phone...yep, it's my desk in a bed.





When I've caught up or had enough - I get to sweeping up and figuring out what needs to be done.  More often than not, a chandelier needs beading, my ebay store needs attention, and I've always got painting and whitewashing to do.  Of course, there's always cleaning, cooking, and laundry to do in between and I don't think I'll ever catch up on everything.  I also have a constant little voice in my head telling me to head over to the thrifts for the spectacular stuff that was just dropped off.

Anyhow - A few weeks ago I cleaned out the Linen Cabinet - I don't need this much anymore, and I must let go of the extras. So here's my pile of what's going on to ebay and etsy, maybe you'll see something you love - there will more detailed photos over there.



Here's what I'm making over this week - painting, whitewashing, lining - a few will be for a couple of friends who are having birthdays - the rest will be sold.


One by one I'll get around to playing with each one of these treasures - lovin every minute, even in this incredibly hot summer with part of Los Angeles burning up in raging fires.  My heart goes out to everyone affected, evacuated and scared.  I hope it's over soon - every single firefighter is a hero.

Just a note:  See the canning jar with the single hydrangea?  I cut this blossom in my garden 3 weeks ago and look at it, still so fresh. I change the water every few days, but how is it so healthy after this long, normally hydrangeas barely last a couple of days, even when you soak the whole thing first.  Maybe this - I don't know...but I accidentally break crystals all the time while working, I put em in a jar with some sea glass and maybe a few shells.  Could that keep em alive longer?  I don't know, but it worked.   

Take Care - Make it a Great Day -


Sorry for the duplicate photo of the messy bed - I mean office.

August 26, 2009

Jen's Beach House Wedding & I Love Her



Good Evenin -

My daughter Jennifer gave me this charm, and got one for herself....we both wear it everyday. I've always thought she was an old soul - saying and doing very wise and kind things, and this says it all don't you think?  I love her so much.  


So Jen's getting married next summer!  She and her fiance, Ryan, will be married at the beach, on the sand, with a casual reception at home!  I am so excited and anxious, determined to live and love the process each minute at a time.   We've been pouring over magazines, checking out bloggers weddings, and researching a million ideas.  


So last Saturday we went down the beach for lunch, a little shopping, and to relax a while.


We found a spot with some fabulous beach houses - Carbon Beach.



A coupla hours flew by and we headed home - stopping at the magazine stand for more more more.


For the past few weeks I've been cleaning out, reorganizing, changing lots of stuff around, starting 1/2 a dozen blogs, taking photos, painting and beading chandeliers.  When I totally emptied my Linen Closet a coupla weeks back - I got myself started on a complete beach house spring cleaning in the middle of summer but very much needed. 

 I don't need so much stuff anymore - I love my thrifts and stop at my favorite few as often as I can - so in this great clean out I've made piles of pillow slips, quilts, tablecloths etc. to keep me busy on ebay and etsy forever!

While reading several blogs the past few weeks, I found some that tugged my heart, a few that were so entertaining funny, and some that inspired me and encouraged me in so many ways I couldn't step away from the computer.  

Where do they find the time, I dunno - but I want to be their friend...and here in this great blogland everyone is a friend.  

So I've started to write a little every night - I'll show you what I create and how I do it, our Chandelier Studio, and how we live...and how I plan to make the Beach House Wedding of Jen's dreams a reality.  In a word - HELP.  

I'd love to hear from you if you have anything to add to our Idea Book - it's called {don't worry}"Everythings Gonna Be All White!"

G'Night -

August 12, 2009

Beach House Vintage Linens & It's Marcia Brady

Hi Bloggie Friends -
Thank you all so much for your very kind comments and emails - I love the bloggers I've met and have learned so much from all of you.  

One of the best parts of getting older is knowing yourself, and when I'm blue, my medicine is my kids around me, a very laid back fab husband, this comfy beach house, and the sea, but what heals me the best is my regular ole routine life.  Grocery marketing (who woulda thought Costco would be consoling), laundry, attacking a tall stack of mail, paying bills, talking to the neighbors, and of course my beading hobby. I'm a lifer at beading, it's my therapy and I love it. 

So when Mr Beachy asked me if I wanted to go to some garage sales on Saturday morning I knew that was going to be the best therapy of all.  So I threw on clothes and out we went.  We hit a few sales listed in the Daily News and as we arrived at one advertised as "a collector's sale" I could see that it was all quality antiques and such so we poked around.  I found a great basket, a white ironstone pitcher, a dozen old canning jars all unique, and a box of vintage linens that no one had gone through yet.  It was mostly Dish Towels and Dinner Napkins with initals, monograms, and embroidery, and a couple of handmade crocheted popcorn pillow covers with chunky tassels.They were all really discolored, folded up and stored for a long time - but I was pretty sure bleach would fix these babies.  

I took my pile to the lady running the show and she started to sort through adding up my stash.  She said $10 for everything - I paid her...and then I realized who she was. She was Marcia Brady, Maureen McCormick - a little older but I knew the face and the smile.  I had seen her a few times out junking at Salvation Army and some thrifts but never spoke to her. This time I said - "Hi - My name is Marsha." She smiled big held out her hand and said "Hi - It's really nice to meet you."  Her Mom (I think) got a kick out of it and I could only think that she's probably met every Marsha in Los Angeles by now.  I told her how funny it is going through life with a name that when people see me they say it 3 times - we laughed, spoke for a few minutes then I left.  I realized when I got to the car that I should have taken a photo but come on - 2 women doing garage sales at 8 in the morning don't really care to have their picture taken.  

Here's a little of what I got after a quick soak and wash -


Don't know if you can see but there were several Kitchen Towels with Hilton Hotel in the weave -  and several Towels with Rosenthal embroidered in blue - love them.  Two red pretty heavy cotton Towels gingerbreads and a holiday theme.  



Right away I put a Rosenthal Towel on my hook by the sink - love it.  Coincidentally, Rosenthal is my mother in laws maiden name - how funny is that, and I got them from thee Marcia.


So now - I'm rehabbing my Linen Closet - I have a  p-a-s-s-i-o-n  for Vintage Linens and have quite a collection - but I'm on a kick to eliminate, clean out, and get rid of what I no longer use - all good stuff, I just have way too much and must make room for more of what I do use!

They say your life changes every 6-7 years - mine is sure changing right now - so I'm packing up for September's haul to the Ventura Flea Market at the beach.  My favorite day.

Lots more to show you tomorrow - lots of Vintage Linens for sale and the improved lovely Linen Closet -

August 4, 2009

love

Good Morning -


     sitting here    taking deep breaths     crying     missing Presley

August 1, 2009

My Sweet Angel Presley

Would love to tell you what this little girl means to me - I just can't yet.


                                              
                        Presley                            
April 11, 1994 - July 30, 2009

  i love you so much


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