IN GOOD COMPANY

I want to offer a BIG thanks to all our friends and customers. The Grand Opening of the Old Oak Showroom, featuring Metamorphose, and the Altard Showroom, was a fabulous success. I was so touched by all my friends that came bearing gifts and well wishes. I also want to offer a big THANKS and PRAISES to God.

For some reason I have been pondering the bible proverb "bad company corrupts good character". I feel like I am experiencing the opposite of that "good company makes good business"!! Both of these women are sooo talented. Here is a couple pictures of creations by Jennifer of Metamorphose:

Mandie of Altar'd is very talented, also. Here are just a few of her repainted and distressed pieces:

If you haven't see the new showrooms yet, you must check it out!

To view furniture pieces as they are found or recreated, be sure to visit our facebook pages. There is a link from theoldoakcottage facebook page to Altar'd and Metamorpose. Both of these artists pieces go fast. Some never make it onto the showroom floor! If you are looking for a piece of furniture and find it here - you better jump on it!

Again, thanks to all and all the glory to God,

Marci

Grand Opening of the Old Oak Showroom

We are finally going to be opening our new showroom here at The Old Oak Cottage! The hours will be the same as the cottage hours - Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm. We will be open to the public Friday, April 29th, and are planning a special reception Friday evening for folks to meet Jennifer of Metamorphose, and Mandie, of Altar'd.

For those who knew me when I owned the Antique Post, this has been a long time coming. While I adore the cottage chic look and all the pretties in The Old Oak Cottage, I have missed the more primitive side of the antique world. Let's face it, some old things aren't real pretty, but they ARE really cool.

The new look of the Old Oak Showroom will be a little bit primitive, and a little bit "fine" antiques, mixed with some great old, now new, re-created pieces. I mean, really -WHY throw out all the great stuff from the past if it can be beautifully adapted to use now (or strangely adapted, whatever the case may be)? I know our customers agree with this philosophy as well. Also in the overall mix will be some great vintage looking pieces you can never get enough of! I think you will just love it!

Please tell your friends about our Grand Opening and Reception Gala. There will be refreshments, door prizes, and visiting along with the shopping! Don't miss the opportunity to get the first look at (and opportunity to buy) some great re-created and re-purposed pieces.

Plus, The Old Oak Cottage will be open as well. We have added new gift items, feminine vintage clothing and cottage chic furniture pieces.

See you then,

Marci

COTTAGE UPDATES

Hi All,

We are back from La Bahia (Round Top antique week), and had a wonderful show. We sold both our finished and unfinished factory carts. Here is a picture of the finished one:

Didn't it turn out great! Thanks need to go to my husband, Jim, for the hours he spent stripping, scrapping, and sanding on this. I did have him be sure to leave the words "Lineberry" on the side, all the divets and just enough crackled paint to preserve that genuine, old, look. These were very popular so I am on the lookout for a few more.

I'll be sending more of the "after" pictures later (see previous blog). Unfortunately, in all the hubbub I didn't get pictures of the repurposed windows. Some became chalkboards, bulletin boards, chicken wire message centers and/or a combination of the above. The 9-pane window was a beautiful mirror! Well, they all sold! I'll be making more of those later. I also didn't get a picture of the great lamp shade my daughter in-law, Kendra made (I MUST get better about this!). She used burlap ribbon. Her design got many compliments. I'll try to get her to do another soon.

I am now hurriedly preparing the cottage garage for Altar'd - Funky Chic Furniture's showroom. She will also be having a Painting Workshop at the cottage April 30th. For more information go to: http://www.altard.com/ and click on the "painting workshops" tab. She has set some dates for summer workshops as well. These usually fill up pretty fast, so get your spot now!

The new building is almost finished, and with the help of my husband, and Jennifer, from Metamorphose, it should be "morphed" in time for our Grand Opening April 29th and 30th.

Also, now through April 23rd, we are having our SPRING & EASTER SALE. All new spring and Easter decor is 1/2 price. This includes chocolate (looking) bunnies, glitter bunnies, straw bunnies, wood and paper mache eggs, metal stake garden flowers, flower magnets, dragonfly clips, Easter boxes and letters, etc., etc.! Get them while they last!

Best get back to work now. But first, I want to thank all my friends and customers. So many of you feel like you are part of the business. Thanks for sharing your ideas, blog findings and time. YOUR THE GREATEST! Looking forward to seeing you soon,

Marci

Preparing for Round Top - Again

It's that time again! Time to get ready for the La Bahia Antiques show near Round Top. It always feels like a race to get all my special projects done. I thought I would show you some BEFORE pictures of items I HOPE to get done for this spring's show. Some are self explanitory, and others, well, I think I'll leave you guessing until the AFTER photos.

I found this old screen door that was just perfect for my plans.



I also found this Lineberry Cart. Yes, folks, this is what they look like BEFORE you see them in Restoration Hardware. After hours of cleaning, scraping, stripping and sanding, I now KNOW why these babies are so expensive.

This is an old industrial mixer of some sort. It would make a cute flower pot for the garden, or . . . . . .

Okay, this is a little retro and funky, but hey, it folds down into a bed. How cool is that? The "original" futon.

I guess the picture might give away the plans for these posts and old metal screen door parts. I'm excited to see my friend and business associate, Jennifer, of Metamorphose, transfigure these items. Hopefully, she'll get it done before the show. I know she is working on a couple other great items as well.

I think these are the world's largest hinges! I don't have any huge doors right now so I think I will put them to use as something else . . . . . hmm . . .

Check out this cool old chimney/fireplace heat shield. Totally done with old ceiling tin. I have a thought for a new use for this, but I might end up seeing if it sells "as is". If not, I'll transform it after I get back.

Well, I best get back to working on my projects. If you make it up to the Round Top area, please come see me at LaBahia. You can get directions at http://www.labahiaantiques.com/.

Hope to see you soon,

Marci

REMINDER: The Old Oak Cottage will be closed from March 23rd through April 5th.

JUST IN . . .

Spring has sprung at The Old Oak Cottage!! Stop by to see the new items just in for Spring and Easter.

For those of you who JUST LOVE vintage kitchen stuff, we have put out more of that also.

We have brought in a couple different furniture pieces as well.

New Building Update

Well, unfortunately, we will not be opening the new building until April. We ran into a couple snags along the way. Plus, I was forced to think realistically. How was I going to get ready for the new opening, host a workshop, and get ready for Round Top Antique Week all at the same time? The answer was - "I'm not, unless I want to drive myself crazy". Which I don't! So, you will all have to wait a little longer to see all the goodies I have been saving up to put in there!

I will remind you again later, but the Cottage will be closed Thursday, March 24th through Monday, April 4th, while we are at the La Bahia Antique Show near Burton, TX. It is one of but many shows that take place along Hwy 237 that week. If you have never made it up there before, you NEED to come check it out. It is awesome!

Painting Workshop Update

Mandie, from Altar'd, came by to visit this weekend. She thought the workshop space had plenty of room for more students than she usually can fit at her place. Thus, there are still several openings for the March 12th workshop to be held here at the Cottage. Contact me (Marci) at theoldoakcottage@gmail.com, or Mandie at mandie@altard.com to sign up now. It is only 8 days away!

For those new to this blog: This awesome workshop will teach you how to sand, paint and glaze your own piece of furniture (under 36" wide). Mandie will give you lots of tips so you can go home and recreate your space! All supplies and lunch are provided. Cost is $225.

That's most of the cottage happenings for now. You can check our facebook page for more regular updates. I look forward to seeing you soon,

Marci