Tuesday, June 3, 2014

A Tale of Two Tables & A Realization

Do you know what you want to be when you grow up?  I am still working on that one.  I know what I am passionate about and what I love to do, can do all day and lose track of time doing--and that is creating home decor items from salvaged materials.  I am still working on the making a real living part of it.
a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html

This past weekend while I was painting these two table (and a few other small pieces) I had a realization, or a better understanding about my passion.  
a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html


a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html
I realized that repainting furniture that I have picked up at garage sales and thrift stores is NOT my passion.  This may not seem like a major realization, but it really is for me.  It is freeing because it means I no longer need to search garage sales, dealing with the competition.  I no longer have to worry about everyone have furniture at shows painted in the same chalkpaint color.  It means I don't have to repair furniture, fixing the wobbles.

I have been painting and selling furniture and home decor pieces for 15 years.  In the past few years I have focused much more on building furniture from reclaimed wood.  But it wasn't until I was painting these tables that it really dawned on me--painting old furniture is not my passion.  

Now don't get me wrong, if there is a creative element to it I do enjoy it better, such as these table tops. 
a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html

a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html
And seeing a cruddy piece of furniture transformed by paint is fun and rewarding.  But, give me some old wood and let me saw and construct and build and paint with it and I am a happy camper.  I love all of the possibilities.  

So, while I won't completely give up painting furniture, especially pieces I don't build like dressers, I now know I want to focus primarily on the building part.  Yeah for me, yeah for self discovery, yeah for better defining who I want to be if and when I ever do grow up.

For this little table I painted it all in Annie Sloan French Linen 
a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html
and then stenciled the fun design in different colors.
a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html
We live in a college town and I am sure some college girl will snatch this up.
a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html
The other table was missing its insert so I added some wood, attached with screws from the underside.
a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html
The base was painted in the French Linen also.
a tale of two tables http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-tale-of-two-tables-realization.html
I used the same colors on both, in case someone wants a couple of matching unmatched 
tables. 

 What have you discovered about yourself recently? 

9 comments:

  1. wow, that's a big realization. :) I'm glad it finally it you Becky.
    I love building, but of course my favorite is repurposing. Heck, I just LOVE sawing anything!

    great tables, and I look forward to seeing more building!

    gail

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    1. Tanks Gail--it kind of was for me and is so freeing! Off to build ;)!

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  2. That must be why you make such great looking pieces...you love it. I'm getting back into sewing and I love everything about it!

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  3. Love the tables Becky, and it is nice to realize what you truly love. You do an amazing job at it! Every time I see wood slats in the store painted in different colors, I think of you, and often wonder if they are just copying your style, which I am sure they are! I feel the same way, building things from other's scraps and repurposing things is more of my passion too.

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    Replies
    1. Ah, thanks! Now if one of those places would just create a Beyond The Picket Fence product line, ha-ha!

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  4. I love your pieces with reclaimed lumber inserts and additions. The coffee table top is really fun!

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  5. I love your tables. My favorite has to be the one with the reclaimed wood insert.
    I love all your work!
    Julie

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  6. I wonder how much time you will save weekly, monthly, by skipping the garage sales and thrift stores....
    I can totally see a Beyond the Picket Fence home dec line at Home Goods or Hobby Lobby! You have a unique style, but I bet they wouldn't use salvaged wood for a mass produced piece, which is one of the main premises of your work. hmmmmm. Do you have a huge stash of salvaged wood, or are you going to start scouring around old barns instead of garage sales?

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  7. hi becky! part of the creative journey is self discovery, and it never ends as we are never the same! =) hope you keep discovering and doing what makes your heart sing!

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I really appreciate your kind words!