And the Winner is......Mildred!

Remember a couple of weeks ago when we let every vote on which frame Grandma Mildred needed to return to glory?

Well, Donna took your great advice, bought the "little too big" white frame, and had her DH, Randy cut it down and match it perfectly to the painting. He said it took for ever because he only had ONE chance to get it right. Total cost for the makeover? $39.00 and a big kiss for Randy!

What do you think? Do Gorgeous Donna and Mildred have a resemblence?
Join our Soldered Charm and Textile Altered Art Classes
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Next Saturday Sale....... Feb. 28th.

Red Shed Gets a Facelift ** Best Instant Hardwood Floor Refinishers

The Red Shed REALLY needed a facelift! We sold as much as we possibly could in December at rock bottom prices to clear things out. We bought about 20 floor products to help, and we will tell the winners below.

See our lovely walls? All those white dots used to be holes. We have absolutely tortured our walls with nails and screws and brads and picture hangers.

The floors? Love hardwood, but "Note to self....next time you open an antique store, go for indestructable wood LAMINATE". Repeated dragging of furniture across wood floors creates lots of :

So we pushed all the furniture to one side of the room......

Then spackled, and rubbed, cleaned and painted. Up and down lots of ladders. Thank goodness for textured walls that hide a myriad of sins.

Then we proceeded to figure out what would take off black scuffs, paint scuffs (again from dragging painted furniture), paint drops (too cold to paint outside),wax, glue, and what we think was epoxy, and many mystery globs!

Next, figuring out what would hide the scratches, and shine the floor. We spent LOTS AND LOTS of time on our hands and knees.......

After only 9 hours of nonstop work.....fabulous results! Beautiful clean walls.....and Shiny, healthy floors..............

The winners? Goof Off to remove all scuffs including black marks and paint. Its almost instant plus you get a little happy from the fumes. To cover the scratches, we used Howards Restore-A-Finish in Dark Oak and thinned it with some mineral spirits. We used the pointed end of a rag dipped in the Howards to just go over the scratch. We then cleaned with Orange Glo Hardwood Cleaner on a microfiber mop. We went over everything again with a Swiffer to remove any left over dirt or dust particles. Final step was a coat of Orange Glo hardwood refinisher, which seemed to be a light water based poly. It dried quickly (15-20 minutes with ceiling fans) to a nice healthy shine.

What DIDNT work: Orange Glo hardwood cleaner and refinisher IN ONE. Scratch Cover magic markers, colors were bad and it just looked like we drew on the floor. Rejuvinate was OK but not as good as the OG refinisher and took longer to dry. Gel stain and Howards by themselves were too dark. None of the instant "refinishers" worked at all on filling in or hiding the scratches, so you still have to stain and blend your scratches before applying the poly "refinisher".

The furniture is moved back in and now we can finally SHOP and bring in new inventory! We are still trying to figure out a system so that we put less holes in the walls. All the mirrors and paintings may not be back up yet, but you can still buy them from where they are leaning.

So come visit us at the Red Shed! Don't forget that in between our Bi-Monthly Saturday Sales, we are open Monday - Friday 9 - 5. We have some wonderful new velvet pillows, and lots of vintage angels for your angel for Valentines day. We will be adding new items daily.

Finally, Everyone is always asking about our paint colors. We would not change the color because we probably get 5 or 6 requests every month to share the colors because they are so fabulous. It is actually 3 colors that compliment each other and change from blue to gray to green as the sun moves.

We purchased the paint at ICI Paint Center. It is a Glidden Ultra Hide and the colors are Valspar "Eiffel Tower, London Smoke, and Green Froth".

Join our Soldered Charm and Textile Altered Art Classes
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Come with us to shop at the Paris Flea Markets!
Join our group traveling to Paris in April 09 (ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!)
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Next Saturday Sale... Feb 28th

Road Trip Time! Antiques a bloom in Malakoff, Texas

Though the Red Shed is in Grapevine, I actually live near Malakoff, Texas on beautiful Cedar Creek Lake (So almost everyday is a road trip for me). It is just the beginning of East Texas and is really beautiful. When my DH and I decided to "move to the lake" permanently, it really seemed like we were in the middle of hicksville-no-where, which we actually kinda liked. Junking was plentiful, but Cute Antiques... not so much.

That all changed when I met the Curious Goods Ladies. They were in the process of reinventing themselves into a "Shabby Garden Antiques" shop, and I was more than happy to help push them over the edge. Fast forward a couple of years and now Malakoff is home to over 10 antique stores and malls, with new found chicness culminating in the opening of the Junk Palace, Saturday at 11am. Lilly and Maggie have shared an adorable shop at Canton for the last few years, so we can't wait for the Grand Opening and hope you will join us in the country!While you are waiting for Junk Palace to open, stop and enjoy the view at Curious Goods, which will be opening at 10am. It sounds like bloggers galore will be attending as well as yours truly.

There is also a new shop called Black Eyed Susan, and I have often visited Juanita's Antiques, Antiques on Royal, and The Lindy Mall. I think you will find that it's worth the drive. If you can't make it this weekend, drop by the next time you are on your way to Canton!

Here's a map to help you find your way. It's just a little over an hour from Dallas.

View Larger Map

Hope to see you there!

Valarie

Join our Soldered Charm and Textile Altered Art Classes
http://www.redshedonline.com/altered_art_classes.html

Come with us to shop at the Paris Flea Markets!
Join our group traveling to Paris in April 09 (ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!)
http://www.redshedonline.com/altered_art_classes.html

2009 Saturday Sale Dates!
http://www.redshedonline.com/page/page/5468573.htm

Angels Come in All Shapes and Sizes

I admit I have been obsessed with Angels lately (see my December post). Maybe it is just the signs of the times, or heartfelt concern for those who are struggling right now, those who are close to me and those around the nation. I am looking heaven-ward, and even my collecting is reflecting it. I mentioned to the other Red Shed Girls that I wanted us to present a "Love takes Wing" collection for Valentines and Spring. I know that real angels don't have wings, and I don't love all winged beings (hate fairies, and hate hate winged dragons), but as I have felt comfort in finding these cherubs, I have been reflecting on the other angels in my life, and how thankful I am for them.
Many of you have met Mitzi, Michele Jone's mom, at our sales. She works tirelessly to help me check people out quickly. I appreciate her so much, and never tell her enough. She has only missed one sale in 3 years and that was because she had a broken pelvis! (and she called to say how sorry she was!)

(Mitzi, above..dressed for the occasion! EVERYONE who knows her knows she is an ANGEL!)

Many of you have also met Michael. Mike has helped us set up, carry furniture to cars, made Starbucks runs, and has shared his talents as a photographer for our web site for years. He never asks for anything in return, and I always know if we need him, he will be there ("Mike, I just bought a 500 lb white velvet couch and I can't get it out of the SUV, can you be here in 5 minutes?")
You may not have met Andrea or Lynn. Both of these dear women help us set up and merchandise the night before the sale. (Sometimes ALL night before the sale). Lynn says it's "fun", but I know better! Both are happy and positive, and have no idea how much we appreciate them. Neither Mitzi, Michael, Andrea or Lynn, have ever asked for (or received!) a penny of compensation. They are friends. They are Angels.

Sometimes Angels come bearing gifts. Donna B, below brings us the most fabulous gifts for absolutely no reason. (She says it's because the Red Shed (Girls) brings so much joy into her life). It started with homemade coffee cake last Christmas.
This Christmas she brought us each a package which she had decorated by hand.

Inside were these soft snuggy slippers, with a note that read "Use these for a little R&R after the big sale!" How divinely thoughtful! We are always saying how bad our feet hurt, and in December they are cold too!
I just had to take a picture of my very happy feet:

Some Angels just HAVE a Gift........
Tracy Dunn has been a long time Red Shed customer and friend. She mentioned that she does Reflexology Massage (keeping with our "feet" theme), and so we talked her into trading a few antiques from Paris for a couple of "sessions". Let me just say that she got the raw end of the deal. It was Heavenly! Tracy has a GIFT. She is one of the most kindhearted, loving, and spiritual people I have ever met, and she brings all of this to her Reflexology. She comes to your home, you get into your PJ's, she rubs your feet for an hour, then quietly leaves while you pour yourself in bed. If you are in the Dallas Ft Worth area, and want to give an Angel as a gift to someone, (or yourself), you can contact her at tdunn123@verizon.net for more information.

(Tracy, above, not only is an Angel, but I think has an angel. Notice the orb in front of her leg in the photo)

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Finally, Angels come as cherished friends that we meet along the way in this crazy business and in our big-little blog world..

Theresa Cano, of Garden Antiques. I think Theresa almost started this whole blog thing among those of us who love all things white, and chippy, and rusted. The first time I heard the word "blog" it was in the same sentence with Theresa's name. I think she may have single handedly put Country Home out of business, because she some how covers more territory, takes better photos, and now I get my daily "fix" from her instead of my magazines. Her camera broke recently and though her son beat us to the punch, I really think she missed the boat by not ACTUALLY taking donations towards a new one. She probably could have bought a new car. Though I have yet to have the pleasure of meeting Theresa in person, I consider her a friend. When I first started blogging, I sent her an email and said "PLEASE CALL ME! I AM READY TO PULL MY HAIR OUT!" (ie. why do the photos load backwards in blogger?) and she called me right back. If you are not visiting her blog daily, you should. We should all recognize her as our Angel of Antiques.

I also want to mention my dear friends, Donna, Rhonda, and Randi, at Curious Goods in Malakoff, TX. The whole lot is talented but Donna (below) has more creativity in her little finger than I have in my whole body. And talk about sincere and kind. Last summer I was in their shop with my grandson and Rhonda (who also happens to be a championship fisher-woman) mentioned that they were going to have a "Fish Camp" for some of the kids in their family the first week in August, and Brandon was invited. Well I didn't think much about it, because it was a family thing, but my grandson called me up the last week in July and said "What time does Fish Camp start?". I called the CG girls and they said "Of Course, he is invited!". Well ,they took those kids fishing to a private lake, out on boats, came back and watched videos and played video games...He had a ball! How do you say "Thank you" for something like that? We took them a small, homemade gift to the shop at Christmas time, and when we got back in the car, I found out that Rhonda had slipped Brandon a whole sack full of fishing lures, including some vintage. I told my husband, "there's just no way to get ahead in the kindness game with those ladies".

Thanks for letting me share a few of the Angels in my life. And you may not know it, but you also just got a little preview of the "Love takes Wing" collection that will be for sale soon.

We are actually FINALLY doing the painting and floors (ourselves) in the Red Shed this weekend, so pray for us and look for lots of new inventory soon!

Best and Blessings Always,

Valarie

Join our Soldered Charm and Textile Altered Art Classes
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Come with us to shop at the Paris Flea Markets!
Join our group traveling to Paris in April 09 (ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!)
http://www.redshedonline.com/altered_art_classes.html

2009 Saturday Sale Dates!http://www.redshedonline.com/page/page/5468573.htm

Next Saturday Sale: Feb 28th 8am.

Roll the Red Carpet, So We Can Pick Up Our Award!

Thank you, Donna at Curious Goods for nominating us for an award!

This award (Originally written in the Portuguese language of Isabel at Maison Douce) focuses not on the glory and fanfare of blogging, but in the PROXIMITY to one another through this on-line world. Here's the definition of the award: "Blogs who receive this award are 'exceedingly charming' say its authors. This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY-nearness in space, time and relationships. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award."

We would like to pass this on to:
Margo of www.robolady.blogspot.com
Kimla of http://kimlakay.blogspot.com/
Joanne of http://www.sweetfinds.typepad.com/
Linda and Ludmil of http://www.willownest.net/
Keri of http://antiquetherapy.com/
Denise of http://myvintagegardens.blogspot.com/
Maggie of http://the-veranda-canton.blogspot.com/
and Lillie of http://junkpalaceofcanton.blogspot.com/

Thanks for making each day a little brighter!

Gorgeous Grandma Gets a Remake

Our dear customer, Donna, brought this gorgeous painted photo of her grandmother "Mildred" to the Red Shed. Someone had removed this fabulous picture from it's frame and it was found in a black plastic garbage bag! Donna decided one of her New Years resoloution would be to live with the the things that she loves. so she decided to drop by and see what we might have to return Midred to her glory.


First try.........too large

Next stop..........too small......
Time to get serious! Out to the "secret shed". Bingo! All kinds of options to play with.....


Pay attention to the details, then you will get vote for your favorite......

We found this LARGE framed print with a mat. It had been marked down to only $59.00, so the print could have been taken out, but we thought if was too "modern"...


Fabulous Gesso Frame, but maybe a little too big and too foo foo..........

Possible Option 1...............

Option 2............

Option 3................

Option 4............

So what do you think? Post a comment with your vote or suggestions. Donna has promised us first photo op for the finished portrait.

Remember, you never know what you will find at the Red Shed!

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Join our Soldered Charm and Textile Altered Art Classes
http://www.redshedonline.com/altered_art_classes.html

Come with us to shop at the Paris Flea Markets!
Join our group traveling to Paris in April 09 (ONLY 1 SPOT LEFT!)
http://www.redshedonline.com/altered_art_classes.html

2009 Saturday Sale Dates!
http://www.redshedonline.com/page/page/5468573.htm

Vintage New Year's Resolution

Our friend, Donna Bradley, was going through some of her father's things, and found some vintage New Year's post cards. She made some copies and sent them to us (Thank you, dear Donna!) and we just loved this one! The scan is a little blurry, but the prose is below. We hope you and we, still have a little more "happy-go-lucky" in the coming year! Valarie, Michele, and Michele,
The Red Shed Girls