Northeast Auctions- a highlights tour

There's nothing like a fantastic Americana Auction to really get my blood flowing. Northeast Auction has one coming up on August 2nd that includes some absolutely to die for pieces. I highly encourage you take a little time and flip through the online catalog, which you can get here. It's a veritable feast for the eyes, enough to make your knees weak. Here are some of my very favorite pieces-

An absolutely incredible flying serpent weathervane. Breathtaking and beautiful!

I love the chrome yellow color of this step back cupboard.

Such a cool sign. It would be perfect for halloween decorating.

I could do without the silly birds, but the wire urn is stunning.

A really excellent theorem with bold color and lots of movement.

A sweet folk art house portrait. It makes me want to make one of my 'homestead'

A fantastic expansionist landscape

This painted fireboard would look so lovely hanging over a sideboard.

Another fireboard, this one with applied carved elements and an old paint surface. So pretty.

The decorative painting on this c.1820-1840 chest is beyond belief!

An incredibly charming folk art tool board. Again, this would make the most excellent wall art.
Picture it over a mantel!

Goooooorgeous impressionist painting.

This over the top banner weathervane is irresistible!

I love the soft powder blue early paint on this simple blanket chest.

The coolest folkart reindeer!

A superb rooster weathervane with fine verdigris and traces of the original gilding.

I could store almost all my interior design books on this lovely 19th century shelf.

Very charming painted shorebirds, certain to be a conversation starter.

A wonderful naive mid 19th century landscape

The bold blue color and dynamic shaped apron on this table make it a stand out!

This chest of drawers is incredibly handsome with a deep hunter green paint, brass drawer pulls and a rich wood top.

The cutest little table is a fabulous mottled blue paint surface.

Loooooove this punched tin pie safe! That emerald green is great.

And finally a very early table with two drawers, a scalloped apron, and early Spanish brown paint. 

Large Botanical Charts and an Art Project

It's raining out, and I've worked on furniture at a dead sprint for a few days now so I need a little break. As if reading my mind, the UPS guy just delivered a little treat to my door- a pair of 24 x 36 stretched canvases. What am I up to you ask? Well I've got my fall decor fully planned out - themed 'the botanist' and I need several great big botanical art pieces. You can check out my pinterest inspiration board for the seasonal decor flip here. Maybe tomorrow I'll show you the full scale schematics that I draw out when planning to change my decor.
Back in the days before I spent all my free time painting furniture I used to be a bit of a painter, as in picture painter, and I'm a little nervous to jump back in, but here's to taking chances! 
So I really adore the great big antique botanical school charts that you see on etsy. They were mostly made around 1920-1960, are super bold and graphic, and cost a small fortune. I'm going to try and make my own. Here are some real ones that I'll be using as inspiration. I'll only show you the result if I deem it a success. Wish me luck!!

corn

Love the gorgeous vines here. This one is my favorite.

classic red tulips, bold and graphic.

The crocus here are sweet and fresh

The pine cones would be a nice touch for Autumn

Probably my second favorite, pussy willow.

Another beautiful example.

This one is great and the typewriter adds just a hint of vintage charm. 

A Solid Pine Shaker Style Sideboard

This sideboard matches the dining set that I just refinished, though it doesn't have to go to the same home. The sideboard has wonderful solid straight lines that reminded me of the shaker furniture being made in the 19th century. I decided to refinish it with that in mind. I painted the case a fresh white and sanded, stained, and sealed the top. I swapped out the drawer pulls for authentic antique 19th century turned wood knobs with their original finish. I'd salvaged the knobs from an antique dresser and had been waiting for the perfect piece to use them on. I left the interior in it's gorgeous pine because it was just so pretty and contrasted well with the white exterior. The piece is 100% solid pine, even the backboard is pine boards. I went ahead and finished it on all sides just in increase the usage options for the piece (you could use it as an island too!). I'm really really fond of this sideboard :)
This one is going up on craigslist so feel free to email me if you're interested.
Before and afters below~

A Rustic Pine Farmhouse Dining Set

This dining set was so delightful to work on. It's all solid pine, rustic and beautiful. The set is incredibly well built, very strong and sturdy. I sanded, primed, and painted the chairs and the table in a fresh white, and then sanded, stained, and sealed the table top to show off the pretty wood grain. Pine is fabulous to work with because it takes the stain differently every time. Staining is my favorite part of the refinishing process because it's always exciting and surprising. This pine has a lot of character and color variation, really giving the set a classic farmhouse feel. I recovered the chairs in a nice dark tan upholstery cloth, to give a little contrast to the set.
Before and afters below! This set is going up on craigslist, so feel free to email me if you're interested!