Monday, February 15, 2021

Burrrrrr.  Can you see me sitting here next to my little space heater?  I run my split system in my shop all the time, a/c or heat, depending on the weather.  Right now it’s still chilly here in my shop, about 62º. (It did rise a bit while I was typing this.)

 

I live in coastal Louisiana and we are experiencing winter like we have not experienced in at least 3-4 years.  Normally our winters are very mild, and January’s highs are in the 60’s.  We woke up to the 30’s and the temp will drop into the 20’s and if we are very unfortunate, into the teens.  It is raining and we have some wind, gusting at times.  So yeah, we are getting some precip of the frozen variety, probably just sleet though considering how far south we are.

 


The good part is with the weather cast we have in today’s times we were able to be prepared.  Oh, a few weeks ago we had a generator installed and this may be the first “real life” test it gets.  We are blessed to have it and hope we do not need it the next couple of days.

 

Anyway, since I work from home the weather is no excuse to keep from working.  Many of you have been forced to work from home due to covid issues.  Surely, you’ve had to work at home from time to time due to weather too.  How do you make it fun and enjoyable to work at home?

 

I was going to run up to the local hardware store up the street about a ½ mile from home.  Wanted to go get some stain for a project.  Before I jumped in my vehicle, dh volunteered to drive me up there so that made me happy.  We got back home quickly, and he proceeded to leave for work at our storefront.  (This business is totally unrelated to my vintage business.)  We are working a skeleton crew there as long as the weather will allow.

 


I am planning a gumbo type dish for supper, it’s called gumbalaya.  It is a low carb dish.  Let me know if the link works for you ….  I am using cut up chicken breasts and sausage.  Will use thighs and shrimp another day.

Click here for gumbalaya recipe.




Today I am working on a headboard for a headboard bench.  I sanded what I could yesterday with our orbital sander and used liquid sand on the rest.  I just decided to bring the headboard from dh’s shop to mine.  {{{ Dh’s shop is not climate controlled and it’s not possible to prime or paint out there today even with a propane heater going.  Even my split system and a small portable heater are having trouble keeping up.  In fact, the temp dropped in my shop this morning from topping out in the mid-60s to a flat 60º.  I brought dh’s small electric portable heater from his man cave to my shop and it’s helping. }}}

 


I’ll let the vintage headboard acclimate to the temp in my shop and get to work on it.  I must prime it, at least 2 coats.  Then I’ll paint it out.  The prime/paint stage will probably take 2 days due to dry time.

 


I’m posting pics of it now so you can see where it’s starting.  The first photo is the front side and the second photo is the back side.  I’ll be posting pics of the headboard bench so you can enjoy the finished project.  Keep an eye out for it!


Have a happy day and stay in touch!

Monday, November 30, 2020

Good Monday morning! I want to share a little with you this morning. We have just had Thanksgiving and it seems everyone is anxious to get to Christmas. We all need a little more joy in our life right? How about, as we move toward Christmas, that we remember Who we are celebrating this season.

Many are also looking to take a new path in the coming year .... leaving behind the mixed emotions of 2020 and looking with cheer at a new year. {Hey I am a poet and didn't know it! LOL} Many are looking for new opportunities at work or personally, new relationships - personal or business, and much more.

My hubby and I have already decided a thing or two about the coming year. One big thing for Cynthia Welch Designs is that we are cutting back on shows. At this point we are keeping only one show on the calendar. More on that show as it gets closer. Shows are awesome ways to meet new customers and other artists. They are also a LOT of work to show & sell our merch in a very short time.

This change will give us more time to develop in other areas. It'll give us more time to work on new handmade merch ideas, build our skills in the ones we decide to try & keep. It will also give us more time to concentrate on our local followers and customers.

I will be keeping my booth at Joe's Boots of Houma. This booth is one of our mainstays. You will continue to find a great selection of merch and fair prices. As long as it continues to work out for me and Lagniappe Shoppe in Thibodaux, I will continue to have merch there too. 95% of my merch is not duplicated so you will find different amazing pieces in each location ... Joe's Boots of Houma and Lagniappe Shoppe in Thibodaux.


This coming year we are wanting to develop new items that are handmade by me, hubby and our daughter. I have an online course I signed up for to learn a "new to me" painting technique. I have specific thing I want to try my hand at. It will help beautify your home and will be handmade by me. I'll share more on that project and the painting class in other posts. Dh has already started on seasonal project. He is making and selling pallet Christmas trees. He has another project he wants to work on to have available this spring and summer. Dd is getting more involved in The Barn, my shop, developing her own projects. When she has something ready to show you or tell you about, we'll do so!

What would you love to see us develop or start making? We love suggestions from our friends and customers. Drop us a line at cynthiawelchdesigns@comcast.net and share your idea(s) or leave a comment below.

God bless you,

Cindy Welch

Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Happy Tuesday peeps! I hope you are having fabulous fall weather and a fabulous Tuesday. So what is going on today in The Barn? Well, let me tell you! November 20-22, 2020 we are attending Market At the Mill in New Roads, LA. It is beautiful show in a very vintage venue. It is held in downtown New Roads in the Cotton Seed Oil Mill. Let me tell you, this very vintage venue has a soaring roofline and is wide open for events such as this.


Cynthia Welch Designs will be bringing merch that ranges from smalls, to mediums to bigs. Smalls are things that are typically smaller pieces of home decor. Examples would include coasters, vintage small bowl that would hold jewelry, a candy dish, tea towels, etc.





Mediums are bigger than a small (duh!) but smaller than furniture. It might include something like a decorative wood ladder, galvanized bucket, oversized candlestick or vase, etc.



Large merch would include merch like furniture, trunks, wall art, milk can, etc.







I encourage you to take a day or weekend during November 20-22 to browse, shop and even purchase Christmas gifts!  It is the perfect outing for a girls day (or weekend) out and away.  

There is Best Western in New Roads that is a short drive from the Mill. There are plenty of restaurants to choose from for dining. St. Francisville is only about a 15-20 minute drive from New Roads. There is plenty to keep you busy in the charming town of New Roads.

Have questions? You can PM me on Facebook if you like!

God Bless,
Cindy Welch

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Happy Tuesday afternoon Peeps!  Do you know you are special to me?  YES ~ you are!  I appreciate everything you do to make this world a better place … a smile, the community service you do, your dedication to your job, your place in your family … it all adds up to someone pretty special doing special things!

I am writing a blog entry today due to some special big news that I want to share with you.  Oh, and to piggyback on my excitement over this news … I have disco music going on!  LOL Yes, I have some positive energy going on here and the disco music fits this afternoon!  LOL

As you know I have a booth at a business I own with my husband, Joe’s Boots of Houma.  It is my premier location in Houma.  A friend, and fellow vintage lover, Paulette of Delillah Jane Designs has some space in this booth as well.  We love this business, have been friends longer than we’ve been active in this business and will remain friends no matter what.

Before I ventured into having a permanent booth anywhere, dh and I did a lot of weekend shows.  We have done local, out of town and out of state shows.  We still have a love for those shows which include the franchise Vintage Market Days, Market at the Mill, etc.

Now we are venturing over to some new territory for us … having a booth in Thibodaux, Louisiana, while keeping our booth in Houma.  As of this morning I signed a contract to have a small booth in Lagniappe Shoppe now located at the icehouse in Thibodaux!  Yes!  Ashli of Lagniappe is investing in Thibodaux with this revitalization of the old icehouse on St. Patrick.

I have been over there a few times and the store is coming along quite nicely.  I love the vintage vibe from this building and the fact that it’s a landmark.  I believe you’ll love shopping there.  Last Saturday and this morning a friend and I got meet some others who will have booths there as well.

My booth will be near the entrance and will feature the things I love, and sometimes I love them so much it’s hard to part with them!  {very big grin} I will post pics of my booth with merchandise as I make progress. However, I am posting a pic of how my booth sits now.  It is empty and lonely but won’t be that way for long.

Lagniappe will be opening on Thursday, November 5.  Yes, that is correct ... in just a few days.  Next week on Thursday is the first day it’s open to the public!  You’ll want to be there the first day to take it all in.  The grand opening is scheduled for Saturday, December 5.

Shopping my booths at Joe’s Boots of Houma and Lagniappe in a Thibodaux will be a unique experience.  Almost everything I have is one of a kind.  You will rarely see repeats of something.  This means different merchandise at each store, but it will all be vintage, upcycled, well-loved, and ready to make your home its forever home.  It also means that when a one-of-a-kind piece sells, it's gone forever.  It's important to act fast!

If you are looking for something in particular, please feel free to contact me.  I am happy to assist you by letting you know if I have what you’re looking for.  If you want to make an appointment for a consultation at one of my booths, I am also available for that as well.

I look forward to seeing you at Cynthia Welch Designs, now located in Joe’s Boots of Houma and Lagniappe Shoppe in Thibodaux.

Much love,

Cindy Welch

Saturday, July 18, 2020

Let’s Talk Silver and Silver Plate

Let’s Talk Silver and Silver Plate

First let me say I am not an expert, just a silver-plate collector.  I love looking for silver-plated pieces that have that beautiful patina.  The more patina the better in my book!  LOL  I wanted to have this discussion here, because for one thing, because it's a little longer than I usually make a post to my Facebook page.  Also, it has been a long time since I posted here, last summer!

There is a difference between silver and silver-plate.  One more has more value than the other.  Do you know which one has more value?  There are simple ways to tell the difference between the two also.  You can learn more here at this link:  https://antiquesilver.org/is-your-antique-silver-solid-or-plated/

Today I want to focus on how we can use silver plated items in our home.  I will include some visual ideas also in the form of photos and links.

So, what can we do with silver plated items?  There are a lot of ways to use it.  Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is using trays, bowls and flatware as serving pieces for family occasions and holidays.  However, it’s not limited to special occasions.

I have included 3 photos of how I use some silver-plated trays in my home.  In all three photos you will see I use the trays to anchor a vignette.  I have left the patina on each tray.  It is my opinion and preference that the patina adds more character to silver-plated pieces.  No two pieces will tarnish in exactly the same way.  Did you know there is a way to take a shiny piece of silver-plate and accelerate the tarnishing process?  YES!  Here are a couple of videos to show you how.


One photo is from my den where we use a trunk as a coffee table.  I love how the old trunk and the patina-bearing silver-plate is an amazing mix of textures and finishes.  It holds a painted metal cross, a compass and a candle.

Another photo is from my den.  The tray sits atop a wood cabinet that is painted dark.  I love the look of the painted wood and the silver-plated tray that is full of patina.  The tray holds a few things that add some texture and memories.  It holds a bag of cotton, a sea shell hand painted by a friend, a photo holder, and a decoupaged clay pot with a votive in it.

The last photo is from our living room and features a vintage wood side table that holds another silver-plated tray.  This tray holds a photo of our daughter from a few years ago, a genuine delft piece and a travertine coaster I made a few years ago.

You can group anything together on your trays.  If you use things you love and that hold good memories, it is certain to look good.  Decorating this way does not take an interior decorator’s degree.

You can take other pieces besides trays and do similar things.  I have a 4-tiered silver-plated display and storage piece that I will be using in my booth.  I will use it to display my dish scrubbies that are for sale.  In your home you could use a piece like this to display dish towels in your kitchen, soaps, and other grooming goodies in your bathroom, etc.

If you already are using silver-plated pieces in your home, post a photo and/or a comment to share your ideas with us.  I would love to see how you’re using it.

I have some silver-plated trays and a child’s cup in my booth at Joe’s Boots of Houma.  You may view them anytime during normal store hours.  I also have some pitchers and another child’s cup in my workshop, The Barn.  If you are interested in seeing the pitchers or the other cup, let me know.  You can text me at 985-381-3154 or DM me on Facebook at Cynthia Welch Designs (see link below).

I hope you'll like and follow my Facebook page found at the link below.  It is the best way to keep up with what is going on.


Tuesday, August 6, 2019

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

A lot of times I am afraid to try something new.   It's often fear of doing it wrong, messing up whatever I am doing, wasting time or money. I think you get the idea.  I wonder if I am the only one who experiences this?  Do you ever feel this way?
Well, one of my latest projects was actually a redo of a two tiered pie crust table.  My table is pictured below and shows what it looked like before I got started.
When I first worked on it, I painted it and used an aging wax on it and when it was finished and ... I just did not like it.at.all. So for a while it sat there, in all its dislike. vbg Finally I got out some products to strip it and got the stripping done. Then it sat there again for an eternity, naked.
Finally, maybe almost 2 weeks ago I got after the table again. I sanded, painted 3 coats (white over a dark wood), and sealed it (2 coats). Next morning after the sealer, I went out to view it in all it's glory. NOT. It was not what I expected at all.

The table was not a beautiful white with a matte finish as I expected. What I failed to take into account was tannin! If you don't know about tannin, it's a naturally occurring substance in wood. As far as I know there is nothing you can do to rid the piece of it. You have to learn some tricks to account for the tannin.

Some woods are worse than others, usually those with a red base to the wood like cherry and mahogany. Tannin usually is not a problem when the table is left as is, with a stain and sealer on it. It becomes a problem on painted and sealed furniture that is not sealed first.

Guess what I failed to do? I failed to even think about priming the table first. So all my work was a waste ... at least in most eyes and especially in my eyes.

For me it was a painful reminder to take into account what wood I am using. Do you think I'll let this issue slip by me again? Not if I can help it! I will do more investigation of the piece and type of wood before I begin a furniture redo/upcycle that is wood. And if I am in doubt about the type of wood, I'll err on the safe side and seal it just to be safe. Yes,it will take more time, an extra step, and one more product. But if it makes a better finished piece for my customers, it will be worth it.

So here are some photos of the finished piecrust table. Approximate dimensions ...
About 28" tall & about 22.5" across on the lower tier 



I would love to hear about what seemed like a failure but turned out for the better. If you have something you'd like to share, please leave it in the comments.

God bless,
Cindy

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Crunch Time

Good afternoon on this beautiful Saturday afternoon!  I hope you and your family are well this wonderful weekend.  School is kicking off in several places this week but there is more to life than school, right?!  It may be back to school season but it's also Crunch Time for those who do art, craft, and vintage shows!


Image result for vintage market days

I have done art/craft/vintage/upcycle shows for several years now.  It goes without saying that the fall and spring seasons are fun because I get to meet so many great people, artists, crafters, upcyclers, pickers, and yes .... the customers as well.  As fun as it is to meet new people, it is a lot of work to get ready for the season and to be on the road.  I always have the home front covered so I don't have to worry about it.  That allows me to look ahead with anticipation at the next thing.

This year is different because this is the first time I take my stuff on the road while having a permanent booth at The Painted Pelican in Covington, LA.  I must keep enough ahead with pieces that I have enough to fill my10'x20' booth on the road as well as my booth at the shop.  It is definitely going to be a balancing act!


I hope you'll check out The Painted Pelican.  They are open the first and third weekends of each month.  They also host special events during the year.  This place is awesome and I already love it there, though I have there just a short time.  On August 17-19, 2018, there will be a celebration to commemorate the first anniversary of the store.  On Saturday there will be much celebrating including the owners, the vendors, and the customers.  Check them out at their website and Facebook page....
https://thepaintedpelican.wixsite.com/pelican
https://www.facebook.com/thepaintedpelicanla

Image result for fall craft show season
Fall is on it's way!

As the fall show season draws closer there is much to do.  It can be quite daunting to stay organized and get all the work done this time of year as I prepare for the upcoming season.  Here are a few of the things on the agenda:
  •  Goin’ pickin'---Pickin’ is when someone like me goes looking for things to repurpose upcycle, sand/paint, or just clean it up really well.  Sometimes it can be a daunting task to go picking.  It can be the luck of the draw whether anything is found that can still be repurposed or upcycled.

  • Cleaning up & sanding, distressing and painting the picked goodies.  Most of the time I know it’s going to take work to get a piece in shape.  Some take more than others.  The ones I like are the ones that just need a good washing and drying like some of the glass pieces I have found.

  •   Getting photos of everything.  My biggest issue is remembering to get “before” photos. Also, if the item will go on my website, I must write a good description and get measurements for it.
  •  Then it’s time to pack!  Whether an acquisition is gong on the road to a show or to The Painted Pelican, it’s got to be packed and loaded up.


This morning was a good morning on all fronts.  Dh and I got out in the garage before it got too hot and got some boards cut.  These boards were left over from other jobs around the house.  He cut them to length for me for various projects I will do with them.  Hmmm.  I wonder what they'll turn into?  🤔  As they are done, I'll post pics.


Rest assured, whatever these boards turn into ... they will be at either The Painted Pelican or with me on the road at my fall vintage/upcycle shows including Vintage Market Days (Mobile, AL / Brandon, MS / Amite, LA) and Market at the Mill (New Roads, LA)

The other bonus this morning is that a neighbor had a double bed headboard to get rid of, they no longer had a need for it.  Dh first found out about it.  I went over and looked at it.  It is perfect for turning into a bench!  Yay!  We acquired this headboard right then and there!




Also, our neighbors had some great kitchen cabinet doors, 3 of them, they no longer need.  These doors are quality …. Each door is solid oak with a decorative glass insert.  I have a project in mind for them as well.


I have a new palm sander, thanks to my dear dh!  It is the kind with the bag on the back end.  It is one I can use indoors since most of the dust will be caught in the bag.  Doing the happy dance!



Well, it’s time to get to the real work.  I have plenty to sand and I want to try out my sander this afternoon.

Have a great weekend!  Let me know what is going on this weekend for you!  I'd love to hear back from you!

God bless,
Cindy

Friday, May 11, 2018

Decorating on a Shoestring Budget

It seems like the topic of decorating can hit a nerve with people.  Some love it, some hate the thought.  Most of the time there is one more thought right after the love/hate thing … decorating is too expensive!  I’d like to take this newsletter to talk about decorating on a shoestring budget.

First let’s look at what a shoestring budget is.  From Investopedia we find this definition …
A slang term used to describe a small amount of money that is considered to be inadequate for its intended purpose. A shoestring can be used in a number of idioms, such as: "The company financed that last project on a shoestring," or "Jim is living off of a shoestring budget."


BREAKING DOWN 'Shoestring'
Although a shoestring budget is considered inadequate, it may just be enough for an individual to live on or for a company to profit from a project. For companies, a particular project's return on investment would be much greater, due to the lower initial cost.

You can read more here.

Most of us do not have unlimited funds so let’s look at ways to get the most from what we do have when it comes to decorating.  There are many styles of decorating.  We won’t look at one particular style but how we can pull off our style no matter what it is.

If you are not sure what your style is, look at Pinterest or Instagram for ideas.  When you find a photo you love, save it to your Pinterest/IG and go back to it later.  I believe you’ll end of finding your style when you have several photos saved.

So, what can we do to save money and still have our home look stylish?  Here are 4 ways to decorate on a budget.

1) Clearance Sales
       When I go to a store like Hobby Lobby or Kirkland’s, the first place I look is the clearance section.  Often at Hobby Lobby in our town, the home décor clearance aisle has items that are the “last one” or it may have a slight defect.  Sometimes it has a chip or a scratch.  Sometimes, I have found something I loved that took little (or no) effort to make it work.  I once found a lamp that was about 90% off the original price because it was missing something like a small clamp.  I bought it for less than $10.00, maybe as little as $7.00, and my husband got it fixed for just a dollar or two in no time!  It has worked fine ever since and looks great!  You do have to inspect the items carefully to be sure there is not a defect in it that would inhibit you from using it as you wish or that could cause harm when handling the item.  Sometimes the defect may be a small scratch or rubbed area.  This can be covered up sometimes with paint.

      In the crafting section at Hobby Lobby I found out some interesting information, at least in their store in our town.  If they have an overstock situation on certain items, then the overstock of that item gets marked down to a clearance price.  A young lady that worked the paper crafting area once pointed out some items on clearance that she knew I often bought and said they were considered overstock.  There was nothing wrong with them and of course I snatched up the reduced items right away!  These reduced items in the craft section can help us better afford what we need to decorate a piece for a room.

2) Thrift Stores & Flea Markets
I love going to thrift stores and flea markets!  I am amazed at what I can find in thrift stores each time I visit them.  As they say, one woman’s junk is another woman’s treasure!  Often the prices are low and very affordable and many of the goods are one of a kind.  If I see something in a booth at a thrift store over the course many weeks and it’s still hanging around, I’ll make an offer.  Obviously, it has not sold for some reason.  It is taking up space that could be used to display something else the seller may have at home or in storage.  If it’s not marked “firm” on the price tag, I feel free to make an offer.  Sometimes the offer is accepted and sometimes it’s not.  It is business, not personal, so don’t let it hurt your feelings if your offer is not accepted.  Since stock turns over often at successful stores, it pays to go often and see what “new” items have come in.


3) Auctions
We had a long running auction at one time our town.  Auctions, in one way, are like thrift stores.  The offerings change from one auction to the next.  It’s never the same stuff twice in a row.
When my family moved to our current home we used the auction to find furniture and decorative items like curio cabinets, paintings, furniture and so on.  We attended each week’s auction over a period of months till we felt we had all we needed to fill our formerly sparse rooms.




Over the months we attended the auction we bought 2 all wood and glass curio cabinets.  One is an art deco style and the other a rustic, more primitive style. 
We also bought several solid wood side-tables.  They were all 2-tiered tables with an upper and lower tier and stained, not painted.


We also bought a solid wood antique art deco style dresser for the amazing winning bid of only $80.00!  It is truly unique, and I have not seen one like it anywhere else, either in person, online or in any thrift or antique stores.  This dresser is in our bedroom and has made an awesome storage piece that is quite a conversation piece as well. 



Also, we obtained a painting that was already framed in an all wood frame.  It is hanging in our dining area.

4) At the In-laws and the Outlaws
One time my husband, daughter and I were at my father-in-law’s home.  Somehow, we got to pulling stuff out from under a bed in an extra bedroom.  Under the bed we found an old framed print.  I fell in love with the print and the character of the whole piece.  I wanted it!  I asked my father-in-law what his plans were for the piece.  He said I could have it if I wanted it, all for free!  Yay!  This print now hangs in our living room.

      As our parents and grandparents age, many of them want to start downsizing and decluttering to make life easier for themselves.  This is an opportunity for them to share some of their treasures with the younger generations.  I am not saying to scavenge their home for good with a greedy or covetous spirit.  However, as these conversations come up, it could be the time to let your parents and grandparents know what things are special to you and why, so when the time comes for the piece to depart their home, maybe it will end up in your own.

Now that you have learned some ways to save money on decorating it is time to go to my website and look at the sale section!  All the items in my sale section are between 10% and 50% off.  Sale prices are noted on each item.  Click here for the sale section.






     Memory Frame




Happy decorating on a shoestring budget.  Visit my Facebook business page and share your ideas of decorating on a budget.  Click here to go to my biz page to share your ideas.

God bless,
Cindy