Every year 313 Clinton Avenue in Brooklyn turns into a spook house around Halloween. This year is no exception. Check out Robin from Clinton Hill Blog tap dancing away in this NY 1 clip.
Ever since we found old love letters and newspapers in a cubby hole during demolition, I’ve been meaning to incorporate them back into the house so they can remain part of the history. Well, four years later, the kitchenette resin counter top is finally (almost) finished!
The idea was to use the original letters and newspapers, but Emilia, an expert on various processes, thought it might be too thick and cumbersome under the sealant, so she recommended the photo transfer process. Nothing about this process is particularly green. The only thing reclaimed here is the history.
Here’s a step by step of what was done:
1. Emilia suggested we use a masonite board (There’s a name for this. Emilia?). It’s lightweight and waterproof with a smooth surface. Unlike wonderboard, it remains intact when screwed down.
2. Primed and painted.
3. Print images on an inkjet or have copies made. It doesn’t matter if it’s toner or ink. One thing you should remember (which Emilia didn’t!) is that you need to print backwards if there is writing. The transfer is a mirror image.
4. Apply painter’s medium to counter and back and front of photo. Enough so that it’s well covered, but don’t overdo it. I tried Mod Podge on another project and although it worked, I don’t think it transferred as well as the medium.
5. Use a scraper tool to spread the medium around once you place it face down on the countertop. Leave it for a about a minute.
6. Test a corner first to make sure it transferred. It doesn’t all peel off perfectly at once. There will be paper residue. Take a damp sponge or better still, your fingertip, and rub the spare paper away until smooth. Not too rough or you’ll take the image away!
7. Optional: We glazed it with a metallic bronze to give it an aged look.
8. Let dry overnight before applying resin.
9 and beyond. About the resin, it’s a 2 part solution. You just have to make sure to mix it really well. Keep mixing if it’s taking a while to apply. You can pour it or brush it on. Make sure it’s thick enough. I ended up doing 2 coats. To deal with air bubbles, use a heat gun for a few seconds. It will take a few days for the resin to properly dry, so make sure you stay out of that room so as not to kick up dust or anything.
And that’s it. Our resin is so smooth. It looks like buttah!
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I have about 50 vintage salt and pepper shakers to sell at Gifted. I’ve been buying them on eBay like crazy because I’m freaking out that I won’t have enough handmade items to sell. Every time I open a box of these babies, I laugh, I cry…some of these are just too cute!
There are tons and tons of cute animals I’ve priced at around $15 per pair. I thought these were particularly unique and therefore tacked some extra $$ on to them.
Before
We’ve been sleeping on a futon on the floor for about 2 years now in Brooklyn. Maybe it was ok to do that in college, but we’re in our 40′s. We also don’t have a dresser. We pile the clothes up in our unpainted DIY closet. Since we’ll be down there full time for about a month during the holidays, we’re trying to get the living conditions under control.
This means a real bed (or a real platform for the futon). The bed in the photos was purchased as part of a set. The other pieces were sold off, but nobody wanted this boring old thing. I had intended on sprucing it up, but since it sat in the damp garage for so long and got moldy and warped, I had no choice but to do refurbish it.
Instead of finding replacement veneer, I ripped off the damaged bits and painted them gold. The Howard’s Restore A Finish was still wet when I took the photos. I was thinking of embellishing the bed with photo transfers or stencil, but I kind of like simple, clean lines (ok, it has to be cleaned up).
What do you think? More to do or am I finished? I don’t know if I’m just being lazy or I like it this way.
Ah, it’s finally been announced. Those secretive “craft shows” I’ve been mentioning that I wasn’t allowed to elaborate on until the promoters posted it first. Brooklyn Flea’s “Gifted” will take place in Manhattan this year, behind the old Tower Records on 4th Street and Lafayette.
Last year’s indoor holiday market was held right across from the flea market in Ft. Greene and it was awesome (as in…cha ching for me!). I’m totally psyched (like, fer ser!) to be in Manhattan because I predict twice as much traffic…and you couldn’t move in that Ft. Greene one.
Gifted runs from November 27th-December 24th, 5 days per week. The schedule goes something like this but may change:
Wednesday: 4p-9p (including a weekly after-work shopping party with special guest DJs and free booze)
Thursday + Friday: 1p-8p
Saturday: Noon-8p
Sunday: Noon-7p
Most of the vendors are booked already but there’s still space for a few more, if you’re interested. So, pass it along!
And come shop, shop, shop!
What a great Christmas Hanukkah gift this book would make! “Save the Deli“, a hardcover by David Sax, just came out a couple of days ago.Believe it or not, this vegetarian grew up on deli food. There were plenty of delicatessens in NYC back in the day. But alas, they’re all disappearing. Ok, so the food is unhealthy and kind of on the disgusting side. Anyone ever tried tongue? I have. Used to love it. And stuffed derma? Mmm… intestines!
Even though the only thing I’d eat at a deli these days is a knish, I don’t want to see them die. They ARE history! Not just for Jews, but for New York. Can’t they just change with the times? Soy pastrami? Free range organic grass fed corned beef on whole wheat?
And while I’m on the subject, you know what else is dying in New York? Yiddish! I ordered a bagel with a schmear in a Brooklyn cafe that shall remain nameless (Prospect Perk) and they didn’t know what I was talking about!! WTF? You know why, don’t you? It’s because there are no NYers left in NY anymore. Everyone is from somewhere else.
Anyway, enough kvetching. Go out and buy the book for your bubby. It will be a mitzvah.
This little elf has been hard at work creating reclaimed gift items for the holidays. I’ll be doing five solid weeks of daily craft shows with no time to replenish, so it’s all gotta get done now.
“Going Postal” is the prototype for my mail boxes. I bought a bunch of old mailbox doors on ebay and they sat around for about 2 years while I waited to find someone to build me a box around it. Then I was just like “F it, I’ll build my own crude box.” So I did. It needs some tweaking, but I love it.
“Baby Bell” is…..yeah, I dunno….just a bunch of pieces I stuck together. It’s a dual purpose coat hanger and bell so you can call your family and pets to dinner.
The old drawer is mostly just hanging artwork, although if you really wanted to make it useful, you can sit keys on the shelves. The chicken wire was left over from my kitty fence in system. I have a bunch of 4×4 pieces where we cut around the posts.
Another old drawer. The partitions were already in there. Recycled wallpaper and side “pull” were added. Can be used as tsotchke shelf and hat/scarf hook.
Ah, my piece de resistance! Scroll through the Flickr photos to see what I mean. This antique mold (?) is a multi purpose item. The top is open, so it can be a candle holder or vase (insert water holding object). The side seen here is an earring holder with mirror. There’s a necklace holder side, a framed photo side and 2 mini shelves to hold small perfume bottles. Yeah, it’s a girlie piece. But so rugged looking!
None of these are priced or on my store yet. I want to get them out there, but I also want to hoard inventory for my shows. Such problems I have.
Saraghina has been open for about four months now and I finally just got over there this past weekend. It’s not like I didn’t know about it. It’s been mentioned right here on Reclaimed Home. Well ok, the past is the past…I finally ate there and I can’t wait to go back!
Saraghina specializes in brick oven pizza, but they do have an ample amount of side dishes, including pasta, that one could make a meal out of if pizza doesn’t cut it. Let me just say this. People line up around the corner for Grimaldi’s, considered the best pizza in Brooklyn. Grimaldi’s is fine, but I never got the hype. Look, I’m no pizza connoisseur, but Saraghina is just as good. So save your time lining up and haul your arse over to Bed Stuy.
When we first walked in, I made a scene. Even though I had been previously told the mozzarella was vegetarian friendly, I had to ask. You know, it would be easier to say I’m vegan than to explain the whole rennet thing, but I wanted to be sure I could eat the pizza. The guys behind the counter couldn’t help me. We decided to stay anyway because there was enough to eat. My husband got embarrassed and took the first seat he saw. We didn’t realize that there’s a beautiful dining area in the back. So we had dinner in the pizza area. It was actually fine! Maybe it was the owners and staff chattering away in Italian or maybe it was the ambience, but I really felt like I was in Italy.
I ordered a spinach ravioli with sage or something like that and the husband ordered the Pizza Ortolana. We started with a warm artichoke and arugula salad. And yes, they do have a liquor license now! When the waiter saw me scraping off my parmesian, he came over to make sure we had ordered cheese on the pizza. I had to go through the whole rennet thing with him again (I know…those annoying vegetarians!) but he totally understood and said the cheese does not have animal rennet! I tried the hubby’s pizza and fell in love.
We had cappuccinos and tiramisu for dessert. I thought I died and went to heaven.
My only fault with the place: They don’t deliver. And I wish they were closer to my house.
Saraghina is @ 435 Halsey, on the corner of Lewis. No website. Maybe no phone yet.
PS: I think they only take cash.
On Saturday, Kristi and I went over to Tenafly to shoot some of the items that will be sold on tag sale day. The date will be November 13 & 14. No worries, you’ll be reminded again and again.
The couple did much of the work for us already. They have things grouped and sorted. The woman even washed her dusty stemware and folded everything perfectly. I told her she shouldn’t get upset when people tear through the house and disturb everything within 5 minutes. These people are clean and organized! Takes all the fun out of rummaging, but it’s a good thing.
We found out we were the fourth people to be interviewed for the sale. So, why us? Seems that tag sale proprietors warrant about as much respect as the used car salesman or realtor. Upon looking for recommendations, “the client” heard horror stories about tag sales gone awry. One friend had the tag woman refuse to give her money because she wanted to renegotiate her fee AFTER the sale. Many of the “taggers” in that area were of retirement age and not internet savvy.
After doing a few sales, I have this to say. It’s physically hard work and long hours, but anyone can do it. It takes someone fairly intelligent to do it well (Good thing Kristi is around). As with any business, if you’re not willing to change with the times (Hello, learn the computer!), you’re not going to keep up.
And that’s why us novices were hired over guys with years of experience.
So, back to the sale stuff. Not too many antiques. The gently used furniture is good quality, no Ikea crap. There are some tv’s and stereo equipment, gym equipment….We’ll list more as we go back and sort more out.
Overall picture: quality stuff, perfect condition, free of dust.
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[...] Rosa over for Halloween. We wanted to make something hearty and harvesty before heading over to 313 Clinton Avenue (thank you Reclaimed Home!) to check out the Halloween Carnival of Carnage. We look forward to [...]
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