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Everybody’s Fleaing for the Weekend

September 11, 2009 RH

Adorable gossip bench with storage under seat. $110

After a long summer hiatus, I’ll be back out there selling my wares once again. The schedule for this weekend is Brooklyn Flea in Ft Greene on Saturday and Park Slope 321 on Sunday.

The new game plan is to shed the bulky furniture and deal with smaller inventory. I still have at least a season’s worth of large items, but I hope to lose the $200 per month Brooklyn storage space and gain some garage space in Beacon. Plus, it will be soooo much easier to work! And load the van! And schlep!

Furniture? What was I thinking?

Anyway, come and say hello!

Testing out some photo transfers on various surfaces. Not sure how I feel about them yet. $20

Antique level with 5 coat/hat/leash hooks. $50

3 Day Weekend. WooHoo!

August 21, 2009 RH 3 Comments

You know, I could write a Friday post to finish up the week, but guess what? I don’t feel like it. That’s right. I’m slacking, baby!

Heading up north to Margaretville with the dogs for the weekend. If anyone knows of excellent hikes or swimming holes or restaurants up yonder, please fill us in. On the other hand, I don’t think we’ll have internet. Or a cell connection.

Look for some new “weekender” posts next week, like those of yesteryear.

Have a good one. See ya Monday!

Back to Work!

August 5, 2009 RH 1 Comment

After two weeks of staying with us, my mom is leaving today. Very nice to see her and all that, but two weeks. Nuff said.

I don’t do the Brooklyn Flea during July and August, but my goal was to catch up on inventory and online sales. There was some progress made on the house renovations prior to her visit, but I literally didn’t work at all for 2 weeks. Some people might call this a “vacation” but I call this “slacking”.

Anyhoo, as of today it’s back to the routine! Waking up at 5am to exercise and walk the dogs! Getting to work by 8am (yes, my morning routine which includes coffee and Facebook can take up to 3 hours).

Then….oh what the heck: A To Do List!

1. Garage full o’ furniture. Get that stuff finished and sold!

2. Prepare for 2 flea markets: Ft Greene on Saturdays and Park Slope on Sundays

3. Check out any last minute craft show openings. (Yeah, I waited too long on this one)

4. Start early with the holiday smalls. Gotta get some NYC photo touristy stuff going.

5. Update my photography website. It’s been about 4 years.

6. Market the real estate photography.

One thing about taking time off is that you get to look at the situation without it being piled on top of you. What’s really going to happen? As soon as I get started, I’ll become overwhelmed immediately and won’t accomplish half the list.

But at least I got to make a list!

Entertaining Seniors in New York

July 24, 2009 RH 5 Comments

Catskill Animal Sanctuary

The mom is visiting. She’s 78 years old and doesn’t do steps. She wakes up after 8am and sits around in her house frock for a couple of hours before she’s ready to leave the house. She can’t eat “spicy” foods and her back and feet start to hurt if she walks to much.

So, what to do? I tried to plan an agenda before she arrived so we wouldn’t be sitting around looking at each other. When she visits (from Florida, where else?) I tend to slow down to her beat, calling it a night after our early bird dinner at 5pm.

Here are some senior friendly activities I have planned…

Tonight we’re going to the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival. No, she doesn’t really care for Shakespeare (her words) but I talked her into it, telling her it wasn’t the usual stuffy Bard production. We’ll picnic on the grounds before the show, overlooking the Hudson. Of course I’m bringing a folding chair so she doesn’t have to sit on the ground.

On Saturday we’ll take a drive up to the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. I’ll introduce her to Phyllis the Chicken if he’s still there and we’ll meet all the other farm animals. If her feet can hold her, we’ll check out Opus 40 as well.

We’re visiting family on The iLand on Sunday, but we’ll probably swing by the Dumbo flea market before hand.

Next Thursday, July 30th is Frankie Valli and Connie Francis at Seaside Concerts. I’m bringing extra prune juice so we can party into the night.

The following day it’s back to The iLand for a weekend in The Hamptons with other cousins. We’re rushing back on Sunday to lunch with yet another cousin at the Vegas Diner.

I was going to get West Side Story tickets, but I heard from a couple of people that this production wasn’t the best. Rave reviews for In the Heights, but I’m fearful of trying something new with her. You know how those seniors can be.

Still looking for more to do on those off days if anyone has non-touristy suggestions!

Happy 07/04!

July 3, 2009 RH 1 Comment

Reclaimed Home on Etsy Blog

June 17, 2009 RH 7 Comments

Hey, check out my guest post on Etsy! I met Ms. Etsy Vanessa at the Brooklyn Blogfest back in May and yada, yada….she asked me to write a post.

I wish my own blog got so many comments (that’s a hint) and I wish everyone in real life was as nice as Etsy commenters.

Before and After Pieces

June 9, 2009 RH 8 Comments

I actually remembered to take a couple of before shots of pieces I was working on! Well, ok….just 2 pieces. But it’s a start.

Picked this up at a garage sale. What is it? I call it “Bigger than a Breadbox” because it looks like something you can store bread in. But it can also be a bathroom cabinet. Or…??

Anyway, a bit of spray paint goes a long way. Silver and black. Can you tell I’m some throwback to 1980’s East Village? $120.

Ok, so this was a nice side table as is and I could’ve saved the wood. It’s actually veneer, so I don’t feel that bad. I’ll call it “Pretty in Pink”. Maybe my friend Ms. Thang will like it.

$ 150.

Hate Thy Neighbor

June 1, 2009 RH 2 Comments

Look at him out there. Working on his house morning and night, rain or shine. He’s almost finished with that elaborate fence he started building a few weeks ago. We hate him.

How dare he throw his finished porch and fully painted exterior in our faces? Oh, he hired contractors for that. Hey buddy, we’re doing it ourselves! There’s a reason our porch has looked like this for 2 years!

We see him out there mocking us. Smug bastard. With his ambition and his energy and all his free time. His job is probably really kushy and he doesn’t have to commute. So what if he has kids? Looks like the wife is a stay at home mom. She probably cooks and cleans by herself. Thinks she’s all that. We haven’t seen her hauling debris out of the house or lifting as much as a paint brush. A real lady, she is.

We like our other neighbors. They have 5 cats and their house smells worse than ours. They have don’t have unfinished projects because they haven’t even started any yet. They still have a piece of plastic in their attic window where the glass broke 3 years ago.

And those other neighbors across the street. They left their Halloween pumpkin out until after the New Year. Now that’s our type of people.

Van Loaded for BK Flea Tomorrow

May 1, 2009 RH 2 Comments

This mid century credenza system takes up my whole damn van and will eat my entire booth space, but it’s pretty cool anyway. That’s actually 2 credenzas plus the drawers. It’s stamped “Made in Germany” but I don’t know much else about it. It looks extremely well made (Can’t go wrong with those Germans) and the interior is nicer than the outside. Like, I wanna live inside of it because it makes me smile. Asking $395 for the whole shebang, but I’m willing to split it up.

Naked Guy comes from a tag sale I did last month. He belonged to another dealer and I ended up falling in love and buying him. He’s been chillin in my garage until today. I had hoped to decoupage or paint him, but I figure I’ll put him out as is for now since I didn’t have time this week. Sadly, he doesn’t have a stand so he just kinda leans. Asking $125.

The antique school desk is from yet another 2 day estate sale. I grabbed it when it didn’t sell after the first day. I’m thinking it’s 1920’s-30’s? Asking $120.

If it doesn’t rain, I should be in space C7 or C8 at the Brooklyn Flea. As always, all prices are negotiable. Sshh…don’t tell the big spenders.

F* Work, Let’s Dance!

April 30, 2009 RH

My favorite band in the whole wide world (Madness) is still going strong in Europe even though they’ve only had one big hit here in 1983. My goal is to single-handedly get them to play the US. The last time they were here was a good 10 years ago. Thankfully, my in-laws are in Dublin, so I try to coordinate visits with concerts.

Anyway, this is their latest single off the new album. PLEASE spread it around like it’s a virus. Let’s get these boys over here!

This Week’s Flea Offerings

April 24, 2009 RH 2 Comments

I’m taking a double space at the Ft Greene Brooklyn Flea this weekend. I’ve been collecting furniture faster than I can sell it and I’ve gotta move it along. Need to shed some of those larger pieces, man. Anyway, I’ll be in the double wide space W3. Come visit! Make an offer on anything. I’m easy!

This chair had what looked like a pillow case covering the seat. I prettied it up with some matte black paint and new upholstery. Problem is, I’m not the best reuphosterer in the world. But ya gotta love those “hide the flaws” tacks! $175.

Lovely double Jenny Lind spindle bed. Comes with unoriginal metal rails. Lucky for me, I didn’t have to do anything to this bed. It looks perfect as is. $225.

I cleaned out a Park Avenue apartment during the week. The woman had been there for over 40 years until she decided to move back to Italy. She had some Spanish and Italian antiques that I’ll have to price out. I got this set of 2 mid century German nesting tables. $150 pair.

This lovely enamel top table measures 39.5″ x 24.5″ closed and opens up another 20″. That’s right. I took a picture of it in my van. And I call myself a professional photographer. $150.

Renovation To Do List

April 21, 2009 RH 2 Comments

Make hole in floor go away. Check.

I’m trying to get some real work done today (like the type of work I make money from) and I have writer’s block, so to feed 2 birds with one scone, I’m just printing my renovation to do list for all the world to see. My mom booked her summer visit for July and our goal is to have our Bed Stuy apartment finished before then. And have Beacon somewhat under control by Memorial Day weekend.

Bed Stuy

1. Desmond the Floor Guy coming to save the day.
2. Glue missing wainscoting in place (Hubby)
3. Sand all wainscotting (me)
4. Finish plaster repair (me)
5. Replace rotten window trim, molding (Hubby)
6. Hook up radiators (Hubby)
7. Radiator covers and salvaged marble window sill (Both)
8. Paint entire room (me)
9. Paint shutters (me)
10. Install said shutters (Hubby)
11. Strip and finish front doors. (me)
12. Hang doors (Hubby)
13. Resin counter top for kitchenette sink (me or Emilia)
14. Paint sink cabinet (me)
15. Hang light fixture (Hubby)
16. Get some furniture in there! (Both)

That’s just the apartment. Massive work needs to be done on the front and back exterior. Stoop needs total repair and the pitch of the ground needs to be changed in the back to keep water away from house. Fun stuff!

Beacon

1. Finish nightmare porch project (Both)
2. Rip up pet den floor and install sanded plywood (Both)
3. Decorative paint on plywood floor (me)
4. Seal floor with gymnasium quality poly (me)

That’s just to make it safe and unsmelly for weekend guests. The bigger picture means skim coating the dining room, painting the entire exterior, rebuilding the garage, updating and maybe extending the kitchen, redo 2 bathrooms and dealing with a damp basement.

Oh, and I better remind Hubby before winter to finish that zoned heating project he started.

Brooklyn Flea Starts Saturday!

April 15, 2009 RH

The Brooklyn Flea Dumbo pop up lives on, but the outdoor Ft. Greene market is bouncing back for it’s second season starting this Saturday. Yes, it was Sundays last year. No, supposedly, it has nothing to do with THE MAN.

I’ll fill you in on new vendors later this week, but the girl’s gotta sell her own stuff first.

“Dirty Barbie” is a filthy crack ho. The first in my series of Barbie alterations. I have many Barbies and zero time. It may be my last in the series. She’s even got a hook on her back so you can hang her like a mezuzah. 25 Bucks and she’s yours for keeps.

You’ve seen this coffee table as a work in progress before. If you’re a regular blog reader, that is. Well, four months later, I finally finished! It was a light weight piece of crap, but I spent a lot of time making it fabulous. $265

I started the little orange table back in January also. Then it sat in my living room with the coffee table. Gold detail and poly protection and call it a day! 60 bucks.

I’m kind of torn about selling this table. It’s just too perfect for a small Brooklyn apartment and we’ll be needing something like this IF we ever finish our renovation. Measures 35″ wide x 19.5″ depth but opens up to 61″ with the leaves. Yeah, I know, right? I’ll stick $435 on it and if it doesn’t sell, I’ll be happy to keep it. It is missing the 2 leaves though. I see that you can buy blanks for as low as $30 or get custom ones made for $500. Which do you think I’ll do?

Weekend Warriors.

April 13, 2009 RH 3 Comments

How was your holiday weekend? Us? We went to a lovely sedar on Long Island Thursday. I did the Brooklyn Museum with 4 kids and 2 moms on Friday. Then it was work, work, work.

Some more demo on the Beacon porch.

Friggin dump is closed on Monday! Grrr.

High security kitty prison.

FYI: Reclaimed Amazon Store

April 10, 2009 RH 4 Comments

Always looking for new ways to make a buck, I put together an Amazon store. This was a fun task as I was able to “shop” for inventory without spending a dime.

The store has four categories so far: books, tools, pets and products. I’m not in control of pricing or shipping, so I don’t know how it compares to others.

I pretty much chose items that are consistent with this blog. Many I’ve used myself and some I wish I owned. Tools I’ve raved about in the past, like the Silent Paint Remover. Lazy people’s pet products like the indoor Pet Loo and treadmill. There are books on New York, frugality, design and restoring old homes. Green products include things like milk paint and furniture restore. Ok, the furniture restore isn’t green, but saving the old pieces are! All in the name of preservation, hon.

Check it out! Give me some feedback. Purchase a bunch of crap you don’t need so I can make money. Thank you. Have a nice day!

Silent Paint Remover

Lazy Pet Owner

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