Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Moving seems to the the main constant in life for this family.  My last post told of moving the shop I was involved in.  Now we have sold our home in Duluth and have bought a house in Crosslake, MN.  You never know what the future holds.
This new house (new to us) is a house I fell in love with on line.  We  had been looking in the Brainerd area for months, never saw this listing, then when time was becoming a major issue, there it was, I cried when I saw it. It is a sweet English cottage, down to the rolled gable ends that mimic a thatched roof. It was built in 1998 but is true to the vintage cottage inside and out.  But.......it was built in 1998, including 1998 wall paper and a color pallet that's just a bit off for me.
We are trying to follow really good advice, and just live in it for a year before doing anything major. That is sooooo hard to do. I just want to start painting, peeling wall paper, and well, a few other things. 
For the last two weeks I have been unpacking. It has been an easy house to move into. In fact now that most of the boxes are gone, I am having a hard time switching gears. So today I did something I have not done for my own home in along time. I made some floral arrangements for fall, my favorite time of the year.




This urn was in a reject area of an estate sale, it had black over-spray paint on one side, came off with some elbow grease. Paid $5 for it....Score! 



Side note: Fireplace is stone and irregular mostly red brick, Should I white wash the brick?  One of those things I need to live with for awhile.




The vintage croquet box looks great with fall foliage and some pinecones that came from a window treatment I took down in the loft of the house. Love it with my "Jeffery Larson, White on White".

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Do you embrace change? What if the timing is off?
I think how we embrace change in general depends on where we are in life. Are we settled and comfortable with ourselves? And how will this change, change that? 

Why the questions?

We are moving the shop! Not because we wanted to, the timing is the worst!  But our building is not viable for the weather, so since we are not selling snowballs or sauna accessories, we need to move. Facing this decision was stressful to say the least, we just wanted "to land somewhere and become established." This became our mantra.  The frustration of doing the same thing over and over again, spending time on things that should be done and in the background.....

But no more pouting....just doing.

After the facts were accepted, we saw an opportunity! Just a few feet down the street, was a vacancy, a space a bit bigger, corner windows, class room space, and most importantly a working heating system!  The space will be ready in a few weeks, they are putting in new laminate flooring, track lighting, and we are painting! We'll still have tin ceilings too!

We love being on the east end of downtown, where so many exciting changes are happening. Staying in the same area is great! As we get ready for the move, we are seeing the benefits. The timing is not ideal, not as undo-able as we first thought. It funny how this forced change is becoming a plus, we are looking at our business and making some fun adjustments in the process. Now we can't wait to move! So we must have been right with where we were, ready to see the new potential with change. We are embracing this change!


                                          Memories from my 1st shop space at Christmas.

We will be in the Amendola Building, 405 East Superior Street. Suite 110.  We look forward to sharing our new look with you soon!

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Painting Classes!

Today was a really good day at the shop. Started off by saying good bye to a lovely hutch. Off to its new home! We were able to deliver it this evening. Hope its new family enjoys it for many years.  Next we started planing , moving and staging a new primitive cupboard. It has a wonderful chippy and crackled patina.

But the best part was getting our email lists merged. We needed help getting an Apple notebook talking to my Sony laptop.  So we understand that this maybe short notice for many of you, but we will be offering classes again in the near future, and will send out another email with more information.


Starting with an Annie Sloan Chalk Painting Class:

Chalk Paint® 101 Workshop
Monday, November 3, 2014 at 5 PM located at the Broken Broom, 323 East Superior Street, Duluth

Class fee $95 per person

This is the class to learn the proper ways to use Chalk Paint® and the clear and dark soft waxes. You will learn various techniques such as smooth, rustic, two-color and crackle. The finishes will be created by you on sample boards to take home. Proper application of wax~how and when to use both dark and clear waxes will also be taught. You will even get to experiment with French gilding wax.

 Leave the workshop with the confidence you need to start painting your furniture with great results. A chance “play” before starting your piece of furniture at home with the opportunity to answer your Chalk paint® questions.

The class is filled with lots of fun info for two plus hours. You will learn tips on how to handle condition issues.

All supplies are provided.
Refreshments will be provided.

Please wear paint friendly attire.

Pre-payment is required. There are no refunds. If you may have to cancel a credit will be applied to another scheduled class.
Call Heidi at 218.780.6054

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Can't believe all the changes this year unfolded, (so far). Just when you think you have it all figured out, life brings you something new, and I admit, I'll jump! Now operating as de'lea designs I am in an entirely new place, in all ways!

So back up...to last fall, As I was readjusting to my old space, Heidi moved in next door with Broken Broom. She brought with her Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.   What a plus having the area stocklist right next door ! But in addition to the paint, our styles blended perfectly! Before we knew it our inventory was being staged together, so after a few months, deciding to share space, I moved in with her next door. So our styles meshed, inventory meshed, space meshed........ but not enough space.  As our ideas grew so did our needs regarding our store. We started searching for a larger location.
Oh my, my!  At first it seemed like we had so many options. but when it came down to it, not so much.  One day we just decided to park the car at one end of Superior Street and walk up one side and down the other hoping to find a "Little Hidden Gem". As we got out of the car we stopped and looked at what was right in front of us, a tiny little "for lease" sign in the window! We called left a message, then continued down the street. After a few more left messages, and unsuccessful contacts we made it back to the car.  But we spent a few minutes staring into the vacant store front, dreaming, planning and "what if-ing".  A week later, we had a space!

Since then we made an all in one move! Trucks full, everything jammed in. Then started the work of getting things ready for opening; painting walls, cleaning, a new cash-wrap, there was so much to do! And we did it! Opened the middle of June, in time for Grandma Marathon! We still had somethings to do, signage, organizational things, but we kept working through the "to do" list.

With this move we also changed our business model. Once we were part of the occasional markets, open just one, 4 day, weekend a month, now we are open 4 days every week. We went from a quaint, off the beaten path location, to the main street (Superior Street) in downtown Duluth, MN.  We have really kicked it up a notch!

Not to let any thing grow under our feet we are still tweaking our space, adding to our product lines, including stencils and...........
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!
de'lea designs is now the area Certified Retailer for
Miss Mustard Seed Milk Paint!!!!!! Yes, we now have another great tool to offer our creative DYI customers. Retail training is coming up in the first part of November and I can't wait to learn all I can so we can share with you!


Monday, December 30, 2013

Happy New Year 2014!

"Where she been?",  you might ask. What happened?
I have been searching, researching, defining and redefining.
Moving and painting, planing and ....yes, procrastinating.  But you can only do that for so long and all this pent up energy, desire, and motivation to create must bust loose.  So you have been warned!
The last move put me back in the location I was in a year ago, the merry-go-round stopped.  Now that my store front is home, time to step in up a notch and go for it!

Last spring 3's a Charm became The Open Window. The name comes from a poem, "Outside the open window the morning air is all awash with angels." by Richard Wilbur.  And it is an earth angel that lead me to this.  Some one who believed in me, when it was hard to see it for myself.  Thank you, earth angel.

Now to link it altogether, delea designs will be the product line sold through the Open Window.  Anything with the delea design label means that it was re-purposed, sewn, upholstered, painted , and designed by me personally.  Things that have an Open Window label are as found items.  Projects posted here will focus on delea designs items.

I have a lot to learn about the ins and outs of Blogging, Facebook-ing, Pintrest-ing, and such of the new marketing world. But I have ideas that I would like to share with other lovers of vintage furniture.  Hopefully you will enjoy the posts and that we can share our knowledge and creative ideas.  And I'll get the links in place so you can see the whole picture.  But for now check me out on: Pintrest  Deborah Johnson Krebs.
On Facebook, The Open Window, ( add Hermantown, MN, it is easier)

now on to the mechanics of all this!

But 1st, May you all have a wonderful entry into this new year, May you succeed in your goals and may your dreams come true!

delea



Monday, February 6, 2012

3's a Charm...Soon, oh so very soon!

The count down continues, Monday to Friday, four days!
We worked hard this weekend, and I think we worked wonders, our shop looks ready for the launch!  The stage is set. So I am going to give you another peek.


                                            A little spring prep area!                                                                                       


                                            Vintage Collar as art! Very cool!
    We are so excited to show you our shop!

   Simply Charming,

 dk

Monday, December 19, 2011

DiLucca Designs and The French Hen Farm give away!

Here is a great opportunity to sign up for a chance to win Annie Sloan Chalk Paint!  I have been ordering my paint from DiLucca Designs since I started redoing furniture to sell, have had wonderful comments on the finish and colors.  I am an impatient painter, this paint makes me look like a patient pro.  Shouldn't be giving my secrets away, but this paint is too bright of a light to hide! So here is your chance to win some for your self. I signed up!