Are You Creative?

Good Morning!! Been busy around here! A HUGE “Thank you” for your patience, love, prayers and support in our business adventure.  You have been very helpful with feedback so far this summer and finally we are on the countdown of opening!!  In approximately 2 weeks our online store will be officially open! I had NO idea how much time it takes to build a proper online store, but I’m looking forward to the days ahead!

Trying not to ask too much of you, but here’s my current request:

If you are (or a friend of yours is) a budding artist (or a veteran one) and are looking for a place to sell your product, I’d love to check it out and possibly include your/their work in my store.  I’m hoping to include your items in the following categories: Furniture, Home Decor, Market Finds, Gifts, Jewelry  -also willing to review suggestions!  Let me know if you have any questions about the categories, too.

Here’s a screen grab of a page in the site so far: (sneak peek!)

Ever been to a really great consignment shop??  I just love those! You’d see all sorts of different Artists’ work that generally fits with the theme of the store.  The Wrentham Country Store in Wrentham, MA is a great example. Its a store selling products (furniture/home decor/antiques) of local Artists -everything has a vintage look and feel that all works together creating a great shopping experience.  That’s what we are doing ONLINE at The RFC!!  Lord-willing, we hope to open a physical storefront someday, but we are just getting started so online is great for now!

So, let me know if you or anyone you know needs a place to feature their beautiful products!

PS: NO!!  It doesn’t cost anything!!

Love always, Becca

Keep dreaming!!  “If you’re gonna dream, dream BIG!”

Examples of products that I’m looking for: FURNITURE-refinished/handmade, JEWELRY-handmade, handmade GIFTS-soap/candles/sache’s/hand bags/purses/hair accessories/crochet & knit accessories/ cards-specialty papers & photos-/journals & sketchbooks/etc etc, handmade HOME DECOR-wall art/photo & prints/frames/mirrors/decorative shelving/floral accessories/crochet & knit table items /lamps & chandeliers/pillows/curtains/table decor …….taking suggestions!

Can’t wait to hear from YOU!!!!

What Is Milk Paint?

Answer: Awesome!  Ok, that would fail a Jeopardy response, but even so, that’s how I feel about it!!  Well, if you haven’t heard of it or were curious, its an ALL NATURAL, NON-TOXIC, powder-based paint that was used pretty much exclusively in the days of old… really old.  I’m fairly certain most of us weren’t born then.  This is before the “remember when they used to make things like…” It was before lead paint, before chemicals, only stuff from the earth. -oh, and cow.  😉  I’ve been using it a lot lately on a few of my projects (sorry, that’s why I haven’t been back here sooner) and I really enjoy using it.  It makes what can feel like mundane painting feel like art again!!  Coolest part is that it actually bonds directly to the bare wood and doesn’t require priming of any sort!  A fresh sanding and cleaning is all that’s necessary before using it!  Ok, I know, enough with the sales pitch-too bad I don’t sell it > oh wait, I do!! I’m Massachusetts’ newest retailer of Old Fashioned Milk Paint! Shop for Milk Paint HERE.    I’ll probably consume more than I’ll end up selling!! 😉

I know you want pictures, I would too.  So I’m including a few pics of a product using the Milk Paint.

  View the finished Mirror in our shop HERE.

This mirror frame was totally left to rot in a pool shed in Rehoboth, MA.  Rotting…literally.  I scrubbed it down and gave it new life with two coats of primer (I know, Milk Paint doesn’t need it.  But trust me, this frame did!)  After the primer I mixed Extra Bond with the Milk Paint to allow it to adhere to the primed wood and gave it two coats of Soldier Blue.  The Milk Paint has a velvety finish that is actually textured and oh, so visually dimensional!  Finally, two coats of the non-toxic sealer gives this velvety finish a satiny sheen that keeps it tight and resistant to wear, fingerprints and watermarks. It might be hard to see the finish in the pictures, but really, its fabulous!!!  (Yes, in my mind that was said like Jim Carrey as The Grinch!)

Ok, I went camera happy the other day and was inspired from my planter for this week’s quiz, a little tougher I think:  First person (by commenting on this blog, of course) to name the flower below gets the next prize.  Please just use the common name…I don’t know the Latin!  😉

Have an awesome week!!!

~Becca

“If you’re gonna dream, dream BIG!!”

Building Business

Well…here it is!! Our new business logo!!  And this is my first blog…ever!  I’m kind of excited about it, a little nervous too.  Creative writing & English were 2 of my worst subjects!  I’m just so excited to share our new business venture! My name is Rebecca (Becca) and my hubby’s name is Jonathan (Jonny).  We are a design/build team always dreaming, always improving, always building, always changing. 😉

So, in our combined efforts we decided to start a brand new business doing what we love to do.  The core of the business, if you couldn’t gather already, is refined furniture.  Recycled, up-cycled, re-purposed, whatever you want to call it -furniture.  We love putting all of our creative juices into restoring, refinishing, or reviving something so sad looking and putting it on display as fine as the day it was originally dreamed up!! I can’t wait to get the site up and running.  For future reference the site is www.therefineryfurniturecompany.com.  You’ll see a maintenance message up there now, but hopefully mid-summer we’ll be up and running!  I’ll soon be posting a few pics of pieces we have been working on and will be available on our website.  My amazingly talented husband will also be creating custom pieces as well to be finished in a variety of color and finish options! He also renovated my studio for me so my work environment is a lovely and tranquil place to dream and design!  I’ll include pics of the studio soon, too. Everything is going well so far, I’ll keep you posted on our progress!

Becca

If you’re gonna dream, dream BIG!!