Fabulous Finds

Everyone calls me the Queen of Shopping.  I will admit it's one of my favorite things to do, and I am rather good at it!!  I love to find things that I just know my customers will love and give a good home.  It's why I own a store.  There is such a sense of satisfaction when you know you've helped someone make a house a home.

As my staff will tell you, I sometimes have anxiety over selling some of my favorite "found objects".  Don't even think of trying to purchase my French book on The Louve, it is a treasured book that I found and 'share' with my customers.  That being said, I do have TONS of things that were just delivered to our boutique and wanted to share some of them with you.  Come check them out at the store.  I hope something in these pictures wet your appetite a bit. I know I've already figured out which pieces I'll be doing with my Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.

Attic Treasures

Oh....my.....goodness!!!  What a day!  Monday's are my hunt and gather days.  Where I take the entire day and just get lost and find little places with goodies that I want to use as displays in the store or my now not-so-secret finds!

Today was an adventure to say the least.  I went out with my brother who's here from Chicago and LOVES American Picker on the History Channel.  I thought I'd show him what a great little picker I am as well!!  Off we were with a cooler of cold drinks in the car, armed with a map and a credit card (or two).  Three stores later and only $75 in purchases I was beginning to get depressed.  However, don't despair!!  The last store was the charm, but boy did we work for it.

Little did I know that this store that we've shopped at before has an attic.  Hmmm, it's Florida, it's summer and it's an attic.  It was as bad as you could imagine, perhaps even worse.  There wasn't a breath of air to be had.  Just walking up the steps brought sweat to the brow and trickling down those places that make you really uncomfortable.

Apparently, this was the place things were sent that just weren't perfect enough.  To whom?  I don't know because I found some pretty darn perfect stuff.  Two of the coolest Radio Flyer snow sleds for $15 each!!  Just gorgeous and perfect for our Christmas displays.  Old, broken, paint-chipped windows, a gorgeous old radio cabinet, a set of Christmas porcelain for our Christmas table-scape and too many little things to mention.

By the time we carried them down the three flights of stairs we were soaked, exhausted but elated with visions of holiday displays and projects for our Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  Who says that imperfect isn't perfect?!

FRENCH TABLE with ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT

I've talked about my 'finds' and my 'treasures'.  Below is a picture of a tired French table.  I found this on one of my hunting trips.  It was a little worse for wear but it spoke to me.  Seriously, I knew there was something beautiful just waiting to happen to this table. And I knew that the answer was Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

Now look at what a little Annie Sloan Paris Grey, Old White, a little distressing (using Clear and Dark wax) and some gold leaf will do!  Doesn't it look like it came out of some French Chateau?

This is also for sale at the store, Robyn Story Designs and Boutique.  

Such Beauty!

Such beautiful results using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  Just look at what one of our customer's just finished.  These are actually for sale, you can find them on ETSY.COM or simply admire them on our blog!

Michelle used that gorgeous color - Annie Sloan Aubusson Blue with a base of Graphite she then distressed and finished with the dark wax.  Simply yummy!

Paris Grey and Old White with dark wax hugging all the crevices.  Look at this detail....

Here I Go Again! My ANNIE SLOAN ROOM

Isn't it just so, one thing always lends itself to another?!  We transformed our warehouse to our Workshops for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint but then I wanted to do something special in my store as well.  I want everyone to come in and gather information, see examples of finishes and be able to touch and feel the paint.  So, that meant I had to transform another space!!  You know me, I loooove a project!!

My poor staff...but they know me and they know I'm happiest when my customers can come in and find something new and exciting in the store on each visit.  Holy tomatoes! I just want to share it all with everyone so again we got busy.  I wish I had a before picture but I was too excited to make the changes and forgot to take a photo.  So instead I'll tell you that this room was filled, top to bottom, with display shelves filled with beautiful home accessories and trinkets as well as fabulous florals, gorgeous lamps, gourmet food and just a little something for everyone.  Where am I going to put it all????  Space is always a precious commodity here, but we managed to absorb it all in the store.  This was awesome because it allowed me to design my "Annie Room".

I had a vision of making this like a mini workshop where I could host small demonstrations and pique everyone's interest.  Below is the "after" picture.  I think my mission was accomplished.  What do you think??

ANNIE SLOAN WORKSHOPS

We have announced our new Workshop dates for the summer.  Take a look at the dates below and come join us one of these days!!  It's a great day full of fun.  Learn 6 different techniques, meet a bunch of great people, have some yummy treats and leave with an abundance of knowledge to take home to transform any piece of furniture, a wall or a candlestick - because we all know Annie Sloan Chalk Paint goes over any surface!!

Saturday, June 11
Thursday, June 16

Saturday, July 16
Thursday, July 28

Saturday, August 20
Thursday, August 25

Class times are 10 - 4 and we always have 45 minutes to 1 hour left at the end for you to dig in and play with all 24 pots of color!

Call us at the store 813-931-9307 or email us rstorydesigns@aol.com 

OMG, Incredible CHALK PAINT Makeovers!

Oh my goodness!!  I just love opening my email and finding pictures of everyone's projects!  We had a lovely couple stop by the store two weeks ago after hearing that we were stockists for Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  They were a little skeptical at first.  They are both artists that have worked on furniture for years, mostly using Milk Paint and could not believe that NO PREP is necessary.  We promised them that once they tried this paint they'd never look back.!   Like the rest of us - they're hooked!

Take a look at their finished projects, simply beautiful!  Thanks for sharing Michelle and Ken!