In The Studio – Page 4 – me & mrs. jones

a banner day

November 3, 2010 by stephanie

well actually a nose-to-the-grindstone, prepping-&-stripping-furniture kind of day…but the in-bin this morning holds a fancy new banner for my etsy shop, created by talented meredith locklear of jack and molly graphic design…what do you think? (a enormous improvement over my hastily picasa-improvised homemade version, for starters…and just way better from there!)

and, you might notice that inventory has gotten a little thin in the shop (thank you, lovely customers!)…but there are several pieces in the works, including a pair of silver-gilded chairs and a snazzy raspberry-red lacquered coffee/cocktail table…they will be on etsy and at market central very soon.

(meredith made me a new avatar too):

isbn #0881508985

September 30, 2010 by stephanie

that is the official code assigned to tennessee: an explorer’s guide, written by my amazing, talented friend sally walker davies. it will not be released until may 2011, but today i had the honor of accompanying her to ship the manuscript off to her publisher. (also an honor: contributing a few photos and a little research for the book.) it was very exciting, and i am super-proud of sally. (we kind of had a moment there in kinko’s, watching it go into the out-bin.)

congratulations, swd! looking forward to champagne & sharpies in may.

(and in other late-breaking publishing news…my friend thomas jayne’s gorgeous the finest rooms in america will be released on november 9th. you may pre-order that now, as well.)

treasury hunt

September 20, 2010 by stephanie

so nice!…over the weekend, mrs. jones found she had been included in two treasuries on etsy, which is a lovely compliment in etsy-world. (a treasury being a collection of etsy items curated by a member that touch on a particular theme or palette…a concept that of that etsian’s choosing.) apparently it is proper etsy-qette for a shopkeeper to say “thank you” by sharing the treasury with others. so, fervently attempting to be a good citizen of the etsy nation, if you have a moment, i hope that you’ll please peek at red-black-white and quietness.

and if you have not visited etsy before and you’re curious, try some of these favorites…irene suchoki, mary kate mcdevitt, pixelimpress, and small earth vintage for a taste of what’s on offer there.

(photo courtesy of karen at small earth vintage.)

bob’s your uncle, too

September 3, 2010 by stephanie

handsome, well-built, solid, and perfectly suited for all manner of places and occasions, this table (from a recent shelby county flea market) reminds me of a particular dear brother-in-law. a favorite combination – benjamin moore’s ballet white (#oc.9) edged with pratt & lambert’s lambswool (#11.30) – a little tinted glaze, and bob’s your uncle.

before*, after, and details:

it measures 34″ wide by 24″ deep by 30″ high, and is on its way to market central. (pending the shipping quote, it will also be listed on etsy shortly.) and now, it’s friday afternoon, and quite possibly time for an uncle bob (a cocktail concoction mr. jones has adapted from and named in honor of our aforementioned lovely brother-in-law.) happy long weekend, everyone!

(to make mr. jones’s uncle bob: put lots of ice in a tall glass, add 1 ounce-ish vodka, tonic water to almost-full, a splash of red grapfruit juice, a sprig of mint, and a squeeze of lime to finish.)

*finally, a plea to fellow diy’ers…help stop fake-y faux! if a power sander must be employed to get a particular job done, plug it in. however, for authenticity, try not to leave tell-tale little loop-de-loops, like these on the “before”:

thank you!

sidewalk sale

June 17, 2010 by stephanie

tomorrow and saturday (june 18th & 19th) is the much-anticipated sidewalk sale at market central, beginning at 9am. come ready to shop! and if you prefer your bargain-hunting in air-conditioned comfort, come inside for more. since it’s the big sale weekend, go ahead and take 20% off all me & mrs. jones’s furniture. (vignette e-20, smack-dab in the middle of the market.)

an event like this calls for a new chalkboard, though my slap-dash effort doesn’t compare to the happy, cheeky, retro-feeling “mini-goals chalkboards” by talented illustrator mary kate mcdevitt. how perfect are these? and room for two goals each day…that seems just about right, doesn’t it?

Mini Goals Chalkboards - A Perfect Day - Clear Sky/Spicey

table from the flea #1

June 7, 2010 by stephanie

here is a cute table found at the recent shelby county flea market…sweet & sturdy, but with a damaged top. before:

and after.

(if this scheme looks familiar, it’s because this recent dresser project was such a favorite, i wanted to use those colors again. apologies for the early summer re-run.)

24″ diameter on top, 26.25” tall. it will be at market central on friday.

moo.

April 13, 2010 by stephanie

really, what else is there to say about a vintage milking stool that’s been freshly done up with with milk paint, in two shades of (you see where this is going, i’m sure…) cream?

except to tell you that it’s now at market central.

12 w x 8.5 d x 9 h.

bird’s egg chair

April 8, 2010 by stephanie

please excuse me for not having taken a “before” photo of this chair from the flea market, because it was a really really good “before”…lots of dings. oh well, moving on…here is the primed “in progress” snap, and the afters:

the paint is benjamin moore’s bird’s egg (#2051.60) with a high-gloss topcoat. the drop-in seat has been re-built and freshly upholstered in cream canvas duck.

the stats: 18 w x 16.5 d (seat), 30.5 h. it’s at market central.

current inventory

March 25, 2010 by stephanie

now appearing in vignette e.20 at market central:

distressed gray table (with handy lower shelf)….20 w x 16 d x 20.75 h

distressed & decoupaged cupcake chair…seat: 15.25 w x 15.5 d, 31.5 h

glossy black theresa table with drawer & curvy shelf….15 w x 24 d x 24 h

gray (or brown? you decide.) game table with cane-stenciled top…. 36 sq x 30.5 h

pink & green stenciled bookshelf….18.25 w x 11.5 d x 28 h

blue & gold flea market lamps with new shades & finials….17.25 total h, 9.5 w (at bottom of shade)

wooden candlesticks gilded in silver….9 h, 5 w (at base)

painted pots….varying colors & sizes….to $15

meet me at the fayre

March 18, 2010 by stephanie

no, not the one with the carnival rides and funnel cakes…the spring fayre event today through saturday at the palladio group shops in midtown memphis. guest speakers, art and gardening demonstrations, spring fashions, estate jewelry and trunk shows are all on offer. and please drop by and see me & mrs. jones at market central between ten and one o’clock on saturday. because, if all of these other temptations are not enough to lure you there, you need to know this: i’ve ordered 14 dozen cupcakes from muddy’s, gallons of starbucks coffee, and elise and joseph at garden district have arranged these beautiful flowers for the occasion. there now. it’s a party. hope to see you.

outlet alert!

December 14, 2009 by Mrs. Jones Admin

great retail news for us here in memphis…new outlets for two fabulous lines have just opened: a second worlds away (called “worlds apart”) location, at 2161 central avenue in midtown, and an amy howard store at 420 south perkins extended. (get all the details in my pal sally walker davies’s great finds column.) bargain buying opportunities abound for the most gorgeous, glamorous furnishings. here are a few snaps from the worlds apart opening party:

(in other late-breaking developments, sally reports that the opening date for our anthropologie has been moved up to march.)

retail rumor mill

October 25, 2009 by Mrs. Jones Admin

the drumbeats are becoming too loud to ignore…we have no official corporate confirmation, but it seems that the beautiful truth is out there…anthropologie is finally coming to memphis. summer 2010, at saddle creek, or so the tale is told. it’s just too exciting! i think you all know what this means.