A fork in the road…

I was born a decidedly free spirit. My tendency to try new things is as evident as the bold colors splashed across the furnishings that decorated my Art Angels booth. That established, it is really no surprise that when I received an email from the mother of a bride-to-be inquiring as to my willingness to rent some of my pieces to her for the big day in July, I dove into a brand new challenge. I agreed to get my feet wet in this wedding industry, even if it meant doing just one wedding. Before long, though, my inability to sit still and my desire to fill this vintage furniture rental void in Central Florida ignited and I found myself fully immersed in weddings. And, perhaps more importantly, I found myself completely in love with what I was doing.

That one wedding turned into more booked weddings which turned into not only renting some of my pieces, but creating an entire line of wedding furniture and building custom accents as well. From there, I established relationships with a couple of amazing wedding photographers and I am now deep in the planning stages of two styled shoots scheduled for May and June. I know what I am supposed to be doing. I understand now that the fortunate people who claim to love their job are really not exaggerating. I absolutely love what I do. I love meeting with brides and helping to conceptualize their vision and bring to life what they once thought was only possible in a fancy pants blog based in California. I love refinishing pieces that will hold a special couple’s dream cake, their childhood photos, their best wishes from dear friends and family. I am so blessed!

So, it was unavoidable that I begin evaluating the direction of 2+Hue Designs. I have always enjoyed refinishing furniture and I envision myself old and wrinkly with a brush in my hand still working on an antique buffet for a wedding. After much consideration, I have decided that May 19th will be my last day at Art Angels. 2+Hue Designs will cease to create home decor pieces, allowing me to devote 100% of my time and energy to my fabulous brides and Weddings by 2+Hue.

I have a couple of pieces remaining in my booth that, if not sold by May, will be stripped and repurposed for weddings. I have enjoyed my time at the shop and I appreciate the opportunity extended to me by Renee, the owner, as a springboard of exposure for the weddings I am ultimately meant to do. I also thank each person who adopted one of my pieces and embraced it into their entryway, their kitchen, their nursery. I most certainly appreciate your support and feel free to follow along as I press toward this exciting journey.

I am so very excited,

so very grateful,

so very blessed!

weddingsby2plushue.com

Double hue dresser/mirror and dresser/bookshelf combo reveal!

Sometimes, a whisper of pink makes the perfect amount of impact on a piece of furniture. I consider this pink with training wheels.

Refinished in the double hue technique of white over pink, this duo is perfect for those customers who are concerned about my shade of pink coordinating with their chosen linens. Here, just a hint of pink peeks through the white allowing for more flexibility in terms of decor. The hardware was accented in pink then distressed. Plenty of sealant was applied to ensure years of durability. The dimensions of the dresser are: 29 inches tall by 18 inches deep by 42 inches wide. The mirror can either be attached (as pictured) to the dresser or mounted separately on a wall. When the mirror is attached to the dresser, the total height of the piece is 70 inches. The dimensions of the dresser/bookshelf combo are: 73 inches tall by 18 inches deep by 29 inches wide.

As always, you can check out these lovelies in person in my booth at Art Angels Antique and Flower Market located at: 5515 South Orange Avenue. Their hours of operation are: Monday-Friday 10:30-6:00 and Saturdays 11:00-4:00.

Double Hue Dresser Sneak Peek

In my early days as a furniture refinisher, I was eager to experiment with color combinations. I wanted to create a girl’s bedroom set/nursery for those who wanted a pop of pink without being fully committed to a room full of Pepto. It has been quite some time since I ventured into the territory of double hue, but this duo lent itself perfectly to the technique. Mainly white with a base coat of pink peeking through at distress points makes for a lovely and completely custom look.

The hardware was refinished in a whisper of a pink, then distressed.

I will post a full reveal after a little more distressing, then sealing, then loading, then squeezing both pieces into my Art Angels booth tomorrow!

Get excited!

Back in action & Ol’ Yeller…

First, thank you to all who wished my daughter well and prayed for her speedy recovery. Last week, mini me had an ugly battle with pneumonia which landed her in the hospital. Needless to say, 2+Hue was put on hold as we spent the week making sure that she received the treatment that she needed. Today, after a litany of anitibiotics, steroids and round-the-clock nebulizer treatments, she is on the mend and ready to enjoy Spring Break!

First up as I get back in the swing of things is this set. Let’s call them Ol’ Yeller for obvious reasons.

     

Considering my love of French Provincial, I could not resist this set that begs for a makeover. I will be wrangling this duo toward lovely over the next couple of days to ensure they make their debut in Art Angels later this week. That combined with a major construction project over at weddingsby2plushue.com will most definitely keep me busy. I will post after shots shortly so check back for the reveal!

Weddings by 2+Hue has a brand new website!

Yes, it is exciting!

Click here to visit Weddings by 2+Hue’s new site:

I spent this rainy Sunday creating a new website just for our weddings division. I felt the need for a more organized, streamlined forum in which to showcase our weddings. There will be hyperlinks that connect both our inspired interiors and weddings sites so, fear not, you will not get lost in the shuffle. I do hope you will head on over to the new digs and let me know what you think!

Osceola County Historic Society Bridal Show

We had a wonderful time at the bridal show today. It was delightful to meet so many lovely brides-to-be! Of course, I brought the camera along to chronicle our adventures.

Ready?

Go!

We were able to squeeze quite a few pieces into our space.

Pictured in the pink bride’s chair is the laced weathered wood custom made guestbook that we raffled off.

Inspired by the web-saturated idea of sharing your “recipe” for a great marriage with the bride and groom, I decided to give my old metal toolbox a fresh coat of soft pink and repurpose it as a vessel to hold guests’ “tools” for a great marriage. It was a hit!

Our antique refinished china cabinet + a few pops of color + wildflowers = beautiful.

I was also asked to design a simple tablescape the seating/snacking area at the show. Here is my version of rustic elegance complete with the reclaimed laced wood table runners from a few posts ago.

I love the use of our custom clay tags draped around our antique Ball blue Mason jars as table number markers.

It was a wonderful day with wonderful, inspiring company. I had the opportunity to meet several brides-to-be who confessed to having pinned me  several times over on Pinterest which was flattering to say the least. I look forward to meeting with many of you at our upcoming consults and I extend my warmest heartfelt congratulations as you journey toward this magical next chapter in your lives. Thank you, as well, to Donna The Flower Lady for tracking me down via the internet and inviting me to participate in this wonderful show. It was lovely meeting you and your delightful family.

2+Hue’s version of rustic elegance

I was thrilled to be invited to participate as a vendor in this coming Saturday’s Osceola County Historical Society Bridal Show in Kissimmee. I was even more thrilled when I was asked by one of the directors to help stage the grounds of the show! Armed with a long list of ideas and daydreams of rustic wedding elegance, I set out yesterday to put the finishing touches on not only my booth but the rest of the area as well.

One of the areas that I will be staging is the seating/eating area. Of course, I cannot do an entire table scape complete with my signature mix and match china; but I can most definitely put a dash of 2+Hue on each table. Instead of a linen or burlap runner, I opted for a runner of reclaimed laced wood.

Now is the time when my readers utter a collective, “What in the world is a runner of reclaimed laced wood?”

Wonder no more, my friends. Here is a preview of what’s to come on Saturday:

It is lovely and delicate and nearly understated – the perfect alternative to a traditional runner and a great choice for those who find burlap offensive to the touch. Of course, many more pictures will be forthcoming over the next few days so be sure to check back for updates. And, finally, if we have not yet met in person then that is a crying shame and we should really fix that. Come on out and see me (and the oft referred-to Mr. Hue) in our booth at the:

It’s free and it’s fabulous!

Brand new wedding decor sneak peek!

As you probably already know, I will be a vendor at the Osceola County Historical Society Bridal Show in Kissimmee on March 10th. I have been busy preparing for the event and even have a few new pieces ready to debut at the show. One of my recently finished creations is this weathered wood directional chalkboard sign.

The signs are attached to a post measuring 5 feet in height. The center chalkboard area measures 21×8 leaving plenty of room to customize each sign to your specific needs. Whether you need to direct guests to the ceremony, the reception, the sign-in area, or the photo booth just pound these into the ground for a smooth traffic flow.

FAQ’s from inquiring minds…

This week, I have hardly had time to breathe. I have been in full obsession mode in preparation for the Osceola County Historical Society Bridal Show on March 10th. New signs are made, a dessert table inspired by one of my inspiring brides-to-be is nearing completion, and I even managed to squeeze in a load of laundry so that my children arrived at school fully-clothed today. So, with everything swirling around me and not even one new piece totally finished to rotate my Art Angels stock, I thought that I would take a moment to answer a few of my most frequently asked questions.

Ready?

Here we go!

1. Do you always use chalk paint?

Most definitely not. I use chalk paint occasionally – mostly when I am in a time crunch. I began refinishing furniture long before I ever heard of Annie Sloan so I have had years of perfecting the art of making all types of paint lie down and play nicely. When I do use chalk paint, however, I rarely use the paint straight from the can. I usually add a little something extra to it to make it a little more 2+Hue.

2. Do you use Annie’s Clear Wax?

Never. Simply put, the clear wax did not pass the “real home” test that I insist all of my products pass before offering them up to other “real homes”. I have two amazing children {ages 10 and 11 – and yes, Mr. Hue and I were busy during the years of 2000 and 2001} who are wildly unimpressed that their mother hand finished every single piece of furniture in the house. They are real kids with real friends and really messy, haphazard bodies. They scratch stuff, bang stuff, leave cups just about everywhere but the dishwasher, and even sneak string cheese onto the coffee table on occasion – busted! If a piece of furniture cannot survive and thrive in my home, I would never expect it to hold its own in yours.

3. How do you get such a smooth finish?

A couple of issues are at play here. First, I hand sand and distress every single piece. It is time consuming and often back breaking but I will not refinish furniture any other way. By the time I am finished, I honestly know every inch of a piece. Also, I have had years of practice  pouring through every imaginable sealant before discovering the jackpot of protective layers.

4. What is weathered wood?

Only the most amazing wood finish! The truth is that weathered wood is exclusive to 2+Hue. The idea came to me while living in Alabama. I spent a considerable amount of time along the shores of Mobile Bay with my children. I was selling a lot of furniture at that time and I was itching for a natural finish beyond the confines of aqua and white that Alabamians hold so dear. As I watched my kids play swords with driftwood, I decided that I loved the look and would try to replicate that into furniture. After weeks of epic failures, I finally nailed it. I actually learned in that process how to make my own wood stain and perfected the technique that has certainly served me well. Weathered wood is more grey based than typical stained wood. It very closely resembles old barn wood as well.

6. Are you a wedding planner?

No way! I would be happy to help you style your wedding. Delighted to rent you some amazing pieces and stage the reception with you, but the intricacies of planning and finding the right caterers and dj’s and keeping everyone moving in the generally acceptable direction during the ceremony is definitely not my bag.

5. Can I see your house? It must be amazing!

This one always makes me laugh. As it stands, my house looks as though there has been some form of rustic/vintage wedding explosion and we four luckily survived. It is, in fact, far from perfect -but perfectly normal. Also, the picture of me in the Meet Sarah section is only representative of me when I am either: taking a picture, doing a wedding consult, or headed somewhere fabulous. The rest of the time I am a hot mess, covered in primer and sawdust with my hair twisted back in a clip.

6. How do you run a business and balance your family life, too?

That is the easiest and most difficult question to answer. The short version is that it is tough. I was a stay at home mom from the time my children were born and I cherish those early years that we can never get back. I do my best to keep a lot of balls in the air. Most times I succeed, sometimes a few lobby back and smack me in the head. But, I press on because I love what I do – both at home and at ‘work’. And, more than that, I have an eleven year old daughter who I desperately want to inspire. I want her to see that women can do what they want to do. That we can walk into a home improvement store in a pair of pink Talbot’s high heeled sandals and know exactly what we are talking about in the lumber department. That we can lift heavy tables and drive huge black Dodge Ram Crew Cabs named Pepper that we literally have to hop/slide out of. I see no good reason why a girl cannot build a wonderful life from a wonderful dream.