1. The Restyling Etsy Debut and 2. The Process Behind a Lamp

1. I have more pottery as well as the debut of some of my ReStyling work on Etsy! Go to www.sjcoffin.etsy.com OR see the right hand bar on my blog!

2. I also wanted to share the work process of a recent piece that I finished.

A dull base and shade... ready to be ReStyled.

I tore the shade apart... which was quite gratifying!

I had some burlap seed bags from the garden center where I used to work (Merrifield!). I cut it, washed it, and lint-picked it (yup, I just made that a verb).

I traced the shade along the burlap, cut it out, and burned my fingers like crazy as I hot glued the burlap to the frame. There are sacrifices for beauty, you know!

Meanwhile, the base was drying from it's coat of metal primer. I think it already looks cooler as you can see the shadows and details of the metal work.

After tightly wrapping the burlap, I sprayed it white (coat after coat after coat) which really cleaned up the rustic look. It looked FAB. But, as I looked at the shade I knew it just needed a little something.

My mom had just refinished a small antique bench and the leftover antique brads were sitting on our workbench. Voila! Perfect finishing touch to the burlap shade.

The base got numerous coats of gloss white and came our beautifully!

Bada bing, bada boom! The white on white gives the rustic burlap and vintage base quite a modern edge. Sleek and clean without being cold.

And with a lower wattage bulb, it gives off the perfect little glow.

SOLD.

Creative work takes a while...

Thanks to RCA for sharing this. I found it encouraging and challenging. Keep working!

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

Lessons and Limitations

Last Saturday I took my new wares to their first debut. It was a Flea Market. I had my doubts (which turned out to be true) but knew that this would be good. It gave me an end goal, it forced the work out for critique (a scary but necessary part of this whole process), and forced me to try something I wasn't absolutely certain about the outcome.

[Click here for more pictures from the day]

All in all the day was complete fun and a flop. I learned so much about the market for my things, about display, and about pricing. The flea market was a great debut. People who go to flea markets like that are either really in need of a deal or just really love old things. The latter are my customers.

People's responses were so encouraging. They would be snooping around all of these random stalls with assorted items and suddenly stop at my display. The intrigue, shock, and appreciation was payment enough to make up for the lack of actual money made. People don't go to flea markets to spend a lot of money for hand made things... they go for deals on old things. I did sell the New York mail/Key piece to a woman who loved it. She was from NY and had just bought a house on the Chesapeake (where I found the crate top). I also met a master craftsman who ended up giving me some metal Victorian ceiling pieces and some large letters which I certainly have exciting designs for. (I know i just ended that sentence with a preposition and I'm not changing it! ha!)

Armed with a healthy dose of discouragement to surmount, I left the experience much better for doing it. I was humbled and seriously cold (ha!) but as the G.I. Joes say, "Knowing is half the battle." So, I'm getting back on the horse and continuing to ride towards the sunset, dagonit.

A new look and new work!

Don't be alarmed! You've come to the right place.. I just updated my blog background.

AND!! I have new pieces to show you! Once again, click on the name of the item to see more pictures of it in my online album.

Half Barrel Single Shelf #2

Vintage Travel Set Coasters

Half Barrel Apron Spoon Hooks

Hooks Hooks Hooks!

I am in love with all of the old organic pieces of wood and nature I've gathered over the years! But I've found that not everyone loves old or dried things as much as I do. So with a lot of creativity and a little work, I've figured out how to "restyle" them so that others can love them too! ...

Here are more items from my "ReStyling" period.

Click on the title of the piece to see more photos of that item!

New York Mail/Key Holder

Old Wood Jewelry Hooks

Half Barrel Single Shelf

Half Barrel Double Key Hook

More ReStyling...

Following up on my last post about Restyling old things, here are a few more...

Two more of the previous Drift Wood Coat Hook

Half Barrel Key Hook

Small Drift Wood Double Hook

Restoring the Beauty

Living on the Eastern Shore has seeped into my style. I fell in love with traipsing around the coast line, rain or shine, picking up drift wood and twisted, rusted shapes. My brain was going wild with ideas of picking up these great natural pieces and turning them into a classy contrast between organic and modern. After collecting from the shore, I moved inland and started seeing the same possible contrast in old pieces on trash day, at yard sales, and junk shops. By staying simple, striving toward classy not crafty, and letting the shapes dictate their use, I aim to create some gorgeous pieces. Here are the beginnings...

Half Barrel Shelves

Along the coast I found tons of these half circles. They are from the bottom of fishermen's barrels. The great smoothed wave washed wood with rust bleeding onto each shelf contrasts nicely with the black shiny boards.

Tops of the shelves

Bottoms of the shelves

On a red wall: side view

On a red wall: straight on

A drift wood Hook for the front hall or mud room!

Taking notes, drawing visions

I recently graduated from an intense 9 months of study. I spent a lot of time in class, taking notes, discussing serious and heavy issues. The following are the lighter side of class... doodles from my notes. They usually were inspired by the subject at hand but sometimes appeared from nowhere.

Click on the image for a larger view. I would love to know your favorites!

wallpaper

a restful slumber

what will spill out of you when life bumps your cup?

"Do you feel like there is an elephant in the room?"

"Flourish"

David and Sharon!