NEW MONTH...NEW PROJECTS...NEW GOALS

Wow...this time last month I was sitting at my dining room table drawing sketches of what I wanted my shop window to look like...........

This was my vision for March

and this is how it turned out.

It's been so amazing to wake up everyday and turn the key in the door, look around at all the displays and turn on the lights.    It's still not real sometimes...until the door opens and a new face walks in.   I smile and Im happy to hear their compliments about the shop.  Each comment is a glimpse of a successful journey.  An achievement that although determined as I always have been, wasn't sure if or when I could make it happen. But I kept with my concept and in 2012 here I am ....owner of Lucky 7 Design.

I think sometimes that the lettering on the window "Eco Friendly Home Interiors & Gifts" might scare people off, but once I explain to them the concept.  Re use, Re cycle, Re purpose  they get it...I explain the pieces in my shop were at one point in someone's grandmother's house, in a little girl's room, an old printing shop.  It's about preserving this pieces, keeping them out of city/town dumps. 

Making some old new again, so it can continue on it's journey and bring joy to others.   I also try to share in my shop, homemade items made from local artists as well as friends that I have met and admired their craft.  Homemade soaps, laundry detergents, homemade pies and mixes, even eco-friendly paints from a new company that is all about Made in America.  All the furniture in my shop has been given a makeover or spruced up with only eco-friendly paint and I will now be a vessel to bring this paint to the people of my community.  I hope to bring more products with this message to my shop through more art, books, magazines features on the concept and demonstrations.  

Im over the moon excited about the start of my Recycled Art Classes for kids...and have a notebook filled with email addresses of parents names that are interested in bringing their children to the shop.

It reminds be of the movie....where they say if you build it they will come!   Well maybe I didn't build it but Im building my concept inside those walls and little by little they are coming!

I hope that this journey will teach me as well as bless me....I also hope to grow this shop not for business pleasure but to make the concept one to be accepted, admired and adopted by others.

SHE TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH.....AND GREW HER WINGS ON THE WAY DOWN.

I know this was not my usual post filled with pics but sometimes we need to do something new and this journey has taught me to just keep doing what Im doing.  I have faith in myself even when others did not...and I will continue on my journey and share it the only way I know how...whether it's words or pictures...it will come!

-MJ

A CHANGE IS GONNA COME!

It's been a long time coming......well not really Ive only been open 2 weeks.  But I have so many ideas in my head and so many pieces in my garage waiting for their turn at the shop.

Here are the latest changes from this Sunday....

Spring has sprung this bench to the front of the store.  Added some handmade linen pillows by Lucky 7, hand painted tea towel by Erin Go Paint and lovely apron by Shabby Cowgirl.

Here is a new display inspired by these gorgeous leggy girls I picked up in PA on Sunday morning. This table is all about pampering yourself, beauty products, hand dyed scarves, gorgeous rings, by Cowgirl in the Sand. Mix in some Lucky 7 Design vintage crates, burlap bags and old chair and you got a pretty cool spot.

Handmade Lucky 7 screen with our new girl 'Raven'...she is wearing my Mama J Jewels line of cameos.

Vintage wood chair by the event board...pretty wreath by ShenanAgains and some cool eco-friendly magnets from Whimsy & Wire

Antique theatre chairs used for vintage prop rentals...and some chalkboards.

Lucky 7 Design handpainted clock table,  some vintage inspired necklaces from Whimsy & Wire along with another amazing wreath by ShenanAgains.

I redesigned this necklace display, it had a cracked mirror but all is good.  It's now home to vintage necklaces from Whimsy & Wire.

This wood panel wall is home to amazing recycled art by American Angel Art for Sunshine Soap Company.  Also the vintage metal cart holding some blazing hot sauce by Cowgirl in the Sand.  Lucky 7 Design vintage piano rolls, Ball wire jars and Coca Cola tray w/ bottles.

Vintage turquoise dresser by Lucky 7 Design accessorized with some L7D vintage crates, paper art, hand made pie tin displays and Mama J necklace.   Jewelry is all by Cowgirl in the Sand.

My newly organized cash wrap area thanks to a cool shop called Marafiki who no longer needed this piece... I surround myself in this area with gifts from fellow artists/friends and the wall with the vintage fabric is my family wall...that fabric was my Nonna' bed linen...you placed it over your pillows.  It says Amore Mio.  

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The hutch has gone graphite and it is now Culinary Central....amazing spices, salsa mixes and hot cocoa mixes by Cowgirl in the Sand.  Burlap typography hanging is from Pinky Brown, Vintage beverage crate, old culinary tools and accessories by Lucky 7 Design.

Vintage wood wagon from Lucky 7 Design will hold new line of burlap storage bags as well as new market bags.

ALL ITEMS ARE FOR SALE, IF YOU ARE INTERESTING....I DO SHIP FROM THE SHOP....just email me or comment here and I will respond.

-MJ

SPRING IS AT THE SHOP...

Well 1st day of Spring brought alot of changes around the shop.

New Spring Window

HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE !!!!

- MJ

TIME TO SADDLE UP....AND KEEP RIDING!

Well this is the 1st post of 2012....my last post wasn't so fun (my father had just passed) and I kinda just put blogging aside.

Well it's time to saddle up again, I have big plans for 2012 and I need to make it happen.   Im in the process of opening my own physical brick & mortar shop.   I like the word shop rather than store, it feels more inviting to me....a store is where you buy your groceries. lol

Things are going well, I have met with some officials in my town to discuss the opening of the shop and it's concept.   The shop name is Lucky 7 Design    Eco-Friendly Home Interiors.  The concept of the store is to showcase furniture pieces repurposed and redesigned for today's use and therefore keeping a recycling and green concept.

I have gathered up some of my favorite artisans/crafters from coast to coast and their lines will be available in the shop.   They all have a unified concept and business mindset and I want to share that with my community here in Woodbridge, New Jersey.

My town goverment officials are huge believers in the GREEN concept and way of life.    Our Mayor has put into place some fantastic resources and we are all hoping Lucky 7 Design will be apart of that plan soon.

Classes & Workshops will be offered at the shop spotlighting ways to decorate GREEN and also how to recycle and repurpose items.

I will also be hosting a children's class once a month and teach children that there is really more to recycling that separating trash into different bins.   Each month will we create something from a spotlighted item.

I hope you all will join me in this wonderful journey, as the time gets closer I will of course share with you all of the wonderful vendors who have signed on to be apart of this dream of mine.

I leave you with some inspiring photos of my visions for the shop and the window displays and that downtown Main Street feel.

All images found through Google.

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

- MJ

ONE, TWO, TREE....

I love Christmas trees, I need to have more than one because of my love for different styles and themes.  From a young age I remember my mother pulling out tons of boxes (it was the 70's not plastic tubs back then...lol)   and she would decide what the year's theme would be for the Christmas tree.

I thought I would just share some of the trees in my home this year

Our BIG outdoor tree year round

This year's Peacock tree in the living room

Simple red/green trees on the table for Christmas morning breakfast

Prayer card tree in the dining room

Dove tribute tree in the dining room

Trees in the studio w/ Shiny Brites

My 1st white tree in the studio

Trees in the kitchen for a party

My Nonna's eucalyptus tree with cookie press ornaments

And the latest....simple woodland tree to accent Santa (on loan from my mother's home)

I didn't count many we have this year, but I know we didn't do our tree downstairs in the football room like last year.   Just too much going on right now, but we will back in action next year!

How many trees do you display in your home for the holidays??

Happy Holidays...from my home to yours!

- MJ

MERCHANDISING YOUR HOME

I thought I would run around the house today and take some photo's of little vignettes that I have set up throughout.   I have fun merchandising my house and I change them out at the moment of inspiration (even if it's 1 a.m.) LOL

Hope you enjoy a look around the house today.....thankfully you wont see me Im in my leopard fleece lounge pants.   That's the fun part of having a creative career that you can work at home and enjoy your family too.

My bedroom nightstand

Next to my dresser

Outside the bedroom door in the hallway (ha do you spy that candy wrapper in the table opening...haha someone was sneaking some Halloween candy)

In my daughter's nursery/ mama's studio area (ummm yea that gesso drawing is me as a child)hehe

Above dining room liquor credenza

Living room coffee table (I think my toddler stole the handle to my magnifying glass) :)

Dining Room buffet area (it has been stripped of Halloween and getting ready for Thanksgiving)

Vintage bar cart is stocked in dining room

Living room shelves

more living room shelves

Living room fall mantle

living room fall mantle

Hope you all had fun, now take a few minutes and set up some interesting little displays in your home!

-MJ

MANTLE MADNESS..

Let's start this one off with saying that the word can be spelled Mantle or Mantel.  It normally just comes out mantle when I type so thats how you will see it most. lol

Okay, so after Christmas the mantle must be cleared and then redesigned....except this year Im having a really hard time.   Last year I didnt have a huge TV on top of it.  

Even taking pictures of it is difficult because of that big black box.  Ive tried hiding it with decorative plant & stand and that didnt work so I just decorate around it!

INSPIRATION

Ive been racking my brain on how to display my items for the fair....these are some images I found on Google.  I tried to give the author credit where available.  Enjoy!!!

google image

gardenantqs.blogspot.com

sweetmagnoliasfarm.blogspot.com

sweetmagnoliasfarm.blogspot.com

heatherbullard.typepad.com

katie-d-i-d.blogspot.com

google image

whiteflowerfarmhouse.blogspot.com