Last year my landlord came in my house, looked around and said "Are you an antiques dealer?" because I had a lot of work, furniture and stuff at home in various stages of repair. I replied "Sort of, I do antique restoration." I thought about it long after he left though..."Why not? Why not be an antiques dealer", after all I draw furniture and objets d'art to me like a magnet. Why not make that my job?
Above is a beautiful Colonial Revival piece I bought over a year ago for a "song" as they say. It needs a little TLC and I am the person for the job. Now the trick is to identify and address the important problems without "making a career out of this piece", as my wood mentor Alan Williams was always telling me. "Dusti, don't make a career out of this piece" and "Dusti, this isn't a museum quality piece!". Just like my high school art teacher Mrs. Vanhecke was always asking me "Dusti, is this piece over worked?" True, it's my fondest wish to go full OCD on everything and obsess on every detail, but to make a profit you have to know the finer points of prioritizing repairs and getting the biggest aesthetic bang for your labor buck. I've just about got it.Here is a sneak peek of some wares I've conjured up for next week's show. The Louis Phillipe mirror and antlers are not going, they're a permanent part of my collection. I have lots & lots of pairs of really gorgeous lamps. Lamps are like the jewelry of decorating and I have a weakness for them.
Here is a shot of "Our embarrassing snack evidence" as Brandi put it at last month's show! I think it was coconut cake and fruit or something. It was worth the embarrassment. This time we really will bring more food of our own so we don't raise our cholesterol just by being there.
We've got a solid tradition going of Brandi "Vanna White-ing" our wares. As she says "I can really ham it up huh!"
We sold this sweet little piece to an Atlanta designer for her own house. I had to get a picture of it with its "SOLD!" sign.
The previous two times we had only trumeaus and paintings. This time we have a nice array of console tables, lamps & lighting and an assortment of crystal & silver to draw in the customers. I'm thinking you have to present a booth chock full o' goodness to draw people into the orbit of your fanciness. We must create an irresistible pull of style.
This is our new friend and an anchor dealer at the show Jubin, the Persian rug dealer. Last time we went out for pizza & beer after Saturday's show and then off to see his old & new showroom at Miami Circle in the fanciest part of Atlanta's dealer area. His new showroom is much bigger and will get more street traffic, surely it will bring him many blessings indeed! He has been extra nice & helpful to us, sending his return customers our way and sharing insider knowledge.
The antiques market has a fascinating sociological group of traveling "antique gypsies" as I've come to think of them. Some do the circuit all year long: Atlanta, Texas, California, Las Vegas. That is a bit too far and wide for me, but I'd love to go to them all just once and make my own documentary!Alas, so many good ideas, such a short life.
I better go get back to it! Be sure to enjoy every day.
