::Painting Mavens::

So I've been having some serendipitous moments of late. Yay to the hey.

Here's the deal.  One of the (many) reasons I've always been hesitant about starting a biz is all the competition.  I don't do competition.  I'd rather just sit out.  Mostly because I always lose and that sucks, but also if I happen to win, I feel all awkward and goofy and sad for those who lost.  I hate 'us vs. them'.  I can't state this quite as strongly as I feel it.

But peeps, I NEED to paint furniture.  It's like my saving grace during this season of upheaval.  It's like a test in my middle age to see if I really believe in my artistry and talent.  It's like my life played out as I make something truly beautiful out of something most people would pass by and spit on.  Ahem.

And unless I SELL my painted furniture, it's gonna take over my garage.  In a horrendous way.  Very horrendous.  I don't want to talk about it.

So back to Serendipity, I've stumbled upon some gals (or in some cases, they stumbled upon me) who are doing the same type stuff in my area.  I already told you about The Poppy Cottage down the road.  LOVE the owners.  Love their heart and their passion for teaching, and that gal has some serious ::cottage instincts::.

But let me just introduce you to a few more.  You locals sit up and pay attention.  Prepare yourself for awesomeness RIGHT IN YOUR HOMETOWN.  Yo.

First, there's Emiley who lives in my town, but owns a shop in a nearby small town called Emiley's Haute Cottage. She happened to see my listings on craigslist and contacted me about a couple vintage markets she's doing this summer and invited me to participate.

She's got yummy stuff.  Just sayn'.

Then, what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature vintage dresser in a picture on facebook, (I paint stuff, I don't rhyme people.)  Zipped over to the original page and discovered Revived!  Very cool stuff.  See?

She even names her pieces like I do....come on now.  Vivian up there is pretty dang awesome, eh?  And come to find out, she sells up at Emiley's Haute Cottage too.  Sah-weet.  Glad Vivian popped up in my fb feed.

And then, I get this suuuper sweet comment on my ::cottage instincts:: facebook page (hey, do ya like me?) from a certain  "Cottage In the Woods Creations".  How cute is *that*?  And how cute are her pieces?

And now my brain is running in all directions at once.

I see all these terrifically talented gals online who partner up to do shows...barn shows, tag sales, pop up occasional sales.  And they're all supporting each other and having fun sharing their passion for old stuff and paint.  (and burlap)

I've told y'all about my plans for The Serendipity House (if it every gets itself built goshdarnit).  I want to have these kinds of collaborative occasional sales where folks who paint and craft cool stuff can have a platform to show off and sell their wares in an atmosphere of support and friendship, instead of everyone just trying to make it work on their own.  Tight here in my hometown.

I think we all do better when we share.  Don't you?

Who knows if anything will come of all this.  Frankly, I'm just excited to connect with others who love to paint stuff.  And talk about our issues with wax.

Ok, not that last part.

Well, maybe that last part.

I've been inspired by so many bloggers who find out-of-the-box ways to make a little money selling their creations by partnering with others, even those who do the same thing.  I believe as artists we are uber sensitive about our own stuff, and often shy away from others we perceive as 'better'.....but I think together we are all 'better'.

There's totally enough room for all of us and our art, enough customers, enough furniture.  And by pooling our resources, I think we can foster a great community....the kind I see with the 'big girl' bloggers and market vendors.  Right here in my neck of the woods.  A place where everyone wins, everyone has a place to use their abilities.

I choose to believe in serendipity.  I choose to support my fellow furniture flippers.  I choose to not be a hoarder.

Ok, not that last part.