Dream Book Design

AZ Bloggers Week: Junk ReStore AND Housewife Bliss

Today is a treat friends, because today I am introducing you to two amazingly talented ladies, in different ways. First, meet Tara, the writer of Junkrestore

*junkrestore*


DBD- How did you get started with blogging/business?






About 18 months ago, my sister and I decided to start a blog (see this article here on how to start a blog) documenting all of the projects that we did. We both love antiques and vintage anything, and have a particular passion for refinishing furniture. I was a single mom working full time as a pharmacy technician, so I didn’t have a lot of time for projects, but I worked on them whenever I could.

But then I unexpectedly lost my job. It coincided with the arrival of my tax return, so I decided to take the opportunity to use my refund money to buy a fw pieces of furniture to refinish and sell. I started selling to friends and family, and then branched out to Craigslist and putting pieces in local antique malls. I also decided to branch out and start my own blog to document my journey.



DBD- What are your main sources for inspiration?

I used to be absolutely obsessed with decorating magazines. At one point, I had subscriptions to Country Home, Country Living, Cottage Living, and Better Homes and Gardens. I remember the day Country Home mailed me my last issue; I was so sad. Then Cottage Living folded. And although there are a few decorating magazines still being published, the internet has replaced magazines as a source of inspiration for many. I can spend hours looking at the online publication of Country Home, and there are a lot of new online magazines to peruse. But to be perfectly honest, I get most of my inspiration from reading blogs just like yours. The incredible ideas and stories are immensly inspiring (yay for alliteration!) and I get lost just hopping from one blog to another.

DBD- What are the two most favorite projects you’ve done?

One of my favorite projects was the postmark chairs that I did last October. I had seen a bulletin board in Pottery Barn’s catalog and I loved the postmark on it, and I thought it would look good on a chair. So I found two junk chairs, antique seating and spray painted the frames, and reupholstered the seats in muslin. Then I used a Sharpie Marker to trace a salad plate and then freehand the numbers and wavy lines.





My second choice for my favorite project is my ongoing Barn Sale. Every couple of months I organize a big antique and vintage sale, a different location each time. We had it in Scottsdale last month, and it was a huge success. I had over thirty vendors, and even though it was over 100 degrees, we had a ton of shoppers!


DBD- What do you think is the new ‘hot’ thing in design right now?

I think the new ‘hot’ thing in design right now is definitely the industrial look. Brick walls, salvaged school equipment, lots of distressed metal and completely unique pieces.







DBD- What is one thing you could not live without?

I use my iPhone to document my entire life. If I see something that inspires me, I snap a quick photo of it. If I need to look up the address to a new antique store that I’m visiting, I can do it in two seconds. If I want to look up paint samples, I just pull the app up on my phone. It’s an amazingly handy resource that puts the entire internet at my fingertips.




Next up, Coryanne from Housewife bliss. Coryanne is this insanely talented housewife that gives the best tips on keeping a home clean, kids happy, and life balanced. Instead of me explaining her, i’ll let her dig in..









DBD-How did you get started with blogging/business?
I am an executive turned housewife who fought the transition tooth and nail until I discovered that being domestic is something to embrace rather than run away from. After years of collecting and devouring domestic books written by women from a previous generation, I ventured online to discuss my approach to domesticity in the hope of finding other women, who like me, are striving to balance modern living with traditional style. This is where I came across many different online resources such as the various articles published by Upskilled regarding career paths and high paying jobs that gave me some inspiration. That was in February of 2010, at the start of 2011, I found myself on a new career path juggling TV segments, writing assignments, and radio interviews with housekeeping, school activities and family dinners.

DBD-What are your main sources for inspiration?
I am passionate about my home and exploring the finer points of domesticity. As a wife, and the mother of 3 young children, my inspiration for Housewife Bliss stems from my quest to ensure that my home life is impeccably managed, my family finds comfort in their home, and I am able to balance style, functionality and traditional homemaking with the demands of modern living. My lifestyle dictates that time is never on my side and that while I strive for perfection, I have learned to appreciate my best efforts…and on the most manic of days, I settle for my best laid plans. I am a modern traditional housewife who is not defined by her home, but rather defines it.
DBD-What are the two most favorite projects you’ve done?
If you will allow me a tiny bit of grace on the term ‘projects’ as the craft gene overlooked me and handed me with the OCD gene instead. I stumbled across TV and radio as a means to promote my message and share my passion for domesticity-being able to speak about my inspirations, demonstrate new ideas and reach a new audience of women is rewarding. This year I am launching a new boutique conference that offers modern home economics classes called WifeStyle Conference. As much as Housewife Bliss was my first born, this new venture is my second born, and anyone who has had 2 children in 2 years knows that there are some days that catch you by surprise, and others that keep you grinning from ear to ear.

DBD-What do you think is the new ‘hot’ thing in design right now?
I have lived in Europe, Asia and Africa and learned early on that classic design transcends borders and generations. My taste is eclectic, modern and practical, so for me the hot design trends that capture my style are rubber flooring, concrete counter tops and finger–proof chrome appliances…I know, I am barrel of laughs, but who has time to keep whipping those tiny finger prints off the dishwasher?
DBD-What is one thing you could not live without?
Assuming that wine, lip-gloss, kisses from my children, and knowing glances from my husband were a given, I would say that my rubber cleaning gloves are as much a staple in my life as love and laughter.

Thats all for today. As if two today wasn’t enough, I am actually having ONE more amazing AZ blogger join us Monday! She’s beautiful {inside and out}, creative, and so freaking fashionable. Happy weekend!

<3,
Adri

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