A Flea Market Style Thanksgiving...

If you haven't already noticed, it has been quiet around here. The entire Flea Market Style team are working feverishly to meet our December 1st deadline for the magazine. Sarah and I are crossing the T's and dotting the I's on our copy and stories; Matthew spent yesterday doing last minute shoots while Jenny tweaked and edited everything; Ki has been jugging her magazine duties with her move to Florida, and Stacey has a list THIS BIG to finish on her end as the sole graphic designer. Oh, and did I mention Sarah is also packing up her house for her own impending move?!! Thankfully, Heather has taken time out of her busy schedule to write a blog post, which you will get to read on Friday, and I am truly grateful, as my own blog sits languishing untouched this week..

We do, however, want to take the time to wish our fellow Flea Marketeers a wonderful and happy Thanksgiving. May you be surrounded with friends and family and share a delicious meal and give true thanksgiving for the many blessings we all share.

And thank you for supporting us and sharing this journey.

The next big deadline will be the actual release of the magazine!

89 more days...but who's counting?!

I am proud... PROUD, PROUD, PROUD... so proud of the FMS team. Today, for the first time, I held the entire magazine in my hands. Sure, I've seen everything along the way - I photographed and styled so much of it and have given input both needed and not -  and today, as I held it, I felt like a proud parent with a new baby. Indeed, it is clean, fresh and brand new; a culmination of the people I've met, the places I've been and all the things I've learned along the way. And it is so much more because it has been layered with so much quality information and layers and layers of personal style from each of us. You know how you felt when you fell in love for the first time? Well, that's the kind of magic I'm talking about; and I know you will all feel the same way, too.

Sarah and Stacey: I am so proud of how you made sense of it all. How you shared, honed, listened and steered us all through this wonderful, new and exciting adventure. This final product is rich and thoughtful and fine tuned to the creative sensibilities of not only Ki and me, but those devoted readers who hunger and will devour such a tasty smorgasbord of style and ideas.

Linda: PROUD OF how you single-handedly branded this style for us as a blog and have tended it so thoughtfully and judiciously over the last few months; and on top of all that, have contributed to so many of the magazine departments from your own column to writing several beautiful features that leave me craving more of your writing style and witty prose... YOU'VE GOT A GREAT VOICE AND WE ARE GRATEFUL.

SO PROUD OF MY WIFE, Jenny, who has photographed and processed so much of the work in such a fantastic and colorful way. She is a quiet talent that defines what we do together with an assured process. She keeps me grounded and her mark of excellence is all over FMS. Thank you for putting up with me as my balloon floats beyond the sense of reason... Please keep me tied to your wrist.

PROUD OF HEATHER'S West coast sensibility, artistic contribution and wonderful and detailed photography that illustrates and stories the pages with style and color. The locations, the leads and your willingness to be on the team SHINE within the pages.

And of course... proud of Ki: proud that through thick and thin we have collaborated on something special, beautiful and enduring... I will treasure this magazine always and am so honored to be part of such an esteemed team.

My pride gives me thoughts for the future -  new ideas and projects to create - but most of all, it makes me yearn for a launch party where our team and our readers from all over North America can come together in February to raise our glasses and salute an endeavor well undertaken and so successfully completed. Now we just have to see if Madison Square Garden is available and if Oprah and Donald Trump will underwrite such a soiree. Why not? I'm already holding a dream come true.

So let the countdown begin: 92 days to FMS!

(blogged by Matthew Mead)

Funnel Vision...

We promised all of you some great "behind the scenes" stories and insights, yes, we did. While many of them are certainly meant to inspire you with great ideas and exciting tales, there are some involving roller coaster rides and those pesky ups and downs involved in all worthwhile endeavors. Linda called me today and reminded me of our commitment to "behind the scenes" details, and as we close our issue to ship off to the printer, this is where my mind is at:

Boy,  are Ki and I different! We shop differently, get inspired differently and do projects differently, and that has definitely become a real challenge in producing the magazine. We've tried to split up the duties, and much of mine have revolved around the creation of the images to illustrate our stories. Imagine a box of junk arriving on your door and having to engage parts and pieces of projects you haven't seen before or even understand. I liken it to a puzzle with a hand written legend penned by Ki. It presented a real challenge for a guy who isn't "handy" and who hasn't built a thing since middle school shop class! Because of that, you will definitely see the fusion of our styles shine in many of our features. As hinted, in a fun story tentatively titled Funnel Vision, you will see Ki's great ideas for re-using and re-purposing galvanized funnels, set against my color saturated backgrounds of the "the new black," PINK. I was so nervous about adding a splash of style to these very "junky" projects that I didn't even tell Ki about the serendipitous color choice and produced the whole story without giving her even the smallest sneak peek.

Thankfully, she was pleased and so was I!

To me, that is what growth and evolution is all about; and our magazine is filled with the ways that best support the belief that style doesn't just stand still. Like people... collecting, decorating and style isn't the same as it was last year, last summer, or even a month ago. Things change and move; and our Flea Market Style is definitely growing, expanding and broadening the scope of what it means to be a Flea Marketeer.

Along the way, the process hasn't proved as easy as I had hoped; and I want to share with you the fact that many of the challenges have revolved around style ideas and how to illustrate what it is that we do. Like a marriage, creating a magazine from two individual perspectives is about compromise and working together and finding that happy medium. Publishers have to be pleased, along with a long line of people involved in that process. Now, as we approach the end of the production and all of the smaller images have to be photographed and all the "how to" shots created, I get stressed and edgy and worried about protecting what I have created for all of YOU! No one knows better than Ki and I what each of you want and how to provide that. But teaming our followings is a real endeavor, and one that I think we both hope attracts, excites, interests and pleases everyone - from old fans, new devotees and all of the crossovers in between.

So, while what we are providing you is a story on FUNNEL VISION, we are seeking to merely open your eyes to all the possibilities... to take the risks and encourage you to expand your sight to so many things beyond funnel projects and pink backgrounds. I see my work as a movement; and while we aren't solving hunger or creating world peace, we are trying to add some joy to life, share our appreciation for each and every day and show how to savor the small things - while passing on just some of the wisdom learned along the way. And, of course, we are striving to create something beautiful, thoughtful and hopefully a little enduring.

 

Honestly, my hope is to someday uncover our first issue at the flea market...well-loved and dog-eared!

 

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(Blogged by Matthew Mead)

A Story Hint...and an offer!

When I asked my good friend Jane to find me funnels for a flea market style project...this wasn't exactly what I had in mind....

Ki

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(Another mock cover!)

The time is drawing nearer, and I have some info to pass along. If you are a shop owner (or just a really big fan!) and want to sell copies of the upcoming Flea Market Style magazine in your shop, we are reminding you to please order quickly as all orders must be taken before the magazine goes to print, which will be happening very soon. The publisher will not be printing over-runs or re-orders, and there will be no back stock. The minimum order is 25 copies and to do so, please contact Kellie Peterson at kpeterson@matrixdirectservices.com or by telephone: 757-482-9997 (extension #221)

Remember, pre-orders of twenty-five magazines or more can be purchased for a generous discount!

Contact Kellie for more info!

Christmas wreath tutorial...

Even the most tardy of holiday decorators know the first thing that goes out is the front door wreath. Many of us change ours each year; so if your looking for a new take on the traditional wreath with a big red bow, look no further. Ki shows us how to make this fun wreath using vintage light reflectors. For a full tutorial, follow this link and settle onto the sofa, Ki style, and get creating!

My advice, use a ready made wreath...because I'm too lazy to form my own!
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(blogged by Linda MacDonald)

Turning the tables...

It's time to turn the tables! I am always asked questions about my design ideas, entertaining solutions and the "how-to" of collecting at flea markets. I decided it would be fun to be the interviewer this time, and there would be no better interviewee than the queen of all blogs, and FMS cohort, Linda MacDonald from Restyled Home... Linda and I met a few years ago over a blog I had written for Country Home, and because of her response post (remember it was about me possibly being the most perfect husband) we became fast friends. Since meeting her in person (I have a post to write about that, too) and working together, I thought it would be great for everyone to learn more about her design ideas and theories and how wonderfully they interweave with her home and family. I am super excited for all of you to read her many contributions to the new magazine, which have earned her the title of my favorite Canadian magazine writer... and it's so exciting because I know we will be hearing a lot more from her...

Q. When did you first recognize your penchant for home design and what was the first room you re-did that made you feel truly accomplished?

A: I think my love of decorating and design blossomed with my very first apartment. I was in my second year of university and I moved into a mess of an apartment. I sweet-talked the landlord into replacing the scummy carpet, got his permission to paint walls and wall panelling, and added a pretty stencil to the drab kitchen cabinets (It was the late eighties, after all). I scrubbed, painted, threw a pretty blanket over our ugly sofa, and somehow made it fresher, cleaner and quite lovely. You can be certain everything I used was gleaned from a flea market, my mum's linen cupboard or a yard sale!


Q. You balance modern and vintage well... how do you vet a vintage purchase and what is your favorite find and why?

A. I am such a lazy, disinterested soul when it comes to pedigree and origin. I love old, imperfect pieces that have been used and loved, and I usually have no problem repurposing something or blasting it with spray paint. In fact, my favourite vintage piece is my retro Sunbeam mixer in a lovely shade of robin's egg blue, which I promptly cut the electrical cord off of. I have enough of my safety conscious father in me to not dare attempt using it and its original wiring. Stupid? Maybe. But safe, for sure!

Q. You have interviewed some real lifestyle luminaries... what about you and your approach resonates with the magazine elite?

A. While I am certainly very free with well-deserved compliments, I think/hope it doesn't come across as "sucking up." I believe in giving credit where credit is due, and I think my interviewees see that. I try to ask questions that readers really want answered. I try to unearth a bit of the real person and not just the designer. Chipping away at one's public persona usually unearths more interesting tidbits than you'd ever get from a media bio or portfolio.

Q. You are a wife and mother who balances tradition with your blog and design consulting... how do you do it all?

I stay busy doing a little bit of everything. Right now, I am having more fun and feeling more challenged with my writing and being a part of the Flea Market Style magazine team. I never would have thought it, but writing about decorating is more intriguing to me than actually doing consultations. I feel I can inject more of myself into my work that way. There are fewer limits on my creativity that way and I like the pace. That said, working from home and/or doing decorating consults fits perfectly into my life as a mother of three. I schedule everything into the time they are in school, and pick up the slack in the evening, after they are in bed. Family dinners are incredibly important to us as a family. I love (usually) cooking dinner for my family and feel like it's a collective sigh in our day - a moment to come together and hear about each other's day. Of course, I always fish for compliments about my meal, too...

Q. You write about lighting and light fixtures a great deal, which seems to be a real passion for you... what makes lighting such an interest?

A. I think lighting tells the final story. It's like when you encounter a well-dressed person and then your eyes wander down to their feet and you find shoddy, boring, even ugly shoes. Some homeowners just don't notice lighting or prioritize it when decorating their homes. They stick with the boring builder's choices and focus on every other detail. I think that's a big mistake. With so many stylish, affordable lighting choices out there, homeowners are missing out on making an impactful design statement if they don't update the lighting, too.
I could change my lighting every year. I won't, but I could!!!

Q. You dabble in craft projects... what makes you want to engage a project?

A. Honestly, it has to be easy and doable in one sitting. It's that simple. Also, if it involves glitter, I'm all over it. Glitter elevates everything! Still, I only really craft purposely several times a year: Easter, Halloween, and Christmas.

Q. Color seems so central to your design style... do you suggest your colors to your clients? Or can you learn to love any color for any space?

A. Assistance with choosing colour is one of the biggest requests I get from clients. It is also sometimes a source of frustration for me. It is rare that I encounter anyone who doesn't want shades of beige. I will definitely pass on my personal favourite colours to my clients, but most are looking for the earth tones. As much as I wish I would have a client go for bolder, wilder colour, I would have a difficult time selecting a shade of true purple. It is my least favourite shade; and with fashion being all about the jewel tones this winter I am at a loss. Purple is not my friend...soft purple, sure, but not the deeper shades.


Q. How does food and preparing meals factor into your modern lifestyle?

A. I am a stickler to regular meal times and live with four others who are just the same. Schedules ruled my world when my children were very young, so now they are fairly set in stone. Everyone seems to get cranky if mealtimes are late, and food is central to our lives. We are comfort food aficionados, but a baker I am not.

Q. What are the elements of your dream room?

A. Let's see. If we are talking kitchens, then I wish for these elements: skirted farmhouse sink, copper rangehood, huge exterior style lanterns as lighting, aqua Big Chill fridge, marble baking surface (for show ; ), Welsh dresser, distressed butcher block countertops, a large stacked stone fireplace with a rough hewn mantel, a hard-working distressed farmhouse table with modern chairs...maybe aluminum, though my family would hate them! Not sure what colour the cabinets would be, but they'd definitely be painted and have beautiful hardware. On second thought, I might have to see a photo of all this. It might be a mess!

Hmmmm...? What do you think?

Q. How do you fulfill your penchant for vintage in your locale?

A. It's no easy feat, let me tell you! There are a few sources but not nearly enough. That's why I was spellbound by the selection at the Junk Bonanza!

Q. Give us your top five steps in getting ready to re-do a room?

A.  1. Plan. Cut out (or print off) photos from your favourite magazines. Sketch out what you have and where you'd like to put it. Make shopping lists.

2. Choose colour that makes your heart sing. If you get the colour right, everything else will fall into place.

3. Consider slipcovers. You will get the fabric you like and the ability to throw it into the wash.

4. Don't be too matchy-matchy, especially with furniture. I call this the "Sears Catalogue look". If your room looks like a hotel room, you are in serious need of injecting more of yourself into the space!

5. Don't put off making changes until you can go "all the way." Lipstick makeovers buy you time and will make you enjoy your home more until you can make the more expensive, labour intensive changes. Throw a beautiful or neutral rug over dated flooring, buy new, affordable window treatments, spray paint unattractive lamps and add new shades. Again, slipcovers are your friend...

Q. What inspires you in design right now?

A. Textures, fabrics and the desire to add more modern furniture pieces (chairs, lamps, etc.). I love pairing modern with vintage and find myself craving the serenity of more pared down spaces right now. But I will never lose my love of accessories. I just have moved on from feeling the need to fill every empty space with an object.

(Tongue in cheek, of course...remember those cookies?)

Q. What do you dream of as a future in the magazine/design world?

A. I would love to style a space, and of course write the piece as well. I would love to have a permanent column in a magazine, and be able to showcase my style more in the pages of a magazine. But for now, I am thrilled with my role in the magazine, and I could never have imagined it to be as fun and exciting as it is. I still shake my head at all this. I am not sure if it will ever seem real...

Q. Your husband seems like a real support in the building and execution of your designs... do you ever disagree on your projects? If so, how do you bridge the gap?

A. All the time! I bring him the ideas and he either gives me a reality check or starts sketching. I love that we can share in the process of making our home a reflection of us. I also love that we can take full credit for what we have done to our home and I am proud of him and how talented he is. He has had no formal carpentry training, yet truly knows his way around tools and wood. It has been a lifesaver for us, from a monetary aspect, and our furniture is quality and I have him to thank for that.

Q. Your daughter has been somewhat of a design muse for you... are you fulfilling your childhood dreams through feathering her nest?

A. Of course! I love that she gets as excited about doing projects as I do, and she has excellent taste in choosing colour and fabric. It was actually her idea to do the "windowless window seat" in her room. It was a moment of brilliance and she was only eight years old!!

Q. If you couldn't blog anymore, how would you get your message out about lifestyle and design?

A. I don't know that I could. My blog has been such an important vehicle for sharing ideas and inspiration and, of course, it led me to you and Ki and made my dream of working for a magazine a reality. I have also made some very special friends through it. It has become a part of my life and I am grateful that it got me writing again and for all the opportunities it has brought my way.

Q. What does your next house look like? What is on the wish list?

A. My next house will (hopefully) be inspired by Gothic Revival homes, but on a smaller scale. I would love massive ceilings so that I can have one huge Christmas tree that will hold all of my ornaments! I will always have a front porch/veranda and I want a beautiful wood stove that I can cook on if need be. I would love a claw foot tub and I want some amazing lighting. Transoms throught the home is my top "must-have", and we will figure out a way to do that affordably. I know I will never achieve my dream list, but I have always felt that if I could afford everything I wanted, it wouldn't be as fun. I love the challenge of making something beautiful on a real budget, and as long as I have my "people" and a cozy fire to sit around, I am happy. To be honest, I find perfection boring.

Q. What do you want to be doing in 3 years?

A. I will be so sad if I'm not still working with you and Ki and a magazine in some way. I want to be earning a paycheck from writing and styling. On a personal level, I want my children to be doing well and happy as they grow closer to adulthood. I want to be sitting at my dinner table with them each night and watching Survivor together. Really, I don't want much to change.

Q. Countdown from 10 to 1 the favorite things about your kitchen?

A. Here goes:

10. The colour of my laminate countertop.

9. My corner sink and faucet.

8. My schoolhouse lighting.

7. The view out the window from my sink.

6. The delicate curtains on that window.

5. My Sunbeam mixer.

4. My dishwasher's faux tin panel.

3. My blue cabinets, made by my husband.

2. My dining area light fixture

1. The recessed panelling in my dining area.

Q. What question do your blog readers ask you most?

A. The most common question is what shades of blue I've used in my home.

Q. Who exemplifies your style direction:

A. I admire many designers and can't pick just one. Not sure why...Any suggestions? Anyone...?
I do love (Canadian) Sarah Richardson's impeccable style, though her choices are so high end one I sometimes get frustrated while watching her show (Design, Inc.). Also, the end result is always so perfect, it is just not realistic in my world...

Q. WORD ASSOCIATIONS:

BROWN TRANSFER...Matthew Mead

IRONSTONE...attainable

CHOCOLATE...over-rated

SEA GLASS...overdone

ICED TEA...yuck

Q. Since the holidays are approaching, what one thing will you do to get in the spirit?

A. Watch "A Christmas Story: and buy candy canes. That's two I know, but I'm not one for rules!

Q. What one food is necessary to savor during the season?

A. Turkey. I won't usually eat it between October (Canadian Thanksgiving) and Christmas. I want to be at the point of craving it!

Q. What event will make you feel like the season has arrived?

A. Our local Christmas parade - taxidermy reindeer and all!

Thank you, Linda. Can't wait to see your style ideas and interviews come to life on the pages of the magazine!

(interview by Matthew Mead)

Flea Market Round-up!

You can't have a flea market magazine without a flea market guide listing the best antique shows and fleas in the country! The Flea Market Style team has chosen their favorite events to highlight in the magazine, now it is your chance to let us know yours. We'd like to stick to fleas and shows that offer at least 50 vendors. Let us know the flea or show's name, city and state (or province, if in Canada), and why you love to shop it. Also, we would appreciate its website address or phone number - if you have one on hand - so we can check it out for consideration. Watch to see if your favorite makes it into the magazine!

Thanks for your help on this!

Ki