Last night I sat with my laptop in a comfy chair and indulged myself in other bloggers' highlights of 2015. Then I took the time to look through all my photo files for the whole year. It's kind of fun to reminisce about all that's happened, good and bad, because this business is always an adventure!
Best of Patina General, 2015
Best Junking and Treasure Hunting Day:
This day last year my family and I were in the sub-basement of an 11 story 100 year old building in downtown Mpls. It was hot. In a few short hours we brought home 2 van loads and 2 trailer loads of great junk! You can read all about it HERE.
Favorite Personal Project:
Cheryl and I say our own projects are always on the back burner, because we're always cranking out goodies for the store, but last February I took the time and gave this beauty a makeover...just for myself. I still love looking at it right in the middle of my house and love the combination of paint colors, junk and antique wood. Check out the post, HERE.
Favorite Find:
Scored a whole box of vintage school maps in an on-line auction. I was bidding on them sight unseen, which is a little scary. Some of them were in rough shape, but once adhered to hardboard, they were beautiful. I loved having these in the store. See them all here.
Most Creative Project:
I couldn't decide on this one, so there's two. I've always wanted to create a multi-color hose wreath with all my roadside, colorful hoses, and I finally made a couple this year. You can read the whole project, HERE. I also really loved how this little, roadside hoosier top turned out, with it's ceiling tin insert and it's brick-paneling back. It was hard to part with this one.
Most Memorable:
Celebrating our 5 year anniversary in August was a big milestone, and opening an on-line store was a huge undertaking...almost as big as opening the store. We're so thankful for the past 5 years, and all the friends we've made through this business! Check out the On-Line store at PatinaGeneral.com
Favorite Projects:
Cubby's were everywhere this year! They just found me. Scrubbing them is no fun, and painting or poly-ing them is a challenge also. But nonetheless, I love decorating with them. I didn't find a spot in my house for any of these, but I did scoop up a wall cubby from one of our contrib's before it ever entered the store. You'll probably see it in January sometime...
Favorite Eating:
Finding a black raspberry patch on the backside of our and our neighbor's property in July was so much fun! Think this will be a yearly job...making enough freezer jam to last the whole year. Wish we would have picked more! Here's the whole post.
Favorite Contributor Item:
Luann, our furniture artist expert, painted two suitcase dressers that flew out of the store, and also found this amazing sofa table that was gone in a few hours also. We just love having great, unique, beautiful pieces in the store like this!
Biggest Store Improvement:
Our new front door! We've had this antique door for quite some time, but couldn't find someone willing to install the beast. Thanks to Ezra, we can enjoy it's beauty and function! It was so much more fun to put up the Christmas greenery around it, and it harmonizes our 100 year old building.
Thanks for a great year, and have a Happy New Year!
Recent Comments