With all the different kinds of projects I do, I realize there might be some confusion over the terminology that we use in this business.  There are many who are close to me that don't really know what I do or how I decide the fate of a piece I am working on.  Then there are some clients that aren't sure how to explain what it is they are looking for so I am going to try and explain it.
Let's start with the terms "restore, refinish, re-purpose" and add rebuild, reuse and replace.  I want to start with one of my favorite finds, this oak fern table.  I found this table at an auction and it literally was in pieces and it was covered in dust and dirt from being stored in a barn.  There was mud on the legs from laying on the floor of the barn!  As you can see the top was cracked and there were some splits that were beginning in one of the legs.  However, I knew that under all that grime and brokenness was a beautiful oak table so I brought it home.  First I removed all the dirt, then I began to repair the broken top by removing the old frame and then joining  the two pieces together with dowels and glue.  Next I sanded the entire piece to remove the old pits, dirt and even out the wood grain.  Once that was done (and that is a long process) I re-stained the wood.  There is a purpose for stain it is not just for aesthetics, the stain puts oil back into the piece.  In the case of really old wood like this piece, it will drink the stain right in.  Once the stain is dry you begin to put a finish on the piece.  There are many types of finishes and all of them have a purpose.  On antiques I always use tung oil.  Tung oil is also a long process of application, rubbing, drying and then another application.  The wood will soak up the first few applications because it needs the moisture, then the protection will begin to build and you have a beautiful sheen.  In the process I come to know the original craftsman, the detail, the thought and the skill that was put into the piece.  The end result is a fully restored and refinished piece.  It is an honor to bring these old pieces back to life and preserve the craftsmanship that went into these kinds of pieces.  It is also meticulous and detailed work.  I have done many pieces like this, some of my own finds and some commissioned work as in the case of the parlor set.  

Every piece that I do has a different story, a different purpose and a different outcome.  Unlike my competitors I am not a chalk paint fanatic or a fan of shabby chic although they have their place.  Every piece I do is an adventure.  Thank you for coming on this adventure with me and for giving me the opportunity to create.  Hopefully we learn something about furniture and wood in the process and create something beautiful out of something meant to be thrown away.  

 
I am sure that all of you are on the patio having a beverage on this beautiful day and you are trying hard to put the work week out of your mind.  However, I want to plant a seed in your head for Monday morning.
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I have spent the past month and a half dealing with other service businesses or trying to find a business to perform a service for me.  My roof was in desperate need of replacement following some pretty big early spring storms.  We interviewed a few companies that were quick to return our calls and give us estimates on the roof repair and from that selected a very reputable company.  That was the end of the open communication.  The company did not let us know the day the project would begin, the workers just showed up one day and began working.  When the project was completed no company representative came to inspect the work and give us a final bill.  When the roof failed inspection we had to contact them.  When we were waiting for the repairs to be completed no one called to let us know of the time line or the fixes they proposed.  We had to contact them and it took several phone calls to make a connection.  They failed to communicate.   

My sister in-law and I have been working to settle the estate of my in-laws.  We have been taking all the heirloom items and distributing them and clearing out all the trash.  We were left with a house FULL of stuff that we needed to sell, get the house empty and then sell the house.  First we tried some of my auction house friends and they were at least professional enough to say that they were very busy and wouldn't be able to get to us for a couple of months.  We decided to try Estate Sales companies and I began to research them.  I made a couple of calls and finally got a company to return my call and meet with us.  They promised to let us know if they would be able to schedule us in within one day.  Three days and three unreturned phone calls later I moved on.  The next company returned my call and has agreed to meet us...we will see where this goes.  

All this to drive home a point.  We may have our businesses on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google but we are forgetting to communicate with our clients.  The basics of any business is building a clientele.  We do that by providing a good or service that our client is willing to pay for and if they are satisfied with their purchase they will return again to our door.  The only way to do this is to establish and maintain communication even after the sale is complete.  There is never an acceptable reason for not returning a call in a timely manner.  It takes longer to take a picture and upload it on Facebook than it does to call a client.  When I worked in the corporate world I was successful because I was quick and efficient in providing information and services to my clients.  Twenty-four hours, every call returned and every email answered within 24 hours.  

When someone asks me about three of the estate sale companies I called and one that I met with, I can honestly say that I don't have a recommendation because they never returned my calls.  That alone will not build business but ruin it.  No matter how hard you work.  

This is also true for our personal lives.  We tweet, post, snap and google but when was the last time you called someone and talked to them...a real conversation?  How many times do we say, "I have been meaning to call them but I just don't have time."​?  Those tweets, posts and pics do not tell you what is going on in their lives, it does not connect you, it does not replace the human need to share and connect.  So pick up the phone, drive to their house, meet for coffee, but communicate.