Last week when I wrote about the rough parts of this journey, I was instantly met with such great encouragement to continue on and make my own path. I thank each and everyone who posted or emailed me with their warm and thoughtful words. Your support makes such a difference.

Here in my studio I do a lot of things – as most of you know. Much of what I do is pretty straight-forward for me, some, like the furniture is not. I don’t struggle with it, I’m glad to say, but I do run into the occasional wall or pothole. It is such a wonderful thing to be able to reach out to other people and know that they are able to listen with open hearts and respond so beautifully.

On Friday morning I knew that I couldn’t spend the day working on the computer – although I have many projects that require me to be there. I just knew that my time and energy – my recharging would be done on the other side of the studio … where the coffee table was waiting for me. This is the coffee table that I decided to finish for our living room.

1945 Gibbard Coffee Table - Before

Here it is before I touched it.

This is a lovely table. Manufactured by the Gibbard Furniture Company around 1945, it was the first piece of furniture that Mavreen’s parents bought after they married! Yes, I really do get the stories of the furniture whenever I can. Someone bought Mavreen a new coffee table and she decided to let this one go.

We tried it out for fit in the living room and it seems to work – then the challenge of how to finish it.

Well, I have to admit, when I see a round shape, I think Mandala. I just can’t help it. So, after I did the other table, I decided that I would try and even BIGGER mandala and see how it worked.

Here’s what it looks like now. I wasn’t sure how I would feel about a gold table, but it’s going to take up much less visual space than something dark.

So, aside from a top coat which I will do when it’s not so windy outside, this is done.

I think it’s going to make a lovely addition to the living room.

And the next project in the studio is the dresser for my soon-to-be great nephew … who knows what that’s going to look like!

The moral of this tale ~ when things seem tough or you just can’t figure stuff out, reach out and tell someone or a lot of someone’s

~sarah

The 1945 table brought into 2012.

Along this journey of mine, I have seen my fair share of potholes. I have come to accept and expect them to show up every once in awhile. Well, today is one of those days. A pothole that seems to have sucked in my confidence, just a little.

The pothole in particular is around my Refined Furniture. This morning, for no particular reason, I woke up feeling unsure if what I am producing is any good. So, I asked myself “Why do I feel that way?” …. turns out it’s because I don’t see any other pieces like mine out there. Now this is both a good thing and a thing to worry about for me. The good thing is, I am doing some interesting things that really are one-of-a-kind pieces of functional art. On the other hand, I’m all alone out here – producing pieces that are outside what is popular in the marketplace.

There’s the pothole. I’m trying to sell something that is different from what is out there. I like this idea, but it also makes it more difficult to sell them.

Now, will this stop me or slow me down? Not likely. I’m having way too much fun with most of these pieces and learning tons about myself, my love for good furniture and all the paint techniques. It’s just today, there’s this pothole and for the moment, it’s tripped me up.

In a giant leap on a day when I feel sort of iffy about things, I am going to show you the latest piece, which is very, very different from the pieces I have been doing … see what you think.

And if you find yourself face to face with a pothole on your journey, I suggest just accepting its presence in your day and work around it.

~sarah

Mandala Table - Black Cherry Metallic Paint with black accents