A Day at the Fair

20 Monday May 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in News, Shop Gray Star Design

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animals, art, charity, crafts, design, fair, farm, garden of eve organic farm, long island, music, new york, riverhead, the forgotten friends of long island, vendor

This past Saturday I was a vendor at The Forgotten Friends of Long Island Spring Fair held at the Garden of Eve Organic Farm in Riverhead, NY. It was a beautiful day for sure. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze, and the farm was filled with happy animals and lots of plants. My husband and I were there a little before 9 am to set up my table and tent, and then the event started an hour later. For my first event, I have to say I enjoyed it a lot.

There were many vendors there, both artists and food crafters, as well as live music acts. I met some people and passed along my card which is always a good thing. Although I didn’t expect to sell a lot of items, I did make some money. My intent was to support a great cause and get my work out there to more local people. I feel that was very successful.

It also made me smile that some of my family made it out to say hello and take a look around. Big thanks to my cousin Diana, aunt Deb, Grandmother, and in laws for visiting my first fair! It was really cool to have them all there. I feel I am now more prepared for the next event I am part of, as I thought of lots of ideas of how to present my items and attract more people to my table. It’s all about the presentation. And even though I felt my table was super cute, it will be much improved next time around.

Here are some photos I took of the day. Enjoy.

Support a Great Cause

30 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by melissaoconnor in News, Shop Gray Star Design

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animals, artists, charity, craft fair, food, forgotten friends of long island, garden of eve organic farm, music, new york, riverhead

I love animals and when I get the chance to support great organizations who feel the same, I take it. On Saturday, May 18th, I will be a vendor at The Forgotten Friends of Long Island Spring Fair along with many other artists and crafters. There will also be live music and plenty of food vendors to keep you filled up with tasty treats. I am looking forward to spending the day meeting people and having my items and photographs up for sale, as well as display my custom wedding items. Come visit me!

Visit the Facebook event page for more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/534630149908905/?fref=ts

How to Redecorate on a Budget

14 Friday Sep 2012

Posted by melissaoconnor in Everyday Design, Guest Posts, Sarah Atkinson, The Home

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bedding, bedroom, budget, charity, color, color schemes, decorating, duvet covers, furniture, interior design, Linens Direct, painting, pillows, redecorating

There are many ways to bring a new lease of life to your home without breaking the bank. If you’ve been considering redecorating but are wary of the costs involved, these tips will give you plenty of inspiration to help you achieve a new look on a budget.

Add some color to the walls
A lick of paint is one of cheapest yet most effective ways to bring a room up to date. You might want to consider creating a bold statement wall, painting an entire room with a vibrant, intense shade or using several colors to incorporate a stylish two-tone theme. As you can pick up tins of paint cheaply from your local DIY store, you can regularly update your home without spending too much.

Update your bedding
Redecorating doesn’t have to involve buying new furniture. If you want to bring a fresh feel to your bedroom, try choosing some new duvet covers and pillowcases. They’re available at reasonable prices from online retailers such as Linens Direct, meaning that you can easily embrace the latest trends or change your color schemes. You’ll be surprised at just how different your bedroom can look after making such a simple change.

Give existing furniture a make-over
There’s no need to throw out your existing furniture. Try giving your existing pieces a make-over by having them reupholstered with a new material. This could change a boring old armchair into a statement piece, with very little investment. If you’re looking for something a little less permanent, buy a few colored throws and experiment with different looks according to your mood.

Visit your local charity shop
You may find that you can pick up plenty of bargains at a charity shop that will help you to transform your home. Look out for items such as pictures, mirrors and photo frames that have been previously loved but could look fantastic in your living space. You might decide that they need a coat of paint or varnish to make them look new again, or you could pick up some pieces that look stylishly vintage just the way they are.

With so many ways to update your home on a shoestring, it’s not surprising that more and more people are choosing to get creative rather than splashing the cash. By trying just a few of these ideas, your house will be looking brand new for a price you never thought possible.

Written by Sarah Atkinson