Feeling Nostalgic
This morning, a mom walks in with her toddler son. She is opening her own shop in the Pasadena area, browsing for display pieces and props all while chasing her little guy around the store and attempting to get him to stop touching things. The whole situation made me...
The Backlog of Custom Orders-Part 2
The Antique Hall Tree This is one of those pieces that purists cringe at painting. It had such a lovely, rich, worn patina. But, didn’t go with the rest of the decor. Barb, our client wanted to incorporate one of the Cavallini World Map papers on the front tray...
The Backlog of Custom Orders-Project 1
I have a love/hate relationship with custom work. I love the work because painting is what I love to do. The more there is, the happier I am. But, when I am commissioned to paint a piece for a specific person with a specific style in a specific color my nerves go a...
A Big Change in 2017
When I was in college, I worked at a place called Club Disney. It was one of those fly-by-night Disney businesses that only lasted a few years. They had a small handful of locations and I worked at the one in Westlake Village and at the location in West Covina during...
Business Ramblings and Before and After: #knottooshabbyGLENDORA’s Workshop Renovation
If you read about my reflections of 2016, I wrote about how it was a make it or break it year for our team. It’s hard to summarize in a single post about how much conversation, planning and goal setting takes place over the course of a goal setting weekend. And,...
Reminiscing and Reflecting
2016 started in a hotel room at the Grand Californian Resort with my management team. With a four foot wide white board, a package of colored expo markers and fresh journals waiting to be written in, we tackled the huge task of determining our direction for the...
4 Reasons to apply for the #knottooshabbyBAZAAR
On January 1, 2017 Open Registration will begin for new and returning vendors to our annual #knottooshabbyBAZAAR! An event five years in the making, if you are on the fence about participating as a vendor this year, perhaps I can help persuade you into considering...
knot too shabby’s #ShopSmall Sweepstakes
At knot too shabby, we simply can’t contain our excitement for Small Business Saturday to just one day, so we’re inviting you to join us for an extended weekend of savings and fun! It’s a special holiday created so communities can show love for small...
Mila’s Cherry Blossom Bedroom
Nine months ago, I tackled a complete room transformation for my little friend Mila. It took me around four weekends to tackle the project from start to finish. If you are new readers or it’s been so long since you read about the room plan for Mila’s...
A Letter to the Woman Who Cursed a Volunteer
Dear Lady, We met at the Los Angeles Women’s Expo. An event that we were invited to be a part of; an event that we spent countless hours making plans and arrangements for you and all of the women attending to have an enjoyable and inspirational experience at the...
When Hand Painting Meets Stencils
The world of furniture painting is small. Close knit. In constant communication! It seems weird, but one of my favorite things about carrying both Annie Sloan Paint and Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint is this tight community that is fostered through the product....
Exclusive offers at the Los Angeles Ultimate Women’s Expo
What kind of special offers can you expect from knot too shabby this weekend? 1. Free glass painting workshops Every hour on the hour during the Expo, take advantage of a free make-and-take workshop and learn to use Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan! ...The Wonders of Wax
If you have spent any amount of time with me talking topcoats, you will know within 30 seconds that I am a wax girl. I have written blog posts and gotten on my soap box during workshops and demos listing the benefits of wax. So, I don’t feel the need to rehash...
Distressing then Waxing OR Waxing then Distressing?
Waxing and distressing question. I normally paint, distressed then wax. I noticed many people say they distress and sand after waxing. So last night I waxed, buffed this morning and I am now distressing. The paint is already really hard and I find it harder to...
4 Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint Tips for Busy Moms
School has started. Fall sports are starting within weeks. Homework. Orthodontic appointments. Piano Lessons. Awana. Sunday School. More homework. Chores. That’s just what my kids are committed to during the week. How in blazes does any mom find the time to...
Summer Fun at the Monrovia Friday Night Family Street Fair
You may have noticed that knot too shabby in Monrovia stays open late on Friday nights–2 hours later than the rest of the week. But do you know why #knottooshabbyMONROVIA is open every Friday night until 8pm? The Monrovia Friday Night Family Street Fair–a...
The Farmhouse Salvage, Milk Paint, Chalk Paint® and a Wax Puck
I LOOOOOVE my customers! Especially, those who have followed and supported me since the very beginning. The ones that are looking at for our best interests and finding ways to help us succeed! That being said, one of my favorites cruised into the shop on a random...
Insomnia, A Pensieve and Plans
I can guarantee that I will have more activity in my brain the middle of the night than anytime during the day. Do you know, more blog posts get written in my head at 2 am than during normal business hours? These “blog posts” rarely make it from my head to...
While We’re Closed…
FIVE Years! This July, we celebrate our five year anniversary in the Glendora Village. Originally, I wasn’t going to plan anything big, what with keeping busy at knot too shabby MONROVIA, preparing for the Old Town Firework Extravaganza, having just finished...
Painting Workshops
If you are hesitant to take a paintbrush to your much-loved furniture, we can help! Sign-up for one of our many in-store workshops or host one of your own!
"Open-Paint" Days
If you love to paint as much as us, then you will love our "open-paint" days!