Interview with Voyage LA
Recently, I was asked to submit a questionnaire for Voyage LA publication. It's been awhile since I've been interviewed so grabbed on to this opportunity enthusiastically. Interviews have a way of delving into the details of the business that I rarely write about or...
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 businesses like...
How to Get the Most Out of the Glendora Village Holiday Stroll
Once Halloween is over, it is officially Christmastime in the Village. (Mind you, we'll still have a few of the fall and Thanksgiving items until the end of November). The Annual Glendora Holiday Stroll is on Friday, November 17th from 6:00 9:00 pm! Here are my top...
Since 1990…
In 1990, I was eleven years old. I had froo-froo bangs, wore double stacked socks, cuffed my jeans (which, ironically I do today) and had a sweet pair of LA Gears complete with a dangling key chain. My biggest worry in 1990 was that I had to wear glasses (which were...
A Year’s Worth of Window Displays – Working with Brock Designs
About a year ago, my now friend Sandy from Brock Designs came into the shop and through conversations and brainstorming, she was recruited (maybe volunteered...or coerced) to help design our window displays. I have to tell you something about window displays though....
Painting Upholstery
Painting upholstery is a highly debatable process. Some people swear by it, and others yell from the roof tops "IT'S NOT POSSIBLE." No matter your opinion on the subject, painting upholstery is counter-intuitive to say the least. I've done a handful of painted...
Maeberry Lane Design
If you've admired our most recent window display by artist Sandy Brock, then you've likely noticed the contribution of vibrant yet cozy-soft florals by Maeberry Lane Design that sing out among the deep green doors and shutters. The handiwork of Glendora artist...
Why the 2018 #knottooshabbyBAZAAR is the marketplace your small business has been waiting for
We've come a long way since our first knot too shabby BAZAAR in 2012! At the 2017 knot too shabby BAZAAR, our vendors handled over $25,000 in tangible transactions! I'm a total numbers girl! I love seeing quantifiable data collected to support qualitative claims of...
Finding Contentment in a World of Want
This week I had lunch with my friend Serena who happens to be a fellow (successful) business owner. It was such a nice break from reality as we had a chance to pray for our families and our business as well as lament about the challenges of life and the schemes of...
A Funtastic Farm Table
My Dad makes these amazing farm tables. Amazing, in that I refuse to work with power tools and wouldn't have the patience to do all of the measuring and mathematics involved in building one of these guys! But, Dad is a bit of a perfectionist. If he had it his way,...
Succulent Inspired
I have a had a paint brush in my hand nearly every single day since the kids went back to school! It's very much my favorite place to be...on the floor in grubby clothes with paint splattered on my face and in my hair. My projects for the past month have not been my...
Wanted: Volunteer Color Mixologist
We have a brand new intern opportunity for the fall and winter months! We're looking for someone who has a couple of hours to kill every week, who won't mind getting their hands colorful and play with different paint mixtures. Seriously...I think this might be the...
Progress on the Family Room
Happy first day of school! The lackadaisical summer days sapped any productivity and motivation from me. But, we are back from all of our summer vacations, Jerry is back at work and I am resuming a more regular schedule and the anticipation of a routine has given me a...
Room Re-Designs-The Process I Use
We've been in our house for about twelve years now. I've re-decorated every space inside and out in that house multiple times except for one. Our back family room. Some days, you can find me sitting on the couch and just staring at the walls, willing a change but not...
Revived and Refreshed
The days on the calendar on ticking by ever so quickly until school starts! Just over two weeks. Where does the time go? I've spent the better part of July gallivanting around the western part of the US and enjoying some much needed R & R and an abundance of...
4th of July Decorating with Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint
Happy Independence Day to all of our American readers! Today I'd like to feature some patriotic projects by some knot too shabby family members: my dad Bill and his sister, my godmother, Darlene! My dad volunteers at The Farm at Fairplex where he grows produce, cares...
What is Shibori?
In short, Shibori is an ancient Japanese technique of dying cloth fabrics while using a variety of binding methods to achieve a variety of patterns and effects. Indigo or purple root is the typical dying agent used which offers a rich, deep blue. Believe it or not, at...
Painting with Annie Sloan
Last month, I went on a whirlwind of a trip to Oregon to take a painting class with Annie Sloan. By whirlwind, I had to align the sun, moon and stars to pull together childcare, store coverage and the dollars to get myself to Oregon all within an eight to ten day time...
Painting for Profit
Over the past five+ years, we have witnessed remarkable and talented women (and men) take their passion for painting, up-cycling and re-purposing and turn it into a lucrative business. Many had their start selling at the knot too shabby BAZAAR, others spent months...
knot too shabby BAZAAR 2017: Furniture Makeover Competition
To enter in the #knottooshabbyBAZAAR Furniture Makeover Competition, knot too shabby customers were challenged to bring a piece of furniture to the 2017 knot too shabby BAZAAR in the Glendora Village that they had painted with Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan or Miss...
An Ode to Those of You Who REFUSE to Throw Anything Away
This. Week! Anyone else feel me? Let me explain. Last week, around Wednesday I was the subject of a verbal berating by a (rather inconsiderate) person in the middle of the store IN FRONT of customers. This had nothing to do with business, customer services or...
The 2017 knot too shabby BAZAAR Recap
I always feel like April rings in the official season of Spring. In Glendora, we are witnessing the greening up of the previously fire scorched Foothills. The onslaught of rain brought about clean, blue skies and the crisp air brings about a season of fresh...
#knottooshabbyBAZAAR Vendor Series-Pricing Your Handmade Items
Pricing handmade items is one of the hardest things to do as a budding small business. You might be drawing from your long ago lessons of economics, trying to remember the rules of supply and demand or you may just be winging it and falling short of your price...
Updated knot too shabby Painting Tips
Our best recommendations for using Chalk Paint® decorative paint by Annie Sloan.
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 and I...
5 Ways to Make Your Vendor Application Stand Out
While these tips are specifically intended for applicants hoping to become vendors at the knot too shabby BAZAAR, you're likely to find that this is a secret recipe to getting accepted at any craft fair or vintage market. Here is a preview of the vendor application...
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, much...
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!