Antique Decorative Furniture & Arundel Eccentrics waiting to be an overnight success.
Good Morning
from
Arundel Eccentrics
Here is a bit about how
Arundel Eccentrics
started and
all the details of our next workshops.
We are in BBC Homes and Antiques magazine this month, by the way.
They have a piece about 101 courses and
we are first on the list, which is great for us.
The workshop they mention is gilding with decoupage,
but we have several other workshops.
You can often transform a piece of furniture
simply and quickly,
in a day.
Trust me, you will get hooked once you start,
and you will scour every corner of your house
for anything that stands still,
in order to re-vamp.
The workshop they mention is gilding with decoupage,
but we have several other workshops.
You can often transform a piece of furniture
simply and quickly,
in a day.
Trust me, you will get hooked once you start,
and you will scour every corner of your house
for anything that stands still,
in order to re-vamp.
How we started and our paint workshops
The first time I tried to paint and distress furniture,
it was about twenty years ago and the
it was about twenty years ago and the
offending piece was a Habitat coffee table,
with no real age to it, probably 1970's.
with no real age to it, probably 1970's.
It was scruffy and grossly offensive to the eye,
I had heard there were ways to
paint and distress furniture
to give a
more interesting aged look to it,
but didn't know where to start looking.
but didn't know where to start looking.
No pc's or Internet then.
No Google to ask.
No Google to ask.
So I rang an artist friend, ( and yes, we still just phoned each other in those days,)
who talked me through sanding the wood back and painting it with emulsion,
(wow, we only ever used that on walls and ceilings, so that in itself was a revelation)
and then waxing it.
What with, I asked her?
Where do I go to get all this stuff?
Her reply?
" Don't worry if you can't find the furniture wax,
you can just use brown boot polish"
you can just use brown boot polish"
That's exactly what I did and so,
my first aged and distressed piece was completed.
my first aged and distressed piece was completed.
Simples.
Eighteen years ago, my dear friend, Allie,
who I had recently got to know through working at the
who I had recently got to know through working at the
Body Shop headquarters in Littlehampton,
and myself, realised we were both into making
and myself, realised we were both into making
and creating all sorts of things.
We laughed as we talked about the same creative milestones.
Macramé and candle making,
crochet and card making,
and a hundred other things
besides.
So, we thought we could make a bit of extra cash
, selling on market stalls.
, selling on market stalls.
It was my bright idea to look for a place to work,
and possibly sell from.
and possibly sell from.
We found an old warehouse,
a 19th century brewery building,
hidden away in a little side
street in Arundel where I lived.
It was in a total mess.
Filthy, damp
and filled to bursting with kitchen units.
Filthy, damp
and filled to bursting with kitchen units.
Stacked floor to ceiling.
Left behind by a company who had gone into liquidation
Together with another friend, Zoe,
who we had worked with at the Body Shop
who we had worked with at the Body Shop
we moved in, and with the
assistance of an army of helpers and friends
from Body Shop HQ,
from Body Shop HQ,
we cleared, painted and opened our
warehouse in less than a week.
"Ambiance" was born.
The name was something we bashed around for days.
Well...we only had days.
We went to London to buy stock
at one of the importers
at one of the importers
we had heard of,
and afterwards
and afterwards
had a snack in the one of
the brand new restaurants
the brand new restaurants
that appeared to be springing
up all over the place....
up all over the place....
Cafe Rouge.
Afterwards, we stood outside,
and remarked on the ...the...the...
Allie screamed "AMBIANCE"
and we were off.
At the opening, looking back,
we barely had anything in the massive warehouse,
but the place was filled with friends
generously wishing us well,
generously wishing us well,
and supporting our new venture,
and that was good enough for us.
and that was good enough for us.
Even Gordon Roddick,
head of the Body Shop,
head of the Body Shop,
turned up, though we suspected our
business would never be QUITE as successful as his.
We hardly had any stock.
Well, we hardly had any money.
Well, we hardly had any money.
I had recently lost my job and had previously
been signing on and Allie was bringing up
two very young children.
Somehow, don't ask me how we did it,
we managed
to buy junk items to restore and decorate.
we managed
to buy junk items to restore and decorate.
We eventually built up
quite a warehouse of interesting pieces
and a loyal following of fans.
quite a warehouse of interesting pieces
and a loyal following of fans.
Slowly, we were teaching ourselves
to paint furniture, decoupage, craquelure and gild.
to paint furniture, decoupage, craquelure and gild.
We scoured books, magazines and experimented.
I had never owned a microwave,
didn't have a clue how they worked,
and as a consequence, nearly blew up
Allie's kitchen, warming different coloured waxes.
didn't have a clue how they worked,
and as a consequence, nearly blew up
Allie's kitchen, warming different coloured waxes.
We had seen an article somewhere
and as a result painted an old 1930's cupboard,
and as a result painted an old 1930's cupboard,
grey,I think it was,
then used different coloured waxes
to cover, and eventually,
merged them all in together.
then used different coloured waxes
to cover, and eventually,
merged them all in together.
The piece we were experimenting on came out beautifully......
...........but the microwave was never the same again.
The warehouse, though a great space,
being a little off the main street,
and down an alley,
(or twitten, as we say,
down south)
was so difficult to
being a little off the main street,
and down an alley,
(or twitten, as we say,
down south)
was so difficult to
draw people round to.
I used to drag Allie out leaflet dropping.
Oh! how she hated it and groaned.
She still sighs, to this day,
at the very thought of it.
We would go round the town,
handing out leaflets,
get back and put the kettle on,
and by the time the brew was ready,
people were coming round.
But....fate was to take a hand and
the landlord allowed us to use
the front of the building, (now the right side of
the front of the building, (now the right side of
William Hill,) for the summer months.
One of the first pop up shops, I suppose.
We went in almost overnight.
We went in almost overnight.
Location, location, location.
It's true what they say....
It's true what they say....
We took more in the first week
than we had in six months around the back.
than we had in six months around the back.
But more than that, though, we had a window on the world.
Exciting opportunities were to evolve,
when an Arundel antique dealer,
when an Arundel antique dealer,
who was, still is, one of the most
prestigious in the country,
saw what we were doing and
prestigious in the country,
saw what we were doing and
as luck would have it,
was looking for someone to decorate
his Victorian Bamboo
was looking for someone to decorate
his Victorian Bamboo
furniture.....with decoupage.
A good friend, Julie, also from the Body Shop days
was working there,
and she kindly introduced us.
The previous bamboo person
was going to teach us
was going to teach us
and it was all arranged we would
start, when alas, the aforementioned bamboo person
handed in his notice, from a foreign
location, by email.
That, it appeared, was that.
We put the phone down
feeling devastated,
feeling devastated,
on hearing the news.
We really needed this break and without
the person to teach us how,
the whole idea appeared
to be doomed from the start.
the person to teach us how,
the whole idea appeared
to be doomed from the start.
We thought about it for a mere
thirty seconds and decided,
thirty seconds and decided,
no, that wasn't that.
We called back.
"What about if you talk us through the recipe
and we do a couple of samples?
If they are good, then we are on,
but if they are not up
to your standard,
then we shall
understand."
Bear in mind, we were small fry,
and, as far as we were concerned,
this was an internationally
known antique god
we were
talking to.
We were quaking in our boots when we made that call.
So, we were given a bamboo cabinet to work on.
It was to be painted a saffron yellow,
actually, this yellow.......
crackle glazed
actually, this yellow.......
crackle glazed
and the same gorgeous yellow,
used
used
as a top coat.
Then antique waxed was to be applied
to sit in the cracks,
giving a fantastic aged look.
to sit in the cracks,
giving a fantastic aged look.
Only problem was,
we hadn't even attempted crackle glaze.
we hadn't even attempted crackle glaze.
Out came the books, and we studied all we could find on crackle.
Oh my, it was driving us to drink.
The expert we found the most information
through was Jocasta Innes, (remember her?)
and, as luck would have it,
there was one of her Paint Magic shops
in Arundel High Street.
How to put it on?
Her books suggested in a haphazard way.
I forget who did the first brush stroke,
we both hovered over the piece
with loaded brushes
with loaded brushes
screaming
"You go first"
"No, you first"
Well, we finished it over a couple of days,
working on it in the back of the shop.
The last wax was on and we were proudly buffing it up,
late at night, when Julie passed by
and saw the lights on.
We swept her in to the shop and with a
flourish proudly showed her the cabinet.
To our horror, and massive disappointment,
Julie shook her head and said,
"Oh dear, he won't like that"
We had done large haphazard cracks,
and what were required were
small, neat,
cracks in a
line.
So, it was back to the drawing board.
We decided there was nothing else for it, if we were to get this job,
we had to do the whole thing all over again.
We re-did the piece, and as far as I know it was a pretty good. finish.
After that, we worked on Victorian bamboo tables for some time.
We used the opportunity wisely and learnt a massive amount
about painting and ageing on
some glorious items of furniture,
that with our humble income,
we would never have had
access to.
As luck would have it, the company were also
looking for an extra man on their team.
Nass went to work in the shop, on a days trial,
and stayed 14 years.
As luck would have it, the company were also
looking for an extra man on their team.
Nass went to work in the shop, on a days trial,
and stayed 14 years.
Twelve years ago
I opened a shop again, this time ,
in Nineveh House in Tarrant Street.
I kept the Ambiance name,
but late changed it to
Arundel Eccentrics.
At the same time I found a
gorgeous workshop to use
as a studio/showroom
on a farm in Binsted,
a little village just outside Arundel.
By then, I had taken over the
Victorian Bamboo myself
and had several US trade customers who came
to visit me regularly.
They loved the
higgledy piggledy - ness
( is that a real word?
Well, you know what I mean...)
of driving down country lanes and tramping
through mud to get to my hidden away studio.
Actually, it was more successful, than sitting in the shop,
so I gave that up and just operated from my studio,
working away on 19th century
chests of drawers and Bamboo
& selling to the trade.
Occasionally, I would pop up in one of the then,
many antique centres around the town,
and stay for a year or two.
I needed to have my pieces seen.
.
Or I would stall out at antique fairs such as Newark and Ardingly,
sleeping in the van overnight.
Brrrrrr cold sometimes.
gorgeous workshop to use
as a studio/showroom
on a farm in Binsted,
a little village just outside Arundel.
By then, I had taken over the
Victorian Bamboo myself
and had several US trade customers who came
to visit me regularly.
They loved the
higgledy piggledy - ness
( is that a real word?
Well, you know what I mean...)
of driving down country lanes and tramping
through mud to get to my hidden away studio.
Actually, it was more successful, than sitting in the shop,
so I gave that up and just operated from my studio,
working away on 19th century
chests of drawers and Bamboo
& selling to the trade.
 |
| The first chest of drawers I decorated like this, went to a shop in NYC. Two years later, in turned up in the prestigious US interiors magazine Architectural Digest. Exciting stuff |
Occasionally, I would pop up in one of the then,
many antique centres around the town,
and stay for a year or two.
I needed to have my pieces seen.
.
Or I would stall out at antique fairs such as Newark and Ardingly,
sleeping in the van overnight.
Brrrrrr cold sometimes.
Building up a business is hard hey?
Sometimes, you need some bread and butter while you are doing it.
 |
| the BBC came to film at the warehouse last Summer for Antiques Celebrity Roadtrip |
 |
| .....with the actress Alison Steadman |
So, 7 years ago, I took a night job.
Full time nights at a residential home for
"Adolescents with Challenging Behaviour".
It was, at times, wild.
I could tell you stories that would make dead straight hair, curl.
It was also pretty exhausting trying to juggle the two,
and on more than one occasion I worked on furniture all day,
worked a wild night shift,
drove back to Arundel to see clients,
finish a piece of furniture off,
throw a dinner in the slow cooker,
before finally sinking into a fitful slumber.
Phew............
Oh my, it was quite a seven years.
I jumped off the roller coaster last August
to concentrate on what I feel I do best.
My furniture. and also start the workshops
that many people has asked me to do.
This Christmas and New Year was
the first, for many years,
that I hadn't had to chase absconders over
the south of England, or collect naughties
from London police stations in dead of night. Ha Ha
Having said that, I did the job to the
very best of my ability,
and staff and most
of the kids seemed to quite like me.
I hope in some small way, I changed a young life along the way.
Certainly, although I don't particularly
want to be in that front line any more,
I would not have missed the experience for anything.
It opened my eyes to a lot.
Four years ago, Nass and two friends set up an antiques warehouse.
Guess where?
Yes, the very same place I had started all those years ago.
So, I share the space with them.
Talk about going full circle.
Almost 20 years later. LOL
 |
| Some of our pieces in Liberty in London |
 |
| one of our tables in Liberty London...exciting hey? |
 |
| I think I actually look a bit bonkers here...but all good advertising..people will just think I am eccentric |
My son Jay is a menswear designer in California.
He says in their business, it takes you 10 years to become an overnight success.
You beaver away quietly and then suddenly everyone knows you
and thinks you have come from no-where.
Well, lets hope that after 20 years
Arundel Eccentrics will be an
overnight success............
and if its not...
I've certainly had fun and learnt a huge amount, trying..........
and if its not...
I've certainly had fun and learnt a huge amount, trying..........
 |
| An Arundel Eccentrics gilt Victorian Bamboo Cabinet...in Homes and Gardens Magazine |
Right...enough of me me me
Here are the details of our workshops.
Learn to
paint & distress,
wax and age,
crackle and craquelure
decoupage,
& gild.....
make an old piece of furniture
you
found unloved,
looking seriously
destined for the rubbish tip,
into, at the most, a work of art
& treasured heirloom
at the very least
very much more beautiful than it did.
At the same time, enjoying
the tranquillity
of our
Riverside Studio
in the beautiful,
country town of Arundel,
where
you will be learning in a small friendly class
and enjoying a tasty, vegetarian lunch
with a glass of wine.
Introduction to gilding with decoupage
on a small item of furniture
Course Code 4
Friday 18th January
Friday 25th January
Tuesday 5th February
Friday 15th February
Friday 8th March
Friday 22nd March
Sunday 14th April
Saturday 27th April
So saying, if absolutely none of these
dates are any good to you
and you would like to come on one
of our workshops
email me
with a few dates that are convenient
to you
and lets see if we
can coordinate something
arundel.eccentrics@sky.com
paint & distress,
wax and age,
crackle and craquelure
decoupage,
& gild.....
make an old piece of furniture
you
found unloved,
looking seriously
destined for the rubbish tip,
into, at the most, a work of art
& treasured heirloom
at the very least
very much more beautiful than it did.
At the same time, enjoying
the tranquillity
of our
Riverside Studio
in the beautiful,
country town of Arundel,
where
you will be learning in a small friendly class
and enjoying a tasty, vegetarian lunch
with a glass of wine.
I know, I know, LOL, they really are as fun as they sound
We have met some lovely people and had some great workshops over the past few months.
Here is what some of them have to say.....
"What a wonderful, inspirational day,
I loved every minute of it"
"What an incredible experience
doing decoupage with Brenda."
Ha ha this person added
"her ideas and her talent are endless,
her charm is delightful,
now add her scrumptious lunch
and you won't want to leave"
Thank you Sandy,
I only just noticed all those
wonderful things you said,
and now my head is
so large I cannot get
out of my house through the door.
I would also like to officially
sign you up as my agent.
Ha Ha
" I never thought I could
do anything remotely usable"
said Chrissie,
who turned this
 |
| and this |
 |
| into this...she had NEVER done anything like this before. |
We use all sorts of products
and introduce people to
painting, distressing and waxing,
crackle glaze,
craquelure
gilding,
decoupage,
and aging pieces in all different ways.
Dates for workshops
A day costs £95, but if you would like to do the whole weekend,with a friend or two,
we will do both days for £145 per person.
Dates for workshops 2013
Preparing, Paint, distress,
crackle glaze and wax a small item of furniture
Course code 1
Monday 21st January
Tuesday 29th January
Saturday 9th February
Tuesday 19th February
Saturday 23rd February
Thursday 28th February
Monday 4th March
Saturday 16th March
Monday 25th March
Thursday 4th April
Tuesday 16th April
Introduction to decoupage
Paint , distress and
then decoupage and finish
a small item of furniture
Course code 2
Sunday 13th January
Tuesday 22nd January
Wednesday 30th January
Sunday 10th February
Sunday 24th February
Friday 1st March
Tuesday 5th March
Sunday 17th March
Tuesday 26th March
Friday 5th April
Thursday 18th April
Introduction to Craquelure,
varnish, wax and
finish a small item of furniture
Course code 3
Tuesday 15th January
Thursday 24th January
Monday 4th February
Tuesday 12th February
Thursday 7th March
Wednesday 20th March
Saturday 13th April
Friday 26th April
Introduction to gilding with decoupage
on a small item of furniture
Course Code 4
Friday 18th January
Friday 25th January
Tuesday 5th February
Friday 15th February
Friday 8th March
Friday 22nd March
Sunday 14th April
Saturday 27th April
So saying, if absolutely none of these
dates are any good to you
and you would like to come on one
of our workshops
email me
with a few dates that are convenient
to you
and lets see if we
can coordinate something
arundel.eccentrics@sky.com
If you would like to join us
just print off the booking form
(link below)
and send a deposit cheque with the completed form.
All the details are on the form.
We are doing special rates for small groups of friends.
(up to 4)
or you can email me
Have a great day
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