I literally dream of idea's, I dream of solutions to problems, and sometimes I dream of how to re-arrange my furniture. If you ask my family something I do all too often. Sometimes these dreams just randomly pop up, love it when that happens, but mostly as I'm laying down mentally going through my day and planning my tomorrow I'll start thinking about say a problem with my current furniture situation. Something like how can I get that desk out of my dining room and into my living room. And in the morning my brain will reward me with an answer. Sometimes it works and sometimes in my dreams my home is just bigger than in real life. I have learned to listen to my dreams. It all started early 2011. My sisters and I had to close our hair salon of 13 years in March after some sadness the 3 of us agreed this was the right move for us. Both my sisters have their cosmetology license where as I always handled the book keeping and front lobby management. Looking back I must admit I despised the book keeping but loved redoing the lobby and the salon for the seasons. Rearranging the shelving and rotating the stock to the most eye pleasing ways. You would've thought that after 13 years I might have caught a clue that I needed to do something creative. At first I was able to work for our local school district, and I did find that fulfilling but I also knew it wasn't a guaranteed job and who knows what would happen come that fall. Not to brag but I am very fortunate that years ago my grandparents had the foresight to purchase lake front property in what we in Michigan vaguely refer to as "Up North" and that my parents were able to build their wonderful retirement home on said property. I was able to pack up my children and abandon my hardworking husband and spend my entire summer Up North! My Parents decided it was time to screen in the old back porch, put on a metal roof and paint the large front deck. So if you were north you were at work, contributing some sweat equity time to earn your keep. With the help of my folks live in builder Ray, yup you read that right lol, Dad and Ray set off making screens. A little explanation of Ray, he an amazing jack of all trades. A neighbor hired him for some work and he too fell in love with the lake. He started seeking out work up there staying where he was working. And frankly, his work speaks for itself. He can do the work on his own but if you help and he can stay at your place he gives a great discount. Hence, Ray our live in builder. After a while I liken Ray to a reality TV camera at first you're on your best behavior but soon enough that's just too taxing to keep up and you end up fighting or farting in front of him and it's all good. It was Mom and my job to prime and paint and repeat. My Mom's paint style is quite slap dash and ruin a brush. I discovered I am quite fussy wanting to sand between coats and crazy OCD about chalking. It lead to some funny hi-jinx before Ray was like um kiddo it's a screen relax. It was during this time Mom set out two rockers on the porch. One was shiny black with golden acorns painted on it honestly YUCK! The other a handsome leather seat rocker. That night I dreamt I redid the black rocker in a shabby chic styling and it was once again lovely. The following morning I started my first project and it did turn out lovely. Everyone was full of compliments but the one that stayed with me was Ray's. He told me kiddo this is really good, you're really good at this. You could do this people will buy. Summer ended and I was able to find another position at the school and Ray's words were forgotten as I committed myself to my student. Unfortunately, come April my student left the district and I found myself without employment. That night Ray's words started echoing through my head and I again had a dream. That dream provided me with my shops name Tre' Chic Designs, a play on my name and the shabby chic style name. I listened, setting off in the morning looking for forgotten furniture and discarded decor that I could make beautiful again. And so it began.
I am thoroughly enjoying turning someones castoffs into treasures. Working with my hands and tapping into my creativity has really sparked some extra joy into my life. I brake for garage sales, I slow for curbsides and I dream of new ideas.

Enjoy!
Tracy

Need more Tre' Chic Designs visit these pages you'll find before and afters, tutorials, and of course me!
http://trechicdesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/TreChicDesigns
http://pinterest.com/tracybooher/