With a keen eye for color and pure whimsy
her brush stroke, Laurie Mazers painterly s t yle
turns discarded treasures into works of art.
n her light-filled Birmingham home/studio, Laurie Mazer reveals her per-
sonality in the garage sale and antique show finds that she transforms with
a lively palette into quirky, effusive collectibles.
Her business, Laurie's Funkie Finds, specializes in pop art-inspired paint-
ed furniture. Using pumped-up pastels of cornflower blue, jade, lilac and but-
tercup, Mazer applies a riot of pattern to ordinary wooden stools, framed mirrors
and what-not shelves.
The key to keeping her pieces from becoming overpowering is knowing when
to stop, she says. sort of an obsessive/compulsive painter, like Keith Har-
ing. I have to keep from going overboard. I can't let my work become too busy
or too intricate."
Though Mazer has a distinct style that emerges in each of her hand-paint-
ed originals, she can't really put a finger on it. "It just comes from my imagi-
nation," she says. "My goal is to create happy, bright, colorful furniture that
makes people smile when they see it. I think my pieces are indicative of the
trendy '90s."
Mazer's favorite creation is actually her welcome mat — the expressively
painted glider on her front porch that greets guests as soon as they approach
her home, inviting them to sit and chat. And she is more than a gifted artist;
she's a teacher, hairdresser and astrologer. She manages to balance her cre-
ative side with her intellectual side, substitute teaching in the Birmingham
schools, styling hair in her home salon (yes, the shampoo basin and chair are
hand-painted), dabbling in astrology, all the while experimenting with her
freestyle art form.
The mother of Zoe, a 7-year-old budding artist, Mazer graduated from U-M
and received a master's degree in special education from Eastern Michigan Uni-
versity. She subsequently moved to San Francisco in 1982 where she went to
cosmetology school and worked in a salon on Union Street.
Always eager to try new things, she also designed T-shirts and worked as a
makeup artist. "I made up men to look like women," she says, laughing about
those footloose days in the early '80s.
Today, Mazer and Zoe, and their cat David (pronounced Daveed), live among
colorful collections of Fiesta dinnerware, vintage green glass and chintz-pat-
terned tin containers. As they paint in the front parlor, sunlight streams in
through the open windows, illuminating the imaginative personalities that
dwell inside. E
Laurie Mazer: "My goal is
to create happy, bright,
colorful furniture."
Aug. 2-3: The Petoskey Summer An-
tiques Festival
Over 100 nationally recognized ex-
hibitors. Emmet County Fairgrounds,
Charlevoix Avenue, Petoskey; Saturday
9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (810)
469-1706.
Sept. 1: 1997 Giant Outdoor Flea
Market
With over 400 booths. In its sixth year
of offering secondhand treasures. Next
to Hitching Post Antiques Mall, Tecum-
seh (M-50 and M-52); 6 a.m.-4 p.m. (517)
423-8277.
Sept. 12-13: Bloomfield Antiques
Show
With 36 dealers, a country kitchen and
country store, silent auction and door
prizes. In its 34th year, this premier show
features fine antique furnishings, porce-
lains, silver and Majolica. Cross of Christ
Lutheran Church, Lone Pine and Tele-
graph, Bloomfield Hills; Friday 10 a.m.-
8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (248)
646-5886.
Sept. 26-28: Carleton Varney's An-
tique & Design Fall Festival
An antique dealers' showcase with host
Carleton Varney, president of Dorothy
Draper and Co. of New York. He will dis-
cuss treasures found and give tips and
hints about decorating with antiques.
Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island; Friday
Gala Preview Party 6-8 p.m., Saturday
10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
(800) 33-GRAND.
Oct. 4-5: University Liggett School
Antiques Show
In its 23rd year, with 40 of America's
top antiques dealers, informal talks,
Java & Jazz on Saturday night and a
grand raffle. ULS Middle School campus,
850 Briarcliff Drive, Grosse Pointe
Woods; both days 11 a.m.-5 p.m. (313)
884-4444.
Oct. 23-25: Franklin Community An-
tiques Show
Featuring over 30 selected dealers, a
gift boutique, country luncheon and bake
sale. Franklin Community Church,
32473 Normandy, Franklin Village;
Thursday Preview Party 6-9 p.m., Fri-
day 10 a:m.-8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.-5
p.m. (248) 626-6606.
Oct. 30-Nov. 2: Jeanne Fishman An-
tique Show
One of 10 around the country this
fall. Booths include fine furniture,
antique jewelry, advertising art,
glass collectibles, kitchen tools, Tiffany
lamps and vintage comic books.
Meadowbrook Mall, Rochester, (248) 548-
9066.
❑
Dealers share the following shopping
on
show's lectures and symposiums.
• Pay attention to collectors' cony
sations. Watch what pieces sell
and which gamer the most interest.
Ask questions.
Look for fine craftsmanship and aes-
thetic appeal.
• Choose what you love.
lissemis