Can't seem to get out of my pj's

To be completely honest, I have had gloomy day.. It's raining and I can't pull out the big guns and start new projects just yet. We lost a really close family friend yesterday and I am feeling sad. It doesn't help that I am still in my pajamas in the middle of the afternoon.... Do you ever have one of those days where you just can't get going? I wish I could call my BFF over(who is 600 miles away)sit feet to feet and talk. OK OK... I will move on from this pity party I am having for myself... Let's get to know this new little gem I got a few weeks ago. She was rescued from a little town outside of Lynchburg called Altavista. She had no problems, just was lacking something. She was just down right plain. Not that there is anything wrong with plain... Some days I prefer a turkey sandwich- plain. Do I dare say a doughnut? (I do love doughnuts)but I like them plain. I could go on and on about this (and doughnuts) but I'm pretty sure you get it.

I used my trusty Milk Paint and layered her in two coats of "Linen". I let her dry overnight and then the next morning after a good examination I decided she needed texture. I then dry brushed ASCP's "French Linen" all over.. Once the caulk paint was dry I applied a clear wax in sections. Sanded away the "thickness" and was very pleased with the results. I had mentioned on my Facebook page that I was kind of bummed about the weather and had no choice but to hold a photo shoot on the porch... I had originally pictured a "Beachy" scene... but it's November in Virginia!! So fall arrangement had to do.

Hope you liked it, I am off to finally get dressed and determined to have a better afternoon!

1940's Dresser

There is a story behind this dresser. I found it in a warehouse hiding under a stack of chairs. I had already made up my mind I wasn't coming out empty handed- So I dove right in! About an hour later I came out victorious! I also came out very sweaty and dirty. I want to share that I wasn't sure if I should even paint this dresser. On the back I found the orginal cardboard tag from the company who made it. I pondered on it for a while... then what the heck! I'm going to do it anyway- I'm sure someone will tell me if I made a huge mistake. This is what she looked like after I got home and gave her a bath.

Her lines are perfect, her bones are stong her details perfect.... ok, well I fib a bit. She had a gash in the front that stuck out like a missing front tooth. I seem to be saying that alot- My seven year old son is missing both of his front teeth- I just can't help myself! With some wood putty and some clever sanding she had a new set of teeth... OK, I'll stop. Jackson would not like that I'm still using this phrase. After two coats of paint you can't even tell. I decided to use my Annie Sloan's French Linen again. I have been playing with the wax variations and decided to only cover it in a clear wax and distress. I wanted to keep the look "light".

I have said this a few times today, but I really may cry a little when she goes to her new home. Not all of my creations hit so hard. She is special. I took her in, fixed her up and made her sparkle. I hope she remembers me.... OK, that's enough of the crazy talk.

Until next time, Off to do Mommy Stuff!!

Occasional Table

Let me tell you that this table had issues. It was an outcast, disregarded and forgotten...

To some it seemed doomed. The top is warped, the legs are wobbly.. But to me its pretty special.

This how she looked after a good cleaning and some tightening of the legs. While it was flipped upside I found a carving on the bottom that I had never seen before. After searching the Internet for the inscription I came up empty. So I am assuming this was a handmade table, not by an actual company.

This is after 2 coats of Annie Sloan's French Linen. I wanted the top to be spotty for the final effect... trust me, I meant to do that.

Here she is up close so you can see how wonderfully the dark wax brought out all the grain lines.. or mistreatment.. It made it even more "layered" than I originally thought. LOVE IT! Hope you do too!

I am currently working on an antique dresser.. so I have to get cracking! Friday is going to be a crazy day.. and I want to get a little head start! My daughter will be 5 on Monday.. so trying to prepare myself (and my house) for possibly a dozen preschoolers to ransack our space for her birthday party on Saturday!

Happy Early Birthday

Maggie Malloy!!!!

Oh Coffee Table.. you tease me...

This table entered my life by chance last week. I walked by it once, then twice.. returned the third time and put it in my car. The carving on the legs were sweet and I am a sucker for anything on wheels- Yes! It has wheels!

This is the "before" of the coffee table.. oh I added the cat for effect... but it didnt work. Even with a sweet calico in the shot, it doesnt improve the look of this poor thing.

The carving gets lost in the dark stain. Someone worked hard on this.. I want to show it off. I used Annie Sloan's French Linen and then put a dark wax on it.

This was the begining of the distressing process. I put alot of wax on it, so I knew I was going to be doing some heavy sanding.

I am soooooo in love. .... I'm gonna need a minute.

I will definatly be doing this combo again soon... very soon.

OK, Until then.. Off to do mommy stuff!

Red Buffet- Yes Please!

I have heard the comment a few times.. "Antique people must hate you!" First I was shocked by this statement. But after awhile, I got over it. Taking a perfect good wood piece and  painting it. Well, Yeah! I do! I try not to think that I am ruining an antique, but improving it. Cause no one would want some of the stuff I've brought home. But, this time was diffrent. I felt bad, just a little. I felt bad because I was going to paint over a perfectly good antique. There really wasnt anything wrong with this piece. No finish issues, no missing hardware.. just perfect. You know what else was perfect the price I got for it! Sold- And it shall be painted!!! There, I feel better.

Terrible lighting, sorry. But yeah, it's brown..blah!!

Look at my new wheeled movers! They have made ever so happy! Prop it up and wheel it around!Makes me think of the old days at Pier 1!

 OK - I love red. My husband loves red. He even demanded a red wall in our previous home. The color definitely makes a bold statement. I hadn't painted red in a while, so when I found this buffet at an auction last week I wanted to try it out. Lately I have really taken a liking to Annie Sloan's Caulk Paint. This stuff goes on like a dream! No primer needed, and if the finish is in an OK shape you don't even have to bother sanding. Emperor's Silk is the red I chose from the AS selection. My good friend Elisa let me use some from her stash. Thanks Girl!

This was the next morning, pretty bright huh!?

The first coat was nerve wracking. I kept seeing the brown and was worried I wasnt going to have enough to get a second coat in. But as it dried, it looked better. But man, that thing was RED! I know it wasnt the finished product- I had to put my sunglasses on. OK, that was a lie. It was 10:30 at night, sunglasses were not needed. But you get my point.  Then took a 220 grit sandpaper to even out the finish. Something about the Caulk paint, the more you sand, the softer it gets. Made sure the edges were distressed and made any final touching before I would break out the dark wax.

Talk about exciting! Annie Sloan's soft wax goes on like Vaseline and moves so perfectly into any nook or imperfection and looks effortless. The method is... Well, organic; like to call it organic. You really don't know how to do it until you do it. That sounded insane. But trust me, it's true.
This buffet has one coat of wax now, but tonight after the poppy seeds are tucked into bed, it's gonna get it- (cough), the buffet is gonna get it.
I rubbed and rubbed and I have to say I am really pleased with the result!

Road Trip!

Its been months since I was able to leave my Poppy off springs at home and venture off by myself. So when the chance to get away came up- I took it! Originally this trip was for one reason, to run a freaking Zombie themed 5k race. I am not a fan of Zombies, you surprised? You shouldn't be. Totally not into the whole undead thing. I will get to the results of that disaster at a later time. But until then, lets talk about my AWESOME travel detour! I left my house Friday morning after the poppy seeds were off to school (made me feel less guilty about leaving). My final destination of the day was to be in Annapolis Md. But I had about 10 hours to kill before my sister cousin would be home.

I had my eye on Hagerstown Md. Where the coolest ladies are getting together and opening a "Warehouse"  to showcase their awesomeness! These ladies love anything vintage, old, shabby and farm house funk.. these girls speak my language!




 This breathtaking settee is by the lovely Repurposed & Refined. I can't even begin to tell you how sweet these two ladies are. I was able to meet and chat with Denise. She showed me around and made me feel so welcome. I really hope these photos do justice to how beautiful all the decor really was in person.

You really forgot you were in a empty warehouse. From the outside.. yep. That's a industrial warehouse, but as soon as you stepped inside.. BAM! You had been transported into a french farmish (yes, "ish" is needed) building filled with the most lovely furnishings you had ever seen. I was overwhelmed slightly at first. I didn't know where to begin.  At one point I could barely operate my camera.. "oh no, I'm gonna miss something". "Do I have enough time to touch and explore all the wonders hiding in here?" "Would I ever make it to Annapolis?"-  Just forward my mail, I'm staying.

  

It really was almost too much coolness in one place. My tiny little brain almost exploded.

These adorable nightstand/side tables were by CariLin Creations, another fab vendor who was showcased. At one point I screaming inside, I wanted so badly to take everything home! Reality struck and I realized I'm driving a Honda 2 door. Never gonna happen.

I think I stared at this cabinet for 10 minutes. The color was amazing. It was green, no wait it's cream. Denise told me that she painted it in a Annie Slaon chalk paint and then covered it in a dark wax. The details are impeccable. I can't get over how amazing this is... excuse me as I drool a little.

I was then blown away by this graphic done.. Maybe you have seen it before? hmmmm???

I did my version from The Graphic Fairy on a desk a few weeks ago. I love this so much.

Come On! How fab is this old futon and burlap cushions! Lets not overlook the level of coolness that comes with these burlap pillows. Again, my brain may explode.

It's really hard for me to describe what it is like to walk into a building and instantly feel electrified.. All of this made me sweat ( really it did). Truthfully, I may have been there for 3 hours. I left with 5 business cards in my pocket and a few new friends!

To find out more about the gals who create these amazing finds, check out the links below. Beware, this will become an addiction. Seek professional help asap!

Repurposed & Refined

The Vintage Attic

The Green Pear (Facebook Page)

Cari Lin Creations

Until then, I'm off to do Mommy stuff!

Floating Table- On the other side

The other half of the former dining table was transformed into a lovely emerald table which still hovered in the traditional zone. I wanted something more vibrant for the remaining piece. I still had some teal/aqua left over from a dresser I did a few weeks ago, and thought it would be perfect to perk up the look. Picked up some "Pitch Black" glaze from General Finishes purchased at the The Wooden Chair. I asked those poor ladies at least 25 questions regarding colors and such.. I swear they must think I'm crazy. The other glaze I use all the time is so fantastic to work with that I wanted to venture out and see what the black would do for the blue. 

I had envisioned this to be very textured. I adore the look of a dry brushed piece that looks as though its rough and textured. It creates this effect by toning down a color and adding depth. I crossed my fingers and said a little prayer before gently pulling the brush across for the first stoke. Less is more when you are trying to recreate this technique. Barely touch the paint with the tip of the brush. Tap it on a cloth to make sure it's "dry" doesn't hurt. Start on the back of the table or on the back leg to get acquainted with the motions. 

This picture above is the inside corner of the back leg. These floating table have three legs in a triangular form.  It really doesn't stand out too much when the table was still together, but once you take them apart it sticks out dramatically.

This is going to look just dynamite up against a wall! I've had lots of compliments thus far on it. I have a feeling I'll be doing this color combo again. Come to think of it... I have a hutch I've been pondering on...(wheels turning).  

Floating tables

It was meant to be. I was supposed to drive past this old house a few weeks ago. Not far from my house and next door to the old roller rink where I used to meet my middle school boyfriend... so ironic! I was driving by and saw stacks of furniture on the porch. I wanted to go take a look so I made the first legal u-turn . The scene seemed safe, no crazies with shotguns waiting for me to step on to their property. The porch was indeed full of junk(good junk).This please is heaven! (to me anyways)

I finally contacted the owner. I offered to relieve his burden of junk and scored the table! Once I got it home I knew it would take a lot of work. I was worried about the top of the table. The top layer was beginning to curl off. Took a closer peak and was surprised to find that it was just a veneer. Without too much effort I lifted up the rest of the veneer and it came right off!! WHAT!! Amazing! The wood just below was perfectly untouched!! Mother Nature did the hard work for me!

Well why in the world is the table upside down you crazy woman???

I'll tell you why.. because the table was rusted underneath and I could'nt get it back together..so what other options do I have if the table wont come together??

Lets take it apart and make it two floating tables! The legs are perfect for this look. Not all dining tables can do this, but since the legs were evenly apart I'm gonna go for it!

Truthfully, I was kinda nervous about this. Would it come apart ok? Would the orginal screws and bolts be too rusted to be removed?  Would I need large power tools? Would I need a tenus shot this afternoon?? so many silly thoughts running through my brain.

I was worried for nothing! Took about 30 mins to dismantle all the hardwear and all my fingers remained unharmed! Took a 80 grit sandpaper to remove all the flaking finish.

Cleaned it up with TSP. You can find TSP at your local Lowes or hardwear store. Make sure you follow the directions on the container and delute as advised. Make sure you wear gloves to protect those pretty fingers.. cause chemical burns are not attractive!- UPDATE: BUY COMMERCIAL GRADE GLOVES, MINE MELTED THIS MORNING- LUCKLY MY HANDS WERE NOT IN THEM!

Just another look at before and after.

I was at my neigborhood Habitat Re-Store and saw this lovely Samas' wood stain. Hmmmmm... green, OK, yes please!

Ok, the view of the table is freaking me out.. being a floating table and all! 

But let's talk stain- ISN'T IT FAB!!!!!! I wanted to get good coverage but also wanted to leave a few

thin spots for texture.

 (these were the gloves that melted) RIP Lady Lavender Kitchen Gloves.

I can make a mess, good thing I remembered to grab my gloves! There have been many times I'm walking around with stained and glazed fingers. 

This glaze seems to be in every project lately. The Van Dyke Brown is so pretty. With all the diffrent colors I've used and then put the Van Dyke Brown.. they never look the same!

It did a great job at toning down the green.. If you look close it almost looks like hints of blue.. I just love it. Color, texture and depth.

Such a lovely and elegant color.

Emerald green.. I just love it!

Remember that this table has another half..  That will be the next post.. Until then

Off to do mommy stuff!

Another French Desk!

 I found another vanity/desk on Saturday. But unlike the first one I found, this one was pitiful! I found it in the basement of a store downtown.. it was stacked next to about 64 other desks. I climbed over 4 sofas to get to it. The shape was very similar to the first one, but this one was going to need a LOT of work. It was covered with "wood paneling" paper... so gross!

So after about 4 hours of scraping, chemical peeling and sanding I can see the wood. This process was really touch and go.. due to the fact that it was painted many times, sealed,stained.. oh and there was an inch of goo on the top from the lovely paneling paper.

This is supposed to be an example of the milk paint I used.. this stuff is so thick! In my last post I compared it to yogurt. This is about 1/4 of a cup of "Millstone" by General Finishes, that's really all you're gonna need. 

After one coat on I went over it in Van Dyke Brown glaze to pull out the corners and make an aged effect.

I have been dying to try a transfer on a piece for awhile! So when I saw this design pdf on http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/ I knew I had to try it! Please go check out this website/blog! She has over 2000 graphic to choose from- and for FREE!! I love free! For this project I got some graphite paper and used my printout on top. Taped into position and starting tracing.

This only took me about 20mins to trace it out. But filling it in took more like 30mins.. so plan for at least an hour or so. If you start to get irritated, get up and walk around for a bit.. you can scream, do squats, whatever floats your boat! But don't give up.. you'll get it.

This is the finished transfer. I filled it in with a paint marker, once it was dry I used a fine grit sandpaper to make it look old and worn. Last step is to glaze the top to match the bottom.

sigh....... That Graphics Fairy, she is something else!

I originally thought I would sand the entire thing, but after seeing the pretty green and pink I changed my mind. It's rustic, shabby chic and french!