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!