simply vintageous...by Suzan: dresser

Showing posts with label dresser. Show all posts

Sunday, August 26, 2012

A country vignette

I have my eyelids propped open with paint brushes ( Purdy ) trying to get this post out because I don't think I'll have the time tomorrow to actually sit for too long -

I don't think I ever posted the photo of this dresser - so here is the before ( it's the photo from Craigs list so not the best - as if mine are LOL )

it's a good solid antique piece but had none of the usual character these old pieces have - so had to add some on my own - and I'm not even sure it works - sometimes appliques can kind of look " forced " and not natural to the piece at all, right?

and I definitely posted the photo of this

The dresser did not come with a mirror - and none of the ones I had looked right - so I painted these 2 pieces as a set - using ASCP Pure white and Paris gray
Oh and I have such a great tip for you - for those of you that use Pure white you know it does not cover in one coat like the other colors right? Sometimes it even takes 3 coats and this is expensive paint - so what I do now is I put 1 coat on first - and then I use a coat of Behr Ultra White Flat on top - and if it needs a 3 coat - at least I'm only using the ASCP twice.........................

The shelf has hooks to hang on the wall - but I kind of like it sitting on the dresser - I've include the rocker because they're all painted the same colors and am going to try to sell it as a set.

Doesn't the applique look a little weird on the middle drawer? I had to put it there though because there was an engraved design on that drawer and this covered it..................

It was already painted silver ( I literally took it off the wall in the dining room to put it on the dresser ) so I just dry brushed it with white...........

And once again I used my back plates to add a little pizazz - and glass knobs

this is how the back plates look by the way before I spray painted them

home depot in case you're interested - great value at 1.99 each -

then I snuck into the bedroom to get a basket and tray to " stage " because I simply cannot wait until the morning - and very quietly began to sneak back out - and walked right into the door that had closed behind me when I went in ( ^&%&*$ crooked victorian flats - the doors never stay open!!! ) waking John up -

and trust me, some conversations simply cannot be repeated.
But my nose feels like some damage was done - lol

Looks ridiculous actually doesn't it, lol - definitely was not worth waking him up for, poor guy.

But it does hide the fact that I didn't put the handles in the bottom drawer. It's all smoke and mirrors with me.

Reve - ( dream ) probably what he was in the middle of doing

and definitely what I SHOULD be doing ......................since it's 2.30 in the morning

I have to finish this tomorrow morning - and get it listed for sell - the house is getting crowded again!

Oh and one last question - I'm really curious if this happens to anyone else - sometimes when I plug the camera in - the screen pops up and tells me there's nothing to download - when I've just taken photos!

Tonight it happened 4 times before they finally uploaded.

I wanted to take the camera and smash it into the wall - ( but that's not me talking - that's the menopausal seriously sleep deprived manic mama speaking )

I took a sleeping pill 2 hours ago - and it's definitely working now. ( I know they aren't good for you - but they are definitely the lesser of 2 evils at this stage in my life )

Good night, sleep t...........................zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

XOX

Suzan

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Anne of Green Gables

The greatest Canadian that never lived.............................

For all Kindred Spirits

I can see it vividly as though I were still 8 years old - the wondrous joy of her world - I so wanted to live in her house - I wanted green gables but we however lived in an apartment in the heart of the city.
My father passed away when I was quite young - so kindly Mathew was someone I wanted ( needed? ) in my life - I had tons of uncles ( my mother came from a very large family ) but they were more the Archie Bunker type - I loved them, don't get me wrong - but I longed for a gentle kind hearted Mathew too. ( Marilla always scared me actually, lol ) I also btw would have settled for an Uncle " Bill " and a Mr French because I did have a Mrs Beasly doll after all.
I had an imagination the size of my little world - filled to capacity - and so I could relate to her.
I read those books - and I reread those books - and writing up this post tonight I realize I want to read them again - I want to get lost in the antics of a precocious young red haired girl from long long ago............

For those of you who loved these books as much as I did, a visit to P.E.I ( Prince Edward Island ) is
mandatory - walking around the grounds - walking through the reproduction old Green Gabled home -
you can just " feel " Anne's spirit all around you.

Here's my tribute to Anne ( with an E - because it sounds more distinguished Marilla )

I started with this

and ended up with this

I used the stencilling I bought this week to do my Parisienne Butcher Block and I'm just loving the lettering on this -

And the flower is an Ikea wall art sticker set that I bought years ago - I placed the sticker where I wanted it
to go and outlined it with my Sharpie - then removed the sticker and and went over the design to " thicken"
the lines......................

I painted the 2 backplates on the top drawers black - to match the script - but not sure if I should have
went silver - not to late to change it - thoughts anyone?

I love the crispness of the black against the white - ( Annie Sloan pure White )

dresser, makeover, before, after, anne of green gables

source

And really, from the bottom of my heart, I don't care if no one wants to buy it - this one can sit right where it is in my bedroom for as long as it needs to - I get all mushy and goosebumpy just looking at it .
Sorry John, I know it's girly - I'll make you a Hardy Boys something or other lol.

I hope mothers of little girls still read these books to their daughters -
I hope mothers of young girls leave them on their nightstands as soon as they're old enough to read them themselves -
I hope mothers of young daughters take the time to read them again themselves -
And I hope when their finished they forward them on to Grandma because everyone needs a little Anne from time to time.

Though she struggled with terrible bouts of depression for most of her life, Ms. Montgomery still managed to create this incredible character that will delight girls forever.
Thank you Lucy Maud - for all that you gave with your amazing talent.

source

Friday, August 3, 2012

Do I need an agent?

Ok here we go - another one finished ( oh please let someone like it enough to buy it!!! - I have to win this arguement - I just have to )

Suzan says - ( with great excitement ) come look - I'm finished - do you like it?

John says - You make things too personal

Suzan says - But surely someone else will like it as much as I do?

John says - You should be gravitating towards a more " general " audience

Suzan says - I don't like " general "

John says - But you're narrowing your customer base - your items are getting

too specific

Suzan says - Did I say I needed an agent? I don't recall saying I needed an agent?

Are you offering your services as an agent?

John says - Forget it Suzan, just do what you want, ok?

Suzan says - I always do John, sigh, I always do....................

Suzan says - please do not speak to me for the rest of the day

John says - I've no intentions of doing so.

and 10 minutes later

Suzan says - what would you like for dinner

John says - maybe steaks would be nice.

Suzan says - you don't like my dresser, do you?

John says - it's too customized - it's too specific - it's too

Suzan says - Did I say I needed an agent?

Suzan says - do you want fries or mashed with your steak..................

Suzan says - the last time I did this pattern it sold in a day.

John says - let's drop the subject, shall we?

Domestic bliss? Fuggedaboudit........................I'd find it boring anyway!

Here we go - sorry no before on this one -

Annie Sloan - Duck egg blue ( with versailles peaking through here and there ) and Pure White.

Clear Wax

John says - Why do you have keys on the salt and pepper tray?

Suzan says - because I like how it looks - and I may keep it for a key tray - does that upset

the balance of our life in some degree?

John says - It's PEWTER and PORCELAIN for God's Sakes - you're going to destroy it

Suzan says - relax ex - lax it's just for the photos

John says - NOTHING - THIS IS A FIRST - JOHN SAYS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

Oh look at that - 2 handles are missing - lol - couldn't even wait till I installed them to take the photos,

Off to find the drill - not even going to think of asking for help on this one.

But I'm going to make him an extra special dinner this evening - sometimes he deserves extra special

living with me.
He really is a saint - albeit a grumpy one at times - but a saint none the less.

XXX

I'm making the rounds - and partying with these gracious hostesses ( with the mostesses )

Nifty Thrifty Things
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/2012/08/nifty-thrifty-sunday-69.html

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