Tuesday, August 28, 2012

M.B.F.E. ( my best find ever )

Remember when I said I found the most incredible dresser?  Well I finally got it home - ( thanks Dorothy - thanks David - what would I have done without you guys - pls don't move to WINDSOR)

Here's....................................Joanna ( that's her name - she told me so )


She's BIGGER than she looks - 6.5 FEET - but take a look at her details!




Now I bought her for my bedroom actually - and was going to sell this one which is I'm currently using


but I'd like to show you what the hallway of a Victorian flat looks like

that's my bedroom door just to the left in the photo


there's absolutely no way we can get that dresser into the bedroom - without breaking out the wall on top of the bedroom door - which I would do without any hesitation at all - but I think that would be the one conversation NOBODY would want to hear between John and myself.....................

( just a side note - I came across this once - it's a hallway in Brooklyn - blogged about it before I had any followers so no one has seen it yet, lol - in fact I could just repost my first year of blogging and I'd be pretty safe LOL - this Brooklyn hallway is my Montreal hallway's doppelganger - mirror image almost - )

isn't that amazing - 2 different countries....................

Anyways I may sell this instead


which I've wanted to sell for a long time - but we had this little problem


John promised he would fix the leg when we picked it up - let's see now I've had it now for at least 18 months so that tells you how long it takes for me to get things done around here!!!  I " propped " the leg
up and it sat like this for all that time.......................
Today he's gone to Home depot to get the supplies to fix it

Suzan says - John, do you think you could fix the leg on the buffet so I can finally sell it?
John says - I told you already that I'm going to fix it
Suzan says - but that was a very long time ago - I hate to be a nag about it but......................
John says - OK - EVERYTHING HAS TO BE DONE RIGHT AWAY, AS SOON AS SUZAN WANTS IT DONE SHE SNAPS HER FINGERS AND EVERYONE HAS TO RUN
Can you sense his annoyance?
Suzan says - I don't know about that John - I snapped my fingers 18 months ago- and if this is how fast you run - we're in deep *&%* here darling.

But in all fairness he did get up and RUN today -
So I'm thinking he just didn't hear my fingers snapping away the first time.....................

And by the way - we're here 2 years next month - before we moved in I painted the entire flat - he promised he would do the ceilings ( at over 10 feet they're a killer for me ) before the furniture arrived.
The ceilings have not been done yet.................................

Snap, crackle, POP mister.....................

XOX

P.S. Here's a small snapshot of where I'm going with the dresser

P.S.S.
Everytime I pick a piece - I think " oh this is nothing - a little paint - a little distressing - presto "




But now that I've actually started working on her she's far more work than I anticipated - this is going to take quite awhile for me to finish because I'm working on other things at the same time - she's kind of like
my " go to " when I need a break from the other stuff.  I'm trying a new technique ( you can see it on the bottom 2 drawers - if it works out I'll share! )

The only saving grace is I don't have a time limit on the dresser ( other than my own OCD brain which tells me to keep going.................going................going.......................

Gone
XOX

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

Party Time!

The Dedicated House
http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.ca/2012/08/make-it-pretty-monday-week-12.html
My 1929 Charmer
http://my1929charmer.com/sundays-best-45-par-tay/
Our Delightful Home
http://ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.ca/2012/08/live-show-me-what-you-got-at-odh-linky.html
The Farmhouse Porch
http://farmhouseporch.blogspot.ca/2012/08/welcome-to-week-30-of-cowgirl-up-link.html
Kammy's Korner
http://www.kammyskorner.com/2012/08/trash-2-treasure-tuesday-50-target-gift.html
Homestories A to Z
http://www.homestoriesatoz.com/2012/08/tutorials-tips-link-party-75.html
Krafty Kat
http://kraftykat76.blogspot.ca/2012/08/gettin-krafty-with-it_27.html
Coastal Charm
http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.ca/2012/08/nifty-thrifty-tuesday-no158.html
Knick of Time
http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.ca/2012/08/knick-of-time-tuesday-49.html
Debbie does Creations
http://debbiedoescreations.com/2012/08/27/toot-your-horn-tuesday-26-link-party/
Kathe with an E
http://www.kathewithane.com/2012/08/youre-gonna-love-it-week-19.html
Not Just a Housewife
http://www.notjustahousewife.net/2012/08/show-me-what-ya-got-89.html
Homework
http://carolynshomework.blogspot.ca/2012/08/the-inspiration-board-link-party-65.html
Primitive & Proper
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.ca/2012/08/poww-103-furniture-link-party.html
Elizabeth & Co.
http://elizabethandco.blogspot.ca/2012/08/be-inspired-features-and-link-party-34.html
Uncommon
http://www.uncommondesignsonline.com/2012/08/uncommonly-yours-link-party-43.html
Clean & Scentsible
http://www.cleanandscentsible.blogspot.ca/2012/08/the-creative-spark-no-55.html
The DIY Dreamer
http://thediydreamer.blogspot.ca/2012/08/from-dream-to-reality-linky-party-31.html
Savvy Southern Style
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.ca/2012/08/wow-us-wednesdays-81.html
DIY by Design
http://diybydesign.blogspot.ca/2012/08/sizzle-into-summer-its-party-80.html
In the old road
http://intheoldroad.blogspot.ca/2012/08/all-star-block-party-13.html
Domestically Speaking
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2012/08/141st-power-of-paint-party-burlap-painted-leaf-art.html
Family Home & Life
http://www.familyhomeandlife.com/2012/08/wow-us-wednesday-12.html
The life of Jennifer Dawn
http://thelifeofjenniferdawn.blogspot.ca/2012/08/a-little-bird-told-me-link-party-7.html
Adorned from Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/08/free-bee-sweet-hat-pattern-crocheted.html
Have a daily cup with Mrs. Olson
http://jannolson.blogspot.ca/2012/08/share-your-cup-thursday-23.html
The Shabby Creek Cottage
http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2012/08/transformation-thursday-no-167.html
52 Mantels
http://www.52mantels.com/2012/08/thursdays-are-your-days_29.html
The 36th Avenue
http://www.the36thavenue.com/2012/08/23-diy-home-projects-and-link-party-71.html
Katherine's Korner
http://katherinescorner.com/2012/08/30/thursday-favorite-things-blog-hop-linky-party-51/
French Country Cottage
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/2012/08/feathered-nest-friday_30.html
Common Ground
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.ca/2012/08/vintage-inspiration-103-all-things-home.html
The Charm of Home
http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.ca/2012/08/home-sweet-home-82.html
At the Picket Fence
http://www.atthepicketfence.com/2012/08/its-inspiration-friday-no-80-welcome.html
2 8 0 5
http://twenty-eight-0-five.blogspot.ca/2012/08/potpourri-friday-39-home-depot-gift.html
Shabby Art Boutique
http://shabbyartboutique.blogspot.ca/2012/08/shabbilicious-friday-link-party-31st.html
Becoming Martha
http://www.becomingmartha.com/2012/08/keep-calm-link-up-4.html
Redoux Interiors
http://www.redouxinteriors.com/2012/08/link-party-70-and-mes-preferes/
My Turn ( for us )
http://myturn-evelyn.blogspot.ca/2012/08/freedom-fridays-17.html
Days of Chalk and Chocolate
http://daysofchalkandchocolate.blogspot.ca/2012/08/features-and-friday-link-party-45.html
My Romantic Home
http://romantichome.blogspot.ca/2012/08/show-and-tell-friday_30.html
The Shabby Nest
http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.ca/2012/08/frugal-friday_30.html
Miss Mustard Seed
http://missmustardseed.com/2012/08/furniture-feature-friday-excuses-a-link-party/
Nifty Thrifty Things
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/2012/09/nifty-thrifty-sunday-73.html
Nifty Thrifty Things
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/2012/09/nifty-thrifty-sunday-73.html
It's so very Cheri
http://itssoverycheri.com/2012/09/02/its-party-time-9-2-2012/
I should be mopping the floor
http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/2012/09/mop-it-up-mondays-32.html