A little late today because I had to take photos and the ground was very wet - and I had this fear of slipping with it and ruining the whole thing in one fell swoop ( it isn't waxed yet )
Instead I completely lost the bottoms of my yoga pants - they simply slipped off my body as I was walking and I left them in a pile on the grass until I was finished !
This piece was a pain in the butt to be honest with you - your hand has to be very steady to get around those curves with different colors - so there may have been a few bad words muttered while doing this.
I also originally painted the inserts grey - and the trim white - but it didn't work at all - so I started over until it looked right and if it doesn't look right now it's just too bad because I've run out of bad words completely.
( how's that for a sentence and a half? )
I stenciled that little design on there - and that oval shape?
John says - I hope you don't use that to serve our suppers anymore !
Suzan says - Why not ? I'll clean it !
John says - IT'S PAINT ! PLEASE STOP USING OUR DISHES FOR PAINTING !
Paint Schmaint...........................I needed an oval shape.
It's a queen sized headboard ( often the only ones I can find with this shape are double sized ones for some reason )
And again..................it was done to tie in with previous pieces I've done in the last week
Here's what it looked like when I spied it on Craigs list
A little paint - a stencil - a serving tray - some dry brushing - a few curse words - and you'd never know it was the same piece !
And now it works perfectly with this ( makeover HERE )
Well first I have to find another pair of pants to slip into
AND I should clarify - I had a short nightgown on so I was completely covered - they're like silky yoga pants and they sort of just slunk off me.
You know- the way a snake sheds his skin LOL
Have a wonderful day everybody !
Hugs,
Me
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This was the first Friday in a while that I didn't have time to " chat " because I'm trying desperately to clean out my " stash " of furniture in order to start working on the dining room !
DO NOT LOOK AT THE HANDLES - I OBVIOUSLY HAD A HARD TIME FIGURING OUT WHICH WAY WAS THE RIGHT WAY !!!
( this happens every single time I do a French Provincial something or other - I swear to you - both ways look right to me )
This way is the wrong way
and the scariest part is I didn't even notice I had them going in both directions !
John says - Something's off with the handles
John says - Can you please let your readers know that I pointed that out for you please - thank you.
The desk was part of the set that I did for Evan's nursery - ( HERE )
I went in a completely different direction since there was no space for it in his room.
( I held on to it for as long as I could - hoping against hope that Ashley would store it for future use but she told me there was no way she could - ABSOLUTELY NO WAY - and so the makeover began this week and will be sold.. It's from a high end furniture line and is exactly 43 years old ( it was my nephew's - and then my niece's ) but it looks like it was made yesterday - it's in immaculate shape for it's age.
The chair - however - was in rough shape ( and of course I didn't take a before - of course not )
After unsucessfully searching for just the right fabric I ended up reupholstering the seat with drop cloth..................and painted the grain sack pattern on it - it's a perfect " fit " !
and then I decided to have a little fun with this makeover - with the hutch - to make it look like a country piece for a little girls room
Perfect timing for back to school days :)
Ok - on to the next piece ( s )
It's been hot here in Montreal - very hot as in 37 degrees celcius with humidity ( 98 in American ) and today they've got a " Heat Warning " in effect.................guess I'll spend some time in the pool - this may just be the last hurrah !
ANNIE SLOAN CHALK PAINT ™ - Antoinette and Old White - with clear wax for protection
Have a wonderful one everybody !
Hugs,
Me
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You have no idea what I went through to get these pics.................
Last week I casually mentioned to John that a lot of people take photographs of their pieces outside - and that I'd wished I could do that since our spaces are small and dark ( ish )
John says - Well why don't we do that then?
John says - It makes perfect sense
Suzan says - Oh - I never wanted to ask you because I figured you'd flip out
John says - Why do you always make me out to look that way?
John says - Just ask - I'll help you - no problem
Phew...................
So I scurried around yesterday to try to have it done before sundown
Trying to beat the clock so quickly that I didn't finish waxing the skirting or one side - it was now or never
Suzan says - John do you think you could help me bring the dresser outside to take photos?
John says WHAT ARE YOU? CRAZY?
Suzan says - We talked about this last week - you said to just ask you !
John says - Well I'm in the middle of a show
Suzan says - It's going to get too dark soon
John says - I'M FED UP OF THIS FURNITURE NONSENSE - NOW WE HAVE TO DRAG IT OUTSIDE AND THEN DRAG IT BACK IN???????
Suzan says - You said it made sense to do it !
John says - You always pick the worst moment possible !
But every moment is the worst moment possible - I can't win.
He wouldn't help me carry it to the back - so most of the pics have an ugly asphalt street behind them
John says - You're going to play with your monkey anyway
W.T.H. ???
It takes a moment before I realize he's talking about Pic Monkey
( the blanket is on the top of the dresser because I'm picturing this as a changing table for a nursery )
Suzan says - Do you think you could help me move it away from the street ?
John says - You're kidding me? Just take your photos and lets get it back in already
But I insisted and he caved.
I ran around frantically while he stood there with his arms folded and tapping his foot..............
S.T.R.E.S.S.
Add that to the fact that I can't take a decent photo to save my life and there you have it - I won't be
" dancing with dressers outdoors " anytime soon.
My favorite part of this makeover is the knobs
I just gave them a quick coat of a metallic paint that I had on hand (with a brush - usually I spray paint them) I love them - I want to do it to every knob and handle I have in the house LOL
Don't they look a little patina ( ish ) ?
I used Annie Sloan Chalk Paint ™ - Paris Grey & Old White................and clear wax
I did a teeny bit more distressing then I normally do
because she just looked like the perfect shabby canadidate
This piece is a Haddon Hall ..........which means it comes from the iconic Canadian EATON'S - a little research told me that they were produced in the mid 50's - and were part of their high end or " Prestigious" line - a dresser like this would have went for approximately 395.00 in it's day.................big money when you consider that you could buy a house for under 10,000 - but 60 years later it's in incredible shape and will be around another 60 ( and longer ) without a doubt.
I'm pretty certain there's a before pic floating around somewhere in the archives - but I can't find it - and only remembered to take a photo of the last drawer before I painted it as well
Actually it was almost identical to these end tables I made over last year
Just in case you're interested - here's the makeover over of those pieces ( HERE ) these were keepers and are in my bedroom
And that's it - I'm thinking the rest of my furniture makeover photos will be taken indoors............
Except maybe for the next one up !
Which I can't wait to get started !
Have a wonderful Monday everyone
Hugs,
Me
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Today I'm going to be a woman of few words..............because my brain is so tired I can't think of anything to say ( sometimes that's a good thing )
So here's the " story " of a hutch - or china cabinet - makeover - in pictures.
Meet Mrs. Calabash.
I was asked if I could switch out the mirrored back for bead board - so I decided to weather it to go with all the sanded edges on the piece - an old worn look
First I painted a quick coat of graphite in all the grooves and along the perimeters of the grooves
next I applied a coat of Paris Grey - making sure to leave some of the Graphite showing through
A " wash " of Old White ( half paint half water ) was then applied over the grey
Then quickly wiped into the paint ( I only do 2 sections of the bead board at a time because this dries very quickly )
Here it is in place
I also bought an applique because although the doors have pretty picture molding - the drawer was plain
Painted the lower interior with Paris Grey
Then I sanded all the edges -
Another small change I made was putting the fretwork on the inside of the glass - it was on the outside and I can't imagine how annoying that must have been to clean ! The interior would stay cleaner than the exterior so it makes more sense, right?
The handles were " sprainted " in a pewter grey - and she's done !
The shelves are glass - so Robbie ( the owner ) kept them at her house - which is a shame because I wanted to stage this piece :)
Now I'll tell you...........this piece gave me a couple of nightmares with bleed through.- shellac - shellac and more shellac. And the beadboard on the back? Well first I bought beadboard wallpaper - and did a crappy job so had to scrape it all off. OMG - it was the type where you have to apply paste and that paste? N.I.G.H.T.M.A.R.E. to get off !
Then John measured the back and went off to buy beadboard.
EXCEPT HE DIDN'T BOTHER TO WRITE DOWN THE DIMENSIONS OF EACH SIDE.
So when he came home
John says - The guy who cuts at Home Depot made a mistake
Suzan says - What do you mean?
John says - It's too short in height and too wide in width..............
You know where this is going right?
John says - What an idiot - I gave him the exact measurements !
Suzan says - Did you have it marked as the cuts going the right way?
John says - WHAT DOES THAT MATTER?
Suzan says - Well if you didn't - then the height would be too short and the width would be too wide.............
He stormed out the door to buy another piece - and this time gave the cutter the right measurements.
So wallpaper - and 2 sheets of beadboard were purchased to get this piece done :)
But baby, look at her now !
( doesn't she look like a " flasher " with her doors open ? )
Here she is lit up
Here she is with a wreath hanging on her ( hey - I took approximately 100 pics - you have to let me post more than is necessary !)
And the most important pic of all?
Here she is when she walked into my " office " for a facelift !
You've got to scrape a little ♪
Paint a little ♫
Work until you faint ( a little ) ♫ ♪
That's the story of - that's the glory of love ♫
You've got to plotz a little ♪
Weep a little ♫
And lose a whole lotta sleep ( a little ) ♫ ♪
That's the story of - that's the glory of love ♫
As long as there's a tin or two ♫
I've got a brush and my two hands ♫
So when the world is through with them ♫ ♪
I can give them one more chance ♪
You've got to sand a little ♪
Up the stakes a little ♫
Wax 'til your hand breaks (a little ) ♫ ♪
That's the story of - that's the glory of love. ♪
You've got to stage a little ♫
Rage a little ♫ ♪
Watch each piece make you age ( a little ) ♪
That's the story of - that's the glory of love ♫
I LOVE what I do
AND I LOVE THIS PIECE !
( you've got to nag a little - sag a little - and every now and then brag a little ...............)
For someone who didn't have a lot to say - I never shut up once during this post
Don't come by on a day when I actually have something to say - you'll be sorry !
Have a wonderful day everyone ♥
I'm working on another piece as soon as I get off this computer :)
In the meantime you can listen to this version.................
Take it away Mr. Durante !
Goodnight Mrs Calabash..............wherever you are.
Hugs
Me
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