The Reveal

What a workshop I have...

Garage, back patio, on and on...

Anyway, here are the after pictures of last week's project..

You will notice all the stuff on top of the dresser.

The tumbled marble tile is the floor of the bathrooms and the kitchen back splash.The two boards on the left are possible colors for the walls. The board with the blue green are possible colors to wash the bead board that is being installed between the beams in the Living Room and Dining Room.We are using the very lightest color which is SW Window Pane. The beams will be white washed.

The rest of the ceilings in the condo will be Powder Coated White Ceiling Tins like the ones we have in the cottage in Pinetop. More pictures later on of these choices.

The round mirror is unrelated.

I had just painted it with Versailles Chalk paint to look at the color.

I mixed Paris Grey Chalk Paint with the Country White for the drawers and sections of the mirror. The rest of the dresser and night stand are painted with Country White.I used a small brush to paint the detail work.

I used Valspar antiquing glaze and then finished the pieces off with Hannants's clear wax.

In these pictures the grey looks blue. It is interesting as it seems to depend on the light or one's mood as to what color the drawers look.

This week I am working on the chair, the other dresser and some vintage high school auditorium seats. More about all of those later...

I must get back to work.. or should I say play?????

Hope your day is as playful as mine is intended to be!

Last Week's Projects

A week ago Friday, I went to an Estate sale in Phoenix. I had spied some items online which I thought I would be interested in for the condo in Destin, Florida. My husband ended up coming with the truck and we filled the back of my jeep and the truck with most of the items below.

You can't see the carving on the legs and arms of this chair here.... I will get closer shots later. I love the lines of this chair and it is quite comfortable. I paid $50. for the chair. Do I have a tale to tell about this chair but that will wait for later.... I will give you a hint... see all those little pleats in the upholstery? What or what was I thinking? " Alright, already, stop it Ce Ce... later girl, later! " I have a hard time not going on about this chair.... more pictures to come...

Mirror that belongs to the dresser below

French Dresser

Drawers are hiding behind the middle door-

This piece had $75.00 on it but I got it for $60.00

More about it, as well, later...

This piece I already had. My friend Suzi and I bought it on one of our cross country trips... I started gouging out the cork before I took a before picture... What a mess. My intention is to replace the cork..

French Nightstand that matches the below dresser and mirror.

Again, I removed a handle before I remembered to take a before shot.

This piece I got for $25.00

Mirror for below dresser

Another French Dresser

$78.00 on this piece but I also got it for $60.00

This last dresser, mirror and nightstand are the pieces that were completely finished this past week. Now I am trying to figure out how to show them to you...

Here is my dilemma. For some reason I am not able to upload pictures in the new blogger. I have had to revert back to the original and I hate it. I have to remember what order to put the pictures in as I upload them. I cannot move them into position...

Therefore, if I upload them now, they will be at the beginning of this post and you will see the after before you see the before! So, should I show them to you or wait to show you more in another post????

Much of life is out of order at times so I guess it really doesn't matter in what order they come but I think I will post the after pictures in another post. I also think I will try once again to upload pictures in the new blogger. If anyone knows why this is happening to me I would love to know how to fix it.... My brain is too challenged to have to figure out how I want the pictures to appear when I am uploading them... I need the capability to move them around!!!!

Hope you are having an orderly day!!!!

Card Catalog to Craft Cabinet Makeover

This was my daughter's card catalog. When she bought it, it was a mess. She painted it white and got it all organized to hold all of her craft goodies. Over the years it received some wear and tear. When Amber, my daughter died, I inherited the cabinet... Usually it is the other way around, a daughter inherits the mother's things. Anyway, I like to use it. It reminds me of all the things we had in common and all the fun times we had crafting together. I knew I wanted to make some more repairs and maybe give it a makeover. When I saw the new tissue line by Seven Gypsies the idea came to decoupage the cabinet. Two large bottles of Mod Podge later,lots of tearing and wearing of paper, new door hardware from Home Depot and I am ready to show you the new cabinet!

The Old Look

You can see the damage to the bottom of the cabinet and the sort of ugly doors. This damage was here when she bought the cabinet.

Children's crayon marks.. Not my grandson's, of course. Smile. No Truly, they are not due to him!

The Makeover!

A Side View

I made all new tags, glued all the drawers again inside and covered the pull outs, as well. I am quite happy with it's new look. I think Amber would approve also.

I linked up with

http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/search/label/Furniture%20Feature%20Friday/

Beofre and After Chalk Paint

My husband started taking off the straps before I had taken a picture.

There were leather straps on each drawer.

Shelf first painted all over with Paris Grey

and then a coat of half Old White mixed with Duck Egg Blue

and thinned with water. Lastly some licks with some Old White thinned with water.

Distressed by sanding so a tinge of the red shows through.

Estate sale find for $69.00

Baskets were painted with Duck Egg Blue.

The color was a little bolder than I wanted so I then created the new color by mixing Old White with the Duck Egg Blue and thinning it with water. I painted the wooden part of the piece with this mixture. I then swiped some of each basket with some Old White thinned with water. I read about the technique of keeping the brush straight so just the tips of the bristles were going over the basket, in order for some of the basket to remain the original color. Lastly, the leather strap pulls were replaced with glass knobs and pulls. I love it! This piece will go in the foyer of the beach condo to hold phone books, menus from restaurants, beach towels in the bottom drawer and who knows what else!

I have already drug two more projects in from the garage.

Seems I seldom don't have a project of one type or another on which I am working, or should I say playing?!

It Finally Came!

Would love to go to a class here!

The label on my wonderful delivery...

The paint characterized as the best paint in the world!

And I must say, I agree!

The colors I ordered.

Graphite

Duck Egg Blue

Versailles

Old White

Paris Grey

I had planned to post right away.

I tried to post right away.

For some reason I have not been able to upload pictures.

I googled and found someone that said to revert back to the old settings. I did this today and it worked. I am not used to using the old setting. I don't like that I have to retrieve the pictures as I want them posted...backwards. I am already mentally challenged when I post so I don't need the extra challenge. I read I should be able to go back to the new setting once I post in the old setting. We will see.

I have some before and after pictures to post but I lack putting the hardware on one of the items. Honey is getting longer screws for me at the hardware store this morning. I hope to post the before and after pictures this afternoon.

So far, this paint, has led up to it's hype.

I absolutely love it...

I have a question into Virginia of the paint institute about the shelf life. I think I read that it does not go bad.

I haven't tried the Versailles color yet. I am already wanting to add colors and paint, paint, paint.

My hope is upon posting this I can revert back to the new settings and post a couple of before and afters this afternoon!

New Looks

Refurbished Patio Furniture

New Paint

New Glass

New Cushions

I made little padded sleeves for the backs of the chairs to make them more comfortable. The pleated edge was inspired by 

Miss Mustard Seed.

More Refurbished Furniture

I got these two vintage chairs and ottomans about three years ago for $15.00 total at a local flee market.

We finally got around to replacing all the missing straps, cleaning and painting them. I had new cushions cut and made the covers and Ta Da.... Very Comfortable seating.

I plan to move these chairs down to the other end when we eventually get another vintage couch and chairs for this end.

Chandler has a new look too!

Braces

He will have this look for the next 18 months.. 

second phase of his treatment..

They will come off right as he starts high school.

Perfect!!

Yesterday my friend Bonnie, her DIL, Debra, and I took a soldering class at Mystic Paper in downtown Mesa, AZ.

 We love this store!

I used pictures from Destin for my images since we are in the middle of redoing a condo there. Seascape is the name of the area and 4D is our Unit number.. 

And on the other side is the name of the town,

us looking out at the sunset

and a picture of the sunset ( which is blocked and a mess in this picture )In person it is quite beautiful. 

And last up ...

My Annie Sloan books arrived,

along with the paint chart.

From two in the morning till four last night

I was on the computer trying to decide what colors to order. I wanted WaaaaaaaaaY too many!

I finally stopped myself at five colors, two waxes and brushes and I hit the buy button.

My heart wants more but my mind tells me to wait! I will try these out and let you know if I think they are as wonderful as Miss Mustard seed does. I hope to make some New Looks with this special paints soon after they arrive!!!!

Hope your Sunday has as much color in it as you desire..

In class yesterday, a young mother named Katie,

used black and white pictures of her children in her house and the result was just stunning.

So,,,, color days or black and white days..

Both can be special.

Droopy

Like my roses that began to droop way too soon,

I have been feeling quite droopy about posting.

I am addicted to blogging but not my blog...

Others..

I have found so many wonderful design blogs and am blown away and overwhelmed by the talent out there.

I wish it inspired me to work more on making my blog wonderful

but it doesn't..

The reason...

I am way too busy thinking about trying out all the great ideas I am finding from all of these talented women!

Below is just a sampling of some of the blogs I have become addicted to. There are many more I must admit rather sheepishly.

 If you visit them you will see what I mean.

I am hopeful this will give you some weekend pleasure!

http://missmustardseed.blogspot.com/

Make sure you check out Miss Mustard Seeds post about chalk paint. I have ordered two of Annie Sloan's books about using this paint to create lots of fun, beautiful pieces. I am so excited about this paint I find it hard to contain myself. I think you will, as well, if you have any interest in painted furniture!

http://thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/

Next up is this tutorial on Board and Batten. I am going to use the above in the living room, dining room, hallway and foyer of the Destin, Florida condo..

I love it!

/ http://theletteredcottage.net/california-country-style?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheLetteredCottage

See this house above..

The owner lived in it for four years, completely decorated it, and sold it completely furnished!!!! 

You will not believe your eyes, I am telling you!!!!

Enjoy Your Weekend!