Sunday, May 12, 2013

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

Days like today often make me a little sad. It was only a few short years ago that I sat in front of my upstairs window painting lampshades almost daily for Judy. Judy assembled the lampshades and sold them wholesale all over the country. As I sat there working, I would watch what went on just outside my window. My Mom and Granny lived across the street in their beautiful old home.  I'd watch as Granny watered the flowers or swept the walk. And, I'd see Mom hop in her car to run here and there....as she loved to do. Almost any day, I could look just next door to them and see my Great Aunt Lou there on the front porch of that majestic old home, where she'd be swinging..........left leg always propped up in the swing, right foot resting on the porch. She'd gently push against her cane to make the porch swing.......swing. On days when my window was raised and there was little traffic on Pulaski Street, I could hear her singing some sweet old hymn.

In this picture, from left to right, Great Aunt Lou, Mom, and Granny

 All of these precious ladies are gone now, along with most all of the older generations of my family. When I was a little girl, more than a few years ago, I was so blessed to have 10, YES TEN, living grandparents (all natural, no step). Ya know, when a little person has 10 grandparents, they are made to feel very special. Seems there were always grandparents around spoiling me with their love. But, now 'I' am the older generation and I sooo miss having all those loving people in my life.

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY to all you mothers out there. And, if you are blessed enough to still have your mother with you, let her know how important she is to you.
Please turn the page to see just a couple pictures that I am so glad to have.... going back 5 generations before me.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

ANTIQUE WICKER

Look at these GREAT pieces that I was lucky enough to win at an auction recently.

Wouldn't they make wonderful photographer props?


Oh, and I found them in this catalog of late 1800 to early 1900 wicker furniture by  Heywood & Wakefield. 

A little history on this company:

The Heywood-Wakefield Company is a US furniture manufacturer established in 1897. It went on to become a major presence in the US and its older products are considered valuable collectibles.
Heywood Brothers was established in 1826, Wakefield Company in 1855. Both firms produced wicker and rattan furniture, and as these products became increasingly popular towards the end of the century, they became serious rivals. In 1897 the companies merged as Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company (this name was changed to Heywood-Wakefield Company in 1921), purchasing Washburn-Heywood Chair Company in 1916, Oregon Chair Company in 1920, and Lloyd Manufacturing Company in 1921.


I was thrilled to win these pieces.  The chairs were still in nearly perfect condition and over 100 years old !!!!
You never know what you'll find at auction.
Just doing this post is giving me AUCTION FEVER.



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Monday, March 18, 2013

OLD CHAIR MAKEOVER


As she sat there, she looked so tired and sad and dark.  Sooooo, out came the white chalk paint, and two coats later she was all bright and cheery.  I even covered the leather seat.  But, then, since I was on that Robin's Egg roll, and since she just happened to get in my way.............
my brush couldn't resist.  Oh, I just dry brushed some of the Robin's Egg over the white, allowing some white to shine through.  Then a little more until it was just right.  Of course I had to go back and sand a little to shabby it up.  I didn't put any kind of finsh on, since I love the soft look of chalk paint.


For right now, she's decided to sit a spell in my lil kitchen. 
Lovin it.
What cha think?


For more projects done in this color, look here, and here, then here.  And, to see the Vintage China Cabinet makeover, take a look here.  THANKS.




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Saturday, March 16, 2013

on a ROBIN'S EGG roll


Okay, I know.  You're probably tired of my Robin's Egg Blue projects.  But, I'm lovin this color and since I've got a gallon of paint.........might as well use it, right?

The little side table and plant stand, I painted in the same way that I did this bed. 


The little table had problems on the bottom shelf, but I think it just adds character, right?  You're gonna lay your magazine there anyway...........so, just enjoy the character that these old pieces have.  No worry.  I could have taken this to my wood man and had him do an entire new shelf, but then the price of the table would have to be much more.  This was easier and cheaper. 


 
Now, the old wicker chair, I did a little differently.  Instead of trying to paint the wicker completely, I just dry brushed the paint on........leaving some of the original white showing through.  It actually looked much prettier in person.  I didn't want the chair to look NEW and this way we keep some of the old character.  There's that word, character, again.  Well, I truly do think the shabby, aged look is much prettier.  Don't you?

 
Oh, and I'm working on a dresser right now.  Guess what color it's gonna be??  Sorry, but yes, it's Robin's Egg Blue.  After it is finished, I promise I'll shift gears and find another color to use.
 
Thanks for stopping by.  8-)
 
 
 
 
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Thursday, March 14, 2013

ROBIN'S EGG BLUE

 
Here's another PRETTY.  Can you guess what it is? 

 
It had the perfect area to add this wreath applique that I had purchased some time back.

 
And, here it is, the foot board to my next project.
 
 
Since the last Robin's Egg painted bed turned out so well,
I decided this one would be the same color. 
I think I'm just longing for spring sooooo much that I have Robins on my mind. 
 
 
 
But, it is such a pretty color, don't cha think?  This precious little twin bed is waiting for it's new forever home........down at New Moon Antiques on the Downtown Lawrenceburg, TN Square.  Come visit our little town and take her home with you.


 
Here are just a few more projects that were done using the same color.  You can make your base color a little lighter shade just by adding white.
 
 


Tuesday, March 12, 2013

AIN'T SHE PRETTY??

When I saw this bed, I could just imagine it painted a pretty spring color.

Just look at all the detail.  I actually think it was hand turned.  It's an oldie but definitely a goodie.



So, I mixed up some homemade chalk paint in a gorgeous Robin's Egg Blue. 


After two coats of that paint, I shabbied her up using my Mouse sander.


Then, two coats of dark wax, and here she is.  I loved the way she turned out so much that I hated to sell her. 


But, after just a couple hours of  posting pics of her on Facebook, she had a new home.



Ain't she PRETTY??!!!



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Thursday, February 28, 2013

SHABBY VANITY STOOL


 Just thought I'd share with you my latest project.  After having a new board made for a seat, I took her over to a girlfriend who then covered that seat for me.  Two coats of paint, a little shabbying up, and a coat of dark wax, and how very sweet is she now?


Ignore the house shoes in the background.  I need to work on my photography skills.  But, that's a project for another day.  


This one sold just minutes after posting her picture on Facebook.  Someday, I plan to keep some of these cuties for myself and make MY house all sweet and cozy.

All Y'all Come Back to Visit SOON.


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Tuesday, February 26, 2013

VINTAGE CHAIR .... needs a facelift

Okay, I'm needin' help from all of you creative folks.  I love, love, love this old chair that I found on a recent pick.  I've brought her home and set her in my living room, and just cannot decide what I should do to bring her back to life.  Please give me some ideas.  I think I'd like to leave the wood dark, but I know it'd look great painted too.  IDEAS PLEASE.  I'm waiting for your help before I take her to the upholsterer.



THANKS,  ALL Y'ALL.



Tuesday, February 12, 2013

BEEN PICKIN'


 It's been soooo rainy and dreary and cold and yucky for soooo long that I've not wanted to stick my nose out of the house for like....ever.  But, you can only stand that for so long, right?   Soooo, what da ya do??  Go pickin'!!!  



Here are a some of my favorite finds.  The little table had already been painted and burlap added to the top and shelf.  And, then glass was added on top of the burlap, making the perfect place for those treasured photos.  I brought it home, placed some of my old photos under the glass, took this picture and posted it on Facebook.  And in less than an hour, it had sold and was paid for and picked up by the customer.  I wish that happened more often. 


I always grab these old suitcases.  Got this one for a steal.  So, she'll soon be goin' down to my booth.  And, that little pitcher...........had to have it.  


It was a pretty fruitful pick.  Butttt,
the only bad thing about goin pickin' isssss that you wanna turn around and do it again and again and again.  I think I should make this a weekly event.  What cha think??

Y'all come back soon.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

GREAT OLD FRAME









I just wanted to share this great old frame with you.  It was actually given to me by a friend.  THANKS BO.  It was the typical gold, tired and dull.  And, I just wanted to give it an updated look.  After several coats of gesso, it was just a little too WHITE for my taste.  And, all that wonderful pattern didn't show up at all.  So, I decided I'd brush Minwax stain on it.  Then, I quickly wiped it away, leaving the stain in the crevices.  That's it.  I thought it turned out nicely.  Oh, I did have a piece of Masonite cut to fit and painted that with a matching brown chalk paint.
Actually I think it's prettier in person than it looks here.
 
 
I think it'd be perfect for one of those INSTANT ANCESTOR photographs.
 
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Saturday, January 12, 2013

Putting Chalk Paint to the TEST

Since the weather here in Tennessee has been so rainy and dreary, I've not wanted to start a large project. Soooo, I thought I'd just gather several small projects and tackle them all at once. I mixed up a batch of my homemade chalk paint (RECIPE HERE), and then just tried it on all these different surfaces.


We already know how wonderful chalk paint works on wood.
 
 
But, what about this piece above?  The cherub candle stand is made of resin.
 
 
And these cherub wall plaques are made of some type of plastic.
 
 
The frame of this vanity mirror is metal.
 
 
Yes, it worked great on metal!!!
 
 
 I love the soft finish the chalk paint left on this little ceramic cherub box above.
 
 
To keep the finished product from looking so SOLID white, I used the end of the brush and stippled the paint on.
 
This gives the piece more of a marble or stone look.
 
 
And, here's the resin piece.  Yelp.  It worked like a charm.
I also did a china piece and several picture frames, but I'll save pictures of those pieces for another day.
 
Maybe thinking about Valentine's Day caused me to drag out all of these cherubs/cupids.  Anyway, I think I had a fairly productive day.  And, now I know that chalk paint WILL WORK on all these surfaces.  One resin candle stand, two plastic wall hangers, one mini ceramic box, a metal vanity mirror frame, and a sweet shabby white plant stand.
 
Have you tried chalk paint on a surface that I've not talked about here?
 
 
 
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Friday, January 4, 2013

A NEW CHAPTER

2012 was a busy year holding many changes for me.  One of those changes was my decision (with a little help) to close my shop.  My landlord decided that he wanted his building back (ain't that just precious?).  So, I had to find another location and move my business AGAIN, or CLOSE.  Things seemed to just fall into place.  The owner of a local antique mall asked me just a few days earlier if I might like to take a booth.  And, then there was a new shop opening soon in the same area.  So, I decided I'd take a booth in both shops, leave the business end of things to them, and maybe I'd have more time to paint and go antiquin'.  Guess what?  I'm lovin' it.
 
These pictures are from the booth at the new shop, Waterloo Merchantile, on the Downtown Square in Larenceburg, TN.
 

 

 
 


 



 
Click below to see pictures from my OTHER new booth.