bad rabbit vintage (decor and more)

CeCe Caldwell Part Deux

2012-02-21T20:04:00.001-08:00

CeCe and the Three Little Tables

Now the the Smokey Mountain tables. I found these tables at different sales over a period of time and when I put them together last week they seemed like they were related. So they all got to be smokey blue.

Aren't they cute? Just look at those faces ......

I used a cabinet scraper to distress the edges since sandpaper wasn't working well for me. I love my cabinet scrapers anyway. They are quick and fun to use.

You can see the brush strokes here. I tried using a foam roller but got little bumps all over. Maybe I should have thinned the paint a little but after the coverage challenge I had with Vintage White I was hesitant.

I have a couple more small tables and a footstool that I'm going to paint with the CeCe Caldwell paint. Now that I know what to expect, I'm interested to see if the results are different. For example, I'll use primer under the white paint next time. And maybe thin the Smokey Mountain a little bit.

Anyone else tried this paint?

Linking up!
my 1929 charmer
coastal charm

Using CeCe Caldwell paint for the first time

2012-02-21T19:44:00.003-08:00

I was so excited to try the new-paint-on-the-block!

I don't know what I expected but it was less expensive than Chalk Paint so I was crossing my fingers that it worked as well. I loved the Vintage White color, but the Smokey Mountain was too much like Annie Sloane's Duck Egg Blue. I was hoping for a blue-gray. So this is my experience with the new paint - but let me say this, since it was the first time I used it, I didn't know what the consistency should be or the best way to apply it. The website doesn't offer any tips, so I proceeded as if it were regular chalk paint. (The only difference I know of between the two paints is the CeCe Caldwell paint has clay in it, along with chalk.)

Here are the projects I did last week using the two colors:

Vintage White and the Seven Days of Painting

I love this sweet little Craigslist dresser! I want to keep it. But I can't - unless I sell my Union Jack dresser. sigh. It was missing one pull, wouldn't you just know. I found the exact pulls on ebay - 2 for $25, shipping included. I also found them on a restoration site - $17 for ONE, shipping included. No dang way. I dug around in my stash and found two pulls that compliment the originals and I was good to go.

I added a couple pieces of trim to the bottom of the sides to hide peeling veneer. I think it looks better with the added trim, it is the perfect finishing touch.

I normally don't do the "Shabby" look but this dresser was perfect for it. The white paint highlighted the details so nicely .... I really want to keep this dresser ....

Can you see the pink creeping through? It's the same problem I've had before with mahogany, so the new paint didn't out-do chalk paint as far as bleed through goes. I had to use a lot of paint - it took 3/4 of a can to paint this one dresser because the coverage was poor. Again, since it was my first time out of the gate, so to speak, I'm reserving judgment until I've painted a few more pieces. And there seemed nothing I could do to avoid brush strokes. I hesitated to thin with water because it would make the coverage even worse. In the end I decided the pink tinge added to the character of this dresser and I didn't have to use dark wax!

The Caldwell paint didn't sand as easily as chalk paint (can you tell I L-O-V-E chalk paint?) It also seemed to absorb a lot of wax but after buffing it had the most wonderful sheen.

I love this little dresser....

Linking up!
my 1929 charmer
coastal charm

Living on the dark side

2012-02-18T08:33:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how long it's been since I've posted! I've been feverishly working on 4 pieces using the new kid on the block - CeCe Caldwell Paint. I'll try to get pictures today and tomorrow will tell you about my experience with the new paint.

Meanwhile, I've also been re-taking photos of older projects.

I live on the dark side; the north side of a mountain. Behind the house is steep forested terrain for 100s of miles. It's life in the shadows, especially in winter, which makes taking good photos with natural light a real challenge. Inside the house there are two spots where I can put furniture to take pictures, but that means moving what is already there. That is why so many of my etsy photos are taken on the front lawn - that's where the sun is!

I have a really pretty table that I've been unable to adequately capture digitally. It's tall and leggy but soooo does not photograph like a super model. I've been retaking pictures of this gal for months. Finally, I got some sun!

Here's a history of trying to capture the beauty of this table. When I first started on etsy I thought putting furniture up against a wall was enough. HA!

Another then and now:

The straight-on approach:

And finally:

Still not as good as I want, but it's come a long way baby!

Tomorrow - CeCe Caldwell Paint!

Linking up to these creative sites:
finding fabulous

Mirror, Mirror, on the ..... floor?

2012-02-06T10:56:00.000-08:00

Adventures with colored wax.

I had real reservations when I saw this mirror on Craigslist. Not only did it scream 70s but it is a whopping 50 inches tall. (When I was getting ready to photograph it I dragged the thing around the house looking for a spot ... it's too big for my house.) It's a heavy thing, too. I was huffing and puffing while wrestling it into my car.

Here it is in its disco colored glory:

YIKES

My first paint combination was way too blah. Instead of aged it just looked dirty. I used an eggshell milk paint which turned ugly beige when I waxed with the clear and dark waxes. I used Duck Egg Blue on the trim but it also seemed too dark.

So I white-washed the whole thing but the white-wash just slid off the wax.

Hmmmmm.

Time to experiment! This is something I've been wanting to try for a long time. I mixed powdered white pigment into clear wax and waxed the entire mirror. The white wax lightened the beige to a pretty antique white and softened the blue trim perfectly. It settled into crevices to highlight nicely. I ended up with a combination of highlights and lowlights.

The different paints I used reacted to each other and crackled naturally. I've had this happen before and I love it! it doesn't always work, however. These natural paints have a mind of their own to be sure!

Before and after.

I'm really happy with my colored wax experiment. Now that I have white wax mixed up I might try pickling. I'd like to try the white wax on black stain. I've seen some pictures on the net and like the look.

Example - not the best but I can't find the image that first got me excited about this technique.

And, speaking of trying new things, I am off to the post office to pick up my first order of CeCe Caldwell paint! I'll let you know how i like it.

Linking up:
my uncommon slice of suburbia
primp

funky junk interiors
miss mustard seed
shabby nest

It's a girl thing

2012-01-28T07:23:00.000-08:00

These vanities must have been popular here in the west. I see them from time to time, in various states of disrepair. Usually the drawer is missing, or the arms or both. Legs barely keeping upright.

This is the first I've seen with all its parts. The strange black stripes made me think of the burned edge furniture so popular in the 70s.

I dove into painting with my handy chalk paint but the stripes bled through. I did a couple coats then got out the primer. Now, this is the same primer that didn't keep the 'pink' from bleeding through my empire desk. I thought it could do this.

Really? Again? Can this primer cover anything?

See the lines coming through? They also felt "spongy" for lack of a better term, like they would never dry. I really want to tell you what brand this primer is so you can avoid it but I'm afraid some big corporation will swoop down on me with nefarious intent.

A Northwest paint company, Rodda, has a primer they promised would cover and seal anything. They were right! One more coat and I was good to go.

It's a sweet little vanity. I don't know why someone burned scars into it.

Here it is now, the cute little thing. I considered adding lace curtains to the arms, but after seeing a few pictures on the internet, I decided the fabric would make my little vanity look dumpy.

It is heading to my booth this morning.

And then, just for fun - someday I'll get a camera with the sketch function. Meanwhile I'll go Old School with Photoshop.

Have a great weekend!

Linking up to these creative folks
funky junk interiors
redoux
miss mustard seed
finding fabulous
my repurposed life
my 1929 charmer
restore interiors

Crabby? Who, me? Why would I be crabby?

2012-01-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

Or, The Ugly Truth About Cancer.

I've spent the last month getting transfusions, infusions and those Really Fun Shots in the Belly. For this I've had to drive to town almost everyday, about a 46 mile round trip. The Really Fun Belly Shots cause bone pain and flu-like symptoms resulting in my projects dragging out. By the time I get home from treatment, I'm too pooped to paint.
And I'm bummed.

I mentioned that I was really feeling blue to the P.A. I saw when my doctor was on vacation. He looked at my chart and said there was nothing there that would cause depression.
Really? Dude, I have CANCER!

Cripes.

That's when I realized that I had become cross and irritable. I gave myself a good talking to, then to cheer myself up I sat down to cruise Craigslist. I found the discontinued Ikea rug DIYers love to paint right there in Medford. I called the girl, said I was on my way, but before I got there she called to say she'd just sold it.I went right back to cross and irritable. To top it off, I continued into town for another Belly Shot after that. On a Sunday!

After my shot I followed up on another ad and bought a dresser, which displaced my new dog, forcing him into the passenger seat. (He's not comfortable there.) He growled at me. Growled. At. Me.Then he huddled up to the passenger door and sulked. Cross and irritable again.

This is the naughty growling boy.

That is the ugly truth about cancer, people. It can make one grumpy! Impatient even. Crabby!

But, today I can spend all day painting. That's all I really need. Give me a can of paint and a thing made of wood and I am a happy camper.A day with no needles stuck in me. Ahhhhhhh, perfect. Life is good.

Painting against type

2012-01-19T20:33:00.000-08:00

A couple summers ago we happened upon an estate sale that hadn't been completely organized and we were told to look around and let them know if we had questions. Oh my, the stuff in the barn and outbuildings was overwhelming. We were opening boxes and climbing up on stuff. We were channeling American Pickers!

We filled my car - no small task, the thing is huge inside. (Doctor Who fans? My car is the Tardis.) We went home, got Honey's truck and went back to get more stuff. This dresser was my favorite find. It was in the back of a barn/shop, hidden behind and under boxes of who-knows-what. We walked by it several times without seeing it.

I thought of it as being art deco and kept trying to come up with a Roaring 20's style design. I got nowhere. Nothing appealed. I apparently can't channel The Great Gatsby, not to mention Scott or (yikes) Zelda.

Then suddenly the dresser looked Asian to me, not art deco at all.
(Have you ever seen anything like those pulls? Awesome.)
I'd been wanting to do something masculine for a while and it all just came together.

It's not my usual style and that has opened my mind up to more possibilities. Oh boy!

Here is what I did. My Honey loves it - it's his favorite out of everything I've done so I've passed the Man Test.

So, there it is, my first 'male project!' I used Annie Sloan Graphite, General Finishes Milk Paint in Red Pepper and white craft paint. The trim and pulls are black gloss latex. The front is waxed but I put polyurethane on the top and sides for more protection.

It will go to my booth this weekend. Sheesh, it'll take up most of the space. I'm crossing my fingers that someone will walk by who really wants a red Chinese Dragon dresser. :-)

Linking to more creative sites
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
http://missmustardseed.com/
http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Share%20Wednesdays
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/
http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
http://www.niftythriftythings.com/
http://my1929charmerblog.com/sundays-best-15-par-tay/
http://stylishonceagain.blogspot.com/2012/01/restyled-sundays-21.html

Have you ever had one of those pieces....

2012-01-14T21:12:00.000-08:00

I've noticed over the years of being a graphic designer that when a project goes of the track, it generally stays that way. My empire style desk is one of those pieces. It was one thing after another, from start to finish.

Here it is when i first dragged it home. I found it at a bizarre yard sale. I almost passed up the sale because it was down an alley and I couldn't see the end. The alley opened up to a field full of furniture. Since it was the 3rd day of the sale there wasn't much of any value left. But I spied this desk, then saw an old dresser with awesome hardware. $11 later I was heading home with both pieces feeling quite proud of myself.
Such a frugal junker!

There was a lot of veneer damage but other than that it was a nice solid desk. I fixed the veneer and brought it into the house to paint. While I was fixing some little holes the desk saved me from serious harm. A solid wood door that was leaning against the wall came crashing down. The desk took most of the hit - I'm so glad it wasn't my head. Yikes.

I rebuilt the corner and painted it with Old White Milk Paint. And did another coat because pink was bleeding through. And another coat followed by another coat. Still the pink bled through. (Notice the repaired corner? I felt pretty good about it, considering it was my first time performing
reconstructive surgery.)

I googled and found that it might be old stain bleeding through. So I put on a coat of oil-based primer. Then I got down to the business of taping out my pattern and painting. When I pulled off the tape the paint came with it. I couldn't get paint to stick to the primer. I was using blue tape so I tried the turquoise tape. The paint still pulled off.

Finally I got out the Frog Tape that I was 'saving' because it is so expensive. Saving for what for Pete's sake? The Frog Tape was perfect. It gave me perfect lines and didn't pull off any paint. I was impressed.

Good thing it worked as I was about to huck the desk out a window. Finally the desk is done, in all its harlequin glory!

I love you, Frog Tape!

Done, done, done. I was so ready to be working on the next project. What is it? Here's a sneak peak.

I'm linking to these creative sites. Go have a look!
http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/
:http://samiedesigns.blogspot.com/p/samies-surprise-linky-parties.html
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/
http://missmustardseed.com/
http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Share%20Wednesdays
http://commonground-debrasvintagedesigns.blogspot.com/

Just for fun on a cold morning.

2012-01-05T07:45:00.000-08:00

Last week we had a few really cold mornings and the garage was way too cold to go work in or even to go in, for that matter. So, I curled up on the couch with a soft fleece throw, my laptop and a mug of coffee, and just played.
This is what I came up with:

Original

Illustration

Original

Illustration

Since I'm one of those obsessive/compulsive types I want to go through all my images to see which ones can be turned into an illustration. It's so much fun! Maybe on the next super cold morning ......

Sneak Peak!

2012-01-05T07:05:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited! I have some fun projects to get started on this week. This first picture is off Craigslist, so it's pretty bad. My Honey and I are picking it up this morning. Look at those sweet details! I can hardly wait!

My new favorite furniture for my master bedroom is this empire style. Too bad Honey is insisting I leave the bedroom alone. He keeps saying not everything has to change. Sigh. No empire furniture for me. Yet. :-)

This big guy will be my first attempt at a huge piece of furniture. I can hardly wait! This is one of those pieces where the "before and after" change will be dramatic.

There is so much more in my storage room and in the garage. I have old furniture stacked up like crazy. Some of it i have to kick myself for bringing home. 'Cheap' isn't a good enough reason. I need to keep repeating that. Repeating that. Repeating that.

Have a terrific Thursday!

A few of my favorite things

2012-01-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Yay, 2012! Are you as ready for a new year as I am?
I didn't get much painting done over the holidays. It was a crazy, busy time. We had house guests and parties to attend like millions of others.

So here's the age-old chicken/egg question.
Which came first ....?

I had the extra time-eater of having to go to town for either transfusions and fun shots in the belly every day. Because we live out past the back of beyond, even the quickest trip into town uses up 3 hours, so painting furniture just didn't happen. So, was I needing treatment because I didn't paint furniture? Or did I not paint furniture because I was getting treatment? Hmmmm.

I feel badly that I have nothing new to show, but I've noticed around Blog-Land that lots of way-too-busy folks are posting their favorite projects. So, here are 4 of my personal favorites from the last year or so. There are so many more that I love that it was hard to choose.

My giant hutch. This was my first chalk paint project.

The Union Jack Dresser. Love it! However, it is for sale to make room for my next dresser project.

My Old Logo Trunk. I did this for myself but ended up selling it when I got an idea for a new trunk. (Still in progress.)

Chick Chair. Cuteness in green! Selling it, too. It's on ebay.

And so many others.
I have a couple things half done that I hope to post soon! So, I guess I better get busy.

Linking to:
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/

http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/
{primp}
Power of Paint
my uncommon slice of suburbia

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com/

My sister-in-law finds the best pictures

2011-12-24T08:58:00.000-08:00

I totally love this.

Does he do windows?

Today's Score - Cancer: 1 Girl: 0

2011-12-20T13:41:00.000-08:00

Well, crudnuts in a bucket. I'm flopped sideways on the couch wanting to paint furniture, but laying here seems all I can do right now. I'm facing a new phase. All the new doctors I've seen have been astonished (and more than a little disbelieving) when I tell them I've not had a blood transfusion. Not during my transplant, even. Yay me! But it looks like tomorrow I break my 4 year record and have to do the transfusion thing. I'm a little wigged out.

I'm sure folks who've been through it would pat me on the back and say, there there, but seriously. I am so extremely squeemish that I'm bug-eyed with fear. Phobias have no logic.

postscript: my neighbor just told me that people she's known felt on top of the world after a transfusion.

Okay then, with that, back to furniture.

One more time with feeling

I know, from reading other blogs, that I am not the only one to have second thoughts about a project. Sometimes the warm and fuzzy feeling just doesn't come. I've had projects go into the ugly phase, which they all do, but some never come out of it. There have been times when I've wanted to have "Revert to Saved" or "Undo" work in real life.

I've been working all week on redoing some pieces that I just didn't feel the love for.

BAA BAA BAD SHEEP

Remember my hopeless little table? I really didn't like that sheep. There's primitive - and then there's Paleolithic.

So I fixed it.

EVERY WHICH WAY BUT UP MIRROR

We had a mirror in our entry way that I was tiring of quickly. Then I got my card catalog and there was no place for the mirror. It was in the garage a few months so I thought, oh, what the heck. And I grabbed the chalk paint.

I was going after what another blogger called that "Pulled from a french barn after the fire" look. But I keep thinking maybe this mirror needs to be simply distressed white. There might be another redo in the offing.
Hmmmm

or....

GLAMOUR GIRLS GONE BAD

My 'over the top' bench needed calmed down some.

I ended up calming it down a lot!

The redo of the century has yet to be done. Ive been procrastinating, but it might be the perfect project right now since I can sit and work. Plus, no heavy lifting. Cool!

'nuff said.

2011-12-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

Cover your eyes! Another Union Jack!

2011-12-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

I think I confessed to this obsession early on. I am totally enamored of the Union Jack. (Did I hear someone say "duh"?)

A couple years ago when I lost my hair to chemo, I had an etsy artist make me a cotton headscarf using my favorite image - a watercolor style Union Jack. Lately I've been pondering how to repurpose it. I tried to use it on a vanity bench but I wasn't loving the bench's style. Then I remembered I had this little hooked rug stool, and I thought, hmmmmm.

Easy as pie! I painted the legs brown and sanded them back to show the original metallic gold. I added some foam because the seat was a little hard. To give the scarf more body I applied an iron-on interfacing. It turned out just right.

I attached the fabric to the stool and used jute for the trim and that was that. While I was working I watched a couple episodes of Nate Berkus. :-)

The colors in the scarf are rich and varied. They range from plum to aqua to olive to chocolate and back again.

Finished. All in all, a very pleasant afternoon! And I have another piece of Union Jack furniture. yay

Linking to these creative folks. Go see what they are doing!
primp
somewhat simple
crafty scrappy happy
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
my 1929 charmer

Who doesn't love Bullwinkle?

2011-12-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

Ahhhhh, the simple pleasures.

We have drafty doors. The house is 25 years old and here and there it is showing its age. I've been wanting a Union Jack draft-blocker for ages and didn't want to spend the money (they are a little spendy, if you can even find one) and also, I didn't want to drag my sewing machine into town to get fixed.

Then, out of nowhere came an idea. Make my own using plush animals. NO, wait! Make my own using Rocky and Bullwinkle characters! Brilliant!

It took a few weeks but I finally collected enough plush characters to cover the door jam. I found them on ebay for about $5 each, plus shipping. Not cheap but this is ART, baby, not just a draft-blocker. (snort)

At a thrift shop, much to my surprise, I found a simple draft-blocker to use as my base. It's cuteness made me think I'll try a chicken draft-blocker soon.

I wanted this project to be super easy so I used velcro dots to attach my little characters. They each got a dot on the bum. Snidely was a little scared. He turned green.

I moved them around a few times before I stuck them to the draft-blocker. I didn't want the obvious pairs together. Finally, there it was, my kooky, one of a kind (art, baby) draft-blocker.

It isn't really done yet. Turns out the little velcro dots aren't substantial enough to hold the plush dolls. The heavier ones fall off when I pick it up so I'll look for heavier velcro next time I'm in town.

So, what will be next? Hedgehogs? Chickens? Platypus? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs? That would be soooo cute! I'm thinking hedgehogs, though. Or Platypus.

Or maybe just a rolled up bath towel, and I'll get back to painting.

Linking up to more creative types:
http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/
the trendy treehouse
somewhat simple
crafty scrappy happy
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
my 1929 charmer

Well, RATS!

2011-12-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

Hmmmm, a hitch in my treatment, so I'm going to bore you with what I'll be doing when I'm not painting. Sharing the joy, people, just sharing the joy.

As it turned out, the clinical trial I was to join closed suddenly and I'm not doing junking and treatment in Portland after all. It came as a surprise to my doctors. So, now we wait and wonder some more. Sheesh. We've had at least three new drugs disappear off the radar just when it was getting to be my turn. Much as I adore my doctor here in Medford, a new face and new junk in Portland would be nice.

Meanwhile, we're going Old School! Drugs, apparently, go out of fashion sorta like shoes. The hot new ticket comes along and the old perfectly good model is forgotten. Because they've exhausted all the Hot New Drugs, the only choice now is to go back and re-look at some of the old meds that worked perfectly well....back in the day....

And I might lose my hair again - just in time for winter.

So, here's a brief glimpse into what I do when I'm not painting. It's not so bad, really. Lattes are delivered to your chair. What can beat that? The downside is how many hours it takes, every Friday. But again - JUNKING! I hit the thrift stores on the way there or on the way home. Whoo Hoo! When you live as far out of town as I do, any excuse to get to a thrift store is GOOD.

Here's the first step. Suck blood. Usually 4 vials or so.

Then, three or more hours of joy. My Honey bought me a Nook and I use the heck out of it.

The room is shaped like the Bridge of the Starship Enterprise.

YIKES! Paint and stain on my fingers. Oh well, what can I say? I'm BUSY.

I'm one of the lucky ones - only a few hours a week. Some folks have to do 8 hours, several days a week.

But really, who wouldn't rather be painting?

Vintage school chair fun!

2011-11-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

I have a zillion vintage and antique children's chairs from when that was my obsession and many of them are school chairs. So, I grabbed one of them and got my flat black spray paint and I was off! Whoo hoo, playing with kid's chairs! They are so much fun.

Here's what I did.

I'm on a nursery rhyme roll.

Who doesn't love a little lamb?

And the pair:

Another fun project done. On to the next. I think I'll do something for grown-ups. :-)

Linking to these creative folks:
http://www.thegunnysack.com/2011/11/whats-in-gunny-sack-link-party-14.html
http://my1929charmerblog.com/
between naps on the porch
the girl creative
mod vintage life
coastal charm
my uncommon slice of suburbia
fireflies and jellybeans
crafty scrappy happy
house of hepworths
http://www.the36thavenue.com/
savvy city farmer
primp

Missing my junking partner

2011-11-28T10:28:00.000-08:00

Last week I lost my junking partner to old age. He went on all junking expeditions with me. (He had exceptional taste.) Well, he actually went almost everywhere with me. His leaving has left a huge emptiness in our home.

Miss you, buddy.

The reward for hard work is hard work

2011-11-28T10:15:00.000-08:00

I get my booth at the antique mall on Thursday! There is soooo much work left to do. I have to make a sign. I have to make my hang tags. I have to finish painting a couple things. I have to figure out prices for new things.

Since I didn't have a clue how I was going to set up, and I didn't want to stand in front of an empty booth, dumbstruck, I decided to stage my booth in the garage. Using a buffet as the back, I taped off the dimensions and started hauling furniture out there.

My creative neighbor and her creative daughter came by and helped figure out the best arrangement. Then, after a lot of 'No, put it here' and 'Ewww, let's move that', we got the first rendition of the booth done. Without walls, of course, but still.

This is the hypothetical left side of the booth.

Do you see the new chair?

And the right side. I have lots of antique mirrors to hang, as well as Christmas bling, so the wall won't be the blank spot you see here.

Closer. This is so "before." Before polishing, before ironing, before painting (the vanity).

So, there's your sneak preview. If you are close to Medford, Oregon on Thursday, come see my progress at American Mercantile. I won't make you work. Honest.

Some fun with Chalkboard Paint

2011-11-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

I have 2 of these antique school desks that I used as nightstands in the guest room. Since the guest room is now my work room and we have the Giant Wall of Murphy Bed, I haven't needed them. This one doesn't have its original seat so I thought, hmmmmm. I've wanted to do this 1st-grade-primer-look on a childrens' school chair for ages but never got to it. So I thought it would be perfect on this desk and I could make a chalkboard out of the top. The back and the seat are flat black paint to match, but sprayed with a flat sealer coat. I did the lettering with a seamstress pencil because chalk didn't work, but I really wanted that chalk look. This was an absolutely, totally fun project. Now I'm going to do more - I have 4 old school chairs in my storage room. FUN!

I am crazy excited to do a series now. Geez, the work just piles up!

Linking up to these fun creative types:
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
primp
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/
http://thetrendytreehouse.blogspot.com/search/label/Share%20Wednesdays
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/
http://somedaycrafts.blogspot.com/
http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/
crafty scrappy happy
http://designergarden.blogspot.com/
bloggeritaville
http://www.the36thavenue.com/
http://www.remodelaholic.com
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/
http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/
http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/
thegunnysack.com
http://knickoftimeinteriors.blogspot.com/
chic on a shoestring decorating
a diamond in the stuff.
diy by design

On the bright side!

2011-11-11T17:46:00.000-08:00

Besides chalk paint, besides BIG pieces of furniture, there are these whimsical, crazy pieces that aren't getting much attention lately. The bright colors and patterns are the result of me channeling Alice in Wonderland and especially the White Rabbit. The White Rabbit is my muse. You should see my house - there are white rabbits everywhere. yikes

This is my Circus Box. I did this one for myself but as my house filled up with painted furniture
I had to make hard choices. This is now on etsy.

Before:

After:

This stool had 700 layers of old scary paint. It was nasty.

Before:

and after:

My Pin Up Girl bench is unlike anything else I've done. Va Va Va Voom!

Before:

and after:

Check out the fabric:

My little coffee bean shaped bench was done for charity.

Before:

and after. A terrible picture but you get the idea.

and finally, for today, my wacky doll highchair. (That is used as a plant stand.)

Before:

and after:

The crazy fabric was designed by Jay McCarroll, the very first Project Runway winner!

Check it out:

Wacky, huh?

Linking up to:
http://missmustardseed.com
http://www.remodelaholic.com/
http://redoux.blogspot.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://www.thegunnysack.com/
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
primp
http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/

Illustrating with Chalk Paint

2011-11-07T10:52:00.000-08:00

I call this my Chick Chair. I wanted to try the bright looking ASCP Antibes Green because I'd run across a cute grain sack that appeared to be the same shade of green. I had hesitated on purchasing the Antibes Green because it looked too bold, but I was assured it toned down with wax. Okay.

Yes indeed, the green became rich and mellow with some sanding and the application of wax.

And then I thought, hmmmm .... needs whimsy to go with the grain sack. So I added my "flock."

And that's when I realized ASCP was never intended for illustration. I had to learn to work with it, which really wasn't that difficult, just different from what I expected. You can't blend color on the image or easily add color to wet paint. The technique is more like painting with acrylics using a pallet knife.
Dab Dab Layer Layer.

So let me introduce you to the babies. (I love little chicks)

I might just keep this one.

Linking to these creative folks:
http://my1929charmerblog.com/sundays-best-party-11-6-11-new-cohost-and-the-winner-is/
http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/
http://www.betweenuandme.com/2011/11/crazy-cute-link-party-26-and-homestudio.html
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/search/label/Just%20Something%20I%20Whipped%20Up
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
crafty scrappy happy
http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://www.the36thavenue.com/
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/
http://www.alchemyfineliving.com/blog/
http://missmustardseed.com
http://www.remodelaholic.com/
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/
http://www.thegunnysack.com/
http://www.myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/
primp
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/
http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/
http://designergarden.blogspot.com/
http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/
http://debbie-debbiedoos.blogspot.com/
a diamond in the stuff
savvy city farmer

More before and after

2011-11-07T09:25:00.000-08:00

I love looking at before and after images. I cruise the web looking for them because I find them so inspiring. Every now and then I see a Better Before and wonder what were they thinking? When I was compiling images for this post I ran across my OWN Better Before, which I'm not going to show you. :-) I'm going to repaint it and maybe we will have a Before-After-Way After post. Meanwhile here are some befores and afters that don't embarrass me.

Telephone bench done with Red Pepper Milk Paint and chalkboard paint.

I didn't realize this little bench had once been upholstered when I found it.
The fabric is a vintage Calla Lilly tea towel.

Before-after piano bench - commission piece

My art deco bench painted with graphite Chalk Paint, with French Script fabric.

Another Union Jack! This one was upholstered with a wall hanging from Urban Outfitters
and painted with Milk Paint.

Next, I'll show you my AFTER chair. Sooooo frustrated I forgot to take before pictures.

Linking to these great places:
http://my1929charmerblog.com/sundays-best-party-11-6-11-new-cohost-and-the-winner-is/
http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/
http://www.betweenuandme.com/2011/11/crazy-cute-link-party-26-and-homestudio.html
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/search/label/Just%20Something%20I%20Whipped%20Up
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
crafty scrappy happy
http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://www.the36thavenue.com/
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/
http://www.alchemyfineliving.com/blog/
http://missmustardseed.com
primp
http://www.myrepurposedlife.net/

Morning has broken

2011-11-06T08:08:00.000-08:00

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the colors and the crisp air. This is the view from my livingroom window, it's my fall decor captured at dawn. Mother Nature does a fabulous job, doesn't she? I could look at this forever.

Have a beautiful day!

Whoo Hoo! Another month!

2011-11-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had my monthly appointment with my hematologist, and he said I didn't have to have chemo for another month. That makes 6 months without chemo. It's the furniture, I just know it. It's the passion that keeps me going.

So much so that while the doctor wanted to discuss future treatment, I wanted to talk FURNITURE. My Honey got us back on track to treatment. Sheesh. I had the doctor laughing at my misadventures.

So, in short, the next step for me is a clinical trial in Portland. And I immediately thought JUNKING! Hippo Hardware!
And junking!

One of my above mentioned misadventures was having a solid core door fall on me, but luckily (sadly) my empire desk got in the way. Look at the damage! Yikes. Coulda been my head.
But my poor desk!

Today I am doing reconstructive surgery. I'm using some gooey Wood Filler form Elmer's and it seems to be working well. Which is great because I bought it accidentally, thinking it was something else. (Love it when a plan comes together.)

:-)

The tale of a poor little hopeless table

2011-10-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

When I found this little table at a local thrift I was pretty darn happy -
someone had put the first coat of paint on it for me!

That was short-lived. I started to sand and the paint rolled up into goo. I have heard that
latex paint has to "cure" for a month before it can be sanded.
Fine. I put the table away for a month.

Then I tried sanding again. And got goo again. Plus, whoever painted this table used the
paint to fill breaks and cracks, instead of repairing the wood.

Argh. I had to use stripper. And guess what?
The paint turned to EIGHT LAYERS OF GOO!

I've never seen anything like it! It WOULD NOT come off. Seriously, who has time for this?
I got out my friend.

I accidentally set the table on fire and my first Blogger Thought was 'I need to get
a picture!' My second Blogger Thought was 'Don't burn down the garage'.

I can't even remember how many rounds of stripping and sanding I did after that.
I was not going to let paint get the best of me.

And finally, 37 years later, it was good enough to repaint.

And so I got on with it. ASCP in Paris Grey and Emile did the trick.

I had no choice but to go with a primitive look, but I'm happy with my cute little 'sheep'
table! I would still like to know why the paint refused to be sanded. Any ideas?

Linking to
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com/2011/10/mod-mix-monday-22.html
http://my1929charmerblog.com
primp
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/search/label/Just%20Something%20I%20Whipped%20Up
http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com/
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
crafty scrappy happy
http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://www.the36thavenue.com/
http://www.alchemyfineliving.com/blog/

You don't know Jack

2011-10-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

I've been asked where the design of the Union Jack came from so I thought I'd post a little history link. The Union Jack design is an elegant solution to a design dilemma that, as a graphic designer, I think is fabulous.

Here is the basic time-line: First, add Scotland to England, then later add Ireland to both.

For a quick history lesson, please go the the source of this graphic:

http://www.dailystep.com/content.asp?id=25942

Seriously, it's only a few paragraphs and then you'll know Jack.

Spontaneous

2011-10-23T18:25:00.000-07:00

I get an idea and have to see it through RIGHT NOW. I call it "Being spontaneous". My Honey calls it "Going off half-baked". Whichever it is, it's how I found myself out in the driveway painting a drop cloth. I have been wanting a canvas Union Jack rug for ages but they are crazy expensive - over $200. yikes. I thought I'd make one myself, but there never seemed to be enough room to spread out something like that. So my Ah HA moment was to just run outside and paint some canvas.

I had lots of fabric paint left over from when I was painting denim jackets. I had a drop cloth. Off I went.

Getting started

What I used

Blocking and painting

I crumpled the canvas and sprayed sidways to get some faded "wrinkles."

A few coats of polyurathane and I had my floorcloth.

I am the Olive Union Jack Queen! Or is it the Crazy Union Jack Lady?

Now I want to do a large floorcloth to put in the livingroom, weather permitting. I have another week of good weather according to accuweather. Fingers crossed.
Oh, and it won't be a Union Jack!

Linking up to these creative folk - take a look:
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
http://jaimelyn11.blogspot.com/
http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com/
http://www.remodelaholic.com/
http://www.thevintagefarmhouse.com/
http://www.thegirlcreative.com/search/label/Just%20Something%20I%20Whipped%20Up
http://www.domestically-speaking.com/
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/
http://firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com/
http://www.houseofhepworths.com/
http://www.the36thavenue.com/
http://savedbysuzy.blogspot.com/

Old time sepia

2011-10-21T06:31:00.000-07:00

Until I get some photography lessons, I'm having fun in Photoshop. Is it just me or does a sepia tint make vintage items look more interesting? I really like the way old mirrors look in a sepia tint, especially when a cracked filter is added. Glassware also seems to get more interesting. Maybe it's just that I love old sepia photographs.

Maybe it's just that I love old STUFF!

I'm off to the Friday Estate Sales this morning, getting a jump on the weekend. The weather is still lovely in Southern Oregon but it won't last. And when it goes, so do the sales.

When I get home I want to try out my paint sprayer with Chalk Paint. I'm more excited about that than the Estate sales!

And now, for something completely different

2011-10-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

I found this old sewing cabinet at a thrift shop in Roseburg and thought it would fit my sewing machine. We'll see about that - I haven't taken the old one out to try it yet.

This cabinet had in the drawers all the machine attachments, owners guides and the original receipt from 1940! With the purchaser's name and address. And it had mouse poop! Lots of it! Picture me doing the Eww! Eww! Eww! Dance.

I had a wild urge to do something really rustic and there sat this cabinet.... maybe not an appropriate candidate but it was handy.

And so I began.

And continued

And the details - after sanding and waxing

Until I had this

Now that I'm more comfortable with the Totally Rustic look, I'm ready for the next project. I found this little goody at the GW and I can hardly wait to dive in. Rustic is what this little guy is all about.

So, now I have around 7 things that are "up next." Hmmmm. Better get to work!

Linking up to these creative folks:
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.remodelaholic.com/
http://www.thevintagefarmhouse.com/

I seem to have a one track mind.

2011-10-18T09:57:00.000-07:00

I can't help myself. I really can't. Remember when I said I wander around the house asking every piece of furniture "Wanna be a Union Jack?" Well .... so there I was. There was a giant blank piece of wood looming over me .... I can't help it. Really.

UPDATE! I was in a big fat hurry and didn't mention this is a mock-up in Photoshop. I always do a mock-up if my idea is something I really need to see before I dive in. Usually I just dive in, which is why I was in a big fat hurry. I had to rush outside with drop cloth and paint because I had an IDEA.

I'll be posting a tutorial of said idea soon.

Other ideas include:

And I still am considering just adding molding.

Such a huge canvas! So many possibilities!

I'm doing a guest tutorial at Muse!

2011-10-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

Pam at Mercantile Muse invited me to do a guest tutorial (my first!) and today is the day it's posted. I showed the step-by-step for creating these vintage advertising trays:

So please visit Mercantile Muse at

http://batesmercantileco.blogspot.com/2011/10/be-our-guest-transfer-to-vintage-tray.html

and get some tips on making your own custom tray.

These two trays will be available for purchase on etsy.com soon!

The bed that ate my work room.

2011-10-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

I need some advice. We installed this murphy bed in my work room so we wouldn't have to make guests suffer on an airbed - even tho it was a NICE airbed.

What I didn't expect was the murphy bed swallowing my room. It is so big and in-your-face. So, my question is: has anyone out there ever painted a murphy bed? It IS a big canvas just waiting ....... for something. I am considering adding molding to give it more character and interest. The front is sooo flat.

Meanwhile, it looms over me like a giant while I work on other projects. So paint? Stain a GIANT Union Jack? hahhahahahah. yikes.

When the cat's away .......

2011-10-16T07:21:00.000-07:00

When my honey was on a business trip a few weeks ago, I had a thought. Which led to more thoughts. And that led to me digging out the paint rollers and tray, unearthing a drop cloth and grabbing all manner of paints. The hutch was going to be transformed. I'd been dabbing test spots on it for a year, looking for the right color. Time to Just Do It.

Here is a "before" shot of the dining room. The only reason I have it is I was looking for a new light fixture and took some pictures to help me decide. Notice the mass-produced, super shiny finish on the table. Ugh. Notice the hutch is actually a Black Hole of Doom, sucking in all light. And, especially, take note of that wallpaper and trim. Ten years ago I happened to see our wallpaper featured in the "before" section of a magazine story. This year the wallpaper turned 25! Yikes. It's about time I did something about it.

Here's what I started with.

And another "sorta before" shot of paint daubs. The WINNER was Annie Sloan Chalk Paint: Paris Grey, Old White and Duck Egg Blue. But I get ahead of myself.

First I covered the entire hutch with a special blend of oops paints. The color is a soft sage-gray. I painted the inside a brilliant white. Then I got too excited and experimented with glaze around the glass. Which I had to sand off.

Not that it happened to me or anything, but if you spill stain or glaze on the carpet while Hubby is out of town, Professional Strength Goof Off takes it out. Just sayin'.

Enter the Chalk Paint. I added a coat of Paris Grey to tone down the green, then used Old White and Duck Egg Blue for the trim.

The next step was dark wax tempered with clear wax. I found rubbing on dark wax, then taking some of it off with clear wax worked well for me. Are you lovin' the wallpaper yet?

Time to start distressing. Chalk Paint distresses beautifully. A light touch goes a long way.

We're getting there! No hardware yet and that wallpaper is still there!

The final details.

Before I added the pulls I rubbed the drawer and door panels with Old White. I also went back and softened the screaming white interior with a soft cream for the sides and sage green for the shelves. Much better!

Ahhhh, the sun came up as I took this shot. I found these awesome glass pulls at VanDykes online, after looking forever. Now the hunt was on for the knobs.

I finally settled on a shape and picked these knobs from Lowes. I used short shots of 3 different spray paints, then glaze and finally a coat of polyurethane to get the look I wanted.

AND IT"S DONE! Complete with my little brass bat hanging on the side. Now that the wallpaper is gone, hmmmm, maybe get rid of the icky wall to wall?

Don't forget - any furniture you see here is for sale! Contact me for info or click on the Etsy link.

Linking to:
http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/
http://my1929charmerblog.com
http://www.thevintagefarmhouse.com/

Back from the coast

2011-10-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

My Honey, Blu (the dog) and I went to the coast for a few days of 4-wheeling in the dunes and junking. We had a lot of fun and a couple hiccups, just to make it interesting. Well, maybe jack-knifing the truck and trailer wasn't just a hiccup. Whatever. We got over it. Then, way out in the dunes, we realized the fan had punctured the radiator on the Jeep during one of our, uhhh, bumps. YEEHAW! We raced back to where we'd left the truck and trailer with radiator water to spare.

My Honey dropped me off in the antique district of the little town we were staying in and took off to fix the radiator. Well, he had to replace the passenger window crank too, but that wasn't entirely my fault.

Anyway, the point is: Look at what I found! I'm going to start painting this little honey today (after I clean the dust off). I'm also going to teach myself a new technique for repairing plaster. I am sooo excited!

I'm also going to start painting this little Las Vegas cutie-pie. I have to have at least 3 things going at once or I get impatient and do something silly, like start sanding before the paint is dry.

Oh. Right. I know the table is missing a top. I haven't decided what I'll do ...... glass maybe? dunno

Okay, off to my workroom I go! Happy dance happy dance.

Fight Like a Lady

2011-10-10T07:40:00.000-07:00

While breast cancer isn't what I'm battling, it has affected my family and my friends. Please support Signify Pink and help make a difference.

“So many of us watch friends and family fight the fight each and every day. Here are a few facts about the people battling breast cancer (according to Susan G. Komen for the Cure):

· The District of Columbia has reported the most incidences of women’s breast cancer, affecting 139,000 women

· 5% of breast cancer cases occur in women under 40

· In 2011, there will be 39,520 breast cancer deaths

SignifyPink has partnered with Ladies’ Home Journal to support breast cancer research and awareness through the sales of “Fight Like a Lady” shirts and hats. Each sale will generate a 30 percent donation toward one of three breast cancer awareness organizations, selected by the customer at point of purchase: American Cancer Society, National Breast Cancer Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Visit wearethefight.com to make a difference today. Merchandise will be available now through October 31.”

Three passions in one!

2011-10-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

I love old, wooden, neglected boxes. I have a house full of them. I also love the Union Jack and the color olive. I might love olive too much, but eh. I planned to paint this box in traditional colors but doing that gave me the screaming heebie-jeebies. I switched to olive. Ahhhhhh, so much better. So here's my latest Union Jack.

I used a combination of acrylic, milk and chalk paint at random, depending on what color I had available. Then I waxed it with clear soft wax. It is very rustic looking, much like the dresser i posted earlier. Straight to etsy.com it goes!

Linking to:

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/

http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/

http://jaimelyn11.blogspot.com/

Chalk Paint strikes again!

2011-10-04T07:10:00.000-07:00

Here is my tall side table 'before.' It is a cute little thing but someone didn't take good care of it.

I'm showing all the dings and wear because the awesome ASCP allowed me to dive into painting without any of that boring sanding and stripping. Using Duck Egg Blue I dragged the brush over the legs, not worrying about coverage, since I wanted a rustic look. It turned out perfect.

The next step was the checkerboard legs. I masked off the legs with automotive tape. It's more flexible than painters tape, I think. I used Old White for the checks and Aubusson Blue for the accents. When I pulled the tape off I got random patches of chippiness.

Next, the top. I covered the top and inside the drawer with Paris Grey, then Used Old White for the checks and Aubusson Blue for the accents. I'm loving these three colors together. For the feet and the border on top, I used Graphite.

A good, solid coating of wax and some spray sealer on top (for extra protection) and my little table was done!

Onto etsy.com this one goes. I'll hate to see it go but I'm enjoying looking at it in my living room while I can!

Linking to:

http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com/
http://jaimelyn11.blogspot.com/
http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/

http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/

http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/
http://my1929charmerblog.com
http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/

Ho boy. Sorry Doc.

2011-10-04T06:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we had an appointment with my oncologist before I had infusion. Same ole, same ole, UNTIL he said 'No heavy lifting. You can't be moving heavy furniture. A bone could snap.'

The h*ll? I was stunned. Heck, I move heavy furniture all the time. sheesh.

My doctor would have not liked to see what I did the day before .........

My new old card catalog - absolutely STUFFED into my car. Picture a sewing machine cabinet, lamp globes, boxes of odds and ends and the rear car seat also crammed in there. It's a good thing I had left one of the rear seats at home.

Five people shoved it in there, but there were only 2 to get it out. We removed all 60 drawers before attempting to budge the thing.

We finally got to use the massive old wine barrel hand truck I found earlier in the summer. My Honey wheeled it around to the front door. Bricks all the way people. We wrestled it inside where it will sit in the entry way until I change my mind. :-)

I need to clean the stickers off the wood, but that's all. I have to pinch myself - I never thought I'd have one of these.

Oh boy. Oh boy. Oh boy.

2011-10-02T07:04:00.000-07:00

A girlfriend and I went north yesterday, on the hunt for used furniture. Now, I'm not the person who is in the right place at the right time. Those fantabulous Craigslist finds? Nope, not me. Awesome furniture out on the curb? Where the heck do you live?

BUT yesterday we wandered into a used furniture store and what to my wondering eyes did appear? One of these! (this image is from http://ashleydickson.com)

My heart leaped! My heart SANG! I've wanted a card catalog forEVER. It was a bargain but I wasn't sure I should spend the money ....... so we left. And came back. The owner of the store was there and I asked him what his best price would be and he said $100. I was speechless. I only see these large pieces at $800 and up. He said for that price we had to haul it home - he wouldn't deliver. Well, home was 100 miles away, so whatever. We knew delivery wasn't an option.

I wish I had taken pictures of getting this thing into my car, which already had a stained glass window and a sewing machine cabinet in it. Holy cow. We actually stopped a young man walking down the street and asked him to help. Later this morning, when it is light, I'll take pictures of getting this behemoth OUT of my car. yikes

Stay tuned.

My summer workplace

2011-09-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

I've already posted about my work room transformation. I love my work room. I'll love it more when it is completed. Whatever.

In the summer I prefer to work outside or in the open garage. I worked at my little kiddie table on my little kiddie chair....UNTIL.
I was at the estate sale of a longtime Jacksonville resident and artist. His studio was a saloon in the 1800s. And look at what i spyed at the back of the yard!

It is a table from the saloon, 150 years old, cut from one slab of tree. It's 12 feet long and has character like crazy! (Read: dry rot). Four antique dealers swarmed and I slapped my "SOLD" sticker on it lickety-split. Mine!

It has one good foot and three in various stages of decay, the aforementioned dry rot and cracks throughout. Perfect.
We had to get a flatbed trailer to get it home. Here it is early on. We had to raise it a bit so I wasn't banging my knees. And there was a bit of disarray.

I've been working on organization and now know pretty much where everything is and, best of all, I have 3 work stations on one table.

Another fun thing we did for spay paint storage was build a cabinet from fruit crates. I still have to put labels on but for now, here it is open.

And closed. Cool, huh?

Now I need to get off the computer, get out to the garage and finish 3 things!

Facebook page!

2011-09-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

I've been struggling to get a Facebook page going for Bad Rabbit. I had one up and running then I .... somehow .... deleted all the posts when I tried to get rid of photos that I thought were in the wrong place.

My Honey tells me I can't control the photos, that the bar on top will change whenever I post something new.

Can't control the photos? As a graphic designer I find that to be the stuff of nightmares. NIGHTMARES!

Whatever. I'll try to roll with it..... grrrrrrrr. Meanwhile, here is Bad Rabbit's Facebook address:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bad-Rabbit-Vintage/264235443608325

And the picture from VEGAS, Baby! that ended the life of the first Facebook page.

Wouldn't it be cool if he had black sunglasses?

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint to the rescue

2011-09-21T06:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, so we know I heart the Union Jack. I had been eyeballing the little red chair in my livingroom for weeks; to paint or not to paint, that is the question. Oh heck, paint! The old, worn red paint was an interesting shape to I took my favorite color - olive - and altered it to the Union Jack. It came out very abstract, no?

It took hardly any time at all for me to really dislike the red and green combo. Seriously? The Christmas Jack? Ugh, but I lived with it for ages. Then I couldn't take it any more, plus I got a new shipment of Chalk Paint. So there I was, eyeballing my little Christmas chair with ASCP firmly in hand. Here's what I have now. Still a graphic, abstract Union Jack but much more fun (to me, anyway).

I used Graphite, Graphite with black pigment added, Paris Grey and Old White. I lightly sanded to reveal some red, topped with clear wax and a good buffing. I'm really happy with my little gray chair. Now, I have to decide if I'll list it on etsy.

And, of course, I'm looking at every stick of furniture, asking the silent question: Wanna be a Union Jack?

Linking to:

http://jaimelyn11.blogspot.com/

http://www.findingfabulousblog.com/

http://micheleravendesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/
http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com

Making it all worthwhile

2011-09-20T07:13:00.000-07:00

I have the most wonderful customers! My store on etsy.com has been busy! In the last several days I have shipped the following:

And I sweat bullets hoping A: It arrives safely and B: the customer is happy. Like I said, I have the most wonderful customers! I received emails telling me how much they loved the furniture and one customer said my work makes her happy. Yay! The nice woman who purchased my advertising trunk actually called me to say how much she and her husband love the trunk! Talk about Make My Day! Happy Dance Happy Dance

That's what it's all about - creating things for people to love. Makes me a happy girl.

What to do between Super Bowl commercials

2011-09-14T08:48:00.000-07:00

When I got home with this carriage not a word was said, not good, bad or indifferent. Clearly my Honey thought I'd lost my mind. But I had a vision and Google. Google helped me figure out how to proceed and the vision kept me going. The carriage sat for months, then on Super Bowl Sunday I sat and worked on it during the game stopping to watch the commercials.

Just a little ratty, wouldn't you say? And the Killer Attack Spider living in it is a whole separate story.

Good thing the Super Bowl lasts for hours. I sat the whole time reweaving. There are a couple holes I can't fix because the reed or rattan or whatever isn't available in my small town. BUT. It still turned out better than I ever thought!

And now it is doing its intended job of holding my current fabrics where I can see them, and it is looking adorable while doing it. Diving into something without a clue might not be for everybody but it seems to work for me.

I still intend to fix the loose cane at the bottom and the little holes here and there, but eh. Maybe during the Super Bowl.

More passion! Chalk paint and milk paint!

2011-09-11T06:28:00.000-07:00

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint and Real Milk Paint are my big paint passions right now. (Until I perfect my own concoction. But that is another story entirely.) When i first tried these paints I had only sample sizes in random colors. I had a table to paint and I decided to use what I had.

I had no idea what would happen layering milk paint over chalk paint and vise versa. This was before I decided to make my own paint and had that white chair adventure. But for those of you that haven't used the two types of paint together Here are some photos of what to expect.

When layered, the Milk Paint and Chalk Paint craze and crackle on their own. We had a house guest when I painted this and we sat and watched the paint split and crack. He called it "The most amazing process", and it was! There is no way crackle glaze can compete with this.

I sanded just a little bit on some edges but for the most part all the distressing on this table was done without any help from me. When the paint was dry and set I rubbed in some dark wax to accent the crazing. And I love the result.

The finished table is really pretty. The patina is amazing. The colors are rich and old. Speaking of colors, I used Real Milk Paint Tavern Green, Pumpkin and Light Cream with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Old White, Paris Grey and Duck Egg Blue.

I reluctantly listed the table on etsy. sigh. I can't keep everything. I hope whoever purchases this treasure loves it as much as I do.

Linking to:

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

http://www.perfectlyimperfectblog.com/

Up and coming

2011-09-08T20:06:00.000-07:00

There is a movement to get my Honey a t-shirt that says Poor Michael.

Poor Michael. I was out running an errand when my car suddenly took a sharp right at a garage sale sign. I swear! And that's how I ended up coming home with a clunky prairie style desk and a heavy topless dresser stuffed into my car.

Exhibit A and B:

The dresser was $2. Notice the bin pulls. It has $30 worth of bin pulls. And it was my Honey, not ME, that decided this battered old thing should be restored.

A couple days before I dragged those specimens home, I ran across this treasure on the way to an appointment. A REAL treasure! 1920s waterfall cedar chest with wooden hinges. With some help I got it stuffed into my car.

Exhibit C:

A couple weeks ago I came home with this nifty chest. Wait 'till you see what I have planned for it!

Exhibit D:

There is one more piece - a big FREE prairie dresser. I have a great idea for it. I can hardly wait!

Exhibit E:

So this is what is up and coming in the next several weeks. As soon as the bathroom is done....... meanwhile these big pieces of furniture and more are crammed into the garage. Poor Michael.

Laboring

2011-09-05T17:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day!

We labored all weekend redoing our master bath. New fixtures, paint (tedious wallpaper removal) and new flooring. yay It will be done by the end of the week.

While stuff was drying in the bathroom I did this little fun project:

Before: a super outdated, homely jewelry box. I had it in the closet, didn't use it, but I kept it for 40 years because it was a gift.

The wonders of spray paint! Notice the spindles are gone. The jewelry box looks younger already!

The extra added wonders of ASCP Duck Egg Blue and a bit of glaze.

Add some screen and WOW! Cute jewelry box. It looks like my big hutch had a baby.

Dramatic update. Just to refresh: BEFORE and AFTER:

I'm tempted to list it on etsy..... we'll see. Meanwhile, check out some of the painted pieces at Domestically Speaking's Power of Paint:

http://www.domestically-speaking.com/2011/09/90th-power-of-paint-party-tips.html

Passion and Denial

2011-09-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to dwell, but my reality is I deal with cancer day in and day out. HOW I deal with it is what matters. I deal with it with a good attitude and what my doctor calls Functional Denial. What that means is I ignore being sick and just get on with my life. Which is painting furniture and ..... JUNKING!

Having a passion for something enriches anyone's life, but when going through life's less-fun moments, your passion and attitude is what will make or break you. So far I have defied all the doctors' expectations and have left them scratching their heads. My test results say I should be in chemo but the reality is I'm doing great and my doctors have chosen to not treat me until further notice. PASSION, people. And a healthy dose of functional denial. And a strong sense of just get on with it. And garage sales.

And now for the real post about passion:

My crazy passion and obsession - the Union Jack

2011-09-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

I can't help it. I have Union Jack sweaters, t shirts, pillows, jewelry and even furniture. Which brings me to my Union Jack dresser. It's everything I love - olive green and the Union Jack, together on a vintage dresser. What else could a girl want?

I saw this dresser on the way to work one morning and skidded to a stop. A garage sale was being set up and my timing was right. I quickly checked the dresser out - dove tail drawers, Basset, cool hardware. MINE! I called my Honey and asked him to pick it up for me.

A few hours later my Honey calls and asks me if I knew the dresser was made of particle board. Say WHAT? That wasn't all. In short it is the crappiest dresser Basset ever made and no way could I ever paint and sell it.

So I painted it for ME. I used my favorite colors and stylized the Union Jack in the manner of Vivienne Westwood or AllSaints (meaning, yes I know the stripes are incorrect) and what I now have is a uniquely me piece of furniture.

I used acrylic paints over an oops-paint white. Then finished the bottom and sides with glaze. Finally the whole dresser was coated with clear wax.

Hail Britannia!

Linking to:

http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/

http://modvintagelife.blogspot.com
http://verymerryvintagestyle.blogspot.com/
http://restoreinteriors.blogspot.com/

It's because it was 90 degrees and I wasn't wearing a hat.

2011-08-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

I drove away from this yard sale wondering why? Why? Why did I buy this thing?

It's a wonder anything got done.

2011-08-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

I'm showing these pictures with my teeth clenched and eyes clamped shut. It's my work room before and after. Although there have been minor changes to the 'after' as I add new goodies. (I came across a brass swing-arm industrial lamp that is now my sewing light.)

My work room is also the guest room. There used to be a queen size bed in there but I got inspired and decided to make changes. Exit real bed, enter airbed.

So, in the beginning, this is how I worked. It's a look into my addled mind.

You can't see it but all 4 walls had the most hideous beige fussy wallpaper. I spent a few weeks living with blobs of color until i decided on one taupe wall and 3 white. yay. Decision made.

This picture is blurry and awful but you get the idea.

When I grew tired of tripping over stuff and never finding anything, I got organized.

Ahhhhh, the joy of a relaxed mind. And I pretty much know where everything is. An antique stroller (that I refurbished) now holds my fabric. Tools are in tool boxes. The side of an old iron crib is my bulletin board. A really old window will frame whatever pictures I put up. There is string and miniature cloths pins to hang them from. Someday I'll finish painting chairs on the wall. And yes, I work on a child's card table and chair. :-)

Do Not Try This at Home

2011-08-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Or
How My Life Serves as a Warning to Others PART ONE

So I had this great idea; I would make my own paint! How hard could it be? Peasants and pioneers did it, right? So I searched the web for info and found some recipes for milk paint and some others I'd never heard of. OH GOODY!! Here I go! And here is the test subject:

My first batch of milk paint was not so successful. There were coverage issues. I wanted white but didn't know what to use as a pigment. More milk?

I decided to switch direction and make brown paint. What better for pigment than instant coffee? Well, lots of things, apparently, but I digress.

I diluted some coffee, added it to my mixture with a little olive pigment left over from fabric painting and the paint thinned out to an olive green glaze. SURPRISE!

Before and after:

Argh. It was pretty, but really, I wanted white. So, enter:

Yeah, I threw in the towel .... for the moment. This was the first time I'd used the canned version of milk paint so I was actually pretty excited. But it came with its own learning curve.

The milk paint fell off my home-made glaze. Fell. Off. I had to sand the entire chair. Again. And I painted it again. This time the purchased milk paint chipped and crazed but didn't actually LEAP off the chair. It was lovely.

And finally, the perfect chippy white chair before

and after .....

Close up of the new seat - an antique canvas cement bag.

And one last word of advice: do not spray polyurathane on milk paint. Just don't. When you are least expecting it, it will LEAP off the piece of furniture and scramble for cover. It will especially time this for when you want to take pictures. And then you get to sand again. Then you apply wax like you should have from the beginning.

Am I finished trying to make paint? NO. Certainly not. I have purchased white pigment. I am woman hear me roar.

To be continued.........

My junking partners

2011-08-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

It's important to have a good junking partner. One who isn't competing with you for the same stuff. Someone with either an eagle-eye for yard sale signs or mad driving skills allowing for a bat-turn when at the wheel.

I have a terrific junking partner but this is the only photo I have of her. She looks for marked pottery; I look for .... junk. Or, Rusty Goodness, as I prefer to say. Never will you find us rolling on the ground fighting over the same Find.

My other junking partner has no interest in competing for the good stuff. He's in it for cookies. And a chance to pee in new places. Too bad he can't share the driving - he's almost blind, I'm pretty sure all he sees are big fuzzy blobs.

So, every weekend we're out there, on the hunt. You never know what you'll run across so better get there early, before the good stuff is gone. Later I'll post photos of some of the more interesting items I've stumbled across.

What could it be now?

2011-08-19T04:49:00.000-07:00

I went garage saleing with my father-in-law over the weekend and got some really cool .... stuff. So, what do we have here?

Yay junking! Bless those FREE tables. They are loaded with possibilities. Stay tuned - this mass of cra.... I mean odds and ends, is going to turn into ... something. Just you wait!

More before and after

2011-08-08T06:57:00.000-07:00

If I remember, I take pictures as I unload my car and the shots look like a police lineup. So, I guess I'm saying "Sorry about the lame 'before" pictures. Heh.

This little stool was a test subject. It is painted with Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint and it was given a coat of wax. The chipping is the result of using a blow dryer to hasten the drying time. It was a happy surprise!

Another Chalk Paint project. This little table was already in the process of being painted when I remembered to do a "before" shot. Oops.

Last up this morning is a fun little bench done with home-made milk paint as well as Real Milk Paint - the kind that comes in powdered form. I have a huge story, complete with pictures, of my adventures making my own paint. I'll be posting those when I get more organized. It's one of those "Let my life serve as a warning to others" kind of stories ......

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl, Baby Girl

2011-08-06T06:18:00.000-07:00

That's how I feel sticking my big toe into the blogging waters. There are so many fabulous designer/bloggers already sharing and here I am, a newbie getting started. Just now, for instance I accidentally deleted an entire post with pictures. Good one!

So, starting over... I am posting some before and after pics as a way to introduce myself. I get wildly excited when a piece of furniture gets home and I grab my sander. I grab the stripper. I grab the primer. I almost NEVER remember to grab my camera. So, the before pictures are rather scarce but I'm learning, my dears, I am learning.

Here is the before and after of a trunk I did for my livingroom. FUN!

Later today I'll add more pics, but for now, it's time to hit the Saturday morning yard sales. Gotta look for more treasures!