What I've Been Up To.....

Wow. I've been absent from the blog-o-sphere for a while....

No really GOOD reason, just lots a' schtuff going on.

I finally finished this chair and plant stand for my mom.

(They were supposed to be her birthday and Christmas presents! Yikes.)

They are painted with ASCP Provence.

Chase started wrestling, and is loving it so far.

Of course, he hasn't been to a meet or really been pinned yet....

I think I'm more nervous than he is.

I've been working on this incredible dresser for a client,

and I hope to have some great "after" photos to post very soon!

I've accquired some more pieces that are aching to be painted!

I have lots of ideas of what to do with them, of course,

but if you think any of them suite you, they are available for customization....

Antique Maple Hutch

Incredibly well built retro dresser set... can't wait to tackle this one!

And yes, that is a mountain of other furniture in my garage...:)

Full size maple headboard and footboard with metal rails.

I've also been working on lots of little things.

Stools, frames, etc, on which to practice different painting techniques.

This warm weather is really getting me excited!

As you can see, I have lots of fun in store!

Fun and Love for Sadie

I'm sure this happens to everyone... You click on a friends facebook post, and you read a story that tugs on your heart... and you feel the need to help. THIS PARTICULAR STORY did that for me. Maybe it's because I have three children of my own... One of which, is a little blond girl close to Sadies age...But none of which, I think I could bare to live without. Maybe it's because I know the family, in a round-about sort-of way... Or maybe it's just because I can help...  I don't want this opportunity to pass me by.

So, I decided to donate this cute little antique side table to the AUCTION which, btw, sounds like it's going to be an awesome good time!
You can't even imagine all the insecurities I've had over this!

 Silly, I know.

So I wrote this saying on the chalkboard top, as a little pep talk for myself! :)

I painted it in ASCP Provence, with chalkboard paint on the top.

It's the first time I've used chalkboard paint, and my kids are really diggin it.

I imagine I'll be doing more of it!

The drawers are lined with fabric...

And no, it's not perfect...but it's beautiful! :)

To read about Sadies story, click HERE.

For information about the auction, and how to donate click HERE.

If you can, come out to the auction, have some FUN and show some LOVE for SADIE!

I Think I MIGHT Have Too Much Furniture.....

This is where Mark raises his eyebrows and smiles.... "might?" O.K. I admit I have a problem. I collect furniture. HOWEVER, in my defense, I am also able to let it go... (sometimes;)

Here is a chair I did a while back... Sorry, no "before" photo. I primed and painted and distressed it. Finished with a satin polycrylic. The fabric is from Amy Butler's LOVE line. And I LOVE it.

FOR SALE $ 30.00   SOLD

Quilt is not included. Sorry. I made it out of a duvet cover I found at D.I. and a charm pack. "Central Park" by Kate Spain. I just thought it looked so cute with this chair!


Remember this dresser? You can see the original post HERE.

FOR SALE $ 115.00   SOLD.

I have a number of other things in the works right now.... Can't wait to show you!

Good Times With an Antique Vanity...

O.K. Here's the "before" picture of this cute little number. I had SO many ideas of things to do with it, I couldn't decide what to do... Once I sanded it down, and saw how gorgeous the wood was on top, I HAD to stain it. And having a new birthday stash of Annie Sloan paint I decided to paint the bottom in "French Linen."



I had intended to re-use the pulls, they are part of the reason I bought the piece, but once I got it painted, distressed and glazed, I thought the nickel cup pulls looked better. I'll save the originals for something else...



I guess it was meant to be a vanity... When I bought it, it still had the boards that held the mirror on, but no mirror. It would still make an excellent vanity with a mirror standing on it, or hung on the wall above...

But I always saw it as a desk, with a can of pencils and a stack of books...

I decided to line the drawers with the same fabric I used for the red trestle desk. It looks so good with the grey of the desk... which is a bit darker in person than in the photos.

The painted portion is lightly distressed and has been lightly glazed as well.

The dimensions are 46 1/2" wide, 19 1/2" deep, 30 1/4" tall.

Now that it's finished, I can even see it as a t.v. console, or an entryway piece... Heck, whatever it's purpose will be, it will look good doing it. I love how it turned out!

And I now have a CHAIR to match!

I forgot to take a "before" picture, but here's a quick "during."

You can see it was desparate for a change! :)

And here's the AFTER...

           

SOLD

Linking up to

Drop Leaf Coffee Table

I'm a sucker for drop leaf tables. So when I came across this coffee table last summer I had to have it. It's very functional, and rather primitive. The wood is slightly warped and there are dents and gouges everywhere...I love that!



I decided to paint it "Aubusson Blue" by Annie Sloan. I waxed it with her clear wax and a bit of the dark wax around the edges. It was really good for me to practice this as I am so new to waxing furniture... I love the soft shiny finish.



I think my kids are really going to enjoy playing around this table. Especially when I find a nice soft shaggy rug to put under it... haven't found an affordable one of those...yet.



I love scrabble....



And here's a peek into our home. Mark is an American history buff, and when I saw Jan Patek's pattern for a quilt called "Flags of the American Revolution" I decided to make it for him. Even though I had never quilted anything before... It took me about three months to do, and I did it in a rather unconventional manner, but it's DONE. Woo-Hoo! And it's very "us." If that makes sense.....

Antique Drop Leaf Table

O.K. Here's a little background... My love for painting furniture and upcycling discarded treasures began with my mother-in-law, Tee Andrew. She passed away in October of 2009 of breast cancer. She was an AMAZING artist and maker. She was driven by a desire to make things beautiful. Some day I want to do a post on her and my father-in-laws home. It will amaze you. But, this is a table that Tee gave to us. It was one of her garage sale finds. She painted it, and had it in her home for years. And as she was always collecting new (old) things, and she changed the rooms of her home around on what seemed to be a weekly basis, this table found it's new home with us. Years went by...The top was beginning to show some wear, and paint was peeling and chipping off in places. So Mark suggested that I sand the top and stain it...



Just look at those legs! Beautiful!



I was too lazy to sand the bottom of the table top, so it remains creamy white. But isn't the top gorgeous!




I'm sorry if it sounds like I want to make out with my furniture... I just love it... what can I say?



This one is definately a keeper. We're too attached...


Linking to:
Miss Mustard Seed

Merry Christmas and a Happy Trestle Desk!

I've really been trying to do LESS this year for Christmas. It's so easy for me to get caught up in the shopping, the gifts, the decorating.... and especially with my new addiction to pinterest - I'm overloaded with ideas of things to do and make...and I want to do them ALL! That's why the Christmas message from Dieter F. Uchtdorf hit me especially hard this Christmas season, and I decided to do LESS. Here is my favorite part....

"The more commercialized and busy the Christmas season becomes, the easier it is for the sublime message of the Savior’s life to get lost along the way. If we notice that planning for parties and scrambling for presents begins to detract from the peaceable message of Jesus Christ and distances us from the gospel He preached, let us take a step back, slow down a little, and reconsider what matters most.

Christmas is a time for remembering the Son of God and renewing our determination to take upon us His name. It is a time to reassess our lives and examine our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Let this be a time of remembrance, of gratitude, and a time of forgiveness. Let it be a time to ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ and its meaning for each of us personally. Let it especially be a time of renewal and recommitment to live by the word of God and to obey His commandments. By doing this, we honor Him far more than we ever could with lights, gifts, or parties."

I love that.

Aaaaand, I painted a desk.

This is an awesome Kling Colonial Trestle Desk that I bought YEARS ago, always intending to paint it. Here is the "before" photo...




And here is the "after."



I always thought it would be fun in RED, lightly distressed and glazed. I stained the wedges that go into the tennons of the trestle legs. They are one of my favorite things about the desk, and I wanted them to stand out.



I lined the drawers with fabric, and I gave the hardware coats of primer and oil-rubbed bronze spray paint.



And it's done just in time for Christmas! I don't know about the rest of the world, but here in Idaho, we could use some snow! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!



SOLD