Spooky JS Release and some furniture

Carina Gardner has released some fabulous new Halloween goodies at Jessica Sprague this month! She has two sets of papers, some spooky borders, labels and even a darling mini-album, all called "The Raven". I created this bit of Halloween decor by simply printing out one of the scary labels on vintage music paper and placing it in a thrift store frame spray-painted with glossy black paint. It added a fun touch to my booth last weekend!

I am working hard to get everything ready for the next sale on the 4th of November. I felt so rushed last month and don't want to feel that way this time. I am really in love with some of the pieces I have found and can't wait to get started on the painting! The two larger pieces I am working on now have some seriously peeling veneer, which is making the sanding process take a LOT longer. Am hoping to get the hubs out there this evening to help!

This was a super-easy spray paint project and I love how the color turned out! I picked up two of these at Savers last week and painted them with Krylon's "Oxford Blue". I put the old hardware back on and adore the contrast between the old metal and the blue.

Here's another Savers rescue...with no "before" pic. Some days I bring something home and am so excited to get started that I just dive in without even thinking. The surface of the table underneath the glass top was in sad, sad shape. Lots of peeling and fading, so I just mod-podged some great linen fabric on and updated the light wood with some ASCP in Old White. Brightened it right up!

The lady in line with me at Savers called this table "simply splendid"...and I think she lives up to that description now!

Some of the works in progress:

I bought this spectacular piece from Craigslist, and I'm pretty sure I paid too much, but I could not resist the bowed front, the swirly detail on the drawer and the great double stand at the bottom. I am hoping I can get through all of the veneer on the top so I can stain it dark and then use ASCP in Old White on the body.

This beauty has a whole lotta peeling going on but I think it will be fabulous in the end. Not sure what color yet. Any recommendations?

Happy Happy Tuesday!

DIY Chalk Paint? Yippee!

As I was persuing the blogosphere last week, I stumbled upon a life-changing post by Sherry at "No Minilmalist Here" about DIY Chalk Paint! Ok, life-changing may be a bit over-the-top, but definitely money-saving! I am a huge fan of Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint because of the amazing finish it gives AND the fact that I can be lazy save precious time by skipping the prep step on most furniture. The bummer about the paint is that it costs about $35/quart plus shipping, since I don't have a local stockist in KC--so I end up paying about $50/quart. Yikes! Eats into my profit on furniture sales just a tad. Now, enter Sherry with her  recipe for creating chalk paint using 2/3 latex paint and 1/3 plaster of paris--sheer brilliance! I decided to whip up my own batch on Friday using some leftover turquoise Sherwin Williams paint and $2.99 plaster of paris from Hobby Lobby. I have to say I am SOLD! Not only did I not need to do any prep work on this little side table, but the paint dried quickly, sanded fabulously and took a coat of wax like a dream. (Cue the choir of angels...)

You must check out Sherry's blog "No Minimalist Here"--I can't wait to see what else she has up her sleeve!

Before: your standard side table with a laminate top purchased at Savers

After: with a bit of distressing and some clear and dark wax



I was a busy bee this past weekend and have several more "Before and Afters" to share this week. Here are some sneaks at the befores:

Hope your week is off to a great start!

Whew! I'm Back!

This past weekend was so much fun, experiencing my very first sale at Bella Patina! It is such an amazing place, with tons of beautiful treasures and talented vendors. I won't know exactly how I did until next week, when all of the tags have been tallied up--but I have to say I am very pleased with what sold and am so excited for next month!

Here are some pics from my booth on Friday, before the sale started:

And finally my HUGE project: the china hutch! It did not sell this time, but I know the right person will find it! :) I learned a lot about staging over the past few days and think I can really improve on how I displayed this piece.

Here are the before pics again:

And here is the after:

I stripped and stained the top of the buffet piece and then used Behr paint with primer in "Toasted Marshmallow" for the body. Can't remember the name of the blue I used for the inside of the cabinet, but it is a very soft shade. Then the entire piece got a coat of dark stain, which I applied in small sections and then immediately wiped off. I have to be honest here: this project was a HUGE pain! I have really spoiled myself with chalk paint and this whole latex and stain business really made me work. :) I do love the end result though and hope someone else will feel the same way next month!

Speaking of next month (how about that smooth segue?), I have been working the thrift stores and Craigslist like a mad woman to ensure I have some interesting pieces! Here are some peeks at what I am working on now:

I have two of these that are going to be splendid in navy blue.

This little wooden table has some girly decoupage in its future.

I love this old piece. It has a mirror that goes with it, but I think I am going to make it more of a desk. I have a waterfall vanity and dresser than I am working on and think this might be more useful without the mirror? (More about the vanity and dresser later...I will leave you with two words that I may never want to hear again though: wood veneer.)

A sweet twin headboard and a really heavy mirror.

I have two of these that will go with the little wooden table. :)

Thank you so very much for stopping by after my little hiatus! Happy Tuesday!

Crazy! (but in a good way)

Oh my goodness--ever have those weeks when you feel like you're going a million directions at once and there are so many things to get done that there's physically no way to finish them all? EEEK! That's where I'm at this week. Last Thursday, I was accepted as a vendor at one of our local (KC) vintage/repurposed/antique stores called "Bella Patina", which makes me extremely happy! And they want me to participate in their October sale which means that all of my furniture/treasures need to be delivered THIS weekend! Again, EXTREMELY happy and excited about this, but just a bit stressed about finishing everything up in time! Here are some of the pieces I have been working on:

I got this great pedestal piece at Salvation Army on Friday afternoon--so fun!

So much cuter in pink--I think it would be darling as a bedside table in a little girl's room.

These next two were actually old Bombay Company pieces I have had in my basement since 1994! Now I sorta want to keep them! ;)

I did this one in ASCP Henrietta. I love this pink!

This is ASCP Old White--my go-to color!

This was my first attempt at stripping and staining--not nearly as hard as I thought it would be, but I'm still not 100% happy with poly finish. Taking it to Bella anyway and will just price accordingly. :)

Close-up of the ASCP in Louis Blue followed by clear and dark waxes.

And I am still working on the never-ending china hutch project...I can see the finish line though and I can't wait to post some pics of the final result!

Lily Cole Designs

Today I want to introduce you to my friend Maggie's wonderful etsy shop, Lily Cole Designs! Not only is Maggie gorgeous, sweet and funny...she is crazy-talented too! She is a master at digital designs for children's rooms and will even personalize them for the perfect custom gift. Take a look at these beauties:

And then, isn't this one to die for:

Maggie recently came out with a set of notecards that I am obsessed with! I adore sending handwritten notes and who would not LOVE to receive one of these works of art in the mail?

As if those creations are not fabulous enough, I have to show you my VERY MOST FAVORITE goodie that Maggie makes:

Custom embroidered reproductions of your child's artwork! I know!! I almost can't stand how fabulous this is! I think this is the most brilliant gift for a mother or grandmother--and will truly be a cherished heirloom forever. Maggie embroidered a picture of my mother that Kendall drew for my mother's birthday and did a spectacular job on it. Her birthday was yesterday and my mom was truly speechless when she opened the gift.

Would this not make an incredible Christmas or Hanukkah gift? Run over and check Maggie out here or click on any of the pictures above to see those listings in her sweet store. 

 Happy Thursday!

Would You Buy It Wednesday

This week I have a lonely little lamp I picked up at GW for $1.99. It works great though and the base unscrews from the wooden part to make painting a bit easier. I'm thinking some ORB on the base, and then a coat or two of blue paint...and then would love to pick up an inexpensive lampshade and cover with fabric. Any thoughts?

I also have some after pics of my little box from last week. I used AS Chalk Paint in "Aubusson Blue" for the outside, and "Country Grey" for the houndstooth pattern on the lid as well as the inside.

Here's the before again:

And the after:

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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