Sunday, March 31, 2013

Happy Spring

It is really starting to feel like Spring here in the Boston area, very exciting stuff given our tough winter. 

Happy Easter to you all!








Sunday, March 24, 2013

You've gotta see this!

I went to my favorite thrift shop yesterday and found a beautiful old chair.  The problem is the springs are bent and when you sit in it it kind of gives way in the middle.  I was hoping to fix it up myself but not sure...


Isn't it the coolest??!  Someone said it may have been an old telephone chair, not sure but I will try to find out! 

It was so well put together.  It had so many upholstery nails placed very close together to adhere the fabric to the chair.  Then under that it had staples and then under the fabric it had nails holding the padding on the the frame.  a little sweat getting it off but no tears! 

Upholstery nails were flying around the room! 

The padding was horsehair and burlap and hay believe it or not!! Very well done.  I guess they did not make foam padding back in the day....just head out to the barn and give your horse a tail cut!!!!



I have it stripped all the way down to the springs and it looks like with some work the springs could be re-worked and re-anchored to support the chair.

Will keep you posted on it's progress,  even if I don't do all the work myself. 

Going to look for a cool fabric soon. 

Thursday, March 21, 2013

a couple of good finds!



I don't always find exciting things on Craiglsit.  I feel like it used to be better but it is fun to browse.  So, it was to my delight when I recently found this item:


It is rather large for a bedside table but it is great.  I like to do the unexpected and never do matchy-matchy pairs of things.  Or very rarely anyway!

Look at those legs!  Ain't she a beauty.  I cannot wait to give her a make-over.  I like the color now a lot but it does not fit into my son's room which is getting a make-over. He has grown up and as they say, flown the coop!  To make myself feel better about that I need to spice things up in there. 




Not 100 % sure yet what I am going to do in there but I know I will have fun doing it. 

I also just found an antique settee on Craigslist.  I hope I am the first to inquire about it.  It needs re-upholstery but I can handle that I think and it is a steal! 

So, will update you when I know better what direction I am heading in! 

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

what's old is new again!

I bought this mirror at a thrift shop.  I loved it but it was old and tired looking.  With a little paint and a little more effort than i originally thought, it looks good!

 
It is a big mirror and rather heavy. I think it is about 36 tall by 42 wide.  Mirrors are hard to photograph well! 
 
 
 
 
I put on one coat of Annie Sloan "Napoleon Blue". It is a pretty blue and then I did a colorwash of paris grey over it. I mixed the paris grey with water, probably two parts paint to one part water.  you can just play with the mixture a little bit. 
 
 
 

 
 It looked a little too milky for me so i took some clear wax and put it all over the wood and rubbed a lot of the paris grey off.  I really like how the blue shows through more now but it is muted by the paris grey.  I also gave it a light distressing to make it look more vintage/antique.  I used a 220 fine grain sandpaper. 
 
 I think it has found a new home-someone coming by today to take a look! 
 

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Who amongst us thinks I should stop buying furniture??!  I for one think it is a good idea! I have many items going to a new consignment store and some things on craigslist but my living room is starting to look like a furniture store. 

 
  so far no complaints from family members though!  I think my new rule should be that i don't buy anything til i sell something! 

 
 Hope you all have a good upcoming weekend....i will be painting one last thing....for now!

 Will post my new console table next week. it is so pretty and has great lines....i guess i am addicted to furniture. Could be worse!



good thing we don't use that room too much! 

Friday, March 8, 2013

love!

 
Just got this pic of my dear sweet niece.  I had to post it.  She just got a new dress and a new haircut and i think she was twirling! 
 


I may be biased but i think she looks like a little angel! 

Enjoy your weekend everyone! xo

where is my motivation?

Ok, so it is snowing out, over a foot by now.  It is 10:30 and I am still in my pj's and have not done a thing except watch weather on t.v. and ashamed to say, a little Courtney and Kim take Miami on t.v!!!


I finished a mirror yesterday and have another project that is in my garage but it is too heavy for me to lift and bring indoors and too cold for me to work on it out there!


More on the mirror later.  That is too heavy for me to lift to stage it properly for photos!!!  Poor me!!!!

I could work on that messy painting and supply shelf in my basement.....I seem to keep all my mixed Annie Sloan paints in plastic cups just in case....


or, maybe I will read a book on paint techniques.  or bake, or ????  There are some lemon squares I have been thinking about making!



Enjoy your day folks...whatever you may choose to do.  I hope your motivation is not lacking!

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

little green table...cute!

 
 
I just finished this little green table in Antibes green (Annie Sloan chalk paint). I finished with two coats of clear wax and some dark wax to antique it.
 
 I love the dark wax with the antibes green. It gives it a much richer look than the plain green. 
 
 

I think i forgot to do a before pic but it was a plain jane!


Sunday, March 3, 2013

Custom work available!

 
Next in line for painting, this great thrift store find mirror, good size and detail.  anyone in need of a custom painted mirror for bedroom, bath or living area?
 
 
 

 
Or, if you have a piece of furniture that needs some updating, let me know and I can update it for you! I have a good selection of beautiful colors and we can select something that will look great. 
 
 

 I have a good selection of beautiful colors and we can select something that will look great.



Pics posted here are just a few examples of some work I have done over the past year. Message me on facebook!








 
 

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Fun spring design colors!

I love some of the spring trend colors, particularly the bright yellow!

I cannot remember a time I have not had a yellow kitchen and often other rooms with yellow. It brightens up any room and this particular bright yellow is so great.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Source: hgtv.com via Lynda on Pinterest
The emerald green is big too.


Source: wcfcourier.com via Kris on Pinterest
The pantone colors of 2013 revealed these colors would be popular.