Checkers anyone?

This was my first real experiment with plaster paint. I wasn't quite sure what I was doing and honestly the checkboard pattern was kind of an after thought...I knew I wanted something on the top, just not sure what!

I picked this little guy up at the thrift store. I wanted something that was solid but inexpensive. Something I could feel comfortable experimenting on. You should never "experiment" on something expensive or a family heirloom!

Honestly, it turned out kinda cute...and again, everybody LOVES it! I probably could have sold it several times over but I want it in the flea market! (God forbid we should actually sell something NOW! Let's keep it stuffed in the garage with all the other stuff!)

I bought a few little pots of sample paint at Lowes and used a "homemade" recipe for plaster/chalk paint I found on the interent. While most people "wax" after doing a chalk or plaster paint, I am sticking with a clear coat poly for now....eventually I will give the furniture wax a shot.

I am currently using the plaster paint on some frames, a plant stand and another little table. I like it but I'm not sure I find it much easier than spray paint...I'm kind of perfectionist and this paint is just...well...different. But I am learning. And I am beginning to experiment with some "layering" of colors and I have even taken some stain and "aged" the paint finish. Kind of cool looking. My next experiment is with the different waxes.

There are a lot of things you could do with this paint...but start small and remember, do NOT experiment on important pieces.

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Getting ready to go retail....

Wow...getting ready to go "retail" is a LOT of hard work. I have been going to auctions and garage sales every weekend. And if I was a hoarder, I would be in deep doody because there is a whole world of really nifty stuff out there.

I have tried to focus on things others will LOVE! I know I love most of what I bought...but since it is all piled in my garage and I have NO place to put it, I won't have a problem parting with it.

This weekend I scored big time on July 4th and Christmas decorations, a big mirror, frames, planters, milk glass, candle holders...you name it, I found it! Anything I can find that I think is wonderful, at a price that hopefully will let me make a few pennies...or at least break even!!! I don't plan on getting rich on this little endeavor. Again, I need an outlet for my creative juices and it is wonderful to find things I know others will take home and LOVE!

And honestly, this gives me an excuse to do something I use to love to do...go to auctions!!! I forgot how much fun they are! Even Brian has gotten into it so it is something else he and I can do together....that is always the BEST part of any hobby...sharing it with your best friend! And Matt, my youngest son, comes when he is free! Family fun!

I have found a few pieces of furniture that are inexpensive enough for me to put my "spin" on. It is hard to pay a premium for a piece of furniture and then come home and put a lot of money and hours into it. I probably devalue my time and labor way too much, but when I go out and buy $100 worth of upholstery for a little ottoman it makes it tough to sell it for $75...especially when it took me all day to recover it!

So I have to be very careful when bidding on and buying furniture. I found a wonderful Duncan Phyfe table that would have been beautiful...but the top was in pretty bad shape and I knew it needed a great deal of time and attention! So I set a max in my mind and I tried not to groan too loudly when it sold for $15 above my maximum! But I knew if I paid more than that, I would NEVER recoup my time and expense.

I also have to be very cognizant of what buyers want vs. what I personally like. I am not that big into the shabby chic/plaster paint thing...but I know the buyers love it.

This oak chair is a prime example. Kinda dated before so I knew I would have to do something with it...

When I first started my plan was to prime, paint with high gloss black and then recover in a black and white damask...very "formal."

But I had to do some sanding on the paint coat and before I knew it, it had a "shabby chic" flair that everyone LOVES!

So there you have it...a little shabby chic chair flair!

I already featured the 3-legged table with the plaster paint legs...but I also have a nifty little oak table and a few other projects I will share over the next few weeks as I get ready to fill my booth!

Course at this point, I think I have enough to fill an entire store...not just a booth. Typical me...at some point I will learn moderation...or just quit going to to auctions and stopping at garage sales....because honestly, I am running out of room in my garage!!!!

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Tiny little projects can make a big difference!

Sometimes the simplest little "redos" can make a huge difference!

I picked up this little guy at a garage sale last week. It's not an expensive table...probably something someone bought at Target or an inexpensive furniture store. But with a little primer and paint it went from "ho-hum" to "yum-yum" in minutes!

I painted it one of my favorite Valspar colors, "Mellow Spring."

Now it will be a perfect little side table next to a chair or bed....too bad I am "tabled out" right now!!!

I picked up the little tea pitcher at an auction. These are just a VERY few of the pieces I will be putting in my booth at Midtown Eclectic Mall when we open June 1st! I am so excited to be a part of this new venture and have been searching high and low for wonderful pieces that will appeal to others!

As I have said time and time again, I think it is SO important to surround yourself with things you love...hopefully I can help others find a few little treasures they can take home and love!

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The 3-legged table....

Several months ago I posted a picture of this pathetic little 3 legged table I brought home from the apartments.

This little table had some serious issues. It was missing a board that goes between two legs (I think it originally had a little drawer) and one leg had completely come off. But with a new piece on the back and a little glue and clamping, I was able to put it back together.

As you can see, the finish was in pretty bad shape so I took some Formby's wood stripper to it and removed all the old varnish, painted the legs with the "homemade" plaster paint, sanded and put a few layers of tung oil on the top.

Removing the old, nasty varnish really let the wood grain shine through!!! I seriously contemplated just refinishing the entire piece but I thought this would be a good one to experiment with the plaster paint.

It turned out pretty cute...especially considering the condition it was in!

Aside from the repairs it needed, it was a fairly simple "redo." If you see a little table like this for a few dollars, take it home and experiment on it. This one is mahogany and the wood grain is beautiful...and tough. You can't do too much damage to it! And it is a small and simple project for any beginner!

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Plaster paint...testing one, two, three....

Yesterday I spent another day "repurposing" a few of my garage sale and estate auction finds.

I have never bit the "plaster/chalk paint" bullet, but I finally gave it a try. After all, inspite of the fact that it is not my cup of tea, the "shabby chic" look is all the rage and if I am going to test the resale waters I really need to get my "design mind" in the 21st century.

As I have mentioned, I am "old school." I learned from my father who would NEVER use polyurethane or paint a beautiful piece of furniture. I still won't use poly (except on flooring) but I am slowly warming to the paint thing.

But flat paint and raw wood showing on a piece of furniture is just a bit much for this ole' school gal. But again, times and market demand. So I gave it a shot.

There are several brands of chalk/plaster paint on the market. And at some point I do plan on purchasing some. The Eco Chic lady who is opening the flea market here in town actually sells a brand of plaster paint! But while experimenting I decided to go the cheap route and make my own. Google it...it's out there and I really don't want to endorse any homemade versions just yet since I am just starting out!

My take....furniture, not so much. I just personally still prefer the "whole paint" look. I have an oak dining chair that would be perfect for a "shabby chic" look, but I just couldn't bring myself to take the plunge. I went with a high gloss black and plan on recovering the seat with a black and white damask. I know... very "formal" but in my opinion that is what the chair needs.

I did do some frames and a few other pieces with the technique. And I like the look I got on those pieces. I am working on a little side table and am reserving judgment until it is finished. . So I do believe I will use it often....just maybe not with ALL the furniture pieces.

We'll see how it goes.....you can teach an old dog new tricks...you just have to be a little patient!

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Mother's Day reminder....

Don't forget that Sunday is Mother's Day!!!! I am fortunate to have my Mom AND be a mom! So I am doubly blessed!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms out there!

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Walnut chair reveal.....

Well, it is done....and while I know where the little "goofs" are, I have to keep in mind one of my father's pearls of wisdom...

"You'll never notice it on a passing train!"

As I have mentioned before (here), Mom told me she and Dad found this chair in a field when I was a baby. When they found it, it was bleached white from being in the sun...and she is pretty sure it originally had a cane seat and back. Dad knew it was walnut so he took it home, repaired it and refinished it. I would bet the upholstery in the "before" picture was probably the second time he refinished it. This looks more like something he would have done in the 70s or 80s.

I pulled the 5,486 nail heads (so I exaggerate a tad) and removed the old upholstery, nails and padding. Dad wouldn't have touched polyurethane so stripping the original varnish finish with my favorite Formby's varnish stripper was not a real challenge. I repaired a few loose joints with glue and clamps!

Even with a new coat of dark walnut stain, it was very "uneven" in places so I had to do some patch-work staining. Then I put 4 coats of tung oil on it. And then it sat...and sat...and sat....

I just didn't know what fabric to get. I knew I wanted something a little more formal and neutral. I let Brian pick from 7-8 fabric samples...wouldn't you know he picked my least favorite, but in all honesty, it turned out beautiful! I opted for the double welting vs. the nail heads. I contemplated having it recaned....but decided against it...maybe next time! And I have just enough leftover material for a little pillow!

Every chair in this house has been bought or repurposed to uphold to "abuse" from kids and animals. But this chair is special and it will be tucked away in the corner of my room where the worst thing that can happen to it is one of the cats will find it!

Maybe someday, when I am long gone, one of my children will cherish it as much as I do....thanks Dad!

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Wall murals....

Decorating with wall murals is not that difficult....and it is an awesome way to instantly add a big impact to any room, especial a play room or kid's room!

A few years ago I decided to surprise my youngest daughter with a full room makeover while she was at choir camp. Paint, new side table, lamp, desk chair makeover, bedding, rug...everything. She was all into Betsy Johnson at the time so I used her design as a touch of "inspiration." Katie's first words when she walked in...."I hate it."

I wish I had all the "before the before" pictures handy. When I first bought this house she was only 3 so decorating with the pastel pinks and blues was easy (imagine castle walls with trellises of ivy!) ....so precious. Then she went through the teal/purple/lime green stage. That was really awesome and it last a few years.

But as she entered her teens she wanted something a little more "mature." Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that one should not assume what ones teenager will like. Better to let them have a hand in any design decisions, especially as she reminded me, it is "MY personal space."

Unfortunately, I knew our "design tastes" were on total opposites of the spectrum when she told me she wanted "dark grey," specifically chalkboard grey. No way in this world was I painting a room "dark grey." The last thing I wanted was my spunky, cheerful daughter getting swallowed up in the dark dank world of goth doom and gloom which I was certain would happen if we painted her room such a depressing color.

But then she told me she wanted a "fail whale" mural. Huh? What the heck? So she googled it....I thought it was pretty neato! She picked out the red and blue accent colors. And as her "vision" became a little clearer, I realized she had a pretty awesome plan in her mind.

We painted the "fail whale" mural on one wall and painted her study cubby with the brighter blue and red. (Originally the study cubby had a built in twin bed with a trundle...it is an addition I built years ago...rather cute but I took her bed out of it when I did the Betsy Johnson inspired room...it was the only thing she liked!)

I had a hand in the basic paint design (okay, so I was a common laborer) but I let her add her own little design elements...posters as a headboard and art, Christmas lights, knick-knacks....after all it is indeed her "personal space." And I want her to love her space as much as I want others to love theirs!

We agreed on a nice grey for three walls....we used Valspar flat paint. It works beautifully as a "chalkboard!" She loves it and she writes her inspiration quotes on it!

Okay, the mural....there are a several ways to get a mural on a wall.

If your design element is small enough, you can actually trace it onto the wall by taping sheets of sewing trace paper together. I like the sewing trace paper because it isn't "messy" and it wipes off easily!

You can free-hand the piece...which I did here....

This is a mural of Mitchell's high school mascot...it is on the garage wall. There use to be one on his bedroom wall, but I painted over it when I remodeled his room after he went off to collage. (Be prepared to paint several coats of primer over these things when the time comes to paint over them!)

Or you can use a large "stencil" like Sarah did in my grandson's "Monster" themed game room. She has a friend who is a graphic designer and they have the machines to print off and cut out large murals...might be worth the money it would cost!

Or you can use a projector like we did in Katie's room. In all honesty, the "fail whale" was a tad too big for the size we wanted on the wall, so I projected his head onto the wall to get the scale and then I free-handed the rest. I made a little cardboard template for the birds and traced them.

Regardless of the method you use to get your design on the wall (templates, tracing paper, projector, free-hand) first paint your base color and allow it to dry well. Then use a sewing pencil to lightly mark your design and then use latex paint and small brushes to paint the details. The little "sample pots" of latex paint at Lowes are the PERFECT size for these projects and VERY affordable (around $3 each) when you need several colors! You can have ANY color mixed in the sample sizes so don't limit yourself to the premix colors!

Again, murals are a GREAT way to add a huge impact in any room! You are only limited by your own imagination. Anything you can think of that you LOVE can be painted on a wall.

And remember too, there are a LOT of wall mural inspirations on line...Google it!

And the great thing about paint...if you don't like it, paint over it!!!

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Biting the flea market bullet....

Well...I have finally talked myself into doing the flea market thing! As in SELLING at a flea market...getting a booth and actually expanding my "business" to the resale world.

A new flea market/consignment store is opening here in town. It is a "high end" type thing and the only reason I am considering it is because she has promised to keep the "junk" out! Not that I don't love the "junk." After all, another man's trash can always become our treasure!

I desperately need an outlet for all my "creative juices"....a place were I can sell all these little pieces I have spent so much time transforming. I know I won't make any money on them. But I might recoup some of my costs to "repurpose" and I like the thought of these pieces going to a home where they will be loved and cherished. And to be honest, I am plum out of room to keep this stuff!!!!

My biggest fear is that the need to cover the cost of the booth will turn this "hobby" of mine into work...and that is NOT what I want to happen. I want to enjoy the process and I don't want to think about how much I can make off of it or if I will recoup my expenses. After all, I normally just give my pieces away or try to cram them into my house!

Friday and Saturday I went to a few garage sales and flea markets...in the snow!! It was cold and dreary but I forgot how much I enjoy pilfering through other peoples "stuff." Sunday, Brian and I spent the entire afternoon at an estate auction...man-oh-man can I do some serious damage at an estate auction!!

I was looking for things I could use to decorate and fill my booth. I came up with a few things and I think if I go in with my ever-so-crafty neighbor Trish (she is out of town and doesn't know I have already planned a new business for her!) we could put together a really fun and creative space! Trish is a "hoarder" of all things seasonal...wreaths, garland, yard ornaments...anything and everything for every holiday of the year. And she use to work for a flower shop as a floral design tech. So I really think she can create a beautiful space....I will do all the heavy repurposing and she can do all the froo-froo stuff. I can't wait for her to get home next week so I can share the news!!!

In the meantime, I have a lot of stuff to organize and go through! The hardest part for me is going to be the mess in my garage for the next month until the new market opens! Again, just a tad too OCD to have this stuff piled in my garage for very long. I didn't think parking my truck in the driveway would be an issue...after all it is spring! Hahahahahahahaha! Who would have thought I would have to get snow off the truck in MAY!!

Sometimes when I go to estate auctions I see things I really love and I just have to have! This estate had some really beautiful yard ornaments and I couldn't resist these three pieces. I will pay more for things like this because I know I am going to keep them...probably not the smart way to approach it, but I'm pretty sure I would never sell these!

This little guy is perfect for the swing pergola!

I have wanted a little table and chairs for some time...this was the right price and perfect for my deck!

Ahhhhh....a lab puppy....who could resist!

Stay tuned for updates on the flea market adventure!

In memory of Mrs. Betty Simco...it is obvious she found treasures all around her and it is an honor to display the things she once cherished in my home! Thank you Simco family for sharing her beautiful home and cherished possessions with us!

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BRAG ALERT....My "even" brained daughter....

My kids act like it is embarrassing to be featured on Mom's website. But I think secretly they get a big kick out of it!

My youngest, Katie, is seriously smart. She scored a 30 on her first shot at the ACT...and she is only 15! She is a whiz at math and science and one of the top debaters in the nation...so I always assumed she was very "left-brained"...you know, those analytical, smarty pants kinda people.

But she is also very artsy and creative! Earlier I featured an art piece (here) she made when she was in elementary school...I LOVE this picture!

It is one of those "things I love" and it just makes me smile when I look at it!

Recently she started working on a few new artsy projects. I went into the garage one day and she had cans of spray paint scattered all over the floor and was just spraying away!!! WHAT THE HECK!!!!

But the final results of her manic spray sessions turned out some really creative and beautiful pictures!

And she did EVERY bit of this with cans of spray paint! Just beautiful!! (Like her!)

It's nice to know that another one of my children got a tad of their mother's creativity. (She had a breath-taking solo in the spring concert last week....thankful she did NOT get her mother's voice!) And this proves to me that one can be very "left" brained and still have the "right" brain creativity! So even if you understand those math equations with letters in it, you can still be creative!!

I have asked her to create a few more of these...I was thinking about putting one in one of the wood windows....that would look soooo cool! And I definitely want to frame one and find someplace where it can be admired.

Maybe I will frame her ACT scores and display them together!!

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