Sunday, September 16, 2012

French Side Table Makeover

This is a table I picked up at the local antique mart with plans to use it for displaying some of my things at the Holiday Market in November, as well as pricing it to sell.

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I started out painting it in Old White.

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I would have left it at that, except that while I was painting, the stained parts I hadn’t gotten to yet, looked pretty good with the old white top and legs.  So, I decided to go back and add Coco to those areas.

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I then used a graphic ~ from The Graphics Fairy ~ with the Mod Podge transfer method {print or copy on a toner printer/copier ~ in reverse ~ cut away as much of the paper as you can, apply Mod Podge to the image, put it on your project and let dry; after it is dry wet the paper/image and use your finger to rub the paper away}.   I took some pictures before I waxed, just in case I messed it up! 

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It looks fine just as it is, but I am going to add clear wax and then dark wax to the base. 

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Here it is after waxing.

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I plan on using it to hold some of the smaller items at the Holiday Market and I like that it has the shelf on the bottom to hold more things.   I’m thinking of things like the small match boxes in the jar and the basket of tags on the bottom shelf.

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Things that I can move easily, if I need to, and that will not cover up the table so the image can be seen.

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Hopefully, it will sell ~ but not before I get some use out of it that day!  This is a piece that I won’t be too terribly disappointed if I have to bring it back home with me.  

Linking up with

Brag Monday at The Graphics Fairy

Make It Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

Fall Into Fall at DIY by Design

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

Saturday, September 15, 2012

An Amazing Sight

Wednesday evening after dinner my husband called out to me, to hurry and come and see something.  I thought it was something on television, so imagine my surprise when he pointed out the window and I saw this.

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I have never seen a hot air balloon in person before and felt like my two-year-old granddaughter when she sees a plane ~ “Wow” was all I could think!

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I could hear them doing the gas jets from where I was standing taking the pictures.  It was moving pretty quick. 

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I was quite happy to just take pictures of it. Actually riding in one of these is not for someone like me, who is afraid of heights!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

French Address Mail Holder

The mail holder that I picked up at the local antique mart has had its makeover. 

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I was going to use Old White chalk paint but it was very difficult to get my hand and a brush down into the inside of this piece, so Heirloom White spray paint it is!

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Two coats and then I added an image to the front.

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A Paris address, which I thought was fitting for a mail holder.

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Here it is holding my outgoing mail.  Do you like my stamps?

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Another item to add to the growing Holiday Market pile!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Farmhouse Glam

I picked up a can of Old White {when I was at the Annie Sloan Workshop I went to} for the roadside dresser makeover.  My daughter is going to take this piece and she liked how the Old White looked on my first dresser makeover {that was also a roadside rescue}.  After cleaning the dresser up, she’s ready and waiting!

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Keeping in mind some of the tips I got at the workshop, I started painting away.  I painted parts of the inside as well and I have another idea for finishing the rest of the inside off.

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One coat and it is already looking better!

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After two coats I decided to add a little something by using some of the Provence sample I had.  Using a small artist brush, and just the paint that was in the lid of the sample pot, I filled in the grooved areas on the dresser.

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I used the clear wax, then the dark wax until I liked the way it looked.  {Both Annie Sloan waxes}.

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To add some interest to the detailing I brought out my Rub n Buff to try and do that gilding look.  I applied it to the various detailed areas.

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I measured for my baskets and went to see what I could find on sale at Michael’s.  They usually have a nice selection of baskets.  I liked the handles on these; I could see tags hanging off these very prettily.

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For the inside of the dresser, I found some scrapbook paper that I had my daughter pick out and I cut it to fit the inside sections.

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I Mod Podged that to the inside, this way when/if the baskets are out it will still look pretty.

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I just had to play around with it before it heads over to my daughter’s house!  Picture overload ahead!  I thought my pedestal wire cloche color went great with the Provence touches I added.

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I stole some of the Fall touches I put out this weekend from around the house for some props.

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I could see a piece like this being used in a kitchen, maybe with some shelves over it, held up by scrolly looking brackets.

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I had to throw one of my Christmas tea towels into the pictures.  They are not in my Etsy yet; I made some up for the Holiday Market.

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Here’s  the before and after one more time.

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I want to thank Judy over at DIY by Design for my post title.  She did a post about Home Goods’ new style line and a little style personality test she took.  Her result was “Farmhouse Glam” and I couldn’t help thinking that the name suited the look of this dresser with the baskets.

Linking up to

Fall Into Fall at DIY by Design

Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage

 

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Organizing When You Downsize

It’s almost a year now since we moved from Long Island, New York to a suburb of Dayton, Ohio.  Not only did we move, but we downsized from a 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath center hall Colonial to a 2 bedroom, 2 bath ranch condo. 

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{Pre New Vinyl Siding}

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First off, my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter were moving with us {into their own first home} and needed furniture.  The really big and heavy pieces I sold through Craig’s List.  My dining room, den and two spare bedrooms’ furniture went to my daughter.  All the things that made their way to the attic for storage were either sold at a yard sale, donated or thrown away.  Sometimes it was difficult, but I really had to detach and be realistic when doing this.

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{A favorite picture of my old backyard}

Once we were in our new place, a lot of creative storage and organization had to take place to make the most use of our pieces and the space.  One item that came in handy was the first dresser makeover I did from a roadside rescue piece.  The affordability factor?  It cost me zero as someone was throwing it out {much like the one I just found recently}.

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It has become a transition piece in our open floor plan condo anchoring this wall, allowing me to decorate on top of it, and the baskets and drawer hold a wide array of items.

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I fit my table linens in here, napkin rings, light bulbs, a picture frame or two, some chargers, and things I need to keep out of my 2-year-old granddaughter’s little hands!

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The two side tables in the guest room {also made over} were in my son’s old room in New York.

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The two drawer piece has the top drawer basically empty; right now it holds the television remote.  The bottom drawer holds some extra clothes for my granddaughter, as well as the crib sheet and pad that goes with a travel crib.

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The second table has two doors and right now I have our family photo albums stored in here.

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In my craft/sewing room {which was originally a storage room} I left the existing wire shelving which came in handy for my supplies.  For those larger items that take up a lot of room ~ large pillow form, batting, fiberfil ~ I hide store them under the skirt I made for my sewing table. 

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The fabric separates right in the middle of the table so I have easy access.  These items are out of the way and I can store them without them taking up a lot of physical and visual space.

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Finally, I wanted to share two bookcases that were also in my son’s bedroom in New York.  They actually fit in our sunroom really well and the shelves hold some decorative accessories as well as my decorating books.

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{Still waiting on new flooring, hence the furniture movers underneath them and the gap between them}.

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The drawers hold DVD overflow, board games and a couple of throws.  I even have one drawer empty!

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These are just some of the ways we’ve utilized furniture we already owned to pull multi-function duty in our downsized home.

Linking up with

Organizing Solutions at Whisper Wood Cottage Talent Scouting Event

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