P.S.S.

The antique shop I mentioned several weeks ago that was hidden behind another shop. I got my husband to go with me because I was scared to go by myself lol. It is definitely different, but really cool. It was just one huge warehouse. It looked like people may have worked there a long time ago. Anyway, it wasn't heated or cooled, and it was really old so I'm sure the roof leaks when it rains. I was sad to see some of the things in there wasting away that really should be kept in a better place :(

P.S.

Here are two pics I took today :) Lovely Weeds

My very first "repurposed" project

After running tests on craft frames I finally went it at on the old spindle desk. I found the desk at an antique shop; on sale! Got it for $35 ( I think?). I wanted a table or something for crafting/sewing. Finally decided against a table because I wanted drawers. Being my first project it was definitely a learning process and took me longer than it should have. That's a long story. Anway, after lots and lots of work, drying time, and elbow grease from sanding, here's my final product. I was sad I didn't have a "before" picture, but right before I made this post my bestie saved the day! Ta Da! Before and after!


                                                                                                     BEFORE

This was before it made it home. It's ugly and brown & the seat cushion on the chair is hideous! Not to mention it was not cloth, but more like a plastic picnick table cloth.

AFTER

close up of the detail (it doesn't show up well in pictures from far away)

Freshly painted and reupholstered chair, but you can't see the distressing very well :(

And that's a wrap! Now to decorate!

From New to Old

I'm currently working on painting an old spindle desk (whatever that means) in a distressed/shabby chic look. I want to glaze it and have looked at tons of blogs and tutorials but scared to try it for the first time on my desk. So today I tried it on a cheap wooden craft picture frame from hobby lobby. It's not real glaze like Ralph Lauren tobacco glaze. Anyway, it didn't say to use with acrylic or on a gloss finish like others have; just paint on and wipe off. I used it on top of acrylic paint and here is how it turned out. Not at all like what I have seen on people's furniture projects but it definitely looks old to me :)

And might I add that I have fixed up my concoction of steel wool and vinegar to try on a wooden craft frame tomorrow. Can't wait to see if I get that weathered look!

Learning New Things

I'm in the middle of trying to revamp my blog and I see "how to make new wood look old" on someone else's blog. I couldn't resist looking and I had to share right away even though I haven't tried it yet. So the boring part is she sanded with 80 grit....blah blah blah. Ok, the good part; she took 0000 steel wool, tore it to small pieces and put inside a mason jar. Then, she filled the mason jar with vinegar and let set 24 hours. Apparently the smell was AWFUL, but after painting on with a paint brush she let dry for a day and VOILA! She got the perfect weathered look she was wanting. How cool?! I'm definitely trying this.

Also, I want to try white washing. This lady used 1 part paint, to 2 parts water. She painted some onto the wood and then smoothed out (go with the grain) with a cheeseclothe. It looked great! I'm gonna try this too!

....now back to work :)