Back Again!

I have been gone for way to long!!! July, August, and September may have been the busiest months I have ever had! From my 28TH BIRTHDAY, Baby Showers, Birthday Parties, Painting Classes, Beach Vacation, Vegas Trip, Nashville Shower, Lawley Reception, A New Puppy, Birth of a New Baby, and WORK!!!! I have been on OVERLOAD!! 

I think things will slow down this month but I have a 2nd Birthday party, my Dads Birthday, Nashville Trip, and Halloween all this month. Its stacking up to be a big one too!!! I am very thankful to have so many wonderful people in my life to share memories with!

I will be posting pictures from my Painting classes, and future dates on those too!

I will also post new blogs on the showers we did, showing the old wood boxes we made, flower arrangements etc...

China Chic!

Turned out to be beautiful!

I learn something new on every piece I paint. And that is expected because most are old, used, and have a story to tell. This beauty told a story of grease.

This is painted in Annie Sloan Old White and Duck Egg.

Graphite is on the handles

Lightly Distressed

Clear wax all over

After the first layer of old white I noticed these "spots" coming thru that looked like grease drops. 

So, I thought well it will be hidden by the next coat.

You can see the spots below.

After coat 2, 3, 4... You get the picture..

So I called someone and they suggested putting a layer of clear wax on it then painting it again!

IT WORKED!!

Needless to say, lesson learned.

And yes I did clean the piece prior to painting.

This was my first time painting glass with ASCP. It went on perfect!

(as it says on the can)

My customer wanted a dark handle so I used the graphite which turned out perfect!

Overall it turned out BEAUTIFUL!

To have been really worried in the beginning!

Front Porch Love

When I built my house I knew I wanted a front and back porch with white railings.

It was just that simple, No EXCEPTIONS!

 I mean I live in the country I had to have a place to put rocking chairs and ferns...

I know the blue is funky and out there but I love it! I've always had plain white rockers but this spring I wanted to do something fun! So I got out the paint and went to work. I spray painted these with a multi-purpose spray paint that I got at Wal-Mart. It was super easy and fast to do this.

On the side of my house I used green. I used the same cushion because both spray paint colors I used are in the fabric. And as you have noticed I love to mix-n-match. I was worried this would be a little to much but I've had a lot of compliments! So I will leave the fun colors for the time being.

Potted these beauties myself and crossing my finger that it will live!

I've done great with all my plants we have planted in the ground around my home but not so good with the potted ones. I just cant get the watering/sunshine down? I would love any suggestions!

Sooo PROUD to call this HOME! 

My front porch looking out...

(actually my side where the green chairs are but..)

We will save the back porch for another day!

The back is more of our family play/grill/hangout area..

Hope you enjoy my view!

Living Central

So here's a sneak into our main area, where we spend most of our time!

First off I like brown and black together! It's matches I don't care what anyone thinks! My main living/dining/eating area is a mixture or brown, black,cream, and a lil blue thrown in!

This is my beauty! I bought her as is from an estate sale in Selma,Al.  It's beautiful and I wouldn't change anything or paint her. There are some pieces I love in their original state. 

All of our furniture (couches, end tables) came from Rooms2Go is was our first real purchase as a couple! The rug is from Lowes. I actually ordered this in cream and it go delivered in black and I loved the brown couch with the black rug!

My mother gave me this old chair and I think it works perfectly!

My dad and I did this door together! It literally came in pieces and was raw wood! 

I would describe my house as a comfy lived in country house! 

Check out the antique pee pot for a door stop! Bet you would have never thought of that!

Blue, cream and fits perfectly!

Can't wait to get another frame like this for the other side of the door! I bought this from Christmas Village! I need to get the ladies name! She does an awesome job!

 I have many things left to do in my living room but it works.

Love the open floor plan!

Not everything has to match! (As I've said before.)

Curtains are on the agenda I just can't figure out the style or color! 

I also use the pee pot as a candle holder! So cute!

Hope you enjoy!

The Crab Shack Table

This table totally goes with the customers personality! She's happy, vibrant, and has a great spirit!

She told me I have some chairs I want you to paint to go along with my crab shack table. To be honest I was like, what's a crab shack table? After seeing it I realized it's literally like the tables at a crab shack! (Bucket and all)

Each chair has two coats of ASCP, a heavy distressing, and a coat of clear wax. 

When distressing a piece I try to make it flow. I HATE when I see a piece and someone has turned it into a CHEETAH! Why scratch spots all over a beautiful piece. Make it flow with the wood like it was naturally knocked over, or slightly worn from sitting in it! 

These were her grandmothers chairs which made them even more special. We turned something old into something fun and usable in her home!

Here's to your new table Hippy Hope! 

Hope you enjoy!

For the Love of Chalk Paint

Hey Guys!!!

I want to do a page on your questions!

Such as my favorite chalk paint colors, how long do I let a piece dry before I repaint or wax it, do I use ASCP tools or random brands, etc...

Please message me with them and I'll start the answering!

Where do I buy my chalk paint?

I have two stores that I buy from. One is in Montgomery and called Faux Studios the other is in Pelham right off 31 called Soul Kitchen. Or vice versa on the store names. You can search stores in your area on the Annie Sloan website. ( For my Alabama people)  Both are owned by the same lady. I recently bought some paint from a store in Irondale, but I don't know the name though.

Do I always wax a piece?

I usually always do a coat of clear wax but you do not have to add it. The texture will be more chalkly/dry to the touch. Its very pretty. This is a piece I did not wax.

 Its very clean. The clear wax will change/darken the color you use lightly.
About the dark wax.... Its not my favorite. I feel like it looks dirty when added to a lighter colored piece. (Pure white, Old white, Ochre) I like using the dark wax on Arles, Coco, French Linen, Emperors Silk. When it's added to Duck Egg its changes it to a green color.

What is my dream piece of furniture?

That would definitely be a cast iron bed for my daughters room. I have one but I would want it to look like this.

 I LOVE these!!!!

She will have one when she is big girl ready!

I recently painted her room Benjamin Moore Pleasant Valley and it will be beautiful with this white bed! 

I will do a new blog soon on her room!

Do I like Antoinette Pink and how would it look on an old bed?

I have never used that particular color but I have picked it up many times and debated on it. I think this would be absolutely gorgeous in a girls room or bathroom.

Check this out too! You can do this mixture with any chalk paint color.

Updated Love

 I've had a lot of people say, WHY ARE YOU PAINTING THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE??

Well in my opinion it looks 100% better. Painting adds character, it gives a piece individuality. When someone buys this, no other person will have one like it. That's why I paint my "old" pieces. It's like makeup for furniture. Like my aunt Sue always said "alil paint on an old barn sure looks better!"

I first did a thin thin layer of old white all over and inside this piece.

On the blue color I did my first "mixing job" which included old white, duck egg blue, and paris grey..

I LOVE IT! I will be mixing more in the future. 

I put a thin layer of the blue on the side panels and drawers. After drying I put another thin coat of white over it again.

Inside I did old white on the shelves and the blue mix on the back wall of the cabinet. I did add a fun knob to the front cabinet just for looks.

I heavily distressed all edges and details with a fine sander. The bottom knobs are still original and I do have the original cabinet door knob if the buyer would like it instead.

A few coats of clear wax with the wax brush and a buffing with cheese cloth and she is done!

This was one of my pieces from my PICKIN blog.

PLEASE GIVE ME COMMENTS OF QUESTIONS!

JAMI

French Linen Buffet

LOVE this piece!!

 Right when I saw it I knew I had to play into the beautiful detail work.

Details- Old White (ASCP)

Bottom Half- French Linen (ASCP)

Top- Dark Walnut Stain by Minwax

Clear Wax all over

On the top part I sanded it down till all previous stains where removed. (cup rings,scuffs, etc..) 

After this make sure its completely cleaned before you apply the stain.

Let dry and apply 2-3 coats or until you reach your desired shade.

I added a coat of clear semi gloss to the top after the stain. But it looked awful and made bubbles. I just didn't like it at all! So needless to say I had to start over.

Each piece is different and old that I work with and I have had a lot of people ask me how do you fix them. 

I do fill most dents and dings with wood filler and sand them down. If there are any small holes on the piece, usually when I sand down the chalk paint the dust fills those. But when there are big flaws in the wood (like a chunk was broken on the top slab on a corner) I cant replace that or fix it. So I just make it a part of the piece. Meaning let the flaws add character. I may use a flaw and sand it down to be my distressed part,

I thought about doing the bottom detail work in old white but I think it would have been to much and taken away from the detail work on the doors. Sometimes more is NOT better.

Overall I'm very pleased with how this turned out, hope the customer is too!

Jami