MMS Milk Paints: Lucketts Green

You all know I am older than dirt right?!  Well, not dirt, but certainly older than most of the "up and comers" in the blog world.  I actually remember helping my Grandmother white wash an old building with milk paint back in the 60's or 70's.  I was familiar with the properties that make it both great, and kind of difficult to deal with.  It's probably what has drawn me to try and fall in love with Annie Sloan Chalk Paints, and CeCe Caldwell's Clay and Chalk Based Paints.  Now there are more new products to try!  Yeah, for all of us that are eager to experiment with all these options on our projects.  Miss Mustard Seed has developed her own line of colors in Milk Paint, Absolute Vintage (Sisters of the Wild West) have a new milk paint line also.  And those are just the bloggers that I know of out there with the milk paint lines.  If you google Milk Paint you are met with a plethora of options out there.  I tell you this because I am not a spokesperson for any developer or supplier, just a great consumer of all kinds of products old and new.  An equal opportunity consumer as I remind my long suffering spouse all the time!

All that to tell you that I finally got around to trying out MMS new line.  I was feeling green that day I guess because I ordered both Luckett's Green and Boxwood.  I've only got the Luckett's on anything at this point, and here's my experience.

 I LOVE this color.  I chose to work without the bonding agent, because I wanted to see how this whole chipping thing worked.  I happen to love old chippy furniture, though I admit to being scared enough of the whole lead paint issue to feel like I have to pass on some furniture out there OR be willing to strip the entire piece and start over.  This paint gives you that "been on there forever" look and feel without the danger involved.  Love that.

You can totally see where the paint just wouldn't adhere well, for whatever reason.  For me, this was exactly the look I wanted.  Chippy, but not totally devoid of paint.

Now, the mixing of the paint myself and the lumpiness is going to take some getting used to.  I wasn't ever completely sure that I had the right consistency, both thickness and lumpiness.  Such technical terms I use huh?!  I will say even the thinner batch (I eventually added more powder to it to pump it up a bit) adhered nicely. 

I used 2 coats of the paint, carefully used a putty knife to remove any flaky areas to get my chippy look, and sanded lightly to remove any rough areas.  I don't think you would need to sand at all, but I've gotten so used to that silky smooth finish after using Chalk Paint. 

I think the sanding gave me even more variations in the depth of color which I actually like.

Sorry about the photo quality, the sun was starting to drop a bit low.  This was so fun to play with.  I love having another product in my arsenal of paints.  I know the chippy pieces are not for everyone, but hey, if I like them, there's probably a few more folks out there that will like them too!  This piece is for sale if you are reading this and one of those people ;-)! 

Now, I'm off to complete a custom piece and another in the works piece.  I have several custom pieces in line to work on and I've got tons more that I have picked up to keep me busy and out of trouble for a while!

Have a great, great week!
Deb

Linking up to:
http://missmustardseed.com/2012/11/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-a-link-party-13/

Sit-Stay

I'm working on a project that is taking a bit longer to get the details taken care of so I thought I'd give you a fairly quick finish done a few weeks back to tide you over.
No before because I just randomly plucked this chair out and started immediately one morning.  But imagine a 1966 special order (the tag with fabric swatch was still attached on the bottom), pickled oak chair with avacado green pleather.  After a coat of AS Primer Red, a top coat of AS Old Ochre, and a coat of CeCe Caldwell's clear wax (love it) this is what you've got. 

I've had this fabric on hand for a long time, but I thought I'd give this chair a little shabby cottage look that would work in lots of rooms. 

Some distressing added.

And there you have it.  Sometimes a girl just needs a nice, quick, straightforward piece to work on!
For all the locals, I am almost finished updating the Pieces for Sale page.  You can find the button at the top of the blog and take your time browsing.  All of these items are for sale all the time, you don't have to wait for the next Prairie Market if you need it now!  Just give me a call or shoot me an email.
Thanks!  Have a great Monday!
Deb

The Bee Twins Older Brother Comes To Visit

It was a dark and stormy...morning, when the Bee Twins Older Brother slunk out of the shadows and into...more shadows.  Ok, it was a crappy day to take a photo, but it was on my agenda and so by golly I muddled through it.  Sorry, but I'm tryin' to stay on schedule with my turn arounds before the Mr. takes away my keys and blocks CL from my computer. 

Older Brother was part of the set I purchased several weeks ago.  Here he is.

Large, chunky, and solid, solid Oak.  This is a truly functional piece of furniture.  See these gorgeous knobs?

It's a nice drawer for remotes, manuals, more remotes, and lots of other goodies. 





BOTH ends open up for even more storage.  Think games, a blanket or snugglie, magazine storage.

Nice and deep storage...with air holes in case the little people in your house decide to "hide" the cat in there...or their little brother.  It does have safety piano hinges that I had not reattached when I took the photos...in the dark and stormy light. 

This Bad Boy is going to be for sale at the Mini Prairie Market coming up soon.  More on that in a later post, but hint, hint there's a Prairie Market button at the top of the page.

Look, beadboard panels, sigh.  Aren't they dreamy? and Cottagey? and Beachy?  This is one hansome Older Brother!  Color is AS Old White, distressed, and waxed to within an inch of his life! 

Have a great day!
Deb

Double the Fun

Do you know how many "double" title ideas I went through?  A bunch I tell you, but for some reason I kept coming up with a way that they could have been taken wrong and I don't want THAT kind of traffic coming to my blog expecting something very different!  This is what I do have, two side tables, finished. 

I stumbled across a set of side tables and a matching coffee table.  The coffee table is still in process, but I thought I'd show you these cottagey cuties.

These are solid oak and have a certain rustic feel with the paneled type top.  Actually I first thought "Beachy", but let's face reality here.  I live in a totally land locked state smack dab in the center of the country.  And while we do have some lakes and lake houses (lucky ducks!), there just isn't normally much demand for true beach themed furniture.  Sad, but true.  However, we do have cottages, and decorated with a cottage theme is definitely here too.  Voila`, a nice rustic side table with a french graphic in the center.

At 26 inches diameter these are a perfect lamp table, but would also work nicely in a bedroom as a nightstand, or even in the center of an entry hall as a drop zone table.  They ar painted in AS Old White, lightly distressed, and the graphic is a lovely bee with an oak and tulip garland wrapped up nicely with a bow. 

Graphics from The Graphic Fairy, and the pattern was applied with the pencil transfer method and then finished with a permanent fine, .05 and .01, marker.  One thing I would always recommend is to test ahead of time your marker on a scrap piece of painted wood to make sure that it will not smear when you are applying whatever finish you desire.  I found that my paint pens smeared, a sharpie did not and my Perma pens did not, but always, always test yours first independent of my tests.  I applied 3 coats of Minwax furniture paste wax to the top and the rest of the table was also given 2 coats. 

If you look closely you can see that the oak grain definitely shows through on these tables.  I'm totally down with that.  I think it gives it a great deal of character.  I should have the coffee table up for a quick post later in the week, and then I'm off to find something I can use some color on!!  I'm feeling the need for a break from the neutrals for a bit. 

Have a super week!
Deb
linking to:
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2012/03/piece-of-work-wednesday-furniture-link.html

Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon I paint a piece that is just for us.  I've taken some time over the holidays to devote to some projects for our house.  I'm not finished here by any stretch of the imagination, but it feels good to knock out a couple of things I've wanted to do for such a long time.  This buffet piece is one that I searched very patiently for at all of my regular haunts and on Craig's List.  It actually made me nervous when I finally found it while I waited for the owner to contact me, because I really, really didn't want to lose out on this piece.  It was perfect for my space, and a beautiful style.  After some debating I pulled out my favorite Annie Sloan chalk paint, Duck Egg, and went to town in between decorating for Christmas and finishing the shopping.  Here is the result.

I do so love that duck egg blue.  Isn't the harware pretty?  I reused it because frankly I don't think I could have found anything more perfect for this.  I opted to highlight a few features with Old White.

She sits behind my new sofa.  I'd love to show you the full room, but it's not actually finished yet.  The story of my life..."almost done".

I actually pulled out my Annie Sloan dark wax and felt really good about the results.  I don't know why that dark wax intimidates me so!

This was just the storage I needed for this space, and I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  But she's not too lonely, oh no, I'm also working on another buffet piece that will sit in our formal dining area that is currently being used as a piano room/mud room/library space.  Hope to show it soon, just the buffet though, cause that room isn't finished yet either..."almost done". 

Here's my little Jack Frost, waiting to see if we'll actually have any snow this year.  Though after a 60 degree day I should probably shove him in a closet so as not to jinx us! 

Linking up to: 
http://redoux.blogspot.com/2012/01/friday-link-up-party-37-and-les.html
http://elizabethandco.blogspot.com/2012/01/be-inspired-link-party-1.html
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2012/01/piece-of-work-wednesday-furniture-link_10.html
http://missmustardseed.com/2012/01/furniture-feature-friday-link-party-3/
Have a great end of the week everyone!
Deb

Bright & Merry

I know this title would leave you to believe it is all about Christmas, but it's not necessarily!  After months and months of staring at my "new" table and chair set in the corner of the workshop I finally found a minute, or 150, to dig them out and complete the set! The minute I bought that lovely chunky legged table I knew it would be mine, however you know how it goes with your own stuff.  I will warn you, I'm not afraid of color, really, I'm not.  My kitchen is red until I can convince my husband to paint it for the 3rd time in 2years  for pity's sake.  I actually love surrounding myself with happy colors.  Until I can lose some of this inherited  heavy oak all throughout my house (the 5 year plan) I'll probably continue to go with saturated colors.  So, her she is...

I used the same process that I had with my old  table and chairs and painted each chair a different Chalk paint color and the table base in Old Ochre.  The top is stained in Minwax Jacobean and poly sealed. 

I love those legs!  Truly, they've become an obsession.

This cabinet filled with my Fiesta Ware proves how much I like color.  I have 1 place setting of nearly every one of the colors available.  I've been collecting the pieces since 1994.  They are nearly indestructible.  I have enough pieces to easily entertain indoors or out with these dishes by mixing and matching.  Just like me, they're eclectic!

Here is where I waffled, the seat cushions, I chose this fabric because it had some of all the colors I wanted to use on the chairs.  In the end I nearly changed it out for some duck cloth because I felt like I might be getting just a bit too colorful here.  I may still change it out later, but for now, with 3 busy kids sitting here for all meals I will probably let them live here for a while.

The season continues to get busier and busier here at my home, so I would like to take an opportunity to wish you and yours a Bright & Merry Christmas!  May you and your family be truly Blessed during this special time.

Believe!
Deb

http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2011/12/piece-of-work-wednesday-furniture-link_13.html
http://missmustardseed.com/2011/12/furniture-feature-friday-favorites-link-party-2/

School Days

Happy Monday!  After an action packed weekend it is kind of nice to get back to the "normal grind" of a Monday.  And that is totally weird for me to admit!  I actually got a lot accomplished this weekend in the workshop (starting to feel a bit like Santa when I say that) thanks to some well timed help from the Mr.  Sometimes there are just some projects that just require more muscle (back) than I've got.  Thank you Mr.!

Here is a finish that didn't require any help at all.  Just a little time and patience cleaning up some rust and grime that comes from sitting around and not being useful anymore.  Some Annie Sloan chalk paint, and a bit more on one and here we go.  Back to school...

Artwork courtesy of my 6 yr. old Ellie!   My parents "picked" these chairs for me this summer.  I finished the 4 larger ones, and still have some of the smaller size to play with at a later date.  I used Annie Sloan's chalk paints in Duck Egg, Old Violet, Scandinavian Pink, and Provance colors.  I wanted each to be fun and unique and yet play together. 

On the smaller chair I had  fun with some atlas pages and adhered those to the wooden seat and back  parts since the wood was in less than ideal condition. 

Kind of fun to be sitting in the Atlantic Ocean!

Cutting out around those little rivets was a bit tricky.  This is not my original idea, but a take off from
http://www.ohdeedoh.com/ohdeedoh/inspiration/map-chairroddy-ginger-150116
and from all the other wonderful map projects I've seen out there in blog land. 

The wood in the larger chairs has all been freshened up and resealed.  These chairs will be looking for a new home at the Prairie Pickers & Peddlers Market on Oct. 14/15! 
All the ladies are working furiously as we get "down to the wire" for Market time!  It's crazy, scrary, exciting, and all good!
Have a super  week!
Deb
Linking to:
http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2011/09/piece-of-work-wednesday-furniture-link_27.html