Nightstands in Duck Egg Blue

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

 The sun is out, the sky is blue. What's a girl to do? PAINT! 

With the weather being so clear and dry right now along the eastern seaboard I love to spend the day outside painting in the fresh air. I've had a couple of nightstands that have been in line for a re-do for my booth and I'm happy to report  I can finally check them off my list today! 

When I'm looking for furniture to re-fresh I always try to find pieces that don't need much repair or that I like the look of " as is ". I lucked out when I came across TWO Basset ( Made in the USA) nightstands at my favorite hunting spot. I paid 9.99 each! A steal!!!

The old finish was a medium stained oak.

Just look at the new and improved shabby, rustic, french finish! 

The secret to my weathered look is to have a light hand when painting. 

1) Dip your brush into the paint but don't soak it.

2) Brush this way and that so your  brush marks are going in different directions.

3) Try and leave some of the underlying wood tones UN-painted so they show through, that way you'll have less to remove when distressing.

4) You can remove chalk paint as you paint with a damp cloth or wait for it to dry ( about half an hour ) and sand until you like the results.

 Beautifully distressed and ready for a new home!

I kept the aged brass hardware but I think something glass, or with some sparkle would be elegant too! 

 

How do you like my little leg? I didn't use any relief ( chap stick or petroleum jelly ) underneath the paint. I simply rubbed it off once it was dry with medium grit sandpaper.  It worked like a charm. I followed up with ASCP Clear Wax.

I always have the best of intentions when it comes to placing my finds in my booth for sale. I'm gonna need will power to let these beauties go! They match my bedroom comforter perfectly! 

What's keeping you busy during these glorious fall days?

Burlap and Bling Lampshade Tutorial kinda/sorta

 No, it's not a hat but you could wear it on your head to a party, or at a party, or to create a party atmosphere at home if you wanted to. Or, you could just use it for the purpose it was intended for. To bring a little burlap and bling to your home decor. This is the base of the lamp/s I made the shades for! It's a vintage crystal lamp from the 1950's. They are at my booth shadeless at the sans shades at the moment but not for long! If you squint, it's easier to picture them together. Go ahead and try it. I'll wait....... See? Yeah,  not so much... anyway....

here's my attempt at a tutorial... kinda /sorta like the title says.

I started with two re-claimed bell shaped lampshades

( medium size) 

 I cut my burlap garland into 13 inch strips and applied them at an angle draping down the lampshade. Glue a corner of the garland at the top of the shade and let the remaining piece drape down and around the shade naturally. Glue it to the shade using your glue gun in a few places. Be careful not to over do the glue because you'll be able to see it through the burlap! Let the pices fall naturally around the shade and fill in the uncovered spaces with random scraps of burlap until the shade is completely covered and you like how it looks.  I tried to channel Magnolia Pearl while was making mine. I was going for that perfectly imperfect look!

Trim any edges of the burlap garland off the bottom of the shade leaving 1/4 inch at the bottom overhang so the white fabric underneath  doesn't show.

 Once your shade is covered apply your black trim to the top edge of the shade. Then apply your ribbon with bling to the top edge of the black trim. ( see below ) Arrange your large stick-on jewels randomly on the shade then glue them in place with your glue gun. Now it's time for you to clip, glue or pin your flower on.  Center it in the middle of the shade in between the bottom of the trim and the bottom of the shade.

TA DA! This was an easy fun up cycling project to do. If you don't like black you can choose any color. I think white, or ivory and lace trim would be lovely too for a classic shabby look!

 Just use your imagination and have fun with it!  

There's a ton of inspiration on pinterest to get your creative juices going!

  Supplies: 

1 or 2 bell shaped lampshades

1 roll of burlap garland ( you can find it at Michael's craft store )

large flower pin/clips of your choosing

 2 packages large stick- on jewels ( Michael's or Joannes Craft Store )

Black crafting trim 1 yard will give you plenty!

Ribbon with some sparkle

glue gun

scissors

So tell me... Hat or lampshade or both? 

Sharing with Tilly's Nest Down Home Blog Hop! 

ASCP English Country Washstand in Arles Yellow

 Dear friends,

Between the garden, two teens going in opposite directions and my booth downtown I've been on the go these last few weeks and I'm excited to show you my latest furniture re-do for Burlap and Bling! I've been working with the fabulous decorative  Annie Sloan Chalk Paint this summer and I fall more and more in live with each new shade I try. So far I haven't done any color mixing, I'm enjoying each color straight out of the can. 

This piece got a make over with Arles Yellow. It's so soft and buttery you almost want to eat it, but since that's not really an option ( unless you want to be featured on that show My Strange Obsession )

I rather like the idea my friend Pam had. Imagine this piece in a small country bedroom with floral wallpaper, flowy lace curtains and fresh linens on the bed.

 Now, hold on to that image cuz here's the ugly before picture!

This little darling has great features! I think it resembles an old English Commode or wash stand which is why I chose a soft color and an aged finish for it.

 

Here's one of the legs after sanding and before I waxed it with clear wax.

 

I love how the dark wood shows through on this piece.

This piece has two drawers and a bottom shelf. It'll make a great bedside table for someone!

Here she is all done up and ready for her trip to my booth! I sure hope someone scoops her up in a hurry cuz I had a hard time letting her go!

Ain't she purty? 

Here's are some painting tips for achieving an aged finish.

• Don't apply the paint too perfectly or too heavily. If you know you want some of the wood ( or undercoat) to show through then brush the paint on lightly especially where worn spots would be likely to happen.
• Go over areas such as the top more than once for a more opaque look and leave the edges less covered. 
• You can wipe off paint as you go, to distress before it dries, or wait for it to dry ( under and hour ) and lightly sand off any places you want to see the wood underneath.
• Annie Sloan Directions for sanding say to do it after the first coat of Clear Wax, but I prefer to sand before and then apply the clear wax with a large brush and buff with a clean soft cloth.
• If you want a deeper aged finish you can add the dark wax over the clear finish or mix clear and dark together depending on the ration of dark to light that you want to achieve. 
• Most importantly, have fun and relax!

Here's the link to Annie Sloan's YouTube where you'll find an endless amount of info on working with her fine paint!

Linking to these fine blog hops!

Knick of Time Tuesday 

Elizabeth and Co. Be Inspired

Sunshine in a Can

I know, I'm such a tease just showing you a little leg of my latest hand painted piece of the past with SASS! This little table jumped out at me at my local thrift store and begged me to bring her home. I knew right off I would be painting her with Annie Sloan's newest color ENGLISH YELLOW. It's finally available in the US! Look for a stockist near you here!

She's headed to Burlap and Bling for the big month long 20% off sale in August at Main Street Antiques in Plymouth, MA.

That is, if I can part with her. She looks so cute on our patio!

Florence, here I come!

 I know what you were thinking...Is Deb really going to leave her garden right now and hop a plane to Florence, Italy? Of course not! I couldn't possibly leave all of my flower babies in their infancy right now! 

If it would ever stop raining ( flowers love it ) I could finish my next furniture piece for Burlap and Bling!  

I'm using Annie Sloan's Chalk Paint~  Florence for this project!

 

Here's the hutch with one coat on. Since I took this photo I have finished the second coat and removed the cheep-o veneer backing ( a happy accident happened when it warped under the tarp it was covered with outside )

Thinking of adding chicken wire, beadboard or burlap to the back! 

What do you guy's think?

I've removed the doors and drawers and finished the frame on the buffet. But, this piece was just to darned heavy to make to my basement studio so it's sitting in the back of my Ford Explorer until the rain stops! 

I've hauled it all over town and back this week just to keep it dry.

I'm loving this color.. It's so warm and beachy! I've used it full strength and will wax with  ASCW ( clear wax ). I can't wait to get her down town to my booth and dress her up in seashells, and crystal lamps! Sea Bling! 

 I want to keep this piece light and cheerful! 

Oh, how do you like my Camo backdrop? Elegant isn't it? 

It's for my handsome Yankee's boat. You don't think his " precious " is going to go uncovered do ya? 

China Cabinet Reveal ~ Miss Duck Egg

 TA DA! Introducing Miss Duck Egg! I posted on my Facebook page earlier today that I'm feeling like quite the chalk paint rock star after giving a major up do to a large vintage china cabinet that's been hibernating in my basement for a few years.

 

Here she is with out her door on. I love the openness to the cabinet this way and I can imagine it filled with all sorts of purty things. Towels, linens, quilts, china books etc..

 But,  I have a thing for swirls of any kind and I love the grill inside the glass door  that goes on the front just as much!

 

What I love most about this vintage china cabinet are the small details like the fluting on the frame, the chunky feet and the wooden appliques on the top

and bottom. 

 Another thing I love about his piece are it's imperfections. It has little dings and knicks, and even a few pieces that have fallen or dropped off along the way... A well lived life has a way of doing that to a gal, but Miss Duck Egg has weathered it all in stride. Sure, her hardware's a little rusty and her skin might be cracked and scarred but she's still got some life left in her...Nothing a little AS Duck Egg Chalk Paint and a little clear SOFT WAX can't fix!

What do ya think? Is she ready to rock n roll again?

She's got her bling on and she's ready to go!

I'm taking her to Burlap and Bling for her debut this weekend.
 I hope someone asks her to kick up her heels one last time!

Join Burlap and Bling on Facebook!

 Dear friends,
I don't know about you, but I can't get enough of seeing other peoples stuff...So, I created an open group on Facebook where we can click and share all day and night to our junk lovn' hearts content.

Welcome one and all to my new group Burlap and Bling...your place to share your posts, projects, EVENTS for all things antique, vintage, rustique, and flea market romance whenever the spirit moves you!

Load up the truck with all your finds and head on over! I'll see ya there!
Sharing with Knick of Time Tuesday

Burlap & Bling & UPcycled Mothers Day Gift Ideas

Dear friends,

I hope this day finds you deep into something creative and exciting whether it be inside or out.

Back in January I made a little dream of mine come true when I opened up a 10 x 10 booth in our local Antique Mall. Since then, Boz and I have been hitting yard sales, estate sales, and thrift stores and refreshing items for my booth! I FINALLY finished my sign yesterday! I will hang it today, when I go to restock but I just have to know. what do y'all think? I gussied up an old headboard with some stenciled lettering, a decorative wooden applique piece and some burlap and bling of course!

Have you noticed that flowers are huge this season in home decorating and fashion? I'm loving all the blooms I'm seeing in everything from a simple hand bag to everything for the home. Naturally I'm drawn to anything floral so I snapped up this vintage era floral print. I love how aged and faded it is.  The oak frame was very dated looking so I gave it a chalk paint wash in old white and a quick swipe with Annie Sloan Clear Wax and now it looks like this! 

This looks more " today " doesn't it? I picture this pair ( there are two ) hanging in a bedroom with white lace curtains blowing in a gentle spring breeze.

 

What is this dusty old thing and why did I bring it home? Oh, yeah... I stayed up way to late one night on Pinterest and found this GENIUS idea for displaying vintage hankies in spoon racks! 

Just so happens, I had a box of vintage hankies my mil gave me. Ah Ha! 

 

Nothing a little white spray paint couldn't fix! I made two of these. I'm giving this one to my Mother in Law for Mother's day because the her Aunt did the handwork on some of them and they will look pretty in her room. Gee, I should have ironed them, they look a little wrinkled don't they? Oh, well...  Too hang them, simply get them in the shape you want and squeeze them together at the top, slip them in the slot and you are done!

 

 This one below is going to my booth!

Whew, this junkin' thing is a lot of work but loads of fun too! 

I've started a new Pinterest Board for Burlap and Bling...

I'll be adding fresh pins weekly!

What are your gift ideas for Mothers day this year? 

Sharing with these fine blog friends!

Tilly's Nest 

Wow us Wednesday