Chalk Paint Does Not Cover Everything

I was hoping to share a little easy project with you this week but no such luck.  I started working on this table last Sunday.  I at least put it back together…a little crooked but whatever :)


I just wanted to paint it Old White and wax with the dark wax to show off those legs.  Here is what it looked like after one coat of paint.

Here are some shots after the second and THIRD coat of paint!!!



So the whole point of using the chalk paint on this one was to avoid the priming step.  I wanted EASY.  Since Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint is said to need no primer and prep work I was a little ticked that I’d used up almost all of the remaining old white that I had on this to try to “cover” this one.  So, I emailed the “contact us” page at the company website.  And Annie emailed me back!  I was surprised she emailed herself.  She gave very helpful advice and I thought I would share with you guys. 

My Email…
>Message:
>Hi! I have used chalk paint on many projects and have had great success.
> I
>have had to use two coats of paint on most projects but I've always
>been happy with the finish with no primer. I recently started work on
>a small table that was in bad shape, old stain and some water spots.
>The original stain seems to have a red tint. I have used Old White on
>the piece and the red is bleeding through. I applied my third coat of
>paint tonight and the red is still bleeding through in various spots.
>Any advice? Is this typical? I really don't want to continue wasting
>paint if it is going to continue to bleed through. Just wondering what
>some thoughts would be, I can always prime and re-paint but I had hope
>to avoid all those steps with chalk paint.
>Thanks,
>April

Here is the reply…
Hi April
Occasionally I find a piece of furniture that this happens with and it was a particular stain that was used. No amount of paint will stop it and so I just get my knotting which is use to block the stain from the sap of knots coming through, and coat it al over. It is extremely quick drying so I use a pad of cloth to dab all over. Then I repaint and you will find it is fine. Knotting can be found in any ironmongers, hardware type store - get clear if you can , or buy clear shellac - it's the same thing!
I'm glad you have had success with the chalk paint before this!
Annie
>Annie Sloan Paint
>33 Cowley Road
>Oxford OX4 1HP
>England
>0044(0)1865 247296

Of course I emailed her back in thanks.  I didn’t want her to think I was unhappy because I love Chalk Paint, it is awesome stuff.  I had never even heard of knotting, but did a little research on the internet and it stops wood knots from bleeding which is kind of of what I thought after reading her email.  However, I don’t think that is what has happened to this table because there are no visible knots and it is way more splotchy.  I think I am going to spray prime it with Kilz on the top and try repainting.  If that still doesn’t work I’m throwing it in the dump….jk :)  I’ll just try shellac, that will stop it! 
Have any of you had any issues with chalk paint?  Or painting disasters lately?
April