Updated Twin Bed

I have been busy painting this weekend.  I am still working on the table I mentioned last week but I got a new Chalk Paint color, French Linen, I had to paint something with it. 
This bed was a perfect candidate, it is another estate sale find,  remember my Mom bought a whole lot for $15 including a dresser, bed, cabinet door, antique drawers and a pie safe!  I have had some really great projects from that sale.
This one went from scratched up and dull to wow with just one coat of chalk paint!  I was so excited to only need the one coat on this one.  I then waxed with the clear wax then the dark wax.  I love this new color! It’s a mix of green, khaki, and grey. 

I love the details on this bed.  The knobs are missing from the footboard but still this has a nice simplistic design.
The spindles on the footboard are my favorite.
Here is a shot of me in action, nappy hair and all :)

What do you think?  Do you love this color as much as me?!? 
Hope you have all had a great weekend!
April


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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

Lazy Sunday

I love Sunday’s, it’s my favorite day of the week.  I especially love them when I have to work my monthly Saturday.  I like to stay in and piddle around the house all day. 
I woke up and made Blueberry Pancakes and they were delicious.  Nothing like pulling the frozen blueberries out from the Summer.

Then I made a venison stew in the Crockpot for supper (I know everyone is not a fan of deer meat).  Will loves to hunt and as long as he plays butcher I will cook it.  It’s good and leaner than hamburger. 

I had leftover Lasagna from last night for lunch.  I love leftover Italian food, it soaks up more flavor overnight. Good hearty comfort food on a very chilly day!

In between all the cooking and eating, I caught up on some MadMen episodes and cleaned. Then I put together this table all by myself!!! :)



Not sure if you remember but this was from my estate sale loot and it was in pieces.  The legs had to be attached and the bottom shelf had to be glued together and attached to the legs as well.  I cleaned it and filled in the holes and cracks with wood filler.
This is the before before picture of it in parts. 
 
I also started the painting process, you’ll have to wait and see that later.
These guys were no help today, they were just….
Very

Very

Lazy!

What did you guys do this weekend??  Hope you made the most of it!
April

Whoa!

I was just on Pinterest yesterday for a little while and found this picture.

Ok. Let’s face it. Carrie Underwood’s legs are incredible and I am slightly obsessed! 

Well the greatest thing about Pinterest is that you can find these pictures and follow them back to the original site and see what the deal is.  This one was a good find, it is an article her leg workout and eating habits.  She looks great and I found it very inspirational since I am trying to lose a few pounds. 

Check it out here…http://www.ahlanlive.com/carrie-s-leg-workout--10829.html

Pretty sure I will never be a vegetarian but I’ve been using Weight Watchers to log my food and I’ve had success in the past with so I can see her point in the food journal.   I haven’t lost any weight yet but I am back into a routine of eating better and exercising more.  I’ll keep dreaming about those legs and I’ll think about them the next time I want a chocolate chip cookie!!!

April

Busy and Lazy 

I have not disappeared, although today would have been a good day to go into hibernation.  The weather was rainy and cold and work just sucked the life out of me!  I have been super busy at work since the new year rolled around.  Tile sales are so demanding this time of year.  December is slow and there is a nice pace of being able to catch up and get ready for the new year with a roll out with new samples, pricing, etc in January but then just sneaks up on you.  So, I have been really buys at work! It's 9:15 and I just quit for the day!!!  

Then there is home, so lazy, so very lazy.  I have no projects in the hopper and I haven't worked on a thing to share with you guys.  We've been keeping our house neat and clean for all those potential buyers that seem to be looking at other houses...come on people, its cheap now and we are ready to deal!  I did clean the garage up this weekend so it doesn't look like an episode of Hoarders in there anymore.  While cleaning the garage I did uncover a few potential projects.  I have a twin bed to paint, a side table to rebuild and paint, a shadow box to paint, fill, and hang, and some light bulbs to do something Pinteresting with.  But...this Saturday is my Saturday to work (I pull one a month for showroom duty) and so I am not sure how quickly I can jump into these little projects, hopefully soon!  

So I really just wanted to say HI! I miss you and I miss sharing with you :)  See you soon with something real to blog about.