Sweet Baby Blue

My first experience with homemade chalk paint was a great success. I used the recipe provided by Anne Kimberley  . I used a tiffany blue along with a cream color paint that was to my sweet daughter Hannahs liking, I added the POP/hot water mixture to the paint, stirred well, and went to town on an old crusty piece. Prior to the paint I had sanded the top of the piece nice and smooth, so that I could stain and polyurethane it. But after the stain/ and glazing was completed on the piece I just used Minwax paste finishing wax, and look what we have here. 



  I'd love to name her like I do my cars, but I will refrain, and let Hannah name her when she gets home

paint happy

Some people have an aversion to painted furniture, however, I lOvE it!  And I personally believe that if you love a piece and it's yours, you can do whatever you want with it.  In 50 years when some little young gal pulls my little double decker caramel yellow table out of a pile in someones shed, I hope she'll do with it what ever she chooses to- knowing that I completely loved and enjoyed that piece of gorgeousness while she was mine.  Here are pieces I've done in the last few weeks,  and another is an old dresser that my sweet friend Jennifer had in her garage, ready to throw it out- it's one of my favorites now.   

If I can do this- ANYONE can do this..........................................................let me know what you think

Some of these pieces are painted using the new valspar sample paints that I decided to test out- the great thing is - you can do a pretty good sized piece of furniture with one $2.47 container of paint- Now that's a bargain. 

This picture  is my craft equivalent tribute to Pioneer Woman

Cast of Characters- Valspar paint sample, old trusty paint brush, mocha glaze

2 coats of paint on a lightly sanded old crusty table

Sand a few spots, glaze- and you are golden or 'dreamy caramel'

The scalloped edges and details on this table are what it's all about

My goodness little one, you are my sunshine



"ol crusty" saved from the curb spray painted baby blue with crystal knobs

She's a beaut!



Here another sweet little table I painted a celery green for my sweet daughter, once again I used a sample jar of paint (less than $3.00)Olympic paint I believe the color is called

Herb Cornucopia 6005-5C

She turned out lovely ( man somebody needs some photography lessons)

Here's another sweet little piece I found while in Eureka Springs- in a

sweet little second hand shoppe- it came with chippy paint attached for just

$23.00

And this is an old family desk, we've had in our family for about 40 years, it was damaged in a flood about 30 years ago, so my plan is to paint the base, change out the knobs, and repairing and staining the top.  I hope that this will turn out as I imagine it will.





I'm no respecter of paints, I'll use spray paint, milk paint, house paint, anything, as long as I love the finish.  So go ahead, don't be ashamed, or afraid to paint- it's yours, the antique police can't hurt you:) Just kidding, antique police, I love you too.

Special Occasion

Just wanted to share an email , and oldie but a goodie:

A friend of mine opened his wife's drawer and picked up

a silk paper-wrapped package:

"This isn't any ordinary package" he said

He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper & the contents.

"She got this the first time we went to New York, 8 or 9 years ago.  She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is it."

He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothing he was taking to the funeral home. His wife had passed away.

He turned to me and said:

"Never save something for a 'special occasion'.

Every day in your life is a special occasion."

I think those words changed my life.

Now, I read more and clean less

I sit on the porch without worrying about anything

I spend more time with my family, and less time at work

I no longer keep anything, I give it away

I use crystal glasses everyday

I'll wear new clothes to the supermarket, if I feel like it...

I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want.

The words 'someday' and 'one day' are no longer a part of my vocabulary.

If it's worth seeing, listening to or doing, I want to see, listen or do it NOW..

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, nobody knows.

I think she might have called her relatives and closest friends.

She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.

She would have held hands with her true love, and told him how much

he means to her.

She would have hugged and kissed her children and grandchildren giving all of

them words of encouragement and advice for living

She would have asked her LORD to forgive her and give her wisdom to live her last

moments out full of grace

Each day, each hour, each moment is special

Live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no one